[영화 대본] ‘Satantango(마왕의 2/4 또는 4/8 박자 춤, 1994)‘ 결말 부분 *2025 노.벨 문학상 수상

[BRUCE]

"Kelemen! How's it going?"

Then he told me everything.

Then off we went.

I had to see Hochan the butcher.

Then... I met young Tth,

who used to be my neighbour in Pstanya.

He told me that Irimis

had been at the Steigerwald's

and talked about gunpowder.

The Steigerwald kids

were talking about it in the street.

And when I was on my way back...

...and turned off...

...at the Elek crossroad...

...I caught sight of them.

And then I understood,

what, how, and why.

Irimis! Petrina!

I'll get rid of them, drunken pigs!

I'll turn the lights off

and board up the place.

Irimis and Petrina!

They can't take what is mine.

Mine! Everything here is mine! Mine!

Irimis! Petrina! Everything is mine! Mine!

Petrina!

Then I went up to them.

Irimis hugged me and said warmly,

"Kelemen! How's it going?"

And right away he bought a round.

The waitresses smiled

and jumped to it like grasshoppers.

And then he told me everything.

So tell me, have you learned your lesson?

What lesson?

Leave me alone. I've learned all I need to.

You've never learned anything.

You just keep drinking.

I've learned it all, you old witch.

I want no one meddling in my business.

In the book of your fate though,

this resurrection is written.

- Don't give me that nonsense.

- But you just go on boozing.

Boozing, sure I'm boozing.

Listen, you witch,

why do you think I'm here?

I came to drink, not to look pretty

for the likes of you.

You know what's waiting

for the likes of you?

No one happens to be waiting for me.

The blackest fire of hell.

You may have seen a black fucking arse,

but not a black fire,

so fuck the black arse and the fire

and go to fucking hell. That's it.

You think they'll stand for this

forever up there?

No.

Think they sit up there and just ignore

this Sodom and Gomorrah?

That's exactly it.

There'll be weeping and mourning,

as the prophet says.

No Creation. Spritzer!

Creation is a spritzer.

- None of your business.

- He's always like that, sorry.

A hell of a witch. Old cobwebbed cunt.

You'd better read this.

Leave the poor thing alone.

Get him a spritzer instead.

Spritzer withdrawal is a kind of murder.

Don't read Genesis, you poor thing.

That's a mystery.

Read Revelation.

You know what we're all waiting for?

If you haven't heard it before,

for you to go to hell.

But there's no use waiting,

it doesn't matter if you go away.

It doesn't matter if we can't see you

or hear you.

You'll leave your stench behind.

It lasts forever.

It's no use opening a window

and airing the room.

It remains.

Mrs Schmidt.

Halics can't imagine

what happened to your husband.

You see, this lousy weather.

What can I get you?

- Some cherry plinka?

- I don't really know.

A small one.

- Have you heard it?

- Are you sure that they must be them?

Must be.

They'll be here in the morning.

They'll be here by midnight.

Takes three hours to get here.

- It's not three hours.

- Why isn't it three hours?

Because it takes much longer.

Won't be any arrivals before the morning.

Why the morning?

If the three hours took me three hours,

the three hours will take them four hours.

They will be here by midnight.

By morning, that road

is full of potholes and ruts.

They'll go round the potholes.

They'll avoid the ruts.

They won't go through the potholes,

or the ruts, you're right,

so they won't be here

by midnight, but by morning.

By morning if they use the road.

I come from here.

They can only come by that road,

they'll only walk on that,

- they care about their shoes.

- Their shoes?

Yes, their shoes.

That road is a long way round.

It's soaked.

It's like having to go around the sea.

Their shoes! Never mind them.

They'll be here by midnight.

They weren't soaking wet.

The road goes by the fire.

Are you from here? Have you been there?

I saw them, I kept going, and I came here.

I saw them,

and they'll be here by midnight.

They're coming by the road

and won't be here before morning.

- Don't give me that.

- They can only come by the road

and that takes a turn

like going round the sea.

Don't give me that, I'm from here.

What's wrong with this fucking stove?

This is a pub, not a waiting room.

- What time is it?

- 11.

At the latest... 11 or 12.

Who's taken my wine?

You spilled it.

- You're a liar, fool.

- You spilled it.

Then get me another one.

What's that smell?

There wasn't one a minute ago.

Just the spiders

or the coal.

No.

It's the earth.

Unravelling

Come on.

Give me the money.

See, with the knot upwards...

Are you sure the moneystalk starts

sprouting in four days?

Sure. But only if you give it

enough water every day.

- We're going to be rich?

- Sure.

- The others will envy us?

- Of course.

I can stay in the best room that night?

Yes.

Here, take that home.

Hi. Come on in.

What's up?

Where is your place? Stay right there.

Behave yourself.

You've made a mess in your pants.

You have a lot of nerve.

I can do whatever I want to you.

I'm stronger than you are.

Come on now.

Come on.

You're dead! I won't feel sorry for you.

So come on, then. Come on.

See you soon.

Sanyi!

Sanyi, come here!

The moneystalk's been robbed.

- Oh, come on.

- The money's been stolen, too.

It wasn't stolen, I needed it.

It was for me anyway.

- It was my money, too.

- Oh, go away.

- Why? Did you know?

- Get your hands off me!

Go away now. I said go away!

I won't say it again.

Come back here. I said, come back!

I said, come here!

Come on, move it!

Rat poison. You stole it, didn't you?

You stole it.

And you have the whole house

exterminated, right?

Now, here, but be careful,

I'll have my eye on you.

And now clear off.

I said, clear off.

- Doctor!

- What do you want?

- Doctor!

- What do you want?

- Doctor!

- Let me go. Little brat!

Fucking hell!

What the hell do you want?

Come on, tell me.

What do you want?

Where are you going? Stop now.

I won't hurt you.

Stop!

I won't do you any harm!

"Yes," she said to herself softly.

The angels see this and understand.

She felt peace inside,

and around her the trees, the road,

the rain and the night

all breathed tranquillity.

Everything that happens is good,

she thought.

Everything was, eventually, simple.

She recalled the previous day,

and, smiling, she realised

how things are connected.

She felt that these events

aren't connected by accident,

but there's an indescribably

beautiful meaning bridging them.

And she knew she wasn't alone,

for all things and people,

her father up there, her mother,

her brothers, the doctor,

the cat, these acacias,

this muddy road, this sky,

this night down here depended on her,

just as she herself depended on everything.

She had no reason to be worried.

She knew well that her angels

had set out to collect her.

The Work of the Spider II

(The Devil's Tit, Satantango)

I was plodding and plodding,

just plodding along.

The Steigerwald kids

and Hochan the butcher, the girls,

as they jumped like grasshoppers

when Irimis hugged me

and asked, "How's it going, Kelemen?"

and bought a round and told me everything,

and they were drinking rum liqueur,

even then I was plodding and plodding

and plodding and plodding along.

They'll be here.

They'll be here in the yard.

They'll be here. The Tth kid,

Irimis...

...and they've been to the Steigerwald's.

And as I was plodding along,

when it became clear

they were leaving for the yard,

then I knew everything.

Irimis and Petrina

were coming toward the yard.

I met Hochan the butcher

and I bumped into the Tth kid.

And as I was plodding along,

for I had to plod...

...and saw them by the road,

revelation which way... why... where to

and the plodding, the why,

the where to and the which way,

the Tth kid, the Steigerwald kids,

Irimis and Petrina

and the gunpowder at the Steigerwald's.

And the Steigerwald kids talking

about gunpowder,

and me plodding and plodding...

And the Steigerwald kids

were talking about gunpowder.

And the Steigerwald kids,

talking about gunpowder...

But the Tth kid,

he was there... at the Weighing bridge.

- Put some soda in it.

- I've already put some in.

- And the Steigerwald kids...

- A bottle of wine.

Gunpowder's not gun-powder.

They were talking about gunpowder.

- Careful or it goes to your head.

- Not gun-powder, gunpowder.

I was plodding, plodding along...

Gunpowder's not gun-powder!

Gunpowder! It's not gun-powder!

He hugged me... The waitresses

jumped like grasshoppers...

They were drinking rum and liqueur.

I know I shouldn't drink any more

because it will go to my head.

I was plodding, plodding along...

You're offering it so invitingly.

Just goes straight to your head!

You're pissed to the eyeballs.

As you plod along you learn everything.

Don't fucking give her another!

Can't you see the state of her?

I shouldn't drink. When I do,

I keep thinking of coffins.

...the Steigerwald's and Irimis hugged me,

the girls jumped like grasshoppers,

and bought a round,

drinking rum and liqueur

and he told me everything

and I'm plodding, plodding,

plodding, plodding, and plodding,

plodding and plodding, and plodding.

But there's a huge difference

between plodding

and plodding along.

I knew exactly when I saw them

at the junction,

why, how, which way, why and how...

I'm plodding, plodding, plodding,

and how am I plodding?

How am I plodding?

The gunpowder,

the Steigerwald's, the Tth kid...

The whole street was talking,

that they're hiding gunpowder.

Why did they do this?

And why are they coming here?

I know why they're coming

because I had a revelation...

It's too hot in here.

Jnos, please do something.

You don't begrudge the coal?

They are coming at the road junction.

I know exactly why.

Why, why and why they're coming

and why they're coming.

- It's nice and warm in here...

- You let him, dickhead?

What the hell you want?

At least there's something for the others.

For I was plodding and plodding

and plodding along...

They're coming and coming...

- This is not a whorehouse.

- What, then?

...coming and coming.

They stop but they're coming!

Let's go to the mill.

They'll get here. In a few minutes...

- Where the hell are you going?

- Nowhere, honey-pot, nowhere.

I'll show you who's the honey-pot.

Just you wait and get sober.

Nothing, nothing.

They're coming, because I saw them

by the road. At the junction.

Give me a shot.

The Steigerwald kids talked about powder.

Irimis and Petrina

are coming toward the yard.

Gunpowder, Steigerwald...

and they're coming to the yard.

They'll be here in a short while.

We were plodding along...

My husband is a good man,

but the alcohol, you know.

Without that he'd be so gentle.

He can be a blessed good man

when he wants to.

He's a hard worker. You know that.

He can do the work of two.

He only has this small flaw.

Who doesn't have one? Who doesn't?

They're coming, plodding.

Irimis and Petrina...

Someone's coming!

I was plodding, plodding, plodding along...

They didn't talk much.

Irimis and Petrina...

Good evening. A bottle of beer, please.

The girls jumped around like grasshoppers.

Irimis hugged me.

"How's it going, Kelemen?"

And bought us a round.

The girls jumped around like grasshoppers.

And I was plodding, plodding

and plodding along.

Have you seen my daughter?

- Which one?

- The little one.

Estike.

She hasn't been here.

Since they started toward

the yard at the junction,

I've known everything.

Irimis and Petrina

are coming toward the yard.

I met Hochan the butcher,

and bumped into the Tth kid

- at the Weighing Bridge.

- You know what happened?

Yesterday evening there was

a little trouble with Halics.

Now he doesn't even say hello,

the shithead.

I saw them by the road...

Revelation, which way, why, where to...

...and the plodding, the why

and the where to, the which way...

I slept all day, and when I woke up

no one was there.

The house was empty.

No Mari, no Juli, no Sanyika.

And plodding, plodding and plodding...

The Steigerwald kids

were talking about gunpowder.

But that's all right, even the little one

has wandered off somewhere too.

When she comes back, she's gonna get it.

She'll come back.

She's not the wandering type.

She's really not.

...the gunpowder's no gun-powder...

Wandering in this rain all night long.

No wonder I stay in bed for days.

The waitresses jumped like grasshoppers.

They were drinking rum and liqueur...

That's good for my stomach.

Do you want coffee?

Why? I'd be tossing

and turning all night long.

Then what is it good for?

Nothing.

In a little while,

I was plodding and plodding...

The Tth kid, the Steigerwald's...

and Irimis hugged me...

The girls jumped like grasshoppers,

he bought us a round,

they had rum and liqueur.

He told me everything and I'm plodding...

Well, good night.

If you happen to see any of them,

tell them to hit the road home.

I can't be wandering around all night long.

Here's the bill.

...why, how, which way, why and how...

Plodding and plodding and plodding.

And how am I plodding?

The gunpowder, Hochan the butcher,

Steigerwald, Tth...

Everybody was talking

about the Steigerwald kids

hiding gunpowder. Why?

And why are Irimis and Petrina

coming toward the yard?

I know why they're coming.

Because I had a revelation. A revelation.

I know why they're coming.

Because I had a revelation.

They're coming at the junction.

I know exactly why.

They stop but they're coming.

Futaki, that stupid arse,

rolls in the mud like a pig,

then he goes out in the rain

like a sheep that has gone astray.

Have you lost your mind?

You do not know you are not supposed

to get wrecked in here?

And without eating, too.

Wash your face.

Dry yourself.

Do you have anything to eat?

Milk chocolate.

Or cheese rolls.

Give me two cheese rolls.

Bloody hell.

What can't be moved, they soil.

And foul, everything.

I could spend my whole life

following them with a cloth.

The legs of the table,

the window, the stove... the crates.

The worst is that you can't see them do it.

If I start to watch them,

they can feel it

and get out of sight.

That damn Swabian

did me in...

...he never mentioned spiders.

Nothing will come of nothing.

No.

The real threat comes

from under the ground.

Suddenly...

...one's frightened by the silence,

doesn't move,

crouches down in the corner

where he feels safe.

Chewing becomes pain, swallowing agony.

Then all slows down and finally

comes the most terrible thing.

Stillness.

There's no help or escape.

Because who can understand?

That I, who could live

till the end of time,

I'd still have to go away from here

all the way down to the worms.

And now there's Irimis coming.

Irimis?

He's been drinking on the house for weeks

and he has the bloody nerve

to come back here.

Because, OK, he said,

I should plant onions everywhere.

And it succeeded.

Because the great ideas are always simple.

But it's a bit too much

that afterward he comes back

and says that I owe him everything.

And for weeks he's been boozing for free.

And he has the nerve to come

back to take what's mine.

Everything here is mine.

Because I have done everything here.

Do they think they can do anything here?

They come in from the street and say,

"You can go now!"

There will be law and order here,

my friend, in this country!

There will be order here one day!

There will be order!

You see, here's Halics!

May I have a tango?

Do you know that dancing is my soft spot?

You're not like the others.

You need a settled, sober man...

...not a Schmidt...

...whose rough character

does not agree

with your tender personality.

Listen.

If those most excellent people

can again occupy the positions

they deserve in the offices...

...and I am the schoolmaster again...

...I would take you to the city...

Tango is my life. Tango, tango, tango!

My mother's the sea.

My father's the earth.

My name is tango... tango... tango.

My father's the sea.

Tango...

...is my life, tango.

My father's the sea.

My mother's the earth.

Never mind.

...is my life...

Tango.

Tango!

Tango...

...is my life...

Tango!

My mother's the sea

and my father's the earth.

No sea, no land either...

Fuck you.

What have you done to the sea, to the land?

Is my life,

...tango...

...tango, tango?

My mother's the sea...

That was all.

Drawn out by the tender sound

of the accordion

the spiders in the pub

launched their last attack.

They sewed loose webs

on top of the glasses,

the cups, the ashtrays,

around the legs of the tables

and the chairs.

Then they bound them together

with secret threads

so that in their hidden corners

they'd notice every little move

and every little stir

until this almost invisible web

would not be damaged.

They sewed a web on the sleeper's

faces, their feet, their hands.

Then hurried back to their hiding places,

waiting for an ethereal thread to move,

to start it all again.

INTERMISSION

Irimis makes a speech

I am in a state of deep emotion.

As you can imagine, I am totally confused.

I am bewildered and shocked.

Yet I must pull myself together.

Though right now all I can say is that

I share in this broken-hearted

mother's misery.

In a mother's never-ending

mourning and sorrow.

In the grief of losing the one

who is dearest to our hearts.

This tragic event weighs us all

down with sadness.

I don't think there's anyone

who would disagree with me.

And now the hardest thing is,

in this sadness with our teeth clenched,

to get our minds over the heartbreak,

to defy our tears when our voices fail us.

For, and I would like to call

your attention to this,

nothing can be more important

than for us to reconstruct

the shocking events

which led to the terrible death

of an innocent child...

...before the police start investigating.

You'd better expect

that the inspectors from town

will try to make us primarily responsible

for this awful event.

Yes, my friends, they're going to blame us.

Because, to be quite honest...

...with a little caution,

care and attention,

we could have prevented it.

Just imagine this vulnerable creature

wandering all night long

in the pouring rain,

at the mercy of the first

passer-by, of the first tramp,

of anybody.

She was whipped by the wind all night,

she fell easy prey to the elements.

She must have been around here,

wondering here all the time.

She may have looked in through this window

and saw that you were all drunk

and dancing around.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean

to accuse anyone personally.

I am not accusing the mother,

who is never going to forgive herself

for getting up too late

in the morning of that awful day.

I am not accusing the victim's brother,

nor any other members of the family.

So I am not accusing anyone.

But let me ask you the question,

aren't we all guilty?

You will, of course,

answer that we are innocent.

But then, what do we call this poor child?

The victim of the innocent?

The martyr of the faultless?

The slaughtered of the sinless?

I'd rather call her innocent.

I spent the night turning in my bed

till I realised this.

Not only do we not know

how the tragic event happened,

but we don't really even

know what exactly happened.

I am quite convinced

that this event was fated to happen.

Now you also seem to suspect that.

It is not enough, however,

to suspect something.

Things are to be understood

and said without delay.

It had been quite clear for you

before coming here, but you were

too afraid to say

that this yard was ruled by misfortune.

You didn't dare talk about it.

Now you may rightly suppose

an irrevocable judgment is coming soon.

You are slouching around in this decay,

far away from everything that means life.

Your plans come to nothing,

your dreams, still blind, are shattered.

You expect some miracle

which will never come.

But what kind of misfortune

are you the victims of?

Is it the crumbling plaster,

the roofs without tiles,

the crumbling walls,

the sour taste our friend Futaki

keeps talking about?

Isn't it the shattered prospects,

and broken dreams,

that bend our knees and wear us numb?

Don't be surprised that I speak harshly,

but let us be honest.

If you felt the yard was ruled

by misfortune,

why didn't you try to do

something about it?

You thought a bird in the hand

is worth two in the bush.

But this is a coward's way.

It is disgraceful and careless

and it has serious consequences.

This is called impotence, sinful impotence.

This is weakness, sinful weakness.

This is cowardice, sinful cowardice.

Because, and bear this in mind,

it's not just to others that we can

do unforgivable things,

but also to ourselves.

And this, my friends, is even more serious.

Yes, when you think about it,

all kinds of vileness

are sins against ourselves.

And you know, my friends, if I think back

and see you lying half-dead

on the chairs and tables,

on top of each other,

dribbling, exhausted,

my heart sinks and I cannot judge you,

for I will never be able to forget this.

From your panting, snoring and groaning,

I heard your cry for help

which I have to answer.

We know each other well.

I have been keeping my eyes

wide-open for decades everywhere.

I bitterly observe that,

under the thick veil

of trickery and deception,

nothing has changed.

Misery has remained misery.

The two extra spoonfuls of food we can have

only makes the air thinner

in front of our mouths.

But I realised

what I have done so far is nothing.

A much deeper solution is needed.

So, using the opportunity,

I decided...

...to get some people together

and set up a model farm,

which will ensure a stable living,

and bind this tiny group

of the dispossessed together.

I am creating an island

where no one is powerless,

where everyone will live in peace,

and will feel safe as human beings.

That is why I left for the manor in Alms.

The main building is in good condition,

the rental agreement is a simple matter.

There's just one problem...

...no use in trying

to keep it a secret from you...

...the money.

Without a penny, the whole thing is dead.

Capital is needed for production,

but this is a bit complicated.

There's no point in going into details.

And you'll understand that

the circumstances of our meeting

made me feel uncertain,

whether you would be able to do it.

Whether you would be able

to offer the little money,

the result of your extra hard work

and much hardship,

to hand over for a hasty idea.

Think about it.

Calm your thoughts.

Do not decide straight away.

But if fate decides

that from now on we stay together,

inseparable,

do remember the price that has been paid.

Do not forget the child...

...who may have had to perish

for the very reason

so our star could finally rise.

Who knows, my friends?

All we know for certain is...

...that life is very hard on us.

The Perspective, as seen from the front

I told you she shouldn't have

been taken from the institute.

I don't know why you brought her out.

Friends,

words fail me

now that I let you go on your way.

It's hard to describe the way I feel.

For what could I say...

...of your enthusiasm, your generosity...

...for the sake of our common prosperity?

Of that precious thing you gave me,

your confidence.

What else could I say

but that all this gives me courage

and lays a special responsibility on me

which I would like to fulfil

to the best of my ability.

Your enthusiasm and confidence

makes me confident and enthusiastic.

I'm thinking of the future we'll share.

Goodbye, my friends.

See you tomorrow at 6am

in the manor at Alms.

Go ahead and think of the future.

From now on you, my friends, are free.

And you were screwed, you mean shitbag!

Fuck off! Bastards.

Go fuck yourselves. Fuck off!

Fuck off!

Fuck off!

You see, what you have done?

The stuck-up person you were.

- Keep your mouth shut, OK?

- There you are.

Stop crowing and go to hell. Just go home.

- Oh, yes, once up and once down.

- Go home, will you?

I've been saying, one always has

to have respect for one self.

Now you're finished. You can close down.

Go home, will you?

Leave me alone.

My husband was the same,

he didn't know what was right.

And where did he end up?

Swinging from a rope in the barn.

Go home, stop bothering me.

Bother about yourself.

Go get your daughters instead

or they might go with them too.

- They'll never. They're locked up.

- Pay for your drinks and go.

They won't leave me like Estike did.

When they leave the yard,

they'll go and dig the ground.

Go home now.

Go.

Now, just go, go.

- You've finished it?

- I do not want to leave it for the gypsies.

The wind is blowing the clouds

Behind the sky is burning

Give me, my dear, your little hand

God knows if I'll see you again

Whether I'll hold you in my arms

Whether I'll kiss you, dear

God only knows the day I'll be shipped out

Whether I'll hold you...

You're lovely, you're fair, Hungary

Folks. We forgot the doctor.

Never mind the doctor.

He would have surely come

but I didn't mention it to him.

Come on, he would not be able to last

this long journey.

But he's going to starve now.

He can't even arrange it

with the pub owner.

Then let him starve to death.

I don't care about the doctor, if you miss

him so much, go back for him.

I haven't seen him for months.

There's no need to cry over him.

He's fine. Gets pissed every day,

then goes off to snore.

I wouldn't mind feeling

his mother's share in my pocket.

Are we all here?

No one's lagging behind?

We've done it!

At least we've done it.

You've come well prepared

for this new life.

Come on, Lajos,

there will be lots more of that.

How could those poor fellows heat all this?

Didn't I tell you?

We should never lose heart.

We have to have trust

until our last breath.

Otherwise what would become of us?

Tell me, what?

I can imagine.

You've seen the outer buildings...

...there's about five of them.

I bet the workshops are going to be there?

Workshops? What workshops?

Please be quiet. My husband

is already asleep. He wants quiet.

All right, all right. Can't we just talk?

I think it'll be the other way round:

we'll live in them

and the workshops will be here.

Won't you keep quiet?

No one can get any rest here.

Who was that?

Leave me alone. It wasn't me.

Nobody wants to own up to it?

Look,

I'll agree to anything you like,

just keep quiet.

Listen,

if everyone works hard,

I say, just one month.

We have great prospects for the future.

Tomorrow we'll find out

what Irimis is planning to do.

Tomorrow.

Halics was pursued

by a hunchback with a glass eye.

And after all sorts of trials

he fled to a river

but he started to lose heart.

Every time he came up for air,

the little man immediately hit his head

with a long stick.

And each time he shouted,

"Now you're gonna pay for it."

The schoolmaster persuaded

a man wearing an old suit

to go with him to somewhere he knows.

The man agreed,

like someone who can't say no.

He could hardly control himself

and when they turned into a deserted park,

he even pushed him

to reach faster a bench

that was surrounded by bushes.

He made the man lie down

and he jumped on him

and kissed him on the neck.

But seconds later, doctors appeared

on the path dressed in white.

Embarrassed, he waved to them

that he was going,

but he started to reproach

the confused little man,

for by then,

he seemed to hate his guts so much.

The ground trembled under Schmidt's feet,

as if he was walking on the moors.

He climbed up into a tree,

but he felt it starting to sink too.

Then he was lying on the bed,

trying to get the nightgown off his wife.

But she started to yell,

he jumped after her,

the nightgown was torn.

She turned towards him and laughed

and the nipples on her enormous breasts

were like two beautiful roses.

Mrs Halics was washing Mrs Schmidt's back,

and the rosary on the rim of the tub

slipped into the water like a snake.

Mrs Schmidt said she had enough,

that her skin was burning

from the scrubbing

but Mrs Halics pushed her

back into the bath

and went on scrubbing her back

because she said she was afraid

that Mrs Schmidt

wouldn't be satisfied with her.

Mrs Krner heard a noise from outside

but she didn't know what it could be.

She put on a fur coat

and left for the engine shed.

She had almost reached the road

when she had a bad feeling.

She turned and saw

that the top of their house was on fire.

"The chopped wood. Christ,

I left the chopped wood out!

"Heavens!" she screamed, and ran back.

Krner was sitting at the table,

calmly eating.

"Jska, are you crazy?

The house is on fire!"

But Krner didn't move.

Mrs Schmidt was a bird,

flying over the clouds, happily.

She saw that someone down there

was waving at her.

She came down a bit

and heard Schmidt shouting.

"Why didn't you cook anything, you bitch?

Come down here right now."

But she flew over him

and tweeted, "Tomorrow.

"You won't starve till then."

She felt the warmth of the sun on her back,

then flew closer to the ground.

She wanted to snatch a bug.

Futaki's shoulders were beaten

with an iron bar.

He couldn't move, he was tied to a tree.

He stretched out and felt the rope loosen.

He looked at his shoulders

and saw a long wound,

then turned his head,

as he couldn't stand seeing it.

He was sitting on an excavator,

the shovel was scooping out a huge hole.

A man came up to him and said,

"Hurry up, I won't give you

any more petrol, whatever you say."

But it was no use scooping,

for the earth kept falling back.

He tried again but failed.

Then he cried.

He was sitting at the window

of the engine shed

and didn't know whether it was

daybreak or evening.

The whole thing just didn't want to end.

He was sitting,

not knowing the time of day,

and nothing changed outside.

Morning didn't come, night didn't fall,

day was beginning to break

or night was beginning to fall.

Heavenly Vision? Hallucinations?

Friends.

Words fail me, now that the time came

and I let you go your own way.

It's hard to describe the way I feel.

For what can I say

about your enthusiasm, your generosity...

...for the sake of our common prosperity.

That precious thing you gave me,

your confidence.

What else could I say but

that all this gives me courage,

lays great responsibility on me,

which I would like to accept

and do the best I can.

And that your enthusiasm and confidence

makes me confident and enthusiastic.

I'm thinking of the future we'll share.

Goodbye, dear friends.

See you tomorrow at 6am

in the manor at Alms.

Go now and think of the future we'll share.

From now on you are free.

And you are screwed, you mean shitbag!

Fuck off. You bastards!

Go fuck yourselves. Fuck off!

I'm scared shitless, man,

how do we get out of this?

I'd be surprised if you weren't

shitting in your pants.

Do you want some paper?

This is no fucking joke,

it's bloody serious.

I wouldn't say I'm bursting with laughter.

Stop it, will you?

Would you be surprised

if I said our time has come?

What the hell are you getting at?

Listen to old Petrina this time.

Look, let's take the first train

and get away from here.

We're going to get in big trouble

if they realise what's going on.

Shut up.

Don't you see that we're partisans

in this persistent and hopeless

fight for human dignity?

Petrina, our time has come.

Our time has come.

You keep saying this, "Our time has come."

Our time will never come.

I had faith and confidence...

And there we are.

The web... don't you understand?

Irimis' nationwide cobweb.

Is your dull mind getting clear?

Where something stirs...

Go on.

You've never seen fog before or what?

The horses got away

from the slaughterhouse again.

Who do you support?

Myself.

How are you?

Fine.

You haven't changed at all.

What about you?

Nothing special.

I thought...

Two rum liqueurs and a glass of wine.

Here you are.

Listen, drink this up.

Then you go see Pyer

and tell him I'm waiting for him here.

Steigerwald.

What is it now?

We're staying here for tonight

but I'll need the car tomorrow.

But then I want the money before you go.

All right.

- And three bean soups.

- OK.

- With ham.

- OK.

I'm going to dictate.

Dear Captain...

...eternity...

...lasts forever...

...because it doesn't compare

to the ephemeral...

...the changeable...

...the temporary.

But the intensity of light

penetrating darkness

seems to weaken.

"Seems... to... weaken."

There is discontinuance...

...interruptions...

...holes...

...then finally the black nothing.

Then there are myriads of stars

at an unreachable distance...

...with a tiny spark in the middle,

the Ego.

"A... tiny... spark..."

Our deeds can be rewarded or punished,

punished in eternity, and only there...

...because everything has a place,

a place far away from reality...

...where it has its place,

where it has always been...

"Where... it... has... been..."

...where it will always be...

...where it is now.

The only authentic place.

I hope I didn't wake you.

You didn't disturb my sleep

and I do hope you won't either.

- My collaborators.

- My name's Petrina.

Horgos.

Very nice young man.

He can have a nice career.

Would you get me something now that...

...you got me out of bed?

What would you like?

Don't ask me what I'd like,

they don't have it.

Get me a glass of plum brandy.

Sanyi.

The gun dealer.

Sports guns.

I don't love this job, you know that.

You'd better call me Pyer.

Mr Pyer.

I asked you to come here this late

because soon

I will need rather a lot of explosive.

I'm going to think about it.

And decide as I see best.

And I hope you will do

your best for the success.

Listen, it's not entirely up to me.

But I need to know

whether you can give more

emphasis to this excellent plan

right now, with a so-called good start?

Certainly.

You are a gentleman...

...Mr Irimis.

Let me ask you something.

This "something new,"

which is waiting for us after

realizing your excellent plan...

- Well...

- Don't take me for a liberator.

Regard me as a sad researcher,

who investigates why everything

is as terrible as it is.

Would you like to have dinner with us?

No, thank you.

Well then, we'll discuss

the details another time?

I'll see you on the weekend.

Well, gentlemen...

Sleep well.

Look, it was 25 years ago, when I was

last able to sleep five and a half hours.

Since then, I've been turning

in my bed, half-asleep.

Thank you all the same.

Our Father,

who art in heaven...

...Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done...

...on earth...

...as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread...

...the power...

Amen.

The Perspective, as seen from the back

I don't understand Irimis.

He was one of us.

And now, he's like a lord.

You just can't understand

what he wants.

All the nonsense he said.

Bent knees and cries for help!

Then threatening with the child...

The way he spoke yesterday,

I was beginning to believe it.

Why the hell did he stir this shit up?

If I'd known he wanted more of the same,

I'd have saved him the trouble.

It's crazy to say

that it was my fault.

That I had anything to do

with that little idiot.

Even her name drove me up the wall.

"Estike," what's that?

Is that a name?

She ate a lot of rat poison and that's it.

Perhaps it was better for the poor thing.

But what's the whole thing to do with me?

He lured us here, to this rundown dump.

And we acted like sheep.

Meanwhile he dropped out.

God knows where he's drinking

with our money.

A whole year's pay.

And I'm flat broke again.

And if he appears in a minute,

what are you going to shout at him?

You're the one to say that?

You have the nerve to utter a word?

Stop for a minute!

Whose fault is it that I was robbed?

Who said that it'd be all right,

to share the money?

Irimis and Petrina, what?

You fucker...

Give me my money back, you bastard!

Give me my money back.

Give it back, you prick!

Let's give him two minutes,

and see if he calms down.

- Are the two minutes up now?

- Listen, people.

What on earth are you doing? Not this way!

- Use your heads.

- Shut up!

Here he is. Your saviour's here.

Do you really think it's my fault?

Give me my money back.

You hear me? Give it back!

I don't believe my eyes.

What are you doing there?

You get lost.

Don't worry about it.

It's none of your business.

Get away from here! I won't say it twice.

What's going on here?

I want to know what's going on!

We thought you wouldn't come.

You said you'd be here

by six in the morning.

I do my best to help you.

I've had no sleep for three days,

I walked hours in the pouring rain,

I run here and there

to overcome difficulties,

and you behave like piglets

when their dinner is late...

What happened to you?

- My nose is bleeding.

- I can see that. But why?

I never expected that from you.

From you neither.

And we've just begun.

What will be later on?

Will you knife each other?

Sad.

This is very sad.

I'm going to forget it this time.

But with a condition that such a thing

can't happen again. Is it clear?

So let's talk sense.

There is something important

I have to tell you.

We must postpone our plans

for the manor for the time being.

Because in certain circles

it wouldn't be desirable

if an establishment

for such vague purposes were created.

Their primary objection is

the fact that the manor,

being almost totally isolated

and a long way from town,

could hardly be brought

under their control.

Therefore,

in the present situation

for us the only way to succeed is

to scatter around the county

for a time being

until these gentlemen get so confused

that we can safely come back here

and start working as planned.

From now on, you are special people.

For you are selected to help in a matter

in which loyalty, devotion and prudence

are absolutely necessary.

Our goals go way beyond themselves.

Scattering is just a tactical decoy.

Because you're going to keep

in continuous contact with me,

even if not with each other.

In the meantime, do not believe

that we are going to remain

passively in the background

and wait for things

to get better by themselves.

What you have to do

is to listen to people around you.

Views, stories, events which are imperative

and connected to the matter.

Every one of you will need

to acquire the exceptional ability

by which you can distinguish between

the good and the bad signs.

In other words, between right and wrong.

And how are we going to live

in the meantime?

Don't worry.

Don't worry.

Everything is organised,

everything is prepared.

You will all have work to do.

At the beginning you'll get

enough money for the basics

from our common capital.

But do not waste our time

asking unnecessary questions.

We are late anyway.

We have to start right now, my friends.

Go pack your things. Hurry up.

Take your things and go.

Take the big things first.

Come on, move.

Krner, you too, you hear me?

Wait a second. Give us our money back.

You hear me? Give the money back!

The money?

Is that what you want?

Here, here's your money.

Do what you want to do with it, alone.

Good luck.

This is one year's of our hard work.

Jska, give the money back.

No, just share it out.

Perhaps it's better this way.

At least it became clear right from the start

that you have no honour or perseverance.

Good to know from the start

whom I can count on.

I think Mrs Krner,

your husband may be right.

I cannot realise my plans with you.

I need people who are at least able

to look after their own interests.

I have to go now.

Wait.

And...

...the farm will be working?

I don't know,

but this no longer should concern you.

Give him the money.

I didn't meant it.

Now, take the money.

This rain, you know, and the long hike.

We were so cold last night.

We are so sorry.

It's not about me.

It's the fact that you deserted,

you betrayed the cause

already on the very first day.

The whole thing is based

on confidence and perseverance.

Take the money now.

We trust you. Take it.

Look, I have no time or mood

for such scenes.

I must admit, you disappointed me.

But I will look past it this time

just for once.

I'm going to try and forget

this whole disgraceful event.

Mind how you sit there,

it takes at least two hours

even with this outstandingly fast vehicle.

Button your coats.

Put on your hoods and hats.

And just turn your backs

to the bright future

or this bloody rain will get

all over your faces.

Schmidts, Halicses, Krners, come on!

Futaki, Mr Schoolmaster,

please wait a minute.

What's the matter, you're not coming?

Is there a pub here?

- We could have a drink.

- No.

Schmidt and family,

you're going to Elek.

I've put everything down,

who to contact and where.

There you'll get work and a place to live.

And what work is there?

This is a butcher's.

There's plenty to do.

You can serve the customers.

Now the Krners.

You ask for Istvn Kalmr in Keresztur.

Listen carefully, it's not written down.

There's a street before the church

on the right.

You go down that street until

you see the "Ladies' Fashion" sign.

That's Kalmr's house.

Tell him Dnci has sent you,

he may have forgotten my real name.

He has a laundry in the back,

you'll stay there.

Is that clear?

Yes, Dnci.

A street after the church

and there's a sign...

Right.

Halics.

You go to the presbytery...

...and ask for Gyivicsn,

the parish priest.

Gyivicsn.

There's plenty of wine there.

You can clean the church

and do the cooking for the three of you.

Here's a thousand forints per person...

...if anything comes up.

But don't waste it.

And don't forget

what you're supposed to do.

I think all is clear.

We'd like to thank you

for all the good that you've done for us.

You don't have to say thank you.

Me too, I'm only a servant

of a great cause.

So remember what you have to do.

Then take good care,

as you know we care about you.

Take care of yourselves.

Listen, you sit up there...

...and we'll take you to the Streber.

We'll pick you up in an hour

and talk about the rest. OK?

OK.

Futaki.

Don't worry about me.

I know where I'm going.

I could find a job somewhere as a watchman.

You'd be better off doing something else.

What? Is there no way to come

to terms with you today?

Come to Steigerwald's by 8 in the evening

and we'll talk it over there.

All right, I'll do it your way.

Here.

A thousand forints.

Buy yourself a dinner somewhere at least.

This Futaki is the biggest sucker

I've ever met.

What did he think?

That this is paradise here?

What did the poor devil expect?

Nothing but worry and work

- Leave out the part about eternity.

- OK.

"Though I don't believe it's right

to write such information down

"but for you to see my willingness,

"I am following your instructions:

"I've taken into account

that you encouraged me to be open

"in all circumstances.

"I must say that there can be no doubt

about my people's aptitude.

"I hoped I could have convinced

you of this yesterday.

"This is important to emphasise again

"because from this rough draft

might derive other implications as well.

"I emphasise that in order to keep

my base working, I will be the only one

"to keep in touch with my people.

"Anything else would lead

to complete failure, etc..."

- I think it's all right.

- Then we leave that in.

Mrs Schmidt...

Type it.

Instead of a stupid woman

with big tits, you write,

"mentally immature person,

"who mostly emphasises her

female character."

And what about the "bloody whore"?

Could be a "lady of easy virtue"

or a "woman of low morals"...

How about "a woman prostituting herself

without hesitation"?

OK. Type it.

- Finished?

- Yeah.

"She went to bed with anyone and everyone.

"And if she missed anyone,

that was only by accident."

"She's a paragon of conjugal infidelity."

Finished?

Instead of "a stench created

by the mixing of cheap cologne

"with God knows what else..."

"She attempts to relieve

her unpleasant body odour

"in an unusual way."

- Krner.

- What?

Mrs Krner. Just type it.

"A termagant with a big mouth,"

should be replaced with,

"indiscreet transmitter

of fabricated stories."

- And instead of "a fat sow"?

- Leave that in.

- We shouldn't.

- Then put "big".

- "Overweight".

- OK.

- Can we leave Mrs Halics as it is?

- Sure.

And what about "wrinkled worm,

filled with alcohol"?

"Elderly alcoholic, short of stature"?

"Eager beaver."

"Inert dullness, blind wandering."

- We can leave that out.

- OK, we left it out.

You finished? Let's go on then.

Schmidt.

What's this? "Crude dullness mixed

"with featurelessness in the abyss

of uncontrollable darkness."

"Extreme stupidity,

inarticulate complaints,

"inert anxiety stiffened...

"...in the solid darkness of being."

Write this.

"His modest mental ability...

"...his submissive attitude to authority...

"...make him especially suited...

"...to accomplish

the activity in question...

"...to a high degree."

The schoolmaster.

He must have been out of his mind here.

Listen to this.

"If someone who's about to commit

suicide by jumping in the water

"were to hesitate at the last moment

on the bridge whether to jump or not,

"he should remember the schoolmaster

"and he will realise

there's only one chance.

- "To jump."

- Go on.

"He's like a withered cucumber.

In mental ability

"he remains below Schmidt,

a definite achievement."

Let's put, "Appearance: worn down.

No abilities."

- How did the two come together?

- That's what he wrote.

"He compensates for his cowardice

with narcissism and conceit.

"He's rather sentimental,

"as is often the case with onanistic men."

Then "weak and sentimental.

- "Sexually immature."

- OK, write that.

As for Krner,

he's a "boorish sloppy buffalo..."

"Though strongly built",

he worked as a smith.

"A strongly-built smith"?

"A stupid arse with dull eyes." Go on.

"The only dangerous one

is Futaki, but not very.

"A rebel, but a cowardly one.

"He might have had a nice career,

"but he can't get rid himself

of his obsessions.

"I'm sure he's the one

I can surely count on."

- So?

- Leave it.

No.

Write "dangerous,

but can be of use," instead.

"Cleverer than the others. Crippled."

- Is that all?

- Yeah.

Then sign his name. "Irimis."

- Is it still raining?

- Yes.

They shook hands outside the gate.

"You go by...?" "Bus."

"OK." "Bye then, " said the clerk.

"Nice day we had, eh?" the other added.

"Yeah, bloody good."

They shook hands again and parted.

At home, both were asked

the same question at the door,

"Did you have a bad day, dear?"

To which, shuddering and exhausted,

they could only say,

"Nothing much. The usual, my dear."

The circle closes

During the thirteen days...

...I spent in hospital...

Mrs Krner...

...didn't turn up...

...again...

Everything is...

...like I left it.

Neither of them dares...

...to come out the house.

They must be...

...lying on their beds, snoring

or staring at the ceiling.

They haven't a clue...

...that it is this dull...

...inertia...

...that leaves them...

...at the mercy

of what they most fear.

A cosmic economy.

My hearing...

...is getting worse.

The Turks are coming! The Turks are coming!

The Turks are coming! The Turks are coming!

I must be crazy.

I've mistaken the bells of the sky

for the sound of the bell for the dead.

One morning...

...at the end of October

not long before...

...the first drops...

...of the insufferably long

autumn rains

fell on the parched

sodic ground

on the western side of the yard...

...when...

...the mud of the stinking bog

makes the roads

impassable,

cutting off the town...

...until the first frosts.

Futaki was awakened...

by the sound of bells.

There was a solitary chapel

eight kilometres to the south-west

at the old Hochmeiss field

but it had no bell

its tower having collapsed

during the war...

Directed by Bla Tarr

From the novel of the same title

by Lszl Krasznahorkai

Script by Lszl Krasznahorkai

and Bla Tarr

Editor and co-author: gnes Hranitzky

Visual treatment: Bla Tarr

Camera: Gbor Medvigy

Art Consultant: Gyula Pauer

Music: Mihly Vig

Sound: Gyrgy Kovcs

Cast:

Voice of Peter Berling: Ferenc Kllai

Narrator: Mihly Rday

Assistants:

Produced by:

Production crew:

Assistance was provided by:

Magyar Televzi,

Tlvision Suisse Romande,

Filmfrderung Berlin,

Magyar Mozgkp Alaptvny,

and EURIMAGES Foundation.

With special thanks to:

Aerocaritas,

The Town Council and people of Baja

for their invaluable help.

Magyar Filmlaboratrium, Budapest

and Geyer Werke GmbH, Berlin

Lighting: Andrs Bederna

1991-1994