Original subtitles

Hello, sir. Welcome. Good to meet you.

Is this your first visit?

Yes.

You are welcome.

Where are you from please, if I may ask?

-From Jerusalem. -Jerusalem.

I actually used to know a great man from Jerusalem.

He used to visit us here. Maybe you know him.

His name is…

Raphael Armoza.

You really remind me of him, now that I look at you.

Do you know him?

Raphael Armoza… is my father.

God is great! That's unbelievable!

What a great honor.

How is your father? It's a long time since we've seen him.

May he rest in peace.

God chose him. He is no longer with us.

I am… shocked.

He was strong and full of life.

Good people are taken by God.

May he rest in peace. I do hope he's in heaven.

Your father used to come here, to eat and drink and to have a lot of fun.

-Did you just arrive to Beirut? -Not long ago. Do you still have rooms?

Of course!

Leave your bags, we'll take care of them.

Mr. Armoza, please, follow me.

After you.

Your father used to sit at this table,

and this was his favorite Arak.

And he used to like something else.

Afghani hashish.

Thank you.

Thank you very much! Thank you!

Dear, dear guests,

I hope you're enjoying yourselves.

And I now present to you…

…Aishi!

Uh…

Uh, excuse me.

I was told that this was my room.

This is our room.

Our room?

Yes.

Even your luggage is here.

Wait.

For this thing…

you can't say no.

Opium.

Made in Persia.

The best.

Rochel…

Well, Rosa, it's just the two of us here, and Luna.

Why are you making so much food? And Luna eats like a bird.

Every day, I think that Gavriel may return from Beirut.

-I wanna see him. -Gavriel won't be back so soon, Rosa.

Raphael, may he rest in peace, when he'd go to Beirut,

he'd stay there for two weeks, even more.

He needs to be with us, at home.

He needs to make a living, Rosa.

To pay for this house.

-Are you in a hurry? -No, my ship sailed an hour ago.

When is the next one?

In a week… a month…

I don't know.

You didn't tell me…

What's your name?

Gavriel.

-Mercada… -What's happened?

-Has it started? -It hurts.

Oh. Oh, wow.

Come, Rosa.

-What happened? -It's started.

Come on, go.

Go get Fortuna. Fortuna!

No, no. I'll wait.

Gavriel promised he'd come for the birth.

-Where is he? -You could have waited a few days.

You're always in a hurry. Can you see anything? Can you feel it?

Push!

Breathe and push.

Go! Go on! I see the head!

That's it!

Yes! Yeah, come on!

And that's it!

Mazal tov on your baby girl.

Baby girl you said?

No, no, no. Wait. Wait, Fortuna. There's another one.

Rosa… Rosa, push. There's another one. It's not over.

-What do you mean? -It's not over!

There's another one. There should be a boy.

How? How is there another?

Twins. Push, Rosa. Rosa, it isn't over.

Darling, do you feel there's another baby inside?

-What? No, no. -Yes, there's another boy.

Push, dear, push. It isn't over. You can't leave him in there.

It's dangerous.

What are you waiting for? Help her! There's another one inside, a boy!

You already killed one! Push now! I'm telling you, there's a boy in there!

I don't have anything in there.

Jilda told me.

Jilda said a boy.

I'm certain.

A girl and a boy. She said there was a boy.

Mazel tov. It's a boy.

It's weird you know how to dance.

When I was at boarding school,

me and some boys, we would go to Tel Aviv,

and I'd learn in a place like this one.

-To be a fighter would suit you better. -I know how to fight as well.

Abba, I wanna ask you for something.

I want you to find some work for David.

Well, why's that? Are you…

Are you seeing him?

No…

I'm not.

Not really. They're just in need.

And Matilda used to work and bring home some money.

But now…

David is young.

There's no shortage of work here.

I can ask at the market.

No, I want work that will pay him enough.

I want him to have a nice boss.

He can do anything.

He can organize the storeroom.

He can carry. He can even sell anything with his charm.

Your mother won't like it.

-I don't care about Mom. -Enough.

She doesn't care about me either.

Luna…

All right.

Let me think about it.

No, tell me now.

No. Now…

Shh, shh, shh…

Now, you're going to sleep.

This is… the finest lokum in the land.

Here…

taste it.

Really? I'm allowed?

If I say you're allowed, you're allowed.

It has nuts.

You've never tasted lokum?

No. Maybe once, when I was little.

My father would bring sweets for me and Matilda.

Try this.

Pomegranate.

This is very special.

Hmm?

-Mm-hmm. -Thank you, Mr. Armoza.

Mm, it's nothing.

Mm. Whoa.

Fortuna told me she was at the market

and saw you working at Armoza's Delicatessen.

Tell me it isn't true.

Hey, I worked hard for that money.

David, what did I ask you, huh?

To stay away from that family. Is that so hard?

-So I won't help you anymore. -You're not setting foot in that shop!

What is it, Rosa, they've run out of workers in Jerusalem?

What are you talking about?

Oh, as if you don't know!

I'll die of hunger

before I eat anything your family gives me!

-Have you heard from Ephraim? -No.

Tell me the truth, Rosa.

I'm afraid of what could happen to our family.

I swear, I haven't heard anything.

Now maybe tell me how is it that everyone in Jerusalem knows

David Franco is working at the delicatessen

and I did not know?

You think anyone in Jerusalem cares about who works at the delicatessen?

I care.

Matzliach also told me he's sleeping there.

I'm calmer knowing someone's sleeping there.

It's not someone, Gavriel.

It's David Franco, the son of Victoria Franco.

You may be calm, but it's making me sick.

The delicatessen is my shop, and I decide who works there.

-And if I want someone to sleep there-- -But why him?

Because Luna asked me to!

Well, let Luna wash your feet then.

-Welcome, Rosa. -Bless you, Lieto.

You haven't visited us in a long time.

Have the Syrian olives arrived, the ones I always get?

Yes, I'll get them for you. We'll open a new tin especially for you.

-David! Come help me. -I'm coming.

Careful with those chocolates, they're Martinique.

Each chocolate costs as much as an automobile.

Could you have sold them?

How?

Yesterday, David opened the box, put out ten tablets.

It's Martinique, Gavriel. We sell one a week at the most.

You think he took them?

Well, he sleeps here at night. He knows they're expensive.

He could have gone out and hidden them somewhere to sell later.

When you and I left the shop yesterday and locked up, were they on the shelf?

I don't recall.

I didn't steal those chocolates.

I know that.

Give me a kiss.

Well?

No, no.

-What, no? -No, I can't do this to your father.

What does this have to do with my father?

If you don't want me, just say it.

I do, Luna, but…

You're too important to me. I can't just…

I'm leaving tomorrow to work in Yaffo.

And when will you be back from Yaffo?

I don't know.

Can I come with you then?

You know you can't.

I'll never forget you, Luna.

Oh, welcome back, Gavriel!

I'm so glad you're back!

-How was it, son, did you rest? -It was just fine. Anything new?

Yes. Your wife had a baby.

What? When?

What did she have? Ima?

-I'll be back. Wait, don't move. -What did she have? Ima!

Rosa.

Get up, Rosa, get up. Gavriel's back, get up.

Tell him I'm tired.

Your husband is home, get up. Get yourself together. Get up.

Get up!

And you tell him what you had.

Gavriel! Come.

It's a girl.

I'm sorry.

For what?

For this flower?

I should apologize, Rosa.

I couldn't make it on time.

She looks like her mother.

Hmm… You mean that?

Like two drops of water.

Before you grew a moustache, she looked more like you.

Was it hard? Did it hurt?

The only thing that hurt was that you weren't there with me.

I'm sorry, Rosa.

Something went wrong with the shipment at the port of Yaffo, but…

…that gave me some time…

…to buy you something nice.

-For me? -Open it.

God help me.

-You brought her a watch? -It's a watch for ladies.

Do you mind?

You put it on the other hand.

What is that smell?

Oh… that?

It's tobacco from Beirut.

Good stuff.

Come. Come, come, Rosa. Come.

I promised I'd teach you how to read a watch, right?

Um… Should I take it off?

No, you don't have to. You don't have to.

Now pay attention.

You see here…

there are numbers: one, two, three, up to twelve.

Rosa…

look at the watch.

You see?

The small hand shows the hours, the big hand shows the minutes.

To know what time it is, we look at the small hand.

What does the small hand say?

-It says just after seven? -Correct.

Bravo.

Bravo! It's a few minutes after seven.

Then what do you do?

You count how many minutes by looking at the big hand.

That's all you have to do.

Ah…

Victoria…

Oh, fuck!

-Is that real gold? -Yes.

-How do you know that's real gold? -I know. Gavriel doesn't buy cheap stuff.

He brought our beds closer again.

He started helping with Rachelika.

He brings us food so I don't have to cook so much.

He bought me flowers.

Hmm, well, since he's come back from Beirut, he's a different man.

Do you know Fortuna's story?

I know she's divorced, God forbid, but no more than that.

Her husband would also come home with flowers and gifts.

She thought it was because he loved her, until they told her…

Told her what?

That he had a mistress.

Husbands who see other women

think that God will forgive them

if they bring their wives flowers and gifts.

No, not Gavriel.

If you think he's not like that, you must be right.

Why did you bring that up?

You wanted to know what they told her.

And Gavriel goes to Beirut often.

You know what women will do there for some chocolate or American cigarettes.

They're all whores.

But if you say Gavriel isn't like that, you don't need to worry.

-Listen to me, darling. -I know he's not a thief.

Did you or anyone see him stealing?

I was good to him.

I let him sleep in the storeroom, taste anything he wanted.

You're not answering. Did you catch him in the act?

I've been at the shop since I was a child.

With my grandfather, with my father, and now as an owner.

We've had thefts. Yes.

Although never by someone working at the shop. Never.

Did you see it, yes or no?

No, I didn't see him.

-But it was him. -Why him?

Maybe it was… a customer that came in and stole the chocolates?

Twelve tablets? No way.

Martinique chocolate, the best and the most expensive in France.

And I'm the only one who sells them in Jerusalem, at a loss,

just so people will say that Armoza has Martinique.

-What does that have to do with David? -He knew it was expensive. Lieto told him.

-He sleeps in the storeroom. -Abba, David isn't a thief.

How do you know?

Because I've known him forever, so have you, Abba.

He wasn't raised like you, like Rachelika.

They don't have money. He was in an institution for years.

They have all sorts of punks and hooligans there.

The boy didn't know what lokum was.

And someone who doesn't have anything, sometimes takes, he steals.

To him the delicatessen was like…

a great temptation.

You're not gonna turn him in, are you, Abba?

No, no, no, no.

However, I sure can't keep him there.

I'm sorry, querida.

I am. I'm really, really, really sorry.

A few days ago, Mom said she went to the shop.

Yes, that's true. She did come by the other day.

Was it before or after the chocolates were stolen?

-Why? -Please, try and remember, Abba.

That was the day before Lieto and I discovered that…

How are you not ashamed to even think it?

Think it? I'm sure of it.

Mom will do anything to screw over David and get him out of the shop.

I won't hear of it, Luna!

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned…

Avram?

Good heavens! What? What?

-Oh, hello, Mrs. Armoza. -You were dreaming.

No, no, no, I was just thinking.

Yes, Mrs. Armoza, how can I help?

I want you to tell me please, what this letter says.

Oh, there is a heart here. It's, uh… something romantic.

This was sent to Luna Armoza by…

David Franco.

"To my beautiful Luna,

it's only been a few days and already I miss you

and cannot stop thinking about you."

"Once a week, there's transport from Jerusalem to Yaffo

that returns the same day."

"I can arrange for you to come here, so we can spend a few hours together--"

Thanks, I've heard enough. How much do I owe you?

Nothing, nothing. That's all right. I only read half.

Thank you very much, Avram.

This is quite a… generation of rascals.

TRAVEL AGENT, SWORN AFFIDAVITS, TRANSLATIONS

Can I tell you something, Luna?

Even if what happened with Victoria and with Matilda hadn't happened,

and if David hadn't stolen from the delicatessen…

David didn't steal.

Fine, let's say that he didn't.

Luna, you're still a girl.

You have no business being with boys his age.

David is 18 years old.

You're a man at 18.

And say, God forbid,

there were something serious going on between you…

you are better off.

His family is broke. They have no income.

He has no job, no qualifications. He's not right for you.

I think your father will agree with me on this.

Yes.

Your mother's right.

Yeah.

God willing,

we'll meet a good family,

with a son who is well-educated and has a profession,

whose parents have money and honor.

Luna, you're an Armoza.

You must not forget that.

Are you an Armoza?

-What? -You heard what I said. Are you an Armoza?

Luna, I'm your mother.

I know what you did before you met Abba.

-Safta told me. -Luna…

She talks about David, no money or job,

but what did she do at his age, huh?

She cleaned British people's shit! You cleaned British shit!

What's that smell?

Hmm?

Gavriel, I'm talking to you. What's that smell, huh?

What?

What, Ima?

The smell from your pipe is like…

the smell of the Arabs who smoke at the market.

This is tobacco I brought from Beirut.

They have good tobacco.

I was at the shop earlier.

Matzliach said the goods you bought in Beirut arrived,

but there's quite a lot missing.

It's certainly stuck at the port.

Ah, these Lebanese are all swindlers, that much I can tell you.

We're almost out of pistachios.

We got two tins of Syrian olives instead of ten.

The French chocolate, the lokum…

Maybe they stole from you.

-I have documents for everything I sent. -What will we do with your documents?

If a client comes to buy olives, what should I give him, documents?

Fine.

I'll have to go there and see what happened.

-You just got back. That's absurd. -Do you want to go?

Give me a break, come on.

A boat ticket, a hotel, you know how much that costs?

So, I'll swim there,

like a fish in the water.

Like a dolphin.

Oh, my goodness.

You're completely crazy.

Are you leaving again for Beirut?

Do I have a choice?

Good night to you.

What? Rosa, what?

It's really early.

Rosa!

Look at your watch, it's early!

Stop, Gavriel, I'm tired.

Rosa.

Why are you up?

I woke up.

I didn't sleep very well.

Why not?

I don't know.

All sorts of thoughts.

It's still early.

Go back to sleep.

Well done, Rachelika.

Well done.

-Has she gotten a good report card? -Such pride.

-This child brings us so much pride. -Very well done, my love.

But you… your grades have never been this bad.

You don't like studying, fine.

-But why did you get an F in PE? -I don't like running either.

Hmm.

-Do you even want to keep studying? -She has to keep studying.

She could start working with you at the shop.

Am I invisible? You're talking as if I wasn't in the room.

Don't be insolent.

-How was I being insolent? -And with such a report card.

Not all girls your age go to school, Luna. If you don't want to, just tell us.

I know for sure I don't wanna work at the delicatessen.

So then tell us, what do you wanna do?

-I want to keep going to school. -I'm happy to hear that.

-But in a different school. -Now the school isn't good enough.

-The British school, actually. -I'll die first!

Yaffa, Doctor Sabo's daughter goes there.

I heard that every morning they raise the flag to the King of England

and sing songs.

She told me a lot of Jews go there, and they even serve kosher food.

Gavriel, it's a Mission!

It's a Christian school. Rachelika, stay out of it.

All the girls who graduate there become teachers.

Luna, a teacher? Gavriel, give me some help here.

And I've heard they have iron-like discipline.

And that sounds like exactly what you need.

-The teachers are allowed to beat us. -You got beaten?

No, but they said if you escape or you're insolent,

you get beaten with a ruler on your hand.

Oh, you'll get it tomorrow for sure.

What an awful place it is.

The nuns all wear black, like you're in mourning.

And there's this teacher, Mr. Mizrachi.

He's an Iraqi. He keeps yelling at me, "Quiet, Armoza! Quiet, Armoza!"

What does he teach?

I don't know.

What are you laughing at? It's all your fault.

-You told Dad to enroll me there. -Well, that's what you wanted.

You should have told me I was stupid.

You are stupid, and dumb.

Well, it's too late.

SALESGIRL WANTED

Shalom.

Shalom, shalom.

It's about the sign outside.

Yes, actually, it's urgent.

Haven't you been here before?

I really like dresses and clothes, to be honest. Now I'd like to work here.

Maideleh, it's not for you. You're a student. How old are you?

Eighteen years old.

Seven… Seventeenish.

I'm 16.

And you're a liar too.

Grow up, finish school, then we can talk.

Can I say something to you?

It's unseemly for the shop owner to eat in the shop like that.

I'm starving.

When I work here, you'll be able to eat lunch at home.

Do you have experience?

Have you ever worked anywhere?

I remember this dress.

It cost four lira when I was here.

Now nobody's buying it at that price either.

Tomorrow, I'm taking all those dresses back to the factory.

I'm going to try it on.

Wow, look at that one!

It's pretty.

They came in this morning. It's the latest fashion.

Are you the saleslady here?

Yes, but I'm buying this one for myself. Trust me, it's a good thing you came now.

I'm sure that by tonight we'll have sold them all.

This one will suit you well. And you.

How much is it?

Uh, five lira.

We can't.

If you buy two, they're yours for four lira each.

Good.

I'll take it.

Let's try them on.

You're…

just…

a liar, huh?

If you need help, I'm right here.

What do you mean, a clothing store?

That's what I want, to sell women's clothing.

We sat here and you said you wanted to study at the Mission.

I don't want to anymore.

-Thinks she can get away with anything. -I paid them a lot of money, Luna.

-It's the most expensive school in-- -It's a shitty school, Abba.

Enough! Enough of that talk!

With such a dirty mouth, they won't let you sell anything.

Mr. Zacks has already agreed. He just wants to talk to Abba first.

Who's Mr. Zacks?

He's the store owner.

I do know that store. Matilda Franco, bless her memory--

Don't say "bless her memory."

What's wrong with the Mission?

The teachers, the students, the food, what?

Everything is wrong.

Why don't you buy a school, ask her how she'd like it to be,

arrange it so she's fully satisfied, and then enroll her?

Well, if you want to work so badly, come work with me then.

I wanna sell dresses, not pistachios.

Don't talk about our family's livelihood like that!

That's the best place in Jerusalem. Show respect!

It was your grandfather's and then your father's store--

What does it have to do with this? I just don't wanna work there!

Just come with me once, meet Mr. Zacks, talk to him, that's all.

I won't do such a thing.

You will first finish the year at the Mission,

and then we can talk.