Original subtitles

Special edition!

New clues about the Ogre!

Newspapers! The ogre's picture!

THE ATHENIAN FILM COMPANY PRESENTS

THE OGRE OF ATHENS

Screenplay by Iakovos Campanellis

Music by Manos Hadjidakis

Directed by Nikos Koundouros

Happy New Year, Mr. Thomas.

Time to buy that new coat you were talking about.

This one will do for another year.

I have a few savings.

Are you worried about your landlord again?

No Rent Control in the world will stop him.

He will throw me out one of these days.

Goodbye, nice little coat!

So long. Have a Happy New Year!

Going anywhere tonight?

No. I'm used to being alone.

And anyway I like lounging around at home.

Happy New Year, Mr. Thomas! And a quiet one, God willing!

The great powers should come to their senses...

and leave us alone to earn a living...

The Americans Hydrogen, the Russians Oxygen...

Uranium on the one side, Cotronium on the other.

And all for peace, they say.

As for us poor Greeks...

There's an uproar over that Ogre. Things aren't going well.

- Please, have a seat! - Thank you.

OGRE IDENTIFIED. THE POLICE ON HIS TRACKS.

That's him!

Good morning. Happy New Year.

I wish you every happiness for the New Year.

I've brought a toy for your little girl.

Thanks, she has everything she needs.

Never mind... I just thought she might like it.

Goodbye.

- He doesn't really look like him. - Oh, yes he does.

Leave him alone today. He doesn't seem that evil.

Silence! It's enough he keeps the room for pennies.

What do I care about Rent Control?

I'll have him thrown out right away.

And they have the gall to put Giorgos in jail...

for beating up his tenant, who had it coming!

Keep the door locked, do you hear?

I'll be back in five minutes. You shut your mouth!

Those blue eyes of yours Are always full of light

And they glow like a moon In the darkness of the night

The Ogre.

What if we find him?

Shoot if you have to!

Would you listen to them! Trigger happy's what they are!

- Think they'll shoot? - That's the least of it.

They might even throw hand grenades!

War has made people nasty, they shoot without thinking.

Getting out of the house is scary!

Christ! You're upset.

- They may make a mistake. - Let's go upstairs before we get hit.

HOTEL

If you get arrested, there's no proving you're innocent!

My cousin, a fireman, was arrested for stealing a hose.

You won't believe this but he's still in jail.

And another cousin is still in jail for stealing some worthless watches.

- Are they after you? - Why?

Speak up! Don't be afraid of me.

You're lucky you ran into Carmen.

Wait a minute. I'll see what's going on inside.

What are you doing here?

I'm waiting for Miss Carmen.

Should I leave?

We dress and undress in here.

She said she'd be right back.

- Here you are. - So I am.

- Where were you all afternoon? - At the hotel.

You're lying!

- I asked and found out. - I was there.

No you weren't. Didn't I tell you not to go out?

Watch it or I'll have you scrubbing floors again!

I was at the hotel!

Who on earth are you?

- I'm waiting for Miss Carmen. - In here?

That's what she said.

You hurry up and get dressed!

You shouldn't cry on New Year's Eve.

I can't help it. He always acts this way.

- Why? Who is that? - The boss.

And what does he care what you do in the afternoons?

He's afraid I go with men.

Why would you go out with men?

- He must be joking. - Yeah... sure...

He has me followed.

But I gave them the slip today and looked at all the store windows.

You did very well.

And I'll do it again tomorrow.

I'm going and he can do whatever he likes.

I'll go every single day.

- Are you a friend of Carmen's? - An acquaintance.

- What's your name? - Thomas.

I'm Roula but they call me Baby and I got stuck with it.

- Do you work here? - I dance.

- How about you? - I'm a bank clerk.

Do you like this toy?

- You can keep it if you like. - Keep it?

- What's that? - The gentleman gave it to me.

I had no use for it.

Come on. Let's go inside.

Thank you very much.

Goodbye.

Come with me.

Sit here quietly and we'll see what we can do.

- Do you like it here? - Where are we?

Don't be afraid. If anyone bothers you, let me know.

- I won't allow anyone to. - All right...

Take off your coat because it's hot in here and I'll be back.

Let me have an almond cookie.

- Are you out of your mind? - Why?

- Do you want trouble? - Me?

Who's that jerk you brought in here?

You bring stool pidgeons before the big job.

Stool pidgeons?

All right, give me that almond cookie.

Put it on my bill.

It's fun in here.

- Eat your cookie and get out. - Again?

It's for your own good.

I beg your pardon... I like it here.

Waiter! Bring me anything you like!

Enemy on your left, with Carmen!

Pausanias writes that the temple of Zeus has remained intact.

I know him from somewhere.

This monument was greatly admired and honoured...

with sacrifices and offerings...

and was a sacred place of worship for decades...

and the pride of the Athenians.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Is anyone waiting on you?

No.

Let me take care of you.

No thanks. I'm fine.

Menu.

Oh, all right.

I'll kill you! Do you want to ruin me?

We're ready.

It's 11:30 and still no show!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the famous Spanish dancer...

Carmen de la Sierra Nevada!

- Baby! - I'm almost ready.

That's not what I mean.

- Don't get upset when I yell a little. - You're always yelling.

- Don't get angry with me. - I couldn't care less.

I'm just fed up of being spied on.

I don't want you to come to any harm. I raised you.

In that case give me my money and let me live wherever I like.

Listen Baby, after the big job you and I will be able to...

I don't want to!

- I'll give you the world. - I don't want anything from you!

Okay, Baby, I'm leaving.

Give us a smile.

Well done, Carmen. You're the one who packs them in.

Fatso was at it again?

I'm here. You're not for the likes of him.

- I'm getting out of this dump. - Sure you are. Now listen.

That poor guy I brought in is sitting outside.

Keep an eye on him until I get back.

- Fatso is very suspicious. - Why?

He's suspicious of everyone.

Are you leaving?

I'm meeting a cousin of mine.

He's cute isn't he?

He is a nice little man but a little strange...

- Why? - Who knows?

We all have our troubles.

That "Spanish woman", wasn't she Carmen?

- Where have we met before? - You're mistaken.

- So what are you scared of? - I'm going.

Too late.

Can't we work out a deal, the two of us?

- Why should we? - You're a sly one.

Make up your mind. We either come to an arrangement or...

Or?

I'll be upset.

All right? You seem smart.

Now make yourself at home. We'll talk again.

- He's a cop. - Are you sure?

Dead sure... but he's very, very smart.

- Will he take a bribe? - I think so.

Give him a bottle of brandy for now.

- Leave while there's time. - Why did they nab him?

Forget him. See how you'll slip from the boss.

- I've done nothing to him. - He'll have none of it.

Go through the dressing-room.

Too late.

Happy New Year!

On your knees! I said, on your knees!

Talk!

The Ogre!

Quiet!

Guard both the front and the back door.

You keep an eye on the customers.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to hit you.

Step down.

Welcome to the club! And Happy New Year!

Happy New Year.

Make way.

Your razor.

Take it easy!

Take a seat.

- Let me take your coat. - Where to?

- To hang it up. - Keep it close by.

- Get us something to drink. - Brandy, please.

Brandy!

What would you like us to play? Something lively? Something slow?

Have the girls dance for him. All of them.

Yes... let them dance.

I'm sorry about the incident. It was my mistake.

But, come to think of it, you do look a little like an informer.

Keep watching and drink up!

- May I? - Please.

I'm glad you hit the boss.

He pushed me to the edge, the way things turned out.

You don't look all that scary.

I don't, do I?

What a life you must lead.

Full of suspense. They say you've turned Athens upside down.

The papers exaggerate somewhat.

The papers don't miss a thing. Remember that case with the doctor?

The press bides its time. It exploits our weaknesses.

They wrote that the money you stole provided dowries for twelve orphans.

- But killing comes easy to you. - Wrong.

- I'm innocent. - You are covered in blood.

- Rumours I tell you. - It blinds you.

- Maybe it's because you drink. - Maybe...

If you didn't drink, you'd be a different person!

I said maybe.

You need someone to look after you.

- The boss is waiting for you. - Me?

- Where are you taking him? - To a meeting.

- I'll be waiting right here. - Don't worry, I'll be back.

- My hat. - Baby's an angel.

- A wild flower. - She sings and your heart blooms.

She's like a young Virgin.

She's got tycoons falling on their knees for her.

- She doesn't want them? - The boss gives her everything.

All we need is a big name to inspire the guys. And what a name!

The Ogre!

The freedom of the Press is a privilege of free nations.

Who are hiding behind the notorious Ogre?

We hope that the mystery of this criminal will be solved...

glorified as a mixture of horrid criminal and popular hero.

One thing we know for a fact.

If we examine similar well known criminals...

it is not an uncommon phenomenon for the masses to often sympathise...

with this type of criminal.

A sympathy that extends right up to the time of execution.

And it is no uncommon phenomenon, both here and in the Western world...

for legends to be created out of these monsters...

for whom death is not sufficient penalty.

The guys have all agreed.

They would be honoured to have you as chief in this job.

- Archaeologist! - Right here!

The temple of Olympian Zeus.

You know, the one across from the gas station.

An immortal monument!

- It was dedicated to Zeus. - Who?

Don't you know Zeus, you fool?

Peisistratus had it built with the intention of making it large...

but it was not finished then.

- How great, those ancient Greeks! - They had culture.

The temple was 590 feet long and 134 feet wide.

There were twenty columns along its length...

and eight along its width.

A total of fifty-six columns.

The goldfingers have swiped them.

You mean you suspect...

No doubt about it. We Greeks are no good for such things.

They're letting the other one go to waste too.

- But an American's interested. - What do you mean?

He came to Greece with UNRA, saw it... liked it...

- He wants it. - To do what with it?

Who knows? The man is an American. But he knows what he's doing.

- Do Americans ever lose out? - Yes, but we...

What about us?

- We're Greeks. - C'mon now. We owe to the Americans.

Should we give them our columns?

Columns is all we have, that's what we're giving.

- Yes, of course, but... - We've thought it all out.

With the help of the Virgin Mary...

the job can be done as soon as tomorrow night.

Let's finish this.

We've been planning it for three years.

We lacked a solid leadership.

But you're a born leader. Come, sit down.

This way, chief.

Why shouldn't you accept? Why should you work alone?

It's time you had your cronies, to assume the position you deserve...

to become respectable.

- The guys wanted to pressure you. - Pressure me?

Yes, pressure you. It's a good job.

If the American's satisfied, he'll place another order.

This way we start a regular export business.

All we want from you is your name.

- A name like yours is prestige. - The Ogre.

- Sounds impressive. - Did you say tomorrow?

- Tomorrow. - We're done for today.

We're done. We thank you.

You can be sure we don't forget easily.

- Did I frighten you? - You just startled me.

You have so many enemies. You're not just anyone.

Me, enemies? Yes, of course, one never knows what can happen.

- Why don't we leave? - But what will he...

Who gives a damn what Fatso thinks? I don't.

- But he said... - You can stay here if you like.

I'm going.

Good night.

Good night.

May I tell you something?

- What did you say your name was? - Thomas.

Got a cigarette?

I don't smoke.

Will you let me smoke alone in the street?

Of course not.

I gave them the slip. They must be looking for me now.

They had it coming. I'm sick of that place.

I don't care if it's blown up.

Out!

Get out, I said!

- Out! - The boss would like you to go.

Get out, I said!

The boss would like you to beat it.

Shut up!

Lock up!

Play!

Play something sentimental.

- They left together. - Nondas saw them.

He stole her from me.

And I had raised her in silk and velvet.

Spathis, our Baby's gone!

Sentimental, I said!

- She'll be back, boss. - My little flower!

I raised her since she was a kid. I gave her everything.

And he stole her from me.

Talk to the Ogre.

If it was anyone else, I'd have wasted him.

- Oh, Spathis... - Cigarette?

I went in there and found only her little dress...

and her little shoes.

Oh, Spathis...

- What shall we drink? - Fire!

Where is our Baby now? Oh, Spathis...

Were you here when Piraeus was bombed?

No.

You should have seen how it was raining bombs!

- Here, by your house? - Loads of them! Nothing was left.

- Your parents? - They didn't let me see them.

- What about yours? - They're alive.

Then my cousin and I started stealing from the enemy.

But they caught us and God knows how we got out alive.

- Were you ever in danger then? - No.

In the last winter of the Occupation I almost died of pneumonia.

- Ever had pneumonia? - No, unfortunately.

Carmen would come to the hospital.

When I got well, she got me the job with the boss.

When I grew up the boss said laundry wasn't for me.

- He made me take dancing lessons. - And now?

I want to get away. I'm sick of them all. I only love Carmen.

How much you've suffered and you're just a little girl.

- Here we are. - Is this where you live?

Yes. In the room next to Carmen's.

- Nice courtyard. - You're kidding.

Forty people live all around here.

It's not like having your own house with your own yard.

You've never known loneliness.

Does it matter if there are so many people?

If anything happens to you, someone will run by your side.

I want a little peace and quiet... to learn how to type.

I want to be able to sleep at night. I'm sick of going to bed at dawn.

And yet you're happy.

Carmen, Fatso, Spathis, they all love you.

A person shouldn't live alone.

Everything then seems empty, especially during the holidays.

That person's left alone, all by himself.

You get a good job, you slave away all your life, and for what?

Suddenly something happens and your eyes are opened.

The world turns on its head. What have you done?

For forty years you've lived a graceless, miserable life...

...all alone.

You're the sweetest man in the world.

Will you come to the club again tomorrow?

I don't know.

I'll be waiting for you.

What have we here!

The gentleman was kind enough to walk me home.

Good night.

- I beg your pardon? - You sneaky devil!

All right, let's go upstairs.

Every time I leave the club, something happens.

When the boys told me, I burst out laughing.

Why?

Maybe we're not good company for Baby...

but one day I'll take her away from here and make her a lady.

She deserves a better life.

It all depends on you now.

Me?

The transportation you agreed on.

Oh yes. The antiquities.

We've all pitched our savings into this job.

All our dreams are resting on that column!

We'll worship you like a saint.

And then poor Baby will get her chance.

The world is full of troubles.

You've made it big. They say you have friends in the government.

But for us life is tough. The girls are getting old.

Business is bad at the port. Kids have lost hope and got a job.

Unfortunately, times are bad for young people.

And as for Baby... Please, leave her alone.

Why don't you mind your own business? You've been around.

If you need anything, come to me.

- You've nothing to fear on my part. - I knew you had a heart of gold.

- I've got to be going. - Won't you stay here?

- No. - You'll be going back, all alone?

I'm used to it.

I guess what that reporter told me is true...

What?

That all you great outlaws are melancholic men.

Perhaps. I must be going. Excuse me.

- So long, and Happy New Year. - Sure! It's New Year's day!

Keep your mind on the job. We're all counting on you.

- What was Carmen telling you? - She loves you very much.

- Are you leaving now? - Yes, it's almost dawn.

But this is no way to live, in anguish night and day.

Why can't you be like everyone else... an ordinary man...

whom no one knows, no one notices, leading a quiet life?

You could be doing something else and still be important.

Why should I be important?

But such is the world, chasing big names.

So why not, better the "Ogre" than nothing.

The police!

That was Aristos' wife. Not that way, through the back. Good luck!

Don't be a stranger!

Come on, the fun is over. Everything must come to an end.

Excuse us. We must do our duty.

My Aristos! My husband!

Where are they dragging you, Aristos?

How will I live without you?

Where are they taking you? Let go of me!

How will I live without you? Where are you taking him?

My Aristos!

His coat! He forgot his coat!

His coat. Please take his coat!

Please take his coat!

His coat!

You all shut up! Tell us.

He was walking quietly and looking straight ahead.

His forehead shone, like he didn't care about a thing.

He came down, crossed the courtyard like he was off to a celebration...

and disappeared.

Two hundred patrol cars took him away.

- God help us now! - Don't despair!

The job goes down tonight the way we planned it.

All we need is a name. A great name lives on past the grave.

Listen to me carefully.

The Ogre was never captured.

And he never will be captured.

Hey you, what happened to your scars?

Have you had cosmetic surgery?

Have you been to a beauty salon?

Are you a woman?

"Tattoo of mermaid on the left arm."

Nothing.

Let him go, for God's sake! There's no sign of a tatoo.

Did you get away from them?

You got away from them.

Everyone said you'd bend the iron bars and escape.

You're not safe here. Aristos is in jail.

We're leaving. Let me get dressed.

- I could hear you. - When?

When you were shouting about the coat.

If they killed me then, I'd have said thank you.

Let's hurry. I'll leave a note for Carmen.

They haven't shown up yet.

Sign these papers.

A lot of expenses.

What if they don't find him?

We'll do the job, regardless.

The boys don't know the cops released him.

They think he bent the iron bars and escaped.

His time will come.

And what do we tell them?

That he's supervising the job from Panagiotidis' rooftop.

What happened with the power company?

Have you called for me?

Carmen...

See that the girls are all dressed up tonight.

The boys must have fun tonight.

Who knows who will die tomorrow.

Don't talk that way.

Where's my Baby, Carmen?

Where's my Baby, Carmen?

I've told you over and over.

What?

Don't get distracted by your personal affairs.

Think of what's good for all of us.

Last day of the year. Aren't you afraid in this crowd?

Today, I'm not afraid of anything. Let's pretend I'm a bank clerk.

- Would you like that? - Sure I would.

After your arrest that's all I thought about.

- If you could change your life... - Change?

- I've got to shave. - You're fine.

No, no, I want to shave.

I like you like that.

We're fools standing around in the streets like this.

Now it's as if no one knows me.

Today I was born again.

The other foot.

- We haven't exchanged wishes, have we? - No.

- Well, let's. Happy New Year. - A Happy and peaceful New Year.

- And plain bread... - Yes...

- Do you believe it? - I do. And you?

You look different in the daytime.

- You seem calmer today. - Last night was terrible.

The other foot!

Today will be different. Want to go dancing tonight?

- I can't dance. - You were dancing yesterday.

I had to.

- Then I'll teach you, okay? - Okay.

What's the news?

The electric company agreed. There'll be a power failure around the columns.

Good work. We've got some good kids in there.

When I heard you'd been arrested I almost died.

- You're exaggerating. - I knew you wouldn't let us down.

I told the guys, "Go ahead, he'll be there for us!"

- Everything's ready. - Where's the girl?

Don't worry, she'll be here.

I got worried about you and had you fetched.

The boys are partying for tonight. We always do before a job.

It's our way of saying goodbye to life.

- Is it your mother you're writing to? - Yes, boss.

A saintly woman. Send her my respects.

Caught a cold? Say... you weren't thinking of running out on us?

- You must be joking. - That's more like it.

I want you to think of us as family. We're all lone jackals.

- We all need each other, right? - Unfortunately.

Let me have your attention a moment, you guys!

Quiet, damn it!

My fellow countrymen, colleagues, brothers...

omnipotent fate has decreed...

that tonight will be somewhat adventurous.

I must tell you, some mothers may be crying tomorrow...

and we may leave behind us widows and orphans.

But this is how fate has wanted it. That's all I had to say.

I want to ask this man, who God has sent to help us, to say...

For some of us it may be our first operation of this kind.

No one knows what's in store for us.

He who knows how to live must also know how to die!

It's better than shuffling papers in some bank!

Hurrah!

Down with bureaucracy!

Down with red tape!

Excellent. An inspired speech. I mean, educated stuff!

But I know everything, damn it! Why did you say you were the Ogre?

You said it.

Why didn't you explain, when we got to like you?

It was too late.

Don't look me in the eye or I'll belt you one...

And why didn't you go home after the cops released you?

I did. But it felt like a tomb and I came back.

What's done is done.

Now you're no longer your own man.

Now we've got the guys to think of.

It's all for one and one for all.

The sun has set in my heart

Oh, Mother, see how men die

The tears have dried up Like the rivers

The earth pays for my crime In blood

- Take a good look at the guys. - I see them.

You can be proud of them.

How can the earth cover them, such proud trees?

Isn't it a shame for us Greeks to be killing each other?

- Cheers! - Cheers!

If only we didn't lose any of them.

But I guess death can't touch you.

You defy bullets.

Go, bulldozer drivers. Farewell.

Bulldozer drivers, good luck and may God help you.

I'm coming, my old man, just you wait.

We'll soon be working on our fields with a tractor.

A taxicab is all I want... a De Soto..

Just for the days' wages, that's all.

Fairwell to the dump trucks and the crane drivers.

My life changes tonight.

I have a very sick brother in hospital.

With God's help we'll finish the job. Tomorrow I have a doctor to pay.

What's my life, mother?

A small cog in the universe.

Go!

Do you want to split Baby in half between us?

She's yours.

- Mine? - Yours.

My brother, let's cry together.

My heart is as heavy as a rock tonight.

Damned fate!

You were playing with our pain!

Forgive us. We didn't mean to.

They're not bad guys. It was a bad twist of fate.

I'll take you to a doctor.

I'll look after you like your own mother.

They didn't mean any harm.

But you were asking for it, damn you.

What did you go and get involved with us for?

You knew what scumbags we are.

Let me get a cab.

I'll have it on my conscience if you die.

I swear to God I can't bear to see you die on New Year's Day.

We're not a bad lot. We just go too far sometimes.

Let me take you to a doctor.

Thank you.

Leave me alone. All my life I've avoided a fuss.

Please forgive us.

Forgive us so that you may rest in peace.

MOVERS

- What are you thinking? - Nothing.

Seems he was asking for it.

- Now he's finally found peace. - Did anyone know him?

No.

Subtitles edited by Katerina Nikopoulou