Once it's open,
then the very next day,
it is no good.
I'm only telling you this 'cause I love you, habibti.
Okay.
[ theme music plays ]
DENA: Hey. Hi. Hey. ‐ Hi.
‐ Mm, can I get a chai‐‐
‐ A chai latte, double shot, almond milk.
[ Kyle clicks tongue ]
All right.
‐ What's today's artwork?
‐ Oh, I was, uh, I was trying to remember
these mountains I saw in Geneva.
Went backpacking after undergrad with some buddies.
DENA: This is really cool. KYLE: Right?
I mean, I feel like it should count toward my master's.
‐ I mean, yeah. You should definitely hand this in.
KYLE: [ chuckles ] No.
The fine arts head is, um, pretty fucking ruthless,
to be honest. ‐ I've heard that. That's true.
‐ Yeah, I was backpacking for, like, three years, and I'd draw
people on the street to‐‐ to make my hostel money
and get a little bit of food.
‐ That's, like, the dream. I always wanted
to go to Europe after undergrad.
‐ So why didn't you? ‐ I tried. I, like, planned
this whole Asia‐Europe trip, and then my parents freaked out,
and they were like, "If you go anywhere, you have to go to Egypt
to see your cousins," so...
‐ You're from Egypt? DENA: Mm‐hmm.
‐ That's really fucking cool. ‐ Yeah.
Ah, the pyramids got kinda lame after the third time.
It's like when you realize Times Square is not that cool.
‐ So there's, like, a giant H & M ad
just on the side of the Sphinx. DENA: Yeah.
KYLE: Cool. ‐ Basically.
‐ Oh, man. I'm sorry, I feel like I don't even know
what you're studying.
‐ Um, I'm, I'm, uh, getting my master's in anthro.
‐ Mm. DENA: Supposedly.
I love it. It's just, like, the reading gets so dense sometimes.
I'm like, I care about these people,
but do I care about them for this many paragraphs?
[ both chuckle ] DENA: I don't know...
‐ Yeah, I‐I think that stuff's fascinating.
Like, um, I remember I was in middle school,
and we were learning about China, and there's this chapter about, um,
foot binding they do to women's feet...
‐ Oh, yeah.
‐ ...and I went home and took the laces out of my shoes
and, uh, wrapped my feet up like they did.
‐ Whoa!
KYLE: Yeah, just to see what that'd be like.
‐ That's, like, really empathetic.
‐ Yeah. Um, I mean, I took them off after, like, five minutes.
[ both laugh ]
But I'll never forget. You know, that's the part that counts.
DENA: That's a memory. ‐ Yeah.
But, anyway...
‐ Uh, yeah. Um, I'm gonna pay.
‐ Oh, no, no, no. I got this.
‐ No. Come on. KYLE: No, really. I‐I...
[ chuckles ] It's okay.
It's, like, one drink. ‐ All right. Um...
‐ Here, let me just finish this real quick. Hold on.
Cool.
There you go. ‐ Thanks. Bye.
‐ See ya.
[ knock at door ] RAMY: Dena!
Hurry up. I gotta use the bathroom.
‐ Dude, just wait your fucking turn! Stupid bitch.
RAMY: Can you hurry up? ‐ I just got in here.
[ moaning ]
[ knock at door ] MAYSA: Dena, hurry up!
Your brother has been waiting for so long.
[ speaks Arabic ] Dinner is ready.
[ speaking Arabic ]
FAROUK: You know, Dena,
I've been at the doctor's,
and he told me that juice has a lot of sugar in it.
And, you know, sugar is really bad for you.
He said it's like a... a food for cancer.
‐ So do you not want me to drink this juice?
‐ That's not what I'm saying.
I want you to do what you want to do.
‐ Mm‐hmm. FAROUK: Just be careful, habibti.
Habitbi, try this... try this instead. It's much better for you.
‐ Yeah, I've tried water, Dad. I know what it tastes like.
‐ Ma, where are the keys? I can't find them.
‐ Where are you going? ‐ I'm going out.
‐ Eat, habibi. ‐ Yeah, I got to go, though.
MAYSA: At least take some baklawa with you, okay?
You'll be hungry later. ‐ Baklawa's filled with sugar.
‐ No. No way.
DENA: Yeah. ‐ It's natural. It's honey from bees.
‐ It is honey.
‐ Yeah. ‐ Yeah.
‐ The keys are in my purse, near the baklawa.
RAMY: Uh.
‐ Uh, okay. I'm going to Fatima's tonight.
‐ Again, Dena? This is the second time this week.
‐ I'm 25 years old. Why is there a limit?
Does anyone even care where Ramy goes?
You guys never ask him where he is.
‐ He just told me he's going out. ‐ Yeah, that's what I just said.
‐ He literally gave you no information.
‐ Yeah, I'm gonna go. Love you, Mom. ‐ Love you, habibi.
What time are you coming back? RAMI: I don't‐‐ I don't know.
MAYSA: Okay. ‐ I'm leaving.
FAROUK: Okay, Dena.
Just don't be late.
‐ [ speaks Arabic ] Habibti, please, text me when you get there.
‐ Okay, Mom. MAYSA: [ speaking Arabic ]
Please, soft on the driving.
Careful with the brakes.
‐ Okay, Mom.
FATIMA: "You are so beautiful, my princess. Please answer.
I am looking for a partner in marriage." ‐ Oh no.
‐ "Are you available?"
SAHAR: [ speaks Arabic ]
[ in an exaggerated accent ] "Give me chance for say hi."
‐ That's my prince. [ women laugh ]
‐ Dena, you gotta get out of that house.
‐ Yes. One second, while I just get some rich parents real quick.
‐ You could move out. Okay, you're choosing to stay there.
‐ Guys, my parents are not gonna let me move out
before I'm married.
I can't fuck until I'm married.
So really I'm just fucked until I'm married.
SAHAR: You can just have sex here like Fatima.
‐ Wait, what? ‐ You fucking idiot.
‐ You had sex? ‐ It just happened.
‐ Wait, wait, wait, wait. When? With who?
You're not even seeing anyone.
‐ I didn't plan it out. It was just...
a guy, in my program.
‐ Is he Muslim? FATIMA: No, of course not. Come on.
You know Muslim guys don't do anything with Muslim women.
‐ That's true.
FATIMA: When you were dating Tariq for three years,
he was never gonna have sex with you.
‐ Mm. FATIMA: Look,
I was just like, what am I waiting for?
All of these Muslim guys are fucking around,
and they don't give a shit.
Why am I so scared?
And we're not supposed to be
celibate this long, okay?
It's unnatural.
‐ You fucking loved it.
‐ [ laughing ] DENA: Well, like, I'm...
Look, I'm happy for you, you know, like, obviously.
I just, like, I thought that we were in this together.
SAHAR: Mm‐hmm.
‐ And that's why I didn't wanna tell you right away.
‐ Have you also had sex?
‐ No.
‐ Good. Good. FATIMA: Look,
I don't think you should do anything
that you feel uncomfortable with, but...
it's not like your first time is gonna be this
fairytale Notebook sex scene anyway.
Okay?
[ phone chimes ] SAHAR: [ gasps ]
Chinese food is here.
‐ I'll get it. Who's the Postmate, guy or girl?
‐ Um, Antonio.
‐ All right. ‐ All right.
[ playful music plays ]
[ woman singing in Arabic ]
‐ Sure nobody's home? DENA: No, no.
They're gone for a few hours.
‐ You're so fucking hot.
I've been wanting this for so long. ‐ Me too.
‐ I see you at the student center, and I'm like, "Fuck.
I just wanna taste her."
[ laughing ]
‐ Oh!
‐ [ eager grunting ]
‐ Um, you know what?
Let's just have sex.
‐ Yep.
How do you want me?
‐ What do you mean? KYLE: Like,
what position?
‐ Um, whatever.
I'm cool with, like, any of them.
‐ What... Have you done this before?
‐ What do you mean?
‐ Like, have you done anything?
‐ Um... [ gasps ] MAYSA: Dena, have you seen
this video on YouTube? DENA: What the fuck?
Mom!
FAROUK: Yeah, Maysa, why are you always yelling?
‐ Oh, my gosh. ‐ What's going on, Dena?
‐ I thought you guys were at Uncle Naseem's!
‐ Who are you? ‐ Kinda what it looks like.
NASEEM: Farouk! ‐ Shit!
[ Farouk and Naseem speaking Arabic ]
‐ Get out! Please!
‐ [ speaking Arabic ] It's all your fault!
‐ Mom, tell him! ‐ Now she's having sex!
You white animal! DENA: Get out!
‐ How dare you? I kill you!
[ clamoring ] ‐ I kill you!
‐ One second, please! ‐ Naseem...
Ramy, habibi! ‐ Hey, what's up?
[ chattering ]
‐ Ramy! RAMY: I'm good, yeah, I gotta go.
MAYSA: Where are you going?
RAMY: Uh, I'm gonna go hang out with this girl.
NASEEM: Ehh! FAROUK: All right! Oh, yeah!
[ chattering ]
NASEEM: Proud of you. MAYSA: Enjoy it!
NASEEM: Wear a condom, huh? MAYSA: Habibi!
NASEEM: [ distorted ] Send a picture to Uncle Naseem!
[ laughing ]
FAROUK: [ echoing ] Grandma!
[normally] Your grandmother came all the way from Egypt.
[ distorted ]
[ creepy music ]
‐ You don't care about your ancestors or your family.
And I'm sure you don't care about the refugees.
ANCHOR: Thousands of refugees have nowhere to go.
[ speaking Arabic ]
MAN ON RADIO: Awkward female trying sex.
‐ Hey man, I'm Kyle.
You let me know if I can do anything.
‐ [ exhales ]
Fuck.
Shit.
‐ Dena, are you okay?
‐ I heard the crash. DENA: It's fine.
What are you doing here? I barely moved.
I don't know how you heard me.
‐ What happened to your computer?
You broke it. It's very expensive.
‐ Mom, it didn't break. Okay?
Some water fell on it. It's fine. Just go. Go sleep.
‐ This door, keep it open. I told you hundred times,
you and your brother. ‐ Okay.
MAYSA: Open.
FAROUK: Is she okay? MAYSA: She broke her computer.
FAROUK: Fucking shit! [ speaking Arabic ]
[ footsteps ]
DENA: Did you just get home?
‐ Uh, yeah. It was kind of a crazy night.
I gotta run to the city before Uncle Naseem kills me.
‐ Wow.
‐ Dude, why are you always being so negative?
‐ Maybe because Mom called me, like, nine times last night,
and you're out having sleepovers with whoever the fuck. I don't know.
‐ I don't understand how you still don't get it.
‐ What do you mean?
‐ Mom and Dad just say shit to say it.
Like, they have all this stuff that worries them,
and they think if they say it out loud, then it won't happen.
But that's it. You don't have to actually listen to them.
‐ Dude, they're so different with me.
You saw how Mom was last night just for me to, like, go to Fatima's.
RAMY: You still got to go out, right? ‐ Yeah, but...
‐ That's it. DENA: Like I'm‐‐
‐ That's the point.
You let them get to you.
Just let them say whatever they want and then do whatever you want.
‐ You're so fucking entitled.
‐ You can be too.
[ laughter ]
‐ Dena, you have to watch this.
‐ Oh, I'm good. Um, I'm going out.
‐ Where are you going? DENA: I'm just going with some friends.
And I don't care how many times it's been this week or whatever.
Yeah.
‐ You straightened your hair.
‐ [ scoffs ] What is wrong with you?
‐ What?
‐ Every time you look at me, it's, like,
about what I look like or what I'm wearing.
I mean... Like, are you attracted to me?
'Cause if you weren't my uncle... ‐ Dena.
‐ ...you'd basically be catcalling me.
It's really disgusting.
So just figure out what's going on with you and your feelings
before talking to me about how I look.
Bye, Mom. MAYSA: Bye!
Wait, Dena. Where are you going?
[ soft music playing in the background ]
‐ Did you make hummus from scratch?
Well, have you been hanging out with my mom?
‐ Yeah, I called her. She sent me the recipe.
I can't tell if you're impressed or‐or totally freaked out.
I'm just‐‐ I didn't call your mom. ‐ No, this is... amazing.
Are you kidding? I don't know any guys who cook.
‐ Well, when you live in hostels as long as I did,
you get pretty grateful to have your own kitchen.
There you go.
‐ Thank you so much for doing this.
‐ Yeah, thanks for... for coming.
‐ Mm.
‐ [ softly ] Buh‐boo.
‐ You straightened your hair. ‐ Yeah, I did.
‐ Cool. Yeah, it's nice.
‐ I don't know. I‐I just thought I would try something different.
‐ Yeah. DENA: Mm‐hmm.
‐ I mean, I love your natural curls.
Like, that is sort of like what's different, you know?
But this is so nice.
‐ Thanks.
‐ You are really beautiful, is what I'm trying to say.
‐ Thank you.
This is really good.
‐ Really? DENA: Mm‐hmm.
‐ Coming from you, that means a lot.
I mean, if it's even close to your mom's, I'm honored.
‐ Okay, nobody said that. Relax.
But it's good.
‐ Okay. I'll take that.
KYLE: These are some of my watercolors.
This...
they're, like, a...
mosaic... thing
I was trying, I don't know.
It didn't really come together.
‐ Yeah. Uh, it's like, uh...
‐ This is bad. DENA: [ laughs ] Okay.
‐ This is really bad. Okay?
‐ But these are amazing. ‐ Thank you.
DENA: How long have you been doing this?
‐ Um...
I don't know. Since I was a kid, I guess.
‐ Cool.
That's really special, Kyle.
‐ Well, I think... you're really special.
‐ Thanks.
[ romantic pop music ]
‐ Okay. KYLE: Oh, no, no.
Keep yours on for a minute. Yeah, no, we'll take it slow.
‐ Oh, okay. Okay. KYLE: Yeah.
That's a very sexy outfit.
No, no, no. I mean... Keep 'em on, keep 'em on.
‐ Just like that? ‐ Yeah, yeah.
‐ Okay. Yeah.
‐ [ moans ] KYLE: Oh, my God.
Do you speak any Arabic?
‐ Mm, yeah.
‐ Oh, that's so fucking cool.
Will you speak for me a little? ‐ Uh...
‐ Just anything. Whatever. Whatever comes to mind.
‐ [ speaks Arabic ]
KYLE: Ohh. What does that mean?
‐ Um, "My name is Dena."
‐ Oh my God, that's so hot.
Okay. Will you say my name in Arabic?
Will you say my name? ‐ Oh.
It‐it's just, "Kyle," there isn't really, like...
there isn't, like, an equivalent to it.
‐ Oh, yeah. No, that...
Yeah, that makes sense.
Okay, will you just say something else?
‐ Um... ‐ Just anything.
‐ Uh... ana bhibak.
‐ Oh, yeah. ‐ Yeah.
KYLE: What is that? DENA: "I like you."
‐ Oh, wow. ‐ Yeah.
‐ "Ba‐ba‐bek."
[ Dena chuckles ]
‐ Yeah. ‐ Mm. Yes.
‐ Oh, God, you're so sexy.
This olive skin.
DENA: Yeah. KYLE: Yeah.
You sure you want to have sex with me?
‐ Yeah. Mm‐hmm. ‐ Yeah?
Even though I'm a white infidel?
‐ Um, hmm?
‐ I can just stick it in your ass, and you can still be a virgin.
Is that what you want? ‐ Wait, what?
‐ What? ‐ What are you saying?
‐ Oh, no, I was just‐‐ I was doing, like, a little role‐play.
Like...
‐ Oh. ‐ [ indistinct ]
‐ Oh, okay. KYLE: Yeah.
‐ Uh, yeah.
Can we just have normal sex?
‐ Yeah, no, totally. DENA: Mm‐hmm?
KYLE: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, for sure. ‐ Yeah. Okay.
Do you wanna get the condom?
‐ Yes. Yeah, yeah. ‐ Yeah.
‐ Uh, okay, yeah. Let's get these clothes off you.
‐ Yeah.
Okay.
KYLE: You can just, like, be yourself. DENA: Yeah.
‐ I accept you. You don't have to wear a fucking head scarf or...
‐ What? Dude... ‐ No, right, sorry.
No, I'll stop, 'cause you want...
you want me to stop, right?
‐ Yeah. ‐ Yeah.
‐ Um, can we just role‐play that I'm, like, a white girl, and...
‐ Uh, I mean...
why?
‐ Okay, so...
are you just hooking up with me because I'm Egyptian?
‐ I mean...
I think it's hot that you're Egyptian.
Like, is that... No, I think it's like...
I think it's a cool part of you. I think it's interesting.
It's just, like, so... unknown,
and I just want to know it.
‐ Mm. Yeah. Um,
does everything have to be about me being Arab?
Like, I don't know, can it just...
be normal?
‐ [ chuckles ]
Normal sucks. Right?
Like, I wish that I was... ‐ Oh, my God.
KYLE: I just wish I was something. Like, anything.
'Cause I'm this, like, all the time. I'm just white.
[ Dena groans softly ]
Do you know how weird it is to be nothing?
Okay.
Like, my art, right?
I've got, like, this voice.
And fuck, like, nobody gives a shit,
'cause I'm not... Indian
or trans. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ I would fucking kill‐‐ Not that‐‐ that's not the point.
No, no, no. No, no, no. What I mean...
Dena, I'm saying I would want to be like you. I'd want to have...
DENA: Mm‐hmm. Yeah. I'm done. [ sighs ]
[ Dena sighs ]
[ zip closes ] [ Dena clears her throat ]
[ sighs ]
Oh, fuck.
[ melancholic music ]
[ exhales forcefully ]
[ woman singing in Arabic ]