Original subtitles

The Capital Abdulhamid

THIS STORY IS INSPIRED FROM CHARACTERS AND FACTS FROM OUR HISTORY

It's been 20 years now.

Do you remember his first day on the throne, Pasha?

How could I forget?

A prince who was never supposed to be the Sultan…

but fate...

put the emperor's ring on his finger.

Then all that power and reign.

War over war and he gained power.

He developed the empire to a significant level within 20 years.

If only he could rule for another 20 years.

If he could…

if only…

Sultan Abdulhamid Han!

Always the victorious!

God bless your way! God bless your way!

May you walk with fortune! May God smile upon you!

Long live the Emperor… with your State.

God bless your twentieth anniversary on the throne.

Praise be, praise be!

Don’t ever get arrogant, Emperor… for God is greater…

You may sit now our Sultan.

Long live the Emperor with your State.

Before his magnificence...

let the ceremony start.

Move aside, girls.

Your husband is overexcited Seniha Sultan.

Serving our Sultan has always been a pleasure for my husband.

As the wife of our Emperor...

you are supposed to be happy about it…

but you have concerns?

That’s odd.

Do they still kiss tassels?

Ah, this is nothing, senor.

The Ottoman Emperors used to make the foreign ambassadors...

...kiss their feet.

He kissed the sultanate tassel for the last time.

What do you mean?

May you walk with fortune!

Long live the Emperor with your State.

The Emir of Muslims…

the protector of those who believe God is one and only...

the servant of Mecca and Medina!

God’s Caliph on this very earth.

Son of the Sultans.

The mighty Abulhamid the Second.

May God empower your Caliphate.

May God protect your Empire forever.

Amen!

VIENNA

I'm here to see Mr. Herzl.

Yes.

I'm his wife. How can I help?

Isn't he home?

No.

Who knows where he is...

Father.

Today, I took my first step to make my dream come true.

Not only my dream...

but all our fellow Jews’ dreams will come true.

They'll have a homeland too.

They will also reach Jerusalem’s fertile lands...

Nile’s frenzy flow...

Euphrates’ enormous blessings…

The Messiah will come...

and the Solomon’s Temple will be rebuilt.

I set such a game that...

the railway which the Sultan thinks leading to Mecca...

is going to carry all the Jews to their homeland actually.

My servants will...

take control of the railway within a couple of days.

I wish you were with me on this one.

I wish you would have faith in your son who loves you so much.

Your mother and I had these fights so many times.

Do you know why?

I never believed that you were my son, that’s why.

A heretic like you...

could never be my son.

You are the heretic here.

It’s you who betrayed our ideas and God.

I didn’t believe in a God who talks according to your wish...

threatens the others the way you like...

and make people bleed for the salvation of Jerusalem.

I believe in Jehovah.

The God I believe in is merciful.

He says “respect your mother and father.”

He says “do not kill.”

Don't run away, Theodor! Don't!

The State of Israel is not a promise of God.

YILDIZ PALACE

Good.

Come in.

My Sultan.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

I'm listening, Pasha.

The British company has sent a telegraph regarding the railways.

As you commanded, they are ready for the bid.

This telegraph must be signed...

and sent to the British company with the morning post.

Think about it Tahsin Pasha.

A Muslim getting on the train in Sarajevo...

passes through Istanbul...

to Mecca and Medina in the wagon...

and fulfills one of his Five Pillars as a pilgrim.

The distance taken via horses in six months...

will be taken within a week.

This is my dream.

May the Muslims’ land be their heaven!

Amen, my Sultan.

In the name of God.

Look at me.

You must be new. That plate there is not necessary.

The Sultan doesn’t like squandering. Take it away.

Take it away I say!

A blissful morning to you.

Be your State forever, my Sultan.

Good morning, father.

My beautiful daughter.

In the name of God.

Is Abdulkadir not here?

Father, I see that you put a ban to another newspaper in the palace.

What harm could that Mesvered bring to you?

Son, you can thank God first before you start.

In the name of God.

Do you know who is behind this newspaper, Prince Efendi?

I don't need to know, mother.

I guess they must be the people who don't agree with our Sultan.

Abdulkadir.

Oh, my rebel son.

It’s not about their criticism on me personally.

It’s about their words on our State, our Caliphate authority.

Give that.

There it is...

an article in the “Mesvered.”

The Caliphate authority has no power anymore.

The Indian Muslims are free...

to practice their religion...

under the British control.

Here is the photo of it.

Even an ignorant Muslim...

knows that you can’t worship inside the mosque with your shoes on.

I won’t let them play with people’s mind with these fake photos.

Have you seen the article on the newspaper Sabahattin?

Which one?

The British...

they are building a mosque in India.

They are giving everyone the freedom for their religion.

And Abdulhamid here doesn't like them.

Of course, he doesn't.

He thinks only the Caliph can have...

a mosque built for his people.

Otherwise he can’t show the order of the Caliphate.

All nonsense.

It is time to see the whole world as home...

all people as one.

But we are stuck following a family...

for their Sultanate and Caliphate.

What do you think is wrong with that family, Sabahattin?

Sabahattin doesn’t mean that my Sultan.

The Ottoman dynasty has always been fine.

Your ancestors have been reigning here for six centuries…

and your brother Abdulhamid Han...

is a genius of no match on earth.

Sabahattin didn’t mean that.

Mommy, don’t be angry but...

would I ever talk like that about the family I am a member of?

What is “mommy?” Where did it come from?

Call me with a Turkish name… but “mommy?”

Dear mother.

But why don’t we be more like western people?

My dear, first be yourself and eat your meal.

I'm sorry, mother.

My Sultan.

Ah, Mahmut!

Don’t beat around the bush.

What do you want from my great brother?

Oh, please.

Please, Seniha.

What would I ever want...

other than serving him…

What kind of service is that?

Seniha.

I...

have been thinking about this railway issue day and night.

I’ve worked on it for so long.

If your brother Abdulhamid Han...

considers me worthy for that assignment...

our state will benefit from it really well.

What is in it for you?

Come on, what can be in it for me?

The next generations’ appreciation would be enough.

I see.

Is the fire okay?

I lit the fire, father.

You lit the fire.

Work is done. Now run away.

A train will come to Sirkeci.

There may be some customers.

So long.

Omer, son.

Take these gloves.

No, mother. I can't hold the halter with them. That’s going to be slippery.

She spent time weaving them, son. Come here.

Thank you, Zeynep.

That must have taken your time.

Please, don't say that.

You have always been there for me and my brother.

Back to your business you all.

Don’t stand before my place here.

My son!

Son, stay away from fight.

Your warnings are all in vain Asiye Hanım.

Your son walks around with blinkers.

Reminds me of someone but…

The customer is asking for soup. Can I make it?

Calm down you chubby!

That’s not so easy to finish apprenticeship.

Move!

My Sultan.

The document you signed about the railway...

has reached the British company.

Good.

And your sister Seniha Sultan desires to see you.

Send her in.

Open the door, son.

Welcome, my Seniha.

How are you? How is Mahmut Pasha?

Nothing to worry about us.

We pray for your existence, my Sultan.

I have a request.

I’m listening.

Mahmut...

since he quit his job at the courthouse, it’s been so boring for him.

When he gets bored, we feel the same.

Is he troubling you?

No, on the contrary, he is so nice to me…

However...

he asks you to assign him a duty.

I think there is a railway issue...

...he's been working on it these days.

He's calculating the budgets...

and reading magazines about the way it’s handled in Europe and America.

If it's possible.

Is he here?

Of course, he is.

Tahsin Pasha.

Let Mahmut Pasha in.

Are you happy now?

Then leave us alone so we can talk business, right?

Thank you, my Sultan.

Yes, Pasha.

My Sultan.

Thank you for having me here before you.

Have a seat, Pasha.

You have ideas about the railways as I've heard.

Yes.

I’ve really worked hard on that, my Sultan.

There is a distance of 1300 km...

between Istanbul and Hejaz.

To connect these two destinations...

we need to...

build about 2500 stone bridges of different size.

This is heavy handwork as you know.

America solved the issue by using black people as slaves.

Working for 18 hours with a very little amount of food...

it’s all done.

To me, it is an incredible work efficiency.

We don’t have those slaves though but…

Mahmut Pasha.

I'm saying that...

Mahmut Pasha!

Yes, my Sultan.

The Mesvered newspaper’s ink is all over your hand.

Thank you.

Don't be afraid. I am not watching you at home.

But this Mesvered newspaper...

is escalating this opposition issue.

So high that...

even the letters at the printing house are getting bigger and bigger.

Only they use...

this Kufic type of mime in their ink, which is in your hand now.

My Sultan.

I read all the newspapers.

As you advised...

I followed that one as well...

but that is such a damned, inglorious, dishonored newspaper…

This railway issue is of utter importance, Pasha.

Of course.

If we build it the way we desire...

we’ll break the hands of those European states...

reaching out for our lands.

But after all, to see someone from my family in charge...

would be dependable.

Examine the offer of the British thoroughly.

See whether that would work for our project or not...

then we’ll see.

My Sultan, I’m grateful.

My Sultan...

can I see myself as I took this job?

May God protect you, my Sultan…

Mahmut Pasha.

Yes, my Sultan.

Before I read the newspaper...

I have it ironed to prevent the ink from smudging my hands.

You can do the same...

or God forbid!

That ink can ruin your hands, clothes…

or mind.

Of course, my Sultan.

Of course.

Abulkadir, come here.

Forget about the palace,

this is even banned in Istanbul.

It’s like I’m putting my hands on the treasure which is protected by the leprechauns.

Even the leprechauns can’t stand before the free people.

One day...

this city is going to be a free city like Paris.

Even the leprechauns will make some merry music and celebrate the freedom.

These will keep you satisfied for a while.

I’ll get you the new ones when I have them.

Be careful.

If father sees them,

he makes detectives out of those leprechauns to haunt us.

We forgot all the prayers those can stop them…

Anyway.

I’ll be waiting for you tonight.

Welcome. Take a seat, Mahmut Pasha.

No.

I'm busy.

Our Sultan put me in charge of this railway job.

There wasn’t so much on my plate lately.

But how?

We...

were expecting that Mehmet Pasha would be in charge…

In fact...

we have been working together.

Keep on working.

It’s all about the state after all.

Either I’m in charge or the lady’s pasha here…

Does it matter?

You can’t call me “lady’s pasha!”

Hold your horses, Pasha!

When I called you “lady’s pasha”...

I meant the connection between you and Bidar Sultan as siblings.

I meant no harm.

Our Sultan made me Pasha.

If you have any problem with that, go talk to the Sultan.

Excuse me.

I have to deal with this telegraph thing anyway.

Ah!

By the way,

I’ll see how you are working when I come back.

My Sultan.

We checked these territories.

There is mostly a Turkmen population.

Alright. Build stations at those territories as well.

My Sultan...

we asked for the Sheikh ul-Islam’s opinion as well.

Our Chief religious official wants to see mosques at some points.

Around the stations in Amman and Tabuk.

Excellent.

Excellent.

Tahsin Pasha.

You have heard the Grand Vizier Halil Pasha.

Put it on the map before the bid.

As you command, my Sultan.

There are two things to protect this railway, Pashas.

The Crescent of Islam...

and the Star of the Turks.

SIRKECI TRAIN STATION

Here is your passport mademoiselle. Welcome to Payitaht, the capital city.

Coachman!

Do you know where Café le Bon is?

Yes, m’am.

Please.

Go lion! Don’t let me down this time.

Do you call your horse, “lion?”

Without the compliments he doesn’t walk.

VIENNA

How are you?

Hello, thanks. You?

Thank you. Have a good day.

This is fine.

This must be a bit lower.

I got it.

Mr. Herzl.

The telegraph we have been waiting from Mahmut Pasha is here.

“The Sultan is on the Queen’s train.

Send the route”.

He did it. He took the job.

Send word for our men Istanbul.

Tell them to send the real maps to Mahmut Pasha.

That’s already been taken care of.

You read the telegraph before me again, right?

What is it Mehmet? Won’t you talk to me, brother?

Our Sultan, the Emperor...

put Mahmut Pasha in charge on that railway duty.

What?

While we were sleeping on foot...

Seniha Sultan got the job for her husband.

I’m supposed to be the brother of the most powerful woman in the Harem.

Slow down.

Let’s understand what’s going on.

What’s done is done.

He humiliated me right in front of Izzet Pasha.

Whatever...

I’ll ask for my excuse off this Pasha title.

That’s not going to happen!

I worked so hard for you!

I won't sacrifice you for Seniha!

First thing in the morning, I’ll talk to the Sultan at breakfast.

Really, sister?

This is very important. Please sister, please.

Alright, Mehmed. Don't worry.

I can’t stand the idea of seeing Seniha in this palace anymore.

A lovely girl...

but born with a silver spoon.

Mr. Herzl sends his best… and a gift.

He's expecting good news.

Take the bag.

Our dreams are in that bag, Sabahattin.

When we serve this bidding to the British in a plate...

we will gain their unshakable trust.

Then we’ll have the chance to set Payitaht free.

Why the British want this railway so desperately, that I don’t get.

They want to take the control of each road...

after the Ottoman Empire is gone.

Empires eventually collapse.

Don't confuse my mind, Sabahattin.

Take the bag to Abdulkadir's room.

By the way,

don’t forget to amuse our Prince.

He must be bored nowadays.

He is sometimes so boring, father.

I walk around him like a tutor.

Sultan Abdulhamid sees the reciting of Quran as a feast to enjoy.

How much fun were you expecting from his Prince who is raised by him?

Go now.

Monsieur.

I'll introduce you to our Prince soon.

I can't wait.

Wait.

Wait.

Sister.

Welcome.

How are you?

I'm fine. Please, sit.

Come in!

My Sultan.

News from London with the highest rank of seal.

The First Captain Celal took a job in the Queen’s kitchen at last.

Thank God.

Now we start, Tahsin Pasha.

The British oak tree...

...is tough, Tahsin.

In the name of God.

Celal, my son, there is a kitchen at the entrance.

That will be your first target.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Have a good night mister, see you then tomorrow

The last door at the south of that kitchen...

opens to a hall.

Count four doors from the right and...

enter through the fifth door

The stairs are not polished neatly, they creak.

Walk on your tips.

They are so sure that no one can enter there...

so there will be no guards.

You'll see three different colored doors ahead of you.

Take the key on the door at the right and...

open the black door with it.

When you enter, you’ll see the library.

At the farthest side of that room, you’ll be looking at an old bookshelf.

On the eighth row at the fourth shelf...

lays an old Bible covered with leather.

When you pull that Bible, a secret door will be revealed.

This is the farthest point I know.

The rest, I don’t know.

That is the Room of Secrets of the Royal Family.

Their war plans and secrets are in that very room…

their new world order plans are hidden there.

My Sultan, how did you get all this information?

Each room was detected by one of my men.

When I combined their information...

it was like we walked around every part of the Palace.

Son.

We've had many martyrs thus far.

This is a path you may have to take.

If you want to change your mind...

You're tired, my Sultan.

Pasha! Pasha!

If these walls weren’t here…

I wish I was the son of a farmer, not a Sultan.

Then, I would run for my State myself.

My heart aches!

My heart aches, Pasha!

When I see all our sons sacrificing their lives for this State...

my heart aches!

I wish I would be Abdulhamid of no importance.

I wish I wasn’t Abdulhamid Han.

I wish I could fight face to face with those who want to destroy our crescent.

I’ve been waiting for you. You are late.

The journalist I was talking about, remember?

Yes!

I met him.

He is such an idealist.

You should listen to his ideas about freedom.

He said something incredible…

What's that?

We were all sitting. He stood up...

opened his arms wide and...

“If dictator is a reality...

then revolution is duty.”

He said.

Big words.

Even publicly.

Courage, I call this.

When are we meeting him?

Tomorrow, I hope, my Prince.

If...

you can leave the Palace.

Freedom Sabahattin. Freedom...

is the rarest blessing in the world.

If one wants to feed himself up with that...

the rest will starve.

If my father thinks freedom belongs only to him...

then he is sorely mistaken.

There is another way out at this palace.

Don't worry.

VIENNA

Mother.

You're my Israel.

If I'm Israel, then Jews are doomed.

Why is that?

I can barely stand, son. I can die any minute.

You will live much longer, mother. Don't talk like that.

It's been a year now.

Since what?

It's been a year since your father disappeared.

Is he alive or dead?

He just abandoned us.

Forget about that man, mother.

He left us.

He betrayed our God and let the Israel folk down.

He was close to provoke the children of Moses.

“Jews don’t need a country...

they only have to live their lives” and things alike.

Benjamin!

Benjamin!

I really wonder what you are talking about with your senile mother for hours.

Quiet, she will hear.

I don’t care.

I’m sick and tired of her.

Take her somewhere and leave her there.

Maybe you can leave her with your ex-wife.

She loves her more.

I can’t stand her anymore, don't you get it?

Please side with your husband at least for some time.

I’m dealing with the Sultan of the Great Ottoman Empire.

For the benefit of all our Jewish brothers.

When we become one as a country...

I’ll have a big house built for you.

It will take three days to go from your room to her room by train.

There will be a railway passing through our house, right?

I can't stand all that noise, Benjamin.

Congratulations, Mahmut Pasha.

You got the railway job at last.

Lord Richard.

I told you to trust me on this one.

Now what is it that you want?

The Ottoman harbors.

The control of those harbors were given to British companies...

by the emperors before Abdulhamid Han.

Of course...

but Abdulhamid has been waiting for an opportunity to break those agreements.

But we will connect the railways with the harbors and...

will build strong alliance with you.

Abdulhamid will check on the routes with care.

They are building the railways at the inner areas...

closer to the Muslims on Abdulhamid’s command.

You will be the one to change this.

Mr. Herzl will be very pleased with that.

Lord Richard.

I’ve thrown all my life in front of a very tough wind called Abdulhamid.

You should also stand firm with me...

so the wind wouldn’t destroy us both.

Don't worry, Mahmut Pasha.

Your part on this matter will never be known.

YILDIZ PALACE

A blissful morning to you.

Be your State forever, my Sultan.

Praise be.

This table would fill the whole Payitaht.

Good morning all.

Such a glamorous breakfast.

I felt like a Prince for a moment.

This morning I would like to set a perfect table for our Sultan.

There is a matter I would like to talk to you about.

In the name of God.

Please.

These tables are for these matters.

Yes, my Sultan. I’m listening.

This railway issue...

We touch Mahmut Pasha and hear the echo from Mehmet Pasha.

But your brother-in-law worked really hard for this job.

Doesn’t he deserve that for you and your state’s benefit?

But...

your sister Seniha Sultan...

is more valuable than me I guess.

My father, rest in peace, Abdulmecid...

fell into a terrible situation...

because he let women interfere with his politics.

Don’t ask me to make the same mistakes my father did.

If your brother wants to work on the railway issue...

I can assign him as the Hejaz Governor.

He can check whether the railway is reaching out there or not.

I crossed the line, I'm sorry.

I didn’t want to interfere.

These are the feelings of a sister, that’s all.

As you know, neither I nor Mehmet Pasha...

would ever want anything bad for you or our state.

I know that, my Sultan.

Dear father!

My joy, my beautiful daughter.

Are you angry because I'm late for breakfast?

Would I ever get angry at you? Please sit.

Wouldn’t you?

I wouldn’t.

Even if...

I want to go to Ciragan Palace to see Hatice Sultan?

My beautiful daughter...

you know my specific precautions on Ciragan Palace.

If you want it that much, she can come over.

That's better.

That would be fine too.

Now, please.