"I don't understand Flemish!" "Don't understand!" "Excuse me, do you speak French?" "Do you know "The Irrigations"?" "Mr Van Elst's place?" "Wait!" "Leave me alone!" "Edmée?" "Don't be afraid." "I'm Jef." "Your cousin." "We're going to "The Irrigations"." "Why weren't you at the bus stop?" "You'd forgotten me?" "Thanks for the welcome!" "My father couldn't come." "He's had a bit of an accident." "Is it still far?" "We're already on our land." "THE HOUSE BY THE CANAL" "Press harder!" "His heart's failing!" "What did she say?" "In a month, you've lost your father and now your uncle." "I want to clean up, where's the bathroom?" "Fred, Jef, help me." "We'll put him in his room." "Good evening." "My name's Edmée." "I've already met Jef." "My name's Mia." "My condolences for your father." "My condolences for yours." "Jeanne." "Alice." "Mieke." "Fred." "Won't you sit down?" "Not clean enough for you?" "Welcome to your new home." "Edmée." "Edmée, get up!" "Leave me alone!" "Come on, it's time!" "For what?" "It's night-time!" "Get up!" "I'll wait for you downstairs." "It stinks!" "I didn't know chickens stank." "You get used to it." "I don't smell them any more." "Come on, come over here." "Don't lift your feet!" "The men should do this." "We haven't had breakfast." "Jef's milking the cows, Fred's gone to the canal." "You'll have to feed the chickens." "I'll show you, it's easy." "Your go." "They're attacking me!" "Where are you going?" "To take a bath, Princess?" "You haven't fed the chickens." "I haven't come here to feed chickens!" "You want to be waited on." "I don't like lazy girls!" "Why don't you go in there with your suit and shiny shoes?" "I'm going to the bank." "It's none of your business." "Go feed them now." "That's enough!" "Come back!" "You're lucky I'm in a hurry!" "We'll settle this tonight!" "What are you hiding?" " What are you doing with it?" " I don't know." "You kill squirrels and you don't know why?" "Do you kill many?" "It depends." "I tried to catch three this morning." "I missed one." "Go on." "Want a potato?" "Isn't it good?" "It is, but I'm not too hungry." "You see, it wasn't so hard." " You managed." " Did what?" "Feed the chickens." "But I..." "What?" "I didn't say anything." "It's just..." "that I'm not used to working." "Sorry, Princess!" "Did you feed the chickens?" "What's that for, Quasimodo?" "A trap." " Tell me." " You'll see." "Will you give me the furs for a coat?" " There aren't enough." " You'll find more." "Who's Quasimodo?" "Someone who looks like you." "The son of a friend of my father's, Victor Hugo." "You don't know him." "I say, that's a big trunk!" " What's in it?" " Souvenirs from my house in Lille." " Show me." " It's personal!" "Personal!" "You and your grand airs!" "Jef, bring it up to my room, please." "Careful!" "Fred, stop it!" "You want to see?" "I'll show you." " My mother." " How beautiful she is!" ""Heure de Paris"" "Try it on." "When I'm out of mourning." "My father's." "He took my tonsils out with it." "Why keep it?" "It's ridiculous!" "Dad gave it to me for my birthday when he fell ill." " What's this?" " Train timetable!" "For studying medicine to be a doctor like my father." "You need to go to university to study medicine." "And there isn't one in Neroeteren." "I'll study on my own." "Yes, but you're on a farm here and on a farm, girls help with the calving." " You needn't study for that." " Jeanne!" "Apparently my father would never have done that." "But my father's dead and he left the farm to me." "I feed you now!" "Jef, you're the porter, remember?" "Take the Missy's trunk upstairs." " You want to listen to music?" " We can't, we're in mourning." "You're mad." "Not so loud!" " Come on, move." " I am moving." "We need partners!" " What for?" " What do you mean, what for?" "I'm not interested in finding a husband." "You say that now!" "No man will ever order me around." "You know nothing about love, you'll see." "That's not love." "Edmée, look..." "From Fred's bedside table." "It's disgusting!" "It certainly is!" "He sees women in town every week." "Mum thinks he goes to the bank." "I can't stand your brother." "What do women see in him?" "He's handsome, he's rich." "He's the king..." "The king of bumpkins!" "You're cross because he took your books." "But you just need to smile at Fred!" "Who's that?" "My cousin." "She used to live in France." "She's an orphan." "Her guardian sent her." "We'd never met her or her parents." " She's pale, poor thing!" " As stiff as a poker." "Not comfortable to lie on!" "I came second, I won a ham!" "Lucky you!" "Are you going to eat it now?" "You want to learn to ride?" " I'm bored." " How sad!" "What do I care?" "Will you teach me to ride?" "Not now, I'm busy." "Sorry." "Fred, be nice for once." ""Fred, be nice for once!"" "Watch the girls, they're too close to the water!" ""Watch the girls, they're too close to the water!"" " She's the baker's daughter." " What do I care?" "Will you teach me to ride?" "What's the matter with you?" "Ask Fred!" "He's already riding a mare!" "Still sulking?" "What will I do if you don't like me any more?" "You are silly!" "I was being nice to Fred to get my books back." "But it didn't work." "You're sad?" "I'm not sad, I'm bored." "Bored to death." "Can I do something?" "Yes, make me laugh." "Go on." "Forget it." "Don't just stand there, don't you have something to fix?" "Why are you staring open-mouthed?" "How did your father die?" "He was gored... in the thigh." " He had syphilis?" " What?" "Syphilis." "You all look like degenerates in the family." "You're hydrocephalous." "Don't tell Mum!" "Nor Fred!" " I know, Dad was a doctor." " Never say that!" "Has Fred killed squirrels?" "No, he went to school." "He didn't play in the woods." "He even spent a year at university in Liège." "I could only love a man who did extraordinary things." "Who was afraid of nothing." "Not a man who grovels to a girl with breasts like udders like the baker's daughter." "I'd want a man who'd risk his life for me." "Would you do something dangerous for me?" "More dangerous than killing squirrels?" "You couldn't do it." "How dangerous?" "Like..." "Stealing." "Becoming a robber." "Could you steal the gems from the ciborium?" "Will you do it?" "No, you won't." "There's just the two of us?" "We'll have a fascinating chat!" "Where's Jef?" "Thanks." "How ugly you are!" "Really too ugly." "You can't be Mum's sister." "I don't understand your language." "You're talking about my mother?" "I never knew her." "I miss my father." "I like it here." "It's such fun, especially when it rains." "Enjoy!" " You don't understand, do you?" " Yes, yes..." "I'll look for Jef." "Don't pretend to be a saint!" "I won't tell the boss!" "What is it?" " What's going on?" " An accident!" "It must be a barge that hit the bank." "All right?" " Where were you?" " Give me your hand." " You did it?" " Didn't you want me to?" "You could go to prison." "Come and help!" "What are you doing?" "His wallet with all his money's inside..." "I'm going to get it." "You're mad!" " It's too dangerous!" " Is it really?" "Go and get him, you can see he isn't coming back up!" "What are you trying to prove?" "What's he doing here?" "Something was stolen from the church." "The thief escaped from a little window six metres up." "What was taken?" "The gems from the ciborium." "But they're worthless." "Really?" "They looked like real amethysts." "But the priest still reported it." "He's right, fake or not, it's still stealing." "It's a sacrilege." "You know a policeman came, don't you?" "Your mother told you?" " Maybe the priest saw you?" " No one saw me." "Maybe he was hiding in the confessional." " What will you do?" " Nothing." " What shall we tell the others?" " Nothing!" "We can't go to mass on Sunday, we can't receive communion." "There's one!" "A female, she's still alive." "I want to go home." " Already?" " I want to go home now!" "What's the matter?" "When I'm with you I become bad, I can't help it." "Mauve is also a colour of mourning." "She's right, it's a lack of respect for Dad." "Change." "Doing the washing in your room?" "A bath, I hate washing bits of me." "It's not hygienic." "Careful not to scrub your skin off!" "You're a poor idiot!" " What?" " I don't mind." "What a moron!" "That'll be all, Quasimodo." "You won't fit in." "I trained in a circus before coming here." "The show is over!" "Is Uncle Louis kind?" "Very kind." "Hello, everyone!" "I know, he was a good man." "Hello, Uncle Louis, how are you?" "Hello, dears." "How pretty you are!" "Hello, Mia." "You're Bertha's daughter?" "You're her brother." "I saw you in the family album." "You were much younger." "I haven't changed, since you recognised me." "Let's eat!" "You don't look like an uncle." "Is that why you didn't remarry after your wife died?" "So he left taking his rabbit..." "How old are you now, Edmée?" "Sixteen." "Haven't you thought of proposing?" "Think about it." "Before someone else does." "Come off it!" "After lunch they play cards." "Let's go for a walk." "I feel dizzy." "I'll wait for you outside." "Leaving already?" "I haven't been in town for ages." " I miss it." " You don't like the farm?" " Farm life's not for me." " You're always welcome here." "Thank you." "You're very pretty." "I'd have loved a daughter like you." "A daughter or a wife?" "What do you think?" "I must go, Mia's waiting." "Pity." "Goodbye..." "It's a good thing you didn't have a daughter." "Are you coming?" "I love her coat." " Stop following us!" " Why not?" " We can lose you." " Let's run!" "No, he'll get lost." "Look!" " Is Uncle Louis rich?" " Yes, he has a cigar factory." "It's a good thing he lends us money." "We got some surprises at the notary's." "The house is... mortgaged." "When Fred went to the bank, he found out the money was gone." " My father spent it all!" " How?" "You won't tell?" "Who to?" "The chickens?" "My father went to prostitutes." "Every week." " Like Fred?" " That's what all men ever think of." "Look at the bag with the compact." "It's pretty." " But expensive." " What use is it on the farm?" "I don't know." "Aren't you ready?" "We'll be late for mass." "I don't feel well." "I ate too much at Uncle Louis's." "I don't believe it!" "Each time we go to church you're ill." "Is it to have a lie-in or is it a problem with God?" "I have no problem with God but with my stomach!" "Shall we fetch the doctor?" "No, I'll take some bicarbonate." " How do you like my hairdo?" " It's all right." "Really?" "You aren't saying it to please me?" "Can I put it on?" "Are you going to mass or to meet Thingummy?" "What's his name?" "André." "I didn't say yes." "You aren't at mass?" "You're ill?" "Want a hot drink?" "Got a sore throat?" "What do you care?" "Why are you so aggressive?" "I thought about you all night." " I didn't!" " I thought of very nice things." "I didn't!" "Have you ever been in love?" "Don't talk sugary with your stupid look!" "Sweet and friendly as usual!" "Being in love's wonderful..." "Don't touch me!" "I'm not the baker's daughter!" "Serves you right!" " You won't tell?" " I'll tell if I want." "I didn't mean to..." "It was just for fun..." "It'll make everybody laugh!" "Stop it now!" "If you give my books back." "Can you serve me too?" "What's that on your cheek?" " I cut myself shaving." " Poor dear!" "She's asking if you still have a tummy ache." "I feel better." "Sleeping did me good." "You can go to high mass with Fred." "There's a problem with Fred..." "After he hangs around in the cafés so I'll get bored." "I'd rather not." "Are you there?" "You could answer, I've been looking for you." "What's that?" "Lightning conductor." "Where's it from?" "The church." "It's platinum." "I stole it last night." "From the steeple?" "You're mad!" "What are you hiding behind your back?" "Show me!" "Show me!" "It's for me?" "It's not finished." "Give it to me now, I can't wait forever!" "I'll keep my mother's jewels in it." "Be nice, Quasimodo!" " It doesn't look nice!" " You made it for me, didn't you?" "Thanks, Jef." "The doctor says Alice has scarlet fever." "What do your books say?" "Scarlet fever..." ""Highly infectious disease caused by streptococci."" "It's contagious!" ""Complications:" "Meningitis." That's serious!" "Where's Jef?" "He must fetch the medicine." "He's fixing the irrigation canal lock." "I'll go and get him." "Stop following me like a little dog!" "Edmée..." "I think of you all the time!" "You aren't like the other girls." "You finally noticed!" "Please, let me." "I'm begging you!" "I can't work any more," "I can't sleep, I need you..." "I'm desperate!" "Leave me alone." "I don't want to!" "I know you want to, I know it." "Don't be afraid." "Now you aren't so brave!" "I'll let you go if you don't tell anyone." "Stop it or I swear you won't laugh any more!" "Promise me!" "Careful, I'm stronger than you!" "You didn't see anything!" "You'll keep your trap shut!" "Fed up with his jokes!" "Get up!" "He's dead?" "Go home now!" "Don't say a word!" "Understood?" "What are you going to do?" "We'll see." "Edmée, is it you?" "Can you light the fire?" "It'll soon be dinner time." "What are you doing?" "Why don't you put the light on?" "What's the matter?" "I fell down." "And Jef?" "I didn't find him." "I hurt myself and I came back." "You're incredible!" "What about Alice?" " Is Alice better?" " No, she's feverish." "Really?" "Mum won't be eating with us, we'll bring up a tray to Alice's room." "What are you going to do?" "Jef and I will deal with it tonight." "You'll go to see the parents?" "Jef says we shouldn't tell anyone." "They're poor, they have thirteen children." "One less mouth to feed, is that it?" "Calm down." "If he was there, it was to steal wood." "I keep seeing it again and again!" "Can we count on you, Edmée?" "They'll find the body!" "They're bound to!" "We have to tell the parents it was an accident!" "They won't find him." " Yes, they will." " No!" "It'll make no difference for him." "For us it will." "For my mother, the girls..." "All right." "Keep quiet." "It's ready." "I bought you a gift in town." "I hope you like it." "Will you forgive me, Edmée?" " Do I have scarlet fever?" " No." "Meningitis?" "I was afraid it was pneumonia." "It's just bronchitis." "Don't catch cold." "I must get meningitis." "I mustn't get better." "I've brought the angel of death into this house." "So you don't catch cold." "Squirrels?" "Polecats." "I saw the policeman from my window." "What did he want?" "I don't know." "I think a boy's disappeared." "He must have fallen into the canal." "That's what he said?" "He fell in?" "What else?" "His body will float back up." "I've already seen bodies in the canal." "Look, I bought it in the end." "And the bag." "Do you want some lipstick?" "It'll brighten up your face." " What if it doesn't float up?" " What?" "They always do." "How do I look?" " You look like a big doll." " Great." "André, the one you saw in church." "He gave me a note." "He wants to marry me." "I'm going to say yes." " Yes to what?" " To André!" "He has to ask my brothers." "It won't be easy with Fred." "He doesn't think he's good enough?" "Haven't you noticed Fred's never at home?" "No, you were ill." "He's in town all the time, he even stays out all night." " He sleeps at Uncle Louis's?" " At the poshest whorehouse in town." "What about Jef?" "Holed up in his shack all day." "He's rotten company." "The policeman's back?" "It's not a policeman." "It's not serious." "Breathe!" "Again." "How you've changed in two months!" "You look like a woman." "What was I before?" "A doll?" "No, you never looked like that." "A little more wine?" "Thank you." "Have I improved?" "You're more interesting." " More profound." " I've suffered a lot." "Really?" "No, I was joking." "I feel comfortable with you." "You're the only man with whom I feel comfortable." "I'll take you for your next x-ray." "We'll go out." "You'll visit the town, buy a dress." "What did the doctor say?" "I have tuberculosis, like Mum?" "You have two stains." "You'll be fine in six months." " It can be cured now." " It's serious!" "Do you get on well with your cousins?" "All right." "Jef looks like a monkey, but he has a heart of gold." " Yes, I like him." " As for my sister, she's a saint." "She sees no evil." "She was already like that when her husband was alive." "Even you are less innocent than her." "You live over there, I'm sure you know." "Do you know what I mean?" "Not really." "I won't beat about the bush." "Fred has done something very bad." "You know about it, don't you?" "About what?" "You know very well." " Not really." " Come, come..." " How do you know?" " I just know." " It wasn't really his fault." " Enough excuses!" "He must take his responsibilities!" " He's afraid, he feels guilty." " I can imagine." "It's not easy, such a secret." "Too bad if he loses sleep over it." "I'm relieved." "I couldn't keep it to myself." "What a waste!" "I don't know what's hardest, being found out, being arrested... or never being punished." "You're drinking here now!" "The whorehouse isn't enough?" "What's the matter?" " What did the doctor say?" " It's not about the doctor!" "What's going on?" "Why did Fred leave?" "I'll explain." "Where are the ledgers?" "Show me." "What do you know, Edmée?" "Uncle Louis said 12,000 francs." "It's huge!" "What 12,000 francs?" "What do you mean?" "Uncle Louis went to the bank to examine Fred's accounts." "He has the right as our guardian." "Fred took all our money to go with prostitutes." "Here," "I bought cigarettes for you." "If you knew what he really did, you'd cry your heart out." "What we did!" "Thank you, Edmée." " Come to our shack!" " No time, I must finish." "Chickens are stupid." " Are you coming, Jef?" " No, I've work to do." "It's OK, Fred isn't here." " Do you mind?" " What?" "If Fred doesn't come back?" "I was talking about our shack." "You could study medicine." "You needn't work." "You can have your books." "Don't you understand?" "I don't care about my books, about being a doctor." "I've stopped caring since it happened." "What happened?" "Fred's already given my books back!" "You're up." "You're better then." "It's been several days." "I'm sorry, I have a lot of work." "A lot of things to take care of." "It shows, you look tired." "No, I'm fine." "Can't I have some?" "It's too strong for you." "How do you know?" "You wear perfume to go to work?" "I must go, no time." "I have to work." "You've got lipstick on your cheek." "Don't worry." "I hope it'll snow for Christmas." " A change from the mud." " Never before the New Year." "Hand me the star and the red balls." "You always want to be served!" "I have tuberculosis, I need to take it easy." "The doctor said you'll live to be a hundred!" "How awful!" "I don't want to live so old." "Where's the shooting star?" "Is it true you want to marry Fred?" " Me?" " You wouldn't be the first." " Who do you think I am?" " Who do you think you are?" " Don't pretend, I know!" " Who told you?" " Tell me!" " Someone will hear!" " Did Fred tell you?" " No, Jef did." "I don't believe you." "I'll never marry Fred!" "To be the wife of a bumpkin!" "Thanks for the "bumpkin"!" "Of course I won't be missed!" "Everyone will be at Louis's for Christmas!" "Do what you like but I'm not invited unless I grovel to him." "And he can stuff it you-know-where!" "Stop carrying on!" "Don't go, but we're going!" "Jef's right we have to go." "I'm not going." "Why not?" "I don't like Uncle Louis." "He's a pervert." "He watches me undress at the doctor's." "It's true!" "What's going on?" "Come on, we'll be late." " Fred, come and eat!" " Later." "It'll get cold." "You're my guest today." "Sit down." "You prepared all this?" "You don't know my many talents." "Eat!" "Are you afraid?" "It's too risky!" "Come on." "It's very good." "Are we friends?" "I'm cold." "Give me your hand." "Is it true that Uncle Louis looked at you?" "He saw nothing, I turned my back to him." "But the doctor saw..." " What?" " Everything." "You'd have liked to be in his shoes?" "Well, yes." "What?" "Edmée..." "Will you marry me?" "I don't know, I'll see." "We're going to win!" "Faster!" "Drop it." "Have you seen?" "It doesn't mean a thing." "It isn't his." "Put it back in the water." "It is his." "It's a sign." "We can't get away with it." "Edmée, please put it back." "Happy New Year!" "It's yes." "Wait here." "Wait, where are you going?" "Leave me alone!" "They're waiting for us!" "Don't ask me to do that!" "Don't leave me." "I was only happy with you." "When we were together in the shack." "But you're marrying him." "I can't do it if you aren't there." "Stop it!" "What do you want?" "Do you know?" "It's all over!" "We won't see each other any more?" "We won't, will we?" "Stop it, you're mad!" "Go on..." "Like with the squirrels." "Where's Edmée?" "Done by (c) dcd / June 2013"