Original subtitles

The Annunciation

Scenario by András Jeles based on "The Tragedy of Man", by Imre Madách

Time present and time past

Are both perhaps present in time future

And time future contained in time past

If all time is eternally present

All time is unredeemable

T.S. Eliot. "Burnt Norton"

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be

Ecclesiastes 1:9

Eden

So this is life.

My sister... my love.

Handsome you are, my man, and mighty.

You hurt my heart.

Air is coming from your nostrils and mouth.

The Lord has given us living soul.

See how temptingly this fruit hangs from the bough.

I'll pluck it for you.

Stay, man! The whole world I gave thee, Adam...

but touch not those trees.

He who eats thereof shall die the death.

A strange command, but yet a solemn one.

He who eats thereof...

shall die the death.

I am afraid, my dear.

As if a trembling bird were beyond your bones.

The sky grew dark and is in your eyes.

And I am in your eyes.

I cannot understand the voice of this bird.

Now she has stopped singing.

The Lord allowed Adam and Eve to eat...

the fruit of all trees in Eden...

except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

For it is deadly to taste or even to merely touch that fruit.

Why are you so afraid?

Aren't you a bird?

Was it you who twittered?

Lucifer was there too, and he told them:

"The fruit of that tree does not make you dead, it makes you wise."

"God keeps you ignorant."

Genesis is over, but man still lacks life

I did not know there were others of your kind.

You know nothing of the enormous latrine...

...over which God created his mansion.

Hence Eve tasted the fruit...

...and when her shoulders touched the tree...

...she saw death draw nigh.

Now I must die and the Lord will give Adam a new wife

I shall persuade him to let us eat this fruit together.

If one must die, let us die together.

But if we are not to die, we will live together.

If you were carried away by death...

...the Lord could never console me with another woman.

She could never match your tenderness.

And then the voice of the Lord was heard:

Adam, Adam, thou hast forsaken me

I forsake thee; see what thou dost alone.

To see a World in a grain of sand.

And a Heaven in a wild flower.

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand.

And Eternity in an hour.

Cursed is the ground for thy sake.

In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread...

...till thou return unto the ground.

For out of it wast thou taken. Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

A potter was born from dust and he will become dust again.

Still, he can make whatever he pleases out of dust.

BEYOND EDEN

This place is mine.

Instead of the great world, this plot shall be my home.

My own domain.

I defend it from destructive beasts.

Just as the wise man dies...

...the fool dies, too.

All our time on this earth is just a dream.

A dream.

What do you feel, Adam?

What do you feel, Adam?

I feel that God has cast me from Him.

He has thrust me into loneliness, empty-handed

I left Him, too

I left Him, too.

Beguile my heart no further, Lucifer.

Let me know all, as you promised me.

I have not eaten of the Tree of life.

The brief span of life urges me to hurry.

All that lives has life in equal part.

A century, a day; they are as one.

Fear not, you shall achieve your destiny.

Let me see what I must suffer and wherefore I fight.

Let me see...

...if my beauty shall endure.

So be it.

I will lay a spell on you.

You shall look upon the future...

...until its very end - in fragile dream.

Just as leaves are born, so is man born.

The wind sweeps away the dead leaves...

...but the forest is clothed in fresh leaves once more...

...when beautiful spring returns.

Mankind is the same.

One is burgeoning, another falls.

ATHENS

Hither, come hither, dearest son.

Your father sailed forth on his swift ship...

...to fight in far lands.

Beyond, there dwells a cruel race that threatens our fair nation's liberty.

Come, Cimon.

Let us pray to the gods that heaven protect our people's right...

...and bring your valiant father safely back.

Why did my father go so far away...

...to protect this ragged, cowardly people...

...leaving his lovely wife to grieve at home?

Aphrodite.

There is no exciting news of warfare.

And in the city all men sleep.

A boring life, what shall we do?

It would not come amiss...

It would not come amiss if there was protest.

The country is in peril! Great Miltiades has betrayed her!

Death to the traitor!

Holy Aphrodite, hear my prayer.

Deign to accept the smoke of sacrifice.

I ask thee not for laurels for my lord...

...but peace at home to cheer his valiant heart

Aphrodite.

Everything is beautiful, good and rightful.

Only people consider one thing to be rightful and another thing unrightful.

Away! This place is mine.

If I speak not, the country is in peril.

It will perish if you don't speak. You hireling, be gone!

But you are no hireling, for none would hire you.

Citizens! In grief I raise my voice!

For to a noble mind it is a thing of woe...

..to bring a great man low.

Bravo! Bedeck with flowers the beast you have ordained for sacrifice!

Yet though my heart is sad, I must speak...

...for I prize the people's sovereignty more than I prize its general.

This merchant-souled lot, like dogs scavenging for discarded scraps.

You coward, I do not envy your taste!

Death to the traitor!

People, hear the accusation: Miltiades has betrayed the country.

He who took Lemnos at one blow, now, halting, waits at Paros.

Bribed!

Death to him!

Death to him!

For whose death do the people call?

Why, for the death of he who stands a head above his fellows.

An thou, old Crispos...

...do you cry for the death of my lord, who freed you from slavery?

Of us two men, one alone may live.

I have three children; he who bids me vote, supports us all.

But you, Tersites? And all of you?

Miltiades drove your enemies from your gates.

What can we do? It is the people's voice.

Who would lose all he has in rash defiance of the raging tide?

Who would risk all he has...

...in rash defiance of the raging tide - and what sort of tide?

The verdict!

The people's verdict!

Death!

All is lost! The enemy is at the gates!

It cannot be.

Our victorious general, Miltiades, put them to flight.

Now he is the enemy. He learned what you have plotted against him.

Seize his wife.

If harm befall our city, she and her son shall die.

Why have you come with men in Armour?

Because my grievous wound forbids me rightly performing my office.

I came to surrender mu authority to the sovereign people and account to them

Valiant friends, I take my leave of you.

I knew that whatever my father does is well done.

Beloved ones.

Death to him!

Why do you hesitate?

You cannot step twice into the same river, for new waters constantly flow.

We exist, and yet we do not exist.

This is an evil world, Miltiades.

Why did you not destroy...

...this nest of crime?

This is an evil world, Miltiades.

Time is a child... playing chess.

A child-king rules.

Cover the child's eyes; he must not see my blood. Away, wife, from me.

I do not curse this craven people. The fault lies not in them...

...since misery has branded them as slaves.

I alone was mad to believe that such people needed liberty.

And now let us mount the scaffold as my punishment.

BYZANTIUM

We exist, and yet we do not exist.

I am a libertine

Byzantium.

Confess your belief

Homoousion or Homoiousion?

I do not understand.

That, too, is heretic.

I do not understand.

Do not admit that. It's the big dispute here.

A curse upon the head of he who has doubts.

Awake, O Lord!

For thy sake we are killed all the day long.

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Awake, why sleepest thou, o Lord?

Arise, cast us not off for ever.

I see as Thomas, yet I doubt.

I shall look into the eyes of this vision.

I shall look into the eyes of this vision.

We Knights of the Holy Sepulchre can find no shelter in this great city.

You have authority.

You have authority. Help us.

My son, I have not now the time for such small things.

I must pass judgment on heretics...

...that grow like noxious weeds, though with fire and sword...

..we root them out...

...yet ever do they come...

...in ever greater numbers, sent by hell.

Forward! Root them out!

Destroy the aged, the women and the children!

"Root them out... the women and the children."

The sin must be abhorrent, to kindle such fierce anger in the Church of Love.

My son, love is not that which flattereth the flesh...

...by that which leadeth back to the soul...

...by the edge of the sword or by flame if need be...

...to Him who said.

"I come not to send peace, but a sword."

These heretics of evil faith proclaim the Homoiousion.

Ye are the great Babylon.

The harlot that Saint John wrote of...

...that shall perish from the surface of the earth.

The seven-headed dragon...

...the Antichrist, base dogs, deceivers, boon companions of the fiend.

Thieves, serpents, gluttons and lewd profligates.

Death is a sacrifice to the glory of God.

You sinful days are numbered.

The cause lives and burns, a glowing flame.

Come, my friends, death shall be glorious.

For thy sake we are killed all the day long.

Why so silent? Does this seem a tragedy?

Take it as a comedy and you will enjoy it.

I saw our faith's lovely flower burgeoning.

What sinner has destroyed it?

Victory...

...that scatters.

Defeat binds close, and on these heretics is laid defeat.

Here, you knights!

I do not know if I should waken you.

How can a body so transfigured be?

Knight, you have saved me: how can I thank you?

And what kind of gratitude do I owe to you?

It seems...

...I once knew your face.

If the knight rescues the maiden, surely the squire rescues her maid.

Though those who chased us were not uncomely.

Lady, where shall I lead you?

The convent is nearby.

Shall this gloomy wall immure you, too?

Yes, but... the key is not hidden in the depths of the ocean.

A pity. I could pen a tragedy upon this sad story.

O lady, give me hope.

O lady, give me hope, not sorrow.

Within convent walls...

Within convent walls, no hope burgeons

Isaura is my name. And yours, knight?

I am Tancred.

I am Tancred.

My lord, if you cannot say farewell I cannot escape "victory" with the maid

Isaura is my name. And yours, knight?

I am Tancred.

Tancred... God be with you.

But am I not forbidden to love thee?

You are happy.

You are happy, but how could I forget you?

Tancred, I must be gone, my strength weakens

God be with you. I shall see your face in heaven

Isaura, do not leave me. The moment was short, even for a dream.

I shall treasure this day.

Faint of heart, must I do everything?

The key is in the window...

...not in the depths of the ocean.

Leave this sacred threshold.

Who are you?

I lie hid within you every embrace, your every kiss.

What is reality here, and what is a dream?

The moon shines bright.

It is evening.

Do you not fear...

...to gaze into the silent night?

That beats of love like a mighty heart.

In which only we are forbidden to love?

Longingly he gazed and trembled.

But virtue and my faith command my heart.

Here shall I die, a holy sacrifice.

A little love affair is no harm.

A tender relationship...

I cannot see the harm in it, done in seemly fashion...

...for women are made not only of spirit

Helen, stands he yet below?

For both of us it would be best if you go.

The world's a ball, it rise and fall, and roll and roll.

Like glass it do ring, a hollow thing, how soon it will spring.

How bright it shines, then declines, so soon repines.

Dear son, I say, keep far away, it is your doomsday.

The lofty skill of science, from all men deeply hidden.

To he who gives it not a glance, to him it is given unbidden.

To he who gives it not a glance, to him it is given unbidden.

Tancred, Isaura.

See.

How mad is this race of yours.

PRAGUE

The moon shines bright. It is evening.

Prague.

Who's warming themselves up yonder?

A heretic/ A witch?

I...know... not.

A...solemn... ceremony...

...in... my... time.

The... entire... court... used... to... attend.

A welcome blaze on a chilly night.

Kepler, draw up my horoscope.

Last night my dreams were evil... and I am afraid.

It shall be done, lord.

A further word.

An ill-rumour concerning you is heard in court.

It's said you hold doctrines new and strange.

And that now, when your mother lies in prison...

...charged with grievous sorcery...

...you will be suspected.

Therefore, my son...

...take heed.

If I am not mistaken there stands a man...

...who bears the dark sign on his face.

My husband? Spare him such suspicion.

He is very ill.

Would that I were thy champion and could cast down my gauntlet to him.

Master, I am happy that we meet

I wish to journey to my estates.

How will the weather be?

And I wish to know which star ruled the birth of my son.

Tomorrow I shall meet your biddings.

Here is the stairway, so madam...

An hour hence. Yonder in the harbour.

Good night, madam.

Dear Johann, it grows late.

Everything is spent.

I must have money.

Not one coin, you have it all.

The ladies of the court scintillate.

I am ashamed to appear with them.

And when a courtier bows...

...to me and smiling vows...

...that I am a queen among them...

...I blush for you, that you permit a queen to appear in such mean attire.

I betray my knowledge for your sake and compose futile horoscopes.

I conceal what my soul has devined.

All this in order to please you.

But the emperor's treasure is empty...

...dues are slowly paid, ask how you will.

What I gain tomorrow, you shall have.

You reproach me for your sacrifices for me. Have I given nought for you?

I, a daughter of noble house, enjoined my future to your doubtful rank.

Did you not rise because of me?

Woman, how infinitely I loved you.

If I could part from you I might find more peace...

...and you might find more happiness.

But we are bound by law and custom and the church.

Together we must endure, until the grave absolves us.

Johann, I did not want to cause you grief...

...but see the wonder of the court...

...the ladies so proud and haughty.

No ill feelings between us.

Good night.

Hey, famulus!

Do not forget the money tomorrow.

You called, master?

A horoscope and a weather prophecy must be drawn up.

Prepare them.

Everything must glitter, for who would pay money to learn the truth?

Yet they should not be far-fetched.

Perhaps I could not make such prophecy.

Every babe is a Messiah.

A bright, rising star to the family...

...who in time grows into the usual impertinent person.

I have waited here so long, my cruel one.

What sacrifice is too great for you to make?

The rigour of a cold night? Yet I deceive a gentle husband.

My cruel one! My cruel one!

I cannot understand.

Hey, famulus!

Bring wine, I am cold.

The world is icy.

I must fire my soul.

In this dwarfish age this is the way to become enthused.

It is night.

Will there be an age...

...to confront the lumber of the past...

...and shrink not from great means...

...unafraid of uttering the secret word?

The word like an overwhelming avalanche...

...advancing on its fateful path...

...even shaking off he who uttered it.

I hear the anthem...

...of the age to come

I have found the word...

...that makes this old earth young.

Equality.

Fraternity.

Liberty.

PARIS

Equality.

Fraternity.

Liberty.

Death to him...

...who does not avow it!

Eleven armies defend our frontiers.

Incessantly our valiant youth...

...refilles the ranks of our slain heroes.

Who says that bloodthirsty madness shall decimate the nation?

Who says that bloodthirsty madness...

...shall decimate...

Madness. Who says?

Me!

And even if we shall soak our hands in blood...

...let others call us monsters.

What do I care? Only that our country be great and free.

Give us but arms and a leader!

You are in rags, barefooted, yet you will win all with the bayonet.

You shall conquer! The people is invincible!

In rags, barefooted, you shall conquer! The people is invincible.

One...

...of our generals...

...has paid...

...with his blood.

At the head of our soldiers he allowed himself to be vanquished.

Traitor!

Spoken truly.

A man who has people's sacred treasure in his charge...

...and with it cannot overcome the world...

...is a traitor.

Citizen, put me in his place. I shall wipe out...

...this disgrace.

We exist, and yet we do not exist.

Your confidence, friend, merits praise.

Yet you must make good your words upon the field of battle.

Merits praise.

Once more I ask you, citizen.

Patience, you shall reach your goal.

I see you do not trust me.

You shall learn...

...to have more respect for me, citizen.

I feel sorry for him. He deserved death by an enemy bullet.

Bear his body hence.

Life, death, past and present...

...naught but marionettes.

And if their strings...

...are broken...

...they are but lifeless rags.

Again we bring two aristocrats.

Haughty, fine-linened, proof enough of their guilt.

A noble pair. Come and speak with me.

I do not know why my heart is drawn to you.

I shall save you.

No, Danton, you will betray your country if we are guilty.

If we are not guilty, we reject vain clemency.

Who speaks to Danton thus?

I am a marquis.

Do you not know there is no rank other than citizen?

I had not heard that my souvereign had annulled the titles of nobility.

If we are guilty and you spare us, you betray your country.

But if we are not guilty we reject vain clemency.

Even the guillotine has ears here.

Why rush wildly to death?

And do you deem this lofty privilege befits you alone, people's men?

So you defy me.

I'll defy you.

I'll save you, despite yourself.

Take him to my lodging. Guard him well.

Be strong, brother

God save you, sister.

Here is a head no worse than that of Roland.

Not such bitter words from such tender lips.

The priests did not mock the garlanded beast on its way to sacrifice.

Know you...

...that I am myself the sacrifice.

And I wait for the moment when my turn comes.

Amidst this bloodshed, I am tormented by solitude...

...and I conjecture how it would be to be in love.

In this dread world you yet yearn for love?

Those who sit on thrones have hearts that beat, too, so why not love?

Are you not a woman? And I a man?

We can never understand each other.

No one has ever seen the heart of Danton melt.

And behold he who is lashed by fate...

...pauses now upon the scaffold, aflame for a young girl...

...and tears burn his eyes.

This ring I give you for the nation's good.

A villain pressed it into my hands...

...when my blade was at the scoundrel's throat.

He thought us to be robbers.

Do you still live?

Ah, life, how sweet, how nice to live.

Follow your brother, girl.

It is the end.

Fate, who can vanquish you?

Behold this plotter's head.

He would have killed you. By my hand he died.

I claim my reward.

Great man, pass a night with me.

How sweet, how beautiful.

You are a man and I am a young woman.

My admiration leads me here to you.

This delusion is unbearable.

Yet what a wondrous likeness.

What are you murmuring to yourself?

I shall not have as many nights...

...as there are traitors still at liberty.

Name the traitors!

How can he? He is the chief amongst them

Saint-Just, how dare you accuse me?

Do you not know how strong I am?

Your strength was the people.

But the people know you now and they will ratify

...the Convention's sentence.

I acknowledge no other judge but the people.

The people are my friends.

I am certain of that.

The sovereign people now shall be your judge.

I charge you, traitor, at the people's court.

You have misused the monies of the state.

You have shown sympathy to aristocrats.

You have sought to rule as a tyrant.

Saint-Just, beware, my words shall min you.

A false charge.

Why let him speak? His tongue is as practiced as a serpent's.

Arrest him in the name of liberty.

There will be no beheading this time.

LONDON

There will be no beheading this time.

As flies to wanton boys...

...are we to th' gods.

They kill us for their sport.

They kill us for their sport.

Why take this good place?

You bad egg.

Only a man tired of life, who hangs himself, gives the crowd a free show.

Alack, sir, he is mad.

'Tis the time's plague when madmen lead the blind.

Bless thy sweet eyes.

They bleed.

Come buy my sweet violets.

Come buy my sweet violets.

To put into the hands of my dead child.

The fairest jewel for my long, dark hair.

Come, gentlemen, buy my sweet violets.

The impertinent creature competes with us.

But only the priceless pearl befits a slender neck.

The flea had the first of stations, a minister's star and name.

Come, this is what I have long sought.

Here we may take our pleasure Ar our ease.

Everything is beautiful, good and rightful.

Masters, yesterday is over and gone.

The king of hearts is lost.

Tomorrow never comes.

The Lord...

The Lord feeds the birds.

Where's the ace of diamonds?

All is vanity, said the bible.

The flea had the first of stations.

A minister's star and name.

Machines are the work of the devil, taking bread from workers' mouths.

Take no notice, as long as there's still drink.

With a little wit and a big mouth they whirl...

...in tight circles, like kittens chasing their tails.

Is this an exit or an entrance?

And what is death?

I beg you, by the sacred wounds of Christ, give alms to the suffering...

...kind sir.

She comes from the church. How fair!

I fly towards you, pleasure!

Thus speaks a woodpecker that finds a grub...

...and with jealous eyes marks the tasty bit and vows it's the best food on earth.

Two farthings for your future. Habakuk, fortune-teller mouse, tells your fate.

Step this way, my beauty.

Don't believe him, his scales are rigged and his merchandise is stale.

Step this way, my beauty.

As flies to wanton boys...

...are we to th' gods.

They kill us for their sports.

Give me thy arm.

There is a cliff...

...whose high and bending head looks fearfully in the confined deep.

That girl knew a thing or two.

When Adam was calling her his darling.

Eve knew that kissing was through

Arthur, you are good to remember me.

Why haven't we seen you for so long?

Let me accompany you.

You may get hurt in this pushing and shoving.

You're the pushy one.

Do you think my daughter can be courted by just anyone?

I have always dreamt of her.

Dream as you please.

Just as you please.

Dream your dream into this dream of a girl.

Dream Eve in herself.

Alloë. Hallo, Eve, Evoë.

Wonder of the earth, sweetest maiden.

Show me your lily-white hand.

Let me see destiny's gifts for you.

How do the Fates spin your thread of happiness?

I see a handsome fiancé, very near.

Fair children, health and wealth.

Away, or I'll cal the police!

Let him be, he's done no wrong.

May I never be saved if I tell a lie.

He burns with love of you.

You will be a fine lady, richly lodged.

And drive in coach and four to balls and theaters.

A fairing you might buy me.

There was a rat in a cellar nest.

Plump on fat and butter.

He had a paunch beneath his chest.

Like that of Doctor Luther.

The cook laid poison cunningly.

And then so sore oppressed was he.

As if...

...he had love in his belly.

As if he had love in his belly.

All these beatifications offer themselves.

Tonight around seven I'll doll myself up. I shall wear my laced dress.

Let's get over the first sin, as it was written in the Bible.

Perhaps you will buy me as a fairing...

...the beatifications that offer themselves.

The magic spell of woman in your face is your unsurpassed beautification.

I happen to have a rare jewel.

How lovely, how adorable.

All eyes shall envy me.

But let me see that heart no more

I'll throw it away, if you don't like it.

Then came Ferko, Luciferko, with a tricky apple tree.

And the devil there on earth shouted:

"Adam wants Eve and Eve wants an apple. Eve has a fig-leaf for a shift"

I'll throw it away, if you don't like it.

But the fig-leaf had not gone and Lucifer ran way. Eve shed a tear

Adam asked Eve what was wrong. Nothing at all, she said.

A hanging!

A hanging!

A hanging! We're lucky to see it.

Let us go, too. The sight excites me.

And it is time I wore my sparkling jewels.

Let us go. The sight excites me.

Alms for the needy, kind sirs.

For God's sake!

By the sacred wounds of Christ

I'll lay my blossoms on this shrine.

Alms for the needy.

Aren't you bored?

By the sacred wounds of Christ.

Be not so heedless. Thou shalt have richer treasures.

They should be here somewhere. They paid me in false coin!

Adam, let us go away. It is unwise to seek pleasure here.

Crib and coffin are but one.

The coffin ends the day the crib began.

If now the hungry grave begins to yawn.

The corpse will rise with tomorrow's dawn.

The angelus chimes.

Is your work done? Then rest.

Those resurrected by the chimes.

Begin again the great work of life.

My blossoms sold, soon on my tomb fresh violets will arise and bloom.

All wondered what their fate would be.

Now they close their eyes, so not to see.

Ended is the week, the toil and the stress.

Now I rest from all its weariness.

Awaking from my dream was pain, come, sweet dream, return again.

Passion dies, the face grows drawn and old.

Will it be, below, so drear and cold?

Each would have the other think him wise.

Now all see the truth with startled eyes.

We good children...

...obeyed mother death.

As in the family home we have eternal peace.

We have our rest in mortality.

Entertaining...

...ourselves...

...timelessly.

Did I dream, or am I dreaming now?

I stand upon the cliff - below lie the depths.

Just one jump...

...and the comedy will be at an end.

An end, an end.

What foolish talk

Adam, why did you steal away?

I fear you4.

Why did you not sleep on awhile?

Now it will be harder.

If you would hear, perhaps it will be easier.

I am to be the mother of our child, Adam.

Lord, you have conquered. I kneel in the dust.

Raise me or strike me down. I bare my breast.

Arise, Adam.

Be no more cast down.

For I have restored thee to my grace.

A family idyll seems in prospect.

I better slip away.

Lucifer, I have a word to tell thee. Remain.

Lord, dread visions have tormented me.

I do not know their truth. Tell me what fate awaits me.

Is this brief span all I have?

Shall my kind progress, or like cattle in the treadmill stay within the circle?

Shall my kind progress...

or like cattle in the treadmill stay within the circle?

A beast that never breaks the circle that it treads.

Enlighten me, for this uncertainty...

...is hell.

Why did I strive to achieve greatness in man...

...who is moulded of sunlight and dust...

...in knowledge a pigmy, in blindness a giant?

Freely to chose between good and evil, how great the thought revealed.

And yet to know that God's mercy protects us as a child.

My heart knows the meaning of the song.

I suspect its meaning, too: let it be my guide.

But the end... if I could only forget that.

Strive on, man.

Have faith and trust.

Have faith and trust.

Strive on, man, have faith and trust.

Directed by Andras Jeles.

Photographed by Sandor Kardos.

Sets and costumes by Atilla Kovacs.

Music by Istvan Martha