Satantango

Look here, my friends. . It’s not such a great secret really and there is nothing to stop me telling you. I just wonder what use the knowledge will be to you?. . In any case, there’s nothing you can do to help me at the moment. For my part, I would be happy to help you once things here have improved, but for now this other business needs my entire attention. To tell you the truth, the estate looks a hopeless case to me right now. . the best I could do, maybe, would be to find one or other of you honest work, a decent living somewhere, but your whole siltuation is new to me so you will understand that for now it’s impossible. I’d have to give the matter some proper thought. . You’d like to remain together? I understand, of course I do, but what can I do in that case?. . Pardon? What was that? You mean the problem. What’s the problem? Well look, I’ve already told you that it makes no sense keeping anything from you. The problem is money, ladies and gentlemen, money, because without a penny, of course, there’s nothing to be done, the deal is dead. . the cost of the lease, the outlay on contracts, the rebuilding, the investment, the whole business of production, requires, as you know, a certain, what they call, capital investment. . but that’s a complex matter, my friends, and why go into that now? What’s that?. . Really?. . You’ve got the money?. . But how? Oh, I see. You mean the value of the cattle, the herd. Well, that’s fair enough. .

There was real fever in the company now; Futaki had already sprung to his feet, grabbed a table, put it down in front of Irimiás and reached into his pocket. He displayed his contribution to the others and threw it on the table. Within minutes he was followed, first by Kráner, then, one after the other, by the rest, all pledging their cash on top of Futaki’s contribution. The grey-faced landlord ran back and forth behind his counter, stopping dead every so often, and standing on tiptoe so he could see better. Irimiás rubbed his eyes in exhaustion; the cigarette in his hand went out. He looked on without expression as Futaki, Kráner, Halics, Schmidt, the headmaster and Mrs. Kráner tried to outdo each other in their enthusiasm to demonstrate their readiness and commitment. So the pile of money on the table rose ever higher. Finally Irimiás rose, went over to Petrina, stood beside him and moved his hand for silence. The room fell quiet.

My friends! I can’t deny your enthusiasm is deeply touching. . But you haven’t thought it over properly. No, you haven’t! No protests, please. You can’t be serious about this! Surely you can’t be capable of committing your hard earned small savings, won with such superhuman effort, suddenly, just like that to an on-the-spur-of-the-moment idea, sacrificing everything, risking all, on a venture that’s full of risks? Oh, my friends! I am extremely grateful for this moving demonstration, but no! I can’t take it from you. . not for, what seems likely to be, several months. . Really?. . the bitterly scrimped savings of a whole year?. . What can you be thinking?! My scheme is, after all, fraught with as yet unpredictable risks of all sorts! The forces I am up against could delay realization of the plan for months, even years! And you wish to sacrifice your hard-earned cash for that? And should I accept it — after having just confessed to being unable to help you in the immediate future? No, ladies and gentlemen! I can’t do it. Please take your money back and put it away safely! I’ll get the necessary resources one way or the other. I’m not willing to let you risk so much. Landlord, if you could just stand still for a moment, would you please be kind enough to bring me a spritzer. . Thank you. . Wait! Let no one refuse! I invite my dear friends to have a drink on me. . Go on, landlord, don’t even think about it. . Drink up, my friends. . and think. Think well. Calm yourselves and think it over once more. . Make no rash decisions. I have told you what this is about and what the risks are. You should only agree to it if you are utterly decided. Consider the possibility that you might lose this hard-earned sum and that then you might, just might, have to begin again from scratch. . No, no, friend Futaki, I do believe that’s something of an exaggeration. . That I am. . that you talk about salvation. . Please don’t embarrass me like that! Yes. . that’s a little closer to the mark, friend Kráner. . “Well-wisher” is a term I can more readily accept, “a well-wisher” is what I certainly am. . I see you are not to be convinced. OK, OK, fine. . Ladies! Gentlemen! Can I have a little quiet please! Let’s not forget why we are gathered here this morning! All right! Thank you!. . Please sit down in your places. . Yes. . Indeed. . Thank you, my friends. . Thank you!