Rooftop Escape

Study Notes

Max cries out, which makes Ahmed certain Fontaine has captured him
Despite his instinct to flee, Ahmed turns back to help Max
Max's bag is caught on the guardrail
As Ahmed frees Max, Fontaine enters and shouts in French, "We know who the gardener is!"
Ahmed pulls Max towards the side of the roof
They jump onto a skylight, nearly slipping on moss
They land on the roof of a neighboring house and avoid two large skylights
Fontaine shouts that the police intercepted a message about "Ahmed the Gardener," a Syrian who "fixed the flowerpots" and is suspected of making bombs
Fontaine believes Ahmed is a terrorist and bomb builder
Ahmed realizes the dawn raid makes sense and is worried about Max's belief in his innocence
Ahmed tells Max, "This Ahmed not me!"
Max replies, "I know," reassuring Ahmed
They jump to a lower roof, landing hard
Ahmed is grateful he studied the gardens to find the easiest routes to the street
To reach the last roof, they must scale a privacy wall or cross over the wall to the next ledge
Ahmed swings across the wall to the ledge
Max struggles, scared of falling
Ahmed assures Max, "I got you, you won't fall."
Max makes it across with Ahmed's help
They hear footsteps approaching
Ahmed pulls Max across the roof, urging haste
Fontaine orders officers to go to the street
Ahmed clambers down a drainpipe, telling Max to step on his shoulder
They jump off onto a pebbly driveway
Inspector Fontaine is seen peering at them from the roof
Fontaine shouts into his radio their location, near number forty-four
Ahmed pulls Max into a backyard, they rush past a trampoline, ignoring a barking dog and the lights turning on
Fontaine shouts that they are heading towards number fifty in his radio
Max mentions Albert Jonnart
Ahmed realizes the officers are on Albert Jonnart
Ahmed aims to reach Rue Vergote, where Max's bike is
Ahmed urgently pulls Max through bushes next to number fifty and hoists him over a wall
They land on the grass and Max helps Ahmed up
Fontaine orders someone to get to Vergote on the radio
They reach Max’s bike, which is locked to a signpost on Rue Vergote
Max fumbles with the key
A police officer rounds the corner
As Max unlocks the bike, Ahmed urges him to hurry
Ahmed straddles the bike, relieved they’ve ridden together before
Max throws his leg over the bar
The police officer is close behind
Ahmed shouts, "Go, Max! Go!"
Max pedals, and Ahmed holds on as they speed away while the officer curses