Original subtitles

SALT OVER GOLD (Slovak Fairy Tale)

SUBTITLES Adam Stanislav

STARRING

and others

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

DIRECTOR

- We, King Pravoslav,

open the games

in our daughters’ honor.

In the name of their virtues and beauty.

Kings, princes and knights, welcome to today’s tourney.

Compete as brave men, with courage and skill,

to win the admiration of men and love of beautiful women.

Don’t lose your noble manners

or respect for your opponents and adversaries.

May the Goddess of Fortune be with you all.

- Jousting with lances will be

His Majesty King Norbert III and His Highness Prince Severín.

- Bravo. Bravo, Winner! Bravo!

- His Highness Prince Kazimír and His Highness Prince Dalimil

shall compete with shields and swords.

- My daughters, the most courageous and bravest knights

of all the world are competing for your favor.

- You’ll marry killers. - Winners!

I’m searching for my successor, not hiring a gardener.

The shield and axe challengers are

the Noble Prince Zlatan and His Highness Prince Waldemar.

- Break it off!

I don’t want them to scuffle over me.

- But, Dear Daughter...

Bad manners. Impudence. Insult to our guests!

- You’re a guest now?

- Where are you?

Come to me.

Come.

My darling.

Take me out of here.

Can you hear the clamor and fray?

Father is set out to marry us off.

Why are you still silent?

- You cannot go to my father’s kingdom.

You would perish.

- When will you finally reveal who you are?

And where you come from.

- You will learn everything,

as long as you have not favored a spouse yet.

- You’ll vanish and I will not see you again.

- Warm up this rose with your breath and I will come.

It is made of pure salt,

the most precious mineral hidden in the Earth.

No life would be possible without it.

- Our law bans any contact with humans.

And you keep breaking it.

- My King and Father...

- You are my only son, the future King of Subterra.

Obedience of the law

is the duty of the subjects

and the necessity for the kings.

Therein lies both, our power and our immortality.

- Humans have a greater gift. Love.

- Who is she?

- Pravoslav’s youngest daughter.

I love her. I cannot live without her.

I have learned what love is.

- You’re mistaken. I know best what human love is.

Every day I endow them with many gifts.

They value not what keeps them alive,

what Mother Earth offers them,

but some fading shine and wealth.

They quarrel, kill each other, fight wars.

For gold, for precious stones.

They plunder Earth’s guts,

not for their needs, nor to enjoy its beauty,

but out of dumb greed.

- Not all humans are the way you see them.

I’ll show you they don’t deserve your rage and scorn.

- You will? Very well.

I wanted to avoid this.

Youth does not equal experience.

You have made your own bed!

- Don’t stand up to your father.

- Don’t you reject me, too, Mother Fairy. I love her.

- You only listen to your heart.

Use your brains, too.

- My brains and my heart are of the same mind.

- Your place is here, in Kigdom of Subterra.

You belong here, nowhere else. You’re racing to peril.

- You’re rushing your daughters’ weddings.

- You know why I am.

My eyes are losing the light, my head is bending down.

- That only happens to ripe grain.

- A blind king is a bad king.

- You have always ruled with sound mind and love.

- Love.

They can’t all be queens.

Quite frankly, I’d like to see Maruška on the throne.

She looks like her mother.

But fatherly emotions... I must decide like a king.

Fairly.

- You need to wait.

- I can’t wait!

Tomorrow the country shall hear my decision.

Why has Maruška not chosen anyone?

Who was in the garden with her?

- I really don’t know, Majesty.

- But you saw them.

- Seeing is not knowing, Majesty.

- You’re always a wise guy,

offer your advice,

meddle in everything.

Well?

Be wise now!

- It is a difficult choice.

A future queen must be just, brave and kind.

Keep in mind.

Whoever honors and loves his father and mother,

has a good heart.

He is noble and wise to all.

Ask your daughters how much they love you.

The one who shows you the greatest love,

entrust her with the country and let her rule.

- Does everything add up? - As always, Radiant Princess.

- I detected an error in the last collection.

- Tax collectors followed King’s orders.

They skipped the regions hurt by the drought.

- We need the gold.

Gold unlocks everything.

Strength, obedience, devotion,

love as well as justice.

That is why we need lots of it.

- A gown worthy of the queen.

- Future queen. You may leave.

- Allow me, Radiant Princess, to show you some new jewelry,

I have just finished overnight.

- Let me.

It is exquisite.

Only gemstones can have such marvelous colors.

I am very pleased.

Nothing in this world outshines jewels.

I prefer them over people.

Just one tiny detail left. A crown.

Fashion me a crown.

- To cover an empty head.

- Why so crass, Princess Wanda?

- If folly sat on the throne, it would long be yours.

Do you think lavish clothes and a pretty face will do?

Do you know what it takes to manage a country?

Do you know how much your exquisite robes cost?

- Those are plebeian concerns, not royal.

- I am the oldest.

By ancient right,

father must make me the queen.

- Dear Sister,

every right ever has been won by sword.

The sword not just makes right, it maintains order.

- I have warned you.

The sword only brings blood.

- Put the flowers to all chambers

and all corridors.

Let tommorow be a rose day.

- Put such beautiful roses to dark corridors?

- Flowers should be everywhere.

Especially in the darkest of places.

- My Faithful.

The time has come when even the king

has to bow down to the flow of time,

to the relentless laws of nature.

Elderly wisdom tells us only to carry

as much burden as we can bear.

Fate did not favor us with a son

to pass on the royal scepter to.

We have, therefore, decided

to pass it on to one of our daughters,

the one who will choose the most capable spouse

and profess the greatest love for her father.

So Wanda, our oldest daughter,

introduce your spouse

and profess your love for your father.

- Here,

my most Radiant King and Lord,

is the most precious possession I hold.

The shield, passed on

from father to son, for many generations.

It guarantees no one shall conquer

the kingdom entrusted into my care.

As I shall defend it for you and your descendants.

In the name of the shield,

in the name of my love for Princess Wanda,

I am asking for her hand in marriage.

- My Father, you seek the assertion

of your daughter’s love and respect.

Words are difficult to come by,

with so many ways to measure love.

Gold is the most expensive and precious of all things.

Know then, My Father,

you are dearer to me than all the gold in the world.

- We have enjoyed

your profession, Our Oldest Daughter.

Your briefing was courageous and brave, King Norbert.

What now does Prince Kazimír have to say?

How will you profess your love, Barbora, Our Daughter?

- King Norbert will defend your country with his shield.

Noble and worthy were his words.

Yet, King Pravoslav, I prize other virtues.

Behold this sword!

The sword no ruler has ever subdued.

Not to defend your daughter do I want,

nor your kingdom to protect,

but by force and with this sword

I shall crush all kingdoms,

fill up your treasury,

and your name and the name of your dynasty

glorified shall be forever.

- You know, My Father and King,

how I love all the splendor and riches of this world.

How easily I can hear the most subtle whisper

in the most expensive diamonds,

feel the blaze rubies breathe,

catch the ocean waves in precious pearls.

Great and precious is the treasure in our coffers.

great and avid is my love for all this splendor,

yet my love for you, Father, is so uncommon

that, next to it, all the treasures of the world

are but sand at the bottom of the ocean.

- Maruška, Our Youngest,

we have cherished you like a precious rose

because you never knew your mother.

Have you yet to choose a spouse?

- My Father...

This prince, My Father,

is my spouse.

- What country do you come from, Honored Prince?

- Your Radiance, I bring neither sword nor shield.

Love has brought me here.

And I ask for the hand of your youngest daughter.

I offer you no gold, no precious stones,

but flourishing gardens, green meadows,

forests crowded with wild life,

happiness and joy to your kingdom,

peace to your people.

- You have heard your sisters’ confession.

What is yours, Dear Daughter?

- Gold is very precious, My Father.

Gemstones are beautiful and expensive.

But most precious of all is salt.

No life would be possible without it.

I love you like salt, Father.

- My Dear Daughter.

Surely, you have said that in a clouded moment.

When the reason does not weigh the words,

when for a stem we overlook the meadow,

for a small love, great.

And so, amend your speech.

Tell us. How do you love us?

- My thoughts

and my heart are not clouded.

Those were words of love,

humility and obedience.

So, I repeat.

I love you like salt.

- Like salt you say?

Like salt?!

Which is scattered in closets, in kitchens,

abounds in salt mines and is as ample as sand in the oceans?

- Tame your anger, My King. You know not what you say.

- Silence! Not you but our daughter we denounce.

Hear, You All!

Our favorite child loves us like salt.

It flows through the poorest of fingers.

Everyone has it aplenty.

Such is our daughter’s love for us!

- Father!

- By debasing the son,

you have insulted his father.

As you scoff at true feelings,

you do not welcome true values,

gifts from Mother Earth.

I curse this country.

I curse this kingdom.

Let your punishment be as severe

as you have earned.

- Begone!

You were our favorite.

But the greatest love is the greatest misery.

Instead of joy, you filled us with sorrow.

You thrust the dagger of ingratitude through our heart.

Get out of my sight!

- Hold it, King! - Quiet!

- I cannot stay quiet when anger clouds your reason!

- Jesters’ rights have limits, too!

Guards!

Take her out of the castle!

- Father.

Father!

- You may only return, - Father!

- when salt is more precious than gold!

Then you’ll be queen!

- Good-bye! My child!

- Where is my prince?

- Gone. No one knows where.

- Come to me, My Darling.

- The mercenaries of all the knights and princes

got very drunk,

celebrating the victories

and drowning the losses of their masters.

Prince Waldemar and his cohorts

burst into royal cellars and drank two barrels

of your best wine, Highness.

King Norbert’s men wanted to boil the cook in the soup.

- Back off!

Your... Your Majesty.

A regular salt pot, full of gold dust.

Salt turned to gold!

- Have you all lost your marbles?!

- I’m telling the truth, Your Majesty.

- Whose salt pot is it?

- An ordinary woman brought it, Your Majesty.

- Bring her in, this instance!

- But she’s just one of many.

- All with gold in their salt pots, eh?!

- Gold. All gold.

- Real gold.

Where did you get it?

- It just happened, Highness.

The gold really was in the salt pot.

- How could gold just happen?

And why?

- Majesty, Majesty, it is...

- I know, I know, I know. Show us!

We are the richest of all.

Thank you, Good Powers, for this miracle.

Well now. Shall we get down to business?

- We’ll take care of everything.

No worries, Majesty.

Not a grain must go missing! - It won’t.

Not a grain, Majesty.

- But what shall we salt with? - Make salt-free meals.

- No one can cook without salt.

- So use something else. - Like sugar!

- Load up the wagons! - I won’t let you!

- I meant fifty-fifty.

- That’s better.

Let’s divide it up in the mint.

- Well. What’s on your mind?

- Your Radiance. A minor thing, but still.

The cooks are whining. They do not know what to cook.

- Plenty of food in our pantries.

- But not a dash of salt. They can’t cook without it.

- So send for some more! - No salt anywhere.

- Ah! What are salt mines for?

- We will cook as ordered, and use sugar instead.

Well? Are you deaf?

Back to work!

- Enjoy your meal, Majesty.

- We do not need meat all the time.

- Let them bring desserts! We have a tooth for cake.

Feast on, My Faithful!

There’s plenty to eat.

- But no decent meal.

Were I the king, the cook would be hanged.

Alas, like cook like king.

- You’re still only a guest here, King Norbert.

And good manners still behoove you.

Because we are still the king of this kingdom!

- My apologies, King Pravoslav.

My craving for a good roast has made me forget

my royal upbringing.

- Salt rose. Help.

- We’ll buy weapons. Hire mercenaries.

And press a campaign.

- We’ll start at home.

Oust Pravoslav,

divvy up the kingdom, then charge against neighbors.

And you will be my neighbor.

- And you mine.

- How did she end up in the heart of the forest?

- Don’t worry. We won’t hurt you.

- Where are you off to?

- I am looking for my spouse.

- Who is your spouse?

- The Salt Prince.

Help me find him, Good Fairies.

- The Salt Prince suffered a terrible tragedy.

Go back home, Dear Girl! You’ll never see him again.

- What happened to him? - He’s in Kingdom of Subterra.

- Show me the way. - We will. But you mustn’t tell.

We’d endure a cruel trial. And avoid the King of Subterra.

- No. No! Let go of me! Leave me! Let go! No...

♫ - Once was there a very odd king. ♫

♫ But you it is not concerning. ♫

♫ Once was there a very odd king. ♫

♫ The king had banned the white color. ♫

♫ What is the worth of such a king? But you it is not concerning. ♫

♫ What is the worth of such a king? Everyone started to wonder. ♫

♫ Though a crown he wears, that one king. ♫

♫ But you it is not concerning. ♫

♫ Though a crown he wears, that one king. ♫

♫ He is not worth a... ♫

- Enough!

- Well now, Pravoslav, which daughter shall be queen?

And which son-in-law king?

They love you. More than gold and diamonds.

You’re getting old, have to choose.

Maruška... - I forbid you to talk of her.

I don’t want to hear a word.

- Behold, Courtiers of Subterra,

here kneels the daughter of a Terran king,

crying and begging for mercy.

Get up!

How dare you enter the kingdom you have cast to affliction?

- Affliction?

I’m only looking for my spouse! - You do not have a spouse.

- What happened to him?

I shall not leave till I have seen him!

- You shall not leave till you have seen him?

But indeed.

You will see him but you shall never leave!

You shall wander around in the darkness of Subterra

till the end of your life.

Which will be soon.

And now come! Come! You shall see your spouse!

Here he is!

It’s all your fault.

Because of you he wanted to know love.

But the moment he arrived among you,

my words came true.

Humans only want gold. Now they have it.

He shall be a salt statue forever.

- Forgive us.

Have mercy on us.

- No need to fear me.

Do you recognize it?

My master’s rose.

- Who are you? - Argonit.

The Salt Prince was like a son to me.

I raised him.

- How can you lift his curse?

- That I don’t know.

But I do know only a noble human being can free him.

Perhaps it is you.

Try it, Maruška.

A wise woman lives up on Earth. Find her.

Maybe she will help you.

- How do I get back up? - Come.

- Rocky rock, clear the block!

Thus orders Argonit, servant of our king.

Climb up this wall.

I may not go any farther.

- How do I get through?

- And come back. I’ll be waiting.

- You see, King Pravoslav, you are way too old to rule.

The people are not happy with you.

- Split the kingdom for us and we will rule.

People will not rise up against us. I guarantee it.

- I am not dividing the kingdom.

And to pick the queen, one daughter is still missing.

- Maruška is never coming back.

- She had the greatest love.

Here, listen to the people.

They need salt over gold.

- Give up voluntarily,

or we shall take the kingdom by force.

- Go ahead, state your grievances.

- Our King and Our Lord.

- We have always been your faithful servants.

Always kept our duties as subjects and parents.

We have raised our children to work bravely and respectfully.

But we are getting frail.

Disease and death visit us.

Dearth and hunger have invaded our abodes.

Cattle is dying on the pasture.

Wild beasts are running to neighboring kingdoms.

Bring us change. Remove the cause of our misfortune.

And we will be your obedient subjects again.

- My Subjects. We are equal in misfortune.

What torments you, plagues me as well.

I am giving you all the gold

and power that belongs to me.

- That is not why we came. We need salt.

- Take the gold from the tower.

Load up the wagons,

and go. Buy salt from the neighboring kingdom!

Buy enough for everyone, people, cattle, wild beasts.

- You were right.

And the one who is right is the king.

And the bad and foolish king, the jester.

- Everything will be all right.

- I made a terrible mistake.

Now I’ll be all alone.

With no one left to govern.

- For you, the crown.

For me, the chair. We will both govern.

You’ll govern me, I’ll govern you.

- Good morning, Grandmother.

- What brings you here, Child?

- Misfortune. - Yours or someone else’s?

- Mine.

- People only think about themselves.

- Mine, and someone else’s.

My spouse, the Salt Prince, was turned into a statue

and I don’t know how to help him.

- You think I will help you? - I’m seeking wisdom.

The wisdom that tells to help others.

I have not found it even here. - Wait!

I’ll see whether in work and duties you’re as firm and proud.

- I am not proud. I am desperate.

Tell me what I must do to earn your trust.

- Come with me.

Fill up this well with water.

Down there is a creek. Here are the buckets.

- Peace to this house. - Peace to you, too.

- How much salt can you sell?

- Enough for four kingdoms.

- I’ll buy the lot. With gold. - All of it? And pay with gold?

Let me see the gold first. - Right here.

- Are you mocking me? Get lost before I call the guards!

Old fools!

- Good Morning, Stunning Beauty.

- To you, too, Brave Knight.

- Far and wide the word has spread of a lovely servant girl.

I came to see with my own eyes

but you are even lovelier than I thought.

I am a prince from a distant land, in search of a wife.

I like you.

- How can you like me? Look at my rags!

My hands. My wounded feet.

- I offer you my hand and my kingdom.

You’ll be rich. And command a hundred servants.

My castle stands on a pretty island, full of flowers,

in delightful gardens.

Come with me.

Lugging those buckets does not befit you.

You’ll be the queen!

- Thank you, Prince from a distant land.

I already have a spouse.

- I wanted to help you, make you a queen.

Do you really not wish to leave with me?

- No, thank you, Noble Prince.

I’ll continue my service here.

- Only two wagons. And the rest is empty.

- We have salt.

But only as much as the gold we carried.

Everyone gets a pinch.

Be thrifty with the salt.

And what do you have?

- I have salt.

- Woe to us. Woe.

- It has been a month, yet the well is empty.

You are too slow.

You should leave. Find a spouse,

and forget the Salt Prince.

- Give me a few more days, Grandmother.

I will fill up your well.

- Look there.

- What has happened to my father’s country?

- The King of Subterra had all its salt turn to gold.

They are destined to perish.

If you save the Prince, you’ll save your country, too.

- Grandmother...

Grandmother! Come back!

I will fill up your well.

I must help them all.

Save them.

Grandmother!

- Who are you, Honored Lady? - The one you have called.

No need to carry water anymore.

It would be in vain. Not all places can sustain a well.

Though it is important to try to have one everywhere.

You have shown the good the Prince believed in so strongly.

And for that I shall help you save him.

You will cross three valleys and three peaks,

till you come to a large rock.

With your salt rose

you will touch the rock, and it will open up.

Then you must find the field of salt flowers.

From their blossoms you will collect glittery dew drops.

It is not just any dew,

but the tears of the people from your father’s kingdom.

The dew drops are living water. Sprinkle the statue

and bring the Salt Prince back to life.

- Argonit! Argonit, My Friend, where did you come from?

- I told you I’d be waiting.

Did you learn how to free the Salt Prince?

- I must find the field of salt flowers.

- I know where it is.

Come with me.

- All this salt.

And where it is needed, not a pinch.

- Come. The time will come

and Mother Earth will share her treasures.

- No one may see the King. - Step back!

She is under my protection!

- Argonit! What is the meaning of this?

How is she still alive?!

- I am, King.

- Guards! - Do with me anything.

But let me free the prince,

your son.

- You want to accomplish

what even the mighty ruler of Subterra cannot?

My curse is stronger than death.

And no one can change it. Not even I.

- She’s your only hope, Sire. You must believe her.

- I must? How dare you talk to me like that?

What I must or must not do is up to me, your king!

You have filled up the cup of my anger!

You’ll both feel who is in charge here!

- Sire! - Guards, grab them!

- Enough anger! Enough revenge!

Pull yourself together, My Brother.

Your blindness has made everything go dark.

Your curse has coated our hearts with dusk.

You scream what a powerful ruler you are.

When all you are is a powerless father.

You cannot save Mother Earth’s only gift to you.

Your own son.

Only the mightiest of mights can help you and the Salt Prince.

- And that is?

- Human love.

Go, Maruška. Take what is yours.

Take what you have earned.

- Wake up, My Darling.

Wake up from a grisly dream.

- What are you wearing, Maruška?

And why are we here when I was just asking for your hand?

- My Son.

What is this?

- Those are tears, Mighty Ruler. Ordinary tears.

- I’m taking the gold and the money, and

leaving this cursed country.

You and your kingdom can drop dead for all I care.

- Princesses Wanda and Barbora, too?

- Too!

- And will they say good-bye?

- Why should they?!

- My Subjects and Courtiers.

King Pravoslav’s daughter and the Salt Prince

have shown us the power of love,

the evanescence and weakness of wealth.

It is only useful when it serves man and his happiness.

Here is my wedding gift.

This bottomless bag of salt.

Take off with a group of knights, My Son.

People need salt.

Bring it to them.

Earth’s own gift.

- Salt! My jewels have turned to salt!

- Halt!

- So you see, Brother. I’ll kill you with an honest iron.

- Hold it, Your Lordships!

Who, and with what, is paying for our services?

- Some strange company.

- We’re seeing no one.

- Spread around the entire kingdom.

Give everyone plenty of salt.

- What do you want?

- I brought you a gift, Majesty.

A gift most precious.

A remedy most effective.

- There is no remedy for me.

None for my kingdom, either.

Salt...

Real salt!

Do you have more of it?

- I do.

I sure do, Majesty. For your entire kingdom.

- How shall I repay you, Honored Lady?

- I ask for nothing.

Just that...

You love me...

Like this salt.

- Maruška?

My child...

My child.

Forgive an old fool.

- She’s back! Princess Maruška is back!

- People, our affliction is over.

Your trials and tears have redeemed us.

Your sacrifice would be wasted if we did not learn

how valuable human life,

and how beautiful love, is.

Even now it has blossomed to a beautiful flower.

Here, in front of you, stands your Queen

with her husband, the Salt Prince.

To them I pass on the rule over the entire kingdom.

Live together, long and happily.

Manage this country with wisdom and justice.

For the eternal memory of this day,

I order that in this country guests be always welcome

not just with bread but also with salt.

- What are you staring at? Go, bake some bread!

And don’t forget to add salt!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION / SUBTITLES © 2012 G. Adam Stanislav