Did you eat a big breakfast?
SAMIRA
Yes. We had some of Mrs. Kordi’s delicious apple jam. She baked fresh bread and served her tea with rock sugar. A real treat, right kids?
THE CHILDREN remain silent. MR. SHIRAZI gives instructions as he pulls a hose from the side of MRS. KORDI’S house, turns the spigot and fills a small bucket with water for the donkeys.
MR. SHIRAZI
Listen to me everyone.
SAMIRA repositions herself so that her right ear is closer to MR. SHIRAZI, making it easier for her to hear him.
MR. SHIRAZI
We have to make our way across the border as quickly as possible. If a border patrolman spots us with his binoculars, he’ll make his way to us, and if we’re slow, he’ll catch up before we’ve had a chance to cross the border. And bandits are less likely to attack moving targets.
REZA
What’s a bandit?
SAHAR
They’re like pirates but in the mountains. Right, Maman?
RAUMBOD
Are there pirates here?
SAMIRA
Don’t worry kids. Mr. Shirazi knows just how to make sure we’ll stay safe.
We just have to do as he says.
MRS. KORDI steps out of the cottage. MR. SHIRAZI gives her some money and SAMIRA embraces her.
MR. SHIRAZI
(rehearsed manner)
This’ll be the hardest part of the trip. It’ll take about twenty hours, and the whole way will be by foot—
SAMIRA
Foot? That’s not possible. Mr. Shirazi, we can’t expect—
MR. SHIRAZI
That’s the way it is.
SAMIRA
But we’re traveling with three childr—
MR. SHIRAZI lifts REZA and places him on a donkey.
MR. SHIRAZI
The younger kids can ride the donkeys.
(to RAUMBOD)
You too, come here.
He lifts RAUMBOD and places him on the other donkey.
MR. SHIRAZI
If your daughter gets tired, you’ll have to carry her. We only take one half-hour rest at noon, and another half-hour in the early evening, before night, to eat. Unless it’s a serious emergency, I don’t want to stop for any other reason.
SAMIRA
But you can’t really—
MR. SHIRAZI
Not to use the bathroom. Not to rest your feet. Not for any reason. Do you understand?
SAMIRA looks at DAVOUD for help but DAVOUD shrugs.
MR. SHIRAZI
I’m not saying this to be harsh. I’m saying it because it’s the safest way. I have some sandwiches and water in my bag that we’ll eat as we walk, but I couldn’t bring more food because the donkeys are bearing all the weight they can take. You must save your energy by limiting talking.
THE TWINS begin to cry.
MR. SHIRAZI
You should try not to cry. It’ll just tire you out. You boys have to be men today.
DAVOUD
Shirazi, wasn’t there some way to get horses, or more donkeys?
MR. SHIRAZI
This was all I could get. There was a flood last month, wiped out most of the livestock and animals around here.
SAMIRA
That’s absurd. It’s just not possible. There has to be another way.
MR. SHIRAZI
You’ve got to think of it this way: twenty hours is less than one day. Just one day of hardship and then you’ll reach freedom. If, on the other hand, we try to make this an easier trip, go slower, rest more, it could cost you for the rest of your lives. Do you understand?
SAMIRA reluctantly nods. DAVOUD fastens the bags onto the donkeys, though the skinny beasts seem far too weak to bear the weight.
MR. SHIRAZI
No, Davoud. You can’t fasten those on the donkeys.
SAMIRA
No bags? What do you mean?
MR. SHIRAZI
You either fasten the bags or your boys walk. The donkeys are too weak to bear both.
SAMIRA and DAVOUD look at one another.
DAVOUD
(to SAMIRA)
I can carry my own bag and one of yours. Choose one.
SAMIRA looks through the bags and gives DAVOUD one to carry.
CUT TO:
AERIAL SHOT, THE MOUNTAINS, DAY
SAMIRA, DAVOUD, THE CHILDREN and MR. SHIRAZI walk through the mountains. MR. SHIRAZI takes out some food from his backpack during a short break.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE SKY
The sun moves across the sky.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE MOUNTAINS, DAY
They continue walking. THE TWINS get tired and SAMIRA comforts them. SAHAR walks. She tries to stay brave. Her headscarf slips down and SAMIRA helps her pull it back up.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE MOUNTAINS, DAY
They continue walking. DAVOUD walks next to SAMIRA and touches her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Just then, one of the bags rips and spills the contents.
MR. SHIRAZI
This bag is ripped through. We have to leave the contents.
SAMIRA weeps as she squats down to the ground and picks through what little remains of her past. The harrowing nightmare that she has not yet become accustomed to presses its fingers deep into her stomach, forcing shooting cramps to pierce through her insides like the bullets that tore through ARMIN. She wishes it would rain and soak her to the bone, or that it were colder so her outsides could match her insides. She quickly goes through the clothes, underwear, silver spoons and a pair of shoes. She picks up the photo album.
SAMIRA
Can I take the pictures out?
MR. SHIRAZI
No time.
SAMIRA quickly flips through the album and takes out one picture, then puts the album back and looks through the remaining items on the ground. There is her beloved red headscarf with the butterfly stitching. She wraps it around her waist. Under the scarf is the burgundy music box, the first gift ARMIN ever gave her. She picks it up.
SAMIRA
I’ll carry this.
MR. SHIRAZI
In your arms?
SAMIRA
Yes.
MR. SHIRAZI
What if one of your children needs to be lifted?
DAVOUD
They’re just things, Samira jan. Just things. You know?
SAMIRA
They’re not just things! They’re what I have left of him.
MR. SHIRAZI
We have to move on, now. You can’t carry that box. Your daughter will need to be picked up soon, I can tell. Leave it.
Beat.
SAMIRA tenderly kisses the music box and places it on the ground. She runs her fingers over it and opens the lid. In the silence of the mountains, Beethoven plays. They are still for a moment. SAMIRA finds a second of peace.
MR. SHIRAZI
We have to go. Now, Samira.
SAMIRA gives him a hard look, then quickly opens the album, takes out as many photos as she can, and stands up. They continue walking. The music box remains open and continues to play Für Elise.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE MOUNTAINS, AFTERNOON
As they walk, SAMIRA can feel the wetness dripping down her legs. She leaves behind droplets of blood and footprints.
SAMIRA
I need to stop.
(beat)
Mr. Shirazi, I need to stop for a minute.
MR. SHIRAZI does not turn to face her. He looks through his binoculars.
MR. SHIRAZI
No stopping.
SAMIRA
But I have to stop.
MR. SHIRAZAI
No stopping.
SAMIRA
I have to—to clean. I’m—I’m bleeding.
MR. SHIRAZI
The baby?
SAMIRA
No . . . I’m not pregnant. Just my period.
MR. SHIRAZI
(annoyed look)
No stop
ping.
SAMIRA
But you said a half-hour rest in the afternoon.
MR. SHIRAZI
I’m spotting a border patrol not too far away. We can’t stay in this area.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE SKY
The sun is setting. They decide to fasten all the bags on the donkeys and carry the children as they sleep. SAMIRA carries SAHAR and THE MEN carry THE BOYS. SAHAR’S headscarf falls down again. SAMIRA does not notice.
WIPE TO:
EXT. THE SKY
The moon rises. The rank smell of blood fills SAMIRA and SAHAR’S throats, reminding them of the smell as ARMIN’S blood stained the rug in their living room. They hold on to each other tightly. This version of life is not reflected in any of SAMIRA’S paintings. Never before were her emotions in as much conflict as they are now. Her lungs are overwhelmed with the crushing pain of loss and yet her determination to move forward, for fear of her children’s lives, for fear of her own life, pushes her breaths, in and out, through the agony. She tightens her grip on SAHAR even more.
WIPE TO:
EXT.TURKISHVILLAGE, EARLY MORNING
New sunrise. They have finally crossed the peak and can see a small village on the other side. Scattered straw huts on stilts are positioned around a river. Women in colorful veils wash their clothes in the water, and in a section mostly hidden by the bushes, they wash themselves. Power lines can be seen in the distance.
MR. SHIRAZI
We’re officially in Turkey. We can rest here until tomorrow.
SAMIRA
(pointing)
Look! Look kids! There’s water! We can wash up and fill our bellies in just a few minutes.
THE CHILDREN are exhausted, sleepy and skeptical, but SAHAR manages a smile that is mostly intended to soothe her mother. The fatigued donkeys scent the water, pick up their pace, and head straight for it. DAVOUD walks over to SAMIRA to give her a hug. Her pants are dry and stiff with old blood.
DAVOUD
Samira jan, why don’t you and Sahar go and wash together? I’ll watch the boys.
MR. SHIRAZI
Yes. The women wash over there, on the other side of that bush.
SAMIRA is relieved. She looks at DAVOUD with genuine gratitude. He smiles.
SAMIRA
Boys, Maman and Sahar will be right back. We’re just going over there to wash with the other women.
RAUMBOD cries and REZA is anxious.
REZA
I don’t understand—why can’t we come?
DAVOUD
Boys, your mother needs her privacy for a few minutes. She’ll be right back. Don’t worry. I’ll be here and make sure you’re safe. Now, come on. Be brave.
SAMIRA rummages through her remaining bag and grabs the other pair of pants she brought with her, as well as some fresh underwear for both her and SAHAR.
SAMIRA
I’ll be right back and then I’ll take the two of you for a wash. Okay?
(to SAHAR)
Come on, Meymoon! Let’s go and clean you up.
SAMIRA and SAHAR walk toward the river.
DAVOUD
Okay boys, let’s go and get you something to eat. Shirazi, where can we get some food?
MR. SHIRAZI
Follow me. The village Muhtar is always hospitable. Of course, I pay him enough to feed his entire village for a week!
DAVOUD
You mean, I pay him enough.
MR. SHIRAZI
Yes, well, of course. It comes out of the money that you gave to me. His hut’s right there.
DAVOUD
(reaching out his hands)
Come on, boys.
They walk toward the straw huts. As they approach THE MUHTAR’S hut, he steps out to greet them. He is a tall, middle-aged man with a big smile. He is surprisingly dressed in a Western-style T-shirt that is in stark contrast to the traditional, buttoned-down clothes the other men in the village wear. MR. SHIRAZI and THE MUHTAR speak in Turkish, and then THE MUHTAR addresses DAVOUD.
MUHTAR
I have outlet.
DAVOUD
Pardon me?
MR. SHIRAZI
The Muhtar is the only man around for kilometers who has an electric outlet in his hut. You can use it if you need to.
MUHTAR
(pointing to the electric towers in the distance)
See? Electricity is coming. We are move into future. That why I am elected Muhtar, even though very young.
DAVOUD
I like your T-shirt.
The MUHTAR’S smile broadens and he exalts his chest with pride.
MUHTAR
It was a gift, from man like you. Stay here two months ago. Gave me T-shirt because I let use my outlet to charge video camera.
REZA tugs at DAVOUD’S hand, reminding him that they are all hungry.
DAVOUD
Shirazi, the kids are hungry—
MR. SHIRAZI
Yes, yes, of course.
MR. SHIRAZI turns to THE MUHTAR, says some words in Turkish in response to which the MUHTAR nods with pride and points to the benches. They all take a seat. Next to them, a big pot of stew sits over an open fire. THE MUHTAR says some more words to MR. SHIRAZI in Turkish.
MR. SHIRAZI
The Muhtar wants to know if you’d like something to drink. The options are water, juice, milk, or wine.
DAVOUD
Wine?
MR. SHIRAZI
Fruit wine. It’s big around these parts. I think the only kind they make in this particular village is plum wine but the nearby villages also make cherry and peach wines.
DAVOUD
I guess I’ll have the wine! Milk for the kids.
A young lady in a colorful veil places clay cups in front of DAVOUD and THE CHILDREN and serves the stew with bread. This is a feast to the travelers. The four of them eat heartily. THE TWINS’ energy picks up and they start joking around.
CUT TO:
EXT.RIVER, DAY
SAHAR and SAMIRA bathe behind the bushes. They have no washcloths or towels, and share a bar of soap.
SAMIRA
As soon as we reach Istanbul, we can buy more clothes. And towels. And shoes.
SAHAR
Maman?
SAMIRA
Baleh, aziz?
SAHAR
You have black circles under your eyes, like Mr. Glossies’.
SAMIRA
Mr. Glossies?
SAHAR
Mr. Zarami.
SAMIRA
Do I?
SAHAR
Sockets of sorrow.
SAMIRA
I remember.
SAHAR
Because his pain was too much to fit in his apartment, so some of it moved in under his eyes.
SAMIRA
I’m doing fine, my darling. I’m just tired. It’s been a long journey!
SAHAR
Maman?
SAMIRA
Yes, azizam?
SAHAR
Have you slept at all since Baba—um, you know—have you slept at all? Because every time I wake up you’re awake too and I haven’t seen you sleep at all.
SAMIRA
Sure, I’ve slept. Just not as much as usual.
SAHAR looks up at the sockets of sorrow beneath her maman’s deep eyes and offers her a warm smile, as if to remind SAMIRA of the beautiful things that still remain in this world.
SAMIRA
Turn around now so I can wash your back.
SAHAR obeys.
SAMIRA
Now turn around and face me again.
Oh, look at those eyes.
They’re your baba’s eyes.
CUT TO:
EXT.VILLAGE, DAY
DAVOUD, MR. SHIRAZI and THE MUHTAR are still on the benches, conversing easily and drinking fruit wine. THE TWINS are polishing off the last of the stew in their bowls.
DAVOUD
Do they bottle and sell the wine?
MR. SHIRAZI
&n
bsp; No, it’s just for their own personal use, though they do offer it to the people that go through here, like you.
THE TWINS finish eating.
REZA
Mister, can we play until Maman gets back?
DAVOUD
Of course! And please, call me Amoo.
REZA and RAUMBOD run off to play hide and seek. DAVOUD, MR. SHIRAZI and THE MUHTAR go back to their wine.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT.VILLAGE, DAY
Butterfly Stitching Page 32
