Fanny and Alexander Page #7

They have stingers,

just like your old man.

Petra fell in and got soaked!

- Where shall I serve supper?

- No supper for me, thank you.

- How is the wasp sting?

- Nothing to talk about.

You must have sifted through

thousands of photographs by now.

Here's one of you and your brothers.

You can't have been more than five.

- You can tell which brother...

- Who is this lovely lady?

- Have you had rain?

- Not at all.

We had blue skies, but we could see

clouds gathering over the mainland.

- It's been raining all day here.

- I remember this beauty.

- She was a friend of my father's.

- No, she was an old friend of mine.

She married a count, had 12 children,

and grew immensely fat.

I've always admired the adroit way

you handled Papa's amours.

We have to dash. Mr hman and

his charming wife are coming over.

- Can I help you with any errands?

- No thank you, Gusten.

But I would like

to have a word with you about Maj.

Christ, what now?

Hell and damnation! What more...

Calm down, Gusten.

- He's touchy about Maj.

- I would like to say...

Maj is not your private plaything.

Alma so graciously

lets her be included,

and she's expecting my grandchild.

In your dictatorial way,

you have mapped out her future.

- I'm bloody well sure you...

- Gusten, watch your language!

I like the lass, I wish her well.

I want to ensure her future.

She shouldn't be dependant

on the goodwill of my family.

She doesn't need any protection, least

of all from me! Stop tittle-tattling.

I'm hardly dictatorial,

Maj has decided everything herself.

I like her. I'm kind to her.

Alma is kind to her.

I'm hurt, you know. Bloody hurt!

There's not the slightest reason

to side with Maj against me.

I'm fond of her. So is Alma. She's

loved like Jenny, Petra and Putte.

Well, not exactly

in the same way, but almost.

She's good to me.

She doesn't think I'm old

and disgusting. No one does!

Gustav Adolf Ekdahl has a soft spot

for the ladies, so what? Don't giggle!

Maj will take her own path,

and I will give her the means to do so.

The matter is settled. We have an

opera singer and his wife to attend to.

Goodbye, Mama. Give your boy a kiss.

I don't want you and Alma

meddling in Maj's business.

I'll see to that!

Or rather, she will.

- Goodbye.

- I'll be back later.

- Like hell you will!

- Calm down or you'll have a stroke.

I am calm, you're the one

who's been carrying on.

You and Mama are not to meddle.

- Good afternoon, Mr Jacobi.

- Good afternoon, Miss Vergerus.

- What do you want?

- Is His Grace in?

- He's busy writing a sermon.

- May I speak to his wife?

- She is indisposed.

- And must not be disturbed?

- My mother is out and I'm busy.

- His Grace might be annoyed...

- What is this about?

- Back in November...

...His Grace approached me

with a business proposition.

Really? I have no recollection...

His Grace is sure to spare his family

from such trivial worries.

Why would he turn to you?

- Oh my, I do not wish to be vulgar.

- I shall be candid, Mr Jacobi.

I think you are unpleasant. I have no

inclination to talk to you. Good day.

- A pecuniary embarrassment.

- I beg your pardon.

His Grace found himself

in a pecuniary embarrassment.

- May I sit down?

- Not there, there.

In some strange way, I appreciate

your straight-forwardness.

I do not appreciate your fawning.

What business

have you with my brother?

- None at all, as far as I know.

- Tell me what's on your mind and go.

First, I must speak to His Grace.

It's a matter of money...

A great deal of money.

- Does my brother owe you money?

- On the contrary.

In November, His Grace wished

to borrow some money.

On principal, I do not

lend money to the clergy,

but the Bishop suggested I buy that

chest over there, for a reasonable sum.

- I declined.

- You declined?

Yes, but now I regret doing so.

I would dearly like to buy that chest.

For almost any price at all.

Almost...

I shall get my brother.

- I told you not to disturb me.

- Mr Jacobi is here, about the chest.

The man clings like a leech...

Forgive me, an elderly man's

unfortunate weakness...

- You wish to buy the chest?

- Yes, indeed.

- What will you give me for it?

- Here is the sum.

- You had quite a change of heart...

- I may have a prospective buyer.

- I am being cheated, of course.

- I am not forcing you to sell it.

- Did you bring the money?

- The money? Most assuredly.

Here are the big notes...

Yes, indeed... Here they are.

- Give me the money.

- Of course.

If I may have Your Grace's

signature on the contract?

- You will forgive me if I withdraw?

- I will miss you, Miss Vergerus.

I presume that you will not take

anything that is not your due?

Suspicions tend to recoil

on those who harbour them.

Would you like to ensure that I am not

taking anything that is not my due?

I simply wanted to give you back

the signed contract. Do sit down...

- What do you say about that picture?

- It is beautiful and valuable.

- Would it interest you?

- My resources are a bit strained...

- How is your wife?

- How kind of you to enquire.

My wife is indisposed, the sudden

heat does not agree with her.

- Would it be possible to speak...

- I'm sorry.

Mrs Helena Ekdahl

has written her a letter.

I will see that she gets it.

Jewish swine! You filthy swine!

You thought you could trick me!

You'll be sorry for this,

you abominable hook-nosed...

- Please calm down, Edvard!

- He's trying to steal my children!

He can't,

I have the key to the nursery.

Don't you dare touch them!

First of all, let's have something

to eat. - Aron, come here.

This is my nephew, Aron.

Now for our meal.

- I would like to get some sleep.

- Aron...

Our guests are tired, have you readied

the room and made up the beds?

I have carried out

all your orders, Uncle.

Alexander...

This is Aron's puppet theatre.

If you ask him nicely, I'm sure he will

give a performance some evening.

My other nephew, Ismael,

lives in there. He is ill.

This door must always be kept shut.

Please do not forget that.

Sometimes he sings. At night, too.

It's nothing to worry about,

you'll get used to it.

This will be your home

for the time being.

Off to bed with you.

- Good night, Fanny.

Good night, Alexander.

Lock the door at night,

and don't open it to anyone.

- Don't forget to say your prayers.

- Don't go...

Would you like me to stay?

Then I'll sit here.

I'll go check up on lsmael.

My name is Aron.

My brother's name is Ismael.

Our parents died when we were small.

I need to pee...

There's no potty...

It won't be easy to find

the privy in the dark.

I hope there aren't any ghosts.

Damnation... l've lost my way.

Now l've really lost my way...

It's not my fault

that everything's gone wrong.

I can't leave you. I can't.

It would be better if you cleared off

to heaven, you can't help us anyway.

I spent my life

with you, and with Emelie.

Death doesn't make a difference.

What is it, Alexander?

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