Original subtitles

[Gabriel] You lied! You lied to me!

[Rosa] You wouldn't have agreed.

Of course I wouldn't.

My wife and daughter selling from a stall in the street like a pair of Arabs?

-Those were Mordoch's exact words. -What Mordoch, what?

When he saw how well we were doing at the stall.

We took all his English customers.

Now he's begging us to come sell at the delicatessen.

You must forget about that stall, Rosa.

I just need a little more time.

Time for what?

To persuade Mordoch to accept my terms.

You're not selling at the stall anymore.

That's it. They could have killed you today.

And Rachelika too. [mumbles]

Money, that's what they wanted. I gave it to them, and they were gone.

You sound just like David right now.

Don't you have anything to do other than listen to both of us talking?

You think I'm the only one? The whole neighborhood can hear.

But while you sit here screaming like a madman,

your mother has fixed everything.

David will go to the stall with Rosa and Rachelika to protect them.

Maybe something good will come out of the beatings he likes so much.

I see you haven't heard what I just said.

There is no stall.

Let me ask you something you asked David a few minutes ago.

How much money have you brought home in the past month?

I nearly died of a heart attack.

And may you be healthy, querido mío, and live to 120,

but someone needs to bring home some money.

Rosa and Rachelika will continue with their stall

and David will protect them.

[in Ladino] And I don't want to hear any more talk about it.

Will David allow Luna to go alone to the store?

Did I say she would go to the store alone?

Spoke with David, I arranged everything with him.

What do you need that for?

It's to break bones if anyone so much as looks at you.

[in Ladino] Relax.

Did you tell abba Mordoch sent the robbers?

That's not certain.

-It is certain. -Rachelika.

If your father finds out that Mordoch was the one who sent those robbers,

he'll beat him to death and be locked away.

Keep what you think to yourself.

I am 100% sure.

[in Ladino] Enough.

[David] Come on.

Come, Luna.

Relax, relax.

I'll watch over your wife better than you do.

[in Ladino] Let's go.

[theme song playing]

[crows cawing]

[distant voices]

[sheep bleating]

[wind whistling]

[both] Miriam had a little lamb, such a little lamb.

Miriam had a little lamb and its color was white.

[Amalia] He followed Miriam here and there, everywhere.

He followed Miriam.

And forgot to return.

What are you reading?

I'm learning it by heart.

Like a chapter?

I want to know the entire Bible by heart.

Say something. Doesn't matter what. Anything that comes to mind.

"Show me your face."

"Let me hear your voice."

"For your voice is sweet and your face is lovely."

Go on.

"How beautiful you are, my bride."

"Oh, how beautiful."

"Your eyes behind your veil are doves."

"Your hair a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead."

"Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon."

"Your mouth is lovely."

"Your temples behind your veil are like…

the halves of a pomegranate."

[loud clanging]

David, quit making that obnoxious sound.

Rachelika.

Leave him alone.

It's better he takes his anger out on this than on…

Luna?

[in Ladino] Enough, Rachelika.

[Stanley] Hello.

Hello.

So what's on the menu today?

Try this.

Burekitas.

Burekitas.

Hmm.

Mm. You made these?

Yes, I made everything here.

You are a genius.

The Turks invented it.

Well, if the Turks fought the way they cook,

we wouldn't be here right now.

Rachelika, how are you doing?

Come, Madam, please be our guest. I'll show you.

We have Spanish food, English food, burekitas.

Would you like to taste them? One moment.

[whispering] Why did you come here?

Shh.

ZACKS, LADIES' FASHION, EVENING GOWNS

How much are you going to charge for that dress you're making now?

Fifty pounds.

Or maybe 55.

[scoffs]

Your granddaughter is very, very talented, Mrs. Ermosa.

Sure she is, but who in Jerusalem has 55 lira to spend on a dress?

Some very rich English woman.

The one whose house I was at that time I was late.

When you came home drunk.

Maybe a cup of tea, Mrs. Ermosa?

I would love one, thanks.

I have a set of china in my store for important customers.

Ooh, thank you.

[Zacks] Here you go.

Thank you very much.

Mm!

You're crazy.

There are posters all across town for your head and it's full of soldiers.

That's because you feed them, Rosa,

with food you and I were raised on as kids, prepared by our mom.

Do you have no shame?

Okay, what did you come here for?

For fighting with me about that?

And what about that doormat husband of yours

who lets you and Rachelika stand at the stall all day?

We're working.

When was the last time you went to work?

Who was that Englishman?

What?

The Englishman you spoke with earlier, who is it?

Have you gone completely insane, Ephraim?

[Ephraim] Rosa.

Don't forget who your brother is.

How can I forget?

If for a moment I forget, you immediately remind me.

What do you want, Ephraim?

I want you to get that stall out of here.

What?

You won't feed the British in the middle of the street.

[in Ladino] Ephraim, please.

[in English] This is our livelihood.

You want Rachelika to end up like Matilda, and you too?

What?

They wanted to put a bomb by your stall today.

Your friends, the Revisionists?

If they weren't my friends, I wouldn't be warning you right now.

[in Ladino] Do not sell to the English in the middle of the street.

[in Ladino] And if it's not in the middle of the street, can I?

Please, sister.

[in English] I don't want to lose you.

[peaceful guitar music playing]

[clears throat]

Tuvia? Can I talk to you for a moment?

About the kids?

The thing is, they're not kids anymore.

Actually, you're right.

Yes, they wander around all day,

the two of them together alone.

We need to put an end to it.

I think so too.

In Jerusalem, they wouldn't allow that. They're strict about forbidding yichud.

Actually, here too.

But in the case of Amalia, my heart's grown a little soft, you know.

I'll talk to her.

She'll be as happy as can be. I'm sure Shloimaleh will be too.

I don't think I understood. What are you talking about?

About holy marriage.

No, I…

I didn't explain to you.

We're thinking… we want to go back to Jerusalem.

Come here.

Sit down, Rochel.

[Luna speaking indistinctly]

-[customer] Where can I try it on? -[Luna] There.

[whispering] Luna. Psst! Luna. Come here.

Mr. Zacks… I briefly looked at his hand just now.

So?

He has no ring.

You think he forgot it at home, maybe?

What?

[in Ladino] A wedding ring, stupid.

Oh. Well, that's because he isn't married.

-A widower? -[clicks tongue]

-Divorced? -God forbid. Savta!

He's a bachelor with no family.

A bachelor?

How could that be, a man alone at his age?

No wife, no children like that?

So strange.

I mean, he's always dressed so nicely and so polite.

[customer] Excuse me.

The client's calling me.

-Mr. Zacks? -Shh!

-[customer] Can I have some help here? -Of course, yes.

Mr. Zacks. [laughs]

Could you tell me what you're eating, please?

It's stuffed cauliflower. I'll make you up a plate.

No, no, no, I'm fine. You don't have to.

I insist, Mrs. Ermosa.

You've been here for hours and it didn't even occur to me to offer you some food.

[Mercada clears throat]

Oh, you have such lovely plates. Why do eat from the pot?

It's a habit, and this way I don't have to wash up.

But for you, Mrs. Ermosa, here you go.

Thank you so much.

My mother would make this for me in Berlin when I was a boy.

Try it.

Mm.

Mmm! Very tasty.

At age ten, I started helping her in the kitchen.

And when you're finished, for dessert,

I will give you some rote grütze, which I prepared too.

Oh, yes, something to look forward to.

Let me tell you, Mr. Zacks, in our family, men don't cook.

Yes, in ours too, although I had no choice.

-Luna. -[Luna] Hmm?

Look how your grandmother is enjoying my cooking.

[Mercada] Mm.

Excellent, excellent.

That's so nice, Mr. Zacks.

What will you cook tomorrow for Savta?

[chuckles] She's something else.

[bells jingling]

Rochel, I worked my entire life.

Today, praise God, I have enough for me,

for Amalia, and the grandchildren she will give me with God's help.

With God's help.

I prayed my whole life that she would marry a scholar like Shloimaleh.

There is…

There is something you need to know about us.

That you're poor. I know that.

-[coughing] -I lack for nothing, praise God,

and Amalia is my only daughter.

Do you know how many cars go from Safed to Jerusalem every day?

Ten, 20, maybe even more.

And you happen to get in mine out of all of these.

And thanks to that, Amalia and Shloimaleh met each other.

You don't look like a mother who's about to marry off her son.

Don't you think Amalia is a worthy bride for Shloimaleh?

Oh, heavens forbid.

Tuvia, Amalia is…

She's everything I dreamt of for Shloimaleh.

[in Yiddish] Well then, congratulations to all of us.

Huh?

[in English] Here, here they come.

Luna!

Luna?

-What? -Come, come here. Come.

Here, I want you to taste this.

-What's it for? -Because I'm telling you, come on.

Mm. That's good, Savta.

-Good, huh? -Mm-hmm.

Sit down. Sit down. Sit. I want to talk to you about Mr. Zacks.

Sit down.

Look…

You know that Grandpa Raphael, bless his memory,

passed away 23 years ago,

and I've been alone ever since, you see?

So many years without a man, it's, uh…

it's hard.

And me, I might have a few more years, God willing, to live on this earth.

May you live to 120, Savta.

Come on, really, you don't want me around for another 60 years.

Mr. Zacks. Tell me, how does such a person who is so polite, who is cultured,

has an apartment and a shop, how is he alone?

-He has an apartment, right? -Of course. He doesn't live at the shop.

-Is it his or is he renting? -What?

Never mind. I decided to make him this meal in this pot.

I can't stand seeing him eat this junk every day, poor thing.

Are you all right?

-Come, come sit, Savta. -What's wrong?

Sit, sit.

What are you doing?

Don't move an inch.

[screams]

What's wrong with you, are you mad?

Savta, men like a mustache, but not on a woman.

-I have a mustache? -A little, but you do.

Oh!

[groaning]

Should I stop?

[curses in Ladino] Get it over with now that you started.

Hold on, Savta. You know that Mr. Zacks is an Ashkenazi?

That's fine. All right.

At my age, I'm allowed to have an Ashkenazi.

Come on.

[groaning]

Tomorrow morning, come to my room and I'll do your makeup properly.

Okay, may God bless you.

[shrieks]

[Luna laughs]

[door opens]

[closes]

Are you still mad at me?

I'm trying, but it isn't really working.

Today I missed you so much.

So did I.

It's good we don't spend the whole day together.

Yes, I mean, I thought about the whole thing,

protecting you at the store.

Me, your grandmother.

It's useless.

So do you trust me?

Yes, I trust you.

You can also tell Mercada she's dismissed.

[laughs] That won't help. She'll keep coming.

[David] Why?

'Cause…

Never mind, it's a secret.

Luna, I just told you I trust you. You can't have any secrets with me.

It's Savta's secret, okay?

Is she in love with Mr. Zacks?

What? How did you know that?

What, is she really in love with Mr. Zacks?

[laughs] I didn't know, I just said it.

Not in love, but, like, you know, a crush.

How did you find out? I would never have guessed.

Your husband's not only handsome, he's smart.

I want you to stay by my side tonight.

Don't go down on the floor when I've fallen asleep.

Fine.

-Will you stay by me all night? -Yes.

-You promise? -I promise to try.

Luna, don't forget to take the pot from the kitchen.

It's on the table. I'm waiting outside.

Why is your mother dressed like she's going to a wedding?

If you want to know, go ask her. I really don't want to know.

Breakfast is ready in the kitchen.

Shit with cabbage or shit with carrots?

Why don't you get up and bathe, get dressed, get out a little?

Get some fresh air, see people?

What do you say?

I'm not asking for myself, I'm asking for you, my love.

Can't tell whether you love me or feel sorry for me.

Stop. Don't talk like that.

Will you go out?

Maybe.

[door closes]

Good morning, Abba.

Ah, good morning.

Burekitas. [laughs]

I grabbed some for a snack at school.

Querida mía, what about you?

I took plenty, for you as well.

-Good girl. -You have to hide it.

Here.

Shh!

-Have a nice day. -Have a nice day.

[door closes]

[Shloimaleh] Miriam had a little lamb.

So little, so little.

Miriam had a little lamb.

And its color…

-And its color was white. -[both laugh]

I think my abba needs me.

-[door opens] -[bell jingles]

-[door closes] -Have you come with Greta Garbo?

-Know who that is? -Sure, I'm familiar with Greta Garbo.

-But where is Savta? -Oh!

[chuckles] Come on, Mr. Zacks.

With all due respect to Greta Garbo,

sofrito would have been far from her cuisine.

[Zacks] Wow.

Bon appétit.

Wow.

I haven't eaten such a thing in my life.

You won't leave here without giving me the recipe.

-You put paprika in this. -Very well done, Mr. Zacks.

And curcumin.

Look at him.

He can feel the recipe like a woman.

You know, Mr. Zacks, in our family, the men only know how to eat.

It's so delicious.

-Try the chicken too. -[Zacks] Mm.

You remember what we said?

I have to go to run errands in town.

I'll go and I'll return soon, if I may.

[Zacks] Mm.

[door closes]

You know, Mr. Zacks, you don't really need the recipes for my savta's cooking.

-Why not? -My savta can make it for you herself.

Out of the question.

Should I trouble your savta to cook a pot for me

and bring it here every day?

Absolutely not.

My savta's been a widow. For a long time.

Do you mean…

that me and your savta, that we…

Oy.

You don't have to.

I mean, only if you want to, if you fancy my savta.

And you have really impressed her.

And I told her that you're all alone.

I'm not alone, Luna.

I haven't been for a long time.

Wait, let me get it, you have a woman and you haven't told me about her?

Now I'm angry, Mr. Zacks.

Well, what's her name?

Uzi.

[Rochel] When I was your age, maybe even before,

they tried to fix me up with all sorts of men, but I didn't want to.

Until the day I met your father.

I loved him from the very first second.

As he did me.

And we sinned.

Love isn't a sin.

That's what you told me once.

Nonetheless, our parents thought it was.

That's why…

they married him off to another woman.

And me to Kalman.

From that moment, my life became a lie.

I had an affair with your father.

I kept lying to Kalman even when you were born.

I didn't tell him that you weren't his son.

I want to spare you that pain that I had.

The waste of a life I had.

You are a pure soul, Shloimaleh.

You don't know how to lie.

I'll tell her.

No respectable woman would marry a bastard.

I think she loves me.

I'm sure she loves you, okay?

But when she finds out what it is,

when she explores and understands what it means to be married to a bastard,

she'll understand, your children, your grandchildren…

they'll all be illegitimate.

It's a curse for generations.

It cannot be cancelled. There is no way to undo it.

What a mistake that I came into this world.

-It's not your fault. -So why am I being punished?

Answer me!

Why am I the one being punished for your sin?

Tho u shalt not commit adultery. It's in the Ten Commandments.

You're right.

And I'm sorry.

Then help me.

I'm begging you, Imma, help me, please.

Do you remember…

Do you remember I told you about the list of bastards?

At the Rabbinate in Jerusalem?

Maybe…

Maybe here in Safed the Orthodox are different.

Maybe they're not as strict.

Maybe they don't check or don't even have such a list.

The only ones who know about it

are you, Gabriel and me.

Well, God knows too.

So we'll leave everything up to him.

You want us to lie?

We won't lie.

We'll leave it in the hands of God.

You will register for marriage here in Safed.

And when you sit with the registrar, we will pray he doesn't check.

It's all in the hands of God.

It's in the hands of God.

ERMOSA MORDOCH DELICATESSEN

What is it, Mrs. Ermosa? No work at the stall?

There's a lot of work.

My daughter and son-in-law are there.

Mm.

Shall we talk about business, Mordoch?

Well, with due respect, of course.

I'm willing to close the stall

and come here to sell the food I prepare for the English.

Praise God for sending hope in the darkest of days.

But I have a few conditions.

One, you take down your picture right away

and put back the photo of Gabriel's father.

I'll put it next to mine.

No. Only the one of Raphael Ermosa will be there.

Second, arrange a place for me and Rachelika

to sell the food I cook for the English.

Third.

Gabriel Ermosa will be the boss once more.

No, we're both bosses.

He's above you then.

What matters is what he says.

Why? Since we're partners?

[scoffs]

Tell me, Mordoch, how much money have you earned since I opened my stall?

[softly] The truth is, you screwed me over like I've never been screwed before.

Then don't argue with me.

There will only be one boss.

Gabriel Ermosa.

We continue to sell whiskey though.

Yes. In that you're right. It makes a lot of money.

And the last and most important thing,

you restore the name "Ermosa Delicatessen" like it was always called.

Isn't it a pity, Mrs. Ermosa?

The sign was so expensive.

Okay, good.

Then I'll leave.

But I have to pay you for something before I do.

These.

Very beautiful.

Modern.

I'll take them to the police.

I'm not sure how many years the two robbers will spend in prison

for stealing these beautiful things,

but the person who sent them to rob two women will be sentenced to much more.

I'll fix the sign.

What?

"Ermosa Delicatessen."

Like it always was.

Perfect, Mordoch.

You have to introduce me to him.

It isn't possible.

Why not? Bring him one day to the shop.

It could be dangerous if people found out.

And also, what I have with Uzi is forbidden.

In England, men like me are imprisoned, and they can do that here too.

To prison? What for?

It's illegal.

And in Germany, they send homosexuals to the camps.

If I were there right now, I'd be killed twice.

Once for being a Jew, and also for being…

Mrs. Ermosa.

I'm deeply embarrassed.

I'm sorry that…

I don't want to upset you.

You're a lovely and very impressive woman and quite a cook.

But Luna, she thought I was single.

It's not you, Mrs. Ermosa, it's me.

No worries, that's fine.

Everything's fine. Nothing… nothing happened.

I wish the best of health and happiness to you and your…

and your lady.

When you come back, don't forget the pot.

Good afternoon.

This is for you.

What? Really?

What's this? This is everything that I love.

Also the wine I like.

Thank you, Rosa.

It's not from me.

[in Ladino] I'm just the messenger.

So who is it from?

There's a note inside, read it.

"Dear Gabriel, sorry if I hurt you. We really need you here."

"Please come back. Mordoch."

You don't believe it's Mordoch who wrote that?

I guess he did, actually.

What does it mean?

It means that the next time I go to the delicatessen,

you're coming with me.

No.

Gabriel, the place needs a boss.

That I know.

[footsteps approaching]

Savta?

What, Luna?

I want to try and explain.

There's nothing to explain.

You gave me the impression that Mr. Zacks is single,

that he has no woman in his life, and I embarrass myself, fine.

That's his loss.

Go now, leave me.

There is no woman in his life.

He himself said he wasn't single. So why did he lie?

No, he didn't lie to you.

Even if he wasn't single, it wouldn't work between you.

Why are you being so harsh to me right now?

I'm already feeling awful.

Mr. Zacks is a homosexual.

He's what?

Homosexual.

It's a man who doesn't like women.

I mean, sure, he can love a woman, like a friend,

but he can only fall in love with a man.

I don't understand what you're saying.

He has a boyfriend whose name's Uzi and he lives near Nahariya

and Mr. Zacks loves him.

I mean, he's in love with him, really.

Where did you get this information from?

I didn't know either, he just told me.

I would like to ask your forgiveness, Luna.

For what?

Up until now, I believed you to be spoiled,

that you thought only of yourself all the time.

Now I'm not so sure. I realize that… [chuckles]

[in Ladino] …you have a heart as big as the moon.

Come, my child. Come, come, come.

You noticed that your grandmother was sad,

so you pulled the tail out of your culo to put a smile on her face.

[chuckles] With such a granddaughter, what more do I need?

[peaceful music playing]

"All night long, on my bed, I looked for the one my heart loves."

"I looked for him but did not find him."

-"I will…" -Yes, yes.

"I will get up now and go about the city through its streets and squares."

"I will search for the one my heart loves."

When did you have time to learn all that?

At night. I barely slept.

Amalia.

I have something to tell you.

Well, I have something to tell you too.

My abba wants us all to meet.

Me and you, my abba and your imma.

Uh, what?

In Jerusalem, don't families meet before the wedding?

What did you want to tell me?

Never mind.

[theme song playing]