Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

PREPARATIONS TO BE TOGETHER FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME

In America?

For twenty years, I think.

Or nineteen.

And I never,

I really never thought I'd ever come back to Budapest...

For a longer time.

About 2 months ago,

I met somebody at a New Jersey conference.

He didn't say anything at the lectures. It was how he was watching.

I didn't even know he was Hungarian.

But even the first time...

Even before the first time that we spoke to each other,

I felt, this is it.

This is what I've been looking for.

This is who I've been looking for.

He's right for me, just as he is.

I don't know if you can call that "love".

Something that happens so fast, but...

I'm going to be 40.

But I've never felt anything like that before.

5 PM. LIBERTY BRIDGE, PEST SIDE

Budapest Medical University. How can I help you?

Hello? I'm looking for János Drexler.

I'll put you through.

I'm looking for János Drexler.

Dr. Drexler.

One moment, please. I'll check where to find him.

But... Is he in? Or...

I'm looking.

A little patience please.

Or where do I find him?

János!

Well, hello.

Why didn't you show up? We said we'd meet today.

Sorry, madam.

Excuse me?

Good afternoon!

János...

I think you're confusing me with somebody else.

We said today.

Sorry, but I've never seen you before.

Hello!

Can you hear me?

We should call a doctor.

She's a foreigner.

Yes.

Your watch, too, please.

Please madam, stand here!

Raise your arms.

Please, turn around.

Thank you, we're done.

Where are you going? Madam!

The rest of that day we spent together.

We arranged to meet in exactly one month, at 5 PM

here in Budapest, at a specific place.

We didn't exchange numbers or anything.

Romantic, isn't it?

Romantic.

I really think it is.

Now you think that the man you came back for...

No, I don't think he lied.

I think he really didn't recognize me.

So?

I have no idea.

I'm not sure anymore.

Why do you want to move back home?

What about New Jersey?

I quit.

You're out of your mind.

I remember you well from university.

With your CV, I have to hire you.

My colleagues will tear you to shreds.

And they're right.

You're in a different league.

They won't forgive you for this.

You know somebody in our department?

I don't think so.

Well, from the Hungarian field...

Only János Drexler.

Drexler's got smarts. He got out.

He only teaches and writes.

He won't join in the rat-race over there.

He got out?

Would you look over there!

Yes, there!

That is the hospital you want to work in.

What the hell are you looking for here?

Go back to America while you still can.

I came home for personal reasons.

Are your parents having problems?

No, they died before I left.

It's some guy.

Oh god, women are so stupid.

Even the smart ones.

Two months rent and that's fine.

I think it'll be perfect.

Fine, good, that's everything.

Immediate occupancy, like I said...

Oh, yes, one last thing. We're flexible, but please, no pets. No animals.

No chance of that. She just got home from America, she's moving in alone.

A very classy person.

Okay... We've got one last place today, but I think this will be the one.

So I'll get back to you within an hour, I promise.

- Thank you so much. - I'll expect your call.

- Goodbye! - Thanks, goodbye!

Super.

I guess my ex-wife sent you, too.

So. Apartment.

Living room.

Have you seen this apartment? It's falling apart.

You here to ruin somebody, too?

I'm hanging up.

It says here: good condition.

I don't understand women either.

Let's get out of here, Márta!

This will be fine.

You're joking, my dear. This is a full renovation job.

I'm taking it.

BUDAPEST MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

HOSPITAL II.

Coffee machine is at the end of the hall on the right.

We bring our own toilet paper.

Okay.

This was the doctor's place, but if you'd like, we can trade.

It'll be fine like this, thanks.

Quite a crowd out there. Should we call someone in?

They're waiting for Dr. Freid.

All of them?

If they don't get in, they'll be back tomorrow.

DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY

Budapest Medical University, how can I help you?

Department of Neurosurgery, Dr. Drexler, please.

Hold on, I'll try to put you through.

Excuse me. May I?

Let me through, please.

Was there fever?

38.2 °C this morning.

- When did we operate? Wednesday? - Thursday.

- Wound healing? - Healing.

How are you feeling?

My left ear is completely gone, doctor. It's not even ringing anymore.

I got your x-rays.

Your neck vertebra is severely deformed.

You'll go for physical therapy. 20 sessions, things will normalize. Your hearing will come back.

I'll write the release form after rounds, and you can go home.

You work at a desk, don't you?

I sit in front of the computer all day.

Well, you'd better get yourself an exercise ball.

Yes, doctor. As soon as I'm home.

Was the tinnitus in one or both ears?

One ear.

Which side?

Left.

I'd do an MRI to rule out a pathology on the eighth cranial nerve.

Look at the x-rays.

You can see that dislocation of the neck vertebrae is sufficient reason for the buzz in the left ear.

I think they teach that in New Jersey, too.

Let's move on.

Fehérvár hospital sent us a 34-year-old male

with sudden sharp head pain he got watching TV at 8pm,

then lost consciousness.

On arrival, the ambulance took a blood pressure of 200/110.

They put him on an IV, and took him to the ER.

A head CT scan confirmed a massive sub-arachnoidal hematoma.

The bleeding was likely caused by a 5 mm aneurism on the anterior communicating artery.

I asked that he be taken off sedation, and he was. The patient is conscious.

He was Hunt-Hess grade 1, so I took him to intensive care last night.

How is he now?

Awake, oriented. He can move everything.

He's got a thin neck, good for an endovascular.

Dr. Dorogi will do that today.

Anything else?

Pediatric Clinic No. 1. called.

They've got a 9 year old boy,

brought in with dizziness, mobility difficulties, nausea, vomiting.

Acute MRI found a large tumor filling part of the fourth ventricle.

He's on the way.

From yesterday, Barna Kriván, 48 years old.

Speech difficulties, dizziness, mobility problems.

Head CT shows a left insular contrast-accumulating growth.

No primary tumor.

I'd like to hand that to one of you.

I'll take him.

Barna Kriván.

Come on, come on.

Good morning.

- Good morning. - Morning.

Would the young man please wait outside!

I'm sorry, but as an exception...

I'd feel better if my son was here.

He understands these medical things.

Only if you don't mind, doctor.

No, I don't mind.

Thank you.

Márta Vizy.

Barna Kriván.

- Please take a seat. - Thank you.

Sometimes, I... I can't find words.

I start a sentence and I don't know how to get to the end.