Blind

---

Now then! We will begin.

When the story is done maybe

we'll know more than we do now.

Go away!

Don't look at me.

Don't... Don't. I don't want to.

No, I don't want it.

- You don't have any choice.

Clean outside, clean inside.

That's what the priest says.

Ann.

He bit me!

Leave me alone.

You can't look at me.

Don't look. No.

Sshhh.

Sshhh. Ruben.

They can't look. They mustn't.

Now calm down.

Victor won't be long.

No. No. No.

I won't have it. I won't have it.

No Victor any more.

I'll stand up. I shall leave.

My name is Marie.

You have to know that this post

is not easy, madam. My son is....

Perseverance is needed.

You have a lovely voice.

Please follow me.

Ruben?

Ruben?

May I introduce you to someone?

Can I introduce you to someone? Ruben.

She isn't here to wash and dress you.

You have to do that.

Marie reads.

Can I open the curtain?

It would be...

- No.

Ruben, no one will stay.

I'll pay you in advance.

Where's the library?

I'd like to read the books at home.

If you promise me

you'll persevere for a month.

I didn't hear you.

Here, take this one.

You smell nice.

I came to read

and you won't ruin it.

Stop moving and I'll let go.

Stop moving.

B*tch.

If you ever raise a finger to me...

Go away.

You have to go.

Now then! We will begin...

When the story is done...

You don't treat books like that.

Did he behave?

- Yes. -

Tomorrow?

This one's called Marie, isn't she?

- Yes.

And what else?

She didn't say.

She won't stay either.

Don't look. Don't look. Don't look.

You won't get rid of me.

Now then! We will begin.

When the story is done maybe

we'll know more than we do now.

There was a mirror...

...in which everything good and beautiful

dwindled to nothing...

...while everything worthless and ugly

became more conspicuous and uglier.

Only now could one see

how people really looked.

The grinning mirror trembled

with all that violence...

...that it shattered into millions of bits

that rained on the earth.

I could try another book.

If someone got a splinter in their heart,

it turned to ice.

In the big city lived...

I'll get another book.

- Go on.

They weren't siblings,

but loved each.

You already know it.

- You're paid to read. Read.

In the big city lived two children.

They weren't siblings,

but loved each other as much.

His name was Kay and hers was Gerda.

Outside snow fell.

''They're white bees,''

the old grandmother said.

''Do they have a queen bee?'' Kay asked.

''Yes,'' said the grandmother,

the Snow Queen.

She looks inside on winter nights.

Then they freeze as beautifully

as if flowers...

Kay only saw ugliness.

A shard had pierced his eye.

''What ugly roses.''

''Ouch,'' said Kay. ''It's as if

I was stabbed in the heart.''

Kay had a shard in his chest too.

His heart slowly turned to ice.

''Why are you crying?'' called Kay.

''You look so ugly, Gerda.''

Ugly.

Ugly.

You're ugly.

You're so ugly.

Ugly, you are.

You are...

...ugly.

How could I bear such a child?

Everything about you is ugly.

Everything. Stupid look.

Stupid look!

Wear your hair in front of your face

- You don't radiate pride...

No eyebrows, your hair is dull...

- Why are your teeth so ugly?

Bad posture, ugly knees...

- Nothing glistens.

You need a long dress

so we can't see your legs.

You're ugly. Ugly!

Do they ever answer back?

They smell nice.

Smell the leather, the paper.

People stink.

What do you look like?

Is your hair dark or light?

Red.

Red hair.

Yes, and long.

Green or brown eyes?

Green.

And your mouth?

She was beautiful, but made of ice.

Of blinding, glistening ice.

The Snow Queen kissed Kay.

The kiss penetrated to his heart

that was already ice.

It was as if he were dying.

- Anything wrong?

The Ice Queen kissed Kay again

and then he forgot about Gerda.

Do we have to?

Yes, your mother is watching you.

Pretend you like it.

Two days ago we boarded

a ship with negro slave girls...

I don't need fresh air.

As dress, they wore amulets

and little leather breeches.

We bought a few...

Not women, but their breeches.

We negotiated about ostrich feathers

and a little Abyssinian girl...

...to stay aboard longer and

enjoy the spectacle.

What does she look like?

Marie?

- Yes. -

You know...

Does she have red hair?

You could see it that way...

Green eyes?

I believe so.

She's beautiful, isn't she?

Yes, lovely.

I knew it.

Ruben?

This rug has to go. It stinks.

My boy, let me do that.

I can do it.

- Careful...

I told you so.

You have cold hands.

No...

Otherwise I can't see you.

- That's a good thing.

Why?

I said:
no.

You're very beautiful.

Did your mother tell you that?

- No, I can see that by myself.

Frost flowers...

Where did you get them?

You smell nice.

You stink...

Marie.

Marie.

Don't leave, Marie.

Go inside.

Go on then.

Can you see anything?

- No, boy.

And now? Can you see anything?

Shall I ask Victor to come?

- No. Please don't.

All right...

Shall I read to you?

I touched her.

That's how you look.

What else did you do?

We'll think of something.

Come on, let's lie in my bed.

Don't you want to know where I was?

You don't like to be touched.

Wash yourself.

Wash.

Don't depend on anyone,

you'll be better off.

I can't see anything.

So what?

Here. Wash.

If you tell a story.

I won't wash you.

No, me wash, you story.

Left...

A little more...

You can look.

Mama?

What happened?

Has Victor left?

No.

Fine.

Ruben, can I look at your eyes

while I'm here?

What if we ask Marie

to come and live here?

She can help Mama too.

Fine. Fine.

I'll ask.

We're going outside.

- Now? Where were you?

Are you all right?

I'm blind with gloves on.

It's just like glass.

- I've seen ice.

Marie.

My name is really Neeltje Marie.

My hands are frozen.

I may ask you to come

and live with us, Marie.

You have to say yes.

You have to say ''yes''.

No!

Yes!

- No.

Yes!

D'you have a suitcase with you?

- Yes. -

I'll show you your room.

If you don't like this room, we have more.

Yes, this is fine.

Ruben?

Ruben?

RUBEN!

I can't sleep.

Come and sit with me.

Do you still love me?

Mama.

I want to see you.

You have even more.

Where did you get them?

You don't stink any more.

You don't look the way I thought.

Much more beautiful.

How old are you?

I'm so sorry.

- No, please don't get up.

Here you are.

This is eye liner.

You have performed your task well.

I am grateful to you.

Don't forget you are here to read.

Nothing more.

How are you?

It's more difficult to walk.

My legs have suddenly given up on me.

My fingers too.

I dropped that lovely bottle of yours.

Did you think about what I said?

I don't dare believe it.

Believe me, Catherine,

this life can be changed.

We live in a new era.

We need the courage to act on it.

God, that would be great.

I can write a letter.

He will be able to see.

Do you remember colour?

Yes.

My father practised

when we knew I was going blind.

What does red look like?

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