"TANGO ARGENTINO" "The real thing'd be a popcorn machine, Dad." "Just a couple in the right places." "The race-course'd be best." "We set 'em up and watch the money roll in." "Want to see the statistics?" "I've got it all on paper." "What're these strokes?" "They're people eating popcorn." "What's this "159"?" "159 people on the east stand." "Some on the west stand." "That's enough!" "Sis's out of the hospital just for that day" "And all you do is yak." "Are you too warm?" "Like a juice?" "My head aches." "And no wonder." "Look where he's brought us!" "We're here!" "Close your eyes!" "Surprise, surprise!" "When I say "now", Open your eyes." "Are they closed?" "Don't open them yet!" "Sis, take off your sweater." "Keep them closed!" "Nikola, take this." "How can I walk with my eyes closed, idiot?" "The house'll be right here." "The living-room here, a view this way and that." "This is where the bathroom'll be." "This'll be your." "No!" "The bathroom'll be here, and your room here." "That's a promise from your Daddy." "My head aches." "You'll have no more headaches." "Hope I live that long." "No more living in one room." "No more bunk beds, queuing for the loo, listening to us fighting." "We're putting an end to all that." "My head aches." "Drinks all round." "This is all for you." "The house too - for your birthday." "Come on, drink up." "I can drink by myself." "She'll drink it by herself." "When do we start building?" "When?" "You know when." "When we have the money." "Now there's no more communism, a man can work and earn." "Communism bothered you?" "Sure that's why I have three jobs, and I'll have four to make the house by winter." "Anyway, let's buy a couple of those machines." "You know, for popcorn." "Give me that." "Take the cups!" "Now, how about that!" "Did you sleep well, Senor Julio?" "Good morning." "Good morning, Mr. Julio." "You didn't eat your supper." "I didn't feel like it." "Take a look in the mirror, you look awful skin and bone!" "I pay you to tidy up and run a few errands, but if you're going to start preaching you can just take your walking papers!" "I'll get your breakfast." "Did he pay up?" "Tomorrow - he's in a bad mood." "Well, that's too bad." "He owes us for last month." "You and Dad heaven't a clue about money or people." "Don't you lecture me." "I'm still your mother." "Is that clear?" "Quite!" "I bought some fresh eggs." "What are you gawking at?" "I know why you're doing it." "You used to be a singer." "Not used to be, I'm still am." "Aask anyone who Julio Popovitch is," "King of the Argentinian tango." "No one's forgotten me." "That's as maybe, but you've forgotten something." "Like what?" "What?" "Pay day." "You owe us for last month." "I do?" "All right." "Mrs. Bakitch?" "Who is it?" "It's me - I came instead of Mummy." "Oh, it's you, Nikola?" "Sorry, I didn't recognize you." "Come in!" "You put a chain on the door?" "There's been a prowler round again." "Hi there, Mr. Dorian." "You've been smoking." " No, I heaven't." "What's this, then?" " A couple of puffs." "Any mail from my son?" "Not today, but there will be, don't worry." "That's what you always say." "My son's forgotten me." "No way!" "I bought some sausages for breakfast." "I've had mine - give them to Mr. Dorian." "While they're cooking, read me the paper." "What'll we read?" " Why, the obituaries!" "But slowly, please." "Read the names twice, gives me time to remember." "Wait 'till I get comfy." "Right now!" "Miliana Pembashitch - 59." "Militsa Yovanovitch - 60." "Yasna Jokitch - 49." "All woman?" "But we only ever read the women." "And all younger than me." "Don't buy that paper any more." "I don't know any of the deceased." "How come no one I know ever dies?" "The sausages are ready." "Today's the first." "Remind you anything?" "Pay day." "Here, it's ready!" "Two hundred dinars." "Plus 25, for the inflation rate." "There you are." "You might give us a tip, too." "It's you!" "Hi, boss." "From the top, let's go." "And one, two." "Come in and we'll see about it." "Good afternoon." "The name's Savitch." "Sit down." "It's his mother who wants the job." "He just come to find out the details." "You just go ahead." "I'll take it all down." "She's a distant cousin of mine." "Why are you recording it?" " For the records, so there are no problems afterwards." "Everything above board." "Nana is my distant cousin, she has two sons and three daughters." "But as things turned out." "They have no time." "They've got very important jobs and they're very busy." "We need someone to run errands and to spend half-an-hour with her." "Mornings." " ." "And evenings." "We'd pay very well." "A hundred dinars an hour." "I think that's all right." "It's decent rate." "Consider it a deal." "When do we start?" " As soon as possible!" "You can get references from Mr. Popovitch and Mrs. Bakitch." "Here's a photocopy of my mother's I.D." "You can compare with the original." "A real businessman." "Sure advance payment." " What do you mean?" "Just a guarantee!" "Call me in any case." "Thanks very much again." "Guess what?" " What?" "I've got you another job, with a Mrs Emily Lakichevich, a.k.a. Nana." "It's your vaccation now and you can help me." "But how about next fall?" "Could we manage three places twice a day?" "No, three is too much." " We'll have a go." "Besides, a friend of mine called about a job." "If I get, we have to give them all notice." "Is that clear?" " Sure it is." "But until then it's full steam ahaed." "Idiot!" "What a time to get the 'flu!" "Let's go without him." "Ho's going to sing?" "You?" "Me?" "Dad, you said it was an old folks' wedding, that the groom was 60?" "So what?" "Could we do something old-fashioned?" "Like tangos and walzes?" "Your son will save your neck." " How do you mean?" "I've got just the man for you." "Julio Popovitch?" "What songs do you know?" "When did you give up singing?" "You never give it up." "You just can't stop if you're a real singer of Argentinian melodies." "When was your last performance?" "In Victorian times!" "Listen to him first and hold the wisecracks!" "Senor Julio show them what you can do!" "I still remember that sumer night" "Golden moonlight and midnight" "That tear still shines in my eye" "As that night when I lost you." "We danced" "The tango Argentino." "We didn't count" "The years nor the hours." "Tango Argentino " "Tango of love." "Life leaves us, like wine, alone." "I still imagine that I'm dreaming" "In your arms, on your white shoulders" "And I'm with you again like before." "With you - body and soul!" "And I'm with you again, like before." "With you - body and soul!" "Stop, stop the music, stop!" "What's all this tango business?" "Are you trying to make out I'm past it?" "Everything's OK, boss." "We'll do a fast number, something a bit livelier." "There's Muharem the real singer." "Senor Julio was only the." "Er." " The guest star of the evening!" "He was the star of the evening." "I have a surprise for you." "There's a lady here interested in you." "Went to the doctor for a shot of antibiotics." "Senor Julio!" "Excuse me, have we met?" "Mar swl Plata, Buenos Aires?" "Mataruga spa!" "You slept at my place for three weeks, when they threw you out of the band." "And you left so suddenly." "We can discuss this later." "That's more like it!" "Sixty-two years and never been wed!" "I'm going to make up for lost time!" "And I still have that blackberry preserve." "I can't say no to that!" "Dad!" "Drunken slut made a pass at me." "Should be ashamed of yourself!" "What do you take me for?" "Disgraceful!" "We've got to get home early tonight." "It's the wedding anniversary." "Who?" " Yours and Mummy's!" "Yes, I remember." "Did you get her a present?" "I'll give her cash." "Drop Mr. Popovitch and go straight home so Mum isn't alone." "I've got to drop the band off first." "I'm not for the scrap heap yet!" " You bet!" "The man of iron!" "Voyislav Julio Popovitch once more - lop of his form!" "Open that top drawer." "You'll see a cigar box." "Did you find it?" "There are a few left from 1946." "Give me one." "Got a light?" "Life is good." "Know what they used to call me?" "The man of iron." "I know, you just told me." "Let's wait for him just a bit longer, Mum." "Ladies' choice." "You should've left that broad alone." "It's a wonder you're still alive." "She told me she was divorced." "Bitch!" "She is divorced, but she has a brother who's nuts." "Two." "How do I look?" "Great!" "My God, just look at me!" "What do you mean, great?" "All this steak on my face?" "I'll be late home!" "Give me the cake and the flowers!" "You can be forgiven if you play it off as a joke." "Tell Mum "Mickey, you're a hero!"" ""You've lived fifteen years with me."" "But this is your great day!" "Mickey, you are a hero!" "Go on!" "Speak up!" "You're a hero." "This is your great day." "Dirty animal!" "Come on, talk, don't wait!" "Are you normal?" "You don't ask what happened." "It's one of the hardest days in my life." "How fat was she?" "A hundred kilos?" "A hundred and ten?" "The in-laws started a fight." "Why don't you ask if I'm hurt?" "Same old song!" "My mouth is smashed, my ribs - cracked!" "But I've brought you a cake, and flowers." "Please, accept the presents, Mum." "Thank you." "Don't take any notice, Dad!" "You look like Laurel and Hardy!" "Did you really buy that piece of land?" "Mum says you made it all up." "She doesn't believe a word of it!" "I paid a deposit." "If you don't pay in time, you'll lose the deposit." "Leave me alone!" "They don't fight at all now." "Like a pair of turtle doves." "It'll be just like before, when you come back." "I mean, it'll even be a lot beter." "We're going to build that house." "With a balcony to each room." "I hate balconies." "They're always making us sit on the balcony." "It makes me sick." "OK, so no balconies." "Mum and Dad heaven't a clue that." "I'll raise the money for the house." "Mum promised she'd take me to a healer in Bulgaria." "Remind her to hurry up." "My head aches." "Good afternoon." "Do you buy a silver?" "Only if you've got an ID." "My Mum sends me, she is busy." "Here, take a look." "Just a second." "A lady brought in the same one yesterday." "There we are!" "Is that your mother?" "Let's see." "A Mrs. Savitch." "Is that her?" " It isn't." "Strange, I bet they come from the same set." "I don't want to sell it!" "Give it back!" "The Headmaster wants you urgently." "But we're not speaking, you know." "I don't, he said you were to come at once." "Carry on without me." "We had a silly quarrel." "I think it's time to forget it." "I know you're a capable man, and I need you for a olan of mine." "What sort of plan?" "I need a deputy." "Kerechky is retiring, so." "If you were to." "It's double the salary." "I mean, almost double." "I know, I know, but." "If you think I could." " Oh, but I do!" "Kerechky and I are doing you a favour." "So it would be nice if you could help us out." "I have an elderly father, you se." "And Kerechky has a very old uncle." "We heard you wife helps elderly persons." "Yes." "Two more?" "Five altogether for me to mind?" "You've got to!" "For me, for us!" "Give them all notice." "How?" "Just like that?" "How could I explain it?" "I'll have double the salary." "No more playing at weddings." " Are you nuts?" "You think of yourself only!" " But they run my life!" "It's only small favour." "How can I say no?" "Know what?" "I've got my own problems and you've got yours." "Let Nikola help you if he wants to." "I'll take on olld Kerechky you two - the boss's father." "You've got to!" " I'm not doing it!" "I'm giving them notice tomorrow." "Mrs. Bakitch first." "And there's an end to it!" "Besides literature" "I've got courses in Bulgarian and Russian." "Everyone's going East these days." "Well, off you go, who's stopping you?" "I'm off to a wedding." "I'll be back tomorrow evening." " Lf you're going so am I." "People ask me out, too." " Mummy, she's dead." "Dara works for a holding company." "Their Bulgarien partners need translators for the Plovdiv fair." "Daddy, she's dead!" " Translators they call them now?" "What're you getting at?" " You know damn well!" "Are you coming with me or not?" " Daddy, she's dead!" "Mrs. Bakitch is dead." "Mrs. Bakitch?" "Oh my God!" "Who told you?" " I found her myself." "How do you know she's dead?" " What Mrs. Bakitch, who is she?" "See you later." "Must rush." "Nikola, I've got a job." "I'm off for a week to Plovdiv, and the'll take me on later." "I called the ambulance." "They had to break down the door." "Well, we hardly know her." "Our conscience is clear." "Know something?" "If I went to Bulgaria now," "I could take your sister to see that healer." "Get ready then, I'll take him to the wedding." "Daddy won't leave you." "But you have to play fair with me." "Come with me." "Don't feel like it." "Sure?" " Sure." "Sure you don't want to come?" "You go, I'm not mad at you." " I know." "Whose dog is it?" " Mrs. Bakitch's." "She bought him a hearing aid." "His hearing's not too good." " Yes, I see." "Why should all this happen now?" "I could be Deputy Headmaster." "We have to take on two more old people." "Like to see what they look like?" "Will you?" "Here it is." "Like we said - in five minutes!" "But I don't understand." "Come in." "I was told you were a woman." "That's my mother." "She's very busy so I came instead." "And who's this?" " That's Mr. Dorian." "Kerechky, Major." "How do you do." "You see, he's deaf." "His hearing aid's broken." "I don't understand." "What is there to understand?" "My father and your relative work in the same school." "They asked me to help you." "This cooker doesn't work." " Move over." "The gas wasn't turned on." "What's for breakfast?" "Half a bottle of red wine." "Like a sausage?" "Once my breakfast was steak, eight eggs, paprika salad, and half bottle of wine!" "Everything in its own time." "I'll get it." "Come un, Mr. Julio." "Mr. Julio Popovitch." "I invited him to come." "You're the same age." "I'm sure you'll get on fine." "Julio, my eye!" "It's Voya, the man of iron!" "Corporal!" "Major!" "The best in the entire army." "At singing!" "Did you ever learn anything besides that "Tango Argentina"?" "It's been ages, but he's still the same." "I see you've kept your sense of humor, Sir." "I told you back in 1935 not to call me "Sir"." "No, you'll always be the Major to me, Sir." "My dear Corporal!" "Like me to read the orbituaries?" "God forbid!" "Politcs, sport, commentaries?" "What can I do for you?" " Keep quiet!" "Just hush and relax!" "Summer is the nicest time of the year." "When I was a young hunter" "A girl fell in love with me" "And that girl was young." "Quiet!" "I'm doing my job!" "This is my first day." "Lay of that bell!" "Good afternoon." "I've come by agreement with my father." "What's all this?" "Who are you looking for?" "My father and your son work at the music school." "My mother said she'd look after you." "I don't want anything from my son!" "Good heavens!" "This is beyond everything." "No broom was used here for years." "Excuse me, who are you?" "I can't stand kids, dogs and semile old fools." "I'll call the police!" "But I'll explain." "We're." "Mr. Galitch!" "We're here to help you." "Not a little pad, just needs tidying up." "There's work for three days." "But how do we start?" "With a cup of coffee." "Yes sir, Major, sir." "Time to go for the priest?" "Up you get!" "You only get sick lying in bed." "Get up." "Coffee!" "Can't have coffee without cognac." "We could ask a certain lady over." "Just so it isn't all men." "Why won't that gentleman shake hands with me?" "Just an old grouse, Ma'am." "Cognac!" "From nineteen seventy something." "Napoleon!" "Well done!" "Just a drop, really." "Here you are." "Thank you." "Cheers, good health, long life." "The undertakers want to know when to come for you." "Let's have another drink." "Life is only beginning." "These are the best years of our lives, man!" "Come on, get up!" "They killed my cat, you know." "I had him fifteen years." "Don't spoil the atmosphere now." "It's like at the "Rex" before the war." "All we need is that waiter, Gorbutov." "Gorbetov, not Gorbutov." "Rubbish!" "Gorbetov, with an "E"." "I know the "Rex" like the palm of my hand." "Gorbutov, man!" "And what was the barmaid's name?" "Listen, nothing interests me now." "Your bath is ready." "Here's your robe." "You sing beautifully." "Wonderful." "Phenomenal voice." "I'm speaking as an expert." "Did you ever sing in opera?" "Did you sing in opera?" "In the opera?" "No, I didn't." "You must go into opera." "Absolutely, straight into opera." "If you don't go now, when will you?" "Don't you think so?" "When will I, if not now?" " Exactly." "Divine!" "Are you tired?" " No, you are." "I've 24 hour work day." "Got another old person for me?" "Take good care of the boss's father." "My pay depends on it." "Here's the coffee." "For two days now I've been meaning to ask you who are these gentlemen?" "They're." "Volunteers of the veteran's corps." "Least, that's what they say." "Come on, Gally, get a move on!" "I've got to get home." "When the Major says "Fall out"." "I haven't been out of bed for six weeks." "Don't torment me." "I'm not up to it." "What's he saying?" "That it's the best day of his life." "I just want to say:" "I have to go home." "I don't want IT to happen in someone else's apartment." "Hold this!" " I can't lift a feather." "Nor can I, help me." "What about my heart?" "It needs exercise!" "You're a really funny lot." "Where're we sleeping tonight?" "It's fun, moving house!" "But first let's go for a drink." "Welcome!" "Good evening." "Just a few nibbles before you start." "Do you have camomile tea?" "Peppermint tea for me." "You're in the wrong place." "The herbalist is next door." "Wait, don't take it away." "Some of us would like to try the crackling." "What's this?" " 200% cholesterol, don't worry." "Anything else?" " Half a bottle of red wine." "A whole bottle!" " Camomile tea." "Litre of red, litre of camomile." "I've gor to go." " Sit down!" "Where is this Popovitch?" "You answered the ad!" "I never said the child could stay all night!" "Drive to Bakitch's!" "She died, God rest her!" "Then to the bald chap's." "I don't know his name." "The bald one." "Try to remember." "Sure, all you're interested in is your headmaster!" "He's changed my life." "But not mine!" "I'll change my own life." "I've got a job now." "Just let me find that child." "Why've you stopped?" "Go on!" "Go on!" "Use your brain for something else besides your fat broads!" "And now the speciality of the house:" ""Piglet a la chandelle"!" "Hostess, bring us wine," "Rosy like your cheeks." "What is it?" " My head's spinning." "I'll tell you something from experience." "When you head starts to spin, and you're a bit wobbly, turn your feet out like this." "Then you can waddle along nice and easy, and you don't stagger, and you're not dizzy." "It's called "the frog-march"." "Go on, let's see you." "That's it!" "Now you see." "Sorry, Dad." "You're bit young for coming home after midnight." "I did it for them." "We had a great time." "Want we to tell you?" " Tell me." "All right, we started." "By drinking this super white wine." "Good morning." "You slept at the Major's?" "I brought him some chips." "The Major had to leave in a hurry." "Where did he go?" "No, don't go up." "Don't!" "Let's go to my place." "But he didn't tell me." " Gone to visit his relations." "He didn't." "Tell me." "Where have you been?" "Daddy's gone to get sis from the hospital." "And I checked up on that healer." "She really does cure people." "Don't worry!" "You'll stop nursing old folk." "I know it's a burden." "Nikola, what is it?" "Something the matter?" "What's happened?" "Major Kerechky." "Well, he was very old." "We hardly knew him." "Here's you Dad now." "There you are, good evening." "Come, darling." "Is the girl coming too?" "Didn't I tell you she suffers from migraine." "A healer in Plovdiv cure migraine by extrasensory perception." "Is the girl in your way?" "Not at all, I've got four children." "Have a good trip." "Thanks." "And good luck at the fair." "Sis, I love you." "Marketing directors my foot!" "Where does your mother find them?" "Mugs off a "Wanted" poster." "Let her be." " Sure, but do I trust those Yetis." "You think you're any better?" "The way you carry on." "Fine time you picked to travel!" "I'm helping the headmaster with the seminar." "It's our school's turn this year." "And you?" "What'll you do?" "Don't worry, I'll survive." "Do you know "Yesterday"?" "Sorry, I've forgotten it." "Someone's at the door." "I have a feeling someone's ringing." "You looking for someone?" "Who are you?" "This is my son, remember he had a father." "Haven't seen you face for seven years." "I have a court order making me you guardian." "They're going to take you to a geriatric hospital." "You'll be well cared for." "I arranged it." "And you get my apartment, right?" "Let's go, old Dad." "Take your hands off Mr. Julio!" "Who are these people?" " I knew what's best for him." "Excuse me - my hat." "Well, Julio Popovitch." "Never a day's work in your life, just wine, women and song." "I'll call the police!" "If it isn't too much to ask, could you please leave?" "I've got to take Daddy to the hospital." "He's in the "aggressive" ward." "Him?" "Aggressive?" "That's impossible." "He's the one who's singing." "He's doing it all the time." "He wants to kill himself singing." "Let's talk to him, it might help." "Sorry, only close family." "You can phone to inquire." "This is where you wanted the popcorn machines?" "Up there or by the track?" "I was thinking about Popovitch." "How can we get him out?" "Bribe one of the nurses?" "I won't bet of that." "He'll go on singing - then he'll stop." "What is it, kid?" "Where have you been?" "Where were you all night?" " Mr. Galitch's son." "This is my boy." "I brought Mr. Galitch here to see how neat the place was, and it stinks." "Where's Mr. Galitch?" "I saw him last night." "He isn't lost, is he?" "Were you supposed?" "What did you spend the money on?" "The headmaster was told that his father was spending a fortune." "A lifetime's savings and then to blow it on rubbish!" "It's the janitor." "This door here." "There's a man inside!" " Open it!" "How could you do this to me?" " Let me go!" "He hasn't taken a turn?" "Him take a turn?" "He'll outlive us all!" "He only over thought of himself." "Break it down!" "My God!" "Dad, what it must have cost!" "And you didn't buy anything?" "I hate you!" "I hate you!" "The people in shop sgreed to take this rubbish back." "And give us back the money." "You escaped?" "We're chummy again?" "Don't come near, I wetted myself." "I don't feel well." "How did you do it?" " Lf I didn't feel sick." "How did I, the Man of Iron, do it?" "And the suicide by singing?" " Suicide by singing?" "I roared until they all moved on to the floor below." "Then I lit out through the window." "Let's go home so I can change." "You've kept the spare key?" "I'd like to live just a little more." "And so you will." "Where?" "How?" "We'll think something." "See the sea one more time." "Let's go to the sea!" "For young fellas like us the sea's the only cure!" "You've no bathing suit?" " I packed in a hurry." "Mine is enough for both - the rage in 1926!" "Dorio, go out of the water!" "Your hearing aid'll got wet!" "Out of the water, silly!" "Let him be, he's enjoying it." "Better deaf than dead." "The Man of Iron!" "We'll buy a boat, just three of us, and go hunting whales." "OK?" "OK!" "The way you danced today." "I've never laughed so much." "Wait." "The're playing the tango." "Must be back in fashion." "I have to tell you something." " What?" "I pinched your silver dish." " Forget it." "I've something to tell you, too." "I've never been in Argentina." "Good night." "Good night."