Fanny and Alexander Page #4

and get you at the end of term.

That you are to be trained

as an acrobat and a circus rider

along with a gypsy girl

the same age as you, named Tamara.

Now you must

ask your mother's forgiveness

for all the pain and sorrow

you have caused her.

Go to your mother

and ask her to forgive you.

Do you hear me?

Please forgive me, Mama.

I promise never to do it again.

Good, now we need never

discuss this matter again.

Imagination is something splendid,

a mighty force, a gift from God.

It is held in trust for us by the great

artists, writers and musicians.

Emelie dear, don't you think

you'd better tell the children?

I'll go fetch Fanny.

Come, Alexander.

I have something important to say.

Edvard has asked me to marry him.

I have accepted his offer

with gratitude and joy.

I have lived alone

for quite some time now.

And in addition to that, my children

need a firm hand, a father, as well.

Of course a great deal will be...

May God in His mercy

take care of our little family.

Let us kneel down

and unite in a heartfelt prayer.

May God, our Father, in His mercy,

take care of our little family.

And bless us and keep us from evil

all the days of our lives.

Please dear God, give me the strength

to be a guardian and a worthy

example to these fatherless ones.

Please give me the strength as well

to be a support

to this lone young woman.

In the 15th century, when this

was built, comfort was not a priority.

My predecessors have kept everything

as it was, and I follow the tradition.

These old rooms

possess a timeless beauty.

Let us be grateful for this atmosphere

of purity and austerity.

Ah, here comes my mother.

I see you have arrived...

Welcome, Mrs Ekdahl.

And this is my sister, Henrietta.

Welcome to the Bishop's Manor.

Come and say

how do you do, children.

This is our capable cook, Mrs Tander.

She has been with us for 30 years.

This is my future wife,

Mrs Emelie Ekdahl.

- How do you do, madam. Welcome.

- How do you do, Mrs Tander.

These are our capable helpers,

Karna, Selma and little Justina.

Let's go meet my bedridden aunt.

Good afternoon, Aunt Elsa.

We have a special visitor today...

- Don't be afraid, children.

- My future wife.

Mrs Emelie Ekdahl,

the well-know actress.

How do you do, Miss Bergius.

The children are asleep.

lt's late, and we'd better go.

Not just yet, please.

I have a wish.

A single, but important one.

I will express it now, and you can

consider if you are willing to comply.

I would like you and your children

to come here without possessions.

What do you mean?

I want you to leave your home,

your clothes, your jewellery,

your furniture...

Your possessions, your friends,

your habits and thoughts.

I want you to leave

your former life behind.

Am I to come naked?

I am serious, my darling.

I want you to come to your new life

as though newly born.

And the children?

Their toys and books...?

Nothing.

- I must talk to them.

- The decision is yours.

On my own behalf, yes,

but I must ask them.

- Life demands certain sacrifices.

- You are cross with me.

Kiss me.

- I'm not cross.

- I'll win them over.

You must think carefully.

I have...

It's easy for me to grant your wish.

I have never really taken

much seriously in life before.

At times I've feared

there was something wrong with me.

Nothing ever really hurt.

I could never feel truly happy.

I know the crucial moment has come.

I know we will cause each other pain.

But I'm not afraid.

Because I know we will

make each other happy as well.

And I weep with fear

because life is short,

the days pass so quickly,

and nothing lasts forever.

Kiss me, and hold me as only you can.

"I, Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus..."

I, Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus...

"Take thee,

Elisabet Emelie Josefin Ekdahl..."

Take thee,

Elisabet Emelie Josefin Ekdahl...

- "...as my lawfully wedded wife."

- ...as my lawfully wedded wife.

"...to love and cherish

for better or for worse."

...to love and cherish

for better or for worse.

"And hereto I plight thee my troth."

And hereto I plight thee my troth.

"I, Elisabet Emelie Josefin Ekdahl..."

"Take thee,

Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus..."

Take thee,

Olof Henrik Edvard Vergerus...

"...as my lawfully wedded husband..."

"...to love and cherish

for better or for worse."

"And hereto I give thee my troth."

And hereto I give thee my troth.

In the name of God the Father,

Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

For in as much as you have

consented together in holy wedlock,

and have witnessed the same

before God and this company...

- Well then...

- I wonder if this is a good thing.

Emelie looked so happy.

- I'm thinking of the children.

- They'll get used to it.

He's one hell of a lady-killer,

the Bishop.

I'm sure that's simply gossip, Carl.

I just want to cry...

They ought to have had a honeymoon.

I offered them our house in Provence,

but Emelie said no.

I'm not surprised,

she deeply respects her new husband.

He's a handsome man...

- I bet he has false teeth.

- Really, Petra!

- His mother is charming.

- I've heard his sister is a b*tch.

I have a feeling Emelie will be back.

Quite soon.

- Aren't the children hungry?

- Everything's so very new to them.

Perhaps they disrespect

the good fare they are offered.

Henrietta, please. Let us be happy

on our first evening together.

I have no desire to spoil our evening.

But in the future...

And it is just as well

I mention it now.

No one is allowed

to leave the table without eating up.

I am the one to tell

my children what to do.

There is a basic rule in this household

that no one must break,

not even you, Emelie dear.

All must show respect

for what we are given.

I think you have misunderstood

a most essential aspect.

I suggest

we continue this discussion later.

Forgive me, I am forgetting myself.

I will most assuredly need your astute

advice in household matters.

Edvard has admonished me

a hundred times.

But it is not easy...

...to realize that one is superfluous.

That will do, Henrietta.

I suppose it's all right to mention

that we are early risers,

every day of the week. We gather

for prayers in Edvard's study at six.

I would also like to add that we

make our beds and tidy our rooms.

In this house, punctuality,

cleanliness and order are the rule.

Don't be alarmed, my daughter

is not as strict as she sounds.

- At first, we will tread lightly.

- I don't understand, Mother Blenda.

- If the intent is disciplinary...

- Not at all, my dear.

I'm sure the children will gradually

realize the joys of a job well done.

I mean it is all to be like a game.

I don't think my children care for

games like that... and neither do I.

Time will show, my dear Emelie.

They're coming! Go to bed, at once.

Now we'll say our prayers.

This has been a happy day,

now I come to you and pray.

- Bless Papa, Mama and Grandmama...

- And Uncle Edvard.

And Uncle Edvard, my siblings,

my cousins and aunts and uncles...

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