Original subtitles

(film projector whirring)

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(mellow drumming music)

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- [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.

(crowd chanting) (mellow drumming music)

(film projector whirring)

(romantic orchestral music)

(visitor knocking)

(door clicking)

(hand slapping)

(both speaking Persian)

- [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.

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

- [Narrator] Growing up, Badi's pastimes included politics,

working in his father's pottery shop,

(pot shattering)

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)

art. - Hey! Oh no!

No, no, no, no!

- [Narrator] And cooking.

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

(Sharon speaking Persian)

(Tessa screaming) (Fred speaking Persian)

- [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)

(gentle orchestral music)

(cellphone buzzing) - Sharon!

Sharon! - I know, I know.

- Azizam, you're gonna be late.

- It's fine, Mother.

- Why don't you just drive?

Maman (speaking Persian), 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.

(both speaking Persian)

- It's exam day.

- Oh!

- Hm, and she's going to do great.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Mamani, wait, no, I really have to go.

- Hey, who has two thumbs

who's going to ace this real estate exam?

Yeah, good, good.

- You're still gonna meet with Adam, aren't you?

- Yes, Mom.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- The realtor I set her up with.

- Shoot, my ride's here.

(Zahra speaking Persian) Wait, Mamani.

Thank you.

- [Tessa] Oh, Adam is such a good realtor, Ma.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Mamani, enough with the (speaking Persian).

- Good luck! (door clicking)

(Zahra speaking Persian) (door thudding)

(upbeat Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

- Excuse me, are you Iranian?

- Sorry?

- I was thinking maybe you're Iranian?

- Oh, no, I'm not, I'm Canadian.

(driver speaking Persian)

(tires screeching) (car horn tooting)

(driver speaking Persian)

- Hey, buddy, screw you!

(driver speaking Persian)

- 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.

(driver speaking Persian)

(brakes screeching) (soft upbeat jazz music)

(Sharon speaking Persian) (car door thudding)

(driver shouting Persian) (tires screeching)

(bicycle bell ringing) - Hey!

- [Sharon] Uh!

- [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! (crowd cheering)

What the, I need to pass it to this guy, man.

Dude, I'm wide open here.

Wide open, baby.

Damn it!

(door clicking)

- Dude!

(door thudding)

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. (video game beeping)

- Hey.

Did you bike here, bro? (laughs)

- Yeah, why?

- Dude, it's been snowing all afternoon.

- What?

- Yeah.

- But it's spring!

(door clicking)

- Guys! Keep it down.

- Sorry.

(Thomas sighing)

(door thudding)

(soft orchestral music)

- [Badi] Freaking Canada!

(upbeat Iranian percussion music)

- It's a really nice place.

Very, ah, very ethnic.

How'd you, ah, how'd you hear about it?

- Ah, 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.

(Adam laughing) (singing in Persian)

- This looks so good, mm!

Mm, 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 see, notes, 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 can invite anyone, right?

So you could be interesting,

pick someone like a JFK, or like a, like a Jesus,

like a Jesus Christ.

- Are you trying to sound smart or something?

Oh, (laughs) this isn't romantic, none of this is romantic.

- Okay. - (laughing) Oh, my God.

- I'm not, I'm not trying to, it's fine.

Don't worry about it. - Listen-, listen.

- It's, I'm not- - Listen.

I'm sure the game is fun.

- It is, it's a really fun game.

- Really fun, it's just-

- 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 wanna be, right?

- Adam, don't be sleazy.

- Sleazy? - Shh!

(Zahra laughing)

That's my grandma's laugh.

(playful orchestral music)

You.

- Hi.

(Sharon speaking Persian)

- Maybe I was a bit- - No, shh!

Oh, you don't get to talk.

You're the reason I have mud on my butt.

- (laughs) Okay, I'm not looking. Is this a trap?

I feel like it's a trap. - Who is this guy?

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Hi.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- You have nothing better to do on Fridays

than to come here and hit on my grandmother?

- (laughs) 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 wanna get out of helping you.

(Badi speaking Persian) (Zahra laughing)

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Oh, how could you let Mamani down?

- I have other responsibilities.

- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hm.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

(Adam coughing)

- Well, I think your other responsibilities needs your help.

Or a bib. - Ugh, whatever!

Just keep it down, okay? Thanks.

(all speaking Persian)

(both speaking Persian)

(both speaking Persian)

(soft orchestral music)

ding)

- [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 gathering,

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?

- I can't handle it. - 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 "Halo 3."

- You know that game's about like, a decade old?

- [Som] Okay, that was like my peak,

so let me have it, cool? - Ah-huh.

- [Som] 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 Perm-immigrant fake Roonis.

- Bro, come on, we'll all go.

- It'll be fun, man, screw it. - Yeah.

(upbeat Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

(both speaking Persian)

(Sharon laughing)

- Good evening, ladies!

(guests applauding)

And gentlemen.

(Som sighing)

- [M.C.] Happy Nowruz!

- [Waiter] Cream puff, sir?

- Oh, yeah! (laughing)

- Bro, take it easy.

- But I'm hungry.

- Dude, you had like 10 cookies in the car.

How are you still hungry? - I don't know.

- I actually really like that hideous dress there.

- Oh, God.

(playful orchestral music)

- [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?

- Who?

Why are we staring at the wall?

- Remember when I told you about that date with Adam?

- What's the matter with you? - Remember Zahra?

- [Kim] Is that the nobhead that was hitting

on your grandma? - Yeah.

- You mean the one with the stuck-up granddaughter?

- [Badi] Yep.

- [Sharon] Okay, wait, one at a time.

- [Badi] We can't all look at the same time.

(playful orchestral music) - Crap.

- Damn it.

- Um, I'm gonna go to the bathroom.

- I am gonna go find the cream puff guy.

(background guests chattering)

- Okay, all right, let's get this party started.

All right, guys, I wanna introduce our DJ tonight.

He's out here looking like every other Persian guy,

except he has the headphones on.

Introducing DJ Ali Laj!

(air horn blowing) (guests applauding)

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!

(guests applauding)

(both speaking Persian)

- 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 Persian) dance.

(guests cheering and applauding)

(lively Iranian music) (guests clapping rhythmically)

(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!

(lively Iranian music) (guests clapping rhythmically)

(both speaking Persian)

- [Sharon] Badi, right?

- Yeah, Shanus, Shuka.

- Sharon.

- Sharon, right. Not a very Persian name.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Mamani, I will, okay, I promise.

So, you're still hitting on my grandma.

- (scoffs) What, you're still too stuck up to get hit on?

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- Mamani.

- Zahra- (Zahra speaking Persian)

(Badi speaking Persian)

- (scoffs) Really?

- Well, I'm more into like, you know,

pre-revolutionary rock, Googoosh.

- Oh, God help us.

(melodic Iranian music)

Oh, come on, you're not gonna disappoint Mamani, are you?

You know what, it's fine, it's cool.

- Ah, er.

Fine.

Let's do it.

(melodic Iranian music)

- 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.

- Hips.

- No, that's weird. - No, it's not weird

- Relax, Maman set them up.

- He looks like a twisted marionette.

- (speaking Persian) 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!

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

I have a fast metaboliackgrou)

(Sharon laughing)

- [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 laughing)

- 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 Persian).

I mean, they wanna stock up in the morning

'cause of tonight and, well, these guys

aren't exactly philanthropic.

(Sharon laughing)

- All right, well, ah, maybe I'll see you there.

- (scoffs) What, you're gonna 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.

- (laughing) Oh, yeah, really?

- Yeah, you know what, I don't wanna 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 laughing)

(car horn tooting)

Yeah, I'm coming!

- Get home safe, Badi.

- Goodnight, (speaking Persian).

- Sharon! - Sharon, sorry.

- Stop it. I'll back out, I swear.

- No take backs!

(Sharon laughing) (gentle melodic music)

(broom swishing)

(cellphone ringing)

- 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.

(truck horn tooting) The truck's here.

- Ah, you don't want...

(gentle orchestral music)

(dolly rattling)

You okay there, Hercules?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

- [Sharon] Use the dolly, you dummy.

(dolly rattling)

(coffee machine whirring) (melodic drumming music)

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-

(cellphone buzzing)

Oh, crap, it's him.

- Well, answer it!

- Hello.

- Hey! Um, (clears throat) I was just, ah,

I just wanted to call you to, ah, ask a general question.

One...

(playful orchestral music)

Do you wanna go out on Monday? - Yes!

(Kim and Jess laughing)

- Okay, great.

- Great.

- Pick you up at around four?

- Sounds good.

- All right, cool.

- Cool.

- Cool, I mean, I-I already said cool,

but you know, I was just (clears throat),

I-I'll hang up now.

- Bye.

- Bye.

(Som and Arash cheering)

(Badi speaking Persian)

- Who are you?

- I'm, I'm Sharon's, ah, Badi.

- Sharon's buddy?

- No, sorry, my name is Badi.

- Here, come in. - Thank you.

- Tea? (door thudding)

- Ah, no, I'm sure she's ready to-

- Sharon!

- [Sharon] Coming!

- She's never had a Persian boyfriend before.

- No, I'm not her boyfriend, we're just kind of-

- Hey. Ready to go? - Yeah.

(door clicking)

Bye.

- Have fun on your date.

(turn signal ticking)

- Tape deck?

(traditional Iranian music)

Wow, Badi's so cultured. (laughing)

- It's-it's my dad's car. - Right.

- Yeah, 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 Persian).

- Ha, 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 in Persian)

- Absolutely hilarious.

Badi, stop it, stop it.

(Badi singing in Persian)

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.

(Badi speaking Persian)

- Yeah, a little bit. (Badi speaking Persian)

- [Sharon] I don't know what a pupusas is.

(Badi speaking Persian)

- [Sharon] (laughing) No, Badi, please don't.

- [Badi] Excuse me, sir! Do you know pupusas?

- Stop it, hilarious.

- Where can I get pup- - Badi, stop it.

- He looked at me.

(Sharon laughing)

(upbeat drumming music)

You know, it worked out pretty well,

even though the pupusas place is closed.

- It's all good. I love empanadas.

- I'm still kind of hungry though.

- Yeah. - You know, we-we have time.

We could go back, get some more if you want.

- [Sharon] You feel like Persian food?

- Ah, oh, there's actually a really good

Persian restaurant nearby, they're called Shaza, and,

Wait!

Shaza!

- (laughing) No, no, that's not it either,

but you're right, Sharon isn't my real name.

- See, I knew it. Right, your real name is Shutangis?

- (laughing) No, oh, God, no.

- You know, there's probably a real girl out there

whose name is Shutangis.

- (laughing) 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 drumming music)

- Ooh! Look, check out the sultani.

- Ooh! Oh, is that beef?

- Ah, 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.

- [Badi] Oh, and why is that?

- Cholesterol stuff, I don't know,

I think it's healthier for you, so.

- Okay, no, 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.

- Hm, well, salad doesn't have meat on it, so.

- Hi, could we get two salad shirazis

with extra bacon and extra cholesterol?

(traffic rumbling quietly)

- [Sharon] So, what's your plan after med school?

- Honestly, I, I don't know.

I mean, I know I wanna help people.

- Through work or in general?

- [Badi] 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, (laughs)

it's just me and Arash.

I guess that's-that's why I kind of feel guilty

every time I do something for myself.

- You can't take that on yourself.

(Badi sighing)

- 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?

(soft sentimental music)

- Are you afraid of anything?

(traffic rumbling quietly)

- 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.

(soft sentimental music)

- Aren't you more afraid of letting go of what you love?

Hey.

I mean, if real estate is what you wanna 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...

Look, they'll come around.

(Sharon chuckling)

They love you, right?

Then they will.

(soft sentimental music) (traffic rumbling quietly)

And I'll be there for you, promise.

- You're very...

Sweet.

(soft sentimental music)

Sweet.(up)

"Question one, if you could host any dinner guest,

alive or dead, who would you host and why?

- [Badi] Khalil Gibran.

I'd wanna 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] Ah, oh, I only use small-sized forks,

not the dinner ones, but like the tiny ones,

they fit in my hand better.

(Badi laughing)

My family knows if you see all the big size cutlery,

and then the small one, the small ones are mine.

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

- That's cute. (Sharon laughing)

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

- [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.

(melodic Iranian music)

Look ahead, look ahead so you don't hit anyone.

- [Sharon] I don't want to.

- [Badi] "Do you have a hunch on how you're gonna die?"

- [Sharon] A heart attack, for sure.

Heart disease runs in the family.

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

- No, no, no.

Ow!

I love you.

You know, that technically counts as losing eye contact.

(Sharon giggling)

(all speaking Persian)

- [Narrator] Oh, there's a new word.

(all speaking Persian)

- [Narrator] There's that word again.

(all speaking Persian)

- Ah, what's "taarof?"

- [Narrator] (chuckling) Look at that face.

Another lesson, shall we? Taarof, noun, custom.

Taarof is a way of putting others before oneself.

It is a poetic Iranian custom

which helps to foster dignity, respect and love.

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.

(faucet water running) (Badi mumbling indistinctly)

(Sharon speaking Persian)

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

(gentle orchestral music) (Shohreh speaking Persian)

(gentle orchestral music) (Shohreh speaking Persian)

(Rostam speaking Persian)

- They don't know much about Canada's colonial exploits.

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

- See?

(Rostam speaking Persian)

- Yeah, yeah, I will.

(Rosta(tram rumbling)ian)

- [Sharon] (laughing) Where did you get those?

- A tree. - Stop!

Don't, Badi, stop it! (laughing)

- What, you worried you're gonna mess up your perfect look?

- How dare you besmirch my regal demeanor?

- Regal? - Yeah.

- All right, 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 wanna 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.

- And with any luck, you never will.

Goodnight, Badi Joon.

- Goodnight.

- Oh, remember to prep for your interviews tomorrow.

- I will.

Jeez, why does everyone think I'm stupid?

(soft Iranian string music)

Wow!

Unbelievable.

(hand slapping) - Don't touch it!

- It doesn't say, "Don't touch."

- 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 gonna touch it.

(soft Iranian string music)

It's beautiful, huh?

You know, there's about 2,500 years of history.

That's multiple thousands.

An empire that invented social welfare, maternity leaves.

Shirin?

(soft Iranian string music)

- Those are words.

- 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 accomplishments."

And if you take a step back,

it's a Sufi dervish.

- It's beautiful.

- Yeah.

(traffic rumbling) (melodic Iranian music)

(bells jingling)

(Badi exhaling heavily)

(couple laughing)

- Roonis at three o'clock.

- [Sharon] Huh?

- Yeah, Roonis?

- [Narrator] Here we go again.

Rooni, noun, slang, rooni is a shortened form of Irooni,

which is itself is a colloquial form of Irani

or someone from Iran.

- Oh, yeah, for sure. (laughing)

Ah, speaking of Irooni, I wanted to ask you,

do you know much about Persian poetry?

- Well, at one point, a little bit,

but I kind of grew out of it.

- Grew out of it? What's wrong with poetry?

- Oh, 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.

- You know, we are kind of like French.

There's a lot of French in our language, so-

- (sighing) 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 fricking 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. (laughs) - No, I'm serious,

you can't hate your origins and not 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,

1,000 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-

- 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.

- (scoffs) Yeah.

- Sorry, that last part was a joke, 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.

- (sighing) I'm scared, Shirin.

- Of what?

- Of facing myself. (sighing)

(gentle orchestral music)

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.

- Listen,

(gentle orchestral music)

I can't pretend to know what leaving Iran

and growing up here was like.

I'm not gonna hold your emotions over you.

(gentle orchestral music)

(door clicking)

Hi, Mom.

- Where were you? (door thudding)

- Out.

- Where out-out, madar, every night, with who?

- Badi. (Tessa speaking Persian)

- Mom, you've met him like three times already.

- The Persian guy? What happened to Adam the realtor?

- [Sharon] Goodnight, Mom.

- Maybe he can help you get your certificate.

(door thudding)

- [Zahra] Shirin.

- Holy! Mamani, how long have you been standing there?

I didn't even hear you.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

(Sharon laughing)

(Zahra speaking Persian)

(Sharon laughing) (Zahra speaking Persian)

- Wait, no, Mamani- (Zahra speaking Persian)

- No, you can't say anything, okay? Maman can't know.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- I don't know if I can be a real estate agent.

(both speaking Persian)

(gentle piano music) (people chanting)

(laptop thudding)

(Badi sighing heavily)

(gentle orchestral music)

(keyboard tapping)

- 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. Ah, 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 wanna have Badi over for dinner this weekend.

- And you want me to get your baba out of the house?

- No, Maman- - Out of town?

- Maman, that's not what I meant.

- I don't know if I can do this.

- No, Maman, like a family dinner

with you, me, Mamani and Baba.

- Well, Mamani can't.

- Why not?

- She has a heart doctor appointment.

She's gonna be with him all day.

- Well then, you, me and Baba.

(Tessa sighing)

Azizam, 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.

(gentle orchestral music)

- 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.

(soft tense orchestral music)

(Badi breathing deeply)

(soft tense orchestral music)

(car rumbling quietly)

(car door clicking)

(car door thudding)

(soft piano music)

(Badi knocking)

(door clicking)

- Hi, Mr. Moridi.

- Hey, Borat, pleasure.

- It's Badi.

- That's nice. Come in.

Hm.

- 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.

- [Fred] Oh, I see.

- Badi joon. - Salam.

- Nice to see you. Please, just call me Tessa.

- Okay. - Come on in.

Table is set already and Sharon will be down in a minute.

- Okay, great.

(soft piano music)

- Thank you.

(soft piano music)

- That seat is for Sharon.

(Badi clearing throat)

- [Narrator] Well, we are off to a good start.

(soft piano music)

- Sorry I'm so late.

I was hoping it would force you guys to talk.

- Yeah, good job.

- Please, help yourself, everyone.

Badi joon, help yourself, please.

(soft piano music)

(Badi speaking Persian)

- I'm sorry?

- Never mind.

It's, ah, 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] Oh-oh.

- She says you've been dating since last Nowruz.

How come we're only just meeting now?

- Well, I-I don't, ah, well, 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 good time, right?

- [Narrator] (scoffs) Not me, I'm going to see myself out.

(door thudding)

- 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.

- Hm.

Oh, 'cause I'm just, I'm a big car man.

- Oh, nice. (clears throat)

But it's, ah, he-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, ah, (clears throat) 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.

(soft piano music)

What's your last name again?

- Ala, ah, (clears throat) 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.

- He used to come by and- - Tessa.

Badi doesn't want to hear about our boring stories

from abroad, you know we have too much.

- [Tessa] Fred.

- I'm sorry, did I miss something?

- No, you didn't miss anything.

I'm just saving you some time

and because it's not going to interest you.

- Baba.

- I-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?

(Badi speaking Persian)

- Tell me, has your family been to Rome?

- No.

- Paris?

- No, but- - Dusseldorf?

- 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? - 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.

- Stay out of it. (speaking Persian)

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.

- Excuse me? - I'm not gonna 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.

- (scoffs) Right, that's enough of that.

Ah, 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 f--- yourself, sir.

- Get out of my house!

(door clicking)

(door thudding)

(door clicking) - Badi!

- I can't!

- [Sharon] Come back!

- You let him talk to me like that.

- I'm sorry!

(car door thudding)

(car engine starting)

Badi!

(car rumbling)

I'm sorry!

(car rumbling)

(Tessa speaking Persian)

- Come on, I'm not going to be around forever

and I don't want her to be spending her life

without a provider. (door thudding)

I want her husband to come from a strong family.

(Sharon speaking Persian)

- Hey, wait, Sharon.

Hey.

Sharon! (door thudding)

(Tessa sighing)

(gentle orchestral music) (Badi sobbing quietly)

(gentle orchestral music)

- [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.

- Yep, definitely not.

(gentle orchestral music)

(phone buzzing)

- Hello.

(caller speaking Persian)

- You just called me.

(cellphone disconnecting)

- [Narrator] That one was a butt dial.

(Badi groaning softly)

- [Kim] It'll be okay.

You're gonna get through this, I promise.

- 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)

(head thumping)

- Badi.

Bro, I'm begging you, man.

Listen to me.

(head thumping)

What the? - I don't know.

- 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.

(Som spitting tea incredulously)

- I'm sorry.

You said what?

- Bro, this is our only shot.

(head thumping)

(cellphone alerting)

Dude, I gotta go.

- Yeah, I'll take one.)

- Two empanadas? - No, just one, please.

- Two empanadas coming right up, sweetheart.

- Ah, no, sorry, sir, just, can I have...

Okay, two empanadas.

- These are on the house. - Okay.

- My mom owns this place so, no big deal.

- That's nice, thank you. - No problem.

(soft orchestral music)

- [Movie Actor] Treat everyone with respect,

they'll treat you the same way.

Just like any tool,

you gotta take care of it.

(soft orchestral music)

- You know why they got them lights up there?

- Ah...

No, 'cause they look nice?

- To detract people from committing suicide.

- Pleasant.

(gentle orchestral music)

- Jesus! What the hell are you still doing here?

- Kim said not to get up until-

- No, get the hell out.

(Shohreh knocking)

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

(Badi sighing)

(gentle melodic music)

- I don't know.

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

(gentle melodic music) (Badi speaking Persian)

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

(both speaking Persian) (gentle melodic music)

(both speaking Persian) (gentle melodic music)

- This is not your fault, okay?

(both speaking Persian) (gentle melodic music)

- I-I tried that with her.

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

- How do you do it?

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

- I don't think I can do that.

At least not right now.

(Shohreh speaking Persian) (gentle melodic music)

- Yeah.

(Shohreh speaking Persian)

(melodic rock music)

- Hey, guys, do your part, save your city, come on.

Hey, save your city.

No? Okay.

Oh!

Hey dude, save your, uh! (bodies thudding)

What the hell, man?

- Dr. Urowitz.

I-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.

(Dr. Urowitz sighing)

- The parking garage is five minutes from here

and we walk at my pace.

(soft orchestral music)

- 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-to get me here.

- And now you're here, what's your point?

- Well, now they're old.

I-I really can't do my residency at any other hospital,

it-it has to be in Toronto.

- So you shouldn't have missed your interview.

(door clicking) - 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.

(elevator dinging) (elevator doors rumbling)

- [Dr. Urowitz] Thomas.

- Dr. Urowitz.

- You made it to your interview, correct?

(elevator doors rumbling) - 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?

- Hm.

If he did, do you think you'd give him a second chance?

- Yeah, I don't see why not.

- Hm. Badi, you owe Thomas a beer.

Come and see me on Friday.

- Wait, ah, Friday? (elevator dinging)

(elevator doors rumbling) Ah, yes, I-

- Listen, I'll look after everything else.

Just do yourself a favor and do not miss your interviews

with the other hospitals.

(elevator doors rumbling) - 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.

(Tessa speaking Persian)

(Narrator speaking Persian)

(paper rustling)

(paper tearing)

(Fred 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 say, "Shirin, why didn't you eat your lunch?"

(gentle melodic 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. (sobbing quietly)

(gentle orchestral music)

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.

(soft orchestral music)

(door clicking)

(soft orchestral music)

- [Badi] Look Thomas, thanks for saving my ass back there.

- [Thomas] No, man, you probably would've done

the same for me.

- 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...

(sighs) 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. (laughs)

- 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, I got lots.

- Well, anyway, I'm this way, but thanks again, man.

I owe you.

- [Thomas] Yeah, don't mention it.

(gentle orchestral music)

(gentle orchestral music)

(keyboard tapping)

- [Badi] "Oh, my brilliant base.

Oh, my warmth within.

Ode to my fearless faith,

with pacing prospects in peace.

(soft orchestral music)

In dearest disposition,

and distanced disaster,

still the heart beats much faster.

Oh, my shady shard.

Oh, my chaff and chisel.

(soft orchestral music)

Ode to my fright of forlorn

with motionless mind at war.

In distanced disposition

and dearest disaster,

(melodic orchestral music)

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.

(soft orchestral music)

And yet, still the heart beats much faster."

(both speaking Persian)

- [Sharon] Okay.

- [Zahra] Ah-huh.

(both speaking Persian)

- [Tessa] What? Absolutely not.

- Mom.

- Oh, now I'm your mom? (Zahra speaking Persian)

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.

(Zahra speaking Persian) - You keep twisting her,

you wanna make her your little clone.

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- [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?"

(Zahra speaking Persian)

- 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?

(Zahra speaking Persian) - 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, dokhtar azizam, I'm doing all this for you!

- Bull, you never gave a damn about anybody but yourself.

- You hid the good- - Tessa!

- Badi's pride helped me find my real passions.

And it's not real estate.

- Atessa!

(Tessa speaking Persian) (dramatic orchestral music)

- I loved him and I never even got the chance to tell him.

(Fred thudding to floor) (glass shattering)

(tense orchestral music)

- Fred? - Dad?

- Oh, my God, Fred! - Baba.

(tense orchestral music)

- Feraidoon, azizam, can you hear me?

Maman, call 911!

(tense orchestral music)

- That'll take too long. Help me get him into the car.

(tense orchestral 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, all right? You're gonna be fine.

Just deep breaths, Badi, deep breaths, all right, at 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 pass us

anything that I or any member of the surgical staff ask for.

You got it? (gurney rattling)

- Yes, sir. - All right, good man.

Let's do it.

Okay, thank you.

- Whoa, whoa, no. - Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Easy, easy. - No, no, no, no, no.

- 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, Fred, listen to me, okay?

Everything's gonna be just fine.

This is Badi, he's a resident.

- [Fred] Just one more doctor, 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.

(video tape whirring)

- Just one more doctor, different doctor.

- Can we get him sedated, please?

- We'll get you to your family, sir, I promise.

(melodic Iranian folk music)

- You good to go?

- Yes, sir. - All right, let's do this.

On three, everybody.

Nice and gentle.

One, two, three.

(melodic Iranian folk music) (singing in Persian)

(melodic Iranian folk music) (singing in Persian)

- Sharon!

- [Sharon] Kim.

- He just texted me.

Hi. - Hi.

- Is there any news?

- He's still in there.

- Hey, 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, ah, the operation was a success.

- So he's all right?

- Yes, yes, he's all right.

(all sighing)

- [Tessa] Thank you so much, doctor.

- (laughs) You're very welcome.

(monitor beeping quietly)

I'm gonna go for a walk.

Maybe I find a balloon or something.

- He'll be here when you get back.

(Fred groaning softly) No, wait, he's waking up!

- A balloon is a good idea.

- (laughs) Hi, Baba.

- Hi.

- You scared us.

- I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

(gentle orchestral music)

- If you ever do that again, I'll kill you.

- [Fred] Hm, that sounds nice.

(Fred chuckling softly)

(door clicking)

(gentle orchestral music)

(birds chirping)

(melodic Iranian music) (singing in Persian)

(door clicking)

- Shirin.

Hi.

- Hi.

- I heard that, um, you were...

It looks amazing.

- Thanks.

- I know I'm early, but I-I can come back-

- No, no, it-it's fine.

- I wanted to give you something.

- Oh.

That's sweet, you, you didn't need to.

- I wanted to.

(paper tearing)

- Poetry?

- Yeah, um,

you kind of sparked something in me

that I didn't know was still there, and...

I-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.

- It's just- - I know, I know-

- What am I supposed to say?

- Look, you have every right to be angry at me.

- Don't.

- I'm sorry, I just- - You're 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.

(gentle melodic music)

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.

(gentle melodic music)

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've made things a lot simpler.

(Sharon laughs softly)

I'm doing poetry again.

- [Sharon] Art as a therapy.

- Everything does look great, by the way.

Beautiful.

(gentle orchestral music)

I'm sorry.

- I'm happy you came.

A little early, but still.

- No,

a little late.

(gentle orchestral music)

- I should finish setting up

but you're welcome to stay, obviously.

- No, I mean, I should probably get going.

I don't wanna make things any more 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 gonna be chasing you.

- That's fair.

- The ball's in your court.

(soft orchestral music)

Bye, Badi.

- 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. (car door thudding)

So what happened?

- [Arash] Who you calling, man?

(cellphone ringing)

- [Sharon] Did you forget something?