Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Hey, you wanna hurt yourself?

Here, I'll give you a hand.

Where do you want it?

I live down the street.

I'm Matsoukas.

Leonidas Matsoukas.

Hey, do you work here?

Hey, dear...

Hey...

You... you work here?

- We bought it. - Oh.

- Where's your husband? - He sleeps.

Oh, he sleeps, and you work.

I'm a widow.

I'm sorry.

Look, you...

You got some... You got some flour on your cheek.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Mr. Stavros, why are you awake?

The doctor said you should sleep.

You should rest.

What is it?

Is it the pain again?

Then why are you awake?

I'm afraid.

Afraid? Afraid of what?

- I don't know. - Oh, that's impossible.

You know, you and I come from Greek warriors.

You know that for centuries, no Matsoukas has ever been afraid?

- Hey, hey, what's the matter? - You've been drinking, Papa.

Why, just a little brandy.

Greek brandy, it's a drink of lions.

And you're a young lion.

And no lion is ever afraid.

[speaking in foreign language]

Ring, ring.

Mr. Papadopoulos speaking.

- Mr... Mr. Papalopolopoulos? - Yes?

- Stavros is still afraid. - Oh...

Well, Mr. Stavros...

I... I have to explain something.

You see...

You've... you've just...

...recovered from a bad sickness and..

...when the body is weak, the nerves send out false messages.

'But please, don't listen to those messages.'

They lie.

- Okay, Mr. Stavros? - Alright.

Go to sleep, Mr. Stavros.

- Papa? - Yeah?

- I will be okay? - Of course.

Hey, I tell you what.

You... you rest a few more days and..

Hey, you know what?

I'm gonna take you to the mountains.

- The mountains? - Yeah, that's right!

You'll breathe pure fresh air.

[inhaling]

Mmm..

And you'll feel the healing warmth of the sun.

Must we all go without sleep, while you cry in the dawn?

Oh, mama's right.

Now, you go back to sleep.

There..

'And think about the mountains and the sun.'

Come... disturbing a sick child.

I apologize.

[snoring]

[continues snoring]

[snoring]

[whistling]

[snoring]

I also apologize to your saintly mother.

- You're drunk like a goon. - Who's drunk?

- That wasn't tonight. - Well, okay.

Big Carl from Pittsburgh was in town. He's pure poker play.

- Who's Big Carl? - Who's Big Carl?

He's a beautiful poker player.

Oh, he's a master strategist.

He's someone a man can respect.

Can you imagine?

Matsoukas versus Big Carl from from Pittsburgh.

Two giants locked in mortal combat,

neither able to move the other, until the final end.

- Oh, it was a classic. - Did you win?

Yeah, instinct.

Instinct tells me he has a full house.

Instinct, that extra something that gives me the edge.

I'm holding two pair, aces up.

- But did you win or lose? - I...

I draw one, I pick it up.

- And what do I see, huh? - What?

The third ace.

The highest full house there is.

So, he bets into me.

I raise him back, my whole worth.

He sees me, and...

- ...what has he got? - What?

[laughing]

He's got four little deuces!

But did you win or lose?

How could you be so ignorant?

You're the mother of three,

you don't know that four of a kind beats a full house?

What's the matter?

Christ.

I swear, you act as if a very big thing has happened.

Well, he was a great hand.

It wasn't that bad.

Yes, but you lost!

Your leaders lost to the Persians of Thermopylae.

Did that make the battle any less close?

No... your daughters need lunch money for school tomorrow.

Did you bring at least some small money?

Honey, I was wiped out. Completely, 100 percent, wiped out.

[crying]

Aw!

Come on, where is the spirit?

You make me beg for my wealth.

Expect to buy some clothes and food for the children.

That's the way you teach me spirit.

I'll pay it back to your sainted mother.

- I've been bad. - Come on.

Oh, my head.

[speaking in foreign language]

Alright, get it over with.

I don't wanna get it over with.

What the hell do you want?

Do you want me a virgin again?

The way I was when we got married?

Do you want me to bleed?

Once more to cry for the morals of love?

What do you want?

That was three kids and four miscarriages ago.

You can go to hell.

Hm.

[speaking indistinctly]

[speaking indistinctly]

Leave me! Leave me!

Alright.

[laughing]

- You know what I'll do? - What?

I'm gonna find you asleep

and I'll convert you from a stud to a gelding.

Hey, Giorgio!

Yeah! My sweethearts!

- Who's that, Papa? - That's Giorgio.

- Is that your type of fellow? - No.

What's your type?

- You are, Papa. - That's right!

That's my girl.

Here's a list of groceries Caliope needs.

'And you don't have to deliver. My girls will take it home.'

See you later, huh?

Let's go.

Tell Mama I'll bring the stuff later, huh?

Hey, Bill, you know what you've become?

A merchant. A merchant!

Hey, kids, uh...

Look... you go somewhere and have lunch, huh?

Here... I'm gonna give you my-my lucky half dollar.

Hey, princess, go and have a feast, huh?

Go on.

[instrumental music]

[speaking in foreign language]

Have any clients been asking for me?

Any mice been in asking for the cat?

[all laughing]

Oh, some ouzo to go with this excellent coffee.

Can you pay?

You know, last night was a night of great encounters.

The day that follows such a night should not become cheap

for the lack of 35 cent ouzo.

Last night, you lost your ass.

Falconis and the rest were in at lunch hour.

Yeah, then you heard of the magnificence of that last part.

- They talked of nothing else. - Four little deuces!

[knock on door]

Come in.

- Mr. Matsoukas? - At your service.

I'm sorry, maybe I disturb.

'I no have no appointment.'

- Oh, well... - Maybe I disturb you.

No, no, no. I just happen to be free, come on in.

May I... may I take your hat?

Won't you sit down, please?

'Yes, sir. What, uh...'

Ah, Mr. Matsoukas.

My name is Telecles, Antonio Telecles.

Antonio Telecles.

'I have a big problem.'

I marry one young woman... she's 31.

Maybe, perhaps, I'm too old for her.

'I'm 72.'

My grandfather died at 89.

He was the father of 12.

The youngest was three years old.

Hm?

- Some big giant! - Yes.

Listen, uh... what can I do?

Mr. Matsoukas...

My wife... My wife, she's leaving me.

We were happy at first, but...

Come on, come on, go on, go on.

Some things, Mr. Matsoukas, is very hard to talk about.

Yes.

But you must confide in me as if I were...

...your doctor, or your... your priest.

I'm not the man I was

when I marry her four years ago, Mr. Matsoukas.

Yes, I understand, Mr. Telecles.

That's exactly what she calls me.

Mr. Telecles.

'"Mr. Telecles, your dinner is ready.'

'Mr. Telecles, you must be tired."'

Oh, she no "mister" me at first, I tell you.

'At first, she called me... She called me old reliable.'

'She boast about me!'

She say, she say...

...I was the dirtiest old goat on the block.

Oh, how I hold my head high in those years, Mr. Matsoukas.

It was beautiful.

Well...

The difficulty is...

...is obvious.

The problem is...

...is age.

But of course, I told you I'm 72.

No, no, not yours, old man. Hers.

Hers?

Well, you said she was over 30, no?

She's beginning to sag a little, I mean, here.

There.

Little rubbery around the...

Oh, she eats all kinds too much, fatty paste..

Of course.

Well, Antonio, I mean...

What do you do when...

...when your wife begins to lose her... her youth

and becomes less... less desirable?

I mean, ask yourself.

I'm asking myself.

Uh, well?

You... use imagination.

I mean...

We have to learn how to... How to lie.

I mean, tell her... Tell her how young she is.

How... how lovely, how much you adore her. And...

You see, you must...

You must begin each session of love... slowly.

I mean...

You... you caress her.

You kiss her ear, her eyes, her...

...her... her breasts...

...or any other marvels that may come upon her.

You must make her feel... uh, wicked...

...as, uh... Bathsheba.

Alluring as... as Aphrodite.

Use the all-important ingredient.

Imagination.

You see...

And at the moment of, uh... of union...

You mustn't imagine your wife just...

...mortal, drab, aging, but...

...a goddess.

And you yourself, a god.

She's Diana, and you, you are Pan.

Remember who you are.

I mean, you come from a race of... of mighty men.

Look at life with the... with the eye...

...of the tiger.

Make your spirit a... A flame...

A torch... a fiery dart.

Will you...

Will you do that, huh?

- Damn right! - Yeah!

And before tomorrow's dawn, I promise you

she'll again be calling you a dirty old goat!

- Thank you - Thank you.

'And good luck.'

Oh, hello, Linc. This is Matsoukas.

Look, I wanna bet ten on... Delphinus in the seventh.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hey, Turk, buzz me in, huh?

[buzzing]

- Seventh on? - Running now.

- Matsoukas. - Yeah?

Read the card for me, I have Delphinus in the seventh.

...Tiny in the second by one-half length...

...and Anahit driving hard.

At the finish line...

...it's Delphinus by one half a length...

[all cheering]

Hey, Greek, you lost the packet last night, didn't you?

More than you can pay.

Soon... you'll be turned over to me.

Soon, I get to work you over.

- Delphinus, seventh. - $77.

He was five.

Hey, Matsoukas, the Fig King has won five straight hands.

'Time out. Come through.'

Fatsas... Cicero..

Still tryin' to fill inside straight, huh?

Of course.

Wanna lose consistently, you gotta know all the tricks.

Yeah, I really should apologize to you, gentlemen.

For what? For winning?

No, I meant, I take the money reluctantly.

Doesn't matter to me whether I win or lose.

Talk, talk, talk.

If I wanna talk, I know where I can get it cheaper.

A loser always reveals his character, eh?

- Two dollars. - Two.

'Four.'

Five. Pair of sixes.

Two deuce...

- Pair of sixes. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Uh...

Bet five.

Even five.

And...

...20 more.

Matsoukas.

What do you got?

Put the money.

[laughing]

[Matsoukas murmuring]

Yeah. Ah, that's all I've got.

You know what? The Fig King had nothing.

Ah! You don't pay, you don't see.

- He's right. He's right. - New deck.

New deck, new deck.

- Up to you. - Yes, I know it's up to me.

40.

Alright, 40.

And 50 more.

No, that's too steep for me.

- 50, eh? - Yeah.

- I'll call... what's the limit? - A hundred.

- 100? - 100.

- Small game. - Oh.

Alright.

- Another 100. - Hm.

[Matsoukas chuckles]

Oh, please, please, will you? I'm tryin' to concentrate.

I'm sorry, sir, I'm sorry.

Backed into me with a lousy flush.

But you see, sir, I knew you didn't have a full house.

Now, how could you know that?

Well, two sixes and an ace were out.

Well, I could have had the case ace.

No, no, sir, you couldn't, because you see, I had it.

Beautiful, beautiful! Ha-ha-ha.

Shut up! Do we have to put up with this?

Quiet!

Now, now, sir, the way a man loses reveals his character.

I'm not used to playing for peanuts!

Now, I demand we have a no-limit game.

- I'm sorry, sir, not with me. - Maybe tomorrow, huh?

The house will be glad to deal the game again tomorrow. Okay?

- Falconis, what do I owe you? - $483.

83? Hm, here's 400.

Uh, and..

...80, 83.

Hey, we're square.

Oh, I see.

Now, I know what's been going on.

Oh, uh, what's been going on, sir?

- I've been cheated! - I'll knock his teeth...

[everyone bickering]

Do you know who I am, you?

Of course, sir, we all know who you are.

I mean, you're the king of figs.

You see, Mr. King...

Cicero is known throughout the state for the relentless honesty of his deal.

- Well, I didn't mean that... - No, you see, sir, all of us here...

We all despise cheating.

I mean, to cheat in any game is to surrender your...

...your soul to the devil.

True, true.

Another thing, you see...

Poker's a game of... of deception, strategy and psychology.

See, but, I mean, let's be honest.

You see, you play this..

...you play this as a game of cats, you see.

I mean, to cheat you would be beneath the dignity of a...

...of a starving pimp.

Ha-ha-ha!

You see, uh, you lost because you are an empty bladder,

inflated with gas, meaning your own rotten figs.

[all laughing]

Hey, fig off, King!

Yes, I learned poker playing with very prominent men in the state.

Hey!

- Matsoukas! - What?

In victory or defeat... you're a great guy.

Hey, hey, the Fig King.

[Matsoukas impersonating] "Poker is a sport, only when you can afford to lose!"

Thanks.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, give me the ham.

- You got that? - Yeah, yeah, give me the other.

Put the other right there. That's it.

Hey, Fatsas... Watch out for him, huh?

Hey! Matsoukas is home.

Matsoukas is home!

- Papa! - Papa!

Hey, hey, my babies. Close the door, it's cold outside.

Come on, close the door, quick. That's it.

Oh, wait until you see what I brought for you.

There, I got you juice, a cake, a barbecue piece chicken.

It looks like you took my advice and got yourself a relief check.

Grandma, my sweet.

Before I ever take a nickel I don't earn...

...I'm gonna melt you down and sell the fat for laundry soap.

Drunk, drunk again, and smarty talk.

Just because you stole a few dollars from somewhere.

- Who stole, Grandma? - Nobody, nobody.

Your grandma's head is an old cave filled with wall circles.

Do you not steal from me?

What do you have to steal from you?

What... would happen to these children...

...if I would not get this small money

from my husb... my blessed husband.

You and your blessed husband...

My bless... Yes, my blessed husband!

The poor devil. You made his life an agony.

You know, if he had a ticket to come back, he would tear it up!

- Mm, ice cream! - Chocolate!

'Matsoukas.'

Mother! Look what I brought, huh?

Look, $39 and... and 42 cents.

I said the children need meat and milk.

Yeah.

I got a surprise for you.

All for you. Here.

Hey, what's the matter, baby?

The doctor is here. He's in with Stavros.

You sound, uh...

It's like you were giving up hope for my son, huh?

- How old is he? - Seven, just seven.

In most cases, given his condition...

'...the patient wouldn't be said to reach his eighth year.'

My God.

'I was speaking statistically, of course.'

'It's particular boy may have a little more time.'

Or less.

How much less?

What are you trying to tell us, Doctor?

Three months?

Oh, come on.

We've completed exhaustive tests, x-ray, fluoroscopy

angiogram, electrocardiogram.

This is proof. What can we do? We got to believe it.

What proof? The one drawn from the electric needle?

I'll show you... I'll show you, look.

Look. Look, dollars and cents.

Is this the great beating heart of America?

Is this... Is this the story of our marriage?

Matsoukas, this is a tape. A cash register tape.

What's the difference? Another machine's viewpoint.

And no machine is gonna tell me that my son is gonna die!

Why don't you face it? Face it!

There is nothing to face.

There's some things a machine cannot measure.

You see..

My son's roots...

...are in the village of Stavros,

in the foothills of Mount Olympus.

His seed is strong as a mountain goat.

Strong as the... as the grapevines that grow from the rock.

His blood has flowed through valleys where...

...where heroes and giants fought!

His heart contains the wind and the stars...

...and the mountain sun!

What do you and your machines know about that?

So don't...

Don't you tell me that my son is gonna die.

Hey.

Mr. Stavros?

Mr. Stavros?

Mr. Stavros is asleep.

- Oh. - Mr. Palmaquies..

Mr. Papadopoulos.

Oh... that's different.

Hey, Mr. Stavros. I brought you something.

Ice cream.

Lift the hand and sit up.

Go ahead.

Good?

Tomorrow.

Alright.

- Mr. Papadopoulos? - At your service.

The doctor was here.

Yeah.

Can we still take our trip?

To the mountains?

Of course we can.

We'll go far away from here.

Back to the soil that has given us...

...our strength, through centuries.

Mr. Stavros?

I make you pledge.

I'm gonna take you to the sunshine of Greece.

Greece?

Just as soon as I make certain...

...business arrangements, you know, about the money.

Hey...

You're a lion, son.

From the slopes of... Mount Olympus.

That's near the village after which you were named.

That's where we put your grandfather.

When he was wounded in battle.

He lay naked...

...on leaves of... of myrtle.

And that sun...

That sun burned the poisons out of him.

You know, Mr. Stavros...

...that the sun of Greece is...

It's a...

It's a sun like you've...

...you've never felt before.

Greece...

[train chugging]

[door shuts]

- Who is it? - It's me.

Remember me? I... I..

Yes, Mr. Matsoukas.

Oh, just Matsoukas.

What do you want?

Nothing, I just..

...I just was passing by and saw the light in here.

Just thought I'd come in, and..

...and just... just talk.

The store is closed.

- I'm baking bread, as you can see. - Well...

I'll not disturb you. You just go ahead and work.

I'll just stay here and... feel warm.

Look, please...

Don't... don't let me frighten you, huh?

Can I... please?

- Excuse me. - Yes.

You know, to make bread is to make something...

...something real.

I envy you.

There's coffee.

Oh, no, thank you, I'll just...

Would you like to join me?

No, thank you.

I'll just get a cup.

I'm sorry.

You know, Anna...

We live in the... in the dark ages...

...where men say one thing and they...

...but they mean another.

I mean, this is the... This the time of the dwarf.

You know, people are...

...are afraid of... of life.

You see, I don't live by the...

...by the dwarf laws, or...

I want to say something, I hope you...

I hope you understand.

You see...

You see, I'm Greek, and sometimes I have...

...violent emotions, or...

Please...

Anna...

I've been watching you for the last week from my window.

Now, please, try and understand, I...

I... I have a wife,

and two daughters and... and a son,

so maybe it's wrong what I'm gonna say, but I'm not ashamed.

I love you.

And I'm not ashamed.

Oh, it's easy for you to speak about love.

Well, love makes everything...

- ...everything real. - Is this real?

You with your wife and family, and me with... my memories.

Oh, you don't know me.

You don't know me.

Anna... Anna, I know you.

You live in darkness.

I mean... you're surrounded by it.

Anna...

[Anna crying]

I'm sorry...

Anna, what... what did I say? I'm...

Anna, I didn't wanna...

I need to talk, Anna.

I just wanted to say, I... I love you.

[Anna cries]

You have love.

It's... it's all through you. It's..

It's in the way you hold your neck. The...

It's in the... the way you hold your head.

And in that mouth.

It turns down at the corners like...

...like one of Michelangelo's women.

The mouth was made for...

...for kissing, for biting...

...for love.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

- What's that? - My husband.

Oh.

Can I... can I see him?

Please.

May I see him?

He's a... fine-looking man.

He loved me.

I'm sure he did.

He once said...

...he'd rather see me dead than with another man.

Well, he wants nothing from you now.

I mean, he's gone.

Anna.

Anna, he's dead.

He wants me his, forever.

Your marriage vows were made to... to a living man.

I mean, there's nothing in the contract that says that you...

...you have to go into the grave with him.

Anna...

Anna, will you stop thinking of yourself as dead?

Leave me.

[shouting] Leave me, leave me!

You don't need to work, honey.

Easy.

Shh.

Easy.

I can't! I can't.

I can't!

I can't.

Anna, Anna...

It's alright that you can't.

It's alright.

I understand.

It's alright.

- Good night, Anna. - Matsoukas!

Ha ha ha..

[Matsoukas chuckles]

[Anna laughs]

What's the matter?

- Something wrong? - Everyone left for church. It's late.

Oh, let me sleep just a few more minutes.

We will watch the football game on TV.

I thought you'd rather go to church.

And see the people.

Smell that stuff.

- What, incense? - Mm-hm.

You could hear the music.

And see the angels made of colored glass.

Hm. I know..

Might make me feel better, huh?

Come here.

Just a couple of minutes.

[breaks squealing]

Thanks.

[church music]

Shh.

Haven't got the change. See you later.

[Vicar] 'In an age already morally corrupt...'

'...we face a new danger.'

'A new device...'

'...invented to strip us...'

'...of our moral fiber.'

'What is this curse of which I speak?'

This curse of modern life.

This abomination...

...that ranks with the beatnik, the bikini, and the mini skirt...

'...the cinema and television as one of the foul plagues...'

'...of our horrendous age.'

'What is this evil?'

What is this abomination?

The life insurance policy...

'These lonesome certificates which make a mockery of death.'

'Which make widows rock and sing with jubilation...'

'...over the coffin remains of their husbands.'

'What happens to fear of death?'

'And respect for death?'

'When it becomes an occasion... of financial gain.'

I exalt you, my fellow Christians.

Abandon life insurance.

'Return integrity to grief.'

How much more sincere would be a sorrow?

'When you do not expect a check for 10, or 20, or $50,000.'

'Burn..'

'...the cursed policies, and when you lose..'

[gasping]

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪

♪ Hallelujah ♪

I wouldn't move him right now.

Let him rest right here, for at least an hour.

You take the girls home.

No. Mother...

Please take the children home, I can't leave now.

- Thank you. - You're very welcome.

It's a little chilly here.

Hm.

Let's go inside.

- How is your boy? - He's gonna be alright, thank you.

Please, have..

I'm sorry, but please don't touch him.

Eternity is a great big ring of light.

There's no suffering there.

Suffering belongs to life.

Tell me, why do you preach death?

[Matsoukas] 'I mean, why are you on the side of death?'

I'll pray for your son.

He just wanted to bless him.

How can anyone seriously preach such nonsense?

Matsoukas, you are in the house of God!

What? Where? You think he's... he's here?

You know what I think?

I think he's man-made.

Just in case you are there...

...may man have mercy on you.

Matsoukas, you're in church!

- Mama... - What is it, dear?

You scared me.

[traditional music]

Come on. Come on.

Get into Greece's great party.

They're gonna take a picture.

Go on, smile. Stay as you are. I wasn't ready.

Who said we'd never have a son?

How much does he weigh?

Can we not love a grandson as though he were our own?

What are you mad about, huh?

Nothing's more important than a son!

Yes, right.

[traditional music]

[music continues]

Come on, come on, go in there.

[music continues]

[speaking in foreign language]

[music continues]

[all cheering]

[music continues]

[all cheering]

[instrumental music]

Come on, everybody dance.

Falconis! Great party.

Come on, Cicero. No more booze.

Come on.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Hey, you need a drink. - Ah, no. I had enough to drink.

Hey, I need a drink.

- Come on. Come, please. - No, no, no...

- Come on, Cicero, go upstairs. - No, no.

Will you go upstairs and go to bed?

- Come on. - Please.

Come on.

You've had enough.

Now, just one, huh?

Alright, that's... that's enough.

- You know? - What?

You know what's the matter with this stuff?

What?

I wanna tell you a secret.

Deep down, deep inside...

...hiding in the crevices, there's a sober man.

He's down there, watching me.

An old drunk, with a groaning liver and a moaning heart.

A coward, a weakling, and a fool.

- There, he's wrong. - That ought to fix him.

You tell the little son of a bitch he is wrong.

Matsoukas is proud to call you his best friend.

Why do you bother with me?

I don't know.

You're a fraud.

You play the... the drunken idiot.

And your hands...

Hide them. They betray you.

Those marvelous fingers, when you deal...

They lend you a grace denied the ordinary man.

Now, come on. Let's go to sleep.

They must've belonged to somebody else.

And who did... did your head belong to, huh?

'Matsoukas...'

Hey, I thought you were asleep.

If you were not my friends... I would not believe I exist.

'Around you was the noise of battle.'

'Your heels are run-down.'

'Your cuffs shabby.'

Your collar frayed.

'Yet you wear them like armor.'

You fight back.

You are alive.

And therefore...

...I am alive.

- Do you know what I fight against? - Do you?

I have a... suspicion.

I'll tell you what I think.

The gods have chosen you for disaster.

But they don't plot against me.

'No.'

'Then who?'

Who wants my son?

Death.

I love you, my friend.

You scare the hell out of me.

It terrifies me to be associated with you.

But at this wretched moment, I give up my neutrality.

Matsoukas...

You need an ally, even a drunken wreck of an ally.

Listen... I got $900 saved up in the bank.

I want you to take this money and go with your son to Greece.

The booze has dissolved your brain.

Come on, you're mad.

'Listen to me.'

Be at the bank in the morning when it opens.

Cicero... I'm in no mood for drunken jokes.

Drunkenness has nothing to do with it.

Matsoukas.

- Come on, go... go back to sleep. - You cannot turn me down.

You gotta do it for me.

You...

You really mean it?

The bank. 10 o'clock.

Alright?

Okay. 10 o'clock, huh?

Okay.

There was cereal, but we took the last of it to Stavros.

Did he eat?

Stavros eats a lot lately.

- Yeah? - He even laughs.

He thinks he's going to Greece.

Well, he is.

Will it make him well?

Certainly hope so, honey.

I'm going to the bank this morning to get the money for the fare.

Liar!

What bank? What money?

To feed that poor boy on your filthy dreams.

It's wicked!

- As I was saying... - Wicked!

...I'm going to the bank.

And the plane, leaves on Thursday.

[mimics airplane]

Liar!

Who would be fool enough to lend you?

Where'd you ever get a dime?

You and your family will all be in the gutter.

Except for my poor, blessed husband insurance money.

- Gwah! - Ahh!

Criminal!

Criminal!

This is a stick-up! Where do you keep the loot, huh?

- Where is it? - I don't know!

- Is it here? - You'll never find my money.

- You'll never steal from me. - Where is it?

- You will never steal from me. - Where is it, huh?

You'll never steal from me.

I can suggest a better place for you to stuff it!

Criminal! Criminal!

Criminal!

Hey, Mr. Stavros.

- What are you doing? - Mount Olympus.

Mr. Stavros...

I have a surprise for you.

Thursday morning, we're gonna fly across the world.

At 40,000 feet and at 600 miles an hour.

Just you and me, on the mountain of the gods.

[speaking in foreign language]

Hey, Cicero.

Hey...

Hey, C...

[car honking]

[speaking in a foreign language]

- 'Mr. Matsoukas?' - Yes?

- I'm Mrs. Cournos. - How do you do, Mrs. Cournos?

- My son, Manulis. - Hello, Manulis.

You want to talk to me?

Please, may I talk to you alone?

My son, he's at the age. He need a man to talk to him.

- His father? - He left us years ago.

I'm sorry, I don't know, what do you want me to do?

Please talk to him.

- Alright, come on in. - Manulis!

Come in, come in.

Go on, come in.

Stay here. No go.

Yes, Mrs. Cournos?

He's learning... bad things from the kids on the street.

- I don't know what to do. - What kind of things?

The other night... the lock of the bathroom door was broken.

I walk in and he was, um...

Pot.

- I... I don't understand what... - He was smoking marijuana.

[Mrs. Cournos] 'I don't understand, he was...'

But, I... I...

I'm sorry, I don't understand you, Mrs. Cournos.

What was he doing?

He was, um...

Masturbating?

Yes, yes.

Well, that's normal for a boy his age, Mrs. Cournos.

Well, what do you want me to do?

Talk to him about... about life and sex?

Please... talk to him.

Alright, bring him in.

[Matsoukas] 'Hey, come on in, son.'

'Come on in.'

'How old are you?'

- Fourteen. - 'Fourteen?'

You're a big boy. What grade you in?

Tenth.

[Matsoukas] 'Tenth, you must be a smart boy.'

'I won that when I was 28 years old.'

What is that?

That's my belt.

Hellenic wrestling champion of Gary, Indiana.

You? A champion?

Yeah, sure, me. I used to be a steel worker.

Here, feel that.

Go on, go on. Feel it. Feel it, huh?

[Matsoukas] 'I had to wrestle a guy named Sahundas.'

He was built like a... like a blast furnace.

All the boys in my pad were betting on me so I had to beat him.

Boy, but... he was a terror.

He almost... almost broke my back.

You never heard of Sahundas?

You know who this is?

No.

Well, that's... that's Aphrodite.

Take a good look at her.

She's a... a goddess.

The goddess of love.

You know who her father was?

Zeus!

You never told him about Zeus?

You and I have to have a talk. You wait for us, huh?

Come on, let's go and get some fresh air.

Manulis, go. Listen to him.

Mrs. Cournos, if somebody bangs on the pipe, you call me.

I'll be up on the roof. Come on.

Oh, boy.

Take a deep breath.

Brr.

Hey, Manulis, have you done any wrestling?

No, huh?

Let me see you walk.

Go on. Put your hands out. Just walk. Just walk.

Come on. Come on, walk.

Hey, you know what? You move like a wrestler.

That loose swing when you walk.

[Matsoukas] 'I mean, that's... that's grace.'

'Very few kids at your age have it. Hey, you know what?'

I'm gonna send you to a friend of mine, Jimmy.

He runs the Hellenic Athletic Club.

I mean, he'll, you know, he'll teach you a few holds.

You know, when you can handle yourself in a fight,

you don't have to take any nonsense from anybody.

So, you never heard of Aphrodite, eh?

No.

Well, as I told you, she's... You know, the goddess of love.

You know...

When I was your age...

...my father told me about men and women.

And he said that...

...that once, when the earth was young...

...men and women were one.

Then, they separated and became two sexes.

And thereafter, people spent their time looking for the other half.

'You know what happens when a man and woman make love?'

Sure, I guess.

Yeah, I'm sure you do.

Nowadays, you kids grow up fast.

But Manulis...

...no matter what anybody says...

...you won't let them spoil it for you.

'I mean, because when you get older, you'll find a woman,'

'and you'll make love to her.'

And then... you'll know everything.

I mean, you... You'll know the truth.

The magic of love.

I mean, it's...

It's the greatest experience in the world.

You tell Jimmy I sent you, huh?

Come on.

Come on in, it's... It's getting cold.

- Mr. Matsoukas. - 'Yeah?'

Is that all?

Yeah, I just wanted some fresh air.

But, my mother, well...

...she caught me.

Oh, oh, that.

Well, your mother, she wanted me to, you know, to talk to you...

...man-to-man.

When I was your age, I masturbated.

My father told me he confessed the same to his father.

And that old gentleman,

he said, well, he had a go at it in his time, too.

I mean, eh, look, you've done nothing wrong.

Or unusual.

Your... your body's awakening, it's turning with power.

I mean, just... Just don't waste it.

- Okay? - Okay.

Come on, we'll shake hands.

What kinda handshake is that?

Come on, squeeze it. That's it.

Next time I see you, you better know something about Zeus.

Will you do me a favor? Will you look up Sahundas?

Sahundas. Okay?

Oh, Mr. Matsoukas.

- Yes? - How much do I owe you?

Oh, I'll send you a statement at the end of the month.

What statement?

Alright... a dollar.

Thank you. Thank you.

[Matsoukas] 'Don't forget to ask for Jimmy, eh?'

Thank you, Mr. Matsoukas.

[pipe clanging]

[male #1] 'Cicero's landlady telephoned early this morning.'

While he was shaving, he... He collapsed.

He... what?

'The county hospital sent an ambulance.'

[men laughing]

[car honking]

- Sir? - I'm looking for Mr. Cicero.

Oh, in there.

- Right in here, Miss? - No.

- Straight ahead. - Thank you.

[breathing heavily]

Excuse me.

[man coughing]

Hey.

Cicero!

Hey... it's me, Matsoukas.

[groaning]

[plastic crinkling]

[gasping]

What's the matter?

Hey, nurse!

Ci... Cicero. Cicero..

Nurse!

...going to fight it! Doctor!

[gasps]

Cicero, come on. Come on!

Cicero, don't give up!

Cicero... don't...

Cicero, come on, Ci..

- Doc? - 'I'm sorry.'

[train chugging]

[Anna] 'Who is it?'

Anna... Anna, it's me, Matsoukas.

[door unlocking]

- Can I come in? - Yes.

Look, I... I know I should have called..

Anna, I'm...

I'm here to beg.

You don't have to beg, Matsoukas.

Demand.

What I came to ask for, I have no right to ask.

It's a special favor.

Anything you ask, I'll do.

I need $700.

Must be for something very important.

Yes, it is.

I think I have that much.

Thank you, Anna.

Oh, thank you, Anna!

Oh!

[instrumental music]

Please come in.

I don't...

- Oh, thank you. - Matsoukas...

Oh, Matsoukas.

Anna... Anna...

I may be gone a long time, and...

- I know you have... - You're going away?

Yes, I'm taking my son Stavros to Greece.

- Greece? - Yeah.

Oh, Matsoukas, the best doctors in the world are here.

But the doctors have given up hope.

You see, I... I'm taking him to the...

...to the sunshine of Greece.

I-I-I know it'll cure him, I..

I-I-I just know it'll make him well.

Oh..

Matsoukas...

Matsoukas... hold me.

Hold me.

If you stay, I'll give you the money.

If I stay, I don't need the money.

Matsoukas, I'll die without you.

[crying] Matsoukas!

Anna, you won't die without me.

Anna... Anna..

You're burning with life, Anna.

[crying] Go... go.

Just... just get out!

[music continues]

[tremolo violin music]

[dramatic music]

- Roll a 125. - Hey!

[indistinct chattering]

I'll take 50.

Come on, boys.

Oh, come on.

- Five over. - Shoot. Alright, let's go.

Alright, here we go!

- 'Come on, I dare ya.' - Seven!

[male #2 laughing]

[Matsoukas] 'There you are. Come on, boys, don't cool me off.'

Don't cool me off. Tell you what I'm gonna do.

- I'm gonna roll to 250. - 'Woo!'

Come on, give it up. Come on, don't fool with me.

- Shoot. - Okay, now, here we go.

You boys are trying to cool me off, I know what you're doing.

Bigger, baby, bigger!

'Seven!'

[all arguing]

You boys gave me a square count..

Hey, I'm betting with you, buddy. This is all of it.

I've got a big decision here, 500 bucks rolling.

[male #3] '500.'

Tell you what I'm gonna do...

I'm gonna roll a five.

[arguing indistinctly]

[Matsoukas] 'How much you want? You want a $100?'

Give me that one. Come on, blow on it, baby!

Come on, I'm gonna shoot now. Alright!

We're all riding on you, baby. We're riding on you!

- Seven! - Seven.

[laughing]

- Oh, man, man, man! - Woo!

That's mine.

Wait a minute, boys. I think I'm cooling off.

It's been a, yeah... Percentage, that's right.

Alright. I'm just gonna bet..

...a little old fifty.

- 'Come on, you want this?' - 'Come on.'

- 'You don't wanna bet 50?' - We're scared of it.

[indistinct chattering]

Let's go. Are you trying to jinx me?

- 'Seven!' - 'Seven!'

[chattering continues]

What are you, some wise guy or something?

What are you doing? Come on, give me the di...

[male #4] 'What is it?'

Wait.

[male #2] 'What's going on?'

'What's going on?'

- Seven. - Seven.

Busters.

Busters?

[male #5] 'Greek's using busters.'

You dirty, rotten...

Matsoukas?

Matsoukas, you couldn't have!

Of course, I-I-I...

I was just...

You spit on us.

On everyone who called you friend.

I never want to see your face around here again.

Now, get out.

Matsoukas!

I'm... I'm sorry, Willy.

Goddamn!

[all arguing]

Goddamn, no!

He can never come back.

He can never set foot in a gambling house again,

that's his punishment!

Goddamn, no! I've waited too long for this!

Alright, now, take it easy, take it easy.

You've wanted this for a long time, eh, Turk?

Come on.

Come on.

Alright, you guys, pause right here. Hold it right here.

I'll handle this, I'll take care of it.

[indistinct chattering]

[door shuts]

- This is my party. - Turk, look, I..

...I know that I was wrong.

Y-you just do what you have to do.

Wait, wait a second, Turk. I-I'm not gonna fight you, Turk.

I-I'm not gonna fight you, Turk.

Turk, n-now, just-just a minute...

Turk!

[groaning]

Turk! Turk!

[groaning]

Turk, wait a minute, Turk.

Turk, I told you, now, Turk, I wa...

Turk!

I'm still not gonna fight you.

I know I was wrong. I know I was wrong!

You dirty...

[groaning]

That's enough, Turk.

I've paid my dues. I'm not gonna fight you, Turk.

Yellow Greek!

Yellow!

[grunting]

[panting]

[grunting]

[groans]

[choking]

Turk, let me live!

For my son's sake, Turk.

- Let him go, Turk, let him go! - Turk! Turk!

- Let him go, let him go! - Let him go.

Let him go, you're gonna kill him.

He's had enough. He's had enough!

Get away from him. Let him go, you'll kill him!

Let him go, let him go...

Get away from him! Get away from him!

Alright, calm down.

For God's sake, get out of here!

[male #6] 'Alright, alright, it's all over now. Calm down!'

Matsoukas. Matsoukas!

[Turk grunting]

Matsoukas...

Matsoukas!

Matsoukas!

Matsoukas!

[train chugging]

[train chugging]

Home before sunrise?

You run out of drinking money?

Don't wake him, he was up half the night!

What happened?

[gasps]

What happened?

[softly] What happened?

The Turk...

I let... I let the Turk...

...work me over.

Why did he hit you?

Why did he hit you?

[mumbling]

Why did he hit you?

Mats...

Because I...

I cheated!

- You cheated? - I... I used loaded dice.

- The honest gambler. - Yes.

The man who's been so ethical, to the point of disaster.

Ah!

What happened?

[chuckling]

So, a miracle suddenly made you human.

You decided to walk the Earth with us...

- Oh, Caliope... - ...poor mortals?

If it's so, Matsoukas, it's ten years too late.

Ten whole years!

- No. No, no, no, no! - Caliope..

Now, you listen to me.

- I can't listen to all that. - Let me be.

I've been living with you. Sleeping with you.

Watching you perform these absurd rituals of your days and nights.

Look at me, goddamn it! Look at me.

Look at me. I grew old...

...struggling to keep the scale of yours...

...from falling in all of us. Look at me.

Look at me...

I degraded myself...

...facing the dirty, grinding, reality.

Well, you, you know what you did?

You trod the clouds...

...untouched, unsoiled.

[sobbing] I hated you. I hated...

You know... even in bed, when I cried out in passion...

...that passion was hate.

I hated you.

Even when you said "I love you..."

"...I care for you," you hated me?

No, I... I loved you.

I loved you when we were married.

I was proud of you that nothing could change your values.

That you laughed when other people trembled.

That you were above fear.

A man apart.

But of course...

...this man I always loved...

Who the hell am I?

You know...

Even the boy, our boy was always yours...

Your son, your son! Yes, yes, yes.

Only your love could nourish him and save him.

I was only his mother..

...the woman that had him in her belly until he was born.

Someone that brought him in this world with a tide of blood!

But when they washed him, and they cleaned his body,

that was your son!

Yes!

He was a sick boy, Caliope. He was a sick boy!

You know what I think?

I think you thought he was the son of a god.

And the Gods whom you think are your relations...

...decided to punish you.

So they covered him in a cloud to punish you!

Madman.

[faucet running]

Come.

You should lie down.

[groans]

[groaning]

You know...

I'm so glad you cheated.

Maybe now we can...

...work things out between ourselves.

Now that you must abandon this mad dream about Greece, maybe...

Matsoukas...

...Stavros is dying.

My son is not..

My son is not going to die.

He is dying, Matsoukas.

Whether here or in Greece, he's going to die... soon.

'Why it is that you cannot accept it?'

Accept it! Accept, accept...

Accept what? What?

That I'm a... I'm a cheat? A failure?

Accept... accept that my son...

My son is... is going to die?

Accept that... accept that you... don't love me, huh?

No, no. I didn't mean that. I just...

Then what?

I just... I just meant that to carry our dying son

in some land of dreams...

- ...is a mad vision. - Then I'm mad.

It's useless.

You cannot fight death!

Death is a son of a bitch!

He picks on the weak.

Caliope, I... I... I'm going to fight death.

You are mad.

Give up, my love, give up!

I am never going to give up.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[mother-in-law snoring]

Do you believe there is hope?

What are you doing?

Wh... what is that?

Here's the money to go to Greece.

I'll get Stavros ready.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Fly safely, my son.

And fly back soon.

I've locked her in. It won't be any worse than before.

Go now.

[instrumental music]

[female announcer] 'TWA flight 904 for Madrid, Rome..'

- Here are the tickets. - Yes, sir.

- Sir. Sir! - Huh?

- Wh... what? - Sir, your tickets.

Oh, oh... thanks.

- Have a nice flight. - We're on our way.

[female announcer] '...flight 904 for Madrid, Rome and Athens.'

[instrumental music]

[music continues]