The Brick and the Mirror (1965) - full transcript

Brick and Mirror

a film by
Ebrahim Golestan

Made at Golestan Film Studio
April - July 1964

Cast in order of appearance

Zakkaria Hashemi

Taji Ahmadi

Masoud Faghih

Manuchehr Farid

Mohamad Ali Keshavarz

Jamshid Mashayekhi

Goli Bozorgmehr



Pari Saberi

Akbar Meshkin

Tar player (string instrument):
Jalal Rameshi

camera:
Soleiman Minassian

sound: Mahmud Hangal

assistant: Herand Minassian

Assistant cameraman: Amir Karari
Lighting technician: Rahman Asadi

written, produced, directed and edited by:

Ebrahim GOLESTAN

(Radio) Drop it, or they'll cover
the whole city in blood and dust.

They're just looking for a pretext,
you know.

All the same, we must get rid of the body.
- Yeah! - But how?

Let's set the house on fire.
- Yeah! - Not a bad idea.

We burn the body first, then the house.
Let's do it at once, so that no one will understand.



After Mogul conquest until
the beginning of the Constitutional Revolution

A cold dark night fell
over the dry branches of the forest.
[text written and read by Golestan]

The hunter trod through the thicket stealthily.

But in the dark, the pulse of danger constantly throbbed.

The forest was full of sparks of fear and worry.

The night was hard.

The night seemed long.

Nothing was refleced in the round eye of the owl
but anguish.

And fear was its only life sign.

The hunter advanced slowly.

Every Beast was staring at the trap

And the eyes of the thousand-eyed
perils were wide.

The night was heavy with darkness.

And in the dark, no one could tell
who is the hunted and who is the hunter.

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Anyone who has used Ashna soap ...

???

Taxi!

Abbasabad, are you going to Abbasabad*?
* Northern district of Tehran

???

Madam! Hey Madam, your child!

Madam! Where did she go?
Hey Madam! your child. Where did she go?

Madam! Where are you? Madam!
Your child!

Woman! Where are you?
Your child!

What is it? What do you want, Brother?
What's the matter?

This child belongs to the lady
who just came in.

No one has come here.

She came a minute ago.
She wore a black veil. She left this child

Nobody has come.
There is nobody to come.

But this child!

God keep it for you.

But the child's not mine!
Understand?

Where is she?

Where is who? Nobody comes here.
This is an abandoned place.

A woman in black ...
understand?

She got out of my taxi ...
understand?

And I took her here ...
Where is she?

Listen, what do you want?

Are you deaf?

Why are you shouting?

You are looking for something you cannot find here.
You are looking for someone you cannot find here.

She did not come here.

What can I do for you here?
There's only me and you

and two other people.

There's only me with two other poor wretches.
Come and see.

Here's one of them.

He is disabled, he's a cripple.

He is likes to play the ney.

There's the other one.

Her husband left her
a long time ago.

She's pregnant.

She's about to give birth.

But her husband left her.

She's lost her mind waiting

She sleeps during the day,
and stays up all night.

Always waiting for him to return.

The other was a friend
of my son.

One day he fell from up there.

His legs were smashed.
He was finished.

As long as my son was here,
he would take care of me.

My son Asghar was a foreman.

When the shut-down came,
he went elsewhere.

And we never heard from him again.

And those two were left in my care.

The poor dears, they still have hope.

But no one would ever return.

There was once a field here.

One day they came.

They sold everything
The wheat and the barley stood high ...

but men brought lime and mortar.

They dug for foundations,

they laid the concrete

to build up walls.

So many walls.

All over, they built up walls.

Oh my God, from nothing they built up walls.

And the only man who wanted to rebuild the house...
he said suddenly: stop!

He said suddenly: stop!

That was many years ago.

Neither a roof,
nor a room, nor a kitchen

neither barley

nor lucerne

# I came to you
but the door was locked.

# Locked with all sorts of locks.

# If you don't want me,
I'll leave.

# I'm going for a walk in the city

??? # It's pouring rocks in here.
- Go away!

# This is the city of wonders.

Mr. Hashemi. Whose child is this?

Where is Abbas?
He is very angry

He's over there.
Whose child is this?

Bad luck.

Aren't you ashamed,
at this late hour?

All right, here's the key.

What the hell with the key!
Give a man an inch and he'll take a mile. Asshole!

Your grandfathers were asses for 7 generations!

let me go

???
so I'm late? So what!

???

???
let me go

???
That's enough. Sit down

don't act childish ???
bulky

Sit down

It's not nice to fight, dear.

We didn't have a fight
The driver is working at night.
I have to give him the key

It was late
So now you're a father, too?

He's no good anymore for you?

On the contrary.

Don't be wicked.

Why do you stare at me?
Go and get me something to eat.

A slut left this child in my taxi.

yes, I say: yes

You should have tried to find her.

how she left this child in your taxi?

It is meaningless :"She left"

How did she leave you?

She just left, like that.

She got in at the fruit merchants of Pahlavi street
She wore a black chador

I couldn't see the baby.
She paid and got out.

Then I heard the baby cry.

I called after her,
but she was gone.

she was nowhere,
it was as if the earth has swallowed her

God is Almighty.

Completely gone.

No! Partially gone!

I ran after her. On one side
there were a lot of steps.

On the other, a tomb.

Further on, a building site,
inside a mad woman.

A weird place. It was dark.
I could see nothing.

With high walls all around.

??? a mad woman told a goose is dead!
- you say mad?!

it's very interesting

Poor woman! Poor woman!

I am thinking how she must feel.

It's her child,

the child is her relation

the child is a Beloved

See what poverty does!

She took a taxi.

See what an empty stomach
does to you.

Hunger that forces a person to leave her child

This bereaved mother
is burning now ...

in the flames of her sorrow
and despair.

She is suffering,
sighing in this black night ...

in the cold darkness.

There, up on the hill,
she implores God under the stars.

It's raining outside.

So what!

Do the stars melt away when it rains?

- Eating her heart out ...
- Right now she's tearing out her hair.

she's tearing out her hair

How will she find her baby again
in this big city?

big city!

From North to South, East to West,

From Javadiye and Ghalee Morghi

to Dowshan Tappeh,
to Tehranpars,

Ozgol and Ghardaneye,
how will she find her baby?

God is Almighty.

Imagine the poor woman.

You should have tried to find her, my dear.

Don't you understand?
I tried to, for two hours.

That's why I was late
and had this quarrel with Abbas.

And you did not find her?

God is Almighty.

Have you told the Police?

You should tell the Police.

Yes dear, go to the Police.
You must tell the Police.

Tell the Police?

Yes, dear.

You want him to go to the police?

Yes, dear.

To go to the Police,
to tell the Police?

All right? Go!
They are your friends, surely.

Do you know what you're saying?

Isn't it silly to walk
straight into a trap?

And if the woman is playing a trick?

Waiting at the Police Station for ...
Your name, please?

Yes, Mr. Hashem. She's waiting in there,
and you walk into the trap.

- God is Almighty.
- What do you mean?

Yes, that is the question.
This is a frame-up.

The gentleman arrives,
the woman cries:

"Help! Help!
Get him, the rat, the murderer!"

God is Almighty.

For what ah?
For what?!

Man must think
Oh yes? She has called a taxi,
and that's all?

She has left a baby ...
that's simple?

This is a trap, friend ...
your name?

Mr. Hashem
Mr. Hashem

be sure it's a trap.

As soon as you go in,
she will shout "Officer, please ..."

This beast ...

This devil ...

This I don't know what ...

he took me to a far-off hill,
I cried, I pleaded, but no!

He snatched my bag ...

my necklace ...

my earrings

my bracelet

my money

my virtue

He ruined my honour! The stained my purity!

Then he threw me away.

He said if I cried
he'd kill me.

He beat me and he kicked me,
and then he stole my baby.

This bloodthirsty

This is unfair

he stole my baby.
my baby! my dear!

Now then, are you satisfied? go away

Go to the Police, now.

God is Almighty.

He says the truth, Mr. Hashem
The woman probably played a trick?

Eat pistachio

God is Almighty.

And that's not all.

Perhaps she has kidnapped
the baby.

And seeing that she couldn't hide it,
she's arranged it this way.

It is not possible?!

Now, you go to the Police,
and so would the parents.

What will happen now,
my dear?

You fall into trouble

They're there now. And you try to prove
you're a taxi-driver!

But I am a taxi-driver.
I have my licence.

Your licence?

You have a licence
to find lost children?

What does your licence have to do
with this?

He's right.

But he must tell the police.

Tell what?

Tell everything.

Yes, dear.

Tell everything?

You want to tell everything?

my dear sir
my dear

But you're scared, my dear, really.

You say you've seen a tomb
and a mad woman.

"I saw the grave" and "I saw the mad woman"
That did not mean anything

There are no tombs
in the middle of a city.

Nobody is mad in this city.
It's the kind of talk!

I'm coming

So what I say is nonsense?

As to the steps ...

What steps?

The stairs are a problem?
You ordered your dinner.

You're going to the Police?

I'm going to take a piss.

Then why do you take it along?

So what?

With the child in your arms,
you fight, you drink, you take a piss

Who does he think we are?

Does he hope we'd believe him?

Hashem is a dear boy.

He's a bit dumb

He likes him that way.

It's none of my business anyway ...

but what he says
sounds a bit shaky to me.

To me too,
it's shaky.

Yes, it's nonsense.

No, it makes no sense.

Why not?

Stairways in the street.
What does that have to do with this child?

Abbas Abad is on the hill
Yousef Abad is on the hill

People need stairs
to go up and down.

Without stairs,
who could they go up and down?

If it did not exist

Perhaps he was saying that it was a pit

He's right. The woman, no doubt,
had her house on the hill.

You don't follow me.
He's not telling the truth.

He does not want to tell the truth

He does not want to go to the Police,
but he has to.

he's afraid of going.

Instead he's gone to the toilet.

And if he runs away

He's right ... suppose he does?

And if he runs away

Where to?

Anywhere.
The child is here.

Oh, have some pistachios.

Where is Hashem?

Go and get some pistachios, Taji.

you're cute! Eat

I don't know.

God is Almighty.

A child in a taxi! Nonsense!
A baby is not a pair of gloves...

Or tissue paper

Oh, Mr. Hashem. You know what?
Have your dinner first.

Miss Shirin got annoyed by your fight and left
Hell! she went

Eat first, and then take the baby... Eat first

take the baby...
and get a taxi...

and leave the baby in the taxi.
That will solve everything.

And if the driver is out,
you just run!

She had a black veil.

What you need is not a veil,
you need guts!

- He should go to the Police.
- What for?

To tell them the truth.

What is the truth?
Where is the truth?

- That will lead him into trouble.
- What trouble?

???

All right. Go ahead.

Take it to the Police
and tell the truth.

Don't spoil the charm of the case.
What is the truth?

Mediocrity!
Let him imagine with grace.

There is much more truth
in imagination.

Besides, Man's word is like a pit.

If you talk,
you have opened a pit.

You tell the truth and you fall
into the vertical pit ...

It is very difficult to save yourself from a vertical pit

never to come out again.

But lies. They're not straight.
You fall less deep

They're easy to climb out of.

You can always go out

Look at this crossword puzzle.

You and your crossword!
And you, have some pistachios!

What crap!

He wants to eat pistachios.
None of your business!
(?? ?? ?? ????)

he does not know what the crosswords is at all!

tall fool!

When the lines take shape!

You fill a line,
and another line forms itself.

The crossword puzzle
is a lot of empty squares first.

The further you go,
the more animated they become.

Until you have the answers
even before reading the questions.

But this tall fool does not know
of the joys of Art.

Crossword puzzles
are like creation.

You have an idea. You imagine
and you put a letter in a square.

A neutral letter ...
a detached letter ...

But each a free foundation of truth.

An integral part of truth.

Another letter, and still another.
And then you have reality.

A beautiful flower ...

A great star

A book of poems. An important poet

Athir al-Din Akhsiketi

The unfaithful wife
of Marcus Aurelius? Annia Galeria Faustina.

The mistress of Richard I ???

Lady Robert Paul Cambridge ???

The great novel of Sigrid Undset?

Kristin Lavransdatter

A character from Dostoyevsky?

Alexei Nilych Kirillov.

No! In the beginning
there was not the word.

In the beginning,
there was the letter.

You go this way,
it makes a word.

You go this way,
and it makes another.

You take it out

and it destroys.

It destroys two truths.

The horizontal.

And the vertical.

Oh, shut up!

What is he saying?
Incantations?

Don't be jealous.

What do you mean, jealous?
He won't stop.

Be quiet. Parivs is an intellectual.

He's got talent.

It is an honour and a privilege
that he's with us

What a down-grading to be
at the same table with you.

Now, be quiet a little

You with your cissy ways,
you are wasting your time here.

with your gesture of understanding.
with "Do not be a man"

Do something

You ought to make good
and go ahead in life. Do something.

Change your name, establish connections
and become important.

Enough, Taji!

There is something wrong with your head.

There is something wrong
somewhere with all of us.

There is nothing wrong anywhere with you,
presumably.

There is, in fact. It is that the papers
come out in the evening.

As soon as I buy them,
it's time to go to the caf? and ...

there I hardly find the time
to do my crosswords.

I'm going to get some food.

Why should I be angry?
I can arrest everybody!

[Poster ??? ]

I told you politely, doctor,
that I'll give you a policeman.

He'll accompany you
to the place you show him.

And he'll arrest
whomever you indicate.

And I told you that I could not see
where I was being driven.

Then too, I was confused for a while

You don't know their place,
you don't recognize their faces.

I told you I couldn't see anything.

Then what do you expect me to do?

Put policemen everywhere.

Why is the gentleman undressed?

The gentleman is a doctor.
A woman calls saying that her daughter ...

is in labour.
The doctor goes with her.

Outside in the street,
two men were waiting in a taxi join them, apparently.
???ǡ ??????

Apparently!

Don't catch cold.

According to the woman,
one of the men was her brother and the other her son in law,

the pregnant woman's husband

The doctor goes with them.
But this turns out to be a trap.

They beat up the doctor.
Apparently ...

Apparently.

And rob him of what he had.
His watch.

His watch, his bag, his wallet, all were gone.
They all vanished into thin air ???
?? ?Ԙ? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????

Including the woman in labour?

I wish it were at least like that

Well, the woman was there all right.

And she had such a terrible time too,
giving birth.

I saved her life
after great difficulties ...

but the child was dead.

The child was dead?

Must pregnant women

always deliver babies that are alive?

But this happened two weeks ago.

Yes, the child was dead.

Then why do you report this now?

The child was dead two weeks ago.
The incident happened tonight.

I'm sorry.

Your being sorry will undo nothing,
now that I'm beaten up.

Robbed, left with
all my instruments smashed.

This story of tonight's pregnant woman
had been a trick.

The doctor, two weeks ago,
performed an operation in the hospital ...

in which the child dies.
Tonight, her relatives take revenge.

What revenge? Why?
The child had no chance of living at all!

A creature with no head, with bad smell (??? ???)

A walnut

Its legs like cornichons ... this size

This is the size of the belly (!?????? Ԙ?)

And you, what do you want?

I say that this sort of thing
cannot go on and on.

I am a taxi driver

- Neither its birth or its death ...
- About two hours before, a woman left the child in my taxi

had anything to do with me.

Revenge on me?

From the moment of its conception
until it died ...

Or was dying

I had nothing to do with it.

Revenge on me

If the gentleman has a complaint,
start an inquiry, then.

What's the use?
Complaint against whom?

I say, why was I beaten up?

It's you who were beaten up,
and you want me to know why?

What did you say?

I say that's how you lose faith.

And you... say

- I said, about two hours ago, at the fruit-market ...
- That's why nobody trust anybody anymore.

Wait a moment.

Why should I wait?
That's why nobody helps anybody anymore.

Waiting for what?

How long can I wait?!

We spend our lives waiting.

Go and see
what's going on outside!

These things happen, doctor.
You should know that.

You are a doctor! You should know

You should be prepared
for such incidents.

I cannot be prepared
for being beaten up.

The sick man who comes to you

cannot say:
"I am not prepared
for my operation"

or to feel unwell, fall ill and have a fever

Nonsense!
(lit.: What are those words?)

These incidents, for us,
are like the dust in the air.

Like the mud in the alley.

When we walk,
they settle on our hair and our clothes.

As a routine,
you brush them away.

I ask you,
is that just and right?

The just and the unjust,
the right and the wrong ...

varies according to people's conceptions.

I have nothing to do with people's conceptions.

You're a doctor,
people have something to do with you.

But we have a general rule,
?????: rule
after all.

The general rule depends ...

It depends on who we are

aggressor or victim

we have seen for years...

we have heard for years:
the one who beats ...

says one thing,
and the one who is beaten says another.

And you ... what do you think?

about which case?

It varies from case to case.
I'm here to keep order and discipline.

Exactly! You hold the destiny
of an entire neighbourhood in your hands.

Oh, I'm myself from this neighbourhood.

I'm an employee of the municipality.

There's a couple quarelling.

The man says his wife
has put DDT in his soup.

They are here with their children.

You were saying?

I'm asking what is to be done?

Aren't they dry yet?
You may catch cold.

To catch cold is natural.
But it's unnatural to be beaten up.

They are the same, doctor.
Things are like that.

Perhaps you are expecting too much:
"People in general aren't bad"

these people need you and me,

Let's hope for one day to come ...
when there'll be no more thefts

or incidents like that.

Then, there would be no more need
for a Police Station.

Then they'd have made
so much progress

that there would be no more sickness.

And if anybody gets sick,
he would treat himself.

Like we shave ourselves these days.

But until that day, I volunteer
to be an officer, and you a doctor.

And you expect that there'll be no more
sick men and thieves?

What do you want?

- I said ...
- Come here.

Sit down.

I'm a taxi-driver.

About three hours ago,
in front of the fruit market..

On Pahlavi Street..
a woman in a black chador ...

The rain has stopped.
I did not see her face correctly

You know, doctor:
I think you should always carry a gun.

A doctor who has to visit patients at night
should always carry a gun.

They don't even deserve the injection
and the thermometer.

A gun is a better remedy
than any medical treatment.

Look at them

Look how they stare at us!

The night wakes them up,
it gives them life.

They disappear during day.
What are they staring at?

Why are they staring?!

I don't know ... do you?

No.
No. You do not know

Even if you did,
you couldn't put it into words.

You develop the power of speech
only by growing up.

And as you grow up
your brains grow tired.

Good bye.

Your complaint?

I don't know what to do?

Look what sort or people
become doctors!

I haven't got a place
for myself.

I'd rather die than deliver myself
into the hands of such doctors.

I cannot look after it.

At least ... you talk

Didn't you hear?

There is no place for a child
at night in a Police Station.

At the police station, you will find a place
for everyone, except for an infant baby

A Police Station is no place for a child.

They should grow up first.

The grown-ups have left no room
for the children.

Thieves and crooks,
drunks and gamblers,

opium-addicts
and amulet makers ???????

Take care of it until the morning.

If it isn't claimed by its parents

it'll have to go to an orphanage.

Well?

Why are you here?

let's go

where are the others?

Did you come alone?

Where should we take it to now?

Let's go now

We're going out here now

So you won't take him away?!

Wait! Are they allowed to go,
the couple with the child?

It's nothing.
We came by ourselves.

You may go.

Why did you come?

- I was worried?
- Why?

Like that.

The officer didn't seem to believe me.

He just wants to advise

He was telling me to keep it.
Why did you come?

I was worried.
I thought it would take too long.

I was worried it woud be hungry.

I brought it some milk.

Now till morning... What will happen

Are you tired?
Give it to me.

And I wanted to spend the night with you.

We're together now.

What shall we do?

What about?

- Can you keep it until tomorrow?
- Why not?

All right then. I'll call you
a taxi and you go now.

Go where?

You said you'd keep it tonight.
Take it home with you.

You said you wanted
to spend the night with me.

All right, you go
and I'll come later.

But I can't take this child
to where I live.

But you said you'd keep it.

I thought we'd go to your place.

My place?
With all those neighbours?

At this hour?
With you and the child?

Don't be angry.

Wait.... So I could keep up with you

walk slowly

walk slowly

Don't go so fast,
let's walk together.

Walk slowly, I'm tired.

I don't feel well.

What's the matter?
Get up.

Give him to me.
Go on

Get up, go on

Get up

you were not sick,

What happened to you?

Wash your face
and your mouth.

one more time

Are you alright now?
Are you feeling better?

Want a little water?

Drink some water.

Taxi!

Taxi, taxi.

Calm it down.

Come on, sir!
A baby this time of night!

...must get some sleep

The baby should not be kept cold during the night

Naturally it cries.

I hope it won't catch cold.

develop a fever

bronchitis

angina

mumps

Plague, pestilence,
cholera, polio, cancer!

grow a pair of horns, and a long tail!
nag nag nag!

Who's nagging?

You're nagging.
Have you never seen a child?

I've never seen people taking
a child along to get drunk.

Nag nag nag ...

If you'd driven a taxi all day,
you'd know what nagging is.

Nag nag nag!

Go and thank God for not
having made you a taxi-driver.

All right. Here's good enough.
Stop right here.

Be careful. Speak low.

Try to calm him down.

What are you doing?

His nappies make him comfortable.

- Calm him down.
- We need hot water.

- What for?
- To wash his behind.

- What for?
- He's dirty. It'll calm him down.

- Why hot water?
- So that he doesn't catch cold.

- Don't wash him.
- His behind is sore.

What do you mean "sore"?
Calm him down.

- What shall I do?
- Do something

- Do you have a kettle?
- Why a kettle?

- Do you have a kettle? A stove? To heat up water?
- Speak softly... the stove is in here

Then bring it here.

- There's a bit hot water left.
- I'll make do. Bring it to me.

- Hell! (Snake venom ??????)
- Don't get nasty. (do not curse now)

Quiet!

Where's the hot water?

- Speak low.
- Put it on the stove
-I say, speak low.

- Speak low.
- Bring a basin or something

- I haven't got one. - From the room...
In this way...(Like that) No way!

You're giving far too many orders
at this hour.

Hurry up.

- Could you use a washing basin for laundry?
- you have one?

It belongs to the neighbours.
It's in the courtyard.

- Where should I put it?
-Where? On my head! Put it on the ground

# ??? song in the radio
( ??? lyrics)

Too hot
Some more water.

- That's enough. Let the child sleep.
- You mean, let him cry?

How much water?

A little.

- Half a jar? ok?
- hmm.

Damn you!

- What else do you want?
- Is it filled? - Half a jar

You take it

???

Lift it up

all right

Now pour

Don't pour all at once

pour slowly so that it'll last longer

that's good
pour like this

all right,
pour, pour ...

So wait a minute

all right, now pour again, pour, Aha,
The same well, pour, pour. well, pour.
[the baby's a girl]

pour again
pour

Aha

Speak low.
Why are you shouting?

How can I dry her, now?
Give me your towel.

- My towel for her arse?
- Come on!

- It's for my face.
- She is cold!

I said, my face!

Which is not as clean as her behind / ass (???)

all right, now, Hashem

Empty the basin

Give me my bag too

Now give me the milk bottle ...
Let my darling eat and

then sleep. (sleep: ???? ???? for baby)

Yeah darling (to the baby)

You see, you feel better now?

You were dirty, now you're clean.

My dear Tell Hashem:
she powders my behind with her face powder

Rinse it out a bit.

- ??? - Take it out and turn it off
- Lower your voice. I'm not deaf!

Now I need a cover for her.

Put anything.

What do you have?

Take the quilt.

It'll be too heavy for her.

My woolen shirt?

How many do you have?

How many do I have?
Well, I have one

Take it off.
And I'll use mine as well.

Now something to wrap around her feet.

Something soft. Wool's rough.

What else?

Give it up

I mean, your vest

Let's wash it later

That's fine now.
My darling will be warm

and sleep well

I wish you wouldn't make her cry again.

Let's put her on that suitcase.
It's too cold on the floor.

- Fine. put her on that suitcase.
- Bring it forward

my baby [honey] ????

Ah, now it's fine

Hell! The girl is deaf!

- Why do you shout?
- I'm happy, dear.

You wouldn't be if the neighbours
came here now and started trouble.

Let them go to hell. Who are the neighbors?!
At midnight everybody's asleep.

everybody's asleep! ??? ?????

Asleep! A thousand eyes everywhere,
and she says they're asleep!

You say something, my dear
[talks baby language]

do Peekaboo! tell story!

Are you afraid in your home?

Were you also afraid of neighbours?

Do you know what fear is?

Do not you know who your neighbors are?

Lucky you![Be happy] ??? ?? ??? (??? ?? ????)
Who is a neighbour?

What is fear?

Talk ... chirp ...

Do you see those panes?
Those windows?

Those doors?

Behind each,
there is an evil nosy eye

A wicked tongue,
a jealous black heart.

Each detesting the other,
and all united ...

to detest each other.

Do you know what evil is?

Do you know what fear is?

Be happy, and say
what you have to say.

- chirp ...
- Go on.

If you're not happy with this house,
get yourself another.

Where?

Man is man wherever he is.

At least I know those people.

How could I know things'll be better
elsewhere?

- Why did you turn it off?
- Let's go to sleep.

Why in the dark?

What's on your mind?

We're together.
This is your home. Relax and sit down, let's talk.

Pity we waste our time
on headaches and being uneasy.

Turn it on.
Come and sit beside me.

Let me make the bed.

Why in the dark?

Turn it off!

The eye can't see in the dark.

You nag all the time.

What's wrong with the dark?

I don't like the dark.

Turn it off. Turn it off.

Let it be on until morning.

The landlord will raise hell.

It was the neighbours so far.
Now it's the landlord?

You absolutely have to be afraid
of somebody, yes?

You can't possibly sleep with the light on.

Good. We'll stay awake until morning.

I have a torchlight,
and that's all I can do for you.

Let there be light.

Anyway, okay

I put it here

Let there be light.

Anywhere, okay

Happy now?

mmh

Enough for now.

So soon?

I mean the light.

- The light?
- Let's switch it off!

for what?

The battery will discharge.

well ... the battery must discharge.

- that's a pity! it'll be used up
- a battery is for lighting

- it will discharge
- a battery is for lighting, They're made to be used and discharged

What a night!

The dark.

The high walls.

The house in ruins.

Those strange stairs.

What was it?!

Those people.

I was tired.
I am at peace now, at peace, Taji dear

I've never made love with the light on

Not with the light on?

With the light on, and your eyes open,

and not drunk.

Is there any difference?

There is.

It's strange.

What?

I was myself.

Did you notice the kitten?

Did you notice the baby?

She was watching us.

You said you weren't drunk?

She was watching us.

I could see her.

She was happy.

Poor Taji.

Why poor?

Who was happy?

I meant the baby.

???

My dear

do you want to sleep?

dear ????
(A word to calm the baby)

- dear ????
- Leave her alone.

Come to bed.

Come on, sleep

Why should we sleep?

You don't need a reason for sleep.

Why sleep?
You don't like me?

Soon it'll be morning.

So what?

It'll be day.

So?

It'll be light.

So?

They'll see you.

Who will see me?

The neighbours.

Would it be bad?

It wouldn't be good.

Tell them I'm your sister.

You must be joking!

Tell them the truth.

Tell them who I am,
what I am.

Love me.

I love you.

Is there anything wrong
with loving?

I love you ... I already told you.

Love me.

There we go again,
in the dark.

How you're afraid of the dark!

I detest the dark.
I detest it.

Where have you been?

In the courtyard.

Anybody saw you?

Did the neighbours see you?
Have the neighbours woken up?

The sparrows were chirping.

What are you looking at?

Look! It's day now.

You should be gone
before they wake up.

Now everyone sees you

If I were your wife ...

Oh, come on!

Come. Let's talk.
What do you want to do today?

What do you want me to do?
What I do everyday.

Last night was not like every night.

You were afraid of the dark.

I wanted today ... we could
rent a room together, and stay together.

What are going to do?

My exercises.

- About what I said?
- What?

Our staying together.

Today I'm busy. The child.

What about her?

All the troubles.

She's sweet.

I haven't got money.

Money is not needed

without money you can't...

for a day...

They don't rent rooms to anybody...

I didn't mean for just one day.

I don't understand.

What do you want to say?

I mean we bring her up together.

You mean we stay together for ever?

All right,
but why keep the baby?

Because she brought us together.

Don't shout.
We were together before.

That wasn't being together.

-That wasn't getting together
- What was it then?

Oh! The sun is up.

Shouldn't it be up.
It comes up in the morning.

Now the neighbours will all get up.
And you're still here.

Now everybody will wake up.
It's your fault.

- What? - In the morning,
they wake up

She's hungry.

Calm her down.

Make her keep quiet.

That's it.
They're up.

Make her keep quiet.

You should have taken her away
when you first got up.

She's hungry. There's no milk left.
Go and buy a bottle.

- Make her keep quiet.
- She's hungry

Hell!

Make her shut up.
[radio in Arabic] ??? ???? ????? ??????

[radio] In our Sacred Book the Quran it is written:

[radio] You who are religious, fear God

Shout, my dear
Shout

Shout as loud as you can

Shout before you grow up
and become a coward.

[radio] And be not like those who forgot Allah...

I feel like crying, too.
[Radio] so Allah ...

[Radio] ...made them forget themselves.
Those are the defiantly disobedient.

Look Taji, don't get angry.
[Radio] Not equal are the companions
of Fire and the companions of Paradise.

I have no will of my own in here.
[Radio] The companions of Paradise -
they are the attainers [of success].

I have this small corner,
with thousands of eyes watching me.

[Radio] If we had sent down this Qur'an...
upon a mountain...

It's too late now, anyway.
There're out in the yard already and they're washing their faces
[Radio] you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah.

If they hear the child and you... I said you
[Radio] And these examples we present to the people...

[Radio] then perhaps they will give thought.

And how do you dare to breathe?
[Radio] He is Allah, besides Whom there is no other deity,
Knower of the unseen and the witnessed.

Well, what are you going to do now?

You always say:"what are you going to do?"
"what are you going to do?" "what are you going to do?"

Well, what can I do?

[Basmala]
??? ???? ?????? ??????

Listen, Taji. Don't be fretful because I got angry
All right,

don't shout. Don't be angry.

[Invocation of God]
??? ???? ?????? ??????. ?? ????? ?? ????. ??? ? ???..

You can't go out now.

Stay here. I'll take her out secretly.

I'll lock the door from the outside

I'll tell the old woman*
[housekeeper who goes to the room, lights the radiator]

I'll tell her that she mustn't come in.

- [Invocation of God]
- You stay here until evening.
Then I'll come and fetch you.

- The child is hungry.
- Give her to me.

Where will you take her?

Wherever you say.
Give her to me. Don't shout!

Give her to me

You know I must take her
first to the police.

Just formalities ... You guarantee ???

You guarantee ??? ... Just formalities
you have to engage

But if you're out now...You can't.

I must take her.

Then I'll come back to fetch you.
Later we'll go together.

All right? Give her to me.

Buy her some milk.

Wrap her nappies.

Wrap her.

- Be careful. Come back soon
- ok ok ok

Her scarf.

Hurry.

Dear!

Let me go. If you're hungry,
there's some gaz* in there.
[*nougat candy}

Wait till I come back.

["please keep silent in here"]

Salaam.

Salaam.

Yes?

Madam, I have brought this child.

Very kind of you.

This is an abandoned child.

The place is full of them.

Now you bring another one.

- And you?
- I want a baby.

I want a baby.
that's two or three days old.

Fat? Thin? Short? Tall? Black? Blond?
Boy? Girl?

You see!

Is it imperative that it should be
two or three days old?!

Hallo.

You are expecting?
How many months?

Nine.

You are about to deliver one now?
Are you collecting them?

???

I'm afraid of them.
They don't leave me alone.

Where did you find it?

I'm a taxi-driver.
Somebody left her in my car.

Why do you cry?

I'm afraid of them. My neighbours.
They don't leave me alone.

They don't leave me alone.

You'll have your baby...
Today or tomorrow ... your time of delivery will come

Perhaps it'll be still-born.

You'll make another one then.

They all have been still-born
so far.

Perhaps I shall never have a baby.
That's my trouble.

"That's my trouble" is nonsense.
Your trouble and our work. They are different.
And you?

I want a job...

Please...- Anything you have...

This is not an employment agency, Madam.
Whenever anyone wants something, they come here!

You must go to the police first.

Last night I did that ...

There I was told to keep her
until this morning.

I wanted to keep pigeons.
That didn't work.

Then I went for cats.
[pre-revolution Sokhan Magazine
Behind the magazine: Samak-e Ayyar ???

That didn't work either.

I want to live.
Everybody is reproaching me.

They tell me I am unable to have a child.
I'm dying from the grief... They don't leave me alone.

Don't be silly.
You'll have a child.

I can't!

It'll be still-born.

You first deliver.

If it is still-born,
you'll make another one.

I can't. I can't.

- I want a baby

I can't.

I can't. I can't.

I can't.

Look!

Don't be embarrassed.

This is the child.

This is the 9th month.

And the 8th. 9 long months.
Each time

I added rug on rug.

My belly got bigger
with rugs!

From the first day
I added rugs to pretend I am pregnant.

[Portrait of the Shah and the Queen Soraya] ???
at that time [1343] Farah was married to the Shah
- maybe an older portrait still hanging

So they think .... my vow [???] ???

I light candles ... make a vow ... say prayers ???

avowed... and I become pregnant

A belly full of rugs.
No baby growing.

No belly skin stretching.

Lies, lies to fool.

Rugs don't become moving babies.

a baby who moves

Rugs ...

only rugs...

Here we don't accept babies
except those without identity.

You'll have to get the tribunal's certificate.

that the child has no identity
before we could accept him.

Throw those rugs out.

You too should go to the tribunal.

We can't give a child to just anybody
who walks in.

We protect them here.

We would give a child,
but only to whom we trust.

And you?
What do you want?

I'm her husband.

Excuse me.

Could you please write a few words for me?
- What about?
- A request.

What request?

To the tribunal.

Can't you write yourself

at your age?

Isn't it a shame
that you are illiterate?

Don't you know that an illiterate
is blind? Go to night-school.

I can, but only a little.

A little is not enough.

You have a complaint?

You have a child.
Your wife has left you?
They seduced her. Yes?

Oh no, I'm not married.

This child was left in my car.

Left in your car?

A woman. When she got in
I didn't notice.

When she left,
there was this child crying.
I looked everywhere for her,

but she had disappeared.

I'm now requesting the tribunal
to let me keep her.

Keep her?

Yes, by writing this request.

Keep her? What for?

Keep her ... just keep her.

Keep her.

But you are not married.
No, I'm not married.

- You're alone?
- Yes, alone.

What's your job?

I drive a taxi.

Any good?

Good enough.

You have a wife ?

No

You have a job that works all right.
Nobody's under your care...

and you are asking
for headaches?

You're a fool.

A child needs milk, food, clothing.

There's sickness.
All sorts of it.

And the changing of the nappies.

Are you crazy?

You'd drive your taxi and
you'll raise a child in the car?

Very easy.

Do you have a cigarette?

What good is there in a child?

If there is any,
let it be for the parents.

They have abandoned it,
why should you get involved?

Leave it at that.

What will happen then?

What do you expect to happen?

But I am here now ...
I was told to write a request.

You were told nonsense.
Don't write a request.

And then?

What then? There are lots of bastards
everywhere. It's not a novelty.

Did you have a share in the pleasure
of making it to justify the chore now?

I found it.

You are just a passer-by.

I found it.

You searched for it or just found it?
It could've been somebody else.

Now it's you.
All right, so what?

Things happen. It could've been
a brick falling on your head.

Forget it.

When this child grows up,
if he grows up ...

will he go about
collecting abandoned children?

Well, then. Go and have fun,

be happy before you're buried.

Are you lacking in troubles?
For the price of four bottles of milk
you can buy half a bottle of liquor.... Drink liquor

You won't drink alcohol unless this baby can drink milk?!

Have you got a cigarette?

What to do then?

What do you think?

What?

Matches?

She's alone.

Everybody's alone.

We have all these instituions
to fill the gap.

Where is she?

No one is in the courtyard.

Go quickly.

Where is she?

Quick! While there is no one.

- Your effects?
- What effects? Oh, yes.

My stuff.
Will you stay here?

yes yes

I wait in the street?
- Yes. Hurry.

The battery is used up.

Golabgiri* Hadj Mohammad Hassan Aghajani
[rose-water maker]

- Where is she?
- Go on!

- In the car? Where's the car?
- Walk on.

Did she cry much?
I was afraid of being alone.

Did the neighbors notice anything?

How do you get the stuff?

- She may catch cold.
- Go on.

- and if she cries?
- Shut up.

- And if she's hungry?
- Enough.

- What do you think?
- Nothing, dear. I'm happy.

- Don't fancy nonsense.
- I ... I love you.

Listen, Taji!

Stop about her.

Understand?

Understand? I'm tired

I've had enough of your play-acting with a doll. ???
[I have no money. I have no time. I have no patience. I don't want it]

???

I took her to the orphanage.

Well?
You're satisfied now?

You have done wrong.

- You have done wrong.
- I know what I'm doing.

Why?

- Why? But why?
- Let's go.

Have you forgotten?
She'd been watching us.

We had become three.

You suggest I tip
whoever sees us making love?

Let go!

Don't touch me!
You dirty ...

Don't touch me!

Leave me!

Shahada
[ceremonial burial chants]

[Shahada]

[Shahada]

Well, let's go.

Where?

We can't stay here forever.

All through the day

you had left me

shut in that room

with my dreams

I imagined

Beautiful things

Now you come
and snatch them from me.

What did I snatch?
You're dreaming now.

I was dreaming.

Is it my fault
if you dream?

No. It's mine. I was dreaming
that you were a man.

I was dreaming.
At least you learn to be a man.

It it wrong to have put her in a place
where she is looked after?

You mean to say it was
by pity and not cowardice?

That teaches me how to do good.

To do good when it is deliberate
and not when you do it unknowingly.

You evaded the responsibility...

Did I want to find her,
or did I find her by chance?

It happened to me.

If you let things happen to you,
you're lost.

One is lost, regardless.

When you don't have good luck,
it's useless.

Good luck or back luck
are always there.

The thing is what
to do with them.

and you ... What did you do?

Me? Poor simple me?
I made a mistake.

If I had taken things in hand,
if I had come,

you wouldn't treat me like this.

I understood at least little by little....

like that... Be surprised
To tell me that I dream!

You still do. You dream, my dear!

The baby came,
and the baby left.

the fewer, the better.
We're lighter now.

the life... with all its ups and downs

- What do you know about life?
- that's mean: the bad luck

... the traps
danger, sickness

Not knowing what's going to happen next.

doing good and being told
it was bad

Everybody telling you this and that,
but nobody giving you an answer.

Go on! Say more!
Having no hope

being resigned, keeping silent,
staying dead.

living without knowing how.

Nobody giving you an answer.

Have you ever answered anybody..
You must first answer yourself

Why all this nonsense?

These things and these words are not your models

Why me? There are lots of other people
in the world.

There are lots of other people
like you ... that's the trouble.

Thinking of it, why didn't you
keep her yourself?

I thought we would keep her together.

Why together?

Because she watched us
being together.

She watched us.

She did.

She won't now.

She still does.
you must see that.

If a heart is offended by a harmful glance,
it won't be healed soon.

You're dreaming again.

- Shouldn't I?
- Waking up is what you should do.

With the life... ???
"?? ??ϐ? ? ????

To be awake you must dream.

Dream then

- It's not enough either.
- Then do what you want.

I want you to take me to her.

What?

I want you to take me to her.

"I want you to take me to her!?!"

I'll pay you the fare.
- oh hell, one has to atone for ...

for the cowardice of others.

That's enough.

that's not enough.

Tomorrow when you're anger's gone...

we have to look into
each other's eyes, you know?

Tomorrow? You have a "tomorrow"
always in reserve?

That'll be all right. You'll forget.
Everything'll be all right.

Why should your tomorrow
be any different from your today?

the sun goes down and a day's over.
the sun is up and a day begins.

That's how you count your days?

How do you know this child
was not your tomorrow?

You are going to sunset today, Go to search tomorrow
Yours, mine ...

You know?
My tomorrow comes tomorrow.

It's gonna be OK

Tomorrow that came... it's gonna be OK

Poor Hashem! Tomorrow to him
is like the lottery day...

of those who have tickets.

For them it's once a week ...

they hold the chance

and some win sometimes.

While your day ... your lottery...
your tickets ...

Yes, I Know:
I told you, I have bad luck.

It's your tickets that are bad.

Every day is your drawing day.

But your tickets
are those of the past weeks.

When your anger is gone
you'll have to look into my eyes.

We can't look into each other's eyes
anymore.

Don't forget...
You've cheated me.

Isn't it cheating
when you sleep with others?

Come to think of it, it'll be cheating myself
if I go on sleeping wih you.

When you left me last night,

I felt bad.

I vomited.

And afterwards, when you gave me water,

I felt better.

And I forgot my troubles.

I felt clean.

and I told myself

there is your man,
and this will be your life.

I thought the child had come
to bring us together.

Like somebody
from the Heavens

a new destiny

But you, who had brought her to me
in the first place...

snatched her from me to throw her
into some obscure hole.

But she keeps looking at me.

Now I ...

I must go and find her now.

I'll come too.

I'll come with you.

Here we are.

I'll come with you.

I'm coming too.

Listen, Hashem

You've done your work

You've shown her to me and then,
either by mischief or stupidity

like a devil,
you've snatched her away from me

- You're really stubborn.
- and you really can talk.

Follow me.

I've had enough of following.

Listen Hashem. Let's get it over.
There's no use in patching it up.

Suddenly I've realized
that you're not the one I wanted.

Perhaps you've never been.

I've been wrong,

but I see clearly now.

Let's get it over.

Must we really be nasty
before we separate?

Why should we separate?

We have, already.

You don't stop talking.

I stop.

Well, what are you going
to say in there?

It's in there.

I'll wait here.

[Baby profile , not legible]

Afsane [baby's name]

.... Seven days

" ... he must serve them ..."

and he must consider
their problems as his own

and try to solve them.

It is our willingness
towards cooperation

and our ability to serve others

that should really form
the general law

and the essential criterion
of our behaviour in life.

Our interest in fellow citizens, and our sympathy

...to others
and our readiness

become a deputy and helping others

There is no rule more golden,
more precious

more laudable and more vital
than this

As the poet has said:

"when you see a blind man
at the rim of a pit,

to remain silent is a crime."

What truth is more sparkling
that this one:

Man must fulfill his obligations
towards his brothers.

It is solely by this rule
that an individual could help

the building
of a prosperous society

capable of providing and protecting
the welfare of all.

As the poet has said:

" thou who doth not share
in the pains of others

thou art not worthy
of being called a Man"

Taxi taxi

Taxi

?. ??????
E. Golestan

Engl. hardsubs transcribed and extended:
rastakhiz & serdar202@KG 2019
(draft, further input is welcome)