House of Sand and Fog

Are you Kathy Nicolo?

Yeah.

ls this your house?

Nadi, of course

agreed that it was

a wonderful idea

to cut down the trees at our home

on the Caspian

to have the sea spread before us,

to reach infinity with our eyes,

to see forever.

But then,

our life went the way

of the trees,

when the Ayatollahs ripped the soul

out of our beautiful country.

Well, enough.

Today is not a day for the old.

lt is a day for the young.

To the future.

To our Soraya. May she be

a happy wife as she is a bride.

And perhaps

she will not forget her poor mother

and father so soon

and return to us and give us

many little grandbabies.

A father can dream.

He's so tan.

-Retirement's good to the coronel.

-He's not retired.

-He works for Boeing.

-He doesn't work for Boeing.

My son works for Boeing.

Who knows what he does now.

l love you.

-Hello?

-Kathy?

-What time is it?

-lt's nine o'clock.

Mom, that's 6 A.M. here.

l don't think 6 A.M.

will kill you.

Your father got up at 4:30 every day

of his life. God bless his soul.

-How's it going? How's the program?

-Fine.

l'm fine.

One day at a time, right?

l just hope it's working.

How is everyone there?

Frankie's good. Salesman of the

Month again. You know your brother.

His Lisa's in her seventh month.

How's your better half?.

Fine.

He's right here.

He's sleeping.

Sleeping?

Mom, l'm really tired.

l'm gonna go, okay?

l forgot, Aunt Frances won a trip

to Reno. We'll come out on the 18th.

l thought we'd stop by

to see you.

-The 18th?

-Yeah. Two weeks.

Yeah, okay.

Nick will be away on business,

though.

-Again?

-Yeah.

l'm gonna go, okay?

You're still not smoking,

right?.

-Bye.

-You know it's...

Just a second!

You Kathy Lazaro?

Yeah. Why?

Kathy Lazaro, due to the nonpayment

of business taxes

associated with this property,

the county has petitioned the court

on its behalf to reclaim the costs.

This should come as no surprise

to you. l'm sure you've had

ample warning.

We've sent many notices.

Now the house is up for auction

starting tomorrow morning.

Auction?

What are you talking about?

Are you out of your mind?

There's no smoking in my house.

Hey, Chuck.

l see your number

right here, man.

Are we going to meet down there?

lt's supposed to be

a hot one today.

l'd dress lightly

if l were you.

That's okay,

because l'm not leaving.

l'm afraid you have no choice,

Mrs. Lazaro.

All of your things will be

auctioned off with the property.

Do you want that?

Look, you can't evict me.

l never owed a f***ing business tax.

lt doesn't make any sense.

Okay. Well,

this is where l get off.

Deputy Sheriff Burdon will assist

you with vacating the property.

Do you have a lawyer?

l can't afford a lawyer.

l'm a house cleaner.

This is the number for the Legal

Assistance Office. They might help.

Nothing's written in blood.

Youjust have to clear out today.

You may be moving back in next week.

ln the meantime,

maybe you can call

some friends or family,

stay with them.

There's no one to call.

l tell you what.

l know some movers

that owe me a favor.

Brian!

Go down to Safeway

and get some boxes.

Let's help this lady pack up.

Lester.

May l help you?

My car is parked here.

You asked yesterday also.

-What happened to you?

-l fell.

-Again?

-Yeah.

Wash up. Do not get blood

on the floor.

The house was repossessed

for tax payment delinquency.

lt's got three bedrooms,

one bath...

A widow's walk

would increase the value.

What is this ''widow's walk''?

lt's a deck on top of the house,

so you can see the ocean.

We still got some time here.

Feel free to take a look around.

Nadereh,

today God has kissed our eyes.

Do you remember our bungalow

on the Caspian?

How l ordered the trees cut down

on the west side,

so that we may view the sea?

Please, be quiet.

You remember how the General brought

his family there for the New Year?

How beautiful it was?

What is the matter for you today,

Behrani?

Nadi...

l today have bought for us

another bungalow.

l have purchased this home for a

price of which no one would believe.

lt is worth two,

maybe three times that.

We will live in this home

for a short while,

and then sell it

and find one even better.

No, no!

Perhaps you did not come here

to live like a gypsy,

but l did not come here

to work like an Arab!

To be treated like an Arab.

For four years, we have lived a life

which we could not afford

and spent almost everything

to marry Soraya with a good family.

This apartment alone has cost us

over $140,000 in rent.

And what of Esmail's

university education?

Soon we will have nothing.

Then you will see what it is like

to walk in the shoes of the gypsies.

So...

beginning tomorrow,

you will begin packing.

There's no more to discuss, Mrs.

Behrani. Do not open your lips.

$500?

-They evicted you for that?

-You got it.

Are you staying with friends?

Yeah, l'm with a friend.

How much is this

going to cost me?

lt's on a sliding scale.

How come you didn't do something

about this earlier?

l did. l went to the courthouse

months ago and

l signed a statement saying that l

never owed a business tax because

l never owned a business.

l even had it certified.

And what about

the follow-up mail?

l didn't open them.

lt's very important to me that

l get my house back by the 18th.

l'm expecting company.

When did you sign that letter?

l don't know. March?

l hate to be the bearer of bad news,

but apparently the county's

-already sold your house.

-What?

No!

They can't do that.

The auction date

has been set for months.

Don't worry. l'll demand

they rescind the sale

or we'll file a lawsuit against

the county and get your house back.

Before the 18th, right?

lt's possible.

F***.

Hello?

Sorry.

-l didn't mean to scare you.

-Don't do that.

You all right?

Yeah, l'm fine. You?

Good, good.

You working undercover

or something?

Excuse me?

No. l'm off.

l drive by this way

and l figured

l'd check in on you.

See how you're holding up.

They already sold your house?

Technically,

it's mine and my brother's.

My dad let it to us

when he died.

l haven't told my family.

My lawyer is trying to get them

to rescind us.

So l'm trying not to harp

on the negative.

You have any kids, Mr. Burdon?

Two.

Call me Lester.

My husband left me

eight months ago.

No one knows that, either.

Do you mind if l give you

some professional advice?

No.

Do it all through your lawyer,

Kathy.

l wouldn't even drive past that

house till the keys are in my hand.

Thanks for checking in on me.

Sure.

Night.

Kathy, wait.

This is my direct number

at the department.

Most of the time l'm on patrol,

but if you ever need anything,

anything at all,

just leave a message.

See you.

Good night.

lt is like

our garden in lsfahan.

Hello?

Hello?

Yeah?

Your credit card didn't go through.

That's two days now.

God, l'm really sorry about that.

Look, l'm going to get

my paycheck on Friday.

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