" Shut up, rude girls!" " But why, sir?" "Move on or I'll rip it off and make you eat it!" " But I didn't do it!" " Move on, I said." " I really didn't do it." " Oh, no!" "You viper!" "Isn't this pen yours?" " Yes, but I didn't throw it." " Who did?" " I had given it to Papastavrou." " What now, Xanthopoulou?" "Nothing, sir, a little misunderstanding." "So you confess that Papastavrou threw this pen." "I don't know who threw it at you, I only know I didn't do it." "And she raises her hand, too!" "Fetch Papastavrou!" "On the double!" " They threw a pen at you?" " Nearly poked my eye out!" "It flew right past me." "If I stood over here, I'd be minus an eye." " What happened?" " They threw a pen at him." "Liza!" " During class?" " Yes." "I was writing a trigonometry theorem on the blackboard." "As I turned to look at them, whoosh!" "the pen came flying  10 cm from my eye." "Right here." "Ten centimetres, principal." "This is insupportable, most assuredly." "And you haven't discovered who threw it at you?" "At first I suspected Lazarou." "Then it turned out it belonged to Xanthopoulou." "But she says she'd given it to Papastavrou." "Principal, you must take severe measures." "We risk bodily harm during every lesson." " Don't exaggerate, Mr. Mavromatis." " I do no such thing." "They are children and children are always lively and undisciplined." "No, principal, we are more lenient than we should be." "Impunity has made them brazen." "A slap or two would set them right." "No slaps, most assuredly!" "What is this?" "This is an educational... come in." " You wanted to see me?" " Come in, Papastavrou." "What's to be done with you?" "Will you always be a stormy petrel?" " I don't understand." " Oh, don't you?" "During class did you take this pen from Xanthopoulou?" "Let me see!" "Yes, I did." " Did you have it during class?" " What was that?" "I said, did you have it during class?" "Yes, I did." "And how did it end up stuck on the blackboard?" " I must have dropped it." " How did you drop it?" "According to the laws of gravity objects fall like this and not like this!" "That is correct, according to the laws of gravity objects always fall vertically and never horizontally, most assuredly." "Principal, your efforts to explain the laws of gravity to Papastavrou fall on deaf ears." "Papastavrou is useless at Physics." " Why do you say that, Mr. Mavromatis?" " Because you are insolent." "I am not negligent." "I simply confuse Physics with Religion." "Yes, with Religion." "And it's all your fault." "The other day you were telling us of Darwin's and Laplace's theory." "That the earth was a nebula that later froze... and then the seas were formed and the first signs of life appeared and then came man who evolved from the aps?" " Mr. Fragkou disagrees!" " I do?" "Weren't you telling us just his morning in class that man was made from clay and that Eve was formed from Adam's ribs?" "Don't change your mind now." "You should support your views!" "I do right here and now." "We're just children, after all!" "We are confused if people tell us contradictory things." "Quiet, you insolent girl, most assuredly!" "Tomorrow you will copy and bring me 100 lines from the Iliad." "Get out now!" "Girls!" "What happened, girls?" "Fofo has a great idea." "We should all skip the Physical Exercise." "I have a better idea." "Let's drive Gkikas mad today!" "We must all agree." "When he tells us to raise our hands we'll touch our feet." "And when he tells us to touch our feet we'll raise our hands." "And when he gives the command to spread we'll spread our arms." "No, let's keep it simple." "Bend over-raise hands." "We must tell the others, the bell is about to ring." " May I help you?" " The principal is expecting me." " Right along there." " Thank you." " Don't give the game away, Liza." " Who, me?" " You often do that." " What's she talking about?" " Swear you won't say anything." " On Marlon Brando's head." "Shame on you." "Keep it down, girls." " Sorry." " What's this "sorry"?" "We stepped on your feet, we pushed you a little, we said "sorry"." "What else could we say?" "Would you like us to sing carols?" "And you thought this was amusing." " Rather." " Rather?" "Congratulations, then!" "Merci!" " What's this now?" " I don't know." "Forget about him." "There's no discipline any longer." "My dear sirs we can enforce discipline through other means." "Other means, most assuredly." "We've seen these other means all these years." "What's the result?" " The Principal, please?" " This way." " Yes?" " We'll talk about it again, Principal." "Most assuredly." "My name is Floras, Principal." "Panos Floras." "I teach literature." "Pleased to meet you." "Floras, yes I know." "I talked to Mr. Nikolaides, I don't know if you have talked to him." "He did, but I asked him to see you in person, to make my request." "I understand." "Unfortunately, as I explained to Mr. Nikolaides this cannot be done." "For a variety of reasons." "I've been told you have a pressing need for a Greek language teacher." "Of course, we do." "And that is the point." "I don't know if Mr. Nikolaides told you." "I graduated with honours, Principal." "Undoubtedly, but as I said to Mr. Nikolaides... our students come mostly from well-known families and they are quite lively and undisciplined." "Venerable teachers, whose hair turned gray in classes find it difficult to maintain order." "It will be doubly difficult for you because you are very close in age to them, most assuredly." "Don't worry about that." "I am certain they won't dare do anything with me." "That is just talk, sir." "Please sit down, Mr. Floras." "What's wrong?" "They dared, sir." "They dared, most assuredly." " They dared what?" " Come closer, please." "I'm a donkey!" "Not bad, they have written much worse." "Much worse, most assuredly." "I don't understand." "They put it on me here?" "Unless you brought it from home, which is rather unlikely." "I told you, you will not be able to make it, despite your good intentions." " Listen to me please..." " I'm sorry, Mr. Floras but I am late for class." " Should I wait, Principal?" " Wait?" "What for?" "I don't think there is anything more that remains to be said." "I'll wait for you anyway." "What can I say?" "Although I've made myself clear." "Where are you going?" "Don't you have class now?" " Yes, we have physical education." " Why aren't you there?" "Mr. Gkikas excused me to keep Polychronopoulou company because she suddenly felt ill." "All right, you're excused." "And you?" "I'm Polychronopoulou, Principal." "All right, go on now." "Our ancient ancestors used to say "a healthy body in a healthy mind"." "Which is right because physical exercise does not ascertain physical and mental health, it also ascertains beauty." "A person who exercises regularly will certain have a nice body." "And the example stands here before you." "Shut up!" "Move in and out." "The same!" "Bend palms, stand on your toes and breathe in deeply." "One... two." "The same!" "One... two." "Who's whistling?" "Shut up, spoilt chits!" "Who whistled?" "Shut up!" "I said, who whistled?" " Who whistled?" " I did, sir." "You did?" " Why do you whistle, child?" " I have adenoids." "You don't have adenoids, you have a whistle!" "Shut up!" "Quiet, spoilt chits." "Always on the lookout for a laugh." "Attention!" "Stop that, Papastavrou, or you'll pay for it." " It's the way I'm made!" " Heed my words!" "Attention!" "You're facing the wrong way, Papastavrou!" "Standing jump in four increments." "Begin, one, two, three, four." "The same!" "Legs spread, hands at the waist." "Extend arms." "Raise arms." " What are you doing." " Touching our feet." " What did I command?" " Touch your feet." " I said "touch your feet"?" " Yes, sir." "All right, back into position." "Raise arms." " What are you doing now?" " Touching our feet!" "Quiet, please." "Attention!" "And now, girls, we'll raise our arms!" "Right?" "Let's be clear on that." "Raise arms!" "We'll raise our arms, nice and easy." "Legs spread, hands at the waist." "Raise arms!" "For heaven's sake, girls, what did we just say?" " Touch your feet!" " I said that?" " You heard it, too?" " Yes!" " Didn't I say "raise arms"?" " No, no!" "You'll make me look for a sharp corner to bang my head against!" "You should, you should!" "I said, shut up!" "Excuse me, sir." "Did you hear the command I just gave them?" " Yes, I did." " What did I say?" " Raise arms, sir." " Thank you very much." "You saved me at least 200 drachmas." "I had decided to visit a psychiatrist tomorrow." "I'm sorry, dear colleague." "They've pinned this on you." "Dear colleague, they've pinned this on you." "Excuse me, dear colleague, they've pinned this on you." "I was certain!" " But why?" " But I explained, most assuredly." "Aristophanes is indeed the greatest comic poet of antiquity but Aristophanes is not taught in highschools." "And that is due to that rather licentious, one might say licentious language used in his comedies, most assuredly." "Thank you very much." " Still here, young man?" " I told you I would wait for you." "You did, most assuredly." "But I told you, too." "Principal, sir, I am in great need of employment." "I know that, but I told you that venerable teachers..." "Should I then become venerable in order to find employment?" "If that is so, I will never manage to become venerable." "As you undoubtedly know better than I do age alone does not inspire respect." "I beg you, at least take me on a trial period." "Just on a trial basis and if you find I am not suitable..." "As for what happened, believe me, it is not that important." " I mean the paper they pinned on me." " Oh, it is important." "Everything is important, sir." "Everything, most assuredly." "May I, Principal?" "They've pinned this on you." "What does it say?" "The present construction is scheduled for demolition." "All decrepit material for sale, most assuredly." "Details within." " Within?" " That's what it says." "They've written much worse than that." "Much worse, most assuredly." "Don't forget to thank Mr. Nikolaides." "Yes, mother." "I will." "As soon as I have some time." " You start lessons today?" " Yes, today." " Let's see how I'll do." " You'll do just fine." "You'll do fine with God's help." "Sit down and eat something." "Oh, great... cheese, olives..." " Strawberry jam again?" " You asked for it yesterday!" "I didn't ask for strawberry, I only said that I don't like apricot jam." " Have some buttered bread." " I'm not hungry." "Drink your milk, at least." "Go on, like water." " There's a crust!" " Oh, no, there isn't any!" " I strained it myself!" " What am I crazy?" " It's the school bus and I'm not ready!" " Come back here!" "Sit down!" "I won't have you go to school on an empty stomach!" "The schoolbus is here and they are waiting for the young miss." "They are late and she should hurry, they said." "Tell them not to wait, miss will go in our car." "You tell Antonis to be ready." " Honey." " What are you doing?" "Are you mad?" "Hello, Antonis!" "Give me a light, Antonis." "Merci." "Tell me something, please." "A student got off that car." " What's her name?" " Papastavrou." " What class is she in?" " The last one." "Girls, girls!" "I have news!" " A new teacher!" " A new one?" " Brand new." " Have you seen him?" "No, but I think he's rather young." " Young?" "What will he teach?" " Ancient Greek." "They're obsessed with ancient Greek!" "I don't understand that!" "Why do they insist on our learning ancient Greek!" "What's the use?" "Why not teach us English?" "Should we find ourselves in Hollywood we'd be able to talk to Brando." "He's a cutie!" "Why not teach us French?" "Should we find ourselves in Paris to be able to talk to Gerard Philippe." "To tell him... "je t'aime"." "What would we say?" "Oh stranger, tell the Spartans?" "Why not teach us Spanish." "Even Spanish is good." "We might find ourselves in Marseilles one day." "What does Marseilles got to do with Spain?" " It doesn't?" " None at all!" "Marseilles is in Brussels!" "What I meant to say is they could teach us a foreign language." "What's the use in learning ancient Greek?" "Is there any chance of having a chat with Pericles and Aspasia?" "Why do they tire us out needlessly then?" "What I must stress, Mr. Floras, is your method." "The way you will handle them." "Be in no doubt, Principal." "In a public school a teacher is able to punish with the requisite severity any indiscipline." "But our great college is also a business." "A business with great expenses." " I don't know if I made myself clear." " Crystal clear, Principal." " This way, Mr. Floras." " After you, sir." "Quiet!" "Sit down, please." "My dear children, allow me to present your new teacher, Mr. Panos Floras." "As of today he will be teaching your class ancient Greek and history." "I urge you to extend your new teacher the same respect, most assuredly." "The same respect you afford to me." "What crap!" "Quiet, please." "Here you are, Mr. Floras." "And I wish you a great career for the benefit of society." " What is your lesson now?" " Homer!" "Our lesson is Homer." "Yes, Papastavrou, I heard." "Homer, most assuredly." "And now your lesson." "Quiet, please." "Sir, the Principal just wished you a great career." " Is this your first teaching post?" " Yes, miss." " May you have a great career, then." " Thank you, miss." "Sir!" "May I also wish you a great career?" "Thank you, too, miss." "Sir, a great career to the benifit of society, most assuredly." "Are you finished with all that?" "Sir!" "A great career!" " You've already said so, miss." " I did?" "When did I say that?" "When did I say that, girls?" "I don't remember." "Quiet!" "Please, miss." "Don't make me start the great career that you wished for me... in a way that I don't want and that, believe me you would not want either." "Quiet!" " Sir?" " Yes, miss." "May I go out?" "Yes, you may." "Right. lt seems that there are many clever girls here." "That's all right." "We'll get to know each other better over time." "It's late and the bell will ring in 15 minutes." "But since you had a lesson on Homer, let us say a few words about this great ancient poet." "Where exactly have you stopped?" "You, miss." "We are at chapter A, verse 123- 124." " Do you like Homer, miss?" " Yes, of course, I do." " Do you understand him?" " Yes, quite." " And you, miss?" " Sorry?" " Do you understand Homer?" " Papastavrou?" "Certainly!" " That's how they converse at home!" " Quiet!" "Could you translate this piece for me?" "Let me..." "Oh, like that!" " All of it?" " These four verses." " All together?" " Of course." " I can't do it like that." " I'll help you." " Right." " Right, what?" "To be honest out of all this the only thing I know is "pallas"." " You know it?" " lt's because I've been there." " Where?" " To the "Pallas"." "I see." "Let's hear the translation of these few verses by..." " Giadikiaroglou." " Sir, it's her who went..." "Here she is." " You asked for me?" " Are you Giadikiaroglou?" " Yes, is something wrong?" " Do you understand Homer?" "Homer who?" "I see, sit down." "Quiet!" "This one will prove to be tough." "He wants to act very macho." "We'll soften him up." "Your social comments during the break, please." "One of you come here." " I said one of you." " But I am one." "And I'm one, too." "I'm not two." "Come one desk, forward, miss." " Sit down then." " In front or behind?" "In front." " And I?" " In the back." "Quiet!" "Please, girls." "I see you are completely unaware of Homer." "You mock something which is admirable." "Not because we teachers say so but because all people throughout the ages say so." "You do that because you are ignorant." "I am certain that together we can find the beauty... hidden behind these strange words that you do not undestand now." "Let's start systematically." "I want you to pay attention because we don't much time left." "The homeric remnants of Greek speech are not only the most ancient but also the most perfect." "It's from Homer himself that we learn... that older poets had written other poems before him..." "Demodocus is one of those poets." "Which means the herald placed the guitar in Femios' hands and he started to sing." "Sir?" "Was Femios a dj?" "I asked you to stop being funny, miss." "But you said he took the guitar and started singing." "Sit down, miss!" "Does anyone know what Homer was?" "Sir!" "May I go out?" "You may!" "You may go again, that is." "And it would be best if you settled down there and did not return." "Why?" "Is it so bad?" "I don't understand." "Get out and don't come back." "As if I cared!" "What were we saying?" "Homer came from Ionia in Asia Minor." "Seven cities claim to be his birthplace." "It's more likely, however, that he was born in Smyrna." " Sir?" " Yes." "Was Homer from Smyrna?" "Listen to me, girl!" "All of you listen well!" "It's your right not to want to learn." "But it's your obligation to know how to behave." "I might forgive negligence." "In any case, you are not sharp enough." "I cannot get mad with a hen unable to learn mathematics so I cannot get mad at you for not understanding Homer." "But I am determined to crash insolence!" "And I like it that the first thing I learnt about you is that you come from wealthy and well-known families." " Get up." " Who, me?" "Yes, you." "Get up." "Admire a girl from a well-known family." "Tell me, girl, until you were sent to school... by your noble mother and wealthy father... didn't they teach you at least the basic manners that a person must employ when among others?" "Sit down." "You asked me earlier if I'm teaching for the first time." "Yes!" "It's the first time I teach girls from wealthy families." "But I have taught children from poor and humble families." "I've taught in night schools children who work for a living." "Children who work as porters and carry the goods to your homes." "All those things your fathers order." "Those children who live in damp and dark basements... those pale children who study on crates by candle light... they have good manners that you in your luxurious homes failed to learn." "Wait!" "Sit down, all of you." "I have one more thing to say." "If you want us to get along well... like I do because I am here to teach you a few things... and not waste my time on the silliness you prefer... for us to get along well, you must change tactics, habits... and above all manners!" "Take advantage of the opportunity you are given... to learn in this year what you haven't learnt in the 12 years you wasted at school to no avail." "It will be to your benefit to learn a few things... that will help you tomorrow not to seem ridiculous when you are out in the world." "Go now." " Sir?" " Yes!" "What shall we study for tomorrow?" "You, in particular, will study rules of proper behaviour." " I only wanted..." " Go now, child." " What did he tell you?" " I'll take care of him, you'll see." " Did you say anything, child?" " No, I only growled." "I growl at breaks." "Don't I have that right?" "Of course, you do." "It's your right and your obligation to remember your mother tongue from time to time." "I told you from the start we won't have a good time with him." "Don't worry, he won't be here for long." "Tell you daddy to talk to the Principal." "I know what I'll do." " How did it go, Mr. Floras?" " It went well, Principal." "I see you are safe and sound." "And sound, most assuredly." "What did you think of the young monsters?" " Like you said, monsters." " Monsters!" "But we'll tame them." "We'll tame them, most assuredly." " By the way, this Papastavrou..." " Oh, yes, Liza Papastavrou." " What sort of girl is she?" " Why?" "Did anything happen?" "No, I'm just asking." "She's a tad lively." "Lively, most assuredly." "But she's from a very good and very wealthy family." "She's Themistocles Papastavrou's daughter." "The ship owner's." "Very, very wealthy." "Themistocles' daughter but a tad lively, as we said." "Take it easy on her." " Take what easy?" " Take it easy on her." "Her father is a wonderful man." "And very useful." "Our college owes him a lot." "Take it easy on her." "Quiet, girls." "Quiet." "Shame on you!" "Do you have any cigarettes?" " They're in my bad." " Fetch them then." " Where will you be?" " In the yard." "Excuse me, I didn't know you were here." "That's all right, miss." " May I take something from my bag?" " Of course." "I'm sorry to have bothered you." "Bon appetit." "Thank you." "I dare not offer you anything because my meal includes certain things you must be unfamiliar with." "Unfamiliar with olives?" "No way." "The olives are not Homer." " But Homer, eh?" " Yes, darn him." "He's a meanie." "Go figure." "It's not like that, a little attention and study makes it simpler." " I'm sorry, I interrupted you." " That's all right, miss." " May I?" " What is that?" "Some chocolate to get on your good graces." "I know you haven't taken kindly to me." " What gave you that idea?" " You've had it for me all morning." "Get up, sit down." "Admire her." "Homer, Pallas, Rex." "You know something?" "You're not as mean as you want to appear." "Oh, no, no." "I'm very, very mean." "Even more than I seem to be." "Nah, deep down you're very, very nice." " You really think so?" " But you're very strict." "And very serious." "More than you should be." "And you don't tie the knot very well. lt should be tighter." "There, that's better and you're so cute." "The Principal, please." " This is Mrs. Papastavrou." " Oh, it's you Mrs. Papastavrou." "My respects, ma'am." "Yes, I hired him yesterday." "Floras, Panos Floras." "You don't say?" "She returned home feverish." "And I don't if her ear hasn't been affected." "So he hit her so hard!" "The poor thing." "This is grounds even for filing a suit." "Yes, Mrs. Papastavrou, don't worry at all." "I'll deal with him the way he deserves." "And she's so charming, well mannered, well behaved." "No, it's not a compiment." "Yes, Mrs. Papastavrou." "It will be a great honour." "I'll be waiting for you." "My respects to Mr. Themistocles, most assuredly." "See what happens after a slap, Mr. Makridakis?" "Why, what happened?" " What happened?" " This Floras person." "He slapped the Papastavrou girl." "And he slapped her so hard she appears to be feverish." "Her own mother just informed me about it." "Don't believe that." "Spoilts brats' mothers are usually their best allies." "Come now, Mr. Makridakis!" "What are you talking about!" "I am most upset!" "Whoever heard of such a thing!" "A nobody like Floras to strike a Papastavrou!" "Themistocles Papastavrou's daughter, most assuredly." "I believe Themistocles' daughter had the slap coming." " That's not right, Mr..." " Makridakis!" "It's not his fault." "It's mainly mine for entrusting a flippant lout with the post of Greek teacher." "Allow me to disagree." "Mr. Floras is anything but a flippant lout." "Mr. Floras is a teacher with excellent qualifications... who is entirely aware of his mission and who knows his job very well." "If you think a teacher's job is to hit children in his care until they faint, you are mistaken, sir!" " Very much mistaken, Mr..." " Makridakis!" " They're horrible." " These are monsters." "Whatever you may think a slap is a teacher's last but most convincing argument." "I never saw you slap any of the students!" "You haven't because I respect your beliefs." "That does not mean that I consider them correct." " Come in!" " Please, sir." " Let me explain!" " Move or I'll wring your neck!" "Move, I say!" " Please, listen to me!" " Shut up!" " Please, Mr. Gkikas." " I'll wring your neck!" " What is this time, Lazarou?" " Nothing, sir." " What did she do to you, Mr. Gkikas?" " She turned me into fireworks." " Fireworks... what?" " Fireworks, I say!" "She set me on fire!" "I stood with my back turned, blowing my whistle for the class I was surrounded by flames." "I looked and I was on fire!" "I was a burnt offering!" "What flames were those?" "She stuck a newspaper on my back and set it on fire." "She tried to cook me like a herring, do you understand?" "And what upsets me most, Principal, is my suit." "It's a brand new suit." "I bought it the year before last!" "Tomorrow you'll bring Mr. Gkikas 100 verses of the Iliad." "What will I do with 100 verses?" "She should bring me some cloth so I can have a new suit." "Plain fabric or striped that makes you look taller?" "Get the hell out of here!" "Go, Lazarou and tomorrow come with your guardian." "Allow me to tell you, sir that such expressions do not befit a teacher." "I'm up to here, Principal!" "Do you understand what they did?" "They tried to burn me alive, like Athanassios Diakos!" " The dear colleague is right." " But they're children!" "And children are lively." "What can we do?" " Kill them." " Yes, kill them." "Oh, Herod, may you rest in peace!" " You knew what you were doing!" " You are out of line, Mr..." "A brand new suit!" "Look, it's only three years old!" "Oh, it's you, Mr. Floras!" "Come in." "Hand over the name list and then go to the accounting department to receive payment for the hours you have taught." " Why, Principal?" " You are fired, Mr. Floras." "I am fired?" " Why, if I may ask?" " Because you are heavy handed." "I do not understand." "We could also have applied the method that you know but this is not a night school, Mr. Floras." "And it's not easy to raise a hand on a Papastavrou daughter." "Themistocles' daughter, most assuredly." " God bless you, son." " First of all, sir..." "I do not separate schools in categories public or luxury schools." "To me all students are equal..." "What does "Papastavrou's daughter" mean?" "She's a student like the daughter of any poor employee." "A teacher's desk, Principal, should be high enough... so that he will be unable to tell apart whose daughter each student is." "I am used to teaching not being taught, sir." "You are too young and I won't be offended." "But you forgot what I stressed the first moment you arrived." "The college that I've had the honour to run for 15 years... is a business with great expenses and not a place for young teachers to experiment." "That is the misunderstanding." "I came here to work in a school and not in a business." "If I wanted "business" I could have found others, more lucrative ones." "Believe me, I am relieved to leave your establishment." "I'd rather be unemployed than a toy... that the hands of spoilt little girls that I truly pity... since their fathers' fortune and your business have condemned them to a life of ignorance." "Since the certificate you will sell them tomorrow represents absolutely nothing!" "That is enough, Mr. Floras." "I'd rather you had a few words of sympathy for your victim." " My victim, you said?" " Yes, your victim." "Who has fallen ill from your brutal slaps." "What are you talking about?" "Who's ill?" "Whom have I hit?" " Papastavrou!" " I hit her?" " Do you deny that?" " I only slapped her." "And a mere slap caused all she's suffering?" " What's wrong with her?" " She ran a temperature all night." "And her ear... yes." "Come in, child." "Good morning, Mrs. Papastavrou." "How are you, child?" "Better?" "Who is this Floras?" " It's me, ma'am." " Oh, you." "This way, Mrs. Papastavrou." "Come into my office." "You too, dear." "Excuse me, gentlemen." " You come too, Mr. Floras." " What for?" "Please." "Please, most assuredly." "I think my presence is totally needless." "Don't bother him, please." "Can't you see he can barely look me in the eye?" "Why wouldn't I look you in the eye?" "Perhaps because of what you said about me in front of the class." " About you?" " Yes, I've heard everything." "You made her stand in the corner and called her father names and called me names, too." "Isn't that right, Liza?" "Yes, it is." "I called your parents names?" "Yes, you did." "Look me in the eyes, Liza and say that again." "Yes, you did!" "What can I say, child." "I truly pity you." "You should pity yourself, if there's anyone to be pitied." "Don't pity her." "She's Papastavrou's daughter." " Themistocles'!" " I've heard that several times." "No matter how many I hear it I won't change my opinion on your daughter's upbringing." " Mr. Floras!" "Please, sit, ma'am." " Great!" "I see that Mr. Floras thinks nothing of being rude to our face." "If I were ever to be rude to anyone, ma'am rest assured I would do it like you said, to their face!" "Mr. Floras!" "Mr. Floras is very combative!" "Will you beat us, too?" "Beat you, too?" "Who else have I beaten, then?" " Have I beaten you?" " Yes." "Didn't you slap me with all your might?" " Oh, right." "With all my might!" " Yes, like that!" "And I still don't understand why you did that." " Why did you do it, Mr. Floras?" " Yes, why did you?" " What did she do to you?" " Why?" " She knows." " I know nothing." "I only know that I felt dizzy." "And for 30 minutes I kept seeing green, red and yellow butterflies!" "And yellow?" "Poor you!" " Is that how hard I hit her?" " Yes, that's right." "Liza?" "Shame on you, girl." "It's a pity that a charming girl like you will be wasted and end up being miserable." "Mr. Floras, a Papastavrou daughter will never be miserable!" "Themistocles' daughter, that is!" "Ma'am, no matter how great fortunes are they never ensure happiness." "Your girl is definitely on her way to becoming miserable." "And the worst thing is she'll make others miserable, too." "Those who will be around her." "Excuse me, Principal." " Mr. Floras is most rude!" " Most rude!" "Don't worry, I've settled the matter properly." " What do you mean?" " I fired him!" "You fired him?" "And must stress that your heroic gesture... will remain a shining example for the teachers of this college... who..." "I hope my solution is satisfactory, Mrs. Papastavrou." "And I believe that this unfortunate incident is now considered closed." "Of course." "Excuse me for troubling you, sir." "Excuse me for anything untoward that happened here." "Here, most assuredly." "You will remain for your lessons." "Goodbye and my respects to Mr. Themistocles." "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom, you blew it!" "Didn't you hear what "most assuredly" said?" " He fired him." " Wasn't that what we wanted?" "I'm sorry, but it wasn't." "Didn't you bring me here for Floras to be punished?" "Punished, not fired." "What can I do?" "That's how the Principal punished him." " Mom, you should talk to him." " To whom?" " To the Principal." " And tell him what?" " To keep him." " How can I do that?" "He'll think I'm mad and he'll be right!" "It's not fair, I'm telling you!" "It's a pity for a poor man to lose his job because you thought of telling all those lies!" "Lies?" "What lies?" "Did I run a temperature last night?" "Did I?" "You're a good one!" "Didn't you ask me to tell him that?" "And if I told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?" "You're running mad, child!" "Let me go!" "Mom!" " What now?" " We can't leave it like this!" "I'll be eaten away by remorse." "Do you want that?" " Did he beat you or not?" " Beat me?" "He barely slapped me." "It was more like a caress." " You didn't say that yesterday." " I was upset, that's why." "I'm a kid and I was upset." "Well, I won't make a fool of myself for you." "Mr. Papastavrou, please." "Daddy?" "It's Liza." "Listen, daddy." "I have a favour to ask of you." "No, no, it won't cost you anything." "Just a phonecall." "Without meaning to, I was the reason a teacher was fired today." "Oh, come on!" "I'll explain everything this evening." "Well, he slapped me and the Principal fired him." "What?" "No, it was my fault." "And now I feel guilty." "Yes, call the Principal and tell him to keep him." "Yes, daddy!" "Panos Floras." "Oh, middle-aged. 50, 40, 35, 28..." "Will you do it?" "No, call him now!" "I'll hang up and then you call him at once." "You do know the number, right?" "I'll ask him to come here." "Right away." "Thank you so much, daddy!" " What happened, Mr. Floras?" " Nothing." "A disagreement with the estabishment." "Sir, there's a phone call for you." " I am having a lesson." "I- lt's urgent!" "Excuse me, dear children." "Here you are, Mr. Floras." "Get the Principal's signature and return it to us." "Hello?" "There's no one on the line." " It was ringing, just now." " Who was it?" " I don't know, it was ringing." " You said it was urgent." " Who said that?" " Nobody told me that." "I realised it was from the ringing." " It sounded urgent." " You must have been mistaken." " It's going to ring again!" " Why should it ring?" "Very agitatedly." "Here, listen!" " It's ringing!" " What is?" "Hello?" "Yes, speaking." "Mr. Papastavrou?" "Mr. Themistocles?" "My regards, sir." "Excuse me a moment, please." "Close the door, child." "Yes, Mr. Papastavrou." "Yes, Floras." "Panos Floras." "The incident was settled." "I fired him." "Your wife was here not long ago." "What?" "What do you mean reverse my decision?" "Floras should stay?" "I don't understand." "I should congratulate him?" "For slapping your daughter?" "Of course, that is a pedagogic method." "I think he's right here." "Excuse me for a moment." "Come in, Mr. Floras." "Mr. Papastavrou wants to talk to you." "I don't think Mr. Papastavrou and I have anything to talk about." "Please, let's not play games." "It's Mr. Themistocles!" "Thank you so much, daddy!" "Hello?" "Mr. Papastavrou, I'll put you through to Mr. Floras." " I don't think..." " Mr. Themistocles." "Hello?" "Yes, Floras." "Yes, I did slap your daughter." "And I'm sorry I slapped her only once." " Are you making fun of me?" " No!" "I think your wife has a different opinion." "Oh, no." "That slap falls into your jurisdiction." "Yes, thank you." "Here is the Principal." "Yes, Mr. Themistocles." "Agreed, most assuredly." "Mr. Themistocles!" " Go to your classroom." " Yes, sir." "That's it then." "Could you please sign this?" "What's that?" "But I think the matter has been settled." "After Mr. Papastavrou's call." "I mean we can work together if, of course, you too..." "If am to remain, I will do so on one condition." " Accepted." " But you don't know what it is." "It's accepted, my dear sir." "I'll do my work the way I see fit." "We are not going to disagree on that point, my dear Mr. Floras." "Your views coincide with Mr. Papastavrou's views." "Mr. Papastavrou's views coincide with mine." "Therefore, since two views coincide with a third they must coincide, too, most assuredly." "Now, you will excuse me because I've left my class at the mercy of the Lord and the bell is about to ring." "I saw him looking so sad that I felt sorry for him!" "Mostly because as he was down in the dumps he looked like the late James Dean, may he rest in peace!" " He does look like him." " Just a passing resemblance." "Passing resemblance?" "When he's sad, he's a look alike." "Everything is settled." "I called daddy and they're keeping him." " What a bloomer!" " Why?" "A big bloomer." "Now he's going to be even meaner, mark my words." "How could he do that now his wings have been clipped?" "There he is." "Mr. Floras, will we have ancient Greek or history first tomorrow?" "Our first lesson is History." " Mr. Floras?" " What is it?" " May I talk to you?" " No." "Because I believe we have nothing to talk about." " You don't know what I want to say." " Nor do I want to find out." "But I want to ask you something about the lesson." " In the classroom, then." " Oh!" " Don't be impertinent, Papastavrou..." " Why not?" "Because you'll see red, green and yellow butterflies again." "Only this time they'll be accompanied by blue ones." "Oh, really?" "That's all right." "I'll show you!" "Come here, Papastavrou." "What does that mean?" "Is that a threat?" " Yes, it is a threat!" " There you are then!" "Keep your hands to yourself or I'll do it for you!" " Quiet, rude girl!" " Did you hear what I said?" " Quiet, or you'll get another one!" " Oh, really?" "Let's see you dare!" "There you are then!" "What's going on here?" "What's going on, most assuredly?" "He hit me again, sir!" "He hit you again?" "Why?" "What did she do, Mr. Floras?" " She was rude, sir." " Rude?" "What's going on here?" "You shut up!" " Why?" " Because of this!" " Was it a strong one?" " Are you kidding?" "I can barely hear from one ear." "Don't worry, soon you won't be able to hear from both ears." " What?" " You'll be deaf from both ears!" "What has befallen us, girls?" "For the past two months slaps come flying out of nowhere." "It's ever since Floras came here." "He was the disastrous one." "I told from the start." "Yes, we were just fine before he came here." "Ever since Papastavrou got slapped, they all got jealous." "Even "most assuredly" did it." "He nearly pulled my ear off." " Were you expecting that?" " It's all Floras' fault." "But I'll deal with him on the excursion." "You will board the coaches in an orderly fashion." "The 7th and 8th grade will board the third coach." "The 6th on the second and the 5th on the first." "Without screaming and a fuss or else slaps will start flying around." "Ready to board." "Forward, march." "Mr. Floras and I will be on the 8th and 7th grade's coach." "Mr. Mavromatis, you and Mr. Makridakis on the 6th's." " You and Mr. Gkikas on the 5th's." " We are ready to depart." "What's going on there?" "Papastavrou is acting." "Papastavrou!" " What's going on, Mr..." " Gkikas!" "They are having fun, dancing, singing, jumping around." " That's as it should be." " Should one of us..." "Oh, no, we can check them from right here." "Careful, Anagnostopoulou!" "What are you doing there?" "I think I'll have a look around, Principal." "Do so, Mr. Floras." " A great young man." " Indeed." "When he arrived at the college everything was a mess." "You must admit that, sir." "I compare him to Byzantine emperor Vasilios Voulgaroktonos." "You are exaggerating, Mr. Gkikas." "Exaggerating, most assuredly." "Anastasatou, what are you doing there?" "Why are you carving on the poor tree?" " I'm sorry, Mr. Floras." " It's a shame." " What foolishness is that?" " What?" "The way you've cut the rope anyone who might sit, will fall." " That's what I want." " I don't understand." "It's simple." "When Floras comes this way and he will we'll stop him." ""Oh, Mr. Floras, come this way!"" "What can we offer you?" "And we'll have him sitting on the swing." "And when we do, then..." "God is great." "He might break a leg, he might break an arm." "He might even break his head and leave us alone!" "Oh, no, that's not funny." " What did you say?" " That's not funny." "Then don't laugh." "We will!" "If he should break an arm and have a cast then we'll laugh ourselves silly." "I'm not going to let you laugh yourselves silly in that particular way." " Oh, what do you mean?" " Don't worry." "Papastavrou has a very serious reason for not wanting Floras hurt." "You see, he does look like James Dean." " I don't understand, Poppy." " I do understand you, though." "We all understand more or less, you see." "Alexiou, bite your tongue!" "You do look proper for a teacher!" "Papastavrou, Alexiou!" "What is all this?" "Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?" "How can seniors, ladies, fight like street urchins?" "What happened, anyway." "Shame on you!" "What happened, Papastavrou?" "What happened, Alexiou?" " She hit me." " Who did?" "Papastavrou?" " Why?" " How should I know?" "Why did you hit her, Papastavrou?" " What happened, Alexiou?" " I don't know, Mr. Floras." "We were just sitting there and she came at me." " Just like that?" " Yes, like that." "How could I believe that?" "She must have said something." " You must have said something." " No, nothing." "I didn't say anything to her." " Nothing?" " Nothing." " Were you here, Xanthopoulou?" " Come again?" " Were you here?" " Yes, I was right here." " What happened?" " I don't know." "I was talking to Giadikiaroglou at the time." "And I suddenly saw Papastavrou and Alexiou fighting." " And you, Giadikiaroglou?" " Didn't Xanthopoulou just tell you?" "We were talking, we didn't see anything." " And you, Polychronopoulou?" " I beg your pardon?" "I wasn't paying attention either." "I was watching Xanthopoulou who was talking to Giadikiaroglou." "Right, girls?" " Didn't you notice anything, Lazarou." " No, sir." "I was watching Polychronopoulou who was watching Xanthopoulou who was talking to Giadikiaroglou." "What happened?" "They had a fight, Mr. Floras?" " Nothing, Mr. Gkikas." " Oh, good." "What did Alexiou tell you to make you so mad?" " Nothing." " Then why did you attack her?" " No reason." " Just like that?" " Yes, just like that." " And you want me to believe that?" "I don't know." "Shut up!" " Oh, love unconquered in battle!" " Come, please, be quiet." "It's a great choral part." "If not the greatest of all that great tragic poet of antiquity has written." "Could anyone translate it?" "It's simple and easy." "Papastavrou can." "Papastavrou." "Come on, then." "Papastavrou should know this very well." "Why hesitate?" "Come on." "Please read the ancient text, but verse by verse." "Love unconquered in battle." "What's all this?" "Quiet, please." " So, love unconquered in battle." " Right." " Which means?" " That love cannot be beaten in battle." "Exactly, invincible love." "Quiet, please." "Quiet, Giadikiaroglou!" "Continue." "Love that makes its own anything it touches..." " Which means?" " It means, love making everything it touches belong to it." "Love that spends its evening on tender girls' cheeks." "Good, go on." "I can't, Mr. Floras." "Quiet!" " What's the matter, Papastavrou?" " Nothing." " Nothing?" "You're crying." " I'm not, who said I am?" " Nobody told me, I can see it." " I don't know what you see, I'm not!" "All right, you're not crying." "Then dry your eyes and go outside." "Please, give it to me." "If I'm not mistaken, this letter is mine." "It belongs to me." "It says, Mr. Panos Floras." "I don't know what it says, it's not your letter." "Have you received it?" "Has it been stamped, posted?" "Please, give it to me." " Shouldn't I open it?" " No!" "Why not?" "Because if you do, I'll see green, red and yellow butterflies again." "All right then, take it." " There goes this year." " Time really does fly." "It flies, most assuredly." "I barely realised how this year passed." "It's like yesterday that schools opened, almond-trees bloomed and now it's time for the exams." "Time flew by." "How are you thinking of spending your holidays, Mr..." "With tutorials, Principal." "Unfortunately, for us rest is an inexcusable luxury." "And you, Mr. Gkikas?" "Where will you spend the holidays?" "By the Omonia Square fountain." "On the corner of 3rd September street to be cooled by the canted fountain." "Everything ready, Mr. Floras?" " Aren't there any more?" " No, these are the last class results." " All the rest have been posted." " Have you checked them?" "Yes, only a stamp is missing." "You can check them, too." "It's enough that you did." " The last class results?" " Yes, here they are." " To be posted now?" " We did tell them today." "Some are already waiting outside." "I'll be right back." "Girls, the last class results are ready." "Mr. Floras!" "Why isn't my name here?" "Because you, Alexiou, will drop by in September and tell us all again." "And you are better than you were now your name will be there, too." "But I'll have forgotten everything until September." "That's your own fault." "Did you do it, Liza?" "I don't know!" "Here it is!" "I did it!" "Oh, I did it!" "Mr. Floras, I passed!" "I already knew that, miss." "True." "You prepare the results, so you know about them." "But..." "I wanted to tell you..." "Goodbye." "Mr. Floras!" " Are you glad I passed?" " Of course I am." "I'm just saying that because I was a little thick." "See what happens if you put your mind to it!" "Put your mind..." "Goodbye." "Mr. Floras." "What I mean to say..." "Now that I've passed, I won't be coming back to school." "Naturally." "That's what I wanted to say." "I..." " I... you..." " Goodbye." "Mr. Floras!" "Oh, so you are that middle- aged Mr. Floras?" " Middle- aged?" " I mean you are Mr. Floras who slaps girls around." " Mr. Papastavrou, I wanted..." "No, no, I'm not blaming you." "I believe what they say." "Spare the rod and spoil the child." " Get in, Mr. Floras." " But..." "We'll have the opportunity to talk about a few things on the way." " Concerning Liza." " Liza?" "She'll sit the university exams." "I'd like you to tutor her." "And if a slap is necessary..." "I'll be glad to tutor Liza, on one condition, though." " Accepted." " But you haven't heard it yet." "It doesn't matter." "Does it, daddy?" "I believe Mr. Floras should tutor us all." "Perhaps your method of putting the college in order might be used to bring some order and discipline in my house." " I don't understand." " Get in, we'll talk about it." "One, two, three!" "Love, unconquered in a war!"