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.
  
''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 >>]]
  
[[TBD|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]]
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====VOLGA DELTA, ASTRAKHAN OBLAST, RUSSIA====
 
  
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====
  
-Closer. Hold it there... Shit...
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[[File:MadridBajarasT4.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Madrid Bajaras Terminal 4]]
  
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.
  
-I can't take the smell. Okay, bring it closer.
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====TAPAS BAR, TERMINAL 4, MADRID BARAJAS AIRPORT====
  
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.
  
-Why don't we just tow it to the port.
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-MY TURN TO BE IN AN AIRPORT ;)
  
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...
  
-VASILY DMITRIEV...
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-WAY
  
He sorts through number of other ID cards and pulls several thousand ruble notes.
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-MADRID... ON MY WAY TO CUBA.
  
-Let it go.
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-LUCKY YOU, IT'S FREEZING HERE. WHICH RESORT?
  
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.
  
-What do you mean? We can't leave it here to rot.
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-I LOVE HAVANA.
  
-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.
  
====RECTOR'S OFFICE, ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY====
+
-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.
  
The Rector is in a meeting with the Dean of the Department of Archeology and two other professors.
+
-WOW.
  
-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.  
  
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?
  
-It's not even been a month. We have to give him a chance. He could be abroad. Who knows what he found.
+
Yama hesitates to divulge more but still feels the urge to get it off her chest.
  
-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.
  
-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.
+
WHY?
  
-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...
  
====STRAIT OF KERCH, RUSSIA/UKRAINE BORDER====
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Najwa is pensive, looking at people around her, running in circle.
  
The Scarlet Queen, a 78-foot [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketch ketch] harboring a Panamanian flag sails out of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman,_Russia Taman], Russia with three new hands on deck.
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MAYBE I WILL.
  
Robert, a part-time American filmmaker is at the helm of the sail-ship as he watches "Rachel", 23, desperately trying to attach a running rigging.
+
Alexander pops up on online...
  
-Sure you've done this before...
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SORRY BABY, I WAS AWAY. YOU IN MADRID? GET ON VIDEO IF YOU CAN..
  
-Not on this kind of boat...
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HOLD ON LET ME SAY BYE TO MY FRIEND...
  
-What kind of boat? A paddle boat?
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Najwa switches conversation.
  
Rachel turns towards Robert with a smile...
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YAMA, MY BF JUST GOT ONLINE. GOTTA HOOK UP WITH HIM.
  
-As soon as the boys wake up, they'll make it up to you for my inexperience. Sorry, but we've had a long journey. We didn't expect to leave so early.
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NOT A PROBLEM... SORRY I WASN'T OF MUCH HELP.
  
-Gotta sail when the wind is right!
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Najwa accepts Alexander's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_call video call]. His face pops on her screen.
  
-At least the wind seems to push us in the right direction... You think we'll make it to Istanbul in how many days.
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-HI BABY. ARE YOU IN MADRID?
  
-500 nautical miles... Three to five days depending on winds and watches...
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-YES, I GOT 4 HOURS TO KILL. HOW ARE YOU?
  
-Who's watch?
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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.
  
-I mean crews staying awake when others sleep...
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-YOU'LL SHOW ME AROUND TOMORROW. DON'T WORRY.
  
-Like us, saids Rachel with a flirty laugh.
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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.
  
-Like us, replies Robert returning the smile.
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-HOLD ON GOTTA GO CHECK THE DOOR.
  
A moment passes as they sail through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Kerch Strait of Kerch]. Rachel, looks a the Crimean peninsula.
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Najwa, interjects before Alexander presses on pause.
  
-When are we going to be in Ukrainian territory.
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-NO, BYE, I'M LOGGING OUT. SEE YOU THERE TONIGHT.
  
-It's kinda murky around here. Don't know if they agreed on anything at see yet. The Ruskies consider everything north of Turkey as theirs anyways... You've seen [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship_Potemkin Battleship Potemkin]?
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The knocking on the door is repeated. Alexander looks nervous.
  
-No, what is it?
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-OK BABY. I LOVE YOU.
  
-An old Soviet film... A classic... Takes place around here.
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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.
  
-Not big on old films. I prefer reading.
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====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, CANADA====
  
-You're not a video-game girl?
+
[[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.
  
-No, the boys are though.
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-Najwa?
  
A sudden gush of wind engulfs the main sail. Robert looks at the sky as the ship leans sharply.
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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.
  
-Unties those ropes, Robert's shouts at Rachel.
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Yama hangs her bag on the chair and follows Najwa who leads her to the counter.
  
-Which ones.
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-Wow, what a surprise when I got your message. When did you get here? asks Yama.
  
-The white ones!
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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?
  
Rachel slacks the running riggins as the ship stabilizes.
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-What can I get you? asks the man behind the counter.
  
-Right on mate.
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-Hmmm... Hesitates Yama.
  
-Told you!
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-The coffee's great, claims Najwa.
  
-At that speed, we'll be crossing the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosporus Bosporus] in 2 days...
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-Ok. I'll have a latte then.
  
-That'd be cool.
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-Medium, large? asks the man behind the counter.
  
 +
-Small. Please.
  
====...====
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-I'll have the same, continues Najwa.
  
====...====
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====CAFE NEVE, MONTREAL, LATER====
  
====SCARLET QUEEN, 100 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF SEVASTOPOL, BLACK SEA INTERNATIONAL WATERS====
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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.
  
The two guys are on deck as the Scarlet Queen smoothly sails through the Black Sea starry night.
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-And this girl, Rachel, she just popped out of nowhere to interview him?
  
Robert looks at Rachel through the kitchen/bathroom as he brushes his teeth.
+
-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....
  
-What are you reading?
+
-You had a boyfriend there?
  
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_to_Milena Letters to Milena]. It's a collection of letters from Kafka to his mistress.
+
-Yeah... I met this Engineering student soon after I got there... Not my type at first but he was kinda cute.
  
-And?
+
-My boyfriend is Russian too, saids Najwa smiling.
  
-The man was crazy. Would have driven me nuts. What's fascinating is that her reply letters were lost. So it's like a one voice love monologue... Which evolves...
+
-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.
  
The sound of waves hitting the hull is loud and constant. Robert rinses his mouth and removes his shirt as Rachel continues reading.
+
-Your boyfriend?
  
-Sorry about the proximity...
+
-No, Dmitriev... Well maybe she was flirting with him too, but it was clearly Dmitriev she was after.
  
-It's okay, I've seen a man's chest before.
+
-How did he react?
  
-You were right, those guys are pros.
+
-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.
  
-Told you.
+
-Was he married?
  
-How are you guys all connected?
+
-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.
  
-We're not. Well, I'm not. I just hooked up with them. I was an exchange student at a university near Volgograd and I hooked up with them on my way back.
+
-How old was he?
  
-Well they're pretty smooth sailors...
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-Like 50 something...
  
A loud roaring sound is suddenly heard from the deck as a beam of light illuminates the cabin. A loud voice announces in Russian.
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-And you never saw her again.
  
-ATTENTION. THIS IS THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION NAVY OPERATING UNDER THE BLACK SEA NAVAL FORCE AGREEMENT. WE ORDER YOU TO STABILIZE YOUR SHIP AND FOLD YOUR SAILS. ATTENTION...  
+
-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.
  
====SAMOSDELKA EXCAVATION SITE, ASTRAKHAN OBLAST====
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-Bowie! Rachel Bowie.
  
[[Yama]] Zrodlo, a foreign graduate students is being helped by her boyfriend to gather tools and objects from the excavation site. The boyfriend looks towards the banks of the Volga.
+
Yama is thoughtful then continues.
  
-Why the fuck would they want to build a nuclear plant here, in the middle of nowhere! Doesn't make sense.
+
-It didn't occurred to me that she might have been involved then, but now that I think about it...
  
-Don't know, replies Yama, He never mentioned anything about this.
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====JOSE MARTI AIRPORT, HAVANA, CUBA====
  
-That's weird. Was he from Moscow?.
+
[[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.
  
-Yes, that's what he saids. Though I don't know if he was in contact with anyone else apart from us.
+
-So? Did you find him?
  
-Did you look in his office.
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Najwa looks at Alexander and poses for a few seconds.
  
-No.
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-You've got some memory. Or you're spying on me.
  
-You have access?
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-Both, answers Alexander as he kisses her again.
  
-Yes, she saids, hesitantly.
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-No... I didn't...
  
-Well...
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====STREETS OF MONTREAL, THE PREVIOUS DAY====
  
====PROFESSOR VASILY DMITRIEV'S OFFICE, ASTRAKHAN SATE UNIVERSITY====
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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.
  
Yama and her boyfriend enter the professor's office to find piles of articles, books, and ancient [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars Khazarian] artifacts. She searches for documents on the professor's desk.
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-You're not too cold, coming from Dubai?
  
-He was supposed to have signed my visa extension request. Check if you find it while you're at it. It expires in a few days.
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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.
  
Yama's boyfriend grabs a stone on which a '''Star of David''' if engraved.
+
-Keep moving and after a while, you'll get used to it.
  
-He was Jewish.
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-I will thanks.
  
-No, not that I know... We found this at the site, like two years ago?
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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.
  
The boyfriend looks at Yama...
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-Yes definitely, I'd like that...
  
====CAPE CHERSONES AIRFIELD, SEVASTOPOL CITY====
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-Sherbrooke street is about five or six blocks this way, saids Yama pointing south.
  
[[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.
+
-Cool, thanks again for meeting with me.
  
-No thanks.
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Yama smiles and kneels towards Najwa to kiss her goodbye.
  
-Sorry... I didn't know...
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====BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====
  
-It doesn't bother me. I just don't smoke.
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Najwa walks down Montreal's boulevard Saint-Laurent. Her sneakers crunching over the packed snow.
  
Evgeniy hesitates, then looks at Najwa.
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[[File:BlvdStLaurentFrag.jpg|thumb|right|480px|Boulevard Saint-Laurent historical board]]
  
-Are you allowed to smoke?
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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.
  
-What do you mean?
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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.
  
-I mean, because of this, pointing to her hijab.
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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?
  
-Of course. It's got nothing to do with it. I just never started.
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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?
  
Najwa's phone beeps. She checks the SMS.
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====BOOKSTORE, BOULEVARD SAINT-LAURENT, MONTREAL====
  
-10NM S
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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.
  
She shows the phone to Evgeny who turn on the head beams.
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-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.
  
-10 Nautical Miles South. They should be here in 2 minutes.
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-It's okay, I slipped but didn't fall, answers Najwa smiling back.
  
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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He kneels down to unlock his bike.
  
====COCKPIT, EPIC VICTORY JET, OVER THE BLACK SEA====
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-You should get boots! That's where you get cold from.
  
Alexander points to the flashing lights as the pilot watches a night vision monitor displaying the landing strip ahead.
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-Yes, I'm starting to feel that... How do you manage to ride in the snow?
  
-You want to go over once?
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-Experience, saids the messenger laughing. Plus I have studs on my front wheel.
  
-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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-You're like Mad Max!
  
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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The messenger looks back at her in silence... then continues.
  
====CAPE CHERSONES AIRFIELD, SEVASTOPOL CITY====
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-That's my name. No jokes. My name is Max.
  
Alexander unbuckles his belt, pads the pilot on the shoulder, grabs his backpack and exits through a side door behind the pilot.
+
Najwa extends her hand.
  
-See you very soon.
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-Nice to meet you, I'm Najwa.
  
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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[[Max]] pulls his orange leather gloves to shake her hand.
  
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.
+
-Could I offer you a coffee or something to make up for nearly hitting you with my bike on the sidewalk?
  
-Alexander... Alexander... Najwa utters as she continues walking in the dark.
+
-Don't you have to rush for another delivery?
  
She suddenly feels a hand gently grabbing her from the side.
+
-No, this was my last one. Businesses close at 6.
  
-My little [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matryoshka_doll Matryoshka].
+
-Oh, well I actually just had two coffees... But I wouldn't mind warming up for a few minutes.
  
Alexander passes his hand under Najwa's hijab and starts kissing her passionately until Evgeniy stops the car besides them.
+
-I don't drink coffee either. Tea, water and booze!
  
-Lieutenant!
+
-Tea would be good.
  
Alexander peeps inside the car and discovers Evgeniy's face as he puffs on a cigarette.
+
====HOTEL NACIONAL, HAVANA, CUBA====
  
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starshina Starshina]!
+
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.
  
-No, no... Captain, replies Evgeniy with a grin. Hop in.
+
-You want to go to the room first or have a drink here?
  
Alexander opens the back door to let Najwa in then sits in front as the car disappears into the Crimean night.
+
-We can stay here... I'll have a fresh orange juice if they have.
  
====ROOFTOP, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL====
+
-Right on.
  
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.
+
A waiter arrives at their table.
  
-Wow. Feels good to be home. Evgeniy... Thank you.
+
-Buenas tardes...
  
-The boat sails by, the shore remains...
+
-Buenas tardes. Un jugo de naraja para la segnora i un run doble, asks Alexander in rough Spanish with a strong Russian accent.
  
-Indeed.
+
-Anejo? asks the waiter.
  
Najwa interjects.
+
Alexander looks at him perplex.
  
-What can I serve you guys? I noticed we have vodka in the freezer.
+
-El run... Old... Siete anos?
  
Evgeniy smiles as Alexander continues.
+
-A si, por favor, replies Alexander.
  
-Najwa follows a particular branch of Islam. Seems to follow the wind currents. A naturalistic approach...
+
Najwa turns towards Alexander as the waiter leaves.
  
-Lovely wife Sasha.
+
-Wow, I hear you've practiced.
  
-Thank you. We're not married... yet. What about you?
+
-I was briefly stationed here in 1992.
  
-Yes... Many years ago. Two daughters. 13 and 12.
+
-That's where you learned to dance? replies Najwa smiling.
  
-Wow. Trouble at sea, saids Najwa as she pours three shots on the rooftop table.
+
Moments later.
  
-Na Zdorovie.
+
Najwa is sipping on her orange juice as Alexander has finished his rum.
  
-Na Zdorovie.
+
-You know I can find him for you if you wish.
  
The two men raise their glasses to Najwa as Evgeniy continues.
+
-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.
  
-To women of the Earth.
+
-Inshallah... saids Alexander looking at the waiter as he realizes his glass is empty.
  
Najwa smiles at both men.
+
-Inshallah... replies Najwa.
  
-Wise words for seamen.
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-Yet you pushed you're luck by traveling to Canada.
  
Alexander gently pulls Najwa by her waist.
+
-I wanted to meet this student related to the Caspian Sea incident.
  
-Evgeniy and I visited many foreign ports together.
+
-And, how was that?
  
-You're husband... I mean Sasha is very modest. If it wasn't for him. I wouldn't be here today.
+
-Okay, I guess. We had coffee. It was nice, saids Najwa absently.
  
-I had to pull him out of trouble when he was like nineteen... twenty max.
+
Alexander senses that Najwa is not in a talking mood and pulls back his chair to stand up.
  
-Eighteen...
+
-I'm gonna go take a shower. Remember we're going to my friend's house tonight.
  
-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.
+
-Right. What time is it?
  
-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.
+
-5, answers Alexander looking at his phone.
  
-FSB? Asks Alexander.
+
-Okay, I'll finish my juice and I'll meet you. What's our room?
  
-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.
+
-535, 5th floor. Here...
  
-New era but same old game, replies Alexander.
+
Alexander pulls a key card from his wallet and hands it to Najwa who smiles at him.
  
-Archaeologists? asks Najwa.
+
-I'll see you in a minute.
  
-Yes. Don't ask why. Only their own God understands these Jews.
+
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.
  
====BEDROOM, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL====
+
-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.
  
''ASTRAKHAN UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR VANISHES''.
+
Najwa approaches and sits on the torn leather sofa. Max kneel on his knees to serve the tea.
  
Najwa reads the online version of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda Pravda].
+
-So... are you a student?
  
''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 smiles at Max and places her palm on the spot next to her.
  
Alexander enters the room and walks towards Najwa who's reading in bed.
+
-Come...
  
-He left? ask Najwa, surprised.
+
[[Down the Pipe|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]] - [[The Last Khazar|NEXT EPISODE >>]]
 
 
-Yes, he saids goodbye. He didn't know if you were sleeping.
 
 
 
-Oh... Nice man... Did you know that the leading professor in that group of archaeologist that your friend Evgneniy was mentioning has disappeared!
 
 
 
-No... How do you know? What about it?
 
 
 
-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.
 
 
 
-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 always come up with military strategies.
 
 
 
-Well...
 
 
 
-Besides, there are no Arabs in that region...
 
 
 
-You know what I mean.
 
 
 
Alexander lies down to kiss Najwa.
 
 
 
-My little Ishtar...
 
 
 
-You Nordic pirate...
 
 
 
They make love.
 
 
 
====ROOFTOP, ALEXANDER'S APARTMENT, LENIN RAION, SEVASTOPOL, MORNING====
 
 
 
Najwa is reading on her iPad as the rising sun illuminates the masts of a docked Russian Navy carrier.
 
 
 
-Did you know that the people living in that area converted to Judaism and that's what this archaeologist was demonstrating.
 
 
 
-You're still on his case...
 
 
 
-Remember that [[The_Orient_Express|man on the train to Venice]]?
 
 
 
-Of course.
 
 
 
-He was Mossad, no?
 
 
 
-Probably, why?
 
 
 
-You're still in contact with him.
 
 
 
-Of course not.
 
 
 
-Didn't you tell me he was after this Swiss girl who was on your case.
 
 
 
-[[Carla]] Xanthis, yes. But we resolved that issue.
 
 
 
-Just thinking about these Mossad guys roaming around the world, conducting targeted assassinations for no apparent reasons.
 
 
 
-They brought this chess game to another dimension.
 
 
 
-They don't have a king!
 
 
 
-Nor do they have a kingdom!
 
 
 
-Who does...
 
 
 
-Checkmate!
 
 
 
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkmate#Etymology Shāh Māt]...
 
 
 
 
 
====DEPARTMENT OF ARCHEOLOGY, ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY====
 
 
 
The university's internal mail delivery service delivers a thick envelope in the professor's slot.
 
 
 
''The female graduate student picks it up...
 
 
 
''A note is attached to his wallet...
 
 
 
''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.
 
 
 
====SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD====
 
 
 
Alexander is watching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT_%28TV_network%29 RT News] on his laptop. He stumbles upon a video report about Vasily Dmitriev.
 
 
 
TITLE: MISSING ARCHAEOLOGIST PRESUMED DEAD.
 
 
 
-THE WALLET BELONGING TO ASTRAKHAN STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR VASILY DMITRIEV WAS MAILED TO HIS OFFICE BY AN ANONYMOUS SENDER ALONG WITH AN UNSIGNED NOTE CLAIMING THAT IT HAD BEEN FOUND ON A LIFELESS BODY FLOATING ON THE VOLGA EARLIER THIS MONTH... YAMA ZRODLO, A GRADUATE ARCHEOLOGY STUDENT WORKING WITH PROFESSOR DMITRIEV SAIDS SHE WAS ASTONISHED BY THE DRAMATIC UNFOLDING OF EVENTS AND THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE WHOLE AFFAIR... THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE WHERE THE PROFESSOR AND HIS TEAM HAD BEEN DIGGING FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS IS PART OF A LOT WHICH HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE RUSSIAN NUCLEAR AGENCY ATOMENERGOPROM FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A FUTURE POWER PLANT. NO COMMENTS WERE ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY OR ATOMENERGOPROM.
 
 
 
Alexander forwards the link to Najwa.
 
 
 
-THE PLOT THICKENS...
 
 
 
====144th FLOOR APARTMENT, BURJ KHALIFA, DUBAI, UAE====
 
 
 
Najwa views the linked video on her iPad and googles Yama Zrodlo. She finds a Bahá'í trail in Canada, then finally finds a Skype contact.
 
 
 
====HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT====
 
 
 
Yama accepts a Skype contact request as she's waiting for her flight at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Airport Heathrow]. An [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging IM] pops up.
 
 
 
-HI... SORRY TO BOTHER YOU BUT ARE YOU THE ARCHEOLOGY STUDENT FROM RUSSIA?
 
 
 
Yama hesitates before replying.
 
 
 
-YES.
 
 
 
-MY NAME IS NAJWA AND I WAS CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR'S DMITRIEV'S DISAPPEARANCE... IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO CHAT?
 
 
 
-ACTUALLY, I'M WAITING FOR MY FLIGHT IN LONDON. MY STUDENT VISA EXPIRED BEFORE IT COULD BE RENEWED... WHERE ARE YOU FROM? DID YOU KNOW PROFESSOR DMITRIEV?
 
 
 
-NO. I LIVE IN THE MIDDLE-EAST AND HEARD ABOUT THE WHOLE STORY WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN CRIMEA. COULDN'T PUT THE DOTS TOGETHER.... I'M A WRITER AND I READ A BOOK ABOUT THE KHAZARS A WHILE BACK FOR MY RESEARCH. THIS WHOLE STORY SEEMS BIZARRE.
 
 
 
-WHICH BOOK?
 
 
 
-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thirteenth_Tribe THE THIRTEENTH TRIBE]
 
 
 
-OH YEAH...
 
 
 
-YOU KNOW IT?
 
 
 
-OF COURSE...
 
 
 
-SORRY TO ASK BUT ARE YOU JEWISH?
 
 
 
-NO. FAMILY IS BAHA'I...
 
 
 
-OH...
 
 
 
-YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?
 
 
 
-MY MOTHER WAS IRANIAN SO I HEARD ABOUT IT.
 
 
 
-OH... AND YOU'RE OTHER HALF?
 
 
 
-CANADA. NEVER MET HIM...
 
 
 
-OMG, YOU'RE KIDDING...
 
 
 
-WHY.
 
 
 
-THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM...
 
 
 
-HMMMM...
 
 
 
-HOW OLD ARE YOU?
 
 
 
-NEARLY 30. U?
 
 
 
-26... WHAT KIND OF WRITER?
 
 
 
-FICTION.
 
 
 
-NEAT... SO YES, THE WHOLE STORY AROUND DMITRIEV'S DISAPPEARANCE IS WEIRD. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM THAT WELL THOUGH. I WAS COMPLETING MY MASTER'S AND HE WAS MY THESIS SUPERVISOR. RUSSIA IS A PRETTY REMOTE PLACE, AND ASTRAKHAN IS AT THE END OF IT. WELL I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IRAN THOUGH...
 
 
 
-DON'T KNOW EITHER... NEVER BEEN. GREW UP IN HUNGARY AND NOW LIVE IN DUBAI.
 
 
 
-DUBAI... YOU LIKE IT?
 
 
 
-NO. BORING. BUT AT LEAST WE TRAVEL A LOT.
 
 
 
-U MARRIED?
 
 
 
-NO BUT KIND OF THE SAME. MY BF IS IN FINANCE AND I FOLLOW HIM AROUND.
 
 
 
A voice announces the last boarding call for BA flight 94.
 
 
 
-MY FLIGHT IS ABOUT TO LEAVE. LET'S RESUME THIS TOMORROW OR SO...
 
 
 
-THANKS. I'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THIS.
 
 
 
-SAME HERE... BFN.
 
 
 
 
 
[[TBD|<< PREVIOUS EPISODE]]
 
  
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:The Venetian Cell|2.012]]
+
[[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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