When the Apricots Bloom

Rania is working on Saddam’s portrait when Huda arrives to offer condolences for Rania’s mother’s illness. Rania invites Huda inside, and they discuss Malik’s attempt to procure Hanan for Uday. Rania tells Huda that Kareem has no intention of getting Khalid a passport. They resolve to hire smugglers to get Khalid and Hanan out of Iraq but are not sure of the details involved in the process. Huda notes that Khalid is becoming more religious, talking about martyrdom and dying for a cause. When Huda brings up Rania’s prior betrayal of Huda’s brothers, Rania explains that the sheikh, Rania’s father, did not help Mustafa and Ali to protect Rania’s honor.

Rania reveals that Mustafa had visited her frequently after her husband died, and the night of the rebellion was the first and only time that they were intimate. When Rania’s father arrived to check on her, he found her with Mustafa, which is why he later refused to help Mustafa and Ali. Rania says that she did not encourage Mustafa to fight and that she later begged her father to save him.