As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

The next day, after Salama’s shift, she and Kenan have alone time. She takes off her hijab to reveal her hair; in Islam, women can only show their hair to those closest to them, such as family, friends, and spouses. Kenan is taken aback by her beauty. They share their first kiss. Salama finally tells Kenan about Samar, since she still feels guilty and doesn’t want any secrets between them. He doesn’t think she’s a bad person, insisting Samar is still alive. He then asks if this guilt is why she’s starving herself and vomits so much, as he wants to see her healthy. Salama is grateful for Kenan’s support and says she loves him.

At the hospital, Dr. Ziad tells Salama that the Free Syrian Army has suffered losses due to the sarin chemical attack. Their forces may not be able to protect them any longer, as the hospital is a major target. Dr. Ziad and Salama agree all they can do is pray. She finds Am, who tells her to meet at a mosque at 10 a.m. in 3 days. He will transport her and her passengers across Syria to the coast, where a boat will be waiting. Salama asks if he heard about the soldiers closing in, and he responds it’s all up to fate. They can’t leave any sooner, so all they can do is have faith; Salama agrees.

Later, Salama asks Kenan if they can live in the hospital for the last three days, as she wants to help as many patients as possible. He agrees, readying his siblings to move to the hospital.

Kenan moves his siblings to the hospital. Salama checks on them and then works her shift. That night, as they lay down to sleep, she and Kenan talk about all their lost time in Syria. They discuss pleasant memories and dreams, but trust Germany will provide more opportunities for such.

In the morning, a loud crash awakens Salama. She hurries to wake Kenan, and then Lama and Yusuf. They hear another crash, closer to the hospital.

The hospital doors burst open, and five soldiers wreak havoc, hitting patients and shooting anyone who talks back. Kenan puts Salama behind him, whispering for her to take off her lab coat; it makes her a target, someone useful for the soldiers. One of the soldiers advances on a seven-year-old patient, and Salama can’t let her be harmed. She throws an object at the soldier to distract him. He turns his fury on her, grabbing her and shouting that she’s healing rebels. Kenan struggles against the other soldiers while Salama is pushed into another room. She thrashes against the soldier, but he likes her fight. Kenan screams, and she keeps resisting the soldier. He unzips his pants to sexually assault Salama, but then Khawf yells at her. She slams her head into the soldier’s, almost knocking him out. She herself passes out.

Salama wakes up hours later. Kenan explains that Dr. Ziad came in with Free Army soldiers, who saved them all. The couple is beaten and bruised, but safe.

The next morning, Khawf comes to Salama and reminds her that the hospital is still a major target. She trusts this fear, pushing Kenan and others at the hospital to leave, including Dr. Ziad. A bomb hits the hospital soon after, rocketing them all. Luckily, most people made it outside. As Salama clings to her new family, she doesn’t see Dr. Ziad. She then remembers the babies in the incubators and races back inside to save them and find Dr. Ziad. Kenan yells for her.

Dr. Ziad is slightly injured and holding two babies, rushing toward Salama. Another bomb hits, and they barely make it out alive. With tears, the pair wishes they could have saved more babies, but they couldn’t carry them all. Salama tells Dr. Ziad that she’s leaving, which he understands; he plans to rebuild the hospital on his own. Salama and her family return to Layla’s house.

The next morning, Salama and her family travel to Am’s mentioned mosque. He picks them up in his car and they all say goodbye to Syria, promising to come back. At the first blockade, a soldier torments them; he almost pulls off Salama’s hijab. At the second blockade, a soldier says Lama is too pretty to leave. Am distracts the soldiers, paying them off as they go.

At the coast, a fishing boat awaits them, filled with other refugees. Salama didn’t expect such a small boat; she asks if it’s safe. Am vows on Samar’s life that they’ll make it, since the boat has been used many times. Salama reiterates that what she did with Samar was wrong, but that he’s no saint, since he’s making money off refugees. She then joins Kenan and his siblings, as they put on their life jackets and get on the boat.