The Pied Piper (Krysař)

23.976

For years the Pied Piper has gone from town to town

in countless guises, his legend having no beginning nor end...

Our particular story takes place over one day, in Prague

on New Year's Eve, perhaps just so it could become a film.

Presents a film shot in 24 hours

THE PIED PIPER

We're having a wedding!

Open up, councilors! I'm getting married today.

Well, what'll it be?

The bride is near term and I'm not going to reconsider.

Agnes, pitch the garland. It's not in these days.

- It's not in! - Well? Open up!

So what?

This bride is mine even without your stamp of approval.

Stamp your affluent butts! We'll take our business elsewhere.

I want to get married this year, not the next.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, whether craven or brave,

tomorrow I'll be stretched out in my grave.

Alms for the poor.

Alms, kind sir, for me and my bride.

We're great sinners.

Here.

You're so generous on this last day of the year.

You deserve a fat reward for your sins, my good man.

Indeed, the whole town will soon be rewarded.

When I toll the midnight bells you'll all be mine, my darlings.

And I'll create you in my image.

You're mine and nobody's going to take you from me.

Anything else?

Who are you?

Here. Do you still care?

It doesn't matter, my good people, let's carry on.

Come, Agnes.

Agnes, come on!

Lt'll be the Devil's work if we don't get married.

Come on, let's go!

Let's go!

Agnes, come here!

Sexton! Agnes... Sexton!

We'd like you to marry us. We want to marry.

We're all set: We've got witnesses, the bride, the groom.

Right, I know: Dear Agnes, do you take

Kristian as your husband and to protect him? Yes.

Dear Kristian, do you take Agnes as your wife?

Yes.

Got it?

You can marry us now.

What? What are you staring at?

Will you marry us? Hey, take this and marry us.

Hey...

Take this!

I want you to keep living in sin.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

- Let's go! - What a weirdo.

- Come on! - Move it!

Anything else, my child? I hope you haven't sinned.

Where's Agnes?

I know I'm living in sin, but I don't want to confess anything.

I believe that at midnight some of my innocence will return.

- Glad to hear it, child. - I wait for it as for salvation.

When I toll the midnight bells I'll free the town of its guilt.

And you'll sin in my name.

Freely, with even greater simplicity and love.

And you'll see!

You'll like it.

What were you looking for?

Love.

Love?

It's too damn late, eh?

- Hey, Mr. Musician, join us. - Come join us!

- What if he's not a musician? - He's not a musician!

- But he's got such a nice pipe. - A shepherd's pipe!

I bet he can't play it.

Maybe it's magic.

Maybe it's deadly.

I am here.

I'll rid the town of filth and rats.

I'll clean it up. Who'll pay me?

I'll pay you!

But you have to clean it all; Not one sinful soul may remain.

- That's a tough task. - You know my pipe? - Yes.

Of course, your pipe, Pied Piper.

- So you know its power. - Yes, I like power...

I love pernicious things.

You've come too late, Piper.

You'll never purify this town of sin by midnight.

Ridding it of rats is no longer enough.

Then I'll exterminate the entire town.

My pipe cannot harm innocence anyway.

Don't abuse the gift that was given you.

I won't let you to ruin my work when it's so near completion.

I'll silence your pipe.

I've never blown with all my might.

You needn't. Maybe you're destined for something greater.

To love...

a woman. That's far greater.

- My heart's not made for loving. - The heart is an obstruction.

Okay then, purify the town by midnight.

If you fail you lose your power.

And if I succeed?

I pay you and get out of your way. I'll leave town. Deal?

Deal?

Okay, it's a deal.

Atta boy.

Atta boy, Piper. Stick to our strengths.

You know how to blow, and I do the tempting.

When I toll the bells we'll see who's stronger.

I thought it over. I'd like you to hear my confession.

Who are you?

No one.

Less than nothing.

The Pied Piper.

Pied Piper?

Plenty of rats here.

God knows from where.

At first they just gnaw a bit, then they're bolder and bolder.

- It's worse every day. - What's your name?

Agnes.

- What do you have to confess? - I'm like a delay-action mirror.

It's my fate to get things late.

I say everything too late; I laugh and cry a day later.

But I know how to wait patiently.

So I'm waiting for midnight.

But I'm the only one who'll feel it a day late.

It seems like I've known you forever.

Agnes?

Are you here?

I have to go, Piper.

Kristian is my bridegroom.

Agnes...

Piper... Enchanted...

Intoxicate the heart beyond the grave...

I didn't confess...

Is your little soul at peace?

My sweet bride. My darling.

Alms, my good man, for me and my bride.

We're great sinners.

For alms I'll tell you what happens at midnight.

At midnight...

At midnight the town becomes Hell!

Hey, a wedding garland and money.

If you're seeking a bride, take this.

But my bride is dead.

We're all cursed.

I lay awake last night sleepless in bed,

But there's nothing here I need to dread,

Just the rats I hunt until they run red,

What's this cloud that's crept in my head?

I know what it is to be dead. I know all the world's pain,

Envy can't hurt me nor a dirty name,

As feeling awakens the Piper's life is vain,

I must be gone when I've blown my song of fame.

Let me die and death strike its blow,

Love can't live in the Piper's heart,

What does Fate want? Will the pain ever go?

I should have scorned that woman from the start.

On the horizon I see the end:

A red stain like blood,

and knights this way wend,

and that's no good.

Agnes?

Pathetic Piper! Looking for your angel here?

You're wasting time.

Blow, and remember that midnight means all or nothing.

Bride and groom, let's go!

Let's get drunk!

Ladies and gentlemen, to the bride! Long may she live!

Long live this day!

Long live Agnes!

Long live Agnes!

Agnes!

Come on.

Join us.

Looking for me, handsome?

Got some time? Want love? Plenty of time till midnight.

See, Piper? A city full of rats and sin.

A golden surface covering the filth within.

Hear that?

How they rejoice? They little suspect that time is on my side.

What's the matter little girl? Don't you like them?

My two very favorite sins: Vice and lechery.

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Crying, Agnes? Here, I'll paint you some tears.

Piper?

Is it you?

I have to tell you something.

Agnes...

I never loved anyone before. But now?