Ditte Menneskebarn Page #4

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- Come on in.

- Thanks.

I haven't had open-faced sandwiches

like this before.

You have a fine daughter,

Lars Peter Hansen.

- Would you like another one?

- Yes, please.

- Kristian, can you take Povl?

- Yes.

Here, Big Klavs.

Pers! Pers!

Yes, we almost forgot him.

Could you get him, Kristian?

Pers! Pers!

- Are you comfortable?

- Yes, Ditte.

One has started over a few times.

But this time...

The kind innkeeper promised to

help you with the house and the boat.

We'll see how kind he is.

- I have him now, dad.

- Come on, Big Klavs.

Let's move out, Pers.

- Its the innkeeper!

- The cannibal!

"And help me

to be dead while I'm alive. "

"Dead while I'm alive"?

"From sin and shame and vice

that will...

...that will for death suffice. "

One managed to pay fare on

one of the innkeeper's boats.

It cost us everything

that remained from the auction.

I can't become confirmed.

What do you mean?

I won't have time to learn it all.

The priest says -

- that he won't dare

place me before the Lord.

Won't dare?

You could be the Lord's housekeeper

if you so desired.

I want to be confirmed.

I won't start over again and have

people sneer at me every day.

Maybe the priest can be greased.

But the innkeeper has all our money.

The innkeeper can fix it.

There's nothing in this village

that he can't fix.

Who says you can't

become confirmed, Ditte?

- The priest.

- Oh, him?

I'll take care of him.

And when you're done, I have an

opening for you on the Hillfarm.

- That is, if you want it.

- If you can get me an interview...

We can't do without her.

You squander your sugar.

Those girls are too expensive -

when they're not earning money.

You poor people ought to economize.

Be content with what you get.

We owe no one thanks

for what little we have.

We would be doomed without Ditte.

You don't have to

do without a housewife.

I have a mind to

getting you married again.

My wife is good enough for me.

But she is in prison.

And you have no obligation

to live with a convict.

There will be

no divorces in this home!

Sure, Lars Peter.

That's up to your conscience.

But the word of God says nothing

about sharing your bed or table -

with a murderess.

I will never abandon Srine!

- And now you know.

- Well, easy does it.

Its agreed, then,

that Ditte starts at the Hillfarm -

once she has been confirmed.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Four re.

And I wanted a pocket knife.

- Would you care to write in it?

- Of course. Its a keepsake.

Ive never had my picture taken.

Have you?

Yes, plenty of times.

- Here.

- Thanks.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Congratulations, Ditte.

- Thank you.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Confirmand, give us a coin.

Each thing has its place.

That makes it much easier for you.

I have to fix this.

- We're going to miss you.

- Yes, you are.

Kristian, now you are the oldest.

Povl and Else only have you

to look up to now.

I'll bloody well take...

I'll take care of them.

Is it from Srine?

I can't quite read the last part.

- When is she getting out?

- In about a year from now.

- Do you long for her as well?

- Just read it, Kristian.

Do you think she's changed?

In regard to the little ones?

Privation is a good teacher.

You can always return to your home

if they chase you from the farm.

But don't you leave prematurely.

Accept the injustice done to you.

Ought one not

stand up for one's right?

Yes, I suppose one ought to.

But what is right?

The one who has the power

will also be right.

Here are the scissors.

Should I just tell them

that I'm the new girl?

First of all you should say "hello".

Otherwise they'll think

you're rude.

I wonder what the wife will say?

I suppose she'll say:

"Hello and welcome, Ditte. "

Hello.

Hello.

So you're the scavenger's daughter.

You look a bit stump-tailed.

You won't take up much room.

Its for the rats.

Flour mixed with plaster.

Bring some of them to the barn.

- Is it very poisonous?

- No.

But as soon as the rats eat

that dry fare, they have to drink.

When plaster gets wet it hardens.

Its like a rock in their stomach.

- That must me a terrible death.

- Why ever?

There are so many ways of dying.

They all lead down the same road.

By the way, when do you expect

your mum to get out?

That... will probably be a while.

- Do you think she got the money?

- I don't know.

Shouldn't I go place the parcels?

Where were you last night?

You're certainly in heat,

aren't you?

I was with the church brothers.

That's my son.

He'll be managing this farm one day.

However he'll cope with that.

- Mother...

- Hello.

Now get lost,

and call for the farm hand.

- He's taking a nap in the barn.

- I will.

You can't yell him awake.

You have to crawl up into the hay

with him and give him a shake.

Take care that he doesn't

tear off your angel wings.

It suits them well

to have their bud nipped in time.

One virgin helps another.

Those girls.

Ditte?

Ditte?

Ditte?

- Ditte?

- Yes, I'm right here.

- One of the cows was in the field.

- I'm sorry.

- I'll get it right away.

- I fixed it.

Thank you.

- Its a good thing mum didn't see.

- You're afraid of your mum, right?

Did you like your dad?

Yes.

I liked him.

He was always in bed.

He was consumptive. He spat blood.

But mum sat on his bed

and smoked, -

- so the blood and the coughing

almost choked him.

I don't like my mum either.

But you're commanded

to love your parents.

Not if you can't like them.

You don't like your mother.

How will you do it, then?

I don't know,

but that's what the book says.

Is your mum cruel to

your dad as well?

No one can harm my dad.

He takes everything like the Lord.

In good spirits.

Don't compare a man to the Lord.

I will when it comes to dad.

And my granny.

You're no priest either.

Just be happy mum didn't

see that cow in the field.

- Won't you tell your mother?

- No, why would I?

No, indeed.

But you'll inherit the farm.

Sure.

- Would you like to have these?

- Yes.

- They're pigeon's feathers.

- Thank you.

Ditte? Ditte?

Ditte? Ditte?

Kristian, dear,

you must have run all day.

- Did you shirk school?

- No.

How are they back home?

Does Povl ask for me?

- What's this?

- Its my nest.

You should make

a hidden entrance instead.

- How is Else handling it at home?

- Fine. They're dove's feathers.

- Can I have that lapwing's egg?

- Yes. Is Povl eating properly?

Sure. Let's go to the lake.

That's much more exciting.

Those hillocks are islands.

If you had some poles,

we could build a bridge between them.

- This is so much fun.

- Its more fun at home.

That's because you're a fool.

Does dad get his beer

when he returns from sea?

Sure.

- Did anyone have some little ones?

- Yes, Martha.

That can't be true.

You're lying.

- Then it's Marie.

- Marie isn't married.

She'll probably have a kid anyway.

There's a magpie.

Didn't anything happen

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