Septembers of Shiraz Page #4

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has to pay for?

- You say you wanted

to become a poet.

So write me this.

How does a poet...

Become such a rich man?

- Perhaps because the...

The jeweller... and the poet

share the same weakness.

We seek perfection.

- There is no mention

of any friends or acquaintances.

- I'm an introvert by nature,

brother.

I... I enjoy spending time

with my family

or... being alone.

- Then we've brought you

to the right place.

Hear that?

Now talk.

- What do you want me

to tell you?

I... I don't know the answers,

i don't know what to sa--

- tell me about your activities

for the shah!!

And that brother of yours!

Where is he?!

- I swear I don't know.

I swear...

Brother, I swear.

Brother--

- brother Mustafa,

your next man is ready for you.

- Brother, please.

I swear, brother,

i swear to you, I don't know.

Please, brother, please.

- Psst-psst.

- Navid, you scared me.

Did you find out where he is?

- I wish I had more information.

The friend who told me

about Isaac's arrest

tells me that the guards

are after me, too.

- They will get us all

at the end.

- Next month I'm expecting

lots of cash from a transaction.

I will use the cash

to pay the smugglers.

They will take me

over the mountains.

- What transaction?

- I'm importing vodka

from Russia.

- If they catch you...

They will execute you.

- I can't really talk about it.

The less you know, the better.

The only thing is,

i need a bit of cash

to hold me over

until the shipment arrives.

- How much do you need?

- About 10,000.

- Dollars?

- Of course.

- That's a lot of money.

- Please...

If I don't get out of Tehran,

they're bound to catch me.

- On one condition.

If anything happens

to Isaac and I...

You will see to it

that shirin and parviz

are safe and together.

Promise me.

- I promise.

- You can fill in the rest.

- One more thing.

- My god.

My ring.

- I needed collateral

against the money I owed.

I didn't mention it because

i knew I would return it.

So long, farnaz.

Kiss little shirin for me

and, god willing,

I will see you

on some other continent.

Please, you need to leave,

as well.

- Water.

Fresh bandages.

- Thank you.

- Have you cried?

- I can't anymore.

- You'll feel better if you cry.

Mohsen's little boy.

- Why would he bring his child

to a place like this?

- Mohsen is very proud

of his son.

You know?

He himself was in the same

prison for many years,

tortured by savak.

- Do you know why?

- They didn't need a reason.

- So the missing finger...

- That's not the only torture

he underwent.

Let's just say he never thought

he could have a child.

That little boy is a miracle,

a badge of his faith.

He's not a bad man.

You may have trouble

believing that, but he's not.

- The koran?

- Have you ever read it?

You might find it helpful.

You have to believe

that you will make it.

Have faith.

- Hello?

- Mama!

- Sweetheart, how are you?

- I'm great.

Actually, I'm just about to

play baseball with my friends,

but, uh, I was wanting to...

I was wondering

if baba was there.

I wanted to say happy birthday

to him.

- I'm afraid he is not here.

- What do you mean?

Must be close to midnight there.

Mama?

Mama, what's going on?

Mama, wh-where is baba?

- He's been arrested.

- What?

- I went to prison,

but they wouldn't tell me

anything.

- Is he alive?

- I don't know.

I'm so sorry.

We should've left when you did.

- It's okay.

- No, it's not.

- Please, please, mama, shhh.

It's okay, mama.

- I'm so sorry.

I just loved we were here.

- Okay, I'm coming home.

- Nah, nah, nah--

- mama, please!

- You stay in school,

for you're safe.

There's nothing you can do here.

There's nothing I can do.

They will release him

when they realize

that he's done nothing wrong.

And we will get out.

Please promise me

that you will not come back,

that you will stay there.

- Okay, okay, I... I promise.

- I need to leave the line open

in case your uncle calls, okay?

- And what about shirin, huh?

- She's upstairs... asleep.

We are okay.

We will see you very soon.

We love you very much.

- I love you, too.

- Ah!

- What can you say

in your defence?

- What I said before.

That I'm innocent.

I will also say this.

I...

I have followed

the wrong path in life.

I pursued material wealth...

...which in the end,

brought me nothing.

- Nothing?

Look at your villas,

the trips you took,

the cars you drove.

Me, I have nothing.

For two years,

my son wore the same shoes,

because I couldn't buy him

a new pair.

In the end,

i had to cut the front

so his feet could grow.

- Yes, but...

Look at me now.

And look at you.

I sit here before you...

My fate in your hands.

My daughter...

With her closet full of shoes...

Has no idea where her father is.

The power of abu lahab

will perish...

And he will perish.

His wealth and his gains

will not exempt him.

- Very well said, brother.

I see you've been using

your time wisely.

I did the same

when I was in prison.

I read.

They were difficult years,

but...

...the koran,

the koran gave me hope.

You know that I bring my son

here every day?

- That is what I hear going up

and down above my cell?

- I once sat in a chair very

similar to the one you're in.

Now that the tables have turned,

why should I have mercy on you?

- Because I have nothing to do

with the people

who caused you pain.

- Oh, but you do.

You look the other way.

- Yes, you're right about that.

I... I was blind.

I recognize that now.

But, please, brother...

...if you say that you sat

in the same chair as me,

then you must know my fear.

And more than that,

my... despair at...

Never seeing my family again.

- I not only know your fear,

i can smell it.

Afraid I've gotten addicted

to it.

- Than you are...

As much a prisoner today

as I am.

Your mercy may liberate me

from these walls...

...but more than that...

...it will save you

from yourself.

I can change my ways.

I can prove my sincerity.

Perhaps I can...

Sustain the cause

of the revolution

with a generous donation.

- How generous?

- As generous as necessary.

- I've received similar offers

before, brother.

None was satisfactory.

I need a more specific answer.

- Everything.

My entire life savings.

Everything.

I have to go home first.

The bank will need proof

of identification.

- You don't have

your driver's license?

- My wallet was never returned

to me, brother.

- Isaac.

- We don't have much time,

sister.

- My passport, where is it?

- The passports

were confiscated.

They came through here

like thieves.

They took it all.

- I need some identification

for the bank!

You can't keep this place

in order while I'm gone?

- Isaac,

i have your birth certificate.

- I need photo identification!

- There's nothing.

- Brother,

I'm sorry for the delay.

I'm sorry,

th-there must be something.

- Let's go. Back to prison.

- But...

- No, no...

- Brother... brother, please.

- Now.

- They've taken

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