Ditte Menneskebarn

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Every second, a human soul

enters this world.

A new light is lit.

A star that may burn

unusually bright.

One that has its own spectre,

never to be beheld.

A new being -

- that may sprinkle genius,

perhaps beauty, about it, -

kisses Earth.

The never seen

becomes flesh and blood.

So the humans rejoice

for every newly lit soul.

They stand about him

with questioning eyes.

Do they wonder

what this newcomer will bring?

No, man is no star -

- that you win renown

by discovering.

It's often a parasite

that steals into the world -

- through nine months

of Purgatory.

And it doesn't even have

its papers in order.

Here's the kid's birth certificate

for the teacher.

"Born out of wedlock. "

Does it have to say that?

Yes, it's the law.

When the kid is illegitimate.

- And it'll be there forever?

- Yes.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Congratulations.

- Congratulations.

- Thanks.

Illegitimate.

You can't tell by looking at her.

I don't care what she is,

she has to eat.

- Where do I find the money?

- I have to take up fishing again.

Your back can't take that, Sren.

Nobody thinks about me.

What's to happen with me?

- The son from the Sandfarm?

- Yes.

He's the father?

Then he'll have to wed you.

- I'll go and talk to the farmer.

- Sren, you wouldn't dare.

Yes. I will go to

the Sandfarm tomorrow.

- Now the girl's got a kid.

- That's how it's supposed to be.

She says you're the father.

Can she prove it?

She can swear to it.

You'd better marry the girl.

- You laugh!

- Listen now.

The two of us should have

a sensible chat about these matters.

I don't think my son

will marry her.

I'll bloody well make him.

The only thing that can make him

is the law. And it won't.

But one might help the girl

find a proper match.

Look at this. You can have these.

Once and for all.

- I didn't come to get money.

- Be reasonable, Sren Man.

- Yes, those are big notes.

- Here.

I'll send you a note

and get your signature.

We'd better do this by the book.

The kid will bear the girl's name

and can make no demands from us.

Let it never be said

that our people -

scale the neighbour's fence -

- without paying for

the damage they do.

- Goodbye, Sren.

- Goodbye.

Thank you. Goodbye.

I won't stay here

if I don't get a father for her.

The women look at me.

Talk about me.

Their eyes have been here

for months.

They're still there.

I can feel them.

They will probably accept you

on the Sandfarm.

Haven't I always said

you were a rich man's child?

Yes, not by birth

but by grace.

Children like that will always

bring their parents happiness.

Are you going sailing again?

Yes, if they'll let me tag along,

I'm going sailing again.

and if she for a tiny child

has wept such bitter tears

she'll sit upon a big pile

of pelts from minks and bears

now granny spins a yarn

for bed-ticks

and for cushions blue

so Ditte can sleep properly

alongside her prince so true

- Ditte doesn't like the trees.

- And why not?

- The trees are making wind.

- It's the Lord who makes the winds.

Then grandfather

won't have to row so hard.

What does the Lord look like?

The Lord, you say?

Well, he's got his hands full.

Yet it may seem to us -

- that he occasionally takes on

more than he can manage.

That's what he looks like.

What happened, Sren?

This will be the end of me.

Sren, come here.

Go to bed, Ditte child.

Granny will come.

I can undress by myself.

Yes, go to bed.

Granddad told you to.

No, you can't do it yourself.

Mother will do it.

This will be the end of me.

We've gone through

sickness and health, Maren.

And now it's all over.

Will you be faithful to me

for the days that you have left?

Yes.

There has never been

anyone else in my mind, -

- and there never will be

anyone else.

I will swear by our Lord

Jesus Christ.

Have faith in that, Sren.

Granny, aren't you coming?

Yes, I'll be right there,

Ditte love.

There's old Maren and Ditte,

they're begging.

Why isn't anyone coming?

There is no better way

of keeping people down -

than keeping them waiting.

Just waiting.

Is that you? Its freezing!

Hold on a minute.

God grant work and food

to each and every one of you.

For these are hard times,

and nothing comes for free.

They didn't have anything

they could spare.

There's wise Maren,

riding the storm.

Its great weather

for a witch to be out in.

You just have to turn your bum to

the storm and let it have its way.

Its a good thing

that you remembered the rock.

Granny's feet feel like ice.

It was a shame that we didn't get

any sugar, right, Ditte?

People are loath to give away

the things they like best.

Ditte? See if there isn't

a bit of sugar in that bag.

- There's nothing, granny.

- Let me have a look.

There's nothing.

Then it won't be real coffee.

Right or left?

You little rascal.

My dear girl, what have you saved

for your granny this time?

Left, of course.

Its closer to the heart?

Exactly.

One, two, three.

The last one for granny's

second cup of coffee.

You see, I was psychic.

Here, granny.

Thanks. The cold doesn't do

granny's eyes much good.

Thank you.

- Did you get anything?

- Yes, I got some.

Granny, why don't I have a father

like all the other children?

If you'd had a real father, -

someone worthwhile, -

- Srine would sit as a married woman

on the Sandfarm.

And we...

Starve and freeze,

that we wouldn't.

Let me help you, granny.

I'll show you.

- We're still doing alright.

- Yes, we are.

Sun, show yourself,

cloud, go away, -

and sun...

Granny, granny!

Granny, look what I found!

Let no one see that money.

They're the ones granddad got.

Save them until you get older.

Tell nobody about them.

Then they will take them from us.

Its a fishmonger.

He's coming this way.

Am I not bringing you

some lovely weather?

Granny's eyes are failing her.

But I am your son-in-law.

Which girl are you married to?

The one who's the mother of that kid.

What's your name?

I am Ditte Love, Ditte Rascal

and Ditte Child of Man.

So Srine has married?

It isn't quite official yet.

We haven't bothered

the priest yet.

- And what's your name?

- Lars Peter Hansen.

They call me the scavenger.

I hawk herrings, as you see, -

- and buy rags and bones

when people have any.

- That won't get you much.

- No.

People wear out their rags

and walk their bones to stumps.

But one has to sell something.

Yes, one has to eat.

Thank you.

Don't you need a bit of something?

Come here.

Tell the baker

that we have a visitor, -

- and that you need the bread

that we were having next week.

Can you keep her in check?

I have no one else

to support me, -

- but she's just a kid,

and I'm old and bothersome.

That's what Ive

come to talk to you about.

You haven't come

to take away the girl?

No. Its just that since

Srine and I are getting married, -

- Ive come to bring you

to the church.

That is, if you don't want to

move in with us.

- Srine told you to say that?

- No. Well, yes...

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