The Visitor Page #3

Excuse me.

Well?

They moved him.

To where?

To a detention center in Queens.

He was turned over to Immigration.

They said we can see him

tomorrow night.

Visiting hours are 5 to 10.

I cannot visit that place.

I'll end up there, too.

Zainab?

Yes.

I brought some Chinese food home,

if you'd like to eat.

Oh, no, thank you. I'm not hungry.

Okay. Well, if you change your mind,

I'll leave some in the fridge.

Thank you.

Have you heard from Tarek?

No. Not yet.

Oh. Well...

I made an appointment

with an immigration attorney

for tomorrow morning at 11.

No. We can't afford that.

That's okay.

Thank you, Walter.

Walter.

I was in detention...

when I first arrived, for five months.

How did you get out?

They... closed the facility

and released some of the women.

They didn't release any of the men.

We'll get him out.

Good night.

Good night.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

Sir, that detainee has been moved.

He was here yesterday.

Well, he's not here now.

That's all I know.

You can call I.C.

The number's on the wall.

Where?

On the wall by the phone

and the water fountain.

Next.

Sir, step aside, please.

Hi. I'm here to see Tarek Khalil.

Have you been here before?

No, sir.

Hello?

May I see your driver's license, please?

Yes, it is. Um...

the one you...

Hi, papito.

Hi.

Walter. Thank you for coming.

Of course.

How is Zainab?

She's upset. Um...

I have a... a letter from her.

Oh, you can't give it to me.

It has to be sent to me by mail.

Oh.

But... But you can put it up to the glass.

Go ahead. Open it up

and press it up to the glass

so I can read it.

It's okay. It's allowed.

You want to say hello to pap?

Oh...

Thank you, Walter.

So how are they treating you?

It's very depressing here.

There's no privacy.

The lights are always on.

You need anything?

No. I just want to get out of here.

Well... Zainab and I met

with a lawyer today.

Yes? What did he say?

Well, he's... he's gonna

stop by tomorrow and see you.

Tarek. Zainab said

that you were denied asylum.

You mean when we came here?

Yeah.

Did you go to your deportation hearing?

Yeah.

In Michigan.

Yeah. We did everything they told us to.

Okay.

Let's go, man. You gotta get off.

Bed count.

I have to go.

They have to do a bed count.

Usually, I can visit for one hour.

Could you come tomorrow?

- I will. Yeah.

- Good.

Good-bye, my friend.

Good-bye.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Okay. Bye.

Walter, I'm going to leave now.

I have a cousin who lives in the Bronx.

I'm going to go

stay with him for now.

You don't have to go.

You can stay here.

I think it's better I leave.

Um... you know how to reach me

if you need to.

Is it okay if I leave

Tarek's things here for now?

Uh, my cousin's place is...

not very big.

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Hello?

Oh. Hi, Charles.

Oh. Wait. I'm sorry. Wha... What?

Yeah. The conference went very well.

Yes.

No, uh, actually, I'm still in New York,

and I'm doing some research for my book.

Why?

When's the meeting?

Wha...

Oh. Okay.

All right. I... I'll, um...

I'll leave first thing tomorrow.

Yeah. I'll see you at 3. Bye.

I thought you said

you went to the hearing.

We did. I remember it.

Well, then why is there

a final order out on you?

He didn't know yet. He just said

that unless they can find a way

to reopen the case quickly,

they're going to deport me.

I don't even understand it.

Walter, there are guys

who have been in here for years.

I can't do that, Walter. I'll go crazy.

He's trying to deal with the case

as quickly as possible.

I know. I know. It's...

It's just...

Look, maybe we

should call your mother.

No. No. I don't want her to worry.

Yeah.

Tarek, um...

I have to go back to Connecticut.

When?

Tomorrow.

But I'll be reachable

by phone if you need anything.

And I'll be back to visit. It's not far.

Okay.

Just please...

don't forget about me in here.

No, I won't.

So have you been practicing?

Yes.

You should go back to the drum circle.

No.

Okay, but listen to that Fela CD.

That will help you.

- I promise.

- I will. I will.

So show me what you...

you've been working on.

What?

Show me. Why not?

Here?

Come on. I need some music, man.

Don't worry. They can't arrest you.

At least, not yet.

Mmm...

Come on.

Good.

Oh, no. An elbow.

Hello.

Oh, I'm sorry. I must've got

- the wrong apartment.

- Can I help you?

I'm looking for my son.

Excuse me.

Uh, are...

are you Tarek's mother?

Yes.

Well, this is Tarek's apartment.

I j...

I share the apartment with him.

He didn't mention

that he lived with someone.

Well, I'm not here very often.

I... I live in Connecticut.

Is Tarek here?

No. He's not here now.

Uh, come in... please.

Please.

Thank you.

Oh, my name is Walter. Walter Vale.

I'm... I'm Mouna Khalil.

I'm sorry to show up unannounced.

My son hasn't called me for five days.

I keep trying his cell phone,

but he doesn't answer.

Would you like to sit down?

Thank you.

Mr. Vale?

Is my son all right?

Yes.

He's been arrested.

He's being held in a detention center.

Where?

In Queens.

Uh, they're tying to deport him.

How did this happen?

He was stopped in a subway station.

Uh... he didn't... didn't

do anything wrong.

I'd like to go there, to Queens.

Okay.

But, Mrs. Khalil, um, the lawyer m...

Uh, I just don't

think it's possible for you...

Mr. Vale, I know I cannot visit Tarek.

I just want to see the place

where they're holding him.

Okay.

I can take you there.

Thank you.

Could we go now?

So have you been

to New York before, Mrs. Khalil?

No. Tarek wanted to come to New York

to play music.

I did not want him to, but...

Do you have

any children, Mr. Vale?

A son. He lives in London.

And your wife?

My wife passed away.

I'm sorry.

That's it.

- This is where the prison is?

- Mm-hmm.

It doesn't look like a prison.

I think that's the point.

How many people are in there?

Tarek said about 300.

There's, uh...

There's a coffee shop on that corner.

- It's not very nice.

- I'll wait there.

Walter. I thought you were leaving.

I was.

Tarek, your mother is here.

What? My mother? Where?

She's waiting outside.

When did she arrive?

Today.

Man. Why did she come?

She can do nothing for me.

Well, she said

she hadn't heard from you.

Walter, listen to me.

She... She can't stay here.

She doesn't know

anyone in New York.

I'm sorry, but you must get her

to go back to Michigan.

Okay. Okay, I'll try.

Thank you, Walter.

I have a note from her.

Need anything else?

No, thank you.

Hello, sir.

Hi.

How is he?

Oh, he's good. He's good.

Um... but...

he's very concerned

about you being here.

I will not leave.

Mrs. Khalil, I don't... I don't think

your being in New York will do any good

because we have a very good lawyer

working on Tarek's...

Mr. Vale.

I will not go back to Michigan

knowing that my son is in that building.

Even if I can't see him...

I will stay here.

Shall we go?

Uh madame?

Bye.

Mr. Vale?

I'm leaving now.

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