We tried to tidy it up as much as we can
and our Mayor made this room available upon your request
Next to the Co-op just like you wanted
- I hope you liked it - Thank you so much
You're welcome, Miss if you need anything
you can find me available whenever you want at the Co-op
Thank you for your efforts
We'll let you rest now these are yours
We'll be here tomorrow morning
Let's have coffee together and set a schedule for the coming days
- Deal - Bye
- Bye, neighbors - Bye
- How's my beloved mother today? - Hello, dearest, hello
God bless you
It's been a very tiring day you can't imagine
Have mercy on yourself, sweety
You're pregnant, you can't work to the point of exhaustion!
Damn this Co-op
It's okay, Mother it's just one day
We got a very important guest today she was sent by the UN
She says she's staying for a while in Al Hayba to finish some work here
I hope it's all for the best
Where's Ghazi?
His father took him hunting
Hunting?
Thank you
- Who's this woman? - No clue
Here comes Zakkur
Guys, anybody who reported stolen items can come and take it from the Mayor's office
That's more like it Seems she's a good omen
We're embarrassing her
What did she mean by that? We're beneath her?
Quit taking this out of proportions! Calm down
I know Shaheen very well he never thinks this way
I hope I'm mistaken about what I have in mind
Let's see now what's on your mind?
I hope Shaheen doesn't consider him as the maid's son
No, you completely lost your mind
You think I lost my mind because I'm looking for a bride for my son
who lost his wife? Because I'm looking for someone who can help him raise his kid?
Who asked you to ask the woman's hand in marriage to begin with?
Ali is no longer a kid
He's well-balanced and he clearly knows what he wants
I always keep the kid away from guns and you take him hunting and give him a rifle?
He didn't shoot
You gave him a rifle and promised him he can shoot on the next trip
So what? In his age I used to fill cartridges with powder
He's a member of Sheikh Al Jabal family and you don't want him to learn shooting?
I don't have to lose my son just because he's a member of this family!
We only took him to a hunting trip it wasn't war!
Listen, Shaheen, let me raise my son like I see fit
or I swear you'll wake up someday and you won't see us here!
You're unbelievable! You always threaten to leave the country every time we argue!
By the way, the Co-op you worked night and day to build
are you ready to leave it behind?
This Co-op is the only thing that's making life bearable for me and your sister
Leave my sister out of this that's another matter
She traveled the world and she had access to education
and realized she has no one else but me eventually
I hope you get that in your head too some day
As you just said this is a different matter
I'm a mother who fears for the safety of her son and about to deliver a second baby
I don't wish to regret getting pregnant
Good night
Boss Shaheen levied high taxes in your absence
How's that?
He ordered that taxes levied over contraband products should be paid on the spot
He insisted that taxes had to be paid immediately without exception for anyone
He reminds me of Uncle Ghazi so much may he rest in peace
Like father like son!
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, Boss
but our clients will be so thrilled to see you back in charge
You're famous for being patient and ready to help everybody
What's the situation in the mountains?
Everything's under control, not even flies can pass through her
without reporting to this station
and all strangers trying to cross by here are punished
Good job, lad, you're a quick learner
Let's dine together, Boss we just roasted some fresh quails
How I love quails
Now tell me, Abdul Sabeh... who hunted these quails?
It's the Boss Shaheen he was hunting with Wadeeh the Engineer
I don't change my habits I only dine at home
Enjoy it, guys Bon Appetit
Thank you, Boss
Come on, guys
Hello, Mr. Engineer what seems to be the problem here?
Hello, it's just a small mechanical problem, not to worry
How are you?
Thank God, I'm all right
The axle broke it's maybe because of the heavy load
If it's the heavy load as you say why don't you unload it?
I don't think there's any need for that we'll work it out somehow
Let's call the men to help you out with this
No, no, I'm sure our men can handle this, thank you
Good night then
Fix it! Now!
Problem solved
Get this imbecile out of my face!
I will drive it myself
You sent for me?
Come close
Listen...
There's something fishy about the movement of cisterns in the plain
A few minutes ago on my way back from the warehouse...
I noticed a large number of men gathered to fix a problem that 2 men can handle
I find it weird when Wadeeh leaves his responsibilities at the dam
and joins the men to fix the problem in person
What's even weirder is that the cistern's axle broke despite the fact that it's empty
The whole scene seemed suspicious to me
No problem, I can monitor their every movement
No, we're gonna have to use a different strategy
I don't want any altercation between you and the engineer
We'll have another problem in that case
What's the solution then?
We called the project "Munitna"
and we built up a large network of relations with the farmers here
We encouraged them to rely partly on greenhouses
Abu Saleh is one of these farmers
He joined us since the very beginning and he's one of the most active members
I hope we continue to work together, ma'am this is all thanks to your efforts
Good job, it's you who's putting all the hard work
How many people are benefitting from this project at the moment?
Around 50 farmers and almost 160 houses in Al Hayba and its surrounding
You achieved all this in one year, great job
When such a project in a remote area can achieve all this success in no time...
I can say you're a great asset to Al Hayba
Are we going to take a look at the other projects?
Of course
By the way, you wouldn't have seen any of these farming lands had it not been for water
And the water became available thanks to the dam
What did they use to work before the dam
What do you think? They were all smugglers
Who's still leading this activities? Or maybe smuggling stopped now?
Of course not, as long as there's a border here, smuggling will never stop
but smuggling has its own people
Poor people have no source of income other than farming
and anyone who's willing to farm can never work as a smuggler
A small tasting, miss
- Thank you, sir - You're most welcome
- Everything's at your service here - God bless you
Let's go
As you see, straight from the crates to the pick-ups and to the market
You're doing a great job, well done
I wanted to ask you about the security situation in the region
- It's perfectly safe here - Even the roads?
The situation is generally safe but we always exercise due caution
You seem very concerned have you heard anything we don't know?
I've heard so much news about this earlier
and I wouldn't have believed anything if I didn't see it with my own eyes
What happened?
Yesterday, before I got here I had an incident and it didn't end with a flat tire
Why didn't you say so?
I had just arrived and I was still trying to put everything in perspective
I hardly knew you
I've told you a hundred times you imbecile
that you can't take any load before you make sure everything's 100% ready!
You piece of scum!
You think you're carrying a load of water?
Get this scumbag out of here!
What do you want to do? You want to stop everything for now?
On the contrary, the cistern's movement should continue as normal
Nothing happened
- Right? - Damn right
He got me my purse from the junkyard as he said
I didn't go inside with him I waited outside
But I heard him beating them up
And after that he got me back my car and repaired it as if nothing happened
It was a story fit for a movie
You didn't get his name?
I asked, he said he's a do-gooder and added "you may go"
"Don't fret about it"
- You mean "Don't you worry"? - Yeah, something like that
Thank God for your safety
Now tell me, when are you visiting us at home? I wanna introduce you to the family
There's no need for that now it's still early, there's always time for that
Precisely, this is what we call here a welcome invitation
It's a traditional welcome invitation as my mother says
- Agreed then, we have a deal - Deal
Where's the coffee, Umm Ali?
Show me now... you look so cute
- Umm Ali, the vegetables are ready - Yes?
I'll be right at it just let me prepare the coffee first
There's no need for that, Umm Ali
I'll chop the vegetables and prepare the Fattoush
We went through some rough time in your absence, Abu Sultan
Interrogations never stopped and half of our young men fled the area
What about now? I hope it's getting better
Thank God, the rough times are over now
What's important now is that you're back
and you brought joy to this house
Thank God, although I got back to find everything hanging in the balance
I hope everything will turn out for the best now that you're here
"Ali"
"A cistern just went in"
Keep waiting until it's out again and then proceed according to plan
Thank you so much, Umm Ali
- Here you go - Thank you
Show me your smile, Umm Ali what's wrong? Stop frowning
It's just like a wound it keeps bleeding
Your guest... is she a foreigner?
No, Mother she just works with the foreigners
- Umm Ali - Yes?
- Bring the damson, please - Right away
You're chopping too much vegetables, sweetheart
She's only one woman
It's okay, Mother what if it turned out she's a vegetarian?
- A vegetarian? What does that mean? - Someone who only eats vegetables
Listen to this nonsense, that woman's coming here to see us and eat out our food
and you know everybody loves Damascene cuisine
and if she's a vegetarian like you're saying she can always enjoy the Fattoush
That'd be great, an invitation relying solely on Fattoush
- Miss Sara's almost here - I'll be right there
Welcome, come in please
What if it doesn't get out anymore?
No matter how much time it will stay there
at the end of the day we will get what we want
Make sure the guys stay on the other road
we don't want him to escape from the other way
The guys are vigilant and on high alert
I reckon this is your father's painting
You're right, this is my father Sultan
May he rest in peace
and these are my brothers... Adel and Sakhr
- May they both rest in peace - May they rest in peace
Each photograph has its story
and every story comes with a heartache
God bless you, dear Mother and God bless my brother Jabal
May God give you good health and bless your family
Thank you, dear I hope you're going to have a long stay here
Sort of, I'll be here for 2 or 3 months
After that I'm going to file a report about the work I've done here and then back to Beirut
Of course you'll be back to your parents there
No, I wish... my parents are abroad, I live alone here
- So you're not married - No, not yet
My work is consuming all the time I have
- Good for you - "Come back soon, Abu Talal"
Let me show you the rest of the house
"You can't leave now that this delicious banquet of roasted meat"
"Stuffed vegetables and Kibbeh Labanieh is all ready"
I prefer to leave early in the day I don't want to encounter any checkpoints
- Have a safe trip, Aaala... - Yes, Boss?
- Escort our guest out - I hope to see you in good health
Godspeed
Here's the do-gooder
Hello
It's a small world, right?
How about this for a surprise?
I really don't know what to say anymore
You should have told me earlier
Allow me to thank you once again
There's no need for that
Allow me to apologize for the bad welcoming committee
I hope we can now make you forget what happened before
You should at least tell me what's the story here
When Sara first came to Al Hayba she encountered some thieves
but Jabal did what needed to be done
I have no doubt about that he never fails to make us proud
You're our source of pride, Umm Jabal
And now everyone's here
Hello, hello, welcome
- Hello, Firaso - This way, please
To the yard, go ahead
- Hello, Mr. Engineer - Thank you for the invitation
There's no need to thank me you're our guest here
I brought this bouquet
That's so nice of you take it, please
- Umm Jabal, my aunt - Nice to meet you, ma'am
Welcome, Mr. Engineer we've heard so much about you
I've heard so much about you too and I've heard so much about this house
Nothing but good news, of course
I know it took us a while to invite you over but it's way better now
especially that we have another guest today
Let me introduce you
- Miss Sara - Nice to meet you, I'm Wadeeh
- Nice to meet you - The pleasure is mine
Shaheen was just telling me on the way here
that you're working for the UN Population Fund
Exactly
I know someone who used to work with you what was his name?
I forgot, I have the memory of a fish
Let's not keep standing here come over, Shaheen
After you
We though it'd be more cheerful to have lunch out here in the fresh air
You're absolutely right
Come to me, sonny
- Say hello to Mr. Wadeeh - Hello, it's so nice to see you
- You remembered him - You look so cute in this great outfit
- God bless him - May God grant you kids too
Where's Ali?
Jabal sent him on a mission and he's not back yet
You may go now tread carefully
I've learned my lesson
- He just moved - "I'll be waiting"
Step on it, Abbud
Kill the engine and give me the keys, hurry
- What do you got in there? - What do you think? Water
Water?
- It is water, Boss - Fine
Water the plants
You get what I said? Get down here and unload the water, quickly!
Hurry up, get down!
It's extremely difficult to control the border
Only few states managed to control their borders
- What do you suggest? - Border demarcation, control towers
Barbed wires, surveillance cameras and border guards
By the way, the Americans used the same strategy at the border with Mexico
What else?
You embrace the locals who make a living out of contraband
You provide them with the services they need
and this way you can put an end to contraband
- Put to an end to what? - Contraband
How do you like your meat?
Usually, it's medium rare
Rare?
I meant a bit raw... I like a little blood in my meat
The best rare meat for you
Welcome
Ever since I came to Al Hayba I've been living one movie after the other
The do-gooder who helped me and disappeared
showed up again as the host of this invitation
and it doesn't end here... his sister and his cousin are conspiring against me
I can't believe you two
You heard what he just told you... it's a small world
Al Hayba is still hiding many surprises, just wait and see
How gorgeous, hello sweety is this your son?
No, this is Ali's son
- His mother passed away - May she rest in peace
- Give him to me - This is his grandma, Umm Ali
- God bless him - Thank you, dear
Mommy
- Mommy - Yes, sweety
Dear, are you a meat eater?
Sorry for all the trouble we had lost something
But it's not all in vain, right? We just watered the plants
Have a safe trip
Welcome, dear guests
If you eat well it means you're enjoying our company
and if you don't eat you'll be insulting us
- Thank you, sonny - Welcome, Mother
By the name of God
"Friday, 3 September Ali: It's clean"
"Jabal's men raided the cistern"