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When you buy a one-way ticket, you probably are certain why you're going.

And what you will be doing there.

But when the aeroplane flies towards the West

It's not only the seconds that turn back

You also turn back.

You turn so far back that all the old uncertainties return

Where am I going?

Why am I going?

Words were my way of making a living. Am I going there to become a mute?

How much English do I even know?

Yes, we'll hold on to them.

Keep your instruments with you in the car.

[guitar tuning]

-Yes. -You came from Kabul?

Is there a direct flight from Kabul to Oakland?

No, we went from Kabul to Dubai, then to Frankfurt.

We were in LA for a few days and then came here. And from Frankfurt to LA.

Yes -You came here from LA?

Well that's not far, is it?

So this is San Francisco.

[guitar strumming]

[whistling]

[music accelerates]

-He's in the shower. -Where's Raby?

- They said in an hour or two. - When are they coming to pick us up?

-OK. -It's warm.

-No. -Are you nervous?

- There's nothing to be nervous about. - I'm a little nervous.

- We'll think of something. - What are we going to say to Metallica?

-I'll tell him. -Tell Raby to hurry up.

He always takes so long. What does he do in there?

[knocking]

Hurry up! What are you doing in there?

Leave me alone! I can't have a moment to myself!

[humming]

Go! [singing in Russian]

Cut! Cut!

Where's the background track?

It was programmed in there, I don't know why it didn't play.

Where's Morad?

Morad!

Morad!

Is he singing in Russian?

You said he'd be singing an Iranian folk song.

This is a beautiful song and Jamshid is performing it fantastically.

Noone's going to understand -You'd get it if he was singing an Iranian folk song?

At least it'd be Iranian. This is an Iranian radio station.

Morad, check what's wrong with his keyboard.

My aim is to introduce the music of Iran's neighbors.

[keyboard autoplays]

Unfortunately Russia is no longer Iran's neighbor.

OK, turn it off for now. Morad, get out of there.

Are you ready? Let's take it from the top.

Go! [keyboard autoplays]

[singing in Russian]

Well done! Well done!

It needs a bit more practice. I'll practice with him later.

With your permission Mr. Afshar, I'm going to go to my office to do some work.

[door shuts]

[door opens]

Young man, do you know how to wrestle?

No.

How long have you been working here?

Two years.

-Two years? -Yes.

You're built for wrestling! I realized when I saw you behind the keyboard.

What a shame we wasted these two years.

What a shame.

[vacuum whirs]

[murmuring]

Reza, are you ready?

I'm memorizing.

You're not going to read from the notes are you?

No, I'm just taking the notes as back-up.

Sherbet, can you turn that off for a second?

I thought I'd take the notes into the recording room just in case.

Read exactly what I wrote for you to read.

- Don't even move one word. - I've memorized it.

Good morning, dear listeners.

I'm Reza Gerami.

Thank you for choosing to listen to The Great Dead, here on PARS Radio.

Today, I want to talk to you about Roque Dalton, the great Salvadoran poet.

Roque Dalton Garcia was born on the 14th of May 1939 in the city of San Salvador.

He is considered one of LatinAmerica's most well-known poets

He wrote emotionally charged, sometimes sarcastic and vivid works

Which dealt with life, death, love and politics.

As far as tragic poets' stories go...

- Are you listening to this? - Yes, it's very good!

Very good? Dad, he's talking about a dead Salvadoran poet!

We specifically told Mr. Royani that today was going to be different from other days.

Many are tuning in today because of Metallica.

What do you want me to do?

Do you realize how many commercials I arranged for today?

If we don't broadcast these commercials, we won't have a radio station anymore.

We can still broadcast the commercials.

Is anybody going to listen to this program long enough to get to the commercials?

And do you think 'Baba Jaan Pizza' could care less about who Roque Dalton was?

Roque Dalton said that poetry, like bread, is for everyone.

I'll leave you with one of his most brutally

heartfelt poems, "The Small Hours of the Night."

[atmospheric guitar]

When you know I have died, don't say my name.

It would only delay death and repose. Your voice,

the lookout of the senses will be a fragile lighthouse searching for my mist.

When you know that I have died, utter strange syllables and say:

Flower, bee, tear, bread and storm.

Don't let your lips discover my eleven letters.

I'm sleepy, I've loved, I have earned the silence.

Don't say my name, when you know that I have died

From the dark world I will come for your voice.

Don't say my name. Don't say my name.

When you know that I have died, Don't utter my name...

[keyboard jingle]

Italian and American pizza is one thing, but Baba Jaan Pizza is something else!

Baba Jaan Pizza is managed by Roger Rafaati with

a menu that's entirely designed to your taste!

Fenugreek and cheese pizza, Barbari cheese and onion pizza

Mixed shaami kebab pizza, carnation and kookoo sabzi pizza

And dozens of other unique and specific Baba Jaan pizzas!

Sohrab, do you think this is right?

Did you hear how he was reading that Roque Dalton poem with such emotion?

Do you think it's correct that it was interrupted by that awful commercial?

Hamid, we need these commercials.

Why can't you keep the commercials for when after the news is read?

Or after all that crap pre-selected music is played?

Fantastic! That was fantastic!

Everyone is going to buy that pizza now!

I requested one thing from you and you said you'd respect it.

I had one request for you as well!

Why do we need so many commercials? Everybody

already knows Metallica will be coming.

And that's exactly why our sponsors have agreed to advertise so much.

Sohrab, I can't concentrate on any of my programs

I spend a lot of time preparing with these kids.

They spend a week preparing for each program.

[audio drowned out by low tone]

[tuning]

[song begins]

I'm Siddique.

I'm Sulyman.

I'm Raby.

[Man] And together you're Kabul Dreams,

the very first rock band in Afghanistan.

Today you're in San Francisco

and you're going to meet the famous rock band Metallica

at a local Afghani radio station, right?

Or is it... what sort of station?

I think I understood it's PARS-FM,

is that correct? - It's Iranian, Iranian.

[Interviewer] It's Iranian?

- The station, yeah. - [Interviewer] Okay, good.

So, how did this all come about?

It's a long way from Afghanistan.

Yeah. Mr. Royani, who is producing shows in that program

and managing the radio station,

he invited us, actually,

and he's been planning this for a while now.

And he made it possible for us and for Metallica

to kind of be in the radio program

and then also jam together.

It's something that's amazing because, you know, Metallica

is the band we kind of grew up looking up to them

and to their music, I think not only us,

but everyone who is into rock and roll in the world

looks up to them.

They're a legendary band.

And now we're to the point where we're able to meet with them in

person and also jam with them,

and that is an honor for us, of course,

and also a big opportunity.

It's a dream come true, basically.

[Interviewer] Yeah, this is a big day for you.

[jingle]

Beautiful skin is the sign of a beautiful soul.

Doctor Jim Rakhshandeh specializes in your health and beauty.

Using laser therapy to get rid of unwanted hair on your face, neck, ears

Chest, back, stomach, ankles, arms, thighs, fingers, toes

And other parts of your body, with a special discount for Iranian ladies.

From now on, you can join the rank and file of those with self-confidence.

Dr. Jim Rakhshandeh is located in the heart of West End Hill Shopping Mall.

The contact telephone number is 510 990 5130.

Here's to the day when no Iranian woman will

ever have a problem with excess hair again!

[jingle]

We have Dr. Jim Rakhshandeh with us here in the PARS Radio studios.

Dr. Rakhshandeh, welcome.

Thank you very much. It's my great pleasure to be here.

The pleasure's ours.

You're a dermatologist with a practice right here in San Francisco.

Yes, my patients come to see me from all around the Bay Area.

They come from Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto and from beautiful San Francisco.

Can you tell me what your patients mainly come to see you for?

I treat all skin conditions. But I'm especially

interested in the removal of unwanted body hair.

Unwanted body hair.

Many of your female listeners will understand what I'm saying here.

Hair on your body always works completely the opposite of the hair on your head.

People sit and pray that the hair on their

head remains where it is and doesn't fall out.

But not you Mr. Royani. You are blessed with magnificent hair!

But body hair, well you spend so much time, money and energy trying to get rid of it.

Nobody wants body hair! Unless they are primitive of course!

Just out of curiosity Doctor, Are you fully Iranian?

Yes.

50 percent Azerbaijani, 50 percent Persian. 100 percent Iranian.

How come your name is Jim?

Well my name is Jahanbakhsh. As you can

imagine, it's quite a mouthful for non-Iranians.

So I chose Jim as my professional name.

I see.

[notes on a guitar]

Well that went fairly smoothly in spite of your best efforts to ridicule him.

Yes.

He's a charlatan.

Do you know how much money he has given us today?

No I don't. I'm going to go get some work done.

What time is it in Gorgan right now?

- Quarter to twelve. - Well then this clock is incorrect.

Yes, it's incorrect.

Why does a radio station need eight different

clocks from eight different countries?

Why would we need to know what the time is in Tokyo right now?

Because in case a Persian speaking listener has tuned in to our radio station in Tokyo

And we want to say "Good morning countryman"

we have to be sure that it's morning in Tokyo.

We have to make sure it's not nighttime when we say "Good morning countryman."

What time is it in San Francisco now?

Don't look at the wall! What does your wristwatch say?

12:15 -12:15. So what does this mean?

It means that I'm in SF, and the more I move this way, I go toward the night.

Right now where I'm standing is midday. In Hawaii, for example, it's early morning.

Moving this way, we get to Texas, then to New York and it's the afternoon.

-Correct? -Correct.

We arrive in Europe. It's nighttime.

We get to Iran. We get to Indonesia. It's the middle of the night.

We arrive in Sydney. In Sydney right now it's tomorrow morning.

As your country's first rock band,

what would you say is your responsibility to your country

and to your people?

[Sulyman] Well it comes with responsibility because

you have to be an information resource

besides just playing music

because you have to introduce a type of music that you play,

which is new,

and introduce it in the right way.

So this was one of the main responsibilities that we had,

just tell people that what we do is,

we're playing this type of music, and it's not wrong.

On most days, you sit in the recording room.

Now that you need to pay special attention

You're sitting here listening to me talk about clocks?

All of you need to be on standby today! We may

have to rearrange the programs with short notice.

They could arrive at any minute!

I thought they're coming in the late afternoon.

Yes, they were supposed to come in the afternoon but because we didn't have time

for Metallica, we told them to come in the morning.

Of course they'll come whenever they want! Do you understand?

We have to always be ready!

In fact, you all should've slept here in the

station in case they came over early in the morning.

-Get to work! -Well we didn't know this.

Jamshid, don't you have to practice?

We're going to go somewhere quiet and practice.

And when you're ready, we'll go back to the radio station and perform it on air.

Can we get Morad to play the keyboard?

No we can't!

How can you expect me to allow him on one of my programs?

Do you understand that everything he does gets on my nerves?

His comings, his goings, his behavior

The way he plays that instrument, the way he sings

The way he reads those commercial jingles

He's a jackass. An idiot.

[slow jingle]

[seagulls call]

OK. We'll practise calmly here and go back to the radio station.

Go ahead and start.

With the pre-recordedbackground music or without?

If you have the background music, play it.

- I don't have it. - Then just play it as it is.

[plays keyboard and sings in Russian]

Didn't you just hear the translation of the song?

What's it about? It's about a peasant girl whose lover is a soldier under threat

Think about the girl's emotions. You're singing from the pit of her soul.

If you just think of this simple emotion, your singing will improve.

Now concentrate and go again.

Why can't Morad play the keyboards?

You're irritating me now. No, he can't!

It's the radio. Nobody can see who's singing and who's playing.

I don't care!

When you sing and play it, the feeling is different and listeners will get that too.

Full of courage, take it from the top.

[singing in Russian]

Well done! [sings along]

Do you want some of this?

No thanks.

I'd recommend you use some while in this car.

Don't touch anything except yourself and the keyboard.

[jingle]

Glory of Persepolis Restaurant, serving a wide variety of traditional Iranian food

Located in City Center Food Court. And now serving our new creation

Cyrus' koobideh burger!

Cyrus' koobideh burger is a mixture of a 100

percent Iranian koobideh kebab and a burger

That's fresh, halal, Kosher and delicious.

And now, to celebrate our 15th anniversary, a Cyrus koobideh burger combo...

-No. A super-sized combo. - Super-sized.

[Interviewer] I'm curious, what impressions do you have

of our country, here.

Well, I mean, there's differences and similarities,

I would say.

Because we recently arrived and the first and biggest difference

that I noticed so far is that there's no limitations.

You don't feel having any kind of limitations

of doing something here.

Would you believe there are still some people listening to Pars Radio?

I couldn't believe that among the successful

Persian-speaking residents of Silicon Valley

There'd still be some demented and idle people who'd want to send me life stories

And episodes for the 'Iranian Days' program that I wanted to broadcast.

They told me what I was doing was vain, but several stories were sent in.

Do you know the strange thing?

There was one common thread running through all the stories

Loneliness.

Sad. But real.

A black and white penguin is walking in the backyard.

He is pecking at a piece of rubber left from

the inflatable pool that was pierced last year.

He keeps walking back and forth.

A woman, holding a phone, takes a peek at the penguin from behind the curtains.

Another woman is heard at the other end of the line:

Woman operator: Maryland's Humane Society. Hi, how can I help you?

Woman: Hi. There is a penguin in our... "my" backyard.

Hi. I don't think I understand. May I ask where you're calling from?

A penguin. Penguin, the polar bird. I'm calling from Towson.

A penguin? Are you sure ma'am?

Yes! I saw it half an hour ago. He's now walking in front of me in my backyard.

-Really? -Yes!

What does it look like?

Black. Just like any other penguin. Black on the back and white on the stomach.

Please hold the line while I see if there are any reports of a lost penguin.

Ok.

The woman peeks through the window again.

The penguin is not there. She opens the door.

The penguin is lying on its stomach under the barbecue.

As soon as he sees the woman, he gets up.

The woman closes the door. The penguin

comes to the window. He stares at the woman.

Woman operator: I checked. There have been no reports of a lost penguin.

Woman: But it's right in front of me.

Maybe you're mistaken ma'am.

He's staring at me. He's right by the window.

I think you should try to keep calm ma'am.

Rest a bit and look again. Maybe he'll be gone.

What are you trying to say? That I'm crazy? Or

do you think I don't the difference between a

pigeon and a penguin just because of my acc

[brooding guitar]

Not at all! I didn't mean to disrespect you. I'm just saying you might be tired.

We're really far from any polar regions and

as I'm sure you know, penguins don't even fly!

Listen to me, I'm not tired. And I have a lot to do today.

Please transfer me to your supervisor or

whatever he is called. I need to talk to him.

A long continuous beep is heard. The line is disconnected.

The woman bangs the phone on the table fiercely.

The penguin is pecking at the glass.

The woman puts the receiver on the table. She opens the fridge.

She takes out a piece of fish.

She pulls the curtain aside. The penguin is standing behind the door.

The woman throws the fish out the window.

The penguin runs toward the fish

Pecks at it a bit, doesn't eat it and goes away.

He bends his head down toward his white stomach.

The phone starts ringing. The woman picks up the phone.

- Woman: Hello? - Katy: Hey Sarah, good morning.

Hi Katy, I'm so happy you called.

What's wrong? Why aren't you at work?

I wasn't feeling well.

Why weren't you feeling well?

This isn't about Brian anymore. There's a penguin in my backyard.

- Penguin? - Yes. Trust me. He's taking a nap now.

Where did he come from?

I don't know. I called the Humane Society and they didn't know either.

What are you going to do with it?

I don't know. I called Brian to come over and help. Penguins are not wild, are they?

Why on earth would you call Brian? Why don't you just let go?

What would you do if he wasn't there at all? You're just humiliating yourself!

Katy, please. I couldn't think clearly. I had to tell someone.

You could have called the Police!

I'm scared. They might kill him.

I don't think they will. Penguins are expensive. It's not like it's a dog. Right?

Yes. They must be expensive.

So they'll just come and take him away. With respect and maybe some morphine.

The woman knocks on the window with her fingers. The penguin wakes up.

He responds to her knock by knocking back on the glass with his beak.

OK. You go back to your work and I'll go call the Police.

Listen, I want you to promise not to call Brian again. He's getting married.

I know. I'll try.

Don't just try, promise! Forget about him.

OK, but you don't understand. It's not as simple as you think.

It is! And let me know later what happened with the penguin.

It's ot! Sure. Bye.

The woman hangs up the phone. She opens the door.

The penguin is still staring at her. The woman steps aside from the doorstep.

The penguin waddles inside the house and stands beside the table.

The woman gently pets the penguin on the head.

The penguin pecks at her palm. The woman pulls her hand back.

The penguin rubs himself on her stomach. The woman sits on the floor.

She caresses the penguin under the neck.

And that concludes another segment of Iranian Days here on PARS Radio.

Iranian Days, where we read your stories of life here in America.

[jingle]

Glory of Persepolis Restaurant, serving a wide variety of traditional Iranian food

Located in City Center Food Court. And now serving our new creation

Cyrus' koobideh burger!

Cyrus' koobideh burger is a mixture of a 100

percent Iranian koobideh kebab and a burger

That's fresh, halal, Kosher and

delicious.[drowned out by atmospheric guitar]

- I bought your book last week in LA. - Which one?

"The Long Road Home".

It's a great book.

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

It's fantastic.

- I read "Last Monday" when I was in Kabul. - That's Mr Royani's masterpiece.

Excuse me for a moment. I'll be back and we'll go to lunch soon.

Come with me for a minute.

[door opens]

-Why are you lying? -What do you mean?

You've never read his book.

You've been getting on my nerves the whole day. What's the matter with you?

Enough guys!

When he's supposed to open his mouth, he's quiet.

And when he's supposed to be quiet, he's bitching.

- When did you read the book? - What the hell's the matter with him?

Stop it now! This isn't the time or place for this.

What gives you the right to talk about books?

Why are you kissing my ass?

Can't you see it's very unattractive?

Why do you have to talk about my books? Did anybody ask your opinion about books?

I expected better from you. Have you even read my books?

-Have you read them? -Yes.

-You've read my books? -Yes.

It's because you spend your time reading my books

that you don't manage to get work done here!

What are you eating?

Let me see.

- Let's halve it. - You can have it, I don't want it.

[sparse guitar]

The first rule of wrestling: Watch your back.

The second rule: Keep your balance.

The third rule: Attack first.

Always!

Now repeat it.

The first rule: Watch your back.

The second rule: Keep your balance.

The third rule: Attack first.

Always!

Nothing is more manly than wrestling.

True.

You're learning.

[guitar music]

I didn't want anyone to come to the airport,

but my brother insisted. [Voiceover]

I was staring at the endless darkness of my country's wilderness for the last time,

When he said: 'Lucky you for leaving. You'll be relieved'.

I thought about how much I'd miss him.

He said: 'I wish I was in your shoes. I belong over there'.

I don't know where he was talking about

He belonged anywhere but the dark cellar under

the stairs leading to the our house terrace

Whose walls trembled from the sounds of his guitar and his screams,

While my mother's body trembled from the fear of the neighbor's complaints.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

I'd work half the year doing anything. I'd even work as a labourer

I'd spend all my money on buying tickets to see

Metallica. I'd follow them from city to city.

That's all? Your only dream is to see Metallica from up close?

Lucky you.

Metallica is my voice. They screamed whatever they didn't let me scream.

It's the voice of all my generation.

And what's your dream?

I had no desire to continue arguing about the so called Lost Generation.

I stared out at that dark wilderness and thought to myself that

I don't have any dreams.

Heart of a lion, young man.

It's a big day today Sulyman.

Indeed it is!

They told us they'd be here in the afternoon.

When did they say?

Late afternoon.

- I'm a little nervous. - Why are you nervous?

You shouldn't be stressed out.

Californians are never stressed, they're always excited.

You should say you're excited.

You should be excited! I'm really excited.

We all are.

I had no dreams and that's how my little

brother's dream became my dream. [Voiceover]

[bright music]

I wrote four novels while I was in Iran and they were all published.

And when I came to America, I wrote my first collection of short stories.

I wrote four novels in Iran,

and when I arrived to United States I wrote my first

collection of short stories.

So, this book you've published,

your collection of short stories, Long Road Home,

this is your first work

published in English.

This must've been very exciting for you.

- The Long Road Home... - I understand the questions.

You're here to translate the answers.

He understands the questions. You only translate the answers.

Um...

[Mr. Afshar] This is Kyle. Your wrestling coach.

He's the best in the Bay Area.

I trained him.

Now go get to work. - Let's go.

Get out of here.

So, in addition to your writing, you are also serving...

This is your job now, as the director of programming

at Pars Radio,

Yes. the Bay Area's Persian-speaking radio station.

Yes. Now...

Sorry, go ahead. - [Royani] No, no, sorry, yeah.

No, I just wanted to say that today

you have invited the famous band Metallica to come here

to be a part of one of your programs.

How did that come about?

Basically what I'm saying is that what I find interesting is that

They're the symbols of two countries, keeping

in mind the historical and political events

That recently occurred, I think it's interesting

to bring these two groups together to jam.

And I hope it'll happen.

Um. They are representative of two countries

and after all these recent events between these

two countries

I thought it would be really interesting

if these two bands...

With considering, eh,

the history and politic...

With considering, yes.

With considering what?

History and politic...

With considering history and politic, that, eh, just,

what happened

in the history

after September 11,

what just happened in New York,

after that US army just attacked to the Afghanistan.

That's why I just felt it's going to be, eh,

very...

How do you say "special"?

Special.

Very special.

That a band from Afghanistan and a band from America

without war, without

violence,

with peace, with culture,

with the way of, eh...

Kindness? - Kindness.

The way of kindness. Kindnesses?

Kindnesses.

Can with each other and beside each other

Sorry. Can with each other,

beside each other, play. Play together.

You know Bill Clinton, as I know, he plays the clarinet.

No? Or...

[Reza] A sax.

A saxophone, yeah. A saxophone.

He plays saxophone.

You can consider, for example, all over the world,

around the world,

all the politicians could play an instrument with each other.

For example the supreme leader of Egypt or Iran or India

or the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, they could play,

kind of, percussion for example, you know?

Was really really nice, you know?

To just play with each other and being on stage,

and we could have a kind of festival

based on this idea

for all this politicians to just play and having peace.

Because that's a way of difference between culture

and relation.

Relation between the cultures. - [Interviewer] Yes.

I love this world, you know?

I love the world of culture. And art.

The most important thing to remember is wrist control.

Without it you will lose to your opponent.

Do you understand?

You, your name?

[Reza] Reza.

Clear these chairs.

Once I get you into the clinch you'll be doing

the hand striking. [claps]

You, your name?

[Morad] Morad.

Help him out, move it.

You, here.

You, here.

Face him.

Face each other.

Right now you're in the neutral position.

I'm gonna put you into the clinch.

Get close. Put your hand on his head. Grab his elbow.

Put your hand around his head. Grab his elbow.

You are now in the clinch position.

[cymbal tap and drum roll]

Bring me the other one.

Thank you.

Yashar, there's only one bass guitar?

There's one bass guitar, two guitars and one drum set.

They told us there'd be one drum set, two bass guitars and two guitars.

Well they told me you'd bring your own instruments and to get an extra guitar.

-Do you wanna have a go? -Yes.

Who's on next?

Yashar, who's on next?

Mr. Royani and Jamshid.

-Which program? -That Russian song.

-And after that? -Jamshid again.

What program?

A brief history of sending monkeys into space.

Jamshid, where's Reza?

He's smoking outside.

Go and tell him to come to Mr. Royani's office.

He told me he doesn't want to be disturbed right now.

Go and get him.

And you don't need to memorize those notes on space monkeys.

- We're doing something else instead. - Does Mr. Royani know?

- Yes he does. - I don't want him to get upset.

He told us to always get the final word from him.

Go and get Reza.

Why aren't we doing the monkeys in space story?

Because Miss Iran USA has agreed to come and talk to us.

-With me? -No! Go and get Reza.

[knocking]

Come in.

- I said I didn't want to be disturbed. - I know but I have to speak to you.

I'm listening. Close the door.

[door shuts]

I just got off the phone with Leila Shahrestani.

Am I supposed to know who that is?

Leila Shahrestani! The beauty queen. Miss Iran USA!

They choose the Iranian queen here in America?

Where do they choose the Philippine one?

- She's agreed to come and talk to us. - Talk to us about what?

- About how she became Miss Iran USA. - When is she coming?

-Right now. -Right now? [knocking]

Come in.

Go to this address and pick up a lady called

Leila Shahrestani. Just ring the doorbell.

Wait a minute! Why am I just hearing about this now?

Because it just got confirmed. This is more

interesting than monkeys being sent to space.

Jamshid has been preparing for a week. I gave him a lot of reading material.

Yes but we can't make Leila wait around too long.

Jamshid has been memorizing lines for the past week.

Listen, this woman is probably one of the most famous Iranians in America right now.

- We can't let this opportunity pass. - Please sit down for a minute Miss.

Can you please tell me the meaning of having an Iranian beauty queen in America?

It's a talent contest to choose the most beautiful and intelligent Iranian woman.

Well thank God we don't have to worry about the

most beautiful, intelligent woman being chosen.

Until next year, yes!

-When is she coming? -Right now.

Why didn't you tell me before?

Because I just found out now and I knew you'd make a fuss.

So you're hiring all these young people as

interns, getting them to work and then you pull the

plug on them just as they're about to go

I didn't give them all this work. You did!

Why is he still standing here?

Go.

And we'd like you to do the interview with her?

-What do you want me to do? -The interview.

I've written all the questions. If you want to add anything, you can.

Just ask her how long she has been in

California, if she's proud of being Iranian.

Are you mocking me?

It'd be interesting to have a famous writer like

you interview a woman who Iranians look up to.

[door opens]

Are you ready?

-Can Morad play the keyboards? -Do what?

- Can Morad play the keyboards? - I didn't tell him anything.

I didn't have time to practice.

Why didn't you have time?

I was preparing for the monkeys in space program.

And?

And that got cancelled because Miss World is showing up.

She is not Miss World!

I need more practice.

-I'll still sing the song. -Thank you.

Katyusha is a type of rocket artillery first built by the Soviet Union during WWII

Many Iranians are familiar with these weapons from the Iran-Iraq War

In this war, both sides used Katyusha in their battles.

But what were these rocket launchers named after?

Katyusha is the name of a woman.

Not a particular woman. But rather it's a pet name for the Russian name Yekaterina.

These weapons, however, were named after a song called Katyusha.

This is a Russian wartime song composed in 1938 with lyrics by Mikhail Isakovsky.

It's a story of a girl longing for love, who

is a soldier serving on the border far away.

It was first sung by women bidding farewell to Russian soldiers going to the front

against Nazi Germany in the summer of 1941.

The song soon became popular throughout the Soviet Union.

[keyboard playing]

[sings in Russian]

[song continues on radio]

Sorry Miss Queen, but you do know this is a radio program you're going to be on?

Yes I know.

Nobody can see your crown on the radio.

They told me people may want to take pictures

with me, that's why I wore my official attire.

Mr. Royani is supposed to be interviewing me.

Do you know when Metallica will be coming?

No.

I've no idea.

[drowned out by atmospheric guitar]

What's this for?

Is this the computer input?

Yes but right now it's working on batteries.

The background track we heard is already in the keyboard?

Yes.

So what were you playing?

I was playing along with the background track.

I had recorded the background track before.

But what you doing right now?

You don't understand. I had to pre-record

the background track and play the main melody

Because it's obvious that two people can't play the keyboard at the same time.

This way it's much more pleasant and that's why I think you enjoyed it maybe?

By the way, if there is one person here who understands, it's me!

Never say that I don't understand. Even when I don't understand.

Do you understand?

So it was while you were a student that you were discovered by a modeling agency?

Yes, I was out for lunch and this lady approached me and asked if I was a model.

I said no. She asked if I was interested to

audition for a cosmentics brand photo shoot.

I agreed and went and I got the job. It all took off from there.

I see.

What did your parents think about all this?

They've always supported me. But they insisted on me finishing my studies.

But when I finished university, I decided to concentrate on modeling full-time.

But my plan is to become a pharmacist, because

I know I can't rely on my looks forever.

So you'll eventually leave modeling aside and focus on being a pharmacist?

-Yes. -I see.

How did it feel to become Miss Iran USA?

It was an amazing. I felt like I was representing

all Iranian woman when I was on that stage.

How so?

Because I had to compete with many other amazing Iranian women

And when I was on stage, it felt as if every

single one of them was standing with me.

I was very emotional.

Indeed.

I understand that these contests are not all about beauty and looks.

Each contestant has a particular talent that they display to the jury.

What was your particular talent?

Poetry.

-Excuse me? -I'm a poet.

Do you want me to read you one of my poems?

No.

[woman sings Ave Maria ]

Hi Lisa, it's Reza from Pars Radio.

I have left a few messages today for you and

wanted to check in with you about the TV station's interview

request with Metallica.

And also to reconfirm that the band will be arriving at the

station today sometime between 4 and 6 as agreed.

Please get back to me whenever you get a moment.

Thank you so much. Bye.

Thank you so much.

-You're welcome. -Go.

If you carry on pouting, we'll get that little kid to replace you.

Don't get cocky, there's only one bass guitar.

Sulyman's the only one jamming with Metallica.

- What are you saying? - They've only brought one bass guitar.

So you fixed it in a way that it'd be just you jamming with them?

No! They said it was impossible to fit two

drum kits but they'd get an extra bass guitar.

- Where is it then? - They said they'd get it.

How long have you been working here?

Not long. I was in Los Angeles working for a law firm for a few years.

Then I got fed up and Dad told me to come back up here and help him with this

Come in.

- We only have one bass guitar here. - What do you mean?

There’s only one bass guitar here and that is Siddique’s.

I had asked for another one to be here for today.

Now Yashar tells me there was no such request made.

But we said we’d only get one guitar and use the band’s drums and bass guitar.

No. We agreed that we couldn’t fit 2 drum sets

in the room but have 2 guitars & 2 bass guitars.

Why would we need two bass guitars?

Because when Metallica show up, there will be two bands in the room.

Two bands would need two guitars and two bass guitars.

But I’ve never heard of people playing a set with two bass guitarists.

I see. Sorry you never heard of this. When

Metallica come, I'll be sure to let them know.

[strumming]

After that turbulent August

With your anger buried in the ashes of summer

Oh my Motherland, Oh my Iran

Oh my Motherland, Oh my prison.

The flames of the sun are glowing,

Under the storm of a Red Revolution

Like a Fadayi marching onwards with bloody rage

Through the iron, smoke, plowing and tilling.

The Cup of Sorrow, will plumet, will plumet, will plumet

The plains will be coveredwith flowers of blood,

This is the spring of the people's blood

And it's bringing flowers

The spring is bringing Cercis flowers...

[whistling]

[urinating]

For God's sake!

Hi Lisa, It's me again, Reza from Pars Radio.

So I have called you several times already today.

Now we're getting kind of worried.

We haven't heard back from you.

Just checking to see if you have any more information

on what time Metallica will be arriving here.

Please give me a call back, thanks.

We need another bass guitar for today.

What time is the music store open until?

Until 9pm.

How much does a bass guitar cost?

I'm not sure.

I don't have cash.

-I'll go get some from Miss Maral. -No.

- Put it on your credit card. - My credit card?

Yes!

-Do I have a credit card? -I don't know.

I don't have one.

Go get it, we'll get the money from them later.

OK.

That you can get for around $150 or so, that's pretty good.

Has couple of different sounds with the different electronics.

Has the look of an old bass.

Let's see, there's something else over here

that could be pretty good.

This type of thing.

You can just put that one over there and I'll hand this one

over to you.

You can just lean that up there.

That one also is sort of...

You know what?

I think, give me the one that is, like,

the least expensive one. - Okay.

And it's not important what it is.

Okay.

Metallica haven't arrived and we're running out of programs.

Basically I need you to go on air with me

- Do you speak Assyrian? - Of course, I'm Assyrian.

I know you're Assyrian, but do you speak it clearly and fluently?

I speak it clearly and fluently.

Fantastic. Listen, I'm going to give you a

story that I wrote and you're going to learn it

And then we're going live on air and you're

going to read it in Assyrian for the listeners.

Why?

Because it's interesting and original. It's never been done before.

But I don't think many Assyrians listen to the programs of this radio station.

I don't think so either.

It's been barely a few hours since I met you

I've said barely a few words to you since

My thirty-something years seem wasted, wasted for not having met you before

One hundred years in the gutter, that's how long I'll wait

With the rats and sludge, for you to whisper my name

Miss Maral, one hundred years in the gutter...

[brooding guitar]

I wrote it for you

I want to take you to Kabul one day.

I want to show you my hometown.

My hands are shaking.

-Mr. Royani, they're not here yet! -Who?

Metallica!

They'll be here.

We're running out of programs.

Don't worry, I was just about to go on air.

-Iranian Days. -Again?

What do you mean again? Yes!

Everybody's waiting for them.

They'll be here. Don't worry.

It'll be a catastrophe if they don't show up!

They promised they'll be here, they'll be here.

Dad, why aren't they here yet?

They're celebrities. They take their time.

Maybe they won't feel like it and won't come.

You think they're doing something important right now?

No. They're all probably sitting at home watching television.

Welcome to Iranian Days, where you tell us your stories of life here in America

Today's guest is Miss Sherbet. Welcome to the program Sherbet.

As I understand, this is a story you wrote about your mother?

That's correct.

Would you like to tell us a little about her?

If you'd rather not, you can just start with the story.

If it's Ok, I'd like to read the story in Assyrian.

-Are you Assyrian? -Yes.

-From which city? -Tehran.

How many years have you lived in San Francisco?

25 years.

-Does your mother live here too? -No.

This is your story and you can go ahead and tell it to us in Assyrian.

I hadn't written a letter to my mother. years that It had been twelve

Since then I'd moved to this city. Well not exactly this city.

I’d moved to Oakland.

Twelve years ago I was forty-seven years old.

I don't remember how old she was.

This city is a narrow city. There is water on both sides.

In the northern part of the city, it gets even narrower.

So narrow that fish can jump from the water

of the eastern side to the water on the west.

A ridiculous joke is very common in this narrow city which says

That once, a tightrope walker came to town and while he was walking on the rope

Both ends of his balancing poles weren't in the city.

It's not funny, but when you live 12 years in

a narrow city, you'll start to laugh at it.

I put a hundred dollar bill in the envelope for

my mother with a picture of myself and Samuel.

The only thing I needed to do was write the letter. A new letter after twelve years.

It is seven years since I've moved in with Samuel. Samuel works in a bank

And his aunt used to be my boss.

I will write to my mother that Samuel's aunt loved me very much

And I thought that would have been very helpful in my career progression.

I know that I'll miss my mother when I start writing to her.

All these twelve years, I kept telling myself:

"One day I'll write something for my mom. I will

write to her when I somebody and I will tell

her that all these years being apart were worth it.

Sometimes I thought that I'd be going to see my mother soon

And writing isn't necessary. Last night it was very hot.

Samuel was shaking his frozen soda can to make it a little more fluid and drinkable.

From time to time he was rubbing the can to

his neck to cool off and made an awwh sound.

I should write a letter to my mother one of these days, I said to him.

Is your mother still alive?

He asked while he was shaking the can.

I didn't know. I never thought that my mother may die.

I went for a walk by the shore in San Francisco.

In the Narrow city you are never more than twenty minutes from the water maximum.

And it's pleasant to be this close to water

It helps your spirit.

It really does.

Twenty minutes to get to the water

And the thing is...

In the northern part of the city,

Where I live

The distance is even less.

Blink your eyes and you're there.

[jingle]

Do you need treatment? Lack of appetite?

Dryness? Burning? Inflammation? Infection...

She hasn't finished yet!

There's a treatment for lack of appetite?

Does he also cure dishonesty? [dark guitar]

Does he cure buffoonery?

Does he cure the stateless? Does he cure filthiness?

Does he cure motherfuckers too?

Can he cure me?

Can he see that I'm trapped here?

Who is this doctor that cures? Who is he?

Reza, so you'll take the boys home?

Goodbye.

Goodbye Miss Maral.

I'll just clean up a little and we'll leave.

What are we going to tell people now?

Miss Maral left too.

At least she gave me a little smile in the end.

What are you talking about?

I wrote her a poem.

Where's the band at?

They are in the waiting room.

In the waiting room. And Hamid?

- He's coming. - He's coming. Okay.

Hey, you guys must be the band. I'm Lars.

I'm Sulyman.

Nice to meet you. Hey.

- I'm Seddique. - I'm Lars, nice to meet you.

- I'm Raby. - Hey.

Sorry I'm a little late,

we were over in the studio, over in Marin, recording

and everybody's running a little late

and it has been a little crazy.

And the fellows are still over there

so I decided to come over by myself

and I'm also the one who knows you guys the best

and I really wanted to be here so thanks for having me.

[Kabul Dreams] Thank you so much, thanks for coming.

This is so cool. You wanna...

I guess we're still waiting, right?

So you wanna sit and chat for a couple of minutes?

[Kabul Dreams] Sure, sure.

[Reza] Sorry, I'll be back, I should make a phone call.

Okay yeah, we'll be right here.

Mr. Royani, for the love of God, pick up!

[ringtone]

[silences phone]

I mean, when the Taliban were in charge you guys

were in different countries, right?

Yeah, we were all born in Kabul

but me and Siddique, we were refugees.

I was in Uzbekistan living during Taliban.

[Lars] Okay.

And Siddique was in Pakistan.

And after 9/11 basically we came back.

In different years, I came back in 2007 and I was looking for

musicians to make a band.

Sure.

Because we had a dream of going back to our country

and playing music. - [Lars] Sure.

That was the idea of naming the band Kabul Dreams

because that was a real dream for me to play rock and roll

in Kabul. Yeah.

[ringtone]

[silences phone]

Mr. Royani, where are you?

They're here!

I swear to God, they're here!

Come.

Can I hear the song we were talking about, Sudea...

Sedae man?

'Sedayeh Man', yup. And what does that mean?

It means my voice.

- My voice. - Yeah.

Cool.

Yeah, sure, why not.

Let's hear what you got, come on.

[chuckles] - You're in San Francisco.

Fire it up.

[song starts]

My pain, your pain, Is not incurable.

This is not an easy taleto tell or murmur about

It's like a bitter remedy, A moment of comfort and relief

My voice, your voice

The voice of Afghanistan

We move towards fate, We move towards peace

My pain, your pain, Is not incurable.

This is not an easy taleto tell or murmur about

It's like a bitter remedy, A moment of comfort and relief

My voice, your voice

The voice of Afghanistan

We move towards fate, We move towards peace

My voice, your voice

The voice of Afghanistan

We move towards fate, We move towards peace

[song flourishes and ends]

[Lars] Give it up for rock and roll.

That was cool.

[Sulyman] That was awesome.- [Lars] Yeah, that sounds great!

Your man's missing all the action, where is he?

Someone once said that they had thought of

suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge [Voiceover]

He pressed the help button which connects you directly to a psychologist

Do you know what sound he heard on the other end of the line for three seconds?

The sound of a can of soda being opened.

Pssssssss.

And then the sound of the drinking and swallowing of the soda.

[guitar music]