A Year Of the Quiet Sun

Leave it. It's clean.

It's not all right, Mama. Just look.

It's going to fester.

It already has.

- Look, it's rotting.

- We have to at least change it.

It's already gone rotten.

Gangrene could set in.

Let it.

I'm past caring.

I've had enough of this life.

It's not ours to decide.

You always said so yourself.

What if I did?

Who's is it to decide?

Let's leave that to God.

Why leave it to God?

If Christ died on the cross,

it was his choice. He didn't have to.

So why can't we die

when we want to?

Mama, everything will work out.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

A Hun! She's entertaining Huns.

Maybe it's just business.

Business my foot!

You can see everything.

Shave her head, I say.

They don't do that anymore.

Besides, Germans are human too.

Where else can he go... for company?

You're only saying that to annoy me.

No.

You justify everything.

You can't believe in justice.

- I'd rather justify than judge.

- I'm not judging.

I just want her head shaved.

Got a light?

I've run out of matches.

This is the place.

There.

Please.

Too bad.

Thank you.

Emilia, ask him to stay.

Please.

What is he?

English or American?

I can't tell.

He must be from that commission.

All that fuss over a few airmen.

When our dead ran into millions--

Mama.

Her husband.

He's dead.

Now he'll fish out some photos...

and start showing them.

I expect that's the drill next door.

House.

You're a dear, soldier boy.

If I weren't so old--

You miss it?

America?

You have no one to miss.

Matchmaking?

I have to, before I die.

You have plenty of time.

Mama, you try it first.

It's very good.

Nothing special.

What is ''pork''?

Get the dictionary.

Sweet pork.

''You have a very shapely leg.''

Alone?

Not anymore.

We thank you.

My mother and I.

I'll be right back.

Please.

Maybe somebody from the shop.

Across the hall.

There's nothing here.

Where do you think you are?

Get out!

Or I'll scream for help.

Go ahead, grandma!

Of all the nerve!

They'll see there's nothing

and be on their way.

As bad as the Gestapo!

Scum!

Mind who you're comparing us to!

Where's the money?

We don't have any.

Have a little chat with Mommy.

It's over there!

One more.

Hold on, Junior.

This one's an old bag.

I wouldn't report this.

Why did you tell them?

I could've taken it.

They'd have killed you.

That might have been for the best.

I have cakes to bake.

I promised them for tomorrow.

Take it and thank him.

Thank you.

It's a godsend.

Just the thing for icing.

I have to deliver this.

Get in.

- We take a ride and then we talk.

- Why?

Please.

Is this all?

When will there be more?

He wants to say something.

He's tongue-tied.

He says that you're young

and have someone you care about.

I don't see the joke.

No. It'll never work.

How?

We don't have a chance.

Please don't come around again.

Get out!

Get lost!

Stella!

Here are your rotten things!

I'm warning you!

Pick that up!

Pay me!

Pick it up.

Pay up for all the times.

That's not enough.

Pay for--

- For?

- For all the times.

For all the times you--

Please pay.

Excuse us.

Get lost, you pig!

The course of true love--

I don't feel sorry for her at all.

Did he hurt you?

Leave me alone.

Is it something serious?

He's being repatriated.

Seems he has a wife too.

- In Germany?

- What does it matter?

Even if she's dead,

he can't take me.

His passport says ''married''.

Well, maybe it's just as well.

You think you'd be so well off there?

That's not the point.

I was counting on starting over.

Changing my name

so no one would know who I was.

Getting rid of this

so there'd only be a scar.

But I'll get even.

With your help I'll fix him.

He knows where

those airmen's graves are.

He mentioned it once,

but he thought I didn't understand.

All I would have to do is report it.

So why don't you?

They'd ask me about my work,

and how I knew him.

I have to tell them,

otherwise they'll never find out.

All you need do

is tell them that he knows.

They'll take

his repatriation papers...

and he'll cough up the whole story.

I'll go with you.

We'll go together.

I'm all right.

What's the matter?

Nothing, Mama.

I just feel a bit--

Lie down.

- Right this minute.

- I'm fine.

Help me, Father.

I'm out of my depth.

I've lost my bearings.

Everything's gotten so mixed up.

Father...

does a person

have a right to happiness?

Does everyone have that right?

Or is it only some

and not others?

Everyone has that right,

provided they wrong no one...

and are at peace

with their conscience.

Perhaps I'm making

too big a problem of this.

But I don't know what to do now,

what's right.

Everything I had in life is behind me.

I had to let the past go.

I accepted it.

Father, I was married briefly,

for a few months.

I loved him, and I still love him.

I know he's dead,

but I cling to the hope that--

That hope is what gave me--

gives me the strength to keep going.

Now I don't know

if I have a right...

to want to be with a man

who's a complete stranger.

A man with whom

I can't even communicate.

Bring him here.

One of the sisters here speaks English.

Thank you.

Explain that in any case

there are formalities.

I'd have to file a petition...

for my husband to be

legally presumed dead...

and that could take a long time.

Months, maybe years.

I've already said that.

You want me to repeat it?

No.

He said he can give you money...

to arrange an escape

for you and your mother.

Explain to him that right now...

I'd find it very hard

to pack up and go.

The war uprooted us.

I was homesick for Poland.

I can't leave now.

I know times will be hard--

even harder, probably.

But happiness isn't a question...

of where you live

but of how you live.

Sorry. Don't translate that.

Couldn't he stay on in Poland?

What would he do here?

I'm awake.

Mama, would you go?

You must go. I insist.

You know, I could join you later.

I'm old.

I'm sure they'd let me out.

But you have to go.

You're young.

But, of course...

if you want me to, I'll go.

Think we can wake her?

We should see to things right away.

She knows someone

who arranges these things.

Oh, dear. With these legs--

I'm sure you understand.

I mean, it's an eight-mile march

over rough country.

And a cold too?

A sniffle.

Unless somebody carries you--

No, it's no good.

There'd be no turning back.

One person conks out,

the whole party's had it.

Not to mention myself.

Couldn't your daughter

send for you later?

How much would it be

for one person?

Half. One hundred dollars.

That's what you asked

for two people.

The risk's gone up,

so the price has too.

I mean, I'm literally risking my neck.

How much of a deposit do you need?

The whole sum up front.

Then come back

when my daughter's here.

Day after tomorrow.

In the morning.

Fine.

Have a nice day.

Good-bye.

My God!

You'll catch your death.

I'll close the window.

No, leave it open.

- One order, please.

- Dumplings?

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