- Is there an injection? - No.
- What's that? - Water.
If nothing happens tomorrow, do it again.
Give me the probe.
Don't tense up.
Say when you feel a sting.
- Did you feel it? - Yes.
When you feel it coming out, go and sit on the toilet, OK?
Give me the plaster.
Hold it.
Very important: Don't cut the cord before the placenta's out.
If it stays in, it's serious.
Sit tight till it comes out.
Don't move!
- Can I cover myself? - Yes.
I forgot something very important.
Don't throw the foetus in the toilet, it'll block it!
Whole or in pieces.
And don't bury it where dogs can dig it up.
Wrap it up nicely, take a bus, get off at a high rise,
go to the 10th floor, and throw it down the rubbish chute.
- Understand? - Yes!
Take her temperature, morning and evening.
If it's lowerthan 38"C, leave her be.
If it goes above 39", give her aspirin or something like that.
I can come to see you tomorrow at 2, or later this evening.
No, that's OK.
- Come on, don't be... - No.
As you wish.
If you get sick or you need me, call and I'll drop by.
Don't move, OK?
Any questions?
Good, then I'm off.
Good luck now!
Thanks.
Tell me...
I'm curious to know.
Why did Ramona recommend this Bebe?
He did Luciana's abortion.
- Not Ramona herself. - No.
So why did she recommend him? What if he was an asshole?
She thought she was doing you a favour?
She said he'd do it if I was more than 3 months gone.
So why did you tell the pig 2 months?
I thought it was best.
Yes? Best stop thinking...
And if you're going to lie, warn me.
Why did you tell him I was your sister?
Where did you get that?
He said I had to go in person, what else could I tell him?
But why didn't you go?
I asked you to go, right?
Gabita, are you even listening? Why didn't you go?
- Because it was really hard for me! - So you lied.
I didn't lie to you.
It doesn't matter who you lied to.
I forgot to tell you, but I didn't lie.
It doesn't matter now.
I'm just upset things ended up this way,
because of your stupid ideas.
We could have gone to Mrs Jeni or whoever Dorina mentioned,
could have done it differently.
It's easy to say that now.
But remember, you agreed,
you said if Bebe was cheaper, so what if he was a guy?
I said that?
I said we should go where it's cheaper, sure,
not that it didn't matter if it was a man.
I never even thought it.
What, you think I did?
For fuck's sake!
If that bitch had kept the booking, none of this would have happened.
Why did you make the reservation by phone?
I thought it'd be like calling from somewhere else.
You "thought".
Alright...
- Any cigarettes left? - No.
This painting's really weird.
Are you alright?
Yes.
Does that hurt?
Stings a bit.
It hurt when he put it in.
I've got to go to Adi's.
It's his mum's birthday, I promised.
Want the lamp on?
No, leave it like that.
Can you just get me a glass of water, please?
I'll be back in an hour.
- You want something to eat? - I'm not hungry.
- For later? - I've got the cakes.
- I'll bring you a salad. - Don't, I won't eat it.
We'll see.
Here's the number.
Call if anything happens.
Don't leave it, I'm not calling there.
I'll ring from there, but just in case...
I'm going. Be good, OK?
Don't let anyone in.
Are you going now?
What about the key?
Do I lock you in and take it?
You'll be fine. I'll be back soon.
Bye.
Miss.
Miss...
The man who was with you left his ID behind.
So you're late and you forgot the flowers!
Know what? Keep it up and I'm gone!
Why are you pissed off!
- Good evening. - Good evening.
I'm Adi's mother.
Otilia. Happy birthday!
Thank you. Let me kiss you.
Thank you for coming.
Gina! Where are those pickles?
Go on, I'll be right there. Just getting the pickles.
Go in!
I need to make a call.
Good evening. Room 206, please.
Otilia, my father.
Is that how you introduce me?
Otilia. Congratulations!
Thank you. Let's go in. You shouldn't, really!
Give her your slippers, there aren't any others.
You want to catch cold? Take this pair.
- I don't need any. - Take them.
Come in, don't be shy! Come in!
Good evening.
The young lady is Adi's girlfriend.
Otilia.
The Rusus. Adi's godparents.
Dr and Mrs Aldea,
Racoviceanu, cardiologist. His wife...
Offer the young lady a seat, you're making her dizzy!
So you're a cardiologist, while I'm a mere doctor!
When you visit me for your prostate, we'll see who's more important!
What about me? Always the doctor's wife,
despite being a chemist!
Where is the bathroom?
Excuse me.
Adi, get the lights.
- Will you have some soup? - I can't stay.
You've barely arrived!
Did you wash your hands?
You said drop by, not eat dinner with your folks.
Just till they open the champagne, then we go to my room.
Are we OK?
Stop, I'm all sweaty.
The soup.
Go ahead!
Nothing will change in the department until Dima retires.
Will you shut up about the Institute? You never stop.
What's troubling you?
- Like a whisky? - Juice if you have it.
Adi, some juice.
- She doesn't drink. - I do, just not now.
It's proper, a girl shouldn't drink.
You eat turkey?
- Not a vermouth? - Elderwine.
I'll get it myself.
- Maybe she's fasting. - What if she is?
I'm not fasting.
You must eat fish as you're from Galati.
From the town, yes.
Do you know Dr lvanov? The surgeon.
No. I left straight after school.
A former student, used to bring us fish.
Graduated with straight 10s?
No. But a 9.9 average...
When we got a 7, the whole dorm would celebrate!
Now, 10 students per class graduate with a 9.9.
A 10.5 you mean!
Adi has a friend who got straight 10s,
plus the Student Association 50 percent. 10.5!
Next year, married students get a 25 per cent bonus!
Maybe you can marry by then!
Do your parents also teach?
My father's a soldier, Mum's retired.
They worked together when they were younger.
Simple folk often have better sense than the educated.
It depends where you put them.
Dima also comes from the country.
He got on in the Party thanks to his "healthy" roots, but...
Not Dima again! I'm sick of him! Let's toast!
With juice?
Turn it up, let's hear the Wise One.
Are the meatballs pork?
Dear, it's a nightmare cooking for this family.
Adi would never eat pork.
He'd see one bit of fat and stop eating.
And soup! Just a bubble of grease, and he'd be done!
The same with chicken skin.
I'd make ham rolls, and he'd give them to the other children!
It really got to me! We weren't well connected.
I earned 2,280 a month.
We'd queue 3 hours for a kilo of meat!
And he was fussy.
Kids have to learn, life is hard.
No one to spoil them later.
They sent me out with the cow. I did my homework by lamplight.
There were 9 of us, Mum put the polenta on the table,
and whoever was quick, ate!
So you were quick!
No, they were all fussy eaters. When I married Grigore,
if the potatoes weren't like Mum's, he wouldn't eat!
- Old habits die hard! - And they're still not like Mum's.
But they're good.
OK, they're very good.
How does she do them?
- Mum added milk. - So do I.
I add butter and boiled water.
Each to his own.
We never had butter.
But Mum always put potatoes in the polenta!
When we were young, it was different.
Now it's handed to them on a plate!
Look at them! Dorms, grants, Mum and Dad spoonfeeding them...
It's relative. Think where the State sends them to work...
Some godforsaken village, where they're buried!
What's wrong with that system?
Before coming to Roman, I spent 8 years in Cotnari
and I think I've done alright.
Help yourself. Don't wait for me to serve you.
What can I tempt you with?
And if the girls don't marry in college,
they end up with the local teacher or priest.
A priest who is usually, the village drunk.
Don't generalize, dear. There are decent priests.
Exceptions.
The majority have VCRs, colour TVs... and they're always busy!
And with what?
What keeps them so busy? Confessions!
I don't know, I no longer attend church.
We go at Easter. We could be arrested for that.
- Arrested by whom, dear? - By the priest!
That's a good one!
My Easter eggs were better than ever!
From my mother-in-law.
Don't laugh. Guess who I met at church this Easter?
Nicely hidden behind a pillar?
Tones!
Aurel asked him: "Where's your grade book?"
No, dear. I simply said: "Give me your book."
Very good!
He started on me: "Listen, Aurel." That sort of thing.
We got the dye for the eggs from my German sister-in-law.
And marzipan at Christmas. Delicious!
Last year, all my eggs cracked. God knows why.
Mine turned out wonderfully!
Of course, if the dye's good!
- I shine them with oil. - I use butter.
With this German dye, there's no need.
We had yellow, green and orange.
And blue.
I made blue from yellow and green.
When we were done, we gave them away.
- To Mrs Albu this year. - Our share of good deeds!
Thanks. A cigarette?
- I only like one brand... - Go on.
Thanks.
- What do you study? - Tech.
Boys used to take tech and girls studied medicine.
Don't they now?
With tech, you're not sent to the country.
But working in a factory all your life...
- Are you in a dorm? - Yes.
How many to a room?
Four. But I moved in with a friend, just the two of us.
- She can look after herself! - Good for her.
A young girl like you smoking in front of her boyfriend's parents...
- Emilian! - What?
I was 43 when my father died, he never saw me smoke!
- Very healthy. - As if he didn't know!
Adi, can you get the champagne?
It's a question of respect.
Now children defy you to your face.
- Valentin's the same. - Who defies you?
OK, it's not the right word, but you know what I mean.
I was against my son dodging conscription.
Let him experience Army life!
All this comfort? You must learn to be a man.
My wife's the same with our boy!
Well I don't agree.
You really believe getting knocked about for 9 months
will make him a man?
I wouldn't want my son to suffer. For what?
You should see the ones who were in for 16 months.
Poor things.
Border guard's the worst.
Punishment duty's worse.
We're not talking about that.
Adi wasn't exempted due to his father.
A matter of principle. So he's studying chemistry.
Not at the table.
Chemistry's great. He can be my assistant. He'd love it.
He could have retaken the exam.
- He can't take it now? - How can he study both?
- Opening the champagne already? - Yes, let's.
Grigore, can you pass the green-stemmed glasses?
Happy Birthday to you!
Please, here you are.
Happy birthday, dear god-daughter!
- Can you get me the phone? - Yes, wait.
Adela's on the phone.
Want to tell me what's going on?
You've been furious since you got here.
- I don't want to talk. - You won't tell me?
- You really want to know? - Of course I do!
Whatever it is, just tell me.
I was helping Gabita have an abortion.
- That's what the money was for? - You think an abortion's 300 lei?
So why did you need it?
I'll pay you back Monday, don't worry.
My dad had a colleague
who got 3 years for helping a patient.
And if I was pregnant what would we do?
- Don't start! - It's hardly impossible.
Have you thought about it? What would you do?
Don't roll your eyes, answer me!
- Thought about what? - What to do if I got pregnant.
- You won't! - How do you know I'm not?
Are you?
You don't know when my period is.
It's due some time around now!
Why do you care? It's not your problem!
Why would you say that?
Have you got pregnant since we've been together?
On Thursday, I said be careful,
not to come in me. You didn't give a shit.
How can you talk about this now?
What? You're ashamed to talk about it, but not to do it?
I don't see the point if you're not pregnant.
I want to know what to expect from you.
Calm down. If it happens, I'll take care of it.
Right...
Why be like this?
Have I ever let you down when you needed me?
How many times did I need help? You have no idea.
How am I to blame if you don't tell me?
You want me to guess your problems?
- I could have helped with Gabi! - Sure you'd have helped.
You can't even discuss it, how could you help?
You have to be careful...
Don't worry, I won't rely on you.
At least Gabita would help me.
You're saying I wouldn't help?
I said I'm against abortion, because it's dangerous.
- So what's your solution? - I don't know... I'd marry you.
So if I get pregnant...
Stop, you're way off track.
It's OK, I'm not spending my life making you potatoes.
Otilia.
My parents' friends annoyed you?
Yes! But that's not the problem.
You think my parents are simple folk, too.
- Have you ever heard me say that? - I know what you think.
- And you have said it. - Said what?
Can I come in?
I brought you creme brulee.
But save some room for the meringue!
Why are you sitting in the dark?
Can you get the phone?
Listen. I'm sorry if I did something wrong.
I love you, I want us to stay together.
Give me the phone.
- I said I was sorry. - You apologized...
But do you know what for?
Tell me.
Why did you apologize?
I don't want you to be upset because of me.
If I've made a mistake, I didn't mean to.
- I want us to get along. - Until when?
Until I'm assigned to somewhere without you?
I asked you not to touch me.
Everything'll work out.
We'll go to camp, just the two of us. No more fights.
Get me the phone.
Can I talk to Gabita in private?
I won't be long.
Good evening. Room 206, please.
Excuse me. Has anyone gone up to room 206?
Mihartescu, I was there this morning.
No, you don't need to go up. Thank you.
I have to go.
What? Is Gabi OK?
Five minutes more. She's just serving the meringue.
I wish I could stay, but I can't. I'm sorry.
At least go and say goodbye.
Tell them for me. I really have to go.
- You realize you're embarrassing me? - I'm sorry.
Bye.
Please, you don't have to come.
Go back. It's stupid, waiting for the lift in silence.
Good evening. Room 206.
Your ID.
The receptionist took my details this morning.
- Mihartescu... - Your ID card.
I think it's upstairs.
- Your friend can bring it down. - I called earlier, she was asleep.
I'll bring it down to you, I don't want to wake her.
Why don't you keep it on you?
I just went out for cigarettes, and ran into someone.
- You just went out... - I'll be down in two minutes.
Gabita!
What's wrong?
Why aren't you answering?
I got rid of it. It's in the bathroom.
Answer it!
Tell them I'm coming!
Do you have a bag?
A bag!
Is this any good?
It's too small!
You'll bury it, won't you?
Promise?
I won't just dump it.
Calm down. Lock the door.
If the receptionist comes, say I went down.
What time's the last bus?
In an hour or so. I don't know.
Are there taxis?
You won't find a taxi around here.
- Thanks. - You're welcome.
Gabita!
What happened?
The wedding party, there was a fight.
Your friend's waiting in the restaurant.
- She's in the restaurant? - She came down five minutes ago.
The other side. That one's for the party.
Thanks.
What are you doing?
I didn't know where you were.
I was starving.
I think I've got a fever.
- Did you take aspirin? - I took the ampicylin.
Did you bury it?
You know what we're going to do?
We're never going to talk about this, OK?
They're still serving so late?
He's just coming.
- What's that? - The wedding party menu.
Beef, pork fillet, liver, breaded brains, marrow...
Can we have another bottle of mineral water
while we think it over?
4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days
from the series tales from the golden age