Darkest Miriam (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[birds chirping]

[birds chirping]

[page turning]

[distant dog barking]

[traffic rumbling]

[strange, pensive music]

[distant piano music]

[distant piano music]

[piano stops]

[piano resumes]

[piano stops]

[piano resumes]

MIRIAM: Here are the trees.

[children laughing]

Can you make

little leaves for me?

Here are the leaves with their--

trees with their

leaves so green.

And here are the apples

that hide between.

When the wind blows...

[inhales]

That's a lot of wind!

The apples fall.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

[distant piano music]

[piano music continues]

WOMAN: I'm not finished!

MAN: It is my turn.

I found a pair of dentures

unattached in the foyer.

WOMAN: I'm not finished

sending my email!

MAN: Your half hour is over.

WOMAN: You'll have

to wait your turn.

[furious typing]

MAN: Your half hour is over!

It is my turn.

WOMAN: I'm not finished!

I'm not finished.

MAN: It is my turn.

WOMAN: Bald man,

I'm not finished!

Your half hour is over!

Bald man, I'm not finished

sending my email!

You'll have to wait your turn,

bald man!

MAN: You shut up.

You shut the f*ck up.

[angry muttering]

[furious typing]

[angry muttering continues]

WOMAN: I'm not finished!

[grunts]

[groans and screams]

MIRIAM (V.O.): 10:05 am.

An unusually pale female patron

accused a man with a suitcase

of hitting her.

A nearby patron would not

corroborate this claim.

Unusually pale female patron

then stole a pair of dentures.

WOMAN: I'll take these.

MIRIAM (V.O.): The owner

of these dentures

is currently unknown.

[ambient park sounds]

[squirrel chattering]

-[birds flapping]

-[man gasping]

[distant, indistinct voices]

[birds chirping]

[slow, mysterious strings music]

SU: We ought to be

paid twice as much

as some of those idiots in

administration who have no idea.

Serving patrons

who've lost their minds,

who cry all over you one minute

and then bite

your head off the next.

Not to mention

those who piss their pants

and can't seem to find

their way to a shower.

Ever heard of soap?

The stench.

[distant phone ringing]

Four more hours to go.

I think I hear

a toilet overflowing.

[gasps]

Fainting man is out front.

[dialing phone]

SU: Yeah, I need you to come.

He's back.

MIRIAM: Are you okay?

All is well, all is well.

Please don't call 911.

They will charge me

for the ambulance.

All is well.

SU: Ah... never mind,

it's fine. Okay, bye.

[pages turning]

MIRIAM (V.O.): The following

is a list of patrons

who frequent the Allan Gardens

branch of the public library.

Fainting Man,

who is a new immigrant

and has no health coverage.

Su, my co-worker, who I would

describe as triangular.

Natalie, who seeks out a quiet

corner to study on Tuesdays.

Unusually pale female patron,

who always walks

on the diagonal.

Tom, who used to be

a classical pianist.

Irene Frenkle,

the branch head, and my boss.

Suitcase Man, who often bows,

bending abruptly at the waist.

Beautiful Man, who is beautiful.

Piano Girl and her mom...

who also plays the piano.

John B.,

our most regular patron,

who suffers from dementia.

Desperate Man, whose older

brother often leaves him

at our branch for the day.

And my father.

[water burbling]

[birds squawking]

[water burbling]

[birds calling]

[birds chirping]

[traffic sounds]

[birds chirping]

[cicadas buzzing]

MAN: Sit down.

You can sit down if you want.

How you been doing?

[apple crunches]

[indistinct conversation

in background]

[bee buzzing]

[distant siren]

[birds chirping]

[church bell tolling]

[distant piano music]

[soft, indistinct voices]

MIRIAM (V.O.): My father

owned the same suitcase

as Suitcase Man.

He allowed me to press

the metal buttons,

and if I wasn't quick enough,

the tabs, springing back,

struck me on the knuckles,

causing me to cry out.

Sometimes my father placed

his hand kindly on my head,

pleased to see

that I was learning my lesson.

[man groaning]

-[groaning]

-[buckles jangling]

MIRIAM (V.O.): 4:40 pm.

A sticky mess

was found at a table

in the back of the library.

A number of books were arranged

in an upright position

on the table.

They appear to have

served as a screen.

The books, soiled by what

looked like common semen.

No actions were taken.

MIRIAM: Hello. Good morning.

Hmm.

[distant, indistinct voices]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "Laugh, laugh,

get on with your laughter

at my expense.

"You don't think I'm capable

of protecting my own daughter,

"do you? You'll see pretty--"

SU: I just found this

in the garbage can.

Who throws books away...?

In a library?

SU: Okay, I'm on break.

MIRIAM (V.O.):

"You'll see pretty soon

"what I'm capable of.

"I am Rigoletto, and I will not

be doing any more suffering."

[ominous music]

Weird.

[distant piano music]

[page turning]

MIRIAM (V.O.): When I was 11,

my father took me

to the opera .

He chose Rigoletto

and explained that it was

about a man who was cursed.

I sat on the edge of my chair

and allowed the music

to seduce me.

Excuse me, miss?

May I help you?

-I don't believe

this is the sort of guy

women find attractive.

I mean...

it's more what he thinks that...

that's what

turns women on, right?

It's...

it's more their ideas,

what they go for.

Uh, yeah.

-Right?

-Absolutely, yes.

[distant piano music]

-[giggles]

-Hmm.

MIRIAM (V.O.): Su cuts out

glossy ads for men's

underwear ,

close-up shots of

scantily-concealed genitals.

-She pins these to the

bulletin board by the fridge.

-SU: Hello, boys.

MIRIAM (V.O.): Irene

has tried for years

to get her to take it down.

Yeah...

MIRIAM (V.O.): To no avail.

IRENE: Alright, see you then.

[distant, indistinct voices]

[birds chirping]

[strange, mysterious music]

[birds chirping]

MAN: Hey, Janko!

[indistinct conversation]

[indistinct conversation]

[distant, indistinct voices]

[distant piano music,

"La Donna Mobile"

from Rigoletto]

Hi.

Sorry to interrupt.

You're very good.

Thank you.

Um...

Do you often play opera music?

No. [laughs]

Um, we found

the music on the piano,

so my daughter wanted to try it.

You play it extremely well.

GIRL: Thank you very much.

Sorry.

[door latches shut]

[inhales]

[piano resumes]

I'm off.

Alright. Have a good one.

[door shuts]

MIRIAM (V.O.): Once, my father

disappeared for three days .

I listened while my mother

telephoned the police.

I asked her

if he'd been m*rder*d.

She assured me that he was

alive and wandering somewhere,

ducking in and out

of used bookstores.

"How did she know?" I asked.

She told me that once

before I was born,

he'd vanished

and had spent his days

frequenting used bookstores.

But he'd promised her

he would never disappear again.

["La Donna Mobile"

playing on headphones]

MALE VOICE:

[whispered] Miriam...

[loud thud]

MIRIAM (V.O.): What good

is a promise? I asked.

[La Donna Mobile playing]

La donna mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento

E di pensiero

Sempre un amabile

Leggiadro viso

In pianto o in riso

mensognero

La donna mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento

E di pensier

E di pensier

E...

E di pensier

sempre misero

Chi a lei s'affida...

[music becomes

distant and dreamlike]

[Miriam laughing softly]

...Pur mai non sentesi

Felice appieno

Qui su quel seno...

[laughing continues]

La donna mobile

Qual piuma al vento

Muta d'accento

E di pensier

[laughing continues]

E di pensier

E...

E...

E di pensier!

[music stops]

[birds calling]

[water burbling]

[indistinct PA announcement]

[phones ringing]

NURSE: Health card, please.

Name, Miriam Gordon.

Date of birth,

February 9th, 1985.

Yeah.

NURSE: Father's name?

Pardon?

NURSE: Father's name, please?

Why?

NURSE: Edward?

No.

That's why.

We don't want to

confuse your records

with another

Miriam Gordon's records.

Oh. That makes sense.

NURSE: Father's name?

Morris.

NURSE: Married?

Yes, to my mother.

NURSE: I mean, are you married?

-No.

Never married?

-No.

-Always single?

Yes.

NURSE: Next of kin?

We need

an emergency contact person.

Irene.

416-534-2732.

[sound of typing]

NURSE: Last name?

Frenkle.

With an "e."

NURSE: Is this her cell?

I mean, I don't have it.

[clears throat]

Okay, well, we'll need

to contact this person

outside of work.

Any... other family?

Friends?

Any medications you're on?

No meds.

[sound of typing]

Suicidal ideation?

Any history of mental illness?

Okay. What brings you in today?

I'm fine, actually. I feel fine.

[door unlatches]

[door shuts]

[Miriam exhales]

[keys drop]

[helmet drops]

[bag drops]

[Miriam sighs]

[boots clunk off]

[scraping sound]

[blows air]

[La Donna Mobile playing]

[shower running]

[breathing heavily]

[La Donna Mobile continues]

[dog barking]

[ambient city sounds]

[cicadas buzzing]

[distant dog barking]

[distant, indistinct voices]

[cicadas buzzing]

[distant dog barking]

[cicadas buzzing]

I am Janko.

And you?

Miriam.

I've seen you at the library.

I work there.

Yes, I know.

[distant siren]

[Miriam chuckles]

You like opera?

Excuse me?

Opera? Yes, I guess so.

I'm reading Kekec.

Kekec.

Hm, Kekec.

It is a Slovenian novel

for children.

Is it good?

It is wonderful.

What's it about?

A story of a little boy

named Kekec

who overcomes fear.

Hm.

Oh.

I love opera.

Hm.

[distant traffic sounds]

[birds chirping]

It's a bit dark.

Not really.

I drive a cab.

Oh.

Also a painter.

Hm.

I am not an artist.

I can show you my work

sometime, if you like.

[birds chirping]

[cicadas buzzing]

[leaves rustling]

[bird wings flapping]

[pigeons cooing]

JANKO: Are you hungry?

Are these your paintings?

Yes.

I turn them around...

so they won't frighten anyone.

-Are your paintings frightening?

These are my most recent.

Can... can I see?

Yeah.

[pigeon wings flapping]

[strange, pensive music]

Can I see another?

Hmm.

JANKO: Hmm.

I finished this one a week ago.

How do you create

the... the effect?

First I dig into the wood

to create different layers.

And with a torch

I burn the wood, the surface,

all of it.

And then I paint.

I studied fresco restoration.

-Hmm.

In Slovenia?

Poland.

Ah.

Would you like a cup of tea?

I think I will go.

-Oh.

-Yeah.

[keys clink]

Is this okay?

Yeah.

[heavy breathing]

[heavy breathing continues]

[Janko chuckles]

[both laugh]

MIRIAM: Oh...

[Janko chuckles]

[both laugh]

[door opens and closes]

[tinkling sound]

[Miriam breathing anxiously]

[toilet flushes]

[somber strings music]

[breathing anxiously]

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

[Miriam exhales]

MIRIAM (V.O.): 8:55 am .

The light switches

on the control panel are stiff.

Note to call maintenance

to fix the problem.

TOM: I was in the piano room.

-Yes, I signed you in.

There's a new piano

in the piano room.

-Yes.

-I need to stay here tonight.

MIRIAM: As you know,

the library closes at 8:30,

and we all have to leave.

-I wanted to return

the beer cans inside for cash.

MIRIAM: The piano was replaced,

and, moving forward,

please do not put beer cans

inside the piano.

-What would happen if you

were to force me to go out?

I... I don't know.

The library closes at 8:30.

TOM: Ah, yes.

No. [inhales sharply]

Don't leave cans...

in the piano.

No.

Thank you.

Okay, well, if you can't...

if you won't let me stay,

then will you at least take me

to the nearest police station

when the library closes,

uh, tonight?

MIRIAM: I can't--

I can't do that.

I can't do that.

[clock ticking]

MIRIAM: Your brother usually

comes and gets you at 5.

-Fine.

But this will be on your hands!

[Miriam exhales]

MIRIAM: Two, three, go!

[children laughing]

MIRIAM: Oh, no!

Oh, wow...

That was really scary...

That was really scary-funny.

GIRL: I did so scary!

You were so scary. High five.

[distant piano music,

"La Donna Mobile"]

Hmm.

[piano stops]

[ominous music]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "What do

you know about suffering?

"She takes children into that

room with the accordion door

"and tells them stories.

"She also sits behind

the information desk

"and answers questions.

"It doesn't matter how

drunk or crass they are,

"she speaks with them.

"She should see the danger."

[paper rustles]

[unsettling music]

MIRIAM (V.O.):

"My gorgeous librarian

"with the freckled hands."

[breathing heavily]

IRENE: These...

these are for you?

MIRIAM: I think so.

[exhales]

IRENE: Freckled hands?

Do you feel threatened?

Rigoletto kills

his daughter in the end.

But by mistake.

You know, he kinda--

he ties her in a sack.

OFFICER: Where'd you find them?

MIRIAM: That one was in a book

inside the children's area.

Any idea who's doing this?

No.

OFFICER: Do you have any

connection to Rigoletto

or opera?

My father took me

to Rigoletto as a kid.

OFFICER: Where's

your father now?

Um, he died.

Okay.

Okay, uh, well,

let us know if you receive

any more of these notes, or if

anything unusual transpires.

I will.

OFFICER: Unfortunately,

until he acts,

our hands are tied.

[paper rustles]

[light buzzing]

[somber strings music]

[clock ticking]

[scraping sound]

[birds calling]

[water trickling]

[birds calling]

[bird calling]

[birds calling]

JANKO: Tell me a story.

Any story.

[gentle strings music]

-Mm, I don't know any stories.

-You're a librarian.

-Those aren't my stories.

-Well, then, read me something.

-Hmm...

Mmm.

I found this

in the repair bin today.

"My mother

k*lled her little son.

"My father grieved

when I was gone.

"My sister loved me best of all.

"She laid her kerchief over me

and took my bones

"that they might lie

underneath the juniper tree.

"Kywitt, kywitt,

what a beautiful bird am I."

-I will call you Darkest Miriam

from now on.

I will read it to you.

"My mother

k*lled her little son.

"My father grieved

when I was gone.

"My sister loved me best of all.

"She laid her kerchief over me

"and took my bones

that they might lie

"underneath the juniper tree."

[whistles]

"What a beautiful bird am I."

[crickets chirping]

[birds chirping]

[Rigoletto,

"Gualtier Mald" playing]

Gualtier...

Mald...

Nome di lui...

sl amato

Ti scolpisci nel core...

innamorato

Caro nome che il mio cor

Festi primo palpitar

Le delizie dell'amor

Mi dei sempre rammentar!

Col pensier il mio desir

A te sempre voler

E fin l'ultimo mio sospir

Caro nome, tuo sar.

[indistinct conversation]

MIRIAM: Can I get a low five

or a high five?

GIRL: A low five.

MIRIAM: Low five, yeah.

That's very nice.

Very nice.

GIRL: Did I do very carefully?

MIRIAM: You did.

GIRL: Okay, do you wanna do--

I'll do-- I'll do this.

MIRIAM: Yeah, you do that one.

GIRL: And you put that on.

MIRIAM: Thank you.

GIRL: 'Cause you just--

Not that.

-Not that one.

This one.

GIRL: 'Cause I need

to glue that one first.

["Gualtier Mald"

playing on piano]

[Miriam clears throat]

[gasps]

[ominous music]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "Ah!

"Vile scoundrel!

"To you who dare

to touch her breast,

"do you think I see nothing?

"Even weaponless,

this hand will soon

"be bathed in your blood,

you silly f*ck.

"You shall be avenged, Gilda,

"oh my daughter of

the freckled hands."

[traffic passing outside]

SUITCASE MAN: Did you see it?

There.

Tucked inside the book.

A note.

A note.

It appeared in your absence.

I collect the notes.

I lock the suitcase.

But then another note appears,

written in a hand not my own.

Someone's trying to communicate.

[distant piano music]

MIRIAM (V.O.): " Milk, cheese,

bread, apples, lettuce,

"tomatoes, cucumbers,

strawberries, blueberries,

"kale, pineapple,

peanut butter."

Some...

somebody's trying

to communicate!

[distant piano continues]

MIRIAM (V.O.): " Jam."

JANKO: Slow day or busy day?

[Janko chewing]

MIRIAM: What's been

the most frightening

moment of your life so far?

Was it when you hurt your hand?

I was not frightened.

I was in shock, and then pain.

Oh.

Can we not talk about

more pleasant things...

than what we find

most frightening?

-[growls playfully]

-Hmm?

Can you scratch it?

-Yeah.

-Oof!

MIRIAM: Mmm!

[growls]

Mmm.

[piano music]

MIRIAM: Right here?

-Upper.

-Upper...

-A little lower...

Mmm, yeah.

-Harder?

-[exhales] Perfect.

My dispatcher is an as*h*le.

-Mm-hm.

-I will quit and go far away,

and when I come back,

my dispatcher will be an old man

with shriveled ba*ls,

who sits on the park bench

dispatching pigeons.

-Will the pigeons obey?

-[laughs]

They will rebel.

But not how I did

against my father,

by ignoring his letters.

They will circle... [laughs]

...above, dropping

white sh*t in his hair.

He is cruel, and so they

will treat him in this way.

Mmm...

[giggling]

Argh!

[Miriam yelps]

[Janko grunting]

[in Slovenian] I am the master.

You will succumb.

You are the pigeon.

I am the dispatcher.

Coo, coo...

Coo, coo.

Like a pigeon Darkest Miriam.

[pigeon wings flapping]

MIRIAM: Slow day or busy day?

JANKO: Slow.

It was beautiful out.

People walked.

They weren't in the mood

to ride a taxi.

-Anyone memorable?

JANKO: They were all memorable.

-What did they say?

-Nothing.

They told me where they

wanted me to take them,

and I drove them there.

-None of them

said anything else?

-Nothing.

No one talks to me.

But I listen to them breathing

and moving about on the seat.

I heard one of them taking

things out of her purse.

I heard another scratching

behind his ears.

-You could hear him

scratching behind his ears?

-Oh, yes.

I watched him with the eyes

in the back of my head.

-Really?

-Yes.

I inherited this from my father.

When he was a teacher,

his students thought

that since his eyes

were on the blackboard,

he couldn't see their pranks.

But he had eyes on the back

of his head, my father.

Suddenly he would turn.

When he threw a piece of chalk,

he could hit a boy

in the side of the head,

above the ear,

from across the room.

He told me because

of his perfect aim,

and the eyes

on the back of his head,

his students respected him.

He could be kind to them

now and then,

even joke a little bit,

but they wouldn't forget to

fear him and to obey his orders.

-In Slovenia?

-Ljubljana.

-You grew up there?

-No, Ljubljana until I was ten.

Then after my parents' divorce,

we moved.

-Where to?

-All over.

Just me and my mum.

My brother and sister

stayed in Ljubljana.

What does your father do?

-Insurance.

-Where are your stories?

-I read you stories

all the time.

-Darkest Miriam,

you must have stories.

[soft piano music]

-You don't trust me.

-I do.

What do you want to know?

-I want to know you.

[distant traffic sounds]

[Janko snoring lightly]

JOHN B.: They're on the brink

of publishing

a collection of my poems.

-That's exciting.

-Very soon my book will be out.

I'll...

bring you a copy.

-That will be wonderful.

Okay, almost got it here.

-I knew I could count on you.

-I'm so glad.

-They're on the brink

of publishing

a collection of my poems.

-That's exciting.

Okay, here's the address.

Raccoon Jaw Press.

-Very soon my book will be out,

and I will bring you a copy.

[distant piano music]

-That'd be wonderful.

[door closes]

-My father...

my father was a man

who read lots of books.

I don't think I ever cried

from my father,

but I cried because of the

things that remind me of him.

He was a very good man.

A very good man.

As good as any that walked

on the face of the Earth.

And now he's dead.

[door closes]

[somber music]

[paper rustling]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "You...

"Open your eyes.

"What action must I take to

convince you that I love you?

"To protect you

from a fate like mine

"will take all my cunning.

"I will cause no more pain."

[distant, indistinct

voices and laughter]

[distant dog barking]

[pigeon wings flapping]

[indistinct voices]

[church bell tolling]

[indistinct voices]

SU: I don't go dancing anymore

because I don't have

the right shoes.

Or clothes.

Or the right legs. Or a*s.

And then last night, who calls?

My sister, saying the arthritis

in my mom's hands

has got so bad, poor old Mom

can't even hold a pen.

[sighs]

Not going to the park today?

-No.

-So, what do you say?

Should we go out dancing

while we still can?

Anyone wanna come?

[pigeons cooing]

[somber music]

[ambient traffic sounds]

[birds chirping]

[child yelling indistinctly]

JANKO: You're always so angry

when your plans don't work out.

MIRIAM: I have no plans.

-Yesterday you planned

to meet me here.

-We both planned.

-True.

But then I didn't come on time.

I couldn't.

-I thought I would

never see you again.

-I was late because of

my dispatcher.

It was my dispatcher's fault.

-I thought...

I would never see you again.

-When I was a child

and wanted to think,

I would lock myself

in the bathroom.

Even when they

pounded on the door,

I pretended I was not

inside and refused to open.

But you see, I'm here.

-I know.

You've told me

that story before.

-In ten years I will beg you

to stop telling me

the same stories of your life.

But for now I want to know,

again and again.

-When I'm with you, I feel...

as though I'm standing

in tall grass.

It's disorienting.

[distant sirens]

Will you still be

here in ten years?

-Of course.

Whatever direction you will go,

all you will find is tall grass.

[distant siren]

MIRIAM: Are we almost

at the greenhouse?

JANKO: Almost.

-Is anyone else around?

-No.

Nobody I can see,

except two men.

-Hmm.

Where are they?

-Some place faraway,

walking their dogs,

off by the edge of the park.

They each have a dog.

One small dog is white,

with short legs and short fur.

One big dog is brown,

with curls.

Aw.

Is the moon still out?

-Yes!

-[squeals]

JANKO: Is there something else

you would like to see?

-No.

-Are you sure?

You could see

a lot from my eyes.

-And what happens when

we get to the greenhouse?

-Nothing.

-Nothing?

-I then close my eyes,

Darkest Miriam,

and it's your turn to lead me.

-Well, where to?

-Home.

-You don't have a home, Janko.

-Don't I?

-No.

-What about my apartment?

-No.

-And...

my paintings?

-Yeah.

Yes, those are the closest thing

you have to a home.

-What if I have children?

Where will they live?

-You won't have children.

-I won't?

You are deciding

I won't have children?

-I don't see you having any.

-You mean,

you don't want me to have any?

Is that what you mean?

-I'm...

I don't have any idea

if I want you to or not.

I'm just saying...

what I see with...

my eyes closed.

-Open your eyes.

-Are...

we at the greenhouse?

-No.

-Then why should

I open them?

-Open your eyes.

-No.

-Do you want me

to leave you here?

-They're open.

You said that

I won't have any children.

It sounded like a curse.

-I was just saying what I saw

with my eyes closed.

I wasn't saying

what I wanted to see.

-Is it true you don't care

if I ever have children or not?

-I don't know.

-I want children.

One day I want to be a father.

The most frightening moment

of my life is now,

because I've met you.

[poignant piano music]

[water sloshes lightly]

[poignant piano music continues]

[light snoring]

MIRIAM: [whispered] Janko...

JANKO: Yes?

My father had a book collection.

He wrote poetry,

but he was never published.

-Yes.

That is more like it.

Not insurance.

Poetry.

-It was huge.

Eventually it overflowed

into the garage.

-Where is this

book collection now?

-He gave it away.

-What does your father do now?

-Not much.

-Okay.

[birds calling]

[water trickling]

[poignant piano music continues]

[bird calling]

[mysterious music]

[slow creaking of rope swaying]

[creaking continues]

[body thuds to floor]

[apartment buzzer]

[apartment buzzer]

[apartment buzzer]

MIRIAM: Hello?

WOMAN: Hello, ma'am,

police here.

Is this the residence

of Janko Priajtelj?

-Yes...?

WOMAN: Could you please

let me up?

This is the residence

of Janko Priajtelj?

-Yes.

-Ma'am, who are you?

-I'm... I'm Miriam.

And what is your

relationship to Mr. Priajtelj?

-He's my boyfriend.

-Ma'am, I'm so sorry,

but Mr. Priajtelj

has been k*lled.

He was found dead in his cab.

His wallet was taken,

and in cases like this,

it's usually theft.

Is there anyone

I can call for you?

-No.

[breathing shakily]

No.

-And Mr. Priajtelj,

did he have any family?

We need to contact

the next-of-kin.

-Uh...

In Slovenia, I think.

-I'm gonna ask you

to come to the station

and answer a few questions,

and we're gonna need someone

to identify the body.

-Right now?

-Yes, ma'am.

-Okay. I'm just-- I'm just

gonna change my clothes.

-Okay.

[locks door]

[distant police radio chatter]

[police radio chatter continues]

[inaudible conversation]

[phone ringing]

[inaudible conversation]

[crickets chirping]

[door creaks open]

[keys jingle]

[door creaks shut]

[pigeon wings flapping]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "Weep.

"Child, weep.

"Let your tears flow.

"Let your tears flow.

"Oh...

"on my heart."

[sobbing]

MIRIAM (V.O.): "Let your

tears flow, my daughter.

"My daughter.

"On my heart."

[sobbing]

[church bell tolling]

[breathing deeply]

[pigeon wings flapping]

[water trickling]

[birds chirping]

[bird calling]

[fast-paced piano music]

MIRIAM (V.O.): Whereas many men

drink to ease their anguish ,

my father purchased books.

His collection

filled the garage,

stacked up against the walls.

The car remained parked in

the driveway in every season,

no matter the weather.

He imagined that his collection

might one day become

immensely valuable.

Not that he ever planned

to sell the books.

JOHN B.: "My father

was a man who whistled,

"who wove himself

an armor of cheerful notes,

"and smiled and smiled.

"Light on his feet

for such a heavy man,

"and quick with his hands,

"he would have made

a fine magician or a boxer.

"Instead, he wrote poems

in rhyming verse

"that nobody would publish

and earned his living

"by selling insurance

of various kinds.

"I wanted to save him

from humiliation.

"One night I set myself

the task of memorizing

"as many of his poems

as I could.

"Shut in my room,

"I recited them...

"and wept.

"In the morning, my..."

BEAUTIFUL MAN: "When

I was a young child,

"I rode on

my father's shoulders.

"The view was excellent,

though it swayed.

"I kept my eye

on the shifting horizon

"while he kicked small stones

out of our path."

SU: "When I was 18,

someone broke my heart.

"A few well-placed blows

and my heart shattered.

"One of these blows was

administered over the telephone.

"I ran out the front door

without stopping

"to put on my coat or boots.

"The freezing air

slapped my face.

"My father, who happened to

be clearing the front walk,

"tossed aside a shovel

"and ran after me

across the lawn,

"his feet breaking the crust,

sinking into the deep snow.

"When he caught up,

"he took me in his arms.

"I present this memory

in my father's defense

"whenever I take him to trial,

as I so often do,

"laying my fears and shyness,

"my crippling self-doubt,

at his feet.

"My father had spent

the morning whistling.

"He'd mowed the front lawn

and trimmed the hedge.

"He'd kissed my mother

on the cheek

"and told her she looked

'pretty as a picture.'

"After lunch, he'd gone out back

"to do a bit of spring cleaning

in the garage.

"I was 22 years old.

"My brother was 19,

and my sister 17.

"My father left no message

of farewell for my mother,

"and no note of any kind

for his progeny."

MIRIAM (V.O.): They laid

my father among his books .

The day does not answer.

IRENE: Why don't you just

take a leave rather than quit?

I have to go.

IRENE: I just don't want you

to regret anything, Miriam.

[exhales]

That's why I have to go.

[piano music]

[birds chirping]

[birds chirping]

[sighs]

[slow breathing]

MIRIAM: Mm...

[poignant strings music]

[Janko exhales]

MIRIAM: Mm...

[both chuckle]

-Do you know

that one of your ears

is larger than the other?

-[laughs]

JANKO: Come here, show me.

-No. [giggles]

-Show me.

-Show me.

-No.

-Show me.

Yes.

This left ear.

It grew during the night.

-No, no.

[thunder rumbles]

MIRIAM: No. No, no...

[poignant strings music]

[Miriam exhaling]

[water sloshes lightly]

[Miriam exhales

and thunder rumbles]

[thunder rumbling]

[ukulele strumming]

[Miriam singing

"La Donna Mobile"]

[song ends]