Fiddler on the Roof Page #5

So to marry Rachel, Jacob was

forced to work another seven years.

So you see, children

the Bible clearly teaches us

you can never trust an employer.

And that is what the Bible teaches us?

That is the lesson of the story of Jacob

if you interpret it correctly.

- Is your papa up yet?

- No, Mama.

Enough lessons. Back to the house.

There's work to be done.

Go on, children. Another story tomorrow.

That was a very interesting

lesson, Perchik.

- Do you think so?

- Mmm.

Although I don't know if the rabbi

would agree with your interpretation.

Neither, I suppose, would the rabbi's son.

My little sisters talk too much.

What do you know about him,

except that he is a rabbi's son?

At least I know this.

He has no strange ideas

about turning the world upside-down.

Good day, Perchik.

- You have wit, even intelligence.

- Thank you.

Perhaps. But what good is your brain?

Without curiosity, it is a rusty tool.

- Good day, Hodel.

- We have an old custom here!

A boy talks respectfully to a girl.

But of course that is too traditional for

an advanced thinker like you.

Our traditions! Nothing must change.

Everything is perfect

exactly the way it is!

- We like our ways.

- Our ways are changing all over but here.

Do you know that in the city, boys

and girls can be affectionate

without the permission of a matchmaker?

They hold hands together.

They even dance together!

New dances, like this.

I learned it in Kiev.

- Do you like it?

- It's very nice.

There.

We've just changed an old custom.

Yes.

I mean, th thank you.

I mean

good day!

Go away!

Mmm.

Ooh!

So, my prince is finally out of bed.

- Not now.

- Open your eyes.

- Go away.

- The day's half gone.

Well?

Well, what happened last night besides

your drinking like a peasant?

Did you see Lazar Wolf?

Well?

Well?!

Well, what did he say? What did you say?

Where

Where Where's Tzeitel?

She's in the barn. Do you have news for me?

Did you talk with Lazar Wolf?

Well, what happened?

Woman, patience.

As the Good Book says,

good news will stay

and bad news will refuse to leave.

- And there's another saying

- You can die from such a man!

Did you see Lazar? Was it friendly?

- Sha, woman!

- Are you still drunk, or what?

Ah! Here she is.

Tzeitel, my lamb, come here.

You are to be congratulated.

You are going to be married.

Married?

What do you mean, Papa?

Lazar Wolf has asked for your hand.

I knew it!

- The butcher?

- Oh dear God, I thank thee.

- I thank thee!

- Why do you have to

What do you have to say, Tzeitel?

- What can she say?

- Let her say one word.

My firstborn, a bride.

May you grow old with him

in fortune and honor.

Not like Fruma Sarah, that

first wife of Lazar's.

She was a bitter woman. (Tup'-tup')

May she rest in peace.

Not like my Tzeitel.

And now I must thank Yente.

My Tzeitel, a bride. A bride!

I thank thee, I thank thee!

Well, Chaveleh?

Mazel tov, Tzeitel.

"Mazel tov, Tzeitel."

What kind of a mazel tov is that?

You, Reb Perchik, aren't you

going to congratulate her?

Congratulations, Tzeitel

for getting a rich man.

Aah!

Again with the rich. What's

wrong with being rich?

It's no reason to marry.

Money's the world's curse.

May the Lord smite me with it

and may I never recover!

"The world's curse."

My Tzeitel knows I mean only her welfare.

Am I right, Tzeitel?

- Yes, Papa.

- There, you see?

I see. I see very well.

Well, my child

why are you so silent?

Aren't you happy with

this blessing, huh?

Papa

Papa.

What is it? Tell me.

Papa, I don't want to marry him.

I can't marry him, I can't.

What do you mean you can't?

If I say you will, you will.

Papa, if it's a matter of

money, I'll do anything.

I'll work as a servant.

- Just don't

- But we made an agreement!

And with us, an agreement is an agreement.

Is that

more important than I am, Papa?

Papa, don't force me, please!

I'll be unhappy all my days!

- I don't want to marry him.

- All right.

All right.

I won't force you.

Oh, thank you, Papa.

"Thank you, Papa."

It seems it was not ordained

that you should have all

the comforts of life.

- Reb Tevye, may I speak to you?

- Later, Motel. Later.

- But I would like to speak to you.

- Not now, Motel. Not now.

I have problems.

That's why I want to speak to you.

I think I can help.

Sertanly, like a bandage can help a corpse.

Good-bye, Motel. Good-bye.

At least listen to him, Papa.

All right. You have a tongue. Talk.

Reb Tevye, I-I hear you are

arranging a match for Tzeitel.

Ah, he also has ears.

Well,

- I have a match for Tzeitel.

- What kind of a match?

A perfect fit.

Like a glove.

This match was made exactly to measure.

Perfect fit? Made to measure?

Motel, stop talking like a

tailor and tell me, who is it?

Please don't shout at me, Reb Tevye.

All right, I won't shout.

Who is it?

Who is it?

Who is it?

Who is it?!?

WHO IS IT!?!

It's me.

Myself.

It's him. Himself.

Either you're out of your

mind or you're crazy!

He must be crazy! Arranging

a match for yourself?

Tell me what are you everything?

The bridegroom, the matchmaker,

the guests all rolled into one?

I suppose you'll even perform

the ceremony yourself!

Please don't shout at me, Reb Tevye.

Now as for being my matchmaker,

I know it's unusual.

Unusual? It's crazy!

Times are changing, Reb Tevye.

The thing is, over a year ago, your daughter,

Tzeitel and I gave each other our pledge

that we would marry.

You gave each other a pledge?

Yes, Papa.

We gave each other our pledge.

They gave each other a pledge.

Unheard of, absurd.

You gave each other a pledge.

Unthinkable.

Where do you think you are?

In Moscow, in Paris?

Where do they think they are?

America?

And what do you think you're doing?

You stitcher, you nothing.

Who do you think you are King Solomon?

This isn't the way it's

done, not here, not now.

Some things I will not

I cannot allow!

Tradition.

Marriages must be arranged

by the papa.

This should never be changed.

One little time you pull out the prop

and where does it stop?

Where does it stop?

Where does it stop?

Do I still have something

to say about my daughter

or doesn't anyone have to

ask a father anymore?

I've wanted to ask you

for some time Reb Tevye.

But first, I wanted to save enough

for my own sewing machine

You stop talking nonsense.

You are just a poor tailor!

That's true, Reb Tevye but even a poor

tailor is entitled to some happiness!

I promise you, Reb Tevye, your

daughter will not starve.

Hmm?

He's beginning to talk like a man.

On the other hand

what kind of a match would that be

with a poor tailor?

On the other hand, he is

an honest, hard worker.

But on the other hand

he has absolutely nothing.

On the other hand, things could

never get worse for him.

They could only get better.

They gave each other a pledge.

Unheard of,

absurd.

They gave each other a pledge.

Unthinkable.

But look at my daughter's face.

She loves him She wants him.

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