Cairo Station (باب الحديد)

This is Cairo Station, the heart of the capital.

Every minute, a train departs, and every minute, another one arrives.

Thousands of people meet, thousands of others bid farewell.

People from North and South, natives and foreigners,

the rich and the poor, the employed and the unemployed.

I am Madbouli, the station's chief newsagent, and this is my newsstand.

My job allows me to read about strange incidents,

but what I see here is often even stranger.

And the strangest thing I witnessed happened one day after midday prayer.

I saw a poor fellow tossed on the platform.

A young man like many others I see here every day,

who leave their families and homes

and come to Cairo in search of riches and happiness.

I asked him his name, but he didn't answer.

I turned to leave, but discovered he was lame.

I felt sorry for him, so I gave him a job selling papers in the station.

His name was Kenawi.

I found him a shed near the railway to live in.

One day, I went to his shed to see how he was doing.

That's when I realized he was frustrated.

So frustrated that he had become sick.

Poor Kenawi. Who could've imagined what would happen to him?

The train for Alexandria leaves platform four

on schedule at 7:30.

The train for Alexandria leaves platform four...

Wow! What a hot number!

- Hurry up. - Yes, hurry up!

- We're going to miss the train. - Calm down.

- Hey, I'm talking to you. - Explain, then!

I don't sell tickets to Zagazig, only to Alexandria.

That's so confusing! Leave me be! Let me through!

- Stop, girl! - Kenawi!

- Stop, girl! - Kenawi!

Keep this pail for me!

It's so hot today, girls.

May God make it hotter, so that we can sell more soda!

Don't jinx it! People may end up going to the canteen and we'll get nothing.

We can barely make a living because of Mansour, the canteen manager.

- Doesn't he make enough money? - That man's never satisfied.

Quiet, or else he'll pop up and hear you.

Let him. This is our own "canteen." He's not the only one around.

Move.

- What's wrong, Hanuma? - That pig, Mansour.

- Did he catch you? - No.

He sent Sergeant Hassanain to chase after me.

- Where's your pail? - With Kenawi.

- With your sweetheart, you mean. - Shut up! I wouldn't look twice at him.

He's madly in love with you.

He's saving up all his money for your dowry, Hanuma.

Why don't you marry him, then, Aziza? You two are suited for each other.

I wouldn't look twice at him.

You're leading him on.

I'd never do that! Anyway, I'm engaged to Abu Serih.

He knows you are. But he's deranged.

He thinks that you'd leave Abu Serih and marry him.

- Run for it! - Who is it?

- Zakzouk! - Here they are! I've found them!

I've found the market's demonic thieves.

- Hands off. - Don't be so greedy.

I've been working for ten days and haven't made so much as a piastre.

Wait for your turn to work on this platform.

My turn? I don't have the money to bribe your boss.

What do you mean?

You have to bribe him if you want to work on a better platform.

Abu Gaber is more honorable than you and your boss Abu Serih.

That's it! Get out of my way or I'll kill you! I swear, I'll kill you!

Let go or I'll break your hand.

- Excuse me. - What is it?

- What's your name? - Abu Serih.

For God's sake, Abu Serih, may God praise you, please help me.

I can't put up with this mess any longer.

- What's your problem? - The train to Zagazig.

- What about it? - When does it depart?

- It already did! It's this one! - What?

If you run, you can catch it in the next town!

It's disgraceful that it's leaving without us! Disgraceful!

My hand! Someone help me!

Abbas, you're all right.

- Come with me, Abbas. - I can't bear the pain.

He'll be fine, thank God.

How long will we sit idly like this?

Here's the boss with Gadallah.

Don't go looking for trouble, Abu Serih.

You'd better shut up!

If he forms a union, you'll be ruined.

Why this insolence? Tell me what you want!

To improve our conditions.

Only a union will ensure us all a decent living.

We can't continue living like this.

Last week, Rizq broke his leg. Now he's forgotten.

Sabry has been ill for a month, nobody cared to check on him.

And now look at Abbas. How can he make a living a broken hand?

Only the union, my brothers, can protect us and secure our jobs!

A union? What union, kiddo?

- I am the union, I am everything! - That's why everything's going wrong!

If you're not satisfied, you can leave, no one's stopping you.

Your scare tactics don't work anymore, times have changed.

Is that so?

As sure as this mustache is mine,

I'll have you fired!

Scream your head off if you want. Come on, Abbas.

Subhan Allah. Give it to me, God bless you.

Where's Kenawi, Father?

- How are you, Abu Serih? - All is well, thanks to God, Madbouli.

Oh, God! It's hot as hell today.

- Oh, God! - How is your plan for a union coming?

The government labor official is coming to see us today.

Congratulations! And I hear you're to be married tomorrow too!

It will be your son's turn soon.

You have to grow up fast, boy.

Thank you. You've done well, Hanuma is a good girl.

I wasn't planning to get married, you know. But it's God's will.

- All will be for the best. Be strong. - I am strong.

And once I've set up the union, I'll have no more worries.

- God is gracious. - When will you get married, Limpy?

Stop it, Tulba.

I'm just kidding. Do you really think he'd ever get married?

Why not? Why shouldn't he?

Maybe. If he finds a girl who limps too.

Have pity, Tulba. Go easy on him.

- He doesn't mind. - Yes, he does.

Only God knows how much! He does mind.

For my sake, don't call him "Limpy."

I know that it upsets him!

Kenawi! Don't forget to call out the "Rasheed Murder" headlines.

- Tulba. - Yes.

- Must she really be lame? - It's a match made in heaven!

- What if she only has one eye? - That would do.

Then how about your sister?

- I told you, he doesn't mind. - Kenawi, you're a disaster!

Leave me now.

Do you have a coin for the phone?

Merci.

Don't mind Tulba, Kenawi. Let it go. Have a big heart.

TELEPHONE BOOTH

Your sister answered, so I didn't give my name.

I have to see you before you go. You'll be gone for four years.

I have to. You must find a way.

I'll wait for you at the station.

Find any excuse! I'm expecting you, darling.

The Sheben El Kom train departs from...

If I see one of those girls here again, you're finished.

But what can I do? So exasperating!

How is everything, Zakzouk?

How do you think it is with those girls around, jumping on trains?

Come on, Tulba, come on.

Wait up! I didn't get all the glass bottles back.

Damn you!

Hallawatim! Watch out for the police.

- I'll shout "Fagafigo" if I see them. - And I'll run.

- Hanuma! Hanuma! - Yes!

Wait till I get my pail back from Kenawi.

Hallawatim, wait for me!

Oh, quit your shouting.

- Who's the worst of us? - The nerve of you!

Come on, run, Hanuma! Run!

Cold drinks! Anyone for a cold drink? Hanuma has arrived!

Cold drinks! How about a cold drink, sir?

Quench your thirst!

- The police! - Fagafigo!

The police are already back? Damn it.

Please hurry, sir, hurry.

I'll finish it for you.

- The change! - Get out of the way! Fagafigo!

- Get moving! - I'll go to jail for three months.

Look out, boy, the train! Get up!

That girl won't stop until a train hits her one of these days.

Man, you delayed me. I thought you had something important to say.

She's like a cat, she's got seven lives.

- Porter! Porter! - Yes!

- What happened? - Hanuma nearly got run over.

Hanuma, I've saved three piastres for you.

- Why? - To bring you food in jail.

Thank you, my dear. I'll pay you back when you get a life sentence.

Why won't they leave us alone?

If it's not the police, then it's Mansour.

And when we're done with Mansour, Zakzouk comes after us.

Poor us! That's just our bad luck.

Stop whining!

You have to stand up for yourselves and fight if you want to make a living!

Easy to say when you've got a man like Abu Serih.

Lucky you, Hanuma. Here's a man to get excited about.

Watch your language, the kid is listening.

What language? If only I could be in your shoes!

Go and get my trunk ready, I've got to pack.

- Don't go. - Hurrying off somewhere?

Yes. I'll be away for a few days, and when I come back, I'll be Mrs. Abu Serih.

Take that!

You're out of your minds!

Pussy! Come here, puss. Come on.

My cute kitty-cat.

What are you doing here?

Don't be scared.

I just want you to watch out for the trains, that's all.

- Get out of here, get out! - I brought you your pail.

Don't scream!

- Help! Help! - I just want to tell you something.

Just one thing.

Let go of my hand.

Let go!