The House on Chelouche Street Page #4

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Mom?

Where were you?

I asked where you were.

That's for keeping me

up all night worried.

That's the last time

you slap me, mom.

Do you hear me?

The last time!

Don't touch me.

Your sandwich

is in the kitchen.

Go, go ahead.

Go have a strike in the workshop.

I'm not going back to Goldfein's.

I don't want his charity.

- Don't want it?

Fine.

Do as you please.

I don't want it either.

You hear me?

I don't want it either.

I'm done. From now on, you take

care of your brother and sisters.

I did my share.

Do you hear me?

I've sacrificed enough.

I won't do it any more.

If you're a man, you don't need

your mother any more.

A man should take care of his

mother, not the other way around.

A man...

See for yourself. What's to lose?

He's got a heart of gold.

A real, educated man.

Did you tell him I have four kids?

- Sure I did.

I don't know about this,

Madam Koka. -What's to know?

Go out with him a few times,

maybe you'll get lucky. -Maybe.

At least take your feet

off of the bed.

Today it's not for you, Nisso.

- When will it be for me, Clara?

Here you go. Jab out my eyes

so I don't have to watch this.

Madam Koka,

When is he coming here?

He should be here any minute now.

He is a punctual person.

Mazal, Mazal. What's going

to become of you, Mazal?

What's going to become of me,

Clara?

Your old mother. Will you

throw me out on the street?

I'm not getting married yet,

mom. Not yet.

Koka, where did you find this guy?

Does he have any money?

Do you think I would

bring a beggar to meet you?

He has a house,

a land, some chickens.

May God give him

whatever he is lacking.

God help us. What will you do now,

go work in the fields?

Stop it, mama.

Be a farmer?

Hello.

Hello, Mr. Haim.

Clara, Mr. Haim Zinger.

Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

Please, sit down.

- Thank you.

Here you go.

- Thanks. -You're welcome.

I'm Rafael.

I'm Clara's cousin.

Nice to meet you.

And this is Sasson, my cousin.

- Nice to meet you.

This is Mazal, Clara's mother.

- Nice to meet you. -Likewise.

And this is Sultana, my wife.

Won't you drink some Arak?

- No, no. Thanks you.

Have an olive.

A cucumber.

It's nice here.

What's nice? Nice...

It's a dump.

It used to be nice.

What did he say?

What's his name?

Zinger.

- What does Zinger mean? -Singer.

Singer? Have him sing something,

so we can hear...

Why didn't you say he was like that?

- Like what? He's a man!

I looked for him high and low.

How will I get rid of him now?

- He's just right for you, Clara.

Meshulam.

- What's up? -Nothing.

What's going on here?

- A celebration.

See you later.

For that?

You're leaving me for that?

I was nine when I arrived in

Jerusalem. I studied in the Heder.

And when I was 16

I joined the Jewish regiment.

Did you hear that, Clara?

He's from Russia.

A friend of Ben Gurion's...

Where are your kids?

Out walking.

They'll come home soon.

Sami, come here.

This is Sami, my eldest.

Some coffee, Mr. Zinger?

You don't have to call me

Mr. Zinger.

Haim is fine. Just Haim.

- Sorry, I'm not used to this.

And he's Ashkenazi.

So? We're all Jewish.

Thanks to our forefathers,

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

He's too old.

He's my husband's age.

Enough, mom!

How old was your husband,

may he rest in peace?

Old age, Mrs. Mazal,

isn't measured in years.

Nissim Hudara.

Well said.

What did I say?

No, really.

If they hadn't told me you were...

Clara's mother, I would say

you were her big sister.

God forgive me.

- Don't worry about it.

To your health.

Cheers.

Sephardics and Arak

always go together...

Sami!

How are you holding your drill?

Move over.

Sami, when's the wedding?

Halfon! -What?

- Where's the key to the chainsaw?

In that box. How many times

do I have to tell you? In the box.

Here, put your hand here,

clutch the handle and turn it.

You see?

Here you go.

Say, Sami,

can I count on you tonight?

Halfon. -What? -The glue

is spilling into your coffee.

Oh my God!

There goes my coffee.

"Halfon"

Go to sleep. Sleep...

All of you, get up!

You! Get up!

Me no good.

No good. Sick.

No, no.

My husband! Father!

Four children!

Four children. sick...

Leave me alone!

Me, No good...

- Jacko!

Get up, you bloody jew!

Me, no shoot.

Me sick.

Me English.

No shoot...

Take those two bastards.

- No!

No! Children!

Me mama! Shoot here!

Shoot here!

Me! Mama!

My children!

Damn them.

Are they planning to kill us?

It's been three days!

I'm going out.

I don't have any medication

for Jacko, no food. I'm off.

My God, Clara, where are you

going? They're shooting people!

Shooting? Fine.

You only die once.

It's okay.

Stop!

Go back.

Go back home!

Food! Children... food.

I want food.

No eat children.

Stop or I'll shoot.

Shoot shmoot.

I go doctor. Children sick.

Children sick, I go doctor.

Burn in hell...

Come with me to the police.

- OK, police. OK.

Bastard...

Clara, are you nuts?

What are you doing here?

Sasson, quit annoying me.

I need food and medication

for Jacko. Let me go now.

Clara, you're a hero.

Going out on a day like this?

Even on a day like this

we need to eat.

I need food and medication.

Let me see if I can arrange

a "pass" for you.

Wait here.

- A pass? What's a pass?

What is it?

I know this woman.

Her son is very ill.

She has to see a doctor.

She needs food, medicine.

Thank you.

Here you go. You could have

gotten me in a lot of trouble.

Go home, quickly.

Here, look. A pass! Idiot.

I was so scared...

To hell with all of them.

Sit down. -Mom...

- Your mom was so worried.

We have some food, mom.

Thank God you're back safely!

- We have eggs, some oil...

weren't you scared?

- I was frightened.

No fear.

- There was fear. Lots of fear.

Hello.

Sami! What a surprise.

Where were you all this time?

I was busy.

I was looking for a job,

and then there was the curfew.

How are you?

- I'm good. I'm real good.

And you?

I was worried about you,

you know?

You used to come every day,

and then you vanish for two months.

I didn't even know

where to look for you.

I thought you'd understand.

- Understand?

Why I didn't come.

- I don't.

I wasn't exactly busy.

I mean, I was busy, but...

that's not why.

You know why.

- No. Why?

After what happened.

- What happened?

You know, I really missed you.

- I missed you too, but...

after what happened, I didn't know...

I didn't see how we could...

How we could have a future.

- A future?

Yeah, after that night.

- A future? After that night?

I don't understand.

That night, like you call it,

I enjoyed myself.

Didn't you?

- Yes.

I did, but after

what happened later...

I realized we had

no future together.

We're not the same age,

and I thought you might...

- Look, Sami,

we were friends, right?

We had fun together.

We were glad to see each other.

At least I was.

No, I was too.

I...

You know our friendship

was very special to me.

I could talk to you...

about things

I never told anyone else, ever.

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