Basmati Blues

Subtitles by explosiveskull

Morning, Dad.

Oh, hi, honey. I got a surprise.

Oh, I don't like surprises.

In honor of launching Rice Nine in India,

Mogil is doubling our staff and our research budget.

That's a good face.

I have so many ideas, Dad.

Your mother would be very proud.

Well, uh, time to go. I'll see you at the lab.

Bye.

We're gonna do it, Mom.

Yes.

Dad, look at this.

The ribosome is resistant to the MD mosaic virus.

Rice Nine. Resistance to drought, flood,

pestilence and blight.

Nine percent more protein.

As many nutrients in a single cup

as a steak dinner, and salad and baked potato.

With or without sour cream?

With sour cream.

As promised, the father-daughter team

behind Rice Nine.

One cup of Rice Nine has as much calcium

as a 30-gram dollop of sour cream.

Would you guys like to take a look in the microscope?

- Oh, yes. - Dr. Linda Watt.

And don't let her youth fool you.

Movie time, gentlemen.

India.

Five hundred million farmers, 1.1 billion rice eaters,

all of them potential customers.

Bilari, the birthplace of Basmati rice.

How did you figure that out?

It's not a fact, it's an article of faith

with our marketing department.

Who say that launching Rice Nine

in the hallowed cradle of Basmati rice

will be an auspicious event.

We need the Indians to trust us.

And at the moment, they don't.

Berg, you said Jeffries would be perfect

as Mogil's friendly face in India.

Turns out his face was a little too friendly.

He got caught with a governor's wife.

- I... - Shut up, Berg.

We could lose India because of that.

And we cannot lose India.

No, we cannot.

We need someone who can make them forget Jeffries.

We need someone they can believe in.

With the power to melt hardened hearts.

Someone with delicacy.

Hearts and minds.

Trust. That someone works inside Mogil.

Let's think outside the box.

Hmm. Too passive.

A long shot.

Talk to me. Talk to me.

Fire that fellow.

Young Dr. Watt.

Dr. Watt, a question.

Isn't it true you created this

just so Mogil can patent and own it?

No, we created it to help farmers all over the world.

Rice Nine produces 22% more rice per acre.

And the patents pay for the lab.

But she's a scientist.

A seed that could feed the world.

And I'm... proud.

Doctors Watt.

Mr. Gurgon. What a surprise.

Well, well. The creators of Rice Nine.

I've got some good news for you.

We're sending you to India tomorrow.

- Me? - What?

I don't even like leaving my own neighborhood.

I mean, who does?

Jeffries screwed the pooch.

And we don't have a sales rep who can help us.

I don't even have a passport.

It's just three weeks.

In and out.

This is too important.

I'm not a public relations person.

She's practically running the lab now.

- That's where you want her. - Absolutely, of course. Yes.

But there won't be a lab if we lose India.

Train station.

This street.

No, I got it. Or not.

Ow!

I'm sorry. Please take it.

No, you take it.

What? You have to try this tea.

It's from the Northeast. It's delicious.

India's destiny's at stake.

It's a tragedy to let such a mind go to waste.

And you know, my professor said I was best in class.

A blend of natural brilliance and dedication.

I'm paraphrasing, but only slightly.

I was studying at a great college.

First in my family. Now my talents go to waste

because I can't afford my tuition.

Here, auntie, let me help you.

You know, yesterday I was working

towards my country's future,

and by dinner time I'll be in the fifth century.

How are the crickets? You know, the ones in the lab

that eat at night and the ones in the apartment

- that eat during the day. - They're good.

But they, um... they won't touch the manicotti.

No. No.

The frozen manicotti is actually for you.

I know that it says two minutes on high, but... blech!

It's actually two minutes, 44 seconds works the best.

How are you doing?

- Should I be worried? - No, it's not so bad.

It's actually kind of like Penn Station.

I hate to say it, but I think I have to go.

I love you. Ooh!

Don't worry yourself, Ma.

I've thoroughly prepared myself to ferry this old man around

while he takes less note of me than a stray dog.

You're as important as you make yourself.

Uh...

Um...

Pardon me, you're Dr. Watt's assistant?

Oh, you mean the old guy?

Tweedy coat, glasses.

Um...

I'm him. Or I'm me.

- Oh... - I'm Dr. Linda Watt.

It's okay.

Your father must be so proud of you.

This is my son, William J. Patel.

I will be your government rep, and don't you worry.

We will turn this Mogil mess right around, Dr. Watt.

Linda. You can call me Linda.

Linda.

- Please. - Oh, great.

- Oh, I... - I'll get...

Please, let me.

Just, um... It's okay.

Thank you.

Of course.

Believe we're riding in mama's limo.

He is. He's in the Agriculture Ministry.

Who's his new American girlfriend?

Ah. Does my brother have a crush?

Come on, get on with it!

- Hiiii! - What's the rush?

If we're late your mother's abandonment issues

will make her cook a lot of food.

And if we don't eat all of it,

then her irrational fears will cause a persecution complex.

What?

Psychology programs on the radio.

Don't ask.

Come on, Freud, Jung, get on with it! Ahh!

Chromosome!

Oh, you're awake.

Am I? Where am I?

Um, your home. We're here.

Have a seat.

So, tomorrow I will show you the wonder of Bilari.

Uh, no, I can't.

I've never done anything like this before,

so I really need to focus on getting ready.

There's just the one wonder, really.

Thank you, but I have over 100 specimen slides to prepare.

Your plan is to show slides to farmers?

Mm-hmm.

Linda, these are simple men...

Honey, we're glad you've come to drag these savages

- out of the Stone Age. - Oh, but I don't think...

Farmers are the feet on which the nation stand.

I know.

I know that.

I'm with you.

Good morning, Rajit.

Wake up, Rajit.

Good morning!

Dad!

Yes.

The lab is equipped.

There's rice, and air circulation

and people who hang things on the walls.

It's perfect.

Ish.

That was nothing.

Just a little deviation from the norm.

Sorry.

I can't believe I'm back to this. I...

It's a stem borer egg.

You know they'll kill half the crop.

I was studying a stinkweed called hyzarium geranus

that would have killed these.

Ah. I told everyone you went away on a vacation.