Adrift on the Nile (ثرثرة فوق النيل)

Gamal El-Leithy Films Presents:

The Novel of the Eminent Author Naguib Mahfouz

Chitchat On The Nile

Starring: Ahmed Ramzy

Magda El-Khateeb

Mervat Amin

Emad Hamdi

Adel Adham

Screenplay: Mamdouh El-Leithy

Directed by: Hussein Kamal

A fashion show! A blend of costumes.

Why do they dress like this?

I believe they have a point here.

Why should a woman look nice for her husband alone?

They are always together and she is bored!

So! She puts on make-up and goes out.

But how can they afford such clothes?

Surely! they have plenty of money.

But how do they get it?

Are they thieves or embezzlers... or...?

Oh! I see! They get big salaries!

and don't know how to spend the money.

So! they spend thriftlessly.

Look! How come this man enjoys al l this beauty alone?!

He mustn't be selfish and let others share it w ith him!

Sure! He is a gallant man!

- Good evening! - Good evening to you!

- Is boss Abou Serie there? - Look for him down there.

Boss!

- Good evening! - Hel lo and welcome!

Yesterday's stuff wasn't good.

Everything is adulterated now.

Take this dope! it's special.

Don't smel l it! I've blended it myself!

Private Sector quality!

- Go bring the narghile. - You got it.

Government men start paving a road then dig in it again!

After it is O.K. they make a mess out of it again!

Once for electricity pipes and once for water pipes!

Again for telephone cables and then! for sewage.

Oh! How funny things are going!

Why not do the whole job once and for al l!

Isn't there a planning committee?

One could be mistaken!

But the planning committee never makes mistakes!

I see! Since the committee meets a lot and plans a lot!

they have to dig a lot!

He is very well-dressed!

Always mention God!

Good morning!

Where've you been? You're late 2 hours dai ly!

Did you revise these papers? Signatures are missing!

Speak up!

Speak up! Why aren't these documents stamped?

Wake up! man!

Write the delayed report and give it to the general manager.

Yes! sir.

A report...

regarding...

what was published...

in Al-Ahram newspaper...

about the unavailability of hospital medicines...

A malicious press campaign. We have written a report to answer back.

The authorities must be sure

that medicines and beds are available and plenty!

and that we are follow ing the Charter and its principles.

The report is ready! sir.

I'l l send it to you to submit it to the undersecretary.

Goodbye! sir.

Two days to write this report?! Give it to me!

Is this the report?!

Yes! sir.

Sure you've written it yourself?

Yes! sir! it's not my first one.

You've written it while being high.

I've always written all reports.

It differs here! You used an empty pen!

You've written it while being stoned!

Try to defend yourself at the inquiry!

- We're at work! Not a dopeden! - Alright! sir.

What's wrong with the report?

Am I high?!

I write all reports while I'm high!

It seems that General Manager is plastered!

Since the medicines and beds are available!

Why do we write such reports?

The government says medicines are available! Where are they?

In pharmacies?! Good.

Instead of reports! We'd better ask at pharmacies!

Officials care only about reports!

Al l fear bearing the responsibility and write reports.

What is the value of al l these reports?

There must be a certain point behind them! Yes!

As long as we need lots of blank papers for these reports!

Paper factories will have work to do.

On becoming numerous! We burn the reports!

Then match factories will have work to do!

On burning the reports! Lit matches may burn our clothes!

Thus! Cloth factories will have work to do!

They strive for self-sufficiency!

How wonderful!

Good evening! Mr Ragab.

This is excellent stuff.

Thank you very much! sir.

- Aren't you Mr Aniss Zaki? - It's me.

How are you? Don't you remember me?

I'm Ragab El-Adi.

Yes. Hello! Mr Ragab.

Come tell me about your news! man.

- How things are going with you? - Fine.

- Where are you working? - At the Ministry of Health.

I haven't seen you for 20 years! since I left Munira area.

- Are you married! Aniss? - No.

- With whom do you live? - I live alone.

You must come with me to the Kingdom!

- What Kingdom? - It's another world.

Come with me my friend.

- Come on. - No need. I'm going back by bus.

- Come! we'l l hang out together. - I'm not ready! not well-dressed.

Don't worry! We are all friends.

Come in! Aniss.

(Heavy Artillery Bombing For 7 Hours)

Welcome! sir.

- Is everything ready! Abdou? - Yes! sir!

Coal! Tobacco! The narghile and the thing you know.

Alright. Take this.

- At your service! sir. - Please come in! Mr Aniss.

Oh! God!

Please! forgive me!

This is just a smal l hash piece! it is no big sin!

Please! Come in, Aniss.!

Come in.

Come on in! Aniss.

Come on.

This is Mr Aniss Zaki.

Our neighbor in Munira in days of hardship!

He used to give us private lessons in Arabic and history.

He was matchless at that time.

Let me introduce the Emperor of this empire of weed

The revered Mr Aly Essayed!

He can nail you by one of his articles!

Or can make you rise up in the world!

Welcome! To the light and delight of my eyes!

Very good evening. He is high now!

Here is Ra the First! Field Marshal of the Kingdom!

Ra the First and the Last!

He is Mr Khaled Azzouz! the famous novelist.

He is illustrious! Really.

Nice meeting you!

And this is the Minister of Law of the Kingdom!

Prince Mustafa Rashed.

A big lawyer who works in several firms and organizations.

Because of his ambition,

We appointed him a Minister of Legislation in our Kingdom!

Nice seeing you!

Come on in.

Welcome!

- Good evening! - Hi! Good evening to you all.

- Evening! - Sit.

- Things are ready as ordered. - Thank you! Abdou.

Easy! We need weed for the whole night.

Don't worry.

- We like to come here for some drags. - Be at your ease.

- What a beautiful night! - A great night!

- Nice evening! Emperor! - Same to you! pal!

Read tomorrow's paper! I've praised you in my article

A fab review about your new movie.

- Thanks! my dear! - You're welcome!

Have you seen the movie?

How come that the Emperor of press and criticism

watches an Arabic movie?

How did you criticize it then?!

It's just one story that has been made into a zillion movies

and will be made in another zillion!

The girl falls in love with the smart guy and they agree on marriage.

At the wedding, she discovers he's her brother by suckling.

Then, two minutes before the end

a good old bearded man appears

to testify that he's not her bro! then get married. And so...

Here ends the story!

Bad writers sell trivial stories

to the Cinema Organization and take its money!

while they only bought 1 of my stories!

- Only one! - They buy it for a grand.

- Shame on them! - Only a grand?!

- I have a score to settle with it. - Who's it?

Why don't you wake up?!

- Good evening! - A wonderful evening!

Why don't you try it! Aniss? Have a drag.

Don't be afraid! it doesn't bite!

Come on! Aniss! inhale from the mouth

and exhale from the nose! just l ike a cig.

He might get the smoke out of his ears.

Oh! my God! How lovely!

- Give me more! my friend! How nice! - The coal is burning wel l.

Add more hash. We'll stay here till dawn!

- Emperor! he's super! eh? - Right! You're an great smoker!

Excel lent! he's my discovery!

- He's a center forward player! - How nice!

O sleepless nights!