Belgrade, October 5th 2000
OCTOBER EVOLUTION
THE PROFESSlONAL
-Roger! -Hawk! Hawk, come in! Over!
ls there anyone aIive? What shelI we do, people? Over!
This is the end, foIks!
ONE YEAR LATER..
What are you Iooking at, you idiot!
What do you want? Get out!
Teja, please..
PeopIe, go back to the printing shop!
l'lI get the distinguished manager to the printing shop!
This firm is 1 50 years oId and he wants to put it out to a.
What was it? -Tender -Yes, tender!
He wiIl selI this firm onIy over my dead body!
He wants to drive us out on the street,
to rummage through the trash cans tiIl the end of our days!
What are we going to do with the chiId?
l'm asking you for the Iast time.
-l don't want to see the child -You don't?
Where to? Where do you think you're going?
You don't! Eh, you wilI not, even if you want to!
The workers are waiting for you.
They want to go on strike.
lt's okey They haven't had a strike in 60 years.
lf you don't go to the meeting, they wilI come here
To come in through the door and to go out through the window.
A man is Iooking for you. He's Iooking a bit strange.
You have lipstick aIl over you as though you kissed a vampire
Who is it? -lt seems to me he's not a writer.
He certainly is a writer. Everybody writes these days
and nobody looks Iike a writer anymore.
-What shouId I telI him? -TelI him I'm out
l've already toId him so. He said he knows
that you're out, but that you should see him anyway.
-He didn't come for his sake. -For whose sake did he come?
l don't know. He's carrying a briefcase and a big suitcase.
The Iunatics were bringing their manuscripts in foIders tiIl now
He Iooks like he arrived by train a IittIe whiIe ago
Maybe he is some cousin of yours. -That's very nice!
He Iooks strange, wearing a black suitcase
and he might be my cousin? -You didn't understand me
A man couId live in this town for a hundred years
and someone wiIl always teIl him he's a stranger, a peasant.
My grandfather was a peasant and l Ioved him more than anyone
He asked me, if his oId buddy Teja was here
Let him in, but caIl me in five minutes
Make a lunch reservation for half past two.
After lunch we're going to my place, for dessert
Please, come in
Good afternoon
Sava is a great painter after alI
lf l was a painter, l wouId paint just Iike that.
What can l do for you?
You don't know who l am?
-You don't know me? -l don't. l'm realIy sorry..
Can l put the suitcase down?
-Of course Take a seat -No, thank you I'm in a hurry
-Are you maybe. -A friend from the army?
Do you remember your story ''My friend from the army''?
-My story? -Yes. When a man came to you on the street,
hugged you and asked, ''Do you see some of the boys?''
You were confused, as you are now, and asked him,
''What boys''? ''WelI, the boys from the army.''
You felt better, at least you had some information
So you said, ''Of course I do.''
''And who do you see most frequently?''
You said, ''I often see Marko Sedlar.''
The man looked at you, Iowered his eyes and said,
''I am Marko SedIar''
An interesting story, but unfortunateIy it's not mine
Yes, it's yours. You just forgot it
Excuse me, but who are you? What's your name?
My name is Luka Laban
lt seems it doesn't ring a belI?
Mister Luka, aren't you by any chance mistaken?
There are severaI men here caIled Teodor.
But onIy you're calIed Teodor Teja Kraj.
Only you are from Sid and your mother
is from Sumanovic's family. Sava is your cousin.
l'm not going to keep you very Iong
l know you have a meeting with unsatisfied workers
They don't want their firm to operate in the private sector
-To be put out to a.. -Tender -Yes.
And after the meeting, if you survive, you're going to Iunch
with your secretary and girIfriend Martha
-How do you know that? -Today is your 48th birthday
lt is
Mister Luka, you had bound those manuscripts by some book binder?
l didn't dare. My daughter did that and l wrote the titIes
They often Iose or ruin manuscripts? -Even more
They sometimes denounce you to the police,
if something is ''especialIy interesting''. -They do
The police shouId work for the peopIe, not otherwise -Right
What are those books about?
This bIue book has the title ''Orations''. Short and sweet
-AIl four books are Orations? -The green on is a colIection
of short stories ''Stories from the Iost home''
The black book is a coIlection of urban stories.
Something like Chekhov's stories
-You like Chekhov? -And who doesn't?
Chekhov wrote the story ''Sadness'' based on my Iife.
That book is particuIarly interesting.
l see. A large book. -Pigs are Iarge, and books are voIuminous.
You used to telI that to your students
as a professor of literature. ls that right? -Yes.
Unbelievable. Splendid.
-Just one question, sir -But can l ask you something?
Don't calI me ''sir'', pIease lt doesn't suit me welI
l've been a comrade, Mister Teja, for sixty years
-AIl right? -AIl right, comrade Luka
l've told you he has a meeting and you can't come in
-No, he has a meeting! -What's the matter, Martha?
He's yeIling at me like l'm that wife of his.
-Why are you shouting, Jovan? -She won't Iet me in,
Iike you are The President of the United States!
And how do you think you could get in without an appointment?
Did you visit the ex-manager whenever you wanted to?
l did not -You've been seeing him once a year
And now you're bursting in here, yeIling your guts out!
You are Iate for the meeting. The workers are waiting
They've been waiting for sixty years,
now they can wait sixty minutes!
But Mister Teja, THIS is not THAT anymore!
Comrade Jovan, THIS is reaIly not THAT anymore
The workers are on strike as of today. l'm the president
of the striking committee. -Congratulation!
l'lI join you too. l didn't get my saIary in two months
This is about seIling seIling this building.
l know I'Il be there in ten minutes
-Don't cry, Martha -He's yeIling at me!
l didn't even touch her My wife doesn't cry when l beat her.
That's it! Get out of here!
Excuse me, you have a red spot on your coIlar.
What's going on here?
lt'lI be just five more minutes. -Five minutes?
Mister Luka.. Comrade Luka,
the workers are on strike, l'lI have to go down.
No probIem, l'm in a hurry too
But I'm Iooking at this painting. lt's Iike reaI snow.
One couId almost make a snowbaIl.
Comrade Luka, you're not a writer by profession? -No.
So, you did aIl this after your working hours?
Yes -WelI done. l've been a writer for 25 years,
and I've written only two books so far.
l've been working a lot.
My regular job in daytime and this during the night
Do you have perhaps more manuscripts in the suitcase?
No The suitcase contains Iots of stuff. -What stuff?
Lighters, keys, gIasses, gloves, caps.
Caps? Are there many of them?
-WeIl, about a dozen or so. -Do you like caps?
l've never wore them As you see, I'm wearing a hat.
l've coIlected these caps. And lots of other stuff.
The suitcase is so fuIl, that I bareIy closed it
Comrade Luka, l'm gIad to meet you
l'm going to read alI this
and you can come by in two or three weeks
-l'm sorry, I can't -Why not?
l'm going to have a surgery. They're scheduling it today
-ls it something serious? -No. If I survive
What shouId I do with your books? -They're not my books.
Not yours? - No -But whose are they?
Yours.
-What? -Yours, of course
-Those are my books? -Yes Those are your books.
-Take a Iook. -What are you taIking about?
Teodor Teja Kraj ORATIONS
Martha, just five more minutes. l'm a bit confused here.
Those are my books, comrade Luka?
Don't Iaugh, pIease
l just thought you're a serious man
and you're bringing me my books.
Don't Iaugh I'm Luka Laban, a retired policeman.
A poIiceman? -Retired major of the State Security.
You have been ''my case'' for ten years
l've been foIlowing you for ten years, every day
Those are your Orations, your stories and your encounters
and discussions whiIe you were a so calIed dissident.
l've been foIlowing you,
taping you, Iistening in to your phone calIs
and I've been ''taking down'' aIl this from the tapes
-And one day.. -What happened one day?
Nothing.
What happened one day?
After October 5th my daughter asked for your file.
From the fiIe she made aIl those books,
before she went to Canada Forever
Your daughter was working for the police too?
l asked if your daughter was working for the police.
-Anna is your daughter? -Yes
-Your daughter? -Yes, my daughter.
-You must be joking -Why shouId I?
-Where did you get these from? -l took them
Some in the Iine of duty, some privately.
-My God, Anna's your daughter -She was my daughter.
-What do you mean, ''she was''? -She went to Canada
and got married there I didn't see her since, she doesn't caIl.
Why doesn't she caIl you?
l wanted to kilI you after October 5th
when you came to power by force, but she didn't Iike it
You wanted to kiIl me? -Several times in the line of duty,
but when your peopIe forced me out of service, privately.
-You're joking. -No, I never joke.
The workers are calIing you to get down to the printing shop.
They're threatening with demonstrations.
And that geek told me to fuck off
He toId me alI sort of things -The president of the committee?
Now I've had it!
Do you know what he said to me? That l'm a whore
-What's the extension? -220.
Put the president of the striking committee on
Martha, please, don't cry.
Boss, it's for you!
Yes? -What are you doing? Are you crazy?
l've told you that the peopIe wouId go on strike
We've been waiting for an hour, sir
Just teIl me did you swore at her! -Yes, I swore at her.
She told me l was vuIgar, primitive and rude.
lf my wife said that to me, she'd end up in a hospitaI
Listen to me, you idiot!
lf the workers mess something up, you'lI pay for it!
You're asking for trouble!
l'm not his secretary to fuck me whenever he wants to!
What's up?
He has a gun -Who? The strike's leader?
No, this one here Under his jacket
-What does he want? -Nothing.
Everything's under controI Don't worry, Martha
Comrade Luka, Iet's get this straight..
Martha loves you very much You know about her husband?
He died of a heart attack two years ago. -Hi didn't
He didn't die He hung himslef. -ReaIly? -ln a nuthouse
To be exact, he escaped and hung himself in a park
l didn't know. He was sick? Crazy?
Yes PartIy hereditary, partly because of you
-Because of me? -He knew about your affair.
That's why Martha is afraid of lunatics.
-And how do you know alI that? -lt's my job to know everything.
lf l'd kilIed you during the March demonstrations in '91
as I pIaned, that man wouId be alive.
And maybe he wouldn't. They say that suicide is destined.
And why did you want to kilI me in '91 ?
Because you wanted to force down the Government
and our President You took the students out on the streets!
You burned and wrecked Belgrade! -Who wrecked Belgrade?
You, your friends and your students!
MARCH 9TH 1 991
200.000 DEMONSTRATORS AGAINST MILOSEVIC
The first time I saw you in the Security Department
You covered the whole city with cameras!
More or Iess Except maybe a few toilets.
Marko, who is this pig?
A professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, Teodor Kraj.
Students calI him Teja
This pIatform is free!
-A professor? -Yes -Fucking smart ass
Stop. Zoom in.
You traitorous motherfucker!
You're the one to bring us freedom!
And this piece of shit is a professor of what?
-PhiIosophy, l suppose -PhiIosophy?
l didn't beat a philosopher before
l typed your first speech in my office
and opened your fiIe, that wiIl turn into these books.
Good evening, Serbia!
Did you manage to get some sIeep?
l've just begun, but I'm going to need more time.
But I'm satisfied
What did these days and nights on the square mean to you?
You've opened my file with a story about freedom?
What freedom are you taIking about, man?
Read what you've said
You've insulted everything and everyone.
Afterward I asked my superior to let me run you over
with the car The first time you get drunk,
l couId run you over Iike a dog -Like a dog?
Like a common street dog. But my superior was a kind man.
He said, ''Luka, we shouId keep the streets cIean.''
lf your boss approved, you wouId realIy run me over?
You'd be history You wouId be neither the first nor the last.
-There were so many ''accidents'' -But why, man?
l was a communist to the bone in those years
And you spoke aIl kinds of shit about communists.
ln your Oration about a monkey you said about communists,
''Nature needed a milIion years to make a man out of a monkey,
but the Communism needed only fifty years to turn a man
into a monkey again'' -Splendid! I said that?
-And when was that? -Here. November 1 5th 1 993
l was seIling newspapers that night. -ReaIly?
l couIdn't come to your table and say, ''l'm a policeman.
Let me sit with you and listen to what are you taIking about.''
-l don't remember anything -Of course You were dead-drunk.
l say, ''What's up, pigs? What do you want?''
One of them jumps aIl over me, hits me with a club in the head.
-ln the head! -Back here.
Hawk, over! The bastard is in the bar.
l scream from anger and pain, jump on my feet,
hit one of them, than the other one, and the other one.
How many fucking cops were there?
Thirty or forty of them at least.
Forty against one! Forty against a poet!
l get upset and yeIl, ''You eviIdoers, shame on you!''
And I start to run and jump through a closed window
The glass falIs aIl over the pIace, l'm flying, falIing.
My whoIe Iife flashes before my eyes.
l see my mother, my father, my brother.
l'm falIing, faIling. -How many stories did you falI from?
l don't know, but it was very high
WilI someone lick this for me?
Fucking fascists! You're lucky to be alive.
Hawk, roger!
Hawk is entering the bar
Tomorrow's papers. SIobodan MiIosevic in Nis.
Good evening. Mister Protic, is it not?
l've recognized you from TV.
Your change, sir. -No, it's alI right.
Let see, where were we? Liverpool vs. CheIsea.
Paper boy, come over here
Sit down -l can't, sir, I'm busy.
Come on, sit.
How much of that communist garbage do you have Ieft?
-About 1 0 copies -l'lI take it aIl.
-Stop the music! -Stop!
-How much is one copy? -80 milIion
That's eight hundred Here, have a biIlion.
-lt's too much, sir -No, it isn't
-lt's 200 milIion too much. -You're selIing nucIear waste
You'Il need money for treatment. -OK, thank you
Let's see what SIoba Nostradamus says.
One raspberry juice, if you have it -Of course.
Raspberry juice, man!
l don't drink aIcohoI because of my throat
And how do you feel when you drink raspberry juice?
l feeI good. -You don't have ''epsileptic'' seizures?
-What? -Are you deaf?
Raspberry is known to attack the hearing!
The man is such an idiot Listen to what he's saying:
''Serbia wiIl be one of Europe's most deveIoped countries
in five years, a role model for many countries.''
God damn it! This could drive a man crazy!
lt's not SIoba's fauIt We are shit!
Nature needed a miIlion years to make a man out of a monkey,
but the Communism needed only fifty years to turn a man
into a monkey again -A baboon too! Bare-bottomed!
That's right. -Give me a gIass of wine. l'm not feeling welI
Do you think that we drink because we Iike to?
Do you see what they say here?
l don't read papers, l just selI them
You're poisoning peopIe You're a mobile Chernobyl.
Leave the man aIone, he didn't write that shit
Drug deaIers don't make the drugs, just selI them
That's right.. That's correct!
Do you know the song ''Government wilI faIl''?
Never heard of it
''What is that that's faIling? lt's the Government and you''
''Many governments have falIen So yours must faIl too.''
GentIemen, pIease, l have five children.
Mister Teja, please don't sing so loud.
The bar is fulI of poIice
Who is a cop here?
They'lI send an inspection, they'Il cIose my bar
l have three smaIl children.
l'm saying this because of your smaIl children!
What wilI happen if the Satrap stays in power
for another ten years? They'lI Ieave this rotten country!
-You'Il stay aIone like graves! -Please, they are everywhere.
-My cook is his man. -My fiddIer played for him
lt's not SIoba's fauIt! We are shit!
We'Il pIay for you alI night, just don't mention comrade Sloba
AIl right PIay that old foIk song ''Love letter''
That's okey
Come on! Sing!
Enough! Closing time!
l have to wash my face. l'm not feeling welI
First l'm going to wash my face and then hang myself.
l can't stand this Iife anymore
We have to fight, man, don't kilI yourself now!
l wanted to hang you l had an excelIent alibi,
because you said it yourseIf in front of everybody
l foIlowed you to the bathroom and I see you taking a piss.
The man looked just Iike you from behind.
Boy, you're drunk!
l took off my beIt, made a noose
and put it around your neck to hang you
lt's okey, Martha, we're just talking.
He wanted to strangle you. -He was just expIaining something
Comrade Luka, do you want some coffee? -If it's possibIe
WeIl, it's not possible. They just arrested the cook.
Teja, he's crazy. Should l calI the poIice?
No, no.. They arrested JeIena, the cook?
-They're taking her away now. -Why did they arrest her?
She poured hot coffee into the doorman's eyes.
-l'lI make you coffee. -No sugar for me, pIease
Don't worry Everything's under controI
ls it possible that you wanted to hang me in the bathroom
and make it Iook Iike a suicide?
There were many questionable suicides.
Dostoevsky wrote about that when the oId Karamazov..
Wait a minute You are not a poIiceman
You doubt that l'm a policeman? ls that a compliment?
You don't taIk like a policeman. Your knowIedge about Chekov,
Dostoevski, about Iiterature don't become a policeman.
My dear Mister Teja!
lf you only knew how hard it was for me to comprehend
the basic concepts of that Iiterary worId of yours
l was convinced that AristotIe, Kafka, Nietzsche, Hegel
were aIl agents of foreign inteIligence services.
l even came across similar names in police fiIes
of embassies employees. When you quoted Sartre,
l was sure he was the French military attache
His name was aIso Jean-Paul, only he wasn't a phiIosopher.
So I added in his file: ''and a philosopher''.
What could l do? Of alI foreign names
l've heard onIy of Marx, Engels and Lenin
You stiIl doubt that l'm telIing the truth?
WeIl..
And how's your leg? -What leg? -The left one.
You had severe fracture of the thighbone. -Yes
And two surgeries.
The Ieg is 4 cm shorter, your right shoe soIe 4 cm thicker
At first sight one can't see you have a limp
l quit smoking, I had three by-passes. l carry the lighter
out of the habit. Keep it, it's yours anyway.
-How do you know about my Ieg? -l know I hit you with my car
You hit me with your car?
And you got off easy. lf l'd been driving a jeep,
it wouId've taken them three days to put you together
You are a monster! A murderer!
-l didn't kilI anyone. -l spent a year in a hospital!
l had four surgeries! Not two, four!
They've bareIy managed to save my leg!
Look what you did to me, you filthy cop! Take a Iook!
And here is what you did to me, you mangy pig!
Martha! Martha!
-What are you doing? -We're talking.
Why are you taking off your clothes?
l'm showing him my scar from the surgery
-And he's showing me his. -Why do you do that?
What do you want?
Martha, everything's going to be fine.
l'lI finish this conversation in five minutes.
-You know how much I love you? -l know But who is that man?
l'lI teIl you alI about it at lunch Kiss you
-Five minutes? -Five.
Jovan, come here! Hurry up!
-What's up? -He's a pervert!
l couIdn't believe my eyes.
She was lying Iike this.
Boss.
PeopIe, do you see this circus?
Believe me, lf l had a gun, l wouId kilI you
Take mine.
The buIlet is in the hole, just squeeze the trigger.
You know I can calI the Chief of The State Security now.
So? -You'd spent the rest of your life in prison.
Prison is for people. l've sent at least a hundred men there.
Most of them are now in power because they served time.
And you were given some position after being run over
l did you a favor and you want to kilI me
-lt's not right. -You're not normal.
Cheers.
ls it possible that you wanted to kilI me because of MiIosevic?
Partly because of him, but more because of Knin.
Because of Knin?
l ran you over the second day after Knin feIl.
l was in shock, l wanted to kilI aIl of you!
August 1 995 Exodus of Serbs from Croatia
Milan, why don't you Iet these poor peopIe into the city?
What do you think, who can forbid? -Who has forbidden?
-The President, they say -The President?
Where are the people supposed to go?
-The order is, to Kosovo. -To Kosovo?
And where from Kosovo if a war breaks out down there?
How am I suppose to know, Luka?
Boss, that professor and some of his men
are organizing a ralIy -That's forbidden
Yes, but they are gathering in the HalI of Sports.
They expect over twenty thousand peopIe to come
They're plotting to go to the President's house
-They're mentioning guns too. -Guns?
And the ''Rumanian scenario.''
As though this misery is not enough for them,
they want blood in BeIgrade too.
WeIl, l'm going to show them the ''Serbian scenario''!
A milIion peopIe should have been on the streets
of BeIgrade tonight!
The processions of wretches are passing by our houses!
500.000 men, women and children are looking at our windows
They're not aIlowed to go into the MiIosevic's Imperial City!
That's right. -What else must happen to us.
How many of our people are there? -More than a half.
l'm going to take down this professor tonight
..and if he sleeps, what is he dreaming about?
Does he dream about so many wounded and dead peopIe?
Shame on us before Nikola TesIa,
who's Iooking at us and asking,
''Where is my native soil, brothers?''
Milosevic is not to bIame! We're to blame, we're shit!
He knows that we're shit! When he gets tired of us,
he just fIushes, and shit goes down the toiIet!
Who is shit, you motherfucker?!
Easy
Here, caIm down.
Those bastards broke my Ieg. Let go of me
-l'm going to kilI him! -Come on!
-Let go of me! -AIl right!
Teja..
Teja, damn it!
You bastards!
-Do you have a fever? -Leave the man aIone.
What do you mean? He was Iucky.
They put my healthy leg in the cast first
Later they got it right and now it's OK, thank God
l said, Iet's go to the bar! Politics wiIl kilI us
-Nice shirt -What was that?
-l said, nice shirt -He said you have a nice shirt
My uncIe gave it to me
Good evening, gentIemen How are you?
-Good evening, doctor. -How are you, mister Kraj?
GentIemen, you must Ieave. Visiting hours are over.
No probIem, doctor.
What happened, young man? Soccer?
-Yes, but soccer with clubs. -Very nice.
Hang on, Teja! Everything's going to be aIl right
-You're a big hero! -Let's go.
Mister Kraj, excelIent! No fever, as l see.
-No constipation, excelIent! -What's exceIlent, doctor?
You were in criticaI condition Iast night
-We thought that we lost you. -You thought l'lI die?
WeIl, it was a cIose shave
A spIendid diagnosis: a cIose shave
Nurse, put it here
Do they know who hit me?
They'lI find out Papers say, the investigation is underway
The investigation is underway and the funeraI is tomorrow.
You must have fate in our poIice department.
l'm afraid that investigation is being led by those,
who run me over.
Who is paying you to hate our President so much?
Who is paying me?
l mean, who is your contact abroad?
You can teIl me. l'm under a doctor's oath
l fear that someone might hear us.
We're alone You can whisper it to me.
-This is a plastic ear -You're joking.
Unbelievable. lt Iooks real.
No one wouId think it was plastic.
And who'd think you have one shorter leg? -True
This would aIso be aggravated assault and battery in court
Let's part with a drink The workers are waiting for me.
-Cheers, comrade Luka. -Cheers, Mister Teja.
-What are those? -Your things.
My things? -Like those are your books, these are your things
-What do you think? -Where did you get alI this?
l colIected them whiIe l've been foIlowing you for ten years.
You kept Ioosing your stuff in bars, clubs and trains.
When you get drunk, you Ioose things -I know.
l have two Iight coats, three coats, one leather jacket,
gloves, scarves, umbreIlas at home I couldn't bring it aIl.
There, it is my present for your birthday. Cheers.
My God
Yes? -We're going out on the street. We'Il stop the traffic.
-l'lI be there in five minutes -We can't wait anymore!
You're fucking around upstairs and we're working like slaves!
Don't do anything stupid! l'm on my way!
We won't rest untiI we see your back!
And when you see my back, you can kiss my ass!
Those who go out in the street, wiIl stay in the street!
A whoIe Iife in a suitcase?
Where did I get this binocuIars?
You don't remember? It was a present from my daughter
-From Anna? -On New Year's Eve 1 997.
During those big demonstrations, when you thought you had won.
You were ceIebrating the New Year and victory.
You were stiIl a professor, my daughter was on the first year
And, of course, she feIl in Iove with a professor
When they told me that, l aImost died.
Roger!
Come on, hurry up! Where have you been?
Let me check you out.. You alI have communicators?
Where is Marko? -He's waiting for you in your office.
You wait for me in the garage l'lI be right there
What's going on here? Why is he screaming like a muIe?
Get ready We're going to ceIebrate.
l'lI explain it to you
-What's your name? -Jovan Mandic
Did I ask you? Shut the fuck up
-What's your name? -Jovan Mandic
So you're the famous Joca.
And why are these good peopIe beating you?
Why are you Iaughing..? Why are they beating you?
l switched off the electricity in the center of the city
Why? -lt's more beautifuI with the candles.
You like candIes? Now we're going to Iight you a candIe
Leave him for five minutes, then continue
-With the treatment? -Yes
What are you waiting for?
Do your people have to beat a man on New Year's Eve too?
Cut the crap Let's go
l'm not working here as of tonight It's not for me
And one more thing. l wasn't going to teIl you that -What?
Your daughter is with the professor, in the city.
My daughter is with that Iunatic in the city?
Yes I saw them. -My daughter is dating that idiot?
Yes They are going to a New Year's Eve party later.
l'lI kiIl him
December 31 st 1 996 Demonstrations on New Year's Eve
-Where have you been? -Beat it!
Are you our Santa? Did you bring the presents?
What Santa! What presents!
-Roger! Roger! -Please, come in
Are you crazy? l'm expecting Santa CIaus and presents
and you send me strippers and the police!
Hawk, come in! Over!
The doctor said you should retire now.
l know He told me too.
He said you wouldn't survive the next heart attack
Who cares? -What are you taIking about, Dad?
You know very weIl. Don't upset me.
Do you want me to die here in front of you?
That man.. l'm going to..
-What? TelI me -Nothing.
What's with the visa?
Did you get the visa for Canada?
-How do you know about that? -My job is to know everything
-When do you Ieave? -l don't know.
Promise me something.
-What? -You know what.
Take care. l'lI see you tomorrow
God, what did l do to deserve this?
l promised Anna l wouIdn't kiIl you.
As you see, I've kept my promise You're aIive and weIl.
So, Anna saved my Iife?
Your life and everything you've lost in your Iife.
She never toId me her father was a poIiceman
She was probabIy embarrassed When l got out of hospital
l foIlowed you around and took these pictures to the Dean
They were just waiting for some excuse to throw you out
l got hooked up on booze hanging out with you artist.
So you set me up with a story
of ''seducing femaIe students and orgies in my office''.
Yes, me. Why are you complaining?
You've been on alI the front pages for two months.
Your daughter ended up in a hospital after a breakdown
and she Ieft her studies. -Yes But she also left you.
-l couId kilI you right now! -You'd be kiIling a dead man
and they'd convict you as though l was aIive
-No! -l'lI kiIl him, Martha
-lt wiIl do you no good -You ruined my Iife!
And what have you done to me?
The workers are on the street They stopped the traffic
Demonstrations again? Why now, when we have democracy?
Comrade Luka, l might kiIl you.
-Type Jovan's resignation Now! -The Minister's office
wants to know what's going on. -l wiIl telI them!
Bringing down the Government is going on!
l'm the opposition now. AIthough a bit drunk.
They're not bringing me down, they're bringing you down!
Send the police to regulate the traffic.
-What's that? -Letters from your mother.
-Letters from my mother? -Yes, ten letters.
Where did you get these letters?
When you Iost your job, you had no money.
You were moving from one apartment to another
and I coIlected your mail, saying l was your cousin.
-You are a monster -A was just a professionaI
My dear son Teja, you promised to come
in November for your father's birthday,
and now New Year has passed and you stiIl didn't come.
Some of my letters come back, so it seems to me
that I've been writing them to myseIf
-You're writing to Teja? -What else can l do?
TelI him I said haIlo. And give him this ring
-Read me the letter. -Don't torture me
l received the medications you've sent.
The truth is, I'm not taking any medications for a long time
l asked for them hoping you'lI bring them yourseIf
l'm sending you these gloves with Luka,
your father's friend from the poIice school.
Luka is the only one who visits him regularIy
My vision is getting weaker Iately, so if you write to me,
bring the Ietter yourself, so you can read it to me.
With Iove, your mother
-You were visiting my house? -Yes
You went to the police schooI with my father?
No I onIy wanted to see what was your famiIy Iike
-And what did you see? -AIl the best
A decent mother and an honest father,
who went iIl and died because of you.
Your father was brought to Belgrade to break up
the demonstrations you've been organizing yourself.
Come on, don't cry
You know about my son and my ex-wife?
Of course I know everything
MARCH, APRlL, MAY, JUNE 1 999
NATO OPERATlON ''THE MERClFUL ANGEL''
-Good evening. -Same to you.
The piggies were so afraid After he blew down
the straw house and the wooden house,
he went towards the brick house And he shouted,
''When I bIow and spit fire l'lI tear your house down.''
And he started blowing!
And the tiles began to fIy from the roof of the brick house.
Does the wolf work for NATO?
My son..
-What are you doing here? -l came to see him
Come on, take a look at him
He has a name, you know His name is not ''him''.
Come on, now you bomb me too
Look what Daddy brought you A toy-puppy.
Did you see him?
We have a dog. A real dog
-What's her name? -Honey-pie.
And you can give that to this girIfriend of yours
-Where did you get this? -A man gave it to me
-l want to take it home -No
l want to take it home!
Why are you Iike that?
She said, ''We have a real dog''
''Take this one away We don't need anything from you''
ln those words?
My son bareIy recognized me!
Teja, my friend!
Don't do that. lt is because of the bombing.
The posttraumatic stress.
lt'lI aIl pass when the bombing is over
There are so many nice things in life We aIl love you
-Just those Americans don't. -And British.
Then she gave me this picture of me and some student of mine.
Was it that girI? -Don't joke with me!
Someone is giving these pictures around.
lt wiIl be alI over the papers tomorrow.
We'Il be in the papers! Great!
Motherfuckers!
What are these evil men doing to us!
-What's up, boys? -What do you want, faggot?
-Do I have to come there? -What the heIl do you want?
You misunderstood me l meant,
what do you want to drink with us?
-Let's go. -Have a drink with us
l mean, l'm an invaIid And he's completeIy heaIthy
Who is that pretty woman?
Martha. She comes here every Sunday
Fuck you, you bastards!
You and your fucking pIanes!
God damn you, you monsters!
lt's no use They are too high up
What do you want? -And what are you doing with the ledder?
l can stand where ever l want in my office Why are you here?
To give the manager our demands lf he doesn't meet our demands
in half an hour, we're moving downtown
We're going to bIock the whoIe city!
The manager has an important meeting
This is more important for him! His Iife is at stake!
lf he doesn't agree to this, he better jump through the window!
And you could too, whiIe you're aIready standing on the Iadder
Martha, honey, come here..
l'lI gladly do time for this.
-Comrade Luka. -What are you doing, Jovan?
l only wanted.. -You onIy wanted to kilI the manager.
l wanted to scare him He hit me -Come here
Postpone the demonstrations for a week.
-You're stiIl in the service? -You dare to ask me that?
But they toId me that you are.
-Who's giving you orders? -You are
Dismiss your peopIe TeIl them the negotiations are in progress
-Did he hit you? -No
-Are you hurt? -No
-Are you in pain? -No
Come on, lie down
We could say that you saved my life
l'm not sure that he would shoot. -He wouId. He's crazy
-He's one of ours. -He's working for the police?
Yes A colIaborator.
-You were his boss? -Yes
How come he's working for the police now,
when the police is changed? -Who says it's changed?
Me and your Iate father are the onIy ones who're changed.
-This was a planned rebelIion? -Guided by remote controI
He organizes riots where they're needed.
And why were they needed here now?
l don't know. l'm not in the service anymore.
l used to move him from firm to firm.
He's the greatest agitator
ln the Department we calI him ''Trotsky''
Take a sip, you'lI feeI better
ln any case, thank you. Can l ask you something?
lf he did kilI my by any chance, would he be accused?
-For what? -For murder.
-WeIl, it wouIdn't be a murder. -And what would it be?
Probably a suicide
-l wouId shoot myself? -Yes, you would commit suicide.
But Martha was present. She would testify
-How could a dead woman testify? -He wouId kilI her too?
No, you would kiIl Martha and then commit suicide
l wouId kilI Martha and then commit suicide?
Yes Newspapers are fuIl of tragic love stories
You loved her, she betrayed you,
you kiIled her and then committed suicide
Jovan would probably be the witness to your tragedy.
And you? -What about me? -You were present too.
Two dead peopIe wouId testify that I was present?
God.
l don't know if I saved your Iife today, but once l did
l saved you in the last moment. You were cIinicalIy dead.
-When was that? -When your father died.
You saved my Iife when my father died?
ls it possible that you don't remember that either?
l don't remember.
What?
Mister Kraj, just one more question
Do you mind, coIleague?
ls it true that you are reIated to our great painter?
Yes, on my mother's side
Have you inherited anything from your great cousin?
A coupIe of paintings
-l meant.. -The taIent? -No chance!
Sava Sumanovic spent a long time in psychiatric hospitaI
You think iIlnesses are hereditary?
l didn't say that.
Oh my great pIain You won't Iet me sIeep
And even in my dreams For you I weep
Everything is fIat Not a thing in sight
And the sky.
What's up?
-My neck! -Not again, man!
-Mister Kraj, excuse me. -Yes?
Your father.
My condoIences
Please, l'm begging you now.
Stay out of politics He was kiIled by politics
Promise me you'lI stick to your own affairs
l promise As soon as this regime changes
-And when wiIl that be? -After the eIections.
ln which year?
He Ieft you this
Tamburitza orchestra, even here?
This is his song They've played it to him his whole life
lf he didn't want a requiem, Iet his musicians pIay for him
This was my father's song.
When he was drunk, he used to ask for this song.
One time he gave this ring
to make them play this song aIl night long. Sixty times!
-Sixty times! -Sixty times!
Did they take out buIlets from your meet?
What bulIets and buckshot?
For every pound of meat you get a pound of led
-What meat is this? -Deer. lt's a deerburger
You ate a deer's child You ate Bamby, you fat cow.
Little Bamby!
l've heard about your father. My deepest regrets
Hunters, sit down. Come on, sit down.
-What happened to your head? -This idiot almost kiIled me
-Why are you Iooking at me? -lt was an accident
Do I look Iike a rabbit to you?
-Do I look Iike a rabbit? -Not at alI
You want some carrots and cabbage?
Why are you Iooking at me?
Here, take a gun, shoot me and we're even. -Enough, you two!
What is the range of those snipers?
lt depends on the hunter.
A good hunter can kiIl from two thousand meters
ExceIlent!
l have an excelIent idea
lf Milosevic robs the elections again,
as he's been doing so far, we'lI organize a hunt on him.
Now sing my song ''Government wilI faIl''
-Please, don't ask that -''Government wilI faIl''!
lf the Government falIs, the head falIs too.
ls this enough?
We'Il try
GentIemen, now you wiIl hear a reaI song!
l'm on your traiI for years With an arrow in my hands
Now I see you, now l don't Your shadow is white and bends
But one night, oh my dear l'lI be able to grab it
l wiIl meet you fair and square l wiIl kilI you Iike a rabbit
A shooting star is faIling And also hawk, a bird so gray
A smile on my face is rolIing And the snow on Christmas Day
A man can falI from drinking And the soul can faIl asleep
At down the night is sinking FaIling, falIing deep
What is that that's falIing lt's the Government and you
Many governments have faIlen So yours must faIl too.
Sit down and have a drink.
Put those Iights out
-What's up? -Your tickets, please.
Every five minutes someone asks for the tickets
What is this? A train or a casino
-Sit down -Have a drink.
l shouldn't. l'm on duty
Don't play innocent with us! We are aIl on duty
We have a duty to pay back our debts.
You look famiIiar to me
You too Are you on your way home?
l've been a conductor on this route for 25 years.
What do you have in those packages?
Oh, wouId you like to know?
The posters for the eIections. We'Il cover whole BeIgrade
Who are you gonna vote for? -Same as you. -Bravo, sir!
He's our man!
l have a coId. -When SIoba faIls, l'lI get even more fat
No l'm somehow maintaining my weight because l'm upset
You can give me one package. l'lI cover the whole train
lt wouId be great advertising Trains travel everywhere
lt's a great idea! He is our PR!
Our propagandist! -You're in a wrong Iine of work
-Cheers. Here's to our victory. -To victory!
l'm not feeling welI
l'm sick. l'lI die.
lt's occupied!
Hey, look, Teja feIl off!
-Who felI off? -Teja.
Look how he felI!
Hey, Teja! -We'Il be waiting for you in the bar!
Look at this!
Get up, Teja!
You're heavy as a rock
-Why did you save me? -lf l had Ieft you,
my daughter wouId think that I'd kiIled you
My father's ring!
Don't wear it in a bar If you give it to musicians again,
there wilI be no one to return it to you.
Thank you
Why are you Iooking through the window alI the time?
l'm afraid they might take away my cab.
A cab has been waiting for you alI this time?
-lt's my cab. l'm a cab driver. -You?
lt's calIed ''a change of government''
l was the boss while you were a vagabond.
Now you are a manager and I'm a cab driver,
which is aImost the same as a vagabond
How can you drive a cab when you're sick? -I have no choice.
Do you think I could buy medications with my pension?
Three o'clock! The doctor wilI kiIl me.
l'm late and l'm drunk
There's a pIay of yours in this briefcase.
lt couId be performed in a theatre or made into a movie
Don't make a fooI of me. l never wrote a play.
-Yes, you did. -When? -Just now
l've turned it on before l came into this office.
lt has recorded everything we've said
You just need to write down the story from the tape.
lf Anna was here, she wouId do it, but now you have to
You must be a professionaI for once
Comrade Luka, can l heIp you in some way? -No
-ActuaIly, you couId. -Just teIl me.
This is Anna's number in Canada
TelI her that l've brought you the books and your things.
And don't mention my iIlness, please. She has her own worries.
And.. teIl her that we've parted.
..in peace.
l wish you alI the best, Martha
-Good afternoon -Good afternoon
Sava is a great painter after alI
lf l was a painter, l wouId paint just Iike that.
What can l do for you?
You don't know who l am? -l don't. l'm realIy sorry..
Can l put the suitcase down?
-Of course Sit down. -No, thank you I'm in a hurry
-Are you maybe. -A friend from the army?
Do you remember your story ''My friend from the army''?
My story? -Yes. When a man came to you on the street,
hugged you and asked, ''Do you see some of the boys?''
You asked him, ''What boys''? ''WelI, the boys from the army.''
You felt better, at least you had some information
So you said, ''Of course I do.''
''And who do you see most frequently?''
You said, ''I often see Marko Sedlar.''
The man looked at you, Iowered his eyes and said,
''I am Marko SedIar''
An interesting story, but unfortunateIy it's not mine
Yes, it's yours. You just forgot it
Excuse me, but who are you? What's your name?
My name is Luka Laban