"SILENCE" "Eino." "Wake up, Eino." "I went fishing with Antti." "Two packs." "At least that damn sergeant isn't bossing us around." "Shit!" "Shut up." " What?" "People are trying to sleep." "Shut up before I shut you up." "What the hell?" "You're going to shut me up?" "What?" " You're going to shut me up?" "That's what thought." "Come and shut me up, goddammit." "Korpikangas, Salonen, Lahtela." "Don't bother." "One in the front and two in the back." "You got something to trade?" "I've got a cigarette case." "You don't smoke, huh?" "Are you too proud to have a chat?" "Goddammit." "Here's where I saw a Russkie fighter shoot a horse." "The horse tried to get up, even though its guts were hanging out." "Why is there smoke coming out of the barn?" "I thought the lady volunteers would be waiting for us." "Guys, look." "That's a dead ady volunteer." "Do Russkies shoot women too?" "You boys sure took your time." "What is it?" "What the hell are you doing lying with the bodies?" "I'm watching the fire!" "The bodies have to be thawed." "So you're not dead?" " No!" "I'm a dead man's best friend." "Chaplain Hiltunen went to headquarters today." "They'll bring him back soon." "Then we'll have a briefing." "No running around with women." "You understand?" "Yes." "We'll leave them alone." "Who would woo a humpback whole like that?" "Go." "Morning." "We got flour." "We thought we'd bake bread for you." "Eino, you want more porridge?" " If I may." "You like to eat, don't you?" " Yes." "I'm good at that." "When we were kids," "Eino said he'd eat a caterpillar for five pennies." "You still owe me that." "Darn." "A man's got to pay his debt." "What's the story behind Korpikangas?" "There's something strange about his papers." "He moved to Helsinki to study med cine." "Then he just lost his mind." "Uh-huh." "Is he mean and crazy or just odd?" "One evening he punched me." "I laughed a little and he punched me." "But we're still friends." "What about Antti?" "Antti is a good salesman." "Oh really?" "I'm a shopkeeper's daughter." "It takes one to know one." "Do you elevate people or heal them?" "I accompany them." "The magpie is back from headquarters." "I won..." "I mean I acquisitioned us better tableware." "You don't have to register these." "Normally miss Virtanen takes care of acquisitions and bookkeeping." "Miss Mäkeä and Mrs. Töllikkö are responsible for preparing the bodies." "Your predecessors went to get lumber... and an enemy plane spotted them." "That's also the reason we don't have a horse." "So..." "This is important work." "The boys need to know they will go home honorably if the worst happens." "Are there any questions?" "No." "Okay, let's get to work." "Girls, please show the newcomers around and assign them tasks." "One more thing." "In the face of God, we are all equal." "But here I give the commands." "Amen." "The coffins are built in that shed." "You'll start work after I show you around." "How far is the front line?" " Ten kilometers." "Eino is a master at that." "We keep the fire burning at all times." "That's the men's job." "Whoah." " Are you scared?" "No, I'm just thinking about staying up all the night." "The boys must be pretty when they're sent home." "We don't want them looking like this." "If a piece of head is missing, we stuff it." "I guess he won't be working the night shift." "I will." "Antti needs a lot of sleep." "Being in the war isn't that bad." "I get to start with plan ng wood." "When you were a kid, you'd plane a board into chips." "The only thing they were good for was lighting a fire." "That's right." "They're good kindling." "The night shifts..." "You know what I mean." " I do." "I can't he pit." "You've seen your mother do that work." "I sure have." "If you do that, I'll get you anything you need." "Eino, you can do the night shifts." "They give me a headache." "Bodies make terrible sounds when they thaw." "Oh stop." "They are strangers." "In a strange world." "No place to call their own." "Nothing but hardship and longing for a home." "They meet as their journey is unfurled." "They have so many foes." "Antti is so handsome." "They're no good." "Right." "No seems good natured." "Well, then he can carry all the water and wood." "I'll take care of Antti." "Men eat so much." "They'll eat any kind of treat you give them." "I wish I could have a piece of cream cake." "I wish I could have a cup of real coffee." "When I close my eyes, I'll have both." "Lights out." "I wonder if there's anyone alive in Helsinki." "At that moment it looked like all the Russkie planes were in the sky." "Put this in your wallet." "Why are you giving me Ilona's photo?" "Don't show it to anyone." "I'll get you a pair of nicer boots." "If you're with her, I'm not going to hide it for you." "Don't be such a hypocrite." "You have to play fair." "You think I don't know that you tried to woo her behind my back?" "I didn't know about you two." "I think we sorted this out already." "Find yourself a new girl and stop whining about old flames." "That's easy for you to say." "You have a farm and an inheritance." "I'll never find a girl." " Look at the photo then." "I have to go to the barn to relieve Korp kangas." "Eino." "Sorry." "Sorry." "Don't!" "Don't!" "No, no, calm down." "Calm down." "It's me, Korpikangas." "They move." "And talk." "My mom never washed bodies like that." "Why don't you get some sleep." "It's my shift." " I'll take care of it." "What if they follow me?" "Go." "Don't look back." "And repeat these words:" "Underworld spirits and upper folk above the ground." "Go back to the one who sent you." "They won't follow you." "They know my name." "Go now." "You'll find your way home." "You wil." "There is a tall birch tree." "Take a left when you come to it." "What's the matter?" "You didn't like it, huh?" "I guess it's Korpikangas's job then." "We can't fight a war on an empty stomach." "The girls have made breakfast." "Let's go." "Eino, aren't you feeling well?" "The boys in the barn had a chat with him." "Should we ask the chaplain to pray?" "I don't think God can help him." "He got so scared." "Please eat so that you don't get sick." "I don't feel like eating." "It takes a certain kind of character." "Antti couldn't do it either." "Antti is always in trouble." " What kind of trouble?" "His dad gave me a thousand marks to look after him." "Why do you have to look after a grown man?" "What's wrong with him?" "There's nothing wrong with him." "He's just Antti." "Everything here is alive." "Oh really?" "Even the water ripples." "Something's disturbing it." "Can we drink it if it's alive?" "Everything is out of place." "Both the living and the dead." "Artillery fire makes the forest tremble." "Why do the bodies talk?" "What's that all about?" "Don't worry about that." "You don't have to stay here very long." "I hope not." "You shouldn't be doing dishes with your pretty hands." "Small and delicate like a little bird's feet." "I hear you're a salesman." "You need something?" "A woolen scarf, maybe?" "Can trust you?" "Everybody trusts me." "I'm the most trustworthy salesman in Finland." "There's one thing." "I need a business partner." "But he has to be a reckless man." "You found your man." "You can't do that." "Is that Finland's bravest man talking?" "There is a body at the field dressing station." "Lahtela can go with Korpikangas." "I think it would be best if I went with Eino." "To avoid any hassle." "We're from the same village." "I see." "Korp kangas, you can stay and help the women in the barn." "Salonen, you can check out a rifle and a couple of clips." "Understood, chaplain." "No, no, how did you feel watching the fire last night?" "I sure felt it, chaplain." "I heard people mention the name Helminen." "Yes." "He was left between two frontlines." "It's impossible to get there." " Eino, let's go have a look." "No one has been able to get to him." "They'll shoot anyone who tries." "Is he frozen to the ground?" "Lempiäinen managed to get him loose and move him five meters." "They started firing." "The guy wasn't fast enough." "They shot him three meters from us." "No one has volunteered since." "We have to bring the war hero home." "Are you crazy enough to try?" "You might get there along the left side of the river... when it's dark." "I'll go take a leak." "Keep your head low." "Hands up!" "Don't!" "Don't shoot!" "I'm your clan brother." "They forced me to join the Red Army." "Don't move." "That was a long leak." "I almost came looking for you." "I almost took a prisoner." "Would've liked to get leave for that." "The devil got away." "You saw a real life enemy?" "Wow." "Don't tell the others." "It's embarrassing he got away." "I won't." "Ever." "Where is he?" " He made it to the body." "The Russkies would've started firing by now." "Not this time." "Now we'll just pull it hard." "Pull!" "Pull!" "Goddammit." "It's just a body." "It's easy to shout behind everyone's back." "We'll take Helminen home." "Goddammit, he's heavy." "I'd help you if I didn't have the rifle." "I'm alright." "This rope just chafes like hell." " Stop swearing." "The deceased might get angry and rise." "We should've left him there and brought him back later." "Got him out of there and I'll bring him home." "I see." "We come home." "No, no, let's have a smoke." "We sure earned it." "Are you thawing already?" "Everything is alright." "I'll show you the way." "I need a little preview of the reward you promised me." "Here?" "Come here." "Antt!" "He was a good boy." "I can see it in his face." "He speaks!" "They talk to us." "But don't listen to their stories." "They're just confused because everything is changing." "Everything is alright." "Soon you'll be in your own little home." "Let's move the late Helminen into his new home." "What is it?" "Let me see." "We have to get a horse." "Aren't you going to wash yourself?" " My back hurts." "Show me." "Woah." "We should've left the body at the dressing station." "You boys don't have anything dangling there that an old cupper hasn't seen." "Eino, lie down on the bench." "I made you aniointment." "It stings." " So you know it works." "If you feel weak, say the Lord's Prayer." "He's afraid of going to hell." "What are you doing up in the middle of the night?" "I took a leak." "You're like an old man." "What's that in your hand?" "I found it behind the stable." "You can have it." "What for?" "Give it to some nice girl." "Oh." "It's pretty." "Where did you get it?" " I just found it... somewhere." "Is it for me?" "Thank you." "Eino, please go outside." "I have a present for you boys." "She's been through a lot." "She still has strength in her." "And she's good natured." "We got a new friend." "She's not a friend." "She's a tool." "She needs scientific care." "As a former medical student," "I'll take care of her." "Did they teach you about horses in medical school?" "Every horseman knows that of all creatures, horses are the most like humans." "That's a fine horse." "It'll make your job easier." "Haven't you ever seen people work?" "I sure have." "And I've worked myself." "Did you like the cross?" "How dare you?" "You have a girl at home, and you're here, going around giving crosses to other girls." "What?" "I don't have anyone." "A faithful girl named Ilona is waiting for you at home." "Antti told me you carry her picture with you." "It was supposed to be a secret." "Yes, but we had a deal, remember?" "You got the photo and prom sed to take care of it." "May I have her then?" "Don't be stupid." "Ilona is mine, but here we pretend she's yours." "Or do you want to give the boots back, idiot?" "Shit." "Goddammit!" "Eino." "Come in for supper." "You might get cold at night." "I've got bear's blood running in my veins." "Sure." "And a human body." "Which should be kept in bed at night." "I'm not going to sleep next to that human devil." "They're all damned." "You can't come in here." " Jaana, I won't argue any more." "We have a woman here, a dead volunteer." "A sniper shot her while she was bringing cinnamon rolls to the boys." "Could you go tell Siiri?" "Siiri, there's a dead..." "Don't you know how to knock?" "Oh." "What is it now?" "Nothing." "Make sure he doesn't tell anyone." "You don't have to worry about him." "The Russkies have women soldiers." "They don't know that our women volunteers are not soldiers." "Don't be sad." "That woman is in heavenly bliss." "It's not that." " What's bothering you then?" "Antti's having weaknesses again." " What weaknesses?" "The usual kind." "A minute ago" "I saw him... kiss Siiri." "I'll take care of it." "Stop!" "You know what kind of people everyone despises?" "Those who spread false rumors about others." "Don't ever do it again!" " That was not acceptable!" "It's none of your business." " Yes, it is." "Oh, please." "I could tell a thing or two about you." "About stealing crosses and touching girls." "But I'd never... sing that low." "Antti leads the dance and the girls just follow." "That's the way it is." "Why can't you keep your mouth shut?" "You could've caused a real mess." "Wait." "Eino, wait." "We have bigger things to worry about, and you're fussing over a horse." "They won't be shooting our lady volunteers any more." "Look at his rifle." "That's got to be Nokelainen." "He hunts enemy snipers." "He's got the eye and finger of a devil." "You sure he's on our side?" "Miss Virtanen." "A Russkie brooch." "Where did you find this?" "Nowhere special." "You have more of these?" "Where did you get these?" "Eino give it to me." "Private Lahtela, come here immediately!" "Where did you get these?" "I don't..." " Tell me!" "Where did you get these?" "I guess they're from behind the stable." "Private, you haven't taken these from the deceased, have you?" "No!" "There are antisocial types who rob dead enemy soldiers and some who even rob our own." "That will not be tolerated here!" "Is that clear?" "Yes, chaplain." "Eino." "From now on, do not pick up anything off the ground." "Casualty evacuation center." "Hello?" "Speak louder!" "Hey, Brooch Boy, you have a phone call from home." "Hello?" "Did the house burn down?" "Hello." "What?" "She's what?" "Really?" "I'll be darned." "You want to hear?" "The outhouse needs to be emptied." "I don't have time." "We'll all have turds touching our buttocks soon." "Eino will take care of it." " Move it." "Now!" "We'll break our backs working here." "You smell like shit." "I have a present for you." "Drink this." "It'll put you in better spirits." "No, I won't." "We only live once." "You'll find your way home." "You wil." "That's goddamn nonsense." " It is?" "Since when have sense and dying had something to do with one another?" "Now I'll go tell Antti what I think of him." "Go head." "Go tell Antti what you think of him." "And regret it before you even get there." "Did it help?" "Antt, you're nothing but a dick with wings." "Daddy's spoiled little prick." "You're too scared to fight, so you weaseled in here to fuck lady volunteers." "Are you yelling at me, you ignorant farmhand?" "What?" "Go ahead, hit me!" "You have the guts, farmhand?" "Antti, let's wrestle." "Don't mess with me, you half-wit piece of shit!" "Stop!" "Girls, go to bed." "You pigs." "Asses." "Sorry excuses for soldiers." "Go to bed, both of you!" "Pull the covers." "Shut your eyes." "Are you familiar with Arthur Schopenhauer?" "He's one of Fuehrer's favorite philosophers." "He said that human intellect is limited" "but human stupidity is unlimited." "If you still want to fight, there's always need for men in the front." "No, no, have you lost a tooth?" "No, I haven't." "There used to be a large filling in it." "Let's hear what it has to say." "It doesn't make sense." "Maybe Antti lost it when we fought." "Maybe." "Antti, have you lost a tooth?" "What are you talking about?" "When we fought." " No." "Why do you ask?" "We found a tooth on the cabin floor." "Oh?" "Yes, I guess did lose one." "Yes, I did." "There are men who pull gold filings out of dead men's mouths." "Bullshit." " It better be." "I won't let anyone disturb my work." " Work?" "You hold dead men's hands and chant." "And you, half-wit, help him." "If you have something to say, say it now." "Then cut the crap!" "Dammit." "I'm risking my life here." "Next time bring me more." "I knew you were involved in shit like this." "I'm selling Nikolai what they don't have and vice versa." "Normal trading." "Wonder what the chaplain would say." "He'd probably yell at you." "Ilona is pregnant." "Suddenly I have three people to support." "I'm a nervous wreck." "Antt." "I'll help you get started." "You can stop doing what you're doing." "Where did you get this?" "It's an old salary." "Alright, but keep the five pennies." "Keep the change." "Are we friends again?" "Let's not tell Siiri." "She'd just get sad." "Antti, I can't find Ilona's picture anywhere." "That's okay." "Life is good." "Did you know that Antti trades with the enemy?" "Yeah." "Is he crazy?" "He could get shot for that." "He doesn't have to do it any more." "I gave him a thousand marks." "He was selling things because he's going to be a father." "Is Siiri pregnant?" "I promised I wouldn't tell Siiri because she'd just get sad." "Eino." "Who's pregnant?" "Err..." "Ilona." "Goddammit." "You're just his little puppet." "Antti is my friend." "You're getting married?" "That's happy news!" "Could you write the leave slip right away?" "Oh no." "No, no." "I don't have time now." "Couldn't you..." "I'll sign this." "Miss Virtanen can fill in the rest." "That's it." "Couldn't you?" " No." "I'm in a hurry." "Miss Virtanen." "Please fill in the rest when you're finished eating." "I'll go to headquarters." " Yes, I'll take care of it." "Wedding leave, huh?" "You have a lot of imagination." "You'll get caught if you don't have a marriage certificate." "I have it." " You can't forge one." "The church records will show you're unmarried and you'll end up pulling punishment duty." "Ilona is having a baby." "She's my girl and not Eino's." "Who's Ilona?" "Sir." "What now?" "He's greedy enough to be bought." "But I won't buy crap." "I won't let men like Antti mess with me." "There's something I don't understand." "Even though Antt takes your woman and beats you up," "you just keep following him like a dog." "Antti is my friend." "Are you his?" "I don't matter." "Put the plane down." "Come." "Who is this young pansy?" "No one, lieutenant." "Don't shit your pants just yet." "Look, boys." "I found a real backwoods stud." "Please let me be, lieutenant." "He's fucking our carcass washers." "Both the fat and the skinny one." "Why don't you crawl back into your tin cows cunt." "Let him take care of himself." "They let dwarfs fight in the war now?" "I thought they only used you for bait." "Goddammit!" "This is one hell of a guy." "Why did you go looking for trouble?" "We just took a quick night leave." "Was the bride pretty?" "Yes." "I know the bride." "We used to go out." "Nikolai." "What the hell are you doing?" "Am I a body or what?" "No, I just had a feeling." "What feeling?" "What the hell do you mean?" "A strange feeling." "Is Antti going to die?" "I won't die." "Ever." "You can't just come and hold people's hands." "Your nerves are in bad shape." "I need a good smoke." "Antti isn't your friend." "He gets you in trouble." "And he stole Ilona from you." "Think about it." "Attention, goddammit!" "Now!" "Lahtela, how do you feel about people pulling dead people's teeth and stealing the gold fillings?" "It's dirty gold." "Dirty gold, huh?" "Lahtela, how come I found this under your bed?" "It's Antti's tooth." "He lost it when we fought." "I have all my teeth." "I've never even had a cavity." "Salonen, what do you know about this particular tooth?" "Eino showed it to me." " I found it on the floor." "It was under..." "On the floor!" " Chaplain..." "Quiet!" "Lahtela, didn't already warn you not to get into devilry." "What?" "How many of these do you have?" "Just one." "You swear in God's name that you don't have any more?" "I swear in the name of God I don't have any more." "Salonen, for the love of God, look after that fool before he gets himself court-martialed and executed." "He's too simple!" "You have to watch him." "You understand?" "I understand, chaplain." "Where is the gold filling?" "Some lady volunteer probably has it." "I guarantee it won't happen again." "Eino, don't get mad." "You have to understand I have a family to feed." "I don't do this for sport." "I've never puled a tooth!" "Nikolai paid me with them." "They're from a Russkie dentist." "Eino, this is war." "I went through some if less." "The number of casual ties has gone up." "The injuries are different." "Based on my experience from the Winter War," "I'd say the enemy is up to something." "Let's keep things in order in case we have to move fast." "We have a request from the battalion." "A body needs to be picked up." "It's between frontlines and the boys haven't been able to get it." "We'll go get it, chaplain." "You mean Eino will." "Lahtela, I want you to come back safe." "I will, chaplain." "We tried to send a patrol through." "Markkanen went first." "That's how far he got." "With cover fire you might be able to get there along the ditch." "We'll shoot from both nests." "You just have to keep your head down." "No, no, you'll be alright." "I'm not going." "It's a piece of cake." "Of course you'll go." " Who went last time?" "Eino usually goes." "You mean one guy always takes the risk and the other just talks?" "It's your turn." "That's an order." "We'll start cover fire soon." "No, no, please go." "I can't." "It's not my turn." "Everything's ready." "Do we have to get him now?" " You said you could do it." "The men will open fire on my signal." "But not before I'm in the right spot." "Understood." "Keep your head low." "Blockhead." "I'll be damned, I did it." "I didn't die." "I'll be damned." "Antt." "Antt." "What's that?" " It's just sweat." "It's just sweat." "Ask Miina and Jaana to make me really pretty." "So that everyone will cry." " They'll cry anyway." "Antti." "Antti." "You knew it when you held his hand this morning." "I helped him find his way home." "Can you hear me, Antti?" "Tell me if you can." "Antt." "Antt." "The chaplain said the Germans are retreating on the eastern front." "Germany will never lose." "And Antti will never die." "I hear the Germans have bombs that will fly anywhere they want them to." "But not even Germans can shoot down the stars." "Or the moon." "Or God." "Why is everything so ugly then?" "Come back after the funeral." "You know the way back?" " I do." "This is your travel ticket." " I know." "Antti was human like all of us." "Maybe no better than us, but maybe no worse either." "Like Job, we have to put our faith in the righteousness of God." "That is all we have." "Let's sing hymn 589." "Just a pitiful traveler, here I stand." "I've been on many painful journeys." "Lost, looking for my homeland." "Goddammit." "Old master, do you want chicory coffee?" "Old master?" "Goddammit." "I want to go to the workshop." "You're not going to work, are you?" "Dear friends and family." "Dear parishioners." "Antti Salonen left us all too soon." "Antti was a good boy, known for his bravery and courage." "Even though he didn't take part in combat, his job was just as important as so many others." "The Lord often takes the best of us away first because He misses them the most." "I'd like to say a few words." "Why don't I..." "It was my fault that Antti died doing menial chores." "I went and disgraced myself at headquarters when I asked my acquaintances not to send him to the frontline." "Antti didn't like that at all." "He would've liked to do paperwork in a nice off ce." "He didn't want a useless job dragging bodies." "And here is the outcome." "God saw that I tried to take His place." "He gave us what we deserved, except for the little child that Ilona is carrying inside her." "He will also carry this shame until the day he dies." "This shame that rises all the way from the bowels of the Hell." "I want to te I everyone that Antti was no coward or idler." "Antti died retrieving a body between the frontlines." "It was a body I was supposed to retrieve." "He was a brave man." "He did his duty just like everyone else." "He was cheerful." "He made hard work feel lighter." "He would bring us all kinds of nice things he managed to get." "Just before he died, he talked fondly about his wife." "That's what Antti was like." "That's all..." "Oh, Antti asked me to give you these." "For your child to play with." "You can..." "Antti found them in the hand of a fallen enemy general." "You'll come back, right?" "I don't think so:" "The way things are." "We'll all die." "Take care." "Did the priest give a beautiful sermon?" "I did the talking." "Oh." "What did you say?" "I told people not to say bad things about him." "Oh." "Well said." "You're the one who killed Antti." "I'm keeping this boy company." "How was Antti's funeral?" "You poor devil." "Help me." "Don't leave me." "Goddammit." "Help!" "Help!" "This man is alive!" "He's alive." "They came and took him to the field hospital." "I... don't know how to record this in the files." "I'm surprised there isn't a column for miracles in a chaplain's files." "I mean, Jesus made them." "What if Antti was alive too?" "Then you would be in the coffin." "What do you mean?" "Someone always has to die." "Antti died." "Not me." "Was it my fault?" "Yes?" "May I have the key to the gun cabinet?" "What are you going to do with it?" "The guns need cleaning." "What are you up to?" "Antti retrieved the body just as he was supposed to." "Then he had a moment of inattention." "It wasn't your fault." "Alright." "Let's get back to work." "There's one less of us now and everyone is needed." "Eino!" "If you want to repent and make amends, help these boys find their way home." "We need you here." "Jaana." "Antt." "Antt." "They're not there." "I gave them all to Ilona." "I'm sorry." "This damn sweat gets into my eyes." "Let me wipe that off." "Will you forgive me?" "Antt." "Eino." "Wake up." "Where's Antti?" "You were dreaming." "Antti was here." "He's not here any more." "Was it?" "We need help carrying men." " Give me a moment." "The boys have stopped talking." "What do you mean?" "They're listening." "Something will happen soon." "Something big." "And we have to run this goddamn wandering graveyard." "We see nothing but dead people here." "Korpikangas, come inside and get some sleep." "Come on in." "Oh, you fell asleep here after washing yourself?" "Get up." "They just brought us a big pile of boys." "The I nes will be broken through soon." "Then we'll be in a hurry." "We'll soon be out of coffins." " They'll go without." "Cease work!" "A truck will pick up the bodies in an hour." "We'll be moved further back from the front line." "The enemy has broken through in several places." "Continue." "Eino." "We'll all die anyway." "I felt good." "They're retreating running." "We have to leave as soon as possible." "There isn't room for all the bodies." "Then we'll have to leave them here." "Lahtela, take the horse and follow us as fast as possible." "Korpikangas, get in the truck." "Let's go!" "See you soon, boys!" "We can't leave the boys to the enemy!" "Eino, this is something I can't help you with." "Does anyone want to say something?" "I'll take you home then." "Medic!" "We have a seriously wounded horseman here!" "No, no, please go away." "You're too young to be here."