Original subtitles

WOMAN AND HER FOUR MAN

Based on Holger Drachmann's short story "Romance in the Dunes".

Have a look, whose "frau" is this man?

Perhaps you'll recognise him?

If not, we will drive on.

What, do you not recognise him?

Perhaps these initials are familiar to you?

Mensch, could you take the body to the police?

No, I can't!

I have neither a horse, nor the reins.

Ja, ja...

Each misfortune has its own inconvenience, mensch.

Thank you for the fish soup!

You're welcome!

I'll give the body to the police.

Just in case, "menschius" [you] might be called as witnesses.

Blessed art thou!

Thank you!

Perhaps you'll come sit by us?

It was your man there?

Yes.

Where do you come from?

Baltkrante.

Somehow it seems to me that it must be a very jolly village.

I would like to live there.

Thank you!

Father asks, if you have someone to help you with burial?

He wasn't baptised.

They won't let him into the cemetery.

You are alone, and it seems to me that you don't know what to do next.

Wow! The whole lowland is flooded.

Does this happen often?

In the spring

and each time after a storm.

Next to us, a house with an old woman and a goat was washed away.

In the morning we saw that it's gone.

When did it happen?..

Maybe last year...

I don't remember.

There's nothing but pain inside my head.

Our house isn't splendid either - you saw it yourself.

I did.

Please sit down.

Let it go!

May I visit you sometime... after your mourning is over?

When what is over?

Mourning.

You don't know...

He was a cruel man.

He used to torment me.

God will not forgive him.

I don't say goodbye!

How is that place called?

I don't know.

We'll see it - how would I know, if I've only been there once...

and with my head lost.

Maybe we've already passed it?

Maybe we did, I don't know.

What's the surname of the host?

Oh, what a blight.

Look, what guests do we have here?

This Woman... looks familiar.

Do you recall... last Autumn her husband has perished here.

So, she... must have come to me.

Mein Gott!

That's my brother, eh?!

What for?

She is pregnant.

I used to visit her throughout the whole spring.

What are you thinking to do, son?

What my conscience tells me to...

If you don't mind.

The woman is in trouble.

Water has washed my house away and...

Our roof isn't splendid either but there's enough room for us all here.

- We should give thanks. - Don't! - Thank you!

You could at least change your shirt.

It's a holy day after all and there's a guest in the house.

It's good that you decided to come.

Thank you!

Let's go!

Oh lord!

Good morning!

Good morning to you too!

Here's Woman.

So I see.

I need some water.

Where's that pipe gone?

Here it is.

That's a father, eh?

Father is going somewhere.

I know where he's going.

Finally... so many years I'm waiting...

Oh, my love, so many years...

What are you doing, you infidels?

Let the living thing go free.

Go away, it's my income, I feed my family from it.

Family... Is it necessary to feed on dogs.

Where this dog defender came from.

How much do you want?

Two.

Let it go!

A fifth of the debt that's left.

Nein, nein, a fourth - what about the interest of the interest?

Don't forget the interest, ja.

Oh...

Well, I don't know how to count the interest.

Ja, ja, that's a difficult thing, few people can do it.

It's a pity that you can't deal with your debt.

When you give back even a small debt.

You start your life anew.

Money is life, Herr Mauzehund.

I'll die.

No.

Herr Mauzehund, you'll not die while I haven't repaid my debt yet.

Father, Elder has run away, he chickened out.

I delivered my own sons, and my brother's-in-law three kids

and it all went fine then, don't worry!

Woman, your son is coming to this world on the New Year's Eve.

Do you understand what a night this is?

Do you understand?

You poor thing.

It's the 1st night of the year 1900.

Your child may be the first man to be born in the new century.

Do you understand?

Be patient, Woman.

Father!

Do you hear it? A thunder in the middle of the winter!

What could it mean?

Yes...

It's a good sign, son.

Oh, it's a good sign? Good.

It's a good sign.

New Year's Eve, Woman, the right time.

The right time, Woman.

This hat hasn't been worn yet, take it, Junior.

With the hats on you'll all be like real men.

Show it to me!

Hush, baby, calm down.

- Well, how does it look? - Fine.

Here you go.

Let's go.

Why did you come so late?

We are guilty.

You do everything backwards.

You first bear children, then you get married!

What to do... It's our fault.

How is your health?

Good.

Why are you asking?

No reason, just to be polite.

Is there something wrong?

Smelt - ruffe, smelt - ruffe...

It is time for Junior to marry too.

Is it true, that once a whole village with a church was buried by sand?

People say so.

I think this story is made up.

Why "made up"? Look how we're struggling here ourselves...

A village, a house - that's believable, but a church?

A fairy tale.

Son, never say yes or no until you've touched it with your own hands.

How can you touch, what doesn't exist?

Doesn't exist? What's here then?!

We waste half of our time just digging the sand.

My father told me that, when he was a child,

after a storm a mail coach had emerged from the sand by the cape -

with a charioteer and horses!

Really? Did he see it himself or did he just hear it from somebody?

If my father said so - it means he wasn't lying.

Almost 20 pounds.

Father, don't dip the kid into the fish soup!

Don't forget the Interest!

You talk a lot.

- Guten Tag, Her Mauzehund! - Guten Tag!

How are you feeling today?

Why do you ask?

Just a polite inquiry.

Perfectly!

But I'm going to die soon.

No, Herr Mauzehund.

You'll not die till I haven't repaid my debt.

Perhaps you have brought me the money?

I had saved the money to finally get even with you but...

but the wedding, christening.

We bought a goat, only brass coins are left now.

Ja, ja, the debt is not a trouble in itself.

The trouble is when nobody wants to repay it.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

It's a pity that you can't deal with your debt.

When you give back even a small debt you start your life anew.

Believe me, money is...

A fourth of it is left until the spring.

Nein, a third, a third!

A third?

Never forget the interest!

Finally...

Good evening!

Will you marry me?

Nein.

I'll not marry you.

I can't.

Put a patch here!

There's a hole right above my bed.

At night the sand falls right into my mouth,

I might suffocate one night.

Patching or no patching, Father,

we won't rescue the house from the sand.

You see it yourself, we need wood, we need to build a new house.

How will you afford wood?

I'm thinking about moving the house towards the plain.

What plain?

I'm thinking we should try that in the winter.

Don't think, Father. Don't try to delude yourself or us.

The sand has corroded the logs, they're hollow.

If we try to move them, they'll break.

Our family will soon get bigger.

Woman is pregnant again.

That's a brother, eh!

If only you were catching fish just as fine.

You're rebuking me as if our debts had appeared out of nothing.

Men, go to the table while there is some food.

The boat had sunk, afterwards there was so much fish in the sea...

that the Germans took it almost for free at a market.

Do you eavesdrop on us at nights?

Yes, you do.

And you are suffering.

But maybe somewhere your own woman is suffering too.

You know what you are?

I know.

The scissors aren't cutting.

You are planning to go to find a job but you aren't leaving.

I wonder why?

A witch - that's what you are.

Maybe I should go to a town to earn money without waiting for winter.

You won't earn all the money in the world, let's stick together, son.

Don't go.

Do you realize what that German told us? There will be no end to this.

Not only the interest is growing...

but also the interest of the interest of the interest.

Which we are paying from as far back as I can remember.

We need a new loan or else all labour will be in vain.

It's the last year, we'll get even before Spring.

And then we'll start working for our own benefit.

You hear it, Elder, that's Father, eh?!

You tattle, that's all, Father.

Careful, Woman!

As my father used to say:

"When there will be a wife, there will be a house too."

Everything will sort itself out in one way or another, children, such is life.

You're talking nonsenses.

What are you saying?

I'm saying that you are talking nonsenses, Father.

You swore at the bed of my dying mother to pay the debt by spring...

By heaven, haven't you told her this?

When was it?

We talk and talk but we're still stuck in the same place as if it was a dream.

Shut up or I'll spank you in front of your wife!

Cross my heart!

Buy a bun.

Make a feast for the kid.

Don't forget it.

Fine.

It's still good, you can have it.

Why are you looking at me like this?

I can throw it out, just don't look at me like that.

Why throw it out, I'll have it.

NN - my initials are the same too, isn't it?

It didn't even occur to me.

Does it suit me?

Yes.

So, buy a bun for the kid, will you?

See you!

How are you feeling, Herr Mauzehund?

Why are you asking?

Father wanted me to ask you.

You can tell him that I'm fine, but I'll die soon.

Why is it you who came here and not your father?

Father doesn't want any more debts.

His hope is to get free from interest, from you.

I think I understand what you want.

I want it to be my debt.

You can no longer live under the same roof?

Or does the daughter-in-law not get along well with her father-in-law?

I would like to be my own master,

I can't depend on my father the whole life.

Ja, you have a point.

Gut, I'll give you money.

More beer?

Don't you have small coins?

All like this one.

Are you chasing me?

- You. - Don't come any closer.

What do you want?

- I don't know the way. - The way to where?

To there.

We can walk together.

But keep the distance.

Hey, mensch, wait up.

Where are we rushing so much?

We will be returning anyway.

I don't know the way back.

You won't beat me.

I don't know, I'll try.

Come here, come closer!

You have injured me.

It is you who don't know how to handle a knife.

Do you really need so much money?

It's not my money.

If it's in your hand, it means it's yours.

A house needs to be built.

A wife, one son

and there will soon be a second one.

A whole lot of us, isn't it?

And I also have a father

and a brother.

My brother loves my son...

and my woman.

And she loves him too.

Why the hell are you bringing money to that home...

where your woman loves your brother and your brother loves your son?

What's yours there, eh?

Do you understand?

I'm asking why are you bringing money to that home,

where no one loves you.

But I...

I...

love...

them all.

My father...

my brother...

my woman...

my son...

and the son who's not here yet but whom we're already waiting for.

That's not true! That's not true!

I had a brother and a father once too, eh...

Hey...

Get up!

Let's go back to the town!

We'll get on a ship there and sail away to a place

where nobody knows us...

a place where we don't owe love, friendship or relations to anybody.

No.

That can't happen, they would perish without me.

Mensch, mensch, mensch...

What about me?

Who will help me?

You.. you have to help me!

Mensch!

Mensch!

Help me at all cost!

You have to!

Let's get out of here!

I want to get away from here.

You want it yourself, let's run away!

Let's run.

Go to sleep, Woman!

Father, your son hasn't come back yet.

He didn't return home.

Calm down and go to sleep!

Do you know that Elder has gone to the town, Father?

Did he went to Mauzehund?

Yes.

Father is ill, doctors are with him.

Your elder son visited us recently.

He borrowed 150 in silver,

Father ordered to write it down in your name.

You must sign here.

My son didn't return, he's gone missing.

And what about money? Where's the money?

What money?

The money that he's borrowed.

There was a similar happening here some time ago.

A man left his wife and kids, and ran away with the money.

No!

No, you are wrong!

It can't be true.

Not true.

You are a bad man, if you can say so!

Well?

Well, what?

Why are you burning oil without any need?

Elder hasn't been to Mauzehund.

Nobody saw him in the town.

Help me, son!

Don't you think that Elder will never come back?

Nobody knows that.

My heart feels something else.

I can't condemn him as you do.

I can only blame myself.

If a man leaves a woman,

it's probably not because... the life has been easy for him..

Neither me, nor Father is blaming you.

Really? You must often think,

that you lost your son and brother because of me.

No! We really don't.

Tell me, if it stays how it is now, will you agree to be with me?

What are you talking?

Don't joke like this.

If Father hears it, he will punish us both.

I think he's listening to us.

Father told me himself to propose to you.

He said that either one of us has to marry you.

And why does Father think that I must take you for a husband?

He's afraid that you might take your child and leave us one day.

In this condition?

Not necessarily today.

"Woman off a cart - easier for the wheels" [Prov: ~"One less thing to worry about"]

You would be glad.

You've been talking a lot, I've heard...

He talked to me.

What are you thinking to do?

So, is it him or you with whom I must marry?

Don't I already have a husband?

Half a year hasn't passed, since he left.

You are speaking righteously, carry on.

Father!

Stay quiet, son, when adults are talking!

Let's eat! Do you want to eat? You do...

We live under one roof.

Healthy and alive.

Thank you!

Oh Lord!

Go to sleep!

Who's crying there?

A man is born, son.

So, we are four men again.

You now have a brother.

Where did he come from?

He just did.

Time is money, mensch... Time is money, ja.

You'll go to the town.

It seems that I don't have any business there.

You do, it's about the loan, mensch.

The master has died of apoplexy.

Now his son settles all the affairs.

They say he's closing the office.

The new master is urging everybody to return debts and interest.

Everyone is being nailed down, not just you.

A fifth of the debt is left, we've paid up the interest two months ago.

You risk being sued, mensch.

The judge is saying that you are accused of not having repaid your loan.

He says that your son has borrowed money...

and ran away while you've signed the promissory note.

Are you translating everything correctly?

I'm telling you what I hear.

Has Elder ran away?

He's ran away with the money? Repeat it!

My brother has not gone missing, he has run away?

A thief in the house?!

And Father hid it from us!

Think about Father now.

I'm thinking about the harm done.

Even if your brother is on the wrong,

don't forget that he is you brother, son.

Even in this hour when you are on trial?

After we've laboured so much, not being able to repay those stolen money?

Even in this hour, and after, always, my son.

Always, son.

Your highness, please listen to a witness - the owner of the tavern Mr Hunder.

Mr Hunder who was the last person to see my son.

The elder son of this man had come to the tavern back then.

He had silver money, he bought five buns and left.

He's asking what does it have to do with this case?

Your highness,

my son bought five buns,

do you understand it?

One for each of us, he was going home!

My son is honest like his grandfather.

Like grandfather's grandfather.

The judge said that he didn't return home.

That's an entirely different thing, your highness.

Thank you, sir, you are a honest man.

The judge says that you'll be imprisoned, your possessions will be sold in an auction.

The boat, the wall clock, two goats... and something else.

Did he said "the boat in an auction"?

Ja, that's what he said.

- Danke schön! - Bitte... you're welcome!

My love!

Don't wait for me, you see that I'm unfortunate.

I won't marry you, Margarita.

Are you ashamed of me? You never loved me.

So, such cakes and ale...

Now whole household is on your shoulders, son.

Will you do without a boat and fishing nets?

I'll, Father.

He will manage. But what shall I do?

"What shall you do"?

Mary Junior, Woman!

I don't know.

Live together!

Anyway you'll fall into a sin, once you're alone.

It means that it must have been destined.

But he was going home, you said so yourself.

If he ever returns, he will understand us.

I bless you, children.

Death certificate.

Thank you!

This certifies...

that in the year 1904...

police has declared...

as a missing person.

Smelt - ruffe, smelt - ruffe...

I feel scared, I...

When I see you, I remember him,

his eyes...

But you feel good with me?

I am Woman..

Come to mammy.

Almost a wedding feast.

Could I borrow some money?

Not much, at least for a flour and burning oil?

No.

Do you have a boat?

I don't.

Do you have a fishing net?

I don't have anything.

What can I advise you, huh?

You don't have anything, you've just given your last jacket.

Well...

You know, in order to get a credit,

you need to have some possessions...

or a job.

What can I tell you, you can see how much of everything I have..

I could get you a job,

Join the lifeguard brigade, I'd recommend you.

Then we'll see.

I'll work as a lifeguard thanks to the coastal patrol.

Congratulations, mensch, you qualify for this position.

Alarm! Don't you hear the bell?

- What's burning? - Not burning but drowning, fool.

10 thalers for each saved person, get up!

10 thalers for each saved person.

Did you heard it? 10 thalers.

Repeat it, Father!

I said that the family seems to become larger soon.

It seems so for us too.

Did you hear that the pastor died, Father?

How will we baptise the child then?

We'll figure something out, son, God is not only in the church.

Do you still have the strength to bear it, Father?

There's not much to bear.

But at least we no longer have any debt.

Huh?

Don't tell him that we've got a new boat.

But he'll see it himself once he returns.

It's good that you've become a lifeguard, that's a honourable job.

The job is really entertaining.

Ask if he gets enough food.

Have you anything warmer to cover up at night?

Alone.

I'm alone here, utterly alone all the time.

We've repaired the roof

and bought a new boat, you'll see it when you'll return.

I've asked you to stay quiet about it.

Who are you?

Poor woman, could I ask you for a glass of water?

Thank you.

Oh, how I would like to stay here.

Do you know a land? In the blooming stackyard There the oranges laugh

The blueness shines all year round Have you been there?

Oh, quicker. I would live there, my dear, forever.

But my soldiers are waiting for me...

Accompany me.

Do you know a house? A staircase leads you through the colonnade to an ornate hall.

And the marble faces of the statues seem to ask: Why are you so upset??

Have you been there? Oh, quicker, there.

I would stay forever, my guardian.

Who are you?

May our children be as happy as we are.

Who is this lady?

This whore?

The Bloody Louise, the poisoner.

Her time is over.

We'll take her to the fortress of Shlisselburg and behead her...

I work at night.

If strolling along the seashore can be called a work.

Pointlessly, during the rain...

And I sleep at daytime.

And I keep dreaming the jail and Father,

and Elder.

As if they were in the jail together..

I don't hear a word from you for weeks.

The children call me "uncle".

You've never been a father to them.

Really? Aren't we of the same blood?

There's only one Father at our home.

- Now I'm the Father. - That's just how it's turned out..

Do you still love Elder?

I still do.

He has left us.

"He has left".

Are you waiting for him to come back?

No.

I am not waiting for him.

But he will come back.

What about me then?

I love you too.

But love is unequal to love. [Proverb]

Don't be angry... We're together.

What else do we need?

Alarm!

Oh, Lord!

Do you not hear the bell?

Everyone's already there.

Is someone drowning?

You're the only one that's not there, get up, quick.

10 thalers for each saved person.

The Court, considering that your son perished..

and his family is now left without a breadwinner...

that he has been a lifeguard and has died while on his duty..

By the court's verdict, his father has been granted an early release

How quickly the children grow!

How did he die?

Cry it out, it will be easier.

Father, won't you have to go back to prison?

A man can never be... sure about that.

Let me to dig too!

Fine, just throw it further away.

Throw it further away from here.

Whatever happens, life must go on.

Junior must have been earning a lot.

Sometimes he would get lucky,

we've bought back the boat, grandmother's clock.

Good that you did so.

Sleep now.

I was listening to you singing.

You weren't happy with Junior.

No.

On the contrary.

Sometimes, when a thought occurred that...

...that Elder might return anytime, we would get scared.

Now he really could return.

Forgive me!

For what?

Because of me, a strange woman, you have lost both of your sons.

Hush, Woman, hush!

For the sake of God, shush!

Oh, Lord!

My father,

at whose home I had also been Junior, once told me.

A man comes into this word for a test.

Neither then, nor now I couldn't understand who is testing us.

Who wants to know the limits of human sufferings?

I...

I didn't have the strength to conf...

confess...

We have a new debt.

I suspected that.

The wind is rising,

there will probably be a storm.

I'll go check on the boat.

Father, I have a toothache.

Wait, don't cry, we'll baptise your brother and then we'll take care of your tooth.

Seems like it's time to change the names.

You'll be Elder, listen to me, you'll be Junior.

You, little cry baby, will be Minor!

Come to me!

Come to your grandfather, I will baptise you!

I baptise you in front of your mother,

your brothers and the Lord who is so merciful to...

Pull him out, quick!

You haven't drowned.

It's all right, he'll be a good fisherman.

You'll get warm in a minute, you're a man.

Oh, you little brat, you won't escape your grandfather! Hold him!

Junior!

You are Junior... so, you must to obey us.

The tooth is aching for you, not for us, you got that?

Now I'll tie one end of a thread to your tooth

and another one to the goat's horn. Bring here the goat!

I don't want to!

Then I'll tie one thread's end to your tooth and another one to the boat..

And we'll sail to the sea, agreed?

I don't want to!

How to walk all your life with a loose tooth?

Well, we sail away now!

Good afternoon!

Guten Tag!

- Yes. - "Yes" what?

That's our belt.

Last week after the storm, people...

...a few versts away from your home...

...discovered two bodies,

which have emerged from the sand.

There was a knife in one of their chests, another one seemed to be strangled.

That's how they died - at each other's grip.

Did he have money?

- What? - Did he have money?

Yes.

How much?

A lot.

149 in silver

and some change.

Count it!

And sign that you have received it, sign here.

Go for it!

Go for it! It's very simple.

Luck always comes unexpected.

You haven't seen so much money in your entire life.

Your Elder has come back.

My husband has come back.