Hamam: The Turkish Bath Page #3

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Please, the document.

- Melike? Melike?

- What's the matter, Perran?

Zozo is a cheater, a liar!

He wants us to sell our houses

to build a trade centre!

- But they won't go away with it!

- He never told me anything!

Madam's nephew told us!

He's not selling anymore!

- Even my husband wasn't sure.

- Spread the word, understand?

I will, my friend.

Hatce!

- What do you want?

- Did you hear what Zozo's up to?

Today I have an appointment

with him to sign the papers.

Please, don't go.

We're not selling!

Perran wants all of us

to meet at her house.

I told my husband!

Wait, I'm coming down!

Perran, I've been waiting

for an hour. I'm late.

Hold still, it'll be great!

Lower your arms, I'll be right back.

Bravo, you did the right thing!

Perran be careful. You're asking

for trouble. They're dangerous.

Follow his example.

You're a brave man.

- Hello Marta? It's me.

- Finally!

I've tried to reach you all day.

- Why did you turn off your phone?

- I left it at the hotel.

Something terrific has happened.

A company's moving to Rome.

Paolo contacted them yesterday,

they need to furnish their offices

in a five-storied old building.

- We'll have to work for months.

- I think I'll be pretty busy here too.

- They don't want to buy?

- No, I don't want to sell.

I want to try and restore

the Turkish bath.

To sell it better?

Maybe, I still don't know.

Glass.

- Glass.

- Right, glass.

Did you like our Turkish breakfast?

Did you sleep well?

It's very quiet here, at night.

I made some fig jam, try some...

Mom, he doesn't understand!

If you keep teaching him one word

at a time, he'll never learn.

Dear sister,

the first letter I sent you

came back today.

You didn't even open it.

I will not send either this one

or any other ones,

but I need to write to you,

because it's the only way

I have to feel close to you.

I found an old hamam,

in the centre of the town.

It's run-down, but it has class.

It doesn't cost much

and I've decided to buy it.

I'd like to re-open the bath,

"hamam", as they say here.

I like the idea of organising

a diversion for men only,

I would be the first

western maitresse

in this patriarchal town,

and I could secretly watch

men's private pleasures.

"Hamam" are strange places

where morals get loose

together with the bodies.

I have many friends

who would be grateful

if I offered them

a discreet and comfortable shelter

for certain caprices.

And as you know,

I can't help

making men happy.

It'll take much time and work

but I think it's worth it.

I consider it as a tribute to this town

which is so generous

with this Italian adventuress.

- Hello?

- Hi Nelly, Francesco here.

Hello sir, how are you?

- I'm fine. Is madam in?

- She went to Milan for work.

Don't pick up the phone. I'll leave

a message to the answering machine.

Understood? Bye.

We are not in.

Please leave a message after the beep.

Marta, it's Francesco.

Write down the number of this bank account,

I need you to send me some cash.

Memo, you gave me the hardest job.

We need to fix the door

to help the workmen,

but we need some more tools.

Leave me alone,

or you'll do it all yourself.

Guys, to clean this statue you need...

- Hello Zozo.

- Hello, Mr. Francesco.

- Why are you here?

- Can I speak with you?

- We can talk here.

- Can we talk in private?

- What is it?

- That lady is dangerous.

- Why?

- I'm scared. She's a difficult lady.

Sell the hamam.

- That lady is difficult.

- There's no problem.

There is, because

I'm scared. Very scared.

- We'll talk some other time.

- That lady is a problem.

- Sell the hamam.

- I've got to get back to work.

Sell the hamam.

That lady is dangerous. Understood?

Thanks, Zozo.

Good-bye. Good-bye.

Francesco? Francesco?

- Good morning.

- Morning. Breakfast's ready.

Hi, it's me. It's Thursday,

The money arrived

and the work's proceeding.

I hope you're fine.

I'll leave you a number where

you can call me at lunchtime:

Good idea to change the message,

your voice is nicer. Bye.

This Turkish bath

has become my kingdom.

It's all my work,

to the smallest detail

and I'm so proud of it...

At first it was hard:

A woman here has to work

twice as much as in Europe for half wage

but now I have a certain reputation

and many friends.

My hamam has become

an institution in Istanbul.

Many come from far away

just to visit it.

My customers speak to me

and confide in me.

They treat me as their equal.

Once in a while it's fun

to hide and watch them

entertain each other

in the steam.

About these honourable

fathers of families

I know so many things now,

that they respect me more

than their saintly mothers.

See you later.

- Ciao.

- Ciao.

What are you cutting!

Your brother was circumcised too.

Now you're a real male.

Real males don't cry.

It's done.

- May God bless you.

- May God bless you.

So? Why this surprise?

- Why, is it a problem?

- No, not at all.

I needed a break,

and you were out of reach.

I've been real busy,

problems with the job, you know.

- Still a lot to do?

- No, it's almost done.

The opening is in a few weeks,

I was to tell you.

So you decided to stay?

Well.. I still don't know.

You'll like it at Osman's.

They're all very nice.

I'd rather go to a hotel,

it's just for a few days.

- Did you inherit the car too?

- This car?

- No, I bought it from Halil.

- From who?

A friend.

Can you tell me the way to Edirne?

I'm not from here.

- You speak Turkish now?

- No, I make myself understood.

You've fit right in, huh?

- Finally! You're late.

- The plane...

Welcome. We're happy

to have you in our house.

She is Perran and she's Fusun.

- Perran, is that his wife?

- Yes.

She's too skinny.

Go back to your cooking

and mind your own business!

- What did the girl say?

- That dinner's almost ready.

Let's go then.

- You don't speak Italian?

- A little, but not too well.

Sorry for being late,

but I had a lot to work.

- Ciao. I'm Mehmet.

- Ciao.

My pleasure.

We ate so much!

How could you stay slim?

So? What do you think of them?

Nice, kind...

They were so curious about you...

- But Fussun...

- Fusun.

- She's pretty. What does she do?

- She's a student.

She's very intelligent.

If you want to visit the town

she can take you around.

- No, I prefer to do it alone.

- Mehmet is a cameraman instead,

for a private network.

- Are you working tomorrow?

- Yes.

You saw what needs to be done...

You must be tired too,

with the flight and all...

I guess...

Goodnight.

Marta?

Yes?

- Breakfast's ready, if you want.

- Where's Francesco?

- At work.

- I'll be right down.

- Good morning, Perran.

- Good morning.

Sit down, have breakfast.

I'm heating up some cheese.

- I never have breakfast...

- I see that. Don't talk and sit down.

- So you don't want me to take you around?

- No, it's alright. Thanks.

- I'm off.

- Don't come back late.

This is very good.

Enough, please.

He's changed. At the airport

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