Not Without My Daughter

Betty worries about the well-being and whereabouts of her daughter, Mahtob, who has been taken from her. Feeling isolated and desperate, she turns to prayer as a source of comfort and guidance, praying for God’s help to be reunited with her daughter. While locked in the house alone, she discovers Moody’s forgotten briefcase, which contains a telephone. She seizes the chance to contact the American embassy, seeking their help. However, she remains cautious and does not want them to intervene until she is reunited with Mahtob. In a surprising turn of events, she encounters her earlier contact, Miss Alavi, with whom she communicates through the window. Miss Alavi hints at a plan to help Betty find Mahtob and escape the country.

Moody unexpectedly leaves the house in the middle of the night to tend to Mahtob, who is sick. Betty pleads to accompany him, but he refuses. Alone and distraught, Betty looks for something to read and discovers a pamphlet describing a nasr, a solemn promise to Allah. Despite her confusion between Islamic and Christian practices, Betty decides to make a nasr; she promises Allah that if she and Mahtob can be reunited and return home safely, she will go to Jerusalem.