Original subtitles

THE TRAVELER

Based on a Story by HASSAN RAFIE

Screenplay by ABBAS KlAROSTAMI

Starring MASUD ZANDBEGLEH HASSAN DARABl

MOSTAFA TARl HASSAN ARAB

ATASHJAMEH, GOUDARZI , KHANJANI , BAYAT, JAFARI , KIANIAN

DANESSH GHIASVAND, DARABI , KHOSHDEL, and the Children of Malayer

Assistant Director HASSAN FARSHCHl

Assistant Cameramen all RAHNAMA, MORTEZA REZAKHANI

Sound by AHMAD ASKARI , ABUTALEB HABIBI ,

CHANGlZ SAYAD, and MOHAMMAD HAGHIGHI

Sound Editor AMI R-HOSSEI N HAMI

Music by KAMBIZ ROSHANRAVAN

Cinematography by FIRUZ MALEKZADEH

Directed by ABBAS KIAROSTAMI

Qassem.

Aren't you coming to school? - What time is it?

- It was a quarter tilI when I left. - You swear?

I swear. I just asked.

Well, we beat 'em.

Yeah, and now you take off!

Persepolis beat us.

Mister, how much is this magazine?

Fifteen rials.

WilI you take 13?

No, I can't take 13.

I'll get money from my father and pay you tomorrow.

Who's your father?

Mr. Lar, the carpenter.

". . .as if fleeing in terror from the thing that appeared,

and there was a despondent atmosphere all around."

May I, sir?

- Where the hell have you been? - I had a toothache.

Toothache my foot!

It's infected.

So you show up now? What about this morning?

- My mom took me to the doctor. - I hope it rots.

"Comprehending nothing, even the state he was in,

he felt as if this great and dark force of nature had engulfed him.

It was not just horror that gripped him.

It was something like melan. . .melan-"

Melancholy.

"To escape that strange sensation

that he feared but did not understand,

he began to count in a loud voice."

Akbar, the big game is in two days.

Lucky for the fans in Tehran.

It's no good unless you're there in person.

They printed Ghelichkhani's picture. I think he's gonna play.

I bet he'll score six goals again.

What does "environs" mean?

The surrounding area.

"Fear seized him again,

a naturaI fear he could not overcome.

At that moment,

Kuzat had just one thought: to escape with all his might

across the jungle and desert

to where there were houses, windows, and lit candles."

- What's that? - It's not mine, sir.

Get out of here. You want to fail this year too?

"He grasped the handle and started on his way.

This time he proceeded a bit further,

but he was forced to stop again.

After resting a few seconds, he started on his way once again."

- I'm back. - Go start your homework.

Right away he hurries off to soccer. God help us!

I said to do your homework.

Stop playing so much soccer.

You're wearing both of us out.

I'm tired of washing your clothes all the time.

You'll get a thrashing tonight

with your father's switch.

Aren't you tired of chasing that ball?

Why don't you go study? Why are you always failing?

At least learn a trade like carpentry,

or you'll be unemployed, and your life wilI be ruined.

What can we do with you? Why won't you work?

How much must I work just to feed you?

lf you won't study, then learn to weave rugs,

or you'll make a mess of your life.

I keep telling you to do your homework.

Stop all this soccer. You think of nothing else.

You've snuck out again, you little devil?

I'm his mother. I'm worried about him.

I telI him these things so he'll study and not faiI the entire year,

not just to annoy him.

Send him to learn a trade and make a new start.

What if he works the same way he studies?

Then his father has to punish him.

His father whips him at night as it is.

He takes his books and sneaks out.

He tells me he's studying,

then he fails at the end of the year.

Take it up with his principal.

How?

Send him a letter? - Yes, write to him.

I'll curse him for teaching the boy about soccer.

Persepolis is winning!

You really messed up. You call that soccer?

lf you're so good, show us.

- What was wrong with you? - What do you mean?

Did you even pass once?

So you can mess it up at the goalpost?

- Your mind was wandering. - You always fumble it.

I pass you the ball,

you mess up at the goalpost, and they score.

And you telI me to pass!

Your head was in the clouds.

Okay, I didn't play well,

but you had no right to fumble the passes.

- What were you thinking about? - Nothing.

- Nothing? - Tehran.

Tehran? Why?

- I want to go. - Why?

- To see the game. - You gonna telI your parents?

- Yeah. - What wilI you telI them?

- That I was at your house. - My house?

We have a test in Persian.

I'll study on the way.

- What about money? - Money?

Is this any way to raise children?

You have to think about your kid, ask him if he's studying.

I'm constantly washing clothes and hanging them to dry.

I'll leave and I won't come back untiI you take care of this.

I told you the same thing last year.

You just ignored me,

and he had to repeat the whole year.

You don't give it a single thought.

I keep telling you, and you keep ignoring it.

You just sit there,

cigarette in hand, blowing smoke.

I keep telling you,

but it's in one ear and out the other.

I need money for a mourning ceremony tomorrow.

O God, make our mothers and fathers. . .

and teachers. . .

proud of us.

O Creator. . .

lead us on the right path. . .

You're going to Tehran with five tomans?

Come in.

Sir, I'm Qassem Julayi's mother.

Well, well.

What brings you here?

He goes to bed every night without doing his homework.

When I ask, he says he's done it.

I'm here to find out

if he's doing his schoolwork and coming to school.

I can't read or write.

You come once a year to see if the little vagrant is coming to school?

He's made my life helI and turned the whole schooI upside down.

He's not a child - he's a monster.

What can I do?

I ask if he's done all his homework,

and he says yes.

He goes to bed early and gets up early.

He leaves for school before the other kids.

I ask him, "Where's your homework?"

He says he did it at school, or on the way,

or out in the yard, or on the roof.

How am I to know? I can't read.

I'm busy fixing their lunch and dinner.

They eat and leave, and I don't say a word.

Then the neighbor's child tells me Qassem's not coming to school.

So I've come to see you

to find out if he's doing his schoolwork.

You're in charge here. - That's right!

lf a chicken snuck out of your yard,

you'd follow it halfway across town.

In all these years, have you ever come to see what he's up to?

Have you even come to see what the schooI looks like?

Now you come and say, "You're in charge."

Just last night

he acquired a new habit I don't like one bit.

Last night I put five tomans under the rug.

This morning I served their breakfast

and gave him the five rials he'd asked for.

After he left, I tidied up,

and when I went to get the five tomans, they were gone.

No one else goes in that room.

What do I do about this new habit of his?

What do you expect from such an ill-bred boy

with parents like you?

What am I supposed to do with him?

Did you ever come see me before he stole that money?

You say it's his first time. What can I do?

You're his mother, and even you can't stop him.

And if I give him a beating,

no one may say a word now,

but tomorrow they'll all be on my back.

You're the authority here.

Ask him what he did with those five tomans.

We give you our permission.

You have the authority here.

Two things could happen here.

Either I wash my hands of this

and let you sort it out. . .

or you can -

Young man!

Go telI Qassem Julayi to come here.

Or you can leave it to me, and I'll set him straight.

I entrust him first to God and then to you.

I'll show him who's boss so he thinks twice in the future.

He just picked up this new habit.

I put the five tomans under the carpet last night.

No one else goes in our house.

Come in, young man.

Come closer.

Closer.

Your mother says you took

five tomans from under the carpet.

What did you do with it? - Why would I have it?

Watch how you speak to me, or you'll be sorry.

Last night I had dinner and went to bed,

and this morning I left for school. I never saw it.

- TelI the truth. - I don't have it.

Where did you go, and who with?

Who did you spend it with? - No one.

- Then where is it? - I don't have it. She's making it up.

I'll knock your teeth out and hand them back to you.

I swear I don't have it.

He's lying.

You're not going to telI me?

I swear I don't have it.

Put out your hand.

I swear I don't have it.

No one else goes in the house.

- Who did you give it to? - She's wrong.

Your mother says you took it.

I swear I don't have it.

TelI the truth, or I'll beat you to a pulp.

You have to telI the truth.

Stand here.

He just started this steallng.

She's making it up.

TelI the truth. Put out your hand.

I told you I don't have it.

. . .and the left atrium.

Blood circulation in human beings

takes part in two stages.

Blood circulates in two stages in the human body,

and we'll examine each stage in order.

In the first stage,

the left ventricle contracts, causing blood to flow.

When this ventricle contracts,

the blood inside this large blood vessel,

bent to the left like the handle of a cane,

starts moving inside this blood vesseI called the aorta,

and it splits into two branches a bit above the heart.

One branch delivers fresh blood to the upper body -

- May I, sir? - Take your seat.

- Which bus? - The 4:00.

- No 4:00. We have a 6:00. - Fine.

For one? Name?

- Ahmadi. - Ten tomans.

Mister. . .

Yes?

- How much is a ticket? - To where?

- Tehran. - Ten tomans.

What time?

You can board.

What time?

- What times do you have? - 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.

- I want to go at night. - Nothing at night.

The bus from Absdsn comes through here at night.

- There's one at 11:00 p.m. - all right.

- How many? - One.

- Name? - I'll come for it later.

The game's the day after tomorrow.

We have to find some money.

I'm not going to math.

- I wanna go too. - No, forget it.

Julayi, you read.

Where, sir?

Lesson two.

Saburi, continue.

Jafari, you translate.

Akbar, I only have five tomans to get to Tehran.

Let's figure out how much more I need.

Ten tomans for the bus each way,

another 10 to get around,

and five to get into the stadium.

That makes 25.

Five tomans for the taxi

and a bus to the stadium - how much is that?

That's 30 tomans.

What about food?

That's okay. I'll take some food from home.

I'll take lunch and dinner from home.

So 10 and 10 is 20,

plus two times five makes 30,

and I only have five.

I need another 25 to get to Tehran.

Come with me next period to find some money?

No, we have math.

Neither of us knows the lesson.

He'll just hit us.

Forget about math.

You're my friend. You have to come.

He might give a test.

No, he won't. Just come.

Fresh bread here!

Hello.

WilI you buy this fountain pen?

- No. - Why not?

I don't need one.

all those broken pens, and you won't buy mine?

I don't have broken pens, and I'm not buying any.

- It's practically new. - Makes no difference.

I'm not interested.

- Just buy this one. - I don't buy used pens.

It's not used.

I don't buy used pens. I have no need for them.

No one here uses a pen?

- You keep it. - What would I do with it?

You'll need it for school.

I probably won't be going to schooI anymore.

Makes no difference. I don't need it.

- For God's sake - - No. And don't be swearing.

I wouldn't buy it if you stayed here all day.

I don't need any pens.

- Buy this then. - No, not that either.

- At least buy this! - No, nothing.

Not from you.

- Then who do you buy from? - The wholesaler.

Why do you need a wholesaler? Just buy this.

What's the difference?

There's a big difference. We buy in bulk.

You selI to kids, but you won't buy from them?

- We're sellers, not buyers. - lf you sell, you should buy too.

I said I'm not buying.

Then at least buy this stamp collection.

No, nothing.

- But it's a stamp collection. - Not that either.

Look. It has everything.

Children's stamps and everything. - I don't need it.

- Just buy one of them. - No.

At least buy something.

Come on. There are lots of other stores.

You don't have to beg him.

Go selI to someone else.

- Let's go somewhere else. - Let's go.

That's right. Go on.

No, I can't use it.

I'm not interested. It's used.

No.

Whose camera is this?

My uncle's. I got it out of storage to sell.

Hello.

Hello, boys. What's that?

We want to selI this camera.

I don't need a camera.

Why not?

It's missing parts.

I'm not interested. - Why not?

Who's your father?

Mr. Lar, the carpenter.

- Whose camera is this? - Mine.

I can't use it.

Why not?

It's missing parts.

I’ve taken thousands of pictures with it.

- What are you asking? - You want to buy it?

- Who's your father again? - Mr. Lar, the carpenter.

Since you're a good boy. . .

and you're Mr. Lar's son, I'll give you three tomans.

Give it back.

I passed up a better offer yesterday.

Give me the cover. - Then selI it to them.

Young man. . .

I'll give you four.

- No. - Take it.

- Go on. - Forget it.

Go selI it to him. Stop playing with it.

I can't get to Tehran with four tomans.

We'll make more than that with it ourselves.

What wilI you do for pictures?

I'll say they didn't come out 'cause they moved too much.

Take this.

Stand still.

Look, he's taking pictures.

Stay back.

Smile.

That's five rials.

- When do I get the picture? - Tomorrow.

- Where? - Here, at the schooI gate.

Want a picture? How much do you have?

Let's have it.

Stand over there.

Further back.

Hands on your hips.

Both of 'em.

Got it.

Want your picture taken too?

Come on.

Where's your money?

Two rials? That's not enough.

Stand back there.

Smile.

Good. Hands on your hips.

Got it.

Stand over there. Hands on your hips, and smile.

Got it.

Bag in your other hand, and put your arm around his shoulder.

Good.

Smile.

Smile. Show us those beautifuI teeth.

Got it.

Give me s smile, sweetie. You're the cutest of them all.

Smile, both of you.

Let's see a smile. Here we go.

Take his picture too.

Okay, but it's five rials.

Fine.

Come on then.

What a cutie. My, you're a chubby one.

Let's have a little smile.

He's so chubby that his eyes droop.

Got it.

Don't take it.

Just 45 rials.

I expected it to be a lot more.

Don't feeI bad that you can't go on the trip.

Let's study for our vocabulary test.

Okay.

"Outlaw."

It means a "rebel."

"Discipline." - "Obedience."

"Ambition."

"The desire to make progress."

"Ambulance."

What is it?

"A vehicle used to carry the sick and wounded."

"Expedition."

Akbar, the soccer gear.

- What about it? - We'll selI it.

- To who? - Taqi's team.

No, our team pooled all our money to buy it.

And I carry it around everywhere like a mule!

You're the captain. You wanted it at your house.

'Cause everyone acts like they're the captain.

Let's go selI it before it's too late.

- Is this Mr. Taqi's shop? - Yes.

Hello.

Mr. Taqi, didn't you want to buy s ball and net?

Yeah, how come?

Buy mine. Our team split up.

I'll have to see what the captain and the others say.

We'd have to raise the money. Then I'll buy yours.

I already talked to your captain.

He said whatever you decide is fine.

You can pay me out of the safe now and get the money later.

No, not without my brother here.

Forget it then. Akbar, let's go sell it to Golmorad.

How much are you asking?

How much?

Look. The base is solid steel.

We paid 70 tomans.

But just for you, half price. What can you pay?

The net's full of holes.

Akbar, telI him. We just bought the net.

I'll give you 25 tomans.

- What do you think? - Yeah.

Okay.

- Name? - Qassem Julayi.

One ticket? Ten tomans.

Be at the station by 10:45.

- I gotta go! - You don't leave tilI 11:00!

- Where are you taking that? - I'm getting up early to study.

What do you want?

- You going to Tehran? - Yeah.

Don't fall asleep and miss your bus.

I won't. Now go. My mother's gonna wake up.

- You'll telI me about the game? - Yeah. Now go!

Qassem.

What?

- You're lucky. - My mother's gonna wake up.

Now go.

Qassem.

Wait!

Mister!

Wait for me!

- Where you going? - Tehran.

- Pay your fare. - I have a ticket.

all right. Then go sit down.

FIVE TOMANS

Back of the line.

- Three. - Take your change.

- How many? - One.

- How many? - Three.

Move up.

Why are you pushing? He has to move up first.

Three.

I’ve been in this line all morning.

- You're driving us all nuts. - all these people and it's my fault?

- Stop pushing. - You're the one pushing.

- One, please. - Five tomans.

That's it. No more tickets.

I stood in line all morning!

I stood in line all morning! all these people are stilI waiting!

We've waited five hours.

Mister, you got a ticket?

You have tickets? Where are they?

Not those.

For the game.

- How many? - One.

- Twenty tomans. - For a five-toman ticket?

They're 25 at the booth.

They're five at the booth.

all right, 20.

Make it 10. The game's starting.

You've wasted an hour of my time.

Here's 10.

Twenty or nothing.

Gimme the ticket, you crook.

Mister, you got a ticket for me?

- How many? - One.

- Twenty tomans. - Why so much?

- What do you want it for? - To see the game.

For 20 you can see it.

You're selling them to everyone else for -

- Mister - - How many?

- One. - Twenty tomans.

Hurry up.

Let go. I'll take these two tens.

Now beat it.

Is Ghelichkhani playing today?

In Malayer they showed him playing on TV.

He kicked the ball all the way to the other end.

Ice cream here.

Mister.

- Have some. - Thanks, kid. You eat it.

Yeah, we'll see how today's game goes.

Let's wait tilI it's over. - We'll sigh in relief.

It'll start soon, if they're on time.

We'll see how they play today.

What do you do?

I'm a weaver. It's not a bad living.

- You work by the hour? - Yes. I work independently,

so I have time to come to these games.

The boss can't telI us not to go, or to go later,

or ask us why we're going, because we're independent.

Not like in my work. I've been unemployed for a while.

- What do you do? - I'm an ironsmith.

Who'd want to be by a hot fire in this heat anyway.

Mister, help yourself.

Thanks, kid. You eat it. Haven't you had lunch yet?

No.

Why didn't you eat earlier?

Is it that late? How long untiI the game?

About three hours.

Another three hours of sitting here?

Well, you have to get your seat and settle in first.

- You a Persepolis fan? - Yes.

You came here just for the game?

Where are you from? - Malayer.

- You been to Tehran before? - No.

Just once, to Sarasiyab, when my sister had her baby.

That's all you know of Tehran? Nothing else?

Oh, and this stadium too.

- Just those two places? - Yeah.

What do people go to see here anyway?

What can I telI you?

There are museums.

There's Shahyad Square, the zoo - Have you been to the zoo?

Just once, to the one in Mashad,

the year before last.

How far is it to the zoo?

How far?

You can't go alone. Don't you have any friends here?

No. You think Tehran kids would be my friends?

Sure they'd be your friends.

A couple of years ago a kid came to Malayer.

I knocked on his door to ask if he'd play, and he said no.

I told the little snob to suit himself.

They don't want to be friends.

Mister. . .

wilI you save my place while I look around?

Sure thing, son.

- Save it for me, okay? - Sure.

- Mister, what's this place for? - Boxing.

You know what boxing is?

Sure, I'm a boxer myself.

In Malayer we hit the pillow so hard it passes out.

With those muscles?

What about you, with your big muscles?

You just make a racket with that machine!

How deep is it?

How deep?

Kanoon - Institute for the IntellectuaI Development

of Children and Young Adults - 1974