House of Sand and Fog

Are you Kathy Nicolo?

Yeah.

Is this your house?

Nadi, of course,

agreed that it was a wonderful idea

to cut down the trees

at our home on the Caspian,

to have the sea spread before us,

to reach infinity with our eyes,

to see forever.

But then, our life went the way of the trees

when the ayatollahs ripped the soul

out of our beautiful country.

Well, enough.

Today is not a day for the old.

It is a day for the young.

To the future.

To our Soraya.

May she be a happy wife as she is a bride.

And, perhaps,

she will not forget her poor mother and father so soon

and return to us

and give to us many little grandbabies.

A father can dream.

He's so tan.

Retirement has been good to the colonel.

He's not retired. He works for Boeing.

He doesn't work for Boeing. My son works for Boeing.

Who knows what he does now.

I love you.

Es todo. Terminamos.

Hello.

Kathy?

What time is it?

It's, um, 9:00.

Mom, it's 6:00 A.M. Here.

I don't think 6:00 A.M. Will kill you.

Your father got up at 4:30 every day of his life,

God bless his soul.

So, how's it going? How's the... the program?

Fine.

I'm fine.

One day at a time, right?

Mm. I just hope it's working.

How's everyone there?

Frankie's good. Salesman of the month again.

You know your brother.

His Lisa's in her seventh month.

Wow.

How's your better half?

Fine.

He's right here. He's sleeping.

Sleeping? Hm.

Mom, I'm really tired. I'm gonna go, okay?

Listen. I almost forgot.

Your aunt Frances won a trip to Reno.

We're gonna come out on the 18th. I thought we'd stop by.

The 18th?

Yeah. Two weeks.

Yeah, okay.

Um, nick's gonna be away on business, though.

Again? Yeah.

Wow.

I'm gonna go, okay, mom?

You're still not smoking, right?

Bye.

'Cause, you know, they say it's a slippery...

Just a second!

You Kathy Lazaro?

Yeah. Why?

Kathy Lazaro, due to the nonpayment of business taxes

associated with this property,

the county has petitioned the court on its behalf

to reclaim these costs.

It should come as no surprise to you.

I'm sure you've had ample warning.

We've sent many notices.

Now the house is up for auction tomorrow morning.

Auction?

What are you talking about?

Are you out of your mind?

There's no smoking in my house.

Hey, Chuck.

'Cause I see your number right here, man.

Yeah. We gonna meet down there?

Supposed to be a hot one today.

I'd dress lightly if I were you.

It's okay, 'cause I'm not leaving.

I'm afraid you have no choice, Mrs. Lazaro.

All of your things will be auctioned off with the property.

Do you want that?

Look, you can't evict me.

I never owed a fucking business tax. It doesn't make sense.

Okay, well, this is where I get off.

Deputy sheriff Burdon will assist you in vacating the property.

Do you have a lawyer?

I can't afford a lawyer. I'm a house cleaner.

This is the number for the legal assistance office.

They might be able to help. Nothing's written in blood.

You just have to clear out today.

You might be moving back in next week. Okay?

In the meantime,

maybe you can call some friends or family.

Stay with them.

There's no one to call.

I tell you what.

I know some movers that owe me a favor.

Brian.

Go down to Safeway and get some boxes.

Let's help this lady pack up.

Lester.

May I help you?

My car is parked here.

You asked yesterday also.

Oh, oh, oh, what happened to you?

I fell.

Again? Yeah.

Wash up. Do not get blood on the floor.

The house was repossessed for tax payment delinquency.

It's got three bedrooms, one bath.

A widow's walk would increase the value of the property.

What is this "widow's walk"?

A deck on top of the house so you can see the ocean.

We still got time here. Feel free to look around.

Naderah.

Today God has kissed our eyes.

Do you remember our bungalow on the Caspian,

how I ordered the trees cut down on the west side

so we may view the sea?

Please,

be quiet.

Do you remember

how the general brought his family there for new year?

How beautiful it was.

What is the matter for you today, Behrani?

Nadi?

I today have bought for us another bungalow.

I have purchased this home for a price no one would believe.

It is worth two, maybe three times that.

We will live in this home for a short while

and then sell it and find one even better.

Nah! Nah! Nah!

Perhaps you did not come here to live like a gypsy.

But I did not come here to work like an Arab,

to be treated like an Arab.

For four years we have lived a life we could not afford

and spent almost everything to marry Soraya with a good family.

This apartment alone has cost us over $140,000 in rent.

And what of Esmail's university education?

Soon we will have nothing.

And then you will see what it is like

to walk in the shoes of the gypsies.

So...

beginning tomorrow, you will begin packing,

and there's no more to discuss, Mrs. Behrani.

Do not open your lips.

$500? They evicted you from your house for that?

You got it.

Um, are you staying with friends?

Yeah, I'm with a friend.

How much is this gonna cost me?

It's on a sliding scale.

Um, how come you didn't do something about this earlier?

I did.

I went to the courthouse, months ago,

and I signed a statement saying

that I never owed a business tax

because I never owned a business.

I even had it certified.

And what about the follow-up mail?

I didn't open it.

It's very important to me that I get my house back by the 18th.

I'm expecting company.

When did you sign that letter? I don't know.

March?

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news,

but evidently the county's already sold your house.

What?

No.

They can't do that.

The auction date has been set for months.

Don't worry. I'll demand they rescind the sale,

or we'll file a lawsuit against the county.

We will get your house back. Before the 18th, right?