There were five of us
Hello, my name is Petr Bajza. I start the 4th grade after the summer.
This is my brother Lado.
We no longer have the Harley because there was a money crisis.
My best friends are: Antonin Bejval, Cenek Jirak,
Edo Kemlink and Pepek Zilvar from the workhouse.
We boys, as we walk together through life, experience all kinds of adventures.
Part five The world of the circus
The year has been a really long winter, no-one can remember such a winter.
Soon spring will come and we're anticipating having adventures.
And it came sooner than expected.
Hey, circus riders.
We just bought a truck, my parents won't give me any money.
I might get five crowns from my father.
- My father owes me for the newspapers. - Relax, I'll think of something.
I could learn all about exotic animals at the circus.
Children's tickets are half price
Also, there are circus riders like Diana.
And for us, the boy might finally run away to the circus.
It wouldn't be a first for this family.
What is it?
Think what could be.
What?
Stop it.
Vendo.
You still haven't told us how much the tickets are.
- Children and soldiers are half price. - How much is a full price ticket?
The poster says 6 crowns.
For those who collect money on the street, it's nothing.
Don't you think so, Mummy?
Maybe if you don't get into trouble, father will change his mind.
Mummy?
Did Dad really run away to join the circus?
When he was your age, he ran away from home.
He wanted to go to Africa. He took with him some food and a book.
- What kind of book? - Advice on teenage girls.
And what happened?
In the evening he came home so his parents wouldn't worry.
Good night.
Mummy?
We could always go to check the animals are healthy.
Go to sleep.
Should I tell him now?
Tell him what?
Ah. Leave it to me, I'll discuss it with him.
But when?
These are sensitive things, and can't be rushed.
We have to wait for the right moment.
Dear Lord, please, let me visit the circus.
I promise I will practice my violin and greet everyone politely.
Maybe even Mr Fajst.
And I will love my neighbours. Even Habrovakys.
This is the prayer that I invented myself. Amen.
Thanks be to God, for the gifts.
- Is he ill? - He has his appetite.
Or has he done something and is afraid that we know about it.
I didn't do anything, and it will always be that way.
Be careful up there, Mr Pivody.
Greetings. Do you want me to get the shop assistant?
I'm still interested in your motorbike.
Don't listen to him.
- Where are you going? - I don't have time for misbehaving
- What? - I don't have time for misbehaving.
- Have you fallen out with him? - No, but I have to learn.
- Thank you. - Goodbye, miss.
Take care, come again.
- What is it? - Nothing.
- Daddy? - Yes?
Why did you take that guidebook to Africa that time?
What guidebook?
The one on virgins, that's what Mummy said.
What was I supposed to do when that was the only book we had at home?
I didn't want to go there empty-handed.
Now go and practice.
And I thought that my father was always reasonable.
And he was not. After that it got better.
That's enough playing.
Enough, all that screeching is discouraging the customers.
- Petr! Petr! - Yes?
Coming!
Yes, Dad!
- I am at your service. - Don't you know how to say hello?
Good day.
Don't shout!
At your service.
Carry all of this to the home of the gracious lady.
Come along, chop chop.
- I'm sure you're in the Scouts. - No, the cadets.
The cadets? Take arms to serve your country! Stop here.
Here? You live with Fajst? Mr?
Mr Fajst is my brother.
I'm home! Put it down there.
- Julie! Who's here? - Young Bajza has helped me.
Good day. Glad you are well again.
Good. Leave your hat on.
My nails and my ears are clean.
- Here you go. - Thank you.
It's beautiful.
- Will you go to Habrovy for milk? - Goat's milk?
- Yes. My brother loves it, right? - Yes.
A goat is a goat. Why should I go all that way.
- Only a dime? - She said half now, half later.
But then the ex-girlfriend came to milk the goat.
Tato!
- No! - Oh yes!
- I got it because of you. Idiot! - You're the idiot, and your goat
You're the idiot!
What is this? Sit down!
To your seats!
I have to speak to Tonda about death.
He'll have had more practice in the ranks.
I want to earn a ticket for the circus.
Stop!
We left my friends when they moved into a new house.
Wow!
If you yell, I can't read.
The storm lasted all night and didn't stop...
I'll fall!
Don't worry, when I'm here no harm can come to you.
Okay, I won't be afraid when I'm with you.
But I will shriek because it is too high.
The genial old man was carrying a telescope under his arm...
Do you know how to change a baby?
Change what?
My aunt has a baby, do you want me to teach you?
- Whose baby? - Your baby.
You're so masculine, anything could happen.
- Catch her! - After her!
- Hurry! - Don't let her escape!
Catch her!
Wait till I catch you!
Just you wait!
After her, don't let her escape!
- What do you want? - Don't betray me, please.
Where are you climbing, Habrovaky? Get out of here!
Out of the way, Bajza, or you'll get it!
Have you seen her, she stole a hen.
Are you blind? There's only me here.
Maybe she's really not here, she must have run over there.
- Give it here so I can cut off the head. - No, or I'll call them back.
Don't. I'll reward you. You are my saviour.
Darling!
What are you doing?
Where is she?
Where are you?
One, two, one, two.
Halt, stop!
Fall in!
According to size.
I said by size.
What is your name?
Marika Slepickova.
Silence!
Your father said that in the circus you practice every day.
What are you doing here?
She is an equestrian acrobat.
- And what is an equestrian acrobat? - She rides a horse.
Right.
I will see if you are so diligent in physical education.
- Can you spin on the trapeze? - I don't know.
Attention!
About face! One, two.
Silence!
This is not a circus, but a school! Therefore, everything in moderation!
This is my dad, Signore Rudolfi.
But he has a problem, no-one understands our art here.
Here all circus performers are celebrated.
Why else would there be a place named after Diana Marika.
We give all our performers aliases, to help with the advertising.
You wouldn't understand, but other than that, you're smart.
- Smarter than Jumbo the elephant? - No.
Jumbo the elephant would have understood long ago that I wanted a cigarette.
There, my dad smokes Zorka.
Excuse me.
Give them to me, you have to take it easy.
- She smokes? - So do all of the circus.
Her mother was a contortionist on the flying trapeze.
She looks a lot older than the 4th grade...
As they travel a lot, she misses out on school.
And what about Eva? Are you no longer friends with her?
She can't even somersault.
That's not what you told me. That's not nice.
You also told me that I would have a little brother.
- It is not certain yet. - Why?
It could always be a girl.
At least that would be someone to help with the housework.
I said - nothing!
- But I need to see Diana. - The child doesn't need anything.
- Have I not been good? - You've been good for nothing.
That is not true, no-one has been as good.
You're on him like he's a stranger.
And he is trying so hard.
Now, I will be the worst.
The policeman will come for me and he will be disgraced.
You don't understand. I'm also tired, but I still have to do the accounts.
He's big, he should understand that we are in a bad way.
If he came and said, Dad, I know how it is, so I can go without the circus.
If I could give him the money, I would.
I'm impressed, I have a sensitive son.
Still you lie. You don't have it for the circus, but you do for the pushchair.
What pushchair?
- What pushchair? - You know.
Do you want to carry your baby on your stomach like a kangaroo?
- You told him? - You have to be reasonable, don't you?
A long time ago you could have sold the motorbike.
No. You know where I stand on that austerity.
- We have always been happy with her. - We were. When it still drove.
Vendo.
You have rheumatism.
You don't want to kill yourself like the one who had it before.
- He was stupid. - He wasn't married and with children!
Can yoy see her, she's like Marika.
- They'll tip me out. - They won't tip you out.
They will be careful.
Come on.
Mr Fajst, how much are you paying us?
You'll have to ask my sister. And go faster or I'll start to compost.
Here he comes, loaded down.
Watch out or you'll tip him over!
Habrovakys, stupid monkeys.
Put your back into it!
What is it?
- Where are you going? - We'll be right back.
Keep going. Lie down. Hand forward.
Feet.
And again.
Smiling.
Do not look at the ground.
Hello, sir.
Mister.
Two kids crawled in there.
Petr, come on.
Bravo. Good. Better.
Here we go!
Ow.
Brats.
- Hi. - Good day.
Did you get some air? It wasn't too cold? You guys are strong.
- When will we get something? - How much will you give us?
We'll settle up later.
Your Harley.
- Where are you taking it? - It's not yours.
You bought it?
This junk.
Our circus lover.
How could you do it? Sell it to the Habrovakys.
How do you talk to me like that? It doesn't concern you!
Go play your violin!
There was a pig on the patio... (singing)
- What are you doing, Doctor? - My foot.
- Here? - Yes.
- Get up. - Thank you, sir pharmacist.
- Are you alright? - No, I'm not.
So come to the pharmacy, I'll give you something.
- That is my crutch. - Now I'm the cripple.
- Do you want this? - Thank you.
Kemlink has no shame, theft is a grevious sin.
We no longer have to play.
Hello.
- Hi, Marika. - Hi.
If you please.
- Are you going? - On our own.
- Can you still see it? - Not anymore.
Dad said that during the war, this sort of woman was worse than typhoid.
Do you know how many soldiers were infected?
No, how many?
Too many.
I would go with you around the world.
- As an acrobat? - No.
Can I play in the band, will you put a word in?
- And what for? - To put a word in. What do you want?
- A gift. - What?
For this, you have to give something to me.
- Look. - Those shorts?
- No higher. - The t-shirt?
- No higher. - The umbrella.
- Don't yell. How much is it? - I'll ask my uncle.
- It belongs to your uncle? - Yes.
- He'll give us a discount. - Him? Only when he's unconscious.
- Maybe if you just auditioned. - How do I audition?
I wonder how long it lasts in the wind.
Maybe you could get it on credit.
That wouldn't work. He wouldn't allow it.
Then forget it.
Wait!
This is something I have experience in.
- Keep look out. - Yes.
Quickly hide.
- Good day. - Hi.
A nice female, don't you think?
But it's too bad that they're wooden.
I've got it.
Stop, you're a thief.
Stop, I'll catch you!
Ow.
What I will say at home? My dad will kill me, and you too.
There.
Dear audience, tonight you will see an amazing spectacle.
Look, children, it's a brown bear.
Here are the world famous Diana circus riders.
Look, Marika.
Marika! Marika!
Kindly do us the honour by visiting our rich menagerie.
- Nice, isn't it? - Yes.
With your own eyes you can see the Indian lion.
Hello.
Do you want to come with us for an egg hunt?
Yes. Doesn't Marika look beautiful?
The circus. Worthy of a bare ass.
- A bare. Yes, a bare ass. - It's an abomination, a depravity.
Hello, little man.
- Pay them, and they'll leave. - Come, I have a reward for you.
For taking care of my brother, I've painted the Sokol brothers for you.
Tyrse.
And Fugnerem.
Thank you.
So come and help me.
I want to sleep.
Goodbye.
- I can't. - He really wanted to go to the circus?
There, be careful, and go be awed by the Diana riders.
Not if it means going without the Harley.
He's proud.
I used to be too.
Look out.
- What are you doing? - He only has one ticket.
However carries the most buckets of water gets it.
- They're good. - You are hell itself.
- What about him? - I've got a ticket.
- Can I get a bucket? - You can.
Put your back into it.
I just can't.
Out of the way.
Eighth.
Fourth.
Ninth.
- Marika, can I do it too? - You, go get me some rusty water.
- What for? - Rusty water.
- I'll go for it. - Here's your money.
And don't drop the foam.
You are young, you'll enjoy the Harley. And keep an eye on the oil.
Good day. One to fill.
And again, on me.
- Mr Bajza, your turn. - Thank you.
- If I were you, I'd withdraw. - I can manage by myself.
- Christine's coming back to us. - I know, she already wrote to me.
Thank you.
You're leaving with that? What did you have for lunch?
- Patries. - Had a lot of them, did you?
- No, not enough. - That's right.
Where were you with the beer?
Come on.
- Where did you get it? - What?
The statue? Where did it come from?
It was a present.
- And from whom? - Ugh, it's always warm.
- Who gave it to you? - Go away!
- You stole it. Return it! - Be quiet!
- Give the statue back! - Shut up!
I'm telling everybody. Open the door.
What is it?
Help!
- Who do you think you are? - How dare you?
- Police! - What is happening?
He attacked me. And my boy.
And you don't look.
Oto, when we get home.
I did not know that the young man was from a better family. This is my mistake.
You got it wrong.
- Pardon me, madam. - Mademoiselle.
Yes, mademoiselle. Pardon, pardon.
I'll get it at home.
And what are you doing here? Home!
Crooks!
You rascal, we're your dear audience.
You Bengal dog, idiot mongrel.
You Burmese python.
They're only words, you bastards.
Gentlemen, I have a first class sin, I have to go to confession.
I cursed the circus.
Hey.
Cendo, Cendo.
- There's one more sin to write. - What?
- That you steal like a magpie. - Take it back.
- Never, thief. - You're in it with me.
- You went to Fajst's as well. - So what?
- I'll deal with the confession. - But I did not steal anything, thief.
Crook.
You stop that!
You will!
Enough!
Or I'll write to your parents.
- You've got it in for me. - Go squeal, you traitor.
- Who are you calling a traitor? - You.
- You.
- Go to hell. - Go get stuffed.
- What did you say? - You.
And we both knew that for once, we would really have to fight for it.
I swore that I wouldn't be with Jirsak.
Remember the fifth commandment. You're a disgrace to the whole city.
I did nothing. It was Bajza.
It was an heirloom, but on the the other hand, they are just kids.
Bajza, Bajza...
Not on the head, Mr Jirsak.
I said not on the head.
Hands away.
We wanted to go to the circus, and all we got were eggs.
- Once again, I apologize. - You weren't to know.
Goodbye.
I was just looking.
Today, Tyrse and Fugner didn't mean much. It was my fault.
- How many of there are you? - Five.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the highlight of our programme.
The world famous acrobat Diana.
And so we said that we do not trust circus folk.
The circus is nothing but a lie built on shaky foundations.
And so the circus must go from place to place.
They promise and promise, but still nothing is accomplished.
Subtitles: Quantum October 2014