"Cairo – February 2020"
Turn left then right
Your destination is on the right
– Salah? – Yes, sir. Please get in.
– Good evening. – Good evening.
Next time someone asks if you want something, say "No thank you."
– Yes, mom. – I walked out of the meeting.
12 million? Who are they kidding? I'm almost there. See you in a minute.
No, Auntie. I'm a grownup and he can't keep beating me.
Fine, if I can't come to your place, I'll figure something out.
Thank you.
On your children's inheritance, Allah commands you
The male's portion equals that of two females
If he has left more than two daughters, they get two–thirds of the inheritance
So you still won't tell me where you got my number?
Of course I'm coming. I just wanted to know who gave you my number
So I can thank her
Your destination is on the right
Where are you taking the suitcase, Hassan?
Take my suitcase to the car move or I'll hit you with my crutch
– Wait, Hassan! Calm down so we can talk – There's nothing to say
– I can't let you leave in this state – There's nothing to say
– Get this door! Open it – Wait a minute, please
Please! We should talk at least and come to an understanding
– Impossible – Every problem has a solution
– Come on, get out of the car – Move this chair forward
– Yes – Don't start the car
Close the door right now!
Excuse me, ma'am, you didn't specify a destination.
– The airport – Yes
Hossam, I'm on my way to the airport right now. I need to leave the country
Anywhere
I mean anywhere. London, Paris, Beirut, Australia, even Djibouti
Please just book me a ticket on the first flight out of Egypt
Okay. I'll be waiting. Thank you.
– Here, ma'am. – No. I quit.
Okay
"Beyn Qaawsein starring Jameelah Al–Badrawy"
Ma'am, are you...
– Yes, I'm her – Right
Sorry, ma'am
Hello? Yes, dear. No, this is my last client. Maybe an hour.
Okay, you go to bed, dear. I'll take care of everything once I'm home
Scared? Of what?
See, this is all because of those wretched horror shows you love
No, dear, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Listen to me and go to bed. I'll take care of everything ready once I'm home.
Come on so you can wake up on time. Goodnight. Bye, dear.
Would you like to listen to music or any particular songs?
Anything's fine
"Cairo 1986"
– Could you turn it down please? – Yes, ma'am
Yes, Hossam.
7:30?
That's in... seven hours. There's nothing earlier?
– Could you please stop the car? – Yes, ma'am
Yes, Hossam. Fine, book the ticket.
Yes.
I need a wheelchair at the airport.
Loulou, are you home? Yes, dear. Are you home?
I have a 7:30 flight and I wanted to stay at your place until then
I'm fine. I'll tell you when I get there. Okay, dear. Bye.
– I'd like to go to Maadi, please – Yes, ma'am
– You can turn the music back on – Yes, ma'am
– He looks like Ziad, by the way – What?
He looks like Ziad, who played your son in the movie Time Difference
Actually, you're right
So did you like the movie?
I saw it last Friday and I'm going again next Friday
– You liked it that much? – Absolutely
It's not just the movie that I liked
What I liked even more was how your plan succeeded
What plan?
How everything the protagonist goes through is a bunch of illusions
I think you put in that twist to make sure people go to see the movie again
To verify the events, right? You do call it a twist, right?
Yes, we call it a twist
– I wanted to ask you a question, ma'am – Ask
Fans usually like to find out everything they can about their favorite celebs
Do celebs like to find out anything about their fans?
For instance, would you like to learn anything about me?
I mean...
Am I one of your favorite celebs? Or is it just because I'm riding with you?
I just told you I'm going to see the movie again next Friday
But you also said you're going back for the twist
Not because you admire my work
– So? – What?
So you don't want to ask me any questions about myself?
– You insist? – Of course I don't. It's up to you.
Do you love your wife?
Of course, I loved her with all my heart before she passed way
– I'm sorry – Not at all, no need to be sorry, ma'am
– I thought you spoke to... – That was Karmah, my daughter
– God protect her – God bless you, thanks
Before my wife passed away, may she rest in peace, she insisted I remarry
And she wrote a list of all our close female acquaintances
And you're supposed to pick one?
No, I'm never to consider one of those if I decide to remarry
Does the GPS show how far this traffic jam goes?
Actually all I can see is red, but it's honestly my fault
I probably should've taken the October 6 Bridge to the Corniche
But I thought this route would be easier. I'm sorry.
You couldn't have known.
Traffic jams now happen for no reason all the time
That's right
Well, could you please stop at the first gas station with a restroom?
Of course, ma'am. Certainly.
By the way, there's a gas station at the top of Qasr Al–Ainy Street
– Unless you'd rather wait until Maadi? – No, the gas station, please
– Certainly – Thank you
Espresso? Thank you, great timing
Thank you
Are those Bimbo cookies? They still make them?
Could you please get me one?
Gosh, I had no idea they still made them. Awesome.
I liked the old wrapper, though Remember that old gold crinkly one?
Yes
It tastes exactly the same. Do you like them?
Of course
It takes me back to my childhood
Excuse me, I'm going to use the restroom
"I love you, Salah I wish you knew who I really am"
One moment
Come on, Monzy
Sorry, Monzy, the lady has a plane to catch. I'll take a group pic
You can all share it. Send it to them, Monzy
– Okay – A little to the right, yes
Excellent. Thank you, guys Please, ma'am, I'm just going to pay
– I paid. Please just take this for me? – Of course. Please. Thank you.
– Your coffee – Never mind
– Thank you for rescuing me – No need to thank me, ma'am
I should be thanking you for paying for my coffee
It's just that I saw your smile and I know that trapped look
Each of them wanted a separate selfie with you
Then someone's mom will be a big fan of yours
So they'll ask you to say hi to her on the phone
And someone else will ask you to send a voice message to their niece
– This has all happened before – Yeah
Usually I don't mind at all. I mean, how can you hate it if people love you
And want their picture taken with you and ask how you're doing?
– But sometimes I just can't – Yes
– When I have a broken leg – Exactly
– When I'm upset. I just can't. – That's exactly what I mean, ma'am
Often you're busy minded or burdened
Maybe you just want to be alone and not talk to anyone.
– Honestly, you celebs have my sympathy. – So you never wanted to be famous?
Famous? Me?
Obviously fame isn't bad or anything. It's a good thing.
But between you and me? Sometimes privacy is nice
It's a nice feeling to be in your own lane, unknown to anyone
You can do whatever you want whenever you want
Without everyone judging you for every single step you take
Exactly, that's what I mean, ma'am. Indeed
You know, I once wrote this Facebook post that got 72 likes. It scared me
For a month afterwards, I couldn't post a word in case people didn't like it
You became a star with 72 likes
Obviously I wasn't used to that so 72 likes scared me
You know, ma'am, here in the Garden City neighborhood
There's a fava bean cart that's always in this tiny corner
But you'll find the best fava beans in all of Egypt there
– Sounds good – It's delicious
Imagine if I were famous and went to order beans from that cart
By the time everyone had spoken to me and taken a selfie with me
The beans would have gone stale and would probably be tasteless
You're right. I wish I could do a lot of things but I can't
– Uh–oh – What's wrong?
I think I have a flat tire
– What? – Yes
I do have a flat tire. I'll call another Uber to take you to the airport
– What's your name? – Salah
No, Salah, don't call another car I can wait
As you wish, ma'am
It became obvious that the only thing chemotherapy did was wreck her
I tried every treatment I found as long as I could afford it. Why not?
So here's what I did. I sold my share in the pharmacy
And took the kids to their grandmother's and I took my wife to Indonesia
– And the treatment was a lie – Yes. Obviously
– This is really strange, though – Why's that?
Given your profession, you should've known it wasn't scientific
In those circumstances,
Heaven forbid you or your loved ones should go through them,
You hold on to any hope
That illusion seems like blinding hope
Any chance, no matter how small, is a big opportunity
The impossible becomes a miracle and God can make it come true
You know, if people bet thousands and millions on shows or casino tables
Imagine if you're betting on the life of the person you love most
– Would you bet on that or not? – Definitely
– You're definitely not sorry – Look, I would've been sorry
If I felt that I hadn't done every single thing I could at any point
Or that the one–in–a–million chance could never have been mine
But you know what? It was a nice trip
Granted, I came back empty–handed,
but it was a change of scenery and we saw some nice sights
And I think that Indonesian treatment had some drugs
Yes, so it put her in a good mood
We came home, and in a few weeks God spared her any more pain
I was a mess for about a year
I only woke up to deal with my expenses and my responsibilities as a parent
So I sold my old car and I bought this Chinese beauty here
– Congratulations – Thanks
So how did you like the story of the pharmacist–turned–driver?
Awesome
Good enough for a movie? Or does it lack suspense?
The movie will make you famous and you don't like fame
Well, you'll change all the names
That man at the house? Is he your husband?
– Yes – What did he do that upset you so badly?
It's personal. You shouldn't have asked.
I apologize. Sorry.
I got carried away talking so... I really do apologize.
We're ready to go, ma'am. I'm done.
– What did you expect? – Pardon?
When you asked me why my husband upset me, what did you expect?
What answer did you expect?
Ma'am, believe me, I apologize. I've no idea how...
I just want an answer, please.
A woman leaves the house in the middle of the night
and wants to get on the first flight out of the country
What could have happened?
Well, he could have... cheated with another woman, for instance
– A man – Sorry?
A man. My makeup artist.
It made me happy whenever they went out together and talked for hours
He never liked to visit me on set or attend any private screenings
I was happy when he connected with any part of my world
Until I found out he was cheating on me with him
How am I supposed to act in such a situation? Where do I go? What do I do?
How come I always pick the wrong man?
How didn't I see it from the beginning?
How did I not understand what was happening?
What's there inside me that blinds me to their truths?
And how come every...
How come every time the pain hurts worse than the time before?
Here
Hello? Seriously? You're still up?
Believe me, Karmah, so much has happened
It's been a long day and the traffic was awful and I had a flat tire and...
So this means you're not getting any sleep tonight?
Listen, just in case I don't make it home till morning
Make some sandwiches for Marwan and yourself
Actually, hang on. There's some money in the nightstand drawer
Take what you need and get something to eat from the supermarket, okay?
– Salah? – I'll tell you later
The day just won't end and everything is weird and... Bye now, darling
I'll tell you all about it when I'm home. Bye.
– I'm sorry – What for, ma'am?
I'm the one who's sorry for asking and bringing it up in the first place
No, I'm glad you did. I think I needed to cry.
– That's good – Loulou!
Hi, Loulou. I'm so sorry I'm so late. The traffic was impossible.
And I needed to use the restroom in a gas station. So much stuff happened
No, I can't come now. It's past three so I have to go to the airport
I'll call you when I land in Beirut I'm so sorry for keeping you up
Yes, I'm going to Beirut. Okay, dear, I'll call you when I'm there. Bye
No Maadi, then?
No Maadi. I wanted to go to kill some time and vent and you did the job
Straight to the airport, then?
When you asked if there was anything I wanted to learn about you,
What did you think I'd ask?
Nothing specific. I expected general questions
How long have you been an Uber driver? Do you have another job?
– You went for the jugular, though – I'm sorry
– Not at all. Want to hear a confession? – Go ahead
The whole time I wanted to prove to you that I wasn't just a driver
You're a famous star and I wanted you to know that I was a pharmacist
My parents raised me well. None of us is 100% whole, though
No one is perfect
– You're very kind, Salah – Why?
Because you're trying to console me
so I don't feel like the only person with problems
But people like you will never resent what life deals them
Then you're the kind one.
Everyone will resent something at some point
And believe they deserve better
Otherwise they wouldn't be human
What's wrong?
Even the October 6 Bridge is closed. Did they have to fix it tonight?
– What a weird night – Yes
– Now what? – What's wrong?
These new diversions are blocking the streets
What are we going to do? We could stop and ask
– Excuse me – Yes
I need to go to the airport. How do I get to Salah Salem Street?
Okay, stay on this street next to the aluminum wall
Until you come to a small opening
Turn right then right again and you'll be at the Merryland Park
– Yes – You know the Merryland Park, right?
– Thanks very much – You're welcome, sir
Come on, guys
Of course I know the Merryland Park
"Meet me at the Merryland entrance at 3:00 pm"
"Meet me at the Merryland at 3:00 pm"
"Heliopolis Park"
Watch out!
– I'm very sorry – It's okay
– I didn't see him. I'm sorry – It's okay
– Are you okay? – Yes, I'm fine
I was just startled. No harm done. It wasn't even your fault.
Some people would cause a disaster to arrive somewhere one minute early
Yes. They make their appointments and those running late are even later
Don't worry, I still have two and a half hours until my flight
– I meant my situation – What's wrong with it?
I'm always running late. I'm always too late for everything
On purpose? Or because you can't help it?
Believe me, it makes no difference. You never get back what you lost.
All you have left are regrets over what you missed out on
You know what I do to cheer myself up? I try to forget
No matter how hard you try to forget some stuff, however,
It keeps worming its way back into your life
You know, opportunities aren't lost only when you're too late
Sometimes you get there too soon before the opportunity's even there
You get bored of waiting and leave. The problem is timing.
Exactly, you're right. The problem is timing indeed. You're right.
– Could you turn it up a little? – Yes, ma'am
– Here – Thanks
– Don't mention it. Have a safe flight – Thank you. So how much do I owe you?
What are you talking about?
Salah, you spent the whole time since midnight driving around the country
– This won't do. – It's what you're saying that won't do
Consider it a gift from an old friend
You know, it feels like I've known you for a long time
Obviously I know you from your work
I meant it feels like I've known you personally for a long time
– I know what you mean. I feel the same. – Really?
– What school did you go to? – What school did...
I was literally about to ask you. What school did you go to?
I was at Port Said School. And you?
I was at Al–Hurreya School. Completely different neighborhood.
– Take care of yourself. – You too.
– I'll see you in good health. – God willing. Bye.
Goodbye. I'll take your bag for you. Please.
– Good morning, ma'am – Morning
Goodbye
Open your window
That bean cart you told me about must be open. I'm starving.
Get out and open the door for me
No, I'm riding in the front
– Push the chair back – Right away