in cooperation with
a film by Attila Gigor
Yes, I know. There's still something I have to finish...
The Investigator
I know you're there...
I beg you... Please... I'm doing my best to...
I've got so much work to do...
Ok then, I'll be there by 10! There, it's settled, István, let's hang up...
Casting
Production manager
Shit, there's someone lying on the ground there...
Sound
- Is she dead? - I don't know, but I won't touch her...
- Call the ambulance! - I'm calling, I'm calling...
Costumes
Budapest Police Headquarters
Verdict
Katalin Dupont, born 1975.
Make-up
...fell out under unknown circumstances...
...direct cause of death?
...needed to ascertain accidental...
Editing
Music
Set design
Photography
Co-producers
Producer
Look what I found, Dad, can I keep it?!
Written and directed by
Are we going to get hammered tonight?
Sure. And let's harass some chicks afterwards.
Good afternoon!
Hello, Tibi darling!
Oh, son of a bitch.
Can't get the bastard.
Leave us alone, please!
This rascal with the bazooka always gets me.
I can only hit him with a sniper rifle
but I don't even have the time to look inside the scope...
Shit!
Here we go again.
You're not much of a talker, are you?
- When is your mother's operation? - They won't do it.
So what will happen now?
She will die.
Tibi dear, you don't have to be so honest all the time.
- Would they do it abroad? - We can't afford that.
In two weeks' I'll be in Stockholm for my operation.
I didn't have the money either.
There is a Swedish foundation, you can apply to them.
What do I have to do?
I might have an extra application form,
my grandson printed out five or six for me
so I could make plenty of mistakes.
If you drop by tomorrow, I can give it to you.
- Good night! - Bye!
Sorry.
You're late, Mr. Malkáv.
Something important must have happened if you're late.
Yes. My mother is dying.
Of what?
Bone marrow cancer.
I will go to the cinema.
Ok.
Is this supposed to be an invitation?
No.
But you can come if you want.
Will you give me the tickets?
Thanks. I've kept all the important tickets.
In fact, I've kept all tickets.
I've kept all cinema, theatre, concert, museum and fun-fair tickets.
I think I even have my graduation dinner invitation.
All of them?
Yeah.
That's a lot of rubbish.
It's not rubbish at all.
It's very useful. I keep my memories in order.
I can trace back where I was and what I was doing at a certain time
by looking at the dates and events on the tickets.
I bet my past is much more in order than yours.
So now you take me home and we get together?
I don't usually get together.
It doesn't matter.
You could still take me home.
What do you mean you usually don't get together?
Why don't you answer?
I don't like the question.
What do you mean you usually don't get together?
I don't like to be with other people.
That's not good.
We could still go to the cinema.
I'll tell you what.
You go and buy the tickets in the afternoon, for whatever film,
you come to the diner for dinner
and we go to the cinema after closing time.
Why?
So that something will happen.
I don't want anything to happen.
If we don't enjoy ourselves, we'll stop.
It will do you good.
Mehtar ben Jaron, the international mandolin-star...
... arrived to Hungary yesterday.
Music is a bridge between people and me.
I love Hungarians, I love to play for Hungarians.
And Hungarian women, well...
'The Crab Crawls Backwards' That's the name of the foundation.
As we know, crabs crawl backwards,
so when the crab - that is the cancer - moves backwards
it actually advances. So it is cured.
I haven't had much luck in my life
so if I succeeded, anyone could succeed.
Tibi...
It just occurred to me:
I don't want to die yet.
Then you won't.
Do you promise?
I do.
Good.
Name of patient?
Rozália, Malkáv. Age sixty-seven, retired primadonna.
Name of guardian or person representing the patient
in the application procedure?
Tibor Malkáv, age thirty-seven, assistant pathologist.
Is the guardian a relative of the patient?
Her son.
I don't understand. Why do you bear your mother's name?
Guardian's mother's name?
Same as the patient's.
Why is your name Malkáv, if your mother is also called Malkáv?
- I don't know. - Father's name?
That's what I'm trying to say.
I don't know my father. That's why I use my mother's name.
- How touching. - Thank you.
I was being sarcastic. I don't pity you at all.
Guardian's address?
What do you suggest for around six?
Blood Death at 6:15.
I don't know what that is.
A South Korean action-art movie.
That is to say, a German producer bought the rights
of the original American comics and asked a Jewish scriptwriter
to write the screenplay, so he could shoot the film in Hong Kong
with South Korean money, starring Polish actors.
It doesn't matter. Give me two.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of the application form.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our colleagues.
Do not forget: miracles are beyond our reach
and we cannot promise anything.
The most important thing is that the ones we care for know
that we are there to support them.
What are we going to see?
Can't remember. Some art film.
You're wonderful.
Bye then.
Good night.
I had a great time.
Me too.
- What a good film! - Yes.
You hate being with me.
Not at all.
I must be doing something wrong.
No... you're just...
...so strange.
If you want, I'll try to go to the cinema again.
Ok.
Dear Mr. Tibor Malkáv,
We are sorry to inform you that we are not able to fulfil
your request at the moment.
Please accept that we had to make this difficult decision
after having considered the age, condition and financial state of the patients.
Do not despair! Have faith!
We fully respect your strength.
Yours sincerely,
The Crab Crawls Backwards Foundation.
Post office customer service, may I help you?
Tibor Malkáv.
Someone has read my letter.
It's to be expected, since you've sent it.
The letter was sent to me.
I took it from the letterbox and it was opened.
Do you wish to make a complaint against the postman?
Can't you somehow find out what happened?
Good God, some people really have nothing better to do. Sure.
If you want the police to have some fun, report it to them.
There's nothing the post office can do?
- Like what? - Start an investigation.
Of course! I will summon all the postmen at once
and take their fingerprints! Then I will blind them with a lamp,
stare into their eyes and ask the question:
Did you poke your nose into John Doe's private...?
That's my seat.
I'm not finished yet.
Of course you're not, Malkáv.
You're only starting now.
My name is Cyclops. Wonder why...
Don't worry. If you're not interested in what I have to say,
you won't ever see me again.
Can I bring you something, sir?
A coke and a tomato.
Tomato juice?
Tomato. You know, that red vegetable.
You want a tomato with your coke?
Listen sweetheart. I guess there is a kitchen...
...in this gastronomic brothel, I'm sure you can get one.
How many tomatoes would you like to have?
- One. - Right away.
Very kind of you. How's mum?
Oh, I'm so sorry.
Who are you?
We spend our whole lives asking ourselves this question:
Who is he? And him? And her? And who the fuck am I?
I am the one who's been following you for about a month,
the one who opens your letters,
the one who knows that your mother will die
if you don't earn a lot of money in very little time.
I didn't know what...
We're having a conversation, for fuck's sake!
Language!
I can leave if you want.
I have to speak with this guy.
I've been looking for a long time for someone who's in trouble
and who has seen dead people before.
I have forty thousand euros, and I want someone killed.
From that money you can even take mum on a holiday after the operation.
From that much, you can even take your sweetheart with you.
Are you neurotic?
My face twitches sometimes.
I see. My hands used to tremble for some time.
It's 'cause you suppress things.
Try painting. Or write a blog.
How do I know I'll get the money?
How? If you give me your word now,
you'll be carrying this bag home.
How much?
Twenty. The first half.
The reward for a job well done is the remaining half.
I'll do it.
Holy cow! You're no small-timer!
You're a real Chinese yakuzee-samura!
Yakuza and samurai are both Japanese.
All the same. There's your cover name: the Chinese.
It could even turn out that I have to be careful with you.
I didn't think we could come to an agreement so easily.
- Are you leaving? - Will you miss me?
I want to know why you wanted a tomato with the coke.
Oh, nothing special. I usually squeeze it into the coke.
Gives it a better taste.
He left?
I would have liked to know why he wanted a tomato with the coke.
He squeezes the juice into it. He says it gives a better taste.
Are we going to the cinema?
Do you speak English or Swedish?
English, a little bit. Not much Swedish.
Ok, no Swedish at all.
Will you help me apply to the Swedish clinic?
Of course. I have the day off tomorrow.
Weren't you refused by the foundation?
I got some money.
How?
Miss!
How?
Please, Miss!
- One? - No. Two.
You might as well make it four if you're going to be this slow.
...14th of August around 9am...
...was found with a barbell on his neck...
How I hate to see this.
Your new guest at least lived to a respectable old age.
- Listen! - Hm?
Are we going to get hammered tonight?
Sure. And let's harass some chicks afterwards.
I worked as a truck driver for a while.
And do you know what I used to do then?
Listen to world literature classics on tape.
There is nothing more beautiful than reaching the outskirts of Ankara
and my favourite actor
just reaches the end of The Name of the Rose.
Then on the way home some chick reads Kalevala or Bridget Jones.
Why don't you do it yourself?
I don't like to read so much.
I mean the job.
Because, Watson, if you can disappear without a trace after the job,
there will be no evidence leading to you, since you have nothing to do
with the victim, therefore you can't turn me in,
therefore they won't find me.
Are you sure the police won't find me?
That's the point!
If there is no connection between the murderer and the victim
and you can successfully escape from the scene,
they will never find your trace.
So if the detectives show up at your place, it's already a fuckup.
I'll call you on this to tell you where and when it should happen.
Your job is to go there and do it.
Doesn't matter how?
I'm sure you can find something sharp at your workplace.
That's him.
Chinese, let me introduce you Ferenc Szirmai.
Memorise his face and then stop staring, or he'll think
we're up to no good.
I'll meet you here ten minutes before closing when the job's done.
I'll call you.
DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!
Fuck...
...animals always liked me...
Doggie! Hello doggie!
Come here, beauty! Come here!
Easy...
What a cute kitten you have!
That's the one...
Two, maximum three days before you get an answer.
But if you pay the costs, they have no reason to refuse.
Tibi... Where do you get the money from?
Bank loan.
They give a loan for something like this?
Let's go to the cinema.
Ok, but I have to go back to work.
Buy the tickets and we'll meet in the evening.
What do you suggest for around ten?
That you go to the theatre instead. The art of film is dying.
Theatre at least has long been dead.
Are you bringing a woman?
Yes...
Then watch the HN.
I don't know what that is.
Heroes of Nándorfehérvár
Historical action movie.
Hello...?
Hi, darling, it's me. You'll be working tonight.
What...
Some mandolin guy is playing tonight at the Music Academy.
Grab a knife in your hospital,
then go to the concert, there will be a ticket waiting for you.
Our friend will be there too.
He will go to 36 Jósika street afterwards.
But tonight...
It's tonight, Chinese, you won't have another chance.
The concert starts at seven thirty.
Name, address: unknown.
...lying in the wolf-kennel...
...found torn to pieces...
You're not finishing it?
After closing time then?
- What? - Are we going somewhere tonight?
Tonight? I'm busy tonight...
We talked about tomorrow, no?
Really?
That's a pity. I'll watch TV then.
What are you going to do?
Nothing really.
Right. So tomorrow then.
Tomorrow.
Well? How do you feel?
Like nothing.
Now really, was it hard?
I had to do it. I did it.
That's for sure, Chinese. For sure. You did it.
Look, at some point we pour beer on our new shoes
and from then on they don't count as new.
So, relax, Chinese. You have nothing to fear.
I'm not Chinese.
To me you are. If you shit purple, I'll just say:
'Look, your shit is purple, Chinese!'
Do you have my money?
Do you want me to give a receipt?
I thought you might want to count it.
No need. I trust people.
You're a funny guy, but I hope we'll never meet again.
My car is here, so get lost!
All right, wait, you idiot.
Some kind of introduction... That they got the application and stuff...
...so your mum can go in a few days already.
That her case is not hopeless and they are encouraging you.
You have to send half of the money to this number
and you can go... and everything for health.
Is this what you look like when you're happy?
Let's go and see the 'Heroes of Nándorfehérvár'.
- What's that? - A historical action film.
I was thinking we could go for a row in the City Park.
Let's go and see the 'Heroes of Nándorfehérvár'.
Ok.
Let go of her and grab your sword, lad! The Turks are at the gates!
So soon?! Curses!
When our lands are free from the enemy, we shall dance together on your wedding!
Titusz! Would you go to war without my kiss?
I bought some tabloids so we could talk more easily.
Here's this actor for example...
It says here he broke up with his lover because
he realised he's heterosexual. His partner is also an actor.
Or a TV presenter? I always get them mixed up...
What are their names?
I can't find.
Are they Hungarian?
Sure.
Or maybe not...?
It doesn't matter.
Where are we going?
- Should we go somewhere? - We could.
To a caf?..?
I don't feel like going to a caf?
Will you show me your flat?
This is where I take my shoes off.
So do you think the Swedish people can cure your mum?
Do you feel like sleeping with me?
I'm not usually concerned with this.
I see.
How old are you?
Thirty-seven.
- You took your time. - I've been with women before.
Have you?
And?
Is it a problem that I asked?
What's the matter?
Dear Tibor, please forgive me for this letter
with which I dare to disturb you, without you knowing me.
But if you read these lines you will realise that our meeting is inevitable
and it will change our lives for good.
My name is Ferenc Szirmai, I am a researcher in physics.
I would not like to bore you with the details
in case you think l'm trying to sell you something.
But jokes aside.
A few days ago I came into possession of some information
concerning my father whom I never knew.
And what I learned served partly as an explanation for the fact
that my mother never talked about the man to whom I owe my life.
Now, at the age of forty-five, I realised that my father
had lived in the same city as me all this time
and that his name was Artúr Kertész.
Their relationship was passionate, therefore short-lived.
My father soon disappeared from our lives to look for a new family
and with them he finally settled for good.
But the reason why I am writing to you is because my father
a few years later got another woman pregnant.
The name of this woman is Rozália Malkáv and their son is called
Tibor Malkáv.
I am not mistaken, am I, Mr. Malkáv?
You never knew your father, did you?
Therefore you are my half-brother.
I hope that we will soon be able to leave the word 'half',
but what is certain: our lives are attached forever,
and no matter who you are, I am proud to call you my relative.
Below you will find my home phone number.
Please feel free to call me at any time of the day or night,
which ever is more convenient for you.
I am very much looking forward to our first meeting.
With the kindest brotherly regards: Ferenc Szirmai.
Did you know that we've been standing like this for at least ten minutes?
Would you leave now?
Sure.
Will we still go to the cinema?
Of course. There's no problem.
Will you give me tonight's tickets?
Of course.
- Here. - Thank you.
Bye.
Who is it?
Szirmai house?
Yes.
I would like to speak to Ferenc Szirmai.
My husband died last night. What do you want from him? Who are you?
- I just wanted to talk to Mr. Szirm... - Listen, tell your editor that if he sends
another scummy scribbler after me
I will sue your bloody newspaper!
Understood?
I...
Hello, this is Ferenc Szirmai. I cannot answer your call at the moment,
please leave a message.
Good morning, my name is Dr. Ildik?Hart,
I'm a detective from the homicide department.
and this is my colleague, Schwarz.
- Tibor Malkáv? - That's me.
Will you allow me to sit down?
Go ahead.
Mr. Malkáv, no need to worry, we only came to ask you a few questions.
Does the name Ferenc Szirmai mean anything to you?
Yes.
How do you know him?
I got a letter from him yesterday.
So you know each other.
- No. - You never met?
- No. - You just correspond.
- No. - Do you mean to say that
apart from this letter, you had no connection whatsoever?
- Yes. - What did he write to you?
That he is my half-brother and he wants to meet me.
You are not very shaken by the news, are you?
I am usually not very shaken by things.
Then listen to this: he was murdered the night before yesterday.
Would you tell us what you were doing that night
between 10pm and midnight?
Sir...?
Are you with us?
I was thinking.
Care to share it?
It was Wednesday, the seventeenth.
At eleven past eight I left work
and went to the Fox-trap.
Foxtrap?
That's a diner on the corner of Pilinszky and Hammett,
where Edit Pszotka works, with whom at ten thirty
I went to the Hirad?cinema.
We left a few minutes after midnight.
What did you see?
In general?
In the cinema.
The Heroes of Nándorfehérvár.
Did you prepare for this conversation?
Until last night I didn't even know I had a half-brother.
Even though you didn't by then.
Mr. Malkáv, we will meet often in the near future.
I have to ask you if it is possible that you don't leave the country.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Can I ask you something?
Yes?