The dialogue is updated again to better accurately reflect Zeynel’s background as a scholar. He is appealing to his family’s legacy and passion for inquiry.
↓ Transcript
In an attempt to reassure them (and himself), he says, “Look, if it doesn’t work out, there’s no harm to it, right? You’ve always encouraged me to study beyond the expected. And now… I’d like to be brave and put this into practice. At least, if I mess up, I’ll know better. I’ll become an imam then.”
Turning towards Ayse, he catches her eye, and smiles gently at her. “Also… Ayse and I have agreed to an engagement.”
Ayse returns the smile.
Zeynel turns back to his parents, and his voice breaking, he asks them, “Please?”. Particularly at his father, the one he is afraid to disappoint the most.
Efraim holds his hands together, twiddling his thumbs. His grey-blue eyes have softened, as he considers Zeynel’s plea. He has always told himself that he knew what was best for his son. Afterall, they are both the casualties of a personal family conflict. They have a lot to live up to. Then again… Efraim has been wrong before.
When he was younger, he saw little Zeynel’s gift in the art of speaking, and decided to prepare him for a career in imamship. Initially, and he did not realise it at the time, it was to prove to his family that Zeynel was as much a deCordoba as they are. As academic, as talented, as worthy of love and respect from the get-go, unlike Efraim who was in a shaky place in the aftermath of a major life decision. Once he realised the hurt he had unintentionally caused his little boy, his motive changed. He wanted to protect Zeynel now, from any further damage. Efraim saw in Zeynel the potential to be an amazing, gentle-hearted man, and he didn’t want to ruin that any more than he already did. So he let Zeynel continue the path of becoming a scholar, because it was the only world they knew, and felt safe in, with all its familiar systems and traditions.
But now… Zeynel, for the first time, is being bravely honest with himself and his family.
Efraim anxiously looks at Selim. He asks his old friend, “You do not mind?”
Selim turns to Ayse, bringing her close as he quietly asks her. “Are you really sure?”
With no hesitation, she replies, “Yes!”
Ayse sends a fierce glance at Efraim, more a gentle nudge than an intimidation. She tells the professor, “I don’t mind. Do you?”
Turning towards Ayse, he catches her eye, and smiles gently at her. “Also… Ayse and I have agreed to an engagement.”
Ayse returns the smile.
Zeynel turns back to his parents, and his voice breaking, he asks them, “Please?”. Particularly at his father, the one he is afraid to disappoint the most.
Efraim holds his hands together, twiddling his thumbs. His grey-blue eyes have softened, as he considers Zeynel’s plea. He has always told himself that he knew what was best for his son. Afterall, they are both the casualties of a personal family conflict. They have a lot to live up to. Then again… Efraim has been wrong before.
When he was younger, he saw little Zeynel’s gift in the art of speaking, and decided to prepare him for a career in imamship. Initially, and he did not realise it at the time, it was to prove to his family that Zeynel was as much a deCordoba as they are. As academic, as talented, as worthy of love and respect from the get-go, unlike Efraim who was in a shaky place in the aftermath of a major life decision. Once he realised the hurt he had unintentionally caused his little boy, his motive changed. He wanted to protect Zeynel now, from any further damage. Efraim saw in Zeynel the potential to be an amazing, gentle-hearted man, and he didn’t want to ruin that any more than he already did. So he let Zeynel continue the path of becoming a scholar, because it was the only world they knew, and felt safe in, with all its familiar systems and traditions.
But now… Zeynel, for the first time, is being bravely honest with himself and his family.
Efraim anxiously looks at Selim. He asks his old friend, “You do not mind?”
Selim turns to Ayse, bringing her close as he quietly asks her. “Are you really sure?”
With no hesitation, she replies, “Yes!”
Ayse sends a fierce glance at Efraim, more a gentle nudge than an intimidation. She tells the professor, “I don’t mind. Do you?”
