"Fanny and Alexander" screenplay
Text/[Sweden] In Bergman
Translation/Chen Mei
prelude
one
A swift river flows through this small city, and there are several vortices and small waterfalls formed by rapids on the river. On the steep high ground is a group of medieval castles covering a wide area, which is the residence of the governor. The cathedral stands among the monotonous, crowded houses of civilians. It is a tribute to the pious past. It is still the place where the bishop spurs all living beings. What the town is worth boasting about is the historic institution of higher learning and the theater that acts every night. Another thing worth mentioning is a new hotel that is not magnificent but eye-catching; two small horse-drawn transportation vehicles that shuttle back and forth in the small town every day from morning to night; and a stone house full of stone houses. The residential area is for wealthy families and professors. There is also a bunch of sloppy houses. It is a place for craftsmen, students and workers. There are some ships coming and going on this river, but the shipping industry is not very prosperous. There are two large-scale mills in the small town, which can be regarded as local industries, and the corn produced in the nearby fertile fields is milled. In addition, there is a tannery that emits an unpleasant smell and an attached shoe factory. A lush green park and a well-known botanical garden constitute a complete picture: this is a stable and prosperous, contented society, with a little less active cultural life and scientific activities. This is a self-sufficient society that doesn't care much about the ups and downs of the world and the strange things. Only in the ventilated student dormitories with the smell of kerosene can there be fierce debates over new creeds and revolutionary ideas. In addition, this small city is like a paradise. The local newspaper has always attached importance to people's observance of the law, and it believes that it is its own duty to protect its 6,000 loyal subscribers from being disturbed.
Life follows a clear rhythm. Life in a small town in winter is orderly, spring brings an unexplainable commotion, and summer is quiet dormancy. The rush of autumn rain across the plains and the noise of college students entering the dormitories, classrooms and cafeterias wake people up in September. The theater’s performance season began; the college’s orchestra began to tune the instruments; the choir students cleaned their throats with bowls of bean soup and heated mixed drinks; the elementary school students walked along the wet streets in the misty morning, walking on the ground with fallen leaves. Go to school; the professors go to the forum; the absolutely decent brothel in the city once again recruited the officers of the neighboring garrison. Winter is coming, the first snow is in November, and the north wind is whistling, and the elderly widows in this city are dying from a cold to pneumonia. On Sunday, the sky was gray and the death knell rang. The drunk college students behaved awkwardly like a frozen beetle, crawling to the tavern in the snow, hanging out with alcohol, and sitting around the fire to keep warm. From time to time, sledges pass through the city, and ringing bells pretending to be joy sounded on the sledges. There was the roar of rapids from the river, and the black water slapped and whirled along the edge of the ice. This is the perfect time for the world-weary to commit suicide. What is staged in the theater are those popular tragedies. The thick smoke from the wood stove hangs like mist on the snow-covered theater roof. Suddenly, spring is here, it is here, it is here in a dazzling white light, and it is unstoppable. The small town lives in a frenetic turmoil. College students go to take exams to defend their doctoral thesis; in a festive whirlwind, one dance follows another. Pawnshop business is booming: People send fur coats into the pawnshop to redeem the tuxedo. Those little old ladies who survived the winter add spring to the cemetery or the park; this is the season of marriage and people's hopes. Fruit trees and lilacs bloomed in the garden, female students wore light dresses, military bands held concerts every night, and traditional British indoor comedies were staged in the theater.
Then one day the whole city fell asleep. There was silence. Even the roar of water subsided, leaving only the sound of gurgling water. The days are long and the night is quiet. College students go on vacation; wealthy people cover their windows tightly, cover their furniture with dust-proof cloth, wrap the chandelier with white gauze, and roll up the carpet. They went to the beach house to escape the heat. Those second-class wealthy households either moved to their own garden villas on the plains, or went to the homes of their relatives in the large manor. The church’s big bell tells the time every fifteen minutes; the sun shines on the deserted streets. Those who were left in the small town sat on the white benches in the square, looking so lonely. The town slept motionlessly on the scorching plain.
This is the rhythm and breathing of the small town; most of the people who live here think it is a good place; it is a rare and best place. They neither worry about the future nor regret the past. The public thinks that the management of the authorities is very wise. The king protects the decisions of the authorities and guarantees the safety of citizens. Besides, God controls the king; in every family with a piano, they played the waltz in "The Merry Widow" with four hands.
two
The theater was built in the early nineteenth century and has a history of nearly a hundred years. This palace was built by several rich men in this city who love walking in the woods and are keen to take a cold bath, culture and art. After several ups and downs, it was not bought by a wealthy businessman Oscar Ekdal until the 1860s, who had just married an outstanding young actor from the capital. Ekdal is wise and understanding, and handed over the theater to his wife to run the theater on the condition that she herself does not perform on stage. They gave birth to a son and named him Oscar-he was no match for his mother, just a mediocre actor. In 1889, when his son married a girl who studied drama, his mother retired and gave the theater to the young couple to manage. A year later, his father abandoned the world, and his widow mother built a wall in the middle of the large dining room, dividing the beautiful large house in the square in half. The young couple moved into the half of Xiangyang. His wife made rapid progress in her career, and within a few years she became a famous actor. The husband runs the theater in an orderly manner. They invited a small but quite competent theater company. The theater thrived and even became famous in the capital. Oscar and Emily lived comfortably, but the catch was that they had no children for ten years after their marriage, and later gave birth to three children in a row: Amanda, Alexander and Fanny. Regarding this and other things, I don’t want to talk about it first, and there is something to be said.
When the film opened, the theater was in good condition, only slightly dated. Of course, electric lights are installed on the stage and in the auditorium, but that's all. The use of spotlights and rheostats to improve the stage is not yet known. The original stage lighting equipment is more than enough: there are footlights and slats filled with small light bulbs of various colors that are half-bright and half-dark. The stage also preserves the steeply sloping knotty treads from the back wall to the speaker's seat. On the dark sky, there are all kinds of scenery hanging: deep mountains and old forests, turbulent waves, low farmhouses, magnificent banquet halls, and one or two scary flying dragons, but no one wants to destroy it. . The actor's dressing room occupies two floors on the side of the stage, the actress's dressing room is on the right, and the actor is on the left. The office was crowded into three small rooms in the doorway. Oscar Ekdal would rather receive guests in his own dressing room. Only his dressing room has running water and the furniture is decent and more comfortable. Under the sloping table, there are two basements on the upper and lower floors. There are piles of old sundries, such as wooden machinery, trapdoors and other strange objects that have been abandoned for many years. On the upper floor of the basement are rows of unobservable wooden shelves, storing all kinds of props. On the lower level, there are furniture in the setting, which are transported up and down by an old hand-cranked hanger. There is a heavy iron fence in the lower corner of the basement. Below the fence is the black running water, like a bottomless hole. This stream of water and this iron fence are related to a terrifying crime, which may be a haunting thing. There are two long narrow windows on the upper part of the back wall of the stage; after the afternoon rehearsal, the administrator sometimes opens the blinds. The sun shines in, the beam is slender, clear and bright, and waves of fine dust are raised on the stage with the gentle breeze. The surroundings are silent, because there are only a few big trees with thick greens in the backyard of the theater. From time to time, a bird strayed into the stage window. It flapped its wings in fright, squeaked constantly, and flew up into the hanging boards and rafters in the dark. After the bird's wailing stopped, there was a charming calm: voices that could not be heard a moment ago came; the untouchable figures and emotional expressions were seen. The sharp sun beam pierced the dusty space, and the air suddenly became dense, full of voices that had already calmed down and movements that had already stopped.
The curtains of the stage are made of canvas and are designed to look like wide pleats, decorated with borders and golden tassels. The back of the curtain was gray, patched, and nailed to the opening of a slender wooden frame. The opening is at the height of the human eye, so that the actors can stand behind the scenes to observe and count the number of the audience without being noticed by the audience. The stage manager has a comfortable small room on the left side of the stage, which contains a bell, a loudspeaker microphone, and two drawstrings. One is for the whistling of the wind and the other is for the rumble of thunder. The unerasable dust, smoke, and the stench of dead mice radiated from the sky above the stage.
The auditorium is horseshoe-shaped and very compact. It includes sixteen rows of seats in the main hall with crappy red plush chair covers, the second floor hall, the third floor and the top floor. The hall on the second floor consists of several boxes, each with six chairs and a separate doorway. There are long and narrow wooden stools in the hall on the third floor, covered with red cloth. On the top floor, you can only stand and watch the show, but the fare is low, so you might as well carry a chair yourself. There are two spacious and elegant boxes on the left and right sides of the stage. One is reserved for the chairman of the theater, and the other is reserved for the governor, mayor-even the king. If he unexpectedly wants to visit the theater in this city, it is a pity that this kind of favor has not happened yet.
On the ceiling of the auditorium is a painting by a famous artist in the city. It depicts a Greek legendary god playing in the clouds, paying tribute to the young Goddess Celia (Note 1), whose face resembles the dignified face of Helena Mandelbaum. This is a gift presented by the old Oscar Ekdal to his wife. It cost him several thousand yuan. From time to time, he triumphantly pointed to the guests. Six chandelier rings are hung around the painting of the gods, adding a soft luster to the theater. There is a world of difference between the front desk and the backstage. Everything at the front desk is neatly arranged. The backstage is a scene of decay, full of dust and filth.
People's material requirements are also taken care of here: there is a restaurant on the second floor overlooking the square in front of the theater. The owner of the restaurant is Oscar’s younger brother Gustav Adolf Ekdal. The restaurant’s dishes are delicious, the drinks are just right, and the waiters are attentive and attentive. Even some spectators prefer the former between the material enjoyment of Gustav Adolf and the spiritual enjoyment of his brother. Sometimes the noise in the restaurant is too loud, and even a small servant who learns the drama is sent to send a letter. Guests in the restaurant are asked to reduce their laughter, so as not to seriously interfere with a famous monologue or a very moving performance. In addition, the friendship between the two brothers can be described as close.
Finally, I want to mention the audience. The theater has eight months of performances every night (the theater is only closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter). The repertoire is changed every four weeks. Generally speaking, these audiences will come every time they change the repertoire, and they will watch nine performances in total. These are loyal but somewhat conservative audiences. Oscar Ekdal acts cautiously and never takes risks. He is very wary of Strindberg and Ibsen, so it is rare to stage their plays.
three
When the elder Oscar Ekdal and Helena Mandelbaum got married, they not only bought the theater, but also a beautiful brick house at the other end of the square. The whole family lives upstairs, and the interior furnishings are extremely luxurious and comfortable. They are hospitable and Helena is always surrounded by hordes of admirers. After Oscar's death, his widow suggested to divide the house in half by putting a partition wall in the middle of the spacious dining room. There was a small door that was barely noticed on the wall, a tall tiled stove was blocked by the door on this side of the wall, and the wall was next to a huge closet. The adults in this family never use this small door to get in and out.
Therefore, Oscar and his beautiful wife Ellie moved into the sunny side of the house, facing the city’s park, where there are shades of elm trees, green grass, flower beds, fountains and statues.
The relationship between the young couple on this side of the wall and the mother-in-law on the other side of the wall was polite from the beginning, but not affectionate.
One of the reasons why they were cold to each other was the large-scale refurbishment of the house. The newlyweds went on a long honeymoon trip on the European continent and were enthusiastic about everything they saw and heard. They found and took a fancy to a new type of furniture and planned to use it in their own home. Although Oscar does not pretend and has mediocre acting skills, he knows his hobbies and has the ability to fulfill his wishes. His mother looked at the old-fashioned furniture piled up in the warehouse of the theater, and she couldn't help but feel stunned. Painters, furniture dealers, plumbers, and electricians go in and out, and go in and out. The walls are painted in bright colors, the curtains are simple in style, with light-colored large flower patterns, and there are water heaters and toilets in the spacious bathroom. These are the results of their hard work. The old-style boards were cleaned and covered with linoleum, and brightly patterned carpets were spread out on the creaky dark parquet. But it is the absolute new style of art furniture specially designed by specially invited interior decorators. The light is plentiful, giving the space and atmosphere of this old house a new look.
Helena Ekdal watched these changes silently. She wondered if it was a resistance to parental authority that came too late, but she guessed the truth. She blamed all this on her daughter-in-law, but she never explained it face to face. Oscar also wanted to persuade his mother to install heating and dismantle those old tiled stoves. Unfortunately, this time he failed. He didn't expect his mother to cry, and said that obviously he never loved her anymore. Oscar really figured out the connection between heating and loving his mother, but he put it aside. Of course, it is imperative for the two families to use the telephone to greet their daily lives without meeting each other and discuss other trivial matters. Except between the two cooks, the two families have no forgiveness, and these two cooks are outstanding in character or craftsmanship. Helena's cook is very old, and no one knows her exact age; she is a cook from the Akdal family, full of old tents and family rules. The other cook is a red-faced, energetic middle-aged woman with new ideas about raising children and food. Before the young boss had no children, the two opponents finally maintained a tolerant but independent state of war. But when the children began to travel back and forth between the two kitchens, the long-standing hatred finally broke out into fierce fighting, until the day of Alexander's twelfth birthday, when the old chef Wei Jia made a birthday cake for him. He died suddenly in the middle of his work.
In the autumn of 1895, Emily Akdal was invited to Helsinki to give a special performance. The following year, after ten years of infertility, she gave birth to a daughter, named Amanda.
A young handsome actor with high accomplishments joined the troupe. In "La Traviata", Emily played the unfortunate La Traviata, and Mr. Palmlund played the passionate Amon. This play is one of the most successful performances in the theater, with 46 consecutive performances, which is really extraordinary. The new actor was hired by the capital's troupe. It is said that Emily's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her hair was disheveled. She gave birth to a son, named Alexander. He was very small and weak, so he baptized hurriedly in the hospital, but his mother was able to save his life thanks to the careful care of his mother.
Fanny was added a year later. She was a healthy fat girl who looked very much like the archbishop who had visited this diocese.
The rapid growth of the Akdal family's population has provoked a lot of gossip in the small town, but the family seems very happy. Now that Oscar and Emily are both well-known, the rumors and rumors have gradually subsided, and people feel comfortable when they see the energetic mother leading her neatly dressed and cheerful children.
The grandmother was almost indifferent to Amanda's birth. But the danger at Alexander's birth caused her concern. It was this Alexander who desperately opened the secret door between the two houses one day. A fascinating but frightening world appeared before his eyes. Of course, he often visits his grandmother, but he must follow the rules when going as a guest. And on this sunny and quiet Sunday morning, he could go in for an adventure. Grandmother took Vega and Este to worship, and the house was empty. He walked in cautiously, the parquet floor creaking under his feet. The huge dining table is taller than him, and he sits leaning on the lotus petal-shaped legs of the dining table. He was wearing a brown bib with a red-edged pocket on the bib with a cat embroidered on the pocket. He put both hands in this pocket. This seemed to reassure him. Besides, it is also very cold here.
Outside the double-glazed windows is a sunny and slightly frosty winter day, with patterned screens and thick curtains blocking the windows. A pair of dark leather chairs around the dining table and along the wall exudes a pungent smell. The closet next to him was like a castle uprooted on the ground; the glass bottles and crystal bowls placed between the two towers of the castle were gleaming. On the left wall is a painting of white, red, and yellow houses, set off against the blue water, and there are several strange-shaped boats on the water. The large floor-standing alarm clock with a pendulum was almost as high as the painted ceiling.
From where he was sitting, he could see the green-lit sitting room—green walls, carpets, furniture, and curtains. There are also several palm trees planted in the green tank. He looked at the white naked girl without arms. She stood there looking at Alexander thoughtfully, leaning forward slightly. He had seen her many times, but he couldn't tell whether anyone should treat her as a living person. This may be a little scary, but at the same time attractive. Now only he and her are here, and she looks alive-he felt it in his heart. On a chest of drawers with copper feet and copper handles, there is a heavy alloy clock covered with a glass bell. A man playing the flute was leaning against the clock face, and a woman wearing a low-necked tunic, a large pleated skirt and a wide-brimmed hat was sitting on a stone. Both figures were golden. When the clock strikes twelve o'clock, the man plays the flute and the woman dances. My grandmother had asked Alexander to look at the structure of the alloy clock many times, but when he was here alone, the situation was very different. He felt sorry for the pair of men and women in the glass cover.
On this Sunday morning, my grandmother got up too late. The large bed with painted headboard was not ready in time, and the scent of grandmother's rose remained on the pillow (in fact, it was the "rose glycerin" available in the drugstore, but Alexander didn't know it). The bedroom is not big, and the furnishings have not been changed for 40 years. Everything is almost the same as on the wedding day in 1862, when Helena and Oscar Ekdal boarded the wedding bed for the first time. They lived happily on this bed for twenty years; they cried, quarreled, held each other’s hands in this bed, and they might have talked seriously about the theater's repertoire, the future of the child, the temperament of the mother-in-law, and friends. Our misfortune. The old Oscar and his wife Helena Mandelbaum believed that their married life was very happy and they were loyal to each other.
On the wall opposite the big bed is an oil painting of Helena dressed as Evgenia (Note 2), and the light of winter shines on this painting. In Alexander's imagination, the grandmother was moving in the painting; he could almost hear her. His mother also played this role, so he can recite his lines. He loves to see his grandmother's graceful hands, soft lips, and plump and firm breast peaks under the transparent thin clothes. There is also a large iron stove in the passage, which emits a special pungent smell when burning coal, and the smell of the iron stove shell when it heats up. Vega cooks dinner in the kitchen—a delicious and nutritious cabbage soup. The warm soup overflowed the whole house. For little Alexander, his nose is too close to the ground, and he always smells the scent of camphor balls from the carpet, which is the smell that penetrates when the carpet is rolled up and stored in the summer. Every Friday, Esther and Vega oil and wax the parquet floor, the smell is really pungent. The knotty wall has a soapy smell. The mixture of acid skimmed milk and water used to scrub the linoleum is even more unpleasant.
If you stand under the chandelier in the living room with your feet sunk in the continuous leaf-like pattern on the thick carpet, if you stand still and hold your breath, you can listen to the silence, which includes many components. : The first is the boiling blood in the ear drum, and the second is the tick and beat of several clocks together. Then there was the blaring fire in the tiled stove and the light shaking of the iron stove door. The sound of piano in the distance—the neighbor’s girl is practicing the scales. The sound is almost inaudible, but it makes you feel melancholy and can't tell the reason. The grandmother sits at the writing desk in the study and keeps accounts, the rustle of the pen rubbing on the paper. From the kitchen came the clash of dishes and the sound of Vijay's conversation. Then everything subsided, only the sound of washing porcelain and knives and forks in the sink.
The winter sky has dimmed. A sleigh passed by, bells jingled, horseshoes hit the frozen snow, and the sled sizzled against the ground. The big clock on the bell tower of the cathedral struck a quarter past three. Alexander thought, standing on the carpet in the living room, "Why am I so sad? Why? Was that death quietly in the half-dark hall? Can I hear his rapid, mute breathing? He Did you take my grandmother while she was using the blue ledger in the study to lead her?" Alexander wanted to run to her and cry in her arms, but he couldn't do that. If he moved, if he moved his finger, death would rush in ahead of him. This is a time-consuming duel between Alexander and the god of death. Suddenly, Esther used a black coal shovel to add coal to the stove. The sound of adding coal removed the magic, and the terrible visitor disappeared.
The twilight was already thick, piercing through the dense layers of the curtains, revealing a blue. Grandma stood up from the desk and took the kerosene lamp. The son gave her a radio lamp. The lamp holder was iron and the lampshade was green porcelain, but the grandmother put it in the closet and used the kerosene lamp that had illuminated Oscar's desk in the theater. She lit the yellow lamp, turned on the wick, put on the glass cover and umbrella, and smelled a kerosene smell. The figure of the grandmother is reflected on the spine of the book behind. Carbon lamps were lit in the lobby and living room, and the dark places that were not illuminated by the light were dense with shadows. It was dusk outside, and the lamplighter walked cautiously across the icy road holding the ignition stick. He lit the gas lamps in the street one by one. The street lamp cast a shadow on the ceiling of the living room. Alexander found the sea, mountains, savages and monsters in the shadows. Grandma turned to face him, he couldn't see her eyes. She reached out to him and asked in a soft voice if he would like to play cards with her for a while before dinner.
I must also mention a few words about the backyard of Akdal's house. The doorway facing the street is arched, and the oak door is closed at night. The ground was covered with large pebbles, and the sound of horseshoes and wheels through the yard and doorways echoed in the room. It has long been said that the doorway should be paved with asphalt, but so far there has been no movement. The yard is large but not neat in shape. A three-story simple lower house is connected from the right side of the main house. Surrounding the house is a row of carriage houses, stables, laundry room and firewall. Through the gap, you can see the park in the small town. The yard is only half paved, and there is a tall chestnut tree in the middle of the yard. The two rug-shooting brackets rise high, like a medieval torture frame. A pump was standing next to a covered well next to the stables.
On the ground floor of the main building, to the right of the stairs, there is a distinctive shop and a distinctive boss. He is long and thin, walks bowed, and has two big pale hands, a long beard, curly hair around his ears, black eyes and a narrow white forehead, and he wears a greasy hat with a curved brim. His name is Isaac Jacobs, and he has dinner with Helena Ekdal every Thursday. Esther called him a disgusting and disgusting Jew, and he told Alexander vividly that Isaac Jacobs killed the children and drank their blood. Although Alexander didn't believe this, Esther's story undoubtedly made the mysterious Isaac even more attractive. The shop itself is magical. You opened a glass door and walked in, and a bell rang. Isaac Jacobs was sitting in a rocking chair by the counter, often reading a book spelled out in weird words. Fannie and Alexander both like to go to Jewish shops. Amanda never went; she said there was an evil smell there, and there were moldy corpses in the back room. This makes sense. Isaac Jacobs has a mummy, which sleeps in a glass box in the suite where Isaac collects his treasures. Fannie and Alexander always look at the mummy. It was terrible. The golden mask and cloth on the face had been removed, revealing the hair, ears, almost corroded lips, smiling mouth and long scarred nose. The site of the shop stretched all the way to the middle of the main room, and several dirty rooms had windows nailed to them, and dusty curtains hung. Thousands of things are placed on long shelves, large tables, on the floor or hanging from the ceiling. No one has heard of the Jewish shops selling things, and no one has seen him buying things. All this makes people feel mysterious and unpredictable.
People and animals come and go, and the style of the backyard changes accordingly. Sparrows chirping on chestnut trees or picking up food in horse dung; I don't know how many fat cats live comfortably on numerous mice; children and dogs roll on the ground and sparse grass. The janitor and the janitor secretly drank behind the outdoor toilet, accompanied by the screams of the women in the brewing room.
Children of the Akdal family are not allowed to play in the yard. They are led to the park by the jovial lame Maya, where the playmates and sand table match their identities.
Christmas
one
As usual, since the time of the old Oscar Ekdal, the theater began to stage "Nativity" at 1pm on Christmas Eve. According to the same practice, the number of people attending the viewing is no less than the number of people attending morning prayers in the cathedral on Christmas Day morning. Even the Bishop Edward Virgilos, the mayor of Falstrom, the governor of Pensstirna, the mayor of Adam Portios and other distinguished citizens came to watch.
The drama has come to an end, Mary and Joseph are in the stable, and the Holy Child is asleep in the manger. There was a burst of fairy music, the stage glowed, and the fairy in white and the little angel descended slowly from the top of the stage. For many years, this important role has been played by the first lady of the theater, Emily Akdal. Her children Amanda, Alexander, Fannie and cousin Jenny play the little angel. The angel landed on an elevated ledge near the roof of the stable, and Joseph woke up. Although the role played by the theater owner Oscar Ekdal is not outstanding, it is very decent. This is also the practice, Oscar must obey the practice of course.
The sacred play is over and all the actors are on stage. The band played a few Christmas carols. Emily brought the four children to her side and turned to face the audience with a smile.
The Virgin Mary played by Hannah Schwartz opened her arms as if to embrace everyone. In the past three years, she played the role of an innocent girl in the theater and was very popular with audiences, especially old gentlemen.
Hannah: I wish everyone, regardless of distance, enjoy the joy of Christmas.
The curtain fell, thunderous applause, and then abruptly stopped, because everyone was busy going home for the festival. After the curtain fell, the actor turned his face expectantly to the right side of the stage. Gustav Adolf Ekdal was flushed with excitement and high blood pressure, and led four waitresses in bleached aprons with trays of sweets. On the stage, four barmen followed behind with large bowls of sweet juice and hot wine. Gustav Adolf’s decent wife, Alma, and their 18-year-old daughter Petra were behind her. She was the incarnation of her kind mother. The mother and daughter dragged into an open suitcase, which was full of Christmas gifts for the theater colleagues and all their families.
Everyone is here—the actors in costumes, the dancers in formal dresses, the ladies in charge of costumes, the women workers who make clothes and wigs, the ticket sellers and a serious staff in the office. There are quite a few members in this troupe-thirty-four adults and thirteen children. Oscar Ekdal climbed the steps next to Joseph and Maria’s cradle. All the staff gathered together with their wine glasses. The theater manager is about to give a holiday message. His father was an outstanding impromptu speaker with wit and humor, and his Christmas speech was one of the most exciting programs during the holiday season. The son is not considered an orator, but he is very prestigious, and he must give his congratulations.
Oscar: Dear friends, dear colleagues, dear family members! I have stood here to speak for twenty-two years. I really can’t do this thing...(He looks around and smiles meaningfully. Everyone looks at him with a smile, thinking that he is a good one, and he continues pensively)...My only talent, if you can If I call this talent, I love the small world of this theater inside the thick outer wall. I love people who work in this small world. Outside is a big world, sometimes the small world can successfully reflect the big world so that we can understand it better. In other words, maybe we can give the people who come here a chance to forget... (He stares at the wine glass he is holding in both hands. It is so quiet that he can only hear the faint wind and snow cry from the top of the stage. He When he raised his head again, everyone saw that his face was extremely pale with tears in his eyes)...For a short time, he forgot about the harsh world outside. Our theater is a small, methodical, step-by-step, small world full of sincerity and friendship. I can't tell why I feel so excited today. I have a solemn feeling, and I feel ridiculous. I can't tell what I feel. I better stop. (He shook his head and toasted to look at the people around him) My mother and I, my wife and children wish you a happy Christmas. I hope that when we meet again on Boxing Day (Note 3), we will rest both physically and mentally. Merry Christmas!
Gustav Ador: Merry Christmas, Oscar! Merry Christmas, Emily!
Everyone toasted the Akdal family and congratulated each other.
two
The Ekdal family struggled across the square in the boundless wind and snow from all directions. There is snow on the road. Three sleighs glided past, and on top of them were the cheerful, joy-seeking people who went to the Christmas party. They held torches, the sleigh bells jingled, and the horses spouted heat from their noses. The Ekdal’s residence opposite the theater was brightly lit, with candlelight shining from every window.
In Helena Ekdal’s house, Christmas Eve meals are all ready. The candles on the Christmas tree were lit, the candlesticks, chandeliers and wall lights interlaced, and the fireplace was blazing.
Vega and Esther wore long black silk skirts, white aprons washed with starch, and small lace caps on their neatly combed buns.
Helena was dressed up: a crimson brocade robe, a full set of jewellery and her royal medal. Despite her gray hair, it was still shiny and thick. Her skin is fair and moisturized, her dark blue eyes are piercing, her hands are soft, without wrinkles or spots.
She stood by the balcony window and looked at her big family-sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren, rushing through the blizzard and across the square, shouting and smiling. The lights in the theater went out one by one, and soon became pitch black. The large gas lamp at the gate flickered in the wind, and the lights flickered.
Helena's second son, Professor Carl Ekdal, and his wife Lydia were talking loudly when they entered the house. They were still arguing in the hall, but as soon as they entered the room to see his mother, Carl was immediately radiant. He greeted her warmly. He was a tall, fat man, almost bald on top of his head, but he had a bushy sideburn. His wife is a wealthy German woman who is nosy. Although she has lived in this country for 20 years, she still cannot speak Swedish well. She has a ruddy complexion, a rich breast, and a calm heart, even when arguing. Carl and Lydia have no children, and their full affection is devoted to the eight cats that are said to be purebreds. The two of them held Christmas gifts in both hands, handed them to Este's hands, and put them into a huge cloth basket, which was already full of colorful paper bags.
Lydia enthusiastically greeted her mother-in-law Xiangan; Helena's response was friendly and measured. Carl lit his cigar and poured himself a glass of brandy. The professor is very addicted to alcohol, but he is quite popular among students.
Isaac Jacobs, smiling all over his face, came over. He was wearing a tuxedo, his hair, beard, and eyebrows had just been groomed, and he was well-dressed and meticulous. He complimented Helena's demeanor with a strong nasal bass, and gave her a carved silver rose with six rubies on the stem instead of rose thorns.
There was a stumbling footstep on the stairs, and excitement of shouting and laughing echoed in the house. The door of the hall opened wide and the children rushed in. They were panting with laughter because they were racing on the stairs. The biting cold wind, hot fruit cooking wine and infections in the festive atmosphere made the children's cheeks flushed. Amanda, the eldest of the four children, will go to the capital to start studying ballet in the fall; Alexander, ten years old, imagines himself as a martyr; Xiao Fangni has a red face and is very assertive; another is Jenny, who is enthusiastic but more enthusiastic. The implicit child, quietly loves his cousin Amanda.
Their parents followed: Emily and Alma were hugging enthusiastically; Oscar was holding the sturdy and cheerful Petra, smiling while listening to her niece talking, she was telling a wonderful story in the housekeeping school, where she was already Two years of schooling; the last one who came in was Gustav Adolf, who was drunk and blindfolded while toasting in the theater. He joked fascinatingly at the children's nanny, the fat lame Maya. She smiled and walked away. The servants of another house walked in through the kitchen door. They were the maids Shili and Berta, and the cooks Alida and Lisson. The professor's maid returned to Berlin for the festival, and this arrangement was satisfactory to everyone.
Everyone pays tribute to Helena. The sons kissed her hand politely and thoughtfully, the daughter-in-law kissed her on the cheek, and the children hugged her and gave her a resounding kiss. Finally, the maids curtsy with a deep smile. Carl played waltz on the piano. Gustav Adolf went to the kitchen to inspect the dishes. Oscar told his mother about the performance and income in the afternoon. Emily and Alma drag the heavy cloth basket with Christmas presents into the house and place them under the Christmas tree. Isaac Jacobs put Fannie and Jenny on her lap and teased them loudly. Alexander and Amanda forgot their identities and tumbling around on the carpet in the living room. Vega and Este were busy between the kitchen-pantry-kitchen, even though everything was ready a few hours ago.
Lydia Ekdal talked to Petra unconsciously. Petra couldn't figure out what auntie said, but as long as Lydia paused, she hummed. Xi Li, Berta, Maya, Alida, and Lisson joined together, whispering and laughing. It was a topic of relish and never bored-Gustav Adolf's habit of young women. All the women know the true story of Mr. Ekdal's love affairs to some extent-Maya and Lisson also pledged to have first-hand information. But at the same time, no one is blamed, and he doesn't think he behaved badly. On the contrary, since he is recognized as a decent and good person, he should be a little entertaining. Even his wife feels jealous.
As usual, the Christmas Eve dinner is held in Helena’s large kitchen. The large kitchen has long been full of various Christmas decorations-confetti, hanging flowers, festoon ribbons, Santa Claus, lanterns and hand-made candles. . According to the same practice, the master and servant eat at the same time, and choose their own seats. The food is placed on the stove, the sink, and the long table-the table is covered with brightly colored tablecloths. Everyone can do whatever they want when taking food. The dishes are very rich: all kinds of pickled fish, sausages, cheese, pies, frozen meat rolls, grilled mixed vegetables, meatballs, steaks and meat slices. In order to help digestion, Eli fights again, and there is a rich and delicious soup. The next one is the Christmas roasted ham, which is full of colors and dishes; after everyone has finished evaluating the ham taste and comparing it with the ham of previous years, it is time for the cod, which is said to be very nutritious. When serving the cod, a white Bordeaux wine is served at the same time, which is to make way for the rich wine and the crispy roasted grouse. The finale is pudding, boiled fruit and holiday cakes. Everyone is talking, but no one listens to what the other person says. From time to time, one of the Ekdal brothers stood up and read a few poems or sang a song.
They drink vodka, beer, white wine, red wine, Madeira, spirits and brandy. Everyone’s voice wanted to overwhelm everyone. Only Vega and Esther were silent, sitting there solemnly. They think Christmas Eve is the hardest day of the year. They think it's unreasonable that the master and servant are so indifferent. For more than 40 years, Vega and Esther have been forced to endure this indecent dinner, and what is even more annoying is that Vega will have to cook this meal by himself.
three
As we watch the sumptuous Christmas dinner in the Akdal’s kitchen, I will introduce you to the relationship between this family. They touched, shook, patted the shoulders, gently patted or stroked each other, hugged each other, kissed loudly wetly, held hands, looked at each other's eyes, and fiddled with other people's hair. They like dramatic quarrels, even crying, blaming each other, looking for sympathy, but they will soon make peace again, swear to swear, and become intimacy again. Regardless of quarrel or reconciliation, it is all sincere.
Although there must be certain rules for the education of the children, they all enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the Akdal family; they live in a greenhouse full of emotions. Even Helena can show strong love, especially to her grandchildren. Her son and close friends can sometimes share the affection of the old lady. But she was more restrained towards her daughter-in-law, and she showed a subtle degree of love to them.
The relationship between them is relatively close, sharing or sharing each other's pains, quarrels or love. Restaurants and theaters provide a natural outlet for the family’s passion. They broke up reluctantly in the summer. Old Oscar Ekdal built four beautiful country houses on the promontory of the outer islands. There they can take off their hard collars, take off their tights, and only need to wear crumpled linen clothes, loose shirts and large straw hats in hot weather. Calls and laughter echoed from the shady promontory, flags were flying in the breeze, violin creaked from the open windows, someone dragged a rake across the dirt road, and a dog barked. The Akdal’s family spent the summer in the cave.
The Christmas dinner has been used up, and now it’s singing, stomping, and sweating. Family members, servants and guests are holding hands in a row and dancing in the room. As usual, Helena takes the lead, her hair is already a little scattered. She held Fanny in one hand, and tightly grasped her large skirt with the other hand, showing delicate ankles under the skirt, wearing silk stockings woven with butterflies and flowers. Behind Fannie was the singing and laughing nanny Maya, and behind him was the sweaty Gustav Adolf. Relying on the cover of the joyous atmosphere of everyone, he was saying something to the nanny. Behind him was a string of children, laughing loudly with all their energy. Next came the professor and his wife, Esther, Vega, Alida, Berta, Shili, and Lisson. Then there was the cheerful but pale Oscar Ekdal, and then Emily and Alma. Alma was talking loudly about how her husband flirted with the babysitter, but she didn't mean to dislike it. The next one was Isaac Jacobs, who had to succumb to the fanatical etiquette of this family. Behind the palace is Petra. She ate so much that she couldn't even sing. The dance extended to two residences, the hall doors and small doors were open, the floor was shaking, the house was shaking, and the chandeliers clinked. They finally sat down in Helena's sitting room, laughing and panting again. People carefully moved the Christmas tree from the window to the aisle leading to the restaurant.
Oscar Ekdal took the family's "Bible". He sits on a raised spot next to the Christmas tree. The audience was silent. Oscar took out his golden pen and opened the big book. The gospel should be read now, but first the family events of this year must be recorded on the title page. The blank title page is full of events from the past (from 1869 the elder Oscar Ekdal and the actress Helena Mandelbaum) From the date of marriage).
People calmly discussed what counted as major events. With Jenny's support, Fanny insisted that the death of the domestic cat Ajax was a funeral that should be recorded in the annals of history. Uncle Carl very decently offered to include the death of the old aunt Emma, and she also left the world. Some people think that the death of Aunt Emma is more important than the death of the cat, while others hold the opposite view. Oscar wrote down both items, thus resolving the dispute.
Four
There was chaos and excitement in the nursery. Jenny always stays with her cousins on Christmas Eve. Amanda had her own room more than a year ago, and now she moved her mattress and quilt into the nursery room with her siblings. They pile up their gifts by the bed, and they will get them when they wake up tomorrow morning. There was a pillow fight now, and even Maya had participated in the fight. The children wore white dressing gowns. Alexander's dressing gowns had red edges on the cuffs and necklines, and were only knee-length long. They were shouting in unison. The slightly drunk Maya has the loudest voice. A duck down pillow was broken, and fluffy snowflakes floated all over the room. Amanda seized the opportunity to dance the snowflake dance, screaming to accompany herself. Jenny ran back and forth between the toilet and the nursery, Maya was chasing after her, and Jenny yelled for help.
Emily and Alma came to say goodnight to the child. Maya smiled embarrassedly, trying in vain to sweep the duck feathers. They decided on the spot to leave it alone and to clean up tomorrow morning. Emily lit a night light with a pink shade and placed it behind the transparent Christmas screen on three sides of the white chest of drawers. She turned off the light. The lights of the night lantern flickered behind the Christmas picture: On the left side of the screen, there are three wise men heading towards the direction of the stars. On the right is the shepherd in the field listening to the angel’s message, in the middle are Maria and Joseph, and the holy child in the manger. All of the paintings are vivid in shape and brilliant in color.
It’s hard to say that the Akdal family is religious and faithful. It is more because of purely traditional concepts. They and their children perform evening prayers. The bishop goes to church when he preaches. They vaguely feel that there is a kind but kindness. God who is far away is kindly arranging everything, at least from the perspective of the overall situation. The children’s prayers were short and the same. They knelt on the edge of the bed with their hands together, and said loudly, “Thank you my lord for allowing me to live this day. Please make me a good girl (or little boy). Let’s Angels are with me all night. God bless my mom and dad, grandparents, me and my brothers and sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts, Vega, Este, Maya, Silly, Berta, Ali Da and Lisen, and Uncle Isaac and everyone, Amen."
After the children recited their prayers at a rapid speed, they jumped onto the bed and embraced the fragrant Emily and Alma, who was scented with fresh bread. The goodnight kiss and the etiquette of tucking the quilt always take a long time. There are both traditional shows and impromptu performances. Then the two mothers walked away, holding hands, talking and laughing. There was a faint sound of music from the grandmother's house. It was Aunt Lydia singing, and Oscar played the grand piano to accompany her. The nursery suddenly calmed down. The light of the street lamp is projected on the ceiling. The night light behind the screen flickered, and the human figures on the screen almost moved-they seemed to be walking and whispering. Jenny sucked two fingers; Fannie embraced the old blanket she had covered since childhood, half-closed her eyes looking at the transparent screen; Alexander lay on the bed with her cheeks in her hands, beside him was an old brown bear named Baru. . Amanda shrank into a ball and sat on the mattress with a quilt. She was slowly flipping through a large picture album. This was one of the Christmas gifts she got. On each page there is a color photo of a famous male and female ballerina, indicating that it is written in Russian. They are so beautiful that Amanda couldn't put it down. A gust of wind blew across the street, and the tiled stove whimpered for a while, and the charcoal fire was raging behind the round hole in the stove door, like blinking red eyes in a dark corner. The wind sighed through the big trees in the park, and when it disappeared, everything was quiet again. Then came the voice of singing from the grandmother's house. The singing is sweet and a little bleak.
Suddenly, the door of the nursery opened wide. When the light turned on, Maya rushed in. Her red hair was in a big bun, she was wearing a childish blue evening dress, and she wore stockings and high heels on her feet. She raised her white arms, turned around and danced a little limpingly, almost mad with excitement.
Maya: Look at my Christmas present! See what Mrs. Ekdal gave me! I can't believe it! Am I terribly beautiful? Am i pretty? I am like a lady.
Maya laughed and jumped around in circles, then turned off the light, and she hugged Alexander in her arms.
Maya (whispering in a low voice): You can't come to Maya's bed tonight, because Maya has a guest. You know, Maya can't sleep two men on the bed, don't you? Anyway, you are also Maya's sweetheart, do you understand?
Alexander listened coldly to her sweet words, and lay his head on the bed against the wall. Maya was amused by the jealousy of her admirer, and walked out of the room with a smile on her toes.
There was laughter from my grandmother's house, and the grandfather clock struck a lot. I heard the echo of bells from the cathedral and the Trinity Church immediately. The church bells were ringing more frequently, ringing every fifteen minutes, and then every hour. The air vibrated and buzzed, one near and one far away, and the bells let the wind fiddle. Then everything was still, surprisingly quiet.
Alexander couldn't figure out if he fell asleep for a while. Maybe I fell asleep—the whole house was quiet, and the street was quiet. His sisters and Jenny were all asleep, and the door to their parents' bedroom was closed.
He felt that the time had come. He can hardly wait for tomorrow-to explain that the conditions are not so convenient every day. He got up from the bed cautiously and stepped over Amanda who fell asleep holding the book. The night light glowed dimly behind the transparent screen, and the shadow slowly moved on the walls and ceiling. Alexander clearly saw the magic lamp on the large white folding table in the middle of the room. The image of the enameled tin lampshade was projected on the light-colored chest of drawers, and the metal ring around the lens was shining. Alexander felt a churn deep in his abdomen. He shivered, not because of the cold in the nursery, but because of a chill in his chest that spread to his shoulder blades. He reached out and touched this magical thing. It is slender and connected to a small chimney. He opened the small square door under the chimney and took out a kerosene lamp. He took off the kerosene lampshade and polished a match. The flame of the wick was very strong; he installed the lampshade, adjusted the brightness, then put the kerosene lamp back, and closed the small door. A good smell of kerosene and hot tin skin immediately filled the room. He turned the thing around and aimed the lens at the light-colored wallpaper on his bed. This is the magical aperture. He adjusted the small knob next to the lens to make the focus on the edge of the aperture very clear. Alexander's hands trembled with excitement, he wanted to urinate, sweat dripping from his neck. His heart was beating wildly, so loud that it almost awakened the entire house. There is a wooden box with a blue cloth face beside the magic lamp. Alexander lifted the lid of the box. There are at least twenty glass slides in the box, arranged in a large row. He picked out one piece carefully and inserted it into the bracket behind the lens. A bedroom with columns and long windows appeared on the wall above Alexander's bed. The snow-white bed was illuminated by the bright moonlight. A young girl stretched out on the bed gracefully.
Alexander (speaking in a low voice half-singing): She is lying there, the beautiful girl Arabella. Where does she know what bad luck awaits her. She was lonely, staying alone in the big house, ah, ah! Her mother is dead, and her father is drinking with a bunch of nasty people. what! what!
Alexander's singing awakened Fanny. She quietly walked over and stood beside him. The beautiful painting and the heavy tone of her brother made her both fascinated and frightened.
There are two connected pieces of glass on the slide, which can be moved freely. Alexander held the sleeping beauty picture with one hand, and slowly pushed the other picture with the other. Behold, a miracle has happened! A female ghost in a long white dress mopping the floor floats above the moonlight. Her face was pale but outstanding, and she was holding a fairy stick studded with stars.
Alexander: The bell in the castle rang twelve o'clock. Who is this? There was a panic in my heart. what! what! Who is this scary white person floating in the moonlight? She approached my bedside. what! This is my dead mother! This is the ghost of my mother. Have you not……
Jenny woke up with a scream. Alexander just had time to remove the chimney, blew out the kerosene lamp, and plunged his head into the bed. The door opened now. Emily was standing in the doorway in her nightgown, with loose hair, very similar to the ghost cast by the slide. Shocked Jenny again. Amanda grumbled and woke up. Fannie and Alexander pretended to be asleep. Jenny cried and said that there was a ghost on the wall beside Alexander's bed. Emily hugged Jenny to reassure her that there was no ghost at all. She told Jenny that she could go to bed with her tonight. She picked up the child who was still sobbing and returned to her bedroom. The door was closed, but Alexander could hear his parents talking.
Emily: There is a smell of kerosene in the nursery.
Oscar (drowsy, muttering): The smell of kerosene?
Emily: Yeah, it smells like kerosene.
Oscar (pause): There are no kerosene lamps in the nursery. (Pauses again) I still go to see what's going on.
He snorted a few times. The bed creaked. Emily coaxed Jenny, who was gradually calming down. Oscar opened the door and walked in in pajamas, slippers, and a green nightgown full of smoke. He has a glass of wine in his hand.
Oscar: Well, it smells of kerosene. (He takes the door behind him and asks in a low voice) Are you asleep, little guy?
Alexander and Fannie immediately sat up and laughed. Amanda rolled over in her sleep.
Oscar: What tricks did you play?
He strolled around the room for a while, sat down on a low chair, drank a drink, and smacked his lips. He drank too much and was in high spirits. He stood up suddenly, grabbed the chair he had just sat on with his left hand, and let the children pay attention. He told a story about this chair. Then carefully put the chair on the ground, sat on the sofa, took the wine glass and drank it. The bedroom door opened.
Emily: Are you all crazy? It's three o'clock, we should get up in two hours and go to morning prayer.
Emily tried to pull Oscar up from the sofa, but was pulled by him and sat on her lap. She put her arms around his neck and he kissed her ears.
Alexander: Can we participate in the performance of "Hamlet"?
Emily: Ah, I know you have discussed with Uncle Randall. But it's up to my father and me to decide.
Oscar: Mother is the master.
Emily: It's too late to play, the kids are going to school.
Fanny: Let's play the little attendant in the first scene.
Emily: If you can't play the last act, don't even think about acting the first act.
Alexander: It is impossible for the attendants in these two acts to be performed by the same person, at least three years have passed between them.
Amanda: I can act as a servant in the first act and a maid in the last act.
Alexander: Let's just say it's Denmark, and there is no such a small female official.
Amanda: At that time, the princess was only twelve years old when she got married, so there will be little ladies.
Emily: Stop fighting! In the first act, you play three attendants on the condition that you finish your homework and go home as soon as the court scene is over. No one is allowed to complain about getting up the next morning.
Amanda, Fannie and Alexander expressed satisfaction with this arrangement, and their parents kissed them goodnight. When they left the nursery, Alexander got up from the bed.
Alexander: "...tomorrow, tomorrow, another tomorrow, day after day, we will walk forward until the last second; all our yesterdays are just illuminating the way to the soil of death for fools. Go out, go out, a short candlelight! Life is just a walking shadow, a clumsy actor who gesticulates on the stage, appears for a moment, then quietly retreats silently; it is a The stories told by fools are full of noise and commotion, but they have no meaning."
The audience applauded. The parents closed the door. There was silence in the nursery.
Fanny: Where did you learn it from?
Alexander: I am familiar with this role. When I first come on stage, I will play Macbeth.
Amanda: You want to act!
Alexander: Ah, I want to act, how about it. (Pause) Pavlova with flat feet.
five
Helena and Isaac Jacobs sat side by side on the sofa to welcome the arrival of Christmas Day. Like everything else in Akdal's family, this is also customary. All the lights have been extinguished, the candles on the Christmas tree have been burned, the fire in the fireplace is still crackling, and a few silver crystal wall lamps cast a soft light on this quiet room. Helena took off all the gorgeous clothes, wrapped in a purple dressing gown, and draped in a gray woolen shawl. She put on a pair of big red slippers and combed her hair into a thick braid. Isaac took off his tuxedo and put a blanket on him. His shoes are also placed under the chair.
Helena: Okay, I made some decent espresso, which is better than Vega's dishwashing water. (Isaac nods and murmurs thanks) What time is it? Three ten ten. Let's sit for two hours, and then I have to change clothes for morning prayer. After coming out of the church, this year's turn to go to Gustav Adolf's house for coffee. You have a good rest, old Isaac, but don’t forget to go to Carl and Lydia’s for dinner. You overslept last year. You said you had a cold, but in fact you overslept. (Sighs) How nice it is to have you by my side! You are a loyal friend. you are my best friend. What if I don't have you? (Isaac holds her hand and pats it) I had a good Christmas last year, but this year I always want to cry. I'm probably old. Do you say I am old?
Isaac: You are a little older, yes.
Helena: So did I. I just want to cry. Although I am very happy that my grandchildren are by my side. I feel Oscar looks bad. He worked too hard, he was exhausted for that hapless theater. Why does he play that ghost? They can hire anyone to play this role. He can rest. Besides, he is a terrible actor again. I don't know if Emily saw that he was very tired and needed a rest. I think I should talk to her. Of course, he is very capable, capable and cautious. Think about it, Isaac, this theater is not only self-sufficient, but it can also make some money. This is really amazing! A few years ago, I had to post at least five thousand each year. Although this is nothing, but Oscar feels that it is too inappropriate to ask me for money. In fact, he didn't use it for himself. On the other hand, Carl always asks for money. He asked me to borrow money again, but I didn't agree. If he asks you to borrow it, don't agree to it! Isaac, you promise me.
Isaac (nodding absent-mindedly): Okay, okay.
Helena: I really don't understand. I paid his debts over and over again. But after a year he was in trouble again. He said that he didn't borrow loan sharks, but I don't really believe him. do you know?
Isaac: I don't know anything.
Helena: And that terrible German woman he married. She dressed up like a prostitute. How could Carl become so obsessed with her? It must be the reason for sex. What do you say? Isaac?
Isaac: What did you say? Sex, ah, yes. This may be the reason.
Helena (patting his hand): You didn't listen to me. (Sipping brandy) It's okay. Just keep me company. (Sighs, thinks for a while and laughs) Carl and Gustav Adolf are both too sexually strong, just like their father. He is just too sexual. Gustav Adolf is incorrigible. I talked to Alma and she was very open. She said she didn't care about his romantic affairs because he was the most tender and considerate husband in the world. Fortunately, Alma is so open. Maybe I should warn the little nanny—her name is Maya or something. To say, she is very good-looking and very good to children. The face is gorgeous, the figure is neat-unfortunately a little lame, hard-working little thing. But I don't want to interfere. My grandmother always said that no matter what's going on, she's happy. Are you asleep?
Isaac (woke up): No.
Helena: Alright, alright. Karl and Gustav Adolf have too much, but Oscar has nothing. For an enthusiastic young woman, this is too miserable. Emily told me everything after she was pregnant with Fanny. Poor woman. It is said that she handled he
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