"THE BUBBLE a film by Nikos Perakis" "We've got the works!" "Come right in!" "This way for the best steaks in town!" "This way, buddy!" "EVZONE" "Finger-licking good!" "All charcoal broiled!" "THE SHEPHERDESS" "Charcoal-broiled steaks!" "Come to Uncle's girls!" "My treat!" "Way to go Makis with your pleated skirt!" "This way, guys." "Everything mouth-watering good!" "You bought Olympower stock!" "You're dead, man!" "Buy Marfin, man." "It's a sure thing!" "Manolas' Mercedes is headed your way!" "Hey, Makis, watch out you don't rip the panty hose!" "Welcome to our very own Mr. Manolas!" "Get a move on, Roula, I'm starving." "Leave the bear in the car." "Say something!" "How's Olympower doing, boss?" "Anything moving?" "Why?" "You want to buy us out?" "We're trapped in the market, Mr. Manolas." "Get a move on." "Fucking jerk." "Come here." "l'll be right there." "What's up, uncle?" "Got any country-baked lamb?" "We're all out." "OK so bring what you have." "something off the spit..." "Want me for anything else?" "Can i call it a night?" "Stay and do the books... and go pay the VAT bright and early when there's no lines." "Then get the cash from the gas station... and go by the strip joint for the rent." "That's our Olympower money he's spending with the babe." "At least he's leaving some of it here." "Boy!" "Yes you the evzone." "Get me two packs of cigarettes." "And a box of condoms..." "the good ones!" "D'you know who the babe you're ogling is?" "The woman of my life..." "only she doesn't know it yet." "Two years ago she won some title in a beauty pageant." "Miss Mass Tourism..." "if I'm not mistaken." "What mass?" "She must have had the panel of judges en masse." "I'll belt you one, you slut." "I got eyes don't I?" "l see the way you look at him!" "Me?" "That's all you've been doing since we sat down." "I'll put a razor blade in the scumbag's spleen..." "Vangelis!" "What's wrong?" "Are you alright?" "What's the matter?" "Ate like a pig that's what's the matter!" "Loosen his collar." "He's as white as tripe soup." "What's this?" "is he wearing a massage corset?" "It's a bulletproof vest, you idiot." "No wonder he almost burst!" "Give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation quick!" "1001 , 1002, 1003..." "l can't do it!" "He was in the special forces." "Get away from me, you faggot!" "Call 91 1 ." "We don't want him to kick the bucket in here." "No, no, not 91 1 ." "Roula!" "Take me to the Therapon Clinic... to Sotirchos." "Yes... yes." "My Mercedes." "Where are the guys?" "You sent them to your wife." "His security men." "What are you doing there?" "Mr. Fotis!" "No, Makis!" "No, goddammit!" "Rifle shots, a wedding down the road." "Godfathers put bomb in Shepherdess!" "It was in Manolas' car, dimwit!" "How would you know, dummy?" "l called the cops." "Where are you Makis?" "Are you bringing it round?" "It's on its way." "Get out of here, man!" "Where are you going, you hick?" "They'll get you." "It's nothing, Vangelis." "A teeny-weeny heart attack... like the one you got on Mount Parnassos... and you got over it right away..." "Where are we?" "We're almost there." "Who's he?" "The name's Makis, Mr. Manolas." "Makis..." "the guy in ethnic gear... ln national costume!" "What fucking national costume?" "Where are the boys?" "I called them." "They're on their way to the clinic." "We usually have security with us but today he loaned them... to Mrs. Manolas." "She's going to the theater." "They're separated." "We're a bit scared because they killed his brother..." "organized crime!" "l'd be scared shitless too." "If he saw what they put in his car he'd have a stroke!" "What's he saying?" "Tell him to put a lid on it." "We invested all our savings in Olympower!" "Don't upset him now." "Like that's likely to happen." "I owe my uncle 6 million!" "Why d'you think I'm dressed up like a Revolution hero?" "Vangelis says the Health Minister's here too." "He says he's too scared to go to a state hospital... the doctors have it in for him." "They told Vangelis because he's a stockholder." "He's got 40%." "Bought it with my money." "Know what I like about you?" "When you hear about money you act dumb." "Why d'you say that?" "Guys, Dorotheos!" "May God forgive him." "What's up?" "Father Dorotheos..." "Vangelis' Father Confessor." "is he under contract with Therapon?" "How's our Minister?" "He's here for someone else!" "If he dies in here... tomorrow Therapon stock will plummet..." "God is great." "Yes, Father." "Excuse me, doctor." "How is Mr. Manolas doing?" "Just a routine check-up." "Please leave now." "Leave?" "Yes, you can go." "Good evening, Mrs. Manolas, or rather good morning." "Mr. Peris!" "What happened?" "A minor heart attack." "They're lying to me." "What did they say?" "is this how they brought Manolas?" "With oil and oregano?" "Ah, Mrs. Manolas..." "Looking lovely tonight." "Where are the keys?" "That's a mean machine." "Only it veers  to the right." "Check it out." "Where did you find this creep?" "Get him out of here, OK?" "Let them go, guys." "I wonder what he did with the hooker and the hick?" "He always did have rustic tastes." "Those two are cops." "I've seen them before." "They follow us everywhere." "Vangelis says they're from the Ministry of Finance..." "He's got a lot of enemies, because of Olympower." "I know!" "Where you taking her, hick?" "Get lost, you pervert." "Anything off-beat open around here  club, I mean." "No, I didn't have time to get out of my work clothes." "Sheepfold?" "Shepherdess." "Shall I drop you off first?" "First the young lady." "What's your birth sign?" "Capricorn." "l'm Sagittarius." "Would you like to sleep at my place?" "is there anyone waiting for you?" "We broke up last year." "She couldn't adjust to Greece." "I want to work abroad too!" "There are more opportunities." "She was English..." "airline stewardess... ground crew..." "What was her birth sign?" "You lost all our money!" "At the Therapon Center" "Who went with you?" "Makis!" "Who's Makis, girl?" ""The lover of the shepherdess"." "Have you come to sleep with my daughter?" "What are you say, Mom?" "Leave the man alone and make up the couch!" "Why?" "Think you can do better?" "He's a fine-looking young lad!" "Aren't you warm, honey?" "Mom!" "Makis is a friend!" "Maybe I'd better go." "No!" "Sweet dreams, son." "Close your eyes." "You're embarrassing me." "But Mrs...." "The name's Joy, sweetheart." "I'll..." "Sleep, my dove... and I'll sing you a lullaby... and I'll rock your cradle... and sing you sweetly to sleep..." "What's this?" "You got your savings rolled up in a wad?" "Did she lay a hand on you?" "Hurry up and get dressed!" "We're out of here!" "Why?" "Shame on you!" "In front of a total stranger!" "He bought it for me when he came back from Cuba... used... I was invited as Miss Tourism." "Manolas came with some ministers on business... but Manolas doesn't like black women... so we hung out together... a little." "His Mom and brother... the one that was shot by the 17th Octomber terrorist group.." "That's October in demotic Greek or Octombrius in pure Greek." "That's the first I hear of it." "What?" "That 17th October got him?" "That's what Vangelis says." "Here he's with Mr. Castro and Mr. Spartacus at the National." "They want to built a hotel in Havana... that's why the Minister had gone along with them." "Mykonos?" "We used to go there weekends on the cruiser." "Have you lost something?" "I don't want them to see my fucking private world." "I understand." "Can I ask you something?" "Why don't you wear panties?" "I am wearing panties." "You weren't yesterday..." "Only when I'm with Manolas." "Got a problem?" "Would you give me a ride to the Shepherdess... so I can pick up my clothes and the moped?" "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "I'll get over it." "Before we left I called the Therapon and they said... he's in critical condition and no visitors are allowed." "It's hard to keep a good man down, what can I tell you?" "Draw the curtain, Nurse, I can't see a thing." "... the Euro in relation to the dollar..." "Looks like I won't be able to get out of it after all... the surgery I mean..." "Bite your tongue, you jerk  at Friday's closing prices... lt's critical but stable..." "We'll know tomorrow." "Here come the pains again." "Got to go." "... NASD AQ closed at 2251 on Friday..." "The cigars." "so much for Friday's closing prices of the US stock markets." "The fucking bitch won't drop!" "I'll be forced to tell Dr. Sotirchos you're smoking." "I make the decisions in here." "I've got 51%." "... the London stock exchange was closed on Friday..." "Come on, beanpole, wrap it up." "l'm through." "Go downstairs and get yourselves some coffee." "... 0, 44% for the Futsi 100, while Frankfurt closed at 6215" "They fucked up again!" "Amateurs!" "The evzone?" "He took the proclamation too?" "I thought we told them to hold off on the proclamation." "You're some jerk!" "In other words it's a good thing they brought me here." "So what the fucking hell do we do now?" "And I mustn't get excited." "So they've got me hooked up here but good." "You get to the evzone before he circulates the proclamation." "No!" "Tell them not to lay a finger on Pocahontas." "I'll need her." "The Euro took another tumble against the dollar yesterday..." "He doesn't just own the Shepherdess." "He also owns the gas station opposite and two nurseries... and he owned that lot where they built the strip joint three accounting offices and 3-4 times a week... I'm a touter and parking valet I clear around 800 a month... and still I'm in the red!" "300 goes to Uncle, 250 for... the instalment payments, 100 to the Englishwoman for the kid, electricity, water, phone bill, that's why I quit smoking." "What mileage d'you get?" "You mean you know how to do tax returns?" "Are you kidding me?" "I did company mergers, balance sheets, multinationals..." "Makis?" "You again?" "Mr. Fotis?" "Truck!" "You're doing OK." "It's still buzzing." "How come you know Mr. Fotis?" "He was my boss at the irs." "lRS?" "lnternal Revenue Service..." "Corporate tax section." "We got canned." "Some files were lost... including my uncle's..." "Mr. Fotis was charged with bribery... in other words of being on the take..." "He got six months." "Then the building burnt down with the files... but fortunately the 17th assumed responsibility..." "October?" "Why am I telling you all this?" "ls that why he became a crook?" "Who?" "Mr. Fotis?" "Mr. Fotis is the most... decent guy I've ever met!" "Because he didn't shoot you?" "It's Vangelis he was after." "They didn't know he was in hospital... and they were waiting for him in the apartment." "Yesterday when he sent the bodyguards to his wife... he was scared something would happen..." "said he had a bad feeling." "That he would get hit?" "He should be afraid." "If I were in his shoes... I wouldn't dare leave the house..." "He promised me that as soon as he gets the Olympics contract.." "Come again!" "What?" "What?" "Olympower's getting the contract?" "He doesn't talk much about business but he said... it's in the bag only he's not telling anyone yet... because he wants to get his stock back first... now that it's dropping even more..." "More..." "Hold tight, poor Missolonghi, I'm on my way!" "Uncle will be overjoyed." "He's in for at least 15... plus my 6 makes 21 !" "Make a right here." "In here." "Pull up here." "Makis, who are these guys?" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Bear right, left." "Floor it." "That's what I'm doing!" "Left, make a left here..." "Turn right in here." "Where in here?" "My aunt's!" "Makis, those guys are cops." "Now the police are after us too!" "Relax, babe." "Let's give ourselves up." "We haven't done anything." "And tell them about Mr. Fotis." "Are you crazy?" "If we go to the cops the others will waste us." "They've got people in the police department!" "Get it?" "They've put one billion on their heads." "Think the others are jerks for not turning them in?" "That's why, Vangelis says the only way they'll catch them... is to abolish the police department first." "is that what Vangelis says?" "Well he should know!" "Inside and outside, Miss?" "Mr. Makis, the cops are after you." "You a plant too, Ibrahim?" "..even though we all thought it was an abortive mob hit... subsequent findings as well as the presence of the president.." "of Olympower Mr. Manolas in the steak house close by..." "upsets the mob theory..." "See!" "Even they got wind of it!" "We have unconfirmed information that the explosive device... found in the Shepherdess has all the hallmarks... of the home-made bombs made by 17th October..." "We know that." "Listen!" "There's something about you too." "Where was it?" "Here we are..." ""the aforementioned filthy rich lumpen wheeler-dealer who was created and is supported... by a class of female prosti- tutes." "Did you hear that?" "...and very often of men too.." "Men?" "What does lumpen mean?" "Scumbag in Marxist lingo." "We used it at the trade union." "and who have undermined society and created lumpen role models" "for the young." "There's that lumpen again!" "Stop interrupting me, godammit!" "I'm losing my train of thought." "Get a move on, Sophie. I want you to get me Lymberopoulos." "I'm almost finished." "I've never set up a stockbrokerage in a clinic." "Hurry it up because DOXOE is dropping too!" "...are in theory the costs totalling 620 million drachmas." "Too much smoking in here." "The wallpaper will be saturated." "Too much slackness, Nurse." "You'll be reprimanded." "Fuck off, Sotirchos." "I spoke to Lymberopoulos a little while ago." "How's your Olympower doing?" "Dropping?" "Steadily!" "Did he ask you how I was?" "I told him you were at death's door." "They've been carrying it on the news all morning." "How did they find out?" "From the Minister's entourage." "They saw you when they brought you in last night." "If I don't make it drop to 300 my name's not Bubble." "Come on so we can buy in too!" "l thought I spotted Roula." "killer DUO" "Who's giving orders to Makis the touter and former commando?" "What's behind the ambiguous presence of beauty queen..." "Roula Dourambassi and how does it tie in to the admission... of Olympower president Manolas to the Therapon Center?" "All the details on this amazing thriller on our next newscast." "What's this the man writes?" "He must be a sociologist." "You can't make a left here." "We'll have to go round..." "Watch out, here, there's a pothole..." "Did you have to get fucking involved with that old prick?" "lt's all in the mind!" "lt's all for the money!" "Like there are no decent young guys around... lt's not all sex and money..." "There's other things..." "that young studs don't have." "Like mansions on Mykonos?" "No, but when you work in a bar till 4am and sleep with a guy.." "who wakes you at dawn to fuck you before he goes to practice, forget it!" "And he asks you for gas money..." "Fuck!" "He could be your father!" "I've never had a father and i wouldn't know... but he takes care of me like a father and he's kind of cute." "People are jealous of him because he's a selfmade man..." "You know he started out driving his father-in-law's tractor?" "What gives you the right to badmouth me?" "Stop!" "No, I won't." "You're not giving me orders." "l meant the car." "We're here." "We're not parking in front of the house." "I'll go over there." "I don't have the keys. I'll let myself in through the kitchen." "But it's open." "Jane?" "Alexander?" "Daddy!" "What did you bring me?" "Makis my boy..." "My comrades-in-arms... insist you have a proclamation we don't want to circulate... because it will diminish the organization's credibility..." "So don't force us to use violence." "Although my friend Hans knows no mercy... or Greek for that matter... and he's not letting you get out of here alive..." "Don't!" "Mr. Fotis!" "Don't!" "If I hadn't wasted him he'd have wasted me." "We got ourselves some time, Makis..." "Know who he is?" "Hans." "That was his nickname. in STASl he was known as Eichmann." "Know how many people he's wasted?" "We've taken every out-of-work killer in the organization." "We've grown old you see and can't swing it any more." "Since I got under the car yesterday I have this pain... right here..." "Then you had to go kick me with those hobnailed clogs..." "What shit is this?" "You made a laughing-stock of the evzones." "is nothing sacred any more?" "Has the boss gone mad?" "Where's the proclamation?" "lt's in the car." "Where's the car?" "A little further down." "How much further down?" "Do I know, Mr. Fotis?" "I didn't measure the distance!" "Why don't you drop the Mister?" "Have you read it?" "l didn't have the time." "It is four pages long." "Never mind. lt's just as well." "I didn't write it." "Once we were pure popular warriors." "Now we say one thing and do another." "We've become disoriented by some lumpen theoreticians." "You can't have a revolution like this." "Wars of factions and gangs." "Chasing Manolas and his bubbles." "I should have taken him out then... when he put those marked bills in the supermarket bag... 3 million!" "Remember?" "Wasn't it 5?" "3.6!" "is it true you went to jail?" "The truth is harder to find than ideal love." "Your son?" "You should be proud of him." "How old is he?" "Five and a half." "Mine's graduating college this year... on a scholarship too..." "A real doll!" "lt's for them we do it all." "It's for him I stayed in the civil service." "Look at the damage it did me." "Yes..." "You're on your way?" "The cops are on their way. lt's better they don't find us here." "Let's go." "Move it!" "Can I take a few clothes?" "Hurry!" "You get in the car!" "Makis, come on." "Hurry up!" "Mr. Fotis!" "Mr. Fotis went that way, Mr. Makis." "He doesn't even care about the proclamation any more." "You can do what you like with it." "Strange man Mr. Fotis." "What was all that about Manolas?" "All I remember is he had the whole Ministry pressuring him.." "to quash a case of tax evasion." "I didn't know it was Manolas'." "That's why your Vangelis set him up." "Small world, isn't it?" "Then he became a terrorist." "He may have been before that." "He had a highly developed sense of justice... lsn't that what they call it?" "When my uncle's file was lost he gave me a whole lecture..." "Listen what they write." "l couldn't care less!" "We were almost killed because of him and you don't care?" "So..." "While we are still awaiting the outcome of the investigation... on the collapse of the shopping mall that buried 7 workers... in its rubble, wheeler-dealer Manolas, an unscrupulous... lumpen speculator, was planning a second more ruthless attack.." "on his company's stockholders so that he alone would reap... the huge profits accruing to the Olympower group... from being granted the largest slice of the Olympic pipe... pie..." "Here it is." "The organization is in a position to know... everything that went on behind the scenes involving secret... deals, huge building contracts... and payoffs to government officials and party coffers." "Get it?" "He's waiting until the price drops to buy back the stock!" "Isn't that what I just said?" "It's different coming from the 17th." "May I make a phone call?" "Hello, Uncle..." "Can you hear me?" "It's Makis." "I know..." "Why should I turn myself in?" "I haven't done anything!" "Where are you?" "This is a bad connection." "You're at Therapon?" "So who's yelling?" "That's why I'm calling." "Don't sell." "Keep them all." "Get organized so we can take the company away from him." "I have information!" "He got the contract for the works." "Not the grapevine." "Inside information." "I can't tell you." "You'll regret it." "What's he doing at Therapon?" "All the Olympower stockholders have gathered... asking for their money back." "I'll give the newspapers the proclamation..." "and do him major damage!" "lt's not in your interest!" "You're fucking right." "Manolas!" "I've got you!" "construction:" "OLYMPOWER CONTRACTORS" " E. MANOLAS  CO." "Vangelis for Prime Minister!" "I issued the medical bulletin and distributed 100 copies." "At least now they'll stop yelling." "And I'm still alive." "Like El Cid." "I also got offers from three funeral parlors." "Word of this sort of thing spreads like wildfire." "Any moment now they'll start selling." "Total panic!" "Sophie, get ready." "Just a minute..." "Today Aegean Fund's buying." "Tomorrow it's Gulf Shares." "l see you've come prepared!" "We're no amateurs!" "Fine, thanks." "Mr. Manolas, Roula and the evzone are on VOX TV." "...in whose home the body of an unknown male was found... around 55 years old and wearing contact lenses who had... recently had rhinoplastic surgery." "It's believed the victim belonged to a foreign... organization with ties to a Greek terrorist group... of which the wanted man, Makis Parlavantzas, was a member..." "Pretty boy..." "Still unclear is the role played by Roula Dourambassi... also wanted by the police..." "l'll fuck her!" "ls that bad?" "That's what happens when you fool around." "Get me her mother on the phone." "She might know where she is." "It's Vangelis." "Don't answer." "They may trace the call." "They can't tap cell phones." "They do it from satellites." "Then they'll know we're going to my aunt's." "Think they have aunts under surveillance too?" "I forgot to tell you Aunt Dionysia is blind." "Totally?" "Totally." "Diabetes." "Are you the crisp with no onions and extra peppers?" "Did I get it right?" "You did." "That'll be 9,200." "If you've got the 200... I bet this baby flies." "The change from the condoms..." "Didn't you give it to him?" "You've got to be kidding." "And the parking tip." "...car found at the Shepherdess after the attempt on the life.." "of Mr. Manolas." "Suspect Makis Parlavantzas is wanted..." "Come on in Roula..." "It's open." "Good evening, Aunt Dionysia." "I heard what you've been up to on the 6 o'clock news." "Where are you Efthimios?" "Good evening." "I can smell feta cheese." "is that Greek Lovers pizza?" "Vassilakis is crazy about baked olives." "Are you related to Parlavantzas the ear, nose and throat man?" "No." "We just have the same name." "I'm blind, not deaf, Efthimios." "We call him by his nickname Makis, Auntie." "Give me the pizzas and open a couple of beers." "Sit down, Makis." "Next to me..." "so we don't shout." "You knew this Manolas?" "Did he die?" "They're expecting him too." "A major scumbag... ls it true he was Roula's lover?" "Why don't you ask her?" "Ask me what?" "If this scumbag Manolas was your lover..." "Why?" "Did he die?" "They're expecting him to." "At least will he leave you anything?" "The doctor left me a roof over my head for my old age investigating possible links she may have with the Ira but tv is the best company." "It's noisy, more alive..." "No favors to the private sector... I like the Brazilian soaps..." "the Mexican one are nice too... because the characters always state their profession... so you know who's who." "Attorney Altamirano..." "Yes Dr. Rugeles." "How are you Miss Pakita?" "The Greek serials are very lewd and the themes... someone's always you know whatting someone else's wife... or some tycoon is corrupting everyone... policemen, politicians, the press... even terrorists and condones terrorism which it protects in this way... I like the Professor." "What does he look like?" "The public is more inclined to believe terrorist proclamations" "than the government spokesman." "That's our fault too?" "Chubby." "I think I'll take a walk... to clear my head." "You're not interested?" "Of course it's genuine." "And if not... one more reason why you should publish it." "I explained it to you." "The attempt failed." "The police are in on it too." "I know..." "Manolas is preparing a stock market scam." "Me?" "The evzone..." "Fuck off!" "Good evening. I want the phone numbers of all the newspapers." "Just three?" "Half a second." "Can I call you back in two minutes?" "See where the Vatican levelled off?" "Our saintly smalltimers should see this." "With a bank we could feed half the orphans in the world." "Say, Dorotheos, now we created this "Madredeus"... why don't we buy Agora, formerly SATV?" ""Madredeus" is the holding company we set up.." "for our construction and real estate..." "For the media we have "Almighty Com"!" "Com?" "Communications." "I wonder who christens your companies." "You, Father?" "Hello." "Roula's here." "Yes, have her come up." "Thank you." "Can I just go over this with you?" "Father Dorotheos is coming at 10 to grant you absolution." "10?" "Can't we do it a little later?" "The tv crews will be here at 9 for the medical bulletin." "Sotirchos will be on the 8 o'clock news..." "before the stock market opens." "Miss Roula's here." "Take Mrs. Sofia to the office and come back." "How's our girl doing?" "Good evening, Mrs. Sofia." "'Bye Roula..." "and don't overdo it." "They're saying on tv that you're dying." "is that what got you worried or do you miss me?" "If you start with the irony again, I'm out of here." "Your blessings." "Before you go, let me have the keys to the convertible." "l don't have them with me." "Gave them to your shepherd?" "Now it's the shepherd that's bothering you?" "Your whoring's bothering me." "Flirting with him and at the same time grabbing my dick... and making my blood pressure shoot up. I might get a stroke!" "Was it me or the tripe you ate?" "And since when did you become so sensitive?" "It didn't bother you when you passed me to the Minister... and videotaped the whole thing." "Where's the video?" "l can't find it." "You're busting my balls..." "Stop talking and give me head." "And have it on my head?" "Fuck off." "Guys!" "Go with Roula and get the convertible and my credit card." "And tell your shepherd not to fuck with me... or I'll fuck him." "Comprende ninia, as Spartacus would say?" "l'm back." "l heard you." "Has Roula gone to bed." "Manolas called her and she went to see him." "is she crazy?" "The cops are after her." "How did she go?" "With a taxi driver I use." "A very trustworthy man." "Don't worry, Efthimios." "It's Manolas who's the danger." "She's also acquired the call girl mentality... worried that her Vangelis would die... and not leave her anything." "I'm going to my room." "I've left sheets and pillows for you." "Good night, Efthimios." "Sorry..." "Makis." "Good night, Aunt Dionysia." "OLYMPOWER GROUP" "ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE" "THE GREEK parliament" "I love you even without a convertible." "Auntie's sleeping in the other room." "Holy Virgin!" "What's this?" "The 92F..." "Do we have a sheath?" "The good ones I bought for..." "Auntie?" "I couldn't sleep thousands of trapped OIympower stockholders... waiting for news of ManoIas' health..." "Good morning, Aunt Dionysia." "hello there..." "You've also got to move the mass of stockholders camped out... on the public areas around Therapon Center..." "For the stock to go up again the Prime Minister should... come out and say that he and ManoIas have worked things out." "But they haven't." "They have... only they're not saying so yet.." "since the government is also playing his game..." "Isn't that what it says in the proclamation?" "What if ManoIas got them to write it?" "And he got the 17th to blow him up." "Give me a break!" "And who says they'd have killed him?" "Maybe it wouId just have been an attempt." "It says on tv that he's on life support and clinically dead..." "but his mind is on sex..." "Auntie!" "That's what I understood..." "What a riot!" "If they print it now it'II ruin his plans." "I arranged to have "golden Opportunity" carry it." "It's got a Iarge circulation." "AII the others were afraid." "They said the new law against terrorism is very strict." "I forgot to tell you what he said:" "If you fuck with him, he'II fuck you..." "But the attempt was aborted." "So why print the proclamation?" "Fine!" "As soon as I have news I'II give you an exclusive." "Me?" "The proclamation?" "I'm talking about the interview." "Hands off my pastry!" "First of all how d'you know it's genuine?" "Wait until you see it first!" "OK, got to go." "You call me." "Who was that?" "The 17th?" "No. "golden Opportunity"!" "I mean who made the attempt?" "But they didn't!" "That's the problem!" "What's in the proclamation?" "Same as what's in the press... that I bribed the government to get the contract..." "That's good, man..." "In the end they might believe it too..." "the government, I mean." "That's why we needed a bang!" "Show it on tv... so people get the picture..." "Have the government deny it, the SEC start investigating..." "But instead they're looking for mobsters and this evzone or... shepherd or whatever the fuck he is and confusing people!" "Guys!" "I want this jerk!" "The hick with the skirt!" "Dead or alive, I don't care!" "Now get the hell out of here!" "You too!" "For 10 minutes..." "It's Mr. Fotis." "Second time he called." "hello..." "How did you find out?" "Didn't you tell RouIa you don't care?" "What time?" "OK." "He hung up so they wouldn't trace the call." "Had you given him your phone number?" "He said he called the agency and they gave it to him." "We don't want to lose a client..." "What did you say?" "Why don't you come and help me start it up." "We're meeting at 3." "Where?" "We take the national Highway and then he calls us again..." "Come on." "Start her up." "When did the doctor die?" "Last summer." "Good thing he filled it up before leaving it to us." "I didn't think I'd hear our little bugsy again." "GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY classified Ads" "It must be a little further down." "The Editor GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY" "VangeIis' works?" "Looks like it." "I know they tell you you deserve better people... but when I become a shadow and seem to leave you..." "I can become one too..." "That's vangelis' too." "Big time vangelis!" "Don't love me for what I am... but for all the impossible things I couldn't be..." "Like my nails?" "Yes, what about them?" "The color!" "What's wrong with the color?" "hello." "It's Mr. Fotis." "hello..." "In a few minutes..." "Under the Sirius stop..." "Yes, we're almost there..." "We're taking the exit..." "The fast food place?" "They've burnt out the Sirius." "I've done at Ieast 3 music clips and 4 catalogues here." "Past glory." "The stock vultures got it as well." "Come on, baby, smile." "I keep telling you, you're in the frame." "I'm only doing my job." "So let us do ours." "I read in one of my mother-in- Iaw's magazines you're on... the panel of judges of the VOX Beauty Pageant." "See how well informed I am!" "I called them and they gave me your agent's phone number." "At first he wouldn't give me yours but I persuaded him..." "I was a reporter." "When is it?" "I forgot all about it." "The day after tomorrow I think..." "It seems GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY is printing the proclamation." "News travels fast..." "D'you know what that means?" "No, but I can imagine..." "I don't know what you imagine but if ManoIas recovers..." "There's nothing wrong with him!" "Now what did I say?" "As soon as it gets out that ManoIas is OK," "OIympower stock will soar and then what it says... in the proclamation will happen." "He'II sell the company and take off?" "Why?" "Because he hasn't gotten a single contract." "Nor will he." "That's why." "He's playing his last card." "That's not what it says in the proclamation." "I neither write them nor read them." "I'm just a hit man." "We figured that out." "So who writes them?" "Good question." "After the collapse of ideologies, the organization... is going through a phase of introversion..." "What's introversion?" "The search for intrinsic values, Makis." "Understand?" "We no Ionger know what our goals are... why we kill..." "E.g., we kill a shipowner and make his competitors happy." "We kill an agent and our guys buy rockets from his country... to make amends." "There are people who claim the cops support the organization.." "just so the cops who're after us don't lose their extra pay." "In other words a rubber stamp organization." "Why are you telling us all this?" "Because despite all my reassurances... my bosses believe your evzone wasted Hans... and so do the cops." "And I have to admit unfortunately... that right now we have a terrible shortage of hit men." "Most of them have left us and now work for mobsters." "Good money... and bonuses." "They got our best men, Makis." "And from the police!" "Hans..." "Eichmann... was under contract to a private company." "We need new blood, Makis!" "What?" "Me?" "You don't have to give me an answer now." "You've got to be kidding!" "Think about it first!" "But it will be real hard to convince the cops... you're not a member of the organization..." "and that you didn't kill him." "Is that how you trap people?" "What did you want me to do?" "Let Hans waste you both of you?" "Office hours." "Think he was telling us the truth?" "I don't know." "There's something about Mr. Fotis I don't like." "It's the organization that's saying it, not us." "Right here.." "The organization is in a position to know everything... that went on behind the scenes involving secret deals, huge building contracts and payoffs to government officials and party coffers." "So let them sue them for libel." "will the investors believe the government or the organization?" "The organization!" "But we'II request an injunction too!" "Against all those responsible!" "For printing false information." "...a matter of principal..." "So then why not also leak out what Karasavas writes... that I'm totally healthy but I'm hiding for fear..." "of another attack..." "But that makes me out a liar!" "You must be kidding!" "I've issued 10 medical bulletins!" "I almost signed your death certificate!" "We'II sue Karasavas too..." "He'II be right down." "Mrs. ManoIas and Dorotheos are downstairs." "ShouIdn't I shave?" "Looks more impulsive this way." "Why don't you take off the bulletproof vest?" "If they're going to waste you.." "It's Mom's." "careful, Dionysia..." "I almost killed myself." "Good God!" "What are you doing here?" "I found her hanging upside down from VassiIakis' hook." "I called her and she didn't answer so I got worried..." "Who did it?" "AIbanian field workers." "No, two idiots wearing crash helmets." "How d'you know?" "They kept knocking... their heads and I told them to take them off." "Did they hurt you?" "Hang the cage." "VassiIakis is in shock." "What did they want?" "They're looking for you." "I said I've never seen you... and I don't know where you are." "Was I lying?" "They called me a fucking old crone and other vulgarities..." "I can't repeat..." "They also took your skirt to their boss." "They told me they'd be back." "This doesn't look good." "I'II take you with me." "They're looking for you too." "AII of them." "The cops wanted your cell phone number." "I told them you only use it for work." "Didn't I do right?" "ManoIas!" "It was God's will..." "Tomorrow we're holding a mass at OIympower..." "with Father Dorotheos..." "with his wife!" "See that?" "I told you so didn't I?" "They're back together again." "...who was spotted in various locations...hiding.." "Makis!" "where he is presumed to be hiding out..." "They said you're a member of the 17th... and you're in thessaloniki." "The government spokesman denied that the prime minister... has asked for the resignation of the Minister of public Works" "They didn't say anything about me again." "The SEC is investing rumours that OIympower... are the sole contractors for the olympic village..." "Let's go to thessaloniki." "It's a very erotic city." "Have you been?" "I'II go turn it off so the old battery doesn't die on us." "I don't know who it is." "shall I answer it?" "Let me have it." "hello..." "Right..." "OK." "That was Mr. Fotis." "He has the news from the stock market." "He said I go there tomorrow." "What about me?" "And I was planning to go to the hairdresser." "Look at my hair!" "Let me call uncle and tell him not to sell." "AII hell's breaking loose..." "welcome to the Promised Land..." "Did you see the fish?" "girls!" "Did you see what I saw?" " A real doll, right?" "Look at the bimbo!" "Very second rate!" "I should have worn the skirt!" "Didn't you have something else to wear?" "I have but it's short." "It's here." "Yes?" "Mr." "Fotis?" "He's down in the file room." "would you Iike to wait here or go down?" "Can we go down?" "AII the way down the corridor." "Can you wait and take him something he wanted printed?" "Ready!" "And tell him that there's no Cuba in the other office!" "They're the ones I went to Cuba with." "Trips for Mr. Fotis, I see!" "Let's go to Cuba to fuck." "What was that?" "Mr. Fotis!" "Where are you?" "It's them again!" "Shut up!" "Look!" "Let's get the hell out of here!" "Makis!" "I'm scared!" "He'II be here in a couple of minutes." "Is it my fault, buddy?" "It's not me that's blocking traffic." "I asked about Mr. Spartacus but no one knows him.." "The boss is called Ioannou." "He is only there in the afternoon." "Spartacus is what the Cubans called him...his nick name." "I told you but you don't pay attention when I speak." "I'II come back tonight." "That's him." "FideI?" "What FideI?" "That's Spartacus." "He invited us to Havana." "He was the sponsor for Miss Tourism..." "And he has some dealings with ManoIas and the Minister." "He introduced you to ManoIas?" "I told you it was a Iarge party... but the others went with black women." "My heart bled for the Cuban girls." "They're so pretty..." "Turning tricks for next to nothing... a pair of shoes..." "not convertibles like us!" "Did I ask you for anything?" "And even if you did..." "Fuck off!" "Next week when OIympower is selling at 25,000..." "I'II buy you a Porsche." "Leave me alone." "convertible..." "It's a fucking mess!" "What?" "My hair!" "Where will you be?" "Around here somewhere?" "If you find Mr. Spartacus tell him RouIita said hello." "That's what he called me in Havana." "I'II go to the hairdresser first and then the agency." "D'you want my cell?" "So I can find you." "And how will I find you?" "Is anyone here?" "Nobody home?" "The evzone, right?" "Mr." "Spartacus?" "That's what they used to call me in the organization." "Who told you?" "Sisyphus?" "No, RouIa." "RouIa who?" "RouIita..." "Miss Tourism..." "You'd invited her to Havana." "She says hello." "The one who's involved with ManoIas?" "What did Sisyphus tell you?" "D'you mean Mr. Fotis?" "I mean the cop who recruited you." "Cop?" "His name was Fotis?" "We use code names." "The young guys like you have numbers." "Have a seat..." "Makis." "The name's Makis." "Better put that down on the desk." "We wouldn't want anything to happen to the equipment." "How did you know?" "We have the technical means..." "I put it behind my back so I don't sIouch." "I have a slipped disc." "You said Mr. Fotis was a cop." "I hope we're talking about the same guy." "I only spoke to him on the phone but I liked him." "He must have been an idealist." "old school police." "There are very few left..." "in the organization." "shall I pour?" "He considered you a dangerous opportunist." "Me?" "You gossiped about me?" "Yes, but he liked you a Iot." "God rest his soul." "Are you religious?" "No, I just said it..." "Nor a communist?" "Sisyphus told me that in the IRS you were a union man." "Is that bad too?" "normally I'm not a recruiter.." "but since he sent you here, I'II make an exception." "Mr. Fotis didn't send me." "You took him out..." "before I couId speak to him." "We took him out?" "Are you that dumb?" "You know who wasted Mr. Fotis..." "Sisyphus?" "Foreign multinationals." "D'you think they'd let the cops take the organization?" "Like they don't know how tough it is to set anything up... in Greece with the chaos that prevails everywhere." "Red Star travel." "May I help you?" "Just a moment please." "Cuba." "Gathering sugar cane..." "...by hand,right?" "Sorry, it's all booked..." "I see I still have 20 days on the Ho Chi Minh trail..." "Yes, Hanoi-Saigon by bicycle." "marvellous tour..." "Of course we're here..." "You have our brochure?" "Redstar all one word @ otenet.gr..." "So long, comrade." "would you get off the phone and let someone else use it." "We don't have 10 lines." "I'm calling the hospital." "They forgot me on hold." "If you got here on time there wouldn't be a problem." "Didn't you speak to ManoIas?" "He couldn't because Sotirchos was there on rounds..." "Does Makis know about ManoIas?" "He suspects something but he isn't saying anything..." "He's afraid I may leave him." "Like you'd every leave a stud." "First of all he's not a stud." "He is to ManoIas." "If you met him you'd understand..." "In the end what matters is that he makes you feel good." "Better watch out ManoIas doesn't die in your arms... or between your legs." "Did he give you anything for your dowry?" "Any stock?" "OIympower even..." "I don't care about that." "You should have something set aside." "We won't be 22 for ever." "oliver!" "He's driving me crazy!" "I've got a problem with michael." "I've got his gold card but I can't get cash... nothing." "I even buy sanitary towels from the gas station with the card." "He doesn't fucking trust me." "Like I'd take off with 100,000!" "Give me a break, RouIa, I'm working." "Get him to open a boutique for you." "Then hire a girl... and you go in the afternoons to collect the cash like a lady." "I can't take working hours." "They stress me out." "There's another solution." "I'm two days late." "If only michael's efforts paid off..." "Isn't it a little too soon for a baby?" "Why?" "Is oliver mine?" "I'm fed up with taking him riding and to parties..." "And helping him with his homework..." "I who haven't read a book in my Iife..." "I mean a schoolbook..." "His ex is living in villas with swimming pools and alimony... and I'm raising his son..." "and I'm a perfectionist..." "MeIina!" "Get me an iced coffee." "What's it like?" "What?" "Raising his kid." "Are you putting me on?" "Makis has a son too." "real cute." "With an EngIishwoman." "They broke up and he hasn't seen his son in over a year." "Today's his birthday..." "Leo?" "With Pisces..." "And I'm thinking of hocking this ring ManoIas gave me... and buying a ticket so the kid can come and see his Dad." "What d'you think?" "I'm going to do... what that old crone from Zufria said so I can get pregnant... so I can treat you to a day at the beauty parlor too... otherwise I see us turning tricks." "Did you hear about Jenny." "He dumped her for pamela... and took back both the car and the jewelry." "Zufria..." "Where's it?" "We're romantics, we communists." "I've seen clients bawIing their eyes out at the Bay of Pigs." "What bay?" "The Bay of Pigs... swine?" "where Castro routed Battista's mercenaries and the CIA..." "Didn't they teach you history at school?" "No..." "Same as my daughter." "Got as far as the 1821 revolt... and a little Metaxas because he was one of theirs... a fascist!" "This isn't just a crisis in education." "It's THE major crisis in Iumpen society." "Did you read the proclamation before giving it to that paper?" "I studied it." "Don't jerk me around." "No, really!" "Every word!" "Did anything sink in?" "Where it talks about..." "Where I talk!" "Where you talk about ManoIas... wanting to defraud the small investors... and about Iumben businessmen..." "What does Iumben mean anyway?" "It's not Iumben... it's Iumpen." "Rags in German..." "They say he is very fond of the term..." "Aristogeiton the great..." "They say he studied electrical engineering in Germany... but failed his exams and couldn't even get in the army." "Why?" "They say he puts the roast in the oven... puts cinnamon on the rice pudding... wacks the wienie, goddammit!" "You know..." "You mean he's gay... rolled between the legs of the comrade women..." "They made us the Iaughing-stock." "Excuse me..." "half a second..." "Chatting with Mr. Spartacus..." "Any news?" "Dorotheos in OIympower?" "Good God!" "Any fallout?" "Fine. 'Bye." "That was RouIita." "What did Dorotheos do?" "He's buying OIympower stock." "hostile takeover." "For the priests or himself?" "He's capable of taking off with the monastery's charity fund." "It seems he cleaned up with 30%." "Isn't that a bit steep for a solo bid?" "They must be up to something..." "ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE" "I don't believe it." "I had it ready!" "I was writing all night, fuck Mao's widow!" "I've got to write it all over again." "He's got me writing... about the globalized Iumpen and multinational stooges... and ManoIas cons me with the priests." "He's selling them packages..." "The priests have the biggest portfolio in Greece." "Did you know that?" "You don't know a damn thing!" "We struggled to get rid of the anarchists and the modernists.." "so we're now at the beck and call of every chaotic bastard!" "There was a time when we were pure popular warriors..." "What's the matter?" "There was a time when we were pure popular warriors..." "Nothing." "old age is a bitch, Makis." "We've become the tools of wheeIer-deaIers like ManoIas..." "A company that provides terrorist services..." "Next they'II want a receipt." "Ah, VaIentina!" "I wrote it on the typewriter to confuse them." "I wrote my first on this... and my last..." "Understand?" "Yes..." "You don't understand a thing!" "It's like we want to get the 17th into the stock market... the parallel market even..." "For this I have to change the whole page!" "Fuck!" "I spelled "proclamation" wrong again." "I got problems with anagrams." "Me too." "Because I'm always working under pressure..." "Tomorrow they're going to sink ManoIas and I find out... quite by chance, from you, that the priests are in the game." "That was to be expected!" "That's sloppiness!" "You plant a bomb to keep society on its toes... not to waste ManoIas when we know there's 100 more like him." "As VoItaire said you need fanfare and drum rolls... to make a murder look like a revolutionary act..." "Even the newspapers write such stuff." "We lose all credibility." "AII we do is increase newspaper circulation and tv ratings." "Soon people will feel sorry for ManoIas!" "What d'you mean sink him?" "Sink OIympower you mean?" "Not likely." "They're planting a bomb on his yacht." "What about the small investors who bought OIympower stock..." "isn't anyone sorry for them?" "It's ManoIas' idea!" "To make his disappearance more convincing... or maybe to look like suicide." "Since you and Sisyphus fucked up..." "You mean the bomb in ManoIas' Mercedes was also rigged?" "He'd supposedly get out to go piss and set it off himself..." "with his mobile." "And RouIa?" "Pocahontas was with him?" "I don't like these guys at all." "In the little store room." "The gun, man!" "Take it." "You may need it." "hello there!" "Shut up, man." "Not with the seal, man!" "What's up, Menios?" "How did you find me?" "Ever heard of caller identification?" "ManoIas wants you." "You go." "What if I don't want to?" "We'II take you." "I'II scream..." "for the cops." "Scream." "That way they'II find you quicker." "What shall I do?" "There was a donkey with large ears... who didn't like the frost..." "Know who they were?" "No." "Neither do I." "Our intelligence maybe." "They want to take over the organization too." "could be a multinational, do I know?" "could even be... the boss's young studs." "Maybe he got wind I want to take off." "I'm not wasting my golden years in this brothel." "Now he wants to be on TV shows." "He's gone off his rocker." "Who?" "The boss." "Aristogeiton!" "With a ski mask of course." "He wants to challenge the prime minister to a debate." "And he's negotiating the tv serial rights to his memoirs." "Kastaniotis wants to publish them first." "There's a limit to everything." "The stakes got too big and we lost the game." "The big interests are out in full force: contractors... shipowners, arms dealers... cigarette smugglers, the media... mobsters, bankers, industrialists... even priests." "Am I forgetting anyone?" "Do I know?" "Even the Hiroshima bomb can't save us." "I'm disappointing you, a young man with dreams and a thirst for money..." "flesh and money!" "Come with me because you're in deep shit." "Where to?" "The last refuge!" "The ultimate paradise..." "Mom!" "ManoIas!" "RouIa." "Come to Piraeus tomorrow at noon... at the subway station." "The investigation into the murder of police officer..." "Fotis Lambiris has taken a new turn." "The officer, whose body was found, under tons of files... bore two bullet wounds in the chest and..." "Yes, but RouIa isn't here!" "Yes, Makis." "I'II tell her... in detail..." "Where's the old woman from?" "The exorcist?" "Zufria..." "Yes..." "Me too... who had succeeded in uncovering smuggling rings and tax evaders while posing as a civil servant had managed to infiltrate... the hard core of a terrorist organization..." "hello." "Yes..." "AII hell's breaking loose." "Hang on they're saying something about me." "... is implicated in the murder of the police officer... and the recent death of P.I. Johannes BIeichmann." "We're leaving tomorrow..." "You and I..." "I don't know yet." "Here I'm in danger and you're going to Mykonos!" "Where are you?" "You're not alone?" "You're going with what?" "We're going to sink it!" "Them I mean!" "Of course." "I read the proclamation I tell you!" "Spartacus..." "Fuck OIympower and Dorotheos and ManoIas!" "Listen!" "Tomorrow at 12..." "in Piraeus... at the subway station." "No, I didn't call." "Wanda called." "She said she got her period and... she was cursing the old woman from Zufria." "She said you'd know." "Excuse me..." "Come on, pal." "100 just for you!" "I don't have any money." "But you bought stock." "Piss off." "will you buy one?" "Forget it, pal..." "I don't even have a hankie to cry in!" "Here you go." "Take your money back." "I don't need any tissues." "Beat it." "The kid's right." "He's a businessman, not a beggar." "Isn't that so, Miss?" "No, man!" "Did you see this, man?" "OIympower?" "would you believe this..." "I sold for 570 yesterday and today it's trading at 5,000." "Can you explain it to me?" "Leave the man alone, Dimitris." "It's not his fault." "He sold 1800 shares yesterday, Miss..." "I told you not to sell, you jerk." "Here the priests are buying." "Think they don't know?" "It's a madhouse, Sir!" "It's slaughter!" "Isn't that you, man?" "Now will you buy one?" "I know they tell you you deserve better people... but when I become a shadow and seem to leave you..." "I can become one too..." "hello." "I'II wait." "She'II be here." "Don't love me for what I am... but for all the impossible things I couldn't become..." "Taxi!" "Marina Zea!" "Don't talk to me about all the things..." "Can you give me a ride to Zea, buddy?" "you say I don't give you... but of the things I think about when I close my eyes... and I can give you..." "Watch out!" "Don't love me for what I am..." "But for all the impossible things I couldn't become..." "Guys!" "Let's get out of here." "BeanpoIe!" "Take the Mercedes to be fixed, it veers right." "And take RouIa's car for reconditioning." "and fix the top and don't forget to take Mrs. ManoIas... to Epidaurus tomorrow." "They're putting on "The Oresteiade"." "Shut up, goddammit!" "You'II do as I say!" "Messing around with evzones!" "I want my car back." "Why did you take my car and the credit cards?" "Leave me alone!" "You make me sick!" "The way I see it, it will drop again." "Go and lie down, son." "The backing is phony... the way I see it, it'II collapse." "hello." "Where are you?" "Near you." "I think about you all the time too." "Where are you?" "On the yacht." "Where else?" "I mean where on the yacht." "Don't let's start that again." "I'm on the yacht too." "That's why I'm asking." "Where?" "Come to the dinghy." "You're always in my feet!" "I wish!" "Are you mad?" "Stark raving..." "Are you ready?" "What for?" "We're leaving." "Where to?" "Somewhere else." "Hang on, baby!" "help!" "Over here!" "epilogue" "Makis' uncle was destroyed because he ignored his nephew.." "and sold his stock before the hostile take-over... as his wife forced him to do and then left him." "There are vicious rumours that he ate her." "OIympower made a spectacular entry into the Frankfurt... stock market." "Rumor has it that ManoIas miraculously survived.." "the bomb attack and retired to Mount Athos." "RouIa!" "Get down!" "With Makis' OIympower profits and Spartacus' help... he and RouIa opened a music taverna on Havana's MaIecon... the "Nueva Shepherdess"... where they serve the now popular Red October cocktail!" "Something off the spit..." "The antiterrorist squad have indications that the mastermind of the organization was once a film critic and rumor has it... he is now moving in society circles and attends receptions given by the U.S. ambassador whose taste he values greatly." "subtitles VIDEOPRESS S.A. translated by elly Petrides"