Sweet Land Page #2

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they didn't tell you she was German?

- I didn't know.

- How could you not know?

My parents wrote me that there was a girl

who would be good to marry.

- We were at war with Germany.

- [Murmuring]

Yes, Frandsen?

Martin Luther was German.

[Chuckles]

German.

[Chuckles]

She is not one of us.

We speak a common language, we have

a common background, common culture.

She is not one of us.

- Do Do you have papers? Papers?

- [Norwegian]

- Immigration?

- Immigration?

Ja.

But this says that you're

a member of the Socialist party.

- Ja.

- She's a member of the Socialist party!

- [Murmuring]

- Olaf! This is

- No, no. No, I'm sorry.

- No?

There can be no wedding ceremony today.

Not today. No.

What you need to do immediately

is to go and seeJudge Sundby.

Come.

There will be no ceremony

this afternoon at all.

The judge. That's all the way

over in the county seat.

It'll be okay. Uh

Maybe we can stay with my wife's cousin.

You hungry? Hungry?

[Inge]

Uh, I could eat a horse.

Come, Inge Altenberg, to eat.

[Horse Whinnying]

Ja, Olaf. Judge Sundby.

[Olaf]

Ja. Okay. Thank you.

[Frandsen]

Hey, look.

My cousin, Hanse, lived there

after the bank took away his farm.

After a week, he came out

onto those steps and blew his head off.

- Boom!

- Boom?

Yeah.

German. What were

you thinking of, Torvik?

- I didn't know.

- [Scoffs]

With a name like Altenberg,

how could you not know?

- Where's that herring?

- I didn't

Mmm. Did you hear the one...

about the man who went

to the man with no pants?

- No.

- Frandsen, how is the crop?

- Good. Good.

- Good. And the family?

Like the crop.

[Chuckles]

She doesn't look German.

Pretty eyes.

But bewitching.

Devious.

That's the giveaway those eyes.

[Scoffs]

Mmm, judge?

[Choking]

[Frandsen]

Uh, banker.

But he also owns

the, uh, grain elevator...

and the insurance.

My friend Um

My wife's... cousin.

Judge?

[Chuckles]

That'll be the day.

But I do own the only steam tractor in the state.

Full of hot air.

But we will go to the judge tomorrow.

For sure, for sure, for sure.

"For sure, for sure"?

[Norwegian]

Means, "for sure, for sure, for sure."

[Norwegian]

Never bless the day until it's done.

Charming for farming,

but in business...

you've got to make plans.

Business and farming don't mix.

[Laughing]

[Chuckles]

I'll get the bags from the car.

[Laughter Continues]

[Door Closes]

How's the crop, really?

Really good.

It had better be.

- Okay?

- Okay.

Okay.

"Women are considered chattel

of the husband or father, and it is assumed...

that citizenship is the same

as the husband or father."

Immigrations Code 623.3.B.

We just want to be married.

I don't know who this woman

is without the correct papers.

So give us the papers.

We'll go home. I have work to do.

I didn't write 623.3.B.

[Closes Book]

[German]

[Norwegian]

[Norwegian]

[Tapping]

Yes?

- Can we see the judge?

- Judge.

She'll have to take

a literacy test...

and for that she'll need

to know English.

- Was that Norwegian she was speaking?

- She is German.

German?

I'll see ifJudge is available.

[Horses Trotting]

[Door Opens, Closes]

Anyways, the judge says we have to be careful

about this sort of thing.

- What sort of thing?

- German nationals.

German nationals engage in prostitution,

they encourage polygamy...

they harbor dangerous

political convictions.

Are you aware of

the Espionage Act of 1916?

You think she's a spy?

Well, I'll tell you

what's in her favor

She's not Chinese.

Nice day though.

- [Grunts]

- [Frandsen Mutters]

Olaf, come on.

Help the lady.

- [Norwegian]

- Ja.

- Ducky.

- Ah, ducky.

Hey, let's make a photo.

- No, I have work.

- Oh, shut your trap about the work, Olaf.

And give me the whole shooting match with

the Kodak dingus. You know it won't work for me.

It's just here. You got it?

We're gonna make a photo. Uh

- Fotographie?

- Yeah, yeah. Come on, Olaf.

Come on.

Here.

- Uh

- Move your hands, Frandsen.

Here. I want your mug, Olaf.

- [Norwegian]

- Those fancy shoes are not for traveling.

Uh, be happy.

Uh, Olaf, how do you

- Lykkelig.

- "Lykkelig" is happy?

- Yeah.

- I thought "glede"was happy.

Uh, that's more like "delighted."

Oh. Happy. Delighted, eh?

- Happy. Delighted.

- What's the difference?

- There's no difference.

- So, why have two words then?

Hmm?

[Inge]

Happy. Delighted.

What about "ducky"?

That's a good word.

- Ducky? Ja.

- Ducky. [Chuckles]

Uh, now, Olaf, put your mug here.

[Film Clattering]

[Groans]

You balled up. I only have one piece of film.

Yeah.

- Not ducky.

- Not ducky?

No. Come on.

No, no, no.

[Norwegian]

Uh, no. You, uh, sleep.

Olaf, tell her.

- [Norwegian]

- Frandsen? No.

- Olaf, no.

- [Norwegian]

Are you sure you want

to marry this one?

Maybe she's right. She just wants a bathroom.

What difference does it make?

Do you have any idea

what your neighbors would say?

Where will you go to church? You'd have to

drive clear to Minneapolis to buy your seed.

Goddamn this whole goddamn mess!

Until we get married, you go with Frandsen.

[Norwegian]

[Norwegian]

You are, uh

- You are [Norwegian]

- [Norwegian]

- Behaving badly.

- You are behaving badly.

You are the one who is doing that thing

that you are telling me I am doing.

- Okay, okay, okay.

- [Both Shouting]

Okay, okay.

Olaf! You gotta start my car!

[Engine Starts]

[Olaf Shouts]

Inge, come on.

Come on.

[Whistle Blows]

[Tractor Engine Rumbling]

[Woman Shouting]

Inge from Snsa!

Welcome, Inge. Oh!

I'm Marta, Frandsen's wife.

Call me Brownie.

- Brownie.

- Brownie. Welcome.

I'll bet you need

a bath.

- Bad?

- Bath.

- Bad.

- Hey! It's a hot day. We all need a bath bad.

Especially after all you've been through.

Uh, Inge, a bigger, better,

faster way to farm.

- Big

- Bigger, better, faster.

- Bigger, better, faster.

- That's right.

You hungry?

- Hungry?

- I could eat a horse.

- [Chuckles]

- We can find that.

- After you.

- Where's Olaf?

[Frandsen]

Uh, Inge.

Her mother's mother, uh German.

- Uh, Tysk.

- Deutsch?

No. No. I'm an American.

My mother's mother was German.

My mother's father was Irish.

My father had Ojibwa blood.

But l I'm an American.

Mmm... tysk?

No, no. All clean. All clean.

American. Uh, her mother's mother

Yeah, mother's

American.

American.

Okay. Who would like

a ride on the tractor?

[Children]

Me! Me!

[Laughing]

- Brownie, will ya

- Yeah. Start the tractor? Sure.

[Chuckles]

Whoo-hoo.

Come on, darling. You can be first.

You got five miles of road on you.

[Pouring Water]

- No. Okay.

- Okay.

Suit yourself.

All right, sweetie pops.

Go to Mommy.

There you go.

Come on.

Good girl. Inge?

[Snoring]

[Farting]

[Farting]

A mighty fortress

is our God

A bulwark never failing

Our helper

He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe

All right, no batter now.

No batter.

[Man]

Good eye! Good eye! Good eye!

[Men Shouting]

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