The following script excerpt is the first half of a live-action short film.
EXT. ISTANBUL - NEIGHBOURHOOD IN SAMATYA - DAY
Demir, (male/ mid 30s) pushes his corn cart down a hill, houses and flats on both sides.
From a distance we see the edge of the Bosporus. It's one of Istanbul's working class neighbourhoods, busy with people. Kids play football on one side, women chat on the other side, and some elder men drink tea at an outdoors coffee shop.
Demir walks past the men, from the coffee shop, Ömer (male/ 50s) plays cards with a group of men, he calls out.
Unless stated otherwise, the dialogue will be spoken in Turkish.
ÖMER
Günaydın. We're not even worth
a hello?
DEMIR
Günaydın, Uncle Ömer.
Beren (female/ late 20s) stands in a balcony, drinks her morning tea, her eyes follow Demir. Their eyes meet, he smiles.
He passes by the kids playing football, they whisper cautiously glaring at him, one of the kids accidentally kicks the ball at Demir's cart. Demir catches the ball right before it touches the glass.
DEMIR (cont'd)
How many times have I warned
you about this?!
He takes the ball and secures it on the cart.
DEMIR (cont'd)
I'm keeping it so you'd learn
the lesson, little devils.
The kids yell in protest but he walks past them untethered.
EXT. SAHIL - DAY
Demir has parked his cart by the shore, the location has more tourists than the neighbourhood we saw earlier.
His cart is running now, the corn is placed on the grill, he moves them around making sure they cook properly. He picks up a book (The Alchemist) from his bag from under the cart and begins reading.
A tourist approaches the cart a few beats later, Demir puts the book down, the tourist smiles and gestures the number 2 to Demir.
The dialogue between Demir and the tourist will run in English.
MALE TOURIST
2 please.
DEMIR
Coming up.
Having heard Demir reply in English, the tourist continues.
MALE TOURIST
A bit too hot today.
Demir points to the grill.
DEMIR
Extra hot for us.
The tourist is embarrassed by his comment, he remains silent and his eyes fall on the book Demir was reading earlier.
MALE TOURIST
That's a good book.
DEMIR
I use it as a hand fan.
The tourist does not appreciate Demir's comment, he pays and leaves with his corn.
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Demir enters his flat, it's small, you can almost see the whole place from standing by the entrance. A bedroom, a bathroom, the living room and a small kitchen.
He leaves his bag and keys in the living room, along with the football.
Different photos hang on the wall, some from his wedding day, next to him is Beren, the girl from the balcony, other pictures of him, Beren, and his parents on his graduation day.
He enters his room.
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - BEDROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Demir enters the room and takes off his trousers, his right leg is a prosthetic leg.
He takes the leg off and rests it by the wall. He lays on his bed desperate to relax when the bell rings.
DEMIR
(shouts out)
Who is it?
MELTEM
It's me.
He doesn't bother wearing his leg or his trousers, he balances himself to the flat door.
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
He opens the door and turns back walking to his room. Meltem (female/ 50s/ motherly), walks in, with a plate of food covered in foil. He doesn't bother looking at her.
MELTEM
I brought you some food.
DEMIR
I didn't ask you to.
MELTEM
Son, would you please look at
me.
DEMIR
Your other plates are still in
the fridge, take them before
you leave.
MELTEM
Evlât..
DEMIR
(cuts her off)
I'm not your son! Take your
plates and get out.
He enters his room and locks the door. We follow Meltem as she enters the kitchen.
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - KITCHEN - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
Meltem places the plate on the counter, opens the fridge to find three plates similar to the one she brought stacked in the fridge, untouched.
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Demir waits sitting on his bed until he hears the front door shutting, he opens his room door to check if she's gone only to see Beren waiting by the entrance, he stares at her for a beat. He is taken aback but grateful to see her.
BEREN
You won't invite me in?
He realizes that he's not wearing his leg or any pants, ashamed and confused, he's unsure of what to do.
BEREN (cont'd)
You look great.
She walks closer to him. He stares at her, making sure she's real.
DEMIR
Your Mum was just here...
BEREN
I know. You were rude to her.
You've been rude to everyone
lately.
He tries to balance himself by the door, unable to step in or out, she's ambushing him.
BEREN (cont'd)
What happened to you? Why
can't you be gentle like
you've always been. They
cut off your leg, I'm sure
your heart is still there.
He brings his hand closer to her face, attempts to touch her cheeks but stops.
DEMIR
Sometimes I wish it wasn't.
BEREN
You poor thing. Try being in my
shoes.
He tries to move past her, but she's still blocking him.
DEMIR
Beren, I've been standing all
day I need to rest.
BEREN
Rude people don't deserve to
rest.
She playfully slaps his forehead.
BEREN (cont'd)
You've been acting like a child
long enough, it's time to grow
up. You could do better than
this, Demir.
DEMIR
As I'm sure that you can do
better than a one-legged corn-
seller.
BEREN
You haven't got a range of
options when you're in my case.
Part of the package.
He doesn't reply, she takes his arm and helps him walk to the living room.
DEMIR
I changed, things have changed
since you left.
She sits him on the sofa in the living room, as she roams the little room.
BEREN
It's a small place but I like
it. And you're reading again,
it's a good sign.
DEMIR
How do you know?
She takes the book out of his bag.
BEREN
(in English)
The Al-ja.. The Al-k
DEMIR
(in English)
The Alchemist.
BEREN
Haven't you read this before?
DEMIR
Why are you here?
BEREN
You don't want me here?
DEMIR
(softens)
Of course I do! Don't change my
words and pick a fight like you
used to do.
BEREN
Then don't force me to do so.
We're trying to help, it's been
long enough.
DEMIR
You sound like your Mum.
BEREN
Is that supposed to offend me?
You two need to sort things
out.
DEMIR
Is that why you're here? To
patch things up between us?
(pretending to be
upset)
I thought you actually missed
me.
BEREN
I'm here to patch you up. If
you want me gone, just say
the word.
EXT. ISTANBUL - NEIGHBOURHOOD IN SAMATYA - DAY
Demir pushes his cart down the same hill. He stares at the balcony, Beren is sipping her morning tea, smiling at him, he smiles back. Her eyes follow him until he's out of sight. She turns and walks back inside the flat.
INT. DEMIR AND BEREN'S FLAT - DAY - FLASHBACK - 3 YEARS AGO
Younger-looking Beren walks inside the flat, it's lively and cozy. The living room is more of an extended library, the walls support various bookcases.
The sofa is covered in a colorful quilt, the side tables are busy with more books and papers. A large pin board hangs on one of the walls, with colourful post-it notes pinned.
Each post-it has a different English word written on it. From the open balcony, the sound of the children playing echoes through.
A younger-looking Demir pins a post-it on the board, written on it the word (stubborn) in English. He's dressed in a suit and trousers.
DEMIR
(in English)
Word of the day: stubborn.
Beren places her teacup on the coffee table, then wraps her arms around Demir.
BEREN
(trying to pronounce
in English)
Stubborn.
DEMIR
(in English)
Stubborn.
(in Turkish)
I pinned it on the board. Find
out what it means and write a
sentence about a character
who's stubborn.
BEREN
So it's an adjective.
DEMIR
(in Turkish)
You're so bright.
(in English)
It's so sexy.
BEREN
Some might say I'm too good for
you.
DEMIR
Your Mum would say that.
BEREN
I'm going to see her later.
DEMIR
Beren, she'll just kick you out
again.
BEREN
She kicked me out yesterday.
Maybe she'll let me in today.
DEMIR
(sigh)
I'll see you in the evening.
He's not convinced, kisses her goodbye and leaves.
END FLASHBACK
EXT. SAHIL - DAY
Demir's reading his book, a few corns are left on the grill. Hande (Female/ 36) approaches.
HANDE
Can I have two Please.
DEMIR
Do you want to wait a couple of
minutes, I'll make you a fresh
hot one?
Hande nods as Demir puts on the grill a fresh batch of corn.
She studies his face then asks puzzled up.
HANDE
Demir?
Demir freezes.
DEMIR
I'm sorry do I know you?
HANDE
It's Hande, we worked together
back at the literary agency.
Demir acts busy with the grill, he takes out some paper to wrap the corn.
DEMIR
I'm sorry I think you have the
wrong person.
HANDE
(determined)
We met at the literary agency
in London five years ago.
Demir wraps the corn and glares at her.
DEMIR
I told you, I'm not who you
think I am.
Demir hands her the corn when she notices the book.
HANDE
I'm certain you even translated
that book, Demir Aksoy.
She searches her pockets for money.
DEMIR
No need to pay, really.
Hande looks confused.
No need. Just get out of my
face!
INT. DEMIR'S FLAT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Demir enters his flat, he puts down his bag and his keys, switches the lights on to find Beren waiting for him in the living room.
DEMIR
Thank God you're here!
She throws the football at him, he dodges it. She then walks closer to him, slaps his head.
BEREN
I thought I'd married a
gentleman, not a creep who
scares women.
DEMIR
She was an ass back at work.
He walks past her to the living room, he takes out some money from his pocket and stores it in a drawer in the living room.
BEREN
Don't you miss work? Don't you
miss reading in English?
Writing in English? Flirting
in English?
DEMIR
Certainly worked on you.
BEREN
You don't miss the huge
library with books that
you have translated?
DEMIR
I miss you.
Bell rings.
BEREN
That's my Mum. You don't
have to be nice, but at
least don't offend her.
Please, Demir. Would you
do that for me?
Bell rings again. Demir holds Beren's hand for a beat then nods, heading to open the door. Meltem's on the other side.
MELTEM
Iyi akşamlar. I've brought you
some food.
Demir takes the plate.
DEMIR
Thank you.
Meltem smiles cautiously.
DEMIR (cont'd)
You didn't have to trouble
yourself.
MELTEM
(excited, grateful)
It's not trouble at all. If
you're ever craving anything,
I can make it for you.
DEMIR
No, no need. This is more than
enough. Thank you.
He tries to shut the door, she stops him enthusiastically.
MELTEM
I'll come tomorrow, maybe help
you with the house chores?
DEMIR
You don't have to.
MELTEM
I want to, please.
DEMIR
(thinking)
Alright.
Demir pulls back to close the door ending their conversation. He walks to the living room, removing the foil that covers the plate, revealing böreks.
DEMIR (cont'd)
Are you craving homemade börek?
Beren's gone. He places the plate on the coffee table and looks around for her.
DEMIR (cont'd)
Beren? Come on, I don't want to
eat alone.
He waits for her for a beat.
DEMIR (cont'd)
I shouldn't have caved and
listened to you.
He sits down in the living room and stares at the food.
DEMIR (cont'd)
Please come back.
