Original subtitles

We're about 60 miles from Munich

yet everybody was on time: 8 sharp! German punctuality!

As there were no place cards

I invited Prof. Rauschenigg to sit next to me.

He's an excellent conversationalist, not just a good doctor.

He was invited because of his brother

who is vice chairman of the Chamber of Commerce,

not because he's my doctor.

He immediately asked me about my health.

I replied that one shouldn't complain about

hat can't be helped.

He congratulated me on my fortitude

He congratulated me, on my fortitude

and made other wise remarks,

but when I'm tired my memory fails me.

The nurse gave me a sleeping pill.

I'll go on with this tomorrow.

go on. go on.

go on, go on.

Rauschenigg said that we are transitional beings

and we know little of joy and sorrow.

What seems to be cause can also be effect.

I'm not going to translate that.

You were top in German at school.

I must have looked like a gorgeous mummy

in my black lace dress.

I've got so many dresses.

I'd love to send you some.

How many do you have?'

And who's that Paula

I'm supposed to know about?

I haven't the faintest idea.

Yet, my memory's quite good when I'm not tired.

Yet, my memory's quite good whe*h I'm not tired.

I haven't got that photo of us in Leta.

If you haven't got it, it must be lost.

I feel old.

I'm alone most of the time,

but I don't complain.

I've kept my pride.

Believe me, it's harder to bear youth than old age,

seeing as you've no choice anyway.

But it's hard to bear old age when it masquerades as youth.

But it's hard to bear old age when it masquerades as youth.

CATSPLAY

My dearest Giza...

How stupid of me!

Of course you don't know Paula

but she knows about you.

I've often talked about you.

We went through the siege of Budapest together.

Dear Bela just took anti-tetanus serum

down to the cellar. and not a scrap of food.

Though six sacks of sugar were left in the dispensary.

We'd have died of hunger but for Paula!

I hadn't seen her since the war.

And under what circumstances...

We'd have died of hunger but for Paula!

We'd have died of hunge but for Paula!

But that's not interesting..

didn't recognize her.

She began to stare at me.

then she asked. "Are you Mrs Orban?"

So there stood Paula all of a sudden!

Why the sarcasm? - What sarcasm?

- In your voice! - Nonsense.

- You don't seem to like Paula. - You're wrong.

I don't like you going out half dressed!

It was because of the physicist's cat.

You know the cat is fond of me.

He'd have been furious if she'd run away, jealous as he is.

Why should he be jealous?

He thinks I lure his cat away from him.

But how

- By giving her milk. - Nothing else?

And a little meat...

- Should you do that? - That man's oversensitive.

So would I be in his place.

You'd be offended too? - Yes I would.

You're oversensitive too then!

- Nobody's ever told me that! - Something's bothering you.

- Not that I know of! - It's Paula.

Pure imagination!

you've found a friend I'm happy for you.

- But something's bothering you. - Nothing.

There was just something in your letter I found a little rash.

And what was that?

When you say

that Paula influences you the same way I do.

I'm surprised at you, dear Giza.

Why

I intended that as a compliment.

I wrote she was a genteel person like you.

But she wears hazel jersey dresses

and dyes her hair red! Is that anything like me?

As Michael's mother I need to dress well

but my clothes befit my age.

And my hair's grey, not red.

Dyeing one's hair is no crime.

Don't defend he

She doesn't need defending.

- Millions of women do it! - Say that again!

- Say what again? - What you just said.

- Millions dye their hai - I guessed.

- What? - The effect she has on you.

- What effect? - You're a red-head too!

Well I'm blowed! - Yes or no?

You get strange ideas. I must say.

Do you swear on our dead father's soul

- I don't swear about trifles! - So you're a red-head.

- I'm not! - She suggested another colour?

You're insulting the woman

who saved us from starvation

It's you I care about.

- You despise Paula! - I'm worried about you.

- Don't worry about me. - You'll regret this quarrel!

- I never quarrel! - You always have.

Hadn't we better stop this

- I was going to suggest it. - Regards to Michael.

- And Hildegard and the kids. - I'll tell them.

- All my love. - Take care of yourself.

- There's no reason to. - Sleep well.

You too.

Have you finished?

- How long was it? - Five minutes.

Take care of yourself...

I'm very ashamed, dear Giza...

that I lost my temper.

With you who is dearest of all to me.

It's nice of you to worry.

but I'm quite content.

I'll have you know that my hair is red

And I don't feel in the least guilty.

Paula took me along to her hairdresser.

I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in your scruples.

Don't use yourself as an example. Our dear mother had red hair.

Michael is a good son to you.

To him. you're not only a mother he loves,

but somebody he respects.

They share their life with you, listen to what you say.

They put you at the head of the table; they count on you.

You have a son and two grandsons.

Hello. Mum.

Ilona speaking.

I'm not complaining about my daughter

But she has no children.

what use

Are you corning for lunch, on Sunday?

Half past two at the latest.

They don't light candles. No Professor Rauschenigg.

Only roast pork which I hate.

How are you, mother?

Joseph, dear, keep your boredom quiet.

They've got a picture of us on the wall.

We look so young!

How young we were!

Every day, I cook for the physicist. And I eat with them...

except for Thursdays.

And then there's Thursday.

That's when Viktor corn

I know you never could stand him.

He's even more gluttonous than he was.

No philosophical talk here, we discuss marrowbone.

It gives him diarrhoea..

For what reason? Allergy to fat or autosuggestion?

Dear Giza. we never discovered.

Ah. that Thursday supper

What a pain in the neck!

That Paula you dislike has done wonders.

begin with, she forced on me

one of her marvellous dresses.

And another day.

on coming home, I found a hat on the table...

What a gorgeous suit!

Mousey made the hat for me.

Isn't it a bit tight? Why?

Why did she make it?

As a token of her affection, she said.

- Affection seems contagious. - It's not tight.

I remember there was a photo of us two.

Dear Giza, I forget all the troubles and worries.

Nothing but pleasant memories come to mind.

Where's that picture?

've looked everywhere. Haven't you got it?

It was taken in Leta on a summer morning after the dance

I was wearino a chiffon dress.

I had danced the whole night with Bela.

He was in uniform. It was war-time.

In the morning Viktor arrived.

He took the boat out on the river.

And when we saw the boat

we went running down the slope

laughing and calling out...

Oh, dear... that boating!

There must be a photo...

I can't find it. Sure you haven't got it?

It was taken in Leta, in the summer after the dance.

We're coming. Viktor! Here we are!

We're coming, Viktor

Here we are

We're coming, Viktor

Here we are!

Pity you don't know Giza.

"Forgive me for being sore when you talk about Paula.

I must have been jealous...

It won't happen again.

- Please, give her my regards." - Thanks, that's nice of her.

About that picture taken in Leta

- the one you can't find -

it's got to be there somewhere

or else it's lost.

What d'you like about music?

Won't you tell me his name?

Never mind if you don't want to. - Victor Csermlenyi.

rYou thirnk’£ don't know him? A'

But he's world-famous! - ♦ -•*—*> - - ... "■

t:He was. f^w he conducts tr. the ®6tt©FK-Mill choir.

Is his pension too small*?

I like that, too.

- Doesn't he sing any more? Only in cultural centres.

- Why not? . He is got emphysema.

Oh, how brave of him!

I like a man who defies his condition.

And sings in local halls until he's out of breath.

I never thought of that.

- I'd like to meet him. You'd b’eldisappointed.

Go home by yourselves after the film...

- Don't you feel well? - No.

Erzsi!

What are you doing here?

- Erzsi! - Didn't you get my letter?

Didn't you get my letter?

In the street I wouldn't have recognized you.

You look quite different, my angel!

Sorry I can't offer you supper...

Just eggs, maybe...

To hell with supper!

I

How lovely!... Thank you.

Don't turn on the light.

- Why not? - I don't want to see myself.

You've got your back to the mirror.

One doesn't only see oneself in mirrors.

You can go now

but for Heaven's sake

be careful

Giza darling, life's fantastic.

It's an endless series of wonders.

It's a mystery to me

what became of the letter

I wrote Viktor to put him off.

Maybe I forgot the stamp or something...

Anyway he never got it.

The wondrous thing about it

is that I went back home.

For 1 5 years now, I steadfastly refused

to go and see "Boris Godunov".

It was one of Viktor's great parts.

He sung it with Lotte Lehman in Berlin.

An Italian was playing Boris.

But I only saw Viktor...

Only heard Viktor...

Viktor as he used to be.

I pretended I didn't feel well... and hurried home.

I found Viktor at my door.

My angel, wouldn't have recognized you.

There he was, waiting for me...

He was transformed.

Giza dear, it was wonderful

I just gazed at him

and thought about Paula,

who hasn't even met him yet.

I almost wept

Because the reality is even more complicated

than the way I described it to Paula.

Viktor wasn't aware, ©r rather, refused to be aware ©f anything:

his emphysema,

his 71 years...

He still regards himself as

the best singer in Hungary, ignored and supressed

because of others' jealousy.

But he won't let it go at that.

He'll make a comeback...

At the Opera, the Scala, the Metropolitan!

Giza dear, it's heart-rending

п»ї

We remained silent, motionless in the dark.

I suddenly realized someone was watching us.

Do you feel better now, Teacher?

Yes, thank you. Go home, dear.

You can go now.

But for Heaven's sake be careful.

He slipped out of the door, tiptoed down the stairs...

I waited breathlessly till all was silent again...

I'm sorry, Erzsi

but I'm not that impressed by the series of "wonders"

you've been experiencing.

You lie to your pupils, leave them in the lurch,

then stand for ages in the dark listening to the breathing

of a sick man. What's wonderful about that!

It simply goes to prove

you delight in the most extravagant situations.

This was on my mind when I made up your parcel.

I sent you a high-necked

instead of the lace one.

Instead of the lace one.

I don't b.^gnTclge it t© you,

I don't begrudge it to you,

but a low-cut dress would cause too much of a stir

in a suburban cultural hall.

My dear Giza,

I am furious!

I'm fond of these children

though not blind to their faults.

I know schoolgirls are a nasty bunch,

ungrateful and vindictive.

But I thought my class were an exception.

We sung twice on the radio,

I've taken them on excursions, not to mention the times

I've bought them ice cream.

What thanks did I get?

We had been rehearsing for the school anniversary.

The moment the new headmaster entered

they suddenly began singing off key!

We've got a special song: "The Cat", by Grieg!

I don't even need to conduct.

When they sing it, I simply walk up and down

between the rows of desks.

I wanted the headmaster

to ask my forgiveness for even thinking of pensioning me off!

Yet what happened?

They took revenge on me

because I walked out on them at the cinema!

What would you say to retiring in the autumn?

As you probably know,

a new singing teacher has been appointed.

Yes, I know. I also know the said person

had an affair with two Sudanese students...

- not separately - together! - I know...

Our young comrade gives lessons

to guest students from underdeveloped countries.

Have you ever attended any of these lessons?

I understand your feelings, but it doesn't alter your case.

What about retiring next autumn? What do you think?

What do I think?

- Same as you would. - I'm thirty-two.

- That makes all the difference. - It does indeed!

If you were forced to retire you could go and shovel snow.

But what can I do at my ag

if you take my singing lessons away from me?

I've run into him twice since then

but never get a chance to explain.

What now

I don't want to think about the future.

Fortunately Viktor has a concert today.

That's my only consolation.

He's nervous of course. So am I.

Paula is quite cool.

Today's the great day!

Pray for me. Giza dear!

Good night.

Bye, dear

Were you asleep?

No, I just got in.

So late?

I took your friend home.

Spending a fortune on taxis

I'd gladly ruin myself for you.

Tonight for once I feel like courting you.

I want to court you.

Nobody applauded my encore.

How can you say that? People were raving!

Yes,

1 5 years ago at the Albert Hall.

The audience wouldn't leave.

Paula was enthralled, too.

I don't care about Paula.

Don't you like her?

- I don't want to hurt you. - I'm not biassed.

She's a little plump, but what an elevated soul

- It's a bit too elevated. - Her soul?

Not her soul in fact, but her theories.

What kind of theories?

Her muddle-headed theories about Wagner, for instance.

She finds Die Meistersinger "soothing".

That's interesting...

When did she say all this? Not at supper!

Not on the way home! - In the taxi.

- It's only a minute from here. - We kept the taxi waiting.

- Did she try and chat you up? - No one can do that.

Well, good night.

- What's the hurry? - I suddenly feel very sleepy.

My eyes are closing. Goodnight.

Michael is angry with me.

It never happened before,

and it makes me very sad.

I dared not go down for supper. I had it sent up to my room.

I hoped he'd come up.

He didn't come...

He didn't come. I got ^®ur letters out.

He didn't come. I got your letters out.

Your last was so distracted

I reread the old ones.

We were so close to each other... We were so alike...

But distance has changed that.

Let's not lose each other.

The thought frightens me.

I believe in God... in his ordering of things.

I believe we carry our destiny within us...

I have a feeling you're stumbling

towards some strange and unfathomable fate...

My little sister, Erz-si Shall a?’

It's five ®'eleven, girls!

Isn't it a bit fatty?

Too good for him even so!

Is that really you. my little sister?

Run to the pest office with this telegram.

"Feet swollen... couldn't shop. Supper postponed."

Don't gape! Off you go!

Did you send it?

п»ї

Yes.

Start cooking, Mousey.

I want to cancel a telegram I sent.

It must be done.

It could have tragic consequences!

I'm not agitated!

Of course. I remember the text.

"Feet swollen... couldn't shop...

Supper postponed..."

This is not a joke!

#unrecognized text#

Comrade...

this is a matter of life or death.

Thank you very much.

My thanks to the Hungarian Post Office!

You'll never learn how to do it!

They would come now

Take their supper in to them! Hurry!

Sorry... My rehearsal is dragging on...

- What's that? - The soup. - To hell with it!

The old pig has a rehearsal apparently!

Damn you, old pig

Stop hanging around! Go and get laid by the first man you see!

You little fool!

Giza, this is incredible!

You who have been shut off

from the werld these 2® years,

can judge a pens®,® better, t^ra^nupie

who is-wit'h him day after day.

Th'at concert opened my eyes.

That concert opened my eyes.

By the way. it's your memory that's failing, not mine.

It's possible we were waiting for father when that picture was taken

but you seem to have forgotten Dr Szanto.

When the Whites arrested him for hiding wounded Reds,

Papa went to Szolnok to obtain his release.

called him a Red bastard

and slapped his face in front of everybody.

He slapped our father.

Father came home

went to the cellar and shot himself.

You call that a fine way to die9

Was it?

Please forgive me, Madam,

for writing to you without knowing you...

I have no wish to frighten you

knowing you are seriously ill, but who else can I turn to9

Erzsi positively worships you.

You are her role model, as she is mine.

I'm very upset about her.

For several days now

Erzsi has been pacing her room.

Up and down, for ten, even fifteen minutes.

At times she stops.

Are you asleep?

Come with me!

I don't want to scare you,

but I fear my beloved Erzsi -I pray I'm wrong -

may be suffering from a nervous breakdown.

Even now. as I'm writing

she's standing in a dark street

n an attitude I can't describe without upsetting you.

I hope I'm wrong.

- You're restless. - I'm not.

- You keep changing your mind. - That's not true.

- At times you seem near collapse. - Who said so?

The confusion in your letters tells me.

That's the way I am, dear Giza.

I don't have your calm, matter-of-fact mind.

At 20 I was just as crazy as I am now.

You're no longer twenty.

Why do you say that?

Tell me honestly:

- Are you in love with that old ham? - I object!

He happens to be a world famous artist!

- Answer me, yes or no! - No!

- I don't believe you. - I don't lie!

- I'm not sure of that. - Have you ever caught me lying?

I declare I'm not in love with Viktor Csermlenyi.

He disgusts me. His entire being is alien to me.

He's greedy, selfish and immoral, like a wild beast.

When I called him a monster you were offended.

A monster and a wild beast... are not the same thing.

That's beside the point.

and you' II be well rid of that man.

Your best friend disappointed you and you' II be well rid of that man.

So why don't you come here?

I have too many ties here.

- What ties? - All kinds of ties.

Not Paula, not Viktor...

Mousey?... Your daughter? Very thin ties!

Thin strands make strong ropes.

So I was right...

In saying you were madly in love with Viktor,

but your dear friend has turned his head!

- I refuse to answer that! - You're desperate, I know.

Viktor had supper with me only last week

at this very table, in the best of spirits!

- What did you eat? - The usual... plus doughnuts.

- What is it? - I want you to come.

I can't leave here.

I simply can't.

- I can't. - We could live together.

I know.

You'd have all you want.

I daresay...

ust give me one good reason...

- How long have we been talking? - What does it matter?

I'm expecting an important call.

An urgent order, for a hat of Mousey's.

What are you there?... A maidservant!

I resent that!

You live on a shoestring, cooking for that physicist...

I won't stand for this!

I'm in advantageous position.

I've got a good pension. 1,540 forints...

I make a profit on cooking for the physicist.

And I can even put 200 forints aside each month.

And my daughter and her husband,

though I've never asked them, give me 300...

My nurse earns that -in German marks! Plus full board!

I prefer being a servant here.

Here.

We're not being kind to each other.

Forgive me, dear.

It's my fault.

- I'm upset... - Not about me I hope.

No, it's not you.

Are you worse?

You know Prof. Rauschenigg, don't you?

Of course.

Hold on.

Mother, how often must I jask you not to phone! Write iriste’a’d.

Phoning always upsets you.

Forgive me for saying so,

but your sister's never been normal.

My sister is a remarkable woman.

A new clinic has opened in Frankfurt

under the direction of Professor Rauschenigg.

Don't tell me he wants to operate on you?

Your spinal nerve was crushed.

He thinks we ought to try

- Dr Lustig said there was no hope. - Rauschenigg attended Stalin!

- Who do you beli'eve in? - I'm at my wit's end.

- The best'd be to have you here. - Don't ask me that!

- We got along so well. - In the past.

Now we don't agree on a lot of things.

Such as?

Father.

- Because I called it a fine death? - No, because you accepted a lie.

We said the Reds had shot him so Mother would get a pension.

- Shut up, for Goodness sake! - You came to believe that lie.

So what? Did it make any difference?

- Did anyone care about you? - No one.

Is life so good there?

- Not that good. - You're all alone.

- That's true. - You work for other peopl

I love cooking.

- But I need you! - I need you too.

Then why don't you come?

Because I want to die here.

We don't understand each other.

Not really.

What can we do? - I don't know.

God bless you.

God Bless you.

Hello, Mummy. I've got guests.

- I've come for my sleeping pills. - Come on in.

Joseph's locked up the medicines.

Mummy, these are my friends.

Do sit down. I'll bring you some coffee.

- What ties? - All kinds of ties...

- I hear your choir's excellent. - We could live together.

- Hello. Mother. Been to see us? - Yes.

I'll take you home. Come on.

But I need you.

We don't understand each other.

God bless

I need some sleeping pills.

- Something strong. - Right.

Sleep well.

Giza dear. I'm sending this letter by special delivery.

If you still love me, I beg you to

help me!

Or else I'm finished. I'll tell you everything

so you can see what a state I'm in.

Paula, that slut - there's no other word for her,

has got Viktor hooked.

She resorted to the most despicable methods

to take him away from me.

Passing the caretaker's flat at 7 pm

I got a mighty whiff of cooking.

I sniffed the air..

Roast pork...

"Mrs Hegedus." I said, "how come you're cooking at this time?"

You should know that the caretaker's wife

usually only cooks midday meals to order.

And since Paula is an awful cook

I suggested she order lunch from Mrs Hegedus.

And what did I see in the caretaker's kitchen

I'm sure you've guessed

I saw chicken-broth and roast pork

and jam pudding.

in a great array of dishes.

I suppose you put dumplings in your chicken soup?

Yes, large semolina dumplings.

I had to go and lie down.

Why are you so pale, Madam?

Later on I went to Paula's place.

As usual, the lady dentist answered the door.

"Come to see Paula?"

She asked as grumpily as ever.

I lied and said

I had the toothache.

At this she became kinder. You know me, Giza...

The next minute I was in the dental chair.

with just a curtain between me and Paula.

You know the state of my teeth.

I still have 24 - not one of them aching

Yet she at once found a decayed tooth.

Did I want a jab? I said no!

I didn't care a damn because I could hear

the pig-like grunting that could only be coming from Viktor.

The dentist started to drill.

You know me, Giza...

I bided my time.

I know you'll disapprove...

I rather roughly tore down the curtain...

- Don't turn your head, please. - I had chosen my moment!

Perhaps I'd have behaved better

had it not been for the vegetables in the soup.

Wrapped in a napkin the size of a sheet,

there sat the old swindler.

I lost my head.

Viktor.likes his soup strained..

with the chicken giblets set apart', vegetables and dumplings

on a separate plate...

When I saw the plate of soup...

I haven't seen that woman since.

You know me.

Once I've vented my anger, I calm down.

The next few minutes I behaved remarkably well.

Even you would have been satisfied.

I had the advantage

in that Viktor couldn't get up from his chair.

One of his unpleasant habits

is to slip off his shoes while he eats.

He's ashamed to be seen in socks.

Supremely calm, I said:

"I'm sorry Paula isn't present...

However, as far as you're concerned, sir..."

He said I misunderstood the situation

and begged me to listen..

I'll have nothing to do with you any more, I said.

Listen, darling, please!

And spare me your visits in future.

But I can't live without you

I trust you'll get to like the caretaker's wife's cooking.

I was still holding the curtain in my hand.

I calmly folded it up, put it down,

begged the dentist to excuse me

and left with my head high

I felt free and light as a feather.

But when I woke up in the morning

I felt I'd swallowed a bunch of keys.

I was all cut to pieces inside.

Every cell in my body was bleeding.

I realized something I'd never had the courage to face:

that I loved this man.

Dear Mousey, excuse my calling you that...

You said in your letter

I'm the only person Erzsi will listen to.

I wonder if that is so.

I'm not sure either that I want her to listen to me.

I wish only one thing:

to have a bath once again in our mother's decoction of herbs.

I hardly remember it, yet for days

its scent keeps coming back to me.

It always had a soothing effect.

The mixture contained harebells... Or was it red hempnettle?

Please

tell my sister

I'll be operated on the day after tomorrow.

Nemo ante morte meatus.

With love, Giza.

I've been through some horrible things.

I can't keep them to myself. I'm sorry.

I remember that night in the hospital

when Bela died.

Everything is over. I said.

You quoted from a German poet:

"Old age is a constant compromise.

But each compromise leaves something,

a little something but all the more precious."

Well, my little something was this love.

I admit it was Viktor who was coming from Szolnok.

I was waiting for him on that photo.

It was him I rushed to meet.

That night I gave myself to him.

And he remained my lover

in Leta and later in Budapest...

Even after I was married..

Even after I was married...

Right up to the time of my dear husband's operation.

But when he awoke from the anaesthetic.

and his first glance was for me,

I burst into tears.

I never let Viktor touch me again, but I never stopped loving him.

Viktor.

And I wouldn't have survived losing him.

Bring all the papers, Mousey dear.

Dear Giza, I had the strength •t® deny it.

Dear Giza, I had the strength to deny it.

I'll tell you what happened since Wednesday morning.

On waking, I rushed to the phone.

I felt that if I couldn't speak to Viktor right away I would die.

But his mother, the old hag, recognized my voice

and slammed the receiver down. I rang again, and once again

his mother answered, rang every ten minutes.

I sent Mousey with a note...

but the suspicious bitch threw her out.

I went to bed.

As a rule I'm a good sleeper, but I couldn't keep my eyes shut.

What should I do'

In the morning I called again.

In a changed, girlish voice.

I can't attend the rehearsal. I have a sore throat."

Not to worry, dear. It's been cancelled.

Where is Nagybabony How do I get there9

I became so flustered...I had to take two sedatives.

Nagybabony was quite a distance. I just managed to catch the bus.

At 8 p.m. I got off in front of the Centre.

in front of the Centre.

But it turned out they had a film on.

Nobody knew of guest performers from Budapest.

Maybe the concert was at the Nagybabony Forestry Centre.

The bus stops there too.

I looked it up in the time-table.

It wasn't far. A bus was leaving in twenty minutes.

The hall wasn't even lit.

A car with Budapest artists had been there, I was told,

but they'd called off the concert and left.

I set off into the night.

I couldn't find my way back to the main road.

I began walking at random.

I could have sworn I'd been here before...

I had entered this door...

...greeted this man...

And it really was him.

old Mr. Lajos from Leta!

Or rather his son.

He is a night-watchman at the timber yard.

I had supper with him.

and spent the night at his place.

He treated me with great respect.

We were about to leave Leta when he was born.

but he knew all about us. All sorts of good things.

You were happily married to Danziger's only son

and I to a poor chemist's assistant, but happy all the same.

And what beautiful girls we were!

We never quarrelled

You were the quieter, brainier one,

and I was more of a tomboy.

We were always laughing and joking.

And we swam and played ten

when it wasn't the fashion for girls.

You had beautiful eyes,

and I had lovely ha

My God

Breakfast was waiting for me.

Water for washing, and a new sponge he must have had for years.

Then he harnessed a donkey, got up beside me

and drove me to the railway station.

He said he'd never thought

he'd take the younger Skalla girl for a drive!

I still can't figure out who he was paying tribute to

with all this chivalry.

Was it to our father? To us girls?

Or the past itself? Who knows

He gave me two ham rolls for the journey.

The countryside was lovely...

We were driving in the hills...

The sun shone through the trees...

And no matter what was written on the signs,

I saw Leta everywhere.

Do speak to Michael, please.

So many famous people come to your place.

I'm not dreaming of an operatic role.

I know Viktor isn't up to that any more.

You can see how unbiassed I am.

But he still has a fine voice.

and when it's a case of heart..

You know me, Giza dear...

I hate asking favours

but this is so important.

I'd be so grateful if, through Michael,

you could pull off a contract for a concert tour.

Viktor surely wouldn't undertake such a long trip without me.

And I wouldn't say no. of course.

Do ask Michael.

Mail the contract by special delivery.

No, that won't do.

Wire me once you've got the contract.

You can see how unbiassed I am.

Do ask Michael, dearest G

These are for you to try.

Thank you, but I'm not hungry.

- Just try one. - Alright, later.

The postman gave me this registered letter for you.

- Won't you have just one? - Thanks, I'll have one later.

Yes, have them later. Goodbye.

GIZA PASSED AWAY - MICHAEL

Dear Erzsi. I found this picture in Viktor's room.

It's of more interest to you than me. Sincerely, Paula.

Three forints, sixty.