The Company of Wolves

- Hello, Mommy. - Hello, darling.

- Any presents for me? - A a surprise.

- What? - You know.

No I don't, what?

Where is she, did she miss tea again?

She said she had a tummy ache.

So she's sulking in her room.

- It's her age. - She's a pest.

So were you once, now go and wake her.

Pest, pest.

I want you to have a word with her.

Well I have, I've tried.

- I've been upstairs to see her-- - Yes, but not--

But she always tells me that I don't understand.

- Oh, that's ridiculous. - Well, she's right.

Go away.

They want you downstairs.

You have to come out sometime,

you can't sulk in there forever.

Open the door, open it.

You've been at my lipstick too, haven't you?

Pest.

What makes you so different anyway, buck teeth?

Come on out, pest.

It's not because I want you either.

It's because Mommy wants you.

Pest, pest, pest, pest, pest, pest.

screeching]

Say goodbye to your sister now,

so you never forget her.

Stay with me child.

Chew on this, it'll keep your mind off things.

"Man that is born of a woman,

has but a short time to live and is full of misery.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.

He fleeth as it were a shadow

and never continueth in one stay.

In the midst of life, we are in death.

For as much as it hath pleased almighty God

of his great mercy to take unto himself

the soul of our dear sister here departed,

we therefore commit her body to the ground.

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

Your only sister, all alone in the wood.

And nobody there to save her, poor little lamb.

Why couldn't she save herself?

You don't know anything, you're only a child.

- Daddy? - There there, pet.

Shall I take her home with me tonight?

Her mother's in no fit state to look after her.

- If only you would. - Come, pet.

I want to stay with Mommy.

Mommy's not well, just for tonight.

Come child, come with me.

It's a long way through the wood, but safe by daylight.

Safe if you keep to the path,.

There's plenty more of these in the woods,

- if you know where to look. - Berries.

Don't stray from the path, girl.

Did you not hear what I told you?

Once you stray from the path, you're lost entirely.

The wild beasts know no mercy.

They wait for us in the wood, in the shadow,

and once you put a foot wrong, they pounce.

There there, don't take on so.

It's something you have to learn,

otherwise you'll end up like your poor, dear sister.

Gran, can I have one?

I don't see why not.

You've got a lot to learn, child.

Never stray from the path, never eat a windfall apple,

and never trust a man whose eyebrows meet.

The best winter wool, pet, woven across the valley,

was so good, so soft,

I thought I'd knit a shawl for your sister.

But now you know what I'll do?

- What, Gran? - I'll make one for you.

A very special shawl, for a very special lady.

Soft as a kitten.

There's something I should tell you.

Yes?

But maybe you're too young.

- Tell me, Gran. - Too young to understand.

Go on Gran, tell me.

But maybe no child is ever too young.

A wolf may be more than he seems.

He may come in many disguises.

What's that?

The wolf that ate your sister was hairy on the outside,

but when she died, she went straight to heaven.

The worst kind of wolves are hairy on the inside,

and when they bite you, they drag you with them to hell.

What do you mean, hairy on the inside?

Like a furry coat?

Hush now, foolish child, listen.

Once upon a time, there was a woman in the village.

She married a traveling man.

They've all gone now.

It's a shame your people missed the wedding.

Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't.

My little brother's idea of a joke. Ooh!

Why are you staring like that?

Because I've never seen anything like you before.

Don't they have girls where you come from?

None like you.

Come out of the shadows.

Let me see you, my love.

Are all traveling men as handsome as you?

So you think I'm handsome?

First thing I noticed about you

is the way your eyebrows meet.

Does that spoil me then?

Come to me and I'll tell you.

My dear?

I must just go out into the yard for a moment.

Why ever for?

Call of nature.

So she waited, and she waited.

And she waited again.

Surely he's been gone a long time.

No, it can't be.

Wolves indeed.

He upped and ran, that's all.

It was in his blood. Wasn't he a traveling man?

- Anything? - Not a hair nor hide of him.

Not a footprint, no.

And what's that, might I ask?

I told you I heard the wolves last night.

They came and took him when he was making water,

when a man is at his most defenseless.

They're murderers, they're murderers!

But she was a young thing, and cheerful of temperament,

and she found another husband not too shy to piss in a pot.

And then they lived happily ever after?

Indeed, they did not.

At first, time passed happily enough.

What a mess.

Here, play with that.

Oh, don't start.

Shut up!

Here.

Time passed and she gave him children.

That was a bad time for wolves, those years.

Oh yes, not a sheep or a cow was safe.

But for herself, all went right as a trivet,

until one winter's night.

My God.

I'm starving.

Do you want something to eat?

Didn't you hear me the first time?

Where did these three spring from?

Out of my belly.

Your children, but not my children.

Whore! Adulteress!

You hoped I'd never come back.

- Wolves had taken you! - Better a wolf than a whore.

If I were a wolf once more, I'd teach this whore a lesson.

He looks just the same...

as the day I married him.

I'd never let a man strike me.

Oh, they're nice as pie until they've had their way with you.

But once the bloom is gone, oh, the beast comes out.

When the wolves though, the real wolves,

when the real wolves mate,

do the dogs beat the bitches afterwards?

Animals, all wild animals.

And that's enough wool for tonight, bedtime.

What about a kiss for Granny?

Don't I deserve a kiss for my story?

The best of all girls.

Learn how to sew, how to take care of things.

How to press things, there's many house duties to do.

...almost certain to turn out to be a toadstool,

and make you deathly ill.

Of course you won't stay a young girl much longer.

Your mommy and daddy will need all the help they can get.

Just grow wise and learn all you can,

now that your sister has gone.

Come now.

Wolfy, wolfy, can't catch me.

I've got a wife and a family.

Cor!

Caught you, you snotty-nosed ragamuffin.

I caught Rosaleen.

Oh, nobody catches my little princess.

Come along, child.

Run quickly, over here.

There's too much food,

now there's just the three of us.

Don't grieve.

Least said, soonest mended.

Rosaleen...

Shall we play now?

- Play what? - A game.

I know a good game, close your eyes.

Now come to me, closer, closer.

Come on, closer.

There. Now what?

Wolfy, wolfy, can't catch me.

hooting]