Zeitoun

The pain in Zeitoun’s side is growing worse, and he and Nasser are still unable to eat the food served because it contains pork. A guard accuses them of being in a relationship, which enrages Zeitoun. Four African-American men are brought to their cell on Sunday, and they learn that they were all arrested for looting, in similar situations to Zeitoun. Zeitoun, realizing that he probably won’t be allowed a phone call, wants to find someone, one kind person, who might pass along a message to Kathy. In the morning, the four men are taken from Zeitoun’s cell. Relieved to have more room, he and Nasser don’t speak much, afraid that people are eavesdropping. Zeitoun thinks back to when he worked carrying oil on a tanker during the Iraq/Iran conflict in 1987. It had been dangerous to enter the Gulf of Oman, with both sides torpedoing ships. His ship, the Andromeda, was in the Gulf, and his bunk was just above the fuel tanks. That night, the ship was torpedoed twice. It hadn’t been enough to sink the ship, just enough to warn them. After that incident, Zeitoun decided that it was time to settle down, and a few months later, he landed in Houston, and then moved on the Baton Rouge, to Kathy.

The pain in Zeitoun’s side becomes even worse, it is almost debilitating. He again asks the nurse if he can see a doctor and she tells him to wait. He begins to think that the pain isn’t something that can be seen on an X-ray. Perhaps it was a result of sorrow. On Thursday, September 15, the nurse has him fill out another form, claiming that the doctor didn’t receive the first one. Later that day, he’s handcuffed and placed in a different cell, separated form Nasser completely. He thinks about Kathy and the life insurance policy, wondering if it will be enough. He also thinks about the others he was arrested with, and is angry at them for having money on them. 

Zeitoun is finally able to go outside and speak with other prisoners. He learns of the injustice being faced by many people, and the communication breakdown with those in power. He is subjected to numerous strip searches; all the while the pain in his side is growing more acute. Zeitoun wonders why he brought this upon himself. He blames it all on his stubbornness, his insistence on believing that an Arab could be treated fairly in America. He also thinks that his blind faith, his belief that he was on a mission from God to help others, is the cause of his current misfortunes. He had reached too high, he had become too proud, and his actions had brought him to Hunt in the end.

On Sunday, Zeitoun sees a missionary passing out bibles, and wants somehow to tell the man about his plight. He takes a chance, telling the man that he’s innocent, and that he just needs to let his wife know he’s alive. Finally, the missionary relents and tears a piece of paper form one of the bibles. He takes down Zeitoun’s information and leaves quickly. On Monday, Zeitoun is brought to be interviewed by agents from the Department of Homeland Security. While waiting, he sees Nasser, Ronnie and Todd as well. The agents say nothing about terrorism, and apologize to Zeitoun for his situation. He asks them if they’ll call Kathy and they agree to.

The narrative then switches back to Kathy. It’s Monday, just after she’s received the phone call from the missionary. Kathy receives a call from the Department of Homeland Security telling her that Zeitoun is fine and that his charges will be dropped. Kathy rejoices and tells Yuko, then calls Hunt to find out more information. However, she’s told they have no one there by that name. Frantic, Kathy makes plans to go to New Orleans. When Yuko and Ahmaad dissuade her, she calls a family friend who is also a lawyer. The lawyer assures Kathy that, though the system is broken, they’ll get Zeitoun out of prison. 

Kathy eventually hears from her lawyer, Raleigh, and he tells her that she should go to Baton Rouge. She stays with Adnan and Abeer in Baton Rouge while Raleigh works on freeing Zeitoun. Zeitoun, unaware of what Kathy and Raleigh are doing, meets with a public defender on Monday, September 26, to have his bail set by the court. The next day, September 27, Raleigh tells Kathy that they have a court date and that she needs to procure character witnesses for Zeitoun. When he hangs up, Kathy realizes that he didn’t tell her where the hearing would be, so she calls the District Attorney’s office and is told the information is private. Kathy breaks down at the fact that no one will help her when she’s so close to freeing Zeitoun. She calls CNN and tells them Zeitoun’s story. Raleigh eventually calls her back, apologizes, and tells her that the hearing will be at Hunt. 

On Tuesday, September 27, Zeitoun meets with Raleigh, who explains what his options are. He can pay bail or try to put his property up as collateral. He opts to put the property up, as paying bail would mean paying the government for wrongly incarcerating him. On Wednesday, Kathy and the character witnesses arrive at Hunt, exhausted. Kathy and Zeitoun embrace, happy that their ordeal is almost over. After waiting for some time, Raleigh goes to check on what’s holding the hearing up and they learn that the hearing has been canceled. The only thing to do now is to obtain the deeds for their office building and use it as collateral.

Kathy and Adnan drive through the ruined streets of New Orleans. After being stopped by an officer, they eventually make it to the building, which has been destroyed by the flooding. After searching for some time, they are just about to give up when Kathy finds the papers she needs. Raleigh faxes the papers over but they’re told that the office has closed. Zeitoun will have to spend one more night in jail. Finally, on Thursday, September 29, Kathy and Adnan drive to Hunt. After waiting half the day, Zeitoun is brought out. Kathy notes how frail he looks. When she’s finally able to embrace him, she thinks his eyes seem defeated. The three drive away quickly, not wanting it to all be a dream.