Maliki Mardinalli

He's running on coffee and cigarettes.

He's getting impatient with my questions.

He and the other comedians start talking in Arabic around a crowded table.

The conversation is heated.

OK, man, I can see you have tears in your eyes.

But soon after this conversation, they call it.

Maliki can't secure the free permissions in time, so they're forced to cancel just three hours before showtime.

They post on Styria's Instagram that the show's off due to unforeseen circumstances and tell people they'll refund tickets.

Now they're worried the government is also going to cancel their show in Aleppo, which is two days away.

I find them hours later in Sharif's hotel room.

One of the other comedians is giving Sharif a massage.

So I see you guys are promoting LGBTQ.

That night, instead of doing their show, they get drunk and dance until three in the morning.

The next day, the politicians in Hama want Abu Aziz to bend the knee, apologize.

Maliki says he won't make Abu Aziz do that alone.

We get in a car to Hama to meet Abu Aziz, who's already driven up from Damascus.

Maliki is anxious and frustrated.

I didn't sleep well, actually.

So what are you hoping?

You're going to see these guys and what?