Little Birds

Cut!

Darling, what do you think?

- It's just amazing. - What's it actually about?

It's engorged. It's tumescent.

It's potent. It's... It's perverted life.

Darling, what can I say? It's my life.

Aren't you afraid of being blacklisted?

Why do you think I'm here? No blacklisting in Tangier.

Are you sure you don't want

a cameo in the miscegenation scene?

Quite sure.

Lucy? A little screen test?

-Oh, I'm not sure that's... -Oh, I'd love to.

Eye contact with the lens.

Look right into it.

Okay. (CLEARS THROAT)

- Like this? Yes.

Yes. Good. Good.

Why, Lucy!

The camera makes love to you.

Passionately!

Somebody needs to.

You smell good.

Oh, my God, I need to take a shower.

- I like it. - You do?

- It's the heat here. - Is it?

Positions!

And action!

Cleanse the supplicant!

This is a rebirth!

Lucy! Imagine yourself a mermaid!

You have no fear of death

and a great fear of shallow living!

Now pour the perfumes of Babylon on her!

Let the drums of war cease!

Now inaugurate her with pleasure!

Oh, my God. (MOANS)

Yes. (CHUCKLING)

Yes.

Yes.

Ah! Good, good, good.

Oh, my God.

Hugo, that was so much fun.

- Aren't you going to wash? - No, I'm going to keep it on for a while.

You look absurd.

Dreams are necessary to life.

- Thank you! - And it's art!

Lucy, you were a revelation.

- Thank you. - My hosts are

insisting on a wrap party.

At the Mandrax Mansion.

My not-so spiritual home. Perhaps you'd like to join?

- Oh, we'd love to... No, thanks.

No, but thank you very much.

Half of Tangier will be there.

Well, you'll hardly miss the two of us then.

- Hugo. - I said no. I mean no.

Thank you, but no.

- Perhaps another time. - Absolutely.

I've heard rumours about those girls

that would make your hair curl.

Mmm-hmm.

I just don't think you should mix with them.

You sound like my father.

Fifi, you know your regular, the one with the funny shoes?

Is he short-changing you?

Or are you giving him freebies?

- Well. - Don't worry, Mama.

- I'll pay for it! - Yes, you will.

But are you going to keep paying for him?

You know, if you want to move on in this business,

if you want to start getting Cherifa rates,

you better start getting tough with your favourites, okay?

I'm sick of this donkey work!

You thirsty there, Cherifa?

When is the water coming back on?

I'm so done with this pumping!

That's what she said.

You know. Before Beirut,

I used to work at a brothel in Brest.

You know what we used there for solo shows?

- Ta-da! - (ALL LAUGHING)

We never had to wash up.

Mmm-mmm.

Just sliced them up and used them

in our cocktail.

This is for my tzatziki.

Gigi, when you are done there, I want you to scrub the stairs.

- It's Cherifa's turn. Cherifa is going on duty.

What? It's my day off!

You'll deal with whatever comes in.

Nothing's coming in.

This place is no-go, thanks to her.

They asked me to sing a song. I sang a song.

Sing a song...

Yes, you did, didn't you?

You sure sang that song.

I'm a whore.

I have no time for politics.

Good. Neither do I.

Corbeau. You made it.

It's good to see you, Secretary.

I've been waiting, I got your message.

Good. Good.

It's a... An honour to help you.

Whatever I can do, sir.

- Let's take a walk. - Of course.

We won't be long.

My father spent his life working this land.

They came here with nothing. From Marseille.

They worked this soil. They fertilised these hill sides.

Their sweat

made this place.

-And now they want to take it away from us. -(SCOFFS)

That's not right.

They think independence is a dinner party.

People like us made this country worth living in, Corbeau.

The Moroccans, they build nothing.

They don't know what they have.

They don't understand it, sir.

Sir...

The men... They are getting nervous.

If the king returns,

and the journalists are bold enough now. But...

Your men need to be patient.

I'm can't. I can't hold them back.

We waste our time, sir.

They want to move.

- On who, Corbeau? - Nationalist.

They need to know we mean business.

We can take them all out, one by one.

France is their mother.

And the king is their father. They love him like their father.

If he comes back, they will line up behind him.

A civil war, you mean?

Well, I am ready for it.

I will fight.

Till the last breath.

"If" he comes back.

Do you trust me?

Yes.

And your men, they will trust me if you tell them?

Yes.

Good.

Wait for my word. Huh?

Hey...

The vines are coming along, huh?

Back to Tangier.

He's an oaf, isn't he?

But he's loyal. Like a dog.

I don't think you're quite understanding what I'm saying.

With respect, son, it's the other way around.

Now stop making excuses.

And start getting the job done.

I've done the job. I've told you.

Your people can get in touch with Vaney.

My people?

Hugo, you're priceless. You're my people.

Vaney. I'm just saying he's the head honcho around here.

So go get him. You got a good product here.

Yes, I'm sure he will be very interested in your guns.

- He looks the type. - No. Not guns!

Man Portable Air Defence System. MANPADS.

Yes, I'm sure they're extremely effective.

Extremely. So there you are.

You have a lead.

Or "leash" as you Americans would say.

We understand each other. Get to work, Hugo.

Sample's on its way. They like it, there's more.

What? To who?

The tooth fairy. Who do you goddamn think?

I don't want them in the house.

Christ, Hugo.

You'll get a message. There'll be a drop.

Fix a date. That's all there is to it.

How much are they?

Depends on how much they want them, son.

That's your job.

Make them understand they need them.

Haven't you read Carnegie?

Start friendly. Use the other person's name.

Arouse in them an eager want.

Go buy yourself that book, boy.

- Right. - (LINE DISCONNECTS)

- Oh, hello. - Hello.

Oh, did you meet already my iguana friend Chico?

- Is Chico... Chico is his name? - Yes.

Did you see how beautiful he is?

Did you see the colours?

He's very handsome.

I'm totally in love with him.

Who are you?

Oh, erm, Lucy Cavendish-Smythe.

We met at the dock, with Lili.