Tehranto (2022) Movie Script
1
[film reel whirring]
[upbeat drum music]
[narrator]
You see, these days
there are two types
of Iranian immigrants:
those who left Iran
before the revolution,
and those who left Iran
after the revolution.
[romantic orchestral
instrumental]
[narrator]
In 1988, Rostam Alavi,
a simple man
from the town of Lalejin,
and a conscripted soldier...
and Shohreh,
the daughter of a rice farmer
and local smarty-pants,
throw a party
with their friends and family
with enough
dress-code violations
to give a mullah
an aneurysm.
They get married
and give birth to a baby boy
that they lovingly
name, Badi.
On the other side
of the world, in 1989,
an Iranian couple
by the names of...
[chuckling]
... Fred and Tessa
arrive at Toronto
Pearson Airport.
We are more Parisian
than Persian.
[Iranian music playing]
[narrator] Growing up,
Badi's pastimes
included politics,
working in his father's
pottery shop...
and helping to raise
the family chickens
with his cousin, Arash.
In Toronto,
Tessa and Fred
give birth
to a baby girl
that they lovingly
name Sharon.
Back in Iran,
Badi's heart skips a beat.
Growing up, Sharon's pastimes
were like most girls'.
This included makeovers...
[Sharon giggling]
[narrator] ... art...
Hey! Oh no!
No, no, no, no!
[narrator]
... and cooking.
-[Tessa screaming]
-[Fred speaking Farsi]
[narrator] Back in Iran,
Badi and his parents
board a plane
for Toronto.
Sharon's heart
skips a beat.
-[Sharon burping]
-Oh, Sharon.
[Sharon giggling]
[dramatic orchestral
instrumental]
-[phone buzzing]
-[Tessa] Sharon.
-Sharon!
-[Sharon] I know, I know.
Azizam,
you're going to be late.
-It's fine, Mother.
-Why don't you just drive?
Mama [speaking Farsi]
not this right now, please.
I know, I just
don't want you to be late.
Yeah, but my ride's
already on the way.
-It's exam day.
-Oh!
And she's going
to do great.
Mamanee-- wait, no.
I really have to go.
Eh, who has two thumbs
who's going to ace
this real estate exam?
Yeah, good, good.
You're still going to meet
with Adam, aren't you?
Yes, Mom.
The realtor
I set her up with.
Shoot,
my ride's here.
Wait, Mamanee--
[muffled] Thank you.
[Tessa] Oh, Adam
is such a good realtor, Ma.
Good luck!
[upbeat Iranian music
playing in the car]
-Excuse me, are you Iranian?
-Sorry?
I was thinking
maybe you are-- Iranian?
Oh, no, I'm not.
I'm Canadian.
Hey, buddy, screw you!
-What?
-You don't speak Farsi?
I-- I thought you did.
You live
in Richmond Hill.
You look Iranian,
and your name--
-Look, I really have to study.
-I'm sorry.
-[bicycle bell ringing]
-[Badi] Hey!
-[Sharon] Ugh!
-[Badi] Sorry!
Get off the sidewalk,
dickhead.
[narrator] What Sharon
didn't realize at that moment
was that crossing paths
with this "dickhead"
was her sernevesht,
or destiny.
[upbeat jazz piano music]
No, no, no.
Come on!
What the-- I didn't even
pass it to this guy, man.
Dude, I'm wide open here.
Wide open, baby.
Damn it!
Dude!
The exam?
So?
We can hear
you from inside.
Whatever, Badi.
You should write faster.
-It was hard.
-It's for pelvic surgery.
Did you study?
-Some med student.
-Look, whatever.
Just save your lectures.
I gotta get going.
-[game beeping]
-Hey.
-Did you bike here, bro?
-Yeah, why?
Dude, it's been snowing
all afternoon.
-[Badi scoffing] What?
-Yeah.
-[game beeping]
-But it's spring!
[whispering]
Guys! Keep it down.
-Sorry.
-[Thomas sighing]
[Badi] Freaking Canada!
[upbeat Iranian
percussion music]
It's a really
nice place.
Very, uh--
very ethnic.
How'd you--
how'd you hear about it?
My grandmother works
in the back.
But yeah.
Only there's talks
of a condo going up here, so...
Really? Here?
Oh, you're a fan
of gentrification.
This looks so good. Mmm.
Mmm, oh.
Have you heard about
the 36 question challenge?
No, what's that?
Allegedly,
two people
ask each other
a specific set
of 36 questions
and they fall
madly in love.
Allegedly.
All right, I'll bite.
All right.
[clearing throat]
One second,
I'll bring it up.
Let's do notes-- okay!
Question one.
You can invite
anyone over for dinner,
living or dead,
who would you host?
Oh, I don't know.
Oh, my grandpa.
You-- sorry, like,
you could-- you could invite
anyone, right?
So, you could be
interesting,
pick someone
like a JFK.
Or like a Jesus.
Like a Jesus Christ.
Are you trying
to sound smart or something?
Oh, this isn't romantic.
None of this is romantic.
Oh, my God.
Okay,
I'm not trying to--
It's fine.
Don't worry about it.
-Listen--
-It's-- I'm not--
-I'm sure the game is fun.
-It is.
-It's a really fun game.
-Really fun.
I get laid
all the time with this.
It's just some of those
questions are super personal,
and we're not
that close yet.
Yeah, but, like...
you want to be, right?
Adam.
Don't be sleazy.
-Sleazy?
-[Sharon] Shh.
That's my grandma's laugh.
[mischievous orchestral
instrumental]
[Sharon] You.
Hi.
-Maybe I wasn't--
-No, shh.
Oh, you don't get to talk.
You're the reason
I have mud on my butt.
Okay, I'm not looking.
Is this a trap?
-I feel like it's a trap.
-Who is this guy?
Hi.
You have nothing
better to do on Fridays
than to come here
and hit on my grandmother?
[Badi scoffing]
It's surprising, right?
I mean, you know,
you'd get some attention,
-but you seem pretty stuck up.
-Oh, screw you.
And besides, why aren't you
helping out on Fridays?
Not that I want to get out
of helping you.
Oh, how could you
let Mamanee down?
I have
other responsibilities.
-Oh, yeah?
-Mm-hmm.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
[Adam coughing]
Well, I think
your other responsibilities
needs your help.
-Or a bib.
-Ugh, whatever.
Just keep it down, okay?
Thanks.
[Som] Goddamn it.
[narrator]
Quick lesson, shall we?
See those tasty drinks?
That's Persian tea,
also known as chai,
but never "chai tea."
It's a staple
in any Persian gallery,
sometimes accompanied
by shisha or "ghalyan,"
a big sharable
tobacco pipe.
But personally,
it's not my cup of chai.
[Badi] That sandwich
is giving you stupid accuracy.
Okay, first of all, it's not
a "sandvich," it's a wrap.
It's the same damn thing.
No, it's not
the same damn thing!
Notice how the kabab
is within the wrap?
-[Badi] I can't handle it.
-[Som] Wrap.
Wrap.
Arash, verdict?
Yo, what are you guys
saying for Nowruz?
Oh, yeah,
just completely disregard
what we were
talking about.
That's fine.
Nothing.
Probably dicking around
playing I
You know that game's
about, like, a decade old?
[Som] Okay,
that was, like, my peak.
So, let me have it, cool?
Uh-uh.
Why, you got
something better for us?
There's something
going down
at Persian Palace
on Thursday.
-Let's hit that up.
-Dope. Let's do that then.
-No.
-Why?
-'Cause they're so fake.
-[Arash] Who?
All these
Per-mmigrant fake Roonis.
-Bro, come on, we'll all go.
-It'll be fun, man, screw it.
All they do is they claim
themselves off like Europeans,
and then they throw themselves
these fancy balls, all right?
With no appreciation
for culture.
Yeah, but think of all
the kabobs and sweets, huh?
-Dude, what are you doing?
-I don't know.
Well, I'm going.
I don't know about you.
Som,
you're obviously in, right?
-Hell yeah, boy.
-So, what, Badi?
You going to stay home
like a wasteman, eh?
All right, fine,
I'll go.
[Som laughing]
Yeah! Ugh!
Let's get it.
Bom! Oh, shi--
[man] You threw that at my kid!
Sorry!
[upbeat Iranian music]
[Zahra]
Sharon. Sharon!
[Sharon giggling]
-Good evening, ladies!
-[crowd applauding]
And gentlemen.
-[Som sighing]
-[M.C.] Happy Nowruz!
-[man] Cream puff, sir?
-Aw, yeah!
-Bro, take it easy.
-But I'm hungry.
Dude, you had, like,
ten cookies in the car.
How are you still hungry?
I actually really like
that hideous dress there.
-Oh, God.
-[Kim] What is it?
The guy who just walked in
with his friends...
-Do you think they have--
-Don't look.
-Oh.
-Have seen "Oh"?
-What's that?
-[Jess] Who?
Why are we staring
at the wall?
Remember when I told you
about that date with Adam?
-What's the matter with you?
-[Badi] Remember Zahra Khanum?
That nomhead that was
-hitting on your grandma?
-Yeah.
You mean the one with the
stuck-up granddaughter?
-[Badi] Yep.
-Okay, wait. One at a time.
[Badi] We can't all look
at the same time.
Crap.
Damn it.
Um, I'm going to go
to the bathroom.
I am going to go
find the cream puff guy.
[people laughing in distance]
Okay, all right,
let's get this party started.
All right, guys?
I want to introduce
our DJ tonight.
He's out here looking like
every other Persian guy,
except he has
headphones on.
-Introducing DJ Ilyas!
-[horn blowing]
Ladies and gentlemen,
we have with us tonight
a very special guest
from the city of Toronto.
This woman
is an absolute powerhouse.
Please join me
in welcoming
City Councillor
Mondana Moridi!
-[audience applauding]
-[both speaking Farsi]
Distinguished guests,
fellow councillors,
staff,
family and friends.
On behalf of
the Moridi family,
I'd like to thank you all
for coming here tonight.
And before we begin
tonight's program,
I'd like to give
a special acknowledgment
to my brother, Feridun,
and his lovely wife, Atessa,
for planning
this beautiful evening.
And as we do
every year,
we have another
dance performance.
Please join me
in welcoming Roja Hanum
as she performs
a [speaking Farsi] dance.
[people cheering]
[people clapping]
[Arash whistling]
-He's really yummy.
-Oh, you would.
That girl's still
looking at me.
[scoffs] Yeah.
All right.
I'm going for the kill.
Wish me luck.
What do you mean,
"going for the kill"?
Get back here!
I'm just--
I'll be back!
[people clapping and cheering]
[upbeat, traditional
Iranian music]
[Sharon] Badi, right?
Shanus.
-[Sharon] Mm-mm.
-Shuka?
-Sharon.
-Sharon, right.
Not a very
Persian name.
Mamanee, I will, okay?
I promise.
So, you're still
hitting on my grandma.
[scoffing] What, you're still
too stuck up to get hit on?
-Mamanee--
-Zahra--
Really?
Well, I'm more into,
like, you know,
pre-revolutionary rock.
Googoosh.
Oh, God, help us.
[upbeat Iranian instrumental]
Oh, come on.
You're not going
to disappoint Mamanee, are you?
You know what, it's fine.
It's cool.
[Badi stammering]
Fine.
Let's do it.
Oh, you don't know
how to dance!
What are you talking about?
I'm a pro.
No, you're super stiff.
Come on, loosen up.
Keep the elbows up.
-Who's that?
-Who?
That guy dancing with Sharon.
-[Sharon] Hips.
-[Badi] No, that's weird.
No, it's not,
I promise.
Relax.
Maman set them up.
He looks like
a twisted marionette.
This looks weird.
You look stupid,
but it's great, it's fine.
It's fine!
I'm joking, I'm joking.
That's what it's supposed
to look like, it's cool.
There we go,
there we go.
[narrator]
It was while they danced
that Badi's guard
had lowered,
and Sharon's doubt about
Iranian men began to fade.
For a moment,
it felt as though
it was only
Badi and Sharon in the room,
as he had forgotten
about Arash,
who was busy
flirting with Kim.
Or Som,
who was still
stuffing his face
with cream puffs.
What the hell?
Hello?
I have a fast metabolism!
[indistinct chatter]
[Sharon giggling]
[Badi] I had fun tonight.
You're a natural.
I'm glad you came.
You know,
this isn't usually my thing.
No? Oh,
you seemed so at home.
[both chuckling]
Anyway, speaking of home,
I should really get going.
-I got to wake up early.
-Oh, yeah?
What's going on tomorrow?
I gotta head
to [speaking Farsi].
I mean, they want to stock up
in the morning 'cause of
tonight
and, well, these guys
aren't exactly philanthropic.
[Sharon laughing]
All right, well, uh,
maybe I'll see you there.
[scoffing] What, you're going
to get those hands dirty?
My hands have seen
plenty of dirt, okay?
Besides,
you could use the help.
Look, I'll have you know I'm
preparing a workout routine.
[Sharon laughing]
Oh, yeah, really?
[Badi] Yeah.
I don't want to brag,
But I'll be able
to do, like,
100 pushups
by the end of it.
Yeah?
And how many can you do now?
-Three.
-[Sharon giggling]
[car honking]
-Yeah, I'm coming!
-Get home safe, Badi.
-Sharon!
-Sharon, sorry.
Stop it.
I'll back out, I swear.
-No take backs!
-[Sharon giggling]
Oh, look who finally
decided to show up.
Yeah, sorry,
I kind of got caught up
-with some YouTube videos.
-Videos of what?
-Protests and stuff.
-What protests?
You're joking.
No, tell me.
People in Iran aren't able
to pay for things like
food, rent, or gas,
so they took to the streets.
Actually?
I had no idea.
Yeah.
It's happening a lot recently.
-[honking]
-The truck's here.
Uh, you don't want--
[dolly rolling]
You okay there,
Hercules?
Yeah,
I'm fine.
[Sharon] Use the dolly,
you dummy.
So, basically, you like--
you like, have a ball,
and you, like,
throw it to somebody
and they, like,
catch it in, like, a ring,
and then you just
kind of, like, do that.
You know?
It's a great game.
You guys, you should--
What, to a goal
at the other end or something?
Yeah.
That's what they told me.
Highlight?
I thought that was lacross.
That's what
I was thinking.
So, what did--
what did you do yesterday?
Actually, you know the guy
I was telling you about?
He's actually
not as bad as I thought.
Ooh, so...
are you going to
see him again?
I don't know,
I don't know, we didn't--
-[phone buzzing]
-Oh, crap, it's him.
-Well, answer it!
-Hello?
-[Badi] Hey! Um--
[clearing throat]
I was just--
I just wanted
to call you to, uh,
ask a general question.
One...
[mischievous orchestral
instrumental]
Do you want to go
out on Monday?
Yes!
Okay, great.
Great.
Pick you up
at around 4:00?
Sounds good.
All right, cool.
-Cool.
-Cool.
I mean, I already said cool,
but, you know, I was just--
[clearing throat]
I'll hang up now.
-Bye.
-Bye.
[Som and Arash cheering]
-Whoo!
-That a boy!
That's what
I'm talking about!
You are a closer!
Hey! Hey.
No screen peeking, bro.
Hey, I'm not
sneaky peeking, man.
You're totally
screen peeking here.
[narrator] He was,
in fact, sneaky peeking.
-[video game beeping]
-Shit. D'you hear that?
[doorbell ringing]
Who are you?
I'm-- I'm Sharon's, uh-- Badi.
Sharon's buddy?
No, sorry,
my name is Badi.
-Here, come in.
-Thank you.
-Tea?
-Uh, no.
I'm sure
she's ready to--
-Sharon!
-[Sharon] Coming.
She's never had
a Persian boyfriend before.
No, I'm--
I'm not her boyfriend.
-We're just kind of--
-[Sharon] Hey. Ready to go?
Bye.
Have fun
on your date.
[turn signal ticking]
Tape deck.
[traditional Iranian
instrumental playing]
Wow, Badi,
so cultured.
-It's my dad's car.
-Right.
-I don't really own any tapes.
-Yeah, no, totally.
Listen,
it's cool, I get it.
Now I know why
you're so into my grandma.
You're actually
a 90-year-old Iranian man.
You're just looking for
a [speaking Farsi].
Hah. All right.
You know what, that's fine.
Let's use that
to attract some attention.
-Let's just get that...
-[music volume increasing]
Very funny, very funny.
[Badi] Ah, ah!
[Badi singing along in Farsi]
Absolutely hilarious.
Badi, stop it. Stop it.
[Badi singing in Farsi]
I will jump out the window,
I swear,
I will open this window.
Badi, I swear,
I'll jump out the window.
I'll do it.
Yeah, a little bit.
I don't know
what a pupusa is.
I don't know
what a pupusa is.
[Sharon laughing]
No, Badi, please don't.
[in Iranian accent]
Excuse me, sir!
-Do you know pupusa?
-Hilarious.
-Where can I get pup--
-Badi, stop it.
[normal accent]
He looked at me.
[Sharon laughing]
[upbeat drum music]
You know,
it worked out pretty well,
even though
the pupusa place is closed.
It's all good.
I love empanadas.
I'm still kind
of hungry though.
-[Sharon] Yeah.
-You know, we have time.
We could go back,
get some more if you want.
[Sharon]
You feel like Persian food?
Uh... oh!
There's actually a really good
Persian restaurant nearby.
They're called
Shaza, and--
Wait! Shaza!
No, no, that's not it,
either, but you're right.
-Sharon isn't my real name.
-[Badi] See, I knew it.
Right,
your real name is Shutangis.
[Sharon chuckling]
Oh, God, no.
There's probably
a real girl out there
whose name
is Shutangis.
Yeah?
Luckily, she isn't me.
So, what's your
real name then?
Shirin.
You know, I'll be
calling you Shirin from now on.
I'll allow it.
[upbeat drum music]
Ooh!
Look, check out the sultani.
Oh! Oh, is that beef?
Uh, yeah, yeah,
I think-- I think so.
Why, are you vegetarian?
Oh, no,
I'm just trying to cut down
on red meat
and stuff, so...
Oh, and why is that?
Cholesterol stuff,
I don't know,
I think
it's healthier for you, so...
Okay.
Nah, well,
I love bacon way too much
to pass on red meat.
Oh, no, you're not
one of those people
that puts bacon
on everything, are you?
-Yeah, I am.
-Like, even salad?
Bacon is amazing.
Mm, well, salad
doesn't have meat on it, so.
Hi. Could we get two
salad shirazis
with extra bacon
and extra cholesterol?
[Sharon] So, what's your plan
after med school?
Honestly,
I-- I don't know.
I mean,
I know want to help people.
Through work
or in general?
Just thinking about
my family back home.
The situation there.
I just really wish
I could do something about it.
Are you still
close with them?
Yeah,
as much as I can.
I mean,
out of all my cousins--
which,
there's a lot of them...
it's just me and Arash.
I guess that's why
I kind of feel guilty
every time
I do something for myself.
You can't take that
on yourself.
[Badi] It just makes it
really hard to-- you know,
to take school
and stuff seriously.
The only real reason
why I'm still in med school
is because I know I'll be able
to help my parents soon.
I really like that
about you.
-What?
-Just--
You have
a sensitive heart.
[Badi chuckling]
-I don't know about that.
-No, I'm serious.
I don't know, I just--
I just do what I need to do.
What, are you afraid
to be sensitive or something?
[sentimental guitar music]
Are you afraid
of anything?
-Disappointing my parents.
-How?
I mean, I get it,
but what do you mean?
That I might actually
bail on real estate and...
open up
an art gallery or something.
Aren't you more afraid
of letting go of what you love?
Hey.
I mean, if real estate
is what you want to do,
then 100%,
you should do that.
But if painting and art is
what you're passionate about,
and it's what
makes you happy...
then you should
do that.
Promise me.
What if my art sucks?
Then you'll get better.
And if it's those
bougie art critics
that are being jerks,
we'll tell them to screw off.
And what
if it's my parents?
Well, you--
-They'll come around.
-[Sharon chuckling]
They love you, right?
Then they will.
And I'll be there for you,
promise.
You're very...
sweet.
[upbeat percussion music]
[Sharon] Question one,
if you could host
any dinner guest,
alive or dead,
who would you host
and why?
[Badi] Khalil Gibran.
I'd want to know
who The Prophet was based on.
What's a random quirk
about yourself
that people might not know
unless they live with you?
[Sharon] Uh...
Oh, I only use
small sized forks.
Not the dinner ones,
but, like, the tiny ones.
-They fit in my hand better.
-[Badi laughing]
[Sharon]
My family knows if you see
all the big size cutlery,
and then
the small one,
the small ones
are mine.
Stop it.
That's not funny.
-That's cute.
-[Sharon chuckles]
[upbeat Iranian music]
[Sharon] For what in your life
are you most grateful?
[Badi] I'd say
my parents coming here.
It's like
a massive gift.
It's like...
winning the lottery,
but without buying a ticket.
[Badi] Look ahead
-so you don't hit anyone.
-[Sharon] I don't want to.
[Badi] Do you have a hunch
on how you're going to die?
[Sharon]
A heart attack, for sure.
Heart disease
runs in the family.
No, no, no.
Ugh!
[Sharon] What is this?
Is this--
Do you write poetry?
Look,
it's nothing, okay?
I've had it
since I was, like, 16.
[all] Hey! Whoo!
[narrator] Day by day,
they grew closer and closer,
learning more
about one another,
including how Badi takes
two sugar cubes with his chai.
Can we get tea
and some sugar cubes, please?
[narrator] Their friends
were also drawing closer
to their
own passions.
While Som was
too high on saffron
to realize that
his passion had run empty.
Aw, man.
I got you, joonam.
[Som laughing]
[Badi] If a crystal ball
could tell you anything
about your life
in the future,
what would it be?
Where I'm at
when I'm 35.
What life is like,
like, what job I have.
If I'm successful,
if I became what
I actually want to become.
If my parents
are okay.
Oh, and the environment.
How's the planet?
There's no mention
about kids anywhere in there?
It crossed my mind, but--
I didn't want to know.
I'd want it
to be a surprise.
[birds chirping]
All right, last part.
We have to look at each other
for four minutes...
and not break
eye contact.
I love you.
You know,
that technically counts
as losing eye contact.
[Sharon giggling]
[explosions from game]
[Som] Ah!
Who is going to school
you in Halo
-once you leave?
-Hey, chill, bro.
I won't be gone for a while,
if at all.
Yo, Badi, when do we hear back
about these interviews?
Like, a month
or something, right?
She didn't say it back.
Okay, I'm not sure
what this has to do
with the interviews, but--
I told her
I love her, and...
she didn't say it back.
Oh, damn,
he's going through it.
I'm sorry,
you said what?
-I told her I love her.
-Why?!
They've been dating
for, like, four months.
-Yeah, so?
-She didn't say it back.
Ah. You want to know why?
Because you're soft, bro.
Like a wrap.
You don't know
what that is, you stupid--
Look, Badi, you just
gotta take it easy, man.
All right?
Don't let it get to your head.
Kim already told me
that Sharon
is obsessed with you, bro.
Don't overthink it.
[sentimental orchestral
instrumental]
Well, have you guys
said "I love you" yet?
-No, bro.
-[Som scoffing] See?
-[controller thudding]
-[Badi groaning]
Dude, what the hell?
[Badi moaning]
[narrator] They call that
busting his chops.
[sports announcer speaking
indistinctly]
[phone buzzing]
Rostam!
[Sharon] Hey, stranger.
[giggling]
-[Badi] Are you ready?
-[Sharon] Mm-hmm.
Oh, you smell nice.
You got-- You got
the smell from here?
Yeah, I did.
[chuckling]
[Badi's voice cracking]
[narrator]
Ah, there is a new word.
There is that word again.
[whispering]
Uh, what's "taarof"?
[narrator laughing]
Look at that face.
Another lesson, shall we?
So, Shohreh assumed
Shirin didn't want more
because she was okay
being a little hungry
so that the family
had more to eat.
But a good host is okay
being a bit hungrier
so that
the guests are well-fed.
Wow.
A lot of family interactions
just made a lot more sense.
[Badi mumbling indistinctly]
"Too late."
They don't know much about
Canada's colonial exploits.
You see?
Yeah, yeah, I will.
[Sharon]
Where did you get those?
-A tree.
-Stop! Don't! Badi, stop it.
What, you worried
you're going
to mess up
your perfect look?
How dare you besmirch
my regal demeanor?
-Regal?
-Yeah.
Well, tell me,
Your Highness,
do you feel like
a commoner using the subway
to go to Finch
rather than calling a driver?
I like to see how my subjects
live from time to time.
Still don't want to
drive, huh?
I get nervous.
Well, in any case,
I'm still really glad
you came tonight.
You--
It meant a lot to me.
They make good food.
I'll be back for sure.
Well, maybe next time
we could go to your place?
[Sharon sighing]
I mean, I-- I still
haven't met your dad yet.
And with any luck,
you never will.
-Good night, Badi Joon.
-Good night.
Oh, remember to prep
for your interviews tomorrow.
I will.
Jeez, why does everyone
think I'm stupid?
[traditional Iranian
string music]
[Badi] Wow.
-Unbelievable.
-Don't touch it!
It doesn't say,
"Don't touch."
Yeah,
but it's an artifact,
you're not supposed
to touch artifacts.
There's tons of other
artifacts here that--
-Don't touch anything.
-It doesn't say anything!
I'm going to touch it.
It's beautiful, huh?
You know,
there's about
two and a half thousand
years of history.
That's multiple thousands.
An empire that invented
social welfare,
maternity leaves--
Shirin?
Those are words.
[Badi]
It's a poem by Rumi.
"Intoxicated
by the Goblet of Love,
two realms slip from my hand.
But mischief and deceit
have had no accomplishment."
And if you take
a step back...
it's a Sufi dervish.
-It's beautiful.
-Yeah.
[street din]
[bells jingling]
[couple laughing]
-Roonis at three o'clock.
-[Sharon] Huh?
Yeah, Roonis?
[narrator]
Here we go again.
Oh, yeah, for sure.
Uh, speaking of Irooni,
I wanted to ask you,
do you know much
about Persian poetry?
At one point, a little bit,
but I kind of grew out of it.
Grew out of it?
What's wrong
with poetry?
I don't know,
it just kind of felt like
some sort of
airy fairy distraction.
Distraction from what?
Speaking from experience,
all the stuff
that's happening back home.
Badi, you've been in Canada
for, like, 13 years.
This is your home.
One of the first things
someone asks you
when you meet them
for the first time is,
"Where are you from?"
It's not my home.
[Iranian woman] You know,
we are kind of like French.
There's a lot of French
in our language, so...
You see?
It's exactly
what I was talking about.
It's Tehranto Persian.
You do realize
I'm from Richmond Hill, right?
It's not about you, okay?
It's about the ones
that come here.
I'm sorry if the way
we walk and talk
isn't up
to your standards.
It's not about standards,
all right?
It's about owning
your look, all right?
Knowing your roots.
Coloured contacts,
nose jobs...
tweezing
our frickin' eyebrows.
Badi, you don't know
their experiences, okay?
People have their reasons
for wanting to fit in.
Nobody wants to be
a victim of racists.
What's more racist than
being ashamed of your own skin?
-Oh, come on.
-No, I'm serious.
You can't hate your origins,
you'll end up hating yourself.
You're overreacting,
we're all proud
of where
we come from, okay?
Just in different ways.
You seemed completely
disinterested
when I was teaching you about--
Teaching me?
Badi,
you don't need to mansplain
my own heritage to me.
When Iran
turned its back on us,
Canada opened
its arms up.
We should be grateful.
Canada only boasts
a multicultural image
-out of self-righteousness.
-So, leave!
Look here,
look how many brown, Black,
and yellow people
live here in Toronto.
Oh, we're super multicultural,
pay no attention
to the residential school
behind the curtain!
If that's how
you actually feel,
then maybe
you should go back.
Once there's a revolution,
I will.
I'm so tired of this.
You keep going on
about a revolution
that might never come,
a thousand kilometers away,
while ignoring
all these issues
right under your nose.
You talk like
you know what's best
for a country
you left 13 years ago.
It's not your place.
But you do live here now,
so maybe give a damn
about helping out
your own community here.
I'm--
Look, I'm sorry.
I didn't--
[Badi] I'm sorry.
I'm sorry
for unloading on you.
It's just, my emotions,
they get all bottled up,
and I don't know
what to do with them.
Well...
maybe it's a good idea
to explore your emotions a bit,
you know?
Instead of grumbling around
like an old man all the time.
[Badi scoffing] Yeah.
Sorry, that last
part was a joke.
-[whispering] Kind of.
-No, it's fair.
Look, it's tough.
Iranian men aren't supposed
to talk about emotions.
"Intoxicated
by the Goblet of Love"?
Iranian men open up.
I'm scared, Shirin.
Of what?
Of facing myself.
[sentimental orchestral
instrumental]
[Badi sighing]
Look, you wanted to ask me
what I was
most afraid of.
And just letting out
25 years of emotion...
and not knowing
what to do with all this...
built-up pain.
[Sharon] Listen...
I can't pretend
to know
what leaving Iran
and growing up here was like.
I'm not going to hold
your emotions over you.
[door clicks open]
Hi, Mom.
-[Tessa] Where were you?
-Out.
Where out-out,
Modar, every night?
-With who?
-Badi.
-Badi kieh?
-Mom, you've met him, like,
-three times already.
-The Persian guy?
What happened
to Adam the realtor?
-Good night, Mom.
-Maybe he can help you
get your certificate.
-[Zahra] Shirin.
-Holy--
Mamanee, how long have
you been standing there?
I didn't even
hear you.
[laughs]
[laughs]
Wait, no, Mamanee--
No, you can't say anything.
Okay? Maman can't know.
I don't know if I can be
a real estate agent.
[solemn music]
[chanting]
[sighs]
-Maman.
-What's up?
I have a bit
of a problem.
I was wondering
if you could help.
What is it?
Your exam?
No, no.
It's about Badi.
Oh, no.
What happened?
Nothing, nothing.
Everything's fine.
I just realized
that if I wanted
to keep moving forward,
I have to grow
with it.
Okay?
What are you
trying to say?
I want to have Badi over
for dinner this weekend.
And you want me to get
your baba out of the house?
-No, Maman--
-Out of town.
That's not
what I meant--
I don't know
if I can do this.
No, Maman,
like a family dinner
with you, me,
Mamanee and Baba.
-Well, Mamanee can't.
-Why not?
She has a heart
doctor appointment.
She's gonna be
with him all day.
Well, then you,
me and Baba.
[sighs]
Beben, azizem.
-I'm open with you dating.
-[Sharon] Yeah.
Well, as long as it doesn't
take your attention off
of your real estate.
But your baba
is old fashioned.
You know that,
he's not gonna approve
of Badi's background
no matter what.
Mom, I'm really
serious about this.
I like him a lot.
[sighs] That's your decision.
Honey, I stand by you
no matter what.
I'm just...
I'm worried that
he's not going to like him.
Well, that's between
you and your baba.
Just so you know.
I think
Badi's all right.
Thanks, Maman.
[exhaling]
[battle instrumental]
[elegant classical
instrumental]
[knocking]
-Hi. Mr. Moridi.
-Hey, Borat. Pleasure.
-It's Badi.
-That's nice. Come in.
Mm.
Oh, it's--
it's my dad's car.
Oh, you don't have
your own car?
Well,
I mostly use my bike.
Oh.
-This is for you.
-Oh, I see.
[Tessa] Badi Joon.
Nice to see you.
[speaking in Farsi]
Salaam.
-Please, just call me Tessa.
-[Badi] Okay.
[Tessa] Come on in.
Table is set already.
And Sharon will be down
in a minute.
Okay, great.
Thank you.
That seat
is for Sharon.
[Narrator] Well,
we are off to a good start.
[Sharon]
Sorry I'm so late.
[whispers] I was hoping it
would force you guys to talk.
[whispers] Yeah, good job.
Please,
help yourself, everyone.
Badi Joon,
help yourself, please.
I'm sorry?
Never mind.
It's-- It's really nice
to finally meet you.
Sharon's been telling us
a lot about you.
Really?
Yeah.
As of this last Monday.
[Narrator] Uh-oh.
She says you've been dating
since last Nowruz.
How come we're only
just meeting now?
Well, I-- I don't...
If it were up to me,
you would have known earlier.
-How do you mean?
-It's my fault.
-I thought you'd freak.
-Freak?
Why would I freak?
I'm cordial, I'm nice.
Right?
You're having
a good time, Badi?
-Yes, sir.
-See?
He's having good time,
I'm having good time.
Everybody's having
a good time, right?
[Narrator scoffs] Not me.
-I'm going to see myself out.
-[door slams shut]
So, when Fred
used to live in Rome,
he had
this pet squirrel.
Remember, honey?
Out of curiosity,
does your dad have another car?
No, actually,
that's the only one.
Mm. Oh.
I'm just--
I'm a big car man.
Oh. Nice.
But it's--
He got what he could.
-Mainly uses it for work.
-Okay.
Tessa, can you pass me
the salt, please?
You don't need salt, honey.
It's not good for your heart.
Badi's dad
is a really hard worker.
I think
you'd really like him.
He-- He delivers pizza.
It's not the most glamorous
job, but it's humbling.
I-- I just mean that he--
he makes enough to get by.
And he's not jaded
by having too much.
What about your mother?
No, sir.
She's unemployed.
Ah.
What's your last name
again?
Ala-- Alavi.
Oh, you're related
to the Alavis from Isfahan?
No, actually, my father's
from a small town, Lalejin,
just outside of Hamadan.
We knew someone
from Lalejin, didn't we?
Yeah, I think so.
Father's kolfat.
What does kolfat mean?
I don't miss having
helping hands around.
We actually had this chef
when we were living in Paris.
-Remember, honey?
-Tessa.
[Tessa] He used
to come by--
Badi doesn't
want to hear
about our boring stories
from abroad, you know?
-We have too much.
-Fred.
I'm sorry,
did I miss something?
No, you didn't
miss anything.
I'm just saving you
some time.
Because it's not going
to interest you.
Baba.
I don't think
that's necessarily true, sir.
What?
Let's just stop
beating around the bush, okay?
I mean, look,
you seem nice.
I don't know what you
expected here when you came,
but culturally
we're too different.
This is clear, right?
Tell me,
has your family been to Rome?
No.
-Paris?
-No, but--
-Dusseldorf?
-[Sharon] No.
But that doesn't mean
that they won't.
-Who's gonna pay?
-Actually, I will.
How?
[Sharon]
He's studying medicine.
-Oh, it means you're broke.
-Excuse me?
And you plan on flying
around the world with what?
-Your student loans?
-[Tessa] Fred.
Maybe you should just
take it easy.
Tessa, if a man
comes into our house
saying he's interested
in our daughter,
I expect him to be able
to provide for her.
-I can provide for myself.
-[Fred] Stay out of it.
Look, I get it.
Okay?
You're young,
probably in love,
but you need
to be pragmatic.
Both of you. Okay?
The truth is
that you're still a student
and pretty soon your parents
are going to be counting
on you,
especially considering
your father's line of work
and the fact that your mother
doesn't even have a job.
You know what? I don't have
to explain this to you.
-Screw it.
-[Fred] Excuse me?
I'm not going
to sit here
while you turn your nose
up against my family.
And at least
they're proud of
where they come from...
Fred.
What?
You think you know me?
You have no idea
what we've been through.
I know you're an Iranian man
who's ashamed of his own blood.
My blood? My blood.
What do you know about
my blood?
And why would I be
ashamed of my blood?
The Shah held court for us.
I'm not ashamed
to admit that
to the son of a damn kolfat.
-Baba.
-That's enough of that.
Thank you very much
for the amazing dinner.
-I'm sorry.
-You're saying sorry to her?
I'm just trying to be cordial.
What's your problem?
I have no reason
to be cordial with you, boy.
You know what?
Go fuck yourself.
Sir.
Get out
of my house!
-[Sharon] Badi!
-[Badi] I can't!
[Sharon] Come back!
You let him
talk to me like that.
I'm sorry!
Badi!
I'm sorry!
Come on.
I'm not going
to be around forever
and I don't want her
to be spending her life
without a provider.
I want her husband
to come from a strong family.
Hey, wait, Sharon.
Hey. Sharon!
[door slams shut]
[Tessa sighing]
[sorrowful instrumental]
[crying]
[Narrator] She missed him,
wishing they could just talk.
[phone buzzing]
But Badi couldn't bring
himself to answer,
drowning over the guilt
of his words at dinner.
It was cruel.
Sharon had never felt
pain like this before.
I've never felt pain
like this before.
[Narrator]
She was certain of it.
Yup. Definitely not.
[phone buzzing]
Hello.
[man on phone]
-You just called me.
-[line tone]
[Narrator]
That one was a butt dial.
[grumbles]
[Kim] It'll be okay.
You're gonna get through this,
I promise.
[Jess] Yeah.
And, you know, we'll help
you get back into things.
Here, give me your phone.
I'll download Tinder.
-Jess! Are you stupid?
-What?
If she's lucky, she'll see
Adam McSackling on there.
Okay?
He's a very successful realtor.
I need some air.
No, no, no.
You stay.
Sit there and don't move
until you figure out exactly
what you did wrong.
[sighs]
[rhythmic thumping]
Badi.
Bro.
I'm beggin' you, man.
Listen to me.
-What the--
-I dunno.
Bro, our interviews
are today.
You know that, right?
Kooft.
[Narrator]
Persian is a poetic language.
Here is an example.
To express love for someone
we say,
"Ghorbunet besham,"
which means, "I will
sacrifice myself for you."
So, the lack of poetry
says a lot when Badi says,
"Go "F" yourself,"
to Sharon's father.
[spitting]
I'm sorry.
You said what?
Bro.
This is our only shot.
[notification sounds]
Dude, I gotta go.
If he snaps
out of it--
Yeah, yeah,
I'll send him over.
Good luck, bro.
Thanks.
[door clicks shut]
So, I've been hearing
these voices in my head.
Is that normal?
-Yeah, I'll take one.
-Two empanadas.
No, just one, please.
Two empanadas
coming right up, sweetheart.
Uh, no.
Sorry, sir, just, can I have--
Okay. Two empanadas.
-These are on the house.
-[Sharon] Okay.
My mom owns this place,
so, no big deal--
[Sharon] That's nice.
Thank you.
No problem.
[delicate piano instrumental]
[man]
Treat 'em with respect.
Treats you
the same way.
Just like any tool...
you gotta take care
of it.
[road din]
You know why they got them
lights up there?
Uh... No.
'Cause they look nice?
To detract people
from committing suicide.
Pleasant.
Jesus.
What the hell
are you still doing here?
Kim said
not to get up until--
Get the hell out.
[knocking on door]
[sighs]
I don't know.
Maman Joon. This is not
your fault, okay?
I tried that
with her.
Badi Joon.
How do you do it?
I don't think
I can do that.
At least
not right now.
Yeah.
[pop-rock instrumental]
Hey, guys, do your part,
save your city.
Come on. Hey.
Save your city. No. Okay.
Oh!
Dude, save your city!
What the hell, man?
Dr. Urowitz.
I was wondering if I could--
Mr. Alavi,
I received your email
and unfortunately,
there's nothing I can do.
You had an interview
and you missed it.
Look, at least just give me
the chance to change your mind.
[sighs]
The parking garage
is five minutes from here.
And we walk
at my pace.
All right, well sir, growing up
in Iran was really tough.
We never really had much,
we were under constant
pressure.
And my family had to sell
everything on their backs
to get me here.
And now you're here.
What's your point?
Well, now they're old.
I really can't do my residency
at any other hospital.
It has to be
in Toronto.
So, you shouldn't have
missed your interview.
Sir-- Sir, will you--
I-- I really need this.
You're absolutely horrible
at changing people's mind,
you do realize that?
Okay, well,
you have a wife, right?
A husband.
What's your point?
Well,
what if your husband, he--
He died.
Well, before.
We separated before he died.
You still have the ring?
Yes, of course,
it's a very nice ring.
Okay, well, what if
your husband separated on a day
you had
an important procedure?
Would you be able to carry out
on a clear mind?
Look, don't you want candidates
who can admit
when their emotions
might compromise their ability
to carry out
their work?
And who can take a step back
when it's right to do so?
Yes, of course,
but we're also looking
for people with conviction.
Which is exactly
why I'm here.
-Thomas.
-Dr. Urowitz.
You made it
to your interview, correct?
Yes, sir.
How well
do you know Badi?
[Thomas] We've met.
-Has Badi ever let you down?
-No, sir.
-I'm sorry. What is this about?
-[Dr. Urowitz] Hmm.
If he did, do you think
you'd give him a second chance?
Yeah,
I don't see why not.
Hmm. Badi,
you owe Thomas a beer.
Come and see me
on Friday.
Wait, Friday?
Uh, yes. I--
Listen, I'll look after
everything else.
Just do yourself a favour
and do not miss your interviews
-with the other hospitals.
-Thank you, doctor.
How was your night,
Sharon?
What's the matter?
You still mad at me?
No, she's just
probably stressed.
It has been
so cold outside. Yeah?
-May I be excused?
-Sure.
Sharon, please, sit down.
No.
This is
all your fault.
-Excuse me?
-Stop it.
You always fall
into the same routine
when someone
vaguely defies you.
I'm done
being afraid of you.
You made Badi say things
that he can't take back.
It meant losing
my boyfriend.
And losing
respect for you.
Hey, Sharon. Sharon!
You should go
talk to her.
Tessa, just don't
get involved, yeah?
Look at me,
look at me.
[Narrator]
[knocking]
Sharon.
Sharon, I...
You know, I used to be able
to hold you in my hand.
Your whole body
in my hand.
You were born early
and...
it was only
by a few weeks, but...
it scared us.
It scared me.
Those first nights
in the hospital,
I was just glued
to the incubator,
just watching
your little breaths.
And I wanted
to break through that glass
and I wanted
to bring you home.
I wanted
to protect you.
[sighs]
Life was really tough for me
and your mother in Europe.
So, we came
to Canada.
We thought we could
be ourselves.
You know? We made certain that
you knew how to speak Farsi,
you knew your language, your
culture, your roots, you know?
Until one day,
maybe you're five,
six years old and...
you came home
one day,
and...
you were hungry.
I opened your lunchbox.
Your food is still there.
And I said, "Shirin,
why didn't you eat your lunch?"
[pensive music]
And then you
burst out crying
and you put your face
in my arms.
And you say that the kids,
they're making fun of you.
They say
your food is vomit
and you felt so embarrassed
and so much shame.
And it wasn't
your fault...
to feel that,
it's my fault.
It just brought back everything
I went through,
what your mom
went through.
And I said, "No."
That's it. Enough.
Why are we trying
to hold on to something
and be something for people
who don't even care about us?
Huh?
And that was that.
We stopped
calling you Shirin.
We started
speaking English at home.
And every day
after that,
I did everything I could
to protect you.
But...
all I ended up doing
was just
driving you further away
and causing you more pain
than any of those kids
at that school.
I made
a lot of sacrifices
to protect you,
to protect our family.
And I don't regret
any of them.
Except at dinner
that night.
You opened up
your heart to us.
And I just
pushed you away.
[Badi] Look Thomas, thanks
for saving my ass back there.
[Thomas] Nah, man, you probably
would've done the same for me.
[Badi] Honestly,
I'm not too sure.
I just feel like-- like
I'm in this weird situation
where I got
conflicting views
from Iranians
that are born here
versus the ones that are
actually from there and...
I guess it just gave me
a bad view of Canadians.
Listen, my mom's Jewish
and my dad's Catholic.
So, I kind of grew up
with half the family
always being suspicious
of the other half.
I just-- I try
to keep things grounded.
Anyway, sorry about earlier,
I mean, I was trying
to catch up to Dr. Urowitz
and I did not mean
to smack all your stuff
out your hand, man.
I figured you really
had to be somewhere
if you were
just gonna, like,
pile drive me
and just keep on running.
Yeah.
What are these, anyway?
Yeah, there are
a bunch of condo proposals
going up
in the Persian District.
I heard about that.
-Are they going through?
-Probably.
But there is
a town hall meeting coming up.
You should come.
Man, look, we're losing
all of our
cultural touchstones
that make up Toronto.
Can I keep this?
Yeah. Yeah, all good.
I got lots.
Well, anyway, I'm this way.
But thanks again, man.
I owe you.
[Thomas] Yeah,
don't mention it.
[delicate piano instrumental]
[keyboard clacking]
[Badi] Oh, my brilliant base.
Oh, my warmth within.
Ode to my
fearless faith.
With pacing prospects
in peace.
In dearest disposition.
And distanced disaster.
Still the heart beats
much faster.
Oh, my shady shard.
Oh, my [indistinct].
[chatter]
Ode to my fright
of forlorn
with motionless mind, at war.
In distanced disposition
and dearest disaster,
still the heart beats
much faster.
Feeling exciting scares
and scary excitements,
the heart invites you
to a warm embrace,
with hopes
of one day
slowing its pace.
And yet,
still the heart beats
much faster.
-[Sharon] Okay.
-[Zahra] Uh-huh.
[Tessa] What?
Absolutely not.
Mom.
Oh, now I'm your mom?
I just find out you got
your certificate months ago.
You knew?
I thought you failed
and you needed more time.
I was giving
you space.
You keep twisting her.
You want to make her
your little clone.
[Tessa] Why leave Iran
if you wanted all of us
to keep pretending
we were still living there?
They went mad when
they were out of the country.
They turned their back on us.
You want her to be like them?
-Okay, Mom.
-"Them"?
You forced Farsi.
You forced Farsi on her.
You pushed her
into this doomed relationship.
Now you're encouraging
her to leave a real job
for this finger
painting fairy tale?
Hey, hey!
She's my daughter,
not yours!
Okay, that's enough, Mom.
Okay?
I'm done with you
controlling my life.
You're manipulative
and all you care about--
Tessa.
Sharon.
Dokhtarem, azizem,
I'm doing
all this for you.
Well, you never gave a damn
about anybody but yourself.
-[Sharon] You hid the good--
-Tessa!
Badi's pride helped me find
my real passions.
And it's not
real estate.
[screams in Farsi]
I loved him and I never even
got the chance to tell him.
[glass shatters]
-[Tessa] Fred?
-[Sharon] Dad?
-[Tessa] Oh, my God, Fred!
-[Sharon] Baba.
Feridun, azizem,
can you hear me?
Maman, call 911.
That'll take too long.
Help me get him into the car.
[dramatic music]
Patient
is 44-year-old male,
history of heart disease.
Suffered sudden
cardiac arrest.
Angiogram will offer
further details.
Good.
Thank you, Jackie.
You okay? You all right?
You're gonna be fine.
Just deep breaths,
Badi, deep breaths.
All right? That a boy.
All right.
Now, we'll let you handle
the sutures on this one.
For now,
you're an extra pair of hands,
just passing us anything
that I or any member
of the surgical staff ask for.
-You got it?
-Yes, sir.
All right. Good man.
Let's do it.
[sighs] Okay, thank you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy, easy.
I need you to--
I need you to remain
calm for us, okay?
-Not him.
-What's that?
Can I please
have another doctor?
-Not him.
-Fred, listen to me, okay?
Everything's
gonna be just fine.
This is Badi.
He's a resident--
[Fred] Different doctor.
[Dr. Urowitz] Can we get
him sedated, please?
You're dead.
You're so dead.
[Narrator] No,
I'm just kidding.
That's not
how it happened.
[tape rewinding]
Just one more doctor--
Can we get him sedated,
please?
We'll get you
to your family, sir.
I promise.
-You good to go?
-Yes, sir.
All right, let's do this.
On three, everybody.
Nice and gentle.
One, two, three.
[gentle Iranian folk song]
[song ends]
-[Kim] Sharon!
-[Sharon] Kim.
He just texted me.
-Hi.
-Hi.
-Is there any news?
-He's still in there.
-[Arash] Hey, Sharon.
-[Sharon] Hey.
Look, there's something
you should probably know.
-There's a slight chance that--
-Mr. Moridi's family?
Yes, doctor.
That's us. How is he?
Well, Fred's heart
showed a little more blockage
in the arteries
than we had at first thought.
And as a result, the operation
took a couple of hours longer
than we'd anticipated.
He did suffer some damage
to his left subclavian artery
as a result
of the heart attack.
But we were able
to clear
a nice little path
using some stents.
All in all, I think the--
the operation was a success.
So, he's all right?
Yes, yes,
he's all right.
[all sigh]
-Thank you so much, doctor.
-You're very welcome.
[monitor beeping]
I'm gonna go
for a walk.
Maybe I find
a balloon or something.
He'll be here
when you get back.
[Fred groaning]
No, wait, he's waking up!
[groggily] A balloon
is a good idea.
[chuckles]
Hi, Baba.
Hi.
You scared us.
I'm not going anywhere
anytime soon.
If you ever do that again,
I'll kill you.
[Fred] Mm...
that sounds nice.
[Fred chuckles gently]
[birds chirping]
[Iranian music playing]
Shirin.
Hi.
Hi.
I heard that you were...
It looks amazing.
Thanks.
I know I'm early,
but I can come back--
No, no, it's fine.
I wanted
to give you something.
Oh.
That's sweet.
You didn't need to.
I wanted to.
Poetry?
Yeah. You...
kind of sparked
something in me
that I didn't know
was still there, and...
I knew you were
doing calligraphy
so I thought
it might help.
Maybe I shouldn't have come.
I'm sorry.
-This is stupid. I'm sorry.
-Wait.
Why did you come?
-I promised you I would.
-What?
I told you that if you were
ever in a gallery, I'd...
Here I am.
-[Sharon] It's just--
-[Badi] I know, I know--
What am I supposed
to say?
You have every right
-to be angry at me.
-Don't.
-I'm sorry. I just--
-Sorry?
You left me.
You didn't think
to follow up after that dinner?
Are you kidding?
Every day.
Then where were you?
I missed you.
I really did.
You know,
but at the same time,
when you left
the way that you did, it hurt.
And it really pains me
to tell you all this
because I know you're
a tremendously sensitive soul,
but I have to tell you
how I feel.
You're right.
Before we met...
there was this part of me
that I hated.
Spending time with you
brought me new life.
You know
what's messed up?
Is that even after you left,
I still held out hope.
But you didn't show.
I texted you.
I called you.
I sent you a damn email.
I read every single
one of them--
Then why weren't
you there?
Because I...
I don't know.
I acted like an ass.
And-- And you are
an amazing person
who deserves
an amazing partner.
You don't get to decide
that for me.
I wasn't.
It was for me.
For years,
I've been trying to bury
how I feel--
Don't use your insecurity
as a scapegoat.
Just give me a chance,
okay?
You...
created inspiration for me.
And when I saw
our future get rattled, I...
I was broken.
I would have been
there for you.
Look, Badi, as hard
as things got for me,
all I wanted to do was run over
and make sure you were okay.
That's not
for you to do.
There were things
I still needed
to figure out for myself.
You were the one that told me
to come to terms with who I am.
And explore my emotions.
So, what?
You're seeing a therapist?
Well, no. I--
Well, in hindsight,
that would have made things
a lot simpler.
[laughs softly]
I'm doing poetry again.
[Sharon] Art as a therapy.
Everything does look great,
by the way.
Beautiful.
I'm sorry.
I'm happy you came.
A little early,
but still.
No, a little late.
I should finish
setting up
but you're welcome
to stay, obviously.
No, I mean,
I should probably get going.
I don't want
to make things anymore awkward.
No, no, no.
It's fine.
Look,
we're expressing ourselves.
It's healthy,
I promise.
But I should
warn you that...
this doesn't mean
I'm going to be chasing you.
That's fair.
The ball's
in your court.
Bye, Badi.
[whispers] Bye, Shirin.
[Narrator] It was a lesson
for them both
that self-growth isn't done
for another person.
It's done for oneself.
Hey, don't feel cheated.
I didn't lie to you.
The truth is,
this is a love story,
and one most of us
have known.
When they met, they were
but two budding blossoms.
And it was
by their time together
that they bloomed
in their time apart.
Yo.
So, what happened?
[Arash]
Who you callin', man?
[phone ringing]
[Sharon] Did you
forget something?
[lively Iranian music]
[film reel whirring]
[upbeat drum music]
[narrator]
You see, these days
there are two types
of Iranian immigrants:
those who left Iran
before the revolution,
and those who left Iran
after the revolution.
[romantic orchestral
instrumental]
[narrator]
In 1988, Rostam Alavi,
a simple man
from the town of Lalejin,
and a conscripted soldier...
and Shohreh,
the daughter of a rice farmer
and local smarty-pants,
throw a party
with their friends and family
with enough
dress-code violations
to give a mullah
an aneurysm.
They get married
and give birth to a baby boy
that they lovingly
name, Badi.
On the other side
of the world, in 1989,
an Iranian couple
by the names of...
[chuckling]
... Fred and Tessa
arrive at Toronto
Pearson Airport.
We are more Parisian
than Persian.
[Iranian music playing]
[narrator] Growing up,
Badi's pastimes
included politics,
working in his father's
pottery shop...
and helping to raise
the family chickens
with his cousin, Arash.
In Toronto,
Tessa and Fred
give birth
to a baby girl
that they lovingly
name Sharon.
Back in Iran,
Badi's heart skips a beat.
Growing up, Sharon's pastimes
were like most girls'.
This included makeovers...
[Sharon giggling]
[narrator] ... art...
Hey! Oh no!
No, no, no, no!
[narrator]
... and cooking.
-[Tessa screaming]
-[Fred speaking Farsi]
[narrator] Back in Iran,
Badi and his parents
board a plane
for Toronto.
Sharon's heart
skips a beat.
-[Sharon burping]
-Oh, Sharon.
[Sharon giggling]
[dramatic orchestral
instrumental]
-[phone buzzing]
-[Tessa] Sharon.
-Sharon!
-[Sharon] I know, I know.
Azizam,
you're going to be late.
-It's fine, Mother.
-Why don't you just drive?
Mama [speaking Farsi]
not this right now, please.
I know, I just
don't want you to be late.
Yeah, but my ride's
already on the way.
-It's exam day.
-Oh!
And she's going
to do great.
Mamanee-- wait, no.
I really have to go.
Eh, who has two thumbs
who's going to ace
this real estate exam?
Yeah, good, good.
You're still going to meet
with Adam, aren't you?
Yes, Mom.
The realtor
I set her up with.
Shoot,
my ride's here.
Wait, Mamanee--
[muffled] Thank you.
[Tessa] Oh, Adam
is such a good realtor, Ma.
Good luck!
[upbeat Iranian music
playing in the car]
-Excuse me, are you Iranian?
-Sorry?
I was thinking
maybe you are-- Iranian?
Oh, no, I'm not.
I'm Canadian.
Hey, buddy, screw you!
-What?
-You don't speak Farsi?
I-- I thought you did.
You live
in Richmond Hill.
You look Iranian,
and your name--
-Look, I really have to study.
-I'm sorry.
-[bicycle bell ringing]
-[Badi] Hey!
-[Sharon] Ugh!
-[Badi] Sorry!
Get off the sidewalk,
dickhead.
[narrator] What Sharon
didn't realize at that moment
was that crossing paths
with this "dickhead"
was her sernevesht,
or destiny.
[upbeat jazz piano music]
No, no, no.
Come on!
What the-- I didn't even
pass it to this guy, man.
Dude, I'm wide open here.
Wide open, baby.
Damn it!
Dude!
The exam?
So?
We can hear
you from inside.
Whatever, Badi.
You should write faster.
-It was hard.
-It's for pelvic surgery.
Did you study?
-Some med student.
-Look, whatever.
Just save your lectures.
I gotta get going.
-[game beeping]
-Hey.
-Did you bike here, bro?
-Yeah, why?
Dude, it's been snowing
all afternoon.
-[Badi scoffing] What?
-Yeah.
-[game beeping]
-But it's spring!
[whispering]
Guys! Keep it down.
-Sorry.
-[Thomas sighing]
[Badi] Freaking Canada!
[upbeat Iranian
percussion music]
It's a really
nice place.
Very, uh--
very ethnic.
How'd you--
how'd you hear about it?
My grandmother works
in the back.
But yeah.
Only there's talks
of a condo going up here, so...
Really? Here?
Oh, you're a fan
of gentrification.
This looks so good. Mmm.
Mmm, oh.
Have you heard about
the 36 question challenge?
No, what's that?
Allegedly,
two people
ask each other
a specific set
of 36 questions
and they fall
madly in love.
Allegedly.
All right, I'll bite.
All right.
[clearing throat]
One second,
I'll bring it up.
Let's do notes-- okay!
Question one.
You can invite
anyone over for dinner,
living or dead,
who would you host?
Oh, I don't know.
Oh, my grandpa.
You-- sorry, like,
you could-- you could invite
anyone, right?
So, you could be
interesting,
pick someone
like a JFK.
Or like a Jesus.
Like a Jesus Christ.
Are you trying
to sound smart or something?
Oh, this isn't romantic.
None of this is romantic.
Oh, my God.
Okay,
I'm not trying to--
It's fine.
Don't worry about it.
-Listen--
-It's-- I'm not--
-I'm sure the game is fun.
-It is.
-It's a really fun game.
-Really fun.
I get laid
all the time with this.
It's just some of those
questions are super personal,
and we're not
that close yet.
Yeah, but, like...
you want to be, right?
Adam.
Don't be sleazy.
-Sleazy?
-[Sharon] Shh.
That's my grandma's laugh.
[mischievous orchestral
instrumental]
[Sharon] You.
Hi.
-Maybe I wasn't--
-No, shh.
Oh, you don't get to talk.
You're the reason
I have mud on my butt.
Okay, I'm not looking.
Is this a trap?
-I feel like it's a trap.
-Who is this guy?
Hi.
You have nothing
better to do on Fridays
than to come here
and hit on my grandmother?
[Badi scoffing]
It's surprising, right?
I mean, you know,
you'd get some attention,
-but you seem pretty stuck up.
-Oh, screw you.
And besides, why aren't you
helping out on Fridays?
Not that I want to get out
of helping you.
Oh, how could you
let Mamanee down?
I have
other responsibilities.
-Oh, yeah?
-Mm-hmm.
-Yeah?
-Yeah.
[Adam coughing]
Well, I think
your other responsibilities
needs your help.
-Or a bib.
-Ugh, whatever.
Just keep it down, okay?
Thanks.
[Som] Goddamn it.
[narrator]
Quick lesson, shall we?
See those tasty drinks?
That's Persian tea,
also known as chai,
but never "chai tea."
It's a staple
in any Persian gallery,
sometimes accompanied
by shisha or "ghalyan,"
a big sharable
tobacco pipe.
But personally,
it's not my cup of chai.
[Badi] That sandwich
is giving you stupid accuracy.
Okay, first of all, it's not
a "sandvich," it's a wrap.
It's the same damn thing.
No, it's not
the same damn thing!
Notice how the kabab
is within the wrap?
-[Badi] I can't handle it.
-[Som] Wrap.
Wrap.
Arash, verdict?
Yo, what are you guys
saying for Nowruz?
Oh, yeah,
just completely disregard
what we were
talking about.
That's fine.
Nothing.
Probably dicking around
playing I
You know that game's
about, like, a decade old?
[Som] Okay,
that was, like, my peak.
So, let me have it, cool?
Uh-uh.
Why, you got
something better for us?
There's something
going down
at Persian Palace
on Thursday.
-Let's hit that up.
-Dope. Let's do that then.
-No.
-Why?
-'Cause they're so fake.
-[Arash] Who?
All these
Per-mmigrant fake Roonis.
-Bro, come on, we'll all go.
-It'll be fun, man, screw it.
All they do is they claim
themselves off like Europeans,
and then they throw themselves
these fancy balls, all right?
With no appreciation
for culture.
Yeah, but think of all
the kabobs and sweets, huh?
-Dude, what are you doing?
-I don't know.
Well, I'm going.
I don't know about you.
Som,
you're obviously in, right?
-Hell yeah, boy.
-So, what, Badi?
You going to stay home
like a wasteman, eh?
All right, fine,
I'll go.
[Som laughing]
Yeah! Ugh!
Let's get it.
Bom! Oh, shi--
[man] You threw that at my kid!
Sorry!
[upbeat Iranian music]
[Zahra]
Sharon. Sharon!
[Sharon giggling]
-Good evening, ladies!
-[crowd applauding]
And gentlemen.
-[Som sighing]
-[M.C.] Happy Nowruz!
-[man] Cream puff, sir?
-Aw, yeah!
-Bro, take it easy.
-But I'm hungry.
Dude, you had, like,
ten cookies in the car.
How are you still hungry?
I actually really like
that hideous dress there.
-Oh, God.
-[Kim] What is it?
The guy who just walked in
with his friends...
-Do you think they have--
-Don't look.
-Oh.
-Have seen "Oh"?
-What's that?
-[Jess] Who?
Why are we staring
at the wall?
Remember when I told you
about that date with Adam?
-What's the matter with you?
-[Badi] Remember Zahra Khanum?
That nomhead that was
-hitting on your grandma?
-Yeah.
You mean the one with the
stuck-up granddaughter?
-[Badi] Yep.
-Okay, wait. One at a time.
[Badi] We can't all look
at the same time.
Crap.
Damn it.
Um, I'm going to go
to the bathroom.
I am going to go
find the cream puff guy.
[people laughing in distance]
Okay, all right,
let's get this party started.
All right, guys?
I want to introduce
our DJ tonight.
He's out here looking like
every other Persian guy,
except he has
headphones on.
-Introducing DJ Ilyas!
-[horn blowing]
Ladies and gentlemen,
we have with us tonight
a very special guest
from the city of Toronto.
This woman
is an absolute powerhouse.
Please join me
in welcoming
City Councillor
Mondana Moridi!
-[audience applauding]
-[both speaking Farsi]
Distinguished guests,
fellow councillors,
staff,
family and friends.
On behalf of
the Moridi family,
I'd like to thank you all
for coming here tonight.
And before we begin
tonight's program,
I'd like to give
a special acknowledgment
to my brother, Feridun,
and his lovely wife, Atessa,
for planning
this beautiful evening.
And as we do
every year,
we have another
dance performance.
Please join me
in welcoming Roja Hanum
as she performs
a [speaking Farsi] dance.
[people cheering]
[people clapping]
[Arash whistling]
-He's really yummy.
-Oh, you would.
That girl's still
looking at me.
[scoffs] Yeah.
All right.
I'm going for the kill.
Wish me luck.
What do you mean,
"going for the kill"?
Get back here!
I'm just--
I'll be back!
[people clapping and cheering]
[upbeat, traditional
Iranian music]
[Sharon] Badi, right?
Shanus.
-[Sharon] Mm-mm.
-Shuka?
-Sharon.
-Sharon, right.
Not a very
Persian name.
Mamanee, I will, okay?
I promise.
So, you're still
hitting on my grandma.
[scoffing] What, you're still
too stuck up to get hit on?
-Mamanee--
-Zahra--
Really?
Well, I'm more into,
like, you know,
pre-revolutionary rock.
Googoosh.
Oh, God, help us.
[upbeat Iranian instrumental]
Oh, come on.
You're not going
to disappoint Mamanee, are you?
You know what, it's fine.
It's cool.
[Badi stammering]
Fine.
Let's do it.
Oh, you don't know
how to dance!
What are you talking about?
I'm a pro.
No, you're super stiff.
Come on, loosen up.
Keep the elbows up.
-Who's that?
-Who?
That guy dancing with Sharon.
-[Sharon] Hips.
-[Badi] No, that's weird.
No, it's not,
I promise.
Relax.
Maman set them up.
He looks like
a twisted marionette.
This looks weird.
You look stupid,
but it's great, it's fine.
It's fine!
I'm joking, I'm joking.
That's what it's supposed
to look like, it's cool.
There we go,
there we go.
[narrator]
It was while they danced
that Badi's guard
had lowered,
and Sharon's doubt about
Iranian men began to fade.
For a moment,
it felt as though
it was only
Badi and Sharon in the room,
as he had forgotten
about Arash,
who was busy
flirting with Kim.
Or Som,
who was still
stuffing his face
with cream puffs.
What the hell?
Hello?
I have a fast metabolism!
[indistinct chatter]
[Sharon giggling]
[Badi] I had fun tonight.
You're a natural.
I'm glad you came.
You know,
this isn't usually my thing.
No? Oh,
you seemed so at home.
[both chuckling]
Anyway, speaking of home,
I should really get going.
-I got to wake up early.
-Oh, yeah?
What's going on tomorrow?
I gotta head
to [speaking Farsi].
I mean, they want to stock up
in the morning 'cause of
tonight
and, well, these guys
aren't exactly philanthropic.
[Sharon laughing]
All right, well, uh,
maybe I'll see you there.
[scoffing] What, you're going
to get those hands dirty?
My hands have seen
plenty of dirt, okay?
Besides,
you could use the help.
Look, I'll have you know I'm
preparing a workout routine.
[Sharon laughing]
Oh, yeah, really?
[Badi] Yeah.
I don't want to brag,
But I'll be able
to do, like,
100 pushups
by the end of it.
Yeah?
And how many can you do now?
-Three.
-[Sharon giggling]
[car honking]
-Yeah, I'm coming!
-Get home safe, Badi.
-Sharon!
-Sharon, sorry.
Stop it.
I'll back out, I swear.
-No take backs!
-[Sharon giggling]
Oh, look who finally
decided to show up.
Yeah, sorry,
I kind of got caught up
-with some YouTube videos.
-Videos of what?
-Protests and stuff.
-What protests?
You're joking.
No, tell me.
People in Iran aren't able
to pay for things like
food, rent, or gas,
so they took to the streets.
Actually?
I had no idea.
Yeah.
It's happening a lot recently.
-[honking]
-The truck's here.
Uh, you don't want--
[dolly rolling]
You okay there,
Hercules?
Yeah,
I'm fine.
[Sharon] Use the dolly,
you dummy.
So, basically, you like--
you like, have a ball,
and you, like,
throw it to somebody
and they, like,
catch it in, like, a ring,
and then you just
kind of, like, do that.
You know?
It's a great game.
You guys, you should--
What, to a goal
at the other end or something?
Yeah.
That's what they told me.
Highlight?
I thought that was lacross.
That's what
I was thinking.
So, what did--
what did you do yesterday?
Actually, you know the guy
I was telling you about?
He's actually
not as bad as I thought.
Ooh, so...
are you going to
see him again?
I don't know,
I don't know, we didn't--
-[phone buzzing]
-Oh, crap, it's him.
-Well, answer it!
-Hello?
-[Badi] Hey! Um--
[clearing throat]
I was just--
I just wanted
to call you to, uh,
ask a general question.
One...
[mischievous orchestral
instrumental]
Do you want to go
out on Monday?
Yes!
Okay, great.
Great.
Pick you up
at around 4:00?
Sounds good.
All right, cool.
-Cool.
-Cool.
I mean, I already said cool,
but, you know, I was just--
[clearing throat]
I'll hang up now.
-Bye.
-Bye.
[Som and Arash cheering]
-Whoo!
-That a boy!
That's what
I'm talking about!
You are a closer!
Hey! Hey.
No screen peeking, bro.
Hey, I'm not
sneaky peeking, man.
You're totally
screen peeking here.
[narrator] He was,
in fact, sneaky peeking.
-[video game beeping]
-Shit. D'you hear that?
[doorbell ringing]
Who are you?
I'm-- I'm Sharon's, uh-- Badi.
Sharon's buddy?
No, sorry,
my name is Badi.
-Here, come in.
-Thank you.
-Tea?
-Uh, no.
I'm sure
she's ready to--
-Sharon!
-[Sharon] Coming.
She's never had
a Persian boyfriend before.
No, I'm--
I'm not her boyfriend.
-We're just kind of--
-[Sharon] Hey. Ready to go?
Bye.
Have fun
on your date.
[turn signal ticking]
Tape deck.
[traditional Iranian
instrumental playing]
Wow, Badi,
so cultured.
-It's my dad's car.
-Right.
-I don't really own any tapes.
-Yeah, no, totally.
Listen,
it's cool, I get it.
Now I know why
you're so into my grandma.
You're actually
a 90-year-old Iranian man.
You're just looking for
a [speaking Farsi].
Hah. All right.
You know what, that's fine.
Let's use that
to attract some attention.
-Let's just get that...
-[music volume increasing]
Very funny, very funny.
[Badi] Ah, ah!
[Badi singing along in Farsi]
Absolutely hilarious.
Badi, stop it. Stop it.
[Badi singing in Farsi]
I will jump out the window,
I swear,
I will open this window.
Badi, I swear,
I'll jump out the window.
I'll do it.
Yeah, a little bit.
I don't know
what a pupusa is.
I don't know
what a pupusa is.
[Sharon laughing]
No, Badi, please don't.
[in Iranian accent]
Excuse me, sir!
-Do you know pupusa?
-Hilarious.
-Where can I get pup--
-Badi, stop it.
[normal accent]
He looked at me.
[Sharon laughing]
[upbeat drum music]
You know,
it worked out pretty well,
even though
the pupusa place is closed.
It's all good.
I love empanadas.
I'm still kind
of hungry though.
-[Sharon] Yeah.
-You know, we have time.
We could go back,
get some more if you want.
[Sharon]
You feel like Persian food?
Uh... oh!
There's actually a really good
Persian restaurant nearby.
They're called
Shaza, and--
Wait! Shaza!
No, no, that's not it,
either, but you're right.
-Sharon isn't my real name.
-[Badi] See, I knew it.
Right,
your real name is Shutangis.
[Sharon chuckling]
Oh, God, no.
There's probably
a real girl out there
whose name
is Shutangis.
Yeah?
Luckily, she isn't me.
So, what's your
real name then?
Shirin.
You know, I'll be
calling you Shirin from now on.
I'll allow it.
[upbeat drum music]
Ooh!
Look, check out the sultani.
Oh! Oh, is that beef?
Uh, yeah, yeah,
I think-- I think so.
Why, are you vegetarian?
Oh, no,
I'm just trying to cut down
on red meat
and stuff, so...
Oh, and why is that?
Cholesterol stuff,
I don't know,
I think
it's healthier for you, so...
Okay.
Nah, well,
I love bacon way too much
to pass on red meat.
Oh, no, you're not
one of those people
that puts bacon
on everything, are you?
-Yeah, I am.
-Like, even salad?
Bacon is amazing.
Mm, well, salad
doesn't have meat on it, so.
Hi. Could we get two
salad shirazis
with extra bacon
and extra cholesterol?
[Sharon] So, what's your plan
after med school?
Honestly,
I-- I don't know.
I mean,
I know want to help people.
Through work
or in general?
Just thinking about
my family back home.
The situation there.
I just really wish
I could do something about it.
Are you still
close with them?
Yeah,
as much as I can.
I mean,
out of all my cousins--
which,
there's a lot of them...
it's just me and Arash.
I guess that's why
I kind of feel guilty
every time
I do something for myself.
You can't take that
on yourself.
[Badi] It just makes it
really hard to-- you know,
to take school
and stuff seriously.
The only real reason
why I'm still in med school
is because I know I'll be able
to help my parents soon.
I really like that
about you.
-What?
-Just--
You have
a sensitive heart.
[Badi chuckling]
-I don't know about that.
-No, I'm serious.
I don't know, I just--
I just do what I need to do.
What, are you afraid
to be sensitive or something?
[sentimental guitar music]
Are you afraid
of anything?
-Disappointing my parents.
-How?
I mean, I get it,
but what do you mean?
That I might actually
bail on real estate and...
open up
an art gallery or something.
Aren't you more afraid
of letting go of what you love?
Hey.
I mean, if real estate
is what you want to do,
then 100%,
you should do that.
But if painting and art is
what you're passionate about,
and it's what
makes you happy...
then you should
do that.
Promise me.
What if my art sucks?
Then you'll get better.
And if it's those
bougie art critics
that are being jerks,
we'll tell them to screw off.
And what
if it's my parents?
Well, you--
-They'll come around.
-[Sharon chuckling]
They love you, right?
Then they will.
And I'll be there for you,
promise.
You're very...
sweet.
[upbeat percussion music]
[Sharon] Question one,
if you could host
any dinner guest,
alive or dead,
who would you host
and why?
[Badi] Khalil Gibran.
I'd want to know
who The Prophet was based on.
What's a random quirk
about yourself
that people might not know
unless they live with you?
[Sharon] Uh...
Oh, I only use
small sized forks.
Not the dinner ones,
but, like, the tiny ones.
-They fit in my hand better.
-[Badi laughing]
[Sharon]
My family knows if you see
all the big size cutlery,
and then
the small one,
the small ones
are mine.
Stop it.
That's not funny.
-That's cute.
-[Sharon chuckles]
[upbeat Iranian music]
[Sharon] For what in your life
are you most grateful?
[Badi] I'd say
my parents coming here.
It's like
a massive gift.
It's like...
winning the lottery,
but without buying a ticket.
[Badi] Look ahead
-so you don't hit anyone.
-[Sharon] I don't want to.
[Badi] Do you have a hunch
on how you're going to die?
[Sharon]
A heart attack, for sure.
Heart disease
runs in the family.
No, no, no.
Ugh!
[Sharon] What is this?
Is this--
Do you write poetry?
Look,
it's nothing, okay?
I've had it
since I was, like, 16.
[all] Hey! Whoo!
[narrator] Day by day,
they grew closer and closer,
learning more
about one another,
including how Badi takes
two sugar cubes with his chai.
Can we get tea
and some sugar cubes, please?
[narrator] Their friends
were also drawing closer
to their
own passions.
While Som was
too high on saffron
to realize that
his passion had run empty.
Aw, man.
I got you, joonam.
[Som laughing]
[Badi] If a crystal ball
could tell you anything
about your life
in the future,
what would it be?
Where I'm at
when I'm 35.
What life is like,
like, what job I have.
If I'm successful,
if I became what
I actually want to become.
If my parents
are okay.
Oh, and the environment.
How's the planet?
There's no mention
about kids anywhere in there?
It crossed my mind, but--
I didn't want to know.
I'd want it
to be a surprise.
[birds chirping]
All right, last part.
We have to look at each other
for four minutes...
and not break
eye contact.
I love you.
You know,
that technically counts
as losing eye contact.
[Sharon giggling]
[explosions from game]
[Som] Ah!
Who is going to school
you in Halo
-once you leave?
-Hey, chill, bro.
I won't be gone for a while,
if at all.
Yo, Badi, when do we hear back
about these interviews?
Like, a month
or something, right?
She didn't say it back.
Okay, I'm not sure
what this has to do
with the interviews, but--
I told her
I love her, and...
she didn't say it back.
Oh, damn,
he's going through it.
I'm sorry,
you said what?
-I told her I love her.
-Why?!
They've been dating
for, like, four months.
-Yeah, so?
-She didn't say it back.
Ah. You want to know why?
Because you're soft, bro.
Like a wrap.
You don't know
what that is, you stupid--
Look, Badi, you just
gotta take it easy, man.
All right?
Don't let it get to your head.
Kim already told me
that Sharon
is obsessed with you, bro.
Don't overthink it.
[sentimental orchestral
instrumental]
Well, have you guys
said "I love you" yet?
-No, bro.
-[Som scoffing] See?
-[controller thudding]
-[Badi groaning]
Dude, what the hell?
[Badi moaning]
[narrator] They call that
busting his chops.
[sports announcer speaking
indistinctly]
[phone buzzing]
Rostam!
[Sharon] Hey, stranger.
[giggling]
-[Badi] Are you ready?
-[Sharon] Mm-hmm.
Oh, you smell nice.
You got-- You got
the smell from here?
Yeah, I did.
[chuckling]
[Badi's voice cracking]
[narrator]
Ah, there is a new word.
There is that word again.
[whispering]
Uh, what's "taarof"?
[narrator laughing]
Look at that face.
Another lesson, shall we?
So, Shohreh assumed
Shirin didn't want more
because she was okay
being a little hungry
so that the family
had more to eat.
But a good host is okay
being a bit hungrier
so that
the guests are well-fed.
Wow.
A lot of family interactions
just made a lot more sense.
[Badi mumbling indistinctly]
"Too late."
They don't know much about
Canada's colonial exploits.
You see?
Yeah, yeah, I will.
[Sharon]
Where did you get those?
-A tree.
-Stop! Don't! Badi, stop it.
What, you worried
you're going
to mess up
your perfect look?
How dare you besmirch
my regal demeanor?
-Regal?
-Yeah.
Well, tell me,
Your Highness,
do you feel like
a commoner using the subway
to go to Finch
rather than calling a driver?
I like to see how my subjects
live from time to time.
Still don't want to
drive, huh?
I get nervous.
Well, in any case,
I'm still really glad
you came tonight.
You--
It meant a lot to me.
They make good food.
I'll be back for sure.
Well, maybe next time
we could go to your place?
[Sharon sighing]
I mean, I-- I still
haven't met your dad yet.
And with any luck,
you never will.
-Good night, Badi Joon.
-Good night.
Oh, remember to prep
for your interviews tomorrow.
I will.
Jeez, why does everyone
think I'm stupid?
[traditional Iranian
string music]
[Badi] Wow.
-Unbelievable.
-Don't touch it!
It doesn't say,
"Don't touch."
Yeah,
but it's an artifact,
you're not supposed
to touch artifacts.
There's tons of other
artifacts here that--
-Don't touch anything.
-It doesn't say anything!
I'm going to touch it.
It's beautiful, huh?
You know,
there's about
two and a half thousand
years of history.
That's multiple thousands.
An empire that invented
social welfare,
maternity leaves--
Shirin?
Those are words.
[Badi]
It's a poem by Rumi.
"Intoxicated
by the Goblet of Love,
two realms slip from my hand.
But mischief and deceit
have had no accomplishment."
And if you take
a step back...
it's a Sufi dervish.
-It's beautiful.
-Yeah.
[street din]
[bells jingling]
[couple laughing]
-Roonis at three o'clock.
-[Sharon] Huh?
Yeah, Roonis?
[narrator]
Here we go again.
Oh, yeah, for sure.
Uh, speaking of Irooni,
I wanted to ask you,
do you know much
about Persian poetry?
At one point, a little bit,
but I kind of grew out of it.
Grew out of it?
What's wrong
with poetry?
I don't know,
it just kind of felt like
some sort of
airy fairy distraction.
Distraction from what?
Speaking from experience,
all the stuff
that's happening back home.
Badi, you've been in Canada
for, like, 13 years.
This is your home.
One of the first things
someone asks you
when you meet them
for the first time is,
"Where are you from?"
It's not my home.
[Iranian woman] You know,
we are kind of like French.
There's a lot of French
in our language, so...
You see?
It's exactly
what I was talking about.
It's Tehranto Persian.
You do realize
I'm from Richmond Hill, right?
It's not about you, okay?
It's about the ones
that come here.
I'm sorry if the way
we walk and talk
isn't up
to your standards.
It's not about standards,
all right?
It's about owning
your look, all right?
Knowing your roots.
Coloured contacts,
nose jobs...
tweezing
our frickin' eyebrows.
Badi, you don't know
their experiences, okay?
People have their reasons
for wanting to fit in.
Nobody wants to be
a victim of racists.
What's more racist than
being ashamed of your own skin?
-Oh, come on.
-No, I'm serious.
You can't hate your origins,
you'll end up hating yourself.
You're overreacting,
we're all proud
of where
we come from, okay?
Just in different ways.
You seemed completely
disinterested
when I was teaching you about--
Teaching me?
Badi,
you don't need to mansplain
my own heritage to me.
When Iran
turned its back on us,
Canada opened
its arms up.
We should be grateful.
Canada only boasts
a multicultural image
-out of self-righteousness.
-So, leave!
Look here,
look how many brown, Black,
and yellow people
live here in Toronto.
Oh, we're super multicultural,
pay no attention
to the residential school
behind the curtain!
If that's how
you actually feel,
then maybe
you should go back.
Once there's a revolution,
I will.
I'm so tired of this.
You keep going on
about a revolution
that might never come,
a thousand kilometers away,
while ignoring
all these issues
right under your nose.
You talk like
you know what's best
for a country
you left 13 years ago.
It's not your place.
But you do live here now,
so maybe give a damn
about helping out
your own community here.
I'm--
Look, I'm sorry.
I didn't--
[Badi] I'm sorry.
I'm sorry
for unloading on you.
It's just, my emotions,
they get all bottled up,
and I don't know
what to do with them.
Well...
maybe it's a good idea
to explore your emotions a bit,
you know?
Instead of grumbling around
like an old man all the time.
[Badi scoffing] Yeah.
Sorry, that last
part was a joke.
-[whispering] Kind of.
-No, it's fair.
Look, it's tough.
Iranian men aren't supposed
to talk about emotions.
"Intoxicated
by the Goblet of Love"?
Iranian men open up.
I'm scared, Shirin.
Of what?
Of facing myself.
[sentimental orchestral
instrumental]
[Badi sighing]
Look, you wanted to ask me
what I was
most afraid of.
And just letting out
25 years of emotion...
and not knowing
what to do with all this...
built-up pain.
[Sharon] Listen...
I can't pretend
to know
what leaving Iran
and growing up here was like.
I'm not going to hold
your emotions over you.
[door clicks open]
Hi, Mom.
-[Tessa] Where were you?
-Out.
Where out-out,
Modar, every night?
-With who?
-Badi.
-Badi kieh?
-Mom, you've met him, like,
-three times already.
-The Persian guy?
What happened
to Adam the realtor?
-Good night, Mom.
-Maybe he can help you
get your certificate.
-[Zahra] Shirin.
-Holy--
Mamanee, how long have
you been standing there?
I didn't even
hear you.
[laughs]
[laughs]
Wait, no, Mamanee--
No, you can't say anything.
Okay? Maman can't know.
I don't know if I can be
a real estate agent.
[solemn music]
[chanting]
[sighs]
-Maman.
-What's up?
I have a bit
of a problem.
I was wondering
if you could help.
What is it?
Your exam?
No, no.
It's about Badi.
Oh, no.
What happened?
Nothing, nothing.
Everything's fine.
I just realized
that if I wanted
to keep moving forward,
I have to grow
with it.
Okay?
What are you
trying to say?
I want to have Badi over
for dinner this weekend.
And you want me to get
your baba out of the house?
-No, Maman--
-Out of town.
That's not
what I meant--
I don't know
if I can do this.
No, Maman,
like a family dinner
with you, me,
Mamanee and Baba.
-Well, Mamanee can't.
-Why not?
She has a heart
doctor appointment.
She's gonna be
with him all day.
Well, then you,
me and Baba.
[sighs]
Beben, azizem.
-I'm open with you dating.
-[Sharon] Yeah.
Well, as long as it doesn't
take your attention off
of your real estate.
But your baba
is old fashioned.
You know that,
he's not gonna approve
of Badi's background
no matter what.
Mom, I'm really
serious about this.
I like him a lot.
[sighs] That's your decision.
Honey, I stand by you
no matter what.
I'm just...
I'm worried that
he's not going to like him.
Well, that's between
you and your baba.
Just so you know.
I think
Badi's all right.
Thanks, Maman.
[exhaling]
[battle instrumental]
[elegant classical
instrumental]
[knocking]
-Hi. Mr. Moridi.
-Hey, Borat. Pleasure.
-It's Badi.
-That's nice. Come in.
Mm.
Oh, it's--
it's my dad's car.
Oh, you don't have
your own car?
Well,
I mostly use my bike.
Oh.
-This is for you.
-Oh, I see.
[Tessa] Badi Joon.
Nice to see you.
[speaking in Farsi]
Salaam.
-Please, just call me Tessa.
-[Badi] Okay.
[Tessa] Come on in.
Table is set already.
And Sharon will be down
in a minute.
Okay, great.
Thank you.
That seat
is for Sharon.
[Narrator] Well,
we are off to a good start.
[Sharon]
Sorry I'm so late.
[whispers] I was hoping it
would force you guys to talk.
[whispers] Yeah, good job.
Please,
help yourself, everyone.
Badi Joon,
help yourself, please.
I'm sorry?
Never mind.
It's-- It's really nice
to finally meet you.
Sharon's been telling us
a lot about you.
Really?
Yeah.
As of this last Monday.
[Narrator] Uh-oh.
She says you've been dating
since last Nowruz.
How come we're only
just meeting now?
Well, I-- I don't...
If it were up to me,
you would have known earlier.
-How do you mean?
-It's my fault.
-I thought you'd freak.
-Freak?
Why would I freak?
I'm cordial, I'm nice.
Right?
You're having
a good time, Badi?
-Yes, sir.
-See?
He's having good time,
I'm having good time.
Everybody's having
a good time, right?
[Narrator scoffs] Not me.
-I'm going to see myself out.
-[door slams shut]
So, when Fred
used to live in Rome,
he had
this pet squirrel.
Remember, honey?
Out of curiosity,
does your dad have another car?
No, actually,
that's the only one.
Mm. Oh.
I'm just--
I'm a big car man.
Oh. Nice.
But it's--
He got what he could.
-Mainly uses it for work.
-Okay.
Tessa, can you pass me
the salt, please?
You don't need salt, honey.
It's not good for your heart.
Badi's dad
is a really hard worker.
I think
you'd really like him.
He-- He delivers pizza.
It's not the most glamorous
job, but it's humbling.
I-- I just mean that he--
he makes enough to get by.
And he's not jaded
by having too much.
What about your mother?
No, sir.
She's unemployed.
Ah.
What's your last name
again?
Ala-- Alavi.
Oh, you're related
to the Alavis from Isfahan?
No, actually, my father's
from a small town, Lalejin,
just outside of Hamadan.
We knew someone
from Lalejin, didn't we?
Yeah, I think so.
Father's kolfat.
What does kolfat mean?
I don't miss having
helping hands around.
We actually had this chef
when we were living in Paris.
-Remember, honey?
-Tessa.
[Tessa] He used
to come by--
Badi doesn't
want to hear
about our boring stories
from abroad, you know?
-We have too much.
-Fred.
I'm sorry,
did I miss something?
No, you didn't
miss anything.
I'm just saving you
some time.
Because it's not going
to interest you.
Baba.
I don't think
that's necessarily true, sir.
What?
Let's just stop
beating around the bush, okay?
I mean, look,
you seem nice.
I don't know what you
expected here when you came,
but culturally
we're too different.
This is clear, right?
Tell me,
has your family been to Rome?
No.
-Paris?
-No, but--
-Dusseldorf?
-[Sharon] No.
But that doesn't mean
that they won't.
-Who's gonna pay?
-Actually, I will.
How?
[Sharon]
He's studying medicine.
-Oh, it means you're broke.
-Excuse me?
And you plan on flying
around the world with what?
-Your student loans?
-[Tessa] Fred.
Maybe you should just
take it easy.
Tessa, if a man
comes into our house
saying he's interested
in our daughter,
I expect him to be able
to provide for her.
-I can provide for myself.
-[Fred] Stay out of it.
Look, I get it.
Okay?
You're young,
probably in love,
but you need
to be pragmatic.
Both of you. Okay?
The truth is
that you're still a student
and pretty soon your parents
are going to be counting
on you,
especially considering
your father's line of work
and the fact that your mother
doesn't even have a job.
You know what? I don't have
to explain this to you.
-Screw it.
-[Fred] Excuse me?
I'm not going
to sit here
while you turn your nose
up against my family.
And at least
they're proud of
where they come from...
Fred.
What?
You think you know me?
You have no idea
what we've been through.
I know you're an Iranian man
who's ashamed of his own blood.
My blood? My blood.
What do you know about
my blood?
And why would I be
ashamed of my blood?
The Shah held court for us.
I'm not ashamed
to admit that
to the son of a damn kolfat.
-Baba.
-That's enough of that.
Thank you very much
for the amazing dinner.
-I'm sorry.
-You're saying sorry to her?
I'm just trying to be cordial.
What's your problem?
I have no reason
to be cordial with you, boy.
You know what?
Go fuck yourself.
Sir.
Get out
of my house!
-[Sharon] Badi!
-[Badi] I can't!
[Sharon] Come back!
You let him
talk to me like that.
I'm sorry!
Badi!
I'm sorry!
Come on.
I'm not going
to be around forever
and I don't want her
to be spending her life
without a provider.
I want her husband
to come from a strong family.
Hey, wait, Sharon.
Hey. Sharon!
[door slams shut]
[Tessa sighing]
[sorrowful instrumental]
[crying]
[Narrator] She missed him,
wishing they could just talk.
[phone buzzing]
But Badi couldn't bring
himself to answer,
drowning over the guilt
of his words at dinner.
It was cruel.
Sharon had never felt
pain like this before.
I've never felt pain
like this before.
[Narrator]
She was certain of it.
Yup. Definitely not.
[phone buzzing]
Hello.
[man on phone]
-You just called me.
-[line tone]
[Narrator]
That one was a butt dial.
[grumbles]
[Kim] It'll be okay.
You're gonna get through this,
I promise.
[Jess] Yeah.
And, you know, we'll help
you get back into things.
Here, give me your phone.
I'll download Tinder.
-Jess! Are you stupid?
-What?
If she's lucky, she'll see
Adam McSackling on there.
Okay?
He's a very successful realtor.
I need some air.
No, no, no.
You stay.
Sit there and don't move
until you figure out exactly
what you did wrong.
[sighs]
[rhythmic thumping]
Badi.
Bro.
I'm beggin' you, man.
Listen to me.
-What the--
-I dunno.
Bro, our interviews
are today.
You know that, right?
Kooft.
[Narrator]
Persian is a poetic language.
Here is an example.
To express love for someone
we say,
"Ghorbunet besham,"
which means, "I will
sacrifice myself for you."
So, the lack of poetry
says a lot when Badi says,
"Go "F" yourself,"
to Sharon's father.
[spitting]
I'm sorry.
You said what?
Bro.
This is our only shot.
[notification sounds]
Dude, I gotta go.
If he snaps
out of it--
Yeah, yeah,
I'll send him over.
Good luck, bro.
Thanks.
[door clicks shut]
So, I've been hearing
these voices in my head.
Is that normal?
-Yeah, I'll take one.
-Two empanadas.
No, just one, please.
Two empanadas
coming right up, sweetheart.
Uh, no.
Sorry, sir, just, can I have--
Okay. Two empanadas.
-These are on the house.
-[Sharon] Okay.
My mom owns this place,
so, no big deal--
[Sharon] That's nice.
Thank you.
No problem.
[delicate piano instrumental]
[man]
Treat 'em with respect.
Treats you
the same way.
Just like any tool...
you gotta take care
of it.
[road din]
You know why they got them
lights up there?
Uh... No.
'Cause they look nice?
To detract people
from committing suicide.
Pleasant.
Jesus.
What the hell
are you still doing here?
Kim said
not to get up until--
Get the hell out.
[knocking on door]
[sighs]
I don't know.
Maman Joon. This is not
your fault, okay?
I tried that
with her.
Badi Joon.
How do you do it?
I don't think
I can do that.
At least
not right now.
Yeah.
[pop-rock instrumental]
Hey, guys, do your part,
save your city.
Come on. Hey.
Save your city. No. Okay.
Oh!
Dude, save your city!
What the hell, man?
Dr. Urowitz.
I was wondering if I could--
Mr. Alavi,
I received your email
and unfortunately,
there's nothing I can do.
You had an interview
and you missed it.
Look, at least just give me
the chance to change your mind.
[sighs]
The parking garage
is five minutes from here.
And we walk
at my pace.
All right, well sir, growing up
in Iran was really tough.
We never really had much,
we were under constant
pressure.
And my family had to sell
everything on their backs
to get me here.
And now you're here.
What's your point?
Well, now they're old.
I really can't do my residency
at any other hospital.
It has to be
in Toronto.
So, you shouldn't have
missed your interview.
Sir-- Sir, will you--
I-- I really need this.
You're absolutely horrible
at changing people's mind,
you do realize that?
Okay, well,
you have a wife, right?
A husband.
What's your point?
Well,
what if your husband, he--
He died.
Well, before.
We separated before he died.
You still have the ring?
Yes, of course,
it's a very nice ring.
Okay, well, what if
your husband separated on a day
you had
an important procedure?
Would you be able to carry out
on a clear mind?
Look, don't you want candidates
who can admit
when their emotions
might compromise their ability
to carry out
their work?
And who can take a step back
when it's right to do so?
Yes, of course,
but we're also looking
for people with conviction.
Which is exactly
why I'm here.
-Thomas.
-Dr. Urowitz.
You made it
to your interview, correct?
Yes, sir.
How well
do you know Badi?
[Thomas] We've met.
-Has Badi ever let you down?
-No, sir.
-I'm sorry. What is this about?
-[Dr. Urowitz] Hmm.
If he did, do you think
you'd give him a second chance?
Yeah,
I don't see why not.
Hmm. Badi,
you owe Thomas a beer.
Come and see me
on Friday.
Wait, Friday?
Uh, yes. I--
Listen, I'll look after
everything else.
Just do yourself a favour
and do not miss your interviews
-with the other hospitals.
-Thank you, doctor.
How was your night,
Sharon?
What's the matter?
You still mad at me?
No, she's just
probably stressed.
It has been
so cold outside. Yeah?
-May I be excused?
-Sure.
Sharon, please, sit down.
No.
This is
all your fault.
-Excuse me?
-Stop it.
You always fall
into the same routine
when someone
vaguely defies you.
I'm done
being afraid of you.
You made Badi say things
that he can't take back.
It meant losing
my boyfriend.
And losing
respect for you.
Hey, Sharon. Sharon!
You should go
talk to her.
Tessa, just don't
get involved, yeah?
Look at me,
look at me.
[Narrator]
[knocking]
Sharon.
Sharon, I...
You know, I used to be able
to hold you in my hand.
Your whole body
in my hand.
You were born early
and...
it was only
by a few weeks, but...
it scared us.
It scared me.
Those first nights
in the hospital,
I was just glued
to the incubator,
just watching
your little breaths.
And I wanted
to break through that glass
and I wanted
to bring you home.
I wanted
to protect you.
[sighs]
Life was really tough for me
and your mother in Europe.
So, we came
to Canada.
We thought we could
be ourselves.
You know? We made certain that
you knew how to speak Farsi,
you knew your language, your
culture, your roots, you know?
Until one day,
maybe you're five,
six years old and...
you came home
one day,
and...
you were hungry.
I opened your lunchbox.
Your food is still there.
And I said, "Shirin,
why didn't you eat your lunch?"
[pensive music]
And then you
burst out crying
and you put your face
in my arms.
And you say that the kids,
they're making fun of you.
They say
your food is vomit
and you felt so embarrassed
and so much shame.
And it wasn't
your fault...
to feel that,
it's my fault.
It just brought back everything
I went through,
what your mom
went through.
And I said, "No."
That's it. Enough.
Why are we trying
to hold on to something
and be something for people
who don't even care about us?
Huh?
And that was that.
We stopped
calling you Shirin.
We started
speaking English at home.
And every day
after that,
I did everything I could
to protect you.
But...
all I ended up doing
was just
driving you further away
and causing you more pain
than any of those kids
at that school.
I made
a lot of sacrifices
to protect you,
to protect our family.
And I don't regret
any of them.
Except at dinner
that night.
You opened up
your heart to us.
And I just
pushed you away.
[Badi] Look Thomas, thanks
for saving my ass back there.
[Thomas] Nah, man, you probably
would've done the same for me.
[Badi] Honestly,
I'm not too sure.
I just feel like-- like
I'm in this weird situation
where I got
conflicting views
from Iranians
that are born here
versus the ones that are
actually from there and...
I guess it just gave me
a bad view of Canadians.
Listen, my mom's Jewish
and my dad's Catholic.
So, I kind of grew up
with half the family
always being suspicious
of the other half.
I just-- I try
to keep things grounded.
Anyway, sorry about earlier,
I mean, I was trying
to catch up to Dr. Urowitz
and I did not mean
to smack all your stuff
out your hand, man.
I figured you really
had to be somewhere
if you were
just gonna, like,
pile drive me
and just keep on running.
Yeah.
What are these, anyway?
Yeah, there are
a bunch of condo proposals
going up
in the Persian District.
I heard about that.
-Are they going through?
-Probably.
But there is
a town hall meeting coming up.
You should come.
Man, look, we're losing
all of our
cultural touchstones
that make up Toronto.
Can I keep this?
Yeah. Yeah, all good.
I got lots.
Well, anyway, I'm this way.
But thanks again, man.
I owe you.
[Thomas] Yeah,
don't mention it.
[delicate piano instrumental]
[keyboard clacking]
[Badi] Oh, my brilliant base.
Oh, my warmth within.
Ode to my
fearless faith.
With pacing prospects
in peace.
In dearest disposition.
And distanced disaster.
Still the heart beats
much faster.
Oh, my shady shard.
Oh, my [indistinct].
[chatter]
Ode to my fright
of forlorn
with motionless mind, at war.
In distanced disposition
and dearest disaster,
still the heart beats
much faster.
Feeling exciting scares
and scary excitements,
the heart invites you
to a warm embrace,
with hopes
of one day
slowing its pace.
And yet,
still the heart beats
much faster.
-[Sharon] Okay.
-[Zahra] Uh-huh.
[Tessa] What?
Absolutely not.
Mom.
Oh, now I'm your mom?
I just find out you got
your certificate months ago.
You knew?
I thought you failed
and you needed more time.
I was giving
you space.
You keep twisting her.
You want to make her
your little clone.
[Tessa] Why leave Iran
if you wanted all of us
to keep pretending
we were still living there?
They went mad when
they were out of the country.
They turned their back on us.
You want her to be like them?
-Okay, Mom.
-"Them"?
You forced Farsi.
You forced Farsi on her.
You pushed her
into this doomed relationship.
Now you're encouraging
her to leave a real job
for this finger
painting fairy tale?
Hey, hey!
She's my daughter,
not yours!
Okay, that's enough, Mom.
Okay?
I'm done with you
controlling my life.
You're manipulative
and all you care about--
Tessa.
Sharon.
Dokhtarem, azizem,
I'm doing
all this for you.
Well, you never gave a damn
about anybody but yourself.
-[Sharon] You hid the good--
-Tessa!
Badi's pride helped me find
my real passions.
And it's not
real estate.
[screams in Farsi]
I loved him and I never even
got the chance to tell him.
[glass shatters]
-[Tessa] Fred?
-[Sharon] Dad?
-[Tessa] Oh, my God, Fred!
-[Sharon] Baba.
Feridun, azizem,
can you hear me?
Maman, call 911.
That'll take too long.
Help me get him into the car.
[dramatic music]
Patient
is 44-year-old male,
history of heart disease.
Suffered sudden
cardiac arrest.
Angiogram will offer
further details.
Good.
Thank you, Jackie.
You okay? You all right?
You're gonna be fine.
Just deep breaths,
Badi, deep breaths.
All right? That a boy.
All right.
Now, we'll let you handle
the sutures on this one.
For now,
you're an extra pair of hands,
just passing us anything
that I or any member
of the surgical staff ask for.
-You got it?
-Yes, sir.
All right. Good man.
Let's do it.
[sighs] Okay, thank you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy, easy.
I need you to--
I need you to remain
calm for us, okay?
-Not him.
-What's that?
Can I please
have another doctor?
-Not him.
-Fred, listen to me, okay?
Everything's
gonna be just fine.
This is Badi.
He's a resident--
[Fred] Different doctor.
[Dr. Urowitz] Can we get
him sedated, please?
You're dead.
You're so dead.
[Narrator] No,
I'm just kidding.
That's not
how it happened.
[tape rewinding]
Just one more doctor--
Can we get him sedated,
please?
We'll get you
to your family, sir.
I promise.
-You good to go?
-Yes, sir.
All right, let's do this.
On three, everybody.
Nice and gentle.
One, two, three.
[gentle Iranian folk song]
[song ends]
-[Kim] Sharon!
-[Sharon] Kim.
He just texted me.
-Hi.
-Hi.
-Is there any news?
-He's still in there.
-[Arash] Hey, Sharon.
-[Sharon] Hey.
Look, there's something
you should probably know.
-There's a slight chance that--
-Mr. Moridi's family?
Yes, doctor.
That's us. How is he?
Well, Fred's heart
showed a little more blockage
in the arteries
than we had at first thought.
And as a result, the operation
took a couple of hours longer
than we'd anticipated.
He did suffer some damage
to his left subclavian artery
as a result
of the heart attack.
But we were able
to clear
a nice little path
using some stents.
All in all, I think the--
the operation was a success.
So, he's all right?
Yes, yes,
he's all right.
[all sigh]
-Thank you so much, doctor.
-You're very welcome.
[monitor beeping]
I'm gonna go
for a walk.
Maybe I find
a balloon or something.
He'll be here
when you get back.
[Fred groaning]
No, wait, he's waking up!
[groggily] A balloon
is a good idea.
[chuckles]
Hi, Baba.
Hi.
You scared us.
I'm not going anywhere
anytime soon.
If you ever do that again,
I'll kill you.
[Fred] Mm...
that sounds nice.
[Fred chuckles gently]
[birds chirping]
[Iranian music playing]
Shirin.
Hi.
Hi.
I heard that you were...
It looks amazing.
Thanks.
I know I'm early,
but I can come back--
No, no, it's fine.
I wanted
to give you something.
Oh.
That's sweet.
You didn't need to.
I wanted to.
Poetry?
Yeah. You...
kind of sparked
something in me
that I didn't know
was still there, and...
I knew you were
doing calligraphy
so I thought
it might help.
Maybe I shouldn't have come.
I'm sorry.
-This is stupid. I'm sorry.
-Wait.
Why did you come?
-I promised you I would.
-What?
I told you that if you were
ever in a gallery, I'd...
Here I am.
-[Sharon] It's just--
-[Badi] I know, I know--
What am I supposed
to say?
You have every right
-to be angry at me.
-Don't.
-I'm sorry. I just--
-Sorry?
You left me.
You didn't think
to follow up after that dinner?
Are you kidding?
Every day.
Then where were you?
I missed you.
I really did.
You know,
but at the same time,
when you left
the way that you did, it hurt.
And it really pains me
to tell you all this
because I know you're
a tremendously sensitive soul,
but I have to tell you
how I feel.
You're right.
Before we met...
there was this part of me
that I hated.
Spending time with you
brought me new life.
You know
what's messed up?
Is that even after you left,
I still held out hope.
But you didn't show.
I texted you.
I called you.
I sent you a damn email.
I read every single
one of them--
Then why weren't
you there?
Because I...
I don't know.
I acted like an ass.
And-- And you are
an amazing person
who deserves
an amazing partner.
You don't get to decide
that for me.
I wasn't.
It was for me.
For years,
I've been trying to bury
how I feel--
Don't use your insecurity
as a scapegoat.
Just give me a chance,
okay?
You...
created inspiration for me.
And when I saw
our future get rattled, I...
I was broken.
I would have been
there for you.
Look, Badi, as hard
as things got for me,
all I wanted to do was run over
and make sure you were okay.
That's not
for you to do.
There were things
I still needed
to figure out for myself.
You were the one that told me
to come to terms with who I am.
And explore my emotions.
So, what?
You're seeing a therapist?
Well, no. I--
Well, in hindsight,
that would have made things
a lot simpler.
[laughs softly]
I'm doing poetry again.
[Sharon] Art as a therapy.
Everything does look great,
by the way.
Beautiful.
I'm sorry.
I'm happy you came.
A little early,
but still.
No, a little late.
I should finish
setting up
but you're welcome
to stay, obviously.
No, I mean,
I should probably get going.
I don't want
to make things anymore awkward.
No, no, no.
It's fine.
Look,
we're expressing ourselves.
It's healthy,
I promise.
But I should
warn you that...
this doesn't mean
I'm going to be chasing you.
That's fair.
The ball's
in your court.
Bye, Badi.
[whispers] Bye, Shirin.
[Narrator] It was a lesson
for them both
that self-growth isn't done
for another person.
It's done for oneself.
Hey, don't feel cheated.
I didn't lie to you.
The truth is,
this is a love story,
and one most of us
have known.
When they met, they were
but two budding blossoms.
And it was
by their time together
that they bloomed
in their time apart.
Yo.
So, what happened?
[Arash]
Who you callin', man?
[phone ringing]
[Sharon] Did you
forget something?
[lively Iranian music]