The Shop Around the Corner

- Morning, Mr. Pirovitch. - Good morning.

- Always the first one, huh? - It's none of your business.

And let me tell you, it doesn't hurt to be too early.

What for and why? Who sees you? Me.

And who sees me? You. What does it get us?

Can we give each other a raise? No.

What are you doing with that bicycle?

You're not supposed to take it at home.

Better not let Mr. Matuschek see it.

Why don't you tell him? It's alright with me.

You know where I was last night while you were home

soaking your feet in hot water?

Running my legs off for Mrs. Matuschek.

"Pepi, go to the dressmaker."

And when I come back, "Oh, Pepi, will you please

pick up a package at the drugstore?"

Good morning.

- Good morning, Miss Kaczek. - Good morning.

- How's your little boy? - Much better, thanks.

We called Dr. Hegedus.

Oh, he's a very expensive doctor.

Well, what can you do?

I figured I'd cut down on my cigars for a few weeks.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Ilona.

Oh, that's a new silver fox! It's stunning!

It must have been pretty expensive.

Oh, it was. I hesitated

a long time before I bought it.

I said, "No, I can't afford it."

And still, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

And then I said, "No, I have no right to--"

And then he said, "Oh, go on and take it."

- Oh, trying to be clever! - Shut up.

- Good morning. - Morning, Mr. Kralik.

Pepi, go to the drugstore and get me a bicarbonate of soda.

- What's the matter, Kralik? - Do you feel well?

Oh, it's alright. Just a..

Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning.

- Want to hear a joke? - No.

What's the matter, folks?

Not awake yet? Look at me.

I bet I haven't slept half as much as you.

Friends, Romans, countrymen

to tell you the truth, I, uh..

...had quite a time last night.

We don't want to hear the poor girl's name.

Tell me, Kralik, how was the dinner last night?

Oh, yes, that's right!

Mr. Kralik had dinner with the boss last night.

Well, well, well, how was it? Tell us all about it.

Are you a partner now, Mr. Kralik?

Don't be funny.

- Tell us about it. - How was it?

Well, it was a very nice evening, and I enjoyed myself.

I bet the food was good.

- Well, you can imagine. - Tell me.

Is it true Mrs. Matuschek had her face lifted?

Well, how could I know that?

Well, how old did she look to you last night?

Well, 40.

She had her face lifted.

I think Mrs. Matuschek

is a very charming woman.

Who said she isn't?

And don't you try to make something out of nothing.

I didn't say Mrs. Matuschek is not charming.

But I said she is charming. What's wrong with that?

So the food was good?

Seven courses, not including the hors d'oeuvres.

I bet you were sitting next to Mrs. Matuschek.

Yes, I was. What do you think of that?

- I bet you were brilliant. - No.

I just kept still and tried to learn something.

Here's your bicarbonate, Mr. Kralik.

- Thanks, Pepi. - Uh, bicarbonate? Aren't you..

I had a little too much goose liver last night.

I see. What's the matter? Wasn't it any good?

Now, look here, Vadas. Now, just a minute.

Folks, come over. Did you hear what he said?

Just, I want you to hear this.

Did I make any derogatory remark about the goose liver?

- No, not any! - Not one word!

I merely said that I had too much goose liver.

"A little too much goose liver."

"A little too much goose liver."

Not one word more, and not one less.

- Good morning, Mr. Matuschek. - Yeah, good morning.

Here.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Mr. Matuschek.

Who put this 32.50 suitcase in the window?

I did, Mr. Matuschek.

I guess it's alright.

Thank you, Mr. Matuschek.

- Yeah. Pepi. - Yes, Mr. Matuschek.

Just, uh, go across the street

to the drugstore, and get me some

bicarbonate of soda.

Yes, sir.

Allow me, Mr. Matuschek. May I help?

There we are, Mr. Matuschek.

- Pirovitch. - Hmm?

- Wanna hear something nice? - Yes. What is it?

- A letter from a girl. - Oh.

"My heart was trembling as I walked into the post office

"and there you were, lying in box 237.

"I took you out of your envelope and read you..

"...read you right there..

...oh, my dear friend."

What is all this?

You see, I wanted to buy an encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia? What're you talking about?

Well, you come to a time in your life

when you get tired of going to cafes

dance halls every night, and you want to improve yourself.

I've heard you want to study something about art and

literature and history

h-h-how people live in Brazil.

Uh.. Well, tell me what has all this to do with the letter?

Well, you know I can't afford a new encyclopedia

so I was looking through the ads in the Sunday paper

and I got on the wrong page

and I came across this ad, and it..

Wait a minute, I have it right here.

Here, read that.

"Modern girl wishes

"to correspond on cultural subjects

"anonymously with intelligent

"sympathetic, young man.

"Address, Dear Friend

Post Office 15, Box 237."

I know those ads. The papers are full of them.

How long has this been going on?

Well, we've exchanged four letters.

- Four letters? - And she's no ordinary girl.

Now listen to this.

"Are you tall? Are you short?

"Are your eyes blue? Are they brown?

"Don't tell me.

What does it matter so long as our minds meet?"

That's beautiful.

- It is, isn't it? - Mm-hmm.

Now, wait a minute.

"We have enough troubles in our daily lives.

"There are so many great and beautiful things

"to discuss in this world of ours

"it would be wasting these precious moments

"if we told each other the vulgar details

"of how we earn our daily bread.

So don't let's do it.“

'Mr. Kralik?

Yes, Mr. Matuschek.

Yes, Mr. Matuschek.

I can buy two dozen of these cigarette boxes

at Miklos Brothers. What do you think of it?

I think it's great.

Well, open it.

No, Mr. Matuschek, it's not for us.

But you haven't listened to it. It plays "Ochi Tchornya."

Well, even if it played Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

I'd still say no. No, I just don't like the idea.

It's wonderful the way you can make up your mind so quickly.

I've been in this business for 35 years.

It took me a whole hour to decide

that I like this box.

But, of course, you're a genius.

You know so much more than I.

- Mr. Vadas? - Coming, Mr. Matuschek.

Miss Novotni?

- Yes, Mr. Matuschek? - Look here.

What do you think of this?

Now, I want your honest opinion.

Don't let me influence you.

'All I want is your honest opinion.'

Well, Miss Novotni?

Well, I think people who smoke cigarettes

and love to hear "Ochi Tchornya" will like it.

I'd even go further. I think it'll make

music lovers out of cigarette smokers

and cigarette smokers out of music lovers.

I think it's sensational!

Yeah, well, Mr. Kralik

have you thought it over?

Yes. I still think it's

uh, inadvisable.

Well, give me one reason!

Well, let's say that a man smokes 20 cigarettes a day.

That means that 20 times a day he has to open this box

and 20 times a day he has to listen to "Ochi Tchornya."

It's a perfectly terrible idea.

And besides, it's imitation leather, the glue's no good

in two weeks the whole thing will fall apart

and all you'll have left is "Ochi Tchornya."

You don't have to tell me

that-that-that it's imitation leather. I know that.

You just sell things and let me do the buying, huh?

Excuse me, Mr. Matuschek. Miklos Brothers on the telephone

in reference to the cigarette box.

Oh, Miklos, yes.

Yes, Mr. Miklos?