- The jellyfish. - Yeah.
There are so many.
- That was great. - Yeah.
That was, like, a meter.
'Cause you liked her?
You're crazy, man. Never.
What do you think your favorite animal is now?
My favorite animal?
The grizzly bear, I guess.
'Cause it's so...
It's like a beast.
It's the definition of a beast.
- Yeah. - Why, though?
What's your favorite animal?
I think it changed.
I saw a sea turtle the other day.
Isn't he here, actually?
But, um...
yeah.
They're just swimming around.
Gracefully, you know?
Just seem kind of...
at peace and, just, I don't know...
quiet. Calm.
What I love is that
whatever beach they hatch on,
um, they always go back to that same beach
to then lay their eggs.
Um, and they go for miles and miles and miles
but then they always come back. It's like this...
homing instinct.
-I really like it. -Yeah.
Check out his arm.
Always here.
Doesn't it defeat the purpose
if you did it with a plastic knife?
No, we're-- we're just kind of
working our way up to a real knife.
Oh. Can I try?
Mm.
For example, if it's in a cage,
it's just being constantly fed food.
It doesn't understand it has to go out and actually,
like, get it itself.
Birds of prey, for example,
especially falcons, if they're kept in cages
the whole time, they lose this,
um, muscle mass here, which is the pectoral muscles,
- Mm-hmm. - which they need
to actually fly.
So, as soon as it gets let out into the wild,
you know, it tries to catch its prey and...
and it just can't. And then these animals,
they'll starve after, like, three days.
So, you need to build that up over time by training it.
So, Tariq.
Do you love animals as much as Cai here?
Nobody loves animals as much as Cai.
- Whatever, Tariq. - Really?
Are you going here for university?
Uh, I don't know. Probably not.
I wanna, um, study animal conservation.
- Mm. - So, um...
there aren't that many good, like,
- programs here for that. - Mm, yeah.
So, I kind of want to go outside.
Uh, maybe to New York?
How about you, Tariq?
Uh...
I-- I want to finish high school.
I had to take a break.
Um...
Oh.
What was your favorite thing about her?
She was-- she was funny.
Well, I'm pretty sure she was very lovely.
Well, I think I need to get back to work before I open--
We might have a good story for you.
- Really? - Yeah.
It's about a cove near here where this one-armed guy,
uh, who smuggles animals,
lives there alone with his birds.
Um, his arm got bitten off by a leopard.
He has a deal with a jinn, he made a deal with a jinn--
We don't actually know if any of that's true.
You were there with me. It's true.
Well, actually, this is a big problem in the region.
See?
The jinn is a big problem in the region.
No, not the jinn. Stop it. Not the jinn.
I mean, like, the whole animal smuggling thing is a problem.
They're trying to figure out who's doing it.
-Stop doing that. Stop laughing. -I gotta pee, man.
No, it is a good story, Tariq. It is.
I told you it's a good story.
Yes, it is.
Just watch out for the jinn in the bathroom.
- He's so scared. - Why?
- Bye, Mom. - Love you. Have fun.
Hi!
- How are you, man? - You look good, man.
What do you think? Hey, can you help me tie my masar?
Yeah, sure, sure.
-This way, right? -Yeah.
Hey, how's your sister?
Uh, it's her wedding.
She's probably stressed but I'm sure--
I'm sure she's fine.
Coming from you.
Uh, I'm saving myself for someone special,
and you know that.
-That's the target? -Yeah.
Yeah.
How did your mom and dad meet?
Uh, I don't know exactly.
My parents are weird.
Sometimes it feels like their main love
is their work here, you know?
Hey, I like your parents.
Yeah, they're cool, it's just...
I don't know, sometimes I feel like-
Whatever, man.
They leave you alone, you get to do whatever you want.
You're lucky.
Was tonight the first time that Alia met Ahmed?
No, they met a couple of times before.
His father was a good friend of my dad.
What's he like?
- Ahmed? - Yeah.
He's fine, I guess.
Shit. What time is it?
Uh, I think it's the morning. I'm not sure.
Yeah. Oh.
You're just leaving 'cause I'm winning.
Yeah, that's it. I'll let you have this one. See you.
All right, man, see you in a bit.
You work at a zoo, Cai.
You're not the savior of the animal kingdom.
Look...
almost all of these animals were born in captivity.
And I didn't put them here.
I work here because...
I want people to care about them more.
I work here.
Twice as much as you do,
because even though the pay is shit, it still pays.
You have more time than I do to care about these things.
We're not gonna go extinct.
We're smart people.
We figured it out.
And even if it's all true...
people are just trying to live,
you know?
You care about these animals more than you admit.
I never said I hated animals.
I just care about people more.
I know it sounds like a bunch of bullshit.
And people suck. They don't care about things
until they're this close to their face.
And since they're all here, they can learn about them.
Keep them healthy.
This one's still my favorite.
There're all these other animals who would die in the wild.
They can't hunt, they can't fend for themselves.
They'd be prey in an instant.
Or they would starve to death.
This one is...
- This one would survive? - No, look at it.
It's weak.
I need to train it. Properly.
Hey, have a look at this tiger.
Fucking motherfucker.
Oh, I'm getting you.
- Mine's wet, man. - That's disgusting.
Alia?
Tariq.
Alia?
Oh, oh, just leave it. It's not for you.
You try it, then.
I don't want to get my shoes dirty.
Do you know how much this costs?
What are you doing?
-Improving them. -Serious?
Didn't even pay for shit, man.
Your parents bought them for you.
Oh, wow.
Well, at least my parents can afford new shoes for me.
I'm gonna get a snack. Can anyone spot me?
Uh, yeah, I got some cash in my pocket if you want.
What is this?
Oh, wait, no, no, no.
Give it back, give it back. Faris, Faris.
Mo, Mo, Mo, Mo, come on. Give it back.
- Give it back. - What are these?
They're gauntlets.
-And that's pigeon meat. -Ew.
Yeah. Cai has been making friends with one of the falcons.
He wants to steal it
so he can train it and then set it free.
Don't set it free. You should sell it.
Let's do it now.
Yeah, come on. We can help you train it.
-No. -Why not?
I'm not doing it now.
Guys, it's a bad idea. I'm doing it by myself.
Guys, guys. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm not-- I'm not gonna do it with you shitheads here. No.
How much did the zoo pay for this?
Not much. It's not worth much untrained.
You know, my uncle paid 5,000 for one like this.
Your uncle's an idiot.
No, I hate to say it, but Mo's right.
I mean,
when these things are trained they can go for quite a lot.
Take it now.
I'll give you 50 if you take it.
Fifty.
Shit.
You guys just go ahead, all right?
You're gonna blow my cover. I'll meet you outside.
Alia.
Mm.
- What's going on? - Just give me a second.
Tariq, what the hell are you doing?
What's going on?
It's private.
You can tell me.
It's a family thing, Cai.
You don't understand.
What do you mean I don't understand?
Okay, fine.
It's Alia.
She needs my help.
She told me she wants to get a divorce.
Why? What happened?
I don't know.
It's not like she just dislikes him.
He actually seems really scary.
I'm sorry to have to ask, but...
what does this have to do with you trying to steal a pigeon?
I promised her I would help her get the money.
-For what? -To get a divorce.
She needs to bring him back everything
he gave us at the wedding.
How much is it?
-A lot. -How much is a lot?
A lot a lot.
And your dad just can't...
-I'm gonna ask my parents-- -No.
- No. - Why not?
It's a very private thing, Cai.
-I need to solve this myself. -Okay.
So, we're stealing pigeons...
and then what?
-Selling them. -Just pigeons?
Just pigeons, right?
What else have you tried to sell?
Couple of pigeons...
two of the cats, and a few other birds.
-What else? -That's it, I swear.
I swear, that's it.
Okay.
They have to have been born in captivity.
So, animals that wouldn't survive
-if we just set them free. -Yeah.
Um, definitely no endangered species.
-Okay. -And,
ideally, we send them to a good home.
So, pretty much all of these.
Let me add, let's be smart about this.
We both know what we can
and what we can't get away with here, so...
let's just not lose our jobs.
We're not going to lose our jobs.
We know this place better than anyone.
It's just a side business.
Yeah, we got it.
Do you feel how soft it is?
That's why it's so...
-expensive. -How much?
Well, normally they go for about 30 rial.
Thank you.
Shukran.
-Are you selling pigeons? -Yep.
Can I have a look?
-Uh, yeah. It's the Zajal. -The Zajal?
Yeah.
How much for that white one?
Yeah.
-Shukran. -Shukran.
Shukran.
Hey.
Seventy rial... for two pigeons.
Shukran, habibi.
Easy, easy. It's all right. It's all right.
Tariq, Tariq.
Oh, my God. Okay. Can you-- can you help me?
- What is it? - I need your help.
- Like this? - No, I need-
I need to put these dresses on her, but I don't--
I don't think I can do it on my own,
so I'm gonna need you to hold her, okay?
-Yeah? Look-- -Just tell me how.
If you get your right hand-- I want you to hold her.
You see how I'm holding its legs?
- Yeah. - Get your right hand
and put it-- put it where mine is.
And then make sure you get its legs.
Okay. And your left hand the same.
- Think you've got it? - Yeah.
Nice, nice, nice. Okay.
Okay, sit down here.
And then turn around.
Okay.
Okay, perfect, perfect, perfect.
Poor thing. Okay.
Soon it'll be over.
Okay.
So, once I put this rope through...
then I'm gonna attach it to my-- my gauntlet.
And then we're gonna hoist her up.
I'm gonna have her in my hand.
Okay?
Be very fast, but...
we should be okay.
Okay.
Just like this?
Stand up.
We're gonna let her go, she's gonna come to me.
Okay.
There we go. Okay.
There she is. Whew.
Isn't she gorgeous?
I can't believe it worked.
It's all right. It's okay, it's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay. Yeah.
Isn't she beautiful?
So, grab-- grab this with your right hand.
Okay, I'm gonna hold this.
Slowly I'm gonna wriggle my hand out.
Okay, okay. Perfect, perfect, perfect.
Nice, Tariq, nice. Nice.
Perfect.
-How does she feel? -Man... I have no words.
Okay.
This is our living space.
Here are the stairs.
So, part of the-- the manning process is that...
you've got to keep talking to her
so she gets used to your voice.
This is our beautiful hallway.
Our entrance.
Our entrance. Very grand.
Yeah.
My God, she's doing so well.
-She's so calm. -Yeah.
What did she say? How is she?
She didn't answer.
Do you think she's okay?
I don't know.
Today was a good day. Made about 50 bucks.
It's too slow, Cai. It's too slow.
Do you have a better idea?
I don't know.
But I've been thinking about that guy.
What guy?
The smuggler Hilal showed us.
Yeah?
Do you really think he cursed that place?
Do you mean do I think
there's a jinn protecting his pirate's cove?
No, shut up.
I'm not afraid of the jinn.
I'm afraid of that one-armed man.
You wanna send him these rabbits?
No.
I want to send him something bigger.
Hey, Lara. Come here.
I thought you loved all animals.
I do, I just...
I don't prefer snakes.
Actually...
I hate to say it, but this one's worth quite a lot.
- Are you sure? - Yeah.
The zoo has no idea how much it's worth.
Give me your backpack.
It's not going to fit.
Wait, wait, you're gonna do it now?
Wait, Tariq. Listen, I mean-- I mean-- I mean
we don't even know if what they say about that guy is true.
I mean, it sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me.
How else do you think he lost his arm, man?
I believe Hilal.
Okay, what are you gonna say to Amal
when he realizes his snake's gone?
No one's even gonna notice, man.
I'm the one who feeds her.
I can't believe we're doing this now.
It's not like we're selling a tiger.
Are you sure it's worth a lot of money?
It's an albino pied.
Can you give me the bag?
Let's go.
Yeah, it should-- Yeah, there it is.
- This white one? - The white one, yeah.
I think if we get it back by Sunday, it's all good.
-Okay. -Yeah.
You sure you know how to hot-wire a car?
- Yes. - Yeah, awesome.
- It's all on you, man. - Okay.
Yeah.
- So, Cai? - Yeah?
What's happening?
These wires are supposed to start the ignition--
I think this can help you start the ignition.
Idiot.
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, I'm driving.
No, I said I was going to drive.
No. Come on.
Tariq.
Open the door.
Tariq.
I'm sorry, man.
- The door doesn't work. - Thank you.
Shit, shit. Stop the car, stop the car.
Shit, Lara's out.
Why was the bag open?
I left it open so she could breathe.
Can you not do that again?
Hey, Lara.
-Look at her. -No, no, don't--
cut it out.
Why are you so scared of her, man?
- Because she's big. - She's friendly.
She's not, she's... unpredictable.
Can you fully close it this time?
Lara...
just get in the bag for a bit.
How-- So, how do you think this works?
We're just gonna show up,
give him the snake, and he'll give us the money?
I don't know, man.
This is my first time selling a snake on the black market.
To a smuggler.
What should we do with the extra cash?
If it's $20,000.
It's your money, man.
-Whatever you want. -Maybe we should...
buy a boat. A small boat.
And just, like, take tourists out for rides.
-Yeah. -Yeah.
- We should do that. - Yeah, that'd be cool.
Yeah.
I've been meaning to tell you, I, uh--
I got into U.B.C.
Canada?
-Are you gonna go? -Yeah, I think so.
It's one of my top schools and, uh...
it's got a great animal conservation program.
When are you leaving?
Classes start in September, so...
late August.
There's no future for you here.
I can't leave.
Even-- even if I could get a visa to the States.
You can't leave your family.
I don't wanna leave.
At least I don't...
I don't know.
But you know how much I love it here.
You love it here because you can leave.
Every summer you get to travel and meet girls.
Do whatever you want.
While I am here shoveling monkey shit.
I'm gonna finish school, too.
Maybe... maybe even get a decent job.
In ministry.
You're a smart guy.
I have faith in you.
Ready?
Yeah.
Yeah. You told me it was worth $20,000.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
So, I did some research...
and the guy was right.
Lara's just an albino python, not an albino pied python.
Their markings are just a little bit different.
It was a super easy mistake to make.
So, how are you?
-I'm fine. -Just fine?
What do you want?
Yeah.
Hmm.
Okay, Ameera.
You ready?
Yeah?
All right, you want me to take this off?
This is it.
What do you think?
You like it? Come on, come on.
What's it like seeing everything this high up?
Whoa, come on, come on. Come over here. Come on.
Soon you'll be able to fly wherever you want.
One month, okay?
When you're ready.
Hello. Hello.
It's okay.
It's okay, it's okay.
What are you doing here?
Okay.
Maybe you can catch it. Yeah?
What's that?
You're gonna hunt for it, yeah? You see it?
You see, just up there, yeah. You see it?
Straight ahead.
Shit, shit, shit.
No, no, no, no...
Tariq, call me back. Um...
I think...
I think someone stole my falcon. Um...
Yeah, just call me back when you can. Okay.
Tariq, what are you doing?
I found a buyer for Ameera.
He's gonna give me $5,000 for her.
-You can't do that. -I have to.
- Tariq, she's my bird. - She's not your bird.
You took her from the zoo.
Tariq, this is stupid.
She's not trained.
A falcon isn't like a pigeon or a rabbit!
-I know that. -No one's gonna pay shit
for an untrained falcon!
They're gonna want to see her fly free and come back!
And you take that hood off and she's gonna be gone
in an instant, and she's not gonna come back!
'Cause she's gonna starve to death!
Then help me train her.
No.
No, I'm not gonna help you.
I am done selling animals to God knows who!
And I didn't feel good about it to begin with,
and I don't feel good about it now.
I just did it 'cause I wanted to help you.
You always act like you know better than anyone.
You're always sending me these things about the world
like I'm an idiot. I know things too!
You don't understand anything about me.
Or my family.
You think it's all a big game, and then you complain about
how are these animals going to be treated
as if I give a shit when my family's in trouble.
You know what?
You're just a selfish rich kid like Mo.
And I don't care that you're moving to Canada.
Fuck you, Tariq.
Hi. I wanted to give you this back.
I've been looking for this.
Yeah. I saw your bird and I was curious. Sorry.
I wanted to ask you about something.
This word.
- Oh, creance. - What is that?
It's basically like a leash, except much longer.
So, it allows the falcon to feel like it's flying free
without the risk of it getting away.
Oh, okay.
I don't know if Tariq told you, but...
I left Ahmed.
For good. And...
I know I should be scared, and I know what
that means for my family, but...
I feel relieved.
I'll see you around.
And Cai?
When you set her free,
can I be there?
- Okay. - Great.
How's Ameera?
You tried feeding her pigeon instead of chicken?
I've tried everything.
Maybe it's her location.
Birds in the wild have their favorite perches.
And sometimes they won't eat unless they're there.
She isn't flying, either.
You've been weighing her?
She needs to be hungry to fly, but...
she won't fly if she's not healthy.
Who are you selling her to?
Uh...
Mo's uncle wants to buy her.
But he needs to see her fly first.
Also, I have no idea how the leash works.
My hand is covered in scabs.
Look, I don't know if, um...
I think I can help you.
-I'm gonna miss this place. -Really?
Not really.
I'll miss the creatures that live here, though.
- Take these two shorter ones. - Okay.
You see this one and this one?
And you just want to pull them equally.
To loosen the hood, okay?
Nice, and then just pull it forward.
In one smooth motion.
There we go. Nice, nice, nice, nice, nice.
I know what you guys are doing.
- What do you mean? - Cai.
Are you really sure about this?
I'm sure, yeah.
Okay. I've been doing some reading
and we need to change this whole aviary.
We need to change the windows.
The shredded wire will hurt her.
- We need to put bars instead- - Alia.
Alia. What are you doing?
-I want to help. -No.
Cai and I are going to solve this. Not you.
You didn't ask me if I want you to sell her or not.
Look, this is how things are,
and I don't have a better solution,
so I want to help.
But you can't just come in here and--
Tariq...
We named her Ameera.
Hi, princess.
It's too loud for you here.
Let's take you out, okay?
Let's take you out. Don't be scared.
Hah!
Okay, can you stand there? Yeah, thanks.
Okay.
Hah!
Hah! Hah!
I really don't know what's gonna happen.
Let's hope she chooses to come to us, but...
equally she could choose to fly away and not come back.
Uh... and then we'd be really screwed.
We've done everything we can,
now let's just hope for the best, Tariq.
Hold this. Don't shorten it. Okay.
Hah!
Put it behind your back so she can't see it.
Hah! Hah!
Hah!
Hah! Hah!
Guys, I'm not sure she's gonna do it today.
Hah!
Hey, Ameera.
Oh, my God.
Now you like me, huh?
- How's it going? - Good, good.
Getting there.
Mo called.
His uncle found another bird.
Ameera is not ready.
He's gonna buy the other one.
Okay.
Think she's ready?
I don't know.
She might not come back.
I see a car coming.
I'm not sure if it's them.
It's Mo.
- Oh, it's him. - Yeah. Let's go.
Will it come back?
Yeah, I mean, uh, she's a great bird.
We've been training her for about a month now.
Um, she's got a fantastic personality,
she's great around people.
Uh, she's at the right weight as well, today, and...
yeah, I think she will come back.
-Zayn. -Let's see it.
Let's see.
Let's go this way for the wind. Okay?
Alia?
You ready?
Just like we did before, okay?
I'm gonna unhook her jesses.
Okay.
When you're ready, take the hood off.
You can do this.
Hah!