What's going on?
She learned how to ride horses quickly.
She already trains with older girls.
Yes, I didn't expect it after only one month.
I guess loving horses runs in the family.
I'm glad I can provide her with this when others can't.
We are very grateful that you enrolled her in these classes, Omar.
Thank you.
What's the point of money if you're not generous?
You and your father love horseback riding, but you can't afford it.
I've done my part by embracing your family's traditions.
Auntie came again, I see.
I'll greet her before I go.
No need. She's here for you.
-For me? -Yes.
To watch you.
You women tend to notice each other's shortcomings more.
-You understand each other. -Enough, Omar! Please, enough!
That's enough. Aren't you tired of these games?
My daughter.
If you don't put her first, I'll take her from you.
It's 75 centimeters above the ground.
And she did it twice.
Great job, kid. If you keep it up, you'll outdo your mom.
The coach says if Jude keeps jumping the 75 centimeters,
she'll be in the competition in just two months.
Wow!
So, keep training.
And Dad said that if I win, he'll take me to Oman to ride horses.
Yeah, that's generous, even though your dad hates horses.
A vacation sounds great.
How wonderful it was when we used to go to Spain, Marbella, Italy…
It was wonderful! Every trip was greater than the last.
Sadly, these are just memories now. We're broke because of this divorce.
Sorry my freedom took away your vacations, Mom.
Your mom doesn't mean that.
Yes, she does.
She's always reminding me that I'm the cause of your financial issues.
Issues?
It's just one issue.
You know what?
You're right. But I'm on the right path, and soon we'll travel together.
Let's go to Paris.
Rose said she had the best chocolate there.
Rose?
Isn't she one of the older riders I saw you chatting with?
Yes, she's really nice.
She says you're so brave for working after your failed marriage.
Who is this girl?
Rose Yousef.
Rose Al Yousef used to be my favorite magazine.
They even named a horse after it.
This Rose girl doesn't know you. How come she says you're brave?
Bold choices make people form opinions about your life.
Then everyone talks about you.
But she's a good rider.
Your mom can jump 75 centimeters blindfolded.
Bonne soirée, Maman.
Bonne soirée?
Mama Nojood taught you that, right?
Mom, were you really
great at horseback riding?
I was good.
But I didn't train long enough to become great.
But…
I loved it.
I felt powerful.
I really wanted to go to Royal Ascot.
Every year, I watched the championship, imagining I was there wearing--
The hat.
If you loved it, why did you stop?
You want the truth?
I stopped doing a lot of things after I got married.
But when I saw you riding…
I felt like I was riding all over again.
Don't work too hard.
Bonne soirée, Maman.
Bonne soirée.
Ten.
How much?
AL-RA'EE
Seventy. Ten for a thousand.
And we have 5,000 shares.
How many? Tell me how many shares.
250 shares, now, if it goes up…
BOURSA CAFETERIA
-I'm tired of working nonstop. -Easy. Don't stress out.
-Are you ready? -I've been nervous all night.
What would I do?
-That's a lot. -Guys.
Thanks for handling this today, because we're needed upstairs.
Hold on, girls. Here's your file.
And here. This is your file. Mishari dropped these off earlier.
Good luck with the IPO, girls.
You'll handle the cash flow file, and I'll take the companies file.
Again, Munira? We agreed I'd handle the companies file.
You're better with numbers.
It'd be better if you listen to me.
Right on time.
I was telling Sabiha
how well you've balanced trading and IPO work.
Do you finally have my valuation?
Of course. It's ready.
What do you think I'm worth?
I've given the honor to Munira and Farida.
They'll do the presentation now.
Ms. Sabiha,
our team's comprehensive analysis of your balance sheet
is on page three.
And we're honestly impressed with your cash flow management.
MEASURING THE COMPANY'S GROWTH
Despite challenging market conditions.
Excuse me.
Please, just the final number.
ALPHA REVENUE NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
Ms. Sabiha,
based on two months of accurate calculations,
we can assess Alpha's assets today…
at 73 million.
Congratulations.
You'll be launching the biggest real estate IPO in Kuwait's history.
Ms. Sabiha,
investors are asking about Alpha's future. I mean…
I don't know how to say it.
Your late husband,
the former CEO, is--
Is no longer with us.
Wasn't he responsible?
The number is insultingly low.
I need to tell you something,
and it will definitely affect your valuation.
Have your team
meet me Sunday morning at Salmiya Harbor.
And dress appropriately.
Why don't you flush it down?
We spent two months on that valuation, and in the end, she said…
What were the words she used? "The number is insultingly low."
Insultingly?
Don't take it personally.
This is not about us.
It's about the secret Sabiha will reveal,
which she says will increase Alpha's valuation.
Honestly, I feel
like it's something very exciting.
I'm curious what news could magically change Alpha's valuation.
And if she doesn't like that it's 73 million,
then how much does she think it will reach?
That's the big question.
If I find out, I'll consider telling you.
Where are you going?
It's not the place, it's the person.
What about you, cover girl?
Seeing someone special?
Maybe.
Remember doing this in the janitor's closet?
Look how far we've gone.
And how far we'll go.
Munira?
What is this?
We're on the same date?
Please come with me.
I didn't want anyone to know we're having dinner together,
especially the men.
If they knew, they might think we're plotting against them.
Ms. Sabiha, allow me to say this.
Researching an IPO led by a woman such as yourself,
influential, exceptional, and kind-hearted, has taught us a lot.
This is my first business dinner
since I started working at the exchange almost a year ago.
I invited you to dinner
because I always sit here,
and I remind myself how difficult it is for a woman to be unconventional.
So, if you ever need anything, just ask.
Like an advisor? A mentor?
Honestly, I have no one to talk to about work except dear Munira, of course.
Lucky for you.
I've never had the chance to seek advice from a powerful woman like you.
So, do you have any comments on my work performance?
Well, each one has their own style.
But I can give you some notes
that will help any businesswoman improve.
Yes, please.
First, don't let anyone think they're smarter than you.
Like you did back there.
I mean, speak up and interrupt if necessary.
And don't take notes unless it's your job.
You're the head of the meeting,
not a secretary.
-Sorry. -And don't clean up after anyone.
I know you're a mother, but leave that instinct at home.
Yes. Sure. Sorry.
Don't apologize too much. It shows weakness.
You haven't done anything wrong.
We can be more flexible.
Ms. Sabiha, I'm curious to know
how you overcame the challenges in your life.
This world isn't for the faint-hearted.
Don't take what the market offers you.
Take what you know you're worth.
-Like Alpha's valuation? -A great example.
Like how you've let idle gossip
about an "unfit female CEO" affect you.
It's fine. I'm used to hearing this all the time.
I'm surprised to hear it from both of you.
This is why, when you reassess Alpha's value,
you have to remember one thing.
Us women must stick together.
The food is getting cold. Dig in.
You're late.
You're up late working?
Work is the only thing that never ends.
Where have you been?
Building my future.
Really?
-With whom? -My new mentor. Sabiha Saad.
Sit there.
I believe they told you, or you heard,
that…
a man is coming to see you.
A man?
Yes.
I thought I had turned away every suitor who proposed to me in the last six years.
But somehow, my mom found another one.
She didn't. I did.
A woman,
no matter how successful and accomplished she is,
has no value without a husband.
I mean, you bring pride and joy to our family.
And we brag to people about your success.
But the family will always carry a burden
until you get married.
I don't remember how many months it's been
since you and…
What's his name? Saud? Saud, yes.
Called off your engagement.
I wasn't engaged.
You should have been.
Your approval--
Sit down.
Your approval doesn't mean I approve too.
He should've asked me before telling people we're engaged.
It doesn't always work like this.
What's wrong, Cousin?
You know I get seasick.
Oh, right!
I forgot.
It takes a moment to get your sea legs.
We're being joined by Rakan, Sabiha's son.
Munira Hijazi and Farida Ma'mun.
They work at the bank.
-This is Rakan, my son. -Is this the one you mentioned?
Yes.
And her cousin.
Nice to meet you.
Sabiha's been talking about me.
My son Rakan just returned from our company in Tunisia,
where he truly proved himself.
This is why Rakan's role will be expanding.
He's the future of Alpha.
So, please welcome Rakan as co-CEO of Alpha
and the newest member of our IPO team.
Rakan.
We're really pleased with this news.
But Ms. Sabiha,
I don't think it will affect the valuation as much as you suggested.
That's not all.
Alpha has been after a secret contract for four years.
Mom hid this information, because she feared if the deal fell through,
it might affect your perception of our IPO.
But we didn't lose. We won.
That means we all won.
This contract is unique and historically significant
and will exceed your bank's initial valuation.
In fact, our company will be worth as much as a large island.
Restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, tourism, and entertainment venues…
You can call this place Utopia.
Failaka's history goes back over 4,000 years.
It has ruins from the time of Alexander the Great.
Keep in mind the value these ruins will add to Alpha's project.
More importantly,
the value Alpha will add to our heritage through this development.
You said the island is uninhabited, yet I saw people on my way in.
Yes, a few people have lived here for years.
What will happen to them when you build your Utopia?
We'll definitely compensate them.
Everybody wins.
The Failaka project is a government deal.
It poses risks to both the bank and me.
But I think the Failaka project is impressive.
It could reduce the risks.
Being impressive makes it easy to overvalue, right?
A sensible valuation will reduce the risks.
Get started first thing tomorrow.
Hi, Munier. Is your stomach still upset or…
The new ATM made people go crazy.
Okay.
Pull it out and try again. Is it working?
Farida. Munira.
Come here. Get it over with, dude!
This is… What do you call it?
Your ATM cards arrived by mail.
You didn't know as you were out yachting.
They became yacht masters.
You went through our mail?
You're never at your desks anymore.
-Do you miss us? -Oh, you really want that!
Do it, dude. Nothing yet?
-No. -Dude.
TO ACTIVATE CARD PLEASE GO TO THE NEAREST ATM
What's happening?
These guys are ruining the machine.
-It's a very moody machine. -Yeah, right.
Yay!
Stop embarrassing yourselves, or I'll reconsider my investment.
Investment? What investment?
You'll expose us.
Why don't you bring a microphone and tell everyone? What's wrong with you?
This is just between us.
We don't want Amir accusing us of slacking.
Accuse you.
Ms. Farida, your cousin agreed to start a side business with us.
She'll help us and invest with us.
How wonderful! Munira will help you?
I'm not helping them. I'm making money off of them.
But I haven't agreed yet.
Why didn't you invite me to join?
The IPO has gone to your head.
You know, Farida, we could use one more investor.
Yes, Miss.
Consider the growth potential. We're one team.
We are one team, but you decided not to tell me.
Munira, Farida, Mr. Amir wants you upstairs.
Come with me, please.
I hope you're energized and prepared to dive into work
after yesterday's adventure.
Sabiha and Rakan have brought their Failaka research,
which they developed over four years.
Work on it immediately
so we can present the new valuation tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Okay, then. I'll leave you to it.
I hope that thinking about the Failaka project
helps you in doing an acceptable valuation this time.
Do you have a specific number in mind?
Ninety-three million.
This is a huge number.
It's higher than the value of most Kuwaiti banks.
Including ours.
It feels good saying it out loud, right?
I doubt the research mentions if the co-CEO of Alpha
can handle such an unprecedented project.
You're saying I can't?
It's not just my opinion. Investors might feel the same.
ALFA "FAILAKA" STUDIES
We've been working for six hours.
I don't know what to do with this ridiculous task.
The land is fertile and perfect.
And the plans
are visionary.
True, but Alpha's revenue forecast is exaggerated, Munira.
I have a feeling that Sabiha's 93 million valuation is accurate.
And I have a feeling that you're just flattering Sabiha.
She deserves it.
And Rakan deserves it too.
But I know she's playing us.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm worthy of her attention. And honestly, I enjoy it.
But I get her.
See, I'm really interested in the Failaka project, and I like it.
And I know how to spot a good investment.
Like your investment with Hasan and Walid?
I won't get rich from it.
But there's money to be made.
Let me show you the store.
Is this a cassette tape store?
Not any cassette store. This is Tarabesque!
-Our first dream. -Weird.
Yeah, and don't forget, we're good with money.
But music is our true passion.
We've been saving money for three years.
And now for the final surprise.
We have something unique. Umish!
Umish, come here!
He can sing English songs, Bollywood, Indian, Arabic classics,
he plays the flute, and above all, he manages the place.
-He knows it all. -Yes.
Here he is right in front of you.
Michael Jackson, James Brown, the Bee Gees, and above all, Bob Marley.
-Wow! -Wow!
And for us not to cry, we need 2,000 KD from you.
I'll put in half.
That is, of course, if Faroudty puts in the other half.
What do you say, Cousin?
I don't know, Munier.
A thousand dinars?
Come on. It's a small amount of the IPO team bonus.
What kind of revenue do you expect?
You're thinking about this the wrong way, honey.
This place will never bring us huge profits.
But those 1,000 dinars will make us business owners.
See, Mom? She came towards the end of the session.
Yeah, I see.
She's distracted by her work.
Nice to see you, Um Omar.
Excuse me, I'm getting coffee. Want some?
No. I'd like a word with you.
You're setting a bad example for Jude.
You're working with men and now planning to be a businessman.
No, dear.
Jude is more important.
This is your duty as a mother.
Yes, of course. Jude will always come first.
Then don't do these things that hurt your daughter.
I'm only trying to prove that I can take care of myself.
-What kind of mother are you? -Me?
I'm a divorced mom raising my daughter alone.
The riding lessons are great, but I'm the one handling all her needs.
And, by the way, I was just asked to invest in a new business.
So good things are coming.
And soon, I'll be totally independent and won't need anyone.
Yes. You find this funny, don't you?
A mother can be replaced by 50 mothers.
Like I said before, be careful.
Be very careful.
Hi. You're Rose, right?
I heard a lot about you from Jude. How are you doing?
-Good. What about you? -Good. Let me introduce you.
This is Um Omar, Jude's grandmother.
My dear, I know Rose and her mother. A lifetime friend of mine.
That's great.
I saw you drive up. Your car looks expensive.
Honey, don't be fooled.
It's her cousin's car.
She obviously took pity on her situation.
No, Auntie. I bought this car with my own money.
I thought Munira gave it to you.
Mama! Munira gave me a good deal because she's my cousin.
-By the way, I love how shiny it is. -Well, it gets us where we need to go.
Of course. Come in.
Working this late? You're taking after your father.
I brought you something.
Open it.
Mama Habiba gave me this necklace.
Now it's yours.
The one I cried for as a kid?
You were always crying.
But you said it was too expensive and I shouldn't play with it.
Yes, but I told you that one day, I'll give it to you, didn't I?
Who is the man Dad has chosen?
He's a business associate eager to build a future with us.
So, I thought if you meet him tomorrow, why don't you put on this necklace?
Why didn't you give it to me with Saud?
Because like you said, you weren't engaged.
Tell me, you took the diamond necklace from Mama Habiba when you married Omar?
My mom got the diamonds, yours got the rubies.
They think they can buy us so easily.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
I'm glad this valuation will be done soon.
Stay out of the presentation.
The situation is tricky.
Let me deal with them.
We all agree that the Failaka project increased the valuation potential.
But it also caused chaos in the valuation.
I'm confident that the new potentials we have
will overcome the chaos.
I'm pleased to tell you
that the news has caused our valuation of Alpha to increase.
Eighty-eight million dinars.
I think I was quite clear with your team.
This number is not good enough.
I understand.
This is the valuation.
Fine.
Then we'll take the IPO to Virtue.
That'll set you back at least three months.
What's three months?
It's nothing
compared to what I know I'm worth.
Okay. Hold on.
What if
we raised it by 2%?
Four.
Excuse me.
You told me to speak up.
So, I have to say that
there's no guarantee that the Failaka project
will achieve what you expect for the IPO.
All right, then.
Let's meet in the middle.
3%.
Well done.
See you later.
Ms. Sabiha.
I'm really sorry. I hope you don't mind that I--
I told you to stop apologizing, young lady.
And like I told you, keep your voice raised.
You were strong.
Let's have dinner tonight at the tower
and talk a lot.
I'm in. I'll do it.
Guys.
I want to start with a small business and see it get bigger. Like Sabiha.
-Do you have the money? -No, it was a last-minute decision.
The bank is closed.
In an hour, we'll be meeting the importer.
But you need Munira's half as well.
Munira gave her half. She knew you'd join.
Let's go.
TOGETHER FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE
My money!
Guys.
Wow!
Where are you going?
I have a work dinner.
More work? So you can spend more on your precious car?
You know why your mom is working hard?
Because she started from nothing.
Jude.
I understand that a lot of things upset you.
But we're fine, my dear. We're good.
And things are getting better. Believe me.
I was giving Jude a history lesson.
Let me see.
You know when I was little, my dad used to work at a stable.
And when he came home, tired from work, he used to hug me tight.
But he smelled like a horse.
But what do I do? All I wanted was to ride a horse.
After a while, I started working with my dad, and I smelled like him.
All of me.
Now it reminds me that hard work is as valuable as any heirloom.
I'll get my purse.
Walid, answer the phone. I'm repairing this.
Hello.
Listen, as a shareholder in Tarabesque, I have a request.
-Hasan. -What?
-Our shareholder has a request. -Which one?
Ms. Farida.
Hello.
What do you want?
Hire Jude at the store.
-She's a kid. -So? That means she'll work hard.
Do we have to pay her?
Walid, yes, you have to pay her.
Are you ready, honey?
No.
I'm not ready.
Now I'm ready.
Hurry up. We're late.
Hello. Here comes the prettiest girl.
Munira, meet my friend, Qassar.
Forgive me. Am I late?
No.
I came early. Please sit down.
Honestly, I never apologized to anyone.
But tonight, I owe you an apology.
You're apologizing to me? Why?
It seems like you misinterpreted the attention I gave you.
I'm not your friend,
nor am I your mentor.
I'm a client at the bank you work for.
I asked Munira to join the IPO team.
But Amir is the one who brought you to the team.
I don't know what you've done to deserve such an opportunity.
You really misunderstood my interest in you.
I…
I'm just…
I don't understand what you mean.
Amir
was going to agree to 4%.
Until you raised your voice.
You cost me 1%.
Listen. I know how difficult this is going to be for you.
But I will be kind to you.
Either you leave the team,
or I'll ask them to remove you.
Try the escalope, it's delicious.
It's boneless.