The Kite Runner Page #2

They're coming up with new treatments

all the time.

Amir, Amir, Amir.

I see America has infused you

with her optimism.

But there is such a thing as God's will.

I didn't bring you here

to complain about my health.

Forgive me, Amir jan.

Forgive me for what I have to tell you.

Hassan is dead.

How?

You know I watched over

your father's house after you left.

But none of the caretakers I hired

lasted more than a year.

Some were dishonest, some lazy.

So a few years ago I went to Hazarajat

and brought Hassan

and his family home with me.

His wife, Farzana, and his son, Sohrab.

It was so good to have them there.

Hassan kept the house

from falling apart.

And Farzana cooked the meals.

But when my health began to fail,

well, there isn't a hospital in

Afghanistan that can help me,

so I came here.

A few weeks after I left,

the Taliban came to the house.

Hassan told them that he was looking

after the house for me, but...

They said that he was a liar and a thief

like all the other Hazaras.

And they ordered him to leave

with his family by nightfall.

So they took him to the street

and ordered him to kneel

and shot him in the back of the head.

Farzana came screaming

and attacked them and...

They shot her, too.

And the boy?

Sohrab?

He is in an orphanage

in Karteh Seh.

Hassan sent this to me a week

before he died.

It's for you.

He taught himself to read and write.

He didn't want to send you a letter

until he could do it properly.

Amir,

you need to go back to Kabul.

I've arranged for a driver.

He's a good man.

I can't go back to Kabul.

Can't you pay someone here to go?

I'll pay for it if it's a matter of money.

It's not about money.

You are a storyteller.

Some part of you

has always known this story.

Ali's first wife was from Jaghori.

What does that

have to do with anything?

After five years she left him childless,

and married a man from Khost.

She bore that man three daughters.

Do you understand

what I'm trying to tell you?

Ali was sterile.

But he had Hassan.

He raised Hassan. He didn't father him.

Your father loved you both

because you were both his sons,

- and Sohrab...

- No.

- He lied to me.

- He lied to both of you.

And now there is a way

to be good again.

"In the name of God,

the merciful, the compassionate,

"Amir agha, with my deepest respects.

"My wife and son and I

pray this letter finds you in fine health,

"and in the light of God's good graces.

"I'm hopeful that one day I will hold

one of your letters in my hands

"and read of your life in America.

"I am trying to learn English.

It's such a tricky language.

"But one day, agha. I miss your stories.

"I've included a picture of me

Rate this script:3.0 / 1 vote