All language subtitles for The Shop Around the Corner (1940).DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.WB

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. PIROVITCH.

GOOD MORNING.

ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE, HUH?

IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

AND LET ME TELL YOU,

IT DOESN'T HURT TO BE TOO EARLY.

WHAT FOR? AND WHY?
WHO SEES YOU? ME.

AND WHO SEES ME? YOU.
WHAT DOES IT GET US?

CAN WE GIVE EACH
OTHER A RAISE? NO.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH THAT BICYCLE?

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO TAKE THAT HOME.

BETTER NOT LET
MR. MATUSCHEK SEE IT.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL HIM?
IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE
I WAS LAST NIGHT

WHILE YOU WERE HOME
SOAKING YOUR FEET

IN HOT WATER?

RUNNING MY LEGS OFF
FOR MRS. MATUSCHEK.

"PEPI, GO TO THE DRESSMAKER."

THEN WHEN I COME BACK,

"PEPI, WILL YOU PLEASE
PICK UP A PACKAGE

AT THE DRUGSTORE?"

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MISS KACZEK.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW'S YOUR LITTLE BOY?

MUCH BETTER, THANKS.
WE CALLED DR. HAGEDUS.

OH, HE'S A VERY
EXPENSIVE DOCTOR.

WELL, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

I THOUGHT I'D CUT
DOWN ON MY CIGARS

FOR A FEW WEEKS.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

OH, THAT'S A NEW
SILVER FOX. IT'S STUNNING.

OH, THANK YOU.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN
PRETTY EXPENSIVE.

IT WAS. I HESITATED A LONG TIME

BEFORE I BOUGHT IT.

I SAID, "NO, I CAN'T AFFORD IT."

AND STILL I COULDN'T
TAKE MY EYES OFF IT.

AND THEN I SAID, "NO, I
HAVE NO RIGHT TO IT..."

THEN HE SAID, "AW,
GO ON AND TAKE IT."

OH, TRYING TO BE CLEVER.

GOOD MORNING.

PEPI, WILL YOU GO
OVER TO THE DRUGSTORE

AND GET ME A
BICARBONATE OF SODA?

WHAT'S THE MATTER, KRALIK?

DON'T YOU FEEL WELL?

IT'S ALL RIGHT. I
JUST HAVE A LITTLE...

GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING,
GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING.

All: MORNING.

WANT TO HEAR A JOKE?

NO. NO.

WHAT'S THE MATTER,
FOLKS, NOT AWAKE YET?

LOOK AT ME.

I BET I HAVEN'T SLEPT
HALF AS MUCH AS YOU.

FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN...

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

I HAD QUITE A TIME LAST NIGHT.

WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR
THE POOR GIRL'S NAME.

KRALIK, HOW WAS THE
DINNER LAST NIGHT?

OH, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

MR. KRALIK HAD DINNER
WITH THE BOSS LAST NIGHT.

WELL, WELL, WELL, HOW WAS IT?

TELL US ALL ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU A PARTNER
NOW, MR. KRALIK?

DON'T BE FUNNY.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

WELL, IT WAS A
VERY NICE EVENING,

AND I ENJOYED MYSELF.

I BET THE FOOD WAS GOOD.

WELL, YOU CAN IMAGINE.

IS IT TRUE MRS. MATUSCHEK
HAD HER FACE LIFTED?

HOW CAN I KNOW THAT?

HOW OLD DID SHE LOOK
TO YOU LAST NIGHT?

WELL, 40.

SHE HAD HER FACE LIFTED.

I THINK MRS. MATUSCHEK
IS A VERY CHARMING WOMAN.

WHO SAID SHE ISN'T?

AND DON'T YOU TRY TO MAKE
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.

I DIDN'T SAY MRS.
MATUSCHEK IS NOT CHARMING.

BUT I SAID SHE IS CHARMING.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

SO THE FOOD WAS GOOD.

7 COURSES,

NOT INCLUDING THE
HORS D'OEUVRES.

I BET YOU WERE SITTING
NEXT TO MRS. MATUSCHEK.

YES, I WAS. WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF THAT?

BET YOU WERE BRILLIANT.

NO, I JUST KEPT STILL AND
TRIED TO LEARN SOMETHING.

HERE'S YOUR
BICARBONATE, MR. KRALIK.

BICARBONATE? AREN'T YOU...

I HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH
GOOSE LIVER LAST NIGHT.

I SEE. WHAT'S THE MATTER,
WASN'T IT ANY GOOD?

NOW, LOOK HERE, VADAS.
NOW, JUST A MINUTE...

FOLKS, COME OVER... DID
YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID?

I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS.

DID I MAKE ANY DEROGATORY REMARK

ABOUT THE GOOSE LIVER?

NO. NO.

I MERELY SAID THAT I HAD
TOO MUCH GOOSE LIVER.

A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S CORRECT.

A LITTLE TOO MUCH GOOSE LIVER.

NOT ONE WORD MORE

AND NOT ONE WORD LESS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD MORNING. HERE.

All: GOOD MORNING,
MR. MATUSCHEK.

WHO PUT THIS 32.50
SUITCASE IN THE WINDOW?

I DID, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I GUESS IT'S ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MATUSCHEK.

PEPI.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK?

GO ACROSS THE STREET
TO THE DRUGSTORE

AND GET ME SOME
BICARBONATE OF SODA.

YES, SIR.

ALLOW ME, MR. MATUSCHEK.

THERE WE ARE, MR. MATUSCHEK.

FERENCZ.

HMM?

WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING NICE?

YES. WHAT IS IT?

A LETTER FROM A GIRL.

OH.

"MY HEART WAS TREMBLING

"AS I WALKED INTO
THE POST OFFICE,

"AND THERE YOU
WERE LYING IN BOX 237.

"I TOOK YOU OUT OF YOUR ENVELOPE

"AND READ YOU, READ
YOU, RIGHT THERE...

OH, MY DEAR FRIEND."

WHAT IS ALL THIS?

YOU SEE, I WANTED TO
BUY AN ENCYCLOPEDIA.

AN ENCYCLOPEDIA? WHAT
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU COME TO A TIME IN YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU GET TIRED
OF GOING TO CAFES,

DANCE HALLS EVERY NIGHT,

AND YOU WANT TO
IMPROVE YOURSELF.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU WANT TO STUDY

SOMETHING ABOUT ART

AND LITERATURE AND HISTORY.

HOW PEOPLE LIVE IN BRAZIL.

TELL ME, WHAT HAS ALL
THIS TO DO WITH THE LETTER?

WELL, YOU KNOW I CAN'T
AFFORD A NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA,

SO I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE ADS

IN THE SUNDAY PAPER, AND
I GOT ON THE WRONG PAGE,

AND I CAME ACROSS THIS AD.

AND IT... WAIT A MINUTE.
I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.

READ THAT.

"MODERN GIRL WISHES
TO CORRESPOND

"ON CULTURAL
SUBJECTS ANONYMOUSLY

"WITH INTELLIGENT,
SYMPATHETIC YOUNG MAN.

ADDRESS... DEAR FRIEND,
POST OFFICE 15, BOX 237."

I KNOW THOSE ADS. THE
PAPERS ARE FULL OF THEM.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN GOING ON?

WELL, WE'VE EXCHANGED 4 LETTERS.

4 LETTERS.

AND SHE'S NO
ORDINARY GIRL, EITHER.

NOW, LISTEN TO THIS.

"ARE YOU TALL? ARE YOU SHORT?

"ARE YOUR EYES BLUE?
ARE THEY BROWN?

"DON'T TELL ME.

"WHAT DOES IT MATTER

SO LONG AS OUR MINDS MEET?"

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS, ISN'T IT?

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

"WE HAVE ENOUGH
TROUBLES IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

"THERE ARE SO MANY
GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS

"TO DISCUSS IN THIS
WORLD OF OURS,

"IT WOULD BE WASTING
THESE PRECIOUS MOMENTS

"IF WE TOLD EACH OTHER
THE VULGAR DETAILS

"OF HOW WE EARN OUR DAILY BREAD.

SO DON'T LET'S DO IT."

MR. KRALIK!

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I CAN BUY 2 DOZEN OF
THESE CIGARETTE BOXES

AT MIKLOS BROTHERS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF IT? I THINK IT'S GREAT.

WELL, OPEN IT.

NO, MR. MATUSCHEK,
IT'S NOT FOR US.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T LISTENED TO IT.

IT PLAYS OCHI TCHORNYA.

WELL, EVEN IF IT PLAYED

BEETHOVEN'S NINTH SYMPHONY,

I'D STILL SAY NO.

NO, I JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA.

IT'S WONDERFUL THE WAY YOU
CAN MAKE UP YOUR MIND SO QUICKLY.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS
BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS.

IT TOOK ME A WHOLE HOUR TO
DECIDE THAT I LIKED THIS BOX.

BUT OF COURSE YOU'RE A GENIUS.
YOU KNOW SO MUCH MORE THAN I.

MR. VADAS!

COMING, MR. MATUSCHEK.

MISS NOVOTNI?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK?

LOOK HERE. WHAT
DO YOU THINK OF THIS?

NOW, I WANT YOUR HONEST
OPINION. DON'T LET ME INFLUENCE YOU.

ALL I WANT IS YOUR
HONEST OPINION.

WELL, MISS NOVOTNI?

WELL, I THINK PEOPLE
WHO SMOKE CIGARETTES

AND LOVE TO HEAR OCHI TCHORNYA

WILL LIKE IT.

I'D EVEN GO FURTHER.
I THINK IT'LL MAKE

MUSIC LOVERS OUT
OF CIGARETTE SMOKERS

AND CIGARETTE SMOKERS
OUT OF MUSIC LOVERS.

I THINK IT'S SENSATIONAL.

WELL, MR. KRALIK, HAVE
YOU THOUGHT IT OVER?

YES. I STILL THINK
IT'S INADVISABLE.

WELL, GIVE ME ONE REASON.

WELL, LET'S SAY THAT A MAN

SMOKES 20 CIGARETTES A DAY.

THAT MEANS THAT 20 TIMES A DAY

HE HAS TO OPEN THIS BOX

AND 20 TIMES A DAY

HE HAS TO LISTEN
TO OCHI TCHORNYA.

IT'S A PERFECTLY TERRIBLE IDEA.

AND BESIDES, IT'S
IMITATION LEATHER,

THE GLUE'S NO GOOD, IN 2 WEEKS,

THE WHOLE THING WILL FALL APART,

AND ALL YOU'LL HAVE
LEFT IS OCHI TCHORNYA.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME
THAT IT'S IMITATION LEATHER.

I KNOW THAT.

YOU JUST SELL THINGS
AND LET ME DO THE BUYING.

EXCUSE ME, MR. MATUSCHEK.

MIKLOS BROTHERS ON THE TELEPHONE

IN REFERENCE TO
THE CIGARETTE BOX.

OH, MIKLOS, YES.

YES, MR. MIKLOS.

UH...

CAN I CALL YOU BACK
IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES?

I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE
TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT'S NOT THE PRICE.

IT'S JUST THAT I'M NOT QUITE
SURE ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA.

YES.

YES, MR. MIKLOS.

WHAT?

YOU CAN'T EXPECT ME TO
MAKE UP MY MIND IN 5 MINUTES!

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN
I'LL HAVE TO SAY NO. SORRY.

GOOD MORNING, MADAME.

GOOD MORNING.

IT'S A LOVELY BAG,
DON'T YOU THINK?

YES, VERY.

IT'S ONE OF OUR IMPORTED MODELS.

WE HAVE IT IN
PIGSKIN, ALLIGATOR,

IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT COLORS,

WITH OR WITHOUT FITTED
ACCESSORIES, YOU SEE?

I REALLY DIDN'T
COME IN TO BUY A BAG.

OH, I BEG YOUR PARDON.
WELL, WHAT CAN I SHOW YOU?

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

I REALLY DIDN'T COME
IN TO BUY ANYTHING.

THAT'S PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT.

NOW, IF YOU WISH TO LOOK AROUND,
JUST MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

YES, THANK YOU.

UH...

I WONDER IF I COULD
SEE MR. MATUSCHEK.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY,

MR. MATUSCHEK IS QUITE
BUSY AT THE MOMENT.

OF COURSE, I COULD
CALL HIM IF YOU WANTED.

YES, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BUT IF YOU'LL TELL
ME YOUR WISHES,

IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE I
COULD TAKE CARE OF THEM

TO YOUR SATISFACTION.

WELL, I NOTICED IN
YOUR SHOP WINDOW

THAT YOU'RE HAVING
A SUMMER SALE.

OH, YES. EVERYTHING IN THE
SHOP IS MARKED DOWN 25%,

SOME ARTICLES EVEN
MORE. WELL, WE HAVE...

NOW, TAKE, FOR
INSTANCE, THIS COMPACT.

YESTERDAY YOU COULDN'T GET
IT FOR A PENNY LESS THAN 3.90.

TODAY WE'RE SELLING IT FOR 2.25.

REALLY? YES, THAT'S A
WONDERFUL BARGAIN.

WELL, EVERYTHING IN THE
SHOP IS A BARGAIN TODAY.

YES. I IMAGINE YOU'LL
BE DOING A BIG BUSINESS.

WELL, I HAVE NO DOUBT OF IT.

YOU WERE VERY
WISE TO COME EARLY.

WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE SUCH A RUSH,

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE
CARE OF THE CUSTOMERS.

IN THAT CASE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD

TAKE ON EXTRA HELP.

WE PROBABLY WILL.

THE MAYBE YOU COULD USE ME.

I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB.

YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T VERY NICE,

LETTING ME GO THROUGH
THE WHOLE ROUTINE.

OH, I'M TERRIBLY SORRY.
I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN TO.

DO YOU THINK YOU
COULD YOU HELP ME

TO GET A JOB HERE?

WELL, I'D LIKE TO, BUT
THERE'S NO OPENING.

BUT YOU JUST TOLD ME YOU'D NEED

SOME EXTRA PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF THE RUSH.

WELL, LOOK AROUND FOR YOURSELF.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT KIND
OF BUSINESS WE'RE DOING.

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

YES, MADAME.

HOW MUCH IS THAT
BELT IN THE WINDOW,

THE ONE THAT SAYS 2.95?

2.95.

OH, NO.

EXCUSE ME, BUT MAY I TELL
YOU MY QUALIFICATIONS?

LOOK, IF I COULD DO
ANYTHING FOR YOU, I'D DO IT.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AN
INEXPERIENCED GIRL.

YES, BUT I KNOW
THE SITUATION HERE

AND THERE'S NO CHANCE.

I WORKED FOR 2 YEARS
AT BLASEK AND COMPANY,

AND I LEFT OF MY OWN ACCORD.

AND BEFORE THAT, I WAS
WITH GLASKO BROTHERS

FOR 10 MONTHS.

MY DEAR CHILD,
EVEN IF YOU'D WORKED

AT MINTZ AND KRAMER...

I DID! I KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE

OF THE FINEST CLIENTELE.

WELL, WE DON'T DEAL WITH
THAT CLASS OF PEOPLE HERE.

WE JUST HAVE MIDDLE-CLASS TRADE.

WHAT KIND OF TRADE DO YOU
THINK BLASEK AND COMPANY HAS?

AND THEY'D TAKE ME
BACK RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK?

WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

LOOK, IF IT WAS UP TO ME,

I'D PUT YOU TO WORK RIGHT AWAY,

BUT I'M NOT THE BOSS.

WELL, WHY DON'T
YOU LET ME SEE HIM?

WELL, HE'S IN SORT
OF A BAD MOOD TODAY.

I'LL TAKE A CHANCE.
MAYBE I CAN CHEER HIM UP.

MY DEAR YOUNG LADY,

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 9 YEARS,

AND I KNOW
MR. MATUSCHEK INSIDE OUT.

I CAN PREDICT HIS
EVERY REACTION.

I COULD TELL YOU WORD FOR WORD

EXACTLY WHAT HE'D SAY.

MR. KRALIK.

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

JUST ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

YES, ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW EVERY
REACTION OF MINE, HUH?

YOU KNOW ME INSIDE OUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING

BEFORE I'VE THOUGHT OF IT.

YOU'RE NOT ONLY A GENIUS,

YOU'RE A MIND READER.

MR. MATUSCHEK...

NEVER MIND.

GOOD MORNING, MADAME.
I AM MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MATUSCHEK.

HERE, PLEASE, SIT DOWN.

SO... I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE DIFFICULTY IS,

BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, MADAME,

THAT THE WORD IMPOSSIBLE
IS NOT IN THE VOCABULARY

OF MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

I'M SO HAPPY TO
HEAR YOU SAY THAT.

YES, AND I MEAN IT.

MR. MATUSCHEK.

YES, MADAME?

I WAS AT BLASEK AND COMPANY...

OH, MADAME, I'M SURE YOU'LL
FIND MUCH NICER THINGS

IN MY SHOP.

OH, NO, I MEAN I WORKED THERE.

I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB.

OH, NO, NO! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
IT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION!

NO, I'VE NO TIME, NO
TIME. I'M VERY BUSY.

I'M VERY SORRY.

I'M AFRAID YOU'RE JUST
WASTING YOUR TIME.

BUT I'VE GOT TO HAVE A JOB.

MR. KRALIK.

JUST A MOMENT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

HAVE YOU TRIED BAUM'S
DEPARTMENT STORE?

EVERY ENTRANCE.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL YOU.

MAYBE AFTER INVENTORY.

WHEN WILL THAT BE?

IN A WEEK OR SO.

KRALIK!

JUST A MINUTE, MR. MATUSCHEK!

PLEASE, MAY I LEAVE MY ADDRESS?

WELL, YES, YES. IF
WE NEED ANYBODY,

YOU'LL BE THE FIRST ONE.

MY NAME IS KLARA
NOVAK, DUNA STREET 42.

AND IF YOU NEED ME IN A
HURRY, YOU CAN PHONE 246-422.

THAT'S THE GROCERY STORE
DOWNSTAIRS. ASK FOR JOHANNA,

TELL HER YOU HAVE A
BUSINESS MESSAGE FOR KLARA.

KLARA. YES, I HAVE THAT.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

UH, CLOSE THE DOOR.

KRALIK, WHY DID YOU
PUT ME IN THAT SITUATION

IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SHOP?

I'M VERY SORRY, SIR,
BUT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT.

WELL, WHOSE FAULT WAS IT? MINE?

WELL, YES.

WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH YOU, KRALIK?

YOU'RE MY OLDEST EMPLOYEE.

I DO EVERYTHING I CAN

TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION.

I ASK YOU TO MY HOUSE...

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL, SIR.

YOU HAVE A FUNNY
WAY OF SHOWING IT.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I
VALUE YOUR JUDGMENT,

AND ON EVERY OCCASION
YOU CONTRADICT ME.

WHATEVER I SAY, YOU SAY NO.

ALL RIGHT, SIR, FROM
NOW ON, I SAY YES.

"YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.
CERTAINLY, MR. MATUSCHEK.

YES, MR. MAT..."

THAT WAS A NICE
PARTY LAST NIGHT, HUH?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

YES. I HAD A LOT
OF FUN. DIDN'T YOU?

YES.

I'M GLAD YOU ENJOYED
YOURSELF SO MUCH.

THAT LITTLE POEM THAT YOU WROTE

IN MRS. MATUSCHEK'S
GUEST BOOK...

YOU MAKE THAT UP YOURSELF?

WELL, SORT OF HALF AND HALF.

HALF AND HALF? HOW DO YOU MEAN?

HALF SHAKESPEARE AND HALF ME.

I JUST CHANGED THE LINES
AROUND TO SUIT THE OCCASION

AND MADE THAT LAST LINE RHYME
WITH MATUSCHEK, THAT'S ALL.

OH. WELL, MRS. MATUSCHEK
LIKED IT VERY MUCH.

OH, THANK YOU.

YOU MADE A FINE
IMPRESSION ON HER.

MRS. MATUSCHEK
THINKS A LOT OF YOU.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK A
LOT OF MRS. MATUSCHEK.

MR. MATUSCHEK, I THINK
I FOUND A CUSTOMER

FOR THE CIGARETTE BOX.

WHAT PRICE SHALL I QUOTE?

WELL, LET ME SEE, NOW.

IT, UH, IT COST US 2.85,

AND I THINK WE GET 5%...

LET ME TAKE CARE OF
THIS, MR. MATUSCHEK.

NOW, LOOK, THERE'S
NO USE WAITING.

BELIEVE ME.

IF THERE'S AN OPENING,

YOU'LL BE THE FIRST ONE.

JUST A MOMENT.

TELL ME, WOULD YOU
BUY A BOX LIKE THIS?

OH, MR. MATUSCHEK,

I COULDN'T BUY
ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT.

NO, NO, NO, NO. I
WANT YOUR OPINION,

YOUR HONEST OPINION.

DON'T LET ME INFLUENCE YOU.

I JUST WANT YOUR OPINION.

DO YOU LIKE THIS BOX?

OH, YES, I DO. I
THINK IT'S LOVELY.

YEAH. WHY?

WHY?

I THINK IT'S ROMANTIC.

WHAT'S ROMANTIC ABOUT IT?

WELL... CIGARETTES AND MUSIC...

I DON'T KNOW.

IT... IT MAKES ME THINK
OF MOONLIGHT AND...

CIGARETTES AND MUSIC.

AH, THERE'S A
WOMAN'S POINT OF VIEW.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

MR. MATUSCHEK?

YES, MISS...

NOVAK. HOW MUCH
ARE YOU SELLING IT FOR?

UH... UH... 4.25.

4.25?

YEAH, 4.25.

THAT'S A BARGAIN.
THAT'S A REAL BARGAIN!

GOOD MORNING, MADAME.

IT'S A LOVELY BOX, ISN'T IT?

OH, YES. IT'S A
CANDY BOX, ISN'T IT?

WELL, WE, UH...

YES, MADAME, A CANDY BOX,

AND I SHOULD SAY

A VERY UNUSUAL ONE.

MAY I OPEN IT FOR YOU?

YES, MADAME, THAT'S
OCHI TCHORNYA.

IT'S A VERY POPULAR CLASSIC.

OH, NO, THAT WOULD NEVER DO.

WHERE DO PEOPLE EVER
GET IDEAS LIKE THAT?

CAN YOU IMAGINE,

EVERY TIME YOU TAKE
A PIECE OF CANDY,

YOU'D HAVE TO
LISTEN TO THAT SONG.

I COULDN'T BUY A THING LIKE
THAT. IT'S REALLY TOO SILLY.

I KNOW JUST WHAT
YOU MEAN, MADAME.

AND YET, DO YOU KNOW THAT
SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS LIKE IT

FOR THE VERY
THING YOU OBJECT TO.

WE'VE SOLD QUITE A FEW,
ESPECIALLY TO LADIES.

REALLY? YES, MADAME.

THERE'S NO DENYING

WE ALL HAVE A
WEAKNESS FOR CANDY.

AND WHEN I SAY WEAKNESS,

I DON'T MEAN TO SAY
ANYTHING AGAINST CANDY.

OH, NO. I ONLY MEAN
THAT SOMETIMES

WE ARE INCLINED TO
OVERDO IT A LITTLE.

I SUPPOSE SO.

FOR INSTANCE, MADAME,
HAVE YOU ANY IDEA

HOW MANY PIECES OF
CANDY YOU EAT A DAY?

NO, I NEVER GAVE IT A THOUGHT.

THAT'S JUST IT.

WE PICK UP A PIECE OF
CANDY ABSENTMINDEDLY,

THEN WE TAKE ANOTHER
PIECE. BEFORE WE KNOW IT,

WE'VE GAINED A COUPLE OF POUNDS.

THAT'S WHEN OUR TROUBLES BEGIN.

MASSAGES, ELECTRIC CABINET.

OH, DON'T I KNOW IT.

NOW, THIS LITTLE BOX

MAKES YOU CANDY CONSCIOUS.

THAT'S WHAT MATUSCHEK
AND COMPANY DESIGNED IT FOR.

EVERY TIME YOU OPEN IT,

THIS TEENSY LITTLE SONG
IS A MESSAGE TO YOU...

"TOO MUCH CANDY.
NOW, BE CAREFUL."

HOW MUCH IS IT?

5.50, REDUCED FROM
6.95... IT'S A REAL BARGAIN.

I'LL TAKE IT.

THANK YOU, MADAME.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY NOW?

I THINK PEOPLE WHO
LIKE TO SMOKE CANDY

AND LISTEN TO
CIGARETTES WILL LOVE IT.

LOOK, DON'T LET
ME INFLUENCE YOU.

I WANT YOUR OPINION,
YOUR HONEST OPINION.

THAT'S ALL I WANT.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, KRALIK.

WELL, I'VE GOT A BIG
DINNER DATE TONIGHT.

WITH THE BOSS?

OH, NO. HE NEVER
INVITES ME ANYMORE.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE
HIM OUT, ANYWAY?

I GIVE UP. IT'S CERTAINLY
VERY DIFFICULT

TO GET ALONG WITH
HIM THESE DAYS.

YEAH. HE NEVER TALKS
TO ANYONE ANYMORE.

I HOPE HE'S FEELING
MORE CHEERFUL TODAY.

HE'D BETTER, BECAUSE I'M
GOING TO ASK HIM FOR A RAISE.

A RAISE?

MM-HMM. PIROVITCH, DO YOU MIND

IF I ASK YOU A
PERSONAL QUESTION?

NO, GO AHEAD.

IT'S VERY CONFIDENTIAL.

YEAH, SURE.

NOW, SUPPOSIN' A FELLA LIKE
ME WANTS TO GET MARRIED.

WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THAT'S THE BEST THING

THAT COULD HAPPEN
TO YOU. WHO'S THE GIRL?

WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT DID I SAY?

I SAID SUPPOSE. I
SAID A FELLA LIKE ME.

I DIDN'T SAY ME.

NOW, LOOK, HOW MUCH
DOES IT COST YOU TO LIVE...

YOU AND MRS. PIROVITCH...
LEAVING OUT THE CHILDREN?

WHY FOOL YOURSELF?

LET'S SAY TEMPORARILY.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

WELL, IT CAN BE DONE.

YEAH? YES.

AND VERY NICELY.

UH, NATURALLY, YOU
CAN'T BE EXTRAVAGANT.

WELL, SUPPOSE A FELLA
GETS AN APARTMENT

WITH 3 ROOMS... DINING ROOM
BEDROOM, AND LIVING ROOM.

3 ROOMS? WHAT DO
YOU NEED 3 ROOMS FOR?

YOU LIVE IN THE BEDROOM.

WHERE DO YOU EAT?

IN THE KITCHEN. YOU
GET A NICE BIG KITCHEN.

WHERE DO YOU ENTERTAIN?

ENTERTAIN? WHAT ARE
YOU, AN AMBASSADOR?

WHO DO YOU WANT TO ENTERTAIN?

LISTEN, IF SOMEONE
IS REALLY YOUR FRIEND,

HE COMES AFTER DINNER.

OH, NO. NO, NO.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW'S YOUR WIFE, MR. PIROVITCH?

OH, MY GOODNESS!

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

I FORGOT TO CALL DR. HAGEDUS.

SOMETHING SERIOUS, YOUR WIFE?

NO, NO. SHE COULDN'T BE BETTER.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT
TO CALL THE DOCTOR FOR?

IF I DON'T CALL HIM, HE'LL COME.

EXCUSE ME. I'D BETTER
TELEPHONE HIM RIGHT AWAY.

I HOPE IT ISN'T TOO LATE.

MISS NOVAK.

YES, MR. KRALIK?

I NOTICED THAT YOU
WORE A YELLOW BLOUSE

WITH LIGHT-GREEN DOTS YESTERDAY.

NO, MR. KRALIK. AS
USUAL, YOU'RE MISTAKEN.

IT WAS A GREEN BLOUSE
WITH LIGHT-YELLOW DOTS.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE
THOUGHT IT VERY BECOMING.

I DON'T REMEMBER EVER REMARKING

ABOUT YOUR NECKTIES.
AND BELIEVE ME, MR. KRALIK,

IF YOU THINK I
COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING

ABOUT YOUR NECKTIES,
JUST ASK MR. VADAS.

SO PLEASE LEAVE MY BLOUSE ALONE.

IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

WELL, I'M SORRY.

MR. MATUSCHEK SEEMS
TO THINK IT IS MY BUSINESS.

OH, YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
I'M WORKING UNDER YOU.

WELL, FROM NOW ON,

I'LL TELEPHONE YOU EVERY MORNING

AND DESCRIBE EXACTLY
WHAT I'M GOING TO WEAR.

AND BEFORE I SELECT MY
NEXT SEASON'S WARDROBE,

MY DRESSMAKER WILL
SUBMIT SAMPLES TO YOU.

IMAGINE YOU DICTATING
WHAT I SHOULD WEAR.

WELL, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WEAR.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK
LIKE A PONY IN THE CIRCUS,

IT'S ALL RIGHT. BUT
I HAVE TROUBLES

OF MY OWN WITHOUT YOUR BLOUSE

COMING BETWEEN
MR. MATUSCHEK AND ME!

LISTEN, I SOLD AS MUCH
GOODS YESTERDAY

AS ANYBODY ELSE IN THE SHOP.

95 PENGO 50 ISN'T BAD
FOR A RAINY MONDAY

3 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

DID YOU TELL THAT
TO MR. MATUSCHEK?

YES, I DID.

AND WHAT DID HE SAY?

HE SAID, "TELL HER NOT TO COME

IN THAT BLOUSE ANYMORE."

I WILL. TELL HIM I WON'T.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

WELL, I CAUGHT HIM JUST IN TIME.

THAT SAVES ME 5 PENGO,

AND THAT COUNTS
WHEN YOU'RE MARRIED.

THIS TIE'S ALL RIGHT, TO
WEAR TO WORK, ISN'T IT?

QUITE ALL RIGHT.
COME ON, KRALIK,

TELL ME, WHO IS THE GIRL?

OH, YOU KNOW THAT GIRL

I WAS CORRESPONDING WITH?

OH, YES, ABOUT THE
CULTURAL SUBJECTS.

YEAH. WELL, AFTER A WHILE,

WE GOT ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE...

NATURALLY ON A
VERY CULTURAL LEVEL.

WELL, WHAT ELSE CAN
YOU DO IN A LETTER?

SHE IS THE MOST WONDERFUL
GIRL IN THE WORLD.

IS SHE PRETTY?

SHE HAS SUCH IDEALS

AND SUCH A VIEWPOINT ON THINGS

THAT SHE'S SO FAR ABOVE
THE GIRLS YOU MEET TODAY,

THERE'S NO COMPARISON.

SO SHE'S NOT SO VERY PRETTY.

DON'T SAY THAT.

I'M SORRY. THE MAIN
THING IS THAT YOU LIKE HER.

I HOPE I WILL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU LOVE A GIRL,

AND YOU DON'T
KNOW IF YOU LIKE HER?

WELL, I... THAT'S
JUST THE QUESTION.

I HAVEN'T MET HER YET.

WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T MET HER YET?

NO. I KEEP POSTPONING
IT AND POSTPONING IT.

I'M SCARED.

YOU SEE, THIS GIRL THINKS

I'M THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON

IN THE WORLD, AND AFTER ALL,

THERE'S A CHANCE

SHE MIGHT BE DISAPPOINTED.

YES, THERE IS A CHANCE.

YEAH, AND ON THE OTHER HAND...

AND YOU MIGHT BE
DISAPPOINTED, TOO.

I DON'T DARE THINK ABOUT IT.

PIROVITCH, DID YOU
EVER GET A BONUS?

YES. ONCE.

YOU KNOW, THE BOSS
HANDS YOU THE ENVELOPE.

YOU WONDER HOW MUCH IS IN IT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO OPEN IT.

AS LONG AS THE
ENVELOPE'S CLOSED,

YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE.

YOU KEEP POSTPONING
THAT MOMENT AND..

WELL, YOU CAN'T
POSTPONE IT FOREVER.

I'M MEETING HER TONIGHT...

8:30, IN A CAFE.

YEAH. A RED CARNATION?

YEAH. SHE'S USING
ONE FOR A BOOKMARK

IN A COPY OF TOLSTOY'S
ANNA KARENINA.

I'M WEARING ONE IN MY LAPEL.

I HAVEN'T SLEPT FOR DAYS.

I'M SURE SHE'LL BE BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, NOT TOO BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT CHANCE DOES
A FELLOW LIKE ME...

WHAT DO YOU WANT, A HOMELY GIRL?

NO. NO. YOU KNOCK
ON WOOD FOR ME.

JUST A LOVELY, AVERAGE GIRL...

THAT'S... THAT'S ALL I WANT.

THANK YOU, MY GOOD MAN.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

HERE, MY GOOD FELLOW.

KEEP THE CHANGE.

SEND YOUR BOY THROUGH COLLEGE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL...

I CAN SEE BY THE EXPRESSION

ON YOUR UNDERPAID FACES

THAT YOU WONDER WHERE
I GOT ALL THIS MONEY.

NO, MR. VADAS, I DON'T WONDER.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I JUST MEAN I DON'T WONDER.

All: GOOD MORNING,
MR. MATUSCHEK.

THIS WINDOW LOOKS TERRIBLE.

THERE ISN'T A SHOP ON THE STREET

THAT DOESN'T LOOK
BETTER THAN THIS.

IT'S A WONDER WE
GET ANY CUSTOMERS.

WE'LL STAY TONIGHT
AFTER CLOSING HOURS

AND REDECORATE IT.

I'LL HAVE TO GET
OUT OF IT SOME WAY.

OH, KLARA, YOU
HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE.

I HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT
ENGAGEMENT TONIGHT AT 8:30,

AND I HAVE TO GO HOME FIRST,
YOU SEE. I'VE GOT TO CHANGE.

ILONA, TELL ME, DID YOU NOTICE
THE BLOUSE I WORE YESTERDAY,

THE GREEN ONE?

WITH THE LIGHT-YELLOW DOTS?

YES.

I THOUGHT IT WAS
SIMPLY STUNNING.

DID YOU REALLY? OH, I'M SO GLAD.

YOU SEE, I'M PLANNING
TO WEAR IT TONIGHT.

HELLO?

OH. YEAH, HELLO, DARLING.

WELL, YOU WERE SLEEPING

AND I DIDN'T WANT
TO DISTURB YOU.

YOU CAME HOME LATE LAST NIGHT.

I THOUGHT PERHAPS YOU'D
LIKE TO SLEEP A LITTLE LONGER.

NO, NO, I'M NOT ANGRY.

DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME?

YEAH. WELL, THAT'S ALL
THAT MATTERS, ISN'T IT?

WHAT? 1,000 PENGO?

BUT, EMMA, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT.

ONLY LAST MONDAY I GAVE YOU...

NO, NO, NO. I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

IT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

YEAH. WELL, ALL
RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEND IT OVER AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YEAH. GOOD-BYE.

COME IN.

WHAT IS IT?

MR. MATUSCHEK, I'D LIKE TO
TALK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT.

WELL, IS IT IMPORTANT?

WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

IS IT IMPORTANT

TO MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY?

NOT EXACTLY, SIR.

WELL, THEN, I'M SORRY, I'M BUSY.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE ME LATER.

PARDON ME, SIR.

WELL, WHAT IS IT NOW?

WELL, SIR, FOR SEVERAL DAYS
YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD ME

SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED.

OH, HAS IT?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK, IT HAS.

REALLY, I'M COMPLETELY
AT A LOSS TO UNDERSTAND IT.

AFTER ALL, I DO MY WORK.

AND YOU GET PAID FOR IT.

YES, SIR.

EVERY MONTH?

YES, SIR.

YES, WELL, EVERYTHING
SEEMS TO BE ALL RIGHT, THEN,

DOESN'T IT?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

DID YOU SEE HIM?

I'M NOT GOING TO STAND
FOR THIS MUCH LONGER.

WHAT DOES THAT MAN
WANT OF ME, ANYWAY?

WHY DOES HE ALWAYS
HAVE TO PICK ON ME?

WELL, YOU ARE HIS
OLDEST EMPLOYEE.

OH, THAT'S A FINE REASON.

HE PICKS ON ME, TOO.

THE OTHER DAY HE
CALLED ME AN IDIOT.

WHAT COULD I DO?

I SAID, "YES,
MR. MATUSCHEK, I'M AN IDIOT."

I'M NO FOOL.

LISTEN. MAYBE HE HAS
BUSINESS WORRIES,

OR MAYBE HE HAS SOME
TROUBLE WITH HIS WIFE.

IS THAT TRUE, PIROVITCH?

IS HE HAVING TROUBLE
WITH HIS WIFE?

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S
NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

I'M TALKING TO KRALIK.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE.

KRALIK, DON'T BE IMPULSIVE,
NOT AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

NOT WHEN MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK.

I CAN GET A JOB ANYWHERE.

CAN YOU? LET'S BE HONEST.

WELL, I'LL TAKE A CHANCE.

I'M NO COWARD, YOU KNOW.

I'M NOT AFRAID.

I AM. I HAVE A FAMILY.

AND I HAVEN'T.

THINK IT OVER.

THOSE WERE NICE
LETTERS, WEREN'T THEY?

THIS ONE'S ALREADY
BEEN PAID FOR.

YOU JUST HAVE TO
LEAVE IT AT THE DESK.

MR. KRALIK, DO YOU THINK I
HAVE TO WORK TONIGHT, TOO?

AFTER ALL, I'M A CHILD.

NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY.

YOU MEAN IT?

YEAH. I'LL STRAIGHTEN IT
OUT WITH MR. MATUSCHEK.

THANKS, MR. KRALIK.

MAY I HELP YOU, MR. KRALIK?

NO, THANK YOU.

OH, NO TROUBLE AT ALL.

I PUT ALL THE IMPORTED BAGS

OVER THERE ON THE SHELF.

IS THAT THE WAY YOU WANTED IT?

YES. I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT.

I'D APPRECIATE
IT IF YOU'D TELL ME

IF THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG.

SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU
BECOME SO INTERESTED

IN MY IDEA OF WHAT'S WRONG?

WELL, I WANT TO
PLEASE YOU, MR. KRALIK.

AFTER ALL, I'M
WORKING UNDER YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
KEEP HARPING ON THAT.

OH, NO. I DIDN'T MEAN IT
THAT WAY AT ALL, MR. KRALIK.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT I
THINK OF YOU PERSONALLY,

I BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY
WHO WORKS WITH YOU

AND DOESN'T GET A
GREAT DEAL OUT OF IT

IS JUST PLAIN DUMB.

JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN,

WHAT YOU THINK OF ME PERSONALLY?

OH, WELL, I MEAN,
SINCE YOU ASK...

NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS

AGAINST YOU,

I THINK YOU'RE A GENTLEMAN.

WELL, I TRY TO BE.

AND, OH, MR. KRALIK,

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS

TO A WORKING GIRL, WHAT
A GIRL GOES THROUGH

IN SOME SHOPS.

NOW, TAKE, FOR
INSTANCE WHEN I WAS WITH

WITH FOELDES BROTHERS AND SONS.

WELL, THE SONS WERE ALL RIGHT,

BUT THE BROTHERS, MR. KRALIK.

THAT'S WHY I LIKE
IT HERE SO MUCH.

WHEN YOU SAY, "MISS NOVAK,
LET'S GO INTO THE STOCKROOM

AND PUT SOME BAGS ON THE SHELF,"

YOU REALLY WANT TO PUT
SOME BAGS ON THE SHELF.

AND THAT'S MY IDEA
OF A GENTLEMAN.

WELL, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE

IN MIXING BAGS WITH PLEASURE.

MR. KRALIK...

YES, MISS NOVAK.

ABOUT THAT BLOUSE...

I'M SORRY, BUT I HAD TO DO THAT.

BUT I WANT TO THANK
YOU. I'M SO GLAD YOU DID IT.

YOU KNOW, IN THE
BOTTOM OF MY HEART,

AFTER THINKING IT
OVER, YOU'RE SO RIGHT.

THAT BLOUSE WAS AWFUL.

OH, NO, NOT AWFUL.

YES, IT WAS. OF COURSE,
I WOULDN'T ADMIT IT

AT THE TIME, BUT
WHAT WOMAN WOULD?

WE HATE TO ADMIT WE'RE WRONG.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO FEMININE.

OH, WELL... THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME

YOU'VE SHOWN A LITTLE SENSE.

QUITE A CHANGE
IN YOU, MISS NOVAK.

I KNOW IT, MR. KRALIK.

YOU JUST KEEP THIS UP,

AND I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE
TO GET ALONG MUCH BETTER.

THANK YOU, MR. KRALIK.

IT'S QUITE ALL
RIGHT, MISS NOVAK.

YOU KNOW, I WAS I
PLANNING TO WEAR

THAT AWFUL BLOUSE TONIGHT.

I HAVE A DATE WITH...

TONIGHT?

DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT
MR. MATUSCHEK SAID?

WE HAVE TO STAY HERE
AND DECORATE THE WINDOWS.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT!

YES.

UH...

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE...

DO YOU THINK YOU
COULD SPARE ME TONIGHT?

AND THEN MAYBE
MR. MATUSCHEK WOULD LET ME OFF.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M A GENTLEMAN.

THAT'S WHY YOU LEARNED
SO MUCH FROM ME

ALL OF A SUDDEN.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND, MR. KRALIK.

YOU WANT TO GET THE NIGHT OFF.

I HAVE TO, MR. KRALIK.

WELL, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.

OH, THAT WAS SUCH
AN OBVIOUS TRICK.

I ALMOST FELL FOR IT, TOO.

PLEASE, MR. KRALIK, I
HAVE TO GET OFF TONIGHT.

IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT!

YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS,

YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING YOU COULD

TO ANTAGONIZE ME, AND NOW
YOU HAVE NERVE ENOUGH...

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN
VERY NICE TO ME, EITHER.

NO MATTER WHAT I DO, IT'S WRONG.

IF I WRAP A PACKAGE,
THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WAY.

IF I MAKE A SUGGESTION... AND
SOME OF THEM ARE VERY GOOD...

YOU DON'T EVEN LISTEN.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE
DONE JUST EXACTLY YOUR WAY,

AND THEN YOU DON'T LIKE IT.

WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE SHOP,

I WAS FULL OF LIFE
AND ENTHUSIASM.

AND NOW I'M NOTHING!

YOU'VE TAKEN MY
PERSONALITY AWAY!

YOU'RE A DICTATOR,
THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.

WELL, LET ME TELL
YOU, MR. KRALIK,

ANY DAY NOW I
MAY BE IN A POSITION

WHERE I DON'T HAVE
TO WORK ANYMORE,

AND THEN, MR. KRALIK,
I'LL REALLY TELL YOU

WHAT I THINK OF YOU.
AND AS FOR THAT BLOUSE,

I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND
I'M GOING TO WEAR IT TONIGHT!

MR. KRALIK, I DON'T LIKE YOU.

MR. MATUSCHEK,

MAY I SPEAK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT?

WELL, WHAT IS IT?

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE
BY ANY CHANCE,

DO YOU THINK YOU
COULD SPARE ME TONIGHT?

WELL, LET ME SEE.

WE NEED 3 PEOPLE TO
DRESS THE "A" WINDOW.

MR. KRALIK.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

UH, CAN YOU GET ALONG

WITHOUT MISS NOVAK TONIGHT?

MR. MATUSCHEK, I'D
LIKE TO TALK TO YOU

FOR A MOMENT.

OH, YOU WANT TO GO, TOO?

WELL, YES, SIR. I'D
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH...

WHAT IS THIS?!

DOES EVERYBODY
WANT TO LEAVE HERE?

IS THIS AN INSURRECTION
IN MY SHOP?

ONCE A YEAR I ASK
YOU TO STAY HERE!

I'M SORRY, SIR. IF I'D
ONLY KNOWN YESTERDAY.

OH, I SEE. YOU WANT
A SPECIAL INVITATION.

WELL, NEXT TIME I'LL SEND YOU
AN ENGRAVED ANNOUNCEMENT.

MR. MATUSCHEK, I HAVE
TALKED EVERYTHING OVER

WITH MR. KRALIK.
I KNOW HIS IDEAS,

AND I THINK MISS NOVOTNI AND I

CAN MANAGE THE NOVELTY
WINDOW BY OURSELVES.

DID I ASK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVICE? WHAT DO YOU MEAN,

MR. KRALIK AND YOU
TALKED THINGS OVER?

WHOSE SHOP IS THIS?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

SO, YOU WANT THE
EVENING OFF, MR. KRALIK.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE CAN
MANAGE WITHOUT YOU.

MR. MATUSCHEK, THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS

I'VE ASKED A FAVOR.

IF IT WEREN'T SO
VERY IMPORTANT...

I'VE GIVEN YOU YOUR EVENING.
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

YOU WANT A BRASS
BAND TO SEE YOU OFF?

MR. MATUSCHEK, I THINK
YOU'RE BEING UNJUST.

I'M BEING UNJUST?

ONCE A YEAR, I ASK 6
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...

6, MIND YOU... WHEN NEXT DOOR

A SHOP TWICE AS BIG
AS MINE EMPLOYS ONLY 4.

GOOD MORNING, MADAME.

IS THERE SOMETHING
I CAN SHOW YOU?

HAVE YOU ANY TRAVELING
BAGS FOR MEN, WITH A ZIPPER?

OH, YES, MADAME,
WE HAVE ALL TYPES

OF TRAVELING BAGS
FOR MEN WITH ZIPPERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M JUST DOING A LITTLE
WINDOW-SHOPPING FOR MY HUSBAND.

HE'LL BE HERE TOMORROW.

WELL, I'LL BE DELIGHTED
TO SERVE HIM, MADAME.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MADAME.

6 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WHO STAND AROUND HERE
FOR DAYS, TELLING JOKES

AND TALKING ABOUT THE MOVIES,

WHILE I PAY THE GAS AND THE RENT

AND THE LIGHT AND THE TAXES,

AND THEIR SALARIES!

GOOD MORNING.
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

WHAT?

UH, JUST A MOMENT.

MR. PIROVITCH.

YES?

MAMA, I CALLED
YOU. IMAGINE, MAMA,

WE ARE DECORATING THE WINDOW

AFTER CLOSING HOUR,

SO WE WON'T HAVE TO HAVE DINNER

WITH THE LASZLOS.
ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?

YES, I KNEW YOU WOULD
BE GLAD. GOOD-BYE, MAMA.

6 PEOPLE I ASK ONE DAY A YEAR

TO BE SO KIND AS TO
REDECORATE A WINDOW,

AND YOU HAVE THE
NERVE, MR. KRALIK,

THE OLDEST
EMPLOYEE IN THE PLACE,

WHO SHOULD SET AN EXAMPLE...

MR. MATUSCHEK,

YOU SPOKE LIKE THIS
TO ME YESTERDAY.

WHAT DID I DO YESTERDAY?
THE WHOLE WEEK

YOU'VE TREATED ME LIKE THIS,

AND WITHOUT ANY REASON.

WITHOUT ANY REASON?

MAYBE I HAVE MORE
REASON THAN YOU THINK.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU'RE
NOT SATISFIED WITH ME.

YOU CAN DRAW YOUR
OWN CONCLUSIONS.

WELL, IN THAT CASE,

I THINK THERE'S JUST
ONE THING TO DO.

PERHAPS WE'D
BETTER CALL IT A DAY.

MATUSCHEK AND
COMPANY. GOOD MORNING.

OH, YES, MRS.
MATUSCHEK, HE'S HERE.

MRS. MATUSCHEK ON THE TELEPHONE.

HELLO, EMMA.

NO. NO, I'M NOT
COMING HOME TONIGHT.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

YES, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEND IT RIGHT OVER.

JUST PUT 1,000
PENGO IN AN ENVELOPE

AND HAVE PEPI TAKE IT OVER
TO MRS. MATUSCHEK RIGHT AWAY.

PEPI'S OUT.

HE HAS QUITE A FEW
PACKAGES TO DELIVER.

HE WON'T BE BACK
UNTIL AFTER LUNCH.

MR. KRALIK AND I

ALWAYS HAVE LUNCH AT FARAGO'S.

IT'S ONLY A FEW BLOCKS
FROM YOUR HOME,

MR. MATUSCHEK.

WE CAN DELIVER IT,
RIGHT, MR. KRALIK?

YES.

NO, THANK YOU, MR. KRALIK.

OH, MR. VADAS.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I DON'T LIKE TO BREAK IN

ON YOUR LUNCH HOUR...

THAT'S PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT.

IT WILL BE A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

NOT AT ALL.

MR. KRALIK, WILL YOU
COME TO MY OFFICE?

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU.

YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

UH, MR. KRALIK, I, UH...

I'VE BEEN THINKING ALL DAY

ABOUT WHAT YOU
SAID THIS MORNING...

I'M VERY SORRY, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I'M AFRAID. I LOST MY TEMPER.

OH, NO, NO, NO. I
THINK YOU WERE RIGHT.

I... I REALLY BELIEVE

THAT YOU'D BE HAPPIER
SOMEWHERE ELSE.

YOU THINK SO, SIR?

YES, I'M SURE OF IT.

WELL, I...

GUESS THERE'S NOTHING
MORE TO BE SAID.

WELL, LET ME SEE.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY
ENTITLED TO A MONTH'S PAY.

THAT'S 200 PENGO.

THAT'S RIGHT, ISN'T IT?

YES, SIR.

WILL YOU PLEASE
SIGN THIS RECEIPT?

AND HERE...

HERE'S A LETTER

WHICH CERTAINLY
WON'T HANDICAP YOU

IN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL...

I GUESS WE MIGHT

JUST AS WELL SAY GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD-BYE.

WELL?

WHAT HAPPENED?

"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

"I WISH TO STATE THAT
MR. ALFRED KRALIK

"LEAVES MY EMPLOY
OF HIS OWN ACCORD.

"MR. KRALIK STARTED WITH
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY

"9 YEARS AGO AS AN APPRENTICE.

"THROUGH HIS DILIGENCE,

"HE ADVANCED TO
THE POSITION OF CLERK.

"FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS,

"HE HAS BEEN OUR FIRST SALESMAN.

"WE HAVE FOUND HIM RELIABLE,
EFFICIENT, RESOURCEFUL.

"WE CAN RECOMMEND
HIM WITHOUT RESERVE.

"HE CARRIES WITH
HIM OUR BEST WISHES

"FOR SUCCESS IN
HIS FUTURE CAREER.

HUGO MATUSCHEK."

KRALIK, I STILL
CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

THERE'S NO REASON.

THE BOSS DOESN'T HAVE
TO GIVE YOU A REASON.

THAT'S ONE OF THE
WONDERFUL THINGS

ABOUT BEING A BOSS.

WELL, I WANTED TO
GET OFF TONIGHT.

I GOT OFF, ALL RIGHT.

KRALIK, YOU ARE NOT GOING?

NO, I COULDN'T FACE HER TONIGHT.

SEE, THIS MORNING,
I HAD A POSITION,

A FUTURE.

NOW I...

SEE, I'M AFRAID

I SORT OF EXAGGERATED
IN MY LETTERS.

I SHOWED OFF A LITTLE.

SHE'S EXPECTING TO MEET

A PRETTY IMPORTANT MAN.

WELL, I'M IN NO MOOD TO
ACT IMPORTANT TONIGHT.

WELL...

OH, I, UH...

AHEM.

MY DEAR KRALIK,

I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US

WHEN I SAY THIS IS A SHOCK

AND A SURPRISE.

WE ALL FEEL WE ARE LOSING

A SPLENDID FELLOW WORKER,

AND WE CERTAINLY
WISH YOU THE LUCK

WHICH YOU SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.

NOW, KRALIK, WE ARE
GOING TO SEE EACH OTHER.

IF YOU HAVE AN EVENING
WITH NOTHING TO DO,

YOU KNOW WHERE WE LIVE.

ALL RIGHT, PIROVITCH. GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE, KRALIK.

WELL, ILONA...

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU.

WELL, I... I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

OH, IT'S NOTHING UNUSUAL.

IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

SOMEBODY GETS FIRED, AND...

GOOD-BYE, ILONA.

GOOD-BYE, MR. KRALIK.

FLORA...

OH, FLORA, YOU'LL NOTICE

WHEN YOU LOOK
THROUGH IN MY SALES BOOK

I'VE CANCELED SLIP NUMBER 5,

BUT I DEDUCTED IT
FROM THE TOTALS.

GOOD-BYE.

MISS NOVAK, IF I
HAD ANYTHING TO DO

WITH YOUR NOT GETTING

THE EVENING OFF, I'M SORRY.

IT'S MY FAULT, ANYWAY, THAT
YOU GOT INTO THIS TROUBLE.

PLEASE BELIEVE
ME, I'M SORRY, TOO.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TRUE WE DIDN'T GET
ALONG. I GUESS WE FOUGHT A LOT.

BUT LOSING A JOB
AT A TIME LIKE THIS

IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T WISH...

ON YOUR WORST ENEMY.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT, MR. KRALIK.

LET'S NOT QUARREL ANYMORE.

GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE, MR. KRALIK.

YES?

WELL?

OH... YOU HAVE.

WELL, HOW SOON CAN
YOU COME OVER HERE?

WELL, COME RIGHT AWAY.

RIGHT. I'LL BE WAITING HERE.

YOU MAY ALL GO HOME.

WE'LL FINISH THE
WINDOWS TOMORROW.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

GOOD NIGHT!

GOOD NIGHT.

HELLO?

IS THIS MRS. HOJAS?

THIS IS MR. PIROVITCH,
MR. KRALIK'S FRIEND.

YES, I KNOW HE ISN'T THERE YET.

WILL YOU PLEASE TELL
HIM WHEN HE COMES

THAT WE ARE NOT WORKING TONIGHT

AND I AM COMING OVER.

YES. THANK YOU.

I HOPE YOU DON'T
MIND, MR. MATUSCHEK.

HE PROBABLY FEELS
PRETTY LOW TONIGHT,

AND I THOUGHT...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN.

WHAT YOU DO AFTER WORKING HOURS

IS YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED YOUR MIND,

BY ANY CHANCE, MR. MATUSCHEK?

YOU'VE GOT THE EVENING OFF,
HAVEN'T YOU? WELL, GO HOME.

HE'S THE BEST MAN YOU
HAD, MR. MATUSCHEK.

WHY DID YOU LET HIM GO?

I WARN YOU, MR. PIROVITCH...

HIS WHOLE LIFE

HE LIVED IN THIS SHOP.

HE WAS ALMOST LIKE A SON TO YOU.

AND YOU WERE SO PROUD OF HIM.

YOU INVITED HIM TO YOUR HOME

AGAIN AND AGAIN.

MR. PIROVITCH, YOU WANT
TO KEEP YOUR JOB, DON'T YOU?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I HAVE A FAMILY... 2 CHILDREN.

IN THAT CASE,

MIND YOUR OWN
BUSINESS AND GO HOME.

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT, VADAS.

OH, I BEG YOUR
PARDON, MR. MATUSCHEK.

I'M NOT QUITE
CERTAIN IF I DELIVERED

MRS. MATUSCHEK'S MESSAGE...

SHE TOLD ME WHEN I
GAVE HER THE 1,000 PENGO

TO REMIND YOU TO CALL HER

IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR
MIND AND DON'T WORK TONIGHT.

YES, YOU TOLD ME, VADAS.

UH... YOU KNOW, MR. MATUSCHEK,

THE LAST TIME I HAD THE PLEASURE

TO BE AT YOUR APARTMENT

WAS SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO WHEN YOU SENT ME

AFTER YOUR BRIEFCASE.
YOU REMEMBER?

TODAY I HAD A CHANCE
TO GET A GLIMPSE

OF YOUR NEW DINING ROOM SET.

OH, IT'S EXQUISITE, REALLY.

I CAN IMAGINE WHAT
IT WILL LOOK LIKE

WITH ALL THE LIGHTS ON

AT A DINNER PARTY.

MUST BE SIMPLY STUNNING.

THANK YOU, VADAS.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT, VADAS.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD EVENING.

PLEASE.

SO...

IT'S TRUE.

I'M AFRAID SO, MR. MATUSCHEK.

HERE WE HAVE A COMPLETE
RECORD FROM OUR OPERATIVES...

2 OF OUR MOST RELIABLE MEN.

"REPORT ON MRS. EMMA MATUSCHEK.

"ON DECEMBER 6th, MRS. MATUSCHEK

"LEFT THE RESIDENCE ON
BELA STREET 23 AT 8:45 P.M.

"SHE WALKED TO CARTER STREET,

"WHERE SHE ENGAGED A TAXI.

"AT 9:03, THE TAXI STOPPED

"AT THE CORNER OF TRANTER
AND BRALTER STREETS.

"THERE MRS. MATUSCHEK

WAS JOINED BY A YOUNG MAN."

WELL, MR. MATUSCHEK,
YOUR SUSPICION WAS RIGHT.

IT WAS ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.

BOTH OUR OPERATIVES
IDENTIFIED HIM LATER

AS MR. VADAS.

VADAS?

YES.

UH... FERENCZ VADAS.
DANUBE PLACE, 56.

THERE IS SUCH A MAN

IN YOUR EMPLOY, ISN'T THERE?

YES, YES, UH...

22 YEARS WE'VE BEEN MARRIED.

22 YEARS I WAS PROUD OF MY WIFE.

WELL, SHE...

JUST DIDN'T WANT TO
GROW OLD WITH ME.

IF YOU'LL SEND ME YOUR BILL,

I'LL TAKE CARE
OF IT IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD EVENING...

HELLO?

NO, MRS. MATUSCHEK.

THIS IS MISS KOSTAK SPEAKING.

GOOD EVENING. WHO? PEPI?

NO, PEPI ISN'T BACK YET.

I SEE, MRS. MATUSCHEK.

HE DID SOME ERRANDS FOR YOU...

OH, YOU DON'T SAY!

HE FORGOT TO PICK UP
A BOTTLE OF PERFUME?

ISN'T THAT TOO BAD!

I'LL GIVE A GOOD SCOLDING
TO THE LITTLE RASCAL.

HAVE A GOOD TIME, MRS.
MATUSCHEK. GOOD NIGHT.

MR. MATUSCHEK!

DON'T DO THAT, MR. MATUSCHEK!

GO AWAY! GO AWAY!

MR. MATUSCHEK!

WHY DON'T YOU GO IN, KRALIK?

I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD
GO IN AND KEEP YOUR DATE.

NOW, PIROVITCH,
JUST DO ME A FAVOR

AND DELIVER MY NOTE.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, PIROVITCH, I
DON'T WANT TO KNOW

WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.

IF SHE'S BAD-LOOKING,

I'VE HAD ENOUGH BAD
NEWS FOR THE DAY,

AND IF SHE'S LOVELY,

IT'LL JUST MAKE
IT MORE DIFFICULT.

I WON'T. SO DON'T TELL ME.

NOW, WHAT'S THE
NAME OF THAT BOOK?

ANNA KARENINA, BY TOLSTOY...

AND A RED CARNATION
AS A BOOKMARK.

RED CARNATION. LET
ME SEE. JUST A MINUTE.

YOU SEE ANYTHING?

NOT YET.

OH! THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL!

REALLY?

VERY BEAUTIFUL, BUT NO BOOK.

NO BOOK...

WAIT A MINUTE.

I THINK I SEE IT,

RIGHT HERE UNDER THE WINDOW.

YES...

ANNA... KARENINA, BY TOLSTOY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND A CARNATION.

UH-HUH.

I CAN'T SEE HER FACE.

SHE'S SITTING BEHIND
A CLOTHES RACK.

THERE'S A CUP OF
COFFEE ON THE TABLE.

YEAH?

SHE'S TAKING A PIECE OF CAKE.

UH-HUH.

KRALIK, SHE'S DUNKING.

WHY SHOULDN'T SHE DUNK?

ALL RIGHT. WHATEVER.

SHE'S LEANING
FORWARD NOW. SHE...

UH-HUH.

CAN YOU SEE HER?

YES.

IS SHE PRETTY?

VERY PRETTY.

SHE IS, HUH?

MM. I SHOULD SAY...

SHE LOOKS... SHE HAS A
LITTLE OF THE COLORING OF...

OF KLARA.

KLARA? WHY...

MISS NOVAK OF THE SHOP?

NOW, KRALIK, YOU MUST ADMIT

KLARA'S A VERY
GOOD-LOOKING GIRL,

AND PERSONALLY, I ALWAYS
FOUND HER A VERY LIKABLE GIRL.

YEAH, WELL, THIS IS A FINE TIME

TO TALK ABOUT MISS NOVAK.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T
LIKE MISS NOVAK,

I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
YOU WON'T LIKE THAT GIRL.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT IS MISS NOVAK.

SHALL I GIVE THE NOTE

TO THE WAITER NOW?

NO.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO,

LET THAT POOR GIRL WAIT?

WELL, WHY SHOULDN'T
MISS NOVAK WAIT FOR ME?

FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS, SHE'S
FOUGHT WITH ME EVERY DAY.

BUT STILL, SHE WROTE
THOSE LETTERS, MY FRIEND.

YEAH. MY MISFORTUNE.

GOOD-BYE, PIROVITCH.

GOOD-BYE, KRALIK.

THANK YOU.

EXCUSE ME, MISS, PLEASE,
COULD I HAVE THIS CHAIR?

OH, NO, NO, YOU CAN'T!
I'M EXPECTING SOMEBODY.

THE PARTY SHOULD
BE HERE ANY MINUTE.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THAT'S...

CARNATION?

A FEW NIGHTS AGO,

WE HAD A CASE WITH ROSES.

TURNED OUT VERY NICE. VERY NICE.

BUT ONCE, ABOUT 3 MONTHS
AGO, WE HAD A VERY SAD CASE

WITH GARDENIAS.

SHE WAITED ALL EVENING
AND NOBODY CAME.

AND WHEN WE CLEANED THE CAFE,

UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE TABLES,
WE FOUND ANOTHER GARDENIA.

YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE
MAN MUST HAVE COME IN,

TAKEN ONE LOOK AT
HER, SAID, "PHOOEY!"

AND THREW AWAY HIS GARDENIA.

IS YOUR CLOCK A LITTLE FAST?

MINE SAYS 8:27, AND
YOURS SAYS 8:31.

LISTEN, YOU HAVE
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

A PRETTY GIRL LIKE YOU?

IF HE DOESN'T COME, I'LL
PUT ON A CARNATION MYSELF.

Man: WAITER!

YES, SIR.

OH, HELLO, MISS NOVAK.

OH, GOOD EVENING, MR. KRALIK.

WELL, THIS IS QUITE
A COINCIDENCE.

I HAD AN APPOINTMENT HERE, TOO.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN
MR. PIROVITCH, BY ANY CHANCE?

NO. NO, I HAVEN'T.

WELL... I THINK I'LL WAIT.

YOU MIND IF I SIT DOWN?

YES, I DO! YOU KNOW,

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT,
TOO, MR. KRALIK.

OH, YES. I REMEMBER.

YES...

YOUR FRIEND SEEMS
TO BE A LITTLE LATE.

AND I'LL THANK YOU
NOT BE BE SARCASTIC.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A BAD DAY

AND YOU PROBABLY
FEEL VERY BITTER.

THAT'S NO REASON...

BITTER? ME?

ABOUT LEAVING
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY?

WHEN I GOT HOME AND
SAT DOWN TO THE PHONE,

IN 5 MINUTES I HAD WHAT
AMOUNTS TO 2 OFFERS.

WELL, I CONGRATULATE YOU.

I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.

OH... I SEE YOU'RE READING

TOLSTOY'S ANNA KARENINA.

YES. DO YOU MIND?

NO, NO. I JUST DIDN'T
EXPECT TO MEET YOU IN A CAFE

WITH TOLSTOY, THAT'S
ALL. KIND OF SURPRISED.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU CARED
FOR HIGH LITERATURE.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS

YOU DON'T KNOW
ABOUT ME, MR. KRALIK.

UH-HUH... HAVE YOU READ

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
BY DOSTOYEVSKY?

NO, I HAVEN'T.

I HAVE.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS

YOU DON'T KNOW
ABOUT ME, MISS NOVAK.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THERE MIGHT BE A LOT

WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
SELDOM GO TO THE TROUBLE

OF SCRATCHING THE
SURFACE OF THINGS

TO FIND THE INNER TRUTH.

WELL, I REALLY WOULDN'T
CARE TO SCRATCH

YOUR SURFACE, MR. KRALIK,

BECAUSE I KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT I'D FIND...

INSTEAD OF A HEART, A HANDBAG.

INSTEAD OF A SOUL, A SUITCASE.

AND INSTEAD OF AN INTELLECT,

A CIGARETTE LIGHTER,
WHICH DOESN'T WORK.

WELL, THAT'S VERY NICELY PUT.

YES...

COMPARING MY INTELLECT

WITH A CIGARETTE LIGHTER
THAT DOESN'T WORK.

YEAH, THAT'S A VERY
INTERESTING MIXTURE

OF POETRY AND MEANNESS.

MEANNESS! LET ME TELL YOU...

OH, NOW, DON'T
MISUNDERSTAND ME, MISS NOVAK.

I'M ONLY TRYING TO
PAY YOU A COMPLIMENT...

MR. KRALIK, PLEASE!

I TOLD YOU I WAS
EXPECTING SOMEBODY.

LOOK, IF YOUR PARTY
DOESN'T SHOW UP, WOULD I...

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

MY PARTY WILL SHOW UP.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO ENTERTAIN ME.

UH-HUH.

HAVE YOU READ

ZOLA'S MADAME BOVARY?

MADAME BOVARY'S NOT BY ZOLA.

MR. KRALIK, ARE YOU STILL HERE?

ARE YOU DELIBERATELY
TRYING TO SPOIL MY EVENING?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO DO ME
HARM? WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO?

I DON'T HATE YOU.

OH, I SUPPOSE YOU LOVE ME.

NO. WHY SHOULD I?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO MAKE ME LOVE YOU?

WELL, I DON'T WANT
YOU TO LOVE ME.

I DON'T.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
TUNE REMINDS ME OF?

YES, THANK YOU. 2 DOZEN
UNSOLD CIGARETTE BOXES.

OH, NO. NO. WRONG AGAIN.

IT REMINDS ME OF A
GIRL OUT OF A JOB...

A VERY NICE GIRL,
TOO, I THOUGHT.

YOU THOUGHT THAT.
HOW YOU CAN LIE.

OF COURSE, THAT WAS BEFORE

YOU STARTED TO MAKE FUN OF ME,

GIVING IMITATIONS OF
ME IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY,

MISS NOVAK, TO INFORM YOU

THAT I DON'T WALK LIKE A DUCK,

AND I'M NOT BOWLEGGED.

AREN'T YOU?

NO, I'M NOT.

WELL, I HAVE INFORMATION
TO THE CONTRARY.

MR. VADAS ASSURED ME

THAT YOU HAVE YOUR
TROUSERS SPECIALLY MADE.

WELL, THAT'S A LIE!

MR. VADAS... SO THAT'S THE
KIND OF A MAN YOU TRUST.

I'VE NEVER BEEN TO
A TAILOR IN MY LIFE.

IF YOU THINK I'M BOWLEGGED,
COME ON OUT ON THE SIDEWALK

AND I'LL PULL UP MY TROUSERS.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I
STARTED MAKING REMARKS

ABOUT HOW RED YOUR HANDS ARE?

THAT'S JUST EXACTLY
WHAT YOU DID.

OH, NO, NOT UNTIL AFTER YOU
STARTED MAKING FUN OF MY LEGS.

MY HANDS AREN'T RED AT ALL.

NOW, AFTER I CALLED
YOUR ATTENTION TO THEM.

NOW, LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, MISS NOVAK.

YOU MAY HAVE VERY
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS,

BUT YOU CERTAINLY HIDE THEM.

AS FAR AS YOUR
ACTIONS ARE CONCERNED,

YOU'RE COLD AND
SNIPPY LIKE AN OLD MAID,

AND YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE A TOUGH TIME

GETTING A MAN TO
FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU.

I AN OLD MAID?

SO, NO MAN COULD
FALL IN LOVE WITH ME?

REALLY, MR. KRALIK,
YOU'RE GETTING FUNNIER

EVERY MINUTE. WHY,
I COULD SHOW YOU

LETTERS THAT WOULD
OPEN YOUR EYES.

NO, I GUESS NOT. YOU PROBABLY

WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S IN THEM.

THEY'RE WRITTEN BY A TYPE OF MAN

SO FAR SUPERIOR TO YOU

THAT IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY.

HA! I HAVE TO LAUGH WHEN I THINK

OF YOU CALLING ME AN OLD MAID.

YOU! YOU LITTLE
INSIGNIFICANT CLERK.

GOOD-BYE, MISS NOVAK.

GOOD-BYE, MR. KRALIK.

WELL, DOCTOR, I WOULD SAY
IT'S A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT APPEARS TO BE AN ACUTE
EPILEPTOID MANIFESTATION

OF A PANPHOBIC MELANCHOLIA,

WITH SOME INDICATION OF
A NEURASTHENIA CORDUS.

IS THAT MORE EXPENSIVE
THAN A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN?

PARDON ME, MR. KATONA.

PRECISELY WHAT
POSITION DO YOU HOLD

WITH MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY?

WELL, I WOULD DESCRIBE
MYSELF AS A CONTACT MAN.

I KEEP CONTACT BETWEEN
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY

AND THE CUSTOMERS...

ON A BICYCLE.

YOU MEAN AN ERRAND BOY?

DOCTOR, DID I CALL
YOU A PILL-PEDDLER?

HELLO, MR. KRALIK.

HOW IS HE?

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SPLENDID REACTION

TO MY TELEPHONE CALL. I
KNEW YOU WOULDN'T FAIL US.

IS IT SERIOUS?

NATURALLY IT WAS
A TERRIBLE SHOCK.

WELL, I HAVE TO GET OVER IT.

NOW THIS WHOLE THING MUST BE
KEPT IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.

WHAT I TOLD YOU
OVER THE TELEPHONE

IS BETWEEN THE 3 OF US...

ME, MR. MATUSCHEK,
AND YOU. HERE.

AH, THANK YOU FOR
COMING, KRALIK. THANK YOU.

SIT DOWN.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE LAST TIME YOU CAME
TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER,

I SAID THAT IF THINGS GO WELL,

I MIGHT TAKE IT EASIER,

MAYBE BY CHRISTMAS

MAKE YOU MANAGER OF THE SHOP?

WELL, NOW I HAVE
TO TAKE IT EASIER.

WOULD YOU CARE TO
WORK FOR ME AGAIN AFTER...

NO. DON'T EVEN
THINK ABOUT IT, SIR.

IS IT POSSIBLE

THAT I EVER DISTRUSTED YOU?

I... I HATED YOU.

I... I COULDN'T STAND
YOUR PRESENCE ANYMORE.

THAT'S HOW FAR
JEALOUSY CAN DRIVE A MAN.

NO, BUT THAT'S
ALL OVER NOW, SIR.

YOU...

WHEN I... WHEN I FIRST GOT
THAT ANONYMOUS LETTER,

I LAUGHED. I...

MY WIFE HAVING A
SECRET RENDEZVOUS

WITH ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES?

MY WIFE! IT'S... IT'S...

OH, BUT HOW COULD
YOU SUSPECT ME, SIR?

WELL, YOU SEE,

YOU WERE THE ONLY
ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES

WHO HAD BEEN TO MY HOME.

YOU SENT MY WIFE FLOWERS.

OH, BUT THAT WAS ONLY...

OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME.

BUT WHEN THAT POISON
GETS INTO A MAN'S MIND,

IT'S... IT'S...

JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND.

I DO UNDERSTAND, SIR.

YES.

HERE. HERE ARE THE KEYS

TO MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UH, WHAT SHALL I DO ABOUT MR...

VADAS?

WELL, I WANT HIM DISMISSED

AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE.

NO... NO SCANDAL.

DON'T...

DON'T EVEN MENTION
THE SUBJECT TO HIM.

WE WON'T LOWER OURSELVES.

VERY GOOD, SIR.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE
THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS

IN THE HISTORY OF
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

I KNOW IT WILL.

YES, SIR. GOOD-BYE.

OH, KRALIK?

YES, SIR?

WELL, NOW THAT YOU'RE THE BOSS,

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE
YOURSELF A RAISE...

WELL, SIR, I'LL TALK
IT OVER WITH MYSELF,

AND IF I DON'T ASK
FOR TOO MUCH MONEY,

I'LL GIVE IT TO MYSELF.
THANK YOU, SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS!

THANK YOU.

WELL, GOOD-BYE, MR. MATUSCHEK.

PEPI, I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO THANK YOU.

YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

DON'T MENTION IT.
IT WAS A PLEASURE.

NOW, IF YOU WANT ANYTHING ELSE,
YOU KNOW WHERE TO REACH ME.

I'M STILL NOTHING
BUT AN ERRAND BOY

AT MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

IN OTHER WORDS,

YOU'D LIKE TO BE A CLERK, HUH?

WOULDN'T PUT IT THAT BRUTALLY.

WELL, WHEN I GET
FEELING BETTER...

THEN YOU MIGHT CHANGE YOUR MIND.

BESIDES, WHO KNOWS HOW
LONG YOU'LL HAVE TO STAY HERE?

YOU'RE A PRETTY SICK
MAN, MR. MATUSCHEK.

THIS ISN'T JUST AN
ORDINARY BREAKDOWN.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE A CLERK!

GO ON, NOW, GET OUT IF HERE!

THANKS, MR. MATUSCHEK!

MY DEAR KRALIK,

I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US

WHEN I SAY HEARTIEST
CONGRATULATIONS.

WHEW! WHAT A LOAD OFF MY MIND.

NOW WE'RE ALL ONE
LITTLE HAPPY FAMILY AGAIN.

AND, KRALIK, I WANT
YOU TO BE ASSURED

OF MY COOPERATION
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.

I WANT YOU TO BE A
GREAT SUCCESS, AND...

OH, YES. THAT'S
RIGHT. FROM NOW ON,

YOU'RE GOING TO THE OFFICE.

WELL, IF ANYBODY DESERVES IT,

IT'S YOU, MY BOY.

NICE LITTLE RING, ISN'T IT?

I HAD A LITTLE LUCK
LAST NIGHT, TOO.

REAL DIAMOND.

MY GRANDMA GAVE IT TO ME.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GET
WHEN YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.

SOME BOYS GET RED APPLES,

I GET DIAMONDS. GOOD ONE.

OH, BY THE WAY, KRALIK,

I HAVE SOME VERY UNUSUAL IDEAS

FOR THAT NEW WINDOW DISPLAY.

THANK YOU, VADAS. I
THINK THE REST OF US

CAN TAKE CARE OF
THE WINDOWS ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE YOU
TO GO INTO THE STOCKROOM.

YOU KNOW THE BIG
SUITCASES ON THE TOP SHELF?

YES. THE BLACK SUITCASES.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN THERE
ARE THE BIG BROWN SUITCASES...

ON THE BOTTOM SHELF.

ON THE BOTTOM SHELF.

NOW, I WANT YOU TO TAKE
ALL THE BIG BLACK SUITCASES

FROM THE TOP SHELF AND
MOVE THEM TO THE BOTTOM SHELF

AND ALL THE BIG BROWN
SUITCASES FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF

AND MOVE THEM TO THE TOP SHELF.

BUT, KRALIK...

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT?

I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

OF COURSE I'LL DO
IT. I'M A GOOD SOLDIER.

ALL RIGHT, DO IT RIGHT AWAY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

31-2683, PLEASE.

IS THIS THE ATLAS
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY?

THIS IS MR. KATONA OF
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY SPEAKING.

WE HAVE AN OPENING
FOR A NEW ERRAND BOY.

NOW, SEE HERE,

I WANT AN EDUCATED, HEALTHY BOY,

GOOD FAMILY, AND NO BAD HABITS.

OH, SEND ME 4 OR 5.
I'LL LOOK THEM OVER.

AND RIGHT AWAY, IF YOU PLEASE.

TELL THEM TO ASK FOR MR. KATONA
OF THE SALES DEPARTMENT.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

DIDN'T YOU EVER SEE A
CLERK IN YOUR LIFE BEFORE?

WHO MADE YOU A CLERK?

YES. WHO DID THIS
DREADFUL THING?

LISTEN, FOLKS, I CAN'T
GIVE YOU THE WHOLE STORY.

NATURALLY, I'M TIED UP
WITH MY WORD OF HONOR.

BUT IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR ME,

THIS PLACE WOULD BE
CLOSED ON ACCOUNT OF SUICIDE

AND YOU'D ALL BE OUT OF A JOB.

MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

GOOD MORNING.

OH, YES, MRS. MATUSCHEK.

DON'T MISS THIS, FOLKS.

HELLO, MRS. MATUSCHEK!

YES, THIS IS PEPI SPEAKING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OH, I DIDN'T BRING YOU
THAT BOTTLE OF PERFUME?

WELL, YOU'RE NEVER
GOING TO GET IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

YOUR PERFUME DAYS
ARE OVER, MRS. M.

YES! THIS IS PEPI SPEAKING.

OH, YOU WANT TO SPEAK
TO MR. MATUSCHEK.

THAT'S TOO BAD.

JUST AT THE MOMENT, HE'S UP
IN A BALLOON WITH 2 BLONDES.

NOW WATCH THIS.

YOU WOULDN'T LIKE TO SPEAK
BY ANY CHANCE TO MR. VADAS?

HA HA HA HA!

THAT GOT HER. DRAW
YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS.

YOU, UH, SENT FOR ME, CHIEF?

VADAS, I'M A LITTLE
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE

UNDER A FORMER FELLOW CLERK,

YOU KNOW, WORKING
UNDER A YOUNGER MAN?

KRALIK, THIS IS
THE AGE OF YOUTH,

AND I ALWAYS RIDE
WITH THE TIMES.

YOU'RE A SMART YOUNG
MAN AND MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, LET'S STOP
BEATING AROUND THE BUSH.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND
I NEVER GOT ALONG.

OH, YOU REALLY THINK SO?

NOW, COME ON, ADMIT
IT. YOU DON'T LIKE ME.

I DON'T... NOW, WAIT
A MINUTE, KRALIK.

YOU ARE THE
BOSS... THAT'S RIGHT...

BUT I AM NOT GOING TO
BE A YES MAN. NO, SIR.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO?

I'M GOING TO CONTRADICT YOU.

I DO LIKE YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE BOTHERING YOU?

YES. I DON'T LIKE YOU!

UH-HUH. YES. THAT'S
EVERY MAN'S PRIVILEGE.

I THANK YOU FOR BEING SO FRANK.

NOW AT LEAST I KNOW MY PROBLEM,

AND IT'S ENTIRELY UP TO ME

TO MAKE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

AND YOU KNOW,

I DON'T THINK IT WILL
BE SO VERY HARD. NO...

KRALIK, I HEARD THE
FUNNIEST JOKE LAST NIGHT.

DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IT?

NO!

HELLO.

YES, THIS IS MATUSCHEK
AND COMPANY.

WHO'S CALL... JOHANNA?

OH, YOU'RE CALLING
FOR MISS NOVAK.

WELL, WHAT'S THE
MATTER WITH HER?

WELL, I HOPE IT'S
NOTHING SERIOUS.

OH, FINE. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, TELL
HER NOT TO WORRY.

UNLESS SHE'S
ABSOLUTELY ALL RIGHT,

TELL HER NOT TO COME TODAY.

NO, THERE'S NO HURRY, NOW.

AND TELL HER TO BE SURE AND
TAKE GOOD CARE OF HERSELF.

ALL RIGHT.

REALLY, KRALIK,

THAT'S A WONDERFUL ATTITUDE.

WHAT'S SO WONDERFUL ABOUT IT?

WELL, AFTER ALL,
I'VE BEEN AROUND,

YOU KNOW, AND I
HAVE MY EYES OPEN.

IF ANYONE DIDN'T AGREE
WITH YOU AROUND HERE,

IT CERTAINLY WAS NOBODY
EXCEPT MISS NOVAK.

JUST LEAVE MISS
NOVAK OUT OF THIS.

ALL RIGHT, PLEASE
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME.

I HAVE NOTHING
AGAINST MISS NOVAK.

ON THE CONTRARY, I THINK

SHE'S A VERY, VERY NICE GIRL.

ONLY SOMETIMES SHE
WENT A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR.

ALL RIGHT, NOW,

WE DON'T WANT TO
HAVE ANOTHER WORD

ABOUT MISS NOVAK.
SHE'S A FINE GIRL

AND SHE'S WORKING VERY HARD,

AND SHE'S A GOOD
SALESGIRL, AND YOU SHUT UP!

YOU MISUNDERSTAND ME. I
DIDN'T MEAN ANY OFFENSE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I
WAS AGREEING WITH YOU.

I DON'T WANT YOU
TO AGREE WITH ME!

YOU'RE FIRED.

OH, SO I'M FIRED.

YOU'RE FIRED. NOW, GET
OUT OF HERE, YOU TWO-FACED

DOUBLE-CROSSING TWO-TIMER.
NOW GO ON, GET OUT OF HERE!

FOLKS! FOLKS!

FOLKS! DID YOU HEAR
THAT WHAT HE CALLED ME?

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
IT, ON THE WITNESS STAND.

HE CALLED ME A
DOUBLE-CROSSING TWO-TIMER.

A DOUBLE-CROSSING TWO-TIMER.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, I TOLD
YOU TO GET OUT OF HERE!

NOW, GO ON, GET OUT!

DON'T YOU PUSH! DON'T YOU PUSH!

WHAT RIGHT HAVE YOU
GOT TO FIRE ME, ANYWAY?

DOES MR. MATUSCHEK
KNOW ABOUT THIS?

NO! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

MR. MATUSCHEK DOESN'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!

I'M THE MANAGER, AND YOU
DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE.

SO YOU ARE THE MANAGER.

HOW DO I KNOW YOU
ARE THE MANAGER?

ANYONE CAN SAY
THAT. PROVE IT TO ME.

PROVE IT TO ME IN
BLACK AND WHITE!

OH, YOU WANT IT IN
BLACK AND WHITE?

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOING
TO GET IT IN BLACK AND BLUE!

IT'S ALL RIGHT, IT'S
QUITE ALL RIGHT.

NICE LITTLE CASE OF
ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

YOU'LL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER.

WHAT ABOUT MY SALARY?

GET THE MAN'S SALARY!

HERE IT IS, MR. VADAS.

EVERYTHING'S PREPARED.

WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANY TIME.

PARDON ME, SIR, YOUR GARMENTS.

YOU... BY THE WAY,

I'M ENTITLED TO A
LETTER OF REFERENCE.

I FORGOT IT. FLORA,
TAKE A LETTER.

UH... "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

"MR. VADAS HAS
BEEN IN THE EMPLOY

"OF MATUSCHEK AND
COMPANY FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS,

"DURING WHICH TIME HE
HAS BEEN VERY EFFICIENT

"AS A STOOL PIGEON, A
TROUBLEMAKER, AND A RAT!

"AND IF HE DOESN'T
CLEAR OUT OF HERE,

"HE'S GONNA GET A
PUNCH IN THE NOSE!

YOURS VERY TRULY,
ALFRED KRALIK, MANAGER,

MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY."

OH, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MISS NOVAK.

WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU'RE
SURPRISED TO SEE ME BACK.

WELL, NATURALLY.

I'M GLAD YOU HAVE
YOUR JOB BACK AGAIN.

I CONGRATULATE YOU.

I HEAR YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN FEELING WELL.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO SEE MR. MATUSCHEK.

AH... UH, WELL, HERE HE IS.

UH... I'M MR. MATUSCHEK.

OH, MR. KRALIK,

DON'T MAKE ANY JOKES. NOT TODAY.

PLEASE, IF YOU
HAVE TO PICK ON ME,

DO IT SOME OTHER TIME.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU
THAT MR. MATUSCHEK ISN'T HERE

AND I'M THE MANAGER.

HAVEN'T YOU GOT
ANY HEART AT ALL?

CAN'T YOU SEE I'M NOT WELL?

I CAN HARDLY SEE STRAIGHT.

THIS ROOM, EVERYTHING, IS
JUST GOING ROUND AND ROUND.

IN THIS STATE OF MIND, I
ASK YOU A SIMPLE QUESTION.

AND INSTEAD OF HAVING
ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ME,

YOU TRY DELIBERATELY
TO FRIGHTEN ME.

EXCUSE ME.

HELLO.

MR. FOELDES?

OH, HELLO, MR. FOELDES.

YES. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES. IT ALL HAPPENED
THIS MORNING.

UH-HUH. THAT'S
RIGHT, MR. FOELDES.

NO, MR. MATUSCHEK WON'T
BE WITH US FOR A WHILE.

WELL... OH, WELL, NOW,
PLEASE, MR. FOELDES.

I DON'T OWN THE SHOP YET.

I'M ONLY THE MANAGER, YOU KNOW.

YES. OH, GOOD-BYE, MR...

MISS NOVAK!

KLARA! KLARA! MISS NOVAK.

GOOD EVENING, MISS NOVAK.

GOOD EVENING, MR. KRALIK.

I HOPE YOU'LL FORGIVE
THIS INTRUSION,

BUT I... BEING IN
CHARGE OF THE SHOP,

I FEEL MORE OR
LESS LIKE A FATHER

TO OUR LITTLE FAMILY,

AND, I, UH... ANYWAY, I'M...

HOW ARE YOU, YOUNG LADY?

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT, MR. KRALIK.

PLEASE SIT DOWN.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS
IS COMING SOON,

AND WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING
TO MISS A GOOD LITTLE WORKER

LIKE YOU IN THE SHOP,

SO YOU BETTER GET WELL.

I'M SURE I'LL BE ALL
RIGHT IN A DAY OR TWO.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
YOU SHOULD NEGLECT YOURSELF.

NO, I'M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS,

BECAUSE I FEEL MORE
OR LESS RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE WHOLE THING.

YOU? OH, NO, MR. KRALIK.

OH, NO. I THINK I CAN
RELIEVE YOUR MIND.

IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT AT ALL.

NO. THERE'S A MUCH
BIGGER REASON,

UNFORTUNATELY.

WELL, DON'T YOU THINK YOU
OUGHT TO CALL A DOCTOR?

OH, NO. I DON'T NEED
TO SEE A DOCTOR.

NO. MY TROUBLE IS
WHAT ONE MIGHT CALL...

PSYCHOLOGICAL.

OH. UH-HUH.

WELL, IT'S MY OWN
PERSONAL PROBLEM,

AND I'LL COME OUT OF IT.

OH, I'M SORRY.

IT'S A SHAME YOU HAVE
TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS.

OF COURSE, AS LONG AS IT'S
ONLY PSYCHOLOGICAL, YOU WON'T...

ONLY PSYCHOLOGICAL?

MR. KRALIK, IT'S TRUE
WE'RE IN THE SAME ROOM,

BUT WE'RE NOT IN
THE SAME PLANET.

UH, MISS NOVAK, I...

ALTHOUGH I'M THE
VICTIM OF YOUR REMARK,

I... I CAN'T HELP ADMIRING
THE EXQUISITE WAY YOU HAVE

OF EXPRESSING YOURSELF.

YOU CERTAINLY KNOW
HOW TO PUT A MAN

IN HIS PLANET.

AUNT ANNA HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU!

SHE HAS! WELL, WHY
DOESN'T SHE COME IN?

COME IN, AUNT ANNA!

OH!

OH, THIS IS MR. KRALIK

OF MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

GLAD TO MEET YOU.

I HOPE IT'S GOOD NEWS!

I'LL TELL YOU LATER.

OH. WELL, MR. KRALIK,

IT CERTAINLY WAS
KIND OF YOU TO DROP IN,

BUT I DON'T WANT TO
SPOIL YOUR WHOLE EVENING.

WELL, I HAVE NOTHING TO DO.

NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD
AND READ THE LETTER.

DON'T... DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

NO, NOT AT ALL.

GOOD NEWS?

VERY GOOD NEWS.

MR. KRALIK, I CAN PROMISE YOU

I'LL BE BACK IN THE
SHOP TOMORROW,

AND I'LL BE ON MY TOES.

I'LL SELL MORE GOODS
THAN I EVER SOLD BEFORE!

WELL, THAT'S QUITE
A CHANGE IN YOU.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT
ONE LETTER CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, IF I WEREN'T
FEELING SO HAPPY,

I'D BE VERY ANNOYED WITH YOU.

WITH ME? WHY?

WHY? BECAUSE YOU REALLY
SPOILED MY DATE LAST NIGHT.

YOU SEE, I WASN'T SO WRONG

WHEN I ASKED YOU
NOT TO SIT AT MY TABLE.

THIS GENTLEMAN DID
COME TO THE CAFE.

HE LOOKED IN THE WINDOW,

SAW US TOGETHER,
AND... MISUNDERSTOOD.

OH, YOU MEAN HE THOUGHT
YOU AND I WERE FRIENDS?

HE MUST HAVE. LISTEN.

"TELL ME AND BE FRANK.

"I THINK YOU OWE IT TO ME.

"WHO IS THIS VERY
ATTRACTIVE YOUNG MAN?

HE'S JUST THE TYPE
WOMEN FALL FOR."

I... I'M SORRY I CAUSED
YOU SO MUCH TROUBLE.

OH, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

IT WON'T HURT HIM TO
BE A LITTLE JEALOUS.

DOESN'T SEEM TO
BE MUCH OF A MAN,

THIS FRIEND OF YOURS.

I MEAN, HE WALKS AWAY,

HE'S AFRAID TO COME
OVER TO THE TABLE

WITH ANOTHER MAN SITTING THERE.

OH, NO, MR. KRALIK,

HE WAS NOT AFRAID,
I CAN ASSURE YOU.

HE'S TACTFUL. HE'S SENSITIVE.

HE'S NOT THE TYPE OF MAN

WHO WOULD WALK UP
TO A TABLE UNINVITED.

WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN

A MAN LIKE HIM
TO A MAN LIKE YOU.

WHERE YOU WOULD SAY
BLACK, HE WOULD SAY WHITE.

WHERE YOU WOULD SAY
UGLY, HE SAYS BEAUTIFUL.

AND WHERE YOU SAY
OLD MAID, HE SAYS...

"EYES THAT SPARKLE
WITH FIRE AND MYSTERY..."

"VIVACIOUS..."

"FASCINATING."

I REMIND HIM OF GYPSY MUSIC.

SPEAKING OF GYPSY MUSIC,

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE

SELLING THOSE OCHI
TCHORNYA BOXES.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

MR. KRALIK, YOU CAN CONSIDER
ONE BOX DEFINITELY SOLD.

YES, I'VE JUST HAD
AN INSPIRATION.

I'M GOING TO GIVE ONE TO
MY FRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS.

OH, MISS NOVAK, NOW, YOU'RE
TAKING AN AWFUL CHANCE.

OH, YES. WHY DON'T YOU
GIVE HIM A, UM, WALLET?

I'M SURE HE'D BE CRAZY ABOUT IT.

ANY MAN WOULD BE.

A WALLET IS A VERY
PRACTICAL THING.

AND BESIDES, WE HAVE
THOSE IMPORTED PIGSKINS.

OH, NO, NO. I'M NOT INTERESTED.

I'D MAKE YOU A SPECIAL PRICE.

NO. I'M SORRY.

YOU KNOW, BESIDES BEING
A VERY PRACTICAL THING,

A WALLET IS QUITE ROMANTIC.

YOU SEE, ON ONE SIDE,
HE HAS YOUR LAST LETTER.

ON THE OTHER SIDE,
A PICTURE OF YOU.

AND WHEN HE OPENS
IT, THERE YOU ARE.

AND THAT'S ALL THE
MUSIC HE WANTS.

WHY, MR. KRALIK,
YOU SURPRISE ME.

THAT'S VERY WELL EXPRESSED.

YES, I MUST ADMIT
IT, THAT'S VERY NICE.

NO. JUST THE SAME,

I'M GOING TO GIVE
HIM A CIGARETTE BOX.

WELL, I GUESS THERE
ISN'T MUCH MORE I CAN SAY,

EXCEPT THAT I WISH YOU A
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BOTH OF YOU.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. KRALIK.

GOOD NIGHT, MISS NOVAK.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. KRALIK.

RUDY!

YES, MR. KATONA.

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

A FEW MINUTES AFTER 8:00.

AND YOU'RE STILL HERE.

WELL, I WAS JUST...

DON'T CONTRADICT ME JUST LISTEN.

YES, MR. KATONA.

YOU HAVE TO BE FASTER,

ESPECIALLY ON A DAY LIKE THIS.

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE, YOUNG MAN.

AM I ASKING TOO MUCH?

NO, MR. KATONA!

ALL RIGHT!

FOLKS, I HAVE GREAT
NEWS FOR YOU!

I JUST TALKED TO THE HOSPITAL
MR. MATUSCHEK IS MUCH BETTER!

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL!

WELL, CAN WE VISIT HIM?

LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER

AND BUY HIM A NICE
CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

I HAVE A SUGGESTION.
LET'S GET HIM

A CUTE LITTLE CHRISTMAS
TREE FOR HIS HOSPITAL ROOM.

WELL, THAT'S ALL
VERY NICE, BUT I THINK

THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT
WE COULD GIVE HIM TONIGHT

IS AN EMPTY, BARE-LOOKING
SHOP SHOP WITH NOTHING IN IT

EXCEPT MONEY IN
THE CASH REGISTER.

NOW, COME ON, FOLKS,
NOW, LET'S MAKE THIS

THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS
EVE IN THE HISTORY

OF MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

WHERE'S KLARA? KLARA?
KLARA? KLARA? MISS NOVAK?

COMING!

COMING! MR. KRALIK, WHAT IS IT?

NOW... HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

FINE.

GOOD. NOW, WE'RE EXPECTING
A TERRIFIC BUSINESS TODAY,

AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
TOUGH. BUT DON'T OVERDO IT.

NOW, MISS NOVAK,

I WONDER IF I COULD ASK
A LITTLE FAVOR OF YOU?

WITH PLEASURE, MR. PIROVITCH.

I WANTED TO BUY ONE OF
THOSE OCHI TCHORNYA BOXES,

BUT KRALIK TELLS ME THAT
YOU TOOK THE ONLY ONE

THAT REALLY WORKS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I BOUGHT IT FOR MY BOYFRIEND.

OH... AH!

HE'S COMING TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS EVE.

MR. PIROVITCH, CAN
YOU KEEP A SECRET?

ON MY WORD OF HONOR.

WELL, WHEN I COME BACK MONDAY,

I... I MIGHT HAVE A
RING ON MY FINGER.

MAYBE. YOU NEVER KNOW.

WHY, THAT'S WONDERFUL!

AND THAT'S THE YOUNG MAN
WHO GETS THE CIGARETTE BOX?

OH, THEN LET'S DROP
THE WHOLE THING.

YOU SEE, I THOUGHT OF GIVING IT

TO MY WIFE'S UNCLE
FOR CHRISTMAS.

I'M SO SORRY.

CAN'T YOU GIVE HIM
SOMETHING ELSE?

THAT'S NOT SO EASY.
YOU SEE, I DON'T LIKE HIM.

I HATE TO SPEND A NICKEL ON HIM.

STILL, I MUST GIVE
HIM A PRESENT.

SO I THOUGHT, IF I HAVE
TO GIVE HIM A PRESENT,

AT LEAST GIVE HIM
SOMETHING HE WON'T ENJOY.

THE BOX COSTS 2.29.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT'S WORTH IT

TO RUIN MY WIFE'S
UNCLE'S CHRISTMAS.

OH, I'M SORRY, MISS NOVAK.

I FORGOT YOU ALWAYS LIKED THOSE.

NO, NO, MR. PIROVITCH.
SPEAK FREELY.

TELL ME, IF YOU
WERE IN MY POSITION,

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE HIM?

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

WHAT WOULD YOU
SAY TO THE IDEA OF A...

WELL, LET'S SAY,
MAYBE... A WALLET?

THAT'S AN INSPIRATION.

EH, YOU MEAN ONE OF
THOSE IMPORTED PIGSKINS?

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING OF.

YOU CAN'T MISS.

IF I WOULD GET SUCH A WALLET,

I WOULD BE ONE OF
THE HAPPIEST MEN

IN THE WORLD.

ON ONE SIDE... OH,
HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU.

SEE, ON ONE SIDE, I PUT
THE PICTURE OF MY WIFE,

AND ON THE OTHER
SIDE, MY LITTLE BABY.

AND WHEN I OPEN IT,

IT SAYS, "PAPA," AND
NOT OCHI TCHORNYA.

THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. PIROVITCH.

I'LL THINK IT OVER.

KRALIK, YOU GET THE WALLET.

Man: I THINK I WILL.

RIGHT THROUGH HERE, SIR.

HERE YOU ARE.

WELL, MR. MATUSCHEK,

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

SINCE WHEN ARE YOU BACK?

I'M NOT HERE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
A PRETTY SICK MAN,

THAT'S WHAT MY DOCTOR TELLS ME.

BUT AFTER ALL,
IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE.

I COULDN'T STAY AWAY ANY LONGER.

CAN YOU IMAGINE ME OVER
2 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL

WITHOUT SEEING A
SINGLE CUSTOMER?

AND THE ONLY PIECE
OF LEATHER GOODS

IN THE PLACE WAS
MY NURSE'S HANDBAG.

AND WHERE DO YOU
THINK SHE GOT IT?

AT BLASEK AND COMPANY!

AND THEY EXPECT ME TO GET WELL!

HAVE YOU BEEN BY
BLASEK AND COMPANY?

OH, YES.

WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS
ARE THEY DOING?

THEY'RE PRETTY BUSY, BUT
NO COMPARISON WITH THIS.

AH, GOOD! THIS IS ALL RIGHT, EH?

NOW, MR. MATUSCHEK,
TAKE IT EASY. DON'T OVERDO.

OH, NO. I'M NOT A FOOL.

I JUST CAME AROUND TO FIND OUT

IF THE SHOP WAS STILL HERE.

AND THEN I GO.

WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
MR. MATUSCHEK.

SAME TO YOU.

DO YOU THINK ERIC WOULD
LIKE THAT BRIEFCASE?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT SO SURE.

PARDON ME, LADIES.

I CAN'T SEE VERY WELL

WITHOUT MY GLASSES.

COULD YOU TELL ME THE PRICE

ON THAT BRIEFCASE?

24.50.

24.50!

MY, WHAT VALUES YOU GET HERE!

I WONDER HOW MATUSCHEK
AND COMPANY CAN DO IT.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T KNOW,
MR. MATUSCHEK, WHO SHOULD?

HERE YOU ARE.

WELL, HOW MUCH IS IT?

9,654.75.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL!

THAT'S THE BIGGEST
DAY SINCE '28.

YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD,

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

2 HOURS AGO WHEN I WALKED
IN HERE, I WAS A SICK MAN,

BUT YOU, KRALIK,
AND YOU, PIROVITCH,

YOU'RE THE BEST DOCTORS.

YEAH. AND YOU, KLARA,
AND ILONA AND FLORA,

YOU'RE WONDERFUL NURSES.

THANK YOU.

OH, WELL, AND PEPI. YOU
KNOW WHAT I THINK ABOUT YOU.

YES, SIR.

WELL...

THIS MORNING WHEN I RECEIVED
THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE

THAT YOU ALL SENT ME,

I WAS DEEPLY MOVED.

I... I READ YOUR LITTLE
NOTE OVER AND OVER,

AND IT MADE ME VERY
HAPPY THAT YOU MISSED ME

AND HOPED THAT I'D BE
COMING BACK HOME SOON AGAIN.

YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS MY HOME.

THIS IS WHERE I
SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE,

AND... WELL.

NOW, NO CHRISTMAS IS
COMPLETE WITHOUT A BONUS.

AM I RIGHT?

SO... MR. KRALIK.

THANK YOU, SIR.

KLARA.

OH, MR. MATUSCHEK, THANK YOU.

PEPI.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

FLORA... HERE.

ILONA.

THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

AND PIROVITCH.

YOU, UH... YOU KNOW THAT
I'VE CALLED YOU NAMES

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

WELL, WHEN YOU SEE THE BONUS,

YOU'LL REALIZE
THAT I DIDN'T MEAN IT.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

WELL, I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT ALL.

OH! HERE. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

RUDY!

AH, WELL, RUDY.

GOOD BOY.

HERE. AH. THERE.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, RUDY.

TOO MUCH.

WELL, WE'LL LEAVE
THE SHOP JUST AS IT IS

TILL AFTER THE
HOLIDAY. I WANT YOU ALL

TO GO HOME NOW AND HAVE
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

WELL, KRALIK...

9,654.75.

THAT'S WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OH, THANK YOU, FLORA.

THANK YOU.

THERE YOU GO, SIR.

SO... WELL...

I THINK I'LL HAVE A
LITTLE DINNER NOW

AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.

UH, HAVE YOU EVER
BEEN TO BIRO'S?

OH, NO, SIR.

I'M AFRAID THAT'S
WAY OVER MY HEAD.

OH, WELL, BUT CHRISTMAS
ONLY COMES ONCE A YEAR.

HOW ABOUT JOINING ME,

AND WE'LL BREAK A BOTTLE
OF CHAMPAGNE TOGETHER?

OH, MR. MATUSCHEK,

I'D LOVE NOTHING MORE, BUT...

OH, YOU HAVE ANOTHER
ENGAGEMENT, HUH?

WELL, IT'S... IT'S JUST, UH...

NO, NO. NOT ANOTHER WORD.

I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE
THAT YOU WEREN'T ALONE.

WELL, HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME,

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THE SAME TO YOU, SIR.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS!

EH, WELL, PIROVITCH, I, UH...

I PRESUME YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE

A NICE LITTLE PARTY

AT YOUR HOUSE TONIGHT?

YES, I SHOULD SAY.

YOU... PROBABLY...
HAVE SOME GUESTS?

NO, NO, NO, MR. MATUSCHEK.

JUST MY WIFE, MY BOY, MY
LITTLE BABY, AND MYSELF.

THAT'S ALL WE WANT,
AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY.

YEAH. WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. MATUSCHEK.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MR. MATUSCHEK.

OH, THANK YOU, FLORA.

AND, PLEASE, GIVE MY
REGARDS TO YOUR MOTHER.

THANK YOU, MR. MATUSCHEK.

STILL HANGING AROUND THE SHOP,

EH, MR. MATUSCHEK?

CAN'T GET AWAY FROM HERE, HUH?

WELL, YOU BETTER
HURRY HOME, SON.

YOU... YOU'RE PROBABLY
CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

WITH YOUR MOTHER
AND FATHER, AM I WRONG?

YES, MR. MATUSCHEK.

SEE THAT GIRL OVER
THERE ON THE CORNER?

YEAH.

WELL, I'M HER SANTA CLAUS.

GOOD NIGHT, MR. MATUSCHEK.

GOOD NIGHT.

MR. MATUSCHEK, I DON'T
KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU

FOR THAT MARVELOUS
PRESENT. AFTER ALL,

I'M ONLY WORKING
HERE A SHORT TIME.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME?

RUDY.

RUDY. HOW OLD ARE YOU, RUDY?

17.

17. THAT'S A WONDERFUL AGE.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR
WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU.

BUT IT'S UP TO YOU
WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

YES, SIR.

WELL, NOW, YOU BETTER
NOT SQUANDER THAT MONEY.

YOU TAKE IT HOME AND
GIVE IT TO YOUR MOTHER.

MY PEOPLE DON'T LIVE HERE
IN TOWN, MR. MATUSCHEK.

IS THAT SO?

HAVE YOU NO OTHER
RELATIONS HERE?

NO, MR. MATUSCHEK.

YOU'RE ALL ALONE IN
BUDAPEST ON CHRISTMAS EVE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

RUDY, DO YOU LIKE
CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP?

I CERTAINLY DO, MR. MATUSCHEK.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU
THINK OF ROAST GOOSE

STUFFED WITH BAKED APPLES

AND FRESH-BOILED
POTATOES AND BUTTER

AND SOME RED
CABBAGE ON THE SIDE?

I'D LOVE IT!

AND THEN SOME CUCUMBER SALAD

WITH SOUR CREAM.

OH, MR. MATUSCHEK!

AND THEN A DOUBLE
ORDER OF APPLE STRUDEL

WITH VANILLA SAUCE!

SOUNDS WONDERFUL!

YES, WELL, YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE IT, RUDY.

COME ON! HERE, TAXI!

OH, IT'S LOVELY. I'M
SURE HE'LL LIKE IT.

I THINK SO, TOO.

WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS,
KLARA, AND I HOPE EVERYTHING

TURNS OUT JUST THE
WAY YOU WANT IT TO.

OH, THANK YOU, ILONA.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, TOO.

GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.

OH.

OH, I'M SORRY TO
KEEP YOU WAITING.

I'LL BE OUT IN JUST A SECOND.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S NO HURRY.

OH...

OH, YES. I DECIDED

TO FOLLOW YOUR ADVICE AFTER ALL.

WANT TO SEE SOMETHING?

UH-HUH.

OH...

OH!

OH... THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!

LOOK, WHY DON'T YOU TRY IT ON?

YEAH. I'D SORT OF LIKE TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON A GIRL.

ARE THOSE REAL DIAMONDS?

THEY'RE PRETTY NEAR IT.

OH, MY!

MY!

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU
HAD A GIRLFRIEND.

OH, YES, I...

IT PROBABLY ISN'T EASY
FOR YOU TO IMAGINE

THAT ANYONE COULD
LIKE A MAN OF MY TYPE.

NOW, MR. KRALIK,

DON'T LET'S START
ALL OVER AGAIN.

IT'S CHRISTMAS,

AND I'D LIKE TO BE
FRIENDS WITH YOU.

BESIDES, YOU'RE WRONG.

DO YOU... MIND

IF I TELL YOU SOMETHING?

NO, NOT AT ALL.

WELL, WHEN I FIRST
CAME TO WORK HERE,

SOMETHING VERY
STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME.

I GOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY MIXED UP.

YOU DON'T SAY?

YES. I FOUND MYSELF
LOOKING AT YOU

AGAIN AND AGAIN.

I JUST COULDN'T TAKE
MY EYES OFF YOU.

MM-HMM. OH?

AND ALL THE TIME I
KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF,

"KLARA NOVAK, WHAT ON
EARTH IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?

"THIS KRALIK IS
NOT A PARTICULARLY

ATTRACTIVE TYPE OF MAN."

I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND.

NO. NO, NOT AT ALL.

NOW, HERE COMES THE PARADOX.

I FOUND MYSELF FALLING FOR YOU!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

YES, MR. KRALIK,
AND VERY MUCH SO.

YOU CERTAINLY DIDN'T SHOW IT.

LISTEN, IN THOSE
FIRST FEW WEEKS...

I KNOW YOU WON'T MISCONSTRUE

WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU.

AFTER ALL, I'M VERY
HAPPILY ENGAGED.

AT LEAST, IT LOOKS THAT WAY.

YES, WELL, GO ON.

OH. IN THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS,

THERE WERE MOMENTS
IN THE STOCKROOM

WHEN YOU COULD HAVE
SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET.

NOW I'M GETTING
PSYCHOLOGICALLY MIXED UP.

WELL, YOU SEE, I WAS
A DIFFERENT GIRL THEN.

I WAS REALLY RATHER NAIVE.

ALL MY KNOWLEDGE
CAME FROM BOOKS,

AND I'D JUST FINISHED A NOVEL

ABOUT A GLAMOROUS FRENCH ACTRESS

FROM THE COMEDIE-FRANCAISE...

THAT'S A THEATER IN FRANCE.

AND WHEN SHE WANTED
TO ROUSE A MAN'S INTEREST,

SHE TREATED HIM LIKE A DOG.

YES, WELL, YOU
TREATED ME LIKE A DOG.

YES, BUT INSTEAD
OF LICKING MY HAND,

YOU BARKED.

YOU SEE, MY MISTAKE
WAS, I DIDN'T REALIZE

THAT THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THIS
GLAMOROUS LADY AND ME

WAS THAT SHE WAS WITH
THE COMEDIE-FRANCAISE

AND I WAS WITH
MATUSCHEK AND COMPANY.

OH, WELL, THAT'S
ALL FORGOTTEN NOW.

SO NOW YOU GO TO
SEE YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

BY THE WAY, IS IT SERIOUS?

YES, VERY.

MAYBE... MAYBE WE'LL
BOTH BE ENGAGED

MONDAY MORNING.

I THINK WE WILL.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO
MISUNDERSTAND ME.

I JUST SAID IN MY
CASE, IT MIGHT HAPPEN.

WELL, AS A MATTER
OF FACT, I CAN TELL YOU

IT WILL HAPPEN.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

WELL, WE WON'T GO INTO THAT.

MR. KRALIK,

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU KNOW?

UH, WELL, I GUESS I
MIGHT AS WELL TELL YOU.

HE CAME TO SEE ME...

YOUR FIANCE. WHO?

YES. YES, HE CAME LAST NIGHT.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE
TOLD HIM WHO I AM.

I SPENT AN UNCOMFORTABLE HOUR.

NOW, APPARENTLY
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT

WHEN YOU WROTE HIM THAT
I MEANT NOTHING TO YOU.

I... CAN'T GET IT IN MY HEAD.

COMING TO SEE YOU?

OH, NO, THAT DOESN'T
SOUND LIKE HIM AT ALL.

WELL, NOW, LISTEN, I'VE
STRAIGHTENED EVERYTHING OUT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

IN A LITTLE WHILE,
YOU'LL BE MRS. POPKIN.

M-M-MRS. POP...

THAT'S THE NAME, ISN'T IT?

POPKIN... THAT'S THE
NAME HE GAVE ME.

POP... OH, YES. THAT'S RIGHT.

POPKIN. POPKIN...

AND A VERY NICE FELLOW.
A VERY NICE FELLOW.

I CONGRATULATE YOU.

THANK YOU.

I THINK HE'S A VERY

ATTRACTIVE MAN, DON'T YOU?

OH, YES. YES.

FOR HIS TYPE, I'D SAY... YES.

YOU WOULD, UH,
REALLY CLASSIFY HIM

AS, UH, A DEFINITE TYPE?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND DON'T YOU TRY
AND CHANGE HIM, NOW.

NO, DON'T PUT HIM ON A DIET.

WOULD YOU... CALL HIM FAT?

WELL, I WOULDN'T,

BUT OF COURSE THAT'S
JUST A MATTER OF OPINION.

NOW, PERSONALLY, I THINK
THAT LITTLE STOMACH OF HIS

GIVES HIM A NICE HOMEY QUALITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU
WANT IN A HUSBAND, ISN'T IT?

OH, YES, THAT'S... WHAT I WANT.

YEAH, AND YOU'RE
PERFECTLY RIGHT.

NOW, IF I WERE A GIRL

AND HAD TO CHOOSE

BETWEEN A YOUNG GOOD-FOR-NOTHING

WITH PLENTY OF HAIR

AND A GOOD, SOLID,
MATURE CITIZEN,

I'D PICK MATHIAS
POPKIN EVERY TIME.

WELL, ANYWAY,
HE HAS A FINE MIND.

DIDN'T HE IMPRESS YOU
AS BEING RATHER WITTY?

WELL, HE STRUCK ME
AS RATHER DEPRESSED.

THOUGH OF COURSE IT'S
UNFAIR TO JUDGE A MAN

WHEN HE'S OUT OF A JOB.

OUT OF A JOB? HE NEVER TOLD ME.

WELL, THAT SHOWS
YOU HOW SENSITIVE HE IS.

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

NO, HE FEELS THAT BOTH OF YOU

CAN LIVE NICELY ON YOUR SALARY.

DID YOU... TELL HIM...
HOW MUCH I MAKE?

WELL, HE'S YOUR
FIANCE. HE ASKED ME.

WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT
SALARY YOU MADE,

HE WAS A LITTLE WORRIED,

BUT THEN I PROMISED HIM

THAT YOU WERE
GOING TO GET A RAISE,

AND HE FELT MUCH
BETTER ABOUT IT.

AND LET ME TELL YOU,
MENTIONING THAT BONUS

DIDN'T DO YOU ANY HARM AT ALL.

OH, THIS IS TERRIBLE!

WHY, I'M OUTRAGED!

I HAD NO IDEA

HE WAS MATERIALISTIC LIKE THIS!

WHY, IF YOU COULD
READ HIS LETTERS...

SUCH IDEALS,

SUCH A LOFTY POINT OF VIEW.

I COULD QUOTE YOU PASSAGES.

FOR INSTANCE?

WELL...

"TO LOVE IS TO BE
TWO AND YET ONE.

A MAN AND..."

"A MAN AND A WOMAN

"BLENDED AS ANGELS.

HEAVEN ITSELF."

THAT'S VICTOR
HUGO. HE STOLE THAT.

OHH...

AND I THOUGHT I
WAS THE INSPIRATION

FOR ALL THOSE
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS.

NOW I FIND HE WAS
JUST COPYING WORDS

OUT OF A BOOK.

HE PROBABLY DIDN'T MEAN
A SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

WELL, UH...

I'M SORRY YOU FEEL
THIS WAY ABOUT IT.

I HATE TO THINK

I'M SPOILING YOUR CHRISTMAS.

I BUILT UP SUCH AN
ILLUSION ABOUT HIM.

I THOUGHT HE WAS SO PERFECT.

I HAD TO COME ALONG
AND DESTROY IT.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I... I GUESS I REALLY
OUGHT TO THANK YOU.

KLARA, IF I'D ONLY
KNOWN IN THE BEGINNING

HOW YOU REALLY FELT ABOUT ME,

THINGS WOULD HAVE
BEEN DIFFERENT. I...

WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
FIGHTING ALL THE TIME.

IF WE DID QUARREL,

IT WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN OVER SUITCASES

OR HANDBAGS,

BUT OVER SOMETHING LIKE...

WHETHER YOUR AUNT OR GRANDMOTHER

SHOULD LIVE WITH US OR NOT.

WELL, IT'S SWEET OF YOU
TO TRY TO CHEER ME UP.

I THINK WE'D BETTER
SAY GOOD NIGHT.

YOU HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT.
YES, AND SO HAVE I,

AND WE SHOULDN'T BE LATE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I
WISH WOULD HAPPEN?

WHEN YOUR BELL RINGS AT 8:30

AND YOU OPEN THE DOOR,

INSTEAD OF POPKIN, I COME IN.

NO, PLEASE DON'T MAKE
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME.

AND I'D SAY, KLARA, DARLING...

OH, NO, YOU MUSTN'T!

OH, DEAREST SWEETHEART KLARA,

I CAN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER.

PLEASE, TAKE YOUR KEY

AND OPEN POST OFFICE BOX 237

AND TAKE ME OUT OF MY ENVELOPE

AND KISS ME...

MR. KRALIK, YOU MUSTN'T...

"DEAR FRIEND."

YOU...

DEAR FRIEND?

ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED?

PSYCHOLOGICALLY,
I'M VERY CONFUSED...

BUT PERSONALLY,

I DON'T FEEL BAD AT ALL.

OH, KLARA.

TELL ME,

WHEN YOU CAME TO
THE CAFE THAT NIGHT,

OH, I WAS PRETTY RUDE, WASN'T I?

OH, NO, NO.

YES, I WAS. DON'T YOU REMEMBER?

I... WHY, I CALLED
YOU BOWLEGGED.

OH, WELL. YEAH, I KNOW.

AND I WAS GOING TO
PROVE THAT I WASN'T.

I WAS GOING OUT ON THE STREET

AND PULL UP MY TROUSERS.

YES. WELL, WOULD
YOU MIND VERY MUCH

IF I ASKED YOU TO
PULL THEM UP NOW?

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL
CAPTIONING INSTITUTE... www.ncicap.org...