A Price Above Rubies Page #7

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Grab your coat, round up the kids and

take them to daven maariv up at shul.

Right. Thas what

I was gonna do. Shul.

I think you'd better

sit down.

Is over.

Mendel will be granting you a divorce

at the earliest possible moment.

He's going to stay in the house.

And Sender has agreed...

to let you use an apartment

he's been keeping for business

on the Lower East Side.

You are not welcome here anymore.

Is this coming from Mendel,

or is this coming from you?

What do you think?

Where is Mendel?

I want to hear this from his mouth.

Haven't you put him

through enough already?

I'll just take Shimmie

and be on my way.

Shimmie stays here.

How dare you!

Shimmie's gonna stay here by us where

he can live in a healthy environment.

And who's the expert fit to judge whas

a healthy environment all of a sudden?

Certainly not a woman who leaves

her husband and baby at home...

while she runs around town

having affairs with Puerto Ricans.

Is that what this is all about?

Who said this?

It doesn't matter.

Whas done is done.

And whas said is said, and the truth

doesn't matter anymore. Does it?

If you don't get out of my way,

I'm gonna call the cops.

I'm taking Shimmie and I'm going back

to Muncie to stay by my mother.

We already spoke to your mother.

She begged us not to let you go back

there and ruin your sisters' chances...

of making decent matches.

We have a fine life here, Sonia.

A decent life.

And you are not gonna be allowed

to destroy it for everyone around you.

For the good of all concerned,

you've gotta be cut off.

You can't cut a mother off

from her child.

No. You've already taken care

of that yourself.

I don't know where

you're headed, Sonia.

But wherever it is,

you're going alone.

Excuse me.

Is Mendel here?

Mendel Horowitz.

Do me a favor.

Go and find him for me.

Tell him his wife wants to talk to him.

Excuse me. I think you should

find another time for this.

- Is he here?

- Like I said, I think perhaps

another time would be pref...

Mendel?

Mendel?

Listen, Mrs. Horowitz...

Is this it, Mendel?

Is this how you want

to handle things?

- Hi, Nelson.

- Sorry, Mrs. Horowitz.

- The store's off-limits.

- Excuse me?

Mr. Sender's orders.

Can't let you in.

Listen to me, Nelson. There are things

in there that belong to me.

They are mine. I will go in, I'll get

them. I'll be out in ten minutes.

Can't do it.

Good night, Mrs. Horowitz.

Welcome home.

"An apartment he keeps for business,"

his sister says.

I wonder what she'd say...

if she knew what kind

of transactions occurred here.

Make yourself comfortable.

A bed.

I woulve expected

a desk or a table...

or maybe just the wall.

Who'd have thought

you'd have time for a bed?

Your bitter tone strikes me

as inappropriate...

considering I've given you

exactly what you want.

And what is that?

Your freedom.

You're free of Mendel.

You're free of all the everyday

responsibilities that you hate.

You're free to work at a trade you

enjoy, and live in any manner you wish.

Free.

And you?

Am I free of you, Sender?

Freedom always comes

with a price.

And... whas your price?

A price above that

of your virtue...

but a price far below rubies.

You'll have nothing, Sonia.

Not even this room. Nothing.

I'm not paying anymore.

Yeah, sh-she told me, lmma.

Rachel told me that she talked to you.

But, um, I-I just wanted to call...

and, uh, a-and make sure that, um...

No, don't worry.

No, I-I, I won't be coming home.

Don't worry.

Whas the rush?

You're late for a party?

I'm lost.

You're in the middle of Manhattan.

2nd Avenue and 3rd Street.

The "J" train, three blocks east.

The I.R.T.'s just around the corner.

- Nobody's lost here.

- Who are you?

I'm just a woman who's been too long

on her tired feet.

Now I'm gonna rest.

You want to join me?

You've been following me

ever since I moved to Boro Park.

Who's been following who?

A little manners

wouldn't kill you.

I'm not taking from a woman

who has nothing.

Actually, I have very little.

You're the one who has nothing.

How would you know that?

We have a mutual acquaintance.

She's old.

As old as God Himself.

She's beautiful

and very wise.

But we hate and fear her...

when we should be making her

our trusted ally.

This makes her bitter and vengeful.

And she burns us

in the flames of her spite.

She's sensitive.

Not very forgiving.

But if you learn to embrace her,

you will have made a valuable friend.

And whas God got to say

about all that?

Hmph. Better to stay

on His good side too.

Is a little late for that in my case.

Aah! He's an old bully.

Best to keep bullies

in their place, I say.

Even the big ones?

Especially the big ones.

Bubbie?

- Where's Shimmie?

- Shimmie? Is 3:
00 a.m.

- He's sleeping in the kids' room.

- Thank you.

- Mendel, are you all right?

- Yes.

Mendel?

Mendel, what are you doing?

I'm taking my son home.

Mendel, listen to me.

I understand how you feel.

- But Shimmie needs to stay...

- Shimmie's my son.

And from now on,

Shimmie's gonna sleep by me.

I'll appreciate your help

during the days while I'm teaching.

But from this moment on, every night

I'm gonna do my own learning at home...

instead of the beit midrash.

And when I'm home,

Shimmie's gonna sleep by me.

Mendel, this is not

just about what you want.

- Shimmie needs...

- Thas enough, Rachel!

I'll get together a couple guys

from the beit midrash.

We'll be happy to come over nights

and learn at your house.

We'll learn by you.

Jesus.

Ramon, I'm sorry

to wake you up like this.

I wasn't sleeping.

After you, uh, took off down the street,

you know, the other day...

the way you was talking, I thought

I was never gonna see you again.

I cleaned off my table, you know.

I ain't stopped working since.

I mean, the whole time

I was thinking about the way

you was walking, you know...

with your back held up all

straight like you was cracking,

but you wouldn't break.

They are so beautiful.

All my life...

I've been trying to make up

for my old man splitting, you know...

by looking out for my mom.

It ain't been easy, but...

I don't mind.

Then you walk in.

And I think, "Here's another desperate

woman that needs something from me."

But I was wrong.

I need you.

No.

You were right to be afraid of me.

I have destroyed every good thing

I have ever known!

But I won't destroy you.

Sometimes a thing

has to be destroyed.

Walls got to be broke down

so you can see what they've

been hiding inside all along.

You can't even see yourself, can you?

Look!

This is nice.

I agree.

Is nice.

But is a chachka.

A nice little chachka.

This, look.

Is a chain, Sonia.

Thas all it is, a chain.

Now look at yourself.

Look at you.

Sonia?

Yossi.

I swam.

Me too.

- Yes?

- Is the Rebbitzn home?

What can I do for you?

I'd like to see

the Rebbitzn, please.

The Rebbitzn is still in mourning.

She doesn't grant audience to strangers.

My name is Sonia.

Please tell her...

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