Original subtitles

(light music)

- Stop, Colin!

- What?

- I don't believe it.

It's exactly the same as Mother's.

- If we hadn't lost it in the fire

I'd swear it was one and the same.

- I wonder who it belongs to.

- Probably someone passing through.

- Oh, isn't it beautiful?

- They're gonna lose it if they're not careful.

- Oh if only I could play it.

- Get away! (horses neighing)

What are you doing?

- I was just... - Don't touch it.

- I was just trying to secure it!

No!

- Oh!

- [David] I said stay away.

(speaking foreign language)

- Hey! - I warned you!

(speaking foreign language)

- Look!

- I'm sorry, the cart shifted.

- He was just tying it.

Are you alright?

- David, you help me here.

I'm sorry.

- You leave my family alone!

You leave us alone!

(speaking foreign language)

(majestic music)

(gentle music)

- Apparently they arrived in Australia three weeks ago.

- Oh, from where?

- Somewhere in Russia.

- They'll let anybody in the country these days.

- What have you got against Russians, James?

- Nothing personal, but you must admit Kathleen

that Patterson's Ridge is a far cry from St. Petersburg

or Smolensk.

- Hasn't been that long since you arrived from England.

- Kathleen, the home counties are not exactly

the Russian Steppes.

Evening. - Evening.

(bright music)

(hammering)

- It's colder today.

- It's getting late.

- Try telling your husband that.

- I always listen to my wife, not much choice.

- He won't rest until he's finished.

- Got some more nails?

Oh hello.

I won't be long.

- You said that yesterday.

- I did, didn't I?

- Yes.

You can't work in the dark.

- Got a lantern.

- Colin, you have to rest.

Besides, I've been missing you.

- Well so have I.

- You've been too busy to even think about me.

- Never.

- See you two at home.

- Thanks, Rob.

(gentle music)

Look at it from up here.

- It's wonderful, Colin.

Remember when the old church burnt down?

You said it could never be replaced?

- I said some things were lost forever.

Memories, moments.

Can't be replaced.

- You've also said, Colin McGregor,

God will listen to your prayers no matter where you are.

- I know what I've said.

- It's good to see the new church taking shape.

- Yep, soon as he got the go-ahead from the diocese

there was no stopping him.

(chuckling)

- Well there's your receipt.

- Thanks for staying open.

Had to get this signed.

- Not a problem, Matt.

Regards to the family.

- Thanks, Herbert.

- Oh I'm sorry, the bank's closed.

- Oh, forgive me.

- Just a minute, are you...

- I am Jacob Berkovich.

- Welcome to Patterson's Ridge, Mr. Berkovich sir.

I've been expecting you.

Herbert Elliot.

- How do you do, Mr. Elliot?

How do you do?

- Fine, thank you.

Matt McGregor.

- Mr. Berkovich, pleased to meet you.

- Jacob.

- Matt, Mr. Berkovich is taking over the general store.

- Right, I'm glad to hear that.

- Oh the papers arrived here last week from Melbourne.

- Oh, good.

My family.

I think they would like to say hello.

Do you mind?

- No, not at all.

- Come in, come in.

My wife Rivke, Sarah, my mother Hanna, and my son David.

This is Mr. Elliot and Mr. McGregor.

(pensive music)

- Mrs. Harris has done a fine job

of maintaining the store while it's been under lease.

- I can see.

- Thank you, Mr. Berkovich.

- [Jacob] Is there a stock list?

- [Herbert] Ah, yes.

Here we are.

- [Jacob] Thank you.

- No doubt you'd like to take stock before you sign.

- Yes, thank you Mr. Elliot.

- It's very nice to have you here.

(speaking foreign language)

- She thanks you.

Jacob, (speaking foreign language).

- My wife is anxious to see our new home.

- Well yes of course.

The living quarters are just out the back,

through the partition.

- Thank you.

Let's see!

(speaking foreign language)

- Do you think they'll still be needing me?

- Give them a chance to settle in, Mrs. Harris.

- This is fine, I like it.

And you, Rivke?

- Yes.

- I want to sleep next to a window.

- And you will!

It's a little smaller than our home in Kiev

but that's alright.

Because out there is all the space in the world.

We're surrounded by freedom.

(speaking foreign language)

(piano music)

- Well I don't understand.

- Well I think the organ falling off the wagon

was just a mishap.

- There's more to it than that.

- Such as?

- I don't know, it was almost personal.

- It was my fault.

- No it wasn't.

- How could it be personal?

It's not as if they know you.

- I mean you were only trying to help, Colin.

- Maybe they thought I was going to steal it?

I feel I should pay them a visit.

- What for?

- To clear the air.

They've only been in the country a few weeks.

Imagine how that must feel.

- You might not be welcome.

- Colin's right, the Berkoviches are new here.

It's important they're made to feel welcome.

What if I go first, pave the way, huh?

- Thanks.

(hammering)

- You must learn patience, David.

- What makes you think it will be any better?

- It's a different country.

- It is the same world.

Some things never change.

Like this cold.

- They are good people, David.

- Be charitable in your judgment of others.

(speaking foreign language)

- We can learn from the past,

but we must live in the present.

(inspiring music)

God is with us.

You must understand, Mrs. Harris,

we are a family of five.

I can't afford to pay wages.

- Of course, I understand, Mr. Berkovich.

- I want to thank you.

- Yes, thank you Mr. Berkovich.

- Mrs. Harris.

- No no no, it's alright.

- Please, I insist.

- Thank you.

- Good morning ladies, welcome to Berkovich's General Store.

Have some cake.

(light music)

(knocking)

- Hello!

How do you do?

- I am Rivke Berkovich, this is Sarah.

- Hello Sarah.

- We have taken over the general store.

- I'm Kathleen O'Neil.

- Would you like some cake?

- Oh, I'd love some.

Thank you.

Mmm.

What is it?

- Honey cake.

- Mmm.

- It is traditional where we come from.

The symbol of hope for a sweet future.

- You speak English very well.

- My husband insisted it was important

if we were to make life for ourselves in a new country.

- I see.

- Jacob, my husband, wishes to place advertisement

in the newspaper.

- Oh good, let's see.

Berkovich's General Store, everyone welcome,

your good friend Jacob Berkovich, fine.

- Jacob is friendly type, we all are.

- Then I think you'll like it here

because it's a friendly town.

- Good, thank you.

- [Kathleen] Goodbye.

- Needs cutting back badly.

I'll see to it right away.

No charge.

- Thank you, thank you so much.

- [George] Just a way of saying welcome.

- Thanks for those tools George, I'll...

(tense music)

Morning.

Look about yesterday.

If you want to talk about it.

- [David] No, no I have nothing to say to you.

- See you at church.

- Ah, Mr. McGregor.

- Jacob, please, call me Matt.

Well it's looking very nice.

- Slowly, slowly.

- My daughter in law, Emily.

- How do you do?

- Welcome to Patterson's Ridge.

Do you mind if I just have a look around?

- Please.

- Jacob, about what happened yesterday

between my son and yours.

- That's where I saw you.

I didn't know he was your son.

Makes it even worse.

- It was just a misunderstanding, that's all.

- Yes and no.

My David, he means well.

- I'm sure he does.

- But you must understand it hasn't been easy for him.

For all of us, really.

- I'm sorry.

- We left our home in the middle of the night.

(dramatic music)

It's like a dream now, a nightmare,

but that's how it was in Russia.

When I say we are lucky to be here,

I don't just mean because it's such a good country.

I mean we are lucky to be alive.

- Jacob, the reason I came here was to tell you

that you and your family are most welcome here, I mean that.

- Thank you Matt.

Thank you.

- Don't worry, I'll fix.

- Where did you get it?

- It belonged to my grandfather.

- I used to have one just like it.

- My mother insisted we bring it.

12,000 miles.

Madness.

- I'd like to get it repaired for you, if that's alright.

- Eh, don't worry.

- Please, it would make me very happy.

- If it makes her very happy.

(bright music)

- What are you doing, put it down!

That is ours!

- Yeah, yeah, of course it's yours.

- Well why are you taking it?

Leave us alone!

- It's alright, your dad knows about it.

(speaking foreign language)

It's not what you think.

(speaking foreign language)

To be repaired, it's alright.

Sorry Matt.

- Ah, no need to apologize.

(speaking foreign language)

Where we come from it is not uncommon

to have your furniture and belongings taken from you.

- Taken?

- In the pogroms, in Russia.

(industrious music)

(hammering)

- Here it is.

Pogrom means riot in Russian.

So Jacob was referring to the mob attacks

against the Jewish people and their property.

- He said it was a nightmare.

- Well can't the police do something?

- Well it seems the Tsars encourage it

- Encourage it?

- By not doing anything about it.

- Unfortunately they don't like the Jewish people.

It's no wonder David reacted so strongly towards you.

- What do you mean?

- Well the Tsars are Russian Orthodox.

I'm a clergyman.

So the collar I wear probably represents this

way of life they've left behind.

- Well I found it.

The bellows split, that's why it's not working.

- Can it be fixed?

- Can't see why not.

(singing)

(speaking foreign language)

David, listen.

We are lucky to be here, to have come this far.

And we have to adjust to certain ways.

As a way of welcoming our new life to this country.

- By abandoning our own ways?

- We made this journey because of what we believe in.

The same belief your grandfather died for.

(emotional music)

- Then the store must remain closed on the Sabbath.

You always said...

- I know what I said David but we are in a different

country now and it is expected that we serve on Saturdays!

- It is wrong, Father!

(speaking foreign language)

- If grandfather were here he would not let you.

(gentle music)

(murmuring)

- What's going on?

- They fired Mrs. Harris, then shut up shop

on the one day I get into town.

(tense music)

(knocking)

- Good morning, Mr. Berkovich.

- Come in, Mrs. O'Neil.

- Thank you.

(speaking foreign language)

- I'm sorry to intrude, I just wanted to make sure

that you're alright.

- We're alright, thank you.

- Why is the store closed?

- This is our Sabbath.

- Oh.

It's just that there are people waiting outside

and they traveled for miles on a Saturday.

It's a very important day for them.

- Of course.

It's an important day for us also.

(banging)

It's alright!

I'll go.

- Open up!

What's going on here?

Come on!

What is this?

- I'm sorry, the store is closed.

- [Kathleen] Frank.

- I'm going out in the muster, I need supplies now!

(muttering)

- Just be patient please, Frank.

- I haven't got time to be patient,

I've got six stock men waiting on the ridge for me.

I need provisions.

I'd like to be served if it's not too much trouble!

- There is no need to yell.

- If that's how I get served!

- Come on, open up!

- Please, you will upset my family!

- You going to serve me?

- Frank.

- Get out, leave us alone!

- Shh, David.

- What's wrong with you?

- I'm sure there's a rational way we can deal with this.

- About time.

- What's the problem here?

- They've shut the store.

- The Jews won't open the store.

- Maybe you ought to show a little more respect.

- What for?

- Their religion.

- Oh yeah?

Well no one forced them to come here,

but seeing they did, maybe they ought to show

some respect for our ways which includes

doing our shopping on Saturday!

- Alright, I have an idea.

- I'm glad someone has.

- Give us 10 minutes, would you Frank?

- 10 minutes?

- It's not too much to ask, is it?

- Thank you, Mr. Black wood.

- Good morning, Mrs. Harris.

- Good morning, Mrs. McGregor.

- Could I have a pound of flour, a pound of sugar,

and some raspberry jam please?

- [Mrs. Harris] Of course.

- [Emily] Thank you.

- We didn't ask for your help.

- I know.

- You know nothing about us.

- I know a little about your Sabbath.

- Is that so?

- Look, no one should be punished for their beliefs.

Would it make a difference if I took this off?

- Would it make a difference if your family was destroyed?

Split up in the pogroms, uncles, aunties, cousins

just disappeared.

Or if your grandfather was killed by the Cossacks

because he was a Jew.

- It's not like that here.

- You know nothing!

- David!

Come David.

Remember it is the Sabbath.

- Things are different here, Father.

People don't observe the Sabbath.

They do their shopping instead.

- Because their Sabbath is on Sunday,

just like in Russia.

- Then let them shop on their Sabbath, not ours.

- David!

I'm sorry Mr. McGregor.

Again.

- It's alright.

- I always knew it would be a long journey.

I never thought it would be easy.

(light music)

(hammering)

- The old and the new.

When I put this on the alter, just like old times.

(heartfelt music)

The first service here in the new church

will be in January.

I think it should be January the 26th.

- Why the 26th?

- Because that's the day the first settlers

came to our country.

- Oh, a sort of Thanksgiving.

- You owe me an apology.

- I owe you nothing.

- Take my advice.

- Why would I do that?

- Either fit in or get out.

(pensive music)

(dramatic music)

(light music)

- What's wrong?

- The cross, it's gone.

(dramatic music)

- What's up?

- Someone's taken the cross.

- These struts, what's happened to them?

(screams) - Colin!

- Ow!

- Colin, you alright?

(groaning)

(organ music)

- The stop is stuck.

- [Colin] Here, try it now.

(organ music)

- Do you remember that?

- Your mother used to play it.

- Don't blame yourself.

You always left the cross on the alter

before the church burnt down.

You said it was important when people came to pray.

- Oh it is.

Or it was.

- What reason could someone possibly have?

- Depends.

- What are you saying?

- Young David's made his feelings quite clear.

- Go and see them?

- Be like I was accusing him.

- I'm sure he could handle it in the right way.

- Just wouldn't be right to do that to them.

(fraught music)

(light music)

- Whoa.

Okay.

One two three.

- Good, good, down here.

Just there is good for now.

- Corner here?

- You should not have bothered, really.

- Oh no, it's a wonderful organ.

- Ah, it's just an old thing.

(organ music)

It works!

- Yes, Rob fixed it.

- The lid, yes, but the organ, it hasn't played for years!

Has it Rivke?

- For years.

Mama!

(speaking foreign language)

- She thought she was hearing things!

(laughing)

- There you go. - Thank you.

- Thank you Matt.

- Pleasure, Jacob.

- Thank you so much.

- Oh Matt, I hear there was an accident.

Is your son alright?

- Yeah he's fine, thank you.

- I am glad to hear it.

- Matt, you've been very kind.

- Oh yes.

- It would be a great honor if you and your family

would join us for our...

(speaking foreign language)

- The dedication of our new home.

- Oh.

- It is customary to invite one's best friends.

- We'll all be there Jacob, thank you.

- Good.

- Bye.

Ya.

(pensive music)

(hammering)

(speaking foreign language)

Mazel tov!

- Mazel tov!

Means good luck.

- Mazel tov. - Good luck.

- Mazel tov.

- Mazel tov!

- Jacob, good luck.

- Thank you.

- From all of us.

- Thank you.

It is customary now to recite one of the psalms, thank you.

Here it is, number 15, it is most appropriate.

Colin, are you familiar with this?

- Yes.

- Perhaps you would join me.

- Of course.

(speaking foreign language)

- Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle?

Who shall dwell on thy holy hill?

(speaking foreign language)

(exciting music)

- What's going on?

- Thought you might need some help.

Emily told us you wanted the first church service

to be a tribute to our first settlers.

- That's right.

- We've got a deadline then, the 26th of January.

Australia Day.

(bright music)

(hammering)

- Jacob, give him time.

I'm sure he'll come around.

- He carries so much anger inside.

He won't let go of the past.

- Hello David.

- Hello.

- I've brought you a drink.

- Thank you.

- Why don't you join in?

- I don't know.

- It's okay, you don't have to if you don't want to.

(industrious music)

- Yeah, secure that corner first.

(inspirational music)

- Memories.

Jacob's father was killed by the Cossacks

because of his faith.

Jacob and David had to collect the body

from the steps of the church.

David was only 12.

(applauding and cheering)

- Creator knows all your thoughts.

- I know, Father.

- Have good thoughts, do good deeds,

and he will reward you.

- Why do you help them?

- They are good people.

They've done nothing wrong.

- Grandfather did nothing wrong, did he?

- No.

- We have done nothing wrong.

- Everything that's happened, I ask myself why.

Why?

- It makes me angry.

- Yes, it makes me angry too,

because I don't know the answer.

- Is it allowed to be angry?

- Yes.

As long as it stays in the past.

Your grandfather, if he was here now,

he would not be angry.

He would be happy.

So happy.

- Would he?

- Yes.

He used to say to me, "Jakole".

That's what he called me, Jakole.

He would say, "Jakole I had a dream last night.

"You know what I dreamt?

"Of somewhere where people could live together,

"no matter who they were or what they believed in."

(speaking foreign language)

Freedom.

He would say, "Someday, you and your children will find it."

- I miss him, Father.

- Yes, I miss him too.

(speaking foreign language)

I wish he was here to see it.

- It's beautiful, we deserve it.

- Everyone deserves it!

It's hard to believe it's really happened.

- Hello Jacob. - Colin.

- There's something that I have to raise with you.

- Please.

- Is there something wrong?

- No, it's my David, he's sick.

He's been coughing for some time.

Then yesterday he fell in the river.

- When he came back he was chilled to the bone.

- How did that happen?

- I made a mistake.

(gentle music)

I lost my footing.

(inspirational music)

(bell ringing)

- Well I've, I've waited for this day

for such a long time now.

No words can express the thanks I feel to all of you.

And that comes from the bottom of my heart.

When the old church burnt down, I thought that

Patterson's Ridge would never be the same again.

And I was right.

It's even better now, thanks to your hard work.

Welcome to your new church.

(murmuring)

(gentle music)

- It's back.

- What?

- The cross is back.

- Let us read from the first book of Chronicles,

pages 10 to 11.

Blessed be thou, lord God of Israel.

- Pardon me.

I know this is a very special day.

- Please, come in.

- No no no, it's alright.

I have something which could be of use.

It'll only take a minute.

(murmuring)

- Colin!

- A gift from the Berkoviches.

- Thank you.

- Yes, thank you.

- My mother wanted you to have it.

- Thank you Bob be.

- 12,000 miles.

I always knew there was a reason.

(speaking foreign language)

- She says may it last you for many years.

- Mazel tov.

- Mazel tov.

(uplifting music)

- We'll leave you now.

May God be with you.

- And with you.

(organ music)

♫ The Lord's my Shepard I'll not want

♫ He makes me down to lie

(uplifting music)

(gentle country music)