The Secret of the Grain Page #4

- It was made with love.

- You can tell.

I make the couscous with love.

Love...

takes everyday maintenance.

It's getting along.

But... you have to earn it.

Dad's a good man.

He deserves better.

Isn't he? He worked 35 years

for his family.

- What else you want?

- It's not a mzia if it's a duty.

But he did his duty.

We never wanted for anything

when we were little.

He was always there.

Now I can get by on my own, but...

He was around!

Listen, all of you.

Either you quit messing around

or I get the laundry list out!

Every Sunday, laundry list.

Every Sunday,

she tells the same story.

Enough.

- Don't fight now.

- We're not.

I love Dad and Mom.

Majid,

get those peppers away from her.

A husband like that,

I would never let him go.

Take him!

Look, Mom's jealous.

You're jealous. You still love him!

How's the couscous?

Mom did good.

We sure loved it.

I had two plates full.

Yeah, it was good.

They're a f***ing drag.

I don't know how you live

in this dump.

How can you stay here?

Go back to the old country.

Majid's right, Dad.

You got nothing here.

It's all there.

- Sunshine, friends.

- And the house.

Yeah, Mom said

she'd leave you the house.

Go whenever you want.

You just leave it for her

when she comes.

Don't need it.

You'll feel good there now.

It'll be great.

You'll be super healthy, I know it.

You live in a dump.

Even Karima said

you'd be better off there.

She'll bring the kids on vacation.

I'll bring Hakim.

We'll stay together.

Put in some time.

I'll think it over.

Yeah, think.

- Hey, Rym.

- Leave me some?

I did. Come in.

- I won't interrupt.

- Come in.

- No, I'm OK.

- Come in.

Not long.

How are you?

How you doing?

Sit down.

I could smell it downstairs.

How are you, Majid?

Good.

I saw your son, with your wife.

- He's bigger.

- Yeah.

How old is he?

- 10 months.

- Already? Time flies.

- He's beautiful.

- Thanks.

- Your wife looked a little tired.

- A little.

- She lost weight.

- Yeah, she did.

Worries, huh?

Delicious.

Haven't had couscous like this

in a while.

Sorry. When there's couscous

the world disappears for me!

Eat the fish.

Here, some peppers.

They're good.

Really nice.

Super good.

- Have some squash.

- Give me.

Not talking?

Lost your tongues?

Dad.

Think about what I said.

Nothing's keeping you here.

You should go back home.

You could start a business,

with the severance pay.

Severance talk

going around town already?

I swear I didn't say anything.

People talk.

People love to talk.

They say the yard's over.

That you got severance,

like severance payments?

Good?

Great. Never had one so good.

Tell your mother.

No problem.

I could eat this every day.

I've done that.

I could explode. I'll sleep good.

Your sons are really hard.

Especially Majid.

Why?

They want you to go back home.

What does that mean?

They want to get rid of you?

Are they messing with you?

Like you need them

to tell you what to do.

- Like it's for your own good.

- I let them talk.

Yeah, you do.

I noticed you let them talk.

I swear! No respect.

You're home. This is your room.

And we're your family.

You're like my father, I mean it.

What's that?

"Nothing's keeping you here."

The gall. Right in front of me.

People have no respect.

Who does he think he is?

Don't pay him any mind.

I can't accept that.

No way. What's France, a whore house?

Let him go back. Good riddance.

He thinks France is a whore house.

I'd have told him, but out of respect

for you and the couscous...

Only because he's your son.

He really got on my nerves. Really!

You like Riadh?

He's OK.

Gets on my nerves!

Don't mind what he says.

Why'd you say you'd think it over?

Because I don't mind what he says.

He thinks that means yes.

Let him talk.

Say nothing, let him talk.

You'll see what happens.

He gets confident,

talks about it again.

Don't let him, OK?

Make some more coffee.

Yeah, but just by letting him...

You have to talk.

You just sit there.

Bastard.

He gets me crazy.

- Why doesn't he sing?

- I don't know.

Sing.

Remember how he used to sing?

He almost never does now.

I don't know.

What's wrong with him?

Look, he's eating couscous.

I didn't leave you much.

People!

See how children are?

Acting big.

That's not right.

Such a traitor.

Funny seeing him here.

Most Sundays he's with his whores.

I know stuff about him

I don't tell you.

Lots of talk I heard.

He should go hide back home.

Don't be mad, it's nothing.

He's lost it.

Your son's got a problem.

It's nothing. Forget all that.

Says my hotel is a dump.

Like his face isn't?

Don't tell your mother.

If Mom heard that...

we'd be in deep sh*t.

Worked all her life to buy this.

She's a woman. Not a man.

All he knows how to do is talk.

Least we got a hotel.

You making the coffee?

There's the boat, my child.

Want to board?

Lots of work.

Come in.

Hello, Mr. Beji,

Miss...

Please sit down.

Well?

What brings you here?

I'm here to ask for a loan.

My father wants to open a restaurant

on a boat he's just acquired.

We prepared a dossier

to present our project.

Congratulations.

Let's have a look.

There are some mistakes.

I see that.

Is that all?

We only just started working.

You realize it's a little light.

Especially in view

of the sum you request.

We need it for the renovation.

That sum will only cover

the renovation costs?

No. It also covers equipment,

kitchen,

decor, tables, chairs. All that.

How about operating costs?

How will you cover that?

Have you thought about

start-up funds?

No, but we can work it out.

It's no problem.

My stepfather worked on the yard.

All his co-workers will pitch in.

And when it comes to personnel,

we'll have free labor.

It's all family.

So we'll save a lot of money, right?

Yes, but you must understand,

I can't put that on paper.

I have to satisfy my superiors.

If I go in saying,

"Mr. Beji and all his friends

and family will do it all,"

it won't fly.

I need a projected budget,

with much more detail,

with estimates from established

and serious professionals.

How did you come

to these figures anyway?

Did you do any market studies?

No, we just got the application

from the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Beji, if I recall correctly,

you're now unemployed.

You were laid off?

Yes, but I got my severance pay.

And I get unemployment.

Right.

You want to change careers.

Very commendable.

But let me ask you a few questions.

Your chosen business, restaurants,

is a very difficult one right now.

First of all,

where would it be located?

Actually, we'd like it to be

located on the Quai de la Rpublique,

if possible.

Have you asked for an authorization?

It's pending.

Sure there's a spot open?

But the tuna boat guys

told me there's a spot open.

They said so.

Perhaps, but you need the permission

of local authorities.

There are many restaurants already.

Yes, but none

that makes fish couscous.

That's true.

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