"HOTEL FOR STRANGERS" "Once upon a time, at Hotel Svet ["the World"], Petr Hudec, 28, unemployed, was killed by three stab wounds." "The investigation was fruitless, the killer wasn't found." "All suspects had credible alibis." "Later, inexplicably, a diary that" "Petr Hudec was writing in Hotel Svìt 14 days before his murder, materialized." "The diary entries, short and incoherent like fragments of dreams, served as the sole material for a reconstruction that might, after all these years, lead to the killer's capture." "Our search might be foolish and futile." "It leads us, however, to the eternal secret of love and to the ever baffling secret of death." "That's why it's so insistent and tempting, although at its end, love will stay love, death will stay death and secret will stay secret." "Petr Hudec is arriving at Hotel Svìt, to look for love here, only to find death." " Oh!" " Excuse me." "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." " Your name?" " Petr Hudec." " Petr..." "Hulec." " Hudec." "Hudec." " Your occupation, please?" " I don't have an occupation." " A rentier?" " I am unemployed." "If you say so." "We'll leave the last section empty for now then." "How do you do, sir." "How do you do." "Sir, you forgot your key." " This is a princely hotel." " I know." " It looks like I'll be here all alone." " Alone?" "There's plenty of us here." "The prince with his gentry can come any minute." "What if we were full?" " Tell me, what then?" " I'm not a nobleman." "I can tell." "Neither am I." "That's a beautiful room." " It's lovely." " You can't damage anything." "Some of the rooms leak, but not this one." "I'd like to know what's in that suitcase of yours." "Damn, it's heavy." "You can set it down." "Thank you, my friend." "So heavy..." " I'd like to know what's in the suitcase." " Books." " I'd like to see that." "I'd like to give you something." "Some trinket." " Petr Hudec." "Is that you?" " That's me." "Those are poems." "About love, you know?" " That's beautiful." " You like it?" " You bet." " I like roses and daggers." " You know what?" "You can keep it." " Keep what?" " Oh no..." " Yes, keep it." "I'll stick to the roses." "Do you like poems about love?" "My friend?" "You have a beautiful figure." "Really, a splendid one." "I didn't startle you, did I?" "But I could swear that I knocked." "Are you offended?" "No." " It's my fault." "I should have locked behind me." " No one has to lock themselves here." "We're one big family here." "The employees and the guests." "Beautiful room, isn't it?" "It's one of the best rooms I could have given you." "In the other rooms there are, I'll admit, mice and insects." "Snakes, even." "I found this lying in a wardrobe." "Some pants." " Pants, I see." "Are they yours?" " No, I found them lying in the wardrobe." "Oh, I see." " Did you find the rest of this in the wardrobe as well?" " No, this is mine." "Yours." "Let's see." "Look at that." "A gun." " It's a gift from a friend." " Hm..." "That's why your suitcase was so heavy, as I've heard." " I don't have a single bullet." " There's one in the barrel." "Now you surely must understand, Mr. Hudec, that we want to know more about our new family members than just that they're unemployed and of no descent." "That they have black eyes, a sturdy, albeit delicate, back," " and a loaded gun in their luggage." " It's not loaded." "Not loaded?" "Let's try." "No!" "We recently had a murder here." "Did you know?" "And the person was, by the way, also unemployed." " The killer?" " No." "The victim." " I'm a poet." " A poet, I see." "Watch out!" "Don't sit on that, it's broken." "Apparently you only see the imperfections in everything." " Do you have a pen-name?" " No." " Did you come here to write poems?" " No." " Are you meeting someone?" " Yes. "Where are you Veronika, my love?" "Why are you not awaiting me?" Veronika!" "Veronika!" " Was it you that was calling?" " Yes." " I'm sorry, I'm looking for a certain lady." " Poor thing, did you lose a lady?" "I lost a gentleman." "We can combine the two, don't you think?" "Of all things, I like picking mushrooms the best." "I don't have eyes for boletes anymore." "A beautiful catch." "It's a parasol mushroom, and I'm Rosicka." " Hudec." " You know what?" "We'll eat the parasol tomorrow." "It's settled." "Excuse me, I ordered something else." "What did you order, if I may?" " I can't remember immediately." " The gentleman ordered sausage with potatoes." "No." "I ordered meat medallions with asparagus." "I don't eat sausage, it looks like a snake." "This is an awkward misunderstanding." "We'll have a word." " The gentleman ordered sausage with potatoes." " Take it away!" " If you wish." " How can I help you, sir?" " The medallions with asparagus, please." "I'm sorry, we don't have any asparagus, it's too far to the city from here." " How about the medallions?" " I'm sorry." "How can I help you, sir?" " I'll leave it up to you." " Up to me?" "As you wish." " Excuse me, sir." " Yes?" " I apologize." "Listen..." "Did a certain young lady ask for me?" "What does she look like?" "She has black hair, black eyes." "She's beautiful." "Black eyes?" "Yes, black." "Black? That's him." "No lady asked for anyone, sir." "My key, please." "What a boring read." "Dictionary of novelists, poets and other rubbish." "I'm glad you're not one of them." "What are you trying to say?" "I'm afraid that Petr Hudec, the poet, simply doesn't exist." " I've only published one collection so far." " So far?" "Can you believe that I haven't published a single book yet?" "And I don't know why I should be ashamed of that or make apologies." "Of course, I don't claim to be a poet." "But let's not talk about it anymore." "We're all who we are." "And me?" "I'm your servant, sir." "My key, please." " You have to move to a different room." " Move?" "Yes, move." "There was a mistake." "Miss Veronika Pisingerova only books rooms for nobility." "Which you're not." "Or are you?" "Does Miss Pisingerova often book rooms here?" "For her acquaintances?" " Not often, but it happens." " It happens?" " In any case, it has happened." " Really?" "I believe so." "Where are you going so late, Mr. Jiri?" " I must go to town to get asparagus." " At night?" "Have a good trip then!" "Are you happy now?" "Me?" "Who else?" "You're going to have asparagus." "This is where the prince usually stays." "Does he come here often?" "He hasn't come here since I'm here." "I've never seen him in my life." ""What in life is certain?" "Only love that's uncertain."" "Who is it?" ""If I stay awake all night, Veronika will appear in the lobby tomorrow morning."" "Good morning, Mr. Hudec." " Good morning, Madam." " Madam..." "Come on in." "I'm waiting for someone to close my door." "I'm too lazy to get up." "Of course, Madam." "Are you leaving already?" "I guess so." "Good morning, sir." " Morning." " How did you sleep?" " Well." "Thank you" " I can believe that." " The room is not in order." " How could that be?" "Please be patient." "The manager, that lady's husband, was preparing the bathroom for you the whole night, the waiter went to get asparagus." "You're going to be happy." "Next time, you won't have to sleep in other people's rooms." "I'm sure you're going to be happy." "Have a good day, sir." ""She's not here!" "What a letdown!"" " How did you sleep, dear Petr?" " Good morning, Madam." "Well." "Thank you" "Hynek, the cook, is preparing the parasol for us." " Sit down." " Parasol?" "Oh, the parasol mushroom." "You didn't have to." "You're very kind, thank you." "You're surely going to be happy today, it's being prepared." "What's being prepared?" "Why, your asparagus, sir." "I see, asparagus." "For breakfast?" " Asparagus." "I can't wait." " He can't wait." " Mr. Hudec, you eat asparagus for breakfast?" " Yes." " I mean, no." " You're eating the parasol, Mr. Hudec." "Have they brought it you yet?" "I'm eating asparagus, madam." " You eat asparagus for breakfast, Mr. Hudec?" " Usually not." " They're preparing a parasol for you." " That will be the second course." "I beg your pardon." "That will be the second course, Madam." "I beg your pardon." "The second course!" "Here it is." "That's for Mr. Hudec." "This is food of Gods." "From Mr. Hynek." "Made specially for you." " So how is it, dear Petr?" " It's delicious." " Have you tasted it yet?" " No." "Oh, I'm glad you like it!" "That's what matters." ""She must be waiting for me in the park!"" " Goodbye, Madam." " Where are you headed, young man?" " I'm just going for a walk in the park." " Would you believe that I'm almost afraid to ask to go with you." "Madam!" "Ruza, where are you?" "We'll make you a member of our club." "Collective strolls, games of canasta, you, me and Svatopluk Blech." "I'll get you!" "You little..." "Phew!" " I know Svatopluk Blech." " No wonder, he's a famous writer." "He's a writer?" "A FAMOUS writer." "You're being funny, pretending you don't know." "You want to make an impression on me and you're succeeding." "You're succeeding." " Good morning, Madam." " Veronika, you're here?" "Oh, the young lady." "How was your trip?" "Did you arrive today?" " I arrived yesterday." " Oh really?" " You were supposed to be waiting for me." " I was?" " With whom?" " Well..." "This gentleman is special in every way." "Indeed." "Two women are apparently too many for a poet." "I bet he's already writing a poem in his mind." "He can't take his eyes off me." "It's beautiful here." "It's bliss." " And you've only been here for a couple of hours." " I arrived yesterday." "I went to pick blueberries yesterday morning." "And since this morning my foot has been hurting." " I think I have a pebble in my shoe." " I don't understand anything." "I'll explain everything." "Would you help me untie a little knot?" "We have to meet immediately." "Long time ago, right here, the prince gave me a unique necklace." "A live grass snake." "Yes." "I was wearing a snake around my neck." " Can we wait until tomorrow to meet?" " Then why did you invite me here?" " You wanted to hear my decision - a yes or a no." " Have you decided?" "I'll be waiting for you in half an hour by the green gazebo." "I'll find a way." " Where is it?" " Ask the madam, I have to get going." "Goodbye, madam." "By the green gazebo." "And now slowly to the blue gazebo, Svatopluk Blech will be waiting there." "I'm afraid I don't have time, Madam." "For me, you do!" "Veronika." "I know you would wait." "No one can know that you came to see me." "It would be my death if anyone saw us." "And perhaps yours as well." "Didn't you tell your brother that I was coming?" "You don't know my brother." "I would have to tell him that I love you." "But I can't lie to him." "What do you mean, lie?" "I don't understand that." "I only have my borther Vladimír." "And a stepbrother Otomar." "But I've never seen him." "Never." "You've already decided." "You don't love me." "Say yes or no." "Can't you tell?" "I don't know anyone better than you." "Really." "I'm nothing compared to you." "I'm only a simple girl, while you're a poet." "That's for you." "Veronika." "My brother would kill me if he knew I was kissing with someone I don't love." "What do you mean?" "You don't love me?" "Forgive me." "It's not my fault." "What can I do?" "Veronika!" "I lost everything for you." "But you didn't have anything." " Besides, you forgot about me." "I can tell." " Forgot?" "What color are my eyes?" "Brown, of course." "No!" " Even a mere bellboy knows my eyes are blue." " Where are you going?" " He's waiting for me." " Who?" " Honzik." " The bellboy?" "Yes." "He loves me." "The flowers are for him." " Do you love him?" " No." "I don't love anyone." "Only my stepbrother Otomar." "But he may not even exist." "And don't follow me!" "Will we see each other tomorrow?" "Maybe." "But I have an appointment with the Madam in the morning." "You could at least not tell me!" ""I decided to 'let Madam Rosicka swim'."" "[This Czech idiom means to "leave someone alone" or to "dump someone".]" "[It is alluded to in one of the following lines.]" "Veronika, I haven't slept for two days." "Does your teeth hurt?" " I decided to 'let Madam Rosická swim'." " You did?" "These are my friends." "This is Count Glück." " You are a count?" " Yes, sir, I'm a count." "And I'm Hynek from Polanka, sea cook." "Hynek's been across the ocean." "That's Kaja." " And that's my brother Vladimir." " I'm Hudec." " I beg your pardon." " Hudec." " Pulec?" "["Tadpole?"- rhymes with Hudec]" " My name is Petr Hudec." "Nice to meet you." "I'm sorry." "Excuse me." " Look, a hole." " Giddyup!" " We're going on a trip." " Into the woods." "Veronika is coming with us." "We like riding fast, happy, but even sad songs, and especially beautiful women, Mr. Hudec." " I can't wait." " We're going to have a great time." " Come with us, Mr. Hudec." "Mr. Hudec can't, he's meeting a certain lady." "He's going to teach her to swim." "Isn't that so, Mr. Hudec?" "Come with us, we have plenty of food." "We're beautiful, guys." "Would you like to confess, my brother?" "I'm here to offer comfort to people." "I don't need comfort." " Then you need belief." " Yes, I can only believe [i.e., hope]." "Well, well!" "I'm putting Mr. Hudec's room in order." " I'm repairing a lamp." " That's the way it should be." " You're so cool." " Of course." " Ouch!" " That's nothing." " Did madam Rosicka ask for me?" " Yes, Mr. Hudec, they were waiting for you but have already left." "Do you happen to know in which direction?" " This way." " Thank you." "Look at that." "Ouch!" " Petr!" " Petr!" " Where have you been, Petr?" " We were looking for you everywhere." "I brought you a gift." "A hat after my son." ""There's no escape."" "What's the rush, Mr. Hudec?" " Petr..." " What are you doing here?" " He's here." " I know, they rode off." "He's terribly boring, he just barks all the time." "Go ahead, Kaja, I'll be with Mr. Hudec for a while." "I was thinking of you only." " Aren't I a mouse?" " No, you're a little bird." "Did you not fly here?" "No." "Kaja carried me." "What do you mean?" "Do you mind?" "My legs were hurting." "My little legs." "Do you want to see them?" "Look how sad they are." "Both of them." "You can kiss me for a moment." "You love me now." "I can feel it." "Swear." "I swear." "You can do anything now." "Have you been faithful to me?" "How can you ask like that?" "Kaja." " That's not Kaja." " Veronika, it's a bull." "So that's a bull." "Where are we going to go?" "We'll go to your room." "You want to?" "Come on." "You ran away from us, you rascal." "Take a seat." "You ran away from us, young man." "We were running all over the park after you." "I got lost." "I felt sick." "Sick." "Yes, I know." "Take my advice - don't play with fire." "Why, Madam lost her adult son." "His name was Willi." "He went abroad and never came back." "Her wounded maternal heart now looks for solace in every young man who even slightly resembles her son." "Last time it was the painter who was later murdered here." "The young Willi Rosický was a singer." "After his mother." "An artist." "Like you and the murder victim." "He spent his youth here in Hotel Svet." "And the Madam believes that he'll come back one day, that's why she's spending her old age here." "You understand?" "Yes." " It's very moving." " I'm writing a novel about it." ""Life"." "Life, life." "I bet she's already convinced that you're her son." "And she's afraid of losing you." "It's love, my friend, like no other." "She's even capable of killing you to prevent you from running away." "Like Willi did." "I'm warning you." " I'm not going to run away again." "She's a noble lady." " Then you did run away today?" " I did." " Okay then." " Tomorrow morning in front of the entrance, okay?" " Okay." ""What now?" "I'll pretend I didn't see anything!"" "Dear friend," "I'm only choosing this romantic way of eastablishing an affair because I have unsuccessfully exhausted all conventional ones." "You're a man who can rid me of my pain." "I'm different than you think." "I'll be waiting for you every evening under the limetree in front of the hotel." "I believe in your kind heart." "Marie." "Dog!" "Come on, you dog!" "No!" "You didn't have to." "When my heart's afire, I can't tell" "But it seems" "That never more" "Or perhaps tomorrow already" " Boom!" " Blech!" "But I surely know" "Boom!" "Boom!" "That not today" "I hope, madam, that it's not going to end up like the last time." "Don't worry, Blech." "Petr will surely come today." "He better, he better." "Do you remember when I was learning to sing in the city?" "Love, love" "I've had plenty of you" "This is where I loved Willi." " What Willi?" " I forgot to tell you." "I fell in love with a guest." " There's nothing wrong with that." " When was that?" "I don't know, but it was mad." "I'd even steal mugs that he'd drunk from." "I have 12 at home, a whole dozen." "Is that how faithful you were to me?" "Well yes, I was." "I kissed him once, I won't deny that." "I'll return the mugs." "Do you want to destroy me?" "He didn't want me." "Why are you silent?" "What should I say?" "I was thinking only of you then." "One sonnet for Veronika every day." "I know." "We're both still sad." " Do you want some?" " Veronika!" "Petr!" "Petr!" " Mr. Hudec is wanted." " Mr. Hudec!" "Petr!" "Petr!" "He's not here." "If he goes on like this, I bet he'll end up like that painter." " Am I right, Madam?" " Blech!" "I forbid you to talk like that!" "Veronika, the painter that was killed here..." "Was the Madam here then?" "Why do you ask?" "Have they already told you that he also loved me?" "No." "Did he also love you?" "He painted that." "They said it was my brother Vladimir who killed him." "But that's not true." "Vladimir is protecting me." "Today, he wanted to kill Kaja because of the kiss, and he didn't do it either." "I don't like it here." " At Hotel Svet?" " Yes." "Not even when I'm here?" "I don't understand anything." "You don't love me." "I didn't say that." "Say yes or no then." "Yes." "No, not here!" "Tomorrow in the park, okay?" ""You'll be mine, tomorrow in the park, oh Veronika, Veronika!" "Sleep can I not..."" "Hop!" "Hop!" "Hop!" "Good morning, gentlemen." "Do you know where's Miss Veronika?" "Would you like to throw at that gentleman over there?" "I don't know how." " It's a quite dangerous game, isn't it?" " It is, but I can teach you." "It's not difficult." "Just a fun game." "You throw the knife aimlessly and the other player either dodges it or gets it." "Watch out!" " Sure you don't wanna try?" " No, I'm sure." "Well you can at least go and stand there." ""To gain their respect is to gain Veronika." "I must be diplomatic."" "You can't blink." "Stop it already." "We could fence instead." "It immediately makes one feel as a hero." "Fencing is as beautiful as a poem." " Are you hurt, sir?" " No." "Don't call me "sir", we're friends." " I'm really happy we've become friends." " So are we." " We're common people," " and you're a poet." " Nonsense." " So you're not a poet?" " Haha, I told you so." "Perhaps I am a poet, but so are you." "Everyone is a poet." "Then we're friends." "I just wanted to tell you that Miss Veronika is on a stroll in the woods." " Are you my friend?" " Yes." "Could you do me a favor?" "I have my dignity, even though my family has gone bankrupt." "My father, Count Glück, is dying in an old people's home." "Mom's a seamstress." "And I," "I'm a servant." "Three months ago, I sold the last Renaissance cupboard." "My wife is crying, my child is hungry." "Nevertheless, I have not lost my dignity." " Would you lend me a hundred?" " Of course." "It tastes bitter, my friend." "I will return it." "You can be sure of that." ""Quickly to the woods!"" "Brother!" "I've heard you humbled our friend Jiøí." "Me?" "I lent him money, and he tore it and threw it away." "Yes, but then he picked up the torn pieces and glued them together." "Our people are wise and good." "But they have their dignity." "Am I not one of the people?" "Take our maid Ruzenka for example." "[Ruzenka=Ruza]" "The Devil is tempting her soul." "Or Miss Veronika?" "She ought to live in a convent." "She dreams about it." "But love is standing in her way." "Really?" "Yes." "She loves her brother Vladimir very much." "I know." "If you win a woman's soul, you win everything." " The body is nothing." " Only if she has a soul." "Every woman does, Brother." "By the way, Miss Veronika was looking for you at the hotel." "Excuse me, your reverence, I have to go." "Goodbye." ""She didn't come."" "Veronika!" "It's you?" "They said you'd have to move out, a new guest is coming." "Honey..." " I was looking for you outside." " You were?" "I came to see you in your room." "Are you glad?" "When Willi was here, I only did that once." "What an honor!" "Are you sad?" "I should go." "Veronika!" "I was expecting a great, serious love." "You know what I realized?" "I like you." "Like a brother." "You're silent?" "But I really can't fall in love again." "Never." " I promise." " Is that supposed to comfort me?" "Do you think it comforts me?" "In fact, we're both so sad..." "Look!" " Someone's coming." " They're here to evict you." "What now?" "They can't find me here, but I have to stay." "Through the window!" "No, I can't." "What should I do?" " I know, I'm going to hide here." " Quick, quick." "Come in." "Servus, my friend." "Haven't you moved out already?" "See, a new guest is here already." "Where's your luggage?" "You must vacate the room." ""Veronika stayed in the wardrobe." "What should I do?"" " There's no other way." " You have to man up, my friend." "Don't misbehave!" "We must make a man out of you." "Open your eyes!" "This is a preparation for a death, my friend." "Wait." "Don't cry." "No!" "Tonight we have fresh venison." "Venison?" " Has the culling already begun?" " Yes, it has." " Have you seen Mr. Hudec?" " Fortunately not, Madam." "Move it!" "Quick!" "Your hat, sir." "I wave my white scarf" "When I give goodbye to you" "I despair for a moment" "I hope for a moment" "Before I go to sleep" "A waltz to us resounds in the distance" "I'm singing a heartfelt song" "I want to give you a proof in a song" "That I love you" "I wave my white scarf" "When I stand under the window" "He who desires" "Doesn't mind standing in a puddle" "All alone" "The breeze puts off the candle..." "Gentlemen, please!" "Well, girls, the gentlemen, the old slugs, are waiting for you already." "Quick!" "Quick, go." "Quick!" "Come here." "Come on." "Quick!" "You come here too." "I have to admit that right now you look like an actual poet." "They have a somewhat secret meeting of a patriotic club here." "The prince doesn't like that." "Those women are patriots, you know?" " I'm a patriot as well, sir." " Really?" "Then we have an understanding." "All the better." " What do you mean?" " What do I mean?" "A discreetness for a discreetness." "Deal?" "Goodbye, sir." "Petr." "I've been waiting for you here for three days." "The loneliness has made me a lady." "Say it." " You know what I'm waiting for." " But Madam..." "Madam, yes, Madam." "I have deciced...it's the only way...to give myself over entirely." " Call me "Madam"." " Jeez, Madam, we can't stand here." "I know." "We'll meet upstairs." "Mr. Hudec, I invite you to a drink." "Ruzenka!" "Dear friend, nobody loves their children as much as prostitutes do." "And that's the case with Madam Rosicka." "What do you mean, maestro?" "What are you saying?" "Apparently, it was old age that made a lady out of that slut." "She's looking death in the eye." "Don't eat that!" "Drink up." "Drink up more!" "One more." "You can trust me that I've experienced everything in my lifetime." "Everything." "Except for death, of course." "I've even murdered." "What are you doing down there?" "You've had enough?" "You can't stand anything, my friend." "I have to admit, maestro, that I can stand a lot." "Well then, let's drink up." "I don't drink water." "Yes, I have murdered." "I've murdered an animal." " Pardon." " Pardon." "That's okay." "Life is cruel." "So it is, let it." "But to murder a man..." "That must be quite an experience, huh?" "To sting him between ribs with a dagger..." "And then to turn." "Snap!" "I can do anything!" "I'm God!" "I'm God!" "I'm God." " Aren't you going to bed, little Petr?" " I'm afraid that she might still be waiting there." " Would you come upstairs with me?" " Upstairs?" "Of course, Petr." ""And then came the morning of the worst day in my life."" "Come have a word with me, my friend." "I'd like to apologize for yesterday." "Take a seat, please." "Pardon me, I've smoked a little too much." "Listen, did I tell you something about a murder yesterday?" " You did, but I remember only vaguely." " I see." "Now you might think" " that I'm obssessed with thoughts about murder." " That didn't even cross my mind, maestro." " It has now, hasn't it?" " No, why?" "It's just that I'm finishing a novel and it ends that way." "I won't deny that I'm a realist." " Do you understand?" " Yes, maestro, I do." "But when I'm writing about, say, death" "I don't have to die for that, right?" "That would be kind of funny." "Or when I'm writing about a murder," "I don't have to do any murdering." "Do you understand?" " Or do you have a different opinion?" " No." "You can only study butterflies here, not in their flight." "A working aid." "I have a work plan." "Circa 5440 words a day." "Look, that's the plan." "And here..." "This is where the murder is marked." "I hope this conversation will stay strictly between the two of us." " As you wish, maestro." " Thank you, you may go." "You're up next, now I'm writing about the goatling." "I've been waiting for you." " I came to show myself to you." " I don't have time." "I'm in a hurry, I'm meeting someone." "That's a pity." "I have so much to tell you." "The man yesterday, was that Willi?" "First tell me if I look nice." "I saw terrible things, Veronika." "Perhaps it wasn't even you." "God knows what you saw." "You were drunk." " I was looking forward to seeing you." " I'm in a hurry." "Wait!" "It was Willi and it wasn't Willi." " Maybe it was Otomar." " I have to go." " Don't go." "I'll be waiting for you here." "I'll explain everything." "Petr!" "I've been waiting for you." ""I have a friend."" "As for me, I'd rather be an animal." " A lion?" " Oh no." " You'll laugh." " Just say it." "Well..." " A wild boar." " Really?" "I'm afraid of people." "Let's consider them one by one." " Kaja is a demon..." " Demon?" "Come on." "He's such a sentimental boy, always reminiscing about his mommy." "His mommy?" "He's never seen his mommy." "He's an abandoned child." "He was found in a sewer." " You see everything in a negative light." " Right." "And what about the whorehouse?" "Desk clerk, the boss, runs a whorehouse here." " Yeah, a regular whorehouse." " A whorehouse?" "He's afraid that you might be a fuzz." "A fuzz?" "And Jiri, the count, spits into the guests'coffee." " No." " Yes." "Let me tell you something." " Vladimir lives with his sister." " I know." "Well, is that normal, sleeping with your own sister?" "Maybe she's not even his sister." "Stop it, please!" "Those are rumors." "I suppose." " And what about you?" " Me?" "I'll tell you." "Little Petr..." " I love you." " What?" " Petr..." " I'm a fag." "Just a little tenderness..." " What are you doing?" " I'm a fag..." "What are you doing?" "Ow!" "I must strangle you, Petr." "Petr..." "If anyone finds out, it would be my death!" "There's no other way, it has to be done." "I must strangle you." "Kaja." "I won't tell anybody." "The Madam is sick." "I have to look after her." "I don't blame you for seeing nothing but an old slut in her." "But do you have to rub her face in it like that?" "What do you mean?" " That's a misunderstanding." " A misunderstanding, which has so far resulted in terrible headaches and three days of migraine." "She moans all through the night!" "She told me everything, young man." "That woman will die a virgin." " What am I supposed to do then?" " You should know yourself." "And go get changed." "Lecher!" "That's enough for today." " Come kiss me, my little one." " Yes, mommy." "Ruzenka!" "Where are you?" "I came to thank you for allowing me to love, Petr." "Madam?" "I'm not going to hold you off for long." "I'm too tired, Madam." "I'm sorry." "Now I know." "Trust me, to love is much more beautiful than to be loved." "I've written several poems for you, Petr." "I've set them to music myself." "I see that I've hurt you, Madam." "I stopped with the lying." "I can't keep it a secret from my husband." "What did you tell him?" " That I love you." " No." "He tiptoes around me as if I were sick, waiting." "He even started kissing my hands." "He'd never done that." "Yes, he kisses my hands and calls me Madam." "Goodbye, Petr." "Would you like to confess, Brother?" "Forgive me, but I'm willing to use a picklock to redeem a soul." "The stake is no longer burning, but the struggle with the devil goes on." "I would like to see that devil of yours." "He's sitting opposite me and looking at me through your eyes." "It's called love." "What is it you want from that devil?" "It's supposed to fill the emptiness in your heart." "To become the life's meaning." "Redemption, support, God!" "But it can only offer you a woman's lap." "But I desire a greater love." "What's the purpose of anything then?" "Are you conferring with your reason, Brother?" "Then you're on the wrong track." "Let's pray together." "Mr. Hudec!" "There's a lady waiting for you downstairs." "Are you going?" "In fact, I'm happy." "You know what I'd like, Mr. Hudec?" "A live necklace, like the one Madam had." "A snake around the neck." "A snake around the neck." "When are you finally going to tell me what's the deal with that Willi?" "Veronika, you're playing with me." "You're my life's only meaning." "I wished for love that would take the place of God." "You know what I wish for?" "Are you so naive or so stupid?" "Are you a virgin or a slut?" "I'm a virgin." "You're a slut." "Otomar, Willi, the bellboy, Vladimir, Kaja the dog." "Too many dogs for one bitch." "You want to stab yourself with a fork?" "You wanted coffee?" " No, we haven't had lunch yet." " Nevermind that." " You spat in my cup." " Yes, sir, I did." " You did?" " Yes, sir, I did!" "Pick it up!" "I'd like to challenge you to a duel, sir." "But I know that you're more of an expert on masturbation than fencing." " We'll settle it in a different matter!" " I agree." "I'm going to complain, call the manager." "I'm starting to fear you." "I brought you a necklace, Veronika." "Take it away!" "For what reason?" "The gentleman's afraid of a grass snake?" " Take it away!" " But it's Veronika's grass snake." "No!" "Ruza!" "Ruza, where are you?" " Petr, I must tell you everything." " You don't have to say anything." "I just wanted to tell you that Willi is my stepbrother Otomar." "I don't know how to explain." "I don't care anymore." "For God's sakes, Petr!" "Willi is Otomar." "It's one person." "Do you understand?" "No." "Petr!" "Petr..." "I've made up my mind." "I'm going to love you." "At least I'm going to try." "Take me to yourself." "I only fear, that you and I might also be a brother and a sister." "No, no." "You don't love me anymore?" "Say it." "Say yes or no." "I don't want a love like this." "Petr, open the door!" "I wanted to tell you that Willi is actually Otomar." "My stepbrother." "I didn't recognize him." "He changed his name." "Do you understand?" " You have no idea how much I love you!" ""I've reached my goal." "She loves me."" "Let me stay with you!" "I'd like to kiss you, honey." "What should I do, Petr?" "If you leave, I'm going to go crazy." "Petr, you know what I'm going to do?" "I'm going to join the convent." "And I'm going to love you until the end." "I'm kneeling down." "I'm on the ground, honey." "I've finally found my stepbrother." "And perhaps even my mother." "But how can I be the lover of my own stepbrother?" "I only have you!" "Petr, you can't leave." "I'll kill myself!" "You're silent." "You're silent!" "You're silent!" "Open the door!" "I'll kill you!" "I hate you!" "I hate you!" "I hate you to death!" " Prepare the bill for me." " She told me everything." " Your wish?" " I'm leaving tomorrow." " Are you going to complain with the prince?" " Yes." "But I suspect that there is no prince." "What do you mean, there is no prince?" "Do you want to ruin us?" " Even a father of 13 children?" " Who is that?" "A Hotel employee, Count Jiri Glück." "He has 13 illegetimate children." "Besides, he's already been punished." "He turned into a bell-boy." "You're going to complain." "Yes." "I'm going to complain." "Aren't we all the same poor men?" "Yes, mister, we're poor men." "Well then, you'll get a new room." "The best room in the hotel." " A room for strangers." " For a night?" " That's not necessary." " But you deserve it." "Hello, maestro." "Goodbye, Madam." "I'm leaving tomorrow." "You...can't be serious." "Look what you've done to me." "This will be my death, Blech." " Yes, I know." " Ladies and gentlemen, has anyone lost a hunting knife?" "I have mine." "That's my knife." "Ah, our bell-boy." "He's a man already." "Why, he's already a waiter as well." "That's the prince." "The cavalry gave us a ride." "I'll never forget you." "And I'll pray for you." "Goodbye, Brother." "A beautiful room." " You don't like me either, do you?" " Like you?" "Would you like to sit down for a moment, my friend?" "Don't call me a friend." "I'm a dog, and that's that." "That's for the knife." ""How sad I am!" "What a disappointmet!"" "Love, oh love" "Where do people find you" "You don't grow in the mountains" "You're not a field crop" "You don't grow in the mountains" "You're not a field crop" "Love, love" "I've had plenty of you" "But I have you no longer" "Not even a little bit" "But I have you no longer" "Not even a little bit" "According to the testimonies of those present no one left the music lounge at the time of the murder." "It was later discovered that there's a secret door leading into the room." "That's the way it is." "Every good novel ends with death." "After all, so does every good man." "I always say, life without death is like a fish without life." "What blame?" "Something like this would never happen to one who wasn't born." "That's true." " True." " There's nothing more natural than death." " You could actually say he died a natural death." " I wonder who killed him." "Nobody knows." " He was killed by love." " Yes, love killed him." " Love is a killer." " It's a poison." " Exactly." "I always say, life without love is like a fish without life." "I hope that the incident didn't spoil your stay." "No, it was wonderful here!" " Come again!" "We'll be happy to see you!" " We will!" "I'm glad, you're going to accompany the girls to the convent." "Your little sister and the virgin Ruzenka." " Have no worries, Father." " They're going to devote their lives to God." "Goodbye!" "Come again!" "I wave my white scarf" "When I give goodbye to you" "I despair for a moment" "I hope for a moment" "Before I go to sleep" "A waltz to us resounds in the distance" "I'm singing a heartfelt song" "I want to give you a proof in a song" "That I love you" "I wave my white scarf" "When I stand under the window" "He who desires" "Doesn't mind standing in a puddle" "All alone" "The breeze puts off the candle" "The midnight draws near" "I want to give you a proof in a song" "That I love you"