May in the Summer

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

We have just landed at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.

The outside temperature 38 degrees Celsius which is equivalent to...

Hi, you've reached Ziad.

Leave me a message, I'll call you back.

Hey, it's me, I'm here, missing you already.

New York.!

Course, there was an empty seat next to me on the plane,

so I thought about you the entire flight.

I'm about to go meet my mom and sisters so...

I'll let you know what happens.

Call me when you can.

I love you.

Bye.

May!

Hi!

Oh, my God!

- Hi. - Hi.

I missed you.

I missed you, too.

. Okay, okay.

Can you share?

Hi, what's going on?

Ziad didn't come...

Oh, it's all... no, it's good, actually.

He had to teach, but, um, he's gonna be here in a few weeks.

And it's actually better this way because we'll get more time on our honeymoon.

Hmm.

Where's Mom?

She's cooking for you.

You didn't tell her that he changed his plans, did you?

No, I didn't.

Is this it'?

Can I see it?

- Can we wait till we get... - No, I wanna see it now.

Okay, okay, okay... Just be careful.

- Tah-dah. - I love it.

- You like it? - It's really nice.

Yeah, I never thought I'd go so conventional

but, you know, it fits the wedding...

- I can't wait to see it on you. - It's very simple.

Okay, can we get to the reception?

Don't tell me you're bored, you just got here.

What were we thinking coming a whole month before the wedding.

We haven't all been here together in years.

I know, I keep telling her.

Dalia thinks that just because she loves it here, I have to, too.

- I never said that. - That's not how it works.

And even if I did, there's nothing wrong with it.

- It's a part of me. - Oh, my God, congratulations.

- On what? - You got your certification.

- I'm so proud of you. - No, I didn't.

You know, massage wasn't for me.

Touching people's bodies all the time

and I was absorbing all of their bad energy, it was so...

But you were almost done, weren't you?

- Yeah, but, it's... - Hold that, hold that.

I could go back if I want to.

Maybe I'll move here or someplace, you know like...

So, yeah.

Wow.

- That's you? - Yeah.

It's gotten bad.

I thought she'd try to convert me this morning.

Yeah, didn't work, though did it?

What does that mean?

Honestly, you can't blame her, though.

I'm sorry, there weren't this many ninjas growing up.

You shouldn't call them ninjas, Yasmine.

- Dalia, in your face, look. - Don't... stop pointing.

I'm sorry, if my mom dressed like that, I would be terrified of her.

You're just... you're, you're rude.

So what, um, why were you laid off?

What happened exactly?

It wasn't just me.

It was whole round of people.

Some of them had been there for 20 years... it was really, really terrible.

But what about you?

Yalla, tell us things, come on, how's it going?

- It's going well. - Yeah?

Ziad's mom's... been amazing.

She's planned all of it.

Does that annoy you?

No, not at all, she consults me on all points.

That's great.

I forgot, what does Ziad teach again?

Contemporary Islamic Civilization.

Um-hmm.. Important.

I think so.

Mom?

Oh, my God, it smells so good!

Your favorite.

Hi, Mom.

Come here, May.

How are you?

I'm good, I missed you.

Me too,.

Wow, I'm so glad you're here.

Me too, you look great.

Oh, it's all good.

How was your flight?

It was... you know.

I ate, I slept.

I froze my butt off.

You look pale.

Your eyes are red.

Do you want a nap before everybody gets here?

I will never fall asleep.

Why do I keep forgetting?

You're exactly like me.

You can't even nap.

I know, me too.

Who's all coming over?

Hmm.

This is great, no, but I would love some coffee.

- Amazing. - Oh, I would love some, too.

Did I tell you guys that my paperback is finally coming out?

That's great.

- Some time this fall. - That's amazing.

I'm so proud of you.

Thank you.

- Really? - Hmm.

They can't wait to meet you.

That's so nice.

So...

Everything else is okay?

Yeah.

It's good.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

I got worried when I heard Ziad wasn't coming.

Never mind how I find out.

I felt it.

I felt that you were having some problems.

I swear to you.

I told you, May.

Marrying outside your religion, your culture, it's all the same.

It never works.

We're better than ever, Mom.

We're getting married.

- I just thought... - He was just delayed.

He'll be here in a few weeks.

Don't worry, I know you're not coming to the wedding.

Of course not.

What did we talk about?

What?

Have you talked to dad?

And why do you call him that?

What am I supposed to call him?

Anything but that.

It's been almost ten years, Mom.

He had a heart attack.

It barely qualified for a heart attack.

Even the doctors say so.

He invented the whole thing just to get attention.

Still, when I found out, I called him.

And you know why?

Because I am better than him.

You shouldn't have done that.

I mean, he made you miserable for years.

20 years.

As if his affairs weren't enough humiliating,

he went and he married a woman half his age.

She's not half his age.

May, she is your age, okay?

Are you going to see him?

- No - Maybe.

You could've warned me.

I asked you not to tell her.

She said something already?

You're surprised?

I'm sorry.

I forgot.

Hmm.

And I... I didn't think it was a big deal.

Can we clear some of your clothes so I can have some room?

They're silk, they need to be hung.

Issam!

How do they know that it hasn't already been opened?

Hi, my love.

I wanted to tell you about my fun-filled day.

Well, first, my mom confirmed she's not coming to the wedding.

You know, in case we had any doubt.

And... then my cousin in front of the whole family

announced I'm going to hell.

Ah, but you'll be there too, so don't worry, we'll rot together.

That's something to look forward to.

Hello?

Auntie?

May?

I'm... I'm on the phone.

I am here, I'm on the phone.

Can you please hang up?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, okay, okay.

Oh, my God, see what it's like?

Oh, my God, okay, I'm gonna go to bed now.

Um, call me tomorrow, please.

Okay.

I love you.

No.