" Is that from the Cathedral?" " Yes." "It's the bishop chanting." " Did you wash your hair?" " Yes." "Last night." "Anna, turn up the volume, please." "Do you want me to iron your good rope?" "Anna, will you sew this for me?" " I had a dream about you." " Really?" "What kind of a dream?" "Well, there was you, Mr. Theodore and me." "Mr. Theodore was up in a tree." "He was doing exercises." "I was laughing and you said "Be quiet, Anna..."" " "You will hurt his feelings."" " What did you do then?" "I was thinking that he had fall and kill himself... and we burst out laughing." "Then I woke up." " Cigarette?" " I've given up smoking." "Really?" "I haven't had a cigarette in five days." " Feel that muscle." " Great!" " I do ten push-ups every day." " Training for the Olympics?" "Not exactly." "Let me look at you, Tania." "Turn around." "Your good-luck charm is here." "There you are." "Why don't you go and talk to your aunts for a while?" "I've got to tell you this." "Dean was sitting out on the balcony watching television." "It was after midnight." "He got tired an turned out the lights." "He started going into the bathroom." "What do you think ...he saw?" "Tania." "Wearing a black slip of mine and staring at her breasts!" "Well, look at the glamour girl!" "Come here." "She'd make a perfect model." "When are they giving the ballet recital?" "We all want to come." " June." " July." "Good luck." "What are you going to dance?" "Time out." "You want anything?" "An appetizer?" "Come on, let's get on with it." "You know what you act like?" "A widow." "Not in bed." "In soldiers' ward." "Can't you just imagine the widow?" "What time are the others coming?" "Mr. George and Miss Joy are here." " Where are they?" " I saw Mr. George's car." "Good to see you!" "Are you here?" "You are playing?" " Where is your fiance?" " He is coming." "I'm just going to say "hallo" to the men." "You mean the tavli players?" "Where is the boyfriend?" "Have you ever seen him at a meal without a beer?" "Turn around." " What do you mean?" " Just turn around." "Faster, faster." "Thank you." "Hello, Mr. George." "Put the beer in the icebox." "And hang up my jacket." "I don't want it to get wrinkled." "Anna, wait a minute." "I almost forgot." " Your present." " Thank you very much." "Come on George." "What do you think you are doing?" "Wait a minute!" "You could have warned us before you started taking movies." "George, get one of mother." "Nobody said you couldn't take movies, but you could... at least have told us before so we could comb our hair." "What are you shooting now?" "George, take some of Tania." "Smile, see the art." "Let's take one all together." "Come closer." "Wait a minute." "That's perfect." "Smile." "Uncle!" "Good to see you!" "How are you?" "You're looking great." "How are you?" "How are you, uncle?" "Sit down." " I brought you some flowers." " You didn't have to." "They were so fresh I just had to bring them to you." "Well, how you doing?" "What do you think about hot pants?" "Katie, why don't you dance with uncle?" " Another one of your jokes." " Don't listen to Theodore." "He's in better shape than any of us." "Isn't he, Dean?" "That's for sure." " I have something to tell you." " Again?" " Do you know anything about it?" " No." " What is it?" " We won't spread it around." "Okay, here am I." " You're a good dancer." " Only ballroom stuff." "Did Kate tell you what's happening today?" "Mother, that's not fair!" "She told me not to say anything and now she is telling everybody." " What's happening?" " There's a young man coming." " A young man for Anna." " Don't tell me she's pregnant!" "A few days ago, Steve came over to help paint the house." "We got to talking and he told me he has a nephew." "He said "He's a good boy, Christian with a steady job"." "Do you know of an eligible girl for him?"" " And you thought of Anna?" " That's right." "I thought of her" "It's time she got married." "She's human too, you know!" " Who said she wasn't?" " I told him about Anna." "I said "She is a good girl." "She would be perfect for him." "Tell him to drop by the house when he has time"." " Has anybody met this guy?" " I have seen a picture of him." " Steve knows him all his life." " Has Anna been told?" " Mother told her." " She cried at first." "She thought we wanted to get rid of her." "But I had a little talk with her that night." "I said "Anna, if you want to have a Christian family you have to get married, other- wise stay with me until I die."" " Heaven forbid!" " I don't have much time left." "What do you think?" "Were you keeping it a secret?" "In five minutes, it'll be time for wedding bells." " What's got into you?" " Don't you know him?" "Come on, mother." "It's wonderful, Anna." "Many years of happiness." "Are you gone crazy?" "The girls were keeping it a secret." "We're celebrating a wedding, not a funeral." "Did you hear that, Anna?" "Thank you very much." " Aren't you asleep yet?" " I can't sleep." "You'd better or we won't let you see the groom." "Ten long years." "It's time she had a rest." "How long is it since she's been to her village?" "The last time was six years ago." "The others ask for Social Security." " That's exactly the point." "What do you want to go and arrange a marriage for her?" "Things were perfect as they were." "Don't look, miss Tania." "It's not right." ""The time was approaching for the birth of the Holy Child." "The great Augustus Caesar ordered a census to be made... of his kingdom to see how much of the population he had... under his authority." "Joseph and Mary had to be present... at Bethlehem for the census." "An so, in the days before Mary was to give birth, instead of resting at home by the fireside she was walking down a long and difficult road."" "Did you eat your desert?" "Seeing Tania reminded me of something I want to tell you." " Aren't you going to put on tie" " Sure!" "And a tuxedo too!" "Day before yesterday a cripple got on the bus." "Shirt, little moustache, sunglasses." "A couple of people offered to give him their seat." "He said he'll be getting off." "Pretty soon he starts making a pass on a schoolgirl." "Just like Tania." "In the middle of those people." " And the girl?" " She got embarrassed." "He kept feeling her up until he finally got off." "Couldn't you have done something?" "Are you nuts?" "How do I know who he is?" "Anyway, these days girls know the score a lot earlier." "You're Kosmas?" "Theodore Manolopoulos." "Mr. Eustathiou, a lawyer." "We're family." "Come in." "Have a seat." "He is cute." "Let me see your hands." "Did you have any trouble finding the house?" "I've been here before." "A few years ago." " With my uncle." " Really?" " Quite a few years." " You must know Anna, then." "No." "You were all away." "On a trip to the country." "They were probably on Tinos." "Was it August?" "I think so." " Do you smoke?" " No, thank you." "Best thing you could do." "The relatives will be coming out in a few minutes." "Anna will bring us some coffee and after that you can get acquainted." " What do you do?" " I'm a driver's helper." " We go all over Greece." " Transport?" "Yes." "Vegetables mostly." "It's a tough job." "Especially at night." "You have to watch out you don't fall asleep at the wheel." "Last week Vasso and I went up to Salonica." "On the way back..." "I had to stop four times for coffee." " Have you ever been engaged?" " No." "I hope this will be the only time." "I've been in Athens three years." "Anna an I are from the same village." " Kalavrita?" "From the town?" "No, from Skepasti." "The second village outside the town." "That's good." "Do you have relatives here?" "Here come the others." "Come and meet them." "Mr. Cosmas Raptis." "Our mother." "Very pleased to meet you." "Let's not waste time." "This is our girl, Anna." "Vlasopoulou." " I'm pleased to meet you." " Sit down." "Mr. Cosmas and Anna come from the same village." "To your health." "Will you excuse us for a minute?" "Let's go, Cosmas." "Anna, stand up so we can see you." "What a nice color!" "This calls for a cigarette." "It's better if we talk man to man." "Anna has been with us for ten years." "We lose a lot... if she leaves." "Me mother in law needs taking care of." "But we'll sacrifice anything for Anna's happiness." "We couldn't do more if we had a daughter of our own." "We're members of society, so we have responsibilities." "What would people say if they thought we were giving her to the first man who came along?" "I guess you're wondering ...why I'm telling you all this." "Anna is an innocent girl." "Talk to her when you got out." "I want you to have back by ten." "Ten thirty at the latest." "I want you to promise me that you'll respect her." " This is straight talk, right?" " Yes, you have my word." "Are you going to take us a picture or what?" "Anna." "Ready." "Take care." "George, the door." "Have a good time." "This is a long ticket." "I know a good place." "My boss went there last Sunday." "We can have some coffee and see a show." "The've got Russian tight - ropewalkers." "Would you like to go?" "Aren't you hungry?" "Would you like something else?" "Can I call you by your first name?" "Did you know that we were neighbors?" "Not really." "You are from Skepasti and I'm from inside Kalavrita." " How do you know all this?" " I heard it from Madame." "Your parents... are they still in the village?" "My mother and my brothers and sisters." "Nine children." " And your father?" " He died in the war." "My family was very lucky." "My father went to Canada." " Is he still there?" " He died in a hospital." "Things are difficult over there The people, the street names." " But you can make money." " I'm not denying that." "But what for?" "Everybody is a stranger." "Haven't you ever thought of leaving?" "Everybody has left the village." "Some went to Australia... others to America." "Sometimes I feel like going myself." " Have you been in Athens long?" " Ten years." " Ten years in the same house?" " Why do you ask?" "It's a long time." "You must have gotten used to it." "Is this the first time you've been out with a man?" "Yes." "What do you do with your time off?" "I spend it with Madame and the family." "Whenever they go." "Don't you ever go out by yourself?" "Not very often." "Sometimes with a cousin." "Do you like things that way?" "Doesn't it matter to you that I've never gone out before?" "Don't be silly." "Shall we have something to drink?" "I don't want you to spend a lot of money." "Wine and appetizers..." "the works!" "Will it take long?" "What's the matter?" "Did I say anything?" "I was just thinking about what we were saying before." "Don't take it seriously." "I didn't know what I was saying" "You're right." "Look..." "I say whatever comes into my head." "Our Michael played the clarinet." "He played well." " My father too." " I wonder if he still plays." " Do you know how to dance?" " Some." "I remember how I used to dance in the village." "When I was little." "You need anything call me at the cafe on Thursday." "If I don't hear from you that means it's still ok... about Sunday." "All right?" "If it's all right with your people, I'll get the truck... in the morning and we will go for a swim." "Don't you know how?" "I'll teach you." "Were you will say we have been?" "I don't know." "I'll think of something." "Goodbye." "Don't forget about Sunday." " How old are you?" " 28." "Why?" "That's how it is." "Give them a little freedom..." "Don't worry." "Maybe the bus is late." "Goodnight." "Stop worrying." "Come out of there." "Come here." "Take your purse!" "Where are you going?" "Come here." "Are you deaf?" "Did your boyfriend cut your tongue out?" "Just look at the time!" "Aren't you going to take your pill?" "Where is it?" "Hello?" "Skepasti?" "Will you call Mrs. Eleni Vlasopoulou?" "I have to talk to her." "I'll wait." "She was like a daughter to me, not a servant." "I went to her room to talk with her, to give her support." "She didn't even open the door." "I began to give her advice ...from outside the door." "In the dampness, in the dark." ""Tell me, my child, what did that horrible man do to you?"" "She started banging on the door with her fists." ""Get away, you bitch!" "Get away, you awful woman!"" "I turned off the light." "I locked myself in my room... and I knelt down in front of the icons so that they would forgive me." " Relax, mother." " It's all your fault." "Why did you have to out all those ideas about marriage into her head?" "Elizabeth never got married... and she's never complained." "Are you going to tell me where you went?" " To a coffee shop." " Did he buy you a pastry?" "Ice cream." " And after that?" " We went for a walk." "It was a nice day yesterday." "You were walking until eleven?" "We went to hear some musicians." "They were from our village." "Listen to me." "Whatever I ask you I want you to tell me the truth." "Have you ever been out with a man?" "I said, I want an answer." "You are not talking to Madame now." "Have you ever been out with a man before?" " Yes." " Here or in the village?" "In the village." " Did you have intercourse?" " No." "Did he kiss you last night?" "Did he touch you?" "Where?" "On your body?" "On your legs?" "On your breast?" "No." " Where did he touch you?" " On my hair." "Only?" "Look at me." "Do you think that an honest man who goes out with a girl... for the first time would act like that?" "When I first met Kate I wasn't even 25 years old." "She was 16." "We went out for six months without me touching her." "Cosmas and I had a man-to-man talk yesterday." "He promised me that he wouldn't touch you." " He told me he'd marry me." " He told you!" "You had the privilege of spending the best years... of your life in an honest home with a good tradition." "Have you ever seen the girls of your age?" "And you?" "The first man who comes along brainwashed you." "Tell me one time that have heard any complaints from us." "They love you here." "Don't you understand?" "And you go and stab us in the back and let an old woman... like her stay out there in the dampness." "You swore at her." " You hurt her." " I didn't say anything!" "I believe you, but you may as well have said it." " Because you thought it." " No!" "You even thought of packing up and leaving!" "Of leaving us and the poor saintly woman!" "Right now... she is saying, "May things work out according to God's will."" "Come!" "Let's give her a little happiness." "How long will she be with us?" "Until tomorrow?" "The day after?" "So many years we've faced so many together." "Let's start again" "I take full responsibility." "Somebody better will come along" "Pretend you never met him." "Your mother is coming tonight." "That would be another stab in the back." "You have lost weight." "What have you heard from Michael?" "The same things." "A lot of work." "Easter they went to Orthodox church." "They were very moved." "Leave the macaroni for a couple of minutes." "Nice flowers." "Thank you." "Enough." "Look at your plate, Tania." "Anna, see if your mother wants anything." " Do you want anything, mother?" " What more could I want?" " A whole army could be fed here" " That's the spirit, Mrs Eleni." "Do you know what I really miss?" "Visiting your village... and eating your delicious bread." "And lamb on a skewer." "Yes, it's wonderful that lamb." "Do you have your ticket?" "Do you need any money?" "Michael wants to take the child with him." "I'm thinking about it" "He has to do his military service." "These next years... will be the hardest." "Afterwards the girl will have grown up." "I know we have been a burden on you." "Be patient for the next two years." "Life is good to some people, others..." "They're good people." "Do what they ask you." "Mr. Theodore said he'd add an extra five hundred to your salary."