The Waiting City Page #5

Have you heard of Tagore,

Mr. Bens?

My most favorite poet.

Calcutta Grand, please.

But, Mr. Bens?

Hey, stop.

Ben!

- Ben?

- What?

What are you doing?

Why didn't you come to me, Fee?

That's what really f***ing kills me.

Why did you lie?

Do you remember that time?

Don't keep smashing

the past in my face.

I think it was you that wasn't ready.

You doubted me

because you doubted yourself.

Are you gonna tell

the agency or am I?

We have an appointment

in four days' time.

We can pick up our baby,

and we can take her home,

and we can still do that.

Fee, Fee, you're not listening to me.

She deserves a real family.

So we can be a real family.

A real family -

they share stuff with each other.

They share their pain.

They tell the truth.

A real family believe

in each other, so no.

Well, should I -?

Thank you, Krishna.

Mr. Bens!

My wife and I quarrel.

But we always make peace

very quickly.

I can never be angry at her

for too many hours.

She's far too sweet,

and because there is no defeating

the wife, you know?

Krishna, I'm not really in the mood

to talk for a while.

Okay, no problem, Mr. Bens.

Hello, Calcutta Grand.

How may I help you?

Just a second...

Welcome!

Welcome back, Ma'am.

Hope you and your husband

enjoyed your trip.

Are there any messages for me?

Yes, there were many phone calls

from your place of work.

Your big boss called.

Are there any messages

from India?

No, I'm sorry.

No messages from India.

Your cheese toast, Mrs. Bens.

And I brought this.

When my wife is sad,

she eats kulfi.

That is why she's so fat

and beautiful.

Um... I can take this back,

I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

Wow.

Is that ice cream?

Something like.

It looks really -

really nice.

Mmm, thank you.

Thank you.

That is quite nice.

What is it?

Oh.

My mum gave it to me.

I think you guys would have

really liked each other, actually.

She, um...

She also believed in God.

She used to say

that every prayer is answered.

God always listens.

Um...

I'm so sorry.

The kitchen will be wondering

after me,

and my uncle will beat me

if he knows that I'm soft

on my duties, so I-I should -

This is a very sad story, no?

You know... it's funny,

because when my mum died,

I- I just felt empty.

I felt like she was just gone.

But since I've been here,

I have this feeling

like she's with me.

It's like she's been there

the whole time.

Yes.

My mother - you met her -

such an old woman,

but even from eight hours away

from my village,

I can hear her telling me

what to do, every moment.

I know.

How much do I owe you -

No. No, no, no.

Not this.

Not this.

You are a-a friend.

Bondu.

Bondu.

Okay. Thank you.

Uh, no money.

No money.

Hey. Stop!

Whoo!

DIDl:
So, when will your husband

arrive, Mrs. Simmons?

Um...

To tell you the truth, Didi,

my husband -

Oh. Welcome.

Please sit down.

Yes, um, the court orders

were delayed.

The system will always favor

an Indian family

over an inter-country adoption.

It's just, we were getting

very anxious waiting for so long.

There are far more waiting children

than there are waiting parents,

Mrs. Simmons.

So, uh, do we get to see her?

Yes, of course.

Um, this is the address.

Ask for Sister Tessila.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Well, I can see you both

will make very fine parents.

Hello.

- I'm sister Tessila.

- Hi.

Welcome.

Please come in.

I'm really sorry.

It's just we are very busy today,

and the children have been

rehearsing for weeks,

you know, for this play.

Come this way, please.

My office is here.

I mean, it's my duty to tell you

that she is a sickly child,

but she's really gentle

and really intelligent.

I suggest the best thing would be

to visit her a few times.

She's, you know, very small,

but she'll understand.

So, this is our queen, Rumi,

and that's the rabbit

that saves the world.

Come.

This is Lakshmi.

Hello.

Hello, sweetheart.

Hello.

Hello, darling.

Hello.

You want to go down?

Hey, look. Look.

Do you remember?

Do you remember?

Do you remember?

This is where you used to play.

- She's looking.

- Do you remember?

She's hot.

And now we're trying

to get rid of the water.

Okay, how's this?

It's okay. It's okay.

- Prrsh!

- Yeah.

Look at that.

Through here.

There you go. Ready?

Lakshmi. Hey.

- Look at him.

- Ready?

- Where'd it go?

- Where is it?

Where'd it go?

Oh, he was just tricking you.

No, I shouldn't teach you that,

should I?

This way, please.

Okay, it's okay, come on.

She's just been feeling a little unwell.

Okay, I got her.

Shh!

Did she like us?

I think so.

Feels like five minutes.

We were up there

for five hours, you realize?

Okay.

I'll see you tomorrow.

# You and I, harmony,

you and I #

# Please tell me how you feel #

# Please show me what is real #

Fiona:
I want to tell you

about your dad.

Um, I can't wait to see him

be a father with you.

I think he's gonna be fantastic,

and I promise you that I'm gonna do

the best job that I can possibly do,

and we're gonna have a fantastic life.

I love you.

I don't know you, but I love you.

Please come tomorrow.

Sister, we're here

to see Lakshmi.

Sister T essila...

Come, come.

How're you doing?

Hey, Lakshmi.

She was feverish yesterday.

Yeah, she was coughing a bit.

She's been very unwell.

You see, it's impossible

to be fully across the genealogy

of each and every child.

She has chronically weak lungs

and has been in and out of hospital

over the last few months.

Lakshmi is sickly, and her

immune system is unpredictable.

She will need specialized care

for the rest of her life.

All right, well,

if air travel is possible,

can you figure out the legal

precedents if the person is sick?

"The king

and all of his subjects... "

Well, get her to call me

and tell me about

the international law perspective.

Ba ha ha ha ha ha!

"And they all went home as happy

as they possibly could be.

The end. "

You are reading her Shakespeare.

I'm working up to it.

Can she hear us?

She's sleeping deeply now.

Maybe she hears.

- Namaste, Lakshmi.

- Lakshmi, hey.

I've been through all the paperwork,

and it makes perfect sense

according to our legal rights

and any foreign-adoption

precedents.

That's quite correct.

But what can I do for you?

There's nothing stopping us

from taking her home.

My recommendation is

she should not be moved.

But then,

you are the parents now.

You two need to decide

what is best for your child.

We're right here.

We're right here.

I hope you'll be comfortable.

Thank you.

Good night.

I'm okay.

Good night.

Night.

Fee.

Oh, thanks.

And there's a big bedroom

just next to ours.

Lots of toys,

and outside in the garden,

there's a tree with a swing.

And I went and got all this timber,

and I built you a tree house.

I'm not a very good builder.

Ben. Are you okay?

Mm.

Your cousin Lolly -

she's six.

She will not shut up

about wanting to meet you.

- Hey.

- I'm sorry.

In my head,

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