Melting Away (נמס בגשם)

No one tells you what it means to be a good mother.

If it's being the mother my son wants me to be

or the mother I think he needs.

Inspired by a true story

I think most mothers don't ask themselves these questions.

I only asked after I had lost him.

Melting Away

Even when I think about it now,

I didn't notice any sign.

Maybe I didn't want to notice.

But I definitely wasn't prepared for this. No one was.

Assafi is a "Mommy's boy" and...

Shlomo, his father, had very high expectations.

They were never really close.

Leave me alone, Dad. - What's in that bag? - None of your business.

None of my business? Spending my money is my business.

I don't care about your money. - You don't?

You care about painting? That costs money.

Stop! Don't touch that, Dad.

Leave it, Dad! - That costs money!

Your father's scary as hell.

No wonder you peed in bed till first grade.

Can we go?

What's wrong?

What are you doing?

I'm asking that you go along with me this time.

So far we did it your way. - Shlomo, it doesn't look good.

And this looks good?

Where can he go with these clothes?

To his pervert friends, see what real life's like.

Where are you going?

Mom, open up.

Mom, open up.

Mom...

Mom!

Mom!

Open up!

Come on, open up!

Open up.

Open up!

Mom!

Mom, open the door... Open up...

Mom!

Open up already!

Bastards!

Most of the time I was afraid that, you know...

he'd get sick, hurt himself, fall down,

that someone would hurt him...

But that night I felt a different fear.

Fear of finding out my son is totally different from what I had thought.

That I don't really know him.

He'll be alright.

How will he be alright? Will you make him alright?

Do you accept this situation?

You're wrong.

What if I'm right?

You'll see, he has nowhere to stay. In a couple of days he'll return home,

start studying and get a job.

Then he won't have time for all that crap.

What if it doesn't work?

It will work.

It didn't work.

Not only did it not work, we haven't seen him since.

At first, his friend, Shimi,

said Assaf needs some time and that he'll contact us when he's ready.

Then Shimi came to our house...

and said that Assaf

Ieft to Australia, to work.

A few weeks later Shlomo was diagnosed with a tumor

and we've been in hospitals ever since.

It's been 4 years since we saw Assaf.

Shlomo said we should leave him alone

and that Assaf will come back when he's ready.

This week we were told that the chemotherapy wasn't working.

I don't know what'll happen, I want you to find him

and tell him that his father is very sick.

And it has to be now because I don't know how much time he has left.

Here.

Thanks.

Do you have his friend... Shimi's address?

Yes.

That's Assafi

and that's his friend, Shimi.

We'll start looking into it

and as soon as I know something, I'll contact you.

It's urgent so I'd appreciate it if you do it as soon as...

We'll start immediately.

Thanks. - Goodbye.

I want you to contact this guy, Shimi.

Tell him I want to meet him about Assaf Shapira.

Hey. - Hey.

It's so good to see you.

How are you?

Coffee? - Yes, please.

How was your flight?

First class, no complaints.

How's my brave brother?

He's a tough man.

Thanks.

It's strange, coming home when Shlomo's not around.

Where's Assaf?

Is something wrong?

Let's not get into it.

What? Talk to me.

Not tonight, I can't.

Good night.

Good night.

Hello, good evening. Welcome to the Maxim Club.

Please welcome the most beautiful and talented drag queen Talula Bonet!

Anyone knows what's Culini?

Do you?

Of course not.

Because it's not in Hebrew.

It's in African.

So if you ever meet anyone from Africa

ask him what's...

Culini, culini, culini...

culini, culini, ya...

Thanks.

Goldstar beer... What a macho.

You chose an interesting place to meet.

Don't worry, I'm not coming on to you. I'm taken.

Shimi, don't mess with me. I don't have time for games.

I'm looking for Assaf. Where is he? - I've no idea.

I think he's still in Australia. - Why?

He's happy there. He's having a good time...

I mean, why do you think you can fool me?

Do I look stupid to you?

There are things he needs to know. I only want to talk to him.

His father's sick.

He has cancer.

You should talk to him.

He'll be here soon.

People look happy here.

We're not called "gay" for nothing.

Shit...

Excuse me... Assaf!

Assaf Shapira.

Who are you? - I'm Eitan.

I'm Anna.

How can I help you?

Your mom asked me to find you, son.

Who are you, miss? - You mean "sir".

I mean "miss".

You address me as a male, so I address you as a female.

I thought you're playing with me.

Who are you? - I'm a private detective.

Your mom hired me to find you, son... miss.

My mom died long ago.

Look, this is way over my head...

Your father, Shlomo... - Oh...

You mean those who brought me into the world, Shlomo and Galya.

That's different, they're not real parents.

You smoke?

No, I quit.

But I think I'll start smoking again.

Thanks.

How many kids you got? - I don't have kids.

No way... Low sperm count?

No... it's fine.

Eitan, do you know how many years you need to study to become a professor?

But you become a parent automatically after 9 months.

Funny, isn't it?

My parents quit parenting. They decided not to be my parents

when they realized they didn't like the product.

You can tell Mr. and Mrs. Shapira they're not to my liking either.

Look, my job was...

to find you and let you know your father's sick.

Your mother's a wreck.

They don't know how much time he's got.

Are you done?

Here's my business card.

If you ever need anything.

What do I tell your mother?

That I met Assaf or Anna?

Who do you think she looked for?

If you ask me, we should open a "lost dogs" department.

What do I tell this mother about her son?

What do I tell her?

Look at what I do for a living.

I make people feel bad, Redhead.

I show them pictures of their wives cheating on them,

of employees deceiving them.

You also do people a lot of good. - When? To whom?

I always end up with these stories.

Good morning.

I'm Anna. I'm a private nurse.

The insurance company sent me.

I didn't ask for a private nurse.

You didn't have to, it's included in your senior employee insurance.

That's really unnecessary.

The insurance sends flowers as well?

Would you like something to drink? - No.

I'd like to read the paper.

There's some change on the table.

Anything else? - No.

Something for your mood?

Huh? - Nothing. I'll be right back.

Who sent you these beautiful flowers?

Anna. - Who's Anna?