Closer to the Moon Page #5

Just give in.

Scene 3, take 2.

Bercovich Alice,

you're under arrest.

Really? What a surprise?

Just a moment,

I'll go get dressed

and then I'll follow you

comrades wherever you want.

Come on, people,

this is no time for fun!

Let's get this thing over!

Yes?

There's an officer

from the Securitate here.

He wants to talk to you.

He's waiting downstairs.

Should he take warmer clothing?

A sweater, woolen socks?

- No need.

- Did you hear that?

"No need." That's positive.

Can I ask where we're going?

To pay a visit.

At last!

I thought you'd got lost.

Take your jacket off, Virgil.

It's hot in here.

Do you like the house?

I got it 6 months ago.

Most of the furniture comes from

the former tenant, Max Rosenthal

currently residing

in Jilava Prison.

Come into the study.

Coffee?

Please, sit down.

I've been drinking the stuff all

day, I can't take another drop.

I'm exhausted.

Ever since my wife left

that's Sylvia, my wife..

...I haven't been able to sleep.

No idea why, must be,

um... psychological.

Cigarette?

We found these under his bed.

Comrade Holban, I admit,

I'm-I'm so passionate

about my work at the studio.

- I-I forgot...

- Shh.

Sit.

Don't be afraid.

It's nothing serious.

On the contrary,

I want you to continue

to do little favors for them.

Win their confidence.

I want you to help me

understand.

That depends... on what it is

you find confusing.

What made these people turn

into gangsters overnight?

What did they intend to do

with the money?

- Some say that...

- Hmm. What?

That it was

a Zionist conspiracy.

To send Jews to Israel.

Nonsense. Israel buys Jews

with American dollars

not Romanian Lei.

Those files are full of possible

motives we've investigated

each one more ridiculous

than the next.

They wanted to finance

Zionist Jewish families

while they waited

for their passports.

They wanted to leave

the country themselves..

...on a military plane.

They were trying to fund

anti-communist commandos

in the mountains.

It's all rubbish.

A bunch of nutcases plan

a huge stunt like this

for a few stacks of Lei?

Not US dollars, not Pounds

Sterling, not Swiss Francs.

But Lei?

What's this?

- A 100 Lei note

- Very good.

With this piece of paper,

you can just about

fill your refrigerator.

Buy a good meal in a restaurant,

take a taxi somewhere

or pay your rent.

Now, tell me

what you can't do with it?

You can't buy a house.

You can't invest

it in the stock market.

You can't buy a gun,

or leave the country.

5 highly intelligent people

throw themselves in front

of the firing squad.

Why? What for?

Blue toilet paper?

What are you doing?

It's just an advance.

We're gonna work together.

I want to find the sixth.

S-sixth what?

The sixth member of the gang.

But, there were only 5 of them.

There were 6 of them.

5 actually took part

in the robbery.

The sixth was pretending

to film it.

Nobody much bothered about it,

Case closed.

But after a year of

investigation, I have a lead.

A small detail all

the others overlooked.

Alice Bercovich has a son.

12 years old,

raised in the Soviet Union.

He disappeared shortly

before his mother's arrest.

It's vital that we find

young Bercovich.

And that, Comrade Virgil..

...is where you come in.

We're getting close

to the end of the filming.

Our friends know

what that means.

Their sentence

will soon be carried out.

I have a hunch that the woman

will try to get in touch

with her son one last time.

You've gained their confidence.

That makes you the ideal

messenger.

They'll give you an address

or a phone number.

And that's how you'll lead us

to young Bercovich.

I suggest we take a break.

It's too hot.

What about panning on the

taxi from the outside?

What's the rush?

We've got days of filming ahead.

Look at them all.

See? Why overdo it?

Break time!

Break?

What break?

Why's everybody asleep?

I asked a question.

Why is everybody asleep?

Maestro,

we've just shot a scene.

Like hell you have!

I've been watching for hours

and you've done f*** all!

Why does nobody

follow my orders?

Oh, why am I talking

to a brick wall?

Who's in charge here?

Tell me who's in charge?

- You're in charge.

- I'm in charge?

Well, yes.

Like hell I'm in charge.

I'm a prize idiot,

that's what I am!

All my life I've had to deal

with idiots!

60 years of hell, 40 years

of work, 37 films!

And this is the kind of crap

they make me direct!

Me! The winner of the Jury Prize

at the Kursk Film Festival.

Life is crap!

Ah-ha-ha!

Somebody call an ambulance.

Give him some air.

No more vod...

No more vodka.

He's choking.

See if there's anything

in his mouth.

Right. Let's get some more

shooting done before night falls.

Comrade Holban.

Uh..

I think we should call it a day.

Why?

Well, I mean,

we've got no director...

So what? With him or without

him, it's all the same.

It seems the cameraman

has gone too.

The boy? Virgil?

What do you mean, "gone?"

Hey! Where's the cameraman?

There's another problem.

One of the prisoners is missing.

What?

No one's missing.

They're all here.

Bercovich.

Sound the alarm.

Alarm!

Everybody back in the bus!

Quickly!

- Come on, come on, let's go.

- Quickly. Move, move!

They're going to find you

one way or the other.

It's going to end up badly.

Yeah, and you know what I'm

risking for trying to escape?

Yes... no, sure but...

I'd love if they sentenced

me to a few extra years

but I doubt it'll happen.

I have to see someone.

Will you wait for me?

They can't accuse

you of anything.

I'm armed and I've taken

you hostage.

But if you want to go, go.

Back in the bus!

Hey!

Leave it!

Look for the cameraman.

Our only chance is that they

left together.

What-what happened?

- I'm fine.

- Why are you crying?

Because I'm weak.

Weaklings cry over nothing.

What shall we do now?

Can we go to your place?

- My place?

- Mmm.

- But..

- Is it far?

- Well, yeah, actually.

- Oh, good.

The walk will do me good.

I have to warn you.

I live with a Jewish couple.

They're pretty old

and quite religious.

That's good news.

They might insist that we

have Sabbath dinner with them.

Ah, I'm going to let you in

on a little secret.

Eating is not my worst

nightmare right now.

And, uh, when have you

planned the wedding for?

Oh, um, well, we're not

in any real hurry.

Maybe next year.

Oh, if you're engaged already

why not get it over

and done with?

Stop nagging them

and let them eat in peace.

Ah, it's great to be young.

To have your whole life

ahead of you.

Yep, now is when

the real fun starts.

Marriage, children.

Work, money troubles.

- Can I pour you some more wine?

- That's enough.

He mustn't drink any alcohol.

Serve your fianc.

Tell me, miss, uh, how come

you're wearing that uniform?

It's the, uh,

Patriot Guard uniform.

Alice is rehearsing

for the Liberation Day parade.

Ah, the Liberation Day?

And are you thinking of becoming

a party member as well?

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