Original subtitles

Hungarofilm presents: THE WITNESS

Cast

Photography and music

Written and directed by P�ter Bacs�

Speak to the forlorn poor with the mouth of a ruminating calf

Chew into their hearts: they need not be heroes if they can't be

Attila J�zsef

For instance, J�zsef Pelik�n, dike- keeper, never wanted to be a hero

Hungary, 1949

LONG LIVE OUR GREAT, WISE LEADER!

Not there!

J�zsi, there's meat at the shop!

That's all until next week

There's nothing for it but to kill Desir�e

Must we?

Coat those ration cards in breadcrumbs

Poor Desir�e

She has to die tonight

And Desir�e died

I think we can start now

Practice like hell, for God's sake

Comrades, strike your picks in deep

The brawny Workers' Brigade strides forth

The sound resounds proudly from our lips

Our new song of joy

- Where's your father? - At a seminar

- At this hour? - He's at work all day

- What are they doing? - It's a patrol meeting

The eight members of the Pelik�n patrol! Choir practice

Have you got a pig, lad?

We haven't even the swill to feed it

I'll be back

Go and fetch the garlic

I'll do the rest, Gizi

Don't eat the fat, or you'll be sick

Listen, what was that?

Wasn't it the dog?

All right, then

A poacher on the horizon

Hallo, Comrade D�niel

Why so surprised? I've come to do a bit of fishing

I've not been here for ten years

So I noticed

How's life? How's the wife?

She ran off with bargee, a Romanian

Oh, well. How about the children?

Fine. Aren't you married yet, Comrade D�niel?

Why so formal with me, J�zsi?

- How should I speak to a minister? - Let's not stand on ceremony

I'll get angry if we, of all people, stick to formalities

- What's the mood like around here? - Well...

I read that it's excellent

- Where did you read that? - In the Mood Report

Then it'll be excellent

Hold on! Gophers are the dike's most dangerous enemies

Wait a moment

- Is that their hole? - Pour it down, Zolt�n

The kids will be pleased; they get two forints tail at a depot

Hold it up for a moment

- Where are you going? - I've got a bite

What a fool I am; it must have been a fantastic catfish

Promise not to tell anyone...

...I lost the world's biggest catfish

You heard nothing, saw nothing

But I've got a Council of Minister meeting

Now you shut up and lie down

Lie down and we'll make tea for you

- Put some life into him, Gizi - I'll try

What do you mean, "shush"? Where's that pig, or I'll get rough

Not so loud, comrades, or you'll wake the comrade minister

"Comrade Minister"! Talk like that will land you in jail

Isn't illegal slaughtering enough, without abusing leading comrades?

- Do as you like - It's a house search

- What's going on, comrades? - Who are you, comrade?

Have you never seen me before? Report, if you please

Comrade Minister, it's a house search

J�zsef Pelik�n has been reported for illegal pig-slaughtering

Proceed with your search, comrades; reports are sacred

Put everything back in place

And take note of one thing

We have enough enemies. It's not honest workers we should harry

Why should you upset J�zsef Pelik�n's peaceful home?

Have you taken leave of your senses?

But he was reported

What do you mean, reported?

What if someone reported you for drug smuggling or bank robbery?

Nine out of ten reports are crazy

I don't understand. It was a serious anonymous report; typewritten

Listen here... comrade

Do you know the sacrifice J�zsef Pelik�n made for us?

Skip it, Zolt�n

No, J�zsi, the comrades should know who they're pestering

Now listen

In 1944, in this very room...

...he was beaten and kicked by detectives. Why?

To make him give us away

A word from him would betray us; we were down here in the cellar

Zolt�n, don't

We heard him being tortured, but he kept quiet

He kept us five weeks underground

You ought to take your caps off to him

He hid us here, in this very place

Comrades...

...perform your duty

The law applies to everyone; a hundred times more so for communists

I see

Meanwhile, we'll drench this with petrol

This is material proof, to be appended to the criminal evidence

How else can we preserve it for the trial?

- What's happening, dad? - Be good, children

Let's go

Don't bear it against me, J�ska; I couldn't help it

No whoring around, mind

I'll send back your suit

I don't think I'll need it urgently

It's Mr. Pelik�n! An aquaintance at last

These are false, Mr. Guly�s

Nicely done. Did I knock out the originals?

The kids swept them off the floor. Now I'll get my own back

Open your mouth, you torturer

Mr. Pelik�n, I'm paying the penalty. Must I lose my teeth, too?

- What did you get? - Eight years

We'll wait for them. But when they're up...

That wouldn't be the right thing. It was my trade, after all

I never bore any personal grudge

Wouldn't I be useful to this regime? Has it such experienced people?

They managed to detect me all right

Jailed within 24 hours of illegal pig-slaughtering. Express work, eh?

Was there punch-up?

Do you mind? We can get on quite well without you, thanks

Did you confess, Father?

Kiss his hand; you never know

Why are you here, my son?

He's not a political, Your Grace. A common criminal: illegal slaughtering

Everything is politics, my son. I shall pray for you

On the third day, Pelik�n was allowed visitors

- How are things? - Everyone's fine

- And the dike? - No problems

- The water level? - It rose two centimeters yesterday

You're not home evenings, I suppose

Yes, I am

Mind the little ones don't see your goings on

Don't worry, they don't

You saw the lawyer?

Imagine, dad, D�niel sent his driver to see how we were

He returned the suit and said he'd visit us one day

Very decent, but what about the lawyer?

He said he'll do all he can

What will I get?

It depends what you get it for

You may be fined, or you might get the severest sentence...

... if they want to set an example

What severest sentence? Death?

Your punishment will depend on the example

Charming! What else did he say?

Don't be surprised if he asks for severe punishment, at the trial

Who? The defence lawyer?

It would be different if you were a rich kulak...

...but as you're a party member and the lawyer isn't... socialist law...

What's that about socialist law? Think

Well, setting an example is the main thing. And not to worry

All right. Give them my love, take care of yourselves

Guard the dike and watch out for moles and gophers

Socialism still on the move, Pelik�n?

Have I got to bash your head in after all, Guly�s?

We Hungarians should love each other. You've got high-up friends

Put in a word for me; it's a pity to let me waste here

Sod off, Guly�s

I'm serious. I could name one or two people out to get you lot

Isn't one of them called Csetneki?

I'm saying nothing, but if you'd put in a good word for me...

I wonder what's for supper?

Noodles again

If only they'd pour some oniony gravy over them

The food was far better in our day

Shut up. I had my fill of your food

J�zsef Pelik�n, bring your things

Condemned cell?

Comrade Pelik�n, you are free

- Free? - As a bird. Congratulations

And the pig, Desir�e?

There never was a pig. You are innocent; all charges are dropped

But I did kill that pig, so I'm rightfully here

No arguments. You're innocent and that's that; orders from above

Anyway, improve the food.

Reactionaries mustn't criticize democratic prisons

It's not that good outside, either, but one's more politically aware here

No bones broken?

You've lost weight. Who was the scum who informed on you?

I'd have got ten years, but if someone's pally with a minister...

You reported me, Csetneki

You reported me, Csetneki

Because it's as clear as a punch-up you reported me in 1942

What if I discovered a thing or two about you?

- Such as what? - You sent the village lads to Germany

That's no secret

And you wore such a lovely Fascist armband

I was only a small-time Fascist; they were exonerated

Were they? No one asked my opinion. Now get out of here

You've no right to do that

Right? Get out before I chuck you out, though I'm a peaceful man

Be off with you

Very well, Pelik�n

But you're in for a big surprise

- J�zsef Pelik�n? - Yes. This is my daughter

- What's in that parcel? - A duck

Pelik�n is here

Please take a seat

- Is Zoli D�niel in? - Wait a moment, please

You can go in now

Come back. What are you doing?

What are you waiting for? - We're looking for Comrade D�niel

- Is he out? - I don't know

- When will he be in? - I don't know

- Is he abroad? - I don't know

Could you say if he's still minister here?

I don't know

Are you J�zsef Pelik�n from Szigetn�dasd...

...1 Trebich N�ndor Street?

That's right. I wanted to thank Comrade D�niel for his kindness

Leave the parcel here

Can we go? I hope you've a fridge here

You can go

You could put it in...

Pelik�n doesn't understand a thing

One night a big, black car comes for him

Where are we going? Are you going to hang me?

Go on, tell me. We all have to die some time

Even you, lads

Were your mothers dumb, too?

I'm to go up? God be with you, lads

No gossiping about this, mind

Welcome, Comrade Pelik�n

Aren't you hungry? We could have dinner together

I've had supper, but I could eat a little something

You may serve dinner, Comrade Gogl�k

Those Christmases of childhood, eh, Comrade Pelik�n?

- What will you drink? - Me? More or less anything

You leave the choice to me

You look well, Comrade Pelik�n

The Danube air. You look well, too, comrade

Oh, this office work withers on away

- Good appetite - Thank you very much

- Is this all mine? - Go ahead; tuck in

Sucking-pig isn't bad, eh, Comrade Pelik�n?

- Comrade Vir�g, I confess everything - Easy now

I slaughtered the pig

We can wipe that out. Say nothing; we know everything, anyway

That's all right, then

Your jacket was made in 1938. English material, 85 per cent. Wool

They don't make such material nowadays

Shoulders a little over-padded, but good lapels

Do eat some more

Won't you eat anything?

My stomach... but you go ahead

It's good to encounter an old campaigner

It's a pity we didn't meet earlier

You see, Comrade Pelik�n, one day we're going to ask something of you

- What will you ask? - All in good time

We'll be meeting again

Suppose I dropped in on you with my family one day

- On me? - To make friends

To get to know each other; we're two good, old comrades after all

The problem is, I can't produce such a supper

No need to guzzle all the time

All I can say is, Comrade Pelik�n, the international situation...

...is intensifying

Intensifying? It's good to know

One must never forget that

I won't

One day, Pelik�n took the children out for ice-cream

Watch it, lads

My sons

Passionate photographers, and your old campaigner's family...

...is a perfect subject

I'd gladly invite you to supper, but we've nothing but potatoes

We could do baked potatoes, couldn't we?

Excellent. But let's walk with the children first

Well, if that's what you fancy

How ingenious our people are

I envy you, Comrade Pelik�n

The potato

The word reminds me of something

Doesn't the word potato ring a bell, Comrade Pelik�n?

No, Comrade Vir�g

Take a good look at me. Doesn't it stir memories?

I've got it! 1945; you shared out potatoes

You didn't have a moustache then. You made a fine speech

As you stood in front of the railway wagon a door opened...

...and the potatoes poured on top of you

We struggled to pull you out; you could hardly breathe

We were grateful to you. In those days there was no grub here at all

Well, don't let's sentimentalise. We can wipe that out

Isn't that the spare room?

You last had a guest three weeks ago

Zoli D�niel

He was in bed after jumping into the river

Fell in, more like. He was shivering like a jelly

How did you know?

No matter. But just remember this, Comrade Pelik�n:

Sucking-pig or potatoes, the class struggle is intensifying

No more ammunition, Colonel Permission to use hand-grenades?

I'd rather you didn't. Just hold on a moment

Bursting paper bugs again, weren't you?

They're allowed to make bangs!

He's got a mania for paper bags

Don't cry, lad. You'll live to see a jollier, happier world

Sorry, Comrade Vir�g

Not at all. We spring to the defence, come what may

I want to say that it's inconceivable, criminal...

...that an old campaigner should mess about guarding dikes

I'm quite happy where I am

Your place is in a responsible, leading position. What are you good at?

Dike-keeping, gopher catching. I'm ideologically ill-qualified

Do you love our great, wise leader?

Of course

Well, then

So Pelik�n became the swimming-pool director

- Why are they waiting? - Who are you?

The new director. Have they got tickets?

They have

- Why not let them in? - I can't because...

I can't understand; speak louder

Have they got tickets?

Stop whispering. I've been sent here to create order

Don't gawp at me, just give me your ticket

Let the others in, please

The pool is for workers to swim in

Don't be funny, I asked to see your ticket, not your gun

You there, have you got a ticket?

Are you deaf?

Treason!

- Back again? - The regime can thrive without me, too

Not for long

- Why? - The Americans are coming

Truman on a white horse? Don't you know anything new?

Yes, your pals are jailing each other

- What did you say? - It's even in the papers

- God brought you, my son - In a black car, Father

Any news about how long this is all going to last?

I don't want to alarm you, but it'll last quite a while yet

And the God of the Hungarians allows it

So it seems. What's for lunch?

Noodles

We mustn't eat the seed-corn of the future, though I wouldn't mind a bite

Bring your things

I'm terribly sorry about that affair, Comrade Vir�g...

...but I did warn you that I'm ideologically ill-qualified

If Comrade Bastion had been swimming in his general's uniform...

...then I'd have recognized him for sure...

...and I'd have protected him from the splashing throng

But in those trunks he looked... perhaps it was the light

He has already forgiven you

We've arrested a ticket-collector; he was responsible

It wasn't his fault; I didn't know the party line

The collector's mother was the mistress of a mill-owing kulak

He's confessed

As a matter of fact, I'd like to go back to the dike

Not a chance, Comrade Pelik�n

One day...

...we'll ask something of you

Not now?

In good time

The tension's killing

Just a moment, Comrade Gogl�k

Isn't that a new skirt?

It is, Comrade Vir�g

It's short; sexuality is an opiate of the decadent west

We have no need of it. Am I not right, Comrade Pelik�n?

You're right, it is, Comrade Vir�g

Hard, very hard

You will have to guard a vulnerable outpost of cultural progress

A political and ideological reorientation

Must it be me?

When we are absent, the enemy is present

You are now director of the English Park

Why "English Park"?

That's what it's called

Why English? Why not Gaiety Park, or Fun Park?

Exactly

You grasped the problem by the throat, comrade

English Park?

So the English imperialists can snigger at us? Not bloody likely!

Gaiety Park; that's what the workers want

So Pelik�n got a new job. He set to work enthusiastically

GAIETY PARK

LONG LIVE OUR WISE LEADER!

From today, the ghost train...

...will be known as The Socialist Ghost Train

We'll get rid of the skeletons and old junk...

...and replace them with portraits of our leaders,

especially Comrade Bastion

What about the shrieks and rattling bones?

They can stay

Won't people be scared by Comrade Bastion?

So what? Comrade Vir�g said the class struggle is intensifying

Anyone with a skeleton in the cupboard

will wet his pants on the ghost train

Don't you agree, comrades?

THE SOCIALIST GHOST TRAIN

DOWN WITH BOURGEOUIS PSEUDO-CULTURE!

THE FORGER OF OUR VICTORY

A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING EUROPE

WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS

THE FORGER OF OUR VICTORY

Here's some water, beloved Comrade Bastion

Imbecile!

Tell me if I've gone wrong, beloved Comrade Bastion

I know I've a lot to learn

Look at you, man! Attention!

Father, I don't know, nothing goes right for me nowadays

With the best of intentions, I misunderstand the party line

And the water level keeps rising

Don't fret, my son. Have a cigar

Are you making offers, too, Father?

Come on, I got it from them

And you dared to run down our prisons

"Our prisons"! Keep quiet, foolish man

"Our prisons" when they're always locking you up

One can learn from that, too

Even if it's only by disputing with highly respected clerical reaction

A dike-keeper having the opportunity to talk politics with a bishop

It's a question of backbone

- You'll soon be filleted - I think you're wrong there

Excuse me

I may be an idiot, but there's no going back on things

The bishop's angry because he's lost his land and his schools

Aren't I right?

Can't you shut up?

It's a stroke of luck you're locked up in here.

You'd have a fit if you saw how our country is being rebuilt

I'm not interested

The bishop would hate to see peasant deserting church for factory

Are you agitating here in prison?

Aren't I right, Father?

Let's not talk politics. What's for supper?

Noodles and potatoes

You see, things are improving

Don't experiment with me any more, Comrade Vir�g

Let me go back to the dike, the Danube's rising

Life is not a whipped-cream cake, Pelik�n

I grow weary, too, sometimes

I, too, am human

There's many a sleepless night nowadays, Comrade Pelik�n

Drink a beer before going to bed, you'll sleep like a log

Sleeplessness must be awful

It really won't be long before we ask something of you, comrade

Spit it out

Patience. The right move at the right time

Until then, a new watchpost, Comrade Pelik�n

Mercy. I'm a complete idiot

One must build up self-confidence. Do you like...

Our wise leader

I was thinking of oranges. Do you like them?

What sort?

Oranges in general. A citrus fruit

I'm sure I like them; I've not had one for twenty years

ORANGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

At last we can begin experiments in Hungary

We could put others in that corner; there's a warm breeze

The crop was not big, but the only ripe orange...

was diligently guarded until the opening ceremony

Forward with the Hungarian orange!

Show me your hands, Pisti

You didn't eat that orange, did you?

I thought it was here to eat

Well, it wasn't

You've ruined me, you rascal!

What shall I do now, damn it?

Comrade Vir�g, my son's eaten the orange. What shall we do?

Take it easy. Here you are

- That's a lemon - An orange

I rule that beyond discussion

What's this?

An orange

The new Hungarian orange

Slightly yellower, slightly sharper, but our own

Gala performance in Honour of the Orange Researchers

Heroes of the Battle of the Orange

We've won. It was worth it, wasn't it?

You see, Pelik�n, it's good to be sitting on our laurels

I feel a little bad about it, though

Why do we make such a fuss over it? We deceived the people, after all

Who did we deceive? Ourselves? We know what it's all about

The researchers? They're happy to have medals

The masses?

They don't eat oranges or lemons, but they're happy to celebrate

The imperialists? We've given them a thorough beating

I wouldn't like to be in their shoes

We proclaimed a slogan: Let there be a Hungarian orange! And there was

We made no empty promise, Pelik�n

That night the big, black car came for Pelik�n again

You're not exatly a chatterbox

How are things, Comrade Pelik�n?

Should I know?

Do sit down

One eye weeps, the other twinkles. You know what I'm thinking about?

I've no idea what you're thinking about

The international situation is intensifying

We've caught up with the latest group of inner-parasites

- Another new group? - D�niel and his group

- D�niel who? - Zolt�n D�niel, the ex-minister

You know him, too

Of course I do. Zoli D�niel and his gang, that's a good one!

What's funny, you fool?

The whole thing. You comrades even spare time for such a joke

This is no joke

Zolt�n D�niel is a soy, a traitor, a Fascist police informer

It's a scandal that he evaded our vigilance for so long

I may be an idiot, but I don't believe it. I know D�niel

You know him! What difference does that make?

You don't really know your own self

And if I tell you he's confessed everything?

Confessed everything...

What do you mean: everything?

Now just get prepared for it

You'll be the star witness

for what, for heaven's sake?

Begin from the fact that D�niel is a spy, traitor, informer

Now, do you still see nothing suspicious in his behaviour?

Not even if you crucify me

Couldn't you ask a better qualified comrade?

Not a chance

Think over what happened when D�niel last visited you

Nothing happened

Something must have

He fished, we caught gophers, he fell in,

I took him home to the spare room

You found nothing suspicious in all that?

Didn't he swear you to something?

- Swear me something? - Think, now

He made me swear to tell no one he'd lost a fantastic catfish

There you are, then

Are you sure it was a catfish?

What else could it have been?

All sorts of things. That's the whole point

Spies don't work in a way to arouse suspicion; on the contrary

The suspicious thing about them is that they're not suspicious

Got it now, Pelik�n?

No. The suspicious thing about them is that they're not suspicious?

Exactly

- I'm not suspicious, but I'm not a spy - How do you know?

Is it possible that I'm a spy?

Everything is possible

Many things may be possible with you, if you don't stand steadfast

I see... I mean, I don't see at all

Couldn't you leave me out of this, Comrade Vir�g?

As you wish

What do you want?

Why are you harassing Comrade Pelik�n? He's our friend

Aren't you, Comrade Pelik�n?

Iced cakes

For the moment, all we ask of you is to collect your thoughts

I'll collect them, Comrade Vir�g

But let me go back to the dike; it'll soon be high water

Go back, by all means; we'll watch over you

But remember: those who don't trust in us, don't trust in themselves

Those who don't trust in us, don't trust in our bright future, either

And those who don't trust in our happy, bright future... are traitors

Thank you very much

It's impossible. Incredible

What's the matter, dad?

Iced cakes

I don't get it; am I that crazy?

Zolt�n D�niel confessed everything

Everything? A pity

Good God, do you know something? Were you in it, too?

In what?

How did you get mixed up with that poor devil?

In the spare room, when he was last here

- But he was in bed - I was in bed, too

Good God!

Put some life into him, you said

So I got in with him to warm him up

How could you?

Nothing happened, we only talked

He asked if I'd read a Clara Zetkin and whether I was studying hard

- Nothing else happened? - No; I was surprised, too

Think. Did nothing else happen?

Honest, it didn't; I'd remember

Wasn't there anything suspicious about D�niel?

No, except that there we were and we just talked

There. Eat it

The suspicious things are those that aren't suspicious

Even God Almighty doesn't understand that

The suspicious things... are those that aren't suspicious

Pelik�n pondered the matter all night

At dawn he slept, but his cigarette burned on

My poor friend, I heard what happened

The international situation is intensifying. That's burnt out

I rule that beyond discussion, but did it burn by accident, I wonder?

It was no accident

The fire brigade didn't come, even though I gave the alarm

My poor friend, life is not a whipped-cream cake

We give blows and we get blows

We're here, J�zsi

I don't want to sow suspicion, but didn't Csetneki bring them a bit late?

We'll look into the matter

Ask the comrade to come here

I've got a question to ask, comrade

The house is burnt, I rule that beyond discussion...

...but weren't you tardy with the extinguishing, Comrade Csetneki?

Confidential orders: vigilance must come first

We get many calls; first we have to check every one of them

We must see we're not misled. That takes time

That's true

May I go?

A strong hand. Resolution. Yes, that's the spirit

Comrade Vir�g, would it surprise you to know that Csetneki's a Fascist?

My poor friend, your nerves are shattered; I should keep tabs on you

But no the house is most important

It will be rebuilt, better than it was before

The sky's the limit. Do you know who said that, Comrade Pelik�n?

I can guess

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

SUPREME EFFORT TO REBUILD THE DIKE-KEEPER'S HOUSE

No sand? I want sand, scour the world for it

I rule that beyond discussion. And I expect gravel, too

Scrumptious!

Comrade Vir�g! No door? No window?

Where are we going?

Your testimony will be ready today

Quite frankly, I'm rather nervous about it, too. I have a request

Be very discreet

If you don't like something, tell me

Comrade Tuschinger is very sensitive, the artistic type

I've finished it

You can read it

Are you Pelik�n?

Read it

I envy you

- Where have you got to? - The frogmen

- Do you like it? - Very much. No clich�s

I rewrote it five times

- Well? - Very good

- I've got to say all this? - Naturally; you're the star witness

I can take criticism, so let's have your objections, my good man

Excuse me, this isn't my line and I'm an ideological beginner...

...but D�niel throwing tins containing his spy reports into the Danube...

What did he throw, then? Eeaster eggs?

Gophers. I know, because I cut off their tails first, for the kids

Who's interested in that? It's pure naturalism. What else?

It also seems that Comrade D�niel jumped into the Danube...

...and talked to enemy frogmen under water...

...about the murder of our great leader and other comrades...

...but in fact he fell in trying to catch a catfish

- Did you see the fish?

- No

Your criticism is baseless; I insist on the frogmen. Eh, Comrade Vir�g?

I think, the frogmen are good

Maybe we could change the tins

All right, but tell me how

Perhaps I'm saying something silly... but what about keeping the tins...

...but covering them with gopher skins?

That might be more credible

Not bad; you've got a literery streak. Why don't you write?

There are people much better than me

I'll rewrite the gophers

Any more objections?

If I may say so, the secret transmitter business in my spare room...

He was soaked to the skin, his teeth were chattering

I put him to bed under the eiderdown

But I happen to know something quite different

My daughter Gizi got in with him. No question of a transmitter

That's pure pornography. Any more objections?

None

Strength and health, Comrade Bastion

- Is it ready? - Yes, Comrade Bastion

What's this? People don't even want to murder me any more?

I'm not worth a turd nowadays?

The previous trial... I didn't want to repeat myself. But I'll correct it

"After our wise leader, Comrade Bastion was to be murdered."

Will that do?

Yes. Otherwise I like it

So do I. It cost many a sleepless night; we wanted to avoid stereotypes

Modesty! Don't flatter yourself

If there's anything I admire in myself, it's modesty

Who's that fat fellow?

Pelik�n, the star witness

Comrade Bastion, I'm just a simple dike-keeper

- I've seen you before - The swimming-pool; I was arrested

Then Gaiety Park; arrested again. Then the orange grove; an award

But I've a bad feeling now. I don't want to be a witness

Then why are you here?

I don't know either. I should be on the dike

It's no good, Vir�g; we must have voluntary witnesses

Understand?

Good-bye, B�la

You're leaving us?

Comrade Vir�g, please don't leave me here

Comrade Vir�g, I didn't mean any harm

To the cemetery

I didn't mean to get at you

Beloved Comrade Vir�g, because of me?

Not just you. We sacrifice our entire lives for you people...

...but you don't deserve us: heartless rabble

And that's putting it mildly

I admit I'm an ignorant dimwit, but please don't kill yourself

Just give me a little lecture, so I can know what it's all about

It's about truth which is being trodden underfoot

I don't want to tread on anyone, but I saw with my own eyes

With your own eyes, is that it?

What you see with blind eyes, hear with deaf ears?

And a dull brain; do you think you can attain the truth of our great aims?

Not I, Comrade Vir�g. What bothered me is that I know Zolt�n D�niel

If I didn't know him it would be much easier to testify to his guilt

Can there be any doubt? Show me one person in this lousy country...

...whom I'm not able to prove guilty in five minutes: you, me, everyone

You may be right, but please put that gun away

We shouldn't joke, we should act. Look here, I could shoot you

That's true

- Knock out your teeth - You're a bit late for that

I could sit you on a hot stove, shove electricity through your testicles

Or simply starve you

But have I ever harmed you, Pelik�n?

I always thought you were the sort of comrade...

...who did what was entrusted to him of his own free will; happily, even

I'm disappointed in you

What's more, Comrade Bastion is disappointed in me

In me, �rp�d Vir�g

Do you know what that means?

I'm ready for anything, Comrade Vir�g

Thank you... you have restored my faith

Comrade Bastion, please

I see. I'll go there

I'll report to Comrade Bastion

Comrade Bastion was participating in the customary autumn shoots

- Where's Comrade Bastion? - At the second butt

- I've never fired a shot - You'll soon learn

- Poor bunnies - Moralizing again

- Shouldn't we shoot back? - Have you gone mad?

Can't you see what they're doing?

I thought we ought to signal that we're not rabbits

Don't you agree, Comrade Vir�g?

Will my children get anything? It won't be just anyone who shoots me

You? Must you disturb me now?

Comrade Bastion, here is J�zsef Pelik�n, evidence for the state

He has accepted of his own free will, no pressure brought to bear

The trial can be held

- Is that true? - Yes; one tries to improve oneself

It would have been a pity if you'd shot us

Let's get on with it, then

To work, comrades

Like that

- What type should he be? - I'll leave you that to you

- You must have some idea - You are the best judge, comrade

Should he be full of self-reproach?

Or perhaps naive, wondering?

A simple child of the people

That will be fine

Chin up, Comrade Pelik�n

Work at it hard

Been a witness before?

Never

Get up on the stage

Recite a poem

You most know one

I'm a dike-keeper

Think. You must have learnt a poem in school

"My mother's hen"

"My mother's hen", by S�ndor Pet�fi

On, mother's hen, what do I see? Are you living in my room with me?

Well, to you God is good and kind...

...giving you a life so grand

Stop. You've got a lisp

No one ever said so

You take it from me: a dreadful lisp

Please don't say that

Facts are stubborn things

Say quickly: she sells sea shells on the sea shore

Now this: swan swum over the sea

I said you had a lisp

It can be improved with hard work. Now, let's take it from the start

You get a character?

A simple worker; maybe once an ill-treated waif

But you have to decide that for yourself

But I wasn't a waif

The essence of the character is wide-eyed astonishment

You put all your faith in someone; now you realize you've been deceived

You should be seething with hatred. Now start reading

I met D�niel in 1942

An aquaintance, Tivadar Galv�n...

Introduced him as an illegal communist

He and his friends needed a hiding place

Much too passive; try to put some soul into it

I'll try

At that time I never guessed he was a Fascist police informer...

...and a loathsome agent of the imperialists

You should be seething. Now recite it by heart

At that time I never guessed...

I've forgotten what I didn't guess

- Since when have you been forgetful? - Since when what?

Exactly

Sit down, please

Thank you, comrades; I've taken the material over

Repeat the following words in the same order:

Ink-well, alligator, cornflower...

...kiss, lathe, toothpick. That wasn't too many

- No, not too many - You try now

Toothpick

From the beginning

Toothpick

- Don't you remember more? - Not at the moment

Never mind. Please lie down here, you'll fall asleep

It'll be easier to concentrate in your sleep

Can you fall asleep, or shall I apply hypnosis?

I'll try on my own

I met Zolt�n D�niel in 1942

An aquaintance, Tivadar Galv�n, introduced him to me

The witness's heart, chest and hearing organs are generally satisfactory

Though I should note...

...he is extremely flat-footed

I'm on my feet all the time

That's no concern. I'll prescribe a suitable shoe

Wear it, or I can't accept responsibility. Get dressed

I think I've got it

Hungarian worker, 1950

- How do you feel? - In what way?

With your appearance

I'm all right

Comrade Vir�g, externally the witness is ready for the trial

Potentially a perfect witness, Pelik�n was allowed to visit home

Meanwhile, the Danube had flooded and broken through the dike

I met Zolt�n D�niel in 1942

At that time...

... I never guessed he was a Fascist police informer

She sells sea shells on the sea shore

I met Zolt�n D�niel in 1942

I haven't seen you for ages

Well, yes, the international situation is intensifying

What do you mean? The bloody river is sweeping everything away

- Which river? - The Danube. Your Danube

Comrades, life is not a whipped-cream cake

Do you call that a whipped-cream cake?

Something's not quite right here

The day of the trial came round

Is everything all right?

There's a flood

Hard times, but we'll weather them; life is not a whipped-cream cake

I know

- Why are you unshaven? - My razor and suit are under water

That wicked water. But we won't leave it all that

We've not worked all these weeks in vain; this is our day

Appearances are important, too

A job for the major; only shaving, not execution

Straight to the witnesses' room

Do you want to look through you evidence?

No, I've rehearsed it so much

A priest studies his breviary until his death. You know who said that?

Yes. Give it to me

We expect a very fine testimony from you

Excuse me, but this is the sentence

Oh, dear, those sleepless nights

A horse has four legs and yet it stumbles

Sit here

- Cream or soap? - Soap

- What size collar? - 43 I think

- A strong neck - What?

I said good morning, Mr. Pelik�n

Why are you here?

Sit still, or I'll cut you

I'm here for the same reason as you; I'm a witness, too

What sort of witness are you, Guly�s?

There are things that only I can prove

I'm not in a mood for jokes

The witness Elem�r Guly�s

I understand. The wretch knocked your teeth out, that's not nice

You know that torturer?

Just as you do. He got me in the kidneys

Both kidneys. That was no joy, either

Even nowadays I sometimes pass blood

Poor Comrade Vir�g

We can't nurse individual wounds in the international situation

I've got butterflies in my stomach

Stage-fright. Take deep breaths

I've still got them

The witness J�zsef Pelik�n

Courage. And always watch me

J�zsef Pelik�n, you are a witness in the trial of D�niel and his group

Do you bear any grudge against the defendant?

We were more like friends

The law punishes perjury. Do you swear to tell the whole truth?

How do you mean?

Testify the truth only

I'll try

- What is your name? - J�zsef Pelik�n

- Occupation? - Originally a dike-keeper

The flood has something to do with me

- That doesn't belong here - Where then?

I have your statement before me

So you met Zolt�n D�niel in 1942?

Yes, I met Zolt�n D�niel in 1942

An aquaintance, Tivadar Galv�n...

...introduced him...

At that time I never guessed...

Guessed what?

That I'd meet a frogman

Stop a moment; that came later

Later

- Then let's look at the frogmen - Let's

What did they look like?

What do you mean? Like frogs

There were gophers, too...

...but they were real

Have you anything to add to your testimony?

Nothing. I mean, I have

I'd like to ask the judge how this torturer got here

What do you mean?

I'd like to ask how this bloodhound got here

...and how come he's laughing in our faces

I wasn't laughing; the witness is hallucinating

Hallucinating, damn it!

I object to a Fascist torturer insulting me

Order, please, Pelik�n

Do you maintain your testimony?

Feeling ill, Comrade Vir�g?

Pelik�n, do you maintain your testimony?

Because he's writhing

Nagging shock

Because this hangman ruined his kidneys. Right, Comrade Vir�g?

Sometimes he still passes blood

Tell me to my face, you scum, what lies did you tell about Zolt�n D�niel?

The same thing you signed:

D�niel was a paid informer

You believe what this gorilla said?

Your Honour, something's wrong here

I may be an idiot, but everything's mixed up

The flood's sweeping everything away, while this trash here...

Zoli, say something. Were you really this henchman's agent?

Sit down

Elem�r Guly�s, tell the witness what you testified just now

Zolt�n D�niel was a paid informer for the Fascist police

What did you say, you sod?

I beg leave to amend my testimony. Pelik�n was a paid informer, too

I paid him. D�niel was an informer, so was Pelik�n

That's a good one! Me, a police informer!

Look here, Your Honour: he knocked them out

And who else was a police informer?

Comrade Vir�g? Comrade Bastion?

What's that? Me?

I heard it. I don't understand

We must look into it

J�zsef Pelik�n, I ask you once more: do you maintain your testimony?

You don't?

I told you I didn't; are you people deaf?

Pelik�n returned to prison. The days passed and the years...

I'm afraid there's a hitch. Rabbit's out of season...

...but here's beef with dumplings, will that do?

Csopak Riesling?

Out of stock. I've brought St. George Hill; it's as strong

- Would you like some? - I don't want to rob you. After all...

Tomorrow morning. But go on, have some.

- Any children? - Eight

It's not easy

- No, it's not easy - It certainly isn't

Good dumplings?

I always recommend them to the condemned

and they're always grateful

They all like them, whatever their political views

Of course, some can't eat at all; then I eat them myself

Delicious dumplings shouldn't go to waste

Do you want a priest?

Not if I don't have to

Of course. I'm completely mixed up

That was very good. If only I had another life

That's right

I'm afraid I have to go

We've had a good chat

I've a seminar tomorrow and I haven't learnt a word

You could help me

Me?

Go on, unless you want to sleep

It's not because of sleep, it's because I'm ill-qualified

It's only a beginner's course, child's play to you

But it's vital for me; I've got a family to support

Rum. Have some

Have a steady drink

Can you tell me what the Parliamentary Boycott was?

- I can't imagine - Think, Pelik�n

Parliamentary Boycott? Everyone should keep their mouth shut, I guess

You see, you know it

And what about the dictatorship of the proletariat?

It's when the proles dictate. Don't you understand that?

What about the three functions?

I know one

We must strike down the counter- revolutionary Fascist band

Strike them down... And the other two?

Isn't that enough?

A drop more, then I may remember

I don't get it; it's never happened before

If the executioner's ill, or got family business there's his deputy

And if anything happens to the deputy, he's got a deputy

I've never known an execution held up

- I can wait - It's not good to wait. Sit down

- Why? - It makes it a bit easier

I don't get it

- Who is Dr. Kot�sz? - The state executioner

Why the hell are you yelling at this hour?

There's a condemned man here...

...and there's no one to carry out the sentence

I'll be right down

Who are you?

J�zsef Pelik�n. Sorry to bother you, but I'm to be hanged

What shambles. Well, congratulations, you're going to be rehabilitated

I'd rather be hanged, please

Rehabilitation means that you're innocent

So hurry home now. You'll get the money by post

Could you tell me about Zolt�n D�niel?

He's been home a week now

You gobbled the dumplings, you drank the wine

You're not being hanged, you'll even got some cash. What a gang!

Why are you day-dreaming here? Clear off, before I lose my temper

- Can you tell me what day it is? - Wednesday

- What month? - April

- What's the level of the Danube? - Do you want my girl, too?

So Pelik�n returned to the dike

Once again the years passed

What have you got against me?

Comrade Vir�g! How are you, Comrade Vir�g?

These are the people I fought for.

I got a stomach ulcer because of them

Never mind. You'll all be begging me to come back one day

I wouldn't like to swear to that

Why does history go on like this?

So that humanity can cheerfully take leave of its past. - Marx

The end.