"You can get so confused. "
Viktor?
Well, hi.
Please.
- How are you? - Good.
Man.
I am so sorry about what happened last time, asking you out like that.
I'm so used to guys trying to grab my ass at 30,000 feet
that when I meet somebody that doesn't, I don't know how to react.
- Let's just start over. - Yes, OK.
- Are you coming or going? - I don't know. Both.
Tell me about it.
Napoleon?
Yeah. I read a lot of history books. They're long and cheap.
Like 1200 pages for $9.99. You can't beat that.
- But Napoleon? - Yeah. He's one of my favorites.
- You know what saved Napoleon's life? - No.
- His ego. - Ego?
Yes.
After he loses the Battle of Waterloo,
Napoleon isolates himself on the tiny island of Saint Helena.
No one knows exactly what happens next,
but the version I like goes like this:
He's very depressed and decides to take his own life.
But Napoleon believes himself to be of such superhuman strength
that he takes six times the amount of poison needed to do the job.
His stomach is so full up with poison that his body rejects it,
and he doesn't die.
See? Ego. Saved his life.
Maybe he need glasses.
- Glasses? - Yes. To read words on bottle.
Poison.
It's funny you should say that.
Rumor has it that Napoleon was farsighted.
- There you go. - There you go.
- And there you go.
I think we're rewriting history right here.
Why don't we talk about it over lunch?
Oh, my God, I can't believe it. I just asked you out again.
I just did it again.
I'm so... Just stay away from me, Viktor, OK?
I'm sick. I don't have the ability to be alone for five seconds.
OK.
- OK, what? - OK.
Lunch... with you.
- You'll have lunch with me? - Yes.
You're not running for a flight or...?
I wait.
- It's me. - You. Yes.
I'm sorry. I just got paged.
You work?
- No. - Ah.
Three of you. Crowded.
Stay away from me, Viktor.
I'm... I have a serious problem. I'm as bad as Napoleon.
I just keep ingesting these poisonous men until I make myself sick.
- You're not sick, Amelia. No. - No?
No. You're a little... farsighted.
- I have to go. - I have to stay.
- Story of my life. - Me, too.
Your CBP inspection's in three days.
The FBI and Homeland Security will tour the airport,
spend two hours observing these offices before your interview process begins.
How much does Navorski make?
Sir?
How much does he make? How much are they paying him?
They're paying him cash under the table.
I know that. How much?
$19 an hour.
Unbelievable. Do you know that's more than I make?
That's New York City construction.
One of my own men came up to me the other day.
Asked me if I wanted to join the big pool.
Look at him.
Place a bet on when Navorski's going to leave this airport.
Have you heard about this?
I have January 3rd.
Bring him in.
Jake, he has no nationality. OK? No country.
He's a national security risk, according to my interpretation of Section 2.12.
I want you to put him in a detention center and run a clearance on him.
That's all I want.
What about a federal prison?
What about another airport?
Hello? Hello?
We're detaining so many people, there's no room anywhere.
- Did you try the FBI? - I tried everybody. Nobody'll take him.
You want me to bring him back to the terminal?
No. From now on, Navorski lives here.
The people who are coming here today will be observing me, inspecting me.
But most of all they will be looking at the way that this airport is run.
So let's show them why this is the number-one airport in the United States.
We process about 600 planes a day,
with a processing time of 37 minutes per plane,
about 60 seconds per passenger...
...to be brought into the country.
We keep it as clean as possible.
- What do you import? - Computer software.
That's a lot of walnuts.
Yeah. My mother-in-law loves these things.
Every time I go to Brazil, I bring her back a bag.
- Your mother-in-law? - Yeah.
Mind if I try one?
How did you know those weren't for his mother-in-law?
If he's married, where's his ring?
And if he's divorced, who still talks to their mother-in-law?
I'm sorry, but really. No offence to mother-in-laws, but...
- Sir. - Yeah.
Sir, we have a situation upstairs.
- It'll have to wait. - No. This won't wait.
When the 9.12 from Toronto landed, they found four prescriptions without an MPL.
They tried to take the pills away and he went nuts.
There he is. We think they're for his father.
Sir, sir, calm down. Put your weapons down.
Everybody keep your weapons... All right. We're here to help you.
We're here to help you, sir. All right. Give me the knife.
- Where's he from? - Russia.
The only interpreter we got is in Newark.
- We have to get someone to talk to him. - I have an idea, sir.
Viktor.
Oh...
I need your help.
His name is Milodragovich. He lives near you.
He may not speak your dialect,
but I need you to translate and help me out.
- I help you? Why? - I don't want anybody to get hurt.
This guy's very upset.
Just calm him down and I'll let you back in the terminal.
No. New York. No red stamp. Green. I green.
- New York. - OK, yes.
- You say yes? - Yes.
- OK. OK, OK, OK. - Stay out!
We have somebody here to talk to you. Somebody to talk to you. Go ahead.
Stay out!
So?
OK, tell him in order to export medicines from this country,
he needs to have the proper form, a Medicinal Purchase License.
OK? You understand me, Viktor?
He say he bring the medicine for his father.
This why he go to Canada. Medicine for father.
It doesn't matter.
His plane landed in the US. He needs to have the right form.
He did not know he need this document.
No one say to him he need document form.
I'm saying it to him.
He needs to have the form signed by the hospital who is treating his father.
These medicines have to stay in the United States.
They have to stay here.
He... He's begging you.
I know. I can see that he's begging.
I'm sorry, sir.
You'll have to take a flight in the morning. The medicine stays here.
I'm sorry.
Send him down!
Thank you, Viktor. Good job. Let's go.
Whoa.
Goat.
- What? - Goat. It medicine is for goat.
- Goat? - Yes. Medicine is for goat. Goat.
- He said that? - Yes.
He say...
We not understand. I not understand "goat".
Why? What are you saying? You misunderstood him?
- It's not for his dying father? - No. No.
The... Krakozhia... The name for "father"...
sound like "goat".
I make mistake.
Why are you doing this, Viktor?
Medicine is for... goat.
- No, it's not. - Yes.
- No. - Yes.
You read the blue immigration form.
- Blue? - Yes. Blue.
- Blue? - Blue. The blue form.
The one that says if it's an animal, he doesn't need the license.
Then he can bring the drugs in. That's good, Viktor. That's very good.
Why are you doing this? Huh?
You don't know him. You don't know the rules.
Look at me.
I was going to help you.
Now I want you to ask him... No, not you.
I want you to ask him. I want to hear him say it.
I want to hear him say who the medicine is for.
Please. Who the medicine is for.
Answer him, Mr. Milodragovich. Who are the pills for?
OK. The pills stay. He goes. That's it.
Goat.
Please. For goat.
Medicine for goat.
Give him the pills.
Medicine for goat.
Medicine...
Come on now, it's all over.
He love that goat.
Do you think I need an excuse to put you back in that cell
to keep you there for five years?
You go to war with me, and you go to war with the United States.
Then you'll know why Krakozhians wait in line for cheap toilet paper
while Uncle Sam wipes his ass with Charmin two-ply.
There was a 20 man.
Immigration gun was drawn.
The Dixon was ready to fire.
To kill the little man with the pills.
But then someone walks into the room and stand in front of this little man.
"Put the guns away," the man say.
"Nobody will die today. "
Who?
- Who was it that saved him? - Yeah, tell us. Who was it?
Who was this man?
Navorski. Viktor "The Goat" Navorski.
- It doesn't look good, Frank. - I was just following the rules.
Sometimes you have to ignore the rules and concentrate on the people.
The people, I know.
The people, compassion. That's the foundation of this country.
You could learn something from Navorski.
Cheer up. It's not over yet.
- Is that for me? - Yes. Yes.
Is Virgin Isle swordfish.
For you.
For wall.
Fish for wall.
Why do you want to go to New York?
And what's in the can of peanuts?
Promise.
- A promise in the can? - Yes. A promise.
Let me make you a promise, Viktor.
And this is a promise that comes from a man who is stuck here.
A man who may be stuck here for the next ten years.
From now on, you and I are partners.
If I stay, you stay.
You will not set one foot in New York City.
Not a single toe in the United States of America.
Do you understand what I am saying to you?
Yes.
You don't like fish.
Do you ever feel like you're just living in an airport?
We don't have to do this, Viktor. I can ship you out in a crate.
I can mail you anywhere in the US.
What about my food cart? He can hide inside and we'll drive out.
- No. I can't do this. - You said you wanted us to help you.
- I do. - What's her name?
Amelia Warren.
I thought we were looking for a way out, not a way in.
Be careful. Those flight attendants ain't like regular women.
Flying back and forth between time zones messes with their biological clock.
- They're always ready for sex. - OK, I found something.
I am leaving. They will come for us.
Gupta, will you relax? Just watch the door.
You go in jail. Not me.
For... You know what? Forget it.
- Keep looking. - Warren, right?
- Yes. Yes. - Warren.
Amelia Jane Warren?
- Jane? - Yeah.
Way to go, Viktor. First class.
- When she come back? - Three weeks.
Amelia, would you like to get eat to bite?
Bite to eat? Cantaloni?
Bite to eat?
Eat to bite? Eat to bite.
Bite to eat.
Bite to eat. Bite to eat.
Bite to eat. Bite to eat. Bite to eat.
Bite to eat. Bite to eat. Bite to eat. Bite to eat.
Bite to eat. Bite to eat. Bite to eat...
Gupta, you been ever married?
- What did you say? - You been ever married?
I had a wife and two kids in India. I left them there 23 years ago.
Why?
I had a small tobacco shop in Madras.
Made just enough money to survive.
One day this policeman comes in and tells me I owe him some tax.
I said OK. This is common. So I pay him.
The next day, the same policeman come and keep coming and keep coming.
And I am paying and I'm paying him and I'm paying him and I'm paying him.
And finally, on the fifth day, I take a knife and I stab him in his chest.
- You killed policeman? - No. I just missed his heart.
When they tried to arrest me, I run away.
So you never go home?
If I go home, I go in the jail for seven years.
What if United States catch you? They deport you.
As long as I keep my floor clean, keep my head down,
they have no reason to deport me.
They have no reason to notice a man like me.
United Airlines Flight 2703 from Rome is now arriving at Gate C43.
- Hey, wait. - Sorry. I'm sorry.
No, no, no. It's wet.
- Hey. - Watch where you're going.
Watch out!
- Amelia. - Viktor.
- Hello. - Sorry. I'm sorry.
He nearly killed me.
- You OK? - I'm fine.
I love the suit.
Hugo Boss.
On sale, $149.99.
That's a bargain.
- Napoleon? - Yes, yes.
And Josephine.
Do you know what Napoleon gave Josephine on their wedding day?
Amelia?
Would you like to have eat to bite?
Food. Tonight?
- You're asking me out for dinner? - Yes.
Yeah. Sure.
- What time? - Dinnertime.
- Where do you want to go? - I know place.
- Do you have an appointment? - Navorski.
This way, please.
Thank you.
I didn't know they had a patio up here.
It's very nice.
Good night.
Please. Please. Please. Please.
Sorry. So, tonight we have cannellonis or chicken.
- Cannelloni, please. - Cannelloni.
- Sorry. - Thank you.
For you, sir?
- Same. - That's a great, great choice.
I'll be back.
Let me see. Enjoy.
Did you know the croissant was invented in Romania?
- Tell me. - OK.
It's 1742 and the Turks invade Bucharest,
making a surprise attack under the cover of night.
But the town bakers...
Sorry.
So, the bakers?
- No, never mind. It's a dumb story. - No, please.
I'm sorry, Viktor.
Nobody really cares where the croissant was invented.
I'll bet the Romanians themselves don't give a shit.
I care.
Is histories. Is truth.
- I'm 39 years old. - No.
- Yeah. - No.
- That's the truth. - You are not.
I tell everybody I'm 33, and most of the men I've dated think I'm 27, but no.
I'm 39.
So? I was 39 once.
I was 18 years old when I started working for the airlines.
I've been doing this over 20 years.
And now there's no more pretending.
This is it.
It's why my address book is by city and my pager goes off during dinner.
You can switch off pager.
I wish I could.
I've been waiting for a phone call for seven years.
I know it's coming, Viktor. That's why I can't break it off.
That's why I live out of hotels and have my little suitcase packed, ready to go,
just in case he wants to meet me for the weekend.
Yeah.
I've been waiting my whole life.
Just don't know what the hell for.
I'm so sorry.
I live here.
- What? - I live here, in terminal.
Gate 67.
- You live at the airport? - Yes. Day and night.
This home, like you. They tell me to wait.
So I wait.
All frequent fliers feel the same way you do, Viktor.
Everybody's waiting. Everybody.
- For a flight, for a meeting... - I don't wait for flight or meeting.
Then what are you waiting for?
Is OK. I understand.
I have an idea.
- Come here. - What you do?
You sure?
More than anything, I'm sure of this.
Ready?
So, when do you come back?
13 days. How about you?
I will be here.
But what if your schedule changes?
Maybe we should exchange phone numbers.
No. I will be here.
You know what Napoleon give to Josephine when he win Bavaria?
Tell me.
Come on. Tell me.
I will show you. 13 days from now.
What's he doing?
I can't ask him. I'm supposed to tell him what he's doing.
If I ask him, I look like an idiot.
I'm sorry. Sorry. You got to do this for me.
You'll get really fat with all the food I'm going to give you.
But, please, do this for me. It will be the last thing I ask you to do.
He waits for you to answer at Sbarro.
- I have to work. - He will wait.
- How was your flight? - Good.
Thanks.
- Is something wrong? - You'll have to come with us.
You're kidding. I come through here twice a month.
Please follow me.
I'm supposed to be meeting somebody.
In my line of work, there are three things that matter.
The person, the document and the story.
Find the truth of one and you find the truth of all three.
I need your help finding the truth.
Do you know a man named Viktor Navorski?
Yes.
Do you know why he's here and where he's from?
No. We're just friends.
Have you noticed that he hides a can of Dry Roasted Peanuts in his bag?
So?
What do you make of that?
I'd make peanut butter, I guess.
We know that he's planning to go to the Ramada Inn on Lexington.
Has he told you why he's in New York?
No.
- Has he told you where he lives? - No. We just met at the airport.
All I know is that he's a building contractor, living out of a suitcase.
That's it.
- He's a contractor? - Yeah.
That's what he said?
Amelia. I'm just curious.
You are the kind of woman who can get any guy she wants.
Why Viktor Navorski?
That's something a guy like you could never understand.
I guess you missed your flight again. Or maybe you have a bad travel agent.
Please. Sit.
It's OK, Viktor. All men lie.
- At least you're not very good at it. - I did not lie.
You told me you were delayed. You never said it was for nine months.
Maybe you see the man the way you want see the man.
So what am I seeing? Who are you?
- I... - Unacceptable?
Yes. Yes.
You want to hear the funny part?
I broke up with him.
I was coming here to tell you he's out of my life.
I'm free. I got tired of waiting.
At least we have that in common.
Amelia, you know what Napoleon give to Josephine when he win Bavaria?
No.
I show you.
Please. Please.
Sit. Please.
That was gift. Napoleon to Josephine.
One thousand fountains.
You built this for me?
Please. Sit. Don't get wet.
Come on.
Oh...
It no work.
It should shoot, big water up to ceiling.
Just tell me the truth. Did you escape from an institution?
Are you a criminal?
You're living here, Viktor.
You're living at Gate 67. I just want to know why.
Here. I show you.
My father.
Viktor, please tell me your father isn't in that peanut can.
This is jazz.
My father, Dimitar Asenov Navorski,
see this photograph in Hungarian newspaper 1958.
He say he look at photograph for seven days.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...
Who are they?
Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins,
Art Blakey, Max Kaminsky.
57 of them all together.
After looking at photograph for seven days, my father has idea.
He begin to write letters to club, Lickety Split, Snookie's Sugar Bowl.
He ask the nuns to write English. Hundreds letters.
And then he wait.
He wait month, week, year.
My father wait 40 year.
And they all sign names.
One by one.
They all write their name and send it to my father.
All but not one.
Benny Golson.
Saxophone.
My father die before Benny Golson write his name and send to my father.
So I make him promise. I keep promise.
I promise I will go New York, find Benny Golson,
have him write name to put in can.
And you've been living here so you could do this for your father?
Maybe I think he do it for me.
You say you are waiting for something.
And I say to you, "Yes, yes. We all wait".
What are you waiting for?
You. I wait for you.
What?
The war is over.
...the right-wing military coup that ousted President Vagobagin...
All right, everybody. Let's raise your glasses.
Let's have a toast to my friend, Viktor "The Goat".
May he never lose his country again.
Krakozhia!
Amelia! You here early!
Hello. Amelia, look.
Peace, peace in the war. The war, peace. Come.
See, the war, the war Krakozhia is over.
Peace. The war is over.
- You know my friend in Washington. - Yes, yes.
He has a lot of connections. Here.
It's a pass, Viktor.
A one-day travel emergency visa with your name on it.
- Wha... Visa? - Yes.
- From your friend? - Yeah.
Just go to New York, find that last name and put it in the can.
- I go New York? - Yes.
I go New York!
Amelia, you come with. You come with me to New York.
Your friend do this for me? Why he do this for me?
He did it for me.
I told you to stay away from me, Viktor. But you didn't understand.
- I think you were confused. - No, I confused about everything.
I not confused... Not this. Not this.
I'm sorry. I'm running late.
Amelia. Why you go? Why you go?
You know what Napoleon gave Josephine as a wedding present?
It was a gold locket.
And on the inside, he made an inscription.
"Destiny".
Destiny.
...reijoice in the streets as well as in their local taverns.
The Krakozhian flag waved goodbye from high atop the parliament buildings.
It is a clear sign of the power...
- Hey, baby. - Hi.
I missed you.
Come on.
Next.
Viktor.
Hello, Delores. How I am today?
What do you have here?
Oh, no. It's not signed.
What?
This is a one-day emergency travel visa.
To validate authenticity, it needs to be signed by the supervising officer.
Dixon?
Yes.
Dixon.
The war in my country is over.
Yeah. I know. Congratulations.
It's strange, isn't it, Viktor?
When you wait so long for one thing?
One tiny moment.
I had that moment today, too.
You see this badge?
This badge means that I was made CBP Field Commissioner.
It means that my authority over the security of this airport is absolute.
Your ticket and your passport.
It's time for you to go home.
Officer Waylin, please show Mr. Navorski into the terminal
and make sure he does not miss his flight.
Goodbye, Viktor, and good luck.
I think I want go New York City.
Don't make this difficult, Viktor.
I no more "unacceptable".
- I told you this is over. - I go New York.
Are you sure you want to do that?
I go New York City now.
Part of my job is to get rid of undesirables, and there are quite a few.
Like this guy, Joe Mulroy. I think you know him.
He's been here for 20 years, but he's been running an after-hour poker game.
Bringing in liquor and marijuana.
Poor guy's going to lose his pension. And I think he has kids, too.
Yep.
And then there's this guy, Enrique Cruz. I think you also know Enrique.
Enrique has been letting people into the food preparation area.
That's a major security breach.
The poor guy, I think he's a newlywed.
But I'm going to have to let him go.
And then there's Gupta Rajan. He's a janitor.
But he's wanted for assaulting a police officer back in India in 1979.
I'll have to deport him.
I will go home.
- I'm sorry. What did you say? - I will go home.
Leave them alone. I will go.
- Today. - Yes.
If you don't get on that plane, they're all gone.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
OK. Good.
Your attention please.
Immediate boarding, gate B-20, for flight number 309 Air Canada to Ottawa.
I don't believe you.
- Viktor, you don't have to do this. - You can fight these guys.
- We'll help you. - Viktor, come on. I owe you so much.
- Please let me help you. - This is your friend talking.
We're all your friends. We're your family now.
Gupta.
Goodbye.
You try to fool us.
You make us to think you would walk out, that you will fight with them.
Why don't you fight?
- The war is over. - Then go. Get lost.
Get lost. Go home and tell them you never made it.
You come this close to America,
but you don't have the courage to go from here to here.
You are a coward.
The plane is on time.
You are a coward.
You are a coward!
You make me sick!
What's wrong with you, man? Settle down.
Got people looking all around, looking at me like I'm...
Look at me.
Come on, look at me.
There's something you should know.
Ladies and gentlemen, United Airlines Flight 865
from Krakozhia has landed and is now taxiing to the gate.
For those passengers holding tickets for Flight 866 to Krakozhia,
we expect departure to be on schedule.
Get back, please.
Gupta.
Gupta!
I am going home.
Get lost.
Your attention, please.
Flight 866 to Krakozhia will be delayed until further notice.
Do you have an appointment?
Somebody tell me what the hell is going on down there!
We're right behind you.
Viktor's leaving.
- Monica, Viktor's leaving. - I know. He's going home.
He's going for the front door, out to the city.
What?
Viktor. Remember us.
From the Discovery Store, I want to give you this.
It's good luck.
A digital camera for cousin Katia.
I don't know where you're going, but these will keep your feet warm.
- Everybody in position? - We're here.
Secure the door.
Sorry, Viktor.
Take him, Judge.
Hold it, Viktor. Take it easy.
You see those doors?
Those are the entry doors to New York City.
To the United States of America. Turn around.
It's snowing in the city and you're going to need that.
Good luck.
Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.
Oh, no. Oh, no. No, no.
I'm going to miss you.
Try not to get stuck wherever you're going.
Arrest him! Arrest him!
Goddammit!
Taxi!
Thank you.
Where you go?
161 Lexington. Please take Van Wyck Expressway to Queensboro Bridge.
It's faster than BQE.
- Where you from? - Krakozhia. Viktor Navorski.
I'm Goran. Albania.
- When do you come to New York? - Thursday.
You want us to block the south exit and have AP sweep every vehicle?
Sir?
5.30 from Tokyo just landed.
Got two planes on the tarmac. Barcelona on approach.
The night is young and 1500 people are headed our way.
Everybody inside. Everybody inside.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go.
- Are you checking in, sir? - No, no. I don't check in.
I want to go to this place, please.
The lobby lounge is around the corner.
They have happy hour specials and live music. Do you like jazz?
The monitor's off.
The piano's OK. A little more bass. More bass from the monitor.
Let's do Killer Joe. It worked all right last night.
- Yes? - You are Benny Golson?
Yeah. Yes, I am.
Benny Golson, I am Viktor Navorski. I am from Krakozhia.
My father, Dimitar Asenov Navorski, was great, great fan of your music.
A jazz fan. Fantastic.
Would you sign your name, please?
Can I do it a little later? We have to get started now.
- Just a minute. - I will wait.
OK.
Taxi! Taxi!
Where you want to go?
I am going home.