Yentl Page #2

You won't have a moment's peace.

Children are more important

than the Talmud.

Without children to pass it on to, the

Talmud dies with old men when they die.

- I'm sorry.

- I'm the one who's sorry.

You're a woman

but I didn't teach you how to be one.

- You taught me everything I know.

- Too much.

You know too much, but not enough.

- And it's my fault.

- Papa, don't say that.

Learning is my whole Life.

Please don't be sorry. I'm not.

- What is it?

- That tree.

That tree was this high when your brother

Anshel died, may he rest in peace.

You were only a baby, could hardily talk,

let alone ask why.

And now look, look how it's grown.

Too late to tell you to play with dolls, huh?

I love you, Papa.

Hear me, O Lord, master of the universe.

Thou hast given me a daughter

who brings me great pride

and pleasure.

And for this kindness,

I thank thee forever and ever.

What's to become of you, Yentl?

(Crows cawing)

Come, Yentl.

You must tear it over your heart.

- Good.

- (Rabbi) Who will say Kaddish?

- I will.

- It has to be a male relative.

- (Reading in Hebrew)

- (Mourners muttering)

(Woman) May God forgive her.

(Reading continues)

(Mourners pray)

My house is hers as long as she wants.

She'll help in the store,

look after the children, cook...

- Yentl, eat.

- (Woman muttering)

It's enough.

We mourn for seven days only.

Then Life goes on.

Ah!

Sorry.

Razel, Sarah, I think maybe

we come back later.

(Woman chatting quietly)

(Woman) Get your things, Yentl.

I'll come back for you Later.

I'll keep you so busy,

you won't have time to think.

Forgive me, Papa.

Wait!

- Wait. Stop!

- Whoa!

- (Neighing)

- What do you want, boy?

Could you give me a ride to the next town?

- You got money?

- Er, a Little.

- Get in back.

- Thank you.

- Yah!

- Where do you think you're going?

- (Laughter)

- Get off of here.

- Go find another wagon.

- Wait! Please wait!

(Laughter continues)

(Animal shrieks)

God

Our heavenly father

O God

And my father, who's also in heaven

May the Light

Of this flickering candle

Illuminate the night

the way your spirit

Illuminates my soul

Papa...

Can you hear me?

Papa, can you see me?

Papa, can you find me in the night?

Papa, are you near me?

Papa, can you hear me?

Papa, can you help me

not be frightened?

Looking at the skies

I seem to see a million eyes

Which ones are yours?

Where are you now that yesterday

has waved goodbye

And closed its doors?

The night is so much darker

The wind is so much colder

The world I see is so much bigger

Now that I'm alone

Papa, please forgive me

Try to understand me

Papa, don't you know I had no choice?

Can you hear me praying

Anything I'm saying

Even though the night

is filled with voices?

I remember everything you taught me

Every book I've ever read

Can all the words in all the books

Help me to face what lies ahead?

The trees are so much taller

And I feel so much smaller

The moon is twice as lonely

And the stars are half as bright

Papa, how I Love you

Papa, how I need you

Papa, how I miss you

Kissing me good night

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

(Lowers pitch) Who will be for me?

(Coughs)

Who will be for me?

If I am for myself alone, who am I?

(Lower) Who am I?

And if not now...

- (Horse neighing in distance)

- ... when?

(Yentl) Wait!

(Child shouting)

- (Lively chatter)

- (Man) Innkeeper, more soup!

(Chatter continues, men singing)

(Man) Did you hear that?

(2nd man) Yes. I hear, I hear.

(Singing continues)

(Man) Who's throwing that?

Don't throw that. I told you not to.

- Watch out!

- (Man) Lithuania, Poland, same thing.

A school is a school. It's only the rabbis

that are different. The girls...

- Why would the Talmud repeat itself?

- It's an improper translation.

- Even if they contradict each other?

- Avigdor, what do you think?

The Talmud recognises

Life is filled with contradiction.

- You see? He agrees.

- Your move.

- Ah!

- What?

- Nothing, sorry.

- No, go on.

It's just that, erm, if you move your castle

- to queen 7...

- Yes?

His knight is pinned. That's all.

You don't know what you're talking about.

No. Sorry.

(Youth) Stop yelling at me, Papa.

(Man) I'm not yelling!

Checkmate.

The Long diagonal. Who knew?

You shouldve listened to him.

Chaim, catch!

- You want a bite?

- No, thank you.

- Don't play.

- Hey, you. You.

- Sit down.

- Why?

Because I said so.

Five kopecks if you win.

Pay me one if you lose.

What do I have to do?

Whoever forces

the other's hand down wins.

- No, thanks.

- Ready? Go!

(Grunts)

Wasn't it Rabbi Akiva who said,

"The true strength of a man... "

One kopeck.

"... Lies in his ability to stretch

the narrowest mind"? Thank you.

You're welcome.

Now you can stretch my mind again.

Go.

I think Rabbi Akiva also said...

Two kopecks.

- I thought it was one.

- Mm. But I beat you I twice.

Oh.

Give him back his money.

- Why?

- Because I said so.

Because you said so.

I'll see you Later when your beard

starts to grow. Mama's boy.

- No, it wasn't, since you ask.

- Hm?

Rabbi Akiva. "The narrowest mind. "

Oh. Er, was it Rabbi Eliezer?

No, Rabbi Israel Salanter.

Rabbi Israel Salanter.

My brother didn't have one either.

What?

- Are you hungry?

- A Little.

- Help yourself.

- Yes, please.

Which yeshiva are you going to?

I haven't decided. Someplace quiet.

A quiet yeshiva?

- Bechev's the best.

- (Man) Well, the nearest.

That's where we study.

Well, I just count the days till I go home.

His parents count

the days until he goes back.

Our rabbi's a genius.

Rabbi Zalman? Maybe you've heard of him.

I think so.

In one answer, he settles ten questions.

Papa had 10 questions for every answer.

Had?

He died eight days ago,

may he rest in peace.

You're in mourning too.

My brother.

Almost a month now. May he rest in peace.

I'm Shimmele, by the way.

- Oh.

- (Both) Hello.

- And you?

- What?

What's your name?

- My name?

- Name.

Um...

Anshel. That's it.

That's my name. My name is Anshel.

Good. You know your own name.

You're as good a scholar as I am.

- This is Avigdor.

- I know.

- I mean, hello.

- (Man) Boys!

Wagons to the north and west leaving now.

And now means now!

Goodbye.

Anshel.

(Lively chatter)

(Chicken clucking)

Anshel!

Hey, are you deaf? Anshel!

Anshel. Yes?

There's room if you're still undecided.

I just decided.

( Men singing and clapping)

He tells him there's a fisherman

who's got the strongest rod

The cod he catches are so big

And when they see

his cod they scream!

- Where you from, Anshel?

- Erm...

A Little village

you've never heard of. Yanev.

Yanev? I have relatives in Yanev.

A third cousin.

- We moved.

- What?

(Yentl) Years ago.

- You have relatives in Riga?

- Riga?

- No.

- Now we live in Riga.

Oh.

(Avigdor) Were you close?

(Yentl) He was my father and teacher.

(Avigdor) What more could you ask?

(Yentl) What about your brother?

- We were brothers.

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