The Story of Perrine (ペリーヌ物語 Perīnu Monogatari)

Episode 1 THE DEPARTURE

Here it is, too!

Baron look for flowers with me

I will place them before Father's tomb

What a dog!

Oh, no, no, Baron!

Did you get the flowers?

Yes, but there were only such little flowers

Well, it's only March, you know.

Little, but lovely

During your going to the grave

I will load your baggage in the wagon

It's very kind of you

The child deserves our pity

Why?

Her father died here five days ago

Has she become an orphan, then?

No, she has her mother.

Mother

Have you made preparations for the journey?

Yes

Then, lets go to Father's grave to say goodbye

say, Perrine

Yes Let's put off our departure for some days

Mother

I can't possibly bring myself to set out here

because I feel like I'm leaving Father alone

Mother, I feel just like you

but right before his death Father said to us

to go to grandfather as soon as possible

didn't he?

Yes, he did

It's France, Mother

Besides Maraucourt where grandfather lives

is far to the north of Paris

Father said, you know

I've not the least idea of the place

I've never been in Europe before anyway

Anyhow

it's surely more than a thousand kilometres from here

The landlord of the inn said so

More than a thousand kilometres

It's very hard for me

also to leave this village in which Father's grave is

However, we must make a long long journey from now on

So we can't stay here as long as we like, Mother

Yes, I know it

but, Perrine three days longer at least

no, two days, well, just one day longer

Mother

They'll go to Italy first to go to France

You're right

I wonder what course they must take after that

Maybe they'll go through Switzerland

Such a long trip is a little too much for them, isn't it?

The mother seems to have been overwhelmed by grief

To France... it's terrible

Don't you cry, Perrine

No, I had a good cry already

If I cry here too

Father might be anxious on the contrary, I'm afraid

How strong-minded you are!

Now, Mother,

you can hold on to my shoulders

to cry as you like

but let's leave here today

Alright, let's do so

Landlord, thank you very much for your kind help

You're welcome

I wish you to have a good journey

and get safely to your grandfather in France

Thank you

Your mother looks very enfeebled and I wonder if she could stand the trip

Maybe she can go through with it

It's not very long since Father died

So I suppose it's natural for her to be in such a condition

anyhow...

I place great trust in you because you're strong-minded

Oh no...

I'm heightening my spirits

because if I'm maudlin too, we'll be able to do nothing

Now, goodbye, Landlord

I wish you a good journey

Let's start, Pariqual

It's a strange house-wagon

It seems to have already made a very long journey to come here

They told me they'd come from Greece

There was a picture of a camera drawn on the wagon, you know

Her deceased husband was a photographer

I wonder if they could go to France in that way

It was the time toward the end of March about a hundred years ago

when Perrine, who lost her father

just left a village in Bosnia

which is in the Northwest of present Yugoslavia

for France with her mother one day

and this is how the long story began

Perrine, it's likely to be a sloping road

Shall I get off to walk with you?

Don't worry, such a slope is nothing

because Pariqual has his strong legs

You should rest inside

Excuse me,

it seems I've lost all my energy

Perrine knows how bitter Mother's grief caused by Father's death is

and she resolved that she should keep up her spirits

However

Perrine also is very sad with Father's death

Got you!

Go

Keep still while I count to ten

What are you doing, Perrine?

Mother, after passing here, because the hill obstructs the view

we can't see Father's grave

Ah, you've been crying, haven't you?

I'm sorry

in the fullness of my sorrow

I didn't realize your grief and loneliness

Forgive me, Perrine

Say, Baron

I know your caprice well

but Mother and I must make a helpless journey

all by ourselves from now on

Do your best as a captain to guard us will you?

Oh, you understand me, don't you?

I see, guard us steadily from now on, will you?

Perrine, Baron's not to be relied on

Oh, you're not like that, are you Baron?

Why, Baron!

Baron

Baron!

Come back, Baron!

What did I tell you?

Can you trust in such a captain on guard

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, that's right

You must eat this, too

Eat up all, will you?

I have no appetite.

A farm-house was in sight some time ago

Shall I get goat milk spared there?

Thank you but tea's good enough to me

If you're like that

I'm afraid you might be ill by the time we get to grandfather in France

Don't worry

my appetite will improve before long

Oh, Baron

I imagined you'd given us up and gone somewhere

Sorry but you've got no share

Ah, that's Mother's share!

You're unreasonable

What an ill-mannered dog

to say nothing before taking a meal!

I think it's the best Mother will take over Father's job

after all for the present

I wonder if there'll be anyone to have me take his picture

If you were not skilful in photography it'd be hopeless

but you used to help Father to take pictures

But I wonder if I could get paid for it

What's the matter?

Mother, don't hesitate in doing a good thing Come on

Dear me, you give yourself such airs!

Be quick

Hold on, will you? I will take now

Keep still! Don't move while I count to ten

Now! One! Two! Three! Four, five, six,

seven, eight, nine, ten

Now, alright

Mother, can you do it all by yourself?