The Song of Songs

Wind's from the south.

Gonna rain.

Tonight maybe.

Don't you worry.

I'll take care of your father's grave.

Train's coming soon.

I was in Berlin once.

Thirty years ago. Big place.

No end to it.

Well, Lily...

Go to church every Sunday.

Obey your aunt.

She's all you got.

Yes, she is the last.

Well, then...

Goodbye.

Thank you, miss.

Are you Lily?

Yes, tante rasmussen.

Did you have to arrive in the middle of the night?

The train doesn't leave until 7 o'clock in the evening.

Huh.

Well, haven't you got a kiss for your old aunt?

There, there, there.

There, there, there. There, now.

Let's have a look at you.

I'd forgotten people wore clothes like that.

What have you got there?

- My things. - Well, bring 'em here.

I'm going to give you my daughters' room.

My ungrateful, unnatural daughters

who deserted their old mother.

But I tore them out of my heart.

I've torn them out by the roots.

And all my love shall be for you.

Not as my niece, no.

As my own child.

Yes, tante rasmussen.

Why, what's this?

- A Bible? - It was his.

Is that all your scamp of a father left you,

a Bible?

He wasn't a scamp. He was a good man.

I don't know what he was good for.

Leaving you a charge on your old aunt.

However, he taught you to read. That's something.

Maybe you'll be some use about the shop, after all.

My father was a good man.

Every night I read to him...

From this Bible.

The lamentations of job, no doubt.

No. The song of Solomon.

He loved it best.

I don't remember the song of Solomon.

But knowing your father, I imagine

there was something dirty in it.

The song of songs is beautiful.

That's more than I can say for your get-up.

He was a good man.

Alright, alright.

He was a good man.

Take that black pancake off your head...

And climb out of that shroud.

See if these will fit you.

They belonged to Anna.

Have you had your supper?

I'm not hungry, thanks.

Good. Then you might as well go to bed.

And in the morning I'll start teaching you about the books.

I'll lock up tonight, but after this, you'll do it.

Yes, tante rasmussen.

We open the shop at 6:00 and breakfast is at 7:00.

And you'll have a good home here if you behave.

But you might as well understand right now,

I'll tolerate no nonsense.

No, tante rasmussen.

Mercy! How many of those things do you wear?

What, another?

I've never seen a girl unpeel herself

like an onion before.

This is the last.

A figure like that will get you into trouble

if you're not careful.

You'll bear watching.

Go to bed.

Goodnight.

My precious brother.

Isn't it like him?

Dies and leaves me his daughter...

With nine petticoats and a Bible.

Does he leave any money?

Not a penny.

A daughter and a Bible.

Always was a restless, good-for-nothing,

no-account chap.

"By night on my bed I sought him,

whom my soul ioveth.

I sought him, but I found him not.

I will arise now and go about the city,

in the streets and in the broad ways,

I will seek him whom my soul ioveth.

"I will seek him whom my soul ioveth."

Are you looking for a book, sir?

What?

I said, are you looking for a book?

Well, I tell you, when a man goes in to a book shop,

he's usually looking for a book.

Of course, he might be looking for the fountain of youth,

but I don't think you sell that.

I meant, is there some special book you're looking for?

Ha! There is nothing special.

Everything is just the same

as everything else.

Well, I'm afraid I can't help you.

No. No, I'm afraid you can't.

Oh!

Oh!

No. No, no. Stand up again.

Stand up. I want to see you.

No, I will not.

Oh, I see. You think I'm interested in your legs.

Well, I'm not. At least, not just as legs.

My dear child, if you'd seen as many legs as I have,

you'd get more excited about a pair of crutches.

I'm a sculptor, my dear, a sculptor.

Or that is, I'm supposed to be.

And there was something about you as you stood there

that, that was almost an idea.

Are you the sculptor that lives across the street?

I'm the sculptor that's going crazy across the street!

Why? What's the matter?

- I'm stuck. - Stuck?

Yes. Stuck.

You mean, you mean...

- I mean I'm stuck. - Yes, I know, but...

Oh, don't say you know and then say but.

If you can't talk straight, don't talk at all.

Now, come on, please. Stand up.

This is a book store.

And if you don't want to buy a book,

then better go back and, and be stuck.

I don't have to go back. I'm just as stuck here.

That's the trouble.

The trouble is, you're probably no good anyway.

Do you know, I never thought of that.

I tell you what, you come over and pose for me.

Perhaps, you'll bring me inspiration.

- No, thank you. - How about 8 o'clock, hm?

I wouldn't wait if I were you.

Oh, no, no, no. But you must come.

You know, I believe I could get

something really interesting.

Oh-oh, please come. Please come, won't you?

You must be crazy.

- What's that got to do with it? - I don't know you.

Well, I don't know you either, but I've got to sculpt you.

Now, now, when will you come? Tonight?

Certainly not.

You know, really, I... I should have thought

that living here as you do, among all these marvelous books,

you would have had some sympathy for art.

- If you come, I'll buy a book. - Oh, you will?

I... I'll even read the blessed thing.

It's no use. I couldn't...

- I shall expect you. - You are crazy.

- Tonight at 8 o'clock. - Please go away.

- Oh, please come. Please come. - Never.

Well, I shall expect you. Auf wiedersehen.

What did he want?

Oh, nothing.

- Didn't he take a book? - No. He was just looking.

Well, you get on with your work.

And don't you let me catch you

carrying on with any young men.

No, tante rasmussen.

Come in.

Come in, come in.

I don't believe it!

I only came to...

Oh, never mind why you came.

You're here, that's the main thing.

Oh, come in, come in.

- It was wrong of me to come. - It was charming.

Charming of you. Here, here, let me take this.

If tante rasmussen should find out...

You know, I believe you're scared of her.

Well, so am I.

Are you still stuck?

Well, I was, but hope has come in now, hasn't she?

I've been making a sketch of you. You want to see yourself?

Oh, yes!

Oh! I haven't any clothes on.

Clothes?

Do you think I model people with their clothes on?

But how did you know I was like that?

And just what does that mean?

I mean, it is me and, and it isn't me.

- I mean, it's... - Go on.

This begins to sound like art criticism

of the highest order.