Cancer Walks

-what’s up gjergji?-nothing. - did you finish work for today?-yes. what’s going on? today i was at the hospital. i saw that girli’ve told you about. i went by, buti didn’t have courage. how do you explain that? that needs maturity. this weeks she’s atthe blood donation center.

i don’t minddonating blood, but... i need some moral support. come with me to the hospital. -when, today?-now, pretend i’m sick. -sherif, i’m sorry...-did you change your mind? perhaps it’s betterif i go on my own. i’ll give it a try... you could wait for me here.-i’ll take a bus, it’s no big deal, but... ...since i’m here,can't i see what she’s like...

-you’ll get to see her.-good luck. how come you’re here? i’m a lab technicianduring the day. what about at night? at night, i’m on call. so, you work double shifts. usually yes. my mother is very sick,she’s been hospitalized here. she’s been admitted here?

what is she suffering from? it’s serious. where? oncology, your father’s ward. can i be of any help? you’ve slimmed down. since earlier today? since last time i was here. you have to stay still for ten minutes.

branko... branko! have you been missing me?! i came to save the nationwith 'clean, youthful blood'. there was a goodlooking girl here today... you’ve refined yourmethods at the hospital. she’s one of my students. i know. how are things at the pharmacy?

it's quiet, as usual. have you looked for a new apartment yet? there are plenty. i don’t understand howyou can do nothing all day! look at your swollen face. when did you wake up? are the papers ready for themonth-end closing? no, you know thati can’t do it by myself. ok.

i’ll be there as soon as i have a moment. let me show you something. hamlet... what’s this about? a patient left it. i put it here becauseit is against the rules. do you want it? what for? take it to the pharmacy.

i’m not a five year old. fine, take it home,to wake you up! i have things to do. stop wasting your time. -hello.-hello. apologies if i’m late. no, i was here early. -how are you doing?-fine. your father is an extraordinary man.

yesterday we spoke on the phone. he gave me your number because,he thought i should talk to you. i know you’ve been abroad,but where did you study? in america. where kim gordonand lou reed come from. who else is from america? malcolm x. duffy duck. mickey mouse.

you’ve studied pharmacology? pharmacology. when did you return? about a year and a half ago. your mother was my professor. she was a great person... we were all verysorry when it happened... ...so suddenly. thank you.

as i said on the phone,we are working on an article... ...about the medicinaldrug crisis in hospitals. if you have anything to add... feel free... ...we won’t mention your name. i’ve gathered datawhich i’ve prepared for publishing... ...but it needs to be verified,since its sources are numerous... ...if you think something is unclear,please let me know. no problem.

then, i’ll start... because of the scarcityof medicinal drugs in hospitals... ...hospital patients have resortedto pharmacies... ...where they buy drugswith their own expenses. it is estimated that each year there arearound 350,000 cronically ill people... ...who are hospitalized or inconstant treatment, in our country. many powerful pharmaceutical firmshave found suitable terrain... ...for increasing their profits, by bribinghospital or primary care physicians... ...who advertise medicationsmarketed by powerful corporations.

these medications are on the list ofrefundables, but they are very expensive. this pressure is concealed,because the patients... ...are led by their doctorsto buy expensive medications... ...marketed by powerfulpharmaceutical firms. some pharmacists convince patientsto take a given medication... ...defying the doctor who administersit with specific instructions... ...thus creating conflicts betweenthe patient and that doctor. according to pharmacists, the scarcityof drugs hasn’t led to excessive pricing. yet, exploitation iscertainly not nonexistent...

in the majority of these pharmacies,medications are offered... ...at market prices,even when they are refundable. despite the fact that allcitizens are legally... ...entitled to refunds fortheir medications... ...in many cases, pharmaciesoffer them at full price. citizens are thus forced to pay,despite being insured. the patients whoare cared for in hospitals... ...especially in the big cities... ...fall victim to the drug market,in terms of pricing.

this has become apparentas hospitals are experiencing... ...a notable lack of medicinal drugs. profiting from this situation,the physicians... ...recommend to the patientseven the pharmacies... ...where they can buy the drugs... ...convincing them... ...that these are the only places,where they can buy such drugs. according to citizens, who areobliged to go to these pharmacies... the pharmacies belongto the doctors who are examining...

...or providing other services for them. are you aware that a largenumber of pharmacies... ...are owned by physicians... ...and because of the lackof medications in hospitals... ...these white coats... ...oblige their patients to buymedications in their own pharmacies? when you were a baby,we'd take you on strolls. we had a half broken stroller. once, you fell from your stroller...

...you had a bumpright here on your head. you’ve told thisstory a hundred times. it's obvious that you have beenirresponsible parents. we’ll see what happenswhen you become a parent. what is she doing here? who, sara? the driver will take her to the hospital. her mother has beenadmitted to my department. are you adopting those street kids?

you’ve become like a movie star. what are thosedeliquents doing here? they will get usedto staying around all day. be a little more responsible! how about yourself, are youadopting your medical students? why weren’t youat work now? good night. -hello, how are you?-fine. is sara here?

sara is off today. i’m not here to rob the pharmacy. everything is allowed here... theft is an obligation. except for gjergji’s bicycle. so, it’s gjergji’s?i thought it was yours. since i got it i’ve never heard it sing. does it even sing? i think so.

are you sure? no. do you think it's male or female? i've never heard it sing either. fine, let's wait until it sings. then what? then we can set it freeright there at the botanical garden... won't they buildtenements over there? i don't know.

i think they'll builda new ring-road. have you seen thathitchcock film? the birds. good evening! hi sara, how are you doing? -how are you doing?-i’m dying, exhausted. you can’t wait, youwanna get out of here... i just want to getout a bit earlier... you can go if you want,i can replace you...

it's fine, i'll juststay for another hour. what’s up? nothing special. long time no see. we haven't seen youfor a while. i'm working all day long. people walking in and out all day. i’m going to go buya pack of cigarettes. came as a couple today.

what's supposed to happen now? whatever you wish. you've got tonifying, relaxingmassages and facial masks. -where is sara?-she's over there. that is the mudd thatallegedly slims you down? it’s from the dead sea. do you want to try it? it depends on how longi’d need to keep it on. fifteen, twenty minutes.you can stay even longer if you want.

fine. take the mudd pot, please. have you thought of me? how many treatments hasyour mother had this far? she just finishedthe second round. now she needs the third. it’s very costly. you know, the targeted therapy. so now it’s the last one left?

yes, but it’s not certainwhether it will be effective. it's been found? it’s difficult, but it's been promised. even if she gets it,it's not certain that it will work. sokrat has talked to me about you... do you know what’s beingsaid about you and my father? what's being said? sokrat is a good doctor... ...he’ll do his best.

what kind of relationshipdo you and sokrat have? a good one. i know that... it is my impressionthat you are quite close. what has sokrat told you,in what sense? what has he told you? what do you think? i’m cold. fine, take a hot shower.

since you want to know,i’ll ask just one thing... please, let’s not havethis conversation again. i don't know howour relationship will evolve. your father hasbeen very good to me. he’s helped mewith school. he has said that he’llhelp me this year as well. even though i have to work,since i haven't got anybody else. he’s helped my mother. he’s found,very expensive treatments.

he got the first two cures,which were very expensive. he’s been there for me. he’s been kind about everything. you’re special, he tells me,this place is not for you. now we have anormal relationship. on the other hand,he has hit on me, yes, it’s true. i won’t say how... he’s come on to meand i’ve ignored it... ...thinking that every man in hisplace would do the same.

i’ve thought that he is lonely. perhaps, to justify him. there have been momentswhen he has provoked me. sometimes, he has even threatened me. i’ve tried not to take ittoo seriously. what has he offered you help for? i have told him that i'm self-sufficient.that i do not need anyone’s help. this is the truth. this story continues?

which story? does it continue? there are moments when it ends,there are moments when it begins again. so, you came close to me,to protect yourself from him? i'm not trash. the times that i’d skip class,in primary school, i’d come here. i was sure that nobodywould find me. not even sokrat. i can’t stand looking atanimals in cages.

sherif! what's new? nothing. i’m going for a coffee. how about a roundabout? no, i'm moving on... let’s take a hike,the three of us. let's show sara our carefully selected,pro-filmic, immediate surroundings. my mansion's over there.

over there. -yeah, what?-i’m here to get the bicycle. what? my bicycle isat the pharmacy. alright. -who is it?-gjergji, he wants the bike. come on, grab the keys! i shouldn't be late for work. are you the son of dr. sokrat?

your father told me that,he couldn’t wait for you. -was he accompanied?-no, he was alone. -did he eat by himself here?-no, today he didn’t sit down at all. your lunch has been paid for. will you sit down? we have differentkinds of seafood. lobster, bass, bream, mussels. we have venison, lamb, pork... ...whatever you want.

traditional cuisine,italian, french, turkish. -what’s your house wine?-australian shiraz. -thank you.-goodbye. something is bothering you. no, there's nothing. sorry for asking. you know, sherif... sara’s mother ishospitalized in my father’s ward. according to her...

my father has asked herto sleep with him. it's like a requirement. i know my fatherenough to know that... if he could savea person’s life, he would... from what sokrat has told me... sara’s mother will not survive. she believes it’s in sokrat’s hand! it's probably wishful thinking... however, regardless the circumstances...

it does not exclude that sokrat has... ...harassed her. i do not know what to believe. perhaps, that’s not exactly true. maybe she hasmisunderstood him. who knows whatthe situation really is. that's hot air. things are not to be taken personally,however they turn out to be. it takes time to knowwho people really are...

trust takes a life time to gain. you want things to happenimmediately as you wish them to be. you're wrong... you gotta have belief... ...to know what the truth really is. truthfulness and sincerity arethe only remedies. the truth and nothingbut the truth, right... or am i just out of my mind? how would i know?

i come from the middle of nowhere,i am aware of that... ...perhaps i don’t knowmuch about these things, but... ...when you meet real love... ...everything becomes clear. have you everreally loved sherif? i do not understand people at all. gjergji, will you come with us? -where’s your dad?-he left with mom. when will he return?

which way are we going? gjergji, come changein the girls’ room. -come and take a shower!-no. hey guys... gjergji come here,i won’t look at your wiener. gjergji, don't drink the water,it's chlorinated! good. it's ice cold... ...cold as hell!

let's go to the sauna. this one's cold. you knew that he was comingand you brought us here? please take me home. i don't need this situation. why, what's the problem? did you put all the invoices and the documents in the bag? yes, they are all in the book. -did you make an inventory?-no.

so there are no tablesand slates either... have you ever watered those poor lemons? sure, i water thelemons every day. fine, don't botherwatering them. go turn on the water. what is going on here? what are these prescripitons? don’t you know thatnobody accepts them? the partial or the totallyreimbursable ones?

the total ones! how can you be so out of it? it blows my mind! is that so? listen, i have wantedto say this for a while... do not bring expired medicationsin the pharmacy any more. expired medications? i have brought expired medications? have you no shame?

if not expired, they are veryclose to their expiration date. don’t bring me suchmedicines again. what are you talking about? are you out of your mind? i believe you are capableof auditing the dates... check the dates! -this is nonsense.- no, it’s not nonsense at all! because you are spending all day,thinking about the zoo... the lion, the fox, the wolf...

learn to work!you get it? to work? do you call that work? i just stand there as a dork! fine, why don't you quit? if you can’t do it, just quit. i could have picked any career... you brought me here to use meas a cover up for your dirty business. signing your documents...

you take me for a fool! hey... anonymous squirt! you narcoman! you degenerate! you scum of the earth! how do you daretalk to me like that. i have been workingfor this for 40 years. i’ve invested an entire life,and you dare raise such issues...

idiot! how dare youmoralize me, your face. instead of focusing on your work... ...that we have left you aftera thousand sacrifices... that pharmacy, which everyoneelse would dream about to have... instead of getting up andbanging your head on the wall! working, creating,competing with your peers... you treat our pharmacyas though it were a night club! with dirty windows,plastic curtains...

...stinking of tabbacco, whereany hoodlum from the street can enter! i’ve been working my whole life, andi've been where you can’t even imagine. i’ve been to every villageand i’ve plunged in dirt. everybody respects me! you didn’t want to stayin the u.s., you came here... ...because youdidn’t have the balls! you couldn’t make itwithout your daddy! you spoiled brat! your friends arefinishing yale and oxford!

i'd piss on yourworthless schooling... i'd piss on your photography,your philosophy... you put venomin your parents’ lives! go make me a coffee, hurry! fuck off! i need your signature here. you need to sign all of them. do you remember that riddle? in a boat for two...

a wolf, a sheep and a cabbageneed to cross the river... let's eat the fish. i've heard that you’ve been seenoften at the hospital... are you fine healthwise? i’m not going therebecause i’m ill. you do look well,but i got worried... when i was donatingblood, i met sara. -sara.-how is her mother doing? she is in treatment.

is there any hope for her? well... who is helping her, the state? the state... we also helped. then, why have i beenasked to interfere? you to interfere to me? i don’t know. yes, to interfere to you.

look, you shouldn’t getmixed up in these things. what does that mean? it means that you shouldn’tget mixed up with my patients. that is my business. you should take careof your own issues. what issues? you know your issuesbetter than me. do you mean sara? what would i know.

did she tell you? i don’t know anything. i don't believe that there are anyworthwhile women there. they are ordinary and simplistic. don't you think? there may be some decent ones. whatever, it is your business. you didn’t tell mewhat you think about sara? about who?

sara... why are you putting on a show? you know her well.you are helping her mother. she’s my student,i will help her mother. i discharged her motherfrom the hospital. -you discharged her?-yes. when? this morning, there's no reasonfor her to be hospitalized.

so you think she’s hopeless? her mother’s condition is grave... i’m talking about her daughter. she’s not really thatworth being talked about... does this topic tire you? very much so. why? how come, that youkeep asking like a kid! if you have somethinggoing on with her, that’s fine.

i don’t dealwith your little stories. why are you so insecure? -insecure about what?-because you keep asking questions... i don't knowanything about her. i try not to interferewith my student's personal affairs. that doesn’t suit men! are you sure thatyou are that spotless? be that as it may... ...be clear about one thing...

this story should remainonly an adventure. listen to your old man:only an adventure! tomorrow, go to saranda. do something worthwhile,for a change. good morning. i’m getting theprescriptions that were here. i’m going to do themonth-end closing later. so, you didn’t go to saranda. i’m not your servant.

so, you didn't go. shall we take a lookat those apartments you’ve seen? one of them is right here,on the sixth floor. it's owner left the country,its for sale. it’s sort of an attic. the another one is a bit further. fine... in spite of everything,tomorrow you should go to saranda. we’ll make a decision,when you return.

have a nice day. her mother has beendischarged from the hospital... she has taken a few days off. how is she? she's alright. did she finish the treatment? i think so, buti'm not exactly sure. -thanks.-you're welcome. hello.

i am a friend of branko’s. you are branko’s friend? please, sit down. what is your name? sherif. i don’t know where to start, so... ...i am going to ask you directly. are you aware of branko’srelationship with sara? i know that they stay together...

i know that she is a nurse here. i know that you know that. excuse me? i am aware of your relationship... ...with a girl here. i am aware of your relationship. i don’t know the extentto which your son is aware of it. that is why i’ve come here. my duty is to treat people, sherif.

that is my job. i’ve worked in thishospital for forty years. this hospital iseverything that i have. this is all that i have. everything that i have attained is... ...what you see, right here. i have worked very hard to attain it. for forty years,have i lived, in this hospital. i don’t know whati’ve been like as a father...

...but, everything that i have,i have it because i deserve it. anyone can cometo my hospital... ...in my room... ...to make appealsabout whatever they want... ...yet, this hospital is mine. with all the sufferingthat it contains... ...with all the despair... ...the hopes... ...the pain and anguish...

it is mine. i know the value of lifebetter than anyone... i’m of a certain ageand i can not leave this. i can not escape from this world,which has kept my life hostage. here... ...i do as i wish. this is my home. do you understand? with all the peoplei’ve seen to live, or die...

do you know whatthe greatest horror is? it is not death. it is... loneliness. i’ve saved manypeople and many lives... ...but no one can save youfrom the terror of loneliness... ...mr. policeman. loneliness... ...an invisible monster which iswith you in every moment....

...as a curse. it humiliates, it depraves, it pollutes... ...it takes you outside of yourself... ...it turns you upside down... ...it makes you stick your nosein what doesn’t concern you. ...a revenant... ...deforming you more than ever,unexpectedly. you try to escape... ...precisely, at the same moment, you err.

i... i'm not a philosopher. i’m exactly what you said,a policeman. i’ll tell you only one thing... leave that girl alone. i am looking for nurse sara. where can i find her?i was told she is on call. yes, she is here.check out at the fourth floor... ...third door on your left.

how are you sherif? why are you here? for what reason? to see you. to see me? perhaps now it’snot the right time... we could leave it for later. why later?what’s going on? what’s going on sara?

what do you mean? we could leave it for later... what do you mean with later?what’s going on? come with me. what’s concerning you sherif? i’ve seen you with sokratthese days... ...walking around. so? sherif...

...the doctor has promisedthat he’ll help my mother... ...without going through all the formalities. if it were for formalities,her turn may never come. i can only hope, that they willtake care of my mom. what happens, is that theymove you along the line... it’s not like a crimeis being committed. it is an exception that'sbeing made on my behalf. sokrat categorically demands,that the word doesn’t come out. this is why he has cometo talk to me these days.

only about that? sherif, i love branko. if this gets out,my mother is hopeless. i don't understand, whyyou’ve gotten involved. these are my concerns. this is my life, and you areall forcing me to bring you here. the doctor knows aboutmy relationship with branko. he begged me not totalk to his son about this. i don’t know why hedoesn’t want branko to know.

maybe when all of this is over,i will tell him. why did you tell him, thathis father has come on to you? i don’t know what to say. it seems as saving my mother’s life,is taking my own life. because everybody is a coward. everyone is afraid... ...afraid of this, afraid of that... he asked me and i confirmed it! because it is true.

sherif, wait... i love branko! sit down... why have you disappeared? i needed time to think. did you think enough? it’s beautiful here. do you want some water? have you fucked sokrat?

say, 'yes, i have fucked sokrat'. say, 'i have fucked sokrat'. no... say, that you love only me! say, 'i'm a whore'. say, that you love only me. i love only you. i am going to the zoo. have you told me the truth?

what is the truth?