This is a true story, it didn't happen
to the people in the film but it could have.
Presents
FAMILY NEST
Cast
Music
Crew
Sound Editor
Second Camera Production Manager
Photography
Written and directed by
- Watch it, I'll hit you! - Hang on.
See? Is this paid for?
You, you... On the twelfth.
And soon the next...
- All right, I can still... - 1.550...
I'll sign, or cross it out...
Not even twice as much...
I'm sorry...
We'll all shove, right?... Where are you, Zoli?
Zoli, come on and we'll go.
Terrible. Take this tool...
Now, old fellow...
What's your name? Jonas, isn't it?
My best to your husband...
Now what's for supper?
There's stew and spuds.
Stew again.
What else can I make, tell me. Tell me!
- Can't you cook anything else? - What? What else?
Some soup or something. You know, I like anything liquid.
Your daughter-in-law started making pancakes.
So how could I make soup?
Someone coming or what? You?
Yes, Dad, someone I work with you didn't let me tell you.
- My father-in-law... - I'm Kovécs.
You invite people to my home? You got in when?
- At five. - Dad, don't keep on at lrén.
So you bring your girlfriends? Here, to my home?
She has to cook too and she has the kid.
That's what the pancakes are for? For her friend?
Yes. I like them too. It's my money and that's it.
Your money and that's it? That means nothing.
No, I eat separately.
Well pay rent separately then.
- Go and rent a room then. - You know I can't.
You just can't throw her out now your son is in the army.
I'm not. Why should it?
You promised it was just for a short time.
When my son gets out, if he does, I'd be curious...
So then throw your son out and your grandchild.
So he'll go too.
- My grandchild stays here. - You can talk, you've a flat.
Now sweetie. See, grandpa brought you some nuts.
That's how I started, me, like you...
- What I had to take, I know... - She's a nerve.
Brings girlfriends here, and where's my supper...
Dad she has to cook for the kid too.
If she likes her food, what can we do?
Since we have to live here together,
then we have to take turns cooking.
- Whoever gets home first. - We share the place.
But if it's money, there's no sharing.
The food, the utilities, that's me and your mother's.
It's still good at your mum's.
No, not really.
That's their show. She doesn't know what it's all about.
Lucky for her.
If I didn't work, there would even be potatoes.
See how they're quarrelling?
All the time, she brings girlfriends and good salami.
And me, I'm eating three forint sausages...
That salami gives me some energy at least. To work hard...
Janika, have you done your homework?
What's he want with the flat? He has it and so he can talk?
He knows I've nowhere to go to.
I don't know, they started out without a flat
but even if I had ten kids, I wouldn't do this.
It makes me feel so bad
when they quarrel with you,
it gets me upset...
She's really nice, my sister-in-law, about that.
And I can't tell them they're wrong,
after all, it's their flat and we have to live in it.
But all the time, it's why don't you go, why stay here,
you're a pain in the neck...
See, and they're as bad with the kid.
I'm nervy when I go to bed, nervy when I get up.
I annoy them so much? I'd fuck off from here
but Laci would raise hell.
I've no patience to help the kid with homework.
He can't make a scene. He has been kept too.
Who sent him the parcels? Came home with the wages
drank it all with his pals. - I can't help that...
You can't? A proper husband, even my son
would get a thump coming home like that.
They've only started on me since I've been on my own.
- Like some? - Just a bit.
It's easy, if you've no husband at your side,
to defend you. If I had a husband
I'd only come here to visit and I'd, I'd
not stay over even if it was very late.
You would, you said so...
No. Just let me have a flat.
Two days after, you'd be walking by
and send in the kid:
Jani, go and see Grandpa, I heard he's ill.
I heard that too. So what do I do now?
And why didn't you come up?
Because I didn't want him to be thrown out.
The government of the People's Republic
and the Young Communist League
signed an agreement, in the presence of
Ferenc Havasi, member of the Central Committee,
Deputy Prime Minister and Dr. Lészlé Maréthy, member
of the Political Committee, and the First Secretary,
Dr. Pél Simon. The 9th Congress of the League
declared the construction of the Paks atomic power...
We shouldn't work there, the men should.
The men go there, they get a flat. Not like if
I go and register, they get one right away.
Isn't there any other plants there?
- I'll go and carry a hod? - It's work.
They're building houses, they carry hods for them too.
You could go too...
Why? I've got a flat. Why should I go there?
You want too much... that's your problem.
Oh, so you're home son!
I brought the kid.
Here's my son!
You're here, son.
Laci, son. Are you discharged?
As they say, long live civilian life!
No papers, no letters?
Did you desert?
- How come you're in civies? - He's discharged, I knew that.
Welcome home son. Sit down and take off your coat.
Have you eaten, dear?
- Come and sit down. - I haven't had supper.
Right away. You too, son and then you as well.
Plates...
eat away...
My husband he's just out a friend from work.
Hello, I'm lrén.
Daddy's here, don't call me, aren't you glad?
All right, come to mummy. The child's sleepy.
Time for bed, yes.
Off you go to sleep. Night night.
Let me smell your breath! Let me smell!
Have you been drinking?
I met Gébor at the pub, we had a couple.
I can smell it, you stink of brandy.
Not to worry son, the thing is you're back.
There's some nice stew, have some...
Come on dear, help yourself.
I'll tell you straight, I thought you'd stay in longer.
Not worth it, not at all.
- Soldiering's the thing! - Who for!
You should've extended, put an end to all our worries,
you'd have got a flat quicker too...
an officer's flat, good income...
or you want to be back in the shipyard, welding again?
Sure I'm going back.
You come to me at night, "Dad my eyes are swollen",
and I can peel potatoes to cool them down.
They go on at me, always making scenes,
that I don't pay rent, why don't I cook with them
and why don't I get out. At least now they won't...
Well, we might be able to rent a room this time...
- That's the problem... - Keep thinking about it.
- I'd go and... work... - Why, what would you do?
Work... do cleaning. There.
And then we'd be sure to get a flat.
It's not easy there,
I've heard about it...
Even there you have to wait two years, and sign up for...
I don't know how many years you have to sign up for...
Family men, with children... they get places,
almost two rooms, until their own place is built,
so they can stay with their wives...
But son, both of them have to work there.
We'll go. We'll find a way
but now we should be glad he's home at last.
Now off we go while Daddy's eating.
Come on, let Daddy eat his supper.
Well I'm so glad my boy's home again.
Where's Papa?
Here's Papa, don't you see?
Papa, fill it up, Papa.
You've already had two, you can't have more.
You might have had two big mugs.
- Didn't drink that much... - Just a shot in between.
Kristi, stop crying or I'll bang you against the wall!
What's wrong? Not strong enough?
- Irén, help yourself... - I'll eat with Laci.
- Help yourself. - That's enough for us.
I want water.
Irén, serve your girlfriend too.
- Potatoes are there. - She's shy, but...
Help yourself, just as at home, not too much, it'll run out.
It's not mine.
Cheers, son...
To the memory of your discharge, good health.
I say, no memories! I was in the army too and I know...
Bad memories.
That's where I'll work, I came to ask her
what it'll be like, since she's been there for a while.
I want to go there,
soon I'll have the contract, I don't know what it's like.
Where do you want to live?
In a workers hostel it's been fixed up, only...
Budapest's not all bright lights, the way you think,
- you'd be better off in your village. - True.
There's everything there. Everything's cheaper,
you can get stripped, gain nothing...
- But I'd like to have fun. - You think having fun is life?
House of Culture, a cinema, what more do you need?
The village has a place where you can dance, a cakeshop...
- But it's different. - Different.
- It costs more. - True, in Budapest
you have to pay a lot to have a fun.
Have fun and you won't eat, have fun, you can't have clothes.
Out of three you can only have one.
Others have managed to have it all, good clothes...
Not out of their wages, for sure.
You weren't the kind of soldier Dad was. Tell us.
Soldiering then was different from now.
And hotter too, I'd say.
Well I was in the paratroopers.
We had to jump on the plane when it was moving
not like now... jump out when it's moving.
That's what we did in those days.
The plane lost an engine or two,
that's what planes had then, not like now,
propulsion or whatever...
well then. My C.O. said
Private Kovécs, I was a private then.
One of the engine's has gone.
Out I went on the wing, we're flying along. Not like now,
when they land and the mechanics fix it.
That's what I did in those days, '44, '45, see.
There were some guys when the Germans took all of us,
I was a kid of eighteen. They look us to the border,
dressed us up, I had a bad leg,
lousey work... you see, there were these 4 or 5 lads
from Auguszta, I was put with them, see,
I said, lets run for it, this'll come to a bad end.
So we grabbed all that we could...
two hand grenades...
- Ace of Clubs. - Ace led.
So off we went all the way to Kfiszeg, the border,
we were grabbed, we got away in the night...
Then the military cops were all over us:
Kamerad, where's Magyars?
We were deserters, see?
We hid out in corn stacks and in fields.
Ace of Spades...
- Listen to that... - Same, only in Hearts...
Next day, see, we got away at dawn...
A motorcycle cop saw us...
Hands up! It turned out they were looking for us.
Stop looking at my cards.
Easy to play that way.
- Is it you to go? - Next. - So, next.
We got into a shout out.
Two of my friends were shot down there...
You can't take it?
No, that's three.
On, Daddy!
- That's two many. - You missed it!
- Why? - Because.
I didn't miss it.
Because if you play lower, it wouldn't work for him.
We were together
- because here's the red ace. - We were?
The Ace of Clubs, Gébor led it.
That's what I said, our trick...
Now you tell me a bit about it.
You were in the lock-up, weren't you?
- Thirty days. - Thirty days!
Still better than at the front!
I'll put her to bed, bring in water.
- You won again. - They're cheating.
No, we were a pair this time, not Gébor
and Laci.
So what's wrong,
- who's winning, or what? - Well 40, and then 20.
Are you listening? Are you not listening to me?
You're not listening.
He was, but his mind's on something else.
What do you say to your daughter-in-law
bringing that dirty gypsy girl here.
For us to give her food, cigarettes, coffee...
- Son, tell your wife... - What do you say to that?
The kind of friends they are, thieves...
- I'll tell her not to... - I hope so otherwise...
I'll tell her, now let me play.
She gets round him,
sleep there, for a night or two...
Well it's her business.
Her business! Where to sleep? Room enough... come on...
You'd say there's room beside me.
Dad, Gébor never brought anyone here to sleep.
- So I'm not... - Yes you are...
I'm not defending him, but...
I've got cards too.
Spades are trumps, right?
- The girl is like she is... - All right...
- The 10 was led. - The 10 was led.
It was led but the other 10 is a trump.
This is getting boring.
- Dad, you're to play. - Thank you for the meal.
- I'm sorry for bothering you. - Stay a bit.
If she wants to go, don't stop her.
- You're so kind. - Yes!
This'll be my first night at the hostel.
- Something you don't like? - Lots of things I don't like.
Where are you going to?
Thank you for the hospitality.
I'm going down for a beer.
Be back in a minute, Gébofs coming too.
Goodbye. I'm telling lrén one more time
don't bring anyone here again.
Please tell lrén I'll see her at 6
- tomorrow, in the factory. - Right. I'll tell her...
- Goodbye. - Bye then.
- Pleased to have met you. - Bye, my pleasure too.
OK, we won't be long, we'll be back soon.
I want both of you home before midnight.
I don't want to go and get you.
We'll make the beds and go to sleep, son.
It's 11:30, if the son is back by midnight.
He'll be back.
Jénos's coat...
I'll help you make the bed too.
(TV NEWS SIGNATURE TUNE)
Leave me alone!
No, no, no! Let me go!
Don't be like that. Get hold of yourself.
No! Just go to hell!
- Go away! - What's wrong?
You hurt my hand.
Shout and there's more of us! You prefer that?
- Leave me alone. - You prefer more of us?
There's only two of us now.
Why me? Leave me alone! Get out of it!
Why?
Let me get out of here! Just let me!
You can go after. Just two of us, that's all.
Leave me alone...
Don't shout, you'll wake the street up.
I hate you!
Half of brandy and two beers.
- 5.70... and two beers? - Yes.
That's 14 forints, 70.
You're back?
It's no life, that you know, not for you either...
There will be, somehow
somehow, I'm sure.
Believe it, there will be somehow, if you want...
Sure.
Don't bother about who says what.
If you want me...
Right.
Don't concern yourself with anyone but me.
Just wait and see...
So it might all be better?
- For certain. - Certainly better than...
It's not working out like this.
If we can get away, it'll be different.
And you know that too.
I'm waiting for the day, yes,
when the sun gets up.
I'm waiting for the dawn, yes
when it'll be here.
Soon I feel it'll all be better,
never have to worry about things going wrong,
So I'm waiting for that dawn the dawn to come.
The fog will rise, I know
the fog on the fields.
You know your heart won't ache
the heart won't hurt if fear lets go...
Always have the mood to sing
your problems away
like a bird in the sky,
singing to you up on high.
Live gaily, trouble free
until birds no longer sing
As long as the birds sing
A sweet girl is waiting somewhere for you...
Attention! András Sik and Gábor Cseh to go
to the main gate to see their grandfather.
András Sik and Gábor Cseh to go
to the main door to see their grandfather.
András Sik and Gábor Cseh to go
to the main door to see their grandfather.
- I want that... - After your soup.
Will you eat it like the soup? You're messing, not eating.
- What is it? - The leg dear.
Here you are.
I want the same as Grandpa, just meat...
You'll get some Kristi, just eat up...
Always the same as Grandpa, you love Grandpa that much?
- No. - You don't?
Why don't you give me some, you...
Because, here's some spuds for Mummy's plate...
- On this. - On that, I'll get it.
- In here. - Don't mess around.
It needs salt.
You salt it, dear. How long does that take?
Better undersalted than over.
True enough. You can salt it later but if it's oversalted...
- Meat? - You can salt it.
- Stop playing around! - I don't want that!
When she was with me, the kid with me,
she ate everything. She didn't do this.
You can't do that.
Daddy! You have to eat with a spoon.
- Mummy, give me spuds. - Some salad? - No thanks.
Salted.
Grandma forgot the salt.
You tell Grandma how to cook!
Spuds are salty enough.
Not the meat...
And don't make a mess.
It's not a pig swill
to splash around, mess it up with her hands.
Let her, if she enjoys it it'll put weight on her.
You really know to bring a child up!
You were delighted if your kids ate at all.
Don't bring up the old times with me.
We're talking about what's happening at my table now!
That happened at your table too!
Eat up...
Yes. Always... Now look what she's doing!
Look at what's she's doing with the salt!
Into here, into her own, into her father's!
Don't let the child do whatever she wants...
Bring her up properly, the way I did with my three.
Kristi, don't mess with the salt, Grandpa's getting angry!
Nice way to talk.
Tell her to mind her manners talking to her father-in-law.
My manners are good.
She's been getting at me all during lunch...
The Holy Family's all here.
- But not for long, I guess. - I'd say not.
- You'll weep to have these times back. - I hope so.
Sweetie, don't do that, right?
I see it but I don't want to spoil anyone's good mood.
I thought we'd have a nice quiet lunch,
but there's all this backbiting and comments.
You can't live without getting in a comment.
They never give me peace when I'm alone.
Eat up!
Eat properly, Kristi...
Broken.
Suck on your thumb, that's it.
Your Ma taught you, suck your thumb, eat?
- You eat how you want to. - All right.
Kristi, mess away, the way your mother likes it.
- Here you are. - Kristi, mess away!
- Here you are, lrén. - Thanks.
- Like some? - No thanks.
A glass of wine?
No, I'll have some with Da.
- Have a drink Dad. - Cheers.
It's all melted.
There are you.
Know what she did when Aunt Betty was here?
- Messed up the whole cake. - Needed a good thumping.
Yes. The way you bring her up, I'd thump her all the time.
We'll talk about that when we have our own place.
Always when you have your place. When I had the kid, she always..
- Cheers Dad! - Mocking, are you? Cheers Dad!
You can hardly wait for something to happen to me.
Fine daughter-in-law you are I can tell you.
You'll ruin my digestion if you keep on.
You've no digestion.
Eat up now, Kristi...
What're you eating now, what are you eating?
Cake.
It's hardly a cream cake, I can't see any moustache.
I'll wash her hands, don't get into agonies.
Leave me alone. Haven't you got nothing else to go on about?
- Sure I have. - All right then.
Don't eat like a pig. There'll be trouble.
You don't take care of the child or of your husband.
That's not bringing up, the way the child eats.
He's taken care of by the pub, I take care of the child.
Now don't you make out my son's a drunk
you always said he's a fine son.
So don't shame my family by calling him a drunk. Got it?
Maybe your family's like that, mine isn't.
My sons aren't, neither of them.
- You wouldn't like to give over? - No I wouldn't.
Well I will then.
Come.
- Cross now? - I'm cross, yes.
Course she's cross, if you always quarrel with her.
- Well I have the right to speak. - But not all the time! No need.
- But if you let her son... - I don't, it's just...
You never tell her off, never for anything...
- Course I do. - Never tell her off at all.
Don't keep going on! Eat or there'll be trouble.
Always getting at me at the table, in company. Starts it,
can't bear it if she doesn't get a word in.
- You're getting at her again! - Let's leave it alone.
Lets her dress down. And she never has a towel in her hand.
It's easy to say that. Me?
Now, off for a walk? For a walk?
- Have a drink, Dad. - Give me a fill.
You think she's faithful.
I've seen, not that I want to... what she does.
She always says she's out with a girlfriend...
- I believe what I see, OK? - So you believe.
She's cheating on you, believe me, she's cheating on you.
Possibly.
Taking it lightly...
Think of your mother, always so faithful to me.
Notice that?
- I dunno. - She doesn't look after the kid properly.
I can't stand that woman, see, I can't stand her.
She's destroyed your life. She's destroyed our life,
wrecked the family harmony.
Give it a little thought. Don't be blind.
Give it a little thought, son.
Dunno.
Why can't you give it a little thought, son?
We'll be out when we can. We'll go somewhere.
That's no answer. You'll stay with a little whore like that?
Whore, now that's strong.
Trust her blindly then?
Not completely. I've seen things too.
I see her with men... Why's she not on overtime now?
Because you're here. So why does she come home so late?
She doesn't have to do as much overtime as she did.
Even then she didn't. I looked after the kid.
- She never sent you money. - Well who did?
- So where's her money? - I spent it.
- And on what? - What do you mean, on what?
- What did you spend it on? - I drank it.
- You couldn't have. - Of course I could.
- Your move. - I've moved.
You're wrong, so wrong.
In my eyes, lrén's not a woman, not a mother.
You don't listen to us? You listen to that slut?
Until I know for sure, I don't know what to do.
- So why don't you watch her? - I'll try. I have done too.
How? No way.
No time. I'm working.
Always blind, blind...
She came home late last time again, and
she was on overtime? Did you go to the factory for her?
Well, I didn't have the time. What time did I get home?
You've got time off, you can see who she's strolling with.
I didn't say it before, son,
but you trust everyone so blindly.
Not with the wife, you'll get used to it, I see,
you're always with your friends, getting carried away.
That's why your wife does it too.
True, what you do, she's not supposed to.
You're a man, see, and she's a woman.
My son's not going to drag my name through the mud.
It's wicked, what she's doing.
I've lived here since 1973
and the High Court ordered us to leave the flat
within fifteen days, but we had nowhere to go to,
me and the two kids stayed with my mohter-in-law
there's a third on the way,
my mother's got one, my father-in-law the second.
An old man took us in
but he already had a minder.
We didn't know what was in the minder's contract.
The old man died, and our minding agreement...
The court said it was a case of bad faith,
but I don't know where we can go and
that's why I'm requesting emergency housing.
Perhaps it'll be better if we have a flat...
A room and a kitchen would be enough,
as long as I get one. Nothing more.
So when the old man took us in,
the kids got to know each other for the first time.
I'm not with my husband. We're separated.
Their school is here, I want the family to stay together.
My husband works here and I do too...
I had a lung problem,
I was operated on not long ago
so I can work again but it has to be light work, if I'm to go.
We're still in the flat until they put us somewhere,
well I don't know what's going to happen...
because I have to do the third baby in May.
I've only got one, like my brother and his wife.
It's two years now his appeal is in,
it was rejected, he was told to wait.
They told him flats weren't assigned to two people.
If someone really needs a flat, why don't they get it?
And if someone just squats they give them the flat.
I don't know
what they'll decide.
Because I haven't got the paper from the Court
and the hearing was twenty days ago,
and they said it was a case of bad faith,
but I still haven't got the paper.
I don't know if it came here to the Council.
This way please...
Are you in a council flat?
We're at my mother-in-law's.
- How many of you? - There's an awful lot of us.
Nine of us in a room, a kitchen,
that's why I'm enquiring.
If you got a flat, how many of you would move in?
Me, my husband and our child.
Three of you
into a cold water flat.
Yes.
Well, there's nothing we can give you this year.
Or next year, given the number of points you have.
It's possible we can give you a flat in 1979 or 80,
temporary, with a room and a kitchen.
But I don't see, when my husband was in last week
they said apply for a vacant flat, if we knew of one.
I'm sorry, applying for a specific flat...
no one says anything here, it's against the law.
So you just can't say I know of a vacant flat.
We have hundreds of vacant flats and still...
I don't understand, you could be encouraging.
What'll I do until 1980? I could be buried by then
if we're living like this. Look my marriage...
it's nearly breaking up.
So... it can't be true you can't do something!
Look, we can only give flats...
The application has a need index number...
There's 14.000 applications here.
What would the families say
who have twice as many points as you...
I have heard of single people taking a flat.
- They'll be out immediately... - They've been in for 2 years.
- I don't believe it. Impossible. - No, that's the facts.
Well, tell me the name and address...
No. But if just temporarily...
Temporarily... well a one room and kitchen flat, we...
I just need to get away... just a room'd be enough.
Sorry, we can't give you a one room and kitchen flat.
We can't put you into any of our emergency flats.
It can't be true you can't find something.
Well, in this chair I understand everything...
It's not the chair that understands,
look, I see fifty cases like yours every day.
Fifty? Then... I just ask you
to put yourself in my situation
when you can't go to bed, can't eat when you want...
Sorry, I don't get paid to put myself in your situation.
I agree you don't get paid for that
but please believe that we need something.
That's why you put in the application...
That's why... and that's why we come here every day...
worried as me and in the same circumstances as me.
Yes, so what will I say to them if I put you on the list
and you get a flat. What do I tell them?
Reexamine our case, see how serious, how acute.
Look here, we accept what you wrote in the application,
it's coded here, a computer will work it out.
I don't see. From week to week you raise our hopes...
Look, was I raising your hopes just now?
No, because you gave us a definite no. Not now.
Exactly. Exactly, you see.
Maybe a tram will run me over, my life's being ruined.
That can happen. Then no need to give me one.
- Sorry, we deal with flats. - I realize that,but believe me,
you should do something somehow...
I don't know, my husband comes here, I come here.
Unnecessary.
Applications are considered once a year.
So there's no point in coming here every week?
Absolutely none. None.
So I just come once a year, then you say why'd I come but I'll
get another point for next year. Not one point, you see...
Then two, since it was handed in in 1975...
Not two either, you see, you get one tenth every year for your
application, living in Budapest gets a tenth...
So what the hell's going to happen to those houses?
They're tumbling down, no windows, no doors,
just to keep them empty.
Well, it's not, it's money
to do them up again?
- If you put someone in them. - There's no money in it for us.
Then I'd leave them there, at least there'd be something.
I'm sorry, I can't say anything more to you.
I realize you can't say anything to me,
but write something in or do something.
Why should I, look, I'm not writing anything.
I told you what the current situation is.
Always the same, I cry over it and I get thrown out.
Do you think crying will get you a flat?
All concerned over demography, and having kids,
creating families, and all marriages are ruined in the end.
Because there are no flats, even though it's young people this...
Whatever you say, it's still the same number of flats...
I know you can't understand in that chair,
I wouldn't if I wasn't living through it.
So I am asking you to come and see how things are...
- Look here... we do go... - Not just the caretaker
coming when there's rows and fights.
He can come and make a complaint to the Council.
In that family the way it is, there's so many
and they can't live with each other.
You can't live a life like that.
That's why you applied for and are trying to get a flat.
- And you'll get one. - I know, in 1980 or 90...
When it's your turn, and exactly then.
Not a moment before. not a moment later.
Yes and those flats will fall apart, people rot away.
And they're all empty all the time.
They won't always be empty.
No, they'll just collapse from all that soaking.
But you wouldn't even give us a washroom. Anything...
Look, I've told you several times what the chances are.
We've got nothing more to tell you for the present.
It's not up to us, we can understand, we can't help.
Look, I can't say anything else to you.
I wouldn't know what to say, in this situation either...
Here's your application.
I think we'll meet again next week.
- And I make you sad. - All right.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
Son, you've kept a secret from me, I found a letter.
- You've got a child. - I know about that.
Why didn't you tell me?
Why do you always keep secrets from me?
How would it have been better if I'd told you? How?
We might have helped.
So there's the child, how can you help?
What have you decided? What will you do?
It's not coming here. Too many of us...
- What do you want to do? - Nothing.
That's irresponsible.
Why me? She'll look after it.
It takes two to tango, son.
I wanted you a lot. So you were born...
We didn't want, so there weren't any more of you.
- I didn't want a kid. - I can't imagine that, son.
Listen, I don't want your mother to know.
She goes to respectable places to clean,
where doctors and engineers treat her as an equal.
They respect her. It'd be a shame if they knew her son
has a child on the side,
that's what it's called, isn't it?
If you don't take it, they'll ask it, where's your dad?
Well I'll give it a name. And that's that.
- That won't be the end of it. - So what do I do?
Your business, son. I'm ashamed because...
- I'm not ashamed. - That's the way you all think.
I just can't agree with you...
I'm ashamed son. When I go into the factory...
- What are you ashamed of? - You're my child, my blood.
The neighbours will say
Kovécs has a kid and ignores it.
You taking that lightly?
Well... You don't have to take it so seriously.
Listen son. I go to work. They can hardly wait for me.
They respect my work. I work honestly, with dignity.
I enjoy my work.
I get enough to grow, enough to save.
To this day, I don't put it by for me, nor does your Ma,
but for you, your brother and sister and my grandchild.
And all you lot want to do is start a baby factory here.
Day after tomorrow, a new woman, and then a new baby?
And I'll be watching them leaving kids on my doorstep.
You're 27, don't you know what you're up to?
See!
Your mother and me raised you all properly,
we worked for you day and night.
But you lot!
Sick leave, you're all lying around at home in bed.
Shame on you, son.
It was hard raising you.
All three of you...
Factory and second job...
doing sacks at night just to make more
and have heating for you and warm clothes.
I'm not so strong now, nor is your mother.
I'm 52, son
and I'm a wreck.
You never think you have to give something back to us?
How do you want to live? This is how.
Work honest, save your money, so if you marry,
meet a nice lady, or girl, who you'll live happily with.
Live just like I have, with your mother for 28 years.
You never think of that son? About how to live?
Nicely... In harmony.
Please, have some self respect! I can show you the good road,
and you'll have the same morals as your parents.
Just lie down, sweetheart.
Put it underneath so it won't be cold for her.
Don't be frightened,
no little needles today...
put your arms down,
take a deep breath.
Up you sit.
Turn this way, poppet.
Now say AAAAH.
I won't have to use a spoon if you open wide. Right?
Now say AAAH!
Now if I can look inside I won't have to use a spoon.
Good. Aren't you a clever little girl!
Well, as usual, your little girl
has a rattle
in her lungs.
When was she in hospital?
In 73. With something like this, and then...
- It's been like this since? - Yes it comes quite often.
I'm afraid it's something that comes back all the time.
Quiet a minute Kristi, I'm talking to your mother,
she'll get cough mixture, three teaspoons a day,
I'll prescribe some pills,
dissolve them in warm tea without lemon,
stir it and make her drink it.
I know this usually helps.
Fresh air,
sun and light are important for Kristi.
Take her on outings up to the Buda hills...
We only go there with the nursery school.
But now you should go with Mummy at weekends,
whenever you can manage, get into the fresh air.
- Mum doesn't know the place. - The doctor's talking, ssh!
You'll go with Mummy too.
It's very important for her, we've already discussed that,
She's been in hospital and sanatorium with it...
And somehow try to sort out the flat problem.
Try to get out of where you are.
- Now, here. - Thank you.
Kristi, say goodbye to the doctor.
Right. I'll give you one that'll show.
Come back in three days, if she's any worse,
then come here tomorrow,
if the medicine helps, then in three days.
- Who did that'? - Jams.
Brought it from school.
It has to be glued together.
He did it the first day. He helped put it on the wall
and he was in a rush, he broke it and his teacher
sent it with him to get a new glass for it.
I don't know how to put a glass on it.
The picture's damaged too. You can't put glass on it.
It's badly broken.
I'm to glue it together.
Well daughter, I don't think that'll work...
try some Technokol, but not on the back.
- Let it bind there. - The paper's not important.
- I'll cut my hand in the end... - On here, yes, nice and easy.
It's not worth that much.
So let me try...
That's it, that's it.
Now put it that way. Push,
Push.
- Fine. Wait... - He did it the first day too.
So you should tell him not to be so thoughtless.
I already have, but what do I do?
If we buy one it'll cost 320 forints.
- Who's got money for that? - I'll try to glue it together
but it'll need al least 24 hours to stick together.
- Yes, spread it... - I wonder if it'll work.
The teacher said to put new glass on it. But how?
You can't put it on the back because the scratch shows.
The whole picture's glued to the glass.
So we can smooth it as much
as we can and then wipe it.
I was worried when I saw it, but he came home with a pal
and the pal said he didn't do it on purpose.
So I said, fine, it wasn't on purpose.
- Yes. - His first day in school.
What's the year going to be like.
The emblem, pride of the class
and hung up in the best place.
I can't do anything else,
now we'll wipe it well so that it won't show.
It'll stick so tight it'll be there for ever.
There's nothing you can't do Dad! Fantastic!
It's got to be good.
Just let it last, that's all.
It's got to be all right now, I think.
You won't get a penny from me, son, not a penny.
Don't keep running to me, girl, asking for money,
I don't get no respect from you, just sneering.
- But how do we get away? - Why don't you save up?
You know how much you could have saved in these 5 years?
It all goes on fancy things...
- What's fancy? - How much are you making?
It's nothing what I'm making.
What I make, that's a lot? What do I keep you all on?
I was in the army for 2 years. How could I have kept them?
The army. There used to be decent women...
You got the allowance...
You got it. Your wife could have saved from it.
I gave her a home. I paid the nursery fees.
Where did she put it? Coming home late.
She always said she was doing overtime.
- Wasn't that I was doing? - It wasn't.
- So you were there? - I had you watched, watched.
You didn't see yourself? So what was this watching?
I saw you too. Walking arm in arm, not just once.
- Don't talk to her like that. - When you came home
you always said your wages were deducted here, there.
What deductions? I never counted what I earned.
I'm sitting here just to...
So where's the money you made? Never accounted for it.
- It went on the kid and me. - You? The army kept you.
But I kept my granddaughter,
bought her clothes,
helped you a million and one times.
Don't care Dad, I'm sitting here
to ask a loan so that we can get out.
No way you're leaving here, it's my money.
Use your own money to get a place to live.
So how can you ask me to account for my money?
- Shut it! You too! - Shut it, me?
I've the right, in my home.
Listen, it's all he talks about.
I wanted you to save until my son was discharged.
How are you getting away? There's 3 families here!
That's why we'd like to leave and asking you
to help us. If you really want us to leave.
Help yourself, all you've done so far is to cheat us.
If I asked you nicely for rent money...
then Mum was ill, so her money wasn't coming in,
I had to pay this or that,
I've got to pay instalments.
You were just laughing at me.
I never asked you where your wages went, mother neither...
- Nothing to do with you! - Where'd your wages go?
You get 3.500, I found out. Bringing home false slips.
I'd love to be getting that!
I've never seen that much in my life!
- Never? - Never, ever.
Maybe you see 3.500...
- Lying to my face? Why? - You know how much I get?
I know lots.. When you were on overtime... or said you were.
You were walking with that flashy Jéska? Hand in hand?
Your little one asked, where's Mama? I said on overtime.
Overtime. Know what you are? A slut!
- That's what! A slut! - Stop! I'm not your wife!
- Have you no shame! - Why should I?
Speak a bit easy! Where were you?
- Where? I was at work. - Can you prove that?
Why? What's up? You siding with your dad now?
- I hear what I hear. - You don't believe me either?
- You believe what you hear? - I heard you stayed out nights.
Where'd you sleep for months, always "I'll be home late"
I missed the last tram Slept over at a girlfriend's.
I slept in this room.
Your kid always asking at night, where's Mama?
She's on overtime. Overtime. With boyfriends.
Out having fun. Leaving the kid around my neck.
The money you spent, or gave to your friend...
You know how much that comes to for you both?
Should be at least 20 thousand forints.
The flat, the key money, to buy it...
Well then, so you tell me where you went nights?
- You don't believe me either. - She's lying.
- You don't believe me? - No.
- How can I prove it? - Payslips!
What fucking proof is that?
Go in and ask them where I was.
OK, I'll bring the payslips. They're in the factory.
- Why aren't they here? - You're taking his word?
He said you weren't home at night.
He hadn't got hid glasses on, ask me where I was.
I went to the bathroom and the bed was empty.
I asked you where you were every night.
- Here. - Mama was covering for you!
She didn't, not once, I was here at home.
You just forgot to look and see if I was here.
You, if you take your dad's word, well there's the...
- Don't have to believe me... - I believe him, you too. Half.
- Only half! - Just give me proof...
I've been alone for two years. Where would I have gone?
- So where were you? - Where would I have gone?
Locked up with the likes of them, where to?
We were getting along? Now we're the likes of them?
- Why? I've been here. - Know what? Get out of here!
You get out of this home. This very minute.
- Right and I'm taking the kid. - Not my grandchild.
- You're not taking her! - I am!
You and your dad can share a bed!
You take what's yours! You leave the kid here!
- You're not taking her! - Yes I am!
The child's staying here! Staying with me!
You lying slut!
You'd ruin her too!
Son, she spent a fortune. None of it came in here.
She said she sent you pocket money in the army,
that was me, son, I sent it all.
- Your dad gave you the money! - There's none so blind!
- All you take is your stuff. - I'm taking the child's too!
The kid is staying here. Don't mess!
- I'm taking her. - You are not!
- She's bonded to me! - She's not! You're no mother!
Bonded to you at nights?
No whore's taking my granddaughter!
I can guarantee you're not taking her!
Stay and sit down, right?
I cried yesterday, day before, now I'm so shattered,
I don't know what will happen.
She's in good hands, with my brother, but
I need a flat where I can be alone.
What'll happen after, I don't know,
but something will for sure.
Now it's bad and I feel so alone.
Just a room would do for a start,
I don't care, I could go and live with someone...
Now I sleep here, I sleep there,
I don't where I am. And that's bad.
We had plenty of problems,
we've been married 7 years,
but this, I think, this is final.
We've never been apart a minute, except now.
That's why it's so hard.
Somehow I can't imagine a life without him.
We might make it up, and if I'm alone?
I'm sure it's all because of that.
If there'd be just two of us, it'd be different.
But it can't go on like this...
So, if you know of anything, try and help me.
Anything, anywhere, even at the far end of the world.
For a time it's sure to be good.
I'll calm down, perhaps he'll realise
it's healthier to rent a room and be two of us together.
And not have a lot of people watching us and what we do...
Why do we close the door, why don't we open it?
And... no it's hard like this...
You can't be normal in the factory.
Everyone there is nervy. They laugh all the day because...
so nobody sees what's up, then they go home and cry.
No good either.
You know, if you don't have money, you don't dare say so.
So if I didn't get home on time, they told him...
That's why... I was on overtime, like a donkey.
If I went to see my mother, the same, doesn't take much.
And we we're fighting so much recently.
But others didn't see it, and that's different too.
Why should everyone see it?
I don't think I have to tell you that.
If I couldn't go to his barracks, then it was why...
No one ever helped with a single penny, nothing.
We rowed over something stupid this time too.
First it was over the child. I was spoiling her, see.
Since December 75 I'm with her... I let her do anything.
But don't let him slap her, I'm her mother,
then came the years that went past us.
I came home, he went to the pub and if I asked,
what am I to do at home, he said I'm not at home.
Well, now I really don't know.
But I'm not interested in spending my life alone.
It's surely going to get better...
We love each other...
Can't just give him up, after all he's her father...
I don't know what'll happen.
Why don't you drink?
It'll get warm.
Sorry, that's how it is.
Vali dear, lets have some wine.
A little glass of wine.
We're free. We can talk more easily.
What are you afraid of? Your heart is pounding.
Mine's pounding too.
I'm very fond of you, Vali,
I'm very very fond of you. Drink, drink.
Let's be brave. The evening is ours.
Let's live and not in sorrow!
Come on. Come on.
Drink up. Let's be gay.
You don't want to? Why?
What's troubling you?
- Are you afraid of me? - No.
I could've courted so many women
but you're the one.
Shall I bring a Chewie?
Or a Polski... or a Fiat?
Which? Darling...
- I'm sorry, but no. - Why not?
- Don't be upset. - But I want to.
I'd like happiness. An evening. A nice evening.
You've a wife and children.
I want to let myself go.
- Not with me. - Then with who?
I can't love them all.
I know we're attracted to each other.
No one will ever find out about it from me.
Now please Vali, I'm begging you.
- I love you so much. - Will you take it easy.
I'd never have believed it! Throw me off like this?
What right have you? What?
I don't love you.
I don't get it. Love, not love.
When the place, mood is right I like a little flirt,
a bit of letting go, a life!
I'd love a lovely woman like this.
And a wonderful evening!
Don't pull away, dear, don't pull away.
- I want you so much! - I don't.
Why not, dearest Vali?
You can tell me.
- Just a kiss. - I have to go.
You're making me jumpy. I don't know what to stutter.
- Just a kiss. - Don't get familiar.
- Give me your lips. - You stay. I'm leaving.
Me? No woman leaves me!
Well I am.
- There's a woman in me... - No, you're crazy.
Who isn't at a time like this?
- Please. - Let me go, I'm leaving. Just one kiss!
Don't do that.
I love you so much. Come over here. Come.
You love me? No way!
Vali, you can be so wild?
You want to know something? I hate you!
- Me. - You can't imagine how much.
Hate? You'll pay for this!
- You'll be crying after me. - Don't you believe it.
- Coquette, are you! - I'm not.
Just be glad that I've got money behind me.
- I've got cars... - That means nothing.
Like a Marlboro?
I wouldn't touch your hand.
So why didn't you get up to go before?
I was enjoying myself, but not since you arrived.
- Really? - Not in the least.
So why didn't you say so? I'd have left.
I'm a man, with a man's needs, give me your hand.
Leave it out.
Fuck this for a life!
I never felt like this before.
My ma brought me up the hard way.
Up at night, washing by day
Oh so she did it the hard way
But when I came home
The sky opened three ways
Stars shone on me
Not knowing I was an orphan.
God Almighty...
You've a good one, old fellow. What about me?
Stars shone on me
Not knowing I was an orphan
I hope they'll let me stay. I hope so.
Don't know why, there's so many in the place.
And everyone's so young, 70 per cent of them.
They squat here.
They're here, I'm here for a month now.
They say it's yours if cops don't get you out in 48 hours.
One time the neighbours
threw people out.
The doors and windows are ripped off. One's left.
They called the caretaker he arrives with a heavy.
See, they have a flat here.
They ripped out all the doors, only one is left.
That's boarded up.
They just can't imagine people with no flat.
And they have their own justice... them, the Council.
So here comes the caretaker with this fellow,
he has his own flat, even keeps a dog.
Still. He helped rip out the door.
He wanted to take the bed too.
Only there were two. I wouldn't let them.
Only one door left, I think by accident.
And that door boarded up. You can't get in or out.
There's no lock, nothing, just
just slung over, wall to wall.
So there's only the window here.
So when you're numb and want to get out...
Sure. That's the door and the window, everything.
That's how people are. He didn't live here.
Point is,
he was asked to help,
so he and the dog came to do their bit.
Worked too, the kid sees the dog and starts crying.
I didn't, I won't put the kid into a Home,
or somewhere, because you don't have a flat,
you have a kid so you can all live together.
Bring her up, be your joy but this way, no way.
For one, there's 11 people packed into the flat
for two, we'll get kicked out and end up under the stars,
and then you squat, and wonder, God, what'll happen.
Young people get together to make a family,
live happily... So what do we exist for?
We exist because someone once wanted us to.
A child is a joy.
When you're in trouble she cheers you up.
She can be so sweet. She's for that.
Not the demographic, family policies or what,
the things they explain all the time.
I'm sure people have kids
not so there's more of us. Because they need them.
It's so good, when there's someone binding to you,
and you do it all to make it good for her.
Like, now, there's no flat.
I can't let her sleep on the street, come rain or storm,
what'll I do? I can't tell her there's no flat.
Oh, if I get a flat, it'd be wonderful.
Sleeping on the floor wouldn't bother me,
whether wood or stone, or whatever.
And...
It would feel great. Well,
I don't know.
I'd be so happy, I wouldn't know what to do.
I'd go around kissing the walls, I don't know.
The best would be getting a flat.
Even if for a month, a year, I'd have to sleep on the floor,
I'd do it, because I'd know it's, it's mine,
and I could go there, but no one else.
I'm sure that's how it would be.
Then we'd get furniture, on time,
the factory would give me
a loan. .. I don't know.
Life would take shape one day.
It was January 1971.
When my wife was very happy.
Because she's got these lovely parents
who'd take things from her, never give her anything.
I bought her a coat, on instalments!
Winter coat, a fur coat.
She was delighted.
For days she went on, she'd never got anything like it.
Then I bought her boots, for 800 forints.
She said then too, she'd never got anything like it.
She'd never bought stuff, her mother took her money.
So I was good and happy, I could buy stuff for her.
She was paying back a loan
she'd got for her mother, from the bank.
So she couldn't buy anything for herself.
Because she was paying back her mother's loan...
She was a nervous wreck.
She got better in a short time and now?
In our Dad's place, it's the same,
completely wrecked. Exactly like when we started.
Nothing gets to her, she's quivering all over.
Exactly like when we started.
A wreck. She wanted to get away and she did.
If she has someone, I don't know...
If I got a flat
and it's certain I'll get one soon,
I'll take Kristi off her and so she'll come too.
She'll come, she loves me. I know she does.
She was fooling around a bit. Still, I love her.
I never, never hit her.
Six years of marriage, I may have hit her twice.
That's not much.
I made mistakes, lots.
I drank a lot,
a lot, before going into the army.
But the week before I went, I didn't have a drop.
I swore I'd give it up.
I didn't drink, just Cola, but I still
spent my time in the pub until she came home.
I got called up and it started all over again.
Since then, I'm not drinking so much.
After she went away
I didn't care at all, just go out and drink.
And I had a couple of problems in the army.
Last ones, it was over her. First two were my fault.
What I did. She was right about there.
Drink was why.
But the last couple were because I know
she was going out. Came home, didn't come home.
All I know, I come home on leave,
she's not there,
not there.
What I did, I go home on leave,
I'm at home.
I folded up a comer of her bed.
I go home next day,
just to see if she's slept the night there,
I asked, she says "I always sleep at home."
So I say, you didn't sleep here.
How'd I know?
The comer's just the same,
it's the way I left it, the comer folded up.
That's how I know it all.
There's only one way to put this right.
If we'd have a flat all to ourselves.
The two of us would get the furniture.
And none of the constant rows when and where we'd go...
Go and live. When they throw us out.
When I went in, they were on her. Where, who with?
She'd come home from work, get the kid from nursery,
and they'd go after her.
Where are you going. Then she'd go shopping
and they'd go after her. Sure, not that she knew.
She got completely fed up, I'd guess.
Or she's got someone else, that's why she went.
I can see that her nerves are shot,
a few things my old man was at...
well, that's something understandable. He did things,
like... he'd go there at night, reach in under the bedclothes.
My wife up and whacked him with a wooden clog.
Nobody knew anything about this in the family.
Only one thing missing, a flat...
I'll declare I love her and she loves me.
I'm sure of that...
Absolutely sure.
And if she has someone, it doesn't matter.
If I get the flat, and she comes back: welcome...
If she comes back: welcome.
And she will come back.
When at last our cottage is built
Come and see us any time
In the evening eat with us
If you want to, sleep with us
We'll protect you dream your dreams
Dreams in your dreams will come true.
Our house will be a fine little house.
All our friends will come here.
We'll play all those old sweet songs
When our cottage is built at last.