Barna Tóth a student of the production manager and the associated producer course of the Faculty of the Film and Television at the Hungarian Academy of Drama and Film.
The young director's short film script won the award of Nisi Masa Association shared with Cyrill Gelblat (France) and Emmi Itäranta (Finnland).

Two young men are travelling in a railway couchette. One is blonde, tall and Finnish, the other is brown-haired, short and Hungarian.
It is the summer of 2002, somewhere in Italy.

Early evening

TIMO is on his laptop computer. Beside the laptop is a Nokia mobile telephone through which he is connected to the Internet. ZSOLT is watching him working. After a while Zsolt asks.

ZSOLT

Einsudigung. Sprachen sie Deutch?

Timo shakes his head with a wry smile, indicating No'. Suddenly an express train passes by, giving them both a shock.
Short pause.

ZSOLT

Danmark?

TIMO

Finland.

ZSOLT

Ah! Finn. Nokia! (he points animatedly towards the mobile phone) Natürlich.

TIMO (he concentrates on the screen but answers Zsolt with a patient smile)

Yeaaah...Nokia.

ZSOLT (slightly nervous and with hesitation)

Und Litmanen....hah....

Timo is still staring at the laptop screen, his smile slowly fading due to Zsolt's interruptions.

ZSOLT

Weis sie, das Senegal-France? Was ist die...

TIMO

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

ZSOLT

Ich Internet, OK? Zwei minuten.(apologetically and by way of explaining) Fusball.

TIMO
(even though he doesn't like the idea)

Sure.

Zsolt leaps on the computer. We can see his face and suddenly he screams.

ZSOLT

IGEN! Igen!!
Yes! Yes!

Timo watches worriedly, fearing for his equipment.

Zsolt takes his own mobile from his pocket and starts to write a text message with a victorious smile.

ZSOLT (proudly)

Fogadás. Nyertem!
A bet. I won!

Timo shrugs his shoulders indicating he doesn't understand.

ZSOLT

France, kaput, ich, geld, mit eine freund. Fünf tousand forint! (counting in his head) Ein moment...Zweinzich euro.(he has an idea) A, haben sie finn euro?

Timo looks apprehensively towards Zsolt.

ZSOLT (kapcsol)

Nézd (look).... (takes out some coins from his pocket) Deutchland, Österrecih, francözish, italia...alles different. Spezial. Und du?

TIMO
(breaking into a relieved smile)

Ah. (offering a two Euro coin in his hand to Zsolt)

ZSOLT examines the coin.
TIMO is still smiling

ZSOLT

Wo ist "Finland?"

TIMO

Search.

ZSOLT (examining the coin)

Szörcs..szörcs...Ezen nincs rajta.
Search, search ... it doesn't say

TIMO shows the rim of the coin to Zsolt where the word Finland' is written.

ZSOLT

áááá, Szuper.

ZSOLT returns the coin to Timo, they sit down.

TIMO

Which country are you from?

ZSOLT gestures that he doesn't understand.
TIMO shows his passport. On the cover: European Union, Republic of Finland
ZSOLT is now smiling. He also takes his passport and shows it to Timo. On the cover: " Magyar Köztársaság, Útlevél" Republic of Hungary
Now it's Timo's turn to think. Zsolt has a gleeful smirk.
Timo flicks through Zsolt's passport.

TIMO

Ah , Hungary!

ZSOLT

Yes.

TIMO

Finnish-Hungarian.., that's good. You know the history about Finnish and Hungarian? Finno-Ugrien?

(Timo would like to continue the conversation, but realises it's too complicated to explain)

Insert:

500 BC. Two men in a wild landscape, one blonde and one brunette (both can be played by the same actors playing Zsolt and Timo). They are staring at a sign which indicates the North and the South.

Back to the train, close-up on Zsolt.

ZSOLT

Ja, ja, ich weis....

Insert continues. They separate and each goes in the opposite direction. One North, one South.

Back to the train.

ZSOLT

Scheisse. (smiles and offers his hand) Zsolt.

TIMO

Timo. Nice to meet you.

Exterior: The sun is going down. Time passes.

Zsolt searches for something in his bag. Timo is listening to his CD. Zsolt takes out an apple and offers it to Timo. Timo gently refuses.

The ticket inspector opens the door. He asks Zsolt for his ticket. Zsolt searches in desperation. Timo takes out two tickets from his pocket. The ticket inspector leaves.

ZSOLT

Aber....wahrum? Zwei ticket?

Timo would like to explain, but realises it's impossible. One idea ... a girl's photo from his wallet.

TIMO

Its over. The end. No more love.

ZSOLT

Á.

Then Zsolt takes out a crumpled photo showing him with a girl in a romantic/humourous pose.

ZSOLT

Detto. Kaput.

They both sit in silence, but desperately would like to communicate with each other.

Sighs. Both try to find words to express their emotions, but fail.

ZSOLT

Warum ende?

TIMO

(Shrugs) Women. And you?

Zsolt cannot express his thoughts, and looks out of the window.

ZSOLT

Angol, angol....(taking his head in his hands)

Zsolt looks at the ticket that Timo just handed him.

ZSOLT

Thank you.

It's dark outside.

Zsolt takes out some sandwiches. He offers one first to Timo who accepts out of courtesy. They start eating. Suddenly Timo remembers something.

TIMO

Wait, is this made of butter?

ZSOLT

Was?

TIMO

I have a problem...lactose...

ZSOLT

Problem?

TIMO

(pointing at the sandwich) Moooo?

ZSOLT

Ah, nononon...röf röf!
(Oh no, Grunt grunt)

TIMO

Ah no....no...its not sure....thank you, sorry (hands back the sandwich)

Zsolt takes the sandwich disappointedly

They look at each other helplessly.

Now they are preparing for bed.
Zsolt takes off his T-shirt, on his back is a tattoo - the Pi symbol and a circle with a wavy line through.
When he turns around, he notices that Timo is staring at his tattoo.

TIMO

What's this on your back?

ZSOLT

Ah, da ist....(thinking) Ah, túl nehéz.(too complicated) Pardon. Sprache. (making hand signals of a speaking mouth with his hand)

It is dark in the couchette. They are both lying in their beds.

As they are turning in bed, their eyes meet. They smile, there were a lot of adventures today, but unfortunately there is a huge language barrier. Suddenly the Customs Officer enters and switches on the light.

CUSTOMS OFFICER

Pasport, bitte.

Timo hands over his passport and after glancing at the cover, the Customs Officer hands it back. However he examines Zsolt's passport carefully.

Zsolt and Timo's eyes meet and Zsolt's face says it all It's always the same story. Fuck them.' The Customs Officer leaves the couchette.

TIMO

No European Union, right?

ZSOLT

Nem, talán 2004. Talán nemsokára.
No, maybe in 2004. Maybe soon.

But of course Timo doesn't understand.

Now Zsolt slaps the air because he is tired and frustrated. He turns his back to Timo. Timo does the same and they both fall asleep.

By the time Timo wakes, Zsolt has packed and is ready to leave.

TIMO

Shit, where are we? Berlin?

ZSOLT

Nem nem, csak München.
No, just Munich.

TIMO

Ah, Munich.

ZSOLT

Leszállok. Auf weidhersein.
I'm off now. Goodbye.

TIMO

Ah...shit....(Half-asleep he gets out of bed) Good bye my friend.

Timo watches Zsolt leaving the couchette and descend onto the station platform. Timo scratches his head and looks for something in his bag. He takes out a business card. Zsolt shouts from the platform.

ZSOLT

Hello!

Timo passes his business card out of the couchette window to Zsolt on the platform. The conductor's whistle indicates the train is ready to depart.

ZSOLT (in a humorous fashion)

TIMO (responds automatically)

The air freezes. They stare at each other in shock. The train starts pulling away. Zsolt spellbound, walks along with the train as it leaves, staring at Timo.

ZSOLT

Tu parles francais? (You speak French?!)

Timo very slowly nods in a regretful manner.

Zsolt looks astonished. He runs to keep up with the train.

ZSOLT

On est vraiment cons, hein? (We're really stupid aren't we?)

TIMO

Incroyable (Incredible)

ZSOLT

Je vais t'écrire! (I will write to you!)

TIMO

Timo starts laughing.

ZSOLT

Zsolt screams at the departing train and laughs, laughs.

THE END