A ROUND OF APPLAUSE
- Sweetie, the lady texted me. - [gasps]
- Stop! Dammit, I told you, Mehmet! God! - Told me what?
You know I told you to stop being super creepy when I try to meditate.
[sighs]
Who texted?
Stroller lady, in Caddebostan.
Ah. What'd she want?
Said the model that we looked at before is in stock and we can go see it.
- Yeah? - [Mehmet] Yeah.
[ethereal opera music playing]
[saleswoman] If you really look at, this one's better in terms of quality.
If you decided to get this one right now, I can...
[chatter continues indistinctly]
- Oh, I like these here. - For sure. Those are fun.
[music builds]
[indistinct chatter]
[giggles excitedly]
[music halts]
[gasps]
Mehmet!
- [indistinct TV chatter] - Mehmet! [gasps] Mehmet!
Uh-huh?
We forgot something.
[breathing heavily]
No, what? What did we forget?
Think about it. It's about the baby.
Uh, is it, um...
What?
Oh, wait.
Do you mean the baby monitor? Because, uh,
the woman recommended we order online 'cause they're cheaper, remember?
We forgot sex, Mehmet.
We're not gonna have a kid if we don't have sex first.
Oh, that's funny. [chuckles]
Let's go, let's go. Come on. Let's do it before the formula expires.
- I said get up, Mehmet! - I'm coming. Just...
[TV audience applauding]
[Mehmet] Get naked! Get naked! Get naked!
BIRTH
[audience continue applauding, cheering]
The room looks so cute, though.
[chuckles] Dude, you're having a boy, right?
Yeah, that's right. And then we'll go girl.
Oh, Memo ordered it. Better get to work, Chief Zeynep.
[Mehmet] Girls are fond of their fathers.
I just want someone who is crazy about me, man.
Ah! My mom's number one!
Yeah, I'm gonna get my mother to train my daughter to love me.
We're going to starve here.
How long's it been since we ordered, Mehmet?
I texted that it was late, but no answer.
Can you call?
Oh, Pino says hi.
Pino?
Pinar. You know, the yogi.
Huh. Tell her we say hi.
Did you see her new hairstyle?
Why would she do that? Lunatic.
- What'd she have done? - Dyed it brown.
She posts a million pictures of herself with her damn hairdresser every day.
I get it, you get out.
She's probably sleeping with the guy, wouldn't surprise me at all.
I mean, you think?
Oh, come on. You know her.
Would that be a surprise?
[blows] She gets around. That's all I'm saying.
She was dating some guy if I remember, right?
Sarp, I think?
My friend Sarp?
You know a Sarp?
I'm always going to Bozburun with him.
What's Bozburun like? We've never been there before.
Yeah, there's lot of celebrities. It's alright.
Did you hear Zeynep mention Sarp, honey?
Maybe I should give Sarp a call.
[chuckles]
He's so crazy, Sarpo. [blows]
- Ah. - No, you sit down. I got it. I got it.
All right.
Get the tip at least, Burak. Show we're not cheapskates.
[Mehmet] Since we couldn't source the seafood we needed.
our kitchen couldn't make the spaghetti alle vongole.
Instead, we're sending you small portions of our other pastas.
If you call us and tell us your favorites, we'll provide them free of charge.
Please forgive us.
Wait, what?
No vongole? What?
No vongole. Sorry about that.
You put it on the menu, man.
I don't write up the menus.
Then you should've told us beforehand.
Just calm down, man. We've got a lot of pasta here already. We'll be good.
- I'm super bummed out about this! - I'm sure next time they'll have it.
This was my chance this week to have carbs and this guy's screwing us.
Give me my tip back, man.
Hey! Come on. There's no need for that. Come on, bro. Chill out.
- You're right, but still... - I don't care about being right.
What difference does that make right now?
Hey, man. Vongole is on your menu!
Your menu says that you make it. I picked it. I demand more, just saying!
Sir, I got no problem choking you to death with my bare hands.
[quiet romantic music playing]
[camera shutter clicks]
Honey.
Is it better this way, or this way?
Boom.
- [Mehmet chuckles] - Okay.
Zeyno.
Sevda, enough already.
[chuckles] You're such a killjoy. Am I right?
[Zeynep] Enough is enough.
Chief Zeynep says it's enough.
Chief Zeynep. What?
It's stupid, isn't it.
And Sarpo, huh?
Heart throb.
- [scoffs] - [sighs]
All right.
- [Mehmet yawns] - [sighs]
Mm.
[Mehmet inhales, exhales]
Remind me why they're our friends?
We like them.
- Do we, though? - Wait, we don't?
The girl is spoiled, that's true.
I don't know.
I think everyone's spoiled nowadays.
He's a good kid... good guy, I guess, though.
Although the sleepover idea...
I gotta say, that's a little weird, you know?
[suspenseful music playing]
[thunder claps]
[woman screaming]
[distant groaning]
- Zeynep. Zeynep. - Mm-hmm!
[distant groaning]
Hmm?
[distant screaming]
You heard that, right?
Mm-hmm.
[screaming continues]
Is that pain or pleasure?
- [thunder claps] - [screaming continues]
She's enjoying herself. No, no, she's terrified, for sure.
No, she's scared. Yeah, I bet it's the lightning.
- Uh-huh. - [distant screaming]
[Burak screaming]
Now Burak's screaming. Oh my God, what could it be?
[door knocking]
Hey, big daddy, ` you asleep yet?
No, not yet. Did something happen?
Hey, Zeynep, would you mind if we came in?
Yeah, it's fine, but what happened? Are you two okay? I mean...
[Sevda] I'm really scared, Chief Zeynep.
Are you guys not at all scared?
The storm's so loud. I'm freaking terrified.
So, uh, how can we make you more comfortable?
I mean, could we sleep with you two?
Would that be okay?
- Uh... - [Burak] What you say?
We're really sorry, we're just scared.
No, it's okay, but...
What do you say, boss? Okay if we squeeze between you two?
Uh... I... I don't mind getting up for a while, do you?
We can do that 'till it calms down.
No way. I gotta sleep. I'm so drowsy. Oh my God.
I'm cold. [inhales]
So how about we get in there?
Decide soon or I won't be able to fall asleep.
That is true, she will not.
Ah.
- [both gasping] - All right, we're coming in. Thank you.
[Zeynep] Here.
[Sevda breathing heavily]
- [thunder rumbles] - [both gasp, whimper]
You're all right. Nothing to worry about. Come on now.
I need it to be over already! [panting]
It's just a storm, hon. Okay?
You'll be fine.
[sobbing] That's enough. I want it to be over!
Come on, come on. It's okay. It's almost over.
[Sevda panting]
We'll have vongole later, right, dude? Huh?
Just go to sleep. Shut your eyes, okay, dude?
- We will though, right? - All right, you two, close your eyes.
[sniffs] Can you sing a little song or something?
She wants a lullaby, Dad.
It's either you sing a song or cringe videos on my phone.
Don't do that. You're on your phone too much anyway.
The light from the screen isn't good for you.
Uh, so?
You need a round of applause or something?
A lullaby.
- ♪ Row, row, row your boat ♪ - ♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little star ♪
♪ How I wonder... ♪ ♪ Under... ♪
Oh, no.
Those activists were put in prison. It's a life sentence.
And just when we thought they'd be released soon.
[exhales]
I'm applying for Portuguese citizenship.
You should finish eating first, honey.
No, that's how this country got to this place, you know that.
[Zeynep] Leaving doesn't solve anything.
It's not so easy. You can't just leave because you don't like it.
It's important that you stay and try to solve the problems right here.
[chuckles, mocks]
Why don't you try it? Mm. See, like this.
Can you do this with your tongue?
Mom, hey.
Just try it, boss lady. Like this.
Please try it, just, come on. Mm.
Just... Look, like this!
Come on. Just try it, boss lady Mom.
Hey, I showed you how to do it! Like this, Mom.
- [Sevda giggles] - Dad, hey, that one's easy.
But can you do this, huh?
- Can you do this, Dad? - Come on. Pretty please, Dad.
- Just try it. Here we go. - [Burak] Huh? Huh? Huh?
Hey, Dad. Please, Dad. Please. Just do it. Just do it. Just once.
- Please just try it, Dad. - [Sevda giggles]
- Yeah, do it, do it. - [Burak] Please, just do it.
- Please, Dad. Just do it a bit. - Just try once.
[door knocking]
[Mehmet] Burak?
[Burak] What is it?
You need my help, pal?
- No. - [splattering]
[Mehmet] Are you sure?
No, everything's fine.
Are you sure, buddy?
[Burak] I'm gonna wipe myself.
[Mehmet] But it's been half an hour.
How many protein shakes did you have?
Three before I took the last one from him.
[sighs] Son, I mean, what?
Hey, where's the girl?
- That's not for me, is it? - [Zeynep] Yeah.
I can't do that tacky blue, it's so... Oh my God.
[retches, sighs]
- [Zeynep sobs] - Are you kidding, Mother?
Stop being so sensitive. My God.
This is so textbook emotional blackmail with the guilt tripping.
You're like a soap opera mom.
Are you listening?
Hey! Can you hear me?
[sniffs]
What are you doing? You're not talking to me?
[sniffs]
I can't believe you're this emotional.
Jeez.
I swear, I'm not gonna be like you ever when I have my own children.
You might as well stab me in my heart. My God, you're such a little brat!
- [Zeynep sobs] - You're such a drama queen.
- Uh, sweetie? - Good morning, Daddy!
Why's your mother crying, sweetie?
Sevda?
Hey, why is your mother crying, Sevda?
You're gonna get it. Hmm.
I got therapy and she's gonna hear about this, you're so screwed.
[gasps for breath]
[gasps]
[suspenseful music playing]
Zeynep?
Hey, uh... Zeynep?
Sweetie, look at me.
Zeynep!
Please look at me, Zeynep!
Zeynep, come on!
Zeynep, look at me, please! Zeynep! [breathing heavily]
Zeynep, come on! Oh, please. Come on.
Zeynep! Zeynep, please!
Look at me. Look at me, Zeynep. Look at me. Please look at me!
Look at me, Zeynep!
Zeynep!
[music stops]
Letting them in our bed did this.
Well, I never did want that.
It seemed you wanted them there, so I didn't make a big deal of it.
- Wait, hon. - I'm gonna apologize to her.
You're gonna spoil her.
- Don't spoil her. - Doesn't matter if she's spoiled.
How's she gonna fit in if she's not spoiled? Let's do it together.
Yeah? Come on. We'll talk about what she wants.
Like, compliment her hair or something.
Please don't do this, sweetie. I'm begging you!
Just think for a second. Don't do it!
- No, don't! Don't! - Wake up if you want, but I'm going in.
That's my damn child. It's my baby in there. I'm going!
Wake up, Mehmet! Mehmet!
- [gasps] Our kid'll be like they are! - [gasps] Whoa.
[both panting]
What if that happens? Zeynep?
Uh, what? What are... What are you talking about?
You were dreaming. And who are "they"?
Our friends, you know?
Sevda and Burak.
[Zeynep] Who's going to be like them?
[Zeynep breathes heavily]
Mehmet, what's wrong? Are you okay?
That's just how it is.
It's the way everybody is nowadays. I'm sure our kid'll be like that.
What do you mean? Our kid'll what?
Stop it, Mehmet. You're starting to scare me.
Makes sense it'll be pretty much like that.
It's not gonna know financial problems.
It'll grow up all around people with resources like we've got.
She can't take a picture without her tongue poking out!
She loves to gossip too.
And she's not even a celebrity!
I'm getting scared. Stop it. Oh my God.
- [sobs] - Oh no. No, honey.
It's okay. Hey.
No, don't be scared, okay? Don't worry about it, all right?
He's coming any day now, Mehmet.
Aw, it's okay. It's all right. Don't listen to me.
There are all sorts of people, you know?
Let's just see how ours turns out.
Let's see what he's like when he gets here.
Let's go to sleep.
You feel like sleeping? Huh?
- Actually, not anymore, 'cause... - Just lay down, you're okay.
Just put your head back. Let's go to sleep.
- Okay? - [sniffs]
We're okay.
[Zeynep] Oh... [sighs]
No, I'm hot. No.
[breathing heavily]
All right, come on, sweetie.
Let's get some sleep now.
Let's go to sleep, honey.
[muffled echoing]
[bubbling]
[bubbling continues]
- [blowing] - [muffled echoing]
[inhales]
[Mehmet] Zeynep?
Zeynep?
Hey. Zeyno?
Come on now. Let's have a little chat. Just for a few minutes, for heaven's sake.
We're going to be arguing once you open your eyes, so let's chat now.
What do you say, Zeyno?
Please, honey.
Hey, you!
Hello?
[whistling]
Please, let's have a conversation before we start arguing again.
Let me in that head of yours.
For God's sakes, at least for a bit.
Let's have a chat and talk about things.
Please, let's just talk.
I'm so lonely, Zeynep.
Mehmet, if you're sitting there again watching me, please just fuck off.
Leave before I open my eyes.
All right, honey?
{an8}PRIMARY SCHOOL
[Zeynep] I can't believe I bothered to come here being this pregnant.
I hope it's worth it.
The... Oh, wait.
- You know which room? - Here.
[Zeynep sighs]
[sighs]
Why don't you sit down? Yeah.
- Come on. - [Zeynep] Hold this for me.
Go ahead. Sit down.
BALLOT BOX 1008 BALLOT BOX 1009
- [sighs] - [Mehmet] There.
- You okay? - Yeah, I'm okay, Mehmet. All right.
- Good morning, how are you? - Good morning.
- You good? - Yeah, I am.
- [cord strains] - [exhales sharply]
[water trickles]
[sniffs]
[blows]
[sighs]
[man] Psst.
Are you ready to bust outta here?
I said, are you ready to bust out of here?
Uh...
Nice to meet you. Kudret. Good to meet you, man.
Oh yeah, well, I'm sure they'll call me some other silly thing out there,
but deep in my soul, I will be Kudret. I always will be.
Brother, we got some beautiful days ahead of us real soon.
One day we'll collapse the system, don't worry.
And we shall soon see brighter days.
On some cool summer evening, we'll be together and name a rose, how's that?
Can't wait.
You got it figured out. Found your thing.
I'm warning you, brother. Do not bust out without knowing what your thing is.
Do not go and be born without it.
Don't be one of these souls who wanders their whole lives looking for it.
Find your thing while you're in here. Figure it out here.
Just be a miscarriage if you can't.
A lot of babies do that. You're not so unique.
Don't be selfish. If you don't know your thing yet,
it's okay to scrap the mission.
I'm pretty sure it's a little too late for that now, huh?
- They probably already got my room ready. - I think you know what I'm saying.
[inhales] Find your... What's your name again?
I haven't really thought about a name yet.
I guess whatever name they got is good.
Even if I did come up with a cool name like you did, man,
I'm sure I'd just forget it when I...
or when we escape, yeah?
I'm not gonna go be some man on a mission like you'll be, bud.
What are you gonna be, brother?
Probably a nihilist or something. We'll see how it goes.
You can choose from a lot of cool styles right now.
Styles have never really been something I'm into.
Do I really wanna be born? I'm not sure.
You believe in a cause though and I admire that.
That's really great. I admire it. I respect it.
You don't even have a voice yet, but have a cause. It's commendable.
Good luck to you, really.
Banners and flags waving around. It's good stuff, it's just not for me.
That's just not in me.
The woman's never been happy, you know that?
Not even a day.
She has never known true happiness. Ever.
[puffs] She's never really felt at peace or at ease or anything.
Look at this place.
Just look at what she's like on the inside.
Looks like a burglar's house.
She's just always bottled everything up. Everything. It's so crammed in here.
Look at this mess.
[inhales] She could meditate twenty hours everyday, it wouldn't help.
I haven't even been in here nine months and look at what's happened to me.
Anxiety, depression, restless leg syndrome.
[chuckles] Temporary blindness.
I've been through so much in here.
[sighs]
I wish I could go back to being that little orange pulp. [exhales]
It was all so much more peaceful and free.
[inhales deeply]
I mean, I'm not suicidal, I'm just... I don't wanna be born.
[wavered breathing]
[inhales deeply, exhales]
They go on and on about life, how wonderful it is, but it's overrated.
On, and on, and on.
"Life's sweet. There's so many experiences."
But I don't want it. To hell with all of that shit.
[exhales]
What's so special about it?
It is what it is.
We can see what it'll be like.
I guess we're gonna just have to find out for ourselves.
[man] Yeah. You're right.
- [water gushes] - Hmm.
Oh my God, what?
Look at me. What the hell is this?
This happens all the time. This poor woman.
[sighs] Why do you keep everything inside here, all bottled up?
My God. Everyday you're crying on the inside. It's not fair!
I don't even have this off yet!
[exhales]
I mean would you look at all the traumas she's inflicted upon me?
[blows] Is it asking too much
to wait till I'm at least out?
So inconsiderate. I mean, Jesus.
Do you think you could give me one?
[straining]
So close. Come on.
[sighs] Wait a second.
- [thuds] - [Zeynep yelps]
- [rumbling] - Here you go, man.
Thanks.
Give it here. Give it to me. I got it.
- [exhales] - I'm gonna quit these before I leave.
- [scoffs] - Made myself a promise.
[Zeynep groaning]
[rumbling]
[groans]
[man] I miss it. I miss it so much.
Wonderful and cheerful.
I miss being pulp so much at this point.
It was true serenity and grace that I had experienced back then.
I was remarkably happy there.
You know, she has a glass of orange juice in the morning every now and then.
I swear to you,
I feel refreshed and like crying at the same time.
It's tough, you know?
It's so hard.
Longing's an awful thing.
My brother, there is nothing that's lonelier.
Listen to me closely.
Mehmet Ali.
Hold on, I'm counting.
Mehmet Ali, Ibrahim, Şenjahn, Nuray, and me and Ali Namik.
The six of us were friends.
Only we weren't pulp in an orange like you were.
We were actually fibers in a green apple.
[emotional music playing]
Very moist. Living together, so cramped, the pressure was intense.
We lived so tightly we became besties.
You know the benefits of a high fiber diet, right?
They're endless.
This unjust system is abusing all of us.
We work extremely long hours,
without daylight or fresh air,
without even a second to catch our breaths.
And yet, we're the first to transform into shit, brother.
But we never cease working for the cause.
She puts the apple in her mouth and starts to chew.
And I'm going.
Screaming towards the mouth.
And those big teeth chomp and...
then I take a look behind me.
And I see my comrades there.
All five of them, fists in the air.
Not a single one trembling.
Not a single tear in their eyes.
Then comes... the bite.
And then a horrible dizziness and...
and now I'm moving through a dark tunnel and I'm...
I can't even open up my eyes, everything's dark,
there's a narrow passageway and then...
all of a sudden I'm here.
Behind these bars, like jail,
before I'm even born.
Whoa, I guess having a cause really brings out the drama.
Like part of the collective emotional catharsis?
Dramatic effect, right?
You're mocking me right now, I get it.
Yes, brother, go ahead.
I can tell you're gonna be one of those petty, self-righteous morons, aren't you?
Go ahead then, brother. 'Cause all of it is just life, you know? It is what it is.
So you're someone who's takes himself too seriously, right from the start.
It's a lot of work. I'm gonna strive and live for something.
Live for a purpose.
You? You're gonna be a husk of a man wandering the streets.
You'll write a novel, one that's too long and self-involved
in the corner of some coffee shop.
Perhaps one day I'll see you in that coffee shop.
Sitting by yourself. I'll know it's you.
I'll think a second about saying this guy was a friend.
A real one.
I will not be able to say it though.
- Will I recognize you in this scenario? - Of course not, brother. Not at all.
You're always gonna be on your high horse.
Wearing your traumas as your personality, and making us all crazy!
[inhales] You'll try and correct everyone, diagnose everything.
Some people, you won't like the way they speak,
and others, you won't like their ideas.
And some, for example, you'll see their boots and go,
"Does he think those socks work with those boots?"
But you'll be unhappy. Because you already chose to be so while you're here.
Take my word for it.
Do not turn into one of those smart-ass, cocky shits
that only the lost and immature look up to.
Find yourself a purpose. A struggle.
It could be politics, agriculture, law, basketball, religion,
model airplanes, arts and ceramics.
It could be anything.
But you gotta have a thing in life.
Just don't burden everybody.
That's what I need?
[Kudret] Look, today's election day, brother.
Just listen to me.
Everything happens for a reason. See, we ran into each other today.
You, too, should make your choice.
If you don't like my kind of struggle,
find something else. Write your own story.
Create your own world.
Find yourself something to strive for.
And then fight for it.
Then die, brother.
And then all the apples, and the oranges, begin to grow again.
You may not always be able to afford therapy, brother.
I don't wanna find out one day you jumped off a bridge somewhere.
Don't make them... stop traffic for you.
Don't do that, okay?
We all have places to go.
[rumbling]
[yelps]
What? What is it, hon?
I think my water broke.
- Don't panic. Come on. - [groaning]
- Let's go. I'm gonna lift you. - [groaning]
[Mehmet] All right. Get up.
- Okay. Hang on, honey. - [groaning continues]
All right, easy. Hang on.
- [moaning] - Hang on. It's okay, hon.
- Is it that bad? Huh? - Just a minute, Mehmet.
- You're good. - [groaning]
Come on, Zeynep. You're okay, honey, okay?
- Let's walk faster. Pick it up a little. - No.
- No? That's fine. This pace is good. - [moaning]
[cool, rhythmic music playing]
[spits] Here we go.
["Kara Toprak" by islandman and Jacob Gurevitsch playing]
[music fades]