Hanele Page #4

I love you to death, Ivo!

Never forget that.

Hanika must have told you

that I want to ask for her hand.

But we have to clarify something first.

I hope Hanele told you of our misfortune.

I gave my daughters a large dowry

but I cannot give much to Hanele.

I know Hanika hasn't got a dowry,

Mr. afar. I'm not asking for anything.

I make enough money to look after

a family. Don't worry.

You love my daughter, don't you?

Yes.

There, there!

You haven't forgotten me, then?

There is one thing... Unimportant for

me but perhaps not for you.

Hanika says we won't be able

to resolve it. I think we can.

We have to try to come to an

understanding. I'm not a Jew.

- I don't understand you, sir.

- I'm not a Jew.

You're not Jewish?

No.

- Have you been christened?

- I have no religion.

Does that mean you don't

believe in our one and only God?

No, I don't.

That's even worse, sir.

What do you hope to find here?

Please, Mr. afar...

We're not living in the Middle Ages.

I recognize equality, freedom

and free thought.

Modern education explains the world

through reason. Not faith, but science.

Science will unravel all the mysteries

of life and one day... wait, please!

That's not what's important.

I love your daughter, she's everything

to me!

You can't ruin the happiness of two

people because of a mere notion!

Excuse me, I'll be back in a moment.

Let me have Hana! You'll never

regret it.

You say that you're not a Jew.

You are mistaken.

Your parents were Jews. So are you.

Whether you like it or not.

Even if you do blaspheme.

You know what it would mean for us

if our daughter married someone

who had renounced his faith?

You must know what misfortunes

we have faced all our lives.

But what is that compared to

what you have in store for us?

I would be less than leprous,

I would be deader than dead!

Why leprous and dead, if your

daughter wants to marry a decent man?

Return to the faith of the elders, sir.

I'd be the happiest man alive.

I will celebrate my victory over

my enemies.

If only you knew what

it means to me...

I'm offering you a solution,

and I mean it sincerely.

I understand that it would be difficult

to continue living here.

Sell everything and come back

with us to Ostrava.

I'll be a good son-in-law to you,

you'll never regret it.

I thank you very much, sir,

but I cannot do that.

Return to the faith of the elders.

I'd do anything for your daughter.

But that is the only thing I can't do.

- Is that your last word?

- My last word on this subject.

- Mr. afar...

- Yes?

- I'd like to speak with your daughter.

- You can't. Hanele is asleep.

- She's asleep already?

- We go to bed early in the winter.

- Why are the doors locked?

- We lock up at night.

Hanika! Hana!

- Where is she? I need to talk to her.

- She's asleep. There's no-one in there.

- You're lying! My driver's in the kitchen.

- I speak the truth, sir.

- He's taken your cases to the Fuxes.

- You deny me a bed in your tavern?

- You'll get a better room at the Fuxes.

- Where is your daughter?

You have no right to imprison her.

You know she has come of age.

Where is she? Hana is old enough

to make her own decisions.

I'll find her.

I want us to get along.

Give her to me.

At least tell me where she is.

All right. You want violence,

you'll have it.

I'll come for her.

Hana!

Hanika! Hana!

Welcome, kind sir.

- Will you be wanting supper?

- No, thank you.

- Is my driver here?

- He's in the kitchen.

Please send him to me.

He came courting, that's for sure.

But they couldn't decide on a dowry.

God knows what she put into his head,

but he wasn't fooled, and he fled.

I will need you for the whole night.

I'll pay you well.

We're going to watch afar's house

all night. Hire four men.

Ruthenians. Make that six.

Right now!

Hurry up!

- We'll see in the morning.

- Perhaps he'll change his mind.

That was lojme Kac from the village.

Go and warm yourself up, sir.

Nothing's going to happen now.

- What's going on? Chasing spies?

- Spies? Of course not.

- The girl! They won't let him have her.

- Crazy fool!

- You heard what happened at the afars?

- Yes. - Come on, then!

I'm not going.

Did I hear you correctly? You refuse

to help us in our misfortune?

- In this village's worst hour?

- Yes.

Woe betide you, Pinches!

- Anything happened?

- afar came out for a moment.

Then he took a few men into his house.

Otherwise, nothing, sir.

Is all this song and dance because

of me?

Where is Mr. afar?

Lend an old man your ear

for a moment, dear sir.

I'd be glad to, but I'm in a hurry.

I'm looking for Mr. afar.

I've come for my bride Hana.

- No-one has the right to hold her.

- Josl afar is coming.

Hanele's also coming.

The girl with gazelle's eyes.

We are here to bless you.

So the whole village can

arrange her wedding.

It'll be a wedding this

land has never seen.

It'll be a baldachin like none other.

I thank you, but I cannot

meet the condition you set.

You must know what suffering Moses'

people have endured

from the destruction of the Temple

to this day. And you say there is no God?

Oh, there is, sir!

How could we survive if we weren't

sure that God exists?

He gives us the strength to survive.

This is no human strength.

- Please...

- And you ask that one of us declare:

"I am leaving for a world of

rejoicing and delights.

You will all die in despair, for there

is no retribution. There is no God".

No, sir. You cannot ask this of us.

Never say again that there is no God.

You say you don't believe, that you

don't know Him, haven't found Him.

Go back to your people, Isaac,

we will help you

with prayer and advice.

- Thank you for your good will.

I promise to speak about

everything with you.

But now I must find my bride.

Then I will have time for you.

It would be a calamity for the village.

The first to turn away from God

for as long as Polana has existed.

Please understand, it's just

a formality.

Kill him, the dog! Kill the mangy dog!

- Kill him!

- Drive him into the ground!

What on earth are you doing?

Go home! Stop that!

- I also want to tell you something.

- We're not interested.

- Just a few words.

- We don't want to hear anything!

Robber of children!

Stone him to death!

Stop!

Stop that, lojme. Don't you dare!

Come back this minute!

Don't worry. Go!

lojme!

Stop!

Anyone who takes a step further

will be shot!

- Ivo!

- I'm here, Hanika! I'm coming.

What are you staring at?

Let's go home!

Have no fear. I'm not your enemy.

- I've come for Hana afarov.

- We won't let you have her!

She's not yours. Nor mine.

Let her decide for herself.

What?

Kill him! Kill him now!

Yes, kill him!

Silence!

Who are you, sir?

- Ivo!

- I'm coming, Hanika!

Go home!

In the name of the law, move along now!

Move it!

Be off with you!

Open the door, do you hear?

Hanika! Hana!

Come on, Hanika.

Come on, Hanika.

Goodbye, mother.

Goodbye, father.

You say no-one threatened you

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