The Shop Around the Corner Page #10

Go home and give it to your mother.

- My people don't live here in town.

- Is that so?

- Have you no other relations here?

- No, Mr. Matuschek.

You're all alone in Budapest

on Christmas Eve?

That's right.

Rudy! Do you like chicken noodle soup?

I certainly do.

And what would you think of roast goose

stuffed with baked apples?

And fresh boiled potatoes and butter

and some red cabbage on the side?

I'd love it!

And then cucumber salad with sour cream?

Then a double order of apple strudel

with vanilla sauce.

Sounds wonderful!

You're going to have it, Rudy.

Come on. Here, taxi!

- It's lovely, I'm sure he'll like it.

- I think so, too.

Merry Christmas, Klara. I hope

it all turns out the way you want it to.

- Thanks, llona.

- Good night.

- I'm sorry, I'll be out in a second.

- That's all right, no hurry.

I decided to follow your advice after all.

Want to see something?

That's beautiful.

Why don't you try it on?

I'd like to see what it looks like on a girl.

- Are those real diamonds?

- They're pretty near.

I didn't know you had a girlfriend.

Yes, it probably isn't easy for you

to imagine anyone...

...could like a man of my type.

Let's not start all over again.

It's Christmas, and I'd like to be friends.

Beside, you're wrong.

- Do you mind if I tell you something?

- No, not at all.

When I first came to work here,

something very strange happened to me.

I got psychologically mixed up.

- You don't say?

- Yes.

I found myself looking at you

again and again.

I just couldn't take my eyes off of you.

I kept saying, "Klara Novak,

what on earth is the matter with you.

"This Kralik is not

a particularly attractive man."

- I hope you don't mind.

- No, not at all.

Now, here comes the paradox.

I found myself falling for you.

- I can't believe it.

- Yes, and very much so.

- You certainly didn't show it.

- In those first few weeks...

I know you won't misconstrue

what I'm going to say to you.

After all, I'm happily engaged.

At least it looks that way.

Go on.

In those first few weeks,

there were moments in the stockroom...

...when you could have swept me

off of my feet.

Now I'm getting psychologically mixed up.

I was a different girl, then.

I was rather naive.

All my knowledge came from books,

and I'd just finished a novel...

...about a glamorous French actress

from the Comdie Franaise.

That's a theater in France.

When she wanted to arouse a man's

interest, she treated him like a dog.

Yes, you treated me like a dog.

But instead of licking my hand, you barked.

My mistake was I didn't realize that the

difference between this glamorous lady...

...and me was that she was with

the Comdie Franaise...

...and I was with Matuschek and Company.

Well, that's all forgotten now.

Now you're going to see your girlfriend.

By the way, is it serious?

Yes, very.

Maybe we'll both be engaged

Monday morning.

I think we will.

Don't misunderstand me.

I just said in my case, it might happen.

As a matter of fact,

I can tell you, it will happen.

How do you know?

We won't go into that.

Mr. Kralik, what do you mean you know?

I guess I might as well tell you.

He came to see me.

- Who?

- Your fiance.

Yes, he came last night.

You shouldn't have told him who I am.

I spent an uncomfortable hour.

Apparently, he didn't believe it when

you wrote that I meant nothing to you.

I can't get it into my head.

Coming to see you?

- That doesn't sound like him at all.

- I've straightened everything out.

You don't have to worry.

In a little while you'll be Mrs. Popkin.

Mrs. Popkin?

That's the name, isn't it?

That's the name he gave me.

Oh, yes, that's right. Popkin. Popkin.

A very nice fellow. I congratulate you.

Thank you.

I think he's a very attractive man,

don't you?

Yes. For his type, I'd say yes.

You would classify him as a definite type?

Absolutely! And don't try to change him.

Don't put him on a diet.

- Would you call him fat?

- I wouldn't, but that's a matter of opinion.

I think that little stomach of his

gives him a nice, homey quality.

That's what you want in a husband, isn't it?

- Yes, that's what I want.

- And you're perfectly right.

If I were a girl and had to choose

between a young, good-for-nothing...

...with plenty of hair,

and a solid, mature citizen...

...l'd pick Mathias Popkin every time.

Anyway, he has a fine mind.

Didn't he impress you

as being rather witty?

He struck me as rather depressed,

but it's unfair to judge a man...

...when he's out of a job.

Out of a job! He never told me!

That shows you how sensitive he is.

You have nothing to worry about.

He feels that both of you

can live very nicely on your salary.

Did you tell him how much I make?

He's your fiance, and he asked me.

When I told him what salary you made,

he was a little worried...

...but then I promised him you'd get a raise,

and he felt better about it.

Let me tell you, mentioning that bonus

didn't do you any harm at all.

This is terrible.

I'm outraged!

I had no idea he was materialistic like this.

If you could read his letters.

Such ideals, such a lofty point of view.

- I could quote you passages.

- For instance?

"True love is to be two, and yet one.

"A man and a woman blended as angels.

"Heaven itself."

That's victor Hugo. He stole that.

I thought I was the inspiration

for all those beautiful thoughts.

Now I find he was just copying words

out of a book.

He probably didn't mean

a single one of them.

I'm sorry you feel this way about it.

I'd hate to think I'm spoiling

your Christmas.

I'd built up such an illusion about him.

I thought he was so perfect.

I had to come along and destroy it.

That's all right.

I guess I really ought to thank you.

Klara, if I'd only known in the beginning

how you felt about me...

...things would have been different.

We wouldn't have been fighting

all the time.

If we quarreled, it wouldn't have been

over suitcases and handbags...

...but over something like whether

your aunt or grandmother...

...should live with us or not.

It's sweet of you to try to cheer me up.

I think we'd better say good night.

You have an engagement and so have l,

and we shouldn't be late.

Do you know what I wish would happen?

When your bell rings at 8:30,

and you open the door...

...instead of Popkin, I come in.

Please, don't make it more difficult for me.

- I'd say, "Klara, darling"...

- No, you mustn't.

My dearest, sweetheart Klara,

I can't stand it any longer.

Take your key

and open post office box 237...

...and take me out of my envelope

and kiss me.

Mr. Kralik, you must...

Dear friend.

You?

Dear friend?

Are you disappointed?

Psychologically, I'm very confused...

...but personally, I don't feel bad at all.

Klara.

When you came to the caf that night,

I was pretty rude, wasn't I?

- Oh, no. No.

- Yes, I was. Don't you remember?

Why, I called you bowlegged.

I was going to prove to you that I wasn't.

I was going to go out to the street

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