Peppermint (1999)

[bunniefuu]

-Carouzos here.

-Stefanos, it's you?

-Yes. Who is it?

-Finally, I found you! Manolis, here.

-Manolis who?

-Manolis Markatos.

-Markatos who?

-Carouzos, you forgot everything. Thallasinos, Malandris, Markatos.

Manolis! It's you? Where are

you? What're you doing?

Unbelievable! I'm at work you

know. I wasn't expecting it.

How're you doing? We've

been out of touch so long...

Do you know how long

I was searching for you?

-There've been some changes.

-I spoke to your wife.

-She told me that you got divorce.

-Yes, it was a while ago.

It is good that you didn't have any children.

I finally found your mother.

She barely remembered me.

She's growing old. Lately

she barely remembers me.

Do you know the reason of my call?

I'm having a party.

-Fine! When?

-Today!

I am looking for you two weeks now.

I have almost found them all.

Almost everyone.

There have been 30 years since the last party.

I found Marina too.

She isn't coming.

-You know, children...

-Fine I'll try to make it.

Don't you dare not to come!

I'm expecting you.

-Ok? Bye.

-Hey! What's the address?

Do you remember my parent's home?

I've changed everything.

-OK. So long.

-Bye!

Let's hurry it up, Mrs. Youla.

I've got to get

dinner ready you know.

You certainly skimped on the

fabric, Mrs. Carouzos...

I don't know if I'll

have enough for the sleeves.

This is where one can tell

a good seamstress!

If only you'd bought just

a teeny bit more!

Do you know how much

this fabric costs?

I won't be able to match the

pattern and it will look bad.

What can I do?

Careful...

That's right.

Careful of the pins!

-Isn't it a bit short?

-I can let down the hem.

But I saw in a French magazine

that short skirts are in!

-And you sure have the legs!

-My husband will k*ll me!

Nonsense! In the long run

they all like it.

Use the kitchen entrance!

I've got news!

-My sister-in-law Ariadne!

-Be careful of the pins!

What is it, baby?

How did you do it?

I bring you news! They're

engaged to be married!

There's never a moment's

peace with this child!

The marriage will take place

here of course...

Orthodox and Catholic!

Real class!

Let me take a look

at your mouth.

It's nothing. You just lost

your first tooth.

Come. let me show you.

We'll sing a little song

three times...

and you'll throw your tooth

as far away as you can. OK?

Come on! Throw it!

Now say hello to your cousin

who has come to see you.

Go on. Give him a little kiss.

Put your arms around her.

Kiss her.

Go on! Kiss him...

That's lovely, darlings!

That's enough now. Enough!

Enough! Now go and play in

your room and be good.

How's Aunt Venetia?

Where is she?

The battery's worn down...

and she's quite deaf

without her hearing aid.

Old age...

What can you do? It happens

to the best of us...

The show's about to begin.

We don't want to miss it.

Who's engaged?

Haven't you heard?

Princess Sophia.

At last, the darling!

And you know who she's

to marry of course...

Don Juan Carlos of Spain!

Not like her brother who

wants to marry a movie star!

No way! He'll marry whoever

the Queen tells him to!

If your husband were

to hear you...

Yeah... like I'm afraid

of your brother...

It flew on the roof...

took the tooth

and will bring me the ring.

You're lying.

I didn't see any bird.

Let's go and

I'll show you.

Quiet so they don't hear us.

Hold on to me.

What's the bird like?

It's big and black and it's

got a pointed beak.

Maybe it's Aunt Venetia's bird.

Yes, that's it.

This is the locked room.

Stefanos, we'll

wake her up.

No way. Auntie

sleeps like a log.

Dear God! What happened now?

Keep your hands away

from the buttons!

The doctor's on

the third floor!

I said the third!

Dear God, why me?

If your temperature doesn't go

down, I'm calling the doctor.

Whether you like it or not!

What's that child doing in

the bathroom all this time?

Stefanos! Hurry up in there.

Your father's ill.

I want the hot water bottle.

I want to die.

I'm the one who'll die. That

rascal will be the death of me.

Hurry up. You've

got school tomorrow.

I knew it. Using all that

cologne at this hour of night.

You go to sleep right now.

You've got school tomorrow.

Tell him to say his prayers.

Did you hear that?

Your prayers! Right now!

Get up! Get up!

My God! Would you

look at that fog!

Wake up! Get up! I said

get up, you Iazybones.

What's this?

Where did you get this,

you bum?

You should be ashamed

of yourself!

Where did you find it?

Who's the bum who

gave it to you?

It's Dad's.

Shame on you. You're lucky he's

sick and sleeping, otherwise...

I didn't sleep a wink

all night.

Darn you!

I'll show you what

I'm going to do with this!

Big deal...

Hurry up and eat while I go

and get your coat.

It's very cold today and the

fog goes right through you.

Winter's come suddenly before

I could get out warm clothes.

I'm afraid you may smell

the mothballs a Iittle.

I'm worried about your Dad.

He's been sick a lot lately...

And his heart... they've

got to run some tests.

You're late! Hurry up!

And don't count on Nikos giving

you a ride in this weather.

You'll walk to school

like all the other kids.

D'you know what time your

cousin Marina leaves every day?

Marina's dumb.

I'm not speaking to her.

You don't say!

Since when?

You two were...

Just as well...

Well anyway finish up. Nikos

said he's not picking you up.

D'you know what Nikos

was in the w*r?

All I know is he's disabled

and because he likes you...

you've got him taking you to

school so you can sleep late.

Lazybones!

He was a flight navigator.

Know what they did?

They charteded courses and

positions...

and flew at night and in

fog without radar...

and when they said on the

radio transmitter...

that they'd be flying over

at such and such an hour...

-over such and such a place.

-Enough! Have it your way.

I just have one thing

to say to you.

Have you seen the photograph

of Aunt Venetia's husband?

How young he was when

he left her a widow?

Come on. Get up.

-What's your name, son?

-Stefanos Carouzos.

-What was that?

-Stefanos Carouzos.

Why aren't you singing

our national anthem?

I have a sore throat, Sir.

You have a sore throat...

What's that in your pocket?

Let me see.

Show me!

What's the lesson today?

What's the lesson

today, class?

Algebra!

So do you solve the algebra

equation or plug in the heater?

Now...

Let's see...

Karaliopoulos...

Karoudas...

and Lambrou to the blackboard.

MANOLIS+MARINA=LOVE

Loudly and clearly so I can

hear what you're writing...

Go to the blackboard

Carouzos!

You sit down.

Continue.

What are you staring at? It

looks like Chinese to you?

Continue.

What's that you're writing,

Carouzos? What gibberish!

Don't you look at me like that!

You won't get away from me!

You're getting a ''D''!

''D''! ''D''! ''D''!

What happened to the

elastic bands?

Stefanos!

Pavlos! Catch him!

I'm going to k*ll him!

-What happened?

-They want to k*ll me! Save me!

Get away from behind there!

Look what he did to me!

Just you wait till I get

my hands on you!

Come here you rascal!

Stefanos isn't a rascal. Will

you tell me what he did?

You plan to k*ll us all?

If you lay a hand on him

you'll have me to deal with.

I'll talk to you later. Out

of respect for Aunt Venetia...

Get the hell out of here.

See what he did to me!

He's just a boy!

Thanks.

Promise you'll try and be

a good boy Stefanos?

YES AUNTIE.

OK, guys. Listen up.

Whoever collects the whole

set with the saints...

gets to carry a cherubim

at the Good Friday litany.

Saint Nectarios!

Caravelle! Jet aircraft.

Two engines, 120 seats.

-Give it to me.

-Here.

Ilyushin, 4 engines,

150 seats.

Saint Haralambos, the Martyr.

-Boeing 727.

-Two turbines.

I'll give you my Saint

Anargyros. Anyone eIse?

McDonnell Douglas DC8.

I'll Iet you have

Mary Magdalene.

-Will you give me the ring?

-No.

But you promised...It's been

years since we took it.

I did! You'll get it when

you grow up and it fits.

It fits now. Give it

to me and you'll see.

No it doesn't.

You'll only lose it.

-Let's try.

-Didn't you try last summer?

-I've grown a lot since then.

-But you're still skinny.

That's right, Michalis...

the aunt's loaded.

-Really? She has that much?

-She sure does.

You know

the pension she gets?

And what does she do with it?

Nothing...

She must have stashed away

God knows how much...

Plus she freeloads off me.

Doesn't give me a penny.

-What does she do with it?

-So how big a pension?

A pilot's widow...

we're talking big money.

That room upstairs she's got

locked all the time...

that's where the secret's

hidden...

that's where she keeps it all,

tied up in rolls.

And you know at whose expense?

Yours and mine.

Right! Like you've ever

paid taxes!

God bless us civil servants!

I may not pay taxes but I have

to keep the IRS boys happy!

When was the pilot

k*lled anyway?

His plane crashed in '26.

They got married...

A few days later he left on

a reconnaissance flight and...

They found him but...

-So Auntie may still be...

-What?

I mean d'you think she's

ever done it?

We'll never know.

But since

then... ''ferme''...

What hasn't Auntie

done?

What does ''ferme'' mean?

Is it Turkish?

''Ferme'' is French and it

means ''closed''.

''Ferme''... closed...

Let me just try it on once.

Fine. Turn the other way.

Turn around.

The meat smells wonderful!

Make some room.

What a spread!

Come on! Sit down everyone!

It looks well done.

Pour me a little wine.

The wine's a lovely colour.

So... Christ is risen!

Amen!

Cheers!

So... shall we dig in?

Come on, Auntie, let me

take care of you.

Have some meat, not

just potatoes.

Everything's delicious.

What a wonderful smell!

If only we'd had such a meal

during the German occupation!

It's been 20 years, Michalis

and it's still on your mind?

You're too young to remember.

What hunger!

And what a lovely shirt

Stefanos is wearing.

What are those things

on it?

This is a Dakota... a

Spitfire and a Leica.

You'll see the Russians will

get to the moon first!

Imagine the Americans going

and finding them there!

It's a present from Aunt

Ellen in America...

She sent me a lovely dress...

You should see the fabric.

It never wrinkles! Nylon!

It'll all be nylon from now

on... even the food we eat!

Even my wife's wig

is made of nylon!

Cheers everyone and may we

never have another occupation!

Christ is risen!

Amen! And with

a little more brain...

-Stefanos has plenty of brains.

-You're telling me!

And a husband for Nikoletta.

This year!

It will happen!

She's still young.

Of course she is.

Nikoletta, you must be the

same age as Sophia...

Sophia who?

The princess of course.

That woman doesn't have a

brain in her head!

Don't pay any attention.

You know women...

She has to keep talking

about the king.

I agree with you there!

I can't stand them.

That's more like it!

Cheers and may the king die!

Heaven forbid!

What happened to that judge

you were dating?

Ancient history. He must be a

Super Court Justice by now.

-Supreme Court Justice.

-So what did I say?

You said Super Court Justice...

when you should have said

Supreme Court Justice.

Well anyway, that's

what I meant.

Nikoletta's got a new

boyfriend and she's in love!

Tell us all about him!

Tell us!

What line of work is he in?

He's a musician.

A musician?

That's right. A musician.

Is he in pop music?

I'll be leaving you now.

I'm going to lie down.

Stay a littIe longer, Aunt.

This is when the party begins.

It's still early, Auntie!

We're going to sing now!

I'm afraid I'm too tired.

You all have a good time.

Help your auntie up!

Have a nice rest.

Go on, Marina.

Run along.

-Have a nice rest!

-Thank you. And you have fun.

Poor aunt...

She's not very well.

That's lovely.

Bless you, children.

Thank you very much.

Have a nice rest,

Aunt Venetia.

-Thank you very much.

-That's the locked room.

And you be good now.

I'II go get the accordion!

Yes! Go get it!

Cheers!

Here's to us!

Why did you stop?

I'II go get some fruit.

Where d'you think

you're going?

You mean we can't sing?

Don't we have democracy here!

Democracy? Go sing in Russia

and see where they'd send you!

Every village in the USSR is

full of peopIe's choirs.

Sure and in the Siberian

labor camps they sing!

You're a reactionary

right-winger and I'm leaving!

Go ahead!

Think you can come here and

sell us your commie bullshit!

What's gotten into you two!

We were having

such a nice time!

A nice time?

The people are starving!

Don't talk to me about

the people.

Even during the occupation

you never went hungry!

Think I don't know

what you did?

You weren't even in the army!

I fought! I was wounded!

See! Where were you?

In the mountains with

the people's army!

Really? When? For how long?

Did you go to pick oregano?

Enough's enough. Come on,

Ariadne! Let's go!

-Stop it!

-Go ahead!

Coming here and raising a

clenched fist in my house!

You're lying! I raised

a cIenched fist?

Come on! Let's go now.

Where's Marina?

You go and never set foot

in my house again.

Hardly your house! Wait till

she kicks the bucket first!

I'll k*ll him!

-Come on, Michalis! Let's go!

-Please sit down!

They must be up in his room.

I'll go check.

Fancy telling me I was picking

oregano! Now try finding her!

Those two kids are together

and they're up to something.

Just you wait till I get

my hands on him!

I'll give him such a hiding!

I'll beat the living daylights

out of her.

Just you wait till I find her!

You'll see where I'll send her!

You send her to Russia...

I'll send her to Siberia!

To Irkutsk!

I'll send him to that

strict boarding school!

They're in there!

Help!

Come here, you rascal!

You're going to

boarding school!

You're Mrs. Carouzos?

Stefanos' mother?

Yes, why?

That's good.

May we come up?

Please do... I was

cleaning and...

-What's this all about?

-Your son Stefanos.

This way please.

I'm listening.

Where does one begin,

Mrs. Carouzos.

Congratulations on your son.

Fine upbringing you're

giving him!

I don't understand.

What happened?

Your son broke the

fifth commandment.

-Thou shalt not steal!

-In church!

What did he steal?

These...

Unfortunately...

and in church...

Stefanos hasn't brought

such things home.

Mrs. Carouzos! What do

you mean?

Things! These?

And what's even worse...

he was selling them!

Trading them!

What matters is that

he's going to the bad...

Doing the devil's work...

-He must go to confession...

-Repent...

Be punished...

Leave that to us.

In any case his father

will be coming home and...

For shame! Such homes

in our parish!

In our church!

You're the sinner...

The fifth commandment...

In our church...

You're the sinner!

Good thing Auntie collected

cups and saucers...

It was as if she knew...

Now what happened?

Please sit down.

Nothing happened.

I want to talk to you.

Careful, Marina.

You take the small tray.

Alcestes, darling. We're going.

You go and get ready.

It's almost time.

You know Aunt Venetia loved us

like we were her own children.

The poor thing was unlucky.

Her husband's plane crashed...

a few days after

their wedding...

so she couldn't have

children of her own.

Her sister, my mother

had five...

so she gave me to her...

and she raised me as her own.

She left us this house and

everything else she owned.

To you she left all

her life's savings.

She loved you.

So you could study whatever

you like wherever you like.

And with the will in

her drawer...

we also found this envelope.

For you.

Aunt Venetia.

Hello, darling!

Yes, we're all set.

It's Ariadne.

She says if we'd like

to go with the car.

I don't think so...

You know Pavlos...

never changes...

Even if we had spaceships

he'd still take the train.

Yes, we have tickets.

Hello, Michalis.

Good morning.

No, don't come by.

I'll put him on.

'Bye for now. See you soon.

Hello, Michalis.

Stefanos! Where are you?

You're here?

That's enough! We're leaving.

You'll be at the seaside

for two whole weeks!

Congratulations! What make?

You don't say? How come you

didn't get a Moskovich?

Better not. It'll be too

crowded. We have tons of stuff.

You know your sister.

A closet full of clothes...

OK. We'll see who

gets there first.

The taxi's here!

Have a good trip

and drive safely!

Thank you so much.

You're on vacation too?

It was about time.

You too?

Of course. Alexandros should

spend some time at the seaside.

What with school all winter

and all that studying...

We thought we'd get away

for a while. Right, Alexandros?

I agree. Spending some time by

the sea will be good for me.

What grade are you

in, Alexandros?

This year I was in first.

Next year second.

You're the same age

as Stefanos!

What a nice name! So what

grade did you graduate with?

At which hotel

will you be staying?

We've booked at

the Esplanade.

What a coincidence!

That's where we're staying!

How lovely! The children

will spend time together.

Glad to meet you,Ma'am.

Carouzos...

My husband...

Mrs. Prapas. Doctor's wife.

Nice to meet you.

What grade did you graduate

with this year, Alexandros?

''A'' of course.

Good for you!

How about you, Stefanos?

I also won first prize

in our school essay contest...

and there's every reason to

believe I'll win first prize..

in the regional contest.

Well done, Alexandros!

What was the essay on?

''Savings''

Wonderful...

How about you, Stefanos...

Did you write an essay on:

''Savings''?

Tell me, Alexandros...

What do you want to be

when you grow up?

A nuclear physicist!

How about that!

What are those books

you have there?

My schoolbooks for

the second grade.

What did you bring

with you?

He has time.

We're on vacation.

Really! Vacation from

what? Studying?

By September he'll have

forgotten how to write!

Sit down!

You don't know

what we go through...

You can't imagine what his

spelling is like!

How do you spell

receive?

with i e...

Receive with i e??

PIease calm down, PavIos. It's

not the end of the world.

We're on vacation...

and you have your heart...

Your souvlaki...

-No, no...

-For you?

-Souvlaki?

-No thank you.

You know whose fault it is?

Ever since he inherited her

money,he doesn't give a damn!

He's become a real pest.

She's the one who put the idea

of aviation in his head.

You know he's always had a

passion for airplanes.

-That's all he cares about.

-Airplanes? Too dangerous...

I'd never allow Alexandros.

You can't imagine what

we go through!

See this, doctor?

It's from one of

Stefanos' planes!

Stefanos! D'you want us

to become friends?

I teach you spelling, you teach

me to fly planes at my Dad!

Don't go too deep!

Stay where you can

touch bottom!

Come out now.

Enough.

Come on, children. Let's have

our picture taken.

Come on, Marina!

Alexandros! Come here!

You sit in the middle, Marina.

Here in front.

That's right.

Closer together so you're

all in the shot.

Smile please!

Very nice.

With a figure like hers

you can wear anything...

D'you know what she's

wearing underneath?

-What?

-A bikini.

So what? I brought a bikini too

even though I haven't worn it!

She's staying at

our hotel.

-And how do you know?

-I just do.

I also know her

room number...

39...

I saw her handing in her

key at the front desk.

-I also know her profession.

-What is it?

The oldest in the world!

The woman of 39...

Why don't you go for

a stroll, children...

-OK, but without Marina.

-And why is that?

Because we want to take a piss.

Well that changes things!

-Your hats, boys!

-Your hat, Alexandros!

And hurry back!

-Did you get it?

-Sure I got it.

Do you smoke, Ariadne?

Just pretending...

it's so stylish!

And now dear friends,

a dance for the tall...

and the short...

for the slim and the plump...

for young and old...

We have to dance this.

Come on!

Of course we will.

Come on, Michalis!

Later.

-Come on, Pavlos!

-I don't dance the mambo!

Then us girls will dance

it alone!

You too children! Come on!

-Shall we dance?

-Let's.

And now, friends...

for all those in love...

Stefanos!

Marina!

Mom!

You still haven't learned

how to knot your tie?

I wasn't the one

who untied it.

Hush! It's not good for a tie

to be left with the knot.

A nice big knot, OK?

Where are you off to?

Manolis' party.

I told you about it.

What time will you be back?

-Will there be food?

-Do I know, Mom? It's a party!

But they'll have Coca-Cola!

-Where did they get them?

-The American air force base.

You're all set.

-What about my allowance?

-Your Dad.

-Tell him.

-Keep me out of it.

You go and apologize to him.

You know him. He says things

he doesn't mean sometimes.

Always the same old story.

Come September I'm out of here.

I'm going to England

and that's final.

If it weren't for Aunt Venetia

you wouldn't be going anywhere.

It's not England he objects to

it's what you want to do.

Couldn't you study something

else like law for instance?

Or become a civil

engineer even?

And do what? Turn our house

into an apartment building?

Anyway, do as God

guides you...

Go wherever you like and

study whatever you like.

That's not what I wanted

to talk to you about.

I wanted us to talk

about Marina.

What about Marina?

Ariadne called and asked some

strange questions...

about you and Marina.

So what did you tell her?

What could I say?

I acted dumb!

Stefanos, son...

You're not children any more.

I know of course that Marina

is also a sensitive girl...

but she's your first cousin.

You grew up together.

If your Dad finds out...

and there's his heart...

Will she be at the party too?

Marina is Manolis' girlfriend.

-Help yourself.

-I'll pass.

Good idea.

Besides, don't let the packet

fool you, they're domestic!

That's a good one!

So how's it going?

Could be worse.

You're really leaving

in September?

What's the matter

with Malandris?

He got dumped.

-By Anna?

-That's right.

But guess who she's dating!

The tall jerk.

He came and picked her up

in his Dad's car.

Poor guy.

Anna's cousin...

what was her name...

Maria? You like her, right?

She left with them too.

See that, my friend!

One car, two chicks!

D'you know who I'm

starting to like, Manolis?

-Who, man?

-Christina.

Yes but another chick's

stuck on you.

-Who, man?

-Give me a break!

Who, you jerk?

Only I'm stuck on her too!

Here we go again!

Marina's my cousin.

We grew up together.

Anyway, she's in love

with you.

-Cut it out.

-Wanna bet?

Give me a cigarette and

cut the crap.

Can't you see?

So how come she's dancing with

another guy and looking at you?

But that's women for you.

Always the wrong guy.

Remember that!

What was Manolis saying?

That he's stuck on you.

That's not enough.

Is it?

So try harder.

Good thing you came, Stefanos.

I finished up earlier

than I expected.

Everyone came...

well... almost everyone.

-Cigarette?

-Domestic?

No! They're the

genuine article now!

So how's business?

You know my company's

doing real well...

Europe... the Balkans...

-Your Dad's company?

-That's right.

So what accident are you

investigating now?

The military plane that

crashed a couple of weeks ago.

-What was the cause?

-Seems it was wrong handling.

Wrong handling, eh?

Manolis! We're leaving.

Stefanos! It's Katerina!

You don't recognize me!

Hello!

You have a new message.

Stefanos, it's me Marina, your cousin.

They called me from the hospital.

They couldn't find you.

Your mother....

...is in the emergency room.

-My mother, please...

-Hold on, Maria... Yes?

Alcestes Carouzos, my mother.

She's here.

When was she admitted?

Today... I don't know.

Maybe a short while ago.

Do you know what ward she's in?

What does she suffer from?

I don't know...

in emergency?

Just a moment.

Alcestes Carouzos.

Yes. Carouzos. She was

admitted at 21: 30.

-Room 606, 6th floor.

-Thanks.

Hello, Maria...