Difference between revisions of "Origins"

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''OUTLINE''
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''Two foreign students, [[Rachel]] and [[Yama]], both with ties to the missing archaeologist, leave Russia after his disappearance. [[Najwa]], who finds out about the story, decides to dig in as part of her research for LVA. Thinking that she could trace AF's Jewish origins to the Middle Age, Najwa stumbles onto her own past as she transit through Montreal, her father's birth city.
  
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''The body of a Russian Archaeologist is found floating in the Caspian Sea.
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[[Down the Pipe|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Last Khazar|NEXT EPISODE >>]]
  
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[[TBD|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]]
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{{
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#display_map:45.51646, -73.57802; 23.143056, -82.380556
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|zoom=4
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}}
  
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====VOLGA DELTA, ASTRAKHAN OBLAST, RUSSIA====
 
  
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A fishing boat sails up the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volga_Delta Volga Delta] at dawn when the crew notices a body floating in the water. A fisherman pulls the body towards the boat with a pole and flips it face up. The body is bloated an disfigured. The Captain kneels down and extends his hand to reach the body's jacket.
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====MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT====
  
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-Closer. Hold it there... Shit...
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[[File:MadridBajarasT4.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Madrid Bajaras Terminal 4]]
  
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The Captain lets go of the body and catches his breath.
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[[Najwa]] walks out of Emirates flight 141 into Terminal 4 of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid%E2%80%93Barajas_Airport Madrid's airport]. Looking at the departures board, she notices that Iberia flight 6621 to Havana is only scheduled for 17:00. She's got 4 hours to kill. She loafs through the terminal admiring the wavy wooden roof. She's hungry. A man at a coffee stand suggests she tries a tapas joint at the other end of the terminal.
  
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-I can't take the smell. Okay, bring it closer.
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====TAPAS BAR, TERMINAL 4, MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT====
  
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The fisherman squeezes the body against the boat.
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Najwa is having a cazuelita con patatas, huevos y jamon serrano along with a glass of red wine at the tapas bar. She scrolls trough her Skype contacts on her iPad but no luck with Alexander. Yama pops up online. She pings her.
  
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-Why don't we just tow it to the port.
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-MY TURN TO BE IN AN AIRPORT ;)
  
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The Captain holds his breath and reaches the inside pocket of the body's jacket. He pulls a zippered wallet and opens it.
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A few seconds later...
  
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-VASILY DMITRIEV...
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-WAY
  
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He sorts through number of other ID cards and pulls several thousand ruble notes.
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-MADRID... ON MY WAY TO CUBA.
  
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-Let it go.
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-LUCKY YOU, IT'S FREEZING HERE. WHICH RESORT?
  
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The fisherman looks at the Captain in disbelief.
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-MEETING MY BF IN HAVANA. HE'S ON A BIZ TRIP THERE. WE'LL STICK AROUND FOR XMASS.
  
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-What do you mean? We can't leave it here to rot.
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-I LOVE HAVANA.
  
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-We have a nearly one ton sturgeon carrying at least ten kilos of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beluga_caviar eggs] aboard. You wanna trade for this dead man and go to jail. Let  him go, there's nothing we can do for him.
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-I THOUGH YOU GUYS COULDN'T GO THERE.
  
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====RECTOR'S OFFICE, ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY====
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-OF COURSE WE CAN. AMERICANS CAN'T. FOR US IT'S LIKE CHEAP ESCAPE FROM A LONG WINTER. THERE'S LIKE AT LEAST THREE FLIGHTS A DAY.
  
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The Rector is in a meeting with the Dean of the Department of Archeology and two other professors.
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-WOW.
  
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-I'm getting pressures from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomenergoprom Atomenergoprom]'s people to pull all our stuff from the site so that they could start digging next week.
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-ANYWAYS, SORRY FOR BEING BLUNT YESTERDAY. I WAS STILL UNDER SHOCK FROM THIS WHOLE THING AND YOU POPPING OUT OF NOWHERE SEEMED KINDA SKETCHY.  
  
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A professor intervenes.
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-NO. IT'S ALL RIGHT. ANYWAYS. SO WHAT'S YOU'RE TAKE ON THE WHOLE THING? DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING STRANGE ABOUT HIM BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED?
  
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-It's not even been a month. We have to give him a chance. He could be abroad. Who knows what he found.
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Yama hesitates to divulge more but still feels the urge to get it off her chest.
  
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-You know that these searches were not authorized to starts with, claims the Dean.
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WELL THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO APPEARED ON SITE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE...I DON'T KNOW... I FEEL KIND OF FUNNY TELLING YOU THIS.
  
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-What do you mean not authorized! It only involves Vasily and five of his graduate students. It's not as if they were draining the University's budget, replies the other professor.
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WHY?
  
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-Seven days. That's all I can do. Figure it out by then, saids the Rector before standing up, signaling the end of the meeting.
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I'D FEEL BETTER IF WE WERE FACE TO FACE. YOU SHOULD COME TO MONTREAL ONE DAY. WAIT FOR SPRING THOUGH...
  
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====SAMOSDELKA EXCAVATION SITE, ASTRAKHAN OBLAST====
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Najwa is pensive, looking at people around her, running in circle.
  
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A female graduate students is being helped by her brother to gather tools and objects from the excavation site. The brother looks towards the banks of the Volga.
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MAYBE I WILL.
  
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-Why the fuck would they want to build a nuclear plant here, in the middle of nowhere! Doesn't make sense.
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Alexander pops up on online...
  
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-Don't know, replies the female student, He never mentioned anything about this.
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SORRY BABY, I WAS AWAY. YOU IN MADRID? GET ON VIDEO IF YOU CAN..
  
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-That's weird. Was he from Moscow?.
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HOLD ON LET ME SAY BYE TO MY FRIEND...
  
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-Yes, that's what he saids. Though I don't know if he was in contact with anyone else apart from us.
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Najwa switches conversation.
  
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-Did you look in his office.
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YAMA, MY BF JUST GOT ONLINE. GOTTA HOOK UP WITH HIM.
  
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-No. I don't have the key.
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NOT A PROBLEM... SORRY I WASN'T OF MUCH HELP.
  
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-Well...
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Najwa accepts Alexander's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_call video call]. His face pops on her screen.
  
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====PROFESSOR VASILY DMITRIEV'S OFFICE, ASTRAKHAN SATE UNIVERSITY====
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-HI BABY. ARE YOU IN MADRID?
  
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The student and her brother open the door to the professor's office to find piles of articles, books, and ancient Khazarian artifacts. The brother grabs a stone on which a '''Star of David''' if engraved.
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-YES, I GOT 4 HOURS TO KILL. HOW ARE YOU?
  
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-He worked in the Middle East.
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-OK... JUST GOT IN YESTERDAY. MY APPOINTMENT GOT POSTPONED TILL TOMORROW SO I'VE GOT TIME TO KILL AS WELL. TOO BAD YOU'RE NOT HERE YET. COULD HAVE SHOWED YOU AROUND. NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE.
  
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-No, we found this at the site, like two years ago?
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-YOU'LL SHOW ME AROUND TOMORROW. DON'T WORRY.
  
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The brother looks at his sister...
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Najwa hear knocks on Alexander's door who doesn't react, as if he hadn't heard to knocks. Then after a pause, noticing that Najwa must have heard, he reacts.
  
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====CAPE CHERSONES AIRFIELD, SEVASTOPOL CITY====
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-HOLD ON GOTTA GO CHECK THE DOOR.
  
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[[Najwa]] and [[Evgeniy]] turn their car around as they reach the end of the runaway and stop the engine. Evgeniy pops a cigarette out of his pack and offers one to Najwa who answers in Russian.
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Najwa, interjects before Alexander presses on pause.
  
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-No thanks.
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-NO, BYE, I'M LOGGING OUT. SEE YOU THERE TONIGHT.
  
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-Sorry... I didn't know...
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The knocking on the door is repeated. Alexander looks nervous.
  
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-It doesn't bother me. I just don't smoke.
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-OK BABY. I LOVE YOU.
  
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Evgeniy hesitates, then looks at Najwa.
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Alexander's face disappear from Najwa's screen. She stares at it then notices that Yama is also on Skype now. She hesitates but doesn't contact her. She stares back at the crowd of people walking around the airport, looks back at her screen, opens [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momondo Momondo's travel search engine] and types '''Madrid-Montreal-Havana''' in the multiple destinations boxes.
  
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-Are you allowed to smoke?
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====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, CANADA====
  
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-What do you mean?
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[[Yama]] walks into the cafe and scouts the room looking for a 30 something woman amongst dozens of [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/WiFier WiFiers]. She notices the stare of a woman wearing a scarf at the tip of her chignon and walks up to her.
  
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-I mean, because of this, pointing to her hijab.
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-Najwa?
  
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-Of course. It's got nothing to do with it. I just never started.
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-Yes, Yama! responds Najwa as she stands up to greet her. Please sit... Would you like something? I think that they only serve at the counter.
  
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Najwa's phone beeps. She checks the SMS.
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Yama hangs her bag on the chair and follows Najwa who leads her to the counter.
  
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-10NM S
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-Wow, what a surprise when I got your message. When did you get here? asks Yama.
  
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She shows the phone to Evgeny who turn on the head beams.
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-Last night. When I realized I could transit through Canada to go to Havana, I thought it'd be a great way to meet you. How have you been?
  
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-10 Nautical Miles South. They should be here in 2 minutes.
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-What can I get you? asks the man behind the counter.
  
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Najwa smiles anxiously and steps out of the car leaving the door open. A light breeze from the sea blows her hijab to the side as she holds it in place. Evgeniy starts flashing the car's head beams.
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-Hmmm... Hesitates Yama.
  
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====COCKPIT, EPIC VICTORY JET, OVER THE BLACK SEA====
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-The coffee's great, claims Najwa.
  
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Alexander points to the flashing lights as the pilot watches a night vision monitor displaying the landing strip ahead.
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-Ok. I'll have a latte then.
  
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-You want to go over once?
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-Medium, large? asks the man behind the counter.
  
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-No...Too many eyes on us in the area. It'll look suspicious. I'll drop you in the middle of the runaway and take off right away. No one will notice we even stopped.
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-Small. Please.
  
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The pilot stops talking to concentrate on his instruments as he lands the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Victory 4 seater plane] in the pitch back night.
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-I'll have the same, continues Najwa.
  
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====CAPE CHERSONES AIRFIELD, SEVASTOPOL CITY====
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====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, LATER====
  
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Alexander unbuckles his belt, pads the pilot on the shoulder, grabs his backpack and exits through a side door behind the pilot.
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The two women have moved to a counter facing a window where they can speak privately. Najwa tries to get a grasp on how Dmitriev disappeared.
  
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-See you very soon.
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-And this girl, Rachel, she just popped out of nowhere to interview him?
  
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The plane's engine roars back at full steam as Alexanders shuts the door, remaining in the middle of the strip as the plane takes off again.
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-Yes. Well first she approached me I guess as she figured I was Canadian and all. She saids she was a journalist and was working on an article about Russia for a travel magazine. I thought she was some kind of [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blogger blogger] drifting around... We went out with friends from the University and she mingled in easily. The guy I was with thought she was odd though....
  
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A few hundred meters further, Najwa's bends as she hears the jet taking off right over her head. She starts walking towards the middle of the runaway. Evgeniy shuts the car's head beams leaving the airfield pitch black.
+
-You had a boyfriend there?
  
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-Alexander... Alexander... Najwa utters as she continues walking in the dark.
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-Yeah... I met this Engineering student soon after I got there... Not my type at first but he was kinda cute.
  
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She suddenly feels a hand gently grabbing her from the side.
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-My boyfriend is Russian too, saids Najwa smiling.
  
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-My little [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll Matryoshka].
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-Anyways, so a couple of days later she asked me if she could accompany me on the the site, the excavation site. And that's where she completely changed and got into this full cat-woman mode and virtually hypnotized the man.
  
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Alexander passes his hand under Najwa's hijab and starts kissing her passionately until Evgeniy stops the car besides them.
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-Your boyfriend?
  
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-Lieutenant!
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-No, Dmitriev... Well maybe she was flirting with him too, but it was clearly Dmitriev she was after.
  
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Alexander peeps inside the car and discovers Evgeniy's face as he puffs on a cigarette.
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-How did he react?
  
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-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starshina Starshina]!
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-Well, he's kind of straight edged, you know. Like there's no way she would have found him attractive. And it's not like he's got money or power. He was just this plain Russian man.
  
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-No, no... Captain, replies Evgeniy with a grin. Hop in.
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-Was he married?
  
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Alexander opens the back door to let Najwa in then sits in front as the car disappears into the Crimean night.
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-Not that we knew. But I think he was from Moscow so he might have had family there. But we never saw or heard of anyone.
  
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====ROOFTOP, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL====
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-How old was he?
  
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Najwa slides the door opens leading Alexander and Evgeniy to the rooftop overlooking the port. She undoes her hijab revealing her dark blond hair. Alexander turns to Evgeniy.
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-Like 50 something...
  
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-Wow. Feels good to be home. Evgeniy... Thank you.
+
-And you never saw her again.
  
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-The boat sails by, the shore remains...
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-No... She vanished the same day he did.
  
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-Indeed.
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-She didn't leave her e-mail or cell number to anyone.
  
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Najwa interjects.
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-No she claimed her SIM didn't work in Russia, which is possible. Otherwise she just hooked up with us at this hang out joint near the campus.
  
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-What can I serve you guys? I noticed we have vodka in the freezer.
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-Rachel what? Did she tell you her last name.
  
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Evgeniy smiles as Alexander continues.
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-Bowie! Rachel Bowie.
  
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-Najwa follows a particular branch of Islam. Seems to follow the wind currents. A naturalistic approach...
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Yama is thoughtful then continues.
  
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-Lovely wife Sasha.
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-It didn't occurred to me that she might have been involved then, but now that I think about it...
  
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-Thank you. We're not married... yet. What about you?
+
====JOSE MARTI AIRPORT, HAVANA, CUBA====
  
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-Yes... Many years ago. Two daughters. 13 and 12.
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[[Alexander]] drops Najwa's hand luggage on the back seat of a 1965 Land Rover before opening her the passenger door. He kisses her as he gets behind the wheel.
  
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-Wow. Trouble at sea, saids Najwa as she pours three shots on the rooftop table.
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-So? Did you find him?
  
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-Na Zdorovie.
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Najwa looks at Alexander and poses for a few seconds.
  
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-Na Zdorovie.
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-You've got some memory. Or you're spying on me.
  
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The two men raise their glasses to Najwa as Evgeniy continues.
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-Both, answers Alexander as he kisses her again.
  
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-To women of the Earth.
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-No... I didn't...
  
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Najwa smiles at both men.
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====STREETS OF MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY====
  
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-Wise words for seamen.
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Najwa and Yama walk out of the cafe where they spent the afternoon as night falls on a cold wintry evening. Yama zips up her jacket.
  
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Alexander gently pulls Najwa by her waist.
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-You're not too cold, coming from Dubai?
  
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-Evgeniy and I visited many foreign ports together.
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-Yes, very cold... But I grew up in Hungary and traveled to northern places. So it's not like I've never seen snow. But I reckon this is the coldest I ever felt.
  
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-You're husband... I mean Sasha is very modest. If it wasn't for him. I wouldn't be here today.
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-Keep moving and after a while, you'll get used to it.
  
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-I had to pull him out of trouble when he was like nineteen... twenty max.
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-I will thanks.
  
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-Eighteen...
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-Well, this is my bus stop. It was very nice to meet you in person Najwa. I guess we'll stay in touch.
  
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-Luanda, Christmas 1989 replies Alexander as he pours another set of shots. Lets say that for an eighteen year old rusky boy straight out of his mommy's home, Angola was like Sodom and Gomorrah.
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-Yes definitely, I'd like that...
  
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-To African woman! Concludes Evgeniy before continuing on another subject. I have arranged for your pilot to stay at a hotel by Belbek Airport. Although the touch and go was quite effective, we still have some pretty paranoid comrades around. Better not to communicate with him during your stay. He's could be trailed.
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-Sherbrooke street is about five or six blocks this way, saids Yama pointing south.
  
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-FSB? Asks Alexander.
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-Cool, thanks again for meeting with me.
  
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-No, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRU GRU]. We're "abroad"! Sevastopol has become the Prague of the new era. Besides the Ukrainians and our boys, every agency on earth has a man in this city. Just last month we nailed three Israelis with forged Russian passports leaving port on a sailboat. We tracked them via satellite as they were trailing a group of archaeologists digging on a future nuclear plant site near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrakhan Astrakhan]. We let them go so that Tel Aviv would hold on to some intel they had about our operatives in Kiev.
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Yama smiles and kneels towards Najwa to kiss her goodbye.
  
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-New era but same old game, replies Alexander.
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====BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====
  
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-Archaeologists? asks Najwa.
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Najwa walks down Montreal's boulevard Saint-Laurent. Her sneakers crunching over the packed snow.
  
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-Yes. Don't ask why. Only their own God understands these Jews.
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[[File:BlvdStLaurentFrag.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Boulevard Saint-Laurent historical board]]
  
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....
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She notices boards posted on various buildings recounting the city's history. Some written in English but most in French. She reads the story of a [[La_Voie_de_l%27ange#Mardi_1er_juin_1948|Jewish couple]] who emigrated to Canada from Europe after the Second World War.
  
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....
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She thinks of Anne, her imaginary alter-ego, who could have well landed here instead of in Buenos Aires. She thinks of her father of whom she knows nothing, except that he was named [[Axel]], that he spoke French and that he bore an '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism A]''' tattooed on his arm.
  
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====BEDROOM, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL====
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Najwa continues her stroll down [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Laurent_Boulevard The Main], looking at snowflakes falling in front of street lights. Every man in his mid forties could be him. He was seventeen when he met her mother in Berlin. Is he dead. Is he here. Does he know. What would happened if they'd met?
  
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''ASTRAKHAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR VANISHES''.
+
In the street, most women wear a hat or a scarf, hiding part of their head. This time she doesn't stand out. In the middle of the street, a bike messenger riding against the traffic jumps on the sidewalk right besides her, missing her by inches. How can he ride with all this snow?
  
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Najwa reads the online version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda Pravda].
+
====BOOKSTORE, BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====
  
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''VASILY DMITRIEV, A PROFESSOR AT THE ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN REPORTED MISSING BY HIS GRADUATE STUDENTS LAST WEEK. DMITRIEV FAILED TO REPORT AT AN EXCAVATION SITE WHERE HE HAD LEAD A GROUP OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS... THE TWO GRADUATE STUDENTS INTERVIEWED WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY ABNORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR BEHAVIOR THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO THEIR PROFESSOR'S DISAPPEARANCE. HE WAS KNOW TO BE QUIET AND DEVOTED TO HIS WORK... THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEAM CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE REMAINS OF ATIL, THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THE KHAZAR KINGDOM, A TURKIC TRIBE WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ADOPTED JUDAISM IN THE TENTH CENTURY BEFORE DISAPPEARING FROM THE REGION... STATE OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE AREA HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
+
Najwa stares at the window of a bookstore. Could one day her own book be amongst those displayed. Christmas music echoes through the street, reminding her of her childhood in Budapest. The bike messenger whom she saw earlier exits the bookstore and smiles at her.
  
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Alexander enters the room and walks towards Najwa who's reading in bed.
+
-I'm sorry if I surprised you before. I had to make it before the store would close, saids the messenger in French as an employee locks the store from inside.
  
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-He left? ask Najwa, surprised.
+
-It's okay, I slipped but didn't fall, answers Najwa smiling back.
  
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-Yes, he saids goodbye. He didn't know if you were sleeping.
+
He kneels down to unlock his bike.
  
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-Oh... Nice man... Did you know that the leading professor in that group of archaeologist that your friend Evgneniy was mentioning has disappeared!
+
-You should get boots! That's where you get cold from.
  
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-No... How do you know? What about it?
+
-Yes, I'm starting to feel that... How do you manage to ride in the snow?
  
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-Well, I was just procrastinating online, instead of writing, as usual... I was curious to know why Mossad would be interested in trailing some archaeologists until I realized they were there for the nuclear plant... So close to Azerbaijan, and Iran... Still, weird coincidence that this man disappeared right when they were there.
+
-Experience, saids the messenger laughing. Plus I have studs on my front wheel.
  
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-There is no such thing as a coincidence in this world, there is only the inevitable. Besides, I don't see why the Israelis would be interested in a nuclear plant in Russia. No offense to your people my love, but if the people of Stalingrad stopped the German army, I don't think there going to let some Arabs invade them. Besides, there is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus_Mountains Caucasus].
+
-You're like Mad Max!
  
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-You always come up with military strategies.
+
The messenger looks back at her in silence... then continues.
  
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-Well...
+
-That's my name. No jokes. My name is Max.
  
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-Besides, there are no Arabs in that region...
+
Najwa extends her hand.
  
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-You know what I mean.
+
-Nice to meet you, I'm Najwa.
  
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Alexander lies down to kiss Najwa.
+
[[Max]] pulls his orange leather gloves to shake her hand.
  
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-My little Ishtar...
+
-Could I offer you a coffee or something to make up for nearly hitting you with my bike on the sidewalk?
  
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-You Nordic pirate...
+
-Don't you have to rush for another delivery?
  
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They make love.
+
-No, this was my last one. Businesses close at 6.
  
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====ROOFTOP, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL, MORNING====
+
-Oh, well I actually just had two coffees... But I wouldn't mind warming up for a few minutes.
  
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Najwa is reading on her iPad as the rising sun illuminates the masts of a docked Russian Navy carrier.
+
-I don't drink coffee either. Tea, water and booze!
  
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-Did you know that the people living in that area converted to Judaism and that's what this archaeologist was demonstrating.
+
-Tea would be good.
  
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-You're still on his case...
+
====HOTEL NACIONAL, HAVANA, CUBA====
  
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-Remember that [[The_Orient_Express|man on the train to Venice]]?
+
Alexander parks the Land Rover at the front entrance of the Hotel Nacional where an attendant takes his keys. Najwa walks across the hall into the garden followed by Alexander.
  
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-Of course.
+
-You want to go to the room first or have a drink here?
  
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-He was Mossad, no?
+
-We can stay here... I'll have a fresh orange juice if they have.
  
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-Probably, why?
+
-Right on.
  
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-You're still in contact with him.
+
A waiter arrives at their table.
  
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-Of course not.
+
-Buenas tardes...
  
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-Didn't you tell me he was after this Swiss girl who was on your case.
+
-Buenas tardes. Un jugo de naraja para la segnora i un run doble, asks Alexander in rough Spanish with a strong Russian accent.
  
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-[[Carla]] Xanthis, yes. But we resolved that issue.
+
-Anejo? asks the waiter.
  
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-Just thinking about these Mossad guys roaming around the world, conducting targeted assassinations for no apparent reasons.
+
Alexander looks at him perplex.
  
−
-They brought this chess game to another dimension.
+
-El run... Old... Siete anos?
  
−
-They don't have a king!
+
-A si, por favor, replies Alexander.
  
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-Nor do they have a kingdom!
+
Najwa turns towards Alexander as the waiter leaves.
  
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-Who does...
+
-Wow, I hear you've practiced.
  
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-Checkmate!
+
-I was briefly stationed here in 1992.
  
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-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate#Etymology Shāh Māt]...
+
-That's where you learned to dance? replies Najwa smiling.
  
 +
Moments later.
  
−
====DEPARTMENT OF ARCHEOLOGY, ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY====
+
Najwa is sipping on her orange juice as Alexander has finished his rum.
  
−
The university's internal mail delivery service delivers a thick envelope in the professor's slot.
+
-You know I can find him for you if you wish.
  
−
''The female graduate student picks it up...
+
-No... Please... I'd rather not. I'm not sure I want to meet him. Not sure if I'd have something to say. If I'd be disappointed. If he'd be disappointed... I'd rather leave it to faith.
  
−
''A note is attached to his wallet...
+
-Inshallah... saids Alexander looking at the waiter as he realizes his glass is empty.
  
−
''I FOUND THIS ON A BODY FLOATING IN THE RIVER ABOUT 2 KM FROM THE SEA. COULDN'T CARRY IT BACK TO PORT. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
+
-Inshallah... replies Najwa.
  
 +
-Yet you pushed you're luck by traveling to Canada.
  
 +
-I wanted to meet this student related to the Caspian Sea incident.
  
−
[[TBD|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]]
+
-And, how was that?
 +
 
 +
-Okay, I guess. We had coffee. It was nice, saids Najwa absently.
 +
 
 +
Alexander senses that Najwa is not in a talking mood and pulls back his chair to stand up.
 +
 
 +
-I'm gonna go take a shower. Remember we're going to my friend's house tonight.
 +
 
 +
-Right. What time is it?
 +
 
 +
-5, answers Alexander looking at his phone.
 +
 
 +
-Okay, I'll finish my juice and I'll meet you. What's our room?
 +
 
 +
-535, 5th floor. Here...
 +
 
 +
Alexander pulls a key card from his wallet and hands it to Najwa who smiles at him.
 +
 
 +
-I'll see you in a minute.
 +
 
 +
Najwa stares back at the sea as Alexander walks away.
 +
 
 +
====MAX'S LOFT, FACING THE SAINT-LAURENT RIVER, MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY====
 +
 
 +
Large windows span the width of the sparsely furnished loft. Najwa stares at a boat sailing through ice patches floating down the river. Max hits shuffle on his track list. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_%28R.E.M._song%29 Hope] by R.E.M. starts playing. The port flood-spots back-light Najwa silhouette as she slowly unties her hijab. The kettle whistles in the background. Max, not knowing how to react to the rapidly unfolding events, attends to the tea preparation.
 +
 
 +
-Here you go. Oolong from China... and oranges from god knows where, saids Max as he places the tray on a flipped wooden fruit box in the living area.
 +
 
 +
Najwa approaches and sits on the torn leather sofa. Max kneel on his knees to serve the tea.
 +
 
 +
-So... are you a student?
 +
 
 +
Najwa smiles at Max and places her palm on the spot next to her.
 +
 
 +
-Come...
 +
 
 +
[[Down the Pipe|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Last Khazar|NEXT EPISODE >>]]
  
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
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[[Category:The Venetian Cell|2.012]]
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[[Category:The Passengers|2.012]]
 
[[Category:The Clan|2.012]]
 
[[Category:The Clan|2.012]]
 
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]
 
[[Category:The Age of Nujood (2010- )]]

Latest revision as of 17:05, 22 December 2023

Two foreign students, Rachel and Yama, both with ties to the missing archaeologist, leave Russia after his disappearance. Najwa, who finds out about the story, decides to dig in as part of her research for LVA. Thinking that she could trace AF's Jewish origins to the Middle Age, Najwa stumbles onto her own past as she transit through Montreal, her father's birth city.

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MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT

Madrid Bajaras Terminal 4

Najwa walks out of Emirates flight 141 into Terminal 4 of Madrid's airport. Looking at the departures board, she notices that Iberia flight 6621 to Havana is only scheduled for 17:00. She's got 4 hours to kill. She loafs through the terminal admiring the wavy wooden roof. She's hungry. A man at a coffee stand suggests she tries a tapas joint at the other end of the terminal.

TAPAS BAR, TERMINAL 4, MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT

Najwa is having a cazuelita con patatas, huevos y jamon serrano along with a glass of red wine at the tapas bar. She scrolls trough her Skype contacts on her iPad but no luck with Alexander. Yama pops up online. She pings her.

-MY TURN TO BE IN AN AIRPORT ;)

A few seconds later...

-WAY

-MADRID... ON MY WAY TO CUBA.

-LUCKY YOU, IT'S FREEZING HERE. WHICH RESORT?

-MEETING MY BF IN HAVANA. HE'S ON A BIZ TRIP THERE. WE'LL STICK AROUND FOR XMASS.

-I LOVE HAVANA.

-I THOUGH YOU GUYS COULDN'T GO THERE.

-OF COURSE WE CAN. AMERICANS CAN'T. FOR US IT'S LIKE CHEAP ESCAPE FROM A LONG WINTER. THERE'S LIKE AT LEAST THREE FLIGHTS A DAY.

-WOW.

-ANYWAYS, SORRY FOR BEING BLUNT YESTERDAY. I WAS STILL UNDER SHOCK FROM THIS WHOLE THING AND YOU POPPING OUT OF NOWHERE SEEMED KINDA SKETCHY.

-NO. IT'S ALL RIGHT. ANYWAYS. SO WHAT'S YOU'RE TAKE ON THE WHOLE THING? DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING STRANGE ABOUT HIM BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED?

Yama hesitates to divulge more but still feels the urge to get it off her chest.

WELL THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO APPEARED ON SITE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE...I DON'T KNOW... I FEEL KIND OF FUNNY TELLING YOU THIS.

WHY?

I'D FEEL BETTER IF WE WERE FACE TO FACE. YOU SHOULD COME TO MONTREAL ONE DAY. WAIT FOR SPRING THOUGH...

Najwa is pensive, looking at people around her, running in circle.

MAYBE I WILL.

Alexander pops up on online...

SORRY BABY, I WAS AWAY. YOU IN MADRID? GET ON VIDEO IF YOU CAN..

HOLD ON LET ME SAY BYE TO MY FRIEND...

Najwa switches conversation.

YAMA, MY BF JUST GOT ONLINE. GOTTA HOOK UP WITH HIM.

NOT A PROBLEM... SORRY I WASN'T OF MUCH HELP.

Najwa accepts Alexander's video call. His face pops on her screen.

-HI BABY. ARE YOU IN MADRID?

-YES, I GOT 4 HOURS TO KILL. HOW ARE YOU?

-OK... JUST GOT IN YESTERDAY. MY APPOINTMENT GOT POSTPONED TILL TOMORROW SO I'VE GOT TIME TO KILL AS WELL. TOO BAD YOU'RE NOT HERE YET. COULD HAVE SHOWED YOU AROUND. NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE.

-YOU'LL SHOW ME AROUND TOMORROW. DON'T WORRY.

Najwa hear knocks on Alexander's door who doesn't react, as if he hadn't heard to knocks. Then after a pause, noticing that Najwa must have heard, he reacts.

-HOLD ON GOTTA GO CHECK THE DOOR.

Najwa, interjects before Alexander presses on pause.

-NO, BYE, I'M LOGGING OUT. SEE YOU THERE TONIGHT.

The knocking on the door is repeated. Alexander looks nervous.

-OK BABY. I LOVE YOU.

Alexander's face disappear from Najwa's screen. She stares at it then notices that Yama is also on Skype now. She hesitates but doesn't contact her. She stares back at the crowd of people walking around the airport, looks back at her screen, opens Momondo's travel search engine and types Madrid-Montreal-Havana in the multiple destinations boxes.

CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, CANADA

Yama walks into the cafe and scouts the room looking for a 30 something woman amongst dozens of WiFiers. She notices the stare of a woman wearing a scarf at the tip of her chignon and walks up to her.

-Najwa?

-Yes, Yama! responds Najwa as she stands up to greet her. Please sit... Would you like something? I think that they only serve at the counter.

Yama hangs her bag on the chair and follows Najwa who leads her to the counter.

-Wow, what a surprise when I got your message. When did you get here? asks Yama.

-Last night. When I realized I could transit through Canada to go to Havana, I thought it'd be a great way to meet you. How have you been?

-What can I get you? asks the man behind the counter.

-Hmmm... Hesitates Yama.

-The coffee's great, claims Najwa.

-Ok. I'll have a latte then.

-Medium, large? asks the man behind the counter.

-Small. Please.

-I'll have the same, continues Najwa.

CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, LATER

The two women have moved to a counter facing a window where they can speak privately. Najwa tries to get a grasp on how Dmitriev disappeared.

-And this girl, Rachel, she just popped out of nowhere to interview him?

-Yes. Well first she approached me I guess as she figured I was Canadian and all. She saids she was a journalist and was working on an article about Russia for a travel magazine. I thought she was some kind of blogger drifting around... We went out with friends from the University and she mingled in easily. The guy I was with thought she was odd though....

-You had a boyfriend there?

-Yeah... I met this Engineering student soon after I got there... Not my type at first but he was kinda cute.

-My boyfriend is Russian too, saids Najwa smiling.

-Anyways, so a couple of days later she asked me if she could accompany me on the the site, the excavation site. And that's where she completely changed and got into this full cat-woman mode and virtually hypnotized the man.

-Your boyfriend?

-No, Dmitriev... Well maybe she was flirting with him too, but it was clearly Dmitriev she was after.

-How did he react?

-Well, he's kind of straight edged, you know. Like there's no way she would have found him attractive. And it's not like he's got money or power. He was just this plain Russian man.

-Was he married?

-Not that we knew. But I think he was from Moscow so he might have had family there. But we never saw or heard of anyone.

-How old was he?

-Like 50 something...

-And you never saw her again.

-No... She vanished the same day he did.

-She didn't leave her e-mail or cell number to anyone.

-No she claimed her SIM didn't work in Russia, which is possible. Otherwise she just hooked up with us at this hang out joint near the campus.

-Rachel what? Did she tell you her last name.

-Bowie! Rachel Bowie.

Yama is thoughtful then continues.

-It didn't occurred to me that she might have been involved then, but now that I think about it...

JOSE MARTI AIRPORT, HAVANA, CUBA

Alexander drops Najwa's hand luggage on the back seat of a 1965 Land Rover before opening her the passenger door. He kisses her as he gets behind the wheel.

-So? Did you find him?

Najwa looks at Alexander and poses for a few seconds.

-You've got some memory. Or you're spying on me.

-Both, answers Alexander as he kisses her again.

-No... I didn't...

STREETS OF MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY

Najwa and Yama walk out of the cafe where they spent the afternoon as night falls on a cold wintry evening. Yama zips up her jacket.

-You're not too cold, coming from Dubai?

-Yes, very cold... But I grew up in Hungary and traveled to northern places. So it's not like I've never seen snow. But I reckon this is the coldest I ever felt.

-Keep moving and after a while, you'll get used to it.

-I will thanks.

-Well, this is my bus stop. It was very nice to meet you in person Najwa. I guess we'll stay in touch.

-Yes definitely, I'd like that...

-Sherbrooke street is about five or six blocks this way, saids Yama pointing south.

-Cool, thanks again for meeting with me.

Yama smiles and kneels towards Najwa to kiss her goodbye.

BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL

Najwa walks down Montreal's boulevard Saint-Laurent. Her sneakers crunching over the packed snow.

Boulevard Saint-Laurent historical board

She notices boards posted on various buildings recounting the city's history. Some written in English but most in French. She reads the story of a Jewish couple who emigrated to Canada from Europe after the Second World War.

She thinks of Anne, her imaginary alter-ego, who could have well landed here instead of in Buenos Aires. She thinks of her father of whom she knows nothing, except that he was named Axel, that he spoke French and that he bore an A tattooed on his arm.

Najwa continues her stroll down The Main, looking at snowflakes falling in front of street lights. Every man in his mid forties could be him. He was seventeen when he met her mother in Berlin. Is he dead. Is he here. Does he know. What would happened if they'd met?

In the street, most women wear a hat or a scarf, hiding part of their head. This time she doesn't stand out. In the middle of the street, a bike messenger riding against the traffic jumps on the sidewalk right besides her, missing her by inches. How can he ride with all this snow?

BOOKSTORE, BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL

Najwa stares at the window of a bookstore. Could one day her own book be amongst those displayed. Christmas music echoes through the street, reminding her of her childhood in Budapest. The bike messenger whom she saw earlier exits the bookstore and smiles at her.

-I'm sorry if I surprised you before. I had to make it before the store would close, saids the messenger in French as an employee locks the store from inside.

-It's okay, I slipped but didn't fall, answers Najwa smiling back.

He kneels down to unlock his bike.

-You should get boots! That's where you get cold from.

-Yes, I'm starting to feel that... How do you manage to ride in the snow?

-Experience, saids the messenger laughing. Plus I have studs on my front wheel.

-You're like Mad Max!

The messenger looks back at her in silence... then continues.

-That's my name. No jokes. My name is Max.

Najwa extends her hand.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Najwa.

Max pulls his orange leather gloves to shake her hand.

-Could I offer you a coffee or something to make up for nearly hitting you with my bike on the sidewalk?

-Don't you have to rush for another delivery?

-No, this was my last one. Businesses close at 6.

-Oh, well I actually just had two coffees... But I wouldn't mind warming up for a few minutes.

-I don't drink coffee either. Tea, water and booze!

-Tea would be good.

HOTEL NACIONAL, HAVANA, CUBA

Alexander parks the Land Rover at the front entrance of the Hotel Nacional where an attendant takes his keys. Najwa walks across the hall into the garden followed by Alexander.

-You want to go to the room first or have a drink here?

-We can stay here... I'll have a fresh orange juice if they have.

-Right on.

A waiter arrives at their table.

-Buenas tardes...

-Buenas tardes. Un jugo de naraja para la segnora i un run doble, asks Alexander in rough Spanish with a strong Russian accent.

-Anejo? asks the waiter.

Alexander looks at him perplex.

-El run... Old... Siete anos?

-A si, por favor, replies Alexander.

Najwa turns towards Alexander as the waiter leaves.

-Wow, I hear you've practiced.

-I was briefly stationed here in 1992.

-That's where you learned to dance? replies Najwa smiling.

Moments later.

Najwa is sipping on her orange juice as Alexander has finished his rum.

-You know I can find him for you if you wish.

-No... Please... I'd rather not. I'm not sure I want to meet him. Not sure if I'd have something to say. If I'd be disappointed. If he'd be disappointed... I'd rather leave it to faith.

-Inshallah... saids Alexander looking at the waiter as he realizes his glass is empty.

-Inshallah... replies Najwa.

-Yet you pushed you're luck by traveling to Canada.

-I wanted to meet this student related to the Caspian Sea incident.

-And, how was that?

-Okay, I guess. We had coffee. It was nice, saids Najwa absently.

Alexander senses that Najwa is not in a talking mood and pulls back his chair to stand up.

-I'm gonna go take a shower. Remember we're going to my friend's house tonight.

-Right. What time is it?

-5, answers Alexander looking at his phone.

-Okay, I'll finish my juice and I'll meet you. What's our room?

-535, 5th floor. Here...

Alexander pulls a key card from his wallet and hands it to Najwa who smiles at him.

-I'll see you in a minute.

Najwa stares back at the sea as Alexander walks away.

MAX'S LOFT, FACING THE SAINT-LAURENT RIVER, MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY

Large windows span the width of the sparsely furnished loft. Najwa stares at a boat sailing through ice patches floating down the river. Max hits shuffle on his track list. Hope by R.E.M. starts playing. The port flood-spots back-light Najwa silhouette as she slowly unties her hijab. The kettle whistles in the background. Max, not knowing how to react to the rapidly unfolding events, attends to the tea preparation.

-Here you go. Oolong from China... and oranges from god knows where, saids Max as he places the tray on a flipped wooden fruit box in the living area.

Najwa approaches and sits on the torn leather sofa. Max kneel on his knees to serve the tea.

-So... are you a student?

Najwa smiles at Max and places her palm on the spot next to her.

-Come...

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