Memories of a Marriage Page #2

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Never mind how dark it is!

What's important is

that you're living there together.

- I won't permit it, Regitze.

- You don't have to. It's a fact.

I would never have imagined that

about my only child.

- Soon you'll be telling me...

- No, we're not planning a baby.

We can't afford it yet.

- You just want to enjoy yourselves.

- No, we care for each other.

- Regitze and I are fond of...

- Young man!

Get married.

As a matter of fact

we didn't plan to get married.

Your father wouldn't have approved.

Drink your coffee, Mum.

Dad's dead.

You must come and visit us.

I want you to see my bedspread

and you must feel the mattress.

- Pass the toast, will you?

- Why of course.

Why do the Irish have one full

and one empty glass by the bed?

Well, either they get thirsty

during the night or else they don't.

Have you thought about the

consequences? He might leave you.

Or I might leave him.

But we're not going anywhere

Well, neither am I

until I see a marriage certificate.

- But, Mum...

- In my time people got married!

But you live your immoral lives

like in ancient Rome or whatever.

- We were married yesterday, Mum.

- About time! Come to Granny.

What a pretty little boy.

- Which of you does he take after?

- You'd better make the extra bed.

Yes, I don't intend to sleep

on the floor.

I've found your christening robe,

and you've only worn it once...

- so it only needs a good wash.

You'll be such a handsome baby.

We're not going to baptize him,

Mum.

He's not going to be baptized.

Karl Aage and I have

made that decision.

- It's our son, Mum.

- But it's my grandson.

- And he's going to be baptized.

- That's not for you to decide.

I'll get that boy baptized

if it's the last thing I do.

We've never had heathens

in our family!

I'm not going to let her get away

with this. It's our baby.

Here you are.

For once I want you to be firm.

Mrs Andersen told me to say

she's gone to bed.

- Who's gone to bed?

- Mum.

- Is she ill?

- She's bedridden.

And she's going to stay in bed

till the stubbornness subsides.

She won't eat and won't see you.

That's what she told me to say.

Very well. Thank you.

- She hasn't done that before.

- A hunger strike?

- She loves food. God Almighty!

- She won't give in.

- Stupid old bag.

- But this time she'll have to.

We have to be firm, Karl Aage!

She won't see a doctor, she's

losing weight and she's very weak.

She's lost almost five pounds.

Thank God she's not too weak

to go on the scales.

- It's not funny, Karl Aage.

- And she can't sleep at night.

Well, tell her...

Oh, I don't know!

- Do we have to do something?

- We're being firm!

I've brought you some nourishing

soup, Mum. It'll do you good.

She says thank you very much,

but she's not hungry.

Wouldn't it help

if you got up and about?

She hasn't got anything

to get up for any more.

Shouldn't I fetch the doctor?

No doctor can help her.

We presume you want to hear about

a person you've caused much grief.

Mrs Andersen can't move any more,

Mrs Andersen is as good as dead.

- She can't even whisper any more.

- I'll pass it on.

It was the daily news.

- Has she got worse?

- It sounds so.

It's no good. You'd better

see the vicar tomorrow.

- Didn't we agree...

- I'll do it then!

But, Regitze...

Didn't we agree...

Didn't you tell me to be firm?

Isn't it our son?

I'm amazed at your stubbornness.

You're willing to let people die

because of your silly idea.

Why can't he just be baptized

like every other child?

Oh, you moved, Karl Aage.

And it was almost a wrap.

My mother could be troublesome

but she was a remarkable person.

My mother's a bit out of the

ordinary too. One Christmas...

- Shut up, Dad.

- You tell that story every year!

- You don't even tell it well.

- We know it by heart.

Your go.

Hi.

Boy, it's getting chilly outside.

- There's coffee on the stove.

- Great, I'll be right back.

Regitze? How come

I can't find my winter coat?

You never use your winter coat,

Karl Aage.

I use it on chilly nights like this.

It's no good.

You need a new one.

There's nothing wrong with it.

It could have lasted for years.

Regitze, what have you done

with my coat?

You know the old fellow

who drops by sometimes...

He was shivering with cold

and you hardly ever use that coat.

So it was mine.

Did you give him my coat?

You're crazy! You can't just

give some bum my good clothes.

- He has a name! It's Nielsen.

- I don't give a damn!

I might get pneumonia, so what?

As long as Nielsen is warm.

Right, let's get it all

out in the open now.

- There's more?

- He's coming on Christmas Eve.

- Well, now you know.

- You didn't invite him?

This was going to be our first

Christmas without your Mum.

- You didn't? Christ, Regitze!

- I told him to come around 6 pm.

Hurry up, Regitze.

We're starving.

You're so naive.

He's forgotten all about it.

He's probably dead-drunk.

Your Good Samaritan-bit is over.

Get it, will you?

I'm busy making the gravy.

You've been doing that

for half an hour.

Regitze?

I hope you don't mind, Mam,

but I've brought some of my mates.

They didn't have anywhere to go.

My wife is just making

the gravy. Come on in.

You're very kind, Mam.

- A little present.

- Thanks a lot.

- Thanks for inviting us.

- It smells delicious.

I love you with all of my heart.

- Flowers for the little missus.

- Come here, Karl Aage.

Show your Dad.

Look at that.

- What have you been up to?

- Tell what happened, John.

I didn't make any trouble in class

but he took it out on me.

That's too bad. But I'm glad you

didn't do anything to deserve it.

You'll get over that.

No coffee?

- Is that all you have to say?

- What do you want me to say?

What's done is done.

He's not the only boy in the world

who's been slapped undeservingly.

- As long as it doesn't happen again.

- What a way to look at it.

You'll put up with the injustice

as long as it doesn't happen again?

Look, I didn't slap him, did I?

- What do you want me to do?

- I'm not just going to ignore it.

Nobody slaps my boy. I'll give

that teacher a piece of my mind.

Don't, Mum.

That'll only make it worse.

- It's better not to interfere.

- What a ridiculous thing to say!

- I won't always just back off.

- Regitze, let's talk about it.

Is she going to do it?

Is she going to see my teacher?

Of course she is.

What a totally ridiculous question.

- Don't you ever have homework?

- No.

I think she's mad too.

What are you talking about?

Your Mum is absolutely right.

She's not doing this

for your sake alone, get it?

She's thinking about all the other

kids he might some day beat up.

Get it?

We don't have to put up

with everything.

There's such a thing as

self respect. Let me see again.

The bastard! Go get yourself

a lemonade in the icebox.

My boy is among the graduates.

- I'm going up to celebrate him.

- Oh?

I mean, your son doesn't

graduate every day.

Michael!

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