Persian Pride

- PREVIOUSLY ON SHAHS OF SUNSET... - THIS IS SASHA. - YOU JUST DECIDED TO BRING HIM INTO OUR HOUSE 'CAUSE HE'S PERSIAN? - AND GAY. - THIS IS MAKING ME VERY ANGRY. HE'S PRESSING EVERY BUTTON INSIDE OF ME. - AND YOU'RE FAT. - GET THE [bleep] OUT OF MY HOUSE. - I DON'T THINK A FRIEND SHOULD STAY SILENT WHEN ONE PERSON SAYS, "NO ONE AT THIS TABLE IS YOUR FRIEND." - YOU HAVE TO HAVE THICK SKIN. - I HEARD ABOUT THIS GAY MIDDLE EASTERN CLUB. - THAT'S PRETTY DEEP, MIKE. ARE YOU-- - I LOVE YOU. I WANT YOU TO BE THERE. - IT'S AMERICA! - WHY ARE YOU COMING IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR [bleep] *** BROTHER-- - NONE OF YOUR [bleep] BUSINESS! - WHO THE [bleep] CALLS SOMEONE A [bleep] IN A GAY CLUB? - ♪ CUT A LOT OF GIRLS, CUT A LOT OF CHECKS ♪ ♪ THAT'S THE LIFE HERE ON SUNSET ♪ ♪ RICH AND FAMOUS, I AM SUCCESS ♪ ♪ MET HER AT LES DEUX, AND SHE DO LOVE SEX ♪ ♪ I'MA SIP THIS, YOU DO THE REST ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO THE BEST ♪ ♪ DO ME A FAVOR, LOSE THE DRESS ♪ ♪ WE RUN L.A. ♪ [phone ringing] - [grunts] LAST NIGHT BAFFLES ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [bleep] IS WRONG WITH REZA. I MEAN, IN HIS WHOLE LIFE, I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM ACT THIS WAY. [kisses] I JUST DON'T GET IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE, MAN. IT'S GOOD TO HANG OUT WITH YOU, MAN. - [bleep], YEAH. THIS PLACE GOOD? - I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE. - OH, MAN. - HI, GUYS. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? - GOOD, HOW YOU DOING? - ALL RIGHT. - THIS IS YOUR WHAT? - THAT'S PERFECT. I SPEAK FRENCH. - YOU DO? [laughs] HERE'S YOUR DRINK MENU. - CAN WE ORDER BEVERAGES? I--OKAY. I'M GONNA HAVE A TOMMY'S MARGARITA. - I'LL DO GREY GOOSE SODA, WITH A LIME. THANK YOU. I'M PROUD OF YOUR COMING. THAT WAS DOPE, RIGHT? - THAT WAS FUN, MAN. - REZA WAS SO AGAINST IT, LIKE, "IT'S THE CHEESEBALL CLUB," AND, "IT'S WHERE ALL THE F.O.B.s GO." AND I WALK IN, I'M LIKE, "THIS IS TOTALLY FUN, DUDE." [bleep] REZA. MY HEART BROKE FOR THAT KID. REZA EMBARRASSED HIMSELF, HE EMBARRASSED ME, AND THE GROUP AS A WHOLE THAT WAS THERE. - MARGARITA, SALT RIM. - AWESOME. - THANK YOU, HONEY. - AND YOUR GREY GOOSE AND SODA. - THANK YOU. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT TOMORROW, ABOUT THIS FLOAT? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PROMOTER OF NEWARK CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, "HEY, LOOK, MAN. I'D LIKE YOU TO HELP ME MAN THE FLOAT," AND REZA WAS THERE, SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A UNIVERSAL, LIKE, INVITATION. I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO BE A PART OF, UH, THE GAY PARADE FLOAT, BUT, I MEAN, HOW COULD I PUT REZA ON THE SAME FLOAT AS THE GUYS WHO PROMOTE THIS CLUB? THANK YOU. - YOU'RE WELCOME. - THAT CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NEEDS TO BE SAID. - I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO CALL REZA. - WHATEVER YOU WANT, MAN. - I'M GONNA CALL HIM. BE RIGHT BACK. [line rings] - HELLO. - WHAT UP? UH, CAN YOU TALK FOR A SECOND? THAT WHOLE SITUATION WITH YOU AND THE KID HAS REALLY BEEN BOTHERING ME. YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THIS--THIS GUY'S CLUB, YOU KNOW, HE INVITED US ON THE FLOAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA THAT--THAT-- THAT, UH, THAT YOU COME TOMORROW. WHY ARE YOU SO UPSET, MAN? IT'S--I DON'T GET IT. LIKE YOU'RE PISSED OFF AT ME, LIKE I DID IT. [line disconnects, beeps] IT WASN'T A MATTER OF ME UNINVITING REZA, BUT WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU WALK WITH HIM, THAT MEANS YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY HE DOES, AND I DON'T. SO I HAD TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT, "YO, WHAT YOU DID WAS [bleep] UP." - EVERYTHING WENT OKAY? - PEACHY. - WHAT DID HE SAY? IT'S BOTHERING YOU, I CAN TELL. - HE'S SO STUPID. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. THIS COULD REALLY [bleep] UP EVERYTHING. I MEAN, IT COULD REALLY BE THE END OF OUR FRIENDSHIP, PARTNERSHIP. IT COULD GET UGLY. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - HEY. - HEY, WHAT'S UP? - WHAT ARE YOU DOING? - EH, JUST GETTING READY FOR WORK. - GETTING READY FOR WORK? - YEAH, UM, I GO BACK TO WORK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO, WHAT'S UP? - I JUST TALKED TO MIKE. HE CALLED TO UNINVITE ME TO GO TO GAY PRIDE. I WAS AS ANGRY WITH HIM AS I WAS THAT NIGHT AT CLUB NUR. THE CLUB NUR SITUATION IS WEIGHING VERY HEAVILY ON MY MIND. I DID AN ACT THAT I FIND REPULSIVE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT "OFF THE BOAT" MENTALITY AND THAT FEELING LIKE I OWE THEM SOMETHING 'CAUSE WE'RE FROM THE SAME COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME. - NO--OKAY, SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH MIKE? - I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW I FEEL ABOUT MIKE RIGHT NOW. - I JUST DON'T WANT ANOTHER SITUATION LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MJ TO HAPPEN BETWEEN YOU AND MIKE, 'CAUSE YOU ALL ARE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS. - I CAN'T REALLY WORRY ABOUT MIKE RIGHT NOW. - SO, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU? - I THINK I JUST NEED TO, LIKE, DECOMPRESS A LITTLE BIT, AND, LIKE, BRING MY TEMPERATURE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN, LIKE, IN THE RED ZONE FOR A WHILE. HAVING A PARTNER LIKE ADAM MAKES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT IN LIFE JUST THAT MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH. YOU NEED LOVE AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES AS WELL AS THE GOOD TIMES. I LOVE YOU, TOO. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - ARE YOU READY? - READY FOR WHAT? - JUICE-O-RAMA. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU THE MOST DELICIOUS JUICE YOU'VE EVER HAD. - OKAY, I DON'T THINK SO, BUT DO IT. - I'M JUST REALIZING ALL I'VE DONE IS WORK ON DIAMOND WATER, AND MIKE TELLS ME THERE'S A FLOAT FOR THIS MIDDLE EASTERN GAY CLUB. I CAN'T WAIT TO JUST FLOAT DOWN THE STREET. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO WASH THESE THINGS, TOO. - OH, REALLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WASH THESE THINGS? - I CAME UP WITH DIAMOND WATER BECAUSE I'M AT THE FOREFRONT OF DETOXIFICATION, PURIFYING YOUR BODY. I WANT EVERYBODY ON BOARD, I HAVE TO START WITH MY OWN MOM. I WANT MY MOM TO LIVE TO BE 150 YEARS OLD [speaks Farsi]. OKAY. - UH-HUH. - ANYTHING THAT MAKES THIS SOUND... [crinkles plastic] IS NO BUENO. YOU SEE THESE SOUNDS? - SOUND OF LOVE. - MY MOM EATS REALLY, REALLY BAD. SHE EATS CHIPS EVERY SINGLE HOUR OF THE DAY. TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY IS NOT NOTHING. THESE GREEN THINGS... - I TOLD YOU... - ARE GONNA GIVE YOU LIFE. - WHEN I FEEL I AM FAT, I GO DO THE LIPOSUCTION. - MOM JUUN, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT FAT. THIS IS ABOUT HEALTHY FROM THE INSIDE. - [sighs] - OH, PLUS, BY THE WAY, I WANT YOU TO DRINK MORE WATER. - WATER? - YEAH. - I HATE WATER. - I WANTED TO CREATE THIS JUICE FOR MY MOM THAT I KNOW SHE'S GONNA LIKE. - OH, SO, YOU WANT TO PUT THE ICE CREAM IN THAT? - I'M PUTTING IN THE ORGANIC KALE, ORGANIC SPINACH, ORGANIC BEET, ORGANIC CARROT, ORGANIC PARSLEY, GARLIC, GINGER, AND PEPPERS. - OKAY--OOH, IT'S LIKE IT'S [speaks Farsi]. - COME ON... - HONESTLY. DIARRHEA AND VOMITING TOGETHER. [laughs] - YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS. YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS. - SALAMATI. HELP ME, GOD, OKAY. [sighs, takes deep breath] OKAY. - YOU HAVE TO DRINK THE WHOLE THING. - OKAY. - ISN'T THAT DELICIOUS? - [sighs] OH, I CANNOT. - MOM-- - [speaks Farsi] - YOU NEED TO DO ONE MORE. YOU HAVE TO FINISH IT. - NO, ASA, I CAN'T HANDLE IT. - YOU WANT TO DIP SOME CHIPS IN IT? WILL THAT BE BETTER? - CHEETOS? - YEAH, YOU WANT TO DIP SOME OF THIS IN IT? - [speaks Farsi] - OH, MOMMY. ARE YOU CRAZY? MOM, PUT THAT DOWN. - [speaks Farsi] - MOM. MOMMY. MOMMY! LESS BAKLAVA, MORE KALE. TAKE YOUR TIME. ONE MORE SIP. - I REALLY LOVE YOU... - MOMMY. - NO MORE FOR ME. - MOMMY. - [speaks Farsi] - MOMMY. MOMMY JUUN. - [speaks Farsi] - MOMMY. ONE MORE SIP! PLEASE. DO IT FOR BALFI. DO IT FOR GOLDIE. MOMMY. - LEAVE ME ALONE. NO MORE JUICE! - HEY! MOM! - [speaks Farsi] - THAT WAS MY HARD WORK! - GOOD FOR YOU. NO MORE. - IT'S A THANKLESS JOB TO TRY TO HELP MY MOM TO BE HEALTHY, TRUST ME. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT. - REALLY? - YOU-- - I'M SORRY. - YOU'RE HOPELESS, MOMMY. - COMING UP... - I JUST WONDER HOW YOU'RE GONNA [bleep] PULL YOURSELF OUT OF THIS ONE, DUDE. - WHAT DO YOU MEAN, PULL MYSELF OUT OF IT? - AT THE END OF THE DAY, HER WALKING OUT IS AS IF SHE'S BACK IN A MONTH, MAN. THAT'S JUST WRONG. [techno music] ♪ ♪ [knock at door] - HEY. - WHAT'S UP, BRENT? - WHAT'S UP, MAN? HOW YOU DOING? - HOW ARE YOU? - I'M GOOD. - WHAT'S GOING ON? - ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE. - OH, MY GOD, I LOVE IT! - COMIN' ALONG NICE, HUH? - ABSOLUTELY. THE DRYWALL MAKES IT SO REAL NOW. IT LOOKS AMAZING. BEING ABLE TO THROW MYSELF INTO THIS CREATIVE MODE WITH THIS WORK STUFF IS REALLY WHAT'S GETTING ME THROUGH DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS CRAZY SASHA BUSINESS. THE KITCHEN LOOKS GREAT. IN THIS ONE, THE WASHER AND DRYER GOES HERE. THE UPSTAIRS, IT GOES OVER THERE, CORRECT? - RIGHT, RIGHT. - MY PARTNERSHIP WITH MIKE IS SO ON MY BACK BURNER RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE IT GOING ON BUSINESS-WISE, AND OUR FRIENDSHIP IS IN THE CAN. HOW ARE WE DOING BUDGET-WISE? - WE'RE DOING GOOD. WE'RE UNDER... - WE ARE? - WE'RE UNDER LIKE 10%, YEAH. - OKAY. - SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. - THE DUPLEX I'M DEVELOPING ALLOWS ME TO EXPRESS MY CREATIVE, ARTISTIC SIDE, AND ULTIMATELY I WANT TO BUY IT, I WANT TO SELL IT, I WANT TO DESIGN IT, I WANT TO BUILD IT. I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING. BRENT, I WANT TO TILE THIS WHOLE WALL. - OKAY. - AND I WANT TO TILE THE FACE OF THE WALL... - THE COURTYARD? - THAT I'M GONNA BUILD. - OKAY. - IT'S A CRAZY, LIKE, SUPER, SUPER COLORFUL TILE. THIS IS NOT A DUPLEX. THIS IS A SCULPTURE. THIS IS WHERE I AM GETTING MY MOJO BACK. WOW. - [laughs] - HONESTLY, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE PAID 1,120,000 FOR THIS. TWO DAYS LATER, THAT DUPLEX SOLD FOR 1,820,000 DOWN THE STREET. - RIGHT. - AND I THINK ONCE THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE, IT'LL BE WORTH AT LEAST $2.5 MILLION. - THAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT. - TOTALLY. IT WAS A GREAT INVESTMENT. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - HI. - HOW'S IT GOING? - HI. - HOW ARE YOU? - HOW DO I LOOK? - YOU LOOK GREAT. [sighs] HOW ARE YOU? - I MEAN, I'M GOOD. - HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING TO DRINK? - AN ICED COFFEE. - AN ICED COFFEE. - I'LL HAVE A CAPPUCCINO, PLEASE. - AND A CAPPUCCINO. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. - AND CAN I HAVE SOME WHIPPED CREAM ON IT? - UM, I HAD LUNCH WITH JONATHAN, TALKING ABOUT CLUB NUR. I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT REZA ACTED THE WAY HE DID. I LOVE YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A BAD PERSON, AND FOR YOU TO HELP VERBALLY ASSAULT THIS KID, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE DID, WAS-- - VERBALLY ASSAULTING? - OF COURSE. - IT'S NOT JUST LIKE OH, YOU'RE IRANIAN AND GAY, SO YOU CAN WALK INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE. - I NEVER-- - YOU PUT YOUR FEET UP ON THE COUCH... - NO, I DID NOT! - YOU WERE HALF NAKED! - THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT! - I'M JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. - LISTEN TO ME. LISTEN TO ME. - FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY'S BACK, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY'S BACK NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY. - BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE MY BACK IF I'M IN THE WRONG. - BELIEVE ME, I'LL TELL YOU LATER. I STAND UP FOR MY FRIENDS FIRST, I ASK QUESTIONS LATER. MIKE DID THE OPPOSITE. HE STUCK BY THE STRANGER AT THE CLUB, DID NOT EVEN FOLLOW THROUGH TO SEE WHAT POSSESSED REZA TO GO TO THAT PLACE. - I'M--I'M SHOCKED AT THE WAY MY TWO BEST FRIENDS ARE ACTING. AND HERE I AM, LIKE, HAVING TO [bleep] TEACH YOU GUYS... - MIKE, WHAT DID HE-- - WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG. - YOU BE CAREFUL. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S WALKING ON VERY THIN ICE. MY MORALS ARE MY MORALS. - AH, SEE, YOU GOT TO GET YOUR MORALS CHECKED. - NO, I DON'T. - YES, YOU DO. - MIKE, NO I DON'T. - YES, YOU DO. THE CLOSEST THING MJ HAS TO SIBLINGS IS REZA, SO HER NOT WANTING TO LOSE HIS FRIENDSHIP AGAIN HAS CAUSED HER TO SIDE WITH REZA EVEN THOUGH I KNOW SHE KNOWS HE THINKS HE'S WRONG. WHEN SOMEONE IS BLATANTLY WRONG, YOU NEED TO SAY, "WHOA, YOU NEED TO GO." FOR YOU TO BACK UP SOMEBODY-- - DID YOU STAY? - I STAYED. OF COURSE I [bleep] STAYED. - AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED? - HE CRIED. HER WALKING OUT IS AS IF SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR WHAT HE SAID, AND SHE'S BACKING HIM UP, AND THAT'S JUST WRONG. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THAT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS ABOUT, IS TO BE OUT, LOUD, PROUD. - REZA SHOULD NOT--SHOULD-- YOU'RE--YOU'RE RIGHT. REZA SHOULD NOT MAKE A GUY THAT'S INSECURE ABOUT HIS SEXUALITY, MAKE HIM FEEL EVEN WORSE AND KICK HIM FURTHER, DEEPER INTO THE CLOSET. I DO FEEL BAD FOR SASHA HURTING, AND AT THE SAME TIME, I JUST WENT IN FOR THE KILL JUST AS A SHOW OF WHERE MY HEART IS AND WHERE MY PROTECTIVE INSTINCTS COME IN. - AM I UPSET WITH YOU? YES. I STILL LOVE YOU, BUT TOMORROW, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU GUYS TO BE THERE, YOU OR REZA, BECAUSE I JUST-- I DON'T WANT ANY DRAMA, AND I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT. ANYWAYS, I LOVE YOU. I'M GONNA HEAD OUT. I TOOK CARE OF THIS ALREADY. THEY'RE GONNA COME PICK IT UP. - OKAY? [upbeat flute music] ♪ ♪ - I THINK THE FACT THAT I MAKE WORK MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY DEFINITELY DIFFERENTIATES ME FROM SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY. YOU CAN INVEST A LOT IN THEM AND END UP VERY HURT. BUSINESS IS ALMOST NEVER A RISK. IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU DEVOTE YOURSELF, YOU'RE GONNA GET A POSITIVE REWARD. HI! - HI. - YOU MUST BE HELENA. - YES, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. - I'M LILLY. SO NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU. - GOOD TO MEET YOU. YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE. I LOVE IT. - THANK YOU! I FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU. - I KNOW. [laughs] - WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH. - I KNOW, AND I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO PUT ON A BATHING SUIT RIGHT NOW. - NOW? [laughter] GREAT JACKET. - THANK YOU. I JUST GOT IT, ACTUALLY. SO, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A REALLY COOL BRAND. - OKAY. - LONG HAIR DON'T CARE. - OKAY. - IT'S A T-SHIRT BRAND. - LOVE THE NAME. - I KNOW. - UP UNTIL THIS POINT, I'VE ONLY DESIGNED FOR MY OWN COMPANY AND MY OWN BRAND, BUT I'VE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANOTHER BRAND THAT ACTUALLY WANTS ME TO DESIGN FOR THEM. - SO, KASEY AND KENNY, WHO STARTED THE BRAND... - UH-HUH. - THEY STARTED OUT OF THEIR PLANE HANGAR, AND HE JUST WANTED-- - PLANE HANGAR? - YEAH. SO THEY STARTED FROM THERE, AND THEN IT JUST GREW, AND IT BECAME BIGGER THAN EXPECTED. AND WE WANT YOU TO COME ON... - OKAY. - AS A CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND TO REVAMP AND REFRESH THE WHOLE, ENTIRE BRAND. - HAVE FAITH SWIMGERIE IS NOW IN SEVEN FIGURES. I DON'T THINK MY PARTNER WOULD BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT ME DESIGNING FOR ANOTHER COMPANY, BUT I'M AT LEAST GONNA AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY. I WENT TO THE WEBSITE. I DON'T DO T-SHIRTS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I WOULD KILL. - THIS IS WHERE I THINK IT COULD GET INTERESTING, IS THEY WANT TO START BATHING SUITS. - OKAY. I DON'T REALLY FOLLOW TRENDS IN THE SWIMWEAR INDUSTRY, BUT I'M VERY WITH THE TIMES. I KNOW WHAT GIRLS WANT. I KNOW WHAT WILL SELL. I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE MY OWN BRAND, AND I ALSO HAVE A PARTNER. - BUT THIS WOULD BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S STEALING YOUR WOMEN NOW THAT WOULD BUY YOUR SWIMSUIT. - I MEAN, I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WOULD BE IN COMPETITION WITH MYSELF, AND FOR ME TO CONSIDER THAT, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE HUGE INCENTIVE. - YOU WOULD HAVE A SIX-FIGURE SALARY. - OKAY. - YOU'D BE A PAID EMPLOYEE BUT ALSO HAVE EQUITY IN THE COMPANY. - OKAY. SO WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN ALL OF THIS? - I'M P.R. DIRECTOR. - OKAY. - AND LISA, UM-- - I SPOKE TO HER. - YES, YOU SPOKE TO HER. SHE IS THE MARKETING DIRECTOR. DO YOU WANT TO GET LISA ON THE PHONE? - YEAH, LET'S TALK TO LISA. [line ringing] - LISA BARLOW. - HI, LISA. - HI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? - THIS IS ACTUALLY LILLY GHALICHI. I'M MEETING WITH HELENA RIGHT NOW IN MY OFFICE. - HAS SHE PRESENTED THE BRAND? - SHE HAS, AND SHE'S PRESENTED AN INTERESTING TWIST TO THE BRAND, WHICH INVOLVES CREATING AND DESIGNING A SWIMWEAR LINE. - I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AMAZING. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? - I MEAN, I-I DEFINITELY KNOW A WOMAN'S BODY AND CUTS AND BIKINIS, UM, BUT I DO HAVE A FEW RESERVATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SWIM LINE. - OKAY. - SO HELENA TOLD ME THAT IN ADDITION TO HAVING A SALARY, I WOULD BE AN EQUITY OWNER. - YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE IN BUILDING A BRAND YOU BRING A LOT MORE PASSION TO IT, AND TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS WOULD BE, LIKE, A DREAM. - WELL, THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE PROPOSAL, AND WE'LL JUST TAKE IT FROM THERE. - PERFECT, SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING. I WAS--I WAS LIKE, "WOW! WHAT A NICE SURPRISE." [laughter] - OF COURSE. HAVE A GREAT DAY. BYE. - OKAY, BYE. - OH, IS THAT LISA? - MM-HMM. - SHE'S SO HOT. - OH, I KNOW. I'VE... [laughter, murmuring] A NEW PICTURE OF HER. - WELL, I MEAN... - YES! - IT SOUNDS REALLY GREAT. - YEAH, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. - OKAY. - AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE AN ANSWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, JUST BECAUSE THEY NEED TO START WORKING ON EVERYTHING. - RIGHT. - YEAH. - WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. IT WAS SO GREAT MEETING YOU, AND I GUESS JUST KEEP IN TOUCH. - YES. AH! - THANKS AGAIN. - THANK YOU. both: BYE. - THE FACT THAT ANOTHER COMPANY EVEN WANTS ME IS KIND OF FLATTERING. I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I'M THE [bleep], BUT NOW I KNOW THAT I'M THE [bleep]. - COMING UP... - GG'S LOOKING FOR A STRAIGHT MAN IN THIS SEA OF GAY MEN. - [screams, laughs] - SHE SEES ALL THESE GUYS, BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE WHAT THEY WANT. - WHOO! - AS SOON AS I HEARD HIS VOICE, I LITERALLY TOOK OUT 39 YEARS' WORTH OF PAIN ON HIM RIGHT THEN AND THERE. [sniffles] - I LOVE YOU. [techno music] ♪ ♪ - [sighs] WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD WEAR? IT'S LIKE 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE. - JUST LOOK SEXY. - THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE LOOKING AT ME--THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT YOU. - [groans] YEAH, THERE ARE LESBIANS. - OH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT! - IS THIS YOUR FIRST GAY PRIDE? - NO, IT'S NOT. - REALLY? - LAST YEAR IT WAS MADNESS. IT WAS LIKE A BIG, HAPPY RIOT. - WERE THEY LOOTING AND [bleep]? - [laughs] NO! - THE TOPIC OF HOMOSEXUALITY IS VERY TABOO IN THE IRANIAN CULTURE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT TALKED ABOUT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S HIDDEN. SO FOR US TO COME OUT AND PUBLICLY STAND FOR IT AND BE A PART OF THIS EVENT IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THE OLDER GENERATION JUST DOESN'T GET IT, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEY'RE KIND OF CLOSED-MINDED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. ARE YOU GONNA MODEL FOR ME? - SURE! - LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WEAR. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? - SHOULD I WEAR THIS? - THAT'S CUTE. YOU LOOK AMAZING. WHAT SHOES ARE YOU GONNA WEAR? - LIKE, LITTLE SANDALS, HEELS. - OH, HEELS, OKAY, YES. NO FLATS. - I DON'T WEAR FLATS. - FLATS MAKE ME... - FLATS MAKE YOU WANT TO BE WITH A [bleep]. [laughter] [grunts] - AH. [techno music] ♪ ♪ - ALL RIGHT, WHERE'S OUR FLOAT, MIKEY? - WE'VE GOT TO FIND IT. - I'M GONNA START FLOATING. [laughter] - WE CAN'T FIND IT! ♪ ♪ - THERE'S NAKED FIREMEN HERE. - OH, MY GOSH. - BABY, YOU SHOULD BE ON THAT FLOAT. - "MICKY'S FLAMING GAY BAR." WOW, OKAY. THERE WAS A PERIOD IN MY LIFE THAT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, I-I WAS HOMOPHOBIC. - THIS IS SO AWESOME. - [laughs] THIS IS SO CRAZY. SO, IF I SAW A GAY GUY, IT MADE ME FEEL WEIRD. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM. LIKE, DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS DECIDED TO COME OUT TO ME AND TELL ME THAT HE WAS GAY. THAT BIGOTRY, THAT HATRED, DISSIPATED AT THAT VERY MOMENT. - OH, DAMN. - WOW, THESE GUYS--YEAH. - THEY GO ALL OUT. - THERE'S NO MESSING AROUND. - PEOPLE DO SOME CRAZY [bleep] IN THERE. - HI. - OH, LOOK AT THAT. THE FACT THAT I'M GONNA BE ON A FLOAT-- I'M SO EXCITED. I WANT TO RIDE THAT. I FEEL LIKE THIS LITTLE, GIDDY KID IN A CANDY STORE. I JUST WANT TO JUMP UP AND DOWN AND THROW RAINBOWS ALL OVER THE PLACE. - GG'S LOOKING FOR A STRAIGHT MAN IN THIS SEA OF GAY MEN. - WOW, DUDE, SOME OF THESE MEN THAT DRESS UP LIKE WOMEN LOOK BETTER THAN WOMEN DRESSED UP LIKE WOMEN. - YOU CAN'T TELL WHICH IS WHICH. THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL, SOME OF THE MEN. - I SEE GOLD FROM HERE, SO THAT'S PROBABLY IT. - I SEE GOLD, AND I SEE FLAGS. THIS IS IT! HEY! [chatter] - HI! - HEY. - YEAH, BUDDY. AH, THE GOLD ONE! THAT MUST BE IT. [bleep] STEREOTYPES, MAN. - HELLO! IS THIS REAL GOLD? - OF COURSE IT IS. - OKAY, THEN I'M COMING IN. DON'T LOOK AT MY ***, OKAY? - THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. - HI! - HELLO, GORGEOUS. I'M VICKY. - HOW ARE YOU? I'M ASA. - JED. - NICE TO MEET YOU. - LIKEWISE. - OH, ARE THOSE CAVALLIS? - NO, BABY, THEY'RE ZARA. - THEY'RE GOOD. - SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER! - GET IT! SHAKE WHAT YOUR MAMA GAVE YOU! - UH-OH, UH-OH! [laughter, chatter] - IT AMAZES ME HOW SOME PEOPLE, THIS IS WHO THEY TRULY ARE INSIDE. - I KNOW. THAT'S WHAT THIS [bleep] IS ABOUT THOUGH, RIGHT? IT'S FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. BUT PEOPLE STILL, ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY GET BULLIED, THEY GET BEATEN UP FOR BEING GAY. IT'S [bleep] SICK. - I FEEL BAD. I WISH REZA WAS HERE RIGHT NOW. - IT FEELS A LITTLE BIT WRONG WITHOUT HIM, DOESN'T IT? LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I WISH HE WAS HERE. I FEEL SUPER WEIRD ABOUT REZA NOT BEING HERE TODAY WITH US. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SAY I DON'T BELIEVE MIKE, BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW WHO REZA IS, AND I NEED TO SPEAK TO HIM FIRST BEFORE I MAKE ANY TYPE OF JUDGMENT ABOUT THIS. - IT'S A CONFINED SPACE WITH THE GUY WHOSE CLUB WE WERE AT WHEN ALL THAT HAPPENED... - RIGHT. - SO THAT'S WHY-- I MEAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE-- - BUT DON'T YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE WORKED IT OUT? THIS IS ALL SUCH A LOVING... - AND THEY WILL. THEY WILL. THEY'LL WORK IT OUT. - BUT WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN A GOLD SAILBOAT, DUDE? FLOATING DOWN SANTA MONICA. - SALAMATI. all: SALAMATI! - TO EQUAL RIGHTS. - [speaking Farsi] - SALAMATI. - TO EQUAL RIGHTS. both: TO EQUAL RIGHTS. - TO A GOOD TIME. [festive music] ♪ ♪ - WHOO! ♪ ♪ - [singing in Farsi] ♪ ♪ - WE'RE CRUISING DOWN SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF 400,000 PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE ARE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING MY BIG, GOLDEN VESSEL, AND, UM...THEY ALSO LIKED THE BOAT. both: AH! - I'M GONNA KILL YOU! ♪ ♪ [screams, laughs] - GOLNESA'S EYES ARE LIKE-- PHOO--SAUCERS BECAUSE SHE SEES ALL THESE GUYS. - WHOO! - BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE WHAT THEY WANT! - [singing in Farsi] ♪ IT'S TIME TO DO IT, DO IT ♪ ♪ DO IT [singing in Farsi], LET'S GO! ♪ ♪ WE GONNA DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY ♪ - WHOO! ♪ ♪ ♪ GET THIS PARTY STARTED ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED ♪ - SHUT THE [bleep] UP! SHUT THE [bleep] UP! SHUT THE [bleep] UP! [all shouting] - AND HERE WE ARE ON THE FLOAT, AND... WHAT DO I PULL IN? LILLY GHALICHI. I THINK TODAY IS A GREAT DAY TO SQUASH THE BEEF THAT WE HAVE WITH LILLY AND...JUST MEND OUR FRIENDSHIP. - WHOO! ♪ ♪ [overlapping chatter] - THANK YOU FOR COMING. ♪ ♪ - IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ON THIS FLOAT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE ALL IN A POSITIVE MOOD. I WISH IT COULD BE LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HANG OUT. ♪ ♪ - IT'S SPECIAL, YOU KNOW? WE'RE REPRESENTING GAY MIDDLE EASTERNERS. THAT MEANS A LOT, BECAUSE IN OUR CULTURE, YOU DON'T ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH THEM. YOU GET KILLED FOR IT IN MOST MUSLIM COUNTRIES. SO FOR US TO BE UP THERE, PROUD OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FOR BEING OUT IN THEIR STRUGGLE, THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR US. ♪ ♪ - I'M HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, REZA'S MY BEST FRIEND, AND I WISH, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, HE WAS THERE WITH US. - WHOO! [cheering] - COMING UP... - HI! - HOW ARE YOU? - HI, HI. - HI, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? - WHO ARE YOU? - SASHA. - SASHA-- both: OH! - YEAH. THE SASHA. - JESUS! HEY, DO YOU REMEMBER ME? - NO. - HEY, I SWEAR--HEY, TELL 'EM, COME HERE, COME HERE, COME HERE. REMEMBER WHEN I KIDNAPPED YOU? - NICE ONE. - IN MY CAR? - YES. - [laughs] - OH, MY GOD. - IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, MAN. UH, LOOK, UH-- I--SO--I KIDNAPPED JESUS. I WAS LIKE, "JESUS, GET IN MY CAR!" HE'S LIKE, "JUST TAKE ME DOWN THE STREET." REMEMBER? IT WAS AWESOME. - YEAH. - YOU WENT TO MY HOUSE! [laughs] - WE WENT BACK--BACK... - BY THE POOL! [laughter] WE BROUGHT HIM TO A POOL PARTY. HE BLESSED ME, BUT... I WAS LET DOWN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WALK ON WATER. HEY, I TOOK HIM TO OUR POOL PARTY. HE DIDN'T WANT TO STAY. - OH? - NO, IT WAS JUST... [laughter] NO, NO, NO. IT WAS FUN. [cheering] [techno music] ♪ ♪ - I NEED SOME [bleep] FOOD, MAN! I NEED A HOT DOG OR SOMETHING! - YEAH. AH! SORRY. - YOU'RE GOOD, TRUST ME. - I JUST FLASHED MY *** A LITTLE. - [screams, ululating] - I'M ON A PARADE BREAK RIGHT NOW. - HI! - HOW ARE YOU? - HI, HI. - HI. - HI, MIKE. - HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY? - HOW ARE YOU? - OF COURSE SASHA'S HERE. EVERY SHIRTLESS GAY GUY IN TOWN IS HERE. - NICE TIGHT, WHITE PANTS. - OH, THANK YOU! - OH, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? - WHO ARE YOU? - SASHA. - SASHA-- both: OH! - YEAH. THE SASHA. - YOUR, UM, REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU. - OH, BOY. WHAT REPUTATION? - YOU DO HAVE QUITE A REPUTATION. - THEY'RE ALL LIES, RIGHT? - RIGHT. IT WAS NOT A GOOD CONVERSATION. - LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CLUB? WHAT STARTED IT? - LIKE, I WAS TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND THEN THIS GUY'S LIKE-- HE WAS SAYING SOMETHING LIKE "YOU F.O.B...." AND I ASKED HIM, "WHAT IS F.O.B.? " LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT F.O.B. IS. - YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT F.O.B. IS? - YES, HI. - NO MORE. I LOVE REZA. NO MORE. - NO, NO, NO. I ASKED HIM. - HE'S NOT--HE'S NOT HERE. - I ASKED HIM. - HE'S NOT HERE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. - I WANT TO KNOW. - IF HE WAS HERE, HE'S NOT GONNA LET ME TALK. - HE'S MY BEST FRIEND. - MM-HMM. - WE'RE NOT TALKING ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE SITUATION. I'M COMPLETELY FINE STICKING UP FOR SASHA WHEN I FEEL SOMEONE HAS DONE THE GUY WRONG, RIGHT? BUT REZA'S MY BOY. HE'S NOT THERE TO PROTECT HIMSELF. HE MAY HAVE SAID SOMETHING TO YOU IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, BUT, I MEAN, NOW WE'RE TALKING TWO DAYS PAST. YOU KNOW, DON'T TRY TO RETALIATE WHEN HE'S NOT THERE. - MM-HMM. - I RESPECT YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOURSELF HOWEVER YOU WANT... - UH-HUH. - BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE HE'S COMING FROM. - RIGHT. - I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. - AND I DO, TOO. I SWEAR TO GOD. - THEN THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. - YOU GUYS NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH ONE ANOTHER... - THIS IS THE THING. - AND CLEAR ALL YOUR DIFFERENCES. - THIS IS THE THING. HE IS, LIKE, TELLING ME, "YOU ARE FLAMBOYANT. YOU ARE GAY," BLAH, BLAH. AND HE MAKES IT HARD FOR US AS GAY PERSIAN PEOPLE TO BE HERE. IT IS NOT MY BUSINESS. - NO. - NO, IT'S NOT. - THIS IS THE WAY I WANT TO BE. - SASHA JUUN, CAN I TELL YOU? - YEAH. - THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY DEEP... - RIGHT. - AND THEY NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. REZA WAS IN THE WRONG BY CALLING YOU OR YOUR BROTHER OR ANYBODY THAT. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WRONG, AND WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. BUT HE HAS BAGGAGE ABOUT THAT STUFF, TOO. - I WAS TRYING TO TELL HIM, "I'M ON YOUR SIDE." I CAME HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE FREE. I WANTED TO BE WHOEVER I AM. I WANT HIM TO UNDERSTAND, AND I WANT HIM TO ACCEPT ALL OF US, BECAUSE-- - THAT'S WHY YOU KEEP FAILING! YOU CAN'T KEEP TRYING TO MAKE ANYONE UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! - YOU GUYS ARE ALL MISSING THE PICTURE. REZA DOESN'T LIKE HIM BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE EXPRESSES THE WAY HE IS GAY. - NOW THAT I SEE SASHA IN PERSON, I DEFINITELY KNOW WHAT REZA MEANT. I MEAN, HE WASN'T WEARING UNDERWEAR. HE WAS WEARING THIS, LIKE, JOCK STRAP. AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND SASHA'S SIDE BECAUSE, LISTEN, I'M A REFUGEE. YOU KNOW, SO I, LIKE-- A LOT'S MAKING SENSE. - I HOPE NO ONE ELSE WOULD THINK LIKE HIM. I SERIOUSLY DO. LIKE, I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH THE HOPE OF, LIKE, THE AMERICAN DREAM. WHAT I WAS TRYING TO TELL HIM, LIKE, IF YOU CANNOT SMELL THE FREEDOM, IF YOU CANNOT BE WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU ARE MISSING OUT. LIKE, I WAS IN THAT COUNTRY. I GOT ARRESTED, I GOT SLAPPED, YOU KNOW, I GOT ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT NOW THAT I COME HERE, I [bleep] SMELL IT. I ENJOY IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVE TO BE MYSELF. - I SERIOUSLY DO. - HON, YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR. - YEAH. - CAN I ASK YOU GUYS A FAVOR REAL QUICK? CAN WE GO PARTY AND ENJOY TODAY? - LET'S DO IT, YEAH. - CAN WE GO PARTY, PLEASE? - YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. - LET'S DO IT. - PLEASE. - IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AND TO BE ON THE FLOAT, BUT THE THOUGHT OF A DRUNKEN POOL PARTY? I CAN'T. [both speaking Farsi] - [laughs] [techno music] ♪ ♪ - WAIT, I THOUGHT WE WERE STILL IN THE PARADE. I WAS KIND OF-- [laughter] - THE POOL PARTY IS JUST BEGINNING! ♪ ♪ - WHERE'S THE SUN? I NEED SUN. WHERE ARE THE DRINKS? ♪ ♪ - TODAY WAS A LOT OF FUN. - THIS WAS THE PERFECT ENDING, THOUGH. WE NEEDED TO RELAX. - MIKE! I NEED SOME SINGLE, HOT MEN. - THERE'S SOME... - GO WALK AROUND. - GOOD-LOOKING GUYS RIGHT THERE. - [chuckles] - I OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK AT THE GAY PARADE, SO I'M HOPING THERE'LL BE AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT GUY HERE, FOR ME. PLEASE? I NEED EYE CANDY. - [speaks Farsi] - [laughs] - GG, COME HERE! GG, COME HERE! - NO, NO, NO. PLEASE DON'T. I'M BEGGING YOU GUYS TO PLEASE NOT. I'M BEGGING YOU GUYS TO PLEASE NOT. [laughter] - YOU'RE GONNA GET KICKED OUT OF THIS PLACE. [bleep] ***! - GET HER! - I HAVE A WAY TO GET RID OF HER. - UGH, ALL RIGHT. [bleep] IT. WE DID TRY. ALL RIGHT. [upbeat music] - DO YOU GUYS WANT CHAMPAGNE OR NO? - I WANT A GLASS OF ROSE, I THINK. - OKAY, I AM DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE PERHAPS A BOTTLE OF VEUVE. - YOU GOT IT. - GET IT, GIRL! [laughter] - ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE, MIKE. HEY, GUYS! COME SIT. IF YOU DON'T COME WITH AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT MAN, PLEASE LEAVE. - [laughs] - I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I'M BOY CRAZY, BUT I ALWAYS HAVE FOUR OR FIVE AT THE SAME TIME, JUST IN CASE ONE GOES WRONG. RIGHT NOW, I ONLY HAVE ONE GUY, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE BACKUPS. I NEED ONE STRAIGHT MAN! - GG, GO FIND A STRAIGHT GUY AND BRING HIM OVER HERE. - I'M LOOKING, MAN. - STOP LOOKING! - I'M JUST GONNA GO ASK PEOPLE. HEY, BOYS! IS ANYONE HERE STRAIGHT? - I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CRAZIER, US FLOATING DOWN SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD IN A GOLD BOAT, OR GG THINKING SHE'S GONNA FIND A GUY AT THIS POOL PARTY TO MAKE OUT WITH. - YOU'RE STRAIGHT? AWESOME! DO YOU WANT TO COME HANG OUT? - YEAH, WHY NOT? - AWESOME! I FOUND A STRAIGHT GUY! [chatter and laughter] both: NICE TO MEET YOU. - THIS IS EVERYBODY! COME HANG OUT. - COME HANG OUT WITH US! - THERE'S ONE MORE SPOT RIGHT HERE. - OH, MY GOSH. WHERE ARE YOU FROM, RICK? - FROM LONDON. - [English accent] YOU TALK LIKE YOU'RE FROM LONDON! - WE NEED TO HAVE A DRINK TO BEING MIDDLE EASTERN, GAY, AND OUT, AND PROUD. - CHEERS. - OH, CHEERS. [overlapping chatter] - CHEERS, HONEY. THIS IS TO YOU GUYS. - CHEERS. - YES, CHEERS TO YOUR FLOAT AND HAVING US ON IT. - SALUD. - CHEERS. - CHEERS. - HAVE YOU GUYS, UM, BEEN OUT TO YOUR PARENTS, LIKE, YOUR WHOLE LIFE? - I ACTUALLY JUST CAME OUT THIS THANKSGIVING-- LAST THANKSGIVING--TO MY MOM. - WHAT IS THE BIGGEST FEAR, THE FEELING OF COMING OUT? IS IT NOT BEING ACCEPTED BY YOUR FAMILY? - YES. - IT'S JUST THE FAMILY THING. - THAT'S THE ONLY THING? - THERE'S THAT, AND THEN THE FAMILY'S FEAR IS SOCIAL CIRCLE. THEY'RE JUST LIKE, "EVERYONE'S GOING TO FIND OUT, AND THEN WE CAN'T SAVE FACE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE," YOU KNOW? - WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN OUR CULTURES, YOU KNOW? BUT WE'RE ON OUR WAY, AND IT'S A PROCESS. EVERYONE'S LEARNING, YOU KNOW? AS I'M SPEAKING WITH THESE GUYS AND ASKING THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT BEING GAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THE WHOLE TIME I'M THINKING ABOUT REZA AND ALL THE STUFF HE MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH, IN DETAIL, BECAUSE THINGS ARE PROBABLY NOT SO DIFFERENT. - CIAO, BELLOS. AND BELLAS. [line ringing] - HI, THIS IS REZA FARAHAN. I CAN'T GET TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW, SO PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE. [beep] - HI, REZA. IT'S ME. UM... I FEEL SO CRAZY. WE JUST FINISHED THE PARADE, AND I REALLY WANTED YOU TO COME, SO...CALL ME BACK. I LOVE YOU. [phone beeps] REZA'S A REACTOR. HE DOESN'T THINK. HE JUST GOES LIKE, AH! AND--AND, LIKE, QUITE OFTEN, THAT "AH" IS VERY UGLY. REZA CAN'T PROJECT ALL HIS ANGER ON TO THIS ONE PERSON, AND I WANT REZA TO SEE THIS, YOU KNOW? [soft rock music] ♪ ♪ ONCE I HEARD FROM MIKE, THIS THING THAT WENT DOWN AT CLUB NUR, I FELT STRANGE NOT HEARING THE STORY FROM REZA, LIKE, IN DETAIL. SO I WANTED HIM TO COME OVER, AND I WENT AND GOT HIS FAVORITE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, RED VELVET CUPCAKES AND MADE TEA AND... I NEED TO FACE HIM AND REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED HE CALLED THIS POOR GUY THE "F" WORD AT A GAY CLUB. LIKE, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE REZA. THE WHOLE THING SOUNDS REALLY CRAZY. [knock at door] [both speaking Farsi] - YOU LOOK SO GOOD. - I MISSED YOU. REALLY. - YOU LOOK SO GOOD. - I'M MAKING US SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL. COME. YOU GET TO HELP ME. I GOT YOU YOUR FAVORITE... - OH, MY-- - RED VELVET CUPCAKES. - YOU'RE SO CUTE. - WILL YOU PUT THEM IN HERE? - SURE. - REZA, I'M FEELING YOUR ENERGY. IT'S LIKE-- I MEAN, I-- LIKE, I HEARD SOME THINGS. I WAS SUPER SHOCKED. I'M LIKE, "THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE REZA." I WANTED TO HEAR IT FROM YOU, LIKE, IN PERSON. - I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START. - WE'LL TAKE THIS STUFF AND WE'LL GO SIT OVER THERE. - YEAH. - ARE YOU COMFORTABLE HERE, REZ? - YEAH, TOTALLY. - YOU SOUNDED LIKE... LIKE YOU EXPLODED. - IT'S SHOCKING. - LIKE, AT A GAY CLUB, THAT YOU CALL THIS GUY THE "F" WORD. - I WAS SAYING IT ABOUT HIS BROTHER. - SAME THING. - AND I'M TRYING TO TELL MIKE, "THAT'S THE GUY, AND THAT'S HIS GAY BROTHER." AND THEN HE STARTS YELLING AT ME FOR SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT HIS BROTHER, AND THAT'S WHEN I EXPLODED. I WAS LIKE, "[bleep] YOU AND YOUR [bleep] BROTHER." LIKE, "GET THE [bleep] OUT OF HERE." I DON'T--JUST-- EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM BOTHERS ME. AND AS SOON AS I HEARD HIS VOICE, IT, LIKE, TRIGGERED THIS OLD PAIN INSIDE OF ME. I REMEMBER, BECAUSE I LOOKED THE WAY I LOOKED, BECAUSE I WAS FROM THE PLACE I WAS FROM, I WAS LUMPED INTO THIS CATEGORY. AND I'VE LIVED WITH THIS PAIN FOR SO LONG. AND MULTIPLY THAT BY THE FACT THAT I'M GAY AND ALL THIS STUFF. I LITERALLY TOOK OUT 39 YEARS' WORTH OF PAIN ON HIM RIGHT THEN AND THERE. [sighs] - COMING UP... - IMAGINE GROWING UP WHERE A FAKE LIFE AND SUICIDE WERE YOUR TWO OPTIONS. [soft music] ♪ ♪ - AS SOON AS I HEARD HIS VOICE, IT, LIKE, TRIGGERED THIS OLD PAIN INSIDE OF ME, AND I LITERALLY TOOK OUT 39 YEARS' WORTH OF PAIN ON HIM RIGHT THEN AND THERE. - REZ, MY ISSUE IS WITH, LIKE, THE SUPER HEAVY FEELINGS THAT YOU HAVE, AND I THINK YOU STILL HOLD A LOT OF SHAME. - ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO DEAL WITH THE IMPORTANT, PRESSING ISSUES. - WHICH IS? - WHICH IS, FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HELL I CAN DO TO FIX ALL THIS PAIN THAT CAUSES ME TO BE SO DISGUSTING AND ANGRY AND HATEFUL, AND THEN IF THIS KID'LL HEAR ME OUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL EXPLAIN IT TO HIM. BUT I NEED TO GET MY HEAD STRAIGHT. I NEED TO APOLOGIZE. I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON INTERNALLY. IMAGINE GROWING UP WHERE A FAKE LIFE AND SUICIDE WERE YOUR TWO OPTIONS FOR... 20 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE. WHAT THAT DOES TO A HUMAN BEING FOR 20 YEARS OF THEIR LIFE-- YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE TOLL THAT TAKES. HOW COULD I EXPLAIN THAT TO SOMEONE? FOR ME, A LITTLE BROWN KID GROWING UP HERE, YOU KNOW, WHOSE FAMILY FLED, ALL OF THAT [bleep] THAT GOES ON, AND THEN PUT SEXUALITY ON TOP OF IT? [sniffles] I WASN'T JUST, LIKE, A LITTLE PERSIAN KID TRYING TO FIT IN. I WAS A LITTLE PERSIAN GAY KID THAT HAD NO ROAD MAP FOR A LIFE OR A FUTURE. THERE WAS NO GAY PERSIAN ROLE MODELS. I HAD NO ONE TO LOOK UP TO. I HAD NO ONE TO TALK TO. I DON'T OWE SASHA ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN APOLOGY, 'CAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW MY PAIN. HE DOESN'T KNOW MY STRUGGLE. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I WENT THROUGH OR WHAT I HEARD. [sniffles, sighs] [sniffles, sighs] [sniffles] - I LOVE YOU. - I LOVE YOU, TOO. - IT'LL BE OKAY. - NEXT ON SHAHS OF SUNSET... - I HAVE THIS TINY, SCARLETT O'HARA WAIST. IT'S JUST NOT BEING CINCHED PROPERLY. STUDIES SHOW THAT MEN ARE ATTRACTED TO PROPORTION. [sighs] IT'S EXHAUSTING. - HE MAKES ME FEEL SHAMEFUL THAT I'M GAY AND PERSIAN. THIS IS ABOUT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DIGNITY BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE. - LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR VALUES. - I HUNG UP MY GLOVES, MAN. IT'S TIME TO BECOME A GROWN-UP. [horn squawks] - YOU'RE NOT GONNA FORCE ME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE. - I AM GONNA [bleep] FORCE YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. - NO. - I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I JUST WANT TO RIP YOU TO [bleep] SHREDS! - FOR MORE SHAHS OF SUNSET, GO TO BRAVOTV.COM.