Simon and the Oaks Page #2

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Hello Simon.

Isak, look who's here.

I'm deeply grateful that you've let

him spend so much time with you.

I would like to talk about Isak.

He seems so lost... and lonely.

So... I was thinking...

Could Isak stay with us for a while?

Forgive me...

But since you're working...

and he's alone in that huge flat...

...without his mother.

You must forgive me, I...

Simon.

No.

I beg you... wait.

It is very kind of you.

You must tell me how much I should pay for his lodging.

Absolutely not.

He is so...

Zerbrechlich...

...fragile.

I'm so scared he will become like her...

His mother.

- He won't.

Look!

What a great oak!

An old tree house!

Let's climb it!

- No, I don't want to.

- Come on!

Don't you dare?

Coward.

Shut up!

Coward!

Dad!

Yuck!

Can we?

One each.

You don't need to bring things every time.

I have something for you.

- Thank you very much.

- You're welcome.

A small something for Mrs Larsson.

It's jasmine and rose, with a touch of

bergamot and fresh peach.

I hope you like it.

Go on, try it.

Erik will come home on leave this weekend.

He would very much like to meet you.

Our defence is a goddamn joke.

We have cars, but no fuel.

On the other hand we have ammunition, but no guns, so...

Have you heard anything about the Jews in Norway?

We helped a Jewish family cross the border yesterday.

With two children.

They told us that all the Jews are being rounded up...

...and then deported to Germany.

All of them.

Sometimes I think the best for me

and Isak would be to go to America.

This was stuck on our door this morning.

Jew bastard, go home!

- Every day it's like this.

But I don't know...

It's Olga.

She wouldn't be able to come with me.

The doctors at the sanatorium strongly oppose it.

But on the other hand...

They say the Swedish Secret Police

are compiling lists of all the Jews.

Half Jews, quarter Jews...

Why?

If the Germans come here, they can

use the list... for bargaining.

I told you so, Erik.

We have to talk to Inga again.

Excuse us.

We've been through this before...

- You said she burned the letter.

- I want to make sure she did.

I'm on leave for two days and you

want me to get up there for a letter?

I'm a shark and you are a

tasty little squid... I'll eat you!

It's the first time ever squid and shark play together!

Hey squid, let's swim a mile said the shark with a smile.

Ruben!

Coffee's ready.

I'm sorry if I...

said something stupid.

If there's anything I could do to help...

I'm sorry. Thank you for dinner.

It's Simon.

We don't know what to do...

Simon's my cousin Inga's son.

She couldn't take care of him.

She met a man one summer-

She didn't understand she was pregnant...

until she was about to give birth.

- He suddenly disappeared.

- She panicked.

I told her it was going to be fine.

That we would take care of the child.

He was a music teacher at a school across the lake.

He was German.

Jewish.

Have you told Simon?

We will...

When the time has come and the war's ended.

Attention!

Shoulder! Rifle!

Back off!

Nazis, go home!

- Nazi bastards, go away!

- Go home!

Scheiss Jude!

- Good morning boys.

- Good morning, sir.

Scheiss Jude!

Lentov, the cap!

Little brat...

Scheiss Jude! Hit him!

Lentov!

Larsson!

Stop!

No! I don't want to!

Father, help me!

My trousers! No, no!

- Calm down, Isak. Calm down!

- Let me go!

Something happened to Isak five years ago.

The Nazi's had closed down our

bookstore... so I went to Sweden.

Isak and Olga stayed in Berlin.

Olga had one of her nervous breakdowns.

Isak was terrified and hid under the piano.

He was only four years old.

My father came.

But he gave the boy a beating.

Then Isak sneaked out...

...without his shoes.

He wanted to find me.

They were five SA soldiers.

Five of them against a little child.

They wanted to see if he was circumcised.

The little Jew bastard.

They held him down...

...pulled down his trousers, and...

They hurt him so bad.

...for several hours.

They told me...

Kinder vergessen schnell.

Children forget so fast.

Please...

Is my singing that bad?

The Field Christmas Gift is not

meant for a certain named recipient.

Isak, do you want to make some?

It is to be the unknown giver's

gift for the unknown soldier.

- Isak, taste this. It's really good.

- Alcohol is not permitted.

But I can recommend other things

like cigarettes, chocolates...

Leave him alone, Simon...

Wake up!

Anyone home?

- And what are you doing?

- Dad!

- My boy! Hi...

- Dad! Will you stay now?

Have you grown since last time?

Huh? Let me see.

Yeah, sure I have!

That's it... good!

Can you feel it? You feel it when

there's a lot of water on the oar.

Left knee up! Bend!

Right arm forward, upward, lift!

Very good!

Let's get this arm moving!

One, two! One, two!

- Good morning, boys.

- Good morning.

Good morning, I said

Will you help me today?

No, I've got homework.

Hello there!

But you don't, Isak.

You will help me instead.

What are you waiting for?

We have to give him time.

Ruben said-

I couldn't care less of what Ruben says.

Isak, look at me!

Look at me, Isak!

I'm going down to the workshop and

in five minutes you'll be there too.

Anything else is out of the question.

But Erik...

You'll get some fresh air.

Feel this, Isak.

This is how smooth it's going to be.

How are you doing?

Thank you, Karin...

It's Erik. It's him you should thank.

What the hell...

Are you alright?

...and then we'll put a round rod here.

It should fit on the edge

of the rudder. You see?

I'm going to a concert this evening.

Anyone wants to join me?

No way.

- No thanks...

- Karin?

No, I don't think it's our sort of thing.

I would like to go.

- Wonderful!

- Why?

You can't even stand your own mother singing to you.

Shut up!

Good night, Simon.

Thank you.

It was as if I knew it.

As if... I'd been there before.

Inside the music.

It's interesting.

The music made me think of Isak's mother.

Why?

That's what art is all about.

It allows us to enter an inner world.

To emotions that go beyond words.

For me it's a way to survive.

Have you ever wanted to play an instrument?

Would you like to try?

Yes.

- What the hell is he trying to do?

- I don't know. Stop shouting...

Isn't it strange that Ruben took him

to a concert in the first place?

- ...if that's what he wants-

- Isn't what we have good enough?

Mum...

You're supposed to be asleep...

One lesson, and I'll be the one paying for it.

One lesson. Understand?

Let's start again.

How did it go?

So-so.

Please... help me get another lesson.

Karin, he needs more lessons.

You can't learn the piano in an hour.

Stop that now!

- But he's talented.

- He might get stuck-up.

You will find a new language.

You might find a way to express yourself.

Is that so...

This is about you, Simon.

About what you want.

I didn't think you ate pork.

I'm sure God is more accepting in times of war.

- Not again...

- I think he might have heard you...

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