Closer to the Moon Page #4

If they want to send any messages,

they better get writing.

Hey, got any letters?

Write them now.

So, gentlemen, are we ready

for our close-ups?

Can I have a lemonade?

Oh, would you give the lady

your lemonade, please?

Thank you.

Theo, can you go check

on the film stock?

George!

How are you, old chap?

Marcu! Cristescu!

What's going on, boys?

They're putting you

out of pasture?

Let's see.

What have we got?

Hmm. Nationale.

Not bad!

Stolen.

What are you doing?

Are you filming me?

No, I was just preparing.

I was just lining up my...

Don't film me without

my knowing it, okay?

- Of course not. No, I..

- Of course not. Never.

Well, can I take a look?

Oh. Yeah, no, of course.

Put your eye in there.

- I don't see anything.

- Um..

Ah! There's Yorgu!

He's so funny!

This film will be a comedy.

Can I ask you a question?

Am I free tonight? No, I

don't think I'm free tonight.

Did you really rob

that bank car?

You can't believe it, can you?

Neither can I.

Prisoners are not

to touch the camera! Understood?

If... if... if that's the way you start

treating people, pushing them around

well, I'm sorry, I simply cannot

work under these conditions!

I want to go back to my cell!

Maybe my colleagues can accept this kind of

treatment, but as a woman I cannot allow it.

Miss Bercovich, it's my...

What's all the fuss about?

I'm not used to such impudence!

In my milieu...

What's going on?

Has she lost her mind?

I caught her

touching the camera!

Ah, no excuses.

No excuses. Such behavior.

So uncouth,

so rude, inexcusable!

What?

Who upset my star?

Come, come my angel, you mustn't

cry, you'll ruin your makeup.

A great actress must be

strong on the set.

Now calm down and give us

a nice little smile.

Hmm? That's my girl.

She needs to do her makeup.

Okay, that's enough.

Take her back to makeup.

I want to start shooting this

damn movie before nightfall.

Keep your men under control,

captain.

Since when have they been

allowed to show initiative?

Are you alright now?

Don't be silly.

I was just marking my territory.

Stand by.

All set.

Mister Flaviu, sir,

we can start now.

What?

Oh, what are we shooting?

The part where

they steal the taxi.

Precisely.

Well, what's happening?

Mister Flaviu.

Maestro?

They shouldn't have given

him the vodka.

Vodka?

Who gave him vodka?

Well, it seems the maestro

is a little tired.

Fortunately the actors

all know their roles.

What's your name?

- Virgil.

- Virgil.

What do you think?

Should we let him sleep,

get to work?

Here's what we're gonna do.

You're gonna film the taxi.

It's going to come

down the street.

It's gonna get closer, closer,

and stop just where it is now.

Do you think you can do that?

Get to work.

Scene 4 Take 1.

Here we go.

Rolling and action!

Stop, stop. Cut!

Why are you smiling?

You've got a gun to your head

and you're smiling?

I want to see you

shitting your pants.

Like you've been told to report

to your superior!

Get in the car,

let's do it again.

Scene 4 Take 2.

Go! Go! Go!

No, wait, wait.

Stop! Stop!

What are you morons doing?

Look at the shop window,

not at the taxi!

Marcu, if I catch you looking

at that taxi once more

I'm gonna shove a roll of film

down your throat.

Hear me?

I've never seen such a bunch

of idiots in all my life!

He seems to know

what he's doing.

Let's pray to God he does.

Just an expression.

I'm gonna give you something.

I want you to put them in your

pocket, keep your mouth shut.

- Sorry?

- They are addresses.

Try to find the families,

let them know

their loved ones are alive,

but locked up in Jilava Prison.

Got it?

Everyone ready?

Roll camera.

Scene 4 Take 2.

Now if I see so much as a

hint of a smile,

I'll smack you so hard

you'll never get up again.

That was fun.

Hello? Uh, I'm sorry

to disturb you so late, ma'am.

But I have some very important

news for you.

A close relative of yours wants

you to know

that he is still alive and in

good health, in Jilava Prison.

Yeah, he sends you his love.

Goodnight.

You're allowed one call a day.

If you make two, there will be

none tomorrow.

Your choice.

That said, if your intentions

are noble and we can annoy

the Bolshies a bit, there might

be room for negotiation.

Uh, may I ask to whom you were

speaking just now?

- My fianc.

- Fine.

You must ask her over for dinner

one evening

so we can get to know her.

Alright.

Lovely conversation

you were having too.

"Jilava Prison, important news.

Somebody is still alive!"

You call her madam.

You two must be madly in love.

If Sarah finds out I'm drinking

and smoking, I'm done for.

L'chaim.

Now stop lying and tell me

straight.

It's complicated. It... it..

Over at the studio,

we're... we're

we're shooting an educational

film.

Sort... sort of a reconstruction

of 5 people

who robbed a bank car

and got away with the money.

The... the Rosenthal gang!

I know all about it.

The Martyrs' Square heist,

last year.

How did you know?

That... that's a classified secret.

Oh, big secret.

Shh.

The "Voice of America" and

"Radio Free Europe"

have been talking

about it for months.

They can't have.

Oh, yes, they can.

Believe me.

Mr. Zilber, some people

are saying

that there never was a hold-up.

That it was all made up.

That it was a political trick

to get rid of some bad eggs.

Oi, the stuff they fill your

heads with these days.

Now, just listen to me.

There was an armed robbery.

They were going to use

the money to pay

for 10,000 Jews

to leave for Israel.

It's what's called

a Zionist Operation.

And it's a shame that they never

pulled it off.

- This is "Voice of America."

- Ah-hah.

And now we broadcast "Symphony Number 3"

in F major by Johannes Brahms.

- Mr. Zilber?

- What?

If you like listening

to classical music so much

why do you listen to it

on "Voice of America"

with all the static

and the noise?

Why don't you listen to it on

an official station?

On an official station,

my dear boy..

...even Brahms becomes

propaganda.

Oh.

Thank you.

Un moment.

Nobody touches the food

until we shoot!

What's this?

Is this a joke?

Is this your vision

of bourgeois opulence?

You think we spent the people's

money eating this crap?

Don't make me laugh.

Boys, make mine a chateaubriand

with sauted potatoes.

And I'll have Canard a l'orange.

Grilled swordfish fillet.

Zingara with vegetables.

A little, uh, caviar on toast

perhaps.

And two bottles of Burgundy.

Roll camera.

Scene 2, take 1.

Action!

Laugh, talk to each other.

Lunch break!

I won't ask you any questions.

Hey! Come downstairs.

Let's make some calls.

Bercovich Alice,

you're under arrest.

Come on.

Hey. Hey.

You idiot!

You've just ruined the scene.

- But she struggled.

- What? It was perfect.

Very realistic. I thought.

Communist police officers

do not use violence

the way capitalist policemen do.

What will people think?

Stop resisting, hmm?

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