The Courtship (Ida regénye)

THE COURTSHIP

Stop! You're in a hurry, again.

What's wrong with you today, ladies?

Sorry, Miss Ida.

I know it's hot in here, I'd rather be outside too.

But we must learn this song at Sister Maria's behest.

- If you can sing it once, I promise... - Miss Ida!

The mother superior wants to see you.

Thank you, Sister Paula. We're almost finished...

Now!

Yes, ma'am.

Go on and sing it without me.

Laudetur, Sister Maria.

In aeternum. Come in, Ida, have a seat.

We've received a letter from your father.

Has he found me a chaperone?

He said, he would write as soon as I could go home.

He hasn't found anyone,

and he wants you to stay for another year.

Another year?

But I graduated last year, and needed a special permission to stay.

Exactly.

Moreover, we allowed you to teach.

But we don't have secular teachers here.

Therefore, you could only stay if you applied for admission to the order.

If so, your father would bestow your dowry upon us.

No way!

I don't feel the calling.

I want a family life.

How long have you been with us, Ida?

Twelve years.

Since my mother died.

Aren't we your family, then?

A family that adopted you, loved you and raised you.

But how could I be a nun?

Sister Maria has always scolded me for my unruliness.

How much is your dowry?

I don't know.

Does your father have any landed property?

My father is a wine merchant, he's got vineyards.

I can barely remember our house.

There was a big cellar with lots of barrels.

Hundreds of them.

I think you belong to us, Ida.

And you don't have anywhere to go.

Think about it.

Girls! What's going on here?

What are you doing?

- Fazekas has got a letter. A love letter! - I didn't! I didn't!

Yes, you did! Agardi smuggled it in for her.

"I love you like the clouds love the beautiful Lake Balaton."

Give it back now!

"I'd kiss you like a dove kisses a hen. Bisi."

Enough, silence!

Emma, get off of there!

Give me that letter!

Is that true, Boriska?

Yes, Miss Ida.

What were you thinking? If they find it, you'll be expelled.

Please don't tear it up, Miss Ida!

I haven't seen Bisi since Christmas.

- Vica! - I haven't seen Bisi since Christmas.

- Must be some kind of a coalman. - Or a junkman.

No, he isn't. He's a teacher and his name is Misi,

but I got a cold once...

What are you doing?

How dare you behave like this?

Get back to your place at once!

How can you allow them to behave like this in your class, Miss Ida?

I'm sorry, Sister Maria! The girls are somewhat agitated.

Really? Why?

We're rehearsing for the upcoming Maria Day.

They're working really hard and getting tired.

It's not an excuse, but they'll receive their...

What do we have here?

This...

This is egregious.

Whose disgusting letter is this?

Tell me at once!

It's mine!

Yours?

Yes, Bisi wrote it to me.

You're corresponding with men?

Only with this one, for now...

but if I get expelled, I'll humbly accept it.

How dare you?

Get out of here!

Get out of my sight!

A blight on the herd.

- What can I do for you? - Good afternoon!

I'm looking for Mr Peter O. My father.

Miss Ida? Come in.

Is that really you?

You were just a peanut when I last saw you.

Don't you recognise me? I'm Julcsa.

- Aunt Julcsa? - That's right. You do remember.

Is my father at home?

As a matter of fact, he is, but...

We didn't expect you, Miss Ida.

We thought you were in the convent.

- I got expelled. - Oh, Lord!

What will the Master say to this?

Just wait here, Iduska, I'll check if he's got time for you.

There's some serious debauchery going on in there.

- What's that? - You know. Some kind of revelry.

What the masters are doing.

Just wait here!

- So you got expelled. - I did.

But the letter wasn't mine, it was written to another girl.

- I just took it upon myself. - Why?

I don't want to be a nun.

What do you want, then?

- To come home. - This house isn't for ladies,

it's visited by gentlemen.

But I want you to become a lady, or even a baroness.

Why shouldn't I be a baroness if fate throws a baron that way?

But it doesn't.

I can't introduce you to people in high society because I don't know any.

And they don't know me.

There is no proper woman in the house to be your chaperone.

- Am I such a big trouble for you? - Yes, you are!

It's only a problem for me, but a real trouble for you.

Anyway, now that you're here. Here you go!

Get yourself some decent clothes,

stockings, and perfume. Here's thousand Koronas.

No wait, I'll give you smaller bills. They can't handle that kind of cash.

Go buy some jewellery too.

You can't look like a nun.

Do you have my mother's jewellery?

There's some in there, but they're worthless.

Can I see it?

Here...

But you can buy emerald or diamond, whatever you want.

You can buy entire streets on my account in this town.

I just want a family and to be free at last.

Just go now!

Buy what you need.

The neck comes with buttons and this white muslin covers the chest.

Look at it, miss, it's superb quality!

It has just arrived from Vienna, the latest fashion.

We can deliver it to you, miss.

Thank you, to the house of Mr Peter O, please.

You're one of Mr Peter O's bimbos?

You shouldn't wear white, then.

I'll show you something shiny.

Something chichier.

You've got good eyes, miss.

This is the finest piece in the shop.

A hundred Koronas, but it's worth the price.

See this little medallion? It's diamond!

I don't have that much money on me,

but if you could deliver it to Mr Peter O's...

Mr Peter O.

Just pick anything you like, and I'll put it on the list.

- List? - Sure,

he is sending all of his ladies to us.

I don't want it, thank you.

You're going to Prater Street?

Aren't you one of Mr Peter O's birds?

What birds? I'm Mr Peter O's daughter.

His daughter? Is that how he calls you ladies now?

Used to be accountants.

Miss!

Miss!

Your father is waiting for you!

Here I am, Dad!

Finally.

Where have you been?

I'd like to introduce you to someone.

Do you remember Mr Bogar's daughter, the little Nora?

You used to play together as kids.

My dear Peter, how could she remember?

She was only seven, when she moved out. And I was about six.

Now you can be friends again,

because Noracska is my fiancée.

Your what?

Don't just stand there.

Give your stepmother a hug!

Come here...

my little daughter.

I'm busy! If you need money...

You can't marry her!

What do you mean?

- But she's my age! - Don't you worry about her age.

This woman is so... so...

What?

She was dancing on the table and lifting her skirt in the company of men.

When I marry her, she's going to lift it only for me.

Don't you see what a disgrace it is?

How can you do that to me?

I will not live under the same roof with her!

- Is that so? - Yes, it is.

As you wish.

My dear mother, help me now!

A man is looking for you, miss.

- Who? - Some kind of Pulczki.

Nice to meet you! I'm Janos Pulszky.

Well, that's it.

I'm looking for Miss Ida O.

That's me.