Binbir Gece, the proposition

A bit of background: This Sherazat is widowed, estranged from her husband’s family who blame her for his death, now a single mother to her young son who has cancer.  We find out that a bone marrow donor has been found but the operation will cost $200,000. She has come up with some of the funds but also exhausted every other possibility of obtaining more including braving humiliation twice from her father-in-law when asking for his help both in his home where is the patriarch and at the company he owns.

She is in a dire situation.

She is also a strong, determined, resourceful, kind person.  And not without friends, including an old college chum, and another female architect at Binyapi, Onur and Kerem’s company. Aside from being late a couple times, she takes in stride her work for the firm and also being made the project coordinator, despite her bleak circumstances.  

The idea has been floated by her college friend that she ask her bosses for a loan from the company.  But she’s a temp and has a son which the firm does not know about. She has been refused by companies in the past when looking for work because of her son, the reason being that she will not be as devoted to work.  (Not very empowering of women, this workforce environment.) So she would not only be asking a huge favor, let alone as a temp, but would also not be able to explain the reason why. If a child is cause for concern, a fatally ill child is probably grounds for dismissal.

And now for the good stuff.
Throughout the series there is a pattern of bosses working with their female counterparts, usually in the boss’ office, often putting in extra hours.  It happens in 3 separate instances with female Binyapi employees. I cannot tell if this a Binbir Gece thing, a Turkish work culture thing, or a holdover from the 50’s. It could be as simple as soap opera mechanics.  But in this series, it serves to demonstrate how similar circumstances can lead to very different outcomes.

Early in the 1st episode we are introduced to Onur’s disdain for unprofessionalism and his prejudice against Sherazat by witnessing his growing irritation at her being late for a meeting.  Several staff have assembled and they are all waiting on her. Later a blonde woman named Jale fabricates an excuse to go to Onur’s office to try to create this kind of close working relationship by coming on to him.  She purposefully waits until the secretary has left her post at her desk smack dab between Onur and Kerem’s offices. She also knows Onur is alone. She comes in under the pretense of not having had the opportunity to voice some ideas about the project.  She is also a temp architect, like Sherazat. And there is no misinterpreting her motive. Onur shuts her down immediately, telling her to get out, and calling HR after she leaves to have her fired. The entire incident demonstrates Onur’s contempt, and it sparks a distrust of temp help, which fuels his doubt as to Sherazat’s competency to lead the project.  He and Kerem banter about which of them will be in the lead for the Dubai project, which architect will be the project coordinator, all of which will of course put those two in the situation of working many long hours together. Onur even pretends to not remember Sherazat’s name. Kerem calls him on out it, because how could you forget the name of the one woman who changes the sultan's mind?  Onur insists he will take lead on Dubai; It’s decided Sherazat will be the coordinator. But just before they make the announcementr, Jale makes her move. So Onur is doubtful, Kerem insists.

As they work together he seems to be over his doubts.  We see them both working into the evening, even after the unflappable administrative assistant the two men share has been dismissed for the day. It’s late, Sherazat has not complained about being there so long, and Onur decides they are done too.  She gathers her things but hesitates before leaving. Throughout their work he is direct, completely professional, and trusts his colleague’s knowledge. But when she hesitates to leave directly, he is visibly apprehensive. Is she going to try something?  Did he make a mistake in trusting her?

She does leave but decides she must ask for the loan and goes back into his office.  She keeps her distance as he sits at his desk. He is surprised to see here again but appears genuinely open to listen, thinking it must be about the project.  Until the moment she asks for a loan. He stares and we see the change in his demeanor immediately by the drop in his gaze and the tucking in of his chin. She has just proved all his suspicions. His faith in even her work ability was misplaced and she is not worthy of his good opinion.  (Mr. Darcy, anyone?) The whole time, she looks him straight in the eye, a show of sincerity. And he mocks her. With fervor.

She retracts the question and apologizes.  He does not know what it cost her and she does not want him to.  He continues, choosing to reprimand her instead. He wants to know why she needs the loan.  Still she is ready to walk away. She will not expose her private life (and good for her) for his judgement.  A third time he reproaches her. (Things in threes is very in keeping with fairy tales and stories like 1001 Nights. I hope it was intentional.) No company would do this; she turns to leave.

And we see him have an idea.

Why won’t she tell him?  Why won’t she scheme? She knows she is out of line but something has forced her hand.  Yet she is willing to drop it if the answer is ‘no’. Why? Is there honor in keeping her reasons to herself?  Is she possibly the one woman who is worthy, like Sherazat in his beloved story?  He can’t let her go. He decides he will test her.

He proposes the loan in full, with a price: 1 night with him.  

It’s a despicable offer, to be sure, but when trying to stay true to the original story in a modern way, it certainly fits the bill.

He watches her reaction unflinchingly, as if playing Poker, ready to call a bluff.  He wants her to pass this test. When she throws his offer back in his face and walks out, her vehemence gives him hope.  He is genuinely happy.

His future brightens just as hers dims.  Because she needs the money. She has no other means to save her son’s life.  When she comes through the door again, he is still pleased by what he considers to be her honorable response.  The second she agrees however, he becomes stony once again. She states her own conditions unflichingly.

When he agrees, he has the chance to come clean.  He could say that he was glad for her response, that whatever her reasons he is willing to help her, he will keep her confidence and of course, apologize.

But he doesn’t.  Instead he will go through with it because he wants to.  She has captivated him and he will follow through with his scheme.  He will be stronger than his father. The sultan will tame Sherazat.

Binbir Gece, obsession introduction

Technology is weird.  It's fantastic and gives you access to a multitude of things you never had before, but is also limited by its database of information.  You only have access to what--and how--information gets put in.  So now I can watch everyday shows from Turkey, and not just the breakout films that make it to Cannes. But on the flip side, Turkish copyright laws might also apply, giving me access to only a partial episode list.  Or, if I fancy doing a bit of research on said new interest, I can only go so far as what someone else has added to the net.  Technology is wonderful, opens up new worlds, but in a strangely analog-limited kind of way.  A flying car is still a car.  

We are limited by the amount of information published even though there's vastly more information out there to sift through.  If no one else thought it important to follow up, you get to a dead end pretty quick in your quest.  It's like genealogy for entertainment.  If there's no leaf, or no Wiki, you can't go any further.

Which is how I got exposed to a show from 2006.  Practically ancient history.  But brand new to me!  Take Netflix for example: the Turkish soap opera Binbir Gece (1001 Nights) appeared in my queue, based on other titles and subject matter, and with a % rating to help guide me to more fulfilling choices.  92% match--you are more likely to like this than something else.  Choose this!* it says.  We've curated entertainment to your tastes.  Regardless of when and where, here's what's best for you.  And here's what I love about technology: I never knew about this fantastic thing out there that I would absolutely love.  I don't have an interest in Turkish soap opera in general.  But a romantic story arc loosely based on the 1001 Nights story and relationship turmoil?  I'm in!  Technology, I love you.

However, those possible dead ends?  Ah yes...only 49 of 90 episodes are available.  Boo!  49 ended at a real cliff hanger too.

And how do I know there are 90 episodes?  Some of that aforementioned tv genealogical research.  If I can trust the search results.  The seasons of television are broken up differently in other countries.  They don't follow your rules and they don't need to.  But try to find out which episode 26 you are looking at, S1e26? or S2e26?  or maybe even S1 + 1/2 of S2 = 40e total.  You see?  It's translated math looking through a foreign lens.  

And where to source episodes 50 - 90?  Nada.  Nowhere.  At least, not that my sleuthing could find.  I ran across a few episodes in sketchy posts, unsure of where I was in the story arc, and without subtitles.  (See bad math above.) Nor could any of my personal help desk arsenal.  Even my technology has technology--we all have a friend or loved one we turn to with our computer problems.  So I've exhausted my resources at this point.  Technology, you left me wanting.

And Netflix, whazzup? Is my copyright law guess correct?  I'm begging you, get those streaming if you can.

So, a soap opera based on 1001 nights...which is to say a sultan so paranoid and jaded by his wife's unfaithfulness that he swears off all women by means of genocide.  The retelling stays pretty aware of its source text.  No one goes on a psychotic murdering spree, but we do meet Onur, the head of a successful business along with his best friend and partner, Kerem.  Both are legacies of the company their late fathers started.  Both are rich, have society mothers, and good manners.  However, while Kerem is more happy-go-lucky, Onur stands in for Sultan Shahryar.  His father died in the bed of his mistress, his mother won't forgive or forget him, and she makes sure Onur never forgets his father's failing either, though the blame for it lies entirely with the trickery of the woman.  She bewitched his father and led him astray.  As a direct result of becoming fatherless in these circumstances, Onur has taken up the 1001 Nights as his own framework for relationships.  Don't fall into the same trap, my son, he is told over and over again, to the point that reminds himself through his obsession with the tale of 1001 Nights.

Enter Sehrazat.  Literally.  She is an award-winning architect Onur and Kerem's firm hires through a temp agency as a means to win a bid for a very large project in Dubai.  How could he not stumble over that?  She has the very name of the sultan's saving grace.

Now you see where the romance comes in.  For Onur knows how the story ends.  And though he continues to fixate on the reasons to not fall in love, maintaining women's general folly, quoting the text to Kerem by heart, (or from the book--he carries it with him for crying out loud) he is secretly hoping  to be won over.  Looking for a spark of hope, for the one woman who is worthy.  We see this as early as the 2nd episode when Sehrazat is called into Onur's office for the announcement that she will be the  coordinator on this big new project.  She is nervous, thinking it can't be good to get called into the boss's office, and declines the offer of a drink.  She doesn't drink, thank you.  Onur has been irritated, shifting his gaze around, upset that she was late to work and he's had to wait for her to arrive.  Not the kind of behavior usually rewarded with a promotion.  He is rankled further. Asks Kerem if they shouldn't reconsider.  Barely looks at her as she comes in.  But at that statement, his attention is arrested and he stares. Needs a moment to compose himself and continue with the agenda.  Kerem takes note. The violin music begins to play in earnest.  And Onur begins to wonder...  A sign of purity, as she sits in a white dress.  He tells her the news of her promotion and she looks him in the eye.  He looks quickly away, unable to continue to meet her gaze.  Already in the next scene he has sought out the classical piece of music, the Sherazat suite, and sits in contemplation of his discovery.

I'm going to lay out a general disclaimer which I will probably refer back to now again: I am of western culture.  I have visited Europe; I have also been exposed to Eastern thought and philosophy.  I may infer things but will surely misstep.  My apologies up front.  One does not learn from television shows if one is wise.  But oh, Technology, you lead me on.  

* I wonder what other things will pop up because I've added Turkish subtitles to the mix?  Musings for another time.  Algorithms, you fickle fiends.