In 2016, I said:
“Look I’ve many ways to visually distill anxiety and I wish to do a full page of it but I, through circumstance, managed to limit this scene into 8 pages by necessity so….yeah”
This is a very big scene for Zeynel, where he gets to display the best of his earnest heartfelt passion overcoming severe anxiety – a quality which he will (un)fortunately, have to use more than once in his life.
I updated the dialogue to better accurately represent Zeynel’s religious-scholastic background and hafiz training.
↓ Transcript
With a little more calm in his voice, he says, “I’ve been thinking about this… and I hope you understand. It’s nothing bad!” He punctuates this reassurance with palms out in surrender, then continues. “But I want to… after seeing what it’s like, after much thinking… I want to try… being a carpet merchant.”
His parents look at each other. They aren’t surprised, as they have seen the signs during their stay. But they are concerned nevertheless. Behind them, Selim leans towards his daughter, wondering at the outcome of this new twist in fate. Ayse is all confidence.
Zeyneb looks at her son, in motherly concern. “Really, habibi?”
Zeynel replies. “Yes.”
Efraim subtly raises an eyebrow, in fatherly concern. “Is this just a fleeting desire? I’ve my reservations…”
Zeynel replies. “Baba. This time I really mean it. From my heart. I thought being an imam was all I could be, but now… I think I know better. I see myself here.”
Zeynel steeples his fingers nervously, as he braces himself to ask for the biggest request in his life. “I… I want to give this a shot. Is that okay? I’ll be safe here. It’ll only be awhile…”
The weight of the request is not lost on his parents. Zeynel watches them as they exchange glances with each other, thinking something, feeling something… what is it? Are they upset? Is his hope at risk? He feels the thorny grip of anxiety seize his entire being, trapping him under the imagined gaze of every person he is bound to disappoint.
His parents look at each other. They aren’t surprised, as they have seen the signs during their stay. But they are concerned nevertheless. Behind them, Selim leans towards his daughter, wondering at the outcome of this new twist in fate. Ayse is all confidence.
Zeyneb looks at her son, in motherly concern. “Really, habibi?”
Zeynel replies. “Yes.”
Efraim subtly raises an eyebrow, in fatherly concern. “Is this just a fleeting desire? I’ve my reservations…”
Zeynel replies. “Baba. This time I really mean it. From my heart. I thought being an imam was all I could be, but now… I think I know better. I see myself here.”
Zeynel steeples his fingers nervously, as he braces himself to ask for the biggest request in his life. “I… I want to give this a shot. Is that okay? I’ll be safe here. It’ll only be awhile…”
The weight of the request is not lost on his parents. Zeynel watches them as they exchange glances with each other, thinking something, feeling something… what is it? Are they upset? Is his hope at risk? He feels the thorny grip of anxiety seize his entire being, trapping him under the imagined gaze of every person he is bound to disappoint.
