The Lost Strait (تنگه ی ابوقریب)

Most of the battalions of 27th Mohammad Rasulullah (PBUH) Division have recently returned from several weeks of defence in the south war zones and are heading for Tehran on furlough.

Nobody knows yet that July 12, 1988 is going to be a fateful day in the history of the war between the two countries; one of the most important days of this war...

Turnery... Carpentry...

It's plumbery; it's plumbery this time.

Bravo, yeah. I saw some pipes and stuff in the car. Yes bro, plumbery. Well done, bro.

Building maintenance or something, right? Something of that sort.

It's something like that.

New occupation again... right?

You know what he's saying to Aziz now... right?

"I'm positive this career will take off....." and

"This is the last time I change jobs..." and

"I won't change jobs anymore..." and

"You should quit teaching and work with me" and.....

But I'd say it's not Khalil;

Aziz is speaking.

No way... it's not Aziz.

If it's Aziz, it's all just a walk down the memory lane.

His child might've babbled a new word again

or asked too big a question for his age and he's been filled with joy. He's on cloud nine!

If it's the case, he'll run off at the mouth at the train all the way to Tehran.

Yeah, that's it.

They're not telling memories. Check out their standing style.

They don't look that way while telling memories.

No bro, its memories. He's telling memories, now.

The way Khalil is laughing his head off, either it's not a memory, or if it is, it's a memory back from their childhood.

What are you doing?

It's fine.

Were it OK, I'd remove it myself.

It's hot; it's itchy. Bothers me.

OK, don't touch it.

- What's the bet if they're not telling memories? - What's the bet? I'd say he's telling memories.

- What's the bet? - A noogie.

No, noogies get the brain racked with pain; awful.

No, bro. We'll give each other noogies and our heads swell up. It's cool touching it, then.

No man; a slap in the face?

No, bro. If it's slaps, it should be ten slaps. Either one noogie or ten slaps.

He's telling memories; a hundred percent sure.

I already told him we should get a gift or something for Majid's engagement.

He says it should be a low-priced gift in case they don't reach a deal.

- What do you mean 'they don't reach a deal'? - It's engagement, by the way.

A low-priced gift so that if Majid and his fiancé didn't end up getting married,

we wouldn't lose anything.

That's how Hassan is! He won't speak properly.

Aziz, whatever you do, it shouldn't take more than five minutes.

I've closed the water gate valve.

You saw the pipes and stuff in the back of the car. Let's go fix it.

So, I'll first bring up the issue of Sahar and the hospital and being short of money,

then you'll cut me off saying it's no problem and that you'd borrow money from the guys to sort out the problem

and then we'd pay back the money little by little. Then, I'll give him the money.

He shouldn't find out about his brother at all.

If he does, he'll reveal it to his mum and it'll turn into a fuss.

Hassan will then go mad and won't calm down.

- OK, sure. Is Majid in the loop? - Yes, I told him first.

All right. Let's go. Let's go.

Sir, your carrot juice is ready.

Hassan!

- Yes, sir, I know! yours is just carrot juice. - Mine is just carrot juice.

Hassan, shake a leg dear. It's getting late.

- Thanks - You're welcome, enjoy.

Be quick Hassan. I've closed the water gate valve...

Collect these.

...I've bought a pipe in the car and should be back in five minutes.

Oh, you got these things because your home's pipes are broken?

Yep.

You know, Hassan thought you've started a new business with Aziz.

You're kidding me, Doctor?

- Call yourself 'doctor'. But, clarify this. - Doctor or medical student

Clarify this.

Listen... you were just standing here with Aziz; he was telling your childhood stories...

We're too old for that stuff. Aziz made us linger in the yard for one full hour.

He was praying for his family!

- It's just started. He's taken us to the old bazaar; guess for what? - Just a moment, what's this?

What's this? Hassan...

Man, I'm saying while you were standing here, Aziz...

Aziz was reminding you of your school memories and you laughed your head off... wait a moment!

you laughed your head off.

- You've bet on it? - Yes. A noogie.

Don't do that. Don't give each other so many noogies.

You'll go crazy. Aha... here, a hair clips for Aziz' daughter.

She'd ordered one with flowers on it;

- and the flowers should be made of fabric, not painted. - Dear!

Khalil!

Your kids have come of age and you've forgotten them being kids.

They have thousands of different demands.

So you think when they come of age, they'll have no more demands?

God bless their childhood!

Guys, I've closed the water gate valve and have got to go.

Safe travel back to Tehran... but drop by again.

If you excuse me, I've got to go. Don't you give us a ride?

Do you have your suitcases with you?

No... but no problem. You'll drive us to Dokouheh and we pick our suitcases there.

If you're in a rush, we'll go ourselves. I was talking, Khalil.

What rush, man? He's been saying he's in a rush since morning.

Were he in a rush, he would be gone by now.

Man, he's too kind to leave his buddies and go.

He said either I'll give you a ride or I won't let you go!

Are you serious? This is a real buddy; well done!

Hassan, Majid, cut it out. I'll take you to Dokouheh;

you'll pick your suitcases and I'll give you a ride to the train station, okay?

Hey, photographer!

Guys, let's take a group photo now that we're sitting here.

Bro, would you take our photo?

- What for? Let go of me... Who takes a photo while dripping with sweat? - What's the photo for? We were talking

No need, sir; thanks.

We'd better take a shower or a bath before taking photos.

Whatever kids ask for is OK as long as they're safe and sound.

Once, Sahar had gotten ill. We took her to the hospital. Our life was a mess.

Man, put money into everything you like but don't throw it at the doctors; it's extortion money!

Doctor... he means you.

Yes.

It's not pocket money. I was finally strapped for cash and borrowed from the guys.

- Khalil remembers. - Really?

Why didn't you let us know?

Khalil, the guys all chipped in to pay for Sahar's hospital expenses, and then I paid them back bit by bit.

Why did you borrow from the guys while I was around?

Yeah, after all,

when you run into a problem, you first fill in your buddies; then pay them back bit by bit.

It's not my cup of tea.

You know, there is no way we borrow from anyone even if worse comes to worst,

cause the guys themselves are in plight up to their neck and you can't borrow money from them.

Up to their neck, Hassan?

These days everybody is in plight up to their eyeballs.

- It doesn't feel right to ask people for money. - It's not fair, you know.

He says up to their neck, you say up to their eyeballs? Where are you Khalil?

Where am I? Hassan! Listen up.

Why should I listen up?

I want to talk to you, listen up.

About what?

You're cut out for role-playing, Khalil.

What role?

Stop laughing, Majid; stop.

Please, Majid; what is it?

He's completely out of here.

What are you laughing at?

I'm laughing at myself.

Fall silent!

Hassan, this is the whole story.

No need to be shy. When you're in need and short of money,

you should borrow from your friends and pay them back bit by bit.

And you're brother called, by the way.

Don't give out his bro's story.

You don't laugh. Come one, I'll fill you in.

- Why did my bro call? - He'll let you know.

- You said my bro called you. - He'll tell you.

Okay, he'll tell you

Yes, he called. Come on, I'll tell you.

- Where are you? - Right here!

The thing is I hate cooking up schemes. What's wrong with telling him frankly?

Come on; it's getting late.

Shake a leg!

It was delish Hassan.

Move it, Majid.

The hair clips... the hair clips...

The Lost Strait

In the name of God...

Salehi, the division's deputy commander asked me to talk to you.

The moment they said our battalion has got to go to the frontline,

God knows_I told him too_I said we're back from several weeks of defence.

The guys are going home. Their families are awaiting them in Tehran.

I said lots of our guys are injured.

We haven't had time to even hold memorial service for our newly-martyred friends.

The voice of our brothers who've been left behind, in the past few weeks, and we haven't been able to take them back

is being echoed in Dokouheh rooms.

These halls, these walls, these rooms of Dokouheh; is it possible for them to forget the sufferings of the boys?

Salehi said himself that it's your call, by the way.

But the thing is, a few hours ago, Iraq has crossed the border. They've crossed through many of our border posts.

They've used chemical weapons and taken captives. Folks have become homeless.

Masses of soldiers are returning from the frontline.

Salehi is going to Dehloran right now.

We'll go there to be coordinated too.

Despite all this,

I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart,

whoever has a problem or difficulty to deal with and can't come along, may leave.

The buses are at the military base yard for those who want to return to Tehran.

You can go back with your mission papers or leave sheets.

And those who want to come to the frontline must pick arms in a flash.

Come on guys. Recite a Salavat. "Peace be upon Muhammad and his progeny"

We were once flustered in the barricades. You couldn't even poke your head.

Salehi was standing by a tank upright,

as if we weren't under an all-out attack.

He'd tell the tank crew to target this and that...

Such a man leading the others off to the frontline means a grave situation.

The guys were about to leave. It's hard for them.

Talk to them.

No one should come to the frontline to stand on ceremony.

You'll have your own position, the company commander?

No man, I can't be the commander.

It makes me sleepless.

- I'd better be in charge of myself. - Khalil!

What is it? You're still in plain clothes?

- I'll suit up in no time, sir. - You'll suit up?

Can you come over for a minute? Ahmad has a word with you.

- Where? - Upstairs.

Lend me your ears Ali.

You'll go room by room and tell everyone to write their names on their bags

so that we know whose bag is which if they're martyred.

- Get a move on. - OK, sure.

Where is Khalil himself, by the way?

What do you have to do with Khalil? You keep saying Khalil, Khalil...

I'm Khalil's franchiser myself. Move it and do your job.