I Remember Mama Page #7

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You put this on.

No, it's yours.

It is your graduation present.

I put it on for you.

I'll wear it always.

I'll keep it forever.

Christine should not have told you.

I'm glad she did now.

I'm glad too.

Good night, Christine.

Good night, Mama.

Good night, Papa.

Good night, baby.

Good night, Katrin.

Good night, Christine.

Katrin.

I'm sorry, Papa.

I just don't feel like it.

Katrin.

For me?

For our grown-up daughter.

- Katrin is the dramatic one.

- Yeah.

Is too bad. Her first cup of coffee,

and she doesn't drink it.

It would not have been good

for her so late at night.

Lars, you drink it.

We do not wanna waste it.

And you, Martha, are the practical one.

There is a time for everything.

A time for being born

and a time for coming of age...

...and there is a time for death too.

I remember when the telegram arrived.

- Jenny! Uncle Chris is dying!

- I don't believe it.

- He's too mean to die, ever!

- I cannot stop to argue.

There's a train at 11:00.

It take four hours.

You call Sigrid and Trina!

When Mama told me I was to go with her,

I was thrilled...

...and I was frightened.

It was exciting taking

sandwiches on the train...

...as though we were going on a picnic.

But I was scared at the idea

of seeing death.

Although I told myself

that if I were going to write...

...I'd have to experience everything.

But, even so, I hoped it would

all be over when we got there.

It was afternoon when we arrived.

The ranch was about

three miles from the town...

...a rambling, derelict old place.

There were wide fields and tall trees

and the smell of honeysuckle.

The woman came out

on the steps to meet us.

How is he? Is he...?

Come in, won't you?

I want more.

Give me more.

There's still some in the bottle.

Uncle Chris, that will not help now.

It always help. Now especially.

Uncle Chris, I don't think you realize...

What don't I realize?

That I'm dying?

Why else do I think you come here?

Why else do I think you

stand there watching me?

Get out.

Get out. I don't want you here.

Oh, very well. Very well. We be outside

on the porch if you want us.

That is where I want you, on the porch.

Oh, wait. That is Arne. Come here, Arne.

How is your knee?

It... It's fine, Uncle Chris.

Does not hurt anymore?

No.

You don't say "dum geit" anymore?

No, Uncle Chris.

You walk good?

- Quite good?

- Yes.

Is good.

- Uncle Chris, Arne has always been...

- I tell you all to get out!

Except Martha.

Katrin.

Katrin can stay. She and I have secret.

Do you remember?

Yes, Uncle Chris.

Uncle Chris, what are you doing?

You must lie down again.

- Why didn't you give me drink?

- No, Uncle Chris.

We cannot waste what is left

in the bottle!

You do not drink it.

Who will drink it when I'm gone?

What harm can it do now? I die anyway.

You give it me.

All right. I give you drink.

You lie down again.

- Martha.

- Yeah.

You sell this ranch and give

the money to Jessie.

Jessie?

Jessie Brown, my housekeeper.

No. Why do I call her that to you?

She is my wife.

For several years, she has been my wife.

She used to have husband

in asylum in Stockton...

...but when he die, we get married.

Only I do not tell the aunts.

They snub her before.

So...

- I play fine joke on them.

- Yeah.

But there is no money for you, Martha.

Always I wanted there should be

money to make Nels doctor.

But there were other things.

Quick things.

And now there is no time to make more.

There is no money.

But you make Nels doctor all the same.

- You like?

- Yeah, sure, Uncle Chris.

Is what Lars and I have always

wanted for him.

To help people who suffer.

Is greatest thing in world.

It is to have little of God in you.

Where is Jessie?

I think she wait outside, Uncle Chris.

You call her.

I like you both be here.

Oh, Katrin.

Your mama write me

you drink coffee now?

Katrin, who will be writer.

You're not frightened of me now.

No, Uncle Chris.

One day maybe you write story

from Uncle Chris.

If you remember.

I'll remember.

I think best maybe

Katrin go away now.

Farvel, Katrin.

Goodbye, Uncle Chris.

You say it in Norwegian, like I do?

Farvel, Uncle Chris.

Maybe I should introduce

you to each other.

Jessie...

...this is my niece, Martha.

The only one of my nieces I can stand.

Martha...

...this is my wife, Jessie...

...who has given me much happiness.

I'm very glad to meet you.

- I am too, Martha.

- Is good.

And now...

...you give me one more drink.

You have drink with me, both of you.

That way, we finish the bottle.

Yes?

Yeah, sure, Uncle Chris.

Jessie, you get best glasses.

What is the time?

Is about half past 4, Uncle Chris.

The sun come around this side

the house in afternoon.

I pull the shade.

No! No, Martha!

I don't like it dark.

The sun is good.

No, no, no. I take now without water.

Last drink always without water.

Is Norwegian custom. True?

True.

No, no. I do not need you feed it to me.

I can drink myself.

You give Martha her glass?

So.

Farvel, Uncle Chris.

Oh, these gnats.

They're always worse around sunset.

Oh, sweetheart, stop honking that horn.

My goodness, you'll wear the thing out.

All this expense to watch

a wicked old man die of the DTs.

Well, you can't hurry these things.

I mean that...

Well, Mr. Thorkelson say that...

Uncle Chris is gone.

Did he...? Did he say anything

about a will?

There's no will.

Well, then, that means...

We're his nearest relatives.

- There is no money either.

- How do you know?

He told me.

What's that?

Is an account of how he

spent the money.

Bills from a saloon.

No, Jenny.

No.

I read it to you.

You know how Uncle Chris was lame,

how he walked always with limp.

It was his one thought. Lame people.

He would have liked

to be doctor and help them.

Instead, he...

He help in other ways.

I read you the last page.

"Joseph Spinelli, 4 year old...

...tubercular left leg, $337.18.

Walks now.

Esther Jensen, 9 year.

Club foot, $217.50.

Walks now.

- Arne Solfeldt."

- My Arne?

"Nine year.

Fractured kneecap...

...$442.16."

Mother.

When do we eat?

What is it?

Is Uncle Chris...?

I like to write "walks now." Yeah?

Yeah.

Or maybe even "runs"?

So...

...is finish.

Was good.

Was good.

You can go in and see him now

if you want.

Maybe you never meet

Uncle Chris' wife...

...Mrs. Halvorsen.

Is true.

How do you do?

Jessie...

...I go in and wash the dishes.

How's that?

You like to come to San Francisco

for a little, to our house?

Thank you.

I like to have you.

We got room, plenty room.

I don't know why you should bother.

You were good to Uncle Chris.

Thank you, Martha.

Thank you, Martha.

Katrin.

You come and see him.

See him?

- You mean...?

- Yeah, I like you see him.

He looks happy.

I like you to know

what death looks like.

Then you are not frightened of it ever.

Will you come with me?

Yeah, sure. I come.

The woman.

One year later, my Aunt Trina

and Peter Thorkelson...

...were married in our parlor.

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