NIGHT
Dedicated to Bahram Beyzai
EXT. ALLEY – NIGHT
It is an hour past midnight. A wide alley, lined with parked cars on both sides. The lights of most of the buildings are off; only lampposts illuminate the alley. No one is seen in the alley. Amid the silence, the sound of music can be heard from one of the houses.
The door of the house opens.
A YOUNG WOMAN and a YOUNG MAN stumble out, leaving the door open behind them. They stagger down the alley. The man appears to be in his forties and the woman in her thirties. The man has black hair and stubble. He is wearing a smart suit, but looks a little disheveled, his tie loose. The woman has curly blonde hair and heavy makeup. She is wearing a long red evening gown and is carrying a small white bag over her shoulder.
It’s obvious they’re extremely drunk and under the influence of drugs.
WOMAN
Arash, where did you park the car?
MAN
(pointing down the alley)
I think it’s this way…
WOMAN
You think? So you’re not sure?
MAN
Come on. We’ll find it.
WOMAN
Look, I’m really not okay… can barely walk…
MAN
Stop complaining. I’m not doing much better than you.
They walk along the side of the alley, looking over the parked cars, trying to find theirs.
WOMAN
You know, you could’ve just parked it somewhere findable, but nope! You always need to make things harder for no reason.
MAN
I left it right here. Just wait a second; I’ll find it…
WOMAN
Not once have you managed to do something properly. I’m so sick of this stupid, confused shit you pull—
MAN
Don’t start again, Sara!
They continue walking down the alley, checking the parked cars. The woman suddenly rushes to a small garden bed, bends down, and starts to vomit, holding her hair with one hand.
MAN
I told you not to overdo it. Every fucking time!
The woman gets to her feet and wipes the area around her mouth.
WOMAN
What are you talking about? Look at yourself. You can’t even tell your left hand from your right. Instead of making stupid comments, find the car!
MAN
Instead of fixing your own behavior, whenever I say anything, you start taking cheap shots at me. Just like your mother.
WOMAN
Shut up! Don’t bring my mother into this. Why can’t you just let me be? Always finding something hurtful to say.
MAN
I don’t know, maybe cause I’m tired of this shit? I can’t keep picking you up and taking you home every time we go to a party.
WOMAN
You pick me up? That’s rich. I’ve been picking you up for years. And this is the last time I’m ever going to a party with you.
MAN
Good riddance! I’m not really a fan of going out with you either. Always nagging!
(pause)
Look, Sara. I think I parked the car right here.
The woman moves a little closer, smells him, and wrinkles her nose.
WOMAN
I told you not to wear this perfume again. God, what’s that smell? Where did you even get it? I didn’t buy that for you.
MAN
(searching his pockets)
Forget about that. I can’t find the car keys. Are they on you?
WOMAN
Oh my god—
MAN
(still searching his pockets)
What? What happened?
The woman holds her head in her hands in a state of annoyance and surprise.
WOMAN
Which car did we come in here with? Huh, professor?
(remembering something)
Oh my god! You really are a mess. Didn’t you leave the car at the repair shop today? Didn’t I order a taxi to come here?
What the actual fuck? We’ve been looking for our car for an hour. I just can’t with you…
She turns her back to him, walks a few steps away before rushing to a corner again and vomiting.
MAN
Are you sure? That can’t be right—
(thinks for a moment)
Yeah… We did come by taxi, didn’t we?
He suddenly bursts out laughing.
The woman, tired from vomiting, sits on the curb. He walks over, sits down beside her, lights a cigarette, and takes a drag.
MAN
Couldn’t you have told me earlier?
(takes another drag)
Remember that night? The night of Soha’s birthday?
WOMAN
Which night?
MAN
I think it was two or three years ago. She invited us to her housewarming. Mehrdad arrived late, and Soha was really pissed off and frustrated.
WOMAN
Okay… and?
MAN
Don’t you remember what happened?
WOMAN
No. How would I know?
MAN
Come on. I’m talking about the gift you bought her.
WOMAN
I don’t remember…
MAN
Soha was drunk and wasn’t feeling well. She kept going into the kitchen and coming back, trying to make sure we wouldn’t notice.
And Taraneh, as usual, thinking she can actually sing, had started singing.
Then it was time to open the presents. Soha opened your gift first. You know? That supposedly expensive perfume you bought her.
She opened it, sprayed it on herself twice, and immediately threw up all over the table.
The man bursts out laughing again.
WOMAN
Why don’t I remember that…
Give me a cigarette.
MAN
You’d better not smoke in this condition—
The woman reaches out to the man and takes his cigarette. She takes a deep drag. The man sighs.
WOMAN
Get an Uber or something. Let’s go home. I’m exhausted.
MAN
My phone’s off—
The woman takes her phone out of her purse and hands it to him.
WOMAN
Here, use mine.
The man takes the phone and starts looking for their location on the map.
After a moment…
MAN
I can’t find our house on the map…
WOMAN
Oh, come on. I saved our home location. Just click it.
MAN
Yeah, I did. But why is it showing another address?
WOMAN
Where?
MAN
Sohrevardi Street…
WOMAN
Well, where else would it be? Our house is on Sohrevardi Street.
MAN
Our house is on Sohrevardi?
WOMAN
Yeah, where else?
MAN
Look, maybe I’m not exactly myself right now, but I know where we live.
WOMAN
You’re really fucked up, Arash. I can’t take this anymore. Just order the damn thing!
The man lights another cigarette.
MAN
Your name is Sara, right?
WOMAN
Sara? Who’s Sara? What are you talking about? You don’t even remember my name?
MAN
Where did we meet?
WOMAN
Oh my god! What the hell is wrong with you?
She grabs her head in both hands and gets to her feet.
MAN
No, seriously. Do we even know each other?
The woman walks a few steps away from him and stops.
Silence.
After a few moments, she walks back and stands beside him.
WOMAN
We met here… This is where we met. Tonight, at this party.
The man nods in agreement and hands her phone back.
MAN
Can you order a shared ride with two destinations?
WOMAN
What’s your home address?
MAN
Above Vanak Square. Sarv Street.
WOMAN
Okay. I’ll get it now.
She starts ordering a ride on her phone.
A few moments later…
MAN
By the way, what’s your name?
WOMAN
(looking into his eyes)
Maryam.
FADE OUT.
THE END