"Luci and Sorina" "Take care!" "So, have they given you the money?" "Not yet." "In two or three weeks they will." "3 weeks!" "It's been 2 months already!" "What do you have to loose, anyway?" "You go there for an interview." "Our lady director has spoken with the guy, and it's going to be just fine." "Fine my ass!" "He'Il ask me:" ""Why do you want to be an ad agent?"" "And what do I say: "I don't even know what an ad agent does."" "They'll tell you!" "But at least you'll be paid." "Don't you want to get away from this place?" "What the fuck have they done?" "Wait here!" "God damn you!" "Hey, how dare you move out my stuff without even letting me know?" "Is he the guy that bribed you to let him move in to my place?" "Hey, how do you think you're talking to my bro?" "Uncle EmiI, come here!" "Stinking thieves!" "You fucking son of a bitch, don't you curse or I'll come after you!" "Leave him be, Uncle EmiI." "What, know?" "You'll miss this place or what?" " We'll manage, somehow..." " We'll manage." "That's what you say every time!" "I'm all fed up!" "We'lI move the stuff to Aunt Leana And we'lI sleep there till..." "Till what?" "Don't you see how pathetic this is?" "To wait for the old woman to die so that we can move in to her place?" "I'll be damned!" "We'd better get the hell out of here!" "Where the hell to?" "Anywhere!" "Just leave this shitty place." " We can not just leave." "We'll..." " We'll what?" "We're thrown out in the street, there's nothing you can do, there's no one to complain to and you tell me it's not so bad!" "Why do you think somewhere else is better?" "Everywhere is pretty much the same think if you're nobody." "Can't be worse, that's for sure." " What are you doing?" " I'm going to daddy." "I tell you, something's got to change." "But we must solve it ourselves!" "What's your dad going to do?" " So, what are we waiting for?" " Don't know." "He'll give us a sign." "What kind of sign?" "You don't expect him to talk, do you?" "Of course not!" "Maybe we'Il get an idea or..." "something will happen." "When we'll get a sign, we'll know, trust me!" "Actually, anything can be a sign." "You'd better ask him something or make a wish..." "That's just what I'm doing." "But it's enough to ask him in my mind, don't you think?" " So, what did you ask?" " None of your business!" " What, you have secrets, know?" " No, but you laugh at such things!" "Who laughs?" "Me?" "I don't!" "But you're wrong, you know!" "You have to ask yes or no questions!" "Otherwise he can't answer!" "Say:" "Daddy, I want to emigrate!" "If it's ok, I don't know..." "Make those crows fly!" "Give the poor guy a chance!" "Look!" "They flew away!" " Who flew?" " The crows... flew away!" "That doesn't count!" "It was just an example!" " Why not?" " It's got to be organized!" "So, I ask:" "Isn't it better to just stay home?" " That not what I asked." " Yes, but now I'm asking." " Ok." "So, if they fly, it's to leave." " Yeah." " I think he's here!" " Who?" " Daddy, I feel he is coming near..." " By car?" "If this isn't a sign..." "Hey, listen!" "Luci!" "Luci!" "Please!" "Can you, please, help me?" " I'm Sorina." "Jerome." "Did you notice, they're looking straight at us?" " Yes, Sir." " I've one just like it in my bedroom." "It's kind of bringing you so much peace when you look at them..." "Thanks, Colonel." "So, it doesn't so much matter what department she would be working in, just take her out of standing at the counter." "She is very depressed after what happened." " We'll move her to the ad agents." " Ok, and I owe you one!" " Colonel!" " Never mind, Sir." "Sir, there's boy here, to be hired at the ad agents..." "Send him in." " Do you have a CV or something?" " No, I..." "Then tell me a few words, name, address, what's your occupation..." "My name is Lucian Timofte, I'm 29..." "What's my occupation?" "So now I work at the greenhouse." "I graduated Silviculture in '93 and..." "I used to work at the botanical garden, doing research." "But the money is over." "And why do you want to become an ad agent?" "Actually, it's my wife's idea." "I was not paid lately there and she said..." " Actually, her Headmistress said..." " Which Headmistress?" "The Headmistress from kindergarten 69." "So, MadamJuIea sent you." "Let's see how she is!" "Aunt Leana!" "Aunt Leana!" "Luci?" " hello, Granny, is Gica home?" " It's downstairs, working at the car!" " You came to see Auntie?" " Yes, but she's not answering." "God, maybe she's sick again." "Check, it could be open." "She was sick yesterday as well." "Nicu, is that you?" "It's not Nicu, Aunt Leana." "It's me,Luci." "It's Luci, Aunt Leana!" "Auntie, I need to sleep here tonight, Ok?" " Yes, dear, go sleep, sure..." " And Sorina, too..." " Only to find room..." " We'll find room, Auntie." "Gica, would you help me bring in some furniture?" "Sure..." "Hey, go tell Mom to give me the cigarettes." "It's Ok." "She's here!" "What's this, you drink it with sugar again?" " You are not allowed with sugar!" " It's all right!" " Don't you fall asleep!" " He told you not to fall asleep." "I found these." "The next moment that bottle hit me in the head." " So, where will you sleep?" " At Aunt Leana's, for the time being." " And Sorina?" " Not too well." "She's all fed up with all this shit." "She says we should go away." "And what keeps you here?" "No house, no parents..." "It's not that simple." "If I had left before, it would have been something, but not like this." "I don't want to wash toilets." "Who says toilets?" "You can work in constructions or..." "If Nicu had made any arrangements, Maybe I'd have gone." " Plus, I have to care of Aunt Leana." " You can't stay here for an old hag." "She brought me up, though... know what?" "I was thinking I could get hire as a ship cook." "2 bucks an hour..." "What do you say?" " But you can't swim." " Doesn't matter." " You just have to know how to cook." " But you don't." "Doesn't matter." "I got into some course for cooks." " Hey, you think she's got some dude?" " Who?" " Sorina!" " Bullshit!" "Hey, where is my furniture?" "A guy came and took it in a car..." " A guy?" " Yes, he came with your missus." " What's with this stupid look, stupid?" " What?" " Leave him be." " Uncle Emil!" " Don't wanna." "He's such a looser..." " Uncle Emil!" "Well done, children!" "The gentleman here, Mr. van Horn, is a guest from Belgium and he'd like very much to know you better." "He likes children very much and he would Iike to take one with him, when he leaves..." "Do you follow me?" "Yes..." "The gentleman is going to ask you some questions, and you are going to answer him nicely, will you?" "Your teacher is going to translate." " Will you please, Miss?" " Yes, Ma'am." "His name is Michael and comes from the Netherlands." "What's your name?" "My name is Costel Denis Purcarea, and I am with the older ones." "Very beautiful name you have." "Would you like to go with Uncle here?" "Is he an orphan?" "Yes." "His father died in an working accident." " Excuse me, can I get out a moment?" " Sure." "Get back so the gentleman may have a look at the other children, too." "Danut, doesn't your father work at the store?" "Well, then what do you want?" "This is for orphan children." "They let you out from the hospital?" "Didn't you have to stay longer?" "I'm ok!" "I was to take the interview." " They hired me!" " Good for you..." " Aren't you glad?" " Cut it, children are watching!" " You'll see, everything will be O.k..." " Yeah..." "I brought you some clothes." "So, what have you done with the furniture?" "I found someone with an empty flat, and I moved it there." "I am with Gica, to move the bed to Auntie." " It's all right to stay there till..." " What about her?" "She'll stay there too." "She has no other place where to go, does she?" "I won't move on there." "How can three people live there with all that furniture?" "How come?" "!" "I'll sleep here." "I talked to the Headmistress, and she'll let me." " As you wish." "But you're wrong!" " How come, wrong?" " You should think it over." " Think what over?" "I told you I can't go on like this!" "Did you think I was joking?" "Come on, I must go now, the children are waiting for me..." " Nicu, is that you?" " No, it's me, Luci." " Oh, Luci..." "Where are you going?" " To work." "And what exactly are you doing there?" " So what I am supposed to do?" " How shall I put it?" "The first thing you need to know in publicity is that not only people have a soul, objects have one, too." "And if you'll learn to love the product you have to give a life to, then the customers will love it, too." "If they love it, they'll buy it." "So..." "To work, let's go!" "Wait a second!" "Aren't you ashamed to show you here after all you've done to me?" "And give me back my notebook of poems!" "Listen!" "This is my first day here." "I'm replacing the guy who left." " I'm Luci." " Mihaela." "Please, excuse me." "I thought it's Vasile." "It's Ok." "Can I make a call?" "We'd better get outside." "Hello?" "I want to talk to Sorina." "She not there..." "Do you know where she is?" "Tell her I called, and I'll call her later." "Thanks a lot." " Problems?" " Thanks." "Not really." "I went with Gica, this friend of mine, to move some furniture, and it was gone." "And it all ended with a small fight..." "You know women." "So I called to see how things get going." " And are they back together?" " Who?" "Your friends." "Want some?" "Thanks." " So, what's up with that guy, Vasile?" " Same thing." "Domestic trouble." "Your friend should go and talk to the girl." "Such things can end badly." "Don't you say..." "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" "Yeah." "As you wish." "Good evening." "Is Sorina there?" "She's no Ionger sleeping here." "She moved away." " Where to?" " She found a place somewhere else..." "So, then you'll excuse us." " Nicu?" " It's not Nicu, Auntie." "I'm with Gica." "I called in the morning, she moved in to some flat." "Alone?" "It's serious." "You must do something quickly." "I know." "If this house had been yours things would have been different." "Auntie is going to leave it to me, but I can't rush her up, can I?" "Gica, I want to talk to Luci." "What are you doing, drinking with sugar again?" "It's important for a man to live well, not a long time." "Luci, dear..." "I want to help you." "I see you've split out with your girl and it's a pity." "I say, what if I sell this house and I buy two smaller ones?" "One for both of you, and one for me." "This is a one-room apartment." "You can't get anything smaller." " Can't you?" " No." " What if I'd move elsewhere?" " elsewhere where?" "To the asylum?" "No way." "We'lI manage somehow, I'm sure." "Go talk to her and see, 'cause if it helps, I'm ready to move out." "No, Auntie." "Auntie, do you come with us in the park, Saturday?" "It's nice." "What are you talking?" "!" "I could get sick!" "You go." " Why get sick, Auntie?" " What are you doing?" "Excuse me." " You mean she moved here?" " That's the address!" " Look, 43A." " This is it." "Good luck." "And don't stay long!" "I want to see the match." "Hi!" "Come in." "Sorina, it's for you." "Is your head Ok?" "What's up, what are you doing here at this our?" " Can I come in?" " Anything bad happened?" " I don't know." "You tell me..." " What am I to tell?" "For instance, who's this guy..." "This guy saved your life." "He took you to the hospital..." "And you moved in with him, to pay back?" "That's why you come up for, to make a scandal?" "No, I came to ask you if you want to marry me, but..." " I'm Jerome." " Luci." "It's a football match on TV." "You like football?" " Why is he wearing my dressing gown?" " I gave it to him, as charity..." " How come, "as charity"?" " For the soul of my late husband." "He understood, at the cemetery, that I'm a widow." " But I'm alive!" " You are not my husband." "Oh, so I'm not!" "Listen to me, Jerome or what's your name." "I am her husband." "Stop it!" "Even if we have some problems now, don't you think you can take advantage!" " Otherwise, I'd take care of you." " Sorry, Luci, I don't understand." " What's he saying, Sorina?" " What did he say?" "Cut it out!" "He doesn't understand Romanian." " How could you?" " What?" "I did what?" "He gets back home in a week, are you happy now?" "And I sleep in the kitchen, you can check up, if you want to." " Luci?" " Shut up!" "It's for you." "Hello?" "Luci, don't be stupid." "Tell him, man!" "I told him already but he doesn't understand." " Luci, have they scored?" " Yes, it's one nil." "For whom?" "Wrong number." "If I catch you two spit again, I'll get you off the cars immediately!" "Feel better?" "Auntie, you go on yourself if you want." "I'm sick." "Here, I brought you the tape with that song you said." "I found it in my father's office." "Thanks." "What about your friend?" "Have they sold their problem?" "So and so!" "She said she needs a few days to think it over." "And what is he going to do?" "He'Il wait!" "What else can he do?" "Taste it now." "It's good, man." "Auntie?" "Auntie?" "Auntie, open the door!" "I was just kidding, really." "Auntie Leana?" "Luci, there are some policemen looking for you." "Is there something wrong?" " Mr. Lucian Timofte?" " Yes." "I'm colonel Visoiu." " This is Mr. Zigfrid." " I'm Nae Zigfrid." " May we?" " Please." "Mr. Lucian, I'm the friend from Germany of your friend, Nicu." "Courage, Uncle Marian." "And take care how you get to the subject." "Weren't you suppose to call Sorina today?" "I'll call her tomorrow." "Auntie, I have to tell you something, and it's something..." "Listen, maybe it's Nicu..." "Hello." "I'm Colonel Visoiu, 42 precinct." "Dear lady, I'm sorry to announce you your son has died." "What the heck, Uncle Marian, do you want to kill the old lady?" "It's better this way!" "It's true there's a small impact at the beginning, but then..." " What the hell have you done here?" " practically, she got sick." "Please, don't tell me she's..." "And what are you waiting for?" "Go quick tell your wife!" "I was thinking... maybe tomorrow?" "Tomorrow could be too late." "Come on, go now!" "MihaeIa and her mother" "Today is the most important day of your lives." "You are walking away, forever, together, on the life road, not an easy one, but at the end of this road, there are many satisfactions waiting for you." "I declare you man and wife!" "We are next, dear!" "Invite the guests inside." "And go get Vasile." " Haven't you seen the bridegroom?" " Vasile?" "Yes, yes, the bridegroom." "Haven't you seen VasiIe around?" "Leave it for now!" "children, have you seen Mr. Vasile?" "Mrs. Headmistress, CosteI and Danut are spitting at each other..." " And we can't sing." " Aren't you ashamed of yourself!" "People have troubles here and you are spitting?" "!" "Back to your places and be quiet or I'll rip your ears off!" "Understand?" " Vasile, is that you?" " It's not VasiIe." " Who is it, than?" " I am Gabriel." "Gabriel, have you seen Vasile?" "Last time I've seen him, he was at the white car, Colonel." "The one with food or the one with booze?" "That with booze, colonel, Sir." "Make it faster, we've to look for him." " Coming, Sir." " I'lI be outside." "One, two, three bottles missing." "You go inside, you two on the alley and you come with me." "We have 13 other couples waiting." "Sorry, we have to pass to the next couple." "We'lI find a good boy for you." "It's better that it happened now." "If this is not a sign..." " I think he's here." " Who?" "Please!" "I really don't know what are we to do now." "It's not the end of the world, though." "There are many boys out there, maybe even better..." "Of course, but who will marry a girl in her situation?" "People are mean, everybody's talking of what happened." "Why don't you let her go to America, to Mrs. Headmistress' daughter." "She should go to Christina, maybe she gets to know someone there." "Where am I to sent her, God forbid, I have to take care of her here..." "And she's too naive, poor girl." "I have to see the man myself." "Look what happened with this Vasile!" "She said she loved him and that's it." "Then, go to the matrimonial agency Emilia left the country with." "Oh God, send her to some stranger, we're not brought so low..." "Why not?" "Emilia is very well off, she stays home, takes care of the child, while here she didn't even have a high school diploma." "Elena, listen to me, that one, the Belgian, the Dutchman, or whatsoever is he married?" "He's not, Mrs. Headmistress." "Don't you think I asked him already?" "Dear me, Madam Julea, if you could help me with this matter, you don't even know the good you'll do to me." "Come on, Geta, if I only could do something." "You know, Mihaela is like a daughter to me." "Your poems are Ok." "Are they for yourself or to be published some day?" "I'd like to but it's not that simple!" "You need to have connections." "I've also started a novel." " A novel?" " A novel..." "Look, that's me in the eight grade." "And those are my parents." " Your father's a cop?" " A policemen, yes." "He also used to write." "In fact, he sort of keeps writing even now." "What, poetry, also?" "Now he writes for the Police Magazine." "But when he was younger he wrote." "I mean not poetry like, you know..." "But lyrics..." " For songs, you mean?" " Yes." "You know that one with:" "I defend my red ti'e of pioneer..." " Oh come on, he wrote it?" " Sure!" "Can you imagine, I sang it for 8 years in school in the former times and never knew what pledge means?" " well, pledge is..." " Mihaela!" "You know which one was nice?" "That one with..." "In the year 2000..." "What, don't you remember?" "...When we shall not be kids, We shal/ have one single wish!" "It's so beautiful!" "Say, did you expect the year 2000 to look like this?" " Mihaela!" " Me neither!" "Excuse me a second." " Mom, what's up?" " Nothing, dearest." "I thought it would be a nice surprise to take you out to some restaurant." "Is father sick?" "No!" "Can't we just go out and talk like girls?" "Some nice things have been done, though, that's the truth." "It's not Vasile, I'm with this new boy, Luci." "Take Emilia, for instance, she didn't even have a highschool diploma, and she is very well off." "She married that foreigner, stays home, takes care of the child, Saturdays he takes her out..." "Just imagine, how would it be to eat every Saturday at Mc." "Donald's?" "That's not important for me." "I want to travel, write books..." "Yes, dear, but you need a stable situation." " What do you earn from writing?" " well, money is not so important." "Until you need them!" "We are getting retired this year." "You need to have your own house, your own money..." "Take my word for it!" "All my Iife I counted every penny, I know better..." "Well, as you could do it, I'll do it, too." "In my time, things were different, my dear, but nowadays there are so many people with means, why not take advantage?" "Men, that's their destiny, they must work, but for women, it's important to marry well." "I'd like a boy who likes my poems, takes me for who I am, not only for my looks." "Sure, dear, that's important, too, if he's got all he needs to support you." "And hear this: this Dutch gentleman I told you about, he's a writer too." "He could help you!" "I don't know, mom, meeting foreigners, like this..." "Come on dear, everybody's a stranger before you get to know them closer!" "MihaeIa dear, please, do it for me." " I understood that you write poems." " Yes!" "Would you like me to read you one of them?" "Yes, why not?" "It's my first poem, I was 1 5 years old." "It's spring again, I think of you, Make me a present, and I'/l love you" "I don't want else land, just wish to li've in quiet and peace to work and breathe." "I don't understand all it's saying, but it sound very musical like." "I also write in French, BaudeIaire style." "You know him?" " It rings a bell, but..." " He was my father's favourite." "And his favourite painter is Grigorescu." "He painted a lot of pictures with... oxen carts." "My father has a lot of copies of paintings with oxen carts." "I also like copies of paintings." "Do you want me to recite you a poem in French?" " It's for Mr. Director." " Didn't you bring him a gift?" "It's from my wedding, from my godfather." " Crystal?" " Only the girls came empty handed." "I heard they even have doctors, Americans..." "It's all up to the Director." "Next, please!" " Sit down, please." " Thank you." "Name, first name and the actual status, for the record." "MihaeIa Visoiu." "Unmarried." "She's my daughter." " Why didn't she come in person?" " She is a bit more shy." "Where do you want the gentleman to come from?" " How come, from where?" " Like:" "Europe, America, Asia?" "Don't you have any locals?" "No, with us is only from abroad." "If you want locals, go to other agencies." "From Europe, then." "Europe..." " Look here." " Don't you have anyone younger?" "They are young, too." "How old is the girl?" "Twenty four." "Here, this one." "He's a very serious gentleman from Saudi Arabia." "Never married before." " But he's ugly!" " ugly, come on!" "Maybe that one, the second one..." " This one?" " No, no, on the other row..." " This one?" " That one, a bit further..." "Yes!" "A very serious gentleman, from Cyprus, seaman, aged 35." "Seaman?" "Excuse me, don't you have a doctor or...?" "That one no, 'cause he's ugly, that one no again, 'cause is a seaman." "Look here, Madam, we are not in a market place, they're people we're talking about here." "We can't negotiate like this." "Here." "They are doctors from Canada." " Why are they like this?" " They are brothers." " I'd rather you recommend me someone." " What can I recommend?" "There's a serious gentleman from Spain, works at the Madrid Opera House." "There are some other's too..." "If you want, you pay the fee, and..." "Sure." "I can also leave you a poem." "My daughter is also a poetess." " Don't you say!" "Ok, I'lI take care." " Thank you." "Good day!" "MihaeIa, honey, come quickly to the phone!" "Who is it?" "It's a young gentleman from Italy, very well-to-do." "Mom, I found a boy I like." "I won't date anybody no more!" "MihaeIa, listen to me just once!" "He has a house in Milan, he's got a car, a publishing house." " How would you know?" " Madam JuIea spoke to him, in italian." " He must be eighty, or something." " No, dear, listen to me, he's young." "And he likes your poems, dear!" "He read them and he likes them!" "The gentleman at the agency enclosed to your picture one of your poems, and the next day this boy called, saying he wants to meet you." "It's not polite to keep him waiting!" "What's the name of his publishing house?" "Ask him!" "Esperanza, and prints a thousand of titles a year and..." "How old is he?" "Fifty-nine." "MihaeIa, excuse me!" "His publishing house is 59, Luigi is 23!" " And what height is he?" " Dear, it's no polite to ask him this." "I want to know his height." "What if he's a fat dwarf?" "." "One eighty four, and 76 kilos, and he's made athletics." " Is he bald?" " Mihaela, please!" "He's dark-haired and has brown eyes." "He wants to speak to you, Mihaela!" " He wants to hear your voice." " Let him send a picture first." "There is no time for pictures, he already bought his plane ticket to come here the day after tomorrow, he asks if it's all right with you." "Yes, sure, give him the address!" "See, honey, he's an honest man, he wants to come here, to be introduced to us properly." "Take care, you invited him!" "If he publishes my poems, I'll go with him, don't you dare to say anything later." "Didn't you hear, he's young and of a good family." "It could be our chance!" "Oh my !" "And until the day after tomorrow everything has to be clean." "Listen, may be you'll tell my husband, 'cause he doesn't agree with that." " I think he feels ashame towards you." " Sure!" "Let's clean this place up!" "What's this?" "What's with you?" "I need to tell you something!" "I might be able to have my poems published after all." "Very well, isn't that what you wanted?" "Yes, but..." "I mean, we all have to make sacrifices for what we wish, don't we?" " Yeah." " And, I think I shall have to leave." "No big deal." "It was a shitty job anyway." "Sure..." "This tape is for you, as a gift." "And I wrote another poem." "But read it when I'm gone!" "I am very glad we've met." "Me, too." "But everyone has to do what's best for him, isn't it?" "Yeah." "Hurry up!" "Please..." "Thank you." "Wasn't it better to cook some forcemeat rolls of cabbage?" "Let him feel like home." "Remember you gave your word you won't spit, for the foreign gentleman not to think we are savages." "He's coming!" "He's coming." "Don't stay like this, be more natural!" "Hi!" "I'm Luigi." "Listen, hare male, what I put you here for?" " To let you know when he comes..." " And what else did I tell you?" "To let you know if it's something suspect with the foreign gentleman." "And there's nothing suspect?" "Sir, I gestured to you he's black, but you didn't understand!" " Take care now to tell all the people!" " I'm not saying anything, colonel." " Look here, go and a have a beer!" " Thanks, Colonel, Sir." "So, you live now at Nicu's mother..." "Temporarily, till I'll find some other place." "I can't give her the news about Nicu." "She's old and..." "Excuse me, I am going home to spend a while with my daughter." "Time is running out, who knows when I'll see my her again..." "Colonel, Sir, uncle Marian, stop crying she's not going to the slaughter-house." "Trust me, it's going to be fine." "It's like this with children, they grow up and leave, what can you do?" "Yes, but take this boy, Nicu, he left home in good health and look what happened." "What's got into everybody, now?" "Is it not good enough here?" "You are surrounded by your own people, they help you in need..." "Where do they go like this into the wide world?" "Here's fine, too, but people go for better..." "She goes away and the house is empty behind her." "Sir, how is it empty?" "There's your missus, the other missus!" "Eh, my missus!" "You still have friends, neighbors, colleagues, have you not?" "What colleagues?" "Nobody gives a shit once you're retired." "The boy here could also step over." "By the way, I'm looking for a room to rent." "Have you heard of anything available in your neighborhood?" "But cheap." "eventually, you could come and see our place." "There's plenty of space now!" "I don't have too much money." "Besides, there's my wife, too." "It's not a matter of money." "Me and my wife, we get back to the countryside next summer." "Someone's got to take care of the house." "Come one day and we'll talk." "I'll come tomorrow if it's Ok!" "Are you sure I'm not bothering?" "Auntie Leana will get crossed I leave her alone, but..." "For now, I don't know how to tell her." " Colonel, Sir..." " call me Uncle Marian..." "Uncle Marian, you have a lifetime of experience in working with people." "Come along to break the old woman the news." "all of us we'll be there, sure..." "It's better if she gets it from one who knows how to impart news like that." "Ok, boys, for my daughter's sake." "Courage, Uncle Marian." "And take care how you get to the subject." "I'm colonel Visoiu, 42 precinct." "Sorry to announce you your son is dead." "What the hell, Uncle Marian, you want to kill the old lady?" " What the hell have you done?" " practically, she got sick." "Please, don't tell me she's..." "Auntie Leana, bring quickly the salts, Granny has fainted." "Don't be scared, she has small blood pressure, so it happens from time to time." "She'll come to her senses if you'll sprinkle her with water." "Auntie!" "Is it raining?" "Auntie, I think I'Il move to Mr. Colonell who offered us e a room, for free." "You don't mind, do you?" "That's fine, dear, you move together with your girl again." "It's good things got settled." "Then what are you waiting for?" "Go tell your wife everything's settled." " Now?" "I'll go tomorrow." " Go now!" "I'll stay here." " Now?" " Go now, till it's too late!" "Run!" "Stop!" "Sorry, I have to go back." "I can't leave like that." "If you want to come to France with me, you may come." "If you want to stay here, stay." "You have to decide now." "Dear colleagues, allow me first of all to thank colonel Visoiu for what he did to our institution." "As you know, he retires next week, so this is the last session he's going to attend." "Collonel, we wish you all:" "Long happy life!" "Thank you." "What shall I say?" "Years have passed, as if it was a second." "My daughter gets married tomorrow." " Congratulations!" " Thank you." "So, I guess it's about time to step aside in favor of the younger ones." "I'll get back to the countryside, so come to drink a glass whenever you want." "Now, let me introduce to you Mr. Van Horn, the coordinator of the European Program for instructing the personnel of the Romanian police, according to the European Union's requests." "He will also preside this first conference." "Please, be attentive." "Gypsies are people, just like you." "Now I know!" "We forgot about he red wine." "Don't you worry." "It's bottled already." "30 bottles, plus beer, vodka, vermouth." " It's enough!" " The wedding rings from Grandpa?" "I gave them to VasiIe." "He should keep them." "You shouldn't have." "I don't trust him." "Today, we were all running around and he was sleeping on a chair." "What can you ask?" "No money, no parents, what does he know?" "And how I tried to find o good boy for Mihaela, with a position..." "We shall leave them the house." "We'lI live in the countryside." "50 km is not far away." "We'lI help them as we can." "Too bad he is not very skillful but he's learn." "You shouldn't have given him the wedding rings." "Don't you worry!" "It's going to be fine." "Trust me." "Haven't you seen a wedding guest, dressed like a bridegroom?" "If this is not a sign..." "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" "." "You got the wedding rings, don't you?" "Don't tell me you lost my Grandpa's wedding rings!" "See what booze does, Mr. Vasile." " I won't drink anymore!" " Sorry, son, can't help you no more." " Mr. father-in-law!" "Just stay there." " Mr. father-in-law!" " Colonel, Sir, let him be." "Please!" " Where can I find Captain Visoiu?" " Mr. colonel?" "Office 42." "I want to see Mr. colonel." "Colonel, I was wondering..." "Come in!" "I came to declare a theft." "It's here, right?" "What have you stolen?" "Not me." "Some luggage was stolen from me." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Nae Zigfrid." "Mr. Manager, colonel Visoiu speaking." "It's about Mihaela." "could we talk?" "Sure, I'Il be there in an hour." "Thank you." "Colonel, you don't know me anymore, but I know you." "I'm calling on you because of the stealing of an object, that, would have it been mine, maybe I wouldn't have lodged a complaint, but it doesn't belong to me." "I have to give it back to someone." "Where did you say we are knowing each other from?" "Years ago, more precisely in '88, from a case of yours, illegal crossing of the border..." "I remember." "I was attached in Orsova." "Do you remember a case with a boy who tried to cross the Danube swimming, at night..." "You started the investigation, and after two days two people of the Securitate took over, one bald and short, and another taller." "Yes, I remember." "How mean was the short one, how bad he punched that boy!" " So, you do remember..." " How would I not?" "But I couldn't say, after all these years which one are you." "I hope you are not the mean short one..." "No, I'm the boy they worked over." "Law was different and if one didn't obey..." "Besides, I seem remembering I wasn't hitting you." "Only a couple of slaps." "What's two slaps..." "In comparison to how they were beating." "But I don't accuse you of anything, Colonel." "I Ieft the country, anyway," "I've made a financial position in Germany..." "But when you took me out of the room, I was all covered in blood, no teeth... and you told me you are sorry for me, because you had children, too, a girl, if I recall it well, and that you could help me then," "but if when I got out I need some help, I could look for you." "So?" "That happened 12 years ago." "So here I am." "I need help now, and I came to you." "Colonel!" "It's that old lady again, now she says there's a bear on her balcony!" "A bear?" "!" "What's the bear doing, Madam?" "Smoking?" "Wants to get inside?" " Yell hard!" "It'lI scare him away!" " You see how times have changed?" "Nowadays people call the police as if they'd be calling to a friend." "They have a real problem or not, they call to hear a word of comfort." " Excuse me." "I must go." " Can I drive you there?" "He got inside?" "Pass him the phone, please!" "And that guy, Nicu, I was telling you about..." "Who was like a brother to you, there in Germany..." "Yes, he left here before '89, also over the Danube." "Together with a friend, he had an idea of how to cross the river." "You remember well, there were check-ups, they confiscated tubes, tires, anything that could float..." "These two guys, that..." "I've got to tell you, were also like brothers, had the idea of crossing the Danube using an inflatable rubber woman..." "I remember the case." "Turn left." "They cast lots, who was to cross first, and that Nicu won." "The other one, Luci, couldn't cross as meanwhile the alarm was given, the border guards caught him and put him in jail." "It's a blessing the Revolution came and he got out." " So he's free." " Yes." "In Germany, Nicu worked for me." "I have a printing press." " He used to drink a lot, though..." " That's bad... the booze." "And one night, a week ago, we're returning home." "I let him drive, although he was drunk." "It was night, it was raining... the car jumped over the railing, and fell into the water." "From the rear seat, I got out, but Nicu..." "The coin they draw lots with, that led him to the other side and left the other one here." "If you'll allow me, I also work for the police's magazine, and I wonder: could we publish that story of yours in the column" "€Looking Life in the eyes?" "If you are interested..." "But, will you help me?" "On what matter, exactly?" "Nicu has left word with me, that, if something happened to him," "I was to look out for that Luci, break him the news, and, bring to him Nicu's things." "Didn't you say you're looking me out for a theft?" "Last night, as soon as I arrived, somebody broke out my car, and they stole all my belongings." "Nothing much, but... personal stuff, you know which is practically, irreplaceable." "We'lI see." "Yes, Luigi. 42, Racaciuni Street." "Otopeni, of course." "Tell him to be careful, not to get robbed at the aeroport." "To meet with strangers, I don't agree!" "We'lI find her a good boy here." "We'lI leave her the house, we'll help her with the children..." "Where to go, God forbid?" "It's not easy to find a good boy." "Plus, what's it in for her to wait for here?" "What about this house?" "All the things?" "What have we worked all our lives for if not for her?" "children should be close to their parents, help each other..." "Don't you think about her?" "Sure I do." "We knew Vasile and you've seen what happened." " What about a complete stranger?" " You can't tell in advance." "Take Mrs.Julea's daughter, for example." "She is well off, stays home, takes care of the child." "She's well off, but her mother?" "You're thinking of her all day long." "You like it like that?" "It's all a lottery, darling." "Take my daughter, for example." "She married a foreigner and she's very well off." "How about you?" "Aren't you thinking of her all day long?" "You like it like that?" "That's Iife. kids go where's best for them." "This year I'Il probably go there to help her with her little girl." " We have to follow them, after all." " They are all going God knows where." "Attention!" "Colonel, we found the stolen luggage." "We go get them tonight." "I'm taking the boys, also." "Are you coming with us, Colonel?" "Now, listen here." "Today it's a great day for you." "We never forget our first mission." "It's seems we don't remember it at times, but it remains hidden somewhere." "When we retire, we dig it out and tell it to our nephews." "One more thing!" "For a policeman, watch is the measure of his value." "There, the self control is to be seen." "During the watch, you are facing the delinquent." "There's only you and him." "Is it true that then you're balding the most?" "Possibly." "Every one of you knows what he has to do?" "Go!" "You'll stay behind the bushes." "When the thief comes, you whistle!" " Captain, Sir, I was thinking..." " What?" "The apple - has its seeds in the middle..." "Or the orange, it has seeds, too, but I was asking myself, the banana, where has it seeds, for Lord's sake?" "Mr. First Sergeant!" "The delinquent!" " And why don't you whistle?" " I can't whistle, I've been operated." "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" "." " Oh, Geta!" "This woman was stolen..." " So, for you, that's a woman..." " This woman, this object if you want..." " Sure, for him a woman is an object." "Will you let me speak?" "This woman saved somebody's life." "It's not a mere object." "And it's not mine." "It belongs to a thief that..." " So why is it in our house?" " Why is it in our house?" " well, it was a special situation..." " What if MihaeIa found it?" "What exemple are we?" "What if that boy that comes tomorrow found it?" "Which boy?" "A very fine boy, with a position and everything." "Wants to publish MihaeIa's poems in Italy." "In Italy?" "Yes." "Hello!" "I'm Luigi." "Delicious!" "Ask him about his parents." "And your parents?" " His father..." " It's Ok, I understand what I need." "Now, why are you mourning for, as a fool?" " You should speak to Mihaela..." " What shall I tell her?" "When you've put that nonsense into her head that only money counts, you didn't call me to speak to her." "Now, find your own way out!" "Aren't you ashamed of you?" "Letting the kids alone." "He's still our guest, isn't he?" "Guest, my foot, you brought the monkey into my home!" "Don't you dare!" "The boy comes from a good family, he has the best of intentions, so what if he's black?" "We are only sitting at dinner, nobody says Mihaela has to marry him." "So get back and look out how you behave!" " There comes the second course!" " You have to say something, too!" "Pizza..." "I Iove pizza!" "I eat pizza all the time." "And, tell me, young man, were you was born in Italy, or..." "I was born in Mozambique and brought up here till I was 1 5." "And how is it there?" "Do you have..." "for instance...." "Police?" "Of course." "Police, banks, schools, libraries, everything." "It's a normal country." "When someone says Africa, see?" "A Spanish thinks of elephants, bananas, ebola, people dying of hunger." "And that's true, but it's a distorted image." "Genereally, there are normal people living normal lives." "Same thing here, except for Dracula and Nadia Comaneci, what is to be known abroad?" "Who heard of a..." "Poparniceanu, or... so many others?" "But what's extraordinary is that everybody here know Italian." "It's great!" "Romanian and Italian are sister languages, aren't they?" "By the way, I'm more preoccupied with plants, gardening, in my leisure time, and there is something I have been asking myself for a long time:" "Bananas..." "Where do they keep their seeds?" "could you please ask him if they have scholarships for young poets?" "Through the good will of Mr. Van Horn here, one of our children, CosteI, will leave, we hope not forever, to make part of another family, in another country." "I invite here Mr. Van Horn, and you, Costel." "If you keep spitting, I'll beat you up!" "Thank you for being here today to take your farewell from Costel," "I promise you we'll do all possible for Costel to feel in holland, his new country, as well as he felt in Romania." "Thank you." "Forgive him, he is all excited, but he gave his word to me." "He won't spit anymore, won't you, CosteI?" "Cause if he spits, uncle won't take him from here, plus he doesn't want us to have a bad name there." "Come, Sorina, they are waiting for you!" "Look here boy, I know you'll understand me, you've got parents of your own." "MihaeIa can't leave, and not because you're... no." "It'sjust that she belongs here, this is her house, we want to raise her children together, understand?" "Mr. Colonel, sorry, I understand what you're saying, but I talked to MihaeIa and I'm willing to stay here." " Ready to stay here?" "!" " Yes." "Mihaela wants to leave to Italy." "MihaeIa?" "Just a second!" "Have you heard that?" "MihaeIa wants to leave!" "He would stay here!" "Did you know anything?" "She would better go!" "Colonel, Mr. Nae is wai'ting for you here." " You had to meet him for an article." " I'm sort of caught up in something." "Listen, we have to find that boy, Lucian." "Quickly!" "Yes, Sir." "I've have left already, Colonel." "I Ieft in 1988, I met Nicu there." "Does Mr. Lucian Timofte stay here?" "He moved out." "Ask his wife at the kindergarten." "This is Nicu, in the military." " His wife works here." " Yes." "could I have their phone number?" "Very nice!" " What about the luggage?" " We are working on it." " May I keep it?" " Sure, it's for you." " Is Mr. Timofte there, please?" " Try at the shopping center." "Is it for me?" "Yes." "Over there." "How do you say "cheers" in German?" "They are not for real." "They didn't take a thing." "It's a pity the woman ceded away." "We had tried to vulcanize it, but..." "It ceded away in several places, as I see." "Well, the material was also old enough." " That's it." "Shall we get in?" " Yes.Just a second..." "We are knowing each other only for a few days, but you are a man of honor, so I'd dare, if it doesn't bother you, to ask you for something..." "I'm all ears." "It's about my daughter, who, well, decided to go abroad, and... how shall I put it, the boy, the fiancé, I don't get into details, it didn't turn out well," "but Mihaela, my daughter, wants to go at any price." "So, I thought I could possibly ask you, if it's not to much, to take her in your car with you when you leave, keep her there for a while, till she clears her thoughts up." "I'll leave tomorrow morning." "That's it, now." "She's ready." "It's only for you to agree..." "She also writes poetry, maybe she can help you at the printing house..." "Mr. Colonel, Sir, if we don't help each other, who will?" "You don't know the good you're doing to me!" " Shall we go now, Mr. Colonel, Sir?" " Sure." "But call me uncle Marian." "Mr. Lucian, I'm the friend from Germany of your friend, Nicu." "He finally decided to give me a sign." "It'sjust this." "Unfortunately, Nicu is no longer among us." "He died last week, in a car crash." "And he had asked me, if something happens to him, to look for you, and tell you." "This is the coin, always kept it with him." "His stuff, and..." " What's with that?" " Nicu cared for her a lot." "He used to watch it and say:" ""Where would Luci be now?"" "This woman has a patch." " There was a situation when..." " Make me understand, please." "You mean to say that, after all these years, during which he didn't give any sign, and let me take care of his mother, who is aged now, he sends me a perforated coin and a..." "Wait!" "Don't take it like this." "For him, these objects were like a sign of destiny that tore you apart." "You know what tore us apart?" "I went, for a minute to take a leak and when I got back, there was no Nicu!" "So, up his ass with his coin." "And sorry to tell you, thatwoman was white." "And for his mother, didn't you bring anything?" "Money?" " Truth is, he didn't get on too well." " He drank everything, didn't he?" "I can help her with money, if necessary." "And who'll tell the old woman?" "I, for myself, I can't!" "And how did it happen?" "It was night, raining..." "I know you from somewhere." "Wasn't you a friend of Nicu's?" "Yes, but I rather think you don't know me." " It's just about Nicu..." " Mr. colonel, Sir!" "Call me "Uncle Marian"." " Aunt Leana, you have to know, Nicu..." " What's with Nicu?" "Nicu... will never come back now, understand?" "That's fine." "Why come back here if he's OK there?" "Or isn't he?" "Yes, I suppose he's fine." " Fine, yes." " He's fine." "How could he not to give a sign for such a long time?" " He was busy." " He works a Iot, isn't he?" " Yes..." " still drinks?" " practically... not quite." " This drinking habit..." "How's going with money?" "All right." "He is loaded." "And as a proof, he sends you... 500 marks. 1,500 marks." "1,500 mark!" "And he'll send you more when he gets it." "And you tell him I am fine, Luci takes care of me, he stays with me here." "Auntie I'll move to Mr. Colonel here, who offered us a room..." "So, what are you waiting for?" "Go tell your wife!" " I was thinking tomorrow." " Go!" "I'Il stay here." " Now?" "!" " Go now, till it's too late!" "Run!" "They're all going away, Granny, what can one do?" "I want to go away..." "Please!" "What's up with you two here?" "He came to bid farewell to this little one." "He goes away in an hour." " What are you doing here so early?" " I couldn't make it home last night." "Hey, Luci!" "Come here, someone has come to say goodbye."