"RELATIVES" " Hey, that's my tomato." " Don't fight." "Stop it!" "For the poor in Hungary, for poor Hungary." "Good morning, Your Excellency." "No welfare money left..." "For poor Hungary, for the poor in Hungary." "For poor Hungary..." "Good morning." "Good day, Mr Kopjass." "Missing it, Your Excellency?" " What?" " What!" "Dr Istvan Kopjass..." " Who's that?" " The one who always smiles?" " He's the most humble." " What's he so humble about?" "Imre, dear boy..." "Take a look at this Kopjass for me." "Thank you." " How do you do?" " Good day." "Well, got it?" "Yes..." "Kopjass." "Do you know him?" " I think he's a relative." " Mine too, I think." "Or we've suddenly become related!" "Come talk to Dad." "All right, Father?" "Ask me after the elections, Magdalena." "Mr Makroczy..." "The other candidate?" "Wagner and..." "Dr Kopjass." "Who is he?" " Nobody." " That's good." "Thank you." "M.P... my life's ambition, chaps." "M.P. all the way!" "You said M.P., Makroczy?" "What's that?" "M.P.!" "M.P., M.P..." " M.P.?" " M.P... you're in My Pocket." "May I take shots of His Excellency, the new attorney-general?" "I have such a heavy heart, no one knows it from the start," "How very much I love no one but you." "Just the gypsy, only he, plays his fiddle just for me," "Only he knows, only he..." " Bottoms up!" " Feri Boronkay!" "A lovely woman is mine to woo..." "Isn't he sick of that song?" "It's Magdalena's song, Uncle Andris." "Why sing it to her husband?" "Should he sing it to Uncle Kardics?" "Plays his fiddle just for me, only he knows, only he..." "You bastard!" "You drunk!" "You reek of wine." "I hate you." "I hate you." "What are we going to do?" "What's going to happen?" " Lock the door." " I have." "That idiot Makroczy blew it." "He said "M.P."" "What's that?" "It's on city property..." ""Municipal Property."" "But everyone knows it means you're in "My Pocket"." " What an idiot!" " Pretty much." "They turned on him in a split second." "They all crossed his name off, even the mayor, they say." "It's good that you led a quiet life at City Hall." "Yes, I distributed the dole." "How much did last night's farce cost?" " I tried to pay for the car..." " The car?" " I couldn't walk home." " No?" "You've done it before." "But as attorney-general, never!" "I had no money." "You devoured what I gave you?" "Devoured!" "Strange phrase." " I ate lamb stew." " Eating sheep!" "Yuk!" "Everyone had it." "I ordered champagne too." "Champagne?" "How much did that cost?" "They played "A lovely woman is mine to woo..."" "There were women?" "Whom did you serenade?" "Leave me alone." "What will they pay?" "It's not the pay." "I'm in charge." "I can do some good." "So nothing." "It must be something or they wouldn't all be after it." ""True merit always finds its reward." ""The city's honoured that merit and justice has triumphed with your election."" "Don't even look at that, dear." "Uncle Lajos has his finger on the pulse." " He certainly does." " But what could we give him?" "Do I have any clothes I no longer need?" "We could give him that old coat." "He's a skinny little man and I've outgrown it." "Give it to him." "Hello!" "Hello, my dear." "Pista, my wife says her mother's a Kopjass." "Did you know?" "Yes, Ferdinand Kopjass from Verebes." " Szidonia Kopjass?" " My mother-in-law." "She's my father's cousin." "So... we're in-laws." "You're invited to our place on Thursday." "Being a relative, don't you feel obliged to visit us?" "How can you live like that?" "Hey, do I have to discover we're relatives?" "Clan solidarity kept the nation together for a millennium." "Turn up or I'll come and get you!" "His nickname used to be Black Rogue." " Good morning, sir." " Good morning." "Glad to see you, sir." "The mayor asked several times if you'd turned up yet." "He told me to wait for you." "Please come with me." "His Honour is waiting." "A moment, Your Excellency." "I'm with the Daily..." "Mr Editor, the mayor is expecting His Excellency." "But this is very urgent." "The paper's published tomorrow, right?" "Not if this carries on..." "Freedom of the press!" " Attorney-General Kopjass." " Just a minute." "One moment." "Be patient, Pista." "Are they making me wait deliberately?" "If you go straight in, it means you belong." "Does he want me to resign?" "The mayor hunts with Makroczy." "At least everyone out there thinks I'm inside." "Ah!" "Come in, sit down." "How are you, my friend?" "Get enough sleep after the party?" "I heard you all had a great time." "Good." "You even sang, right?" "That's the way to do it when you're young." "Sit down, light up." "Light up." "I've been anxious to see you." "You could've come earlier." "A thousand apologies, sir." "I ran into Kardics, that's why I was late." " He's my in-law, sort of." " I didn't know that." "His wife's the daughter of Ferdinand Kopjass." "Ferdinand's my father's cousin." "That's excellent, sonny." "So... the media." "The public, sonny, must be kept informed." "Keep them thinking." "We tell them what we must, not a word more." "Right?" " I thought of sewerage." " That's good." "But the Opposition..." "We must consider how they'll respond." "Yes, sir." "Call me Uncle Bela..." "Uncle..." "Bela." "Uncle Bela." "Hmm, Kardics..." "I'm glad you're in-laws." "Excellent, sonny." "Well, then..." "The reorganisation of the Legal Department..." "They're very unpopular." "We've no choice but to replace one or two." "Your predecessor was entrenched in the system." "But you're a new broom." "Good phrase!" "New broom." "Very good, sir." "So..." "The minister has said if we get the American loan he'll only finance profitable ventures." "Here's the big question..." "These days, what's the most profitable investment?" " Perhaps pig farming?" " Pig farming!" "I hadn't even thought of that." "We'll consider it... in depth." "Sir, the tenant farmers live in abject poverty." "They can't afford to send their children to school." " Uncle Bela!" " Uncle Bela..." "It's a very dangerous issue." "It must be considered carefully." "So you can have your cake and eat it too." "Well said!" "Very good!" "We'll certainly keep the cake." "If we're not careful, some greedy mice will devour it all." "They're not the only ones who live here, we do too." "And there are more of us, sonny." "There's an important issue, Your Honour." "People must learn to like paying tax." "What?" "The problem in Hungary is that people hate paying tax." " Yes." " I do too." "Yes, yes." "But we won't become part of Europe till they like it." "There are two kinds of states." "In one, people won't pay." "They're oppressed, because enforcers and laws are needed to collect tax." "In the other, people like paying because they know what it's for." "These states have free and self-aware citizens." "My friend, let's not get carried away." "We've been there." "Kopjass!" " How do you do?" " Everyone's talking about you." " Did you know we're relatives?" " Yes." "Come, dear Magdalena." "Uncle Bela's waiting." "Sir, we've been waiting over an hour." "We wanted to see you as soon as you took office." "My friends, the farmers' leaders." "Please meet Mr Csordas and Mr Veres." "Your Excellency, at the moment we have no hostile intentions." "What brought us here was a sincere willingness because we've always found you to be helpful, supportive and understanding." "All we want is a word to give us strength, hope and faith." "The main thing is to have your cake and eat it too." "Today, the city won't tolerate old codgers at the helm." "These corrupt old criminals can't continue to rule." "If they do, it means bankruptcy." " Voila!" " Merci, Madame." " I've realised..." " Realised what, darling?" "I've realised I'm capable of being a gentleman." "Will the gentleman tell me what to wear to Kardics'?" " I've nothing." " I'll tell you." "Good morning." "Your obedient servant, sir." "The manager sent me." "The bank needs your signature regarding the pig farm." "I'm not yet familiar with it." "I'll discuss it with the mayor." "It's not urgent, sir." "I dared to disturb you for routine's sake." "Allow me to humbly note that Your Excellency's statement was truly magnificent." "Even the manager was taken by it." "Manager Kardics insisted that I win you over to become our client." "Me?" "The manager places great importance on you conducting your finances through our bank." "I don't do any banking." "That's impossible." "The manager regards it as crucial that the attorney-general becomes a client of the bank." "How does Uncle Kardics see this?" "Perhaps you need a small loan?" "I've always had enough income to go through life debt-free." "Sir would enjoy the highest level of consideration." "I'll discuss it with the manager." "You're very kind." "Thank you." "Thank you." "The first rort, sonny." "The first rort." " So... how did you sleep?" " Very well, sir." "Thank you for doing the editing for me." "It was fine." "Nothing negative in it, only..." "What, may I ask?" "My son, don't you know yet that "justice" is too sharp an expression?" "Everything's based on justice, but if the attorney-general stresses justice, not law, the Opposition could say "What's going on?" ""Could it be that his predecessors" ""were not on the side of justice?"" "People are very fickle." "If they like you, you can do what you want." "But if there's a derailment, in an instant they'll say" ""Hey!" "Isn't he the one for whom justice is so important?"" "That's why I'm unhappy you didn't do the editing." "I instructed the editor to get a copy to Your Honour." "He does that without special instructions." "And..." "I deleted certain impossible things from your text." "But I left one in on purpose." "I wanted to see if you noticed it." "I thank Your Honour for his goodwill." "What's up with the bank?" "Kardics rang me." "He needed your signature but you refused." "What's up?" "I said I'd discuss it with Your Honour first." "Sign it." "Understand?" "Wait..." "I hear you're a hunter." "I hunt rabbits on my father-in-law's estate." " He's in a foul mood today." " I didn't notice." "Congratulations, Pista." "You're a sensation." "The talk of the town is that you want people to pay tax in a country where everyone makes a living from tax fraud." "Scram." "Lina, you look gorgeous." "You'll dazzle everyone." "I'm late with lunch." "I'll dazzle everyone..." "The shoulder's too narrow." "It cuts into the armpit." "It's all a mess!" "Madam...it fits madam like a glove." "I'm not a mannequin." "I can't move!" "I can't lift my arm." "My back's exposed." "Madam has a lovely figure, many would envy it." "Don't hide it, show it off." "I don't want to show anything." "Clothes should allow freedom of movement." " It looks good." " The colour and fabric, maybe." "I picked those, but the rest is rubbish!" "Go and study." "Why can't I be myself?" "Leave me alone!" "Isn't it enough that everyone worships you?" "I won't change for the sake of your job." "A visitor." "Hello, children, Uncle Berci's here." "Well?" "Junior?" "I brought this for you." "It's my present." "Put it on your desk and wonder at it, because this will be our redeeming star." " What is it?" " Coal, dear boy, coal." "Big things are happening." "They haven't since the Kopjass clan fell on hard times." "And I..." "I've become a mine owner." " What kind of mine?" " Coal..." "Don't put it down!" "Nephew, don't put it down, it's our daily bread." "And something else..." "We've got a family corporation." "Excellent." "Congratulations." "I congratulate you..." "Attorney-General of Zsaratnok." "Know what that means?" "You're Zsaratnok's attorney-general." "Once you examine that coal and acquire an interest..." "Zsaratnok will do as buyer till something better turns up." "I'm sorry, Uncle Berci." "It's not up to me." "What do you mean?" "Who is it up to, if not you?" "You don't have to do a thing." "Go to the finance department and say..." " Just say, examine the coal." " No." "No, no..." "No." "Are you out of your mind?" "You have children, son." "You have to raise them." "And I'll give you 20% after each order... nett." "Oh... my little pigeon!" "Know who congratulated Pista first?" " Who?" " Uncle Lajos." " Who's that?" " Your brother, Uncle Berci." "I hope you didn't talk to him!" "He's a pest." "Give him a few cents and get rid of him." " What did he want?" " Clothes." "Clothes, clothes..." "You didn't give him any, did you?" "He's never asked for anything, not even in a letter." "Why would he, tell me honestly?" " Will you stay for lunch?" " If there's enough." "How kind!" "My God, she's a vision!" "Good evening." "Punctuality, a trait of kings." "Neither early nor late." " Hello." " Excuse me." "Dear wife, look who's here." " I hear we're related." " Not to me, to my husband." "Then to you too." "Or are you getting divorced?" "Good evening." "Magdalena, my dear." "Come over here opposite the attorney-general." "When did we last meet, dear?" "When we were 15." "That wasn't so long ago." " I hear you have twins." " Yes." " Boys?" " Boys." " How old are they?" " Ten." "You're the loveliest here." "You're gorgeous." "These newlyweds!" "Please excuse Pista, we're going to devour him." "There'll be plenty left for me." " Such as?" " His bad mood will stay mine." "He has that too?" "My, what a woman you have!" "Loveliest rose for the loveliest flower." "She's like a painting..." "Leonardo da Vinci." "Pista, there's a great villa on the row." "You must buy it..." "How many children have you got?" "Twin boys..." "Kalmuska and Bercike." "Great... one in opposition, one on our side." "They can swap any time." "Nobody will know who's who." "So... you must buy that villa." "It'll be well below market price." "Not enough below." "Now's the time to buy, dear relative, not only to suit your post but to avoid gossip, Pista." "If you buy in a year's time, they'll say you milked the system!" "If you buy now, you can say you used your inheritance." "Besides, our people only trust those who own something." "Don't look." "Uncle Kardics said a villa's for sale on the row well below market price." "Whose villa?" "I don't know." "I don't want that villain to have any hold on me." "I don't want any trouble." "Well, yes." "It's hard to accept, it's hard not to." "I've found no trace of any shady deals by my predecessor." "They're either very clever, or there are none." " How's work?" " I'm reading my sister's letter." "Go." "Bring the soup and call the boys." "Of course..." "Adelka." "How sad!" "She's responsible." "Everyone saw it coming." "Don't worry, dear." "Don't take it as fact." "She fantasises." " But they're starving." " It's feast or famine." "She criticised my food, yet I looked after her properly." "So I couldn't lend her money." "I wouldn't have in any case." "It's no use throwing it away." "Did you wash your hands?" "What's up?" "Mummy tore what I wrote out of my book." " What was it?" " His essay." " Here." "Read it to your father." " No." ""Many animals are kept in Hungary." ""But the most important is the pig." ""It eats everything, even slops." ""That's why it's so fat." "It stinks too." ""Hungary has many pigs." ""It's interesting that such a small country has so many pigs."" " What's up?" " Not in front of the children." "Julis..." "Post this money to my sister." "Thank you." "Go and study." "So you sent it." "A drop in the ocean." "If you finance all your relatives, I don't know where it'll end." "Will all the parasites live off you?" "What did you say?" "To you my family are parasites?" "How dare you talk to me like that?" "You lose your head over $50?" "Did it come from your estate?" "For 12 years" "I've lived off your father sending a basket of rotten apples?" "Rotten?" "Doesn't he pick the best ones?" "You berate my father who'd die for you?" "My relatives have never cost you a cent." "It may be rotten but they send it and you devour it!" "You've grown fat off it." "You're too big for your boots." "You come home as if you were a guest, throwing money around!" "You didn't have a cent last time we counted." "You either stole it from me or sucked it out of the city." "Steal from you?" "Do I steal back what I earn?" "Damn you!" "Damn the lot of you!" "I got this job by accident." "Did God arrange it for Lina's sake?" "Can't Adel Kopjass get anything from it?" "Lina's industrious, thrifty, a cook, a servant." "But I don't want a servant as my partner." "A parasite!" "Me!" "She's the one who sucks everything out of me." "She's a burden on my career." "She's stopped me making new friends." "If someone wants power, he needs allies." "But who are my allies?" "Do you still hate me?" "Go away." "Go away, leave me alone." "But Lina, my sister hasn't turned to me for 10 years." "Because I'm here." "But if I'm in the way, I'll go." "Then it's none of my business what you do." "You're a saint." "You protect our lives when everything's topsy-turvy." "I know it... and I'm grateful to you." "Then go inside because your relatives are waiting." "Jesus, which relatives?" "Just go in and enjoy yourself." "My dear mayor..." " You've become a real man!" " You haven't changed." "Time marches on." "I can't complain, they all love me." "Your poor brother Andris' family, they all cried when I left." "I couldn't stand all that sorrow." "What sorrow?" "Poor Andris, so poverty-stricken." " Andris has nothing?" " Nothing, barely enough to eat." "If you could do something, some job." "Such a farmer, such a Hungarian!" " Are his sons studying?" " To breathe?" "Nothing but." "If you could do something, God would bless you." "Even your sweet old mother passed away." "Her whole life was one of martyrdom." "Everyone's life is a life of martyrdom." "Zsuzsika's was certainly that." "Your father caused her grief with his expansive nature." "My father?" "Love, my son, is no shame." "It's a tragedy when it strikes." "I hope you didn't inherit his nature." "One woman wasn't enough for him." "The pig farm is a typically Hungarian matter." "Szentkalnay formed a company to raise capital." "He used the city and named Boronkay, his relative, as director." "They built huge headquarters and a villa for Boronkay from the "residue"." "Prior to the launch, the price of pigs went down and corn went up." "The whole thing collapsed." "So here we are today..." "falsified ledgers, manipulated accounts." "So, M.P..." "Pista, my friend..." "Uncle Bela wants you urgently." "Changes are afoot." "The minister will see you tomorrow at nine... personally." "First, ingratiate yourself." "You have a likeable face so it won't be hard." "Talk about practical matters..." "profits, lucrative investments." "Reinforce that we deserve the American loan." "But only if you want something too, like your pig farm." "And don't smile so much." " Understood, sir." " That's from Uncle Bela." "Uncle Bela, please sign this." " What is it?" " What you asked for." "No..." "No, no, no." "I have no secrets from our son Pista." "He can countersign it for us." "Keep it, Pista." "I'm giving it to you." "I cast my ballot for you with that pen." "Excuse me." "Hello, my dear Pista." "Are we suffering together for the nation?" "Sit down." "A good soldier can even sleep on an icy field." "We can sleep all the way to Budapest." "Pista!" "What are you doing here, sir?" "A meeting with the minister." "He's talking right now." "Pig farm?" "American loan?" "Everybody's after that money." "I've done all I could." " What's new in politics at home?" " Nothing." "... take up the fight if we don't wish our nation to wither away." " How many members are there?" " 244." "227 are absent." "These days, a member's job is with the constituency." "It's immaterial which way the House votes regarding the railway because international events shape our lives." "That's your minister." "... forced to moor our small boats either here or there, but in the end, the tugboat steers our country." "On horseback, honourable members, one can no longer get to Europe." "Nobody here knows anything." "Everyone's acting in a position." "Take the minister, it's his third seat." "Knowledge gets you nowhere." "Promotion's a reward for reliability." "Who's reliable?" "Those you control." "If the Opposition's in power, it's the same." "Many are even related." "When will things change?" "When everyone partakes of the horn of plenty." "When uncorrupted youth no longer just wants things." "Give me strength!" "Did you buy the house?" "He's leaving." "Sir, here's the new attorney-general for Zsaratnok." "What's your name?" " Dr Istvan Kopjass." " Oh, Kopjass." "All the best, son." "Make sure to keep the cake." "Just don't get skittish." " The American loan, sir?" " We'll keep tabs on it, sir." "Message received." "If only you'd come to Zsartanok as director of the museum." " I need allies." " Lina doesn't like our family." "She doesn't understand." "It's not her world." "Why?" "Is it yours?" "No, but we can't give in." "We must be there." "Who's "we"?" "My brother and I..." " Your brother's into museums?" " He's an expert." "Well!" "We should ask him to come here and take it over." "It was promised to Makroczy's brother-in-law." "Come now, Makroczy's in big trouble." "If this wins your goodwill, he won't cause a fuss." "The pig farm..." "It's a murky matter, Pista." "Besides, everything is a matter of appointment." "The mayor likes you." "He said he's very satisfied." " Really?" " You're a very nice boy." "I like it when you smile like that." " The bill, please." " What?" "You always pay?" "I left my wallet in my coat." "I'll be right back, Andris." "How do you do?" "Good evening, Kopjass." "Got the American loan?" "I hope so." "And Lina... how is she?" "Fine, thanks." "And you?" "Isn't the deputy waiting for you, Pista?" "You open the door yourself at this hour?" "That tramp takes forever." "Good evening." "Bring the dinner but don't break anything." "I've been with my friend, the minister." "Why didn't you catch the noon train?" "I didn't see the minister until six." " Uncle Andris caught my train." " Uncle Andris?" " The deputy." " Oh." "Not a relative." " Who else was with you?" " Nobody." "Pista, are you hungry?" "Can I get you something?" "Go back to bed." "Don't bother yourself." "Tomorrow I'll make what his mother used to so the poor boy eats well for a change." "Was the American loan discussed?" " I mentioned it." " That's the way!" "You're a smart boy, very smart." "Tell me, how's the old boy?" "Still fat?" "No." "In fact, Vadassy said he wears a girdle." "You're not serious!" "The minister wears a girdle!" " How's Andris?" " He's well." "Hello, get me the Deputy Lieutenant." "Hello, Andris." "How was your trip with Pista?" "Really?" "He's a nice boy, I told you." "Of course, but wait." "Listen to this." "What do you say to our Bandi wearing a girdle?" "Pretty big news, eh?" "All right, goodbye, old chap." "Hello." "Hello, hello." " I hear you're alone." " Hello." "You're welcome." "Hey, what would you say if I said Bandi wears a girdle?" "Does that woman squeeze him into it?" "The minister, Pista, is having an affair with a singer." "Bandi would never wear a girdle for his wife's sake." "I'll take Pista to the villa row, maybe he'll like the house." "Magdalena came home." "Er..." "I haven't told my wife." "I planned to go with her." "Women needn't know everything." "I never ask my wife's advice." "I just surprise her." " The heating must be exorbitant!" " Pista!" "Come in, Soma." "My father." "Attorney-General Kopjass." "His wife's a Szentkalnay." "A relative?" "Good." " Szentkalnay." " Kopjass." "He owns the pig farm." "That's not like you." "It's too strict-looking." "You don't know me yet." "We started this album when we moved in." "Take a look." "Everyone who's been here is in it." "It will give you pleasure." "Want to see the garden?" "Don't catch cold, my dear." "Upstairs is the smoking room and my husband's room." "We'll draw up an interim contract." " I'd like to see it with my wife." " You will." "Come to the bank some time and we'll fix the rest." "Keep the pen." "It brings good luck." "I've signed big deals with it." " M.P." " M.P." "M.P." " Cheers." " Cheers." " Thank you." " Goodbye, dear friend." "Let's go." "I'm standing here like a butler!" "Hello, dear." "You spend all your time in this rotten kitchen?" "These servants are terrible." "That tramp can't even fix afternoon tea." "You can train a horse quicker than that animal." "Come here, dear." "Lina, why talk like that?" "Grandpa said you only humiliate others if you've never been a POW." "But everyone can be at some stage." "Can't you take two steps without turning on the light?" "Now we have a house where you can welcome people back." "I bought the Boronkay villa." "Really?" "You bought it?" "For the price of a public servant's place." "I signed an interim contract but I said I'd only sign a final one with my wife." "Show me." " What?" " The contract." " It's only interim." " Doesn't matter." "I don't have it." "You don't have your contract?" "Where is it?" "Kardics kept it till we sign it tomorrow." "Then you don't have one." "No." "Something's wrong." "What?" "They want to sell us a house for almost nothing." " I could sell it for double." " Try." "The buxus are as big as the ones in the park." "Really..." "A big terrace, separate rooms for us all." "And heating costs?" "Makroczy got as much wood as he wanted." "Public servants' pay is paltry." "The city makes up for it with benefits." "We deserve it." "The thing is whether us two, you and me, are able to rise above this." "If we stick to these petty-bourgeois ethics, we fail." "Did they reimburse you for your trip?" "Or do I pay that too?" "I promised the mayor I'd drop in at the casino." "So now you'll play cards too?" "Of course!" "Why not?" "I live only for my family." "I don't deserve mockery or hostility." "Don't you have dreams?" "Didn't you ever have any?" "Ah, the attorney-general." "Gentlemen, good night." "How's the American loan?" "There's still a way to go." "So it's frozen." "Only for lucrative investments." "Right." "Sewerage isn't lucrative." "School renovation isn't lucrative." "It's just the rorts." "I hear the pig farm is getting nice and fat." "Very few come here these days." "Whose is the world when the city feeds 50,000 to 60,000 people daily, villages are full of unemployed, funds are scared they can't make a profit?" "Then it's degeneration, it's the Balkans." ""For me, everything in the world..."" "Well, children..." "Daddy bought a house." " A what?" " A huge house." "Goody!" "Wake up!" "Daddy bought a house." " Can I come too?" " Of course." " What's going on?" " Daddy bought a house." "Go back to bed." "Go outside." "No jumping." "I don't knowhow Kardics conceives this." "Eventually we must pay something, although it's bank property because of what's still owing." " Say something." " I'm not an expert in this." "But think hard because I won't take any responsibility." "I don't want it all to fall back on me." "What would fall back on you?" "Look, Pista, I've worked hard on your wages to maintain a gentleman's household, raise two children and keep myself groomed so I won't shame you." "Is it possible to just remove one's old skin and put on a new one?" "Are we suddenly rich upstarts?" "Will I go and struggle in the Boronkay villa?" "See, that too... your smoking." "You were a clean living man." "You didn't smoke cigarettes at home, let alone cigars." "I was proud of that." "My husband didn't turn his home into a casino." "People who came here were like us." "The ones you're tied to now won't visit here." "But they will when we're at that castle we took off Boronkay." "There, one can party." "Tell me, Pista, can you afford it on your salary?" "No... but you can afford it from something." "I'll tell you how you can afford it." "They same way they do." "These gentlemen live off cash that's not accounted for." "Our electrician told me he put in a bid for a job." "He gets one amount and signs a receipt for a lot more." "Will you be sharing in that kind of money?" "You're very... rigorous today." "Pista, you can't take your family, one day to the next, from a respectable, modest life into a respectable rich world." "There is respectable wealth, but something must back it up." "Tell me, Pista, what backs you up?" "Your poor relatives who you want to drag with you?" "I can only give them hand-outs." "Yes, and that hurts you." "Can one keep only advantageous relatives and discard the inferior ones?" " The buildings?" " Excellent." "The deficit was huge." "Management was slack." "We could call it criminal, if we wanted to." "People must be made accountable." "Accountable?" "It's up to the attorney-general how he views the matter." "Your brother Berci wired us." "The first two sample wagons are on their way from the mine." " Which wagons?" " The coal." "That coal must be thoroughly inspected." "I'm not taking any responsibility." "If you won't, sir, I won't accept delivery." "The contract's not signed yet." " Why is he sending it, then?" " To confirm it." "No reason to worry... we hope." "Let's hope so, sir." "I hear you visited the pig farm." "It's a goldmine." "It just needs some vision." "No scheme succeeds without romance." "There was too much romance." "It's a sure thing, but it will become even surer." "The city with its giant estate is running at a loss." "It reserves 32,000 hectares for grazing." "Plant corn!" "Next year, there'll be enough corn to feed 10,000 pigs." "Contract the farmers for 100 pigs, 300..." "The people and the city will make a pile." "We can get it all for a song." "Here..." "Here's your villa." "Sign it, dear relative." "Nobody's ever made a better deal in this town." "Know who I'd like to be?" "Kopjass." " Am I square with all of you?" " Of course, my dear." "It seems 10% of the sum is liquid." "Uncle Kardics takes care of everything." "We'll open an account, transfer the amount to you and the payments will be made from that." "The liquid portion is at your disposal." "Right." "In that case... tomorrow morning we'll take care of formalities." "Good day." "For Hungary's poor." "For poor Hungary." "For the poor in Hungary." "For poor Hungary." " God bless you." " Yes." "For the poor in Hungary..." "Good evening." "You're lucky you're late." "What will you do with the pig farm?" "What can one do with it?" "Do with it?" "We must teach those swindlers a lesson." "If a gypsy kid steals a chicken, they catch him." "These gentlemen steal half the country." "I have all the complaints in my legal office... workers' statements, all prepared." "I don't want to file the complaint, that's your job." "But if you do this, you'll be the most popular man in town." "You'll get the pig farm for the city." "But stay away from Kardics." "He wants to get his paws on it." " I hear you had dinner there." " He's a relative." "I haven't said a word." " I can't help that." " Of course, of course." "Ferdinand Kopjass was my grandfather's brother." "Interesting." "What about your wife?" " Szentkalnay." " You see!" " What?" " Nothing." "I find these coincidences strange." "That's Hungary..." "small country, lots of relatives." "If we really looked, we may find we're related." "If we had mutual interests." " Your mother's name?" " Malatinszky." "Malatinszky?" "Grandma was a Malatinszky from Podolin." "That's absurd!" "See, it's not easy to get away from each other." "That's fantastic!" "My mother's from Podolin." "It'll turn out that, being a relative," "I should buy the Boronkay villa and co-opt my public activities!" "Dear relative, couldn't you put in a good word for me?" "Sorry, the contract has been signed." "Who bought it?" "I did." "For how much?" " Well under market price." " Hell, I always miss out!" "You wouldn't have signed if I'd warned you..." "I didn't know its origins." "Dear relative..." "There's not a brick that's not stolen." "I have the files." "Sir, I have a right to do haulage in the forest." "But... only those with connections get the jobs." " What's your name?" " Vendel Pap." "Come to my office." "I'll look into it." "Have a good evening." "I haven't paid you!" "Just like the rest." "He didn't pay." "Dear God, please take care of my family," "Bercike, Kalmuska, Lina... my brothers Menyhert and Berci," "Adelka... and Magdalena." "It's terrible how busy you are." "Don't let them drive you so hard." "Why are you here?" "I mean..." "I'm looking at these bids." "May I have the bridge plans for a few hours?" "You'll get them when the bids close." "I'm going to be busy over the next few days." "I like getting ahead." "It's completely irregular." "You don't think I have some interest in seeing the bids before the tenders close!" "Peterfi, come here for a minute." "Is it customary to wander in and out?" "For some." " He sat at my desk." " Yes, he did." "Pista, report!" "Pista, Pista, you're naive, very naive." "The good Dr Martiny is not with us, he's against us." "You understand?" "Right, no problem." "The Opposition opposes." "With no Opposition, who'll believe us that voters control everything?" "That's how it is." "How are you friends with Martiny?" " He's a relative." " Relative?" "Yes." "These relatives, sonny, only bring you trouble." "These devilish, upstart relations are no good for anything." "And being your relative... fatal!" "Should I tell you what they do?" "Stick their noses in here, dig there, try it on... they want to soil everything, everything we do." "They want to spit on our successes." "Who needs relatives like that?" "To hell with relatives!" "I can't help it." "Relatives!" "And he's pathetic." "Anyone else with that kind of opposition would earn a fortune, sonny." "He doesn't even have any clients, think of that." "All that chap does is play cards, nothing else." "He's even bad at that." "He can't even play cards." "He loses every night." "That's your relative." "That's it." "Tell me, Peterfi, where are you from?" "I'm from Transylvania, sir." "A Transylvanian refugee." "Your wife?" "Her too." "So you have no relatives here?" "Unfortunately not." "Come with me." "Peterfi, what's going on with the pig farm?" "Let's move." "It began with the construction." "Holub  Partners' invoices came to a small fortune." " How were they pay paid?" " Bonds." "They wasted so much, they owed a million in two years." " Who was on the board?" " The chairman was Szentkalnay." "Members were Kardics, Boronkay, Makroczy, and the mayor's son-in-law, but they never went to board meetings." "Why are the books kept at city hall?" "The city was to launder the pig farm so they handed over the books." "They can't audit them because the invoices aren't here." "In case of an audit, the accountant fiddles the result." "Public money goes here, city money there, and the accounting's done." " Where are the invoices?" " Most are here." "The manager, please." "I'm Dr..." "I'm sorry, sir, he had to leave." "Who is his deputy?" "I must talk to him." " Is there a message for me?" " No, sir." " Nothing?" " Nothing." "Impossible." "He expected me." "He said nothing to me." " Is he coming back?" " No, he said he wasn't." "He's not coming back and he left no message?" "No, I'm sorry, sir." "Someone must go to the Land Registry and copy Szentkalnay's mortgage." "It shows the bank's interest in the pig farm." "I'll go." "I'm faster." "Fine, but copy Boronkay's and Makroczy's as well." "Yes..." "What's wrong?" "Sir, the mayor keeps the important files, everyone's." "Who's everyone?" "Didn't you have to write about your colleagues, sir?" "Of course." "That's natural." "So when did the pig farm first break the law?" " Any invoices still there?" " They have a safe." " Where's the chief engineer?" " Not here, sir." "I didn't ask where he wasn't." "I don't know, he took his coat." "I think he left." "Really?" "I gave him the bridge tenders to work on." "That's what we're doing, sir." " Where are the plans?" " This way, sir." " What is this?" "Who are you?" " Elias Safar." " An engineer?" " Yes." "Who employs you?" " I asked who employs you?" " Holub  Partners." " Did you build the pig" " Me?" "How dare you look at these bids?" "Everything stays here." "Get out!" "Fine." "Pack all this up and bring it to me." "Excuse me, sir, things are getting clearer." "Szentkalnay's debt tripled since the pig farm was set up." "How could Kardics approve these new loans?" "If we add them to the debt on the pig farm, the Szentkalnay estate has had it." "Come in." "I'm sorry..." "Come in." "Attorney-General, sir, last night..." "Yes, yes." "You forgot to say how much was on the meter." " It's not important." " Are you trying to bribe me?" "Not important?" "Here." "Give me my change." "You think a tax-paying public servant has no morals?" "Are you all living off rorts?" "Your case will be reviewed." "If it's a just claim, you'll get it." "But I'm sick of everyone trying to get special privileges." "If that doesn't work, you try bribes?" " Sir..." " Shut up!" "How dare you?" " Did you put your bid in?" " Yes." "The number?" "You'll get the result after the review." "Goodbye." "Peterfi..." "I want the original invoices for the pig farm by tonight." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Thank you." "What's this coal issue?" "Can you imagine the coal his uncle's going to send?" "What do you mean, "going to"?" "It's already here." "I didn't know, sir." "This is the report, isn't it?" " May I use the phone?" " Go ahead." "Hello, it's Bisztriczay." "Is the coal here?" "That's excellent." "So he sent prime grade Tarjan coal." "Fine, old man." "Don't open it." "Leave the lock on it." "Sir, we've never caught a fox so easily." "These relatives are horrid." "They're awful." "No good will come of it, I told him." "I abhor relatives." "Why are you sitting down?" "Go and do your work." "Oh, I really don't like these characters." "I don't either." "Imre!" "Dear boy, get me the attorney-general." "Now this boy I like very much." "We know." "Do you remember his mother?" "What a charming woman she was." "What a captivating lass." "She had such long, lovely legs." "You..." "Don Juan!" "I hear you were with the lovely lady again today." "Share the favours." "If we're not careful, Pista could be trouble even with no contract." "But he's broke anyway." "We must have a ministerial review." "A what?" "We'll pre-empt our buddy." "Hello, my boy." "Come on in." "Hello." "Sit down." "As I said, that wretched Bisztriczay is an idiot." "Have nothing to do with him." "Holub told me a month ago he has no intention of bidding for the bridge." "He's losing on the pig farm." " Bisztriczay's just ranting." " He's over-zealous." "Sir, one of Holub's employees was copying..." "Pista..." "Pista, you believe that?" "What can we do?" "We must work with people like that." "Tell me, did you get the invitation for Sunday yet?" " Where to, sir?" " To Boronkay's." "No." "You see?" "My son, what kind of people these relatives of yours are!" "They're having a farewell party on Sunday night." "They'll probably give you the invitation in person." "Feri said they were going to Pista's." "By the way..." "Sorry I wasn't in." " You came to the bank?" " Yes." " I wasn't there?" " No." "It's better this way." "Your wife can see the house." "It's not big or small, it's just business." "And it must be heated." "I could heat all those offices and the corridors." "Why don't you believe me?" "You don't have enough coal." "Berci!" "Who's this scarecrow?" "Berci, you recognised me." "You're still alive?" "What for?" "You haven't changed." "How is that possible?" "Pista, I've know this woman for 125 years." "She was as ugly then as she is now." "Go on, give me a kiss." "You still smell the same." "You smell of peppermints." "Your smell the same too, too big for your boots." "Where do you live?" "Here, with my sweet little brother." "He has such a charming little wife." "She'll soon toss you out." "She's a smart woman." "Pista, have you got any strong brandy to rinse off Auntie Kati's smell?" "Pistuka..." "I need a bit of money." " I don't have a cent." " I still need some." "I'm in dire straits." "I spent all my money on the coal sample." "I can't go out without any money." "Especially as you'll get 20% commission as soon as the city pays up." "I'm against commission on principle." " Ever had commission?" " What do you mean?" "The valuable man is the one who brings the order, the one who makes money out of mud." "Everyone can mine." "But to sell..." "the first thing is to pay the commission." "Why did I bring you the first cut?" "You're my relative." "Why did I get the first order?" "You're my relative." "No." "For me, it's important to supply the city with good coal." "I know you'll ship good coal because you're my uncle and you don't want me to get into trouble." "As for the commission, I wouldn't keep it myself." "I need it to help struggling family members." "Sweetie, I just want to say don't let Kati stay here." "She gossips constantly." "That's what she said about you." "Really?" "You should only keep relatives who can profit you." "What profit do we get out of you?" "We'll see." "I'm just glad that I could bring the 20%." " What 20%?" " Uncle Berci's joking." "I'm joking, of course." " What was that about?" " Nothing." "Doing some business with me..." "As if." "Promise you won't do anything behind my back." "How shall we handle this visit to your cousin?" "I don't know, Pista." "I'm very frightened." "Magdalena, you can be proud." "It's an excellent evening." "I'm glad, Auntie." "Excuse me for a moment..." "Pista, great news." "A ministerial trustee has arrived to examine the pig farm's invoices tomorrow." "Be prepared." "The mayor's sure to ask for you." " That's good news." " My God, you look happy." " Why aren't you?" " Why should I be?" "Because my husband's parading around showing off his stained shirt?" "You shouldn't have dribbled." " I can't wear it twice." " If you're not careful." "Do you like the house, little sister?" "For us it's too high, too wide, too big." "True, they over-extended themselves." "Brother, a word." "Pardon me." " Your wife doesn't like it." " She does." "We can sign the contract now, if you like." "If Bela calls, I must run." "He sent me." "He wants us to fix things first." "Really?" "Fine." " So the review's tomorrow?" " It will take 15 minutes." "There's a problem with the invoices." "The receipts itemise what went on the farm and what on the villa." "Where are the invoices?" "The accounting is smarter." "You can't see where the money went." "What are you trying to say?" "I hear your brother's here." "Did he get the museum job?" "I don't know." " Should I talk to Uncle Bela?" " No need." "And Uncle Berci's coal?" "I think we should buy the mine, not the coal." "The city would do better." "What if he'd offer to stay on as manager of the mine?" "That's open to negotiation." "Where did you say the invoices were?" "I have them... at home." "Pardon... excuse me." "Stay here." "I must drop in on the old man." "Well, sonny, is there a way out of this mess, this pig farm?" "I don't know." "We'll lose on it for sure." " How much, do you think?" " A lot, but not everything." "I worked my whole life and to lose everything..." "Where's my life's profit?" " Why do I deserve that fate?" " You won't lose everything." "Everything!" "That's crap." "Nothing, my boy, nothing!" " Need anything, Daddy?" " No." "Leave me alone!" "Remember the ball when you wore a green dress?" "You were as thin as a ray of light." " I had a green dress?" " Yes, at that ball." " Did we dance?" " No." " Why?" " Duty." " Then how did you get in there?" " Officially." "Was I a young wife then?" "Yes." "I wasn't an old husband either." "If I really think about it, I can remember you." "They say you speak 9 languages." "I forget them all right now." " I'm glad you're buying it." " It's not certain." " Come now." " How could we?" "It's like a dream, but not mine." "How can I live someone else's?" "It's no use torturing yourself." "You just tell yourself this is life and you believe it, no?" "Yes, certainly." " Istvan likes to daydream." " Me too." "You don't?" "I don't have time." "You poor thing!" "No need to pity me." "Come, I'll show you the house." "I put it all together." "All is well, Pista." "The mayor said give Pista everything." "How do you envisage settling the pig farm?" "So the old shareholders lose too." "How much?" "What does Martiny think?" "It's not him, it's me." "A three-way partnership will buy most shares, then make an offer to the city." "Ingenious!" "Will they sell the shares?" "What can they do?" "They can't get a new loan." "Great!" "The golden egg." "Have you got the money?" " I will have." " Excuse me, I'll be right back." "You're going to see the mayor." "The layout of this house..." "it's all to show off." "They don't love each other." "The bedrooms are apart." " Everyone's rapt with it." " I'm not one of them." "You forget that you married Lina Szentkalnay, not Magdalena Szentkalnay." "Nothing will ever be good enough again because you've had a taste." "An accident has pushed you out of place." "You're racing people who've done this for 500 years." "I'll lead." "How dare you do that?" "Can you keep up with them?" "You act like an insulted queen." "That's what I am." "They only have one soul... money." "And you have to compete." "You can't travel on foot." "It has to be by car, the biggest." " Magdalena!" " Don't insult her." "Why not?" "The money from the farm went on her stuff." "Once you spoil a woman, no money can ever satisfy her!" "Buy the house, and a car, and a chauffeur, and buy him a fur coat." "You think I can't spend more?" "Have a cheque book and money in the bank." "From where?" "From what?" "You want to join thieves?" "Don't let them devour you." "Why torture me, Lina?" "I'm fighting to stop corruption." "Those villains are trying to figure out what to do." "I didn't buy the villa." "It was blood money." "Pista, darling, don't drink." "Don't do it." "I won't let you..." "One minute they're kissing, the next, clawing." " May I see the mayor?" " He's playing cards." " He sent for me." " In that case, yes." "Dance with me?" "Attorney-General!" "Nice to see you." " You're back?" " For the big farewell." "Goodbye, Zsaratnok." "Enjoy yourselves." "I like today's youth." "You're the youngest here, Bela." "Come now!" "I'm getting old." "I'm getting old and looking for someone to replace me." "Who will take our place?" "They're a different kind." "They're completely different, even their patriotism." "Though people do need beautiful ideals." "The Italians have so many national holidays, there's one every week." "Italians provide shoes for poor children." "What do you mean by that?" "Our founding father Arpad would have done better to ride on to Italy where there's no heating problem." "You don't love this country." "Who said "old shoes let the snow in even if the laces are patriotic colours"?" "Don't hurt my Pista." "He's a good man." "He wants the best for the city." "You sent for me, sir." "I must talk to you." "Wait for me, please." "Are you going to Pest too?" "No need to rush anything." "You show me your house and leave me?" "Isn't it strange to remember a green dress after 7 years?" "I've lived with your cousin for 15 years... and for you, I'd be willing to ruin everything." "Are you buying the house, Kopjass?" "The mayor and Kardics would like me to." "Neither Kardics nor the mayor are selling it." "I'd like it very much if you were to buy it." "I'd feel happier that... that... nice people would be enjoying my great work." " Seen the new Chaplin film?" " I don't like films." "Not even Chaplin?" " Him, yes." " Funny, isn't it?" "Yes, very funny." "Excuse me." "Pista, shall we go home?" "You're not leaving?" "Uncle Bela said to make sure you don't leave till we've cleared things up." "Who could that be?" "It's morning." "They must be cleaning." "You're the most important thing to me." "Sir, someone was here last night." "Everything's been turned upside down." "They went through the books." "They left their notes." "They did the audit last night." " Where are the invoices?" " At my place." "I wanted to study them for the indictment." "That's why they wouldn't let me leave." "I had to wait for Keek to return." "You saved Boronkay by doing that." "The report to the minister will be favourable." "Clever!" " Whose is this gun?" " Attorney-General Makroczy's." "I'll report it to the mayor at once." "Clever." "Pisti, think of me." "Buy the coal from your Uncle Berci." "Only if the city needs it, of course." "It's no problem." "Your predecessor did the same." "The city has a new prosecutor, and his relatives come with him." "I understand relatives must make a living." "But there are non-relatives and they must make a living too." "No matter how many relatives, there are many more who aren't." "What needs to happen for you to understand this?" "Why does poor Holub have to go bankrupt?" "Because he's not a relative?" "Your Honour, I don't want his firm to go bankrupt." "But to get out of bankruptcy, he can't send a man to copy calculations so he can submit a lower tender." " We must find a way..." " You know the solution?" "You'll buy the pig farm, am I right?" "It's very simple." "Buy it the way you bought the villa." "But my dear friend, you've got two wagons of Uncle Berci's Tarjan coal at the train station!" " It's here?" " Yes." "And the shipping labels are still on the wagons." "Relatives again." "Relatives!" "Those rotten relatives again!" "Sir, they broke into my office." "They searched my safe and..." "Enough!" "They broke in and searched?" "There was an audit at my personal request!" " But I have the keys." " Duplicates." "I have the originals." "That safe, Honourable Attorney-General, belongs to me." "It was put in your office on my instruction." "There was no mention of that." "There was no mention of Uncle Berci shipping Tarjan coal from his inferior peat mine." "You were brilliant!" "You were brilliant." "You were superb, my dear." "I think when that man returns tomorrow, my friend, he'll be a very useful, proper fellow." "Over the course of my long public service career," "I've hardly ever seen a man who learns so quickly and so well." "That partnership is a truly ingenious idea." "And that, naturally, can't be done without him, only with him." " What?" "When?" " What's going on?" "Uncle Bela, I just got a call." "The attorney-general shot himself." " Shot himself?" "Why?" " Why?" "I don't know, I don't know." " Did he die?" " He's dying." "Why are you standing there?" "Where are you going?" "You're not going there?" "Send money to the widow at once..." "to his wife." "Money..." "I need money." "At times like this, what's needed is money." "What's needed is money." "This shouldn't have happened." "They tricked you." "Why did you let them?" "What's going on here?" "This shouldn't have happened." "You have to live!"