Original subtitles

Love

It's in flower

The old lady got up in a bad mood

Is she up? What a miracle!

She wants the new cover for her bedpan

- Did you bring pastries? - Loads

- And some housekeeping money - Loads?

No way. 500

That's more than enough

We'll settle up later

Remember, you don't have to skimp. Got any other problems?

- None. Do you have any money left? - Heaps

- Has the postman come? - Not yet

A letter's coming from America

I want her to read it while I'm here

Wait, I'll go

She's ringing again for the tenth time today!

Her hand's itching for that bell

Silly cow! Good morning, Mother!

Iren, where's my buttered toast?

It's me

Oh, you? Did you bring pastries?

Of course. And what else did I bring?

Flowers, for sure

Will you never learn to economise?

All right. I always say the same thing...

...because you always do the same thing

Don't keep bringing flowers. Buy me perfume

What else did I bring?

Show me!

Or did you lose it already?

Good

Kiss me, please

Lovely. But how do you get all that money?

I earn it. I'm a big whore

A whore?

I'll tell Janos when he comes back

He'll give you a good beating

Put it on

It's beautiful! It was high time...

Professor Hetenyi is coming today. And Iren will be nervous

She'll forget to put it away again

The professor is used to bedpans

But what makes you think he'll come today?

- She keeps eavesdropping - She doesn't

Eavesdropping, me?

Calm down, you'll have a stroke. Give her the toast

The professor will be coming today

He hasn't been for a long time. It's been more than a month

He promised he'd come once a month

I know you're in love with the professor

You want to talk to him about Goethe in German...

...and you don't want him to see your pee

That's only natural, isn't it, Iren?

- What's that? - Don't deny you're in love with him

Why else would you learn all those Goethe quotations?

Dumme Gans! Why? For myself

I eat toast for myself, too

It's a pity he's so ugly

- We can't all be beautiful like you - Am I beautiful?

- If only you were as clever - As who?

As the professor?

Dumme Gans!

Oh, I almost forgot...

The professor phoned to say he's very busy and can't come

He said you'll live to be 100 anyway

So you'll see each other often

He told me, too, that I'd live to be 100

Did he say the same to you over the phone?

- Are you fooling? - Of course

Are you really?

Mother, I'm telling the truth. Don't you remember...

...the other day we were talking about your 100th birthday...

...and who we'd invite...

...and that I'd wear the red silk low cut dress?

Don't you remember?

Didn't we choose the white silk dress?

- That's long gone - What?

Nothing. Nothing!

Then give me some soda water

Did the professor really say I'd live to be 100?

Oh, all these books! You can only read one at a time

But I think about the rest. Leave them!

Have you done your German homework?

What will Janos say if you can't speak German when he comes home?

I may have forgotten Hungarian by then!

- What was that? - I'm sick of your son

You're teasing me again

Of course

Tell me about when you went to the spa

To the spa?

When you all slept in one room

- And? - Remember...

...the night when your younger son was peeping?

Poor Gyuri?

- You never knew him - You told the boys...

...to turn to the wall. When was that?

Long ago

40 years ago or so

You must have been very young then

- Was I 36? - About that

What was that about peeping?

Well, it was...

But I've told you before

I don't quite remember! The children were in bed...

...and you wanted to undress

You must have been beautiful

Yes, I was very beautiful

Large hats were in fashion then

They had to be tied with wide, black ribbons

Under the... what's the word? The chin

And my husband gave me a wide, black moir� ribbon

I tied it under the chin...

...and all the young men turned to look

Not only the young men!

Professor Hetenyi would have turned too had he known you

Come on! He wasn't even born

- Well, go on - About what?

About the peeping

You know, this bonnet was made of the ribbon...

...that my husband gave me

But this one is velvet

And you got a moir� ribbon

- Never mind - Never mind. Never mind

- Perhaps it was velvet! - It could have been

- What is it you want to know? - How you undressed

Well, we all had to sleep in one room

The boys were in bed and I wanted to undress

You know... ladies wore corsets in those days

Long corsets from here to here

My husband had to unlace mine and I didn't want the boys to see

- But I've told you all this! - But I don't remember!

You told the boys to turn to the wall...

- Yes - And then?

You made sure they weren't looking

Yes. There I was in my petticoat

No, in your bloomers

White, lace-trimmed, knee-length bloomers

Bloomers

Then you saw that Janos had turned to the wall

But your other son...

...Gyuri was peeping - Peeping, sure enough

He had lovely curly locks and he peeped out behind them

- And then? - What then?

What happened then? I've forgotten

You spread a towel over the bars of the cot...

Of course I did

And Gyuri pulled it aside and peered out

He peered out, yes, and giggled

And Janos?

He just stayed turned to the wall...

...and didn't move, poor thing

Because he was honest even then, wasn't he?

Dumme Gans!

You remember better than I do

Yes, even then he was very honest

That's what you wanted to hear

Nonsense!

- You love Janos - Nonsense!

All right. Don't joke

I want to talk seriously

When Janos comes back from America...

...tell him he mustn't be so headstrong

- Why not? - You just tell him

Why don't you tell him?

He won't be back for a long time

You've got a letter

Janos?

How should I know? I haven't read it

Give me the magnifying-glass

"I have little time for writing...

"My film will be shown before long...

"...in the largest New York cinema...

"...which can seat 30,000 people...

"...and is being built on a mountain 2,000 metres high

"It has to be finished for the premiere

"Because mine will be the opening film

"From the top you can see half of America...

"...from the Cordilleras to the Andes...

"...not to mention the Atlantic Ocean

"The cinema will have an airport, too...

"...for the rich who will all...

"...all come by plane

"Up till now I've been staying at the Waldorf Astoria...

"...in a 20-room suite...

"...on the 100th floor

"But the reporters were such a nuisance that we moved...

"...to a 16th century castle...

"...brought over here stone by stone from France

"Even my Negro butler and my barber...

"...have a suite of their own...

"I ride for an hour every morning

"I've got a white mare, 'Darling'

"Six secret agents hired by the film company...

"...follow me on horseback...

...at a distance of a 100 paces...

"I can't send you lovely presents yet...

"...because I won't get my fee...

"...till the film is completed...

Before the film is completed?

"Anyway the import duty's too high back home

"So I'm sending a few little things with Luca for you

"But I've chosen for you a grey Ford sedan

"I'll bring that myself

"A record-player with a thousand records...

"...and a super radio...

"...on which you can even tune in to the North Pole

"Although they don't play Beethoven there...

"As for the planned opening ceremony...

"...don't talk about it yet because some details...

"...are to be kept a diplomatic secret

"Very distinguished people have been invited to it

"And I'm not bragging. I just want you to be pleased

"Mrs Roosevelt, the former President's widow...

"...will be lady patroness

"And she has invited her best friend...

"...Queen Wilhelmina of Holland who accepted the invitation

"So did the Soviet Foreign Secretary...

"...and the Greek queen..."

How do you invent all that nonsense?

How can such a clever woman who's read so many books believe it?

Easily

Where her son's concerned she's deaf and blind

- What did you write? - I laid it on thick

She'll tell me about it at dawn tomorrow

To make you happy, too

You can't keep it up for long

Fiddlesticks!

Not for ten more years

He's served one. There's only nine left...

She won't live that long

No. But till then she should have no worries

The professor promised her she'd live 100 years

Come here. Look at that shapely face

Where are you going?

I have to get going

What lovely red hair you've got. Like an English princess

- Is it really lovely? - Yes. Kiss me

Not on my forehead

I'll kiss you too

You're very good and pretty

I want to ask you

Why must secret agents guard my son in America?

In America all famous people are guarded

I see

Mother, why didn't you ask the caretaker for my key?

I enjoyed walking about

With that heavy basket!

You've brought me the whole barnyard again!

- How was the journey? - Fine

I told your mother to come in

I enjoyed walking

My dear, why don't you come home?

Don't start that again!

- You know I won't come - You could easily, though

Your husband won't be back for ages

Stop that, Mother!

Won't you take off your coat?

Why did he have to meddle in politics?

Politics are not for decent people

The Comrades are stewing in their own juices

But why are you involved? Why should you suffer?

No one can drag me away from here

And anyway, I can't leave my mother-in-law...

You see...

- Mother? - So you sold Granny's chest, too

Yes

The Comrade headmaster wants to see you

Right, I'll go

They found them yesterday

They smelt the gas

Dead, all four of them?

Yes

He had a row with his boss

And his sister has been deported

She was a physics teacher

Come in, Comrade

- Who is it? - I've come for the newspaper money

Luca!

- How did you get here? - I'm doing the paper round

I came yesterday too

We only moved in last night

Luca, poor dear!

No one saw me come in

So what? I can receive who I want in my home

Well, we live here now

It's a bit grand, but we had to accept it

I tried to ring you twice

My phone was disconnected

Look who's here!

She's just come for the paper money

I've been fired

That's the limit. It really is

You're cold

- If only I knew he was alive - He is

He was confronted by a friend of ours

And you only tell me now?

I kept silent for a week, then I felt ashamed

That they didn't lock you up instead?

- It could still happen - Tell me, Luca...

Did you know about everything Janos did?

Are you implying the accusation is true?

You'll find out from the papers I deliver

When people are half honest, like we are...

...we only feel half the humiliation

We'd prefer to being hanged outright

Do you see?

But even so they trust us...

...as little as they do the ones who won't conform

Like Janos

I see. Never mind

Have breakfast with us

Two men are coming! Was the gate open?

Go in there!

- Am I about to meet Janos? - Idiots!

Good morning

We're from the exchange

- Your phone's out of order - No, it works

- When did you last use it? - Last night

- Where is the phone? - In the living room

Dead

- Are you from the exchange? - Yes

- See? - What? Two mechanics

Apparently. I may be given a caretaker too...

...just as I've got a new secretary for my new job

New people are needed

Here. Janos's letters from France

I thought you'd like them

Take the money, too. It's for his mother

I'll give you my phone number

I can tell you, Luca...

A normal mind can't cope with the goings on here

At least find out if he's alive

Good day, Mother! Good day!

You don't have to shout

Sit down in the armchair

Tell me, is it spring?

And what a horrid one. Rain and wind

Never mind. As long as it's spring

You should take long walks. You don't look well

- Didn't you get a letter either? - Not for a fortnight...

Maybe longer

- Let me think. I don't remember... - Don't think!

Lazy people don't even write to their wives

- Why are you so late? - I beg your pardon?

I want to lie down

Iren!

- Why don't you let me in? - Is anything wrong?

No, but let me in. I'm all right

- Why didn't you bring flowers then? - I had no time

- Let me in, I'm late - You had no time...

At last...

I can't smell the toast

- Has she eaten it? - A while ago

- Is it that late? - About midday

Go in and steal yesterday's flowers

- Are you broke? - We'll find some tissue for them

What kind of flowers were they?

She'll notice at once that they're not there

- You brought white carnations - I'll put rouge on them

Do you want a glass of brandy?

Yes, please

She broke another plate

Now four are missing from the set

What's the matter? I know something's up

What do you know?

Is it surprising I'm upset?

My inheritance is going to pieces! The fourth broken plate!

- Or is the china yours? - Yes, she left it to me

What's the matter with you?

Nothing

Give me a hand, please

I left a heavy basket downstairs

- I can lend you money. No news? - Nothing

- And my mother-in-law? - She was asleep a moment ago

- What's up? - Nothing. Just nerves

Time of the month?

The ministry has impounded our furniture

I can reclaim what's mine later

Everything was valued at a high price

- Wasn't it all already confiscated? - Not my things

He pestered me for two hours

After he left the caretaker and the family came, all three of them...

...and sang Verdi's "Requiem" for me

I'm just joking

Once at the convent I had lice

The mother superior had my head shaved

My hair took a year to grow

I feel a bit like that now

The mother superior was also from Vienna

She used to talk to my best friend in German

- It annoyed me - Your lovely red hair was cut?

Yes, because it was red

Then Mother arrived with a whip in her hand

Dammit! I've had enough for one day

One sideboard, 4,000...

One desk, 5,000...

Yes, if I sold it

But I won't, I'd rather die

I want him to find things as they were

- Are you going in? - Later

Why don't you take a quick nap?

No, I'll sleep after lunch

Come on. What's wrong with you?

Nothing. Just new arrivals

I've got company. Co-tenants

In my flat, I mean. They moved in. I moved out

- Did you? - To the maid's room

The wife of a prisoner, traitor and conspirator...

...isn't allowed to live in a two room flat!

I'd been expecting it

Why are you crying? What's there to cry about?

I'm young, pretty and a co-tenant!

I just don't know where to put my furniture. They want their own

Since the old lady broke her leg she's even more whimsical

Either she rings several times for nothing...

...or she doesn't touch the bell all day

She doesn't read, just lies still, with her eyes closed

Nothing interests her

Is that you, Iren?

Who else? You rang, didn't you?

Come nearer

I can't see your face

- Did I ring? - Twice

I can't remember

Do you know what I wanted? Should I know that too?

You wanted to ask the time

- Good. What is the time? - Almost noon

Almost noon? What else did I want?

To ask me what I'm having for lunch

What are you having?

Beef and potatoes with tomato sauce

I don't want that

No cabbage?

True, the professor forbids it

But I always eat a spoonful

I know what I wanted to ask. What is the time?

I told you. Almost noon

I know. I know it's noon

Then why hasn't the young lady come yet?

Good day, Mother!

Is that you? Why are you so late?

Iren says it's noon already

I wrote a letter to Janos and took it out to the airport

What did I bring you?

Flowers for sure

Will you never learn to economise?

What kind of flowers?

White carnations

They suffered a bit from the journey

What else did I bring?

French soap?

Tell Janos not to send any more. We've got enough

Let him send it. It's never enough

He should economise. He can't economise either

What will become of you if you don't learn to economise?

You'll get old one day

Never! As long as there's rouge and lipstick to be had

I thought it was afternoon and you'd gone home...

...but it's only midday

And I have to eat that miserable lunch

- Come here, child - Here I am

Closer

Closer still

Tell me the truth

When will he come home?

Who?

Please tell me the truth. When will he come home?

In his last letter he said three more months

But one month has already passed

You mustn't cry. Two months isn't long, do you hear?

I won't live that long!

Remember, the professor said you'll live to be 100!

Don't you remember, the professor...

The professor may have died by now

All right

I'll ask Janos to come home

What are you saying?

I'll ask Janos to come home

- When? - This very day

I don't ask that. When is he to come home?

Right away

- Right away? - Right away

If he can't finish his rotten film, to hell with it

- What did you say? - If I write that I'll divorce him...

...if he doesn't come at once, he'll rush home!

- Divorce him? - That's right!

I've been left alone too long!

Anybody else would've been unfaithful long ago!

What's that half wit thinking of?

Come home? Before the premiere?

To hell with the film and all the dollars, too!

He won't get a bean if he doesn't finish it, but I don't care!

I'm fed up with living alone!

If he comes home now, he won't get paid a cent

I don't want his money!

You're quite right. I'll cable him at once!

Dumme Gans!

With men, work comes first

You mustn't stop Janos from finishing his film

Did you know the Dutch queen wants to see it?

Who is more important? You or the Dutch queen?

I'll cable him at once!

I forbid you to cable him!

Just listen here, my dear

I know what hurts you

You are jealous of Janos

But I know my son

There's no need to worry

My son is like me

He's devoted to those who love him

He may have one or two affairs in America...

And in Europe too...

I also had an affair once

In the end my son will tell every woman to scram

You're not to cable him

My son will live and die with you

- The doctor's here - The singer has come again

- How is our forever young patient? - Well, thank you

Come just once to my concert and you'll stop mocking me

- How did you sleep? - Quite well

- Do you sing in church? - Yes. Bach chorales

All right. I won't say anything

The professor sent you and that's enough for me

It won't take a minute

Take a deep breath

- Any fever? - None

Breathe again

Did you have a temperature last night?

I was tired, I didn't take it

Tell me... when can I go to your concert?

In June we're singing a Handel "Te Deum" in church

I can't wait till then

Maybe the professor will be back by then

You'll both come

Don't make jokes

I'll never go to a concert again

Not even with the professor?

You know, I haven't been in a church for 90 years?

Not once? Not even for your wedding?

No...

You see, when I was 12 my mother gave me a new dress...

...to wear for a picnic in the Wienerwald

I prayed to God all evening...

...for a fine day so I could wear the new dress

But it rained the next day...

...and I was very angry with God

And you haven't been to church since?

Only to see paintings...

...when we went to France on our honeymoon

Deep breaths

Then when my mother wanted to take me to church...

...I said, "No!" - And you didn't go?

No

Then...

...the next Sunday...

...when the weather was fine...

...and I was very happy...

...my mother asked, "Stina, kommst du in die Kirche?"

But Stina was clever, wasn't she?

Yes

I said no again

I said to my mother...

"I won't ask anything from anyone whom I can't trust

"I want to stand on my own two feet"

- You succeeded in that - What did you say?

I said you succeeded

I'm not so sure

Since I became so old...

...I'm Ionely and helpless

But when I die...

...only my son will hold my hand

Animals too want to die alone

If my son cannot hold my hand...

...then I want to be alone

Won't you share my lunch?

Thank you

Don't thank me. It's tomato sauce today

I know you always liked to make it for Janos

Is it good?

First class!

Even the tomato sauce?

Yes. What if I liked it?

Don't you?

I hate it

You know what my son said when he first introduced you to me?

He said your hair was so lovely

Just a little! Where's the comb?

Under the mirror

I said, "Yes, her hair comes down to her waist"

Get the ivory comb

In those days...

...it came down to your waist

Thank you

Now you go home

It's for you. She's called twice already

Her name is Luca

We're not at home for anyone

We'll call her back

Hello, Erzsi?

Take the phone out! Where are the children?

Oh, Mother, waiting here again?

I don't like those strangers in your home

They're all right. There's no problem with them

I told your mother to come to our place

I enjoyed walking, Mrs Nagy

I got a letter! He's alive!

Next Sunday I can go and visit him!

If I can go and see him then he must be healthy

And if he's not healthy at least he's alive

The old lady is not very well

What happened?

Last night I suddenly woke up

I heard her talking, and went in to see her

She was talking to herself, but in a very loud voice

She was shouting, quarrelling with her son

At dawn she was so flushed I went to phone the doctor

Pneumonia

You'd better hire a nurse for the night

It might spread to the whole lung

Nursing her day and night is too much for you

I'll have no strangers in this house

Talk it over

Is she asleep? She doesn't often come to

The doctor has just left

She'll need a catheter tomorrow too

Three times three of these

Three times three of these or even four

Prop her up, stay near her

Plenty of liquids, lemon too

Can't you stay for the night?

- I'm on duty - I don't need anyone

Good day, Mother

Good day, Mother

She's quite listless

When she's delirious she speaks German

Mein Johann!

An unusually strong physique

She has all my respect

It was an awfully long night

She can hardly breathe

She's been silent all day

Waiting and watching the door

Dear Mother, say something!

Can you hear me?

Mother, dearest

I kept the stove on all day yesterday

Such a crazy, cold spring

I had to turn on the heat too

How do you make floating islands?

My sister used to make it

Prepare the poultice, please!

Good day, Mother

A few more days and you'll be all right

Doctor

I can keep her alive for a few more days

- Is there any hope of...? - None

- What is your wish? - Whatever's best for her

- It makes no difference - Whatever's best for her

She can't feel anything

She may not regain consciousness

I could keep her heart going for two days or so

- Is there any hope of...? - None

What is your wish?

Whatever's best for her

I haven't talked to you yet, dear

My son's last letter...

Did you know he's going to get the Kossuth Prize?

He hasn't told me yet

He'll get it

Now you go out

Send the doctor in

You know, Mr singer doctor... Do you know, Mr singer doctor...

...that my son's going to get the Kossuth prize?

Wonderful!

He'll get it...

It's still a secret

Tell Luca...

...my daughter-in-law... to be proud of my son...

Wonderful!

Now you... you go and sing

What am I going to tell him next Sunday at the visit?

You

Why is there shaving today?

Is it Thursday?

Will you shave us both?

Speak up, dammit!

Interrogation? Discharge?

Destination?

- I don't know - Don't you know your destination?

No. I don't know where they'll take me

Nowhere

You can go home to the missus for lunch

You can even have some fun in bed

So, where are you going?

- 17, Szilfa Street - Which district?

Second

Sign here

Put these away

Sign this, too

Stand on the scales. You needn't undress

Unbutton your shirt

Swallow

Tickets, please!

Are you free?

Are you free?

- Where to? - To Buda

- By which bridge? - What do you mean?

Are you a stranger here?

It doesn't matter which bridge

Can we stop at a tobacconist's?

There's one here

Wait. What do you want?

A packet of Kossuth and matches

Thank you

- Political? - Yes

- You've been released? - So it seems

Stop here, please

- Here you are - Thank you. Goodbye

Good morning

- Who do you want? - Is my wife still living here?

Good God! So you've come home!

- Does my wife live here? - Of course she does

Doesn't she know you're back?

- Of course she's living here! - She's not at home

Do come in. Come on in

I knew you were innocent!

I rang three times but no one answered

- Yes, the co-tenants are away too - Co-tenants?

They're very decent people

I've got the key. Go upstairs and have a rest

I'll get the key right away

Here you are

- There you go - Thank you

It's only me

When did Mother die?

It was an easy death

Can you get used to me again?

I love you

I've grown old

Will you sleep with me tonight?

Yes

- Will you stay with me all night? - Yes

Every night... as long as I live