About Elly

By
Asghar Fhiradhi

English Transliteration
By
Kavi Kumaresan
& Kyoumars
INT. NORTH ROAD - DAY
The darkness is merged with the light through the opening of
the donation box. The sound of cars passing is heard from
inside the box. The box has been fixed on a smaller road,
sometimes we hear cars stopping, see them putting coins or
bills in the box and the cars continues on.
Title Card
The light opening in the donation box connects to the ray of
the light coming from the end of the tunnel.

Ahmed pulls down the glass and sticks his head out of the
window and screams so wildly that everyone laughs. Sepideh
also sticks out her head, screams and whistles. The tunnel is
filling with echoes of laughters, cars honking and whistles.
Morvarid at the side of Elly sticks her head out, their
sounds are echoed within the tunnel.
Amir notices Elly glancing at excited Ahmed through his rear
mirror. Amir witnesses the gazes between Elly and Ahmed.

INT. NORTH ROAD/SEPIDEH CAR - DAY

The car has approached the exit of the tunnel, Sepideh, Ahmed
and Morvarid are excited by the screaming and yelling.
SEPIDEH
That was fun, wasn't it?
ELLY
(to Morvarid)
Was it fun?
MORVARID
Yes, but now I need to pee
Everyone Laughs.
AMIR
Did you have to get so excited like
these crazy people?
SEPIDEH
Amir stop somewhere, so I can take
her to the toilet
AHMED
Doesn't your mother put you in a
diaper?
 2.

ELLY
(to Morvarid)
Say Im big now, I'm going to
kindergarten.
AHMED
Your father used to wear diapers
until university.
ELLY
(Imitating Morvarid)
Not!
AHMED
Ask him
MORVARID
Yes momma?
SEPIDEH
Even now I change diapers for amir
MORVARID
Why doesn't it smell then?
AMIR
(to Morvarid)
Because they just changed me baba.
Morvarid laughs.

ELLY
Ay baba we are just pulling your
legs, dear.
Amir's car accelerates to catch up with Manouchehr's car in
the front. Elly looks at the passengers on the roadside, who
have stopped and are having fun, as they are passing we see
something is in her mind, the camera is focused on her, it
ignores the words exchanged in the car.

EXT - RESTING AREA - DAY

The guest house is next to the river, surrounded by trees and
benches. crowds of passengers are sitting on the ground or
benches, having lunch or taking rest.
Cars have just arrived and everyone is getting off. Elly
takes morvarid to the washroom.
 3.

SEPIDEH
(to Morvarid)
Mama, Elly has come with us for a
few days to have fun, you should
not trouble her.
ELLY
No, no, no she's not troubling, I'm
just taking her to the washroom.
Elly and Morvarid start walking and leave. Sepideh and Naazi
look at them getting distant.
NAAZI
Very cute girl she is.
SEPIDEH
Oh, she is like the moon, let one
day pass with her, everyone will
fall in love with her.
Naazi continues to look at Elly distancing. Aurash and Anita
play near the riverside.
Shohreh takes a charcoal samovar from the boot of the car.
Payman takes out the tray and tea glasses.
Amir from another side comes close to payman.
AMIR
Payman you drive too fast.
PAYMAN
No, you drive slowly.
SHOHREH
Amir are you serious ?
AMIR
What?
PAYMAN
Ahmed and this girl.
AMIR
Is there something going on?
SHOHREH
Goo, as if you don't know.
AMIR
I swear to shohreh's life I don't
know anything.
 4.

PAYMAN
Ahmed was just living his life
peacefully, this is your wife, I
think they have planed a life for
her.
SHOHREH
(to support sepideh)
Maybe sepideh has commitment to
find a good girl for Ahmed.
Shoherh takes the samovar and vessels, walks toward the
benches.
AMIR
Ahmed, you donkey, what is the
story?
AHMED
(smirking)
Which story?
AMIR
Now which story,huh?
Ahmed who understood what amir is saying asks sepideh.
PAYMAN
Shame on you, you came all way from
Germany, came here to Iran to make
your life miserable?
SHOHREH
(to payman)
What's your problem? He wants marry
some girl.
PAYMAN
But once he gets it, I'm not sure
he would carry on with it.
AHMED
(nationalistic tone)
Only Iranian wife!
Payman sings Zan Irooni
SEPIDEH
Hey kids, he has come to this
gathering, if we are not taking
about anything else.
MANOOCHEHR
What else?
 5.

SEPIDEH
That we have brought her here to
meet Ahmed.
SHOHREH
(jokingly)
But Ahmed she is a nice girl.
AHMED
Swear in my life? Really?
SHOHREH
No, im telling you the truth of
course! She will look after you
PAYMAN
How did you find this in ten
minutes knowing her?
SHOHREH
Ay baba ofcouse it is obvious, once
we someone's face, isn't it Naazi?
Now all eyes are on Elly who is far away with the children.
NAAZI
She is not cheeky at all, she isn't
a snobbish person obviously.
AHMED
Okay till now I've got three votes
so far.
NAAZI
I said she is not snobbish, I don't
know about anything else. If
something happens tomorrow don't
put it on our shoulders.
SEPIDEH
Ahmed, wait until tomorrow morning,
maybe someone from this group will
find something wrong with her.
AMIR
But dear sepideh, don't bother him,
let him decide for himself.
PAYMAN
Sepideh, If among them you see a
nice one, keep one aside for
myself.
 6.

SEPIDEH
(to manouchehr)
Sorry manochehrkahn, give one on
his head on my behalf.
Manouchehr without any hesitation slaps on the back of
Paymans neck and everyone laughs.
NAAZI
(shocked)
manouchehr??
SHOHREH
It is okay...more power to my
elbow.
PAYMAN
Ahmed, have you seen, you're
brother in law has started joking
with me.
AHMED
I have brought someone in this trip
with me to give you a good lesson.
PAYMAN
Ohh..is it so?..sepideh does this
girl know Ahmed was married and his
wife got a divorce with big
difficulty? .... I have to put
everything on the floor..what was
her name?
(loudly)
Ahh...Mrs.Elly
SEPIDEH
Payman, for godsake, its bad, she
feels embarrassed.

EXT - RESTING AREA - DAY

Manouchehr washes the charcoal samovar by the river and
brings it back. Elly stands by the river.
MANOOCHEHR
Okay, this is a charcoal samovar.
AHMED
Do you have any idea how many years
it has been since I've had charcoal
tea?
 7.

SHOHREH
How do you survive Germany with
this spirit.
AHMED
Do you think I can bare it? Im
going mad
PAYMAN
That's the reason his German wife
left him, went to the court and
said he is mad.
SHOHREH
(startled)
PAYMAN?
Elly is embarrassed, Shohreh signals Payman with her eyes and
eyebrows. Sepideh from a distance calls amir.
SEPIDEH
Come take these sandwiches
ELLY
I will take it...
Elly searches for an excuse in order to get away from the
children, heads to the car under the guise of bringing the
sandwiches.
We are going with Elly towards amir's car. It seems like Elly
is a little upset, Sepideh is bringing some things.
SEPIDEH
Elly...something wrong?
ELLY
No..
SEPIDEH
These guys joke a lot, don't take
it personally.
Elly smiles.

EXT. ROAD - DAY

The cars leave the resting area, other after another, all
happy and smiling.
 8.

EXT. ALLEY WAY / IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN

FROM THE NORTH - DAY
Paymans car is in front of all the car, is going through the
main road and the small road then takes a turn.
Before reaching the end of the alley way, Payman stops
infront of a house that is half open. The rest of the cats
also stop after him. Payman gets out, followed by Amir,
Sepideh and Manocheher.
PAYMAN
Did you see, He is mocking, I'm
sure It's front, not here.
SEPIDEH
It's good, we made a mistake at
least once in a lifetime.
PAYMAN
Just once ?
AMIR
Dear payman, take the key, let's
go, I really gotta hit the bathroom
urgently.
Payman now notices OMID, teenager from the north, through the
half open door of the same house, he looks outside. Payman
moves towards him.
OMID
Sallam
SEPIDEH
Hello, how are you?
OMID
I'm fine, thank you.
PAYMAN
Tell your grandmother to give the
key to the villa.
OMID
The forest villa?
PAYMAN
The same one which we went last
year.
Omid goes inside. Ahmed and Elly are siting in back of amir's
car, they are talking.
 9.

Naazi gets off their car, approaches Ahmed's window and

knocks their window.
NAAZI
(quirky)
Hope everything is good with you?
Ahmed rolls down the window
NAAZI (CONT'D)
But you said it's in the heart of
the forrest...and...
AHMED
We have to take the keys
Omid and his old grandmother with a northern accent, come
outside the house and greet.
SEPIDEH
Hello Haj Khanum.
OLD WOMEN
Hello...hello...you are very
welcome to my place.
PAYMAN
How's it going with all our
trouble?
OLD WOMEN
What trouble?
Old women to Omid.
OLD WOMEN (CONT'D)
Dear omid, go and open the door
with them.
SEPIDEH
We the way, we will go ourselves.
OLD WOMEN
But remember, tomorrow afternoon
don't forget to vacate the place
faster.
PAYMAN
Tomorrow afternoon?!
 10.

OLD WOMEN
I said, Tomorrow night, the owner
of the villa will come from Tehran,
if you vacate the place by noon, I
have two-three hours to clean the
place.
AMIR
But we will stay here for three
days haj khanum...
OLD WOMEN
I have spoken to one of you one the
phone...
SEPIDEH
You spoke to me.
AMIR
(to Sepideh)
Didn't you tell her were going to
stay for three days?
SEPIDEH
(to Old Women)
Haj khanum, try to do something for
us.
OLD WOMEN
I swear to god, it doesn't make a
difference to me, but the owner is
coming. I have warned you this on
the phone.
Now shohreh and the rest others get off, gathering around.
PAYMAN
But you said everything has been
arranged.
SEPIDEH
There was no place anywhere, I said
it, so at least we don't lose this
place, and we can think about it
afterwards.
AMIR
What we will think? Where will we
find a place now? In such peak
season?
SHOHREH
What happened ?
 11.

OLD WOMEN
I'm really sorry to all of you.
PAYMAN
Why are you, haj Khannun
Amir is clearly upset with sepideh.
AMIR
(to sepideh)
Why didn't you tell me this?
SEPIDEH
If I had told you, we wouldn't have
been in the north now...haj Khannun
can't you call the owner now...
OMID
They will come definitely, they
have phoned us since last week.
PAYMAN
Now what should we do ?
AHMED
Now if you want, we can go and have
a round, maybe we find another
place.
MANOOCHEHR
We have some good experience here,
last year, same time we came, there
wasn't even a bit of space to put a
tent on the footpath. Didn't you
see the road on the way back?
AMIR
(to Sepideh)
What should I tell you.
Someone calls the old women from inside, she leaves. All are
standing outside, they don't know what to do. Amir is upset
he walks towards his car.
AHMED
Don't take it too hardly, we'll do
something
AMIR
(As he is walking)
What will we do? Tomorrow evening
we have to go back.
Sepideh goes towards the old women's house
 12.

SEPIDEH
Haj Khanum
OMID
Please come in
Sepideh goes indside, followed by omid

EXT. OLD WOMEN'S HOUSE /COURTYARD - DAY

The old women's daughter-in-law, Omid's mother, along with
her small children in the yard, say hello to sepideh. Sepideh
goes to the room where the old woman is in.
SEPIDEH
Haj Khanom
The old women comes towards the door.
SEPIDEH (CONT'D)
Haj Khanom, but on the phone you
didn't say definitively they will
come tomorrow night from Tehran.
OLD WOMEN
I really told you.
SEPIDEH
Now, please do something, please.
OLD WOMEN
But if my son was here because
tomorrow he is on shift, by god,
you could stay here. See my
daughter-in-law and her children
are here. You could come to my
room, I would give you those two
rooms, you would be welcome.
SEPIDEH
If we were alone, we could find a
place somewhere, in a tent..a car
but now we have bought some
newlywed couple with us.
OLD WOMEN
Congratulations!
SEPIDEH
The groom has come from Germany...
it's not good in front of
them...They have come for their
honeymoon...
 13.

OLD WOMAN'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

How about Mr. Mahmoud's villa?
OMID
By noon time, Some people from
Tehran have occupied it.
SEPIDEH
Any other place is no problem...
OLD WOMAN'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
How about the villa by the sea? It
belongs too...the one which has the
metal door.
OMID
Mr.Sadeghian's?
OLD WOMEN
Oh that? That place is not so safe,
it dosnt have proper doors or
windows. They could freeze at the
night because of the cold.
SEPIDEH
That is okay...we will arrange some
blankets.
OMID
And It not very clean.
SEPIDEH
Can we see it?
OLD WOMAN'S DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
Omid, go get the key from your
uncle.

EXT. ALLEY WAY / IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE OF AN ELDERLY WOMAN

FROM THE NORTH - DAY
Sepideh comes out happily.
SEPIDEH
Hey...Kids..
The children are waiting in the alley. Omid also comes out
and both of them goes to the end of the alley way.
SEPIDEH (CONT'D)
Okay let's all get into the car and
go.
 14.

PAYMAN
Where?
SEPIDEH
(laughs)
Tehran, I found a better place,
much better than this for you,
facing the sea, large...big..Now
talk behind me, get in the car.
AMIR
Are you sure?
SEPIDEH
He went to bring the keys.
Everyone gets into the cars and leave.

EXT. VILLA / FRONT DOOR - DAY

At the end of the alley that leads to the sea, the cars are
parking in front of the large and fenced door of a very old
and big villa which faces towards the sea. Omid jumps down to
unlock the lock, the men also get down. They look through
ough the fences at the villa. Elly also gets off, araush
tries to climb the fences, payman pulls him down. The door's
look is rusted and dosn't open.
AMIR
Is it rusted
MANOOCHEHR
Wait sir...Ahmed bring the can of
oil from the trunk.
All the men are engaged in unlocking the door, Ahmed brings
the can of oil, children are playing. Elly is still watching
the sea through the fences, sepideh goes next to her.

EXT. VILLA / COURTYARD - DAY

In a wide shot we can see the whole villa, The sound of the
metal door indicates it hasn't been opened in a long time.
The door is opening and all are getting inside to see.
Aurash, Anita and Morvarid are near the shore, and they are
throwing rocks at the sea. Shohreh are looking after the
children, they rest are checking the area, they are talking
together, but their voice is lost in the sound of the sea and
can be heard faintly.
 15.

INT. VILLA / HALL - DAY

The Vila has one floor, with a large hall and window open to
the sea. Some of the glass was broken and its pieces are on
the floor. Some potions of the villa have are in different
levels. And it has three rooms with windows facing outside.
The villa is absolutely empty, there was just a sofa and few
basic chairs are stacked in the living room, we can hear
sound of children outside, The key turns in the lock, omid
opens the door,