Original subtitles

[bird cawing]

[melancholic piano music plays]

-[door opens] -[Rachelika] Shalom.

[door closes]

[clicks tongue] War has broken out in Europe.

Germany invaded Poland.

I passed by Mr. Zacks' store now.

I saw he's hired a really pretty new salesgirl.

She's prettier than all the girls in your magazines.

And he's also taken down all your photos.

Enough! Leave me alone, Rachelika!

What don't you understand?! Stop bugging me!

I'm tired of living with a corpse. Do you understand?

So go live somewhere else!

When was the last time you washed up, brushed your teeth or showered?

-At my bat mitzvah. -By the smell, I'd say much earlier.

You can sleep in the storeroom if you don't like it.

-[rooster crows] -Luna, can I say something to you?

-[Luna] No. -Wait, it's important.

[sighs] You have one second.

-One second isn't enough. -Go on.

Becky's birthday is soon, and I thought we'd buy something for her together.

Buy whatever you like. I'll pay you half.

Becky loves this dress.

I thought we'd go to Zacks' store together and maybe they have her size.

-They don't. -[Rachelika] You haven't been in months.

-Maybe now they do. Let's surprise her. -Go there and check.

-With you. -[Luna] Never.

You want me to see the new salesgirl and her photos that Mr. Zacks hung?

[scoffing chuckle] Luna, there's no new salesgirls.

I was just pulling your leg.

He didn't take down your photos. He's just waiting for you to come back.

What makes you say that?

'Cause he said so.

Will you come then?

-I don't know yet. -Why does the room look like this?

Who did this?

-She did. -She did.

Who do you believe, Becky?

-I don't know. You two are good liars. -[Rachelika chuckles]

-[Gavriel trumpeting fanfare] -[Luna giggling]

-[Mercada laughs] -[Gavriel trumpeting fanfare]

I want someone to tell me right now

if they've ever seen

a more beautiful bridesmaid in their life

than this little girl in front of you.

Luna, querida mía, the bride will be jealous.

[Gavriel and Luna chuckle]

Maybe you should change so it doesn't get dirty?

No.

[Gavriel] You're Abba's joy.

Hey, hup!

-Ha! Whoop! -[Luna giggling]

I want a dress like Luna's, Ima.

-You will also get a dress, Matilda. -Yay!

And you, sir, you'll get a suit. Would you like that, David?

-Thank you. -[Gavriel] It's all right.

What do we say to Gavriel?

-Thank you. -Thank you.

When Abba buys you a suit, you'll be my groom.

[smooch]

That's all I would need…

for Luna to marry David Franco.

[scoffs] God save me.

[indistinct chatter]

[whimsical music plays]

-Dry again. Are you not ashamed? -[merchant mutters indistinctly]

Good morning, Matzliach.

Oh!

Gavriel, how are you?

Praise the Lord.

How can I help you, Avram?

Well, I asked Lieto to set aside some Martinique chocolate.

Of course, of course, of course. And good thing you did.

There's only one left, and we don't know when we'll have them again.

So, it's actually my little one's birthday today,

and she asked for Martinique chocolate.

She had it once two years ago,

and she's been nagging me ever since with that chocolate.

If it wasn't so expensive, I'd buy it every week.

I put a bar of Martinique here.

-I'm sure of it. -I asked you to!

Uh… Could you have sold it, Gavriel?

-No, no. -But I did see it there 15 minutes ago.

-Maybe it's, uh… -[up-tempo music plays]

Ephraim!

[smooth jazz plays on radio]

[Avram] Humph!

Oh, God. What a jerk that guy is. So stupid.

-[music continues] -[Ephraim chuckles]

[door closes]

[inhales and clears throat]

[Gavriel sighs deeply]

Look, Ephraim…

not everyone can sit in a shop and work long hours.

I understand that.

So I have an offer for you, and you should take it with both hands.

Go.

Go, ramble about, do what you like.

I'll pay you for it. It'll stay between us.

And nobody will have to know. What do you say?

For how long is this offer of yours?

Uh, a week or so. A month. Two months, even.

And then what?

Till then, you'll find work.

Something that suits you. I hear they're recruiting some builders.

It's outdoor work, in the open air. It pays well too.

You're a good man, Gavriel. A good soul.

-Tell me, Gavriel… -[Gavriel sighs]

Can I maybe, you know, have an advance in the meantime?

Until I find another job.

[smacks lips]

[whimsical music plays]

Is that all you'd give to never see my face again?

[bills shuffling]

-[glass clatters] -[Ephraim sighs]

[alcohol trickling]

-[bartender] Can I get you anything? -No, thanks.

[Yechiel sighs]

There are other chairs here.

But there aren't any other heroes.

[chuckling]

[Ephraim] That. Yes.

HEROISM IN JERUSALEM

Here, read it.

My name's Yechiel.

-You're from the Haganah? -Almost.

After what happened not long ago -

when Arabs murdered Jews,

slaughtered children, raped women,

and the British who let them run wild -

some people in Haganah decided to form a militia…

that would fight the British and the Arabs head-on.

-Interested? -What?

Join us.

Hi. Have you seen Ephraim?

No.

He didn't come back from work with you?

No.

No, no, uh…

I gave him a few days off to prepare for the wedding.

Yeah?

He didn't tell me.

Do you know where he hangs out?

No.

-He must have gone to get drunk somewhere. -[door closes]

He promised me that after the wedding he would quit Arak.

-And you believe him? -[Gavriel scoffs]

Mercada, Ephraim's changed. He's taken action.

He's taken a wife, children.

He promised me he'd drink a bit only at the wedding, and then, never again.

So I guess now he's probably drinking for the next 50 years.

[bartender] You're Ephraim Siton?

Yes, Ephraim Siton.

Who are you?

I'm Malka.

Cheers, Malka.

You're not married, are you?

Nah.

I'm not. No, I'm not.

That's good.

Newspaper says you have no parents, and the Turks hanged your brother.

Is that true?

Yes, that's true.

I don't have anyone.

No family, like you.

All I care about's getting the British out of here.

You don't have to give it any thought now.

I don't need to give it any thought.

I'm joining your group.

-[rooster crows] -[birds chirping]

[Mercada] The flowers will be here soon.

You don't want to know how much they cost.

Not to speak of the goods from the delicatessen.

-Our last shopping cart was full. -[Rosa] Hmm.

Rosa?

Mercada, have you seen Ephraim? He didn't come back last night.

He did, he did.

I heard him going into the storeroom during the night.

I'm glad to hear that.

-I didn't know what to think. -[Rosa chuckles]

Well, the groom and bride can't sleep together the night before the wedding.

True. [chuckles]

He probably came home so drunk,

he thought that the storeroom was Victoria's house.

Please, Mercada, we have a great celebration tonight.

Don't forget what Ephraim did for us.

And don't you forget that I'm paying for this celebration.

[Victoria chuckles]

You're adorable.

She will be a good wife to Ephraim, I'm sure.

Yes.

Ephraim!

[rooster crows]

Ephraim!

[Victoria gasps]

Whoa! Oh, my God!

Oy vavoy, putana!

-[Mercada scoffs] Oy vavoy! -[Victoria breathing heavily]

Good morning.

Why? Tell me why!

-You colossal idiot! -[Mercada gasps]

Get dressed already, dammit! Why?!

-Talk to me. Talk to me, Victoria. -[Victoria pants]

[Mercada] Victoria, talk to me.

-Talk to me, Victoria. Get up. Get up. -[Rosa] Victoria…

Gavriel, go get water.

-[Rosa] Victoria… -[Mercada] Get up, get up, get up.

Get up, querida.

Go get water I said!

-[Victoria breathing heavily] -[Mercada] Talk to me.

-Victoria. There. Up, up, up. -[Rosa] Victoria.

[Victoria breathing heavily]

HITLER CLOSES GERMANY'S GATES TO JEWS

[Zacks sighs]

-[door opens] -[chime jingles]

[Zacks chuckles] Luna, Luna, Luna.

It's as if the sun suddenly came into the store.

Luna is the moon.

As pretty as the moon but gives light like the sun.

How are you, Rachelika?

We've actually been low on sales recently.

Because you left, and also because of the war in Europe.

Actually, we're here because Becky,

our little sister, has her birthday coming up.

-[chuckles] -Ah. Mazal tov.

She likes this dress I'm wearing.

How old is Becky?

She's nine.

Whatever you choose for her,

she'll have to wait about five or six years to wear it.

-Um… -We'll buy her something else.

Mr. Zacks, thanks a lot. I'm really glad I came to visit you today.

Now, you listen to me, young Miss Armoza.

I'm not asking you when you're coming back to work.

You will decide that.

But remember, you have two homes, Luna.

One is with your father and mother and your lovely sisters,

and the second is here, in this store.

It's too soon. I can't yet.

There are too many memories here in this store.

Whenever you want, I'm here for you.

[Luna sighs softly]

Thanks, Mr. Zacks.

We'd better go now. [sniffles]

[door chime jingles]

[door chime jingles]

Abba, I'd like to talk to you.

Of course, of course, querida. Come.

Sit down.

Abba, Luna's not all right.

When I leave in the morning, she's in bed. I come back, she's still there.

And sometimes, I hear her crying at night.

I know. I know all of that.

I've tried many times to talk to her, Rachelika.

I don't know what to do anymore. Nothing helps.

I might actually have an idea.

[Gavriel] What's this?

This is, before you sew a dress, you have to draw it first.

[pages shuffle]

Luna draws dresses?

Not anymore.

Since Itamar, she hasn't done anything.

She used to do this a lot. She would design so many dresses.

So, I thought…

I know the cost is quite high…

And you're thinking…?

Is everything ready in there?

-[Becky] Yes! -[Rachelika] Yes!

[Becky] Come on in!

Okay…

Ready?

Ta-da!

-[laughs] -[girls giggle]

It's a Singer!

[upbeat jazz music plays]

-[gasps] Thank you, Abba! -[Gavriel chuckles]

[girls giggling]

Rachelika thought of it.

Well, so did I.

Thank you!

Mwah!

-Who's that for? -[music ends]

Me.

It's almost Becky's birthday and you buy a gift for her?

Becky will also get a present.

-Yes! -[all chuckle]

[Becky giggles]

Well, enjoy.

[Rachelika] Distinguished ladies and honorable Abba…

[Luna chuckles]

Please give a round of applause to our birthday girl, Becky Armoza!

[Gavriel ululates] Woo!

[jaunty music plays on record player]

Teapot.

-[Luna chuckles] -Turn around. Turn around.

[Luna chuckling]

[all chuckling]

-[music ends] -[Rachelika] Yay!

-[all cheer and applaud] -[Rachelika chuckles]

[Rosa] My sweetheart!

-[Luna chuckles] -[Gavriel] Come, sweethearts, come!

[all chuckling softly]

[Gavriel] One…

[soft piano music drowns out background]

[Becky giggling]

[all, in Ladino] ♪ It's her birthday ♪

♪ It's her birthday, lovely Becky ♪

-[soft piano music continues over singing] -♪ It's her birthday, it's her birthday ♪

-♪ It's her birthday, lovely Becky ♪ -[Gavriel chuckles]

♪ It's her birthday, it's her birthday ♪

[singing fading out] ♪ Happy birthday, dear Becky ♪

[Mercada, in English] Here. Take some more Valerian root.

I just had a glass of it.

That's all right. We have plenty, and it will do no harm.

We have some left over from Luna, bless her.

-Look, Ephraim… -Don't say that name!

[Mercada] He's a man.

He's a man like all other men.

Even King David sent Uriah the Hittite to die in a war for Bathsheba.

Samson killed a million Philistines with his own hands

before Delilah came around.

When the dick is erected, the brain goes to the culo.

But doing that to me on my wedding day, Mercada?

On the day of the wedding?!

[Rosa] He will be a good husband.

-He has a good heart. -[Victoria sighs]

I can't remember Ephraim ever being so happy.

-He keeps telling me he loves you. -That's true.

How he wants you to be his wife.

So why did he do this?

Because God made them this way. That's all. Poor things.

That's why he gave us women the power to forgive and absolve.

To absolve?

Why isn't he here asking for forgiveness then?

Maybe he went to the synagogue, to ask God for forgiveness.

What about me?

I'm the one he should be asking, not God. He betrayed me!

Listen, listen, querida. Querida, listen to me.

The wedding is in a few hours.

Gavriel has sent some men to find him.

I want him on all fours, kissing my hands and my feet.

Of course he will.

He will kiss your hands, your feet, your whole body. Whatever you want.

Take some more Valerian. A little more. It's good for you.

But you have to get ready.

We have to dress you, comb your hair, prepare you,

so he comes and sees his bride.

Look what a pretty white dress is waiting for you.

[Victoria breathing softly]

[bird cawing]

[Gavriel exhales deeply]

[Ephraim grunts]

I found him drinking somewhere.

Thanks, Lieto.

[sighs]

What happened?

It's better to extract an aching tooth in one go.

When you do it slowly, it's much more painful.

What do I tell Victoria?

Tell her, I lied to her.

I enjoyed her body a little, that's it.

That's not true.

I thought it was what I needed.

A wife, a home, children.

To be like everyone else, like you. [scoffs]

I was wrong.

If Victoria keeps loving me, she'll suffer.

She will miss me. She will cry in the night.

It's better for her to hate me. She won't suffer as much.

Tell her that if she had married me,

it would have been the worst thing for her.

And tell Rosa…

to explain to her what it's like to be married to a husband

who keeps going to Beirut for business

and fucks Arab whores while he's there.

Ephraim…

[smacks lips]

[Ephraim grunting]

[groans]

[sighs]

[breathing heavily]

[door closes]

[somber music plays]

[Mercada] What happened to your head?

So when does the wedding begin, Abba?

[music continues]

[Victoria sobbing]

[crying]

[Victoria sobbing]

[Gavriel sighs]

-[Victoria whimpers and cries] -[Gavriel chuckles]

[Gavriel sighs]

[Victoria crying]

[ball bouncing]

There you go, querida.

I'm not using it here, Abba.

Luna, it disturbs Rachelika's studies in your room.

Why can't she study in a different room?

[Gavriel sighs]

Thanks.

I've also ordered the fabrics you asked for.

-[ball bouncing] -[Gavriel] They'll be here later.

[ball bouncing]

[whistling]

-Luna. -What?

Did you hear what I said?

Yes. The… fabric. Thanks a lot.

[ball bouncing]

[inaudible]

[Luna] When he was with me, he didn't dress so nicely.

Who? Who are you watching over there?

David.

I've seen him a lot with nice clothes on.

[Rachelika] Maybe he's going to a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah.

He's dressed like this every day.

I thought you didn't want him.

So what? That doesn't mean he's allowed to not want me.

[inaudible]

Maybe he has someone new.

Right. Follow him and see who he meets.

[clicks tongue] What if he sees me following him?

[Rachelika] Hmm.

-[Luna] You. -[Rachelika] Me what?

You follow him, and see where he goes.

No.

If you do it, I'll clean up the room for a week.

-A month. -Two weeks.

-A month. -Three weeks.

-Two months. -Rachelika, you said a month.

Fine, a month.

Fine, one month.

-Okay. Go now. He's going. -All right, I'm going.

-[upbeat jazz music plays] -Ladies and gents, now look at me!

Five, six… Five, six, seven, eight!

One, two, three, four.

Rock and step, one-two-three, one-two-three, rock and step, stop!

Pivot. Pivot. Stop. Shake!

One, two, three, four. One, two, three.

Look at David! Woo!

Good, David.

-[music continues] -[group hooting]

[instructor] Nice!

Shake!

-[music continues] -[feet shuffling]

-[instructor] Stop! Ladies and gents… -[microphone feedback]

Let's settle down with something a little quieter.

-We're going to do a slow dance. -[indistinct chatter]

[instructor] Go ahead.

DANCE COMPETITION, FREE ENTRANCE

[instructor] Okay.

[slow piano music plays]

[instructor] Gentlemen, pick yourself a lady.

Each lady, pick a gentleman.

[piano music continues]

[breathes deeply]

[sighs]

-[music fades out] -[window creaks open]

I'll kill you. What took you so long?

If you're not nice, I won't tell you where David went.

I'll tell Abba how late you got home.

Good night.

[Luna sighs deeply]

[distant dog howls]

[Luna sighs]

Tell me.

-He went to the kiosk. -Alone?

Yes, though some girls were waiting for him.

-What do you mean girls were waiting? -Luna, relax.

I'm relaxed. Talk already.

At the kiosk, there's a ballroom dancing class.

A sign said there's a competition soon in Tel Aviv.

With music and an instructor and everything.

David is really, really, really good.

I mean, he's the best dancer. He danced with a few girls there.

-What, you mean like danced close? -[Rachelika] Yes.

-Were the girls beautiful? -[Rachelika] Mm-hmm.

[Becky snoring softly]

[both giggle]

-Shh. -Shh.

-Good night. -[whispers] Good night.

[Mercada] Look how she left the laundry.

The birds come and shit all over it. Isn't that a shame?

I wonder where she is. I hope she won't harm herself.

[frenetic up-tempo music plays]

Your brother didn't tell you he was going to dump me, huh?

I swear, Victoria. He didn't tell me. I didn't know what he was up to.

I'm supposed to believe that? You're like a mother to that bastard!

You're such a liar.

When your soul is black,

even when the sun is in the sky, all you see is darkness.

I guess I don't have to tell you that.

[footsteps departing]

-[Mercada] Let's go. -[water sloshing]

What are you doing?

Helping her.

She curses you and you help her?

Well, if I don't finish for her, tomorrow she will have nothing to eat.

You're right. This can be part of our atonement on Yom Kippur.

[scoffs]

[sighs] Fine.

[Mercada] Hmm.

[Rosa] And she does this every day.

Alcohol, from morning to evening, on her own.

-Poor thing. -She's really a hero, Victoria.

A woman of substance.

Just be aware that your brother is what ruined her.

[Rosa] Look at her.

[Victoria grunts]

God help me.

Forget it. Forget it. [scoffs]

A little Arak never killed anyone.

[laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

So how are you?

Pour. Pour more.

More, more, more, more, more. That's it.

Good to see you. Who should I kill today?

Lower your voice.

You start with that every morning?

[chuckles] Only when I celebrate.

And today, you're sending me on my first mission, no?

Tonight, you're pasting posters.

Here's the address.

-You told me about banishing Arabs-- -Lower your voice.

We'll banish them with posters? What are we, children?

Ephraim, I also did that when I started out.

Just wait till dark, and begin.

Tomorrow morning, I will make an inspection and check everywhere.

[tense music plays]

-Say, when do I get one of those? -What?

Those, those. A gun.

It's not a gift, Ephraim. If you want one, get yourself one.

Glue and posters will be waiting at the first place on this list.

-[hand pats] -Good luck to you.

Victoria!

Don't worry, David and Matilda are eating lunch at our place

with Luna and Rachelika.

[tense music plays]

Everything that stinks of your brother, I'm throwing away.

All of it! [pants]

I'm throwing it all away!

[clatter]

[tense music fades out]

[jaunty jazz music plays]

[jazz singer vocalizing]

[lively tap dancing]

[jazz flute trills]

I can't see why you're making such an effort for David.

Even without David, I wouldn't go out with a mustache like Stalin's.

It's not only that.

[Luna] You were little, but…

when David and I were children, we played together a lot.

Matilda would always say we should get married.

[chuckles softly] That way, she'd become family.

-But you don't wanna marry him, do you? -Of course not.

So why?

He once dumped me and went to work in Yaffo.

Come again.

I don't get dumped, Rachelika,

by anyone, never ever.

You're being vengeful.

You want him to take you back, then you can dump him and break his heart?

Hmm. It's slow, but you're learning.

You're such a little girl.

No, Rachelika. I'm a big girl.

This is exactly what big girls do.

[jazz music continues]

Did you make that?

I've never seen you in it. Looks great.

You mean it?

Wear it once and you'll come back with a husband.

I don't want a husband.

[Rachelika] So, sell it.

You always tell me about all those people overseas

who make really expensive dresses.

You once told me about some "Kuku"?

Coco Chanel.

Yes, her. Follow her footsteps.

Make dresses and sell them.

In the end, you'll be like Kuku Chanel.

-Coco. -Kuku.

-Coco. -Kukuriku.

-Coco Chanel. -Kuku. Kuku-kuku.

[lively jazz band music plays]

[music ends]

Well, people, we will now dance the Viennese waltz.

[slow waltz music plays]

Would you like to dance?

No.

Okay.

[instructor] How elegant.

Whoa! Miss, hey! Shalom to that beauty there.

Peek-a-boo! Say something.

-Me? -[instructor] Yes, you.

Do you know how to do the Viennese waltz?

Well then, please, come over here.

Come, come!

David…

David, we have a damsel in distress.

-She needs help. David. -[Luna sighs]

[music continues]

Raise your hand.

The other one.

Three, you know?

One, two, three. One, two, three.

-You're heavy. -What do you mean?

You're not dancing.

I feel like I'm carrying a sack of potatoes.

Luna.

-Luna! -[Luna sighs]

Leave me alone.

Now apologize.

What do I have to apologize for? For all the scenes you're making?

-For what you said. I'm not making scenes. -Why did you even come here?

Why? Is it forbidden?

You think I didn't see Rachelika following me here?

-Who the hell do you think you are? -Am I right or not?

You're being so mean, David.

You forget how you treated me the last time we met.

I had someone then.

[David scoffs softly]

Yes, Itamar.

-I'm so sorry for what-- -I don't need your sympathy.

So, I'm not sorry.

Should I remind you who dumped who?

Oh, so we're having a dumping contest now?

I'm not your spare tire.

-Every time you're alone, you think-- -Now you know what I'm thinking?

[slow waltz music continues]

Then what do you want from me?

Nothing.

Would you stop lying for once?

-You come here, as beautiful as-- -Oh, so you noticed that?

Yes, I noticed that.

Go back to your dancing, David.

Go, go.

[sighs]

BANISH THE BLOODY BRITISH REGIME FROM THE LAND OF ISRAEL NOW!

[Ephraim sighs]

Private Charlie Mingus from His Majesty's Royal Army.

What's it say there?

"God…

save the King."

There are more than four words.

One, two, three, four…

Right. [laughs]

-More than four. -So, what's it say?

♪ God save our gracious King… ♪

[both grunting]

-[soldier yelps] -[Ephraim grunts]

-[grunts] -[soldier yelps]

-[groans] -[Ephraim grunts]

[breathing heavily]

-[soldier groans] -[Ephraim grunts]

[sighs]

[somber music drowns out background]

[Ephraim panting]

[breathless laughing]

[approaching indistinct voices]

[footsteps approaching]

[Ephraim sighs and sniffs]

[footsteps departing]

-[fire crackling] -[crickets chirping]

[ominous music playing]

[music continues]

[dramatic music plays]

[Mercada gasps]

Oh, Dios santo!

Rosa!

Oh, Dios santo!

Rosa!

-Rosa! -[Victoria] You said he loves me!

[Mercada shrieks] Rosa! Rosa!

[gasps]

[Victoria] You said he'd be a good husband.

Madre mía.

You said that he's ashamed of what he did.

That he wants to ask for my forgiveness.

That I should wait in my wedding dress!

[gasps] So where is he, huh?!

[sobs] Where's your brother?

Where is he?

-I hope that son of a bitch burns in hell. -[Rosa gasps]

-[dramatic music continues] -[fire crackling]

[music fades out]

[theme music plays]