Emotional Arithmetic Page #2

I admire that. Move on, that's the trick.

So they say. So what about you?

Melanie tells me that you're

a teacher at the university?

I was. A history professor.

They made me retire last year.

I'm suing them for discrimination.

Take it all the way

to the Supreme Court if I have to.

- Why?

- Why not?

So how do you find her?

She seems

unchanged to me.

Really? She did have a difficult time.

She must've told you on the way down.

She didn't say anything about that.

I'd better let her tell you,

get it from the horse's mouth.

Anyway, it's good to have you here.

I suppose you're like a long-lost brother.

Her only family really, you and Jakob.

Does she ever talk about Drancy?

No. Not to me. Not that I haven't asked.

But, no, she won't talk about it. Not really.

Maybe she can't.

And I understand that.

- Well, if you need anything, just shout.

- Yes. Thank you.

- I'm Irish.

- Ah. And I'm American.

- What's your name?

- Melanie. And you?

- Christopher.

- Where's your star?

I'm not a Jew. I'm here by mistake.

Quick, come!

Here. This is your room.

Is that from the garden?

Yes, yes, I picked this

all from around the house

- and then over here, look, you've got...

- Wonderful.

Thank you. Some pajamas

and your toothbrush and

your slippers and shaving...

Well, I have my things, you know.

I know, but you can't have much

in that tiny little suitcase,

and I thought maybe when you're rested,

not now but when you're rested,

we could go to town

and I'll get you some proper clothes,

and maybe some shorts.

- Shorts?

- Shorts.

And here, look, this is where you can work.

Look, you can sit right here

and write and see the view.

- Oh, Melanie, I do not write anymore.

- Since when?

It was an experiment, you know.

They gave me drugs,

and all of a sudden I started writing.

It was like a river flowing out of me.

A river of words and I couldn't stop it.

But then...

Ah...

They gave me electroshocks.

And, after it, I found it hard to concentrate.

The words just dried up,

and since then I haven't written anything.

So I am a...

What is the word? I'm a fraud. You know.

Well, maybe the words will

come back to you here.

This is for you. Open it.

Look there, in front.

" For Melanie, a light in the darkness."

Thank you.

Now I think I will rest.

Thank you.

- Here.

- No, no, no. I can find my feet.

You must not spoil me.

I'm not that old, just tired.

I'm just so happy that you're here.

Yeah.

And this is your home now, you know.

You can stay here as long as you want.

Thank you.

But now you have to talk to Christopher.

Because I've never seen a man so nervous.

On the plane he kept on talking and talking

and talking until my ears were hurting.

So shoo.

Rest well.

Here,

you keep this notebook from now, okay?

We need names, height, weight,

where they are from,

all ages, yeah?

Because we are witnesses.

Someday people will want to know

what happened here.

And we must be able to tell them.

You understand?

Come, take it.

Good.

Now to work, huh?

Christopher, you take care of her, yeah?

- Yes, Jakob.

- Okay.

"November 22nd, 1942.

" Four buses arrived at 11:15 this morning.

- "Two hundred and thirty-four adults."

- Okay, come.

"Fifty-two children."

Hey. Have you called that

beautiful mother of yours today yet?

- Yes.

- Oh? What did she have to say?

Everything's fine. She says hi.

And when is she coming?

Soon.

Soon, soon, soon. You have been saying

"soon" for so many moons now.

You know, I was talking to Jakob, and

he's a little tired right now from the trip.

But I'm going to take him into town

and get him some new clothes.

So I was thinking, maybe when you get

a moment, not now but later, you could

bring up that great big dresser that's down

in the basement,

you know, and he could use that.

- Did you take your pill this morning?

- Look at that. That is amazing! That's art.

- Mom?

- That's incredible.

- Mom?

- What?

You should take your pill.

"You should take your pill."

You are so bossy. Yes, you are.

How's your father doing with all this,

by the way?

Why don't you ask him?

- He's apprehensive. What do you expect?

- About what?

About Jakob, his health,

how long he's going to stay.

And about you,

and whether you're up to it

in your condition.

- Hey, do you think I'm crazy?

- Sometimes.

That was so honest.

That is so honest I'm going to have

to bite your head off.

- No!

- Or take a big snap at your fingers.

- No!

- Yes, I will!

Come here.

I'm gonna get you this time.

Look, I'm catching up.

I gotta go into town

and get some stuff for tonight.

I could do that. Let me do it.

Really, it's okay.

And I'll ask Christopher if he wants to go,

and then I could show him around town.

Don't you think that's a good idea?

Hmm?

Stop worrying. I'll be fine.

Yeah?

Hey. I'm gonna go into town and pick up

a few things. Is there anything you want?

No, no.

Oh, all these great minds,

- still fighting, still arguing.

- About what?

Now in this case, Jacob struggles

with the angel. Genesis, chapter 32.

Biblical scholars all have

different interpretations.

I mean, most see this one

as some sort of a prophetic dream,

not a real event at all.

You see, in his prophetic dream, Jacob sees

himself grappling with the angel,

but it is such a clear and tangible vision

that when Jacob wakes up,

he can actually feel

the blow inflicted on his body by the angel.

You all right with all of this?

Yeah.

So you're going to stop being grumpy then?

- No. Yeah.

- And being cynical,

and maybe be a little more sociable?

You're not suggesting that I tap dance

every time

someone says something wonderful

about life?

- Careful.

- Oops, sorry.

Actually, I would love to see you tap dance.

Hello?

Um...

Come in.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- Everything okay?

- Yes, yes, it's wonderful here.

Cows giving you any trouble?

Look, I'm going to go into the village

and pick up a few things for dinner.

I thought maybe you'd wanna take a ride?

- That would be wonderful, thank you.

- Okay.

I can't believe that...

That you've become a farmer.

I'm not a farmer,

it's David's kind of hobby, you know, and...

I should probably

help him out a lot more than I do

since he had a heart attack in the spring,

and he's not supposed to do too much,

but you know, he doesn't listen to anybody.

And I'm always afraid I'm gonna find him,

I don't know, dead,

alone out in front of

a cow somewhere or something.

He's going to be 70 next month.

But it sounds like

you've got a really good life here.

Oh, we do, we do, it's, you know, we're two

old warriors on the battlefield of marriage.

We wouldn't know what to do

without each other.

So you're happy? Together?

Can we go see the frogs now?

- Frogs?

- He told me he would.

- You told him you would?

- Yes, I did.

Why don't you ask your grandfather,

'cause we're going to go

into town and get some stuff for dinner.

- I can't believe you have a grandson.

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