Original subtitles

Ameneh!

Ameneh!

I'm coming Ma'am!

- I'll only answer calls from Ali. - Sure. Should I make some tea?

Do it!

Tranquility in the Presence of Others

Based on a Story by Gholamhossein Saedi

Starring: Akbar Meshkin, Soraya Ghasemi

Leila Baharan, Ali Naraghi

Parto Nooriala, Mohamadali Sepanloo

Mehri Mehrnia, Manoochehr Atashi

Roya, Misha, and Masoud Asadollahi

Screenwriter and Director: Naser Taghvai

Mahlagha!

I was starting to freeze.

Because of darkness or loneliness?

I don't know. I was just getting cold.

- Throw it over the chair. - Where is it?

- Same as every day. - Every day or every night?

Are you playing me again?

This is what happens when you're with the same woman all the time.

All your jokes become boring. All your games are old.

Why do men always have to play games? Can't you be straight?

Why get in through the window when you have the door keys?

Without games,

even lovemaking will become routine.

It'll be too respectful, like spouses.

Soon we'll do everything but sex.

Are you saying spouses don't make love to each other?

No. They hate having to respect each other.

Good lovemaking is fun.

It's free spirited, like your first time.

- Watch out. Don't my break my glasses. - I won't.

- What's wrong with you today? - You mean tonight?

Ok, what's wrong with you tonight?

I don't know.

Hey, you're breaking my arm.

I've felt upset since the morning.

Why?

I don't know.

I'm worried for no reason.

I feel anxious.

There's nothing to worry about.

The doorbell is ringing.

- Who could that be? - Doesn't matter. Ignore it.

- Are the kids home? - Who are you looking for?

- Answer me! Are the kids home? - You might be at the wrong house.

- We're here for Mahlagha and Maliheh. - Can I ask your name please?

- Stop this bullshit. I'm their father. - Wait a minute.

- Ma'am. A couple's here to see you. - I told you to say I'm not home.

- Hurry! He says he's your father. - What? My dad?

- Yeah, he said he's your dad. - What's up?

- My dad's here. - What? What's going on?

- Please hurry up, ma'am. - Maybe you heard it wrong?

He said it himself.

Take them downstairs. I'll be there in a minute.

- Right. - Tell them Mahlagha's studying.

It's terrible. He'll find out about us.

Hurry up! We gotta put our clothes on.

- Why is he here? - I don't know; probably to see us?

Or show us to his wife.

He never used to go anywhere without notice.

Come on. Hurry up.

Are you mocking us? What the hell is this? Look at these trees!

Is anyone taking care of the garden? Who are you anyway?

I'm the maid here. I work for your daughters.

Some maid! What are you getting paid for?

Why are you so worried? Tell him I'm your English tutor.

Where are the kids?

What happened to dad? Why does he look like this?

- Did you say your dad's a colonel? - Yeah. A retired one.

What difference does it make?

- Where is Mahlagha? - She's studying. She's up in her room.

I should go to them.

- What should I do here? - Don't act suspicious. Come quickly.

- I'll tell Ms. Maliheh to come now. - Hurry up.

- Daddy! Daddy! - Oh, my sweet little girl.

Look how beautiful she is!

Didn't I tell you she's such a darling?

Dad, this is Mr. Naraghi. He teaches me English 3 times a week.

English? Not bad.

Welcome home colonel!

I didn't know dad had such good taste!

- She's complimenting dad, not you! - Oh, that's okay.

- You're so shy, Manijeh. - I'm sorry. I don't know why.

- You barely even talk. - I don't know why. I'm just like this.

Don't bother her.

I'm not bothering her. I want her to be comfortable with us.

What are you girls doing to her?

Nothing. We're just getting to know her.

Is anything wrong?

No, I'm fine. Why?

What are you doing alone over there? Come sit with us!

What am I doing? I have nothing to do.

You seem so distracted.

Distracted? No. Actually, all my attention is on you.

You're lying.

No. What else can a father think about? Thinking about it...

I actually haven't been a bad father for you.

Or maybe I have been.

And now for a few hours, I've been like a leech on your lives.

I never thought after trying so hard, life would still be so tough for you.

Working hard all the time... nursing... cleaning after patients.

What are you even talking about dad?

I know what I'm talking about. I'm not old and dumb yet.

Even at this age,

I can't live without at least a bit of fun.

And to think that you two, so young and beautiful, live without any fun...

- [Laughing sheepishly] - We've gotten used to it.

Plan for your future before it's too late.

You can't explain everything to a dad.

I have nothing to show for my life. No legacy.

Now he's getting nostalgic!

I was hoping I'd come here to see your lives all shaped up.

It'd be nice if little kids were playing around with us.

Wouldn't it be nice?

Wouldn't it be better than your filthy lives?

Wouldn't it be better than nursing after patients?

I don't like a house without kids.

The best time of life

was your childhood.

I was always happy and smiling then.

You're young and beautiful. Don't waste your lives.

If you like kids so much dad,

why don't you and Manijeh start working on it?

Your wife is young and pretty too.

What do you say I do?

You don't know where babies come from?

Say, aren't you pregnant already?

These things are beyond me. I'm at the end of my life.

I've done what I had to do in my time. Where do you think you came from?

Now is my time to be old and weak;

time for frailty...

and estranged thoughts.

Manijeh, is he so old that he can't even... [laughter]

Maliheh! Don't say that. It's embarrassing.

There's no shame in it. Women are experts in these matters!

Tell us the truth, Manijeh.

I don't know. Ask himself.

Why is this city so dark?

- Dad's getting sleepy I think. - The night is still young!

Look, he's getting really sleepy.

- Hi. Where were you yesterday? - I was sick. I had the flu.

- Feeling better now? - Ehh... slightly.

Get well soon. May God bless you.

- Ma'am, why are you up so early? - I couldn't sleep well.

I'll bring your breakfast right away.

I don't feel like eating, but if there's tea, I'll have a cup.

Of course! I'll bring it right along.

You woke up so early ma'am, after such a long ride...

I've been up since the middle of the night.

Why is that?

If I knew you take your tea sweet, I'd have brought sugar.

- Are you uncomfortable in the house? - No. I don't know why I couldn't sleep.

Um... Ma'am, Don't sit here too long. The sun is gonna bother you in a bit.

I'll be fine.

- Why is your husband sleeping that way? - He's always like that.

- He's breathing strangely. - He's fine.

- His legs look weird. May God forbid... - I told you he's fine.

Sorry.

- What time is it? - It's early.

Not even 7. Do you want to go back to bed?

- Go back to sleep? - I thought you'd wanna sleep some more.

I've spent my worst hours asleep. I've never slept comfortably.

It's hell, full of strange nightmares.

They come and sit before me in darkness.

They just sit and stare at me in darkness.

Do you two always get up so early in the morning?

Hey dad! How are you?

Ameneh's made breakfast in the garden.

- Do you wanna eat? - Let's go to the

I'm not hungry!

I'm sitting there with Mahlagha. Come over when you're hungry.

Do you think I made a mistake? Destroying our life back there,

selling the chicken farm and coming all the way to the city?

A retired man needs a hobby like that.

It wouldn't leave me time to think about life.

The past is the past; no use in overthinking it.

What's the use, you ask?

You mean you don't regret it? You don't wanna go back?

You always said we shouldn't look back at the past.

You said that was your principle in life.

Maybe it's good to sometimes break the rules.

Don't start over again.

I'm gonna go for breakfast. Are you coming?

- Go ahead. I'm not hungry yet. - Okay. I'll go to the girls.

Small villages have their own problems, big cities have their own.

There, you won't even dare talk to a man or go out with him.

You think we can live like that?

Even in a comfortable city like this, people still talk behind you back.

At worst, landlords kick you out for any reason.

- We're lucky our dad owns the house. - Yeah.

- Oh, hi Manijeh! - Hi.

- Where's dad? - He's not hungry. He'll show up later.

Is he feeling better?

Don't you have to go to the hospital today?

We're off. On our off days, Maliheh's patients come to her.

Who's coming to see you Maliheh?

Wait till you see her with makeup on.

You'll know who's coming to visit her.

- Her fiancé? - You could say that.

Cause dad won't act nice.

Until they're officially engaged, we have to behave.

We should find a way to send dad out for a while.

I doubt he'll even leave his room.

How about we throw a party and introduce the guys to Dad and Manijeh?

It'll save us a lot of trouble.

Good idea, but what about today?

- Where does he work? - He's a doctor at our hospital.

- Does he show up here often? - Is that a problem?

No, I don't think so.

- You've seen Mahlagha's friend, right? - The English tutor?

Yeah. That's what her taste is like.

- What do you think about him? - Not too bad.

I hope you don't think we're bad girls. You'll get to know us soon.

Why don't you take a husband?

Getting married? What's the difference?

Do you want us to go upstairs and see how Maliheh is preparing herself?

Let's go see her makeup. Leave it at the table.

Come on. We'll be back soon.

Where did you meet your English tutor?

He's not a tutor. You've never had to tell these kinds of lies?

No, not really.

You naughty girl! I met him through one of the patients. They're relatives.

He just kept visiting and sending letters.

And then he started calling.

- Not that you minded! - He is an engineer.

- Where did you meet our dad? - Good question.

I've never met him.

My school principal introduced us. I married him without much thought.

- Married without thought? - Pretty much.

What kind of marriage is that? You know it's not shopping for clothes.

He's here. Go to your own rooms.

Wanna see him? Let's go see how he looks.

Come on!

- Mahlagha, if you embarrass me... - What are you gonna do about it?

I'll make you pay for it!

Come on now.

Doctor, be careful. Maliheh's dad is here.

Oh, hi.

- You gotta be quiet. - Okay.

Did you see him? That's Maliheh's type of man.

Do you read magazines?

I don't like them.

- Are you feeling homesick? - No, It's not that.

The weather is kind of strange.

- Are they listening to music? - No, it's from outside.

Maliheh doesn't like music when she has visitors.

She can't get up and close it when the vinyl ends and starts buzzing.

- Do you always listen to foreign music? - Yeah, you like it?

No, I don't.

- You don't really like anything. - I don't know why.

What's wrong with you today?

I don't know. Sometimes I'm like this for no reason.

No reason?

There's always a reason. You look pale. You haven't taken care of yourself.

With a beautiful face like yours, you should always have makeup on.

I used to be like you. Always bored and frowning.

I've changed quite a lot now.

I'm always happy and cheerful.

I'll take you to the hair salon today. You gotta take care of yourself.

Everyone has to survive somehow, otherwise life will eat you alive.

You have to be lively while you're young before it's too late.

You won't even recognize yourself if you look in the mirror.

Tonight's party is a good chance.

Show yourself off.

You can't be shy and quiet in the big city.

Colonel left the house.

Your tea's getting cold.

Hello Sir!

Mahlagha!

Manijeh!

Where are the girls?

They went to the hair salon for tonight's party.

Why aren't they back already? What party?

I don't know. They just said there's going to be a party tonight.

Where did they go?

All they said was they're going to the hair salon.

Are you telling me you don't know?

I really don't know. I don't care about anyone's business.

I'm just here to clean and cook.

- I don't believe you for a second. - Why would I lie to you?

- What are you doing to the poor thing? - Giving it water.

Who says you have to give water to a hen?

God ordered me. You have to give it water before you kill it.

Aren't you ashamed you're lying to me?

You're saying I'm an idiot, eh?

What is it you want, master? You're so moody today.

Please, someone help me!

- He's raging with anger, today. - What do you mean?

- He was going to kill me! - Don't be upset, now.

- How can I not be upset? - Why would my father bother you anyway?

What's wrong? Why are you acting up again?

I should have never sold the chicken farm.

You have to stop overthinking.

Once upon a time I'd step in the square and all the military drums would go off.

All the soldiers would freeze

because The Colonel had come in.

They'd freeze until I would let them go!

Now look at me. Even the maid won't listen to me.

The girls have a party tonight. They want their friends to meet you.

If you don't want them to find out, you better stop thinking about the past.

Why did you leave this poor creature by the yard's pond?

Master was trying to kill me!

I'll go downstairs and tell them you're feeling just fine.

- I gotta tell you something. - What?

Something bad might happen tonight.

Like what?

- I don't know but don't tell anyone. - How do you know?

Come over, I'll show you.

Over there.

- What are you talking about? - Hang on a minute.

- I don't see anything. - Nothing?

But there is something over there.

You really gotta stop drinking.

What are these birds?

Where did you find these frames. They freak me out.

One time, a bearded artist, Mahlagha's friend, came and left them here.

- You like it? - Of course.

I know many more moves!

Miss Manijeh, can I have the honor of a dance?

I'm sorry. I don't know how to dance.

That's just an excuse, isn't it?

No. I really don't know how to dance.

Where did you learn to do this stuff?

Atashi's really into Manijeh, isn't he?

Okay. It's my turn now.

Aren't you tired of her yet?

Atashi, what's up? Why are you sitting here all alone?

What should I do?

Are you upset at Manijeh?

Don't be upset at her.

She's just a teacher from a village. She's never seen a party like this.

She'll change eventually.

To my pretty girl!

Pretty? Thank you.

You've never heard that? They say that in clubs.

Which clubs?

Lieutenants' clubs.

So you're talking about 15-20 years ago.

No, more like 20-30.

Back when the likes of me were well-regarded.

Women had just been un-veiled.

The youth weren't promiscuous like now.

Got it?

My dad is always jealous and cynical.

He must have been bastard!

You've had enough.

- You've gone way too far. - Stop nagging.

Mental hospital is an interesting place

You're always dealing with crazies who think you're crazy.

That's hilarious.

You should come and see.

Like, one of them would randomly come up to you and say "can you hear it?"

There's no sound, but if you tell him that, he'll start laughing at you.

"Can you hear it?", that's really funny.

But, don't you hear it?

Do you really not hear anything?

Do you hear something?

Come here.

- Right here. - What is it?

Right in the garden.

Did you see Mahlagha?

She might be in one of the rooms.

I wanted you in a quiet corner.

Not enjoying the crowd?

You seemed to have such a good time before, you sly man!

You talking about that fat-ass?

To hell with her. It's no place for such behaviour.

Lucky for us, we've always found a quiet corner.

Hey! Don't mess my hair.

Not anymore.

With your dad here, you have to come home right after work.

We shouldn't let him find out about us.

- What is wrong with your dad anyway? - Nothing. Why?

Nothing. I was just asking. I really like him.

What about me? You don't like me?

- It must be here. - Who?

Don't be afraid. He won't see us.

- He's here. He's gonna be right here. - Who are you looking for.

See, I told you.

That's him.

Please, colonel. Be calm.

Dad. What's going on?

It's the colonel.

Stop it. Quiet everybody. Please everyone. Go back upstairs.

Are you feeling better dad?

I wish I was feeling better than this.

If you don't drink for a while, you'll feel a lot better.

It totally depends on your will to quit drinking.

Please rest for the night. We'll take you to the hospital tomorrow morning.

Shut the fuck up.

Dad! Doctor is just trying to help you.

Shut the hell up.

Everyone just fuck off. I wanna be alone.

Take good care of him, Manijeh.

- Let's go sit with the guests. - I'm not feeling well.

- Do you wanna get some fresh air? - The guests will be offended.

Mahlagha will stay with them.

- Mahlagha! Mahlagha! - What is it?

Come over!

Stay with them. I'll take Maliheh out for fresh air.

- Half of them are already upset us. - Take care of them. We'll be back soon.

Okay, go already.

Maliheh, Go to the backyard. I'll be right with you.

I'm feeling a bit dizzy. Massage me!

You're a good drinker. We gotta hang out more often.

- I wanna jump in the swimming pool. - I have a pool at my house too.

- Hey, that's the doctor. - Where are you going?

Hey Doctor, where you heading without telling me?

- Maliheh's not well. We're going out. - I have a headache too doctor.

You better go back to your drinking.

Maliheh, let's go.

- Am I bothering you guys? - No.

Let's go then cuties.

Now we've gotta deal with the third wheel.

I'm gonna sit in the front. I'm used to riding shotgun.

Thanks Doctor.

We have to take your dad to the hospital tomorrow.

Hospital or mental asylum?

- I don't even know where I'm going. - Let's go somewhere fun.

- Do you know any cafés around here? - Let's go somewhere less crowded.

- Where? - Where everybody else goes.

Maliheh, where do you wanna go?

- Maliheh! - Huh?

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

Why are you so quiet, then?

- Am I bothering you guys? - Shut up.

- Then what's wrong with Maliheh? - I don't know. I'm just bored.

Maybe she's just thinking about her papa.

Is she right?

- What was wrong with her dad anyway? - What can I say? Alcohol.

Some of them are so quiet you won't even believe they're crazy.

There's thousands like them on the streets.

Mental illness shows itself in different ways,

but they wait till it's really severe before they bring them to the hospital.

Then it's pill after pill. Some even choose their pills before they show up.

Some people are fortunate enough to seek help from the bottle,

but not everyone can get drunk and feel fine.

In our hospital there was someone who couldn't eat anything.

- No food and no water? - No food and no water.

He was always on his bed, staring into the darkness.

His relatives said he'd killed someone,

but with that slender body and wrinkled face,

I couldn't even believe he'd kill a bird.

How many people had he killed?

No idea. I wasn't his investigator. My job is different.

His relatives told that story.

Maybe it was a tribal thing.

He was always afraid of something.

He'd stared into darkness for so long his eyes were bulging out of his face.

- What did he see in the darkness? - I have no idea.

He used to leave the light on all the time until one night,

there was a blackout at the hospital.

He told a nurse she had to sit with him the whole night.

He'd told her that in the dark

people show up and sit all around his room.

Maybe they were his victims.

Maybe. I wasn't his doctor, but when we met,

he always gave me a strange look,

as if he was intimidated by my eyes.

Well, you have beautiful eyes doctor. They could be intimidating.

I wasn't trying to say they are beautiful.

I was talking about a patient who eventually lost his life in the dark.

Did he die painlessly?

I believe so. He just froze in his bed in the middle of the night.

- Where did he go? - He's going crazy.

Want me to startle him?

- I'm coming. - Stop worrying, cutie. He's coming.

- Where are we going now? - People-watching.

Go on already!

Hey! Why so loud in the middle of the damn night?

You can't even be free in the desert.

Let's leave here.

- You're the one who wanted fresh air. - But not here!

One of us has to leave. Am I right?

Let's just leave here.

I'm begging you let's just get out.

I'm sorry. I'm just looking for my wife.

- Good night! - Good night.

- We had lots of fun. - Don't forget what I told you.

- How talkative! - It was driving me nuts.

So refreshing!

- Atashi's still here. - I wish he'd left earlier.

- Let's go see what they're up to. - That's not nice.

Oh, come on it's alright. Piggyback! Piggyback!

- If they find out we're screwed. - They won't find out. I wanna see.

Guess what Atashi is thinking about?

I can't even see him! How should I know?

- He thinks she's sleeping. - Maybe she's really sleeping.

She's not. Her fingers are moving. What's Atashi waiting for?

Maybe he's shy.

She's opening her eyes. He can't see though.

He's drinking. She took her glasses off.

Atashi's looking at her. She looked away.

He's leaving the room.

Atashi left the room the minute Manijeh took her glass off.

Let them be. Why do you care?

No. Oh, come on. Let me watch some more.

- Let's leave. - It's okay. It's just Ameneh.

Why don't let me watch them some more? It was such fun.

Spoilsport!

It'd been a while since I'd partied all night.

- Are you getting sleepy? - Sleepy?

I've wasted half my life in sleep. Wouldn't it be a shame to sleep now?

- How come? - This is the best night of my life.

You're being weird. You've had too much to drink.

No. I never drink too much.

- Tell me why? - What do you mean why?

She's just married, hoping for a future and her husband is a frail old colonel.

My dad's not a bad man but he's old.

His daughters are her age.

When my mom passed 3 years ago, he went to a village to start a chicken farm.

He started drinking then. He married her because he's scared of being alone.

But what's Manijeh's fault? She deserves better.

- Should have become a Sufi. - Manijeh?

No, your dad. He should be an ascetic!

Why an ascetic?

I don't know. Some people turn to Sufism when they retire.

They read Hafez. They adore Rumi. They live like ascetics.

You seem cold. Can I put my coat on your shoulders?

No. I don't like touching other people's clothes.

- You'll catch a cold. - This room isn't even cold.

I'm shivering because I'm disgusted by people.

I understand. I understand.

- It's like the chilliness of fear. - What's that?

- I don't know. I just made it up. - I'm sure you meant something by it.

When you are quiet and silent and I'm the only one who talks,

I have to make things up.

- Can't you stay quiet too? - Not always. Not with you here.

- I want to talk before I can't anymore. - Why would that happen?

- You know why. Women all know why. - Me? How should I know?

You think I'm pretending to be romantic, but I'm not.

Please. I'm not used to hearing things like these.

- What are you laughing at? - Your wig.

How's that funny?

Who was that? I heard someone crying!

Don't be scared!

I can hear someone crying outside.

No. I don't hear anyone crying. It's laughter.

- He's clearly really anxious. - We'll take him to the hospital.

- Will he get well? - It'll be a lot better than being home.

I can hear footsteps in the backyard.

Atashi's leaving.

- You have a fever? - How so?

You're so warm.

Look, she's not even dressed yet. Aren't you coming to the hospital?

No, not today.

- Why not? - I'm tired.

- Did anything happen last night? - No.

- Did you guys have a fight? - No.

- At least go see dad for a bit. - I'm not feeling well.

The guys are coming to take him to the hospital.

Why don't you go see him?

I did. He won't talk.

He's acting weird. Go see them for a bit. It'll make Manijeh happy.

Leave me alone.

It's getting late. Sure you're not coming?

To hell with this.

Tell them I'm sick.

Hi. Come in. We've been waiting since the morning.

Maliheh? Maliheh, why don't you answer me?

Okay, give that to me.

This is the best room in the hospital.

It's as comfortable as your own home.

Sit here.

We'll bring you a vase. Beautiful flowers!

Bring him flowers everyday.

Nurse will take care of his clothes.

She will be here any second now.

Hello.

Oh, there she is. Colonel, this is your private nurse!

Are the clothes clean?

Yes, doctor.

Get the hell away from me! Fuck off!

- Be calm. - Don't you touch me! Leave me alone!

Can you leave the room please?

I'll take care of him. He'll be more comfortable.

Come see me in my room after for the prescriptions.

Did they bother you?

I'll change you on my own.

You'll be more comfortable in these.

I'll come visit you everyday.

I'll bring you anything you want.

Won't you talk to me?

I am not to be blamed for any of this.

You know I didn't tell anyone. You misbehaved in front of them!

I'll be here every evening.

Cheers.

Atashi, what's wrong with you?

- Nothing. - Easy with the drink.

Easy, you say?

At least eat something with it.

I'm not hungry.

What did you mean by what you said earlier?

What did I say?

- You told him: "Easy with the drink" - Ah, right.

He knows better what I'm talking about.

No, I don't know what you're saying.

What's eating you? Are you cross with me, or him?

- The problem is not either of you. - He's cross with himself.

- He's become so moody. - That's not true.

- I hate myself. I hate this world. - Why? What's the problem?

Come on, do tell.

I can't. You wouldn't understand.

Back in the day, I had hopes for my future...

- He's going at it again. - ...youth would keep me motivated.

There was passion and love and fun.

Not dead and ice cold like now.

What are we doing these days?

Living?! Laziness has crept over us.

We have too much in our lives.

There's nothing to get excited about and you ask what my problem is?

The whole world is my problem.

You're giving a speech again.

This day and age has no place for your kind of thinking.

You disgust me.

Any time I sit with one of you, I get depressed.

You should get disgusted. The good-young-promising-doctor!

The future of this country! the saviour of humanity!

They've paved the way for you.

You have everything you need! You must build the country's future!

You're bullshitting again. It's hopeless.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. You know our differences very well.

You've stuck your PhD on your forehead so everyone can see:

"Doctor of ear, nose, throat, STDs, this and that".

All you think about is wealth and prestige.

You have no decency.

Sure you have no hope for me. I'm at the edge. It's all over for me.

Fuck off! What are you talking about?

You have a penny?

Here you go.

- What's that one? - My pill.

- What's it for? - Just go make your call.

Garcon!

Thank you, sir!

Now that you're tipsy, tell me the truth.

Who are you upset at?

The world! Look what crap it's made of a young man like that!

The kind of asshole who would do anything to get by.

And then a moron like me gets upset at a moron like him

and wants to bang his own head on the wall.

Is that how much a woman can affect you?

You think I'm that desperate?

The real reasons behind all this is that Manijeh won't put out for you.

Bullshit!

You know I'm right. I want you to know that a woman is not that important.

Watch! These are all women's phone numbers.

Nurses, widows, teenagers, "patients" at the hospital for you know what.

I'll introduce you to anyone you like,

and I'll teach you how to treat women.

Zohreh, Mahin, Fakhri, Susan, Simin, Jaleh, Flor,

Batool, Effat, Nahid, Parvin, Mitra.

Who else?

- Manijeh? - Shut the fuck up!

Wait! Atashi! What's the matter?

What did you do to him? It ain't nice.

Leave him be. He's a prick.

The phone broke my change. Got another penny?

You shouldn't have done that. You made him upset.

Sometimes an emotional outburst is cathartic.

That's not our problem. I don't give a fuck if he's crazy.

He acts as if we owe him something.

I don't owe anything to anyone.

I don't care if he's gone crazy. To hell with him.

- I don't have another penny. - I gotta call Mahlagha.

- Give me that pill. - What for?

How much do we owe you?

Hello?

Please, go ahead.

Who? Mahlagha has slept.

Ok, hang on a second.

Ma'am?

- What is it, Ameneh? - It's the phone.

- In the middle of the night? - Mr. Naraghi.

Hello? It's the middle of the damn night.

What?

- Where are you at this time of night? - At a cafe. I'm with the guys.

- And you wanna come over here? - Is that okay?

I have to work early tomorrow. You only wanna see me when you're drunk.

I'm not even drunk. What's your problem?

I don't know. I've been anxious since the morning.

- Why? - I don't know.

It's your dad. Don't worry. They're doing tests on him tomorrow.

It's not him. I'm worried for myself.

What are you talking about?

Ali, I don't want us to become like Maliheh and her boyfriend.

What's wrong with them? Has something happened?

I don't know yet.

She didn't come to the hospital today. I think they had a fight.

Ameneh says she hasn't left the room the whole day.

I'm sure they'll make up soon. Why do you worry about it?

Be honest with me, are you tired of seeing me?

- Who's feeding you these thoughts? - Look here, Ali,

Who told you such nonsense?

I don't understand why you have changed so much.

Getting bored of you? You're imagining things.

But you only want me when you're drunk.

I told you I'm not drunk a hundred times!

The kid's moving in my belly!

What? Are you serious? I'm coming over! We'll go on honeymoon!

- Honeymoon!? When? - Whenever you say.

Maliheh! Ameneh!

Ameneh!

You're finally getting married!

Maliheh! Maliheh!

- Four and five. Didn't need that one. - You'll see the next around.

Six and one.

Or double sixes.

Two and two. There's one, and there's three.

- Do you need anything? - I'm here to see the colonel.

- Which colonel? - She's talking about me.

- The patient in Room 11. - You're screwed if I get a double.

- He wasn't in his room. - Ask the ward supervisor, ma'am.

Damn, you got lucky.

- Where's the supervisor? - How would I know?

- In that room that way. - Roll the dice, already!

- If you get a four you're gone. - If I get a one, I win.

- Pardon, where can I find the colonel? - Which one?

- The patient in Room 11. - He's in Room 13 now.

Thank you.

That's better.

- Do you have pain? - No.

Feeling better?

Do you want something to eat?

What do you want?

Water.

The End.

03.16.2021