The Worthy

---

1

My father rarely spoke about the past...

with one exception.

While on his usual route from

the city to the country...

he decided to stop for a hitchhiker.

That's my dad...

always picking up strangers.

But this man was different.

He asked to be dropped off at exit 77.

A road to nowhere.

Before leaving, the man

passed along a warning--

Beware the Black Flags.

Their only loyalty is to themselves.

He advised my father to

gather up supplies and flee.

Find somewhere safe and secluded.

Hide out there...

and above all, stay guarded.

So that's exactly what we did.

The Seer.

That's what my father called the man.

Since he foresaw the end.

After that...

the Black Flags

and other paramilitary groups

began battling one another for supremacy.

Everything in sight was gutted

and burned, then left to rot.

Those who avoided getting

murdered in the streets...

frequently wound up either starving

or freezing to death inside their homes.

One thing all of these

people had in common--

They died afraid.

Cold, hungry, and afraid.

Then things got even worse.

One of the remaining paramilitary groups

succeeded in contaminating the water supply.

A single drop had the capacity to

destroy your entire immune system.

That's when all hell broke loose.

Entire cities were erased from existence.

The land that gave birth to heaven's

religions was utterly laid to waste.

Those of us who managed to survive

had nothing left to hold on to...

nothing except our faith in humanity...

and in each other.

Forget it.

You know what I mean?

I do.

That's why I'm telling you to forget it.

My dad won't let you near her.

I can't accept that.

I'm going to talk to him.

Man to man.

You don't think I'll do it?

Checkmate.

I wasn't paying attention.

New game.

Come on play again!

Dad...

Dad!

We've got visitors.

How many?

I only saw one.

Get back up there.

Be ready to give me cover.

Shuaib!

Now is not the time, Jamal.

I'm coming with you.

No, you're not.

- Father.

- Maryam!

Stop treating me like a child.

I can help out there.

I know, sweetheart.

No one here is more capable than you.

That's why I need you to stay inside

and look after the others.

Two knocks, we're clear.

Three, there's a problem.

She's sick.

From the water.

Please help me.

I don't like this.

Come here.

Come here!

Wait...

it's a trap.

She's my daughter's age, damn it.

Shuaib, don't unlock the gate.

Please help me.

Or just kill me.

I have to try.

Hold this.

What are you doing, Dad?

Don't worry. He can handle himself.

Just cover him.

Shuaib!

Shut the gate the second I'm back in.

Shuaib...

Five girls near the water spring

Only one's the love for me

Five girls near the water spring

Three are gone and two remain

If I were you...

I'd stay put.

Lower your gun.

Give me the girl.

Lower your gun, buddy.

- The girl.

- I won't ask you again!

Now drop it.

It stays in my hand.

What name do you go by?

None of your business.

Who are you with?

None of your business.

They call me Abu Eissa.

And I'm...

a drifter.

Affiliated with no one.

So what brings you here?

What do you want?

Water.

I need water.

I'll give you a gallon.

You give me the girl.

I must say...

that's very generous of you.

All that beautiful water

you've got up there.

And the most you can spare is a gallon?

That just won't do.

It's not only for me.

What if I throw in a little gift

besides her?

- What?

- I've got bullets.

As many as you want.

Nine millimeter?

No.

I've got... 22s.

How about 762s?

Afraid not.

But I do have...

Chill out, Abu Eissa! Relax a little.

I told you, it's a gift.

MkvCage.com

Wait.

I've got these.

Very useful.

Don't need a weapon to trigger them.

Any sort of pin or nail will do.

They create catastrophes.

I have no need for them.

Listen to me.

I'll give you three gallons of water.

You give me the girl.

And you and your friends

never come back here.

You don't need their permission.

This is just between us.

You're right.

It's just between us.

Shuaib! Get back here!

Can't get a mark on either of them!

Fire!

On the truck!

Shuaib!

Khaled?

Gabba?

Come on, Dad. Move!

Have them throw down their

weapons or I'll blow--

You okay?

Don't shoot!

I was just passing through.

Heard you fighting.

Chose your side.

And what brought you here?

I was looking for shelter.

There are bandits everywhere.

I was just hoping to find some good people.

Are you alone?

Glbin!

Anyone else?

It's just the two of us.

You mind if I get my knife?

Have you said hello

to the guys that shot me?

Glbin doesn't speak any Arabic.

She's Kurdish,

and my Kurdish isn't so good.

But somehow we manage to communicate.

Dad!

It's all right.

You're not hurt?

Had you more accuracy,

you might have killed my benefactor here.

I thought he was with...

I know what you thought.

It's okay.

My name is Shuaib.

That's Qais.

Name's Mussa.

You saved my father?

Thank you.

Please come in.

We can clean up your wound at least.

My son here was captain

of his football team.

Top scorer two years running.

God bless him!

I'm sorry for your losses.

We are all on this same path.

Bury the girl first thing tomorrow.

Blood's not mine, don't worry.

Mussa.

This is my daughter Maryam.

Hello.

Daoud... draws.

Graphic design and animation, actually.

Did some work for TV.

Draws.

Zaineb. Bilal.

We have guests.

I'm Mussa. This is Glbin.

Hey.

Welcome.

The palace is vast.

Make yourselves comfortable.

What is this place?

Used to be an airplane wings factory.

How long have you been here?

Three hundred eighteen days.

Is everything all right?

You've got something to say?

Mussa.

He should stay with us.

Just Mussa?

Eissa.

We barely know these people.

We don't know this man or his vices.

He saved your life.

What more do you need to know?

Still, we have to be careful.

The world isn't what it used to be.

Being careful didn't stop Mom

getting sick from the water.

I did all I could to save her.

We need a better plan

than just being careful.

That's what the Seer told us to do,

and I have faith in God.

You rely on God,

yet you won't plan for the future.

We need to take control of our destiny, not throw

ourselves in the quagmire and accept it as our fate.

That's enough.

You have to understand that...

I said that's enough!

Only Kurdish, I'm afraid.

You've done me a favor and I appreciate it.

You're welcome to stay for

a couple of nights, but that's all.

Unless you have nowhere else to go.

There are conditions if you stay.

You carry out duties around here

just like I ask.

Isn't it customary to let guests eat and rest

before asking them to make such decisions?

Please.

How did you two meet?

I found her in a deserted neighborhood.

She'd been hiding out there for months,

ever since her husband died.

Murdered, actually.

We've stayed together ever since.

It must have been fate

that brought us together.

Don't you think?

How was he murdered? Did she tell you?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes