Daens Page #6

Finally, allow me to tell you this:

I was walking along the Dender,

when a woman came up to me.

She asked me for alms.

Her husband was out of work.

She had four children,

a 14 year old girl being the eldest,

who had finally found work

in a cotton factory,

where she had to work, underfed, from 6 a.m.

till 7:
30 p.m.,

in an unhealthy atmosphere.

Barefoot in tepid water.

Well...do you know how much this young girl,

who in these winter temperatures

must be literally frozen, takes home?

Fifty centimes per day! Per day.

Well, I ask you gentlemen,

knowing that at the age of 20,

this girl will be worn out

because of this slave labour,

when in turn she'll be a mother herself,

won't she curse her fate?

Won't she curse the society and the civilization

we are so proud of?

Unity, my friends. Unity.

The Holy Father, who I represent here,

believes that the greatest danger

menacing the catholic world now is disunion.

Unfortunately, I have to admit

that Father Daens is succeeding is

creating dissensions even amongst you!

And who is the guiltiest of

these dissensions, Mr Nuncio?

Father Daens, who suggested an alliance,

or Mr Woeste,

who has rejected it?

The Church is cautious.

It owes a lot to Mr Woeste.

Within the actual disorder

and the growing threat of socialism,

men like Mr Woeste have to be spared.

This attitude is hard

to conciliate with the evolutionary

thoughts of Rerum Novarum.

Rerum Novarum is a general guideline

aiming to promote the evolution

of spirits on a long term basis.

By using it as a weapon against the catholic party,

Father Daens is using it without consideration.

That is what I tried to

make him understand, Monseigneur.

Now, I fear it may be too late.

Father Daens is a political man now

and every initiative against him

taken by the Belgian episcopate

could be misinterpreted.

Let us not underestimate his popularity.

You're right. I agree with you.

But in that case, who could decide?

The Holy Father himself?

You're sure?

If the Holy Father penalizes Daens,

we will lose all the catholic workers.

But if he receives Daens

without penalizing him,

what a publicity for Daens!

Well, gentlemen, let the Holy

Father decide all this for himself.

No?

Your turn, Monseigneur.

It's done. The Belgian episcopate

passed on the decision to the Holy Father.

Good. It's been a long time since

I requested his Holiness' blessing.

Father!. For you,

they just brought it in.

Well?

I have to go to Rome immediately.

- What?

The pope wishes to see you?

Adolf! This is our chance.

Hey, hadn't you better take the train

to Rome, or don't you know

Daens has taken off with Nette?

Having coffee with the pope.

Are you wearing this

posh suit for Sunday mass?

I brought you something.

You'll see that our bread is

at least as good as in Aalst.

I suppose you need something?

You don't have to blush.

I thought...I thought

we might get married.

That is, if you want to?

They certainly move fast in Ghent?

Or is there something else?

- No,

or yes, that too.

We could live in Ghent and you

wouldn't have to work in the factory, see?

I would be marrying a socialist?

I would agree with the church,

if Daens performs the mass

and the "Forwards" band plays for us.

My father plays for St. Cecilia.

Could be nice with the two bands.

Come on, let's go.

One beer.

That's mine.

- You can't afford it.

Oh, yes, I can.

You have no job.

- I have a job.

No more.

All swines that voted for Daens are fired.

Fool, I can't vote. I'm too young.

- Doesn't matter.

I'll tell Daens.

You won't see Daens anymore.

He's stuck in Rome.

In a prison for crazy priests.

Make yourself comfortable.

- Thanks.

Reverend Daens....

His Holiness can't see you today.

Come back tomorrow, same time.

I'm sorry, but I understood

that my convocation was urgent.

Is there no mistake?

- I am sorry.

Even with Daens in

parliament it still stinks in here.

That's your fault, not Daens'.

Daens is sitting on a holy pot now.

I wonder what that'll change here.

- We'll all get rich, won't we?

We'll come and sh*t in top hats.

Gust, give me a piece of "Workman".

We're not out of it yet.

Feels good.

Here, one for Schmitt!

Cuppens, Segers, Vlanders,

Poekens, you're fired.

I just got here!

- All Daensists out!

Reverend Daens.

Again, I'm sorry.

But....there's nobody here.

What does that mean?

You may be more lucky tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

Jefke...

Where are Jef, Maria and the rest?

I threw them out.

Why?

They're dirty reds, like you.

Then why did you keep me?

Come on, Nette.

Be kind to Schmitt.

If you touch me, I'll tell Daens

You'll answer to parliament.

To whom? To Daens?

Just come here.

You can tell your Daens that,

now you know how he has to do it.

Jan...

Who will feed them all?

- Goddamn!

Don't interfere, brat.

Where have you been?

You'd better help your mother.

What's wrong with you?

I know what's wrong...

That red one got her mouse, eh?

He's crazy. She'll kill him.

Go away, Louis. Go on, go!

All right. All right, I'm gone.

Damn it! For ever.

And forget about my wages.

She can walk the

streets like all Daens' women.

Go to bed, you.

What happened?

Was it Schmitt?

Father Daens, please?

Monseigneur, His Holiness sends you this.

I don't understand.

- Yet, you understand Latin?

Excuse me... You must do

everything to promote piety,

slant your speeches towards

justice, love and cautiousness.

Your dignity and honour

as a priest must prevail.

Don't mix with those

who want to overthrow society

and avoid to cause any

dissension within the catholic party.

That's clear enough, isn't it?

I understood, but this is wrong!

What do you mean, wrong? The Church

is telling you keep away from the socialists.

Or else, it will abandon you.

I must see his Holiness.

I must speak to him about our workers.

I'm sure he doesn't know

their real situation in my country.

I must explain it to him!

Adolf...

Send them home. I won't see anyone.

You're crazy? They come for you.

Pieter! The pope didn't see me.

Father, what did the pope say?

Dear friends, I am

grateful for your affection.

In Rome, I have

accomplished important things.

We will fight on together,

and achieve the ideas expressed

in the encyclical of the pope.

But unity should go along with justice.

One can't occur without the other.

You can always rely

on me, in life and death.

I've been told the workers

should go to school. What for?

What do they really got out of it?

To be able to read papers,

like that one, for instance?

Papers that confirm that a certain

priest had an audience by the pope.

Whilst in the first place,

this priest was summoned to Rome,

for disciplinary reasons, and secondly,

according to trustworthy sources at the Vatican,

has never had the honour of being

personally admonished by the pope.

And these very same liars want

to teach us a lesson in morals,

whilst acting as if they were

upholding virtue and religion?

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