Yeah, I sent the check two weeks ago. Yeah.
Hey, boy, boy.
Why are you going so slow?
I was out for half an hour. You should be done with all this.
-Yes. But to get the consistency-- -Yeah, yeah.
And how long that guy has been there, huh? How long?
I'm so sorry for this wait. How may I help you?
Yeah. I wanna return this.
Sir, it is not possible to return it if you eat it already.
This is the policy, as you can remember.
No, no, because I didn't eat it.
I sampled two of those drumsticks, I took half a bite of this thigh,
and I did not like it.
I'm so sorry for you.
But then why do you keep coming to buy it?
I thought maybe today might be different.
Just one second. Thank you.
My friend, is there anything else I can help you with?
I already told you! This fricking breast, I didn't touch it, I didn't eat it.
Maybe that leg bone rubbed up against that biscuit, so I'll pay for that.
Okay. I refund you for one tender and one wing.
All right.
Hey, hey!
Does this look like a charity here, huh?
I'm sorry. But he was driving away other business.
Zahir, get your head out of cloud, for God's sake.
And stop burning the chicken!
Stand clear of the closing doors, please.
This is Flushing-Main Street.
-Hello. -What's up?
You're back already. What time is it?
8:45. It took me more than two hours.
There's construction on the 7. I waited forever.
Construction on the 7
How much chicken you burn last night?
I did not burn any.
Just like three or four pieces.
But that crazy guy, he come again.
I gave him money back for the white meat,
so you can thank me he won't come for your shift today.
You are a martyr.
Hey, I saw another piano.
Just sitting in a hotel lobby, no one even playing it.
That's three I see this month.
They're everywhere. New York is crazy.
If I start playing piano in some hotel lobby,
they'll probably arrest me.
And I don't have time. I have to work.
Where I'm going to put my mother when she comes? In the closet?
I don't want my mother to sleep in the closet either.
Maybe sometimes.
But I still find one hour per week to practice rubab.
It remind me.
You go too long, you start to forget.
Maybe I want to forget.
The piano is why I am stuck here.
It's why I missed my father's funeral.
What son misses his father's funeral?
Zahir…
Your father loved the piano.
The only thing he loved more than the piano was you.
It's been nine months.
Your father would want you to play.
Hey.
Tell the boss I send my love.
Yeah. I'll pick up the roses on the way.
It's no one's business
If I'm wandering around And I'm happy
It's no one's business
If I'm breaking a bottle
It's no one's business
The windows are open. They will hear you!
We can sing in our own home.
Have you invited the Taliban for tea?
If for tonight you could be my Juliet
It's no one's business
-They will kill you twice. -Romeo is in love with you
Mother, sit, here is tea for you.
I'm tired, dear.
I know. I know.
Time to get up, light of my eye.
Mr. Nadiri? Mr. Nadiri?
Can you tell me why you're here? What are you doing in this country?
I just come here for two weeks for a music exchange.
We played Carnegie Hall.
But while I'm here, the Taliban is attacking again,
and it is not safe for a musician to return.
When I was growing up, the Taliban make it illegal to play music.
Yes. No, I'm aware.
And have you ever committed acts of terrorism?
No. Nothing like this.
I'm sorry. It's not personal.
It's the law. They make us ask.
You said a music exchange. What instrument do you play?
I played piano.
My daughter plays piano. She's studying to be a musician.
Is it possible you also help with my mother?
I am working double shift, six days per week,
to save money so she can come.
I understand.
Let's focus on getting your asylum approved,
then we can start the process of bringing your mother over to join you. Okay?
Get me drunk
So I can feel alive
Give me a drink
Save me from my sadness
Bartender--
Old man, I had warned you not to sing again.
Next time I hear you sing, I take out your tongue.
Brother, excuse us. I'm sorry.
Dad, he said "cut out your tongue."
Son,
listen to me.
The right answer to a fool
is silence.
If they think they can stop music
with guns,
they are all fools.
They don't even know what music is.
Close your eyes. Listen.
Go ahead,
close them. It's okay.
Now, do you hear the sound from the shoemaker?
What else do you hear?
You see?
Imagine your own private symphony.
Come, your mother will start to worry.
There was another attack today.
A truck bomb at a hotel.
You look skinny.
I am exactly the same.
Did the money come through?
I told you, keep your money.
I have everything I need.
It's nothing.
They pay musicians well here.
Have you eaten today?
I've eaten enough in my life.
I have something to tell you.
They will give me a green card soon!
And then you will be able to come to America.
Green card?
Really?
It's been so long since I've seen you, light of my eye.
Will you send me a video of your next concert?
It's too quiet here
without you.
Mother,
I told you.
In American concert halls
they don't allow recording.
It's part of my contract with the orchestra.
Yes, it's okay, it's okay.
If your father was alive,
he would be so proud of you.
You haven't seen your mother like this.
Here! You see?
I was never a jealous woman.
Until your father
met a piano.
When I was your age,
the Taliban were not here.
It was the Russians
that tried to destroy our culture.
Don't tell anyone.
The Russians did one good thing.
They brought pianos.
Most have been destroyed now.
Maybe
only a few left in the whole country.
Will they ever come back,
the Russians with their pianos?
No.
They bowed their heads and fled.
And one day, so will the Taliban.
Even until eternity, no one can tell Afghans what to do.
Understood?
It's going to be okay.
-Zahir! -Get down! Stay there!
Hey, where are you?
Hey! Zahir, where are you?
Picasso, Picasso.
Will it kill you if you go a bit faster?
Why doesn't he bother you?
Because I am… chicken king.
Yo.
Your turn.
Yeah, man, I wanna return this.
Sir, I'm very sorry. I cannot.
Come on, man. You can see, I haven't touched the tender or the wing.
Look, they're still separated by the paper.
I cannot today. I will be fired.
Whatever happened to "The customer's always right"?
I don't know. It's not possible for someone to always be right.
Yes, it is.
I mean, that's the whole point of being a goddamn customer!
You know what, man? This is what is wrong with this goddamn country!
There's no accountability!
You looking at me?
A corporation has got to protect its community.
You know I live here?
This is my neighborhood! Where'd you come from?
You got a problem with me, man.
Look at me! You got a problem with me!
What'd you say to that guy, man?
He's totally crazy.
Zahir. Zahir!
He's got a gun!
Zahir!
Hey!
Get down! Get down!
What should we do?
Get down! Stay down!
Hey! Let me in!
What's going on in here?
Get down! Get down! Stay there!
Come on, man, I just wanna tell you that I'm sorry!
I can tell you're still in there!
Let me in!
Assholes!
We used to play with the bullets we found in the street.
We went to the roof to watch the artillery fire.
We were born in a civil war.
We survived two bombings in our school.
But we nearly get killed for three and a half pieces of chicken.
When we decided to stay here, this is not how I thought it would be.
We came here for the American dream, but…
It's not like it's even a full chicken.
It's for three and a half pieces of chicken that--
What?
I need a piano.
How much for this?
Eighty dollars.
You want speakers too?
-I'm short. Twenty dollars more. -What?
Great speakers.
Very good quality.
Thank you.
Oh, yeah.
Perfect. We'll put it there.
Here you go.
Okay.
Looks like you have a whole orchestra there with you.
Now I know why this is so cheap. You cannot play this.
Okay. Okay. Let's see.
"Piano tones.
Grand? Classical? Rock? Jazz?"
-Grand. -Good choice.
Grand.
You are sure you don't want to wear something more
appropriate for the setting?
Okay.
Take it away.
Long live Afghanistan!
Zahir, come!
Come look!
The Taliban are gone!
Long live Afghanistan!
Thank God, my children. Thank God.
Thank God.
Did something change?
No. Well, yes. Well, maybe.
Thank you.
And also, for seeing me on such short notice.
You tell me your daughter goes to a school to study piano.
Do you think it is possible I also can go to a school like that?
Well, these schools are very difficult to get into.
Yes, I understand this.
You would need time to prepare an audition.
Yes. I will do this.
Well, there is someone I know who you may be able to play for.
-But how serious are you about this? -Very.
-Okay, then. -Okay? Thank you.
And also, about my mother. When do you think she'll be able to come?
The process takes time.
We're doing everything we can right now.
What are you doing?
I don't know what I'm doing.
My audition is tomorrow, and I'm not prepared.
You're not prepared?
I have seen you prepare so much even I am prepared.
My mother thinks I have a contract with the orchestra.
What happens if I cannot get into a school?
She will come here, and she will see that I'm making chicken.
She won't see you making chicken. She'll see you burning the chicken.
Zahir, you will get into that school.
And when she comes, you will play for her like you have promised.
Now get back to work. Not too loud.
They're just running behind. She'll be here in a minute.
Have you heard any more about my mother, about my progress?
Let's talk about that after. Okay?
So you have heard something?
We're here for your audition. Let's just focus on that.
If it's about my mother, then I need to know now.
There's just been some policy changes.
How much longer before I can bring her?
They're classifying certain countries as--
Look, it could be many, many years.
Zahir, this is Karen.
She works in admissions here at the school.
Reena tells me you've prepared an original composition.
Yes, that is correct.
Do you have a title for it?
It is called "Poem for My Mother."
Well, I'd love to hear it.
Zahir. Zahir.
Come! Come! Come quick!
I have a surprise!
Excuse us. Please, make room for my son.
Please, make room.
Excuse us. Please move.
Excuse me, brother.
We found it!
Go on, my son.
Touch it.
Don't be afraid. I am here.
So?
You did it?
Oh brother, come here!
Well done!
The boy's going places!
Come eat.
-What is all this? -We are celebrating your success.
There's nothing to celebrate. I'm turning it down.
-What? What you are talking about? -My mother. They changed the rules.
They're making it impossible for her to come. I have to go home.
No. No, no. You c--
You can't leave. They won't let you back in.
-It's not safe for you back home. -It's not safe for us here.
We almost got killed over some chicken bones.
I missed my father's funeral.
If I stay here… I will miss my mother's too.
Zahir, you don't know that.
The only thing for certain is they change rules
and then they change them again.
You have been lying to your mother to make her happy, yes?
Now this, the truth, will make her happy.
This. This is what she wants for you. Zahir…
The Prophet was exiled.
They tried to kill him.
He lost his sons.
But he always knew his calling.
Zahir.
You could never be who you were supposed to be in Afghanistan.
That is why you have been delivered here. So do what you came to do.
Okay?
Come here.
Crazy.
Yeah?
My mother's recipe.
Come eat. Sit.
Zahir, come on.
Eat.
Eat well. Dress well. Life is short.
-What is this? -I don't know.
My mother always uses these spices.
I can only make fried chicken.
I can't even do that.
Oh, no more burning chicken. You are now big musician, yeah.
Light of my eye, you grew up so fast.
What is it?
It isn't too tight?
What if…
What if I'm not good enough to play in America?
This is not up to you.
It has already been written,
just like the music.
Before you even saw a piano,
you were better than most pianists.
That was G
Fifty-two white,
thirty-six black.
Now there is one more piano in Kabul.
Pick another one.
C…
One of my favorites.
C…
Play some more!