Original subtitles

MERRY-GO-ROUND

Based on a novel by

Screenplay

Music

Director of photography

Starring

A film by Zoltan Fabri

It happened in the autumn of 1953...

Who's got a ball? Give me one! You are very kind.

Watch it carefully. I'll place it on this stick.

Step back a little. Very good.

ESTRADE CIRCUS

Estrade...

Father! What does Estrade mean?

God only knows...

Somebody's probably found a new abbreviation.

Somebody's come up with something again.

I did it!

Look...

how am I doing it?

Like this!

It's for you, Mari.

Thank you, Sandor.

My dear child, you shouldn't have. It's too expensive.

Don't exaggerate! There isn't a fair every day.

Eszti! Kati! Wait! Wait!

Here. A small gift for doing a great job.

- Here, here, here. - Thank you!

Hey, Mate!

Not like that!

Give it to me, Eszti!

Excuse me!

Doctor David!

- Comrade David! - Mate!

I haven't seen you in ages.

How have you been doing since you moved?

Aren't you a doctor any more?

Sure. I'm a research doctor in Budapest.

A researcher? Really?

- And what do you research? - Mate!

- Have lunch with us! - Gladly.

This is a fine one with nickel fittings

for 3,200 forints, but I have prettier ones.

This one with a Hungarian band

and with lace trimming goes for 4,800 forints.

Haven't you got anything cheaper?

Surely.

There's this one for 2,400!

Well, goodbye.

Erzsi!

What a surprise! You came, too!

How are you, brother-in-law?

Let me see... Show yourself!

You are a lady now, darling!

Sandor Farkas.

Do you need that to make yourself heard at home?

Funny!

It's for my grandson.

To make him happy.

- Do you want a harness? - Yes.

But looking at the prices, they are not for sale.

You have become chairman of the co-operative?

Well, no.

I'm going to leave it.

Go away!

Well, four fried fish...

Six, six, six paprika fish...

- For you, fried fish... - No, paprika fish for me.

The fried fish is for me.

Fish soup and fried fish for me!

It's not possible like this, please, ladies and gentlemen.

Quiet!

Why are you shouting?

Put your hands up. How many fish soups?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...

And paprika fish?

1, 2, 3, 4...

Fried fish?

1,2, 3,4, 5, 6.

Alright?

We'll see...

So you do research on the adrenal gland?

Tell me about it!

How can I explain it to you?

It has a lot of functions... around fifty.

We don't know all of them but...

And where is it exactly? Next to the kidney?

Do you know why he's so interested in the kidney?

Why?

He wants to have four.

- Four kidneys? - Yes.

A right kidney, a left kidney,

a woman with kids on her knee, and a woman for kidding...

What can I bring you?

- Two beers. - Two beers.

- One for me, too. - Three beers.

Two fish-soups and a spritzer.

And amongst these fifty functions,

is there one which makes the pigs fatter?

Probably.

Then why do you experiment on dogs?

Who's interested in dogs?

The co-operative is full of busybodies

who know it all better.

I prefer to be my own master.

I'm fed up with it. That's the truth.

Everybody knows...

I worked as if it was my own land.

Yet, at the end of the year, I hardly earned more...

than those who didn't work at all.

Yes, yes.

They are very crafty.

God is my witness, there is a lot of favoritism, too.

They wanted him to be chairman...

but he refused.

He won't worry about other people's troubles.

That's what he said.

A shame I have to come here, me, Sandor Farkas

with 30 forints in my pocket.

I've been my own master since boyhood.

I'll get my 8 acres back.

And start again on my own.

No one will tell me what I can do.

That's right.

My angel,

come back from your long journey...

There's no concealing love

The love I feel is bigger than the sea.

I am lonelier than a dead leaf.

Marika!

Watch out, Mate!

We'll get on alone...

Without them.

As before.

- Am I right, brother-in-law? - Of course!

What about you?

- When will you? - Will do what?

Leave the co-operative. Or have you left already?

We?

No... We won't.

We're quite well there.

As advance payment

we got 25 quintals of wheat, corn, rice and sugar...

money and a discount.

We reckon 30,000 forints or even more.

How are you, uncle Pataki! Hello, Mari!

Hello there!

Janos! Wait!

What?

Come, Sandor!

So you'll stay in the co-operative?

Of course.

LIFE IS BETTER TOGETHER

How do you do, Mrs. Pataki.

Let Mari come with us!

Mother, just for a little while...

But how will we find you?

You know that your father doesn't like it...

- Just for a while... - Mother...

We won't go far away.

Okay, but don't stay long!

Of course!

Make a knot, Eszti!

Marika!

Do you dare to come with me?

I do!

Not so fast, Mate!

Don't be afraid! It's so lovely to fly!

Mate!

Mari!

We're flying, Mari!

Mari!

It's for you.

Thank you, Mate. If you happen to pass by...

Mari!

Goodbye, Mate!

You're not to go again

with that fellow and his gang...

I'm fed up with them. You should be, too.

Understand?!

Get down!

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Your father isn't back yet?

You weren't with him?

He must be with the committee, that's why he's late.

Well, it's done.

It's definitive. We left the co-operative.

Now, it's all up to us.

I want to live with you, you know it.

Do you know? Answer me!

Leave the milk for a moment!

You see? We're on the same path.

I see.

But where are we going? I don't see that.

Listen...

I'm very strong...

Even if they hurt me,

with me by your side,

I can defend you from anybody

and anything.

It's you that I want.

Leave me alone! Or I'll scream! I'll tell my father!

I just came to tell him.

- My darling... - No!

Leave me alone! What are you doing?

I'm glad to hear it, my son.

God bless both of you!

That's true, I've known you since childhood.

You're a respectable man, no gossip about you.

For whoever...

Whoever wants to be respected in our village...

shouldn't give cause for reproach.

All right.

Now, we have to work arm in arm.

Don't forget, all eyes are on us.

On me...

And now on you, too.

Wait till February for the wedding.

Then we'll see whether we can have a real wedding,

or we will just celebrate at home.

My sweet little daughter...

My little bunny.

You see, I was 18 years old,

just like you,

when your father proposed.

Good Lord!

Nearly 20 years ago!

That's a woman's fate.

And so it will be forever.

I cried, too, very hard.

Why was I born to be a woman...?

But then I shut up.

I ought to thank Heaven for getting such a good husband.

For he's strong...

and with him we had no fear

of not getting our daily bread.

You see, that's why I trust Sandor.

He's the same.

- The same? - The same.

One can see it.

My child, don't believe the smooth-talkers

and the jokers.

They'll make bad farmers.

That's the truth, my daughter.

Earning a living is the important thing.

Twice a week...

we can make around 80, even 100 forints

selling goods in the marketplace...

Mari and her mother will do it.

Milk and sour cream always bring in good money.

And eggs, too.

First we must buy a horse.

Fodder...

and fodder.

We won't get back the alfalfa field.

Good evening!

I was just passing by, I thought I would say hello.

Just as well. Have a seat.

The men are in. Did you come to see them?

I came for no particular reason.

Who's that?

Good evening, uncle Pataki.

Wait, there's a guest.

I was just passing by... I thought I would come in and say hello...

I won't say you are bothering us.

But we are sort of celebrating...

an engagement.

In the family circle.

Here's the bridegroom and here's the bride.

Don't blush, everybody must go through that.

I see.

Yes, Mate.

You're in the co-operative. We've left.

We have nothing more to say to each other.

Good luck then.

Good night.

Mari!

Where are you going?

I'm taking my father's lunch to him.

Get on!

What's he doing at the co-operative?

You know why.

Asking for his land back.

I know.

He wants the best pieces of land.

You've got taller since the last time I saw you.

Do you sell a lot in the market?

- It varies. - What about today? Nothing?

Nothing today.

Then how will you save for your trousseau?

That's why you are going every morning to the market in Debrecen.

Is that why you're giving me a lift?

Will you come to Ilus's wedding?

When will yours be?

I don't know. That's my father's business.

Mari, listen!

This is no good.

I... I love you.

Only you, no one else.

I need you.

Well, I've said it now.

You are not answering?

No, Mate.

No, Mate, you know we mustn't speak about this.

Mustn't we?

Well then...

Gee! Damn it!

That's way out of line!

I brought in one acre of alfalfa and you won't return it.

And for my best horse,

you offer only 2,500 forints!

I brought in my 11 acres without any debt,

and got it back with 4,000 forints of debt

incurred by others!

And by you!

I worked honestly!

Good morning.

The lunch.

Put it on the stove to heat it up.

I'll bring the pot home.

Listen, Istvan.

We don't want you to suffer...

But you don't want 350 people to lose...

do you?

"Whoever wants to leave the co-operative can do so."

But you won't let me!

You want to make it harder,

and take revenge on me!

Give me those 20 acres of field!

Which?

The field ploughed by Mate Bir�'s brigade.

It's not just for me... but for Peter Balog,

for Istvan Molnar and for Sandor Farkas, too.

It's our field,

we toiled it, ploughed it for twenty years!

It doesn't belong to us?

We don't need those wretched co-operative fields

that haven't been taken care of!

Don't insult the co-operative!

I'm not insulting it.

Show me three members of the co-operative

who work as hard as I did!

I for one!

Show me two more!

Don't think, Istvan,

that I will parcel out the co-operative's land

into three or four parts because of you!

But goddammit, I should have my land in five parts?!

I brought it in in two parts...

I want it back in two!

You should only shout at home, comrade.

What did you say?

At home. This is our co-operative...

and you're only a guest here.

You should say thank you instead.

I'll be a guest

when everyone gets back his land!

The co-operative is no joke,

you can't change your mind every hour.

We sowed those 20 acres with autumn barley,

using a new method

no one has tried before.

I won't give those 20 acres to anybody!

I've come to talk with the committee

and not with insolent kids.

Listen!

Goddammit!

It's true, you have no right to be here.

You're not a committee member.

Mind your own business!

You'd better shut up!

If you and the other leaders worked better,

if our leaders weren't so biased and sluggish,

men like Pataki and others would join now

and not leave!

All right. But go now!

Are you still here?

TaNCSICS CO-OPERATIVE PET?FI BRIGADE

I'll come with you, Mari.

If you've nothing to do...

I don't.

Nothing more important.

This mud!

Do you like this kind of life?

Stuck in the mud!

- Why do you speak like this? - You've chosen this life.

Isn't that true?

Haggling in the market to amass a fortune.

To save up money.

You think you will make a fortune? Never!

It'll make life better.

A muddy life! That's what you prefer.

No one can tell the peasants

to trample in mud forever.

Whoever would dare to oblige me,

I'd beat him to death!

I'll make a proper living...

for myself and for us all.

I'll do it!

Mari...

My little Mari...

My darling...

I love you so much!

That's why I'm shouting at you!

Why does it have to be like this?

Tell me, what can I do?

If you asked me,

I'd give you the moon if I could.

But I can't live without you.

You see, Mate...

We have chosen different paths.

I mean, my parents...

I don't care about your parents!

Say you love me...

and everything's alright.

Won't you say it?

I won't.

Why? Tell me why!

I cannot help it. Leave me alone.

We can't change our fate.

I will decide what will happen to us!

Whatever I want! Do you understand?

Even if the world comes crashing down! Do you understand?

Mari...

My little Mari...

How could we live without each other?

I can only die without you!

Let me go, Mate!

Don't come with me!

My parents will see us.

I don't care! I'll go and see him and tell him...

Don't!

Please, Mate...

Leave me alone or he'll hurt me.

Go on! It'll be midnight soon.

What's happening?

- The bride is for sale! - I'll buy her!

Let's dance with her before she becomes a wife!

Where's the bride's mother?

There she is!

What are you waiting for?

When a girl grows into a woman,

She piles her hair into a high bun

A bun admired by more than one

Who are also jealous of her good man.

A bun admired by more than one...

Mari!

Look at me, Marika!

Are you having a good time?

All right.

Now it's my turn!

A generous man.

He climbed up the willow-tree

Up to the tallest branch

But be it here or there

Nothing was ever good

No one was ever good save one person: the wife of another man.

But be it here or there

Nothing was ever good enough...

We cannot come back from so long a journey

No more than I can conceal the love I feel...

Mari!

Have you gone mad?

You'll be gossiped about...

Your father would kill you! Come at once!

Now my favourite tune!

This is how it begins:

The wilting flower

of the locust tree whispers...

We cannot come back

From so long a journey

No more than I can conceal

the love I feel...

the love I feel...

is bigger than

the sea...

Mari! Listen!

Look at me!

Why don't you smile a little bit?

You see? It's easy.

For this brown haired girl can have fun.

Don't make trouble, Mate!

Very well.

Then I'll ask her myself.

Mate!

Mari, we'll soon dance at our own wedding.

May I?

Sandor!

Come here!

Have a drink with us, son.

Take whichever you like.

Tonight I'll only dance with you.

Not even with the bride?

No! And you'll only dance with me.

And if somebody asks me?

- May I? - Wait for your turn, my lad!

Don't do that with others, Mate!

With whom?

- Your bridegroom?! - Mate!

Mate, please! Don't make a scene!

I won't ever give you to him!

Never! You understand?

Your leg was broken?

Yes, all over.

I broke my ankle,

but I didn't know it then.

The third day, I went to the horse market.

With your broken leg?

Of course! I told them to put me in the cart.

- My god, Mate! - Play it faster, uncle Pali!

Another song, uncle Pali!

The cottage is burning The reed is crackling

For a dance This brunette I am asking

As I hold her in my arms

It is the blonde one that I miss.

Go and change out of your clothes, my girl!

I came to my senses only in the hospital in Debrecen.

It was my godfather who took me there.

There, they fixed it.

I was there for three weeks,

then they brought me home in the cart.

We couldn't pay the hospital fees...

So our two cows were auctioned.

Luckily we'd already sold our horse at the market.

Happy old days!

Young people like you...

We're flying, Mari!

May I?

I asked for a dance!

That's enough!

- Don't spoil others' happiness! - Play something fast!

There's no woman in Szentes like Mrs. T?ri.

Put on your coat and let's go!

We'll meet another time, you can be sure of that.

I am not afraid.

- I don't want anything from you. - It's lucky you don't...

If you did you'd be in trouble!

You aren't a match for me.

What shame! My God, what shame!

Why did you let him?

Give me the water!

To do such a thing in your bridegroom's presence!

He isn't my bridegroom!

I don't want him!

You arranged it

without asking me!

Because my opinion doesn't count at all!

You'd buy and sell me...

if I let you!

You see? Now you have provoked your father.

Father!

You can pretend not to hear me...

Never mind.

You want another one?!

You have to know that I won't marry Sandor Farkas!

You can beat me to death!

Beat me to death, drive me away,

strike me dead with your axe, but I won't!

But if you touch me once more, you'll never see me again!

Don't be a fool! What are you doing?

Where could you go? Take this off!

All right.

You won't marry him.

After all, he wants you and not me.

But good Lord! Why say it now?

Now that we've bought and made everything together with him!

Now God himself can't figure out

what I owe him and what he owes me!

You don't know what it is to start your life over.

It isn't just:

"I will marry him / I won't!"

But goddammit,

don't upset my plans again,

or I will kill you!

Land marries into land!

We all know that's the law.

Now go to sleep!

You should come, too, my love.

I've told you: go to sleep!

Listen, Missy!

It's you I'm talking to!

- I'm listening. - Leave her alone.

- She's suffered enough! - Shut up!

Don't make this sad face!

What do you want? Set fire to the house?

Tell me and let's do it together!

Let it all burn down and we can go and beg!

You went crazy in the co-operative.

You spent the whole time giggling in that brigade.

That's normal for a while...

But you aren't a child any more. Be reasonable!

It can't be any other way. There's no other solution.

The law of the land is stronger than love.

Understand?

Understand?

Do you hear me?

If it can't be any other way,

let's set fire to the house.

You...

lstvan!

Come here!

- I've told you already... - You stand before your father!

Watch it...

If you touch me...

Istvan! Istvan!

Mari!

Mari!

Stop!

Where are you going?

Away.

- Where? - Away from here.

Just away.

But why?

Because nothing happened last night, right?

Nor this morning?!

Listen, Mate...

Let me ask you something.

Go and don't turn back.

Because you'll never see me again.

I'm like a homeless dog.

I can't bear it.

So I'll go away. I won't trouble anyone.

This isn't a life, just suffering.

Even you can only hurt me!

Why don't you go?!

Mate!

Mate, darling! What about us?

I took you for the sort of man...

one can rely on...

to stake one's life, money and honour on!

Everything!

Why do you treat me like this?

The girl went crazy.

Are you joking?

After all, you're her father!

What do you mean by crazy?

If she went crazy,

I, too, am allowed to go crazy when my land remains barren!

Why did you convince me if you were not sure?!

Now I have to fight through another long year!

Wait throughout summer, throughout autumn, all alone!

Till next winter or who knows?

With my land cut to pieces, I'm finished.

But I won't stand for it!

I'll sue you if you don't put it right.

- I swear to you! - Are you arguing with me?

You want me to help you into my daughter's bed?

Should I also teach you how to keep your fiancee?

Good afternoon.

I'd like to talk to you, Mister Pataki...

but in private.

Do you milk at noon?

Yes.

Then go.

You can let them walk by without saying a word?

Mister Pataki!

I'm marrying Mari.

It's your business.

Yes, it is.

One's life is one's own business.

Nobody can interfere.

Our life, Mart's and mine,

won't be like this.

No.

It will be completely different.

But you can't be angry with us for this forever.

Istvan!

What's happened?

What?

Nothing.

And the land... and the horse?

My darling!

My sweet darling!

Mate!

THE END