Fanny and Alexander Page #3

What a life!

Insomnia, poverty and humiliation.

You reach out to find only a void.

Why am I such a bloody coward?

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good morning, Papa.

- Good morning, Petra.

No kiss?

- Good morning, Gustav Adolf.

- Good morning, Alma.

Petra? Go fry up

some ham and eggs for your father.

And make

two cheese sandwiches.

- What would you like to drink?

- Beer.

The beer crate's... Wait, I think

there's some stout in the icebox.

You'd rather have stout, wouldn't you?

Don't just stand there, we're meant

to be there an hour from now.

- Are you all right?

- Brandy.

- I've put out your clothes.

- Thank you.

And there's hot water

if you want a bath.

- Hurry up.

- Yes, sir.

I must say

you're a damned handsome woman.

And you're a swine.

- Listen... come to bed.

- I've just done my hair.

Then we'll have

a quick one standing up.

- Petra will be here with breakfast...

- Lock the door.

Come on then, but make it quick.

No, I don't think I can.

There must be something wrong.

- You're not ill, are you, Gusten?

- No, I'm fit as a fiddle.

Lie down on the bed.

- Shall I bring in the breakfast tray?

- Yes, please.

Why haven't I killed you?

Now what do you say?

Well, my friends... it's time.

Sleeping within my orchard,

my custom always of the afternoon.

Upon my secure hour,

thy uncle stole

with juice of cursed hebenon

in a vial.

And in the porches of my ears

did pour

the leperous distilment

whose effect holds such an enmity

with blood of man

That, swift as quicksilver,

it courses through

the natural gates

and alleys of the body;

and with a sudden vigour

it doth posset

and curd

like eager droppings into milk,

the thin and wholesome blood,

so did it mine.

And a most instant

tetter bark'd about,

most lazar-like,

with vive and loathsome crust

all my smooth body.

O, horrible! O, horrible!

Most horrible!

If thou hast nature in thee,

bear it not.

Let not the Royal bed of Denmark be

a couch for luxury and damned incest.

I've forgotten what's next...

You get up and exit upstage centre.

- Where am I?

- Here, at the theatre.

Let's go home and rest.

- What happened?

- You're a little tired, that's all.

Shall I call for the ambulance?

What am I doing here?

You were acting.

Acting?

Why was I acting?

Come along, Oscar, let's go home.

Am I going to die?

Please help me out.

I'll get a cab.

He'll need his overcoat.

Alexander... Come along.

Come along.

Stop! Stop!

I'm telling you to stop! Hey!

Stop!

Take that cart.

No...

No.

We know nothing yet.

Yes, let us hope so.

Thank you for calling.

- How is our dear Oscar?

- We can only hope.

- How is he?

- It's a matter of hours.

- Is he in pain?

- He sleeps most of the time.

There's cocoa and sandwiches

for you in the kitchen.

Just imagine, this letter will go all

the way to a mission station in China.

Mr Albrektsson's poodle

just had four puppies.

A friend of mine has

lived there for 50 years now.

Mr Albrektsson wondered

if you would like one.

- Mama won't let us have a pet.

- We could keep the puppy here.

- That's good.

- Otherwise it will have to be sold.

When I was in China with my friend,

doing field work,

we had a dog and three cats.

- Want to play again?

- You're red this time.

He makes lots of money

out of his pedigree dogs.

- But he wants to give this pup away.

- He's a wealthy man.

His wife is wealthy, my dear Ester.

The money is hers.

Would you like

to have a treacle sandwich?

Yes, please.

There, the letter's finished.

Fanny, you may lick the envelope.

- Would you like to borrow my flute?

- No, thank you.

- Would you like to lick the stamp?

- No, thank you.

Go ahead, dear.

Thank you, my dear.

Leave me alone...

Come in.

Mama asked me to fetch you.

Here, we'll put that sandwich down.

Come along, Alexander.

Don't be afraid.

Come here, Alexander.

Come along.

I'll be in the next room.

Come here, Fanny.

Tell Alexander

there's nothing to be afraid of.

I will.

I could play the Ghost now...

Really well.

Nothing...

Nothing separates me from you all.

Not now, and not later.

I know that.

I see that...

...quite clearly.

I think I'll be closer to you now...

...than when I was alive.

Now I'd like to look at Alexander.

Alexander...

Papa says

there's nothing to be afraid of.

- Don't be such a baby, Alexander...

- Do try to be strong.

Fanny, wake up...

Prick, piss, sh*t, fart,

piss, hell...

...prick, fart, sh*t, piss, fart,

cock, c*nt, Satan, arse, pisspot...

Siri, tell the children

they may leave the table.

Can you hear anything?

Wake up, there's something out there.

How do you do?

Please give our regards

to your mother.

Hello...

Alexander,

someone is here to talk to you.

You can have your cocoa later.

- What have I done?

- I expect you know what.

How do you do, Alexander.

We have met before, when I

officiated at your father's funeral.

Your mother turns to me on occasion

with her worries. That's only natural,

since I am a close friend of your

grandmother's, and a spiritual guide.

The Bishop has been very good to me

during this difficult time.

We have also

spoken of you, my little man.

I have mentioned

how proud I am of my children.

You and your sister are doing well

at school. Is that not so?

Don't be afraid,

I'm your friend and wish you well.

You do understand that, don't you?

But diligence and good marks

are not everything in this world.

Blow your nose.

What a dirty handkerchief. Didn't

Maj give you a clean one today?

Yes... Damned sh*t.

As I said, diligence

and good marks aren't everything.

- Listen to the Bishop.

- Oh, he is listening... Aren't you?

You're anxious to know

what l'm going to say.

You're a big boy now,

so I'll talk to you man to man.

Could you tell me...

Could you explain to me...

...the difference

between the truth and a lie?

Yes, it's a rather silly question.

I was only joking with you.

Of course you know the difference

between the truth and a lie.

Splendid... Splendid, my boy.

Then you also know

why a person tells lies, don't you?

Why does a person tell lies?

Why does a person tell lies?

Could you tell me why, Alexander?

Because that person

doesn't want to tell the truth.

That was a very sly answer,

my friend...

But I won't let you

off the hook that easily.

So I will ask you this: Why would

a person not want to tell the truth?

- I don't know.

- We have plenty of time.

I am prepared to sit here

and wait indefinitely for your answer.

You may not believe me,

but it happens to be true.

- You lie to gain an advantage.

- Well answered, my boy.

Well and concisely.

I have another question, and forgive

me if I seem a trifle personal...

- Why have you lied at school?

- What?

Your teacher has written to me

that you have been

telling the most incredible lies.

"Sold to a circus"...

Do you deny telling your classmates

that I sold you to a travelling circus?

That the circus people will come

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