The Shop Around the Corner Page #8

Tell her to be sure and take good care

of herself. All right.

- Really, Kralik, that's a wonderful attitude.

- What's so wonderful about it?

I've been around, and I have my eyes open.

If anyone didn't agree with you here,

it was Miss Novak.

Just leave Miss Novak out of this.

Don't misunderstand.

I have nothing against Miss Novak.

On the contrary, she's a nice girl.

Only sometimes, she went too far.

Not another word about Miss Novak.

She's a fine girl and a hard worker...

...and she's a good salesgirl,

and you shut up!

You misunderstand me.

I didn't mean any offense.

- I was agreeing with you.

- I don't want you to agree with me!

You're fired.

You're fired. Get out of here,

you two-faced, double-crossing...

...two-timer! Go on. Get out of here!

Folks! Folks!

Folks!

Did you hear what he called me?

Remember it on the witness stand.

He called me a double-crossing two-timer!

I told you to get out of here! Get out!

Don't you push. Don't you push!

What right have you got to fire me?

Does Mr. Matuschek know?

No! Mr. Matuschek doesn't know

anything about this.

I'm the manager,

and you don't work here anymore!

How do I know you're the manager?

Prove it to me in black and white.

You're going to get it in black and blue.

All right! Nice little case

of assault and battery.

You'll hear from my lawyer.

What about my salary?

Get the man's salary.

- Here it is, Mr. vadas.

- We have everything prepared.

- We don't want to waste any time.

- Pardon me, sir. Your garments.

I'm entitled to a letter of reference.

I forgot it. Flora, take a letter.

To whom it may concern:

Mr. vadas has been in the employ...

...of Matuschek and Company for two years

during which time he's been efficient...

...as a stool pigeon,

a troublemaker, and a rat.

If he doesn't clear out,

he'll get a punch in the nose.

Truly, Alfred Kralik,

Manager of Matuschek and Company.

- Good morning.

- Good morning, Miss Novak.

I suppose you're surprised to see me back.

Naturally. I'm glad you have your

job back again. I congratulate you.

I hear you haven't been feeling well.

That's all right, thank you.

I wanted to see Mr. Matuschek.

Here he is. I'm Mr. Matuschek.

Mr. Kralik, don't make any jokes.

Not today.

Please, if you want to pick on me,

do it some other time.

I don't know what to say.

I'm trying to tell you that Mr. Matuschek

isn't here, and that I'm the manager.

Haven't you got any heart at all?

I'm not well, I can hardly see straight.

Everything is just going round and round.

I ask you a simple question and instead of

any consideration, you try to frighten me.

Excuse me.

Hello.

Mr. Foeldes?

Hello, Mr. Foeldes.

Yes. Well, thank you very much.

Yes, it all happened this morning.

That's right, Mr. Foeldes.

No, Mr. Matuschek won't be with us

for a while.

Now, please, Mr. Foeldes.

I don't own the shop yet.

I'm only the manager.

Goodbye, Mr...

Miss Novak! Klara! Klara!

- Good evening, Miss Novak.

- Good evening, Mr. Kralik.

I hope you'll forgive this intrusion, but I...

Being in charge of the shop,

I feel like a father to our little family.

Anyway, how are you, young lady?

I'll be all right, Mr. Kralik. Please sit down.

Thank you.

Christmas is coming, and we'll miss

a good worker like you in the shop.

So you better get well.

I'll be all right in a day or two.

That doesn't mean

that you should neglect yourself.

I'm very serious about this...

...because I feel responsible

for the whole thing.

- You?

- Yes.

Oh, no, Mr. Kralik.

I think I can relieve your mind.

It wasn't your fault at all.

No, there's a much bigger reason,

unfortunately.

Shouldn't you call a doctor?

No, I don't need to see a doctor.

My trouble is what one might call...

...psychological.

It's my own personal problem,

and I'll come out of it.

I'm sorry.

It's a shame you have to go through all this.

As long as it's only psychological,

you won't...

Only psychological!

Mr. Kralik, it's true we're

in the same room...

...but we're not on the same planet.

Miss Novak, although I'm the victim

of your remark...

...I can't help but admire the exquisite way

you have of expressing yourself.

You certainly know how

to put a man in his planet.

Aunt Anna has something for you!

She has? Why doesn't she come in?

Come in, Aunt Anna!

This is Mr. Kralik

of Matuschek and Company.

- I'm glad to meet you.

- How do you do?

- I hope it's good news.

- I'll tell you later.

Mr. Kralik, it was kind of you to drop in.

I don't want to spoil your whole evening.

I have nothing to do.

Go ahead and read the letter.

Don't worry about me.

- Lf you don't mind.

- Not at all.

- Good news?

- very good news.

I can promise you I'll be back in the shop

tomorrow, and I'll be on my toes!

I'll sell more goods than ever before.

That's quite a change in you.

It's amazing what one letter can do.

If I weren't feeling so happy,

I'd be very annoyed with you.

With me? Why?

Why? Because you spoiled

my date last night.

I wasn't so wrong when I asked you

not to sit at my table.

This gentleman did come to the caf.

He looked in the window,

saw us together, and misunderstood.

- He thought you and I were friends?

- He must have. Listen.

"Tell me and be frank.

I think you owe it to me.

"Who is this very attractive young man?

He's just the type women fall for."

- I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble.

- It's all right. I'll straighten it out.

It won't hurt him to be a little jealous.

He doesn't seem to be much of a man,

this friend of yours.

I mean, he walks away.

He's afraid to come over to the table

when another man is there.

No, Mr. Kralik, he's wasn't afraid,

I can assure you.

He's tactful. He's sensitive.

He's not the type of man who would

walk up to a table uninvited.

It's difficult to explain a man like him

to a man like you.

Where you would say, "black,"

he would say, "white."

Where you would say, "ugly,"

he says, "beautiful."

And when you say, "old maid," he says:

"Eyes that sparkle with fire and mystery...

"vivacious.

"Fascinating."

I remind him of gypsy music.

Speaking of gypsy music,

we've had a lot of trouble...

...selling those Ochi Tchornya boxes,

haven't we?

- That doesn't make any difference.

- You can consider one box sold.

Yes. I've just had an inspiration.

I'll give one to my friend for Christmas.

Miss Novak, you're taking an awful chance.

Why don't you give him a wallet?

I'm sure he'd be crazy about it.

Any man would be. A wallet is practical.

Besides, we have those imported pigskins.

- I'm not interested.

- I'd make you a special price.

No, I'm sorry.

Besides being a practical thing...

...a wallet is quite romantic.

On one side he has your last letter,

on the other side, a picture of you.

When he opens it, there you are.

And that's all the music he wants.

Why, Mr. Kralik, you surprise me.

That's very well-expressed.

I must admit, that's very nice.

No, just the same,

I'm going to give him a cigarette box.

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