Eleni Page #5

step forward now and speak.

We have a witness. Comrade Katroubis.

Yes, I have something to say.

She, Eleni Gatzoyiannis...

(BABY CRIES)

...the Americana, she tried to bribe me

with her American dollars

to turn against you

and join the fascist cause.

- Ana...

- You did, you tried to bribe me.

But I wouldn't do it.

I wouldn't do it.

Katis, the children are leaving.

Citizens of Lia,

our children are about to leave

for Albania and Czechoslovakia.

We will take a short pause

in the proceedings of this trial,

in order to permit their parents

to say goodbye.

(CONFUSION OF PLEAS AND CRIES)

(CHILDREN PLAY NOISILY)

(INAUDIBLE)

Citizens of Lia,

the People's Court, having found

the accused guilty of treason,

is now ready to pass sentence.

Andreas Mikopoulos,

- death by firing squad.

- (VILLAGERS GASP)

Vasili Nikou,

death by firing squad.

Eleni Gatzoyiannis,

death by firing squad.

Spiro, when do we die?

Tomorrow morning.

Do you know where my daughter is?

Can I see her?

One last time?

(SOLDIER) You, move!

Please, Spiro.

Open up.

- Glykeria!

- Mana.

Aah...

- (SHE WEEPS)

- Sh...!

Sh! Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Oh, look, they've cut your hair.

Never mind, it will grow back.

It's been hard for you, I know.

- But you must be strong.

- Mana!

No.

Listen,

you must live.

You must live.

You have something wonderful

to look forward to.

Some day,

you will marry

and have children of your own.

It is such a joy...

...to be a mother.

It is such a joy.

And I thank God for letting me know it.

Go now.

Don't wait for them to separate us.

Goodbye, my child.

May you live for me

as long as the mountains.

Go... now.

Load!

Aim!

My children!

Fire!

(ECHOES) My children!

- Those were her last words?

- "My children."

I was hidden over there. I saw her.

Mana...

(TAPE)

The judge, what was his name?

(ANA) Stavros Petrakis.

(NICK)

He called himself Katis at the time.

(NICK) The officials at the bureau told

me that he had died a few years ago.

(ANA) They don't know anything.

(ANA) He's back in Greece!

(ANA) We're too ashamed to return,

but he's not?

(NICK) Where in Greece is he?

Where in Greece is he?

(ANA) In the town.

Saloniki.

Yes? Can I help you?

I think I have the wrong address.

I am looking for Stavros Petrakis.

I'm his wife.

Is it about the pension?

No. My name is Nick Gage,

"New York Times".

I have an appointment

with your husband.

Appointment? He didn't say anything...

Come in. You shouldn't open

the door by yourself! I told you before!

- There's a man from New York.

- What?

A man from New York. He says

he has an appointment with you.

My wife says that

we've got an appointment of some kind.

My name is Nick Gage,

"New York Times".

"New York Times"?

You didn't say "New York Times",

you just said New York!

I'm doing an article about the evolution

of the Greek judicial system.

The Minister of Justice in Athens

suggested I speak with you.

Wait a minute!

Now I remember.

I saw you on the television.

Well, apparently there's been

a little breakdown in communications.

The Minister was supposed

to telephone you about this interview.

Sorry to bother you. I can come back

at a more convenient time.

Oh, please...

Oh... all I have these days

is convenience.

No, no, it's perfect. Please... sit down.

Go and get our guest something to eat.

Yeah, "New York Times".

Oh, look...

Let me just go and...

I was taking a little nap.

Had I known...

I'll be right back. Sit. Sit!

(INAUDIBLE)

So...

I'm all yours.

I've ordered that

we should not be disturbed.

I really appreciate your cooperation.

On the contrary, I'm very grateful to you.

You've made me very happy.

My wife and my daughter are sick

of my stories of the Civil War.

And you come all this way,

The "New York Times" yet.

They're in there now, plotting

how to deal with me when you leave.

Please.

Shall we start?

Testing, one, two, three.

Testing, one, two, three.

Stavros Petrakis.

(REWINDS)

Testing, one, two, three.

Which side were you on

in the Civil War?

On the side of Greece, of course.

It wasn't so much a war,

you understand, as a...

No, it was a battle of ideas.

To me, Greeks have always

clung to the notion

that man's life is ruled by ideas.

And the period in question...

...it was an exhilarating time.

Wonderful bread.

Home-made.

You must try it.

- No, I'm not hungry.

- Please, you must.

It's fresh.

The wheat comes from my village.

You can't buy bread like this,

especially not in America.

Please, Nick.

No, no. You were born in Greece,

I shall call you Nikola.

- If you don't mind?

- No, I don't mind.

And your parents are in America?

My father is, yes.

- And your mother?

- My mother remained in Greece.

Although I've heard some

wonderful things about America,

some of our people chose to stay...

My mother didn't actually choose to stay.

She had some legal problems

during the Civil War.

There was a trial, there were witnesses,

there was a judge.

- What side was she on?

- She was on the civilian side.

Were you ever involved

in trials of civilians?

No, that's impossible.

There are no civilians in a civil war.

If you're looking for your mother,

maybe I could be of some assistance.

You see, I've got some friends...

My mother was executed.

Death by firing squad.

Her name was Eleni Gatzoyiannis.

Some called her Americana.

Do you remember her?

Remember her? I don't understand.

About 800 kilometres away from here,

there's a village called Lia.

Do you remember that village?

- Lia?

- Lia.

No.

No, I...

I don't think that I have ever been

to a village by that name.

Some names change,

but this village is still called Lia.

You, I believe,

were called Katis at that time.

Katis?

No.

No, I was never...

I think maybe you made a big mistake.

Why are you still alive?

How can you live,

knowing what you've done?

I think you'd better leave.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about

Eleni Gatzoyiannis, my mother.

I'm not interested in your mother!

Sit down.

Sit down.

You don't deserve to die standing up.

Sit down!

(ECHOES) My children!

(GUNSHOT RESOUNDS)

Don't be afraid.

(NICK) My dear family,

I'm sending you this tape.

I'll be coming home soon.

The hunt for my mother's killer is over.

I did not inherit the necessary hate

to end a human life.

I am still mystified by the love

my mother felt for me and my sisters.

The question of being worth it or not

is no longer applicable.

I accept it as something she gave me.

I accept her love as my inheritance.

I miss you and I love you.

I miss and love my children.

I hope with all my heart

the love I've discovered

is not for mothers alone.

I want to feel it, too.

I have a need to feel it.

To share the inheritance my mother

left me with you and my children.

I know that

they are not just my children.

I know that they are ours.

I may be late

in returning home to claim them,

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