Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow (Trilogia: To livadi pou dakryzei)

Scene 1.

Estuary of a great river in the gulf of Thessaloniki...

around 1919.

A light mist wafts slowly over the muddy earth...

that extends as far as the eye can see, bare as a steppe...

A crowd of people appears, walking slowly...

holding bundles and suitcases.

Their clothes, worn and dusty, betray an old nobility.

A man of around 40 leads the way, with his wife...

a sickly woman. .. and between them, two small children...

their son, a boy not more than 5 years old...

and a little girl, barely more than a baby.

Every so often the little girl reaches out dazedly. ..

For the boy's hand.

As they approach the river, the mass of humanity stops abruptly

as though someone on the opposite bank...

shouted to them.

Hey! Who are you?

Where are you from?

We're Greeks.

Refugees from Odessa...

The boats brought us out in Thessaloniki.

We were quarantined for one month in the port...

eating out of cans...

Then the authorities separated us.

They told us to go east.

You'll come to an ancient column and a river...

From the column to the river the land is yours.

The Bolshevik revolution was spreading everywhere...

The Red Cavalry galloped...

the foreigners were fleeing...

The city's Greek community emptied.

We were the last ones left.

The Consul shouted:

Don't you realise you're in danger?

And as though reliving a nightmare the man begins to describe

the flight of the Greeks from Odessa...

when on Saint Stefan's Day, the Red Army entered the city.

As they left on the last ship, they could still hear...

cries of desperation, names in the wind, gunfire.

Then the man said:

"A cloud of smoke rose...

and the beloved city disappeared

The little girl still searched for the boy's hand.

The little girl next to my son isn't ours...

We found her crying in the turmoil...

over her mother's body, on Pushkin Avenue...

if you've heard of it...

What's your name?

Eleni.

TRILOGY The Weeping Meadow

a film by Theo Angelopoulos

Eleni's back!

- How do you feel, little one? - Better, Auntie.

- Danae! Finally! - I'll tell you everything.

- Unbelievable! And the twins? - Adoption. I'll tell you later.

Eleni...

I brought your books.

Are you feeling better?

I'm thirsty.

Most of our people, those who were unable to endure life...

here on the river and went back to Thessaloniki...

are now leaving again. America, Australia, Athens...

This land is killing us. We should have left too in '22...

when those peasants came from the Orient...

Your brother Spyros wouldn't hear of it, Cassandra.

Danae, the girl's delirious...

If Spyros found out anything, he'd kill her.

It's pointless. The girl's not of our blood.

Have you spoken to your son?

- He's in a daze. - Of course! After what he did!

Couldn't you have prevented it?

By the time I found out, it was too late.

Good thing I came up with that story about her being sick...

and took her to my sister in Thessaloniki...

for the last months...

Then we found that good woman.

You know her husband's a merchant. Childless.

No, no, the twins are in good hands.

Spyros!

And your son, behind his father as though nothing happened.

Hello, brother!

Eleni!

- Eleni! - I was expecting you.

I was in the cellar, behind a door.

I heard my mother and the women whispering.

My head buzzed.

- Does it hurt? - Not any more.

I didn't know what to do while you were gone...

I'd go down to the river and look at the water.

Remember we used to say we'd follow the river...

to find the source?

I wrote you a letter.

Eleni...

I want to say that...

you know... I care a lot about you.

Eleni!

Eleni!

The bride has gone!

Hallelujah!

Eleni!

Hallelujah!

Oh Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance...

To our Rulers grant victories over the barbarians...

and by thy Cross protect thine own Estate.

The bride has gone!

Spyros!

Eleni wasn't for you!

She was raised like your daughter.

This marriage was not appropriate for you.

Poor Spyros. Ever since Danae died in the great epidemic...

he's been eaten up by loneliness.

He yearned for the girl.

I stood behind her in the church...

The wedding ceremony ended. The priest said "Amen"...

and suddenly I saw her turn around...

Her face shone pale like the Virgin.

She said to Spyros: "I've forgotten something"...

And she ran out...

I ran after her.

I managed to see her lift the skirt of her wedding dress...

and disappear down the road leading to the river.

A car!

The whole village is looking for you.

Was it you playing the accordion all night?

Where are you going?

Spyros!

Spyros!

A boy has come from the river.

Our brothers want you to go there.

Spyros!

Spyros!

Thanks! So long!

Come along!

Hell, you've got to spend the night somewhere!

Don't be scared!

You're under the protection of a fiddle...

a guitar, a clarinet and a noisy fourth instrument!

- Good night. - Good night.

- I'm sorry it didn't happen. - Good night, Nikos.

Good night.

"Thessaloniki, city of refugees."

Isn't that what they call it?

A wound that will not heal.

This theatre is my home.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

This is where the authorities brought us in early '22...

after the destruction of Smyrna.

The courtyard of miracles.

85 families.

Good evening, Amy.

I'm having no luck with this game of solitaire.

Courage !

Our good girl.

- Good evening, Irini. - Good evening, Nikos.

- I see you have company. - Good evening.

That prima donna you can hear singing has a sister.

She doesn't talk to me.

She prays.

She lies with the Book of Revelation in her hands...

open at the same chapter...

her finger pointing to the same passage...

and my mother asleep as always.

Good night, Mum.

My music will be in its place and the lamp lit as always.

"Nikos, the fiddler," as I'm known on the streets...

is also a graduate of the Smyrna Conservatory, but...

You'll stay here...

until you decide where you'll go, what you'll do.

Are you cold?

The women will take care of you.

As I said, kid. I heard you play.

That's gold you have in your hands. Don't bury it.

Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

I still can't believe we're in a theatre!

M'! boys!

How many times have I said it?

Watch your posture. Body upright, back straight...

feet in front.

Keep your hands nicely poised over the keyboard.

Work together. Listen to each other.

You have the melody, Yorgos. Louder, more outgoing!

Always in secret... like a thief!

"And I heard a great voice out of the temple...

saying to the seven angels, 'Go your ways and...“

Hey, where did you disappear to?

We went for a walk downtown.

Good night.

Alright. We'll talk in the morning. The offer stands, kid.

- Good night. - Good night.

"And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth...

and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men...

which had the mark of the beast...

and upon them which worshipped his image

Eleni!

- What is it? - Nothing, mother. Go to sleep.

- What's going on, Nikos? - Nothing.

Eleni!

You can't stay here any longer.