Fanny and Alexander Page #6

I don't want to hurt his feelings.

But the thing that worries me

the most is the children.

I'm sorry, where are my manners?

Please forgive me.

Mrs Tander wonders if you will be

having supper alone, Your Grace.

Tell her a glass of milk

and a simple sandwich will suffice.

Thank you, sir. I'll tell her.

- Was there something else?

- I'm not sure...

I don't know how to say this,

it's so unpleasant.

It might seem if I was telling tales.

Please sir,

I can't stand here at the door.

Come in and close the door.

Please sir, you said

I was to keep an eye on the children

and listen to their talk and report

anything particular I might hear...

Alexander made up a terrible story.

It was about...

It's so terrible

I don't know how to get it out...

He says, sir,

that you locked your first wife up.

That she and the girls were drowned

when they tried to escape.

- Well?

- That's all, sir.

You may go.

Who's there?

It's only me.

Get up at once!

Your stepfather wants to talk to you.

Get dressed,

your stepfather wants to talk to you.

Hurry.

Alexander, my boy. In the presence

of Justina and your sister,

you accused me of murdering

my wife and children.

Please repeat what you told me.

Alexander said he had seen the late

Mrs Vergerus and her children.

She spoke to him.

She said that her husband had locked

them into the master bedroom,

without food and water.

On the fifth day,

they tried to escape,

only to drown...

- Do you recognize the story?

- No.

- Has Justina given false testimony?

- Maybe it was a dream she had.

Are you prepared

to confirm your statement on oath?

Fanny, did you

hear Alexander tell this story?

So you maintain that Justina

is either lying or dreaming?

Yes.

Step up to the table, Alexander.

- Would you take an oath?

- Absolutely.

It is a mortal sin to swear falsely.

It's called perjury,

and is severely punished.

Really?

Lay your hand on the Bible

and repeat after me:

"I, Alexander Ekdahl"...

"do solemnly swear

on the Holy Bible"...

"that everything I have said,

am saying and will say"...

"is the whole truth

and nothing but the truth."

Alexander, my boy...

I expect you remember that we had

an important talk a year ago.

- It concerned certain moral questions.

- You couldn't really call it a talk.

- What do you mean?

- You did all the talking, sir.

I expect you were silent out of shame.

I've grown wiser since then.

- You mean you lie better.

- That's one way of putting it.

Alexander, my boy.

Whatever do you imagine?

Do you really think you can besmirch

another's honour with impunity?

I think you hate me, sir.

- That's what I think.

- Really...

Let me tell you something.

Something that may surprise you.

I don't hate you...

I love you.

But the love I feel for you,

your mother and your sister,

isn't blind or weak...

It's strong and astringent.

- Are you listening to me?

- No.

You're hardening your heart.

Moreover, you misjudge the situation.

I'm much stronger than you.

- I don't doubt that.

- I mean in a spiritual sense.

It's because I have

truth and justice on my side.

Alexander...

You see, I know you will

confess in a little while.

Your confession and your punishment

will be a relief to you.

You're clever...

You realize that the game is up,

but you are proud and stubborn...

and you are ashamed, as well.

I've forgotten

what is it I am meant to admit.

- Really?

- What am I supposed to admit?

- I have means at my disposal.

- I didn't know that, but now I do.

Parents were not so soft-hearted

when I was a child.

They had the cane. I have this.

It's an ordinary carpet beater,

but it can dance quite well.

If that didn't help,

we had another means, castor oil.

There is the bottle.

A few mouthfuls makes you docile.

And if that wasn't enough,

there was a dark and chilly closet,

where you would sit for hours,

until mice came sniffing at your face.

- Why must I be punished?

- That is obvious, my boy.

Your personality is flawed, you cannot

distinguish lies from the truth.

You are a child, and tell

child-sized, though dreadful, lies.

But soon you will be a grown man.

And life punishes liars ruthlessly.

Your punishment

will teach you to love the truth.

I admit I made that up, about you

locking your wife and children in, sir.

- Do you admit to committing perjury?

- I guess so.

Now you have won a great victory.

A victory over yourself.

So, what's it to be:

The cane, castor oil or the closet?

- How many strokes of the cane?

- Ten. No more, no less.

Then I choose the cane.

Get two cushions

and put them on the table.

Take your pants down.

Bend over.

Stand up.

- You have something to say to me.

- No.

- You must ask my forgiveness.

- I won't.

Then I must cane you until you do.

Could you not spare us both?

I will never apologize.

- You won't apologize...

- No.

Bend over, Alexander.

No more, please!

- Will you apologize?

- Yes.

Button your trousers and blow your

nose. - Lend him a handkerchief.

- Well then?

- I beg you to forgive me, sir.

Speak up. I want everyone

to hear how sorry you are.

- I beg you to forgive me, sir.

- For the lies and the perjury.

You do understand that I have

punished you out of love?

Kiss my hand.

- May I go to bed now?

- Yes, you may.

But to provide you with the opportunity

to reflect on the events of the day,

you will spend the night in the attic.

Justina will bring up some bedding.

And at six o'clock tomorrow,

Henrietta will unlock the door.

- Is that understood?

- Yes, Your Grace!

I'd better be going,

I have a carriage standing by.

I'm afraid something might

have happened while I was away.

I'm always worried

that Alexander will provoke his wrath.

He can't see that his stepfather is

dangerous, just waiting to crush him.

You must leave him.

- I'm pregnant, Helena.

- Nevertheless...

Forgive me for interrupting...

I have asked him for a divorce.

But he refuses.

I tell him I'll leave anyway.

Then he gets out the statue book

and explains what will happen.

In a court of law, I will lose,

on grounds of "desertion".

He would be

granted custody of my children.

I have written in secret

to a friend who is a lawyer.

He has confirmed what Edvard says.

I'm trapped, I can no longer breathe...

I am dying, Helena.

And I hate that man so violently

that I could...

Don't tell anyone l've been here.

Not a soul.

- Give me the key!

- Edvard says no!

Edvard has forbidden it!

You're hurting me.

Emelie, you mustn't do this!

Take your bloody paint box!

Look... Listen to me.

I'm telling you, there's none left.

- Alma! We're going to Mama's.

- What are you shouting about?

I never shout.

Arrack punch will do just as well!

- The old girl's not here...

- She's probably in the dining room.

- We wanted to see how you're doing.

- I'm doing fine.

- I hope you weren't too lonely.

- I adore having some time alone.

- Vega was bitten by a wasp.

- Wasps sting, my dear.

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