Original subtitles

[door clangs]

How may I be of help, Mrs. Armoza?

-My brother is here? -[James] Yes, your brother is here.

[exhales shakily]

And why are you holding him?

I would give my second eye

to bring back Matilda.

My friend, who was fatally wounded in the blast, is dying in the hospital.

Is that a sufficient answer?

But why do you think that he did it?

I'm sure of it.

Here…

in this place,

the Turks hanged my other brother…

and killed him.

Please…

I want to see my brother now.

[restrained sobs] Please.

[breath trembles]

Please.

[door opens]

[heavy doors clang]

-[door opens] -[breath trembles]

[sobs]

[cries] Ephraim!

[Rosa whimpers and sobs]

[gasps]

[crying] Ephraim, what have they done to you?

-[chains rattle] -Ephraim.

[cries]

[Ephraim grunts softly]

-[Rosa sobbing] -[Ephraim groaning]

-[Rosa gasps] -Hi, my sister.

[Rosa sobs]

[in Hebrew] ♪ We are unknown soldiers ♪

-♪ Uniforms, we have none ♪ -[Rosa sobs]

♪ In death's shadow we march ♪

-♪ In its terror ♪ -[Rosa sobs continuously]

♪ Volunteering to serve To the end of our days ♪

-♪ Only death from our duty can us sever ♪ -[Rosa whimpers]

[shouting] ♪ Over village and town! ♪

-♪ Our flag we'll unfurl! ♪ -[metal doors clang]

♪ Love and freedom ♪

♪ The message 'twill bear… ♪

[thud]

[sighs]

-[sighs] -[footsteps approach]

-[Luna mutters] -[in English] What are you doing?

I, uh… have to get a few things.

You're a good man, Gavriel, who's making a mistake.

I can't force you.

I can just promise you that I will always love you,

no matter what.

[inhales deeply] I will be waiting here, wherever you go,

always.

I also promise to take care of our Luna.

Because the boy or the girl will always remain with the mother.

What is it, darling?

You want Abba?

Take her.

At least say goodbye like you should.

Come here, sweetheart. Come here.

[Luna whimpers softly]

[Gavriel sniffles]

Enough, enough. No tears. Okay, love?

[sighs]

Daddy's going away for a little bit.

Don't go, Daddy. Don't leave me.

[Luna sobs]

And now,

go back to your mother, okay?

[he sobs]

[voice breaking] But Daddy will be home soon.

[sobs] All right?

It's just for a little while.

[both sob softly]

[voice breaks] You shouldn't cry, my love. Give Daddy a big hug.

[both sobbing]

[Gavriel sniffles]

[quivering sigh]

[sighs]

[breath trembles]

[sighs shakily]

Here.

Here.

[Rosa sighs]

[Gavriel sighs deeply]

[melancholic piano music plays]

[music continues]

[children chatter indistinctly nearby]

[music fades out]

[downbeat piano music plays]

[dog howls]

[distant dogs barking]

[crickets chirp]

[Gavriel growls playfully]

-[Luna giggles] -[Gavriel chuckling]

-[mimics gagging] -[Luna murmurs indistinctly]

Mm! Nice smell that has. What is that smell?

Do you want to pick another lemon?

Let's see.

Let's see if we can reach it.

-Look at that. -[Luna] Hmm.

[chuckling]

You know who loves you most of all, the most in the entire world?

What's that smell?

[Luna murmurs indistinctly]

-[Gavriel] Is it the lemon? -[Luna] Yeah!

[Gavriel] No, it's you!

[sniffs] It's coming from here? Or it's over here?

-[Luna giggling] -It's the lemons! It's from the lemons!

-[laughing] -[Luna murmurs]

-[Gavriel garbles] -[Luna giggling]

-[Luna squeaks] -[Gavriel laughs]

[Gavriel, in Ladino] ♪ Sleep tight, precious girl ♪

♪ Sleep tight with no fear or pain ♪

♪ Close your beautiful eyes ♪

♪ Sleep, sleep in peace… ♪

[softly] ♪ From the cradle, you come… ♪

[heavy door clangs and squeaks]

[metal door clangs]

[Gavriel, in English] Luna Armoza.

I just want to see her. Five minutes.

See that she's okay.

Please.

[soldier] I'm going to check no one's around. Wait here.

[Gavriel sighs deeply]

[metal door clangs]

[footsteps approaching]

[door squeaks]

A British soldier cannot be bought.

The punishment for what you have just done is five years' imprisonment.

[Gavriel inhales deeply]

Just free my Luna.

-No. -Then let me see her!

If you try again to bribe one of our soldiers--

I want to see how she is! She is my daughter!

Now leave me alone!

[yelps and groans]

[groans and gasps]

[breathing heavily]

[pants softly]

Go home, Mr. Armoza.

[Gavriel sighs]

-[door clangs] -You don't belong here, you know that?

This is not your country!

[distant bell rings]

[bell rings]

[James] I'm coming from the hospital now.

-Bill is dead. -[Luna's breath quivers]

I'm sorry.

He was my friend.

You liked him too.

[Luna's breath quivering]

Did you see Ephraim Siton inside the club before the explosion?

-You already asked me that, a thous-- -I'm asking you again.

Luna,

I know how much you loved Matilda.

You grew up together. Soulmates, even.

Don't you want the bastard who murdered her to be punished?

I know it's not easy for you.

Your uncle.

Your mother's brother.

But the fact is, he has Matilda's blood on his hands.

You loved Matilda.

And now, she's in heaven, and she looks down, and she's very angry.

[sobs and sniffles]

I can charge you with cooperating with terrorists.

At your age, according to the laws of the Mandate,

you're old enough to be sentenced to many years in prison, or even death.

-I want my father. -And I want your uncle!

Give him to me and you can go home

and be with your father as much as you like!

[tense pulsating music plays]

[door clangs]

[door lock clanks]

[door clangs]

[door clangs]

[Gavriel sighs deeply]

Gavriel.

To you, it's Mr. Armoza.

The Jews of Jerusalem are praying for your daughter.

She's a heroine.

I know her uncle Ephraim.

He's a friend, a close friend.

Did she say anything to you?

Listen, um…

close friend of Ephraim,

if you want to say something, go ahead.

But if not… have a good day.

The thing is, though, Mr. Armoza,

the Jews are having a hard time in the Land of Israel.

As if the damned British and Arabs weren't enough,

there are the Jews who inform to the Limeys.

They are the worst.

-Hmm. -And they have to be hurt the worst.

You agree with me?

-Listen carefully… -[man groans]

…close friend of Ephraim's.

If one hair should drop off the head of someone from my family,

if a mouse comes and nibbles at my merchandise,

or a pigeon shits outside my shop, it's you…

[man groans softly]

…close friend of Ephraim's, whom I'll be coming to look for.

[man grunts]

[water sloshing softly]

[Gavriel sighs]

[sighs] Why would they hold a child like this?

They're worse than the Turks.

What do they want from her?

[inhales deeply]

[exhales deeply]

The day before we went to the police…

I spoke to Luna.

She remembered that Ephraim was there,

at the British club.

-That's not true. -He was in a clown's costume.

And what would Ephraim be doing there,

at Purim, at a British club, if not… you know what?

-Luna is lying. -She's not!

-[Gavriel inhales deeply] -Gavriel…

-Do you know what will happen if Luna-- -[Gavriel] She won't tell them.

You know why, Rosa?

Because I…

I told my daughter to never, no matter what, inform on family.

Promise me you won't tell the British what Luna told you.

You care about her at all? About your daughter?

If that hooligan had a drop of dignity,

a drop of morality to realize how he's ruining our family,

he should now be a man

and go to the British and tell them that he did it.

I've already lost a brother.

-Answer me one thing, Rosa. -[water sloshes]

Who do you care more about?

Your daughter, your own blood,

or him?

How long will they keep Luna? A day, two days, perhaps?

Ephraim will be hanged.

You know what those bandits from the Etzel do to those who inform to the British.

[scoffs]

Are you trying to scare me, Rosa?

[water sloshing]

-[rooster crows] -[church bells ring]

[Gavriel muttering breathlessly in Hebrew]

[wood creaks]

[Gavriel pants] God my Lord, God of my forefathers,

righteous in all generations…

[Gavriel moaning]

-[Rosa breathes heavily] -Grant me a male heir who is decent…

[Gavriel grunting]

-[dog howls] -[Gavriel mutters indistinctly]

[sighs]

[Gavriel mutters indistinctly]

[grunting]

-[pants] -[Rosa moans]

[Gavriel panting loudly]

[in English] Conceive already. Conceive, you selfish woman.

[breathlessly, in Hebrew] …and desired.

-[Rosa sighs] -Handsome and kind…

[in English] You've exhausted him, poor man.

-[Rosa moans] -[Gavriel, in Hebrew] …living without sin…

[in English] That's it.

-Are you all right? -Yes.

Why?

You look a little…

[sighs] …like when you were pregnant with Luna.

-[chuckles softly] -So can I say congratulations?

[Victoria chuckles softly]

-With God's help. -With God's help.

Every time I'd hear you and Gavriel,

I'd pray for you to conceive, and that it would be a boy.

Is that what you do at night, listen to me and Gavriel?

That's all I have left, Rosa, hearing other people in bed. [chuckles]

Could you tell me about the long face, though?

-You should be happy. -[Rosa] Mm…

-What did Gavriel say? -I haven't told him yet.

I haven't told Mercada either. You're the first.

The minute Gavriel finds out, he'll stop touching me, as if I'm sort of…

impure.

So, one day, you'll just have a big belly?

I'll tell him, soon, when I'm comfortable.

Till then, for a few more days, I'll have a man in my bed.

That's something.

Mercada too, once she hears, she'll…

start telling me not to pick up this, not to drink that.

She'll have me eating the tip of the etrog.

She's right. It's good for pregnancy.

Besides, it wouldn't hurt you to rest a little, would it?

[Rosa sighs softly]

After Luna was born, there were days, sometimes,

when I didn't want to live anymore.

-Don't say that, please, Rosa. -That's how I felt.

Um… I felt as if I was…

I was going crazy.

[breath trembles] As if I had a demon…

who was controlling my thoughts.

I'm afraid I will feel the same again.

Until the baby comes, you have nine months.

-[footsteps approach] -And once doesn't mean it'll happen again.

What happened? Hmm?

You were talking away like a radio, and you become quiet when I come along?

Victoria just told me that she--

That, as a matter of fact, I am…

-[thump] -Well, I'm working very hard.

Washing half the neighborhood's clothes.

-That's hard. -[Victoria] Including ironing.

I can barely stand on my feet.

[snare drum tapping]

[up-tempo percussive music plays]

[music fades out]

[Victoria] Mm!

Mm.

The pie is really excellent.

My mother, God rest her soul, she taught me how to make it.

Mm… What did you put in it?

My mother also taught me, if I make something delicious,

I don't tell everyone what I used.

I'm your neighbor, Mercada.

Because you're my neighbor,

I'm not going to lie about the recipe so you can cook something

that can't be eaten.

[Victoria chuckling]

-Heaven help you, Mercada. -[Mercada] Hmm.

Where's Rosa?

I sent her to Yehuda to get more ice.

Yehuda comes by twice a week and sells blocks.

But I ran out. I needed it now.

Carrying ice from Yehuda all the way here in this heat?

Here she comes.

[scoffs] God help me.

Give it to me.

No, that's not right.

[sighs] Oh dear.

[sighs]

Where should I put it?

On my head. Where do we put ice?

[Victoria] Wow. How did you carry this?

What?

[Rosa retching and coughing]

-[Rosa heaves and grunts] -[water splashes]

-Rosa? -[Rosa spits]

[grunts and sniffles]

What?

-Come here a second. -[Rosa] I'm going to lie down for a bit.

Before you lie down, come here for a moment.

[chopping]

Sit down.

Is there anything you'd like to tell me?

Because if you had told Gavriel, I would already know.

-[cat meowing] -[fire crackling gently]

That's how you're making me look, like I'm some sort of witch?

One that would let her daughter-in-law

carry ice in the heat when she's carrying a child?

Huh?

What's wrong with you?

You tell Victoria before you tell Gavriel, before you tell me.

I wanted to be very sure first.

So Gavriel wouldn't be disappointed.

This time, you will have a boy.

-I'm sure of it. -[door opens]

-[door closes] -[Mercada] Here comes Gavriel.

Do you want to tell him, or should I?

Never mind. Your wife's pregnant.

[Gavriel gasps]

Really, Rosa?

[sighs and chuckles]

-Praise be to God. -[Mercada] Praise be to God.

This time, it will be a boy.

[Gavriel] Amen.

-[bed clatters] -Why are you separating the beds?

[sighs] Rosa…

it's not good for us to… when you're pregnant.

I've asked, Gavriel. It's all right.

-Who did you ask? -Yehudit, the mikvah attendant.

-She said it's allowed. -[scoffs] The mikvah attendant.

I asked Rabbi Shlomo. He said it's forbidden.

Who should we believe? The mikvah attendant or Rabbi Shlomo?

[man] Rachel!

Tzachi.

-Ephraim Siton's your uncle? -Who are you?

-[foot stamps] -On the radio, they say he's a hero.

You want to be like him?

-Do you visit him in prison? -No, the British won't let us see him.

If the British weren't here, your uncle wouldn't be in prison now.

They say the British also took your sister to prison.

They'll let her out eventually, but your uncle…

-Really? -You want to help him go free?

Me?! How?

Come here tonight at ten.

Here? What's gonna happen?

Just come.

My parents will never let me come.

You're a big girl, Rachel.

Rachelika.

What?

My name is Rachelika.

-[crickets chirp] -[distant dogs bark]

[crickets chirp]

[bucket clatters]

[British soldier] I don't believe it! She went by me, she didn't say anything!

[footsteps approaching]

[footsteps leaving]

Shall we continue?

Continue what?

-[bucket clattering] -[liquid sloshes]

[Tzachi] Well, what are you waiting for?

Paste these.

[bucket clattering]

[both laughing]

[Gavriel] Pinhas, amigo!

Come, come. Give this to me. Give it to me. Come on in.

-[door closes] -[Gavriel] Come on in. [laughs]

-[growls playfully] -[Pinhas grunts]

-[Gavriel laughing] -[Pinhas chuckling]

[Gavriel] Mwah, mwah. Come, come. Come on in.

Come on in. God bless me. How many years has it been, man, huh?

How is the senora?

-[Gavriel sighs] -Praise be to God.

-And this is Rosa, my wife. -[church bell rings]

[soft music playing]

[church bell rings]

-She's pregnant, like you told me. -[Gavriel] Mm-hmm.

-When, with God's help? -No, no, no. Don't answer him.

No, I'm sorry. That brings the evil eye.

First of all, for the senora.

[Mercada chuckles]

[Gavriel] Ah, what a gentleman.

The latest fashion in New York.

[Mercada] It's so beautiful, Pinhas. Thank you.

-[Pinhas] This is for Luna. Where is she? -[Mercada] Look. Lovely.

At the neighbor's, playing with the kids. Thank you very much.

-You shouldn't have, Pinhas. Thanks a lot. -And this, Gavriel, is for you.

I remember how crazy you were for automobiles when we were in New York.

[all chuckle]

[Pinhas] He would look at every automobile.

He would drag me to the shops. He almost bought one.

-[chuckles] -Thanks, Pinhas. Thank you very much.

-[Pinhas] And this, madame… -Yeah?

…I brought for you.

[Gavriel] Huh.

What's that?

Bra. That's what they call it in America.

I sold 600,000 pieces this year alone.

Yes, but what is it for?

You wear it, actually, instead of a negligee.

It holds up the titties.

-[chuckles] -[Rosa chuckles softly]

[Rosa] Thanks, Pinhas. [giggles]

-[Gavriel chuckles] -[Rosa giggles]

[Gavriel chuckles apprehensively]

[rooster crows]

Your tits look like camel's humps with that thing on.

-[chuckles] -It's comfortable, Victoria. A pleasure.

On top of that, my back pains have stopped.

Yes?

Oh, what does it look like?

Come over later, I'll show you.

[chuckles] Show me. Nobody can see us.

[Rosa sighs]

[Rosa chuckles softly]

[Mercada inhales deeply]

[flame lapping]

[eerie breathing echoes]

[liquid splashing and dripping]

[steam hisses]

[objects clatter]

[Jilda whispers] Reish.

Reish is good. It's for Raphael.

[steam hisses]

[Jilda] Lamed.

[Mercada] Oh! They're sending him from heaven.

Raphael. We'll stop there. Half a name is enough.

[Jilda] We stop only when we have the entire name.

Otherwise, it brings bad luck.

Chet.

-[Mercada] No, there's no chet in Raphael. -The third will be male, God willing.

-No, this one now has to be male. -Rachel is not a boy's name.

-I need proof. Do it again. -Heaven is very angry, Mercada.

I said do it again. I need proof.

God, please forgive me. This one is crazy.

[stream hisses]

What is it, Jilda?

-Two. -[Mercada] Two what?

In your daughter-in-law's stomach, there…

Hold on a minute.

You're seeing two boys?

[scraping and clattering]

Talk to me, I beg you. Talk to me.

Please, talk to me.

[clattering]

-Sin. -What sin? What? Nobody has sinned.

Do you really see a sin, Jilda?

-And water. -[clattering]

-Lots of water. -I… I don't understand.

-[faint water rushing] -[echoing] Water.

-[whispering echo] Lots of water. -[waves crashing]

-[whispering echo] The ocean, far… -[waves crashing]

[whispering echo] Far off.

[dog barking]

Mercada?

Mercada.

What is it?

Have you seen the thing Pinhas brought me from America?

-[Mercada] The what? -You know, the bra.

I hung it here and now it's gone.

Yes, you hung it here for the whole world to see

and bring shame upon us.

Mercada, where is it?

A woman with child has to protect herself,

not only her health,

but also by doing good deeds, and most importantly, by being modest.

Go see if the cheese is ready, and bring it.

[frenetic music plays]

[Rosa breathes agitatedly]

-[sighs] -[music fades out]

[whimsical music plays]

[slow jazz music plays]

[Pinhas and Gavriel laughing]

To this day, I don't understand why you didn't stay in America with me.

Well, my father, God rest his soul,

wanted me to come back and work in the delicatessen with him.

So did my mother.

They wanted me to find a bride in Jerusalem.

You could have been my partner. You'd be a millionaire today, in dollars.

[Gavriel chuckles]

[Pinhas] So how are you, Gavriel? Tell me about yourself.

No evil eye on me.

I make a good living. I can't complain.

Besides your livelihood, what about life?

Rosa looks like a good woman.

Rosa is a good wife, yes. Sure.

Are you happy, Gavriel?

My Luna.

Little Luna,

she gives me all the happiness I need.

And now,

there's another one on the way, praise be to God.

Frieda and I, we're…

we're getting divorced.

What?

-But why? What happened, Pinhas? -[Pinhas] Nothing's happened.

We have everything.

A nice house, healthy children, money, but…

the most important thing is missing.

I used to look at Frieda and she'd look like, you know…

like Mary Pickford.

-What's that? -[Pinhas chuckles softly]

-A star, a beautiful actress. -[Gavriel chuckles] Ah.

I'd wait for her to come back from the mikvah, like a bull.

[Gavriel chuckling]

-You know what it's like. -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

After three children,

the mind starts to wander.

But why getting divorced?

[sighs] America is not like Jerusalem.

People over there look for happiness, and they're not afraid to say it.

-[jazz music continues] -[fire crackling gently]

Pinhas… [inhales deeply]

…can I ask you for something?

[Pinhas] Of course, with pleasure. How much do you need?

N-- No, no, no, not money.

I want you to find someone in America for me.

America's a very big country.

New York, in, uh… Brooklyn.

What's his name?

[music continues]

Her name.

It's a woman.

[Gavriel inhales deeply]

[somber music plays]

[nearby door clatters]

[metal jangling]

[door lock clanks]

[chains rattling]

[James] She's been like this for three days.

Won't eat, won't drink.

-She won't make it much longer. -So, let her go.

It's up to you, Ephraim.

[Ephraim] Luna, you have to eat.

I want my father.

She wants to see her father.

I know what she wants,

and she knows what I want.

[chains clatter]

Father told me that family comes above all.

Father told me something else too.

What?

That you're a piece of shit.

[chuckles softly]

[sighs]

[lighter clicks]

[horse hooves clopping]

[door lock clanking]

[door squeaks]

[Luna pants]

[both sob softly]

[sobs] Oh. Oh, my daughter.

-Are you all right? Huh? -[Luna sobs]

-Are you all right, my love? Huh? -I wanna go home, Abba.

Let's go. Let's go home.

-Let's go. Come on. Come on. -[Luna sobs]

[Gavriel sighs]

Here, querida… drink.

I squeezed it for you.

You shouldn't eat a lot after fasting for a few days.

[Rosa breathes agitatedly]

Did you tell them?

Leave Luna alone. Whatever you have to say, say it to me.

-I wanna know who informed on my brother. -Ephraim confessed.

He confessed because he cares about his family.

-Something I can't say about my daughter. -Enough.

[inhales] Tell me why you stopped eating.

Did you think your uncle would let you starve yourself to death?

-He did it to save your-- -Enough, Rosa! Be quiet!

It's a difficult time now, Rosa,

but we're a family.

-[baby crying] -We have to be together.

[baby crying]

Family, Gavriel?

Together?

What are you talking about?

[footsteps distancing]

[Gavriel] Drink, drink, querida.

[somber piano music plays slowly]

[Gavriel sighs]

[music continues]

[wind howls]

[metal door clanks]

[James] "I, Ephraim Siton,

declare that on March 9th, 1937,

I placed a bomb in the British officers' club

in the Old City of Jerusalem."

-"The bomb I placed caused--" -I know what I did.

EPHRAIM

[James] Soon, you will stand trial.

You will be found guilty by your own admission…

and you will be sentenced to death.

And then,

you will hang until you die.

[door closes]

-[upbeat jazz music plays] -[automobiles honk]

[indistinct chatter]

[music continues]

[music fades out]

[Rochel] Who is it?

My name is Pinhas.

[door latch rattles]

[Pinhas] Hello. I'm sorry for intruding like this.

-Yes? -[Pinhas] Are you Mrs. Rachel Leibowitz?

Yes.

Uh, I'm just back from Jerusalem,

and a good friend of mine asked me to give this to you.

Who?

Armoza?

Gavriel Armoza,

who has a delicatessen in the Machane Yehuda Market.

I don't know him.

Are you certain?

-Because he says-- -I don't know him.

Try the neighbors.

Goodbye now.

[door latch rattles]

[somber music plays]

[music fades out]