Szindbád, bon voyage! Page #3

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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

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