Sour Apples (Ekşi Elmalar)

When one dies,

they say two angels ask you questions.

If you can't answer, you are tormented. God forbid.

So you have to remember.

But don't worry, I'll tell you everything.

Everything I have.

How will I tell you?

Province, Giresun.

Republican People's Party: %36,38. Justice Party: %30,63.

According to unofficial results,

the Republican People's Party has won the mayoral election.

Province, Gümüşhane.

Republican People's Party: %47,38. Justice Party: %44,89.

According to unofficial results,

the Republican People's Party has won the mayoral election.

Province, Hakkari.

Republican People's Party: %46,70. Justice Party: %42,27.

According to unofficial results,

the Republican People's Party has won the mayoral election.

Everyone told you not to run for your third term.

But you did

and you lost.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor.

Sorry, Mr. Mayor.

In that city, you planted the most beautiful orchard in the world.

-And I met him in that orchard. -Şino.

-These are big! - Özgür.

-Shake the tree, man! -What? Do you want us to fall down?

Don't you move, you rascals!

-Cousin, wait! -Stop. Don't run!

Don't run! Stop. Come here.

Rascals!

Who's up there?

Come down!

-Come down. -Alright.

-Alright. -Quick! Come here.

Come here.

Come over here, to the light.

-That was Şino running, right? -I don't know.

You just happened to meet here, then!

Yes.

I think that's what happened.

-You're not from here. -I'm from here.

I'd know. You're not.

You look like the men in the photo novels. And you speak so nice.

-Thank you. -Who are you?

My name is Özgür. I'm from here, but I've never been here before.

-I'm Şino's uncle's son. -And that wasn't Şino?

-I don't know. -You don't.

I'm from here, and a stranger as well.

-Aren't you ashamed, thieving and all? -I'm sorry.

Do you kill people for a few apples here?

-What's wrong? -You reek of something.

Come close.

Come close.

Alright. Bend your head down.

-What? -Bend it down.

Bend your head down.

Your hair. It's coming from your hair.

Shame on you. Why does your hair smell?

Why shame? It's just shampoo.

-What? -Shampoo.

-What's that? -Shampoo is like

a liquid. You put it on your hair.

-Then... -Go away.

Want these back?

-Keep them. -Thank you.

Don't tell the others, the gun is empty. It's just to scare away.

But my father would beat you bad, for real.

Go away.

Go.

Men don't smell. That's a shame.

Go away.

Go.

I got no sleep at all that night.

I couldn't forget the boy's face,

or the smell of his hair.

Honorable Mr. Servet...

-He isn't the sultan, he's your lover. -What? Lover?

What do you mean by lover?

Sister.

Three days and still not finished?

Why have you come? We can't all disappear. Go away.

Give me a photo novel.

Come here. Come.

-In your dreams! -You...

-Will you write it or not? -I'm writing!

-Honorable Mr. Servet... -Let's say "My honorable Servet".

"My"?

I have yet to see the man's face!

If Dad heard those words, he'd beat us with a belt!

Words matter, Muazzez. Write.

If you are

serious about this as well...

-If... -You are

serious about this as well

and your family is also

-of the same mindset as you... -Slow down.

You're as slow as I'm excited!

-I'd be faster if I knew how to write. -Here. Write.

I'm busy, dear.

Muazzez, I guess you fancy a beating. Shut up. Write.

-I am. -What did you write?

"If you are serious about this..."

As well!

As well...

And your family is also of the same mindset as you...

Visitors!

Muazzez, run!

-Hurry! -Muazzez, run!

That city was known for two things.

The Mayor's orchard, and the Mayor's daughters.

-Have a nice day, Adem. -Thank you, Mr. Engineer.

My God, grafting is such a magical thing.

You graft a branch to a sour tree.

Basically, you're giving directions to the tree.

"Change your habits", you say.

"Don't be sour, you fool."

"Be sweet. Don't stay green. Get all red."

Mr. Mayor, I wonder if we should leave some of these apples stay sour?

Why?

I don't know. Grafted apple trees are all over the place, after all.

These are original.

-Some would make great wine. -Wine?

Another reason to cut them down.

I didn't mean that you should do it.

Trees are just like people. You have to tame them.

At first, every person is sour.

Acrid.

You teach them, school them

and they're sweet as honey.

There, just like this one.

But then some

don't take to grafting.

The same air, water, and fertilizer.

But look at the result.

Shame on you!

Your friend right here can't even look at you.

It's been a whole year, and 11 apples.

Shame on you!

Safiye.

We exchanged glances twice.

I threw photo novel glances in both.

Like this.

There are nicer glances in those books.

Is that so? Do one, then.

There you go.

-Where were we? -What?

The letter.

"My mother will ask my father. If he deems it suitable as well..."

Then it'll be suitable for your family to visit us.

-We said it twice. -What?

-We said "suitable" twice. -Well, it will be!

Fine.

-Then... -It'll be suitable for your family

to visit us.

Of course, if it really is you in the photo you sent me.

What's with all the "if"s?

Don't write it

if it's wrong.

-Go on, write. -Türkan.

Hide it!

As we end our letter...

May God bless him who ends this letter!

Amen!

Right, as we end this goddamned letter of ours...

Look, I repeat, if you are serious about this as well...

It's hard enough to write this once.

For God's sake, don't repeat anything.

I send my regards, and kiss your eyes... Should I kiss him on the eyes?

Kiss the man somewhere and be done with it.

Alright, where should I kiss him?

-His cheek. -Of course! Write.

I kiss you on the cheek.

On the...

...cheek.

Lady Türkan.

No, just Türkan.

Türkan. Thank God it's over.

Add "I expect an urgent reply."

Add that.

God give me patience.

Reply...

-If I don't receive your reply... -Sister!

Alright. Take this.

Let me tear it and fold it.

And once you steal an envelope from dad, all is done.

Looks matter too, Muazzez.

The cheek part isn't too much, is it?

I shouldn't kiss him at all.

Safiye, get up. Delete the cheek part.

-Get up, get up! -I'm going crazy, I swear!

Alright, go to sleep. Go to sleep.

God give me patience.

The cheek part is too much, but OK.

I can kiss him that much, so what?

I'm going to kiss you!

-Welcome, Şino. -Hello, girls.

Why are you here?