Afraid of home?
This Sunday, I saw Steven Spielberg's The Terminal. I wouldn't say this should be counted among Spielberg's brillant movies (well, it is certainly better than War of the Worlds anyway), but it is a nice movie with plenty of feel good factor to it. One scene that I particularly liked (which is why I typed it all), goes like this:
Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci - Airport Supervisor): So Mr. Navorski, I have some very very good news for you.
Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks - Eastern European): What?
Dixon: (smiling, wipes his glasses) I think that I figured out a way to get you out of this airport.
Navorski: Oh!
Dixon: Well, we have laws here, that protect aliens who have a credible fear of returning to their own country. If we can establish this fear with you, then the CBP will be forced to begin expedited removal procedures, bring you to an immigration judge, and let you plead your case for asylum.
Navorski: Asylum? (a little suprised)
Dixon: Ummhu, asylum. Unfortunately, the courts are so backed up with asylum cases, that, the soonest you get before a judge will probably be (thinking) six months from now.
Mulroy (Chi McBride - CBP Officer): Yes, and we would have no choice, but let you go for six months, its the law. You'd be released.
Dixon: Right. You'll be free to wait in New York until your court day. But believe it or not, most people ... they never show up before the judge.
Navorski: So I go New York city?
Dixon: Unnhan. You can go to New York city tonight. But, you can only get to go if we establish a credible fear.
(Navorski and Dixon say "Fear?" "Fear" to each other for a while)
Navorski: Fear ... from ... what?
Dixon: Well, thats the best part. It doesn't really matter what you are afraid of, its all the same to our procedure. Okay? So I am gonna ask you one question that you... and its a simple question, and if you give me the correct answer, I can get you out of this airport tonight.
Navorski: So, I answer one question ... go to New York city ... tonight?
(Dixon, Navorski and Mulroy say "tonight" one after the other)
Navorski: Yeaaaah (thinking, shrugs, pleased), uhhhahaha (laughing) okay.
(Dixon, Navorski and Mulroy "okay" and laugh together)
Dixon: Alright, do you, at this time, have any fear of returning to your own country?
Navorski: No.
(Dixon lifts his head and stares at Navorski for a little while)
Dixon: (scratching his forehead, in a low voice) Okay, lemme try that again.
Dixon: (stand up and walks towards Navorski) Your country is at war Mr. Navorski ...
Navorski: Yes, yes, at war ...
Dixon: there are men in the streets with guns. Political persecution ...
Navorski: Yes, yes, its terrible ...
Dixon: Yea, its horrible, its horrible. God only knows what can happen. Right? Innocent people are torn from their beds and thrown into jail.
Navorski: Onto streets, I hate, to streets.
Dixon: So you are afraid.
Navorski: From what?
Dixon: Krakozhia. You are afraid, of Krakozhia.
Navorski: Krakozhia ... ? (slowly) No, no, I am not afraid from Krakozhia. I am a little afraid of this room (laughing a little)
Dixon: (sits next to Navorski) Okay, I am talking about bombs, I am talking about human dignity, I am talking about human rights. Viktor, please don't be afraid to tell me that you are afraid of Krakozhia.
Navorski: (looks into Dixon's eyes) Krakozhia is home, I am not afraid from my home. ... So, ... I go to New York city now?
Dixon: No.
Navorski: No? Uh, OK, I'm ... I am ... I ama ... I ama ... afraid from ghosts.
Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci - Airport Supervisor): So Mr. Navorski, I have some very very good news for you.
Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks - Eastern European): What?
Dixon: (smiling, wipes his glasses) I think that I figured out a way to get you out of this airport.
Navorski: Oh!
Dixon: Well, we have laws here, that protect aliens who have a credible fear of returning to their own country. If we can establish this fear with you, then the CBP will be forced to begin expedited removal procedures, bring you to an immigration judge, and let you plead your case for asylum.
Navorski: Asylum? (a little suprised)
Dixon: Ummhu, asylum. Unfortunately, the courts are so backed up with asylum cases, that, the soonest you get before a judge will probably be (thinking) six months from now.
Mulroy (Chi McBride - CBP Officer): Yes, and we would have no choice, but let you go for six months, its the law. You'd be released.
Dixon: Right. You'll be free to wait in New York until your court day. But believe it or not, most people ... they never show up before the judge.
Navorski: So I go New York city?
Dixon: Unnhan. You can go to New York city tonight. But, you can only get to go if we establish a credible fear.
(Navorski and Dixon say "Fear?" "Fear" to each other for a while)
Navorski: Fear ... from ... what?
Dixon: Well, thats the best part. It doesn't really matter what you are afraid of, its all the same to our procedure. Okay? So I am gonna ask you one question that you... and its a simple question, and if you give me the correct answer, I can get you out of this airport tonight.
Navorski: So, I answer one question ... go to New York city ... tonight?
(Dixon, Navorski and Mulroy say "tonight" one after the other)
Navorski: Yeaaaah (thinking, shrugs, pleased), uhhhahaha (laughing) okay.
(Dixon, Navorski and Mulroy "okay" and laugh together)
Dixon: Alright, do you, at this time, have any fear of returning to your own country?
Navorski: No.
(Dixon lifts his head and stares at Navorski for a little while)
Dixon: (scratching his forehead, in a low voice) Okay, lemme try that again.
Dixon: (stand up and walks towards Navorski) Your country is at war Mr. Navorski ...
Navorski: Yes, yes, at war ...
Dixon: there are men in the streets with guns. Political persecution ...
Navorski: Yes, yes, its terrible ...
Dixon: Yea, its horrible, its horrible. God only knows what can happen. Right? Innocent people are torn from their beds and thrown into jail.
Navorski: Onto streets, I hate, to streets.
Dixon: So you are afraid.
Navorski: From what?
Dixon: Krakozhia. You are afraid, of Krakozhia.
Navorski: Krakozhia ... ? (slowly) No, no, I am not afraid from Krakozhia. I am a little afraid of this room (laughing a little)
Dixon: (sits next to Navorski) Okay, I am talking about bombs, I am talking about human dignity, I am talking about human rights. Viktor, please don't be afraid to tell me that you are afraid of Krakozhia.
Navorski: (looks into Dixon's eyes) Krakozhia is home, I am not afraid from my home. ... So, ... I go to New York city now?
Dixon: No.
Navorski: No? Uh, OK, I'm ... I am ... I ama ... I ama ... afraid from ghosts.