SARA
A film by:
Dariush Mehrjui
Cast:
N. Karimi
A. Tarokh
Kh. Shakibaie
Dir. of Photography:
M. Kalari
Writer and Director:
Dariush Mehrjui
Sara: You're here, Auntie? Lunch
is ready. Drinks are in the fridge.
Eat some salad, it's good for you.
Auntie: Smoked again? It's not good for
a pregnant woman.
Sara: Don't worry.
Auntie: Going to the hospital?
Sara: Yes, pray, Auntie, pray!
Gh: I told you ten times.
Hessam: You knew from the start
how it would end.
Gh: It's all rumors.
Hello! How are you?
Sara: How are you, Hessam?
Hessam: I'm better.
Sara: Is this the same I.V.?
Gh: They just changed it.
Hessam: The last painkiller was really good.
Sara: Was it?
Have some pastries.
I'll be right back.
Gh: Don't make me shout. It's gossip.
I know the guy who...
...made these problems for me.
Hessam: What gossip? Rahimi told me.
Gh: I know that crook, I saw
him forge at least ten times...
Hessam: It's not because we're heads of
the Credit Branch, that we can...
...do as we please. On the contrary.
We're under close watch.
Gh: What watch? What have we done?
Hessam: What have we done?!
Gh: I wasn't in your triangle.
Hessam: What triangle? What square?
You traffic with foreigners.
Gh: It's come out in the open.
Hessam: It's a matter of honor, mine
and the whole bank's.
Sara: Dr. Sureh!
Another Dr: He's in there.
Sara: Doctor!
Dr: Yes.
Sara: Hello!
Dr: I’m coming.
Sara: Well Doctor? What are the
test results?
Dr: Don't worry. It's serious.
It’s cancer but it can be cured.
I'll help you.
Sara: Thank God!
Dr: I'll show you the x-rays.
Where are they? Here!
It hasn't progressed yet.
You must hurry. But
not here.
I've no "trust", it's a very
rare disease.
I discussed it with my colleagues.
Talakemia of the bone marrow.
Even abroad there aren't many
treatment centers.
One or two hospitals in Switzerland
and Germany.
Sara: But how? Do you have any
addresses?
Dr: I'll give the address to you.
Sara: He doesn't know, does he?
Dr: No, we didn't tell him.
Sara: Please, don't tell him.
Dr: He mustn’t know but
you must hurry.
A friend: Come on, say it again.
Another friend: I told Siamak "the guy died" and
he told me "but he had a diploma."
Sara: How do you do?
Gh: If you need a signature or a
permit, this guy's kicking the bucket!
Friends: We must go.
-Goodbye!
Gh: Mrs Hessam, if you need anything
don't hesitate.
I know more or less about it.
You must hurry.
Hessam: It's started again.
Sara: What's up? Is it the pain?
Did you get a shot?
Hessam: Yes.
Sara: Did you take your pills?
Hessam: Yes.
Sara: What's happened then?
Hessam: They've diluted the...
...medicine!
Sara: Hurry up, do something.
Doctor!
Dr: Give him a 5 ml injection.
Sara: Faster!
Nurse: Keep quiet!
This'll calm you.
Better!
THREE YEARS LATER
Dr: Look at the red light.
Are you looking at the red light?
The letter in the middle, which
way is it pointed?
Sara: Right.
Dr: The letter to the right?
Sara: Left.
Dr: The middle one?
Sara: Top.
Dr: The left one?
Sara: I can't see.
Dr: Is it better now?
Sara: No.
Dr: And now?
Sara: Yes.
Dr: You've lost a tenth of your
eyesight in the last six months.
You study too much, don't you?
Sara: Hello! Where is everybody?
Baby: Mummy's here!
Sra: Hello darling. Are you O.K?
Baby: How come you took so long?
Sara: Look what Mommy has bought you.
Baby: This is for me?
Sara: A cute little toy.
Let's see, what else for Auntie?
A scarf for Auntie.
Auntie: Thanks.
Sara: And what else?
A very pretty dress.
Come on.
Get up.
Let's see it.
So beautiful.
Like it?
Baby: It's pretty.
Sara: Look Auntie, isn't she adorable?
Hessam: Has my little darling wasted
all my money again?
Sara: I thought now that you're
promoted Head of...
...I don't know what, I can
spend some money.
My child didn't have a
thing to wear.
Isn't it pretty?
Hessam: Yes, it's pretty.
Sara: You told me your salary was to
double. Here, this is for you.
Hessam: I won't get paid for
another three months...
...and with all these bills to pay...
Sara: We can borrow until then.
Hessam: Borrow! I told you a hundred
times that a home...
...running on credit doesn't
make sense.
We'll have to pay them back
some day.
Suppose I fall sick and die.
Sara: What nonsense!
God forbid me, if you weren't
here, I wouldn't care if I had...
...debts or not.
Hessam: And who'll pay them back?
Sara: I will.
Hessam: Take this and buy yourself
something.
Hessam:Please don't wear these
rags anymore.
Sara: What's wrong with them?
Hessam: I feel ashamed in front of people.
Sima: Excuse me is Assef street
this way or that?
Sara!
Sara: Sima!
Sima: How are you?
Sara: But you were in Germany!
When did you get back?
Sima: Two weeks ago. I tried to call you
but I couldn't reach you.
Sara: Really?
Sima: So I decided to come over and find you.
Sara: Good! Wait! Please, sir, weigh
this for me.
Sima: So, how are things?
Sara: You've lost weight. I haven't
seen you for four years.
Sima: I've lost weight and I've
aged a little.
Sima: How about you?
Sara: Me? Nowadays I'm great.
But you know, I've had hard
times with Hessam's illness.
Sima: I didn't know.
Sara: My father gave us the money
to take him to Switzerland...
...to be treated.
-Sima: How is he now? OK?
Sara: Yes!
Sima: I heard that Hessam was promoted
to Head of the Credit Branch.
Sara: How did you find out?
Sima: A little bird told me?
Sara: Remember how our headmistress
used to say that?
What's the matter with you?
Sima: Look at me! Just my luck!
Right next to the mud.
Sara: When I heard that your husband
died, I wanted to write to you...
...but I had no address. Was
it hard?
Sima: Yes. I was deceived by
appearances.
I thought he was somebody,
in fact he was a nobody...
...and didn't have a penny.
When he died, he only left me
a bunch of debts.
Sara: Don't you have any children?
Sima: That’s all I need!
Sara: Why did you come back home?
Sima: Why should I stay there?
It's so expensive over there.
So I decided to come back
home, and look for a job...
...in a firm or a bank.
Sara: A bank? Oh yes!
Sima: When I heard that Hessam was
promoted, I was really happy...
...but more for my sake
than yours...
Sara: You want Hessam to hire you?
Sima: Is it possible? You know I
worked in International Bank...
...for five years, and I've two years
of computer training...
Sara: I'd like to help you.
Sima: You're so sweet Sara!
Sara: Don't worry, it can be fixed.
Sima: Thanks.
Sima: You know, you were always
spoilt by life.
You've never suffered.
You don't know what it is to
have no job and no money.
Sara: Who says? What I endured when
Hessam was sick!
It really cost me.
Sima: So? You nursed him. I too
had to nurse sick parents.
Sara: No, it cost me a lot, almost
four million.
Come with me.
I want to show you something
but no one must know.
Sima: What is it?
Sara: I've kept this secret for...
...so long that it's stifling me.
It's I who saved Hessam's life.
Sima: So?
Sara: So, that's it.
Sima: But it was your father who lent
you the money.
Sara: Father didn't give us a penny.
I mean he died at the time.
It was I who borrowed the money.
Sima: All of it? Without telling Hessam?
Sara: Yes.
Sima: But how could you without your
husband's consent?
Sara: Why not? Use your brain...
Sima: And you never told Hessam?
Sara: No.
Sima: Why?
Sara: With all his scruples about...
...borrowing!
And then, in his state, without
money, his wife pregnant...
...if he had known he would have died.
Sima: And now?
Won't you tell him?
Sara: Yes, but how?
Now that I have two
payments left.
He'll know it someday and he'll
say "Wow! My little darling...
...has finally done something!"
Sima: But how did you get the money?
Sara: If you knew what I went through.
To pay my debts back each month
on time, I had to economize on...
...expenses, I only bought things
on sale, and I worked...
...and worked.
Let me show you something.
Where is it? Here look at this.
Sima: It's really beautiful!
Sara: Wait, this is nothing.
Now look at this one.
Is it beautiful?
Sima: What detail! It's gorgeous!
I lock myself up in here most
nights and I sew.
The more I sew, the more I earn.
I do three days' work in one
night. I just sew and sew...
Sima: I can't believe it, this is really
beautiful.
Sara: I feel so good to earn money,
just like a man.
Auntie: Who's there? Sara, is that you?
Ma'am is that you?
Sima: Hello, how are you?
Gh: When did you get back?
Sima: A couple of weeks ago.
Gh: Welcome back.
Sima: How are the children?
Gh: Well.
Sima: See you later. Excuse me.
Sara: How do you know him?
Sima: It's a long story.
He was my first suitor. He says
he separated from his wife...
...because of me, but they had
serious problems themselves.
He thinks I'm a ruthless woman
who abandoned her love for the...
...sake of money.
Sara: So that's it?
Sima: Everything looks so different!
Sara: And here's Hessam's office.
Sara: Hello.
Amini: Hello, how are you?
Sara: What's up Mrs. Amini?
Amini: Mr. Hessam had to leave for a...
...meeting. He asked me to tell
you, that your application's...
...been reviewed and there's a
great chance you'll be hired.
Mr. Mojdehi will interview you,
please, this way.
Sima: Thanks Sara.
See you later.
Sara: All right.
Amini: It's Mrs. Amiri. Please...
Gh: Mrs. Hessam!
Sara: Yes.
Gh: Could you please come in for
a minute?
Sara: What do you want? It's not the
first of the month yet.
Gh: No, it's not that.
Sara: What is it?
Gh: Sit down, please.
Sara: No, thanks.
Gh: Some tea, please?
Sara: No. Thanks.
Gh: Could you use your influence on...
... your husband on my behalf?
Sara: What?
Gh: Could you see that I keep my
“unimportant” little job?
Sara: Who wants to take your
"unimportant" job away?
Gh: Don't pretend. Your friend
Mrs. Amiri won't stand...
...me here.
Sara: What does that mean?
Gh: It means it's not too late yet.
You can use your influence.
Sara: Hessam doesn't allow anyone to
interfere in his business.
Gh: I know your husband well.
He worries about what people say about
him; specially if they say bad things.
He's much weaker than you think.
Sara: How dare you insult us!
Gh: Mrs. Hessam! Mrs. Hessam!
You're afraid of nothing.
Sara: I'm not afraid of you anymore.
In two months I'll pay you the
whole thing and be rid of...
...this damn debt.
Gh: Listen, I won't let go of my job...
...so simply. I'll fight for it
to death.
And it's not for the salary, but
for my honor.
Please wait a minute.
A few year ago, I was accused
of errors in my accounting...
...since then all doors have been
shut to me.
Life is costly. It's true I'm
a bachelor, but I still...
...have alimony. The children are
growing up and I must lead a...
...respectable life. My position
is my social ladder, and I was...
...climbing it fine, but Hessam
wants to throw me down.
Sara: I've nothing to do with it.
I can't help you.
Gh: You can't or you won't?
Anyway, I can force you to...
I can tell Hessam everything.
Sara: This is so vile. If Hessam hears
all this...
...and from you, it would be
so awkward.
Gh: I know but I'm sorry.
Sara: If this is what you want, I'll
talk to him today...
...and ask him to fire you.
Gh: It won't help you. Besides, you
wouldn't dare.
If Hessam learns that his wife
has lied to him for years...
...you know what will happen...
We'll see.
Auntie: I'll catch you.
Baby: No, you won't.
Sara: Take her to bed. She's
over doing it.
Auntie: I'm gonna catch you!
I’ll catch you, you’ll see.
Baby: Hurry up!
Catch me.
Sara: No, he can't do a thing...
Baby: Daddy's here!
Hessam: Hi, how's my little honey?
Baby: Good.
Hessam: Look what daddy's bought you.
Auntie: It's beautiful.
Hessam: Don't you like it?
Sara: And he calls “me” wasteful.
Baby: Auntie, tell me a story.
Hessam: Something wrong?
Don't you feel well?
Sara: No, I'm fine.
Hessam: Sure? In the bank...
Sara: What in the bank?
Hessam: No one bothered you?
Sara: Who? No!
Hessam: Goshtasb?
Sara: Him? Yes, I was going to tell you.
Hessam: You were?
I was told that Goshtasb had seen
you and I know why.
He asked you to back him.
Sara: Yes.
Hessam: And you didn't want to tell...
Sara: Yes. No. I don't know.
Hessam: Why meddle in these things?
You walk with this guy in the
bank, talk to him out loud...
...and you probably make
him promises.
Moreover, you lie to me.
Sara: What lie?
Hessam: Didn't you say you saw no one?
Sara:But I told you.
What Goshtasb did, was it
really so terrible?
Hessam: Yes, he forged a signature.
You know what that means?
Sara: Maybe he had no choice.
Hessam: Regardless!
I'm not so cruel as to fire him
for one mistake.
Anyone can make a mistake, then
confess and ask for forgiveness.
Not so with Goshtasb. He
fraudulently escaped the law.
That's why no one trusts him.
Sara darling!
You shouldn't worry about
these people.
Woman: Your dress is ready. You may
come today.
You can send for your dress at five.
Give me a box for Mrs. Ziai's
dress, and bring me her crown.
Let me see what you've
brought me.
Sara: There are three of them.
Woman: Beautiful! Exactly what I wanted.
What's this? It's
so pretty.
Sara: I want to sell it.
Do you want it?
Woman: Why, is it all torn?
Why sell it?
Sara: It's my great grandmother's...
...wedding veil.
Woman: How much do you need?
Sara: These three, it's 60,000, I need
140,000 more.
Woman: This is a family heirloom, you
mustn't sell it. Fati, bring me...
...my checkbook.
Sara: Keep it anyway. I'll take it...
...when I pay you back.
Woman: Here's the box.
Put it up there.
Sara: Please keep this, I'll come back
for it.
Woman: I don't need a pawn. Take it.
Sara: I'd rather leave it.
Woman: Here's the money you need. Cash it of…
…the bank across the street. I hope this will do.
Sara: Thank you so much.
Woman: Good bye.
Gh: Until I see the color of money,
I won't believe it.
If he calls, tell him I'll
call him myself.
Sara: See how prompt I am.
Here is the money. Give me...
...back my I.O.U.s.
Gh: I thought you'd found a solution.
Please put your money away.
Sara: What do you mean?
Gh: You don't seem to understand.
You came to me pleading that...
...if you waited for the insurance,
Hessam would be lost.
Sara: No, “you” told me that.
Gh: What's the difference? Anyway,
I insisted that a sponsor sign...
...your I.O.U.s and guarantee
your loan.
Which he did, right? And I
gave you the money.
Sara: And I've paid you back regularly,
and here's the last payment.
Gh: Wait a bit.
Sara: Please take the money and...
...leave me alone.
Gh: Wait.
Sara: Do you have my I.O.U.s with you?
Gh: Yes, as agreed, I brought them…
…all here today. I should return
them to you... This way please.
But there's a small problem
I can't solve.
Sara: What problem?
Gh: How could your father have signed
these, five days after he died?
Sara: What?
Gh: Look: your father dated his...
...signature Sept.22, whereas
his funeral took place.
...on Sept. 19 according to
this newspaper.
That's not the point, the point is
the date isn't in your father's...
...handwriting.
That's not the point either, the
real point is the signature.
Is this your father's signature?
Did he sign this?
Sara: No, I signed it myself.
Gh: Do you know this is a crime?
Sara: Just take your money. Why do you
bother with all this?
Gh: Why didn't you ask him to sign?
Sara: Because he was very ill...
...and I couldn't tell him why
I needed the money.
It would have killed him.
Gh: And you didn't know that you...
...were deceiving me?
Sara: No. With an ill husband and...
...a dying father, I didn't think
about you. I hated you.
Gh: Why?
Sara: You kept making it more difficult.
...while you knew our condition.
Gh: Mrs. Hessam!
You know, the crime I committed
was no more than yours.
Gh: You took risks to save your
wife's life?
The law doesn't care about the
cause of the crime.
Sara: What sort of law is this?
Gh: It's the law which judges us.
If I show this in a courtroom, or
talk to the press, you know...
...what will happen?
Headline: HEAD OF BANK CROOK
Sara: I don't believe it. Shouldn't a
daughter spare her dying father?
Save her husband's life?
Gh: Why don’t you understand.
Sara: What?
Gh: At the trial everything will come
out. The money I gave you was...
...part of a fund managed
by Hessam.
The poor fellow doesn't know
it himself.
If my accounts come up, he'll
be questioned too.
Anyway, if I lose my job and
become miserable...
...I'll make you all miserable.
Sara: My God!
Baby: Eat!
Sara: Eat, just a tiny bit.
Baby: I want to feed my doll.
Sara: Just one spoon for mummy.
Sara: Auntie's here.
Get up darling.
Auntie: Let's go to bed, darling.
Baby: Where to my darling?
Auntie: Going to sleep.
Hessam: Why don't you eat?
Sara: I'm not hungry.
Can I ask you something?
Hessam:Go ahead.
Go ahead.
Not the same as yesterday?
Sara: Yes, Hessam, it is.
Hessam: You've got nerves!
Sara: Please.
Hessam: Did this guy bother you again?
Sara: No. Yes. I mean not in the...
...bank, at the bazaar.
Hessam: At the bazaar?!
Sara: You must hire Goshtasb back
at any cost.
Hessam: Impossible.
Sara: But why?
Hessam: I told you, it's “his” job I gave
to Mrs. Amiri.
Sara: Couldn't you fire someone else,
or give Sima another job?
Hessam: You think it's that easy:
fire this one, hire that one?
Sara: This guy could slander you in
banking circles or in the media...
...and spoil your life.
Hessam: He can't.
Sara: Tamper with your accounts.
Hessam: Certainly not.
Everybody knows that I've fired
Goshtasb and he's going to be...
...questioned by the Board of
Trustees. If people say that...
...the new Head changes his
mind because of his wife…
Sara: What’s that to you? Why should
you care about what people say?
One must be very weak to give
importance to gossip.
Hessam: Well then, I'm weak and that's why
tomorrow I'm going to kick this guy out.
Sara: Don't get angry. For your own
sake. For our child.
Don't fire Goshtasb. You don't
know what can happen.
Hessam: I don't care. I'm afraid of
no one...
...neither Goshtasb, nor his
superiors.
If I can't fire a scum like
him, I'm useless.
Gh: Mrs. Hessam!
Sorry, sorry!
Sara: What're you doing here?
Gh: I want to show you something.
The list of my “wrong doings”!
I am to be judged by the Board
of Trustees.
Sara: I couldn't prevent it.
I tried.
Gh: It's clear he has no respect for you.
Since last night I've been thinking...
...about your problems. Even a poor
crook like me can have feelings.
Sara: Prove it. Think about my family.
Gh: Did you ever think about mine?
Anyway, I meant to tell you not
to take all this seriously.
I don't mean to sue you.
Sara: Thank God.
Gh: It can all remain between you
and me and Hessam.
A secret.
Sara: My husband must not know about this.
Gh: Please.
Sara: Don't be so cruel. Take your
money and give me back my I.O.U.s.
Gh: No! Those I keep them.
Since I didn't want to confront
Hessam, I explained everything...
...to him in this letter.
Sara: He mustn't see it.
Give it to me.
Gh: Keep out of this.
Sara: How much do you want?
Gh: Not money.
Sara: What do you want then?
Gh: I want to be promoted and your
husband must help me.
I saved his life. If I hadn't helped you,
who would have lent you a dime?
Now he fires me. These last three years
I made no mistake, and I was...
...happy in my progress.
But now, I don't want to go
back to my old job.
I'll go back to the bank
but in a higher position.
Hessam must help me.
Sara: Hessam hates you,
he'll never do that.
Gh: Yes, he will. I know how much he
loves his new position.
If he feels threatened, he
won't object.
I bet I'll soon be promoted
to vice manager...
...and then I'll be managing the
bank, not your husband.
Sara: No. I won't allow this.
Gh: You?
What can you do?
A spoilt young woman like you!
You wouldn't dare.
You could only swallow a bunch
of pills and good bye!
Sara: Get out!
Gh: Yes, I will!
But you can be sure that your
husband is under my thumb.
Hessam forced me into this.
Believe me.
It’s all his fault.
I'll never forgive him, never.
Sima: Coming!
Sara! What a face!
Come in!
Sara: If I become...
…if something happens to me…
You must bear witness.
Sima: Witness to what? Are you crazy?
Sara: I have all my senses.
Sima: I'll get you a cold drink.
Sara: I know what I'm saying. I'm
so stupid to have tried...
...to do everything by myself.
Without letting anyone know.
Sima: What are you talking about?
I borrowed the money from
Goshtasb.
Sima: You borrowed from him?
Sara: Now he's explained everything
in a letter to Hessam.
Sima: Explained that you borrowed money
to save Hessam's life!
What's wrong with that?
Sara: That's not all.
I forged my father's signature.
Sima: You forged your father's signature?
I became my own sponsor.
Now Goshtasb knows everything...
...he’s threatening to slander Hessam.
What a disaster!
Sara: He wants me to prevent Hessam
from firing him.
The problem is that you were
given his job.
Sima: It's his job?
Sara: Yes.
Sima: I see what's eating him.
Sara: I've bad premonitions.
Something bad is going to happen.
Sima: I must go to the bank to
see Goshtasb.
Sara: Don't go, he'll hurt you.
Sima: Don't worry. He'll listen to me.
He's dying to do something for me.
Sara: The letter!
Sima: They bring the mail down here.
We’ll check.
Come with me! Come!
Man: Hello Mrs. Hessam!
Sima: Excuse me, did you hand out
the mail upstairs?
Man: Mr. Hessam's mail was taken
to him with the portfolio.
Sec: Are you looking for something?
Sara: Yes, the portfolio.
Sec: I gave the mail to Mr. Hessam.
He's gone but he'll be back.
Would you like to wait for him?
No. Thanks.
Sima: Don't worry, I'll fix everything.
Sara: Oh, my God!
Sima: Goshtasb!
Woman: What happened, Mrs. Hessam?
Have a sip of water.
Is it enough?
Feel better?
Sara: Yes.
Mrs. Soleimani, how's your daughter?
Thanks. She's a big girl now.
Solemani: And how's yours?
Sara: She’s well.
Tell me how could you stand to
leave your daughter and come here?
Soleimani: I was forced to. I could hardly
support myself.
My ex-husband's family is
nice too.
I couldn't refuse this job
at the bank.
Sara: She must have completely
forgotten you.
Soleimani: No, she sends me
postcards sometimes.
Ghosh: "The enforcement of regulations
regarding employee misconduct…"
Have you come to take over the office?
Telephone: Mr. Goshtasb, just one minute...
Gh: Sir, I've an emergency...
I'm going to get my things.
Sima:Wait a bit.
Stay where you are. I haven't
come for this.
I don’t start work for another couple of days.
And believe me, I didn't know
I was taking over your job.
Gh: But as soon as I saw you
in the bank, I knew it.
You’ve always brought me
trouble.
Sima: What have I done?
Gh: What have you done?
Sima: Are you saying, you left your
wife for me?
Gho: Isn't it true?
Sima: Don't forget I had an invalid
mother and two little sisters.
We couldn't wait years
for you to prosper.
I needed someone who...
Gh: Who had money.
Sima: Who could lighten my burden,
not so who “was” a burden.
So what? Now you see that
everything has been destroyed.
And I'm back.
Gh: No doubt because of me!
Sima: Listen, Goshtasb, I've worked all my life.
I take pleasure's in working...
...no matter what work.
Gh: Let me...
Sima: But I've always worked for
someone else...
...for my mother, for my sisters...
...now that my sisters are married,
my mother and my husband are dead…
…my life is meaningless and empty.
I don't know who to work for...
You're not a bad guy...
Gh: How do you know?
I don't have a good reputation.
Sima: I know you made mistakes a few years ago.
And now you're bothering this
poor couple...
...threatening the wife, sending
letters to the husband.
Gh: So, you want to save
your friends!
Why didn't you say so?
Sima: No, it wasn't just that.
Gh: So what was it?
Sima: How stupid you are!
Gh: To tell the truth, now that I'm
officially...
...fired, I don't give a damn
any more.
Do you want me to take the
letter back?
Do you?
Sima: No.
Gh: Why not? I would say it was about
my resignation, I don't want...
...you to read it.
Sima: No.
Gh: Isn't that what you wanted?
Sima: No, forget the letter.
Hessam had better know everything.
Let them know each other.
Let everything be revealed.
What can happen?
Sara: So?
Sima: I talked to him.
Sara: And so?
Sima: You’d better tell everything to...
...your husband.
Sara: I won't.
I can't.
Sima: He'll read the letter.
Sara: Thanks. I now know what I have to do.
Sara: How are you? Come in.
Woman talking:I haven't seen you in so long.
I missed you.
Too much work.
She made all this by herself.
She’s a real housewife.
What a rice!
She's a model housewife.
Sima: Did you tell him?
Sara: No.
Man: Doesn't Mr. Hessam know there's
a party in his honor?
Sara: Sure he knows.
Man: Where is he then?
Sara: He'll be here.
Man: Hessam is here.
Hessam: Hi, Sara, darling.
Not too tired I hope?
Sara: Can he be so generous as to know
everything and to have...
...forgiven me. Oh my God!
Hessam: Sara, it's so hot. Give me
a cold drink.
Sima: Hello.
Hessam: How are you.
Sima: Your wife's gone to such trouble!
Hessam: She's the one good thing in my life.
Sima: She sure is.
Sara: Where were you? Why are you
so late?
Hessam: I went from one meeting to another.
Sara: You weren't at the bank?
Hessam: No, I didn't have time.
Sara: What about your mail?
Hessam: What?
Sara: Your letters. You didn't read them?
Hessam: No, I'll read them tomorrow, why?
Did you write me a letter?
Sara: Who? I? No.
Thank God!
There's still time till tomorrow.
Sara: Hello! My little darling is already
up! How are you?
Baby: Well.
Sara: What a mess!
Auntie, can you help tidy up.
Hessam: Sara I'm going, bye?
Sara: You haven't eaten anything, wait!
Sara: No, I'm late.
Hessam: One second.
Yes, I'm coming.
How come you're so nice today?
Bye.
Sara: Bye.
Hessam: If he turns around to look at
me, it'll all be fine.
Sara: Hessam, is that you?
Why don't you come home?
Hessam, say something.
Hessam: I won't set foot in that place again.
Sara: Is he in?
Guard: Yes, he is.
Sara: Get up!
I am the one who
should leave. Get up!
Hessam: All this...
What he wrote, is it true?
Sara: Yes.
Hessam: Do you know what you've done?
Sara: Don't worry about me.
Hessam: Do you know what you've done?
Do you?
Do you know?
Sara: Yes, I'm beginning to find out.
Hessam: All these years the woman of my
life, my love...
...was a liar and a fraud, worse...
I was so stupid not to
Have seen it coming.
You never thought about me,
my dignity.
You're so irresponsible.
Sara: Yes, so irresponsible.
Hessam: Don't you see that I'm at the
mercy of this swindler?
He can do as he pleases with me.
He can demand anything from me.
Guard: Are you leaving, sir?
Hessam: Yes.
He can demand anything and
I wouldn't dare refuse.
And all this because of a
brainless woman.
My God, how dreadful!
Sara: If I leave, everything will be fine.
And you'll be rid of me.
Yes.
Hessam: Did your father teach you that?
What good will it do me?
Now Goshtasb can say that
I was with him.
That I made you do this.
Do you understand what
you've done?
Now people will think that...
…you didn't think that people
would say...
…how could Mrs. Hessam have borrowed
four million without telling her...
...husband...
Why did Goshtasb give this
money to you?
Sara: What do you mean?
Hessam: I don't even want to think about it.
Sara: Shame on you!
Hessam: Is it false?
Sara: Yes. It's false.
Hessam: So why didn't you tell me?
You should have let me be treated
here with the bank's money.
Why did we need to borrow
money from that scum?
Sara: It would have taken too long.
You would have died.
Hessam: You should have let me die.
It would have been a hundred
times better.
Like a fool I regretted not
having thanked…
...your father enough for his help...
Now, it's too late.
We must find a solution.
I must convince this guy.
Nobody must know about this.
We'll pretend that nothing
has happened.
You'll stay here, but I won't let
you raise my child.
I don't want her to be raised
by a scatter-brain.
My aunt will do!
Auntie: Yes?
Door: They want Mr. Hessam.
Sara: Hessam! The driver has come
for you.
Hessam: Tell him I'm sick.
I can't go.
Auntie:He's sick. He's not going to work.
You want some tea?
Baby: Where are we going?
Auntie: We're going to the park, to the slides.
Sara: Hessam!
Dinner is ready.
Door: Sara. It's me, Sima.
Sara: Is that you? Come in.
Sima: How are you?
Sorry to barge in so early in the morning.
I wished that before Hessam went
to work or made a decision...
...I don't know, maybe deciding
to give in to Goshtasb...
...or taking him back.
You know, we had a long
discussion and he finally...
...wisened up. I thought now that
everything is out...
...it doesn't have to come out
of our circle.
He'll explain everything to
you. May he come?
Gh: I've come to beg your pardon.
Believe me, I didn't know.
Where is Mr. Hessam?
Mrs. Amiri told me...
Sima dear, hold this.
Mr. Hessam is upstair?
May I?
I must see him.
Excuse me.
Gh: Hessam!
Hessam: I won't see anyone.
Gh: I knew you wouldn't, so I
wrote it down for you.
Sima: These are all your I.O.U.s
and you give me his money...
Sima: ...I'll give it to him.
Let me have the money, I'll hand
it over to him. Good bye.
Hessam: Sara?
Sara: Yes.
Come up here!
Come in!
Come and read it.
It's strange, so unexpected.
I'm saved.
Sara: It's great.
Hessam: He says that he’s sorry...
...and that his life has taken
a new turn...
...he's in love with Sima.
He's returned your I.O.U's.
Let me have them.
Thank God. It was so hard.
Thank God, it's over!
Come here. Why do you look
at me like that?
Sara: I must talk to you.
Hessam: What about?
It's been four or five years
that we haven't talked seriously.
Hessam: Sara!
Sara: I've been victimized, understand?
First by my father, then by you.
None of you has treated me like...
...a human being.
Hessam: What're you saying?
Sara: When I was at my father's I had
to think like him...
If I had an idea of my own, I
had to shut up...
...because he couldn't stand being
contradicted.
When I began to see things, I
came to your house.
Here I was the mute little darling
who had to do what she...
...was told and keep quiet.
Hessam: You're so ungrateful. You mean
you were not happy here?
Sara: No, I thought I was, but
I wasn't.
Hessam: It's nothing serious, it'll
all be fine.
These are experiences that will
help us live better.
Sara: Help whom? You or me?
Hessam: You, me, all of us.
Sara: No Hessam, no. Didn't you say
I was unfit to raise our child?
You even suspected me!
Hessam: All right, I was wrong.
I was angry.
Suddenly everything fell apart, I
didn't mean it.
Sara: You didn't? I'm not fit to
raise a child?
Right! I must first raise myself.
And that's why I'm leaving you.
Hessam: What?
If I'm to learn anything, I must
first rely on myself.
Hessam: Sara!
Sara: I'm only taking the things
that are no use to you.
Hessam: This is madness.
Sara: I'm going to my father's house.
Hessam: But why?
Sara: To see what I should do with
my miserable life.
Hessam: Listen! Sara!
Wait!
Since when do you wear glasses?
And such thick ones?
Sara: I'd like a taxi. Mr. Hessam...
...69 Assef street. I'm going
to Narmak.
Thanks.
Hessam: You've lost your mind. Have you
thought what people might say?
Sara: Whatever you do, people will
say something.
Hessam: You have fever, you're insane.
Sara: On the contrary, I'm quite well.
Hessam: I know what it is, you don't
love me anymore.
Sara: Yes.
I don't love you.
You've always been good to me,
but I can't help it.
I don't love you anymore, I know
this kind of thing doesn't happen...
...every day, that there's no
miracle. But all the time...
...Goshtasb's letter was on
your desk, I never thought...
...you'd accept his terms.
I was hoping for a miracle.
I was sure you would tell him
"Go tell everybody"...
...and if he had done that...
Hessam: If he had done that, it'd...
...have meant that I had caused
my own ruin and dishonored...
...my family.
Sara: No, if things had turned out...
...that way, you would have
assumed the responsibility.
You would have shouted
"It's I who am guilty."
Then you would have known
that for three years I had locked...
...myself down here to sew
and keep you safe, ruining...
...my eyes.
But you wouldn't make such
a sacrifice...
...no, you wouldn't.
So what value did my need
of you have?
That's the miracle I was expecting
and which kept me...
...from destroying myself.
Hessam: Sara, my only happiness was to
work and endure…
...all hardships so that you could
have a good life.
But believe me, no man would
sacrifice his honor for...
...his wife, life or love.
Sara: And yet women do it all
the time.
When your fear faded and you
weren't threatened any more...
...you pretended nothing had
happened. I was once again...
...the little darling who had
to be watched.
That's when I understood I had
lived with a stranger for five years...
...and given him a child.
No, I can't anymore.
When I think about it, I want
to kill myself.
Hessam: Where are you taking the child?
Sara: Get out of my way, you can't order...
...me about anymore.
Hessam: Sara, wait.
All that is over.
Sara: I'm of no use to you.
Hessam: Sara, wait! Why such a hurry?
Sara, wait until tomorrow!
Sara: I'll send Sima to fetch my stuff.
Hessam: How long do you plan to stay there?
Sara, what's this nonsense?
Why so much hurry?
When will you wisen up?
We'll have to change a lot, both
of us, in order to know...
...where we stand.
e