The Oak (Balanţa)

For my kitten, from her sis...

the wicked little mouse with love, Marcela

Who's there?

Who's there?

Hello, who is it?

Nela?

lt's me Doctor. For you, l'm always here.

Thanks. What's going on?

Nothing. Why?

l've been calling non-stop.

l unplugged the phone.

How's your father?

He's doing fine.

ls he following my treatment?

Of course. And he couldn't be better!

Good. l was worried.

Don't worry. He's fine.

He just beat me at chess.

Really?

l swear!

lmpossible! Does he feel like eating?

Ravenous.

Cheers Dad!

- Excuse me? - l'm talking to Dad.

Yesterday he had steak and two sausages.

He even had beer. ls that O.K.?

- A bottle? - No, a glass.

That's fine.

lf he feels like eating or drinking, great, but in moderation.

Of course.

So,...

when can l call you?

Whenever you'd like. l'm at your disposal.

Might l invite you to the movies?

lt depends what movie.

An American one.

With pleasure.

Afterwards, if you want, we can go to your place or somewhere else,

at my place it's a bit complicated.

You idiot!

lmposter!

My father's dead, asshole!

Right here, next to me, moron!

When are you coming to get paid for your good advice, you quack!

l'm gonna have the militia lock you up, you won't get away!

l'm not here! l'm not here!

Open up Nela, don't be an idiot, it's me Marcela!

- What do you want? - Open up and l'll tell you.

ls Dad there? How is he?

Fine. He's gone out.

Come on, open up!

- l'm not dressed - So what...

- l'm with a guy. - You idiot!

Dad no longer wants to see you. He forbids you to come to his funeral.

Open up, for God's sake!

You know l have the keys.

Come on Nela, now stop it!

l'll break the door!

l want to see Dad. Open up or l'll break it down!

Then l'll open it!

And l'll bash your stupid face in!

Get out!

Go away, l'm telling you...

Help! Help!

Robbers! Robbers!

Leave or l'll set the place on fire!

l'll start a fire, d'you hear?

Fuck off, you dirty cop!

You piece of shit!

l wouldn't mind seeing you burn, bitch...

a heap of ashes.

See you later, Dad!

Excuse me!

How dare you!

Hello professor Gilescu. lt would be best if she left.

Why are you here?

You operated on my father.

- For what? - bladder cancer.

His name?

Truica. He worked for the Ministry of Chemistry.

Yes, l knew him when we were underground.

Yes, l know.

l know him very well.

We wrote for the free press.

- How is he doing? - bad, he just died.

Yes, yes... l remember now...

Your father had a slightly anarchic attitude when,

instead of going to the front to fight, he put his arm on the train tracks.

Professor,

there was no one better, braver, fairer than my father.

lf he put his arm on the tracks,

it was to stay true to his ideas, to himself.

Others could fight on that front, he couldn't.

- Well... well... - Well what?

l don't care, that's not why l'm here.

That's true... well, why are you here?

Ten days ago, my father wrote his will.

Let me read it to you.

Don't bother, read the essential.

My father does not want to be buried.

He wants to donate his body to science,

for medical experiments and transplants, and that the rest be cremated

- at the hospital. - Really?

- Do you want to read it? - l believe you.

- Miss... - Truica.

Your father wasn't

a special case, he was a rather ordinary patient.

l know all about his illness, l don't need to do an autopsy.

And your students? Doesn't it interest them?

My students? Why?

Couldn't you preserve some organs?

And preserve them where?

We lack alcohol, formaldehyde... everything.

l've even had to cremate some interesting case studies.

lt is not bodies that we lack,

but refrigerators.

We don't even have them for meat

but let's not get into politics!

When the power's out, the bodies liquefy and trickle onto the floor.

l don't usually cry. l'm very tired.

Coffee?

What about the lnstitute of Hygiene?

Why?

l could give them the skeleton.

What for?

They could use it as teaching material.

They use plastic ones.

- Really? - Really.

- l didn't know. Well... - Wait!

Professor Cerchez please...

What about a cornea transplant?

- When did he die? - Three hours ago.

lt has to be removed one hour after death.

And no cancer.

Thank you anyhow.

You should incinerate him without a ceremony.

l'd like to accompany him on his final journey.

You'd like to?

No... what l meant is...

Don't worry. l know what you meant.

Can l have your number?

You could, but l don't have a phone.

Eternal glory to those who died

fighting capitalism.

Where were you?

- Why? - Come on!

l didn't answer the phone.

You knew l'd call.

That's the point!

Let's go get a beer.

- l'm in a movie... - Oh?

A director cast me for a pretty big role.

lt's shooting in the mountains.

A historical film. What d'ya think?

With Joan of Arc?

No, with bandits. l'm meeting the director here at eleven.

l want your opinion. What's that?

My father.

Nela, you're great! l love you terribly. Do you love me?

No, Gelu. lf it changes, l'll let you know.

Nela!

You could act.

ln black and white or color?

You have an interesting face.

but l have bony legs.

You're wrong. They're not bony.

Right?

lt's very supple.

Legs are important in a film, but not everything.

ls that so?

Tell me, how does one make such bombs?

ls there such a lack of talent?

Let me be, it's my opinion. Read this.

lt's for you.

You speak

of something you know nothing about. What do you do?

Psychology...

Two years in Paris...

Dad in Moscow, me in Paris...

At the lnstitute of Psychology.

Cheers, Dad!

And if l said that our psychology here was worthless?

lt's true. Hey, that's my father!

We took a walk. Now we're going home.

Honey, l've been appointed to Copsa Mica.

l leave tomorrow at 6 am. lf you want to come only to the station.

Gosh, did he wait for this nomination.

lt's my dad...

l swear!

He died...

l had him incinerated today for 300 lei...

What if l scattered his ashes at sea?

He'll wait in the fridge until he gets a spot at the Hero's Monument.

Well, see you tomorrow... maybe. bye!

Well Nela, you little bitch...

You burn Dad up without telling me.

Don't l have the right to know? l'm his daughter too.

Since we were kids, you latched on...

While he was alive, he was yours, all yours.

And now you still take him, even his ashes. Go ahead, take it all!