The Mask of Dimitrios Page #6

Can you direct me

to the department

of supply?

Yes, sir.

Second floor, to your left.

Thank you.

Woman:
Yes?

Oh, i beg your pardon.

I seem to be lost.

Could you direct me to

the department of supply?

It's down the hall

to your right.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Man:
You may part

again, bulic.

I hope you'll be

luckier this time.

If i have the cards,

i am lucky,

if i don't have

the cards, i'm unlucky.

Go away.

Why?

Last night, every time

you whistled a love song,

he led a heart.

Go away, please.

But i only-

oh, excuse me-

i'm a stranger

in belgrade,

but i played bezique

in germany,

and i'm wondering if

you play it the same way in this country.

Bezique is bezique.

I like it better

than the german pinochle.

Oh, i, too.

My patriotism doesn't go

as far as the cards.

May i buy you a drink...

all of you gentlemen?

Man:
A free

drink? Why not?

Of course.

Come join us.

Thank you.

Waiter, a drink

for all of us.

Yes, sir.

Dimitrios:
My firm,

the dresden optical company,

has a bid in for

the sale of 10,000 pairs of binoculars.

Binoculars.

The order would mean

a great deal.

I understand that,

but surely you don't

expect me-

for 20,000 dinar?

That's

a lot of money.

But i'm afraid

you overestimate my importance

in the government.

In any event,

i have no influence

with the department

of supply,

who pass this on

to people.

But you probably know

the right official.

You fellows stick

together.

True, true...

20,000 dinar...

yes?

Do you think i could

see mr. Druhar for a moment?

You work down

the hall, don't you?

I'm afraid i don't

know your name.

Bulic. Karel bulic.

Oh, i suppose it's

all right. Go on in.

Well, what is it?

Mr. Druhar, i was wondering

if, uh... i mean...

about these optical bids.

What about them?

What about them.

I just-i have a friend of mine...

i just wondered if

you would tell me

when the announcement

of the awards would be made.

I don't know

why you should be interested,

but if it does you

any good to know,

the list

will be posted this afternoon.

Oh, thank you

very much, i...

hey, bulic,

you are late.

A packet of pachas.

Bulic.

Bulic my friend.

Oh, herr wagner,

i am so sorry.

I have very bad news.

I have very

good news for you.

My firm was awarded

the contract for the binoculars.

I owe it all to you.

The award was made

to nanovic & company of czechoslovakia.

Our czech subsidiary.

Subsidiary?

Yes. We put

in two bids:

One for our parent

company in germany

and the other for

our subsidiary much lower.

Much lower.

Here's the money

i promised you:

20,000 dinar.

20,000 dinar.

My wife...

now i can buy her

all those things i wanted.

Of course you can.

We must have a celebration.

You and your wife

will be my guests this evening.

Oh, herr bulic.

Who is it?

Karel.

Oh, it's you.

Well, come in.

I can't

open the door.

Hello, anna, darling.

Look what i brought

for you.

The most wonderful thing

has happened to me.

Come here. Look.

Ooh!

Look.

But that's nothing.

Look.

Oh, karel,

it's beautiful.

That's nothing.

Look.

No, no.

That's for me.

Karel, they gave you

a raise in salary.

No, something

much more wonderful has happened to me.

Where did you

get that money? You didn't steal it?

No. I did a slight service

for a friend of mine.

I helped him to get

a government contract, and he paid me 20,000 dinar.

20,000 dinar.

You see,

i'm not the little unimportant nobody

whom you always

thought i were.

From now on,

there'll be no more of this

because your husband

will get the best for you...

because i love you.

I love you so much.

Now, see how fast

you can get ready.

We go out for dinner.

Oh, where?

A very expensive place.

A friend of mine,

herr wagner.

Darling, it won't

take me a minute.

To madame.

Thank you.

I've lived in belgrade

all my life,

but i've never been to

a place like this.

Madame, you should

come here more often.

You're the most beautiful

woman in the place.

Oh, you lucky fellow,

every man in the place is looking at madame.

Me, too.

That distinguished-looking

gentleman over there

is the freiherr

von kissling.

Terribly rich.

Controls as many as 27 companies.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Of course.

Herr wagner,

is it not?

Why, herr von kissling,

this is indeed a pleasure.

Madame bulic,

may i present the freiherr von kissling?

How do you do?

And my very good friend,

herr bulic.

How do you do,

herr bulic?

Herr bulic is

an important official in the yugoslav government,

a pleasure,

herr bulic.

I beg your pardon.

It is indeed

a great pleasure, sir.

Anna:
Why,

herr von kissling,

why don't

you join us?

May i?

Of course.

Thank you.

Waiter, another

bottle of champagne.

Please sit down.

Bulic:
Thank you.

Herr bulic,

you must forgive me

for forcing myself

upon your company.

From my own table,

i could not resist admiring madame.

I presumed that

on my acquaintance with herr wagner...

i consider it

a compliment.

Madame, i wonder if

you would be so kind as

to dance with

an old man.

Oh, i haven't

danced in so long.

And i am old

and clumsy.

The freiherr is taken

with your wife,

and i must say

i can't blame him.

You should take her

to these places more often.

Isn't she beautiful?

I can't afford it.

Well, my dear bulic,

you forget you've just earned 20,000 dinar,

and that's only

the beginning.

Regardless,

the freiherr likes you.

I can tell by

his expression.

He's famous for

associating with in-men whom he likes.

He doubtless has

a company or two right here in yugoslavia.

Madame is

a divine dancer.

Karel, i'm having

so much fun tonight.

Freiherr:
Miss.

Will you

permit me?

Orchid.

The first

i've ever had.

It's

so beautiful.

It's hardly beautiful

enough for you.

Oh, may i?

Wagner:
That's rather

a large amount of money

to carry with you, freiherr.

Isn't it

a little dangerous?

Perhaps. I don't usually

carry so much with me.

As a matter of fact,

i won this money in werner's room.

Do you know

about werner?

He has the back room.

He's quite

the most reliable gambler in belgrade.

In werner's,

it's your own luck

and not the croupier's

skill that counts.

From the look of that,

you've been very lucky.

Quite, in every way.

Since you've never

been in werner's,

i shall be delighted

if you would accompany me there.

But we've

never gambled...

you may enjoy

watching me win.

Perhaps you will

bring me more luck.

Herr bulic, i have

been thinking.

I wonder if you could

have luncheon with me one day this week.

Yes! Ahem.

Oh, yes

it is possible that we

can discuss something to our mutual advantage.

Mutual-yes.

Yes.

Now, shall

we try our luck?

Herr wagner, i've never

gambled for money.

Oh, my dear bulic,

suppose you lose a few hundred dinar.

There's really no need

to concern yourself over so paltry a sum.

The freiherr has

already expressed an interest in you,

and that means

your fortune is made.

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