Born a King

At the beginning of the 20th century,

Emir Abdulaziz bin Saud returned to Riyadh

from exile in Kuwait,

eager to recover his lands in the Nedj.

These lands had been usurped with the help of the Ottomans

by the house of Rashid.

Immediately, after the first world war,

the territories of the middle east were carved up by the victorious allies

who sought to keep Arabia divided.

Abdulaziz and his loyal warriors reconquered his lands

expelling both the Rashidi and the Ottoman armies.

This was the dawn of the unification of Arabia

and the holy city of Mecca was open to all Muslims.

This is where our story begins.

Where's the prince?

He has a high fever.

Nothing too sick.

The prince has malaria.

But I can't be certain he'll reach England.

I won't make. I won't make it.

I was as strong as my father and brothers,

tell him. Tell him yourself.

You’re strong.

You have got his blood and your brother’s sword.

Tell my father, I died in

Allah’s service.

Come on, Marzouq, hurry. Run, Marzouq, hurry up.

Congratulations.

Allah be praised, a great future awaits this child.

I bring news!

I bring news for you! I have good news!

Emir Abdulaziz has had a third son!

Tarfa had her child! Tarfa had her child!

I bring good news, I bring good news!

God be thanked, God be thanked!

News at last, news at last!

Emir Abdulaziz has had a third son, God be praised!

It’s a boy! Emir Abdulaziz has had a third son!

Emir Abdulaziz has had a third son!

A brother to princess Turki and Saudi.

I have good news, I have good news!

Emir Al Saud has a new son!

Faisal.

Faisal.

Faisal.

Your highness, the queening will make you feel better.

Your servant hasn't left you aside for a single moment.

He is not my servant.

He is my brother, my middle brother.

Will he recover?

His body is fighting the fever.

He’s stronger than he looks.

There's a good chance, yes.

I hope you are correct.

The destiny of our country depends on this mission.

Never again shall the Ottomans and Rashidis invade our lands.

Thank God.

Here is your son. God willing.

Where is Faisal’s mother?

Resting. She is weak. She had a difficult labor.

Welcome back.

Tarfa.

How are you?

I hope you are not ill.

I’m fine.

I gave you a boy.

There is no God

but Him, the All-Mighty.

One more, Mayor, with your sons.

Turki, Saud, come and have your picture taken.

Turki and Saud, our country will be in good hands.

Faisal, smile.

Say, Abdulaziz.

Abdulaziz!

Now your fame will travel all the continents.

Won't it, Philby?

Indeed.

Let me see.

Your son, Faisal, he was not in the photograph.

Philby's recently returned from Lahore

and says, you have the complete support of the British government in India.

They believe the days of the Ottomans in Arabia are numbered.

And they recognize you as the only Emir capable of bringing unity

to the Arabian Peninsula, ruling in the interests of all.

They want to recognize you as king of Arabia.

Silence.

Let him speak.

But London has yet to be persuaded.

They will continue to support Sharif Hussein.

However, the British government will continue their support

by supplying the necessary ammunition

and equipment to defend yourselves.

I am sorry, Emir.

Divide and rule, that is their strategy.

I apologize, adviser Nian was born in Constantinople,

you know the Turkish people can be a little hot-blooded.

Let's go for lunch.

Let us go and eat.

Such bad news won't break our friendship.

So, is it true that there will be war in Europe?

I fear so. The European tribal chiefs don't trust each other

despite the fact that some of them are related by blood or marriages.

In Arabia, only Allah and the prophets are more important than the family,

where kings should sit down together, drink tea,

solve their issues, just as we do.

Come on, Turki. You can do it, Turki!

Good fight, you are a champion, my brother.

Turki!

Fight with me!

Here.

If you unsheathe it, killing will follow.

Blood will be shed.

Power shouldn’t be used to wage war and kill others.

It should be used to protect our people.

True power lies in keeping your sword sheathed,

not in anything else.

All I ask is to fight by my father’s side.

And make him proud, like you do.

The poet Imru’l Qays

had to wait many long years to win his father’s favor.

Yet,

although a thousand years have gone by,

we remember his poem.

Do you remember the poem that our father sang?

I do.

“When we rode our thoroughbred horses…”

“All the enemy warriors fled…”

“Like scattered meteors in a night of lurking wolves”.

“We were brave and true fighters”.

Listen, Faisal.

If you wish to be as strong as the hawk,

your dignity must climb higher, like the hawk’s.

Have the eyes of the hawk,

and be wise.

Only then you will know the real strength.

You alone do we worship and implore for help.

Guide us in the right path,

the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your blessings,

those who have incurred Your displeasure

and those who have not gone astray.

Tell me about Surah Al-Asr.

Speak, Faisal.

The Surah says we are not lost if we have Faith.

What do we need?

To be generous,

fair and fearful of God.

What else?

Strong and brave.

Follow me!

To the well!

Who is going to dare jump this time?

Who is brave enough to climb up?

Faisal!

Faisal!Faisal!

Faisal!

Faisal.

I’ll go in alone.

My lord and father.

May God have mercy upon his soul.

What none achieved in battle,

the poison of sickness has accomplished.

I wish I were lying here.

He was a brave man, one of your best warriors, my lord.

Turki would want you to have it.

Now you will ride with us to conquer Mecca.

The time has come.

We’ll approach from the South

and surprise the enemy by the oasis.

You, the Ikhwan, will arrive from the West and wait for us.

We shall attack Sharif Hussein at noon.

Why, wait?

We can finish them off.

You will wait for my order to attack.

Is that clear?

Excuse me.

Ibn Luwai!

Our victory will open the way to Mecca.

We shall follow the Emir’s order.

Men, attack!

You had to wait for my orders! I couldn’t hold my men.

We have to unite the country through peace, not killing.

Don’t expect a wolf to change.

British guns.

They’re arming both sides.

Divide and rule.

Who is this? We found him this morning.

Let him go.

Philby.

What are you doing here?

I missed the desert.

I heard captain Shakespeare was shot in Jarrab.

He's a good man.

Very loyal. He believed in you, Emir.

He wanted to fight by your side.

He paid the price dearly with his own life.

Have you also come to fight alongside with us, Philby?

No, no. I've come to talk.

I hope the purpose of this gift isn't sweet and bad news.

I'm sorry, Emir

but the British government requested you postpone your plans to conquer Mecca