Saraband Page #4

A foggy, windless autumn day.

Absolute silence.

Then I see someone|by the gate.

Coming towards me. She's|wearing a denim skirt...

A blue jacket...

She's barefoot and her hair|is tied up in a long pony tail.

And she's walking towards me.

Anna is walking towards me,|through the gate.

And then I realize I'm dead.

Then something strange happens.

I think:
"Is it this easy?"

We spend life thinking about|death and what comes after.

And then it's so easy.

I can see a flickering light|in the music. Like Bach.

- I think I understand.|- Come for dinner tonight.

- We're good cooks.|- Thanks, I like that.

I have to go now,|we've got a class.

Karin gets angry|if I'm late.

- See you soon.|- Wait, I don't think I can go.

- I understand. The old man|would get mad... - No.

- Why did you come here?|- I don't know.

You're a lawyer, right?|Can I sue him?

- Why would you want to do that?|- He's got a fortune and won't die.

He's probably mummified|by his own evil.

I asked him for an advance on my|inheritance, but he humiliated me.

I'd love to sue him.

Not while he's|mentally competent.

- He's not ill in that sense.|- No, he's not ill.

Are you here to ask for money|for a poor abandoned wife?

Don't get angry.|Of course I ask myself.

You haven't had|contact for decades.

I'm not here to ask for money.

Are you f***ing?

Do you hate him so much to|have to talk this way?

Forgive me for desecrating this|place and ruining our chat.

I hate him in all possible|dimensions of the word.

I hate him so much, I would like to|see him die from a horrible illness.

I'd visit him every day,|just to witness his torment.

Maybe I'm just a pathetic|soul. Theoretically.

I see surprise and displeasure|in your eyes.

As a lawyer,|you should be used to...

the stupidity and repulsiveness|in the world.

Goodbye, Marianne. It was nice|of you to listen to me.

Sometimes I think I'm insane.|I suffer all the time.

SIX|AN OFFER

- Karin!|- Hi, granddad.

- Well... this is my study.|- I haven't been here for years.

You and Anna would come sometimes,|when you were living at the lake house.

- You used to smoke then.|- Yes, you're right.

I stopped when I read|Freud's biography.

- And even then he couldn't stop smoking.|- Bur are you all right?

Unless you consider|aging an illness.

- That's a beautiful picture of mom.|- I found it by chance.

I had it blown up...|and there it is.

I think of mom every day.|And dream of her at night.

I thought the pain would subside.|But that's not happening.

But it doesn't hurt like in the|beginning, now it's here.

Like a part of me.|I wouldn't want to be without her.

I can say I miss her,|painfully.

We didn't see each other very often,|due to Henrik and I.

Anna tried and tried.

But Henrik and I never|managed... well, you know.

- You wanted to speak to me?|- Yes, sit down.

Last night, Mrs. Nilsson came|personally to deliver a letter.

Meaning that dad shouldn't...

That was all right.

He's in Uppsala with his orchestra.

I have here a letter that came a|few days ago, and it involves you.

- Have you heard of Ivan Chablov?|- Director in St. Petersburg.

He toured here recently with|the philharmonic. Fantastic!

I've known him since my years in|Leningrad. This letter is from him.

"Johan, my dear friend and brother".

"Sorry for writing in my|poor English and German"

"but my excellent secretary

has just had twins".

"It's very important that I|write you, my dear friend".

"For the following reason:"

"On a free night, I went to a|young musician's concert".

"I must say I was|surprised and happy".

"A young female cellist was playing...

"a Zoltan Kodaly solo piece."

"And I was surprised by that|young performer's talent."

-"Her maturity, her skill|and courage". - Well, I'll be!

"The school gave me her name...""

"and told me her father|was her teacher."

"I got in touch with him,|but he rejected me curtly,"

"maybe arrogantly is a better word."

"My dear Johan,|I know you're ..."

her grandfather.""

"And that's the reason why|I'm writing you."

"The young lady's technique is|risky, somewhat lacking:""

"which could result in|a future catastrophe".

"I'm a guest professor at|Helsinki's Sibelius Academy,""

"One of the best in Europe."

"I have a good rapport|with the president."

"And we could, after|the mandatory exam,""

"offer our young cellist|a quality education..

that her talent|obviously deserves."

Let me know your answer as soon|as possible. My embrace, Ivan.""

So, Karin, what do you say?|Maybe I should add...

that I'll take care of all your|expenses as long as you need it.

I've spoken to the cello seller:|I've made him a good offer.

More than he was asking for.

So if you want it, it's yours.

Assuming, of course, that you|accept Chablov's kind offer.

I don't know what to say.|It's overwhelming.

I understand this letter puts|you in an awkward situation.

- I'll write him and tell him|that you're... - Flattered.

But that your decision|affects others.

- Others?|- Your father, specifically.

I need to rest.|Goodbye, Karin.

Thanks for the chat.

Marianne used to say that I was|a terrible character judge.

That I didn't understand emotions.|But even I understand this:

Your mother lived|in this world...

to do the most unbearable chore.

Darkness got even darker...

and light faded away|when Anna died.

It's hard for Henrik. To live.|Despite everything.

You're like your mother.

And I'm fond of you, Katja.

- Goodbye, Karin.|- Goodbye, grandfather.

SEVEN|ANNA'S LETTER

- To Henrik from Anna?|- I found it in a book.

May 18. Anna...

wrote it one week|before dying.

I'd like you to read it.

I can't understand Anna's handwriting.|You'll have to read it to me.

I'll try.|Here, have some whisky.

Mom had found out a|few days before...

that she didn't have|much time left.

She wrote the letter because|Henrik had a cold...

and wasn't allowed to visit her.

It says:

"The fact that you can't|visit me is, perhaps,

a relief for both".

"We understand each other well.|You open the door."

"I make an effort.|You make an effort".

"But I still see in your|eyes how sick I am".

This is the difficult part.

- She writes about dad and me.|- Is that painful?

Yes.

When you were with|her at the hospital,

did you speak about|what she had written?

- No, never.|- What did she write?

"Dear Henrik, I have to tell you|something of which we've never spoken".

"I've wanted to talk|to you about Karin".

"But it was never necessary|because I was always there".

"Then I got sick|and I was there no longer".

"Of course I was there,|but you kept me apart".

"You and I love each other.|I was sure about our love".

"But no love is strong enough...

to stand a devastating|effect like my illness".

"I see that you love Karin, but that|you also tie her to you".

"It's good that you were her|teacher, but there's a limit".

"When I'm no longer there,|the limit will be unclear".

"I know that Karin loves you".

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