You take your master home!
You can go back
to your mistress, Terka.
I am not going to bother
with your burial.
Perhaps I've been everywhere,
to dances and funerals,
in forests, on lakes and rivers,
living sinfully and virtuously,
I've travelled a lot
- now I am tired.
HUNGAROFILM
presents:
SINDBAD
Starring
Screenplay based on short-stories by
Gyula Krudy.
Written by Zoltn Huszrik
Music
Director of photography
Director
...Ladies...
I'm a lost prince
and I'm looking for a wife.
What's your name?
Dusky.
Strange.
You'll think of me in the dusk
even if you don't see me again.
Say your name once more
so I should never forget it.
When the Moon drives her
yellow donkeys towards the river,
I'll come to you.
Men can only see me
in the dusk.
The hand of the clock
is nearing twelve.
And I'm thinking of you.
If you didn't shine for me,
my star,
I would no longer wish
to live on earth.
"The hand of the clock is nearing twelve,
and I'm thinking of you.
If you didn't shine for me, my star,
I would no longer wish
to live on earth. "
Are the flowers still white
in the garden we met?
My darling, my love,
my betrothed.
Poor little dove.
I love you.
I suffer deeply for you,
my lady.
My secret hail, do be soundless,
as a fragrance,
just shine brightly like a star,
upon a summer's night.
Silent moon, look down on me
from the soft, blue skies.
See the tears
that my beloved one
is bringing to my eyes.
Oh, forget me, never feel guilty.
A rose you are, get married!
Your flower is in full bloom.
No, Sindbad, don't.
Why is it that women
love the sea?
Looking for my husband,
are you?
Strange.
You look so familiar.
I really didn't expect you...
I didn't know you were still alive.
What brought you here?
My God,
what a strange coincidence.
I never think of you.
Why should I?
Well, how are you,
Sindbad?
Why do you want my husband?
I suffer from insomnia,
and I forgot to bring
any morpheme along.
And you came here
of all places?
There are so many doctors
in the centre of the town.
My husband is just
a peasant doctor.
But we get along.
I am not extravagant.
You know me.
I always wore my old hats,
even when I was a girl.
Yes, I remember.
We're quite happy.
It's quiet around here.
In summer we sit under the poplar
and I listen to its rustling.
The poplar...
My most faithful, old admirer.
You used to like
the theatre and the balls.
Believe me,
we're very happy.
Going already?
Won't you wait for my husband?
I only came because of you.
You're leaving... but I...
I just thought you wanted
to meet my husband.
Or maybe you'd say something.
I used to believe in you.
There was something in your voice
that smoothed me,
made me happy...
when I was sad...
Why did you say
you loved someone else?
I take lots of medicine
to make me sleep.
But all the rest is true.
I've only one ring,
this green one.
Tell me, has anyone thought of me?
I often did. Always.
You've kept me waiting
for ten years.
How often have I seen you
in my dreams,
how I hoped that once,
just once more, I'd see you.
When we went to Budapest,
I looked for you everywhere we went,
but I never saw you. But if you had
really thought of me,
and dreamt about me,
you would've come.
You were deceitful, as always.
My husband.
You won't leave town yet, will you?
Can we meet again?
My queen, Majmunka!
Scoundrel!
You dare to show
your face again?
I'll kill you.
That's all I can do to you.
I've been crying for three days.
I found out about you
and that ugly Imola,
for whom, three years ago,
I myself took food and drink
to that horrible prison.
You, with that woman...
I'll kill you.
I can't bear this shame.
The whole house
is talking about Imola
and everyone asks amazed:
"Are you still alive, Sindbad?"
I swear none of it...
Silence! It's too late. You'll die.
Young women only corrupt you.
They only teach you sensitivity,
which one has no need for.
I see you're hungry.
I've made a cock-soup.
But you've forgotten, my rose,
to put marjoram into it.
I know where your heart lies.
I often heard it when you loved me.
If only she was
a pretty young girl!
But to humiliate me
with an old woman...
That's too much to bear.
My uncle often told me
in my childhood
that a real man can even love
his great grandmother.
But if I could love ugly, old women
like your friend, Imola,
how could I be loved by women
who're young and beautiful?
Like you, Majmunka.
You should be proud of your lover,
my queen.
You convinced me, scoundrel.
You're my last love, Sindbad.
Is it all over then, the glorious life
I lived by Fanny's side?
I WISH YOU A HAPPY 1873.
I got this from the man
who loved me the most.
We'll read it
in your country house.
We'll go to the
little Polish resort.
We'll travel all over the world.
I'll abduct you into
the wonders of rich life.
I wonder if Fanny knows
that I'm leaving the capital?
We'll spend the summer
in the country,
I'll talk to our limetrees,
our horses, our cats...
- Wouldn't it be nice?
- It'll be lovely.
I'm a sentimental woman.
I heal the sick trees,
the swallows recognize me.
I bequeathed a foundation
to our church.
After I met you,
I've made out a new will.
Everything is yours.
And I've quite a fortune.
We'll visit my poor uncle's grave.
What a kind, distinguished
face he has on the pictures.
And how he loved me.
He forgave me everything.
We'll never part again.
We'll never part again, will we?
When everyone
had deserted me.
I felt that my life,
love,
and my beauty were over,
my dead mother
stretched her hand towards me.
She said:
Today, you'll see him.
I decided to put on
my best dress.
The one you first saw me in.
I wanted to please you very,
very much.
Nonsense.
Forgive me
for talking about trifles.
I set out as if I knew
the way to you,
as if I was following
myself in the twilight.
My instinct led me
towards the Danube.
How long did I walk?
Time gets stirred up like sand.
Suddenly I heard the voice
of a policeman.
He asked me
not to commit suicide.
I could still be happy,
happy, happy, happy...
You loved me very much then.
When our love was still aflame,
when our life was happy
as the birds'
and our kisses had no end,
and when we got carried away,
we thought we were
the chosen ones, the only lovers,
God's own children, souls from
the Sun and the Moon,
then you promised
we'd die together.
Die?
Come to my place!
The house is empty.
I'll say farewell
to my mother's picture.
You'll kill me softly. I'll look at you
until death closes my eyes.
I know you'll come with me, you won't
leave me alone in the great unknown.
I'll follow you.
If we stayed alive we'd part again,
and weep and sob
in dreadful suffering.
And who knows if we'd meet again
in such wonderful love?
My love.
We'll die, Sindbad.
The Sun will rise without us,
we don't see the day break.
But the day is breaking.
Oh, is it?
I cannot die in the daylight.
The milkman's coming,
my husband's train will arrive.
I'll be invited
to the country for summer
and today I'll visit
my sick brother.
Some other time, Sindbad.
When we meet again,
one night.
Everybody must start life anew.
Naked.
So that he shouldn't dread
the things that lie ahead.
The acacia knows
when to bloom twice.
The frog and the mouse
sense the changes in the weather.
Only Man
cannot foresee tomorrow.
You know, sir, it's only worth living
for women.
My only one...
She pretends to be a Russian princess
with a line by Pushkin on her garter.
I see you're still interested
in profligate girls.
I don't understand you.
You saddle me with these dancers
and are furious if I'm not rude to them.
But I expected you to be rude.
You're foolish, my pigeon.
I only loved my vanity
and the feeling of my superiority.
Who might love Euphrosina now?
Where could her
ribboned shoes taken her?
I only loved you.
Even now,
you're thinking of someone else.
I always knew when you loved me,
who you loved and for how long.
I had time to think about it.
Here is this small notebook.
Here I write everything
that I don't want to forget.
Let me see,
here is July 21, 1900:
"Two hours in a carriage
with drawn curtains
with the lawyer's wife. "
This pleasure drive was repeated
every week, from July to October.
I had a sad childhood.
Unclad shepherds,
and goddesses on the lids of snuff boxes
were my companions.
And swans,
violinists in breeches and wigs,
mail coaches worked in enamel.
Later, my father brought an old man
who read La Fontaine to me.
I don't remember his name,
but when he looked up from the book,
a pair of unforgettable,
wonderful eyes looked at me.
My first unhappiness led me back here
to the old house.
It was autumn.
Our old Frenchman was still alive.
He watched me unawares
from a corner.
When I'm in trouble
I always come here.
In the hope
the old man is still alive.
You were desperately
in love with Fanny.
How I pitied you!
She was a dear,
faithful mistress.
There were dreams in her eyes,
and enchantment in her voice.
"My sweet one... " she would say,
and fondled me
with her soft palm.
Oh dear, oh dear!
Aged thirty. Two false teeth.
But her hair is genuine.
And this one?
Why do you want
to complicate my life?
You make me miserable.
We spent a drowsy afternoon
in a church in Buda,
then we wandered among the graves
in the old cemetery,
where leaning against the rusty railings
she defended her virtue,
her peace of mind.
While I was standing in front of her
with my head bent down
and thought of
the goldsmith's wife.
No, I'm not like the other women!
I'll die if you desert me!
I swear, I'll die!
I haven't even noticed,
your hair is turning grey.
Your voice sounds like a cello.
I like that very much.
This wasn't the beginning
of my downfall.
Here we are.
God be with you, Sindbad!
God be with you, Florentine!
I hope, we'll meet
tomorrow again!
If chance wants us,
we'll meet.
Good-bye!
I won't come tomorrow.
There's no point carrying on.
I never get acquainted with women
who'd want it.
That's why I've stayed young.
I'm completely
disillusioned with you.
My sweetheart,
no reproaches, please!
You've put your
dark glasses on again.
Life is a chain of beautiful lies.
There's no emotion
more moving than love.
In our age, when noble feelings,
like piety, loyalty, friendship...
...and patriotism are disappearing
from our lives,
only love can conjure up
bygone illusions.
We need the tenderness of women
more than at any other time.
For every woman,
even the commonest one
is akin to the Moon,
the world to come, and superstition.
Only women can improve men,
who've become debased
and they should be
given every chance
to carry out
this charitable act.
Don't talk about that, Sindbad!
We know each other for a long time.
You're an ugly, grey-haired,
puffy-faced, corrupt man.
I can no longer entrust
my honour to you.
I haven't any memories.
I've always been
a good woman,
the best mother
and a faithful wife.
As it is written
in obituaries.
Some kind of fancy is missing
from my soul.
I'd like to keep a name
in my memories.
It always starts like this.
I'm not starting anything.
It always starts like this.
I'm only sad
that no one will ever whisper
sweet lies into my ears.
Please, sir, lie to me.
To amuse you I could invent
a romantic adventure
about a hysterical princess,
who fell in love with me
at first sight.
But instead I'll tell you this:
Women were good to me,
because they never loved me.
No one?
No one was curious to know
what I wore under my coat.
Yet you must be
an interesting man.
Why didn't women love you?
Because I didn't lie to them.
I clenched my teeth
and the words "I love you"
have never left my lips.
I dreamt about keys last night.
In the book of dreams
Monday means pleasure.
I wonder whether they still drink
strawberry brandy in the Blue Barrel?
Forget-me-nots?
Well, what do you want to say?
I want to die.
And I will die soon.
You'd make a pretty bride
in the world beyond.
Please sir,
would you see me home?
God bless you!
And thank you for walking me home!
Lovely child,
you wouldn't regret loving me.
Please,
wait in front of the house!
I'll throw you a flower
from my window
when I got to my room.
You seem to be a good boy.
Are you there, sir?
You should spare
those two old horses.
What are you looking for
in Cat Street?
You.
You're probably after some girl.
I don't like it when you deceive me
in front of my very eyes.
I was looking for you.
I haven't seen you for ages.
Maybe you've not forgotten me.
I don't forget that easily.
Though I haven't had
the pleasure for three years.
You know, Sindbad,
I no longer... I love you
like a forsaken,
forgotten mistress.
But like a mother.
And I know you so well
as if I had born you.
Remember,
ten years ago
you were ill and could only fall asleep
if I stroked your back.
You promised then
to take me to the circus.
But you never took me.
And I don't go anywhere
with anyone,
but you.
No reproaches, Majmunka!
You went to the circus
quite a lot as a girl.
It's almost the same
as the music hall.
Yes, but the horses!
The horses, the horses...
We've seen enough farces,
Majmunka.
Let me tell you this!
In spring,
when women's handkerchiefs
are full of the germs of love,
we'll go up to the hills together!
We'll cross the Danube
in a horse-tram.
The bridge will rumble beneath us.
A couple from the country
will sit opposite to us,
and they will keep asking:
Is it far to the Imperial Baths?
We'll pass an inn
where an accordion is playing.
But we won't get off.
We'll travel on.
The coachman will hoot,
the couple will inquire again.
From the Buda hills fragrant air
will blow into the coach,
and we'll sit there like a
happily married couple.
I am a retired civil servant,
and we've been married
for twenty years.
We have 1000 forints saved up,
and we want to buy a house
in a suburb.
There in the little garden
you could raise ducks and geese.
Oh, you!
Isn't this better
than going to the circus?
Of course it is, you scoundrel!
Good day!
My! I didn't recognize you, sir!
It's been a long time!
I had a friend here, called Valentin.
Do you know him? - Yes.
You want to do
business with him?
You've improved in your old age!
When we last saw you,
you did nothing,
except wasting your time.
We'll send the lad
to fetch Valentin, if you like.
I'd like to see you
on New Year's Eve
because I'm superstitious.
My darling,
my love, my betrothed.
Lord, please let me sleep,
and give me peaceful night!
Spare me from the
prattle of women.
Help me to forget
the fragrance of their hair,
the strange look in their eyes,
the taste of their hands.
Lord,
protect me from them.
Marry me, please!
It is the fate of the stars
to fall to earth for each other.
Who'll listen next year
to the tale of the tinker
eaten by wolves?
Remember when you took
on my sins at confession,
because you had
no sins to confess?
Yes, but you had to pay
a kreutzer for each sin.
Now I'm asking you
to do it again,
take on my sins, Valentin!
Tell me what I must take on.
I've cheated,
I've stolen, I've lied, I've swore,
I haven't observed the fasts,
I haven't been to church.
I've committed everything,
except murder.
And adultery?
Yes, that too.
I wanted to seduce
the mistress of a friend.
Maybe I did seduce her.
And I bought her an apron
with stolen money.
What'll you pay me
if I undertake all this?
What can I give you, who've saved
my life so many times?
Are you any good at exorcism?
Of course.
You'll pay me by exorcising
the devil from my wife.
Marika?
Yes, I married Marika.
We lived peacefully for 20 years.
A few months ago, I have a new lad
my workshop.
Ever since, Marika's
been quite wild!
You know her.
Drive the devil out of her!
I won't let you corrupt
this good man!
This is Marika.
By May, I'll be
a sumach tree or a dockleaf.
Life was worth living
when one could
enter gardens secretly at night,
knock at windows,
say sweet words
to waiting women.
When one could burn,
wilt
and laugh happily.
Someone's approaching the house.
Someone's thoughts are here.
Euphrosina!
Where've you come from?
Why can't you find peace
in the other world?
I wanted to see you once more.
I daren't even dream.
My life
is full of sadness.
Even my dreams are pried on.
I have to get married, Sindbad.
I've become mistletoe.
I still found the gate
and was soon sitting with the
goldsmith's wife.
I could have been the comb.
Fanny!
I am very sad.
Everyone's deserted me.
My lovers are dead,
or have grown old.
Do you remember
when we met here?
I thought I'd die of excitement.
I cried because that was
my first rendez-vous.
It was wonderful,
I was the happiest woman in Buda.
Thank you for corrupting me.
At least I have lived.
I cannot live.
Leave me alone
with your nonsense, Sindbad!
Is Amalia still alive?
Would you show me
the locket you are wearing?
It belonged to my mother.
To my late mother.
I'm asking you
because your mother
was a good friend of mine,
a very long time ago.
It's my father's picture.
From the time he was in the army.
Are you married yet?
Yes. And I've two
lovely children.
Paula!
Good gracious!
Weren't you expecting me?
Didn't you dream about me?
I did once, last week,
or last night.
But I've foolish dreams.
How come you're here?
I wanted to know how you were.
Remember?
We sailed along the Danube,
and the captain
was in love with you.
Not in vain, I hope.
Please! I never saw him again.
I was yours then.
I loved you very much.
How easily you say it.
Isn't my being here enough?
I came as
I wanted to kiss your hand.
Do turn around!
You haven't changed a bit.
There's no one to care for me.
Though I'm occasionally ill.
Is your heart empty then?
Foolish boy!
You think I could forget you?
You snake,
you lying snake.
How many times you've forgotten me
since then!
I've a marvellous plan
for the afternoon.
Take me home!
I live quite near.
I always look for sober people
and I only found drunkards.
They say you've no profession.
What do you live on?
I regret that the loiterers are
now extinct.
I like to wonder around
without money.
I do a bit of writing.
The actors say,
you live on thin air.
Their only measure
is the fees they get.
So you're not an adventurer!
What a pity!
Sindbad, help me!
There's no softer bed
than the snow.
Life, life,
once so tedious sacred life,
how good it feels
to come back into you.
What's your name, my friend?
Vendelin,
at your humble service, sir.
- Are you married?
- I was, sir.
- Did she die?
- Something else happened.
Though I'm not very
fond of carrots...
May I bring
the marrow-bone, sir?
Dear Vendelin, I must warn you
to bring toasted bread with it,
not buns, for they are unsuitable
for this sort of things.
And make it as hot as
my darling's heart!
Now you can bring the beer,
but in a beerglass!
The barman can keep the froth.
The innkeeper
must be a rich man.
He's generous with the froth.
Now tell me,
what happened to your wife?
She left me, sir.
I worked in the Casino
as a young waiter.
At that time, Mr. Szemere
and Mr. Uhtritz were my clients.
The jockeys used to wait outside,
the trainers sat in the corridor.
Betting went on
late into the night.
And we waiters
were friends with the jockeys.
I could rarely go to the races
but I knew every horse.
Of course, I never won.
What roast meat do you have?
You have roast duck, but I eat
enough of that at home.
Yes, duck with red cabbage.
You know, Vendelin,
I prefer game for lunch.
In the old Lippert restaurant
you could have the best game dishes.
Old Lippert himself liked hunting
he was trainer in the rifle-club.
So I always went to his place
to have hare.
Pheasant stuffed with chestnut...
Are they Italian chestnuts
or Hungarian ones?
Just chestnusts.
Well, if the bird's all right,
I'll have it!
Why do women
scrape carrots so furiously?
Here's the pheasant
with smashed potatoes and pickles.
Where are the different
types of mustards?
I like hot, home-made mustard
and French mustard as well,
but English mustard
is my favourite.
One day, the Baron
Wiener-Waldau said to me:
Venedline:
I want to make you a lucky man.
Bet on Duke
Festetich's horse, Patience,
every time she runs.
Patience... it sounds familiar.
And if you'd only know her, sir!
I nearly forgot!
I'd like some tender beef.
Tell me, have you a piece of beef
on or off the bone?
I don't mind having sirloin,
though I prefer rump.
What I'd like best is a cut of meat
that is called "Tafelspitz".
That's what I'd like to eat.
With tomato sauce and spring onions.
Innkeepers with any self-respect
always have them.
After the game?
Who am I to be told what to eat?
The course-inspector's daughter, too,
was called Patience.
Am I disturbing you, sir?
The Baron Wiener-Waldau
who was fond of me,
once asked me, if I would like
to marry Patience.
I married her.
And that was my undoing.
I loved her deeply.
She ran away and became a cashier
in Debrecen.
Now I'm ready
for half a litre of good wine!
So, Patience became
a cashier in Debrecen?
She filed for a divorce from there,
when a foolish country gent
asked for her hand.
That foolish country gent was me.
I was Patience's
second husband.
Did she leave you, too?
Did she bolt again?
Where is she now?
One must make peace with it.
I'll go wherever you want.
We'll leave tomorrow night.
I was born near the river,
and as a girl I always saw babies
in the water.
And now I have no children,
I've only you.
She was only twenty.
Death has no light,
and no shadow.
But it has a faint smell of rosemary.
We got rid of
a pair of worn trousers
and a nickel-plated watch chain.
We no longer need greetings
and lies,
the requisites of this worldly life.
You're the only one,
Majmunka.
How lucky I am
that women are so unfaithful
like the morning dew.
So my turn comes up
from time to time.
Florentine is dead,
her blood fled
with her dreams.
You bought me
this Paul de Kock book, remember?
I now only sin when reading.
So I've settled
my account with life.
I've no more ambitions,
no hopes.
I sit on top of a tree like an old bird
and I'm glad
that there are still some
who can believe in life,
in love.
It's you, I love.
Let's go to bed, shall we?
You want me to speak
with the goldsmith's wife, don't you?
Well, yes.
I've gone mad.
The devil has taken my senses.
I hate myself so much
I could bang my head at the wall.
I went to see my mother.
She's well.
She lives as she used to years ago.
She looks after her bit of land and grape.
She doesn't depend
on anyone.
She's not like me.
They were of a different breed
as we grew up to be.
They knew how to live.
They knew how to live well.
These people know nothing
about the beauty of life,
about a good meal,
about a good rest.
I don't like the world of today.
They say it's a transitional age.
But I never wanted a transitional age.
I don't remember having asked for
this life either.
I surely didn't pull any strings.
I no longer want to know what's
there for a Hungarian to be happy about.
What's your favourite tune,
Doctor?
Play "Fly, my swallow"!
Do such old customers
ever die?
We must live
in the shadow of the spire.
What trouble can
true love bring?
Our lady-organist
may leave us any day,
if she hears people
gossiping about her.
You really should
return to the world,
however little
you understand it's way.
The trouble is, I know
no more about life than a child.
I don't know the secret of
how to behave, what to say,
how to succeed in life.
I ought to be living in a garden
or in a hospital, planning.
Only planning.
For as soon as it comes to action,
I make a mess of everything.
I miss the nail.
I have so many sins that at night
I daren't stay alone in a room.
The celebrated doctors
in Budapest!
Can't they do anything
about a little nightmare?
I'm not afraid of you,
I know you won't give me bad advice.
At night, when we reach the holy place,
stay by the church wall,
and sleep among
the old womenfolk.
Strange images dance
before my eyes,
yellow, like the waters
of the Poprad.
All gentlefolk are slightly crazy.
My father kept the postmistress'
old shoes in a drawer.
And you can't get a name
out of your head.
Her name's Dusky.
So that's what robs you
of your sleep.
The pilgrimage
will come to nothing.
You must sleep out in the open so that
the devils don't find you.
Do devils exist at all?
Of course!
But they daren't follow us here.
The days of my senses
are drawing to a close.
This gentleman can't sleep.
Make him sleep!
Women!
Wake up!
Heal my heart, mother,
please heal me!
Your father died
of heart failure, too.
Bad meal,
false wines,
and even falser kisses
poison your blood.
- When shall I die?
- There are still many ahead of you.
Dreams, dreams, sweet dreams,
Now, I'm closing my eyes.
Blessed be your coming,
my life's a dream,
my dreams are my life.
Winter Fairy!
Dear God,
I'm here again at last!
Thank you, Sindbad,
I'll always be grateful to you.
Winter Fairy,
God be with you!
God be with you,
Sindbad!