THE MAN WHO LOVED A CORPSE
Written by Nikos Nikolaidis
Directed by Nikos Nikolaidis
It was late at night. I was leaning on a car...
conversing with the leftovers of a bottle...
that was coming from the North.
I figured in the state I was in things couldn't get any worse.
I was the broke, homeless and friendless sort of guy...
who chases after lost causes with female names, which lead nowhere.
Mine was called Laura, and I met her many years ago.
My world was a sick and pitiful world...
where trouble from a girl like that had to happen.
It's been three years since I lost her.
Every time I smell jasmine on a passing girl...
I think of her and start looking for trouble again.
That's how I got here.
Only "here" is a bit strange...
Two women are doing things which would have stirred me once.
But with a bullet in one's shoulder, one can't do much.
Especially on nights like this one appreciates them even more.
Let alone the rain beating down on the hood.
It lulls you away, until you see Laura once more.
It was these things, as well as the hunch...
that made me put off my entrance, get in the car...
And pass out in peace.
My poor child.
Laura... how strange.
Honesty, you understand?
I want proof! Proof!
"On a long path..."
"I see a little rabbit, running."
"I want to catch it with my hands, but..."
"it is too far, too far!"
She thinks her father is still alive. She is crazy!
When I came to, I was lying on my stomach...
in the backseat of a car,
I had no idea how long I'd been there.
My bones ached and I was in a wretched state.
Laura had not shown up...
I was a complete fool...
No one would ever call me again.
So I could see where the hell I was.
Everything indicated that Laura passed by here.
I've been collecting evidence for the past three years.
I was very good at this job once. That's what everyone said.
Then, my mind became tangled...
so, they grew tired of me and I was fired.
And to think it was a routine case.
"In a few days, you'll forget it, like so many other cases."
I said to myself.
But things don't always turn out as expected.
I was coming from the past and I knew I was almost dead.
But I had to get into this house, if only to find out...
who I sold my life to, while paying the price, once more.
So I reached for the phone...
and passed out again.
Whoops, my little tits!
Nothing happened yesterday.
She was standing before me...
a pair of earrings which reminded me of something...
and an old Luger in her hand.
It felt like I was slipping on something hot and wet.
With a little luck, I could get her out of here.
But luck isn't always enough.
Surely, there was a better way to show me...
how unwelcome I was in this house.
Now I had to convince her of my good intentions...
and play for time.
So I began to fiddle with my shoelaces.
This seemed to make a good impression on her...
because she tried to help me.
I thought of speaking to her...
Besides, who said I was able to utter even a single word.
Something tells me that I've come to the right place.
Besides, this girl was worth a blow on my head with a Luger...
...and even more.
Did you secure the door?
What's that?
That little whore.
These are pansies, right?
Who sent you here?
It was only a routine case for me back then.
One I thought I'd forget soon.
Like so many other cases.
Later they all realized...
just to keep Laura out of trouble.
I knew that someone had plotted her death.
But who and why?
And if she was innocent, then why did she leave?
And all the other guys in there...
when I told them I had finally found her again...
and that I hadn't been chasing a dream in vain.
But luck isn't always enough.
Of course, we said we didn't know anything.
I see you feel better today.
Were you getting ready for a walk?
My God, you're heavy!
Oh my God, he is so heavy.
The truth is, he's not a child anymore.
Some little exercises.
Come on, try it.
I have two little birds.
Two pretty sparrows.
One flew away.
The other flew away.
One came back...
And the other did too.
"On a long path ran a little rabbit."
"This one caught him."
"And the poor little thing said, help me!"
I watched her being tortured,
to be more exact, I was one of those tortured
and I had to make it seem real.
I don't know why nor is it my job to ask.
My job is to get out of here and take Laura with me.
Which in my state, needs no special effort.
I spend the nights singing to myself...
hoping a crack will open in my cemented mind.
And think about whether someone in here should call the police.
There's smoke and fog everywhere...
and a bunch of guys looking at me in total amusement.
Maybe the guys are right.
Maybe they were right then.
The truth is, there's surely something wrong with me.
Come on, get up!
I don't know,
The line is cut.
Yes, tonight.
Before we kill him, we'll torture him a bit.
Shut up, now!
I knew she would die, so I didn't lie to her.
Besides, she was smart enough to figure it out.
Only she wasn't Laura.
This routine case wasn't what I had reckoned after all.
I realized that my boss and the guys laughed at me...
because they could see far ahead.
But not as far as where I'm going now.
You slide inside yourself like falling with a parachute.
Then you hold your breath and go without resisting...
recalling all those who did the same before you.
All those who fell into the void underneath a white parachute.
Who are still chasing a dream with a female name.
I'll be in good company tonight.
Translated by Elly Petrides and Vicky Harris
Adaptation by Katerina Nikopoulou Fixes and re-sync by DigitalBear