Born of Fire

Are there any tickets left, please?

I'm awfully sorry, ladies and gentlemen. I don't feel terribly well.

Please excuse me.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to have to inform you

that Mr Bergson has been taken ill,

and will be unable to continue the recital.

He has asked me to apologise...

Yes?

You heard it too, didn't you?

That music, didn't you recognise it?

Who are you?

Yes?

Yes.

Worse than yesterday?

No, I'll come straight over.

My mother's very ill.

I must call a taxi.

My car's outside. May I drive you?

Yes.

Do you remember your father?

No. He died the day I was born.

You play like him.

You're too young to have heard him.

He did make recordings.

- I never heard them. - Why not?

Perhaps because I want to play like myself.

His music had an uncanny quality,

as if inspired by some unseen power.

Divine Mozart?

No, no.

You're wrong to mock.

This morning, I was observing the sun's eclipse.

I'm an astronomer.

There was some extremely violent turbulence on its surface.

It was as if the Earth,

or something from the Earth,

was drawing the sun's fire towards us, like a magnet.

As I watched,

I kept hearing that music.

- Is she upstairs? - Yes.

Would you wait here?

I'll make you a cup of tea.

Hello, Mother.

So much I want to say to you.

There's no time.

No time.

No more time.

She's come.

What are you saying, Mother?

She's here.

No.

No, let her stay.

Come nearer.

Come nearer.

Nearer.

Come nearer.

Nearer, nearer.

Find...

must...

must try...

Like as a father, pity of his own children,

even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him.

For he knoweth whereof we are made.

He remembereth that we are but dust.

We therefore commit this body to be cremated,

in the sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life,

according to the mighty working

whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

There, there. It's okay.

It's all right.

It's upstairs.

Now, would you like a whisky,

or would you like a Scotch?

Lovely.

It's all I've got, I'm afraid.

What did she say to you?

- Who? - My mother.

Oh.

I could hardly hear her.

Something about the 'Master Magician'?

Musician?

The Master Musician.

He was somebody my father knew in Turkey,

who taught him special breathing techniques for the flute.

He'd been having some trouble with his playing.

After that trip, he never played again.

He became obsessed by fire.

And then, shortly afterwards, he was found dead.

The lower half of his body was really badly burnt,

and his fingers were locked in a playing position,

with a flute between his lips.

...Security Council calling for an embargo on all arms sales

was vetoed by the United States. Great Britain abstained from voting.

We have just received news of a volcanic eruption in Turkey,

in the remote region of Cappadocia.

So far we have no information about the extent of damage

or loss of life.

The volcano, Mount Ersias, has been dormant for centuries,

and was believed to be extinct.

According to local legend, Mount Ersias is known as the House...

Hello?

Hello, it's me. Paul.

Did you see the news?

A volcano's erupted in Turkey, near the place where my father died.

It's the sun. It's beginning to affect the Earth.

I keep hearing that bloody music.

I had an accident on my way home.

I drove into a tree.

What?

You hurt?

No, I'm fine.

I thought I saw...

No.

Shall I come over?

Yes, I'd like that.

Look, I'm freezing cold. I'm going to have a quick bath.

I'll leave the door on the latch. Just let yourself in.

Okay? Bye.

Cat!

You hungry? Hmm?

Hmm?

Hello?

Anybody home?

- Oh... - Hey.

Shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Cold.

Why don't you get in the bath?

Don't you want to know why your father died?

Yes.

And that music?

Yes.

Then you must find him.

Who?

The Master Musician.

You speak English?

Parlez-vous français?

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

I'm looking for the Master Musician.

Musician?

Master Musician!

Master Musician... Master Musician...

These waters are the graveyard of the djinn.

They should not be disturbed.

You speak English?

My name is Bilal.

I summon the faithful to prayer.

I am told you are seeking the Master.

You heard?

Your flute will guide you,

as it once guided your father.

You know who I am?

You are your father's son.

He too came to seek the Master.