CHILDREN OF SECRET

Istambul, a historical city situated at both sides of the Bosphorus where the continents of Europe and Asia meet, shelters thousands of homeless street children in the same way as it sheltered many immigrants and fugitives throughout its history. The Eastern Express which stops at the railway station located in the Anatolian side of the city leaves Cemil, who has had to escape from beating and snoring of his father, to large stone steps facing the Bosphorus. Having spent the night at a quiet and secluded place of the railway station, Cemil is not left alone in his sleep. Because the small toy clown which he hides in his pocket comes to life, and becomes a friend for him, and shares his troubles. Cemil meets street boys of the city the following day, and becomes a part of them., and protected by Velit who is the leader of them. Being a child of 18 years old, Velit thinks to send this child to his home since he escaped from the same city. Because the city is always a dangerous place for children, and Cemil shall suffer as this was the case for them. However Cemil is afraid of returning, and does not accept to be placed to the sheltering house for children. Velit and his friends decides to find some amount of money for him. Street children of the city continue to live sometimes by begging, and sometimes stealing, and 'get numb' or 'get relaxed' by smelling industrial glues and chemical liquids. This is the reason for them to have a worse smell than normal. Many of them have in their pockets glue, nylon bag, , pieces of cloth, small bottles full of thinner, and small guns to protect themselves.

Velit steals handbag of Zeynep who is a seller of lottery tickets in order to find money. However there is no money in the handbag. Velit gives the handbag back , and notices that he likes the girl. But he does not how to approach her again.

Meanwhile, Ms. Münevver, mother of Cemil, gets off the eastern express which stops at the big railway station. Ms Münevver has killed his second husband who caused Cemil to escape, and beaten him continuously. She was cursed by both her own family and her husband's family when she cheated on her first husband, and escaped to her second husband. She knows that her bedridden father and sister moved to Istanbul, and their residence addresses. She thinks to take refuge behind them, and to find Cemil who, she guesses so, escaped to this city. Her sister is the Zeynep, seller of lottery tickets. Her father forgives her, and Zeynep welcomes her older sister with love. However, fears of Münevver do not come to an end. Because she knows that police and relatives of her deceased first husband would follow around here in the name of 'custom of virtue'.

Cemil gets sick due to difficulties of street life. Velit and his friends leaves Cemil to Mr. Hasan, an older man who works at a cafe. Cemil would stay at the safe until he gets better. The ony problem is that Mr. Serafettin, owner of the cafe, is a bad man. However, Mr. Hasan gets a permission for two weeks by expressing that he assists in cafe works.

This time, Reso gets off the eastern express which stops at Haydarpasa railway station. Reso, a man of 25 years old, has been charged to kill Münevver due to requirements of custom rules. However he is an emotional, religious and humanist peasant. He goes to home in order to commit murder. However he could not kill Münevver. He tells his relatives that the address is a wrong one. Reso tries to calm down his conscience, which suffers from a dilemma of keeping its lie and doing what is required by the custom, while walking around the city during subsequent days in the city.

The life is as usual as it was in the historical, large and complex city. Street children thrives to survive together with their secrets which are specific to itself. Cemil dances with the clown, which comes to life in his dream, as well as his mother, and Velit tries to learn words of love which he shall tell to Zeynep, the seller of lottery tickets, Münevver still seeks for her son, and Reso acts as watchman of his lie.

One night the clown, which comes to life in Cemil's dreams is killed.

Murderer of the clown is Serafettin, owned of the cafe for which Cemil works.

And lives which depend on a cotton thread catch fire.