All language subtitles for khesht_va_ayeneh 1965.RAI3.KG.ENG.10

Brick and Mirror

a film by
Ebrahim Golestan

Made at Golestan Film Studio
April - July 1964

Cast in order of appearance

Zakkaria Hashemi

Mehri Mehrnia
Taji Ahmadi

Ghafar Hosseinpour
Jalal Moghadam

Masoud Faghieh
Parviz Fanizadeh

Manuchehr Farid
Mohamad Ali Keshavarz

Jamshid Mashayekhi
Goli Bozorgmehr

Pari Saberi
Akbar Meshkin

Tar player:
Jalal Rameshi

camera:
Soleiman Minassian

sound: Mahmoud 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.

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 sign of life.

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.

Stop this nonsense!

Turmeric Tala Gold - Gram flour Tala Gold
[Commercial]

Ginger Tala Gold
Cinnamon Tala Gold

Powder of Dried Lime Gold

Salt Gold easily comes out of the salt shaker

Ashna soap, an excellent and valuable
product of Modern Industries

Unrivaled in the Middle East

Anyone who has used Ashna soap ...

Taxi!

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

Fruits for sale

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 came in here.

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

Nobody came.

And nobody will come.

But this child!

May God keep it for you.

But the child's not mine!
Understand?

Where is she?

Where is who? Nobody ever comes here.

This is an abandoned place.

A woman in a black chador ...
understand?

She got out of my taxi ...
understand?

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

Brother, what do you want?

Are you deaf?

Brother, 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 others,
two other poor wretches.

Come and see.

Here's one of them.

He's disabled, he's a cripple.

He only 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 walls.

Oh my God, from nothing they built 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,

nor fruits...

# 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. Hashem. Whose child is this?

Where is Abbas?
He's 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 ancestors were asses for seven generations!

Let go of me!

So I'm late? So what!

Kiss each other.

Let go of me!

That's enough. Sit down.

Don't act childish!

Sit down.

It's not nice to fight, dear.

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

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.

What do you want?
Lamb with rice? [cheloh mahiche]

A slut left this child in my taxi.

yes, I say: yes

- You should have tried to find her.
- Sure.

How did she leave 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 maarket on 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.

"tomorrow super lottery tickets"

- Completely gone.
- No! Partly gone!

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

On the other side, a tomb.

Further on, an abandoned 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 me a goose had died!
- you say mad?!

This is very interesting.

Poor woman! Poor woman!

I'm thinking how she must feel.

It's her child,

the child is her relation.

The child is a Beloved.

See what poverty does to you!

She took a taxi.

See what an empty stomach
does to you.

Hunger that forces a woman 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.

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

In this 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 inform the Police.

Yes dear,

go to the Police. File a complaint.

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 realize 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? - Hashem agha.

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! Arrest him, the rat,
the murderer!" - God is Almighty.

But why would she?

My dear, think a little.

She called a taxi ...

So what?

She left her baby ...
it's obvious ...

This is a trap, my friend. Your name?
- Hashem agha.

You can 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 in vain!

He snatched my bag ...

my necklace ...

my earrings

my bracelet

my money

my virtue

He ruined my honour! He 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 monster,

mercilessly,

he stole my baby.
my baby! my dear!

So, are you satisfied? Go to them.

Go to the police, right now.

God is Almighty.

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

Eat your pistachios.

God is Almighty.

Forget about it.

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's possible.

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

What will happen then,
my dear?

You get 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?
- What else can I do?

Listen, my dear sir...

But you're scared, my dear, really.

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

This doesn't make any sense.

There are no tombs
in the middle of a city.

Mad people don't walk around.

So what I say is nonsense?

- As to the steps ...
- What steps?

- Steps?
- The steps 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 have a 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,
that story of his,

sounds a bit fishy.

For me too,
it's fishy.

Yes, it's nonsense.

It makes no sense.

None at all.

Why not?

Steps next to the street,

what does that have to do with this child?

Abbas Abad is on a hill.
Yousef Abad is on a hill.

People need steps to go up and down.

Without steps,
how 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.

Or maybe it wasn't like this.

Maybe she wanted to get rid of the child.

How would she do it?

Abandon it on her way downtown?

She'd rather chose a quarter in the outskirts

But you don't realize!
You don't follow me.

He does not want to tell the truth
- Not at all. - I agree.

What are you talking about?

He doesn't want us to know his plan.

He won't go to the police.

He should go, but he's afraid to go.

Instead he's locked himself in the toilet.

What if he runs away?

He's right ... suppose he does?

- Where to?
- But he left the child with us.

Anywhere.
- Oh, have some pistachios.

Where is Hashem?

Miss Taji, bring us some pistachios.

Have some, cutie.

- I don't know...
- God is Almighty.

Just imagine!

Forgetting 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.
- Who cares.

Listen, Hashem, eat first, and then take the baby...
take your time, have your dinner, then take a taxi.

Ask the driver to take you to your destination

and midway leave the car.
That will solve everything.

He won't notice the baby,
just like you didn't.

Get quietly out of the car.

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?

He's right. It's 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?

Mediocre!

Let him imagine daintily.

There is much more truth
in imagination.

Besides, a 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,

you'll never get out again.

But if the pit is crooked, if it's a lie,
when you fall in,

you don't fall down very deep,
they're easy to climb out of.

Very easy to climb out of.

Look at this crossword puzzle.

You and your crossword!
Have some pistachios!

What a creep! He wants to watch me
eat pistachios. None of his business ...

He doesn't know about crosswords at all!

The 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 proceed,
the more animated they become.

Until you have the answers
even before reading the questions.

But this tall fool doesn't know of the joys of Art.

Crossword puzzles
are like the 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 for the truth.

An integral part of the truth.

A letter, another letter, and still another.

And then you have a divine 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 Faulconbridge.

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 remove it

and the meaning is destroyed.

It destroys two truths:

the horizontal

and the vertical.

Oh, shut up!

- Calm down, Miss Taji.
- What's he saying? Incantations?

- Are you jealous?
- Of that idiot? He won't shut up.

Behave yourself. Parivs is an intellectual.

He's got talent.

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

I'm lowering myself
sitting at the same table with you.

Now, can you two shut up!

You really shouldn't be here,

with your sissy ways,
you're wasting your time with us.

Stop showing off, be a man, do something.

You ought to make good
and go ahead in life.

Pick a stage name,
launch yourself in show business.

- Enough, Taji!
- There's something wrong with your head.

There's something wrong
somewhere with all of us.

There's nothing wrong with you,
I suppose.

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

when it's time to go to the café and ...

there I hardly find the time
to do my crosswords.

I'm going to get some food.

What? Why should I be angry?
I can arrest everybody!

[Poster "28 Mordad - Brilliant Success of Rastakhiz]

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.

Also, 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?
- He's a doctor.

A woman calls him saying that her daughter is in labour.

The doctor goes with her.

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

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 when he regains consciousness, his things ...
- Got a light?

his watch, his bag, his wallet ...

they were all gone.

Including the woman in labour?

I wish it had been 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
has been a trick.

The doctor, two weeks ago,
performed an operation in the hospital
during which the child dies.

Tonight, the relatives of the woman

trap him and take revenge.

What revenge? Why?

The child had no chance of living at all!

A creature with no head, smelling bad.

Its body the size of a walnut.

Its legs like cornichons ... this size

its belly the size of ...

- And you, what do you want?
- I say that this sort of thing cannot go on and on.

I'm a taxi driver.

About two hours ago,
a woman left the child in my taxi ...

Neither its birth nor its death 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,
we'll start an investigation.

What's the use?
Investigation against whom?

I say, why was I beaten up?

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

What did you say?

- I say that's how you lose faith.
- What about you?

As I was saying ...

- about two hours ago, at the fruit-market ...
- That's why nobody trusts 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.

As a doctor 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!

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, 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 what?

It varies.

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 just a municipal employee.

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 like that are inevitable.

Perhaps you're expecting too much:

The people must improve.

Those 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 will 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,

as long as there are sick men and thieves

or dark alleys.

You were saying?

- I said ...
- Come here.

- I said ...
- Sit down.

I'm a taxi-driver.

About three hours ago,
at the fruit market on Pahlavi Street

a woman in a black chador ...

- The rain has stopped.
- I did not see her face clearly ...

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.
You don't 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?
- Neither do I.

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.

Say something useful.

Didn't you hear?

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

This place is for everyone,
except for an infant.

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.

We're going out now.

So you no longer want to bring it back?

Wait!

Are they allowed to leave?
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 wanted 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 some milk.

Now till morning... What should we do?

What should we do with it?

Are you tired?
Give it to me.

And I wanted to spend the night with you.

We're together now.

- What shall we do?
- About what?

Can you keep it until tomorrow?

Sure.

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 now
and I'll join you later.

But I can't take this child
to my place at this hour.

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?

Why are you angry?

Wait! I can't keep up with you.

Walk slowly.

Not so fast!

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

Walk slowly, I'm tired.

I don't feel well.

What's the matter?

Get up.

Give it to me.
Go on

Get up, come on.

Get up.

You were fine before.

What's happened to you?

Wash your face
and your mouth.

Once more.

Are you alright now?
Are you feeling better?

You want some more water?

Here you are.

Taxi!

Taxi, taxi.

Calm it down.

Come on, sir!
A baby this time of the night ought to sleep.

The baby should not be in the 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.

Pull over.

Give me the child.

Get out.

Taji,

you can leave if you want to.
I'll look after him.

You said we'd spend the night together.

How could we, in this situation?

Couldn't you take him?

- Not to my place.
- So?

I'll come with you.

I'll stay inside.

I'll help you make him sleep.

I'll look after him,

I'll be his nurse.

Be careful. Speak low.

Try to calm him down.

What are you doing?

His nappies make him feel unwell.

- Calm him down.
- We need hot water.

- What for?
- To wash his behind. - Why?

He's dirty. It'll calm him down.
- Why hot water?

So that he doesn't catch cold.
- Then don't wash him.

- But his behind will get sore.
- What do you mean "sore"?

Calm him down. Think of something.

Do you have a kettle?

- Why a kettle?
- To heat up water?

- Speak softly. The kettle is in here.
- Then bring it here.

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

- Fucking hell!
- Don't swear. Where's the hot water?

- Lower your voice. - Put it on the stove
- I'm telling you to lower your voice!

- Bring a basin or something.
- I haven't got one.

I can't wash him on the ground.

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

Hurry up.

- Could you use a laundry basin?
- 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

# [radio] I have such a burning heart
and you know nothing about it...
[Safar Kardeh by Delkash]

Too hot
Some more water.

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

- How much water?
- A little.

- Half a jar?
- hmm.

Damn!

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

Give him to me.

Lift it up.

Pour it.

Ok.

Now pour.

Don't pour all at once.

Pour slowly so that it'll last longer.

Ok, pour, pour ...

Stop.

Ok, now pour again, pour, aha,
the same, well, pour, pour, well, pour.
[the baby's a girl]

Pour some more ...

pour again, pour ...

- Aha!
- Speak low. Don't shout.

I need to dry her.

Give me your towel.

- My towel for her arse?
- Come on!

- It's for my face.
- She'll catch cold!

I said, for my face!

Which is not as clean as her behind.

All right, now, Hashem,
empty out the basin.

And give me my bag.

Now give me the milk bottle.

Let my little darling drink and then sleep.

My darling.

You see, you feel better now?

You were dirty, now you're clean,
my darling.

My dear, tell Hashem
that I'm drying your behind with my powder,

the same I use for my face.

Rinse it out a bit.

- You no longer need this?
- Take it out and put it out.

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.

I'll 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 to me.

My sweetheart.

Now we're fine.

Hell! The girl can't understand.

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

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

Let them go to hell. What do I care about neighbors!
At midnight everybody's asleep.

Asleep!

A thousand eyes everywhere,

and she says they're asleep!
- What were you saying, my little darling?

Peekaboo! Tell me a story.

Why should you be afraid in your home?

Are you also afraid of the neighbours?

Do you know what fear is?

Don't you know who your neighbors are?

Lucky you!

What neighbours?

What fear?

Talk to me ...

chirp ...

Do you see these panes?

These windows? These doors?

Behind each,
there is an evil nosy eye,

a wicked tongue,
a jealous black heart.

Each detesting himself,

and all united in detesting each other.
Do you understand!

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 flat,
get yourself another. Move.

Where to?

People are the same everywhere.

At least I know those people.

How can I be sure
things would 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.

Sit down, let's talk.

It's a shame we waste our time
on headaches and being uneasy.

Turn on the light
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're nagging all the time.

What's wrong with the dark?

I don't like the dark.

Turn it off. Turn it off.

Let's leave it on till morning.

The landlord will raise hell.

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

You always need to be afraid of somebody,
is that it?

I'll show you what fear means.

At night it should be dark.

The light illuminates things.

Come on.

I hate the dark.

I hate fear. I hate the dark.

I can't do it.

I can't sleep with the light on.

It's better like this.

- We'll stay awake all night.
- Sure we will.

Darling, we're not dead yet.

Wasn't it enough for you,
all that happened tonight?

Cover yourself, you'll catch cold.

Leaving the light on at night! What nonsense.

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

As long as it makes light, it'll do.

I'll put it over there.

As long as it makes light, it'll do.

Are you happy now?

Enough for now.

So soon?

I mean the light.

The light?

Let's switch it off!

Why?

The battery will discharge.

A battery is supposed to discharge.

- That would be a waste.
- A battery is made 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 weird steps.

Those people.

I was exhausted.
I'm comfortable now.

I'm comfortable now, Taji dear.

I've never made love with the light on.

Never with the light on?

With the light on,

and open eyes,

and not drunk.

Is there any difference?

There is.

It's strange.

What?

I was myself.

Did you notice the little one?

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 sweet baby.

My dear,

do you want to sleep?

My darling.

Dearest.

Sweety.

Leave her alone.

Come to bed.

Why should we sleep?

You need a reason for sleep?

Yes, why?

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.

Why don't you love me?

I love you ... I already told you.

Love me.

There we go again,
in the dark.

How you're afraid of the dark!

I hate the dark.
I hate it. I hate it.

Where have you been?

In the courtyard.

Anybody saw you?

Have the neighbours woken up?

The sparrows were chirping.

What are you looking at?

Look!

It's day now.

You should have left
before they wake up.

Now everyone will see you.

If I were your wife ...

Oh, come on!

Let's sit and talk. - Talk about what?
What will you do today?

What do you think?
What I do everyday.

Last night was not like every night.

You were afraid of the dark.

I wanted us to find a room where we can live together.

What are going to do?

My exercises.

- About what I said?
- What?

Our staying together.

Today I'm busy. That business with the child.

What about her?

All the hassle.

She's sweet.

I haven't got money.

Money is not needed.

Without money it's impossible.

Just for the day...

they don't rent rooms to anybody...

I didn't mean for just one day.

I don't understand.

What do you mean?

I mean we could raise her 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 being a couple.
- What was it then?

Oh!

The sun is up.

Why shouldn't it?

It comes up in the morning.

Now the neighbours will be awake.
You got up early, you should've taken her away earlier.

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

- What did I ...
- We should have left earlier.

She's hungry.

Calm her down.

Make her keep quiet.

That's it.
They're all up.

Make her keep quiet.

You should have taken her away
when you woke up.

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

- Make her keep quiet.
- She's hungry. - Give her snake poison!

Make her shut up.

In our Sacred Book the Quran it is written:
[radio in Arabic] ÕÏÞ Çááå ÇáÚáí ÇáÚÙíã

You who are of the faith, fear God

who protects us from all evil.

Shout, my dear,
shout!

Shout as loud as you can!

Shout before you grow up
and become a coward.

And be not like those who forgot God...

I feel like shouting, too.

so God made them forget themselves.
Those are the defiantly disobedient.

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

I have no will of my own in here.
The companions of Paradise -
they are the attainers (of success)

I have this small corner,
with a thousand eyes watching me.

If we had sent down this Qur'an from 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 them humbled and coming apart from fear of God.

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

then perhaps they will give thought.

How can you breathe in here?
He is God, 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]
ÈÓã Çááå ÇáÑÍãä ÇáÑÍíã

Listen, Taji,

don't be angry with me.

Don't shout.

Don't be angry.

[Invocation of God]
ÈÓã Çááå ÇáÑÍãä ÇáÑÍíã. íÇ ÑÍãÇä íÇ ÑÍíã. Çæá æ ÂÎÑ..

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.

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

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

Where will you take her?

Wherever you say, Taji.

Give her to me. Don't shout!

Give her to me.

You know I must take her
first to the police.

Just formalities ... You need to sign something,
there are procedures ...

But you cannot leave this room right now.

I must take her.

I'll handle everything
and then I'll come back to fetch you.

All right? Give her to me.

Buy her some milk.

I will. Wrap her nappies.

Wrap her.

- Be careful. Come back soon.
- ok ok ok

Her scarf.

Hurry up.

Hashem ...

I must go now.

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

Wait till I come back.

[ ??? wall hanging motive]

"please keep silent in here"

Salaam.

Salaam.

Yes?

Madam, I have brought this child.

Very kind of you.

It's been abandoned.

The place is already full of them.

Now you bring another one.

And you?

I want a baby

that's two or three days old.

Fat?

Thin?

Tall?

Short?

Dark? Fair?
Boy? Girl?

You see!

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

Madam ...

Hallo.

You are expecting?
How many months?

Nine.

You're about to give birth
and you want to adopt one?

This, too, is some kind of greed.

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, Madam?

I'm afraid of them.

I'm afraid of them.

My neighbours. They don't leave me alone.

You should go to the police station.

You're talking to me?

Yes, to the police station.

You shouldn't have brought it here.

I went there.

They told me to keep her for the night.

Till her parents can be found.

They said I couldn't leave her at the police station.

As if it's my job to look after foundlings.

I was there a short while ago.

Nobody had claimed her in all the police stations.

Noboy. So who is the baby I found?

Are you a relative of this woman?
Calm her down.

I had nothing to do with it.

I'm here to talk to the doctor
- Calm yourself, Madam.

You'll have your baby, today or tomorrow ...

Perhaps it'll be still-born.

If it's still-born, you'll have another.

To how many still-born babies could I give birth?

Perhaps I shall never have a baby.

- That's my trouble.
- I don't care about your trouble, Madam.

It's of no concern to us.

- And you?
- I need a job...

Please... I'd do anything,

- any hard work ...
- This is not an employment agency.

Whenever anyone needs something,
they come here!

You must go to the police first.

I went there last night when I found her.

They told me to keep her for the night
and then take her to the orphanage.

I wanted to keep pigeons.

That didn't work.
pre-revolution Sokhan Magazine
Behind the magazine: Samak-e Ayyar]

Then I tried cats.

That didn't work either.

I want to live.

Everybody is scolding me.

They tell me I am barren.

That I cannot give birth.

I can't bear it any longer.
The neighbours don't let me live.

Don't be silly.

You're pregnant, you'll have your child.

I can't!

When I give birth,

it'll be still-born.

You first deliver.

And if your first baby is healthy,
what would you do with the second one?

I can't, Madam.

I can't.

I want a baby.

I can't.

I can't. I can't.

I can't.

Look!

Look! Don't be embarrassed.

This is the child.

This is the 9th month.

And the 8th.

For nine long months,

gradually,

I added rug on rug,

each month some more.

My belly got bigger
with rugs!

From the first day
I added rugs to pretend that I'm pregnant.

[Portrait of the Shah and his Queen]

So they'd think that my vows,
my supplications,

my lighting candles
had been answered.

that I made a vow and that I became pregnant.

My belly growing

with old rugs.

No baby pushing,

no belly skin stretching.

All lies to cheat the fools.

Rugs don't become babies.

no baby

a baby that moves

no ...

Rugs ...

only rugs...

Here we don't accept babies
without identity.

You'll have to get a court order

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

Throw those rugs out.

You too should go to the tribunal.

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

It's our duty to protect them.

We could give a child to foster parents,

but only to reliable people.

And you?
What do you want?

I'm her husband.

Get up. Get up.

[sculpture of the goddess of Justice]

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

???

Excuse me.

Could you please write a few words for me?

- What about?
- A letter.

- What kind of letter?
- To the court.

Can't you write it yourself?

Don't you think it's a discrace to be illiterate?

Don't you know that being illiterate
is like being blind?

You should study.

I can write, but only a little.

A little is not enough.

You have a complaint?

You've come with your child.
Your wife has left you?

They abducted her?

I'm not married.

This child was abandoned by somebody in my taxi.

Abandoned?

By a woman.

When she got in I didn't notice.

After she left,
there was this child crying.

I looked everywhere for her,
but she had disappeared.

I'm now applying to the court
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're not married.
No, I'm not.

- You live alone?
- Yes, alone.

What's your job?

I drive a taxi.

Making money?

I get along.

Got a woman?

No.

You have a honest job

that supports you,

nobody to care for, no woman,

and you're asking for headaches?

Happiness has been hitting you under the belly.

A child needs milk,

a child needs clothing.

It might have all sorts of illnesses.

And the changing of the nappies.

Haven't you troubles enough?

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

Very easy.

Do you have a cigarette?

What's the use in having a child?

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

They have abandoned it,
why should you get involved?

Why be zealous?

You're just a bystander.

What will happen then?

What do you expect will happen?
Nothing.

But I came here ...

I was told to write a request.

You were told nonsense.

So what?

So nothing.

There are lots of bastards around.

It's not a novelty.

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

I found it.

Remember you were just a bystander.

But I found it.

You didn't search for it,
you only found it?

It could've been somebody else.

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

There's no reason.

These things happen.
Like a brick falling on your head.

Forget about it.
As if nothing happened.

But the child ...

When this child grows up,
if it grows up,

will he go about collecting abandoned children?

Forget about this nonsense.

Have fun, get drunk,

enjoy life before you're buried.

Don't you have enough worries?

For the price of four bottles of milk
you can buy half a bottle of liquor.

You won't drink liquor
unless this baby can drink milk?

Got a cigarette?

What should I do then?

Use your brain.

What should I do?

Got a match?

She's alone in the world.

So what!

Aren't you alone?

Everybody is 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.
- Shouldn't we take something ... - Nothing, let's go.

Hurry up.

- Shall I leave this here?
- Yes, do.

I'll wait in the street?
- Yes. Hurry up.

The battery is used up.

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

- Where is she?
- Let's go.

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

Did she cry much?
I felt sad being left alone.

- Did the neighbors notice anything?
- What about her things? - Don't worry.

- She may catch cold.
- Walk on. - What if she cries?

- Let her. - And if she's hungry?
- That's enough!

- What's on your mind?
- Nothing, dear. I'm happy.

- Don't dream up fancy stuff.
- I love you, darling.

Listen, Taji.

Forget about the baby.

Understand?

I can't cope with her.

I have no money, no time.

Stop playing with dolls.

I took her to the orphanage.

Try to resign yourself to it.

You have done wrong.

I know what I'm doing.

Why did you do it?

Why?

Let's go.

Have you forgotten?
She'd been watching us.

We had become three.

Should I look afterr everyone
who watches us make love? Let's go.

[portrait of Khomeini]

Don't touch me!
You dirty ...

Don't touch me!

Let go of my arm!

Shahada
[ceremonial burial chants]

Well, let's go.

Where?

We can't stay here forever.

All through the day

while you'd left me

locked up in that room

with my dreams,

I imagined

beautiful things.

Now you've come and destroyed them.

What did I destroy?
It's now that you're dreaming.

I was dreaming.

Is it my fault
that you're dreaming?

No. It's mine.

I was dreaming that you were a man.

Or at least that you'd learn to be a man.

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

You didn't do it out of pity

but out of cowardice.

I wanted to do the right thing.

To do the right thing you must be conscious of it,

not in order to avoid a burden.

You wanted to get rid of her.

I didn't find her because I wanted to.

I had no choice.

It happened to me.

If you think you have no choice in life,
you're lost.

One is lost anyway.

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

Good luck or back luck,
we all have it.

The important thing is
what use we make of it.

What about you? What did you do?

Me? Poor simple me?
I made a mistake.

If I hadn't left it up to you,

if I had interfered,

I wouldn't have been cheated like this.

At least, I would have realized things sooner,

instead of being told that I've been dreaming.

You're still dreaming, my dear.

The baby arrived,
now it's gone.

It's better not to get involved.
Life's a burden ...

What do you know about life?

Bad luck, traps, danger, sickness,

not knowing what's going to happen next,

doing good and being misunderstood,

everybody giving you orders
but nobody giving you an answer.

Go on. Tell me more.

Without joy, without desires,

being resigned, keeping silent,
living like a corpse, exisiting without knowing how.

So nobody's giving you any answers?

Have you ever given an answer to anybody?

Have you ever given an answer to yourself?

What's all this nonsense?

You have no reason to be mad at me.

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

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

Instead of accusing me,
why didn't you keep her yourself?

I thought we both would keep her.

Why us both?

Because she watched us
being together.

She watched us...

She did.

She won't now.

She still does.

You must realize that.

Once a heart is hurt by a harmful glance,
it won't heal soon.

You're dreaming again.

Why shouldn't I?

Waking up is what you should do. Live ...

If you want to live, you must be able to dream.

Dream some more then.

- And dreaming's not enough.
- Do as you like!

I want you to take me to her.

Move on.

I want you to take me to her.

"I want you to take me to her!"

I'll pay the fare.

You're the one who's making me pay.

I'm paying the price for your cowardice.

- Stop scolding me.
- Scolding?

Taji, that's enough.

Don't say something you'll regret tomorrow.

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

It'll pass. You'll forget.

Why should your tomorrow
be any different from your today?

The sun goes up and another day begins.

That's how you count your days?

How do you know
this child wasn't your tomorrow?

- You want to see the sunset today,
go and watch it tomorrow ...
- Your tomorrow, mine, ours ...

You know?
My tomorrow comes tomorrow.

Everything's gonna be ok.

Tomorrow's gonna be ok.

Poor Hashem!

For him tomorrow is like the day of the lottery tickets.

But it only happens on a Wednesday, once a week,

that somebody wins.

But your Wednesday, your lottery, your ticket ...

Yes, I know, I told you, I have bad luck.

It's just your tickets that are bad.

Every Wednesday is your lucky day.

But your tickets
are those of last week.

Taji, when your anger is gone
we'll have to look into each other's 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 other men?

I'll be cheating myself
if I keep on sleeping wih you.

Last night, when you left me behind,

I felt bad.

I vomited.

And afterwards, when you gave me water,

it comforted me.

As if you had washed away all my troubles.

I felt clean.

And I told myself, this is the man

for the rest of my life.

I thought the child had come to bring us together,

like an angel sent from Heaven

to unite us.

But you,

who brought her to me in the first place,

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

But she keeps looking at me.

Now I ...

must go and find her.

I'll come too.

I'll come with you.

Here we are.

I'll come with you.

Listen, Hashem,

you've done what you had to do.

You've brought her to me and then,
either by mischief or stupidity, like a devil,
you've snatched her away from me.

- You really are stubborn.
- And you really are talkative.

Follow me.

I've had enough of following.

Listen Hashem.
Let's drop it.

There's no use
in patching it up.

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

Perhaps you never were.

I had some fantasies,

but I see clearly now.

Let's end it.

Must we get nasty
before we separate?

Why should we separate?

We already have.

You talk too much.

I'll be silent now.

Well, what are you going to tell them in there?

It's this building.

I'll wait here.

The lady is going.

He must serve others
and he must consider their sufferings his own

and try to remove or alleviate them.

It is our willingness towards
cooperation and our ability to serve others

that should be the basis of our behaviour in life

and its fundamental principle.

Our interest in fellow citizens, and our sympathy

to others and our readiness
to 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 brink 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

Ç. áÓÊÇä
E. Golestan

Engl. subs by rastakhiz, MrTriggerHappy & serdar202@KG 2019/2020
using Engl. hardsubs and a new Italian translation by Parisa Nazari
(draft, further input is welcome)