Tales from the Golden Age Page #3

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And you?

I'll take a taxi.

I'm exhausted after today.

What's the matter?

Good morning.

Morning. Something wrong?

Throw all the papers down!

Move it!

You help him!

Hurry UP!

That's the lot.

None left behind?

Let's go.

Legend has it that

it was the only time

Scanteia didn't reach the workers.

THE LEGEND:

OF THE ZEALOUS ACTIVIS

Dear Comrades,

allow me to present

Comrade Decebal Stoenescu.

Comrades!

You've worked hard,

followed instructions,

have even surpassed

most of the Plan's targets,

as we've heard in previous speeches.

Allow me, though, Comrades

to express my disappointment

about a situation

that reflects badly on us.

In the Party's fight

to eradicate illiteracy,

it is precisely our county,

your county,

which gave our country great minds

such as Ciupercescu,

Vladeanu, Boeriu,

Mintoc,

that now figures worst.

It has the highest level

of illiteracy in villages

and small towns.

Comrades, communism

is not built in offices,

but on the ground.

It is the duty of each

and every one of us

to wipe out illiteracy.

Dear Comrades,

Dear Comrade Secretary

Decebal Stoenescu,

I swear before you,

and everybody here

that we will do our utmost

to wipe out illiteracy

in the villages and rural localities

of our county

by the end of the year.

Comrades, it is the duty

of every young activist

to be actively involved

in educating the villages and towns

that have been left behind.

I am convinced that

each one of them will go out

in order to accomplish this great goal.

The rain's washed the road away.

You can only get there by foot.

Is it much further?

See that pylon?

Head for it, take the road,

go over the hill and you'll

come to the village.

About 7 kilometers.

Thanks a lot.

That way?

Straight ahead!

Good day!

Good day!

Do you have something to fix this?

A bit of rope or something...

How isolated you are!

A piece of wire. Great!

Do you have some water?

Piece of crap.

Thanks.

Buttermilk?

You don't have water?

What you're doing, Comrade,

is dangerous.

Is Adancata that way?

Are you dumb?

I have a sore throat.

A d raft?

From ice cream,

that my grandson brought.

Thanks.

Comrade Curelea,

our biggest problem

is that we lack electricity.

It comes and goes.

Here, we don't have...

Hello, Radu!

Without it, there's no clinic,

no school,

and when it rains heavily

it takes a week to get back to normal.

Hello.

You saw for yourself

the state of the roads.

- Lovely Sheep!

Yes!...

Last year, there was a pregnant woman.

Comrade, I sent her

to the clinic on a cart.

She gave birth in the fields!

I'm well aware of this, Comrade Mayor,

but you don't need electricity to study.

Didn't our parents study by lamplight?

You're absolutely right.

I promise by the end of the year,

we'll redouble our efforts

to convince parents to send

their kids to school more often.

By cart, on horse, however they can.

No, Comrade Mayor,

not only kids. All workers

should reap the fruit of education.

Indeed.

We have a room ready for you.

It's nothing special, but...

You are staying the night?

Comrade Mayor,

I'll stay as long as necessary.

I want to see the results myself.

We must make sacrifices!

Until a young activist is sent

to take care of it,

I'm responsible.

Comrade Curelea,

we don't even have a schoolroom.

Where can we gather so many people?

Here's fine!

What do I need so much space for?

I can sleep anywhere.

It's perfect.

It's perfect. We'll put that bed here.

I'm sure we'll work well together.

Spread the word that anyone

illiterate should come tomorrow.

- Party's orders.

- I understand.

Good people!

The Comrade Mayor announces

that all illiterate people

must come to the village hall

on Monday,

for comrade activist classes.

Good day, lon.

Ion, the mayor made an announcement.

You must send your grandson

to the village hall.

What for?

To learn to read.

An order from the county.

OK.

Good day, children.

Good day.

They're all here, Comrade Mayor?

All those that have come.

Comrade Mayor, the last census reported

an illiteracy rate of 10%.

Where are the others?

Well... some have left the village,

some are dead,

others are with their animals.

There isn't a single adult.

Comrade Curelea,

there's another factor.

People are ashamed to learn with kids.

You understand?

They're not ashamed of

being illiterate?

We'll start with the kids.

In 2 hours,

I want a hall full of adults.

No matter their age!

Yes, Comrade.

Children...

Comrade Mayor...

I'm busy.

Come back in two hours.

Bring your sister-in-law,

your sister and anyone else

who's at home.

- Good day, lon.

- Hello!

Ion,

Comrade Mayor

wants you at the hall.

What for?

Literacy, they call it.

The Comrade wants to educate us.

But if everyone can write,

who'll watch the sheep?

"Those who come to the village hall,"

said Comrade Mayor,

will get a kilo of sugar each.

Let the kids go to school,

we're past it.

Here,

for the gentleman.

Some good cheese.

What's all this?

It's our tradition,

to welcome guests.

Take it when you leave.

I'm not leaving for a week!

I have a mission.

Anything else?

Anybody who's sent presents

instead of coming to school

must come tomorrow,

or I'll send the police!

I understand.

Dear Comrades,

our Party ensures free education

for every citizen.

The world is full of dangers.

We can only avoid them

through education.

Here we have

a matchbox.

What is written?

Minimum 48 matchsticks.

Yes, but what does it say here?

Anybody?

Do you know?

I'll tell you.

"Keep out of the reach of children"

Do you know how many fires

are caused by children

playing with matches every year?

No.

Lots!

Innocents shouldn't be

sacrificed because of

parental ignorance.

Let's learn the alphabet,

and how to keep out of danger.

Comrade Teacher taught us

petrol is dangerous.

If a barn catches fire,

we mustn't throw water on it.

But we don't have any water here.

Take this.

Granddad, this can is no good.

What's wrong with it?

It expired last year.

Let's see.

It's fine.

S- H-E-E-P.

Sheep.

Come on, Comrades, louder,

a bit of enthusiasm.

The kids are putting you to shame.

Fine. Homework for tomorrow.

Write three sentences

in your notebooks,

from a book, a newspaper

or something from home.

- Understood?

- Yes.

You didn't bring your grandfather?

He said he had to milk the sheep!

Comrade Topala!

Do-not-touch

the-pylon,

or-fallen-wires. Danger.

Can you die if you touch the pylon?

Not at all.

Comrade Teacher told us

not to touch an electrocuted person.

We could be electrocuted too.

- The Comrade isn't a teacher.

- So what is he?

An activist.

What's an activist?

Tudorut, you're too little.

You'll understand when you grow up.

Hello, lon.

Hello. Are you on holiday?

I'm sorry, you have to go

to school tomorrow.

It's better if you come willingly.

For God's sake!

Get out of here!

- Moise.

- Yes.

- Gavrila.

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