The Promise

Our village sat high in the mountains of southern Turkey.

It was half-Turk, half-Armenian.

I was the local apothecary.

For 200 years, the Boghosians made medicines

using formulas handed down from our ancestors.

We treated everyone alike, Muslim and Christian, rich and poor.

I was proud of our craft.

But making potions from herbs and minerals was not enough.

My greatest desire was to study medicine

at the Imperial School in Constantinople.

But I could never afford the fees.

So, I decided to become engaged to Maral

and use the dowry to pay my way.

Here you are, some tea.

Thank you.

Can I ask you a question?

Do you really want to do this?

We will build a future together, Maral and I,

and we will grow to love each other.

And you will be proud of us.

Give this letter to your Uncle Mesrob.

He is an important man in Constantinople,

but he has never forgotten his roots.

He will take good care of you.

I will make you proud, Papa.

The Boghosians will bring more than medicine into Siroun.

Always remember, God has given you this mission.

May He bless and protect you.

Whoa, hey.

What a day, huh?

The best wine, finest food, and the perfect match.

Thank you for your generosity, Harut.

Karine. That's it. Thank you.

Four hundred gold coins, as agreed.

My daughter's future and my trust in you.

Spend it wisely. You won't regret it, sir.

Normally, it takes three years to become a doctor,

but I know that I could complete it in two.

It will pass quickly, Maral.

Not quickly enough.

I will pray for you every day.

Thank you.

Whoa.

I'm going to the Grand Bazaar.

Sir? No, sorry.

Please. No, thank you.

Ah, my friend. Better prices here.

No, no. Better prices here.

I'm going here.

This Armenian dog will rob you.

Hey, hey, hey. Get back to your thieves' den.

Always trying to steal my customers.

Please.

What can I sell you today?

Are you Mr. Mesrob Boghosian? Mesrob Boghosian, yes.

What, is it a bill? No, no, no. (CHUCKLES)

This is from my father, Vartan Boghosian.

I'm Michael.

You're Vartan's son? Yes.

Why didn't you say so?

Speak up! Come here.

Hello, uncle.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

Good morning.

Thank you. Please.

Ah, here's my sweet Yeva.

Ah... Oh!

Say hello to Cousin Michael.

Hello. Hello, Yeva.

Please. Please.

Hmm.

And here is my beautiful wife, Lena.

Michael Boghosian, Cousin Vartan's son.

Michael? Yes.

Welcome to our home. Thank you.

And my pearl, Tamar.

Hello. Nice to meet you. Hello.

Oh! What a view.

Here is Europe. There is Asia.

The world is at your feet, Michael.

Do us proud.

How old is this suit, huh?

Come by my shop sometime. We need to dress you like a doctor, huh?

Ah. That's the girls' tutor, Ana Khesarian.

The great violinist's daughter, just back from Paris.

Those are your notes? Yes.

So, you've already studied medicine? Yes, it's my passion.

Female anatomy. That's my passion.

I have no interest in medicine. My father gave me two choices.

This or the military.

Emre Ogan. You?

Michael Boghosian.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Welcome to the Imperial Medical School.

(OPERA MUSIC PLAYING ON GRAMOPHONE)

Good morning. Good morning.

We haven't been introduced. I'm Michael Boghosian, Mesrob's nephew.

Ana Khesarian.

Lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you, too.

Would you like some coffee?

Please. Yes, thank you.

You're an artist. I try.

May I take a look? Please do.

Huh.

These are excellent. Thank you.

So, Mesrob tells me you're from Siroun.

Yes, I'm from Siroun.

My family is from the village of Ardoo.

Ah! Ardoo. Yes, I've been there. You have?

Yes, yes, I'm the local apothecary.

And now you're going to become a doctor. That's wonderful.

Yes, yes, um, I will do that.

Go back to the region and set up a clinic there.

I intend to go back there also, I think.

Reconnect with my family.

Dance time. Yes!

We dance each morning before class.

It releases the soul from here, out to the extremities,

the hands, the brain, the feet. (MICHAEL LAUGHS)

It's both spiritual and medicinal.

Why don't you join us? No, no, no, no.

Come on, Cousin Michael. Dance with me.

It's wonderful.

All right, you want me to dance?

Let's go very, very slowly for Cousin Michael.

So, throw your arms up to the wind.

Now, dance through the forest.

Through the forest.

Through the fields of flowers.

Through the fields of flowers. (LAUGHING)

Now, sweep them into your arms.

Arms. (CHUCKLES)

And cast them to the heavens.

Exactly.

He's very good.

All right. He's a very good dancer.

Goodbye. Bye.

It's medicinal.

The deceased died from cancer of the bowel.

Monsieur Boghosian, please remove the spleen.

Very good.

Now, Monsieur Ogan,

can you please remove the lesion on the small bowel?

Lesion? The cancerous growth.

Hey. Come on.

It was shit. Well, what do you think is in a bowel?

Come with me.

Michael. Ana.

What a pleasant surprise.

Chris, Michael is the nephew of Monsieur Boghosian.

Uh, Christopher Myers. Hi, nice to meet you.

The legendary Chris Myers.

Emre Ogan.

Notorious playboy, frequents opium dens.

How, and why the hell, did they let you in here?

Good to see you.

May I introduce Mademoiselle Ana Khesarian.

Constantinople is blessed by your beauty, Mademoiselle Khesarian.

Nice to meet you.

Please, join us. Sir.

I'm so happy we get to meet when I'm not teaching.

Yes, what a surprise.

Chris is a star reporter for the Associated Press.

We met in Paris when my father was Deputy Consul.

His father was a spy.

That's why you were such a good drinking companion.

You were looking to expose us.

A toast, to old friends and new. Cheers.

Cheers. Cheers.

What brings you here, Chris?

Is it the war? The AP star reporter comes east.

The war is coming east.

This place is so boring.

It is boring. I know the perfect place.

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.

No, no, no, no.

Dance with me. Please, come on. I don't know... I don't...

I don't know how to dance this.

I'll teach you.

Oh, no. Poor Michael.

He needs help.

Let's swap.

Oh. Hello. Behave.

How are you?