The Shop Around the Corner Page #5

...and the light, and the taxes,

and their salaries.

Good morning, Matuschek and Company.

What?

Just a moment.

Mr. Pirovitch.

Yes? Mama, I called you.

We are decorating the window

after closing hours...

...so we won't have to have dinner

with the Laszlos. Isn't that wonderful?

Yes, I knew you'd be glad.

Goodbye, Mama.

Six people I ask, one day a year,

to be so kind...

...as to redecorate a window.

And you have the nerve, Mr. Kralik...

...the oldest employee in the place,

who should set an example.

You spoke like this to me yesterday.

What did I do then?

The whole week you've treated me

like this, and without any reason.

Without any reason?

Maybe I have more reason than you think.

It's obvious

that you're not satisfied with me.

You can draw your own conclusions.

In that case,

I think there's just one thing to do.

Perhaps we'd better call it a day.

Matuschek and Company.

Yes, Mrs. Matuschek, he's here.

Mrs. Matuschek on the telephone.

Hello, Emma.

No, I'm not coming home tonight.

All right.

All right, I'll send it right over.

Put 1,000 pengo in an envelope

and have Pepi take it to Mrs. Matuschek.

Pepi is out. He has quite a few deliveries,

and he won't be back until after lunch.

Mr. Kralik and I always have lunch

at Farago's.

It's only a few blocks from your home.

We can deliver it. Right, Mr. Kralik?

Yes.

No, thank you, Mr. Kralik.

Mr. vadas.

Yes, Mr. Matuschek.

I don't like to break in on your lunch hour.

It's perfectly all right. It'll be a pleasure.

Thank you, Mr. vadas.

Mr. Kralik...

...will you come to my office.

I'd like to talk to you.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Kralik...

...l've been thinking all day

about what you said this morning.

I'm sorry, Mr. Matuschek.

I'm afraid I lost my temper.

No, I think you were right.

I really believe that you'd be happier

somewhere else.

Do you think so, sir?

Yes, I'm sure of it.

I guess there's nothing more to be said.

No. Let me see.

You're naturally entitled to a month's pay.

That's 200 pengo.

- That's right, isn't it?

- Yes, sir.

Will you, please, sign this receipt.

And here's a letter...

...which certainly won't handicap you

in seeking employment.

Thank you, sir.

I guess we might as well say goodbye.

- Goodbye, Mr. Matuschek.

- Goodbye.

Well?

What happened?

"To whom it may concern:

"I wish to state that Mr. Alfred Kralik

leaves my employ of his own accord.

"Mr. Kralik started with Matuschek and

Company nine years ago as an apprentice.

"With diligence,

he advanced to the position of clerk.

"For the last five years,

he has been our first salesman.

"We have found him reliable,

efficient, resourceful.

"We can recommend him without reserve.

"He carries with him our best wishes

for his success in his future career.

"Hugo Matuschek."

Kralik, I still can't believe it.

There's no reason.

The boss doesn't have to give you a reason.

That's one of the wonderful things

about being boss.

Well, I wanted to get off tonight.

I got off all right.

- Kralik, you're not going?

- No, I couldn't face her tonight.

This morning I had a position, a future.

I'm afraid I sort of exaggerated

in my letters.

I showed off a little, and she's expecting

to meet a pretty important man.

I'm in no mood to act important tonight.

Well, I...

My dear Kralik, I think I speak for all of us,

when I say this is a shock and a surprise.

We all feel we are losing

a splendid fellow worker...

...and we certainly wish you the luck

which you so rightfully deserve.

Now, Kralik,

we are going to see each other soon.

If you have an evening with nothing to do,

you know where we live.

- All right, Pirovitch. Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Kralik.

Ilona, I'm going to miss you.

I don't understand.

It's nothing unusual. It happens every day.

Somebody gets fired and...

- Goodbye, llona.

- Goodbye, Mr. Kralik.

Flora.

Flora, you'll notice

when you look through my sales book...

...I cancelled slip number five,

but I deducted it from the total.

Goodbye.

If I had anything to do with you

not getting the evening off, I'm sorry.

It's my fault that you got into this trouble.

Believe me, I'm sorry, too.

That's all right.

- It's true we didn't get along.

- No.

I guess we fought a lot,

but losing a job at a time like this...

...is something you don't wish...

- On your worst enemy.

- I didn't say that, Mr. Kralik.

- Let's not quarrel anymore.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Mr. Kralik.

Yes?

Well?

Oh, you have.

How soon can you come over here?

Yes, well, come right away. I'll... Right.

I'll be waiting here.

You may all go home.

We'll finish the windows tomorrow.

- Excuse me. Good night.

- Good night.

Hello. Is this Mrs. Hojas?

This is Mr. Pirovitch, Mr. Kralik's friend.

Yes, I know he isn't there yet.

Will you, please, tell him when he comes...

...that we are not working tonight,

and I am coming over.

Yes. Thank you.

I hope you don't mind, Mr. Matuschek.

He probably feels pretty low tonight,

and I thought...

You don't have to explain. What you do

after working hours is your own business.

Thank you, sir.

You haven't changed your mind,

by any chance, Mr. Matuschek?

You've got the evening off, haven't you?

Well, go home.

He is the best man you had.

Why did you let him go?

I warn you, Mr. Pirovitch.

His whole life he lived in this shop.

He was almost like a son to you.

And you were so proud of him.

You invited him to your home

again and again.

Mr. Pirovitch, you want to keep your job,

don't you?

Yes, Mr. Matuschek. I have a family.

Two children.

In that case,

mind your own business and go home.

Yes, Mr. Matuschek.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good night.

- Good night, Mr. Matuschek.

- Good night, vadas.

I beg your pardon.

I'm not quite certain

if I delivered Mrs. Matuschek's message.

She told me to remind you to call her

if you don't work tonight.

Yes, you told me, vadas.

Mr. Matuschek, the last time I had

the pleasure to be at your apartment...

...was several months ago

when you sent me after your briefcase.

Today I had a chance to get a glimpse

of your new dining room set.

It's exquisite, really.

I can imagine what it'll look like

with all the lights on at a dinner party.

- It must be simply stunning.

- Thank you, vadas.

- Good night, Mr. Matuschek.

- Good night, vadas.

- Good evening, Mr. Matuschek.

- Good evening.

Please.

- So it's true?

- I'm afraid so, Mr. Matuschek.

Here we have a complete record

from our operatives...

...two of our most reliable men.

"Report on Mrs. Emma Matuschek.

"On December 6, Mrs. Matuschek

left her residence on vales Street, 23...

"...at 8:
45 p.m.

"She walked two blocks up

to Karto Street where she engaged a taxi.

"At 9:
03, the taxi stopped at the corner

of Trantor and Bralter Streets.

"There, Mrs. Matuschek was joined

by a young man."

Mr. Matuschek, your suspicion was right.

It was one of your employees.

Both our operatives identified him later

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