Shtisel (2013) s03e04 Episode Script

1
A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
I'm sure it will work out, God willing.
Do we have to bring anything?
I see. We'll do that.
Evil man.
Evil man, that's what you are.
Dvora's with the Zionists because of you.
We'll talk to him.
-Great.
-Evil man
Thank you, Elki. All the best.
-Are you listening, Akiva?
-Yes.
Not like this.
I'm listening.
First of all, this is a crisis,
but it will pass, I promise you.
In a day or two you'll hold her
and all this will be a memory.
Second, I spoke to my friend.
She used to be a social worker.
She explained what's going on.
This decision committee,
that's what counts.
That's where you have to invest
all your efforts.
Decision committee?
Who's this decision committee?
-What right do they have to decide?
-Dad, come on.
Calm down.
She gave me the phone number of Boim.
A fixer who helps out with these things.
He'll prepare us
so we can get her out of the shelter fast.
Where is this emergency shelter?
I want to see her now.
I want to see her now!
It's classified,
they don't say where it is.
They place her with a foster family
until the matter is resolved.
What you have to do now is meet this Boim.
Listen, this is a very tough problem.
Welfare is like a Rottweiler.
Once they bite you
you can dance like a Hasid, it won't help.
Then what do we do?
I'll be honest.
If there's no mother in the picture,
it's a big problem.
They take no risk,
if they have proof of neglect.
It's important you get
as many recommendations as possible.
Do you have a job?
That can help too.
Have your boss confirm you earn money
that you're responsible, and all that.
But as I said, the chances are slim.
Boim, we'll pay whatever it takes.
You must save us.
It's not about money, Reb Shtisel.
There's something that might help.
When is the committee convening?
-Wednesday. This Wednesday.
-Oy vey.
No good, it's complicated.
Boim, we'll do whatever it takes.
No, it's too late, it's in three days.
Tell me, is there anyone you could marry?
-What?
-A girl you could marry.
We told you, I'm a widower.
I lost my wife less than a year ago.
Forget that, I'm asking if there's someone
you can marry now.
I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
If you go see them with a wife
and they see you're married,
it's a whole different thing.
We need a girl who'll say they're married.
What's the problem?
No way, they'll find out.
You can't trick them.
You have to go to the Rabbinate,
wedding ceremony and all.
Then you go to the committee,
say you just got married
and the whole incident
was a one-time thing.
You were busy
with the wedding and all that.
They see you have a wife,
you can take care of the baby.
-It changes the whole game.
-Are you serious?
Getting married in three days?
Did I say it's easy?
Where there's a will and all that
-Will you help us find someone?
-Find someone?
Dad, we're not talking babysitter here.
-Can you?
-Reb Shtisel, I'm no matchmaker.
Good luck to you.
How are you?
Excited. Thank you, Avigail.
Hanina, how about taking a break?
It's okay.
I just want you to fill out these forms.
I want to explain
what's going to happen today
and how it takes us another step
towards your birth.
Our birth?
Of your boy or girl.
Our surrogate is in one of the rooms.
We're going to use
one of the frozen embryos
from the eggs we extracted from you
to fertilize in her body.
Then what do we do?
Just pray that it succeeds.
The odds on the first attempt aren't high,
but miracles happen.
We'll pray.
Please tell her we're here
and we thank her.
I thought that perhaps
you'd like to tell her something.
Wish her well, just say hello.
After all, this is no small feat,
it could mean a lot to her.
Thank you. We'll leave it like this.
Thank you for the thought. We'll pray.
Of course. Very well.
Just fill out the forms,
I'll be back in five minutes.
You really don't want to meet her?
We talked about this.
The fewer people know, the better.
If we don't have to,
it's best this woman doesn't meet us.
This woman is going to be pregnant--
In nine months you'll walk in here
and leave with a baby, that's it.
That was my condition,
that no one knows it's not our baby.
But it is our baby! Stop saying that!
Who's there?
Akiva. Akiva Shtisel.
It's not a good time, Akiva.
Maybe we can talk tomorrow. I'm sorry.
Racheli, please.
I need your help.
It's important.
-What happened? Are you alright?
-Yes. I'm not feeling so well.
-What is it?
-It's
It's a long story
and I don't want to disturb you.
There was this
An incident with my daughter.
Welfare got involved.
Anyway, to get her back
Get her back? They took Dvoraleh?
Not exactly. I mean
Yes, they took her from me.
Come in. Tell me what happened.
Come.
In order to get her back
I need a document.
A letter of recommendation
from my employer,
so they'll see I have a job
and a future and all that.
That's what will help? A letter?
Maybe it will help, it's all I have.
There must be more you can do.
No, we consulted some expert.
Forget about it.
-He suggested I get married.
-With whom?
Anyone. Find a woman and marry her.
Just pretend, for the committee.
It makes more sense
if there's a mother in the picture.
Yes but there is no mother.
I have no one to marry within two days.
In any case, if you could write a letter
that we work together,
that you employ me,
that I have a steady income,
that I can be trusted and all that,
it would be very helpful.
I don't know what to say, Akiva.
I'm not your employer.
I never was.
It's just a letter.
It doesn't mean
you have to start paying me.
You're asking me to lie. I can't do that.
Yes, I understand.
Thank you anyway.
Feel better.
I'm sorry, Akiva.
It's alright.
Good luck.
Now we'll listen to Tchaikovsky's
"Symphony No. 6",
also known as "Pathétique Symphony".
Not pathetic as in pitiful
or ridiculous, heaven forbid,
but rather full of pathos,
emotion or tempestuous, if you like.
We'll listen to the rendition
of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Vladimir Petroshov.
Yes?
Shulem, this is Nechama, hello.
Miss Yoktan, what can I do for you?
-You're coming, right?
-Coming where?
Where? To Issachar's memorial.
The memorial, that's right. Is that today?
It's in one hour.
Listen
We have some family issues,
with my granddaughter.
I've been busy with that
and I totally forgot.
So you're not coming?
Honestly, Nechama,
I don't think I can make it.
I understand.
"He who makes peace in His high places
will make peace upon us and Israel."
-Amen.
-Amen.
Amen.
Split it among yourselves. Thank you.
Thank you, Shulem.
Of course.
We did what was necessary.
Have a good day, Nechama.
I'll take a taxi back to the school.
Wait, Shulem.
I thought
I wanted to read something
to Issachar on his grave,
if that's okay with you.
Of course it's okay.
Issachar, my Issachar.
I don't know how many people knew this,
but you loved poetry.
You were modest about it.
You knew dozens of poems by heart,
if not more.
You used to tell me
poetry is the marrow of life.
I want
I want to read a poem you recited
to me one day before you passed.
It took me some time to find it.
"First Smile", by Nathan Alterman.
Do not call me with many words
Do not call me with a desperate vow
I am gathered to you again
From all my weary paths
I climb to your threshold now
Do not call me with many words
Everything shrivels and rots
But you and the night still live
Momentous are the moments of the end
Snuff the candles out
The light cries out for rest
Enfold me in your silence
Distances are adrift
And I am breathing air
At a raving altitude
You! Never have I lived in you!
You are my sea, salty savor of my land!
Yes sometimes your memory
Will seize me suddenly
With a tiger's hungry leap
With winds and flying doors
With a tempestuous joy
With broken-winged happiness
Thank you for coming.
Forgive me if I wasn't sensitive
to what you're going through.
Sensitive?
I was so surprised that you
weren't going to attend the memorial.
I thought you're so obtuse.
Only later did I realize
that it's hard for you.
Hard?
Seeing me, I mean.
You?
-Why would it be hard?
-Because of what happened.
That?
I forgot all about that.
Nechama, I forgot it even happened.
The family is having
a tough time, that's all.
-Is everything alright?
-Yes, it's nothing major.
Believe me, Rebbetzin Yoktan,
I'll be honest with you.
I don't know what happened to me
at the coffee shop.
That supposedly I suggested
that supposedly you and I
I mean, it's so far-fetched.
Absolutely far-fetched.
Is it?
It's interesting.
I thought about it since then,
about you and me.
You know
I was alone for many years
and I got used to it.
But after losing Issachar,
I don't know how to explain it.
Since Issachar passed away,
the loneliness is twice as hard.
Of course, loneliness is not easy.
Yes, that's right.
So I thought that if you're interested,
I'd be pleased to give it a chance.
Perhaps we can meet for dinner?
You think so? I don't know.
I don't want to pressure you.
You know what, Miss Yoktan, let's try.
But slowly.
No need to go straight to dinner.
How about coffee and cake
at my place tomorrow?
I'll buy Brizel's cheesecake.
It's special, have you heard of it?
No, but I love cheesecake.
Excellent. This isn't just any cheesecake.
I grew up on that cheesecake.
It tastes the same as it did 50 years ago.
Exactly the same.
So your place tomorrow?
Let's say four o'clock?
Let me check if I can.
After all, I have a school to run.
Four o'clock
Absolutely,
tomorrow at 4:15 will be excellent.
I'll be there at 4:15 tomorrow.
Blessed are you, Lord,
who brings forth bread from the earth.
The bread is tasty.
Thank you.
I want to say something.
Are you listening?
I didn't mean to get mad at you today.
I apologize.
-It's alright.
-Wait.
I want to explain why I was mad.
Even though I shouldn't have been,
there's a reason I was mad.
I want you to know it.
I was hurt because it felt
like you don't see me.
In this whole process.
For over a week
you've been focused on yourself.
And your studies.
Meanwhile, I've been through a lot.
I feel that you don't see me.
I don't see you?
That's how I felt.
If you feel otherwise, I want to know,
but we have to talk.
I want us to make a rule.
-We have to talk things out.
-I'll tell you, Ruchami.
I've been trying to convince myself
for a whole week
that it's okay we're violating
the Torah.
-The thing that matters to us most.
-Violating?
Rabbi Soloveichik allowed it.
It wasn't exactly like that.
This whole thing is a forced compromise.
You left me no choice.
I left you no choice?
How exactly?
-It doesn't matter.
-It matters a lot.
Professor Mishnayot called me.
He said you want to remove the IUD.
What choice did I have?
Fine.
I'll call Avigail tomorrow
and tell her we want to call it off.
WARBURG
-Here, I'll give you these as well.
-Akiva.
I'll give you all the paintings
from the exhibition.
You don't have to pay me.
Just write the letter, please.
Take the paintings.
-I won't.
-Please, take them.
Come in, Akiva.
Alright.
I'll do it for you.
You will? Thank you.
-For you and Dvoraleh.
-Thank you so much.
I will marry you.
Thank you.
What?
We'll get married this week.
We'll go to the committee
as a married couple.
When you get Dvoraleh back
for good, God willing,
we'll divorce and part ways.
Are you serious?
Very.
But why would you agree to do that?
Good question.
Maybe for your daughter.
She is precious to me.
For your daughter and her mother.
Some things are worth lying for.
I don't know what to say.
Here, put this on.
-What?
-We're going out.
Watch over me, Shulem.
Make sure I don't do anything stupid.
Today you're with me, don't worry.
How about we go to the zoo?
The zoo?
The zoo? We're going to Kive's wedding.
Kive who?
Kive horse of Pharaoh!
"Kive who?" Our Kive!
It hasn't been a year
and he's getting married? I won't have it.
You keep your mouth shut, you hear me?
You listen to me good!
If you make trouble at the wedding,
I'll throw you off the balcony myself.
I'll donate you to science!
I'll donate your shiva to science!
You're coming to Kive's wedding with me
and you will behave as I say,
all nice and quiet!
You've done enough damage
to the People of Israel!
JERUSALEM RABBINATE COUNCIL
Racheli, you surprised me.
How's the dress? Pretty?
Yes, pretty. Very pretty.
I hope you didn't buy it especially.
Why not? You only get married once.
ID number?
Divorced, yes?
Widower.
Nice. "Walk humbly." And the young woman?
Racheli Warburg.
-Divorced?
-Single.
Very nice.
Could you please check
if there's paper in the printer?
There's one sheet left.
One is enough. "Walk humbly."
-Then what?
-We go out to the yard.
We bring the canopy,
we find some fine Jews for a quorum
and marry you
by the law of Moses and Israel.
Thank you. But
I was already married once,
so we wanted a small ceremony.
Just my father, my uncle
my former father-in-law.
Believe me, that's best. "Walk humbly."
Why waste all that money?
A venue, hundreds of guests,
people have lost their minds, right?
Yes, totally.
-"Walk humbly."
-Exactly, "walk humbly."
It's a good thing you came now.
My father is leaving early today.
He has an ear infection. Poor man.
He's lying down in his office.
I go in every so often
to give him some drops of olive oil.
-They say it helps.
-Your father?
Yes, he's the rabbi
that arranges the weddings.
Good, thank God.
Thank God. I have to go check on him.
Thank you.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
Dad, there's a nice couple here
that wants to get married.
Good sign and good luck,
on this Wednesday,
the 13th day of the month of Cheshvan,
in the year 5780
to the creation of the world,
according to the manner we count date
in the Holy City of Jerusalem,
may it be rebuilt and re-established.
This precious and splendid man,
Akiva, son of Reb Yosef Shalom Shtisel,
said to this maiden bride,
splendid, modest, intelligent,
Miss Rachel Leah
daughter of Rabbi Bezalel.
SHTISEL
Yes?
Is this the home of Shulem Shtisel?
Yes.
Is he here?
He's snoozing.
But we made definite plans to meet here.
-Does he know you'd be over?
-What? Yes.
Can he be woken up?
Maybe. He's in his room.
I'll wait for him here.
"The Pathétique."
Tchaikovsky.
That's the allegro con grazia
from the "Pathétique."
Yes it is.
I'm surprised.
I haven't heard that symphony in years.
Who are you?
I'm Nechama.
Nechama.
-Who are you?
-Good question.
I'm Nuchem.
Nuchem.
Or Nachum. Nachum is fine too.
Nice to meet you, Nachum.
May I offer you a glass of soda?
Thank you.
You must be Shulem's brother.
So they say.
Is he like me?
You're more of a gentleman,
that's for sure.
No competition there. Shulem, a gentleman?
Like a donkey making potato pancakes.
AVIGAIL NGO
-Hello?
-Avigail?
It's Ruchami, Ruchami Tonik.
Ruchami yes, how are you?
Thank God. I'm calling to say
My husband and I
gave it some more thought.
We decided to call it off.
-What?
-Yes, I'm sorry.
We'll reimburse Gabriella,
but we changed our minds.
Okay. I must say, I'm a little surprised.
And it's odd that you're telling me
over the phone.
Is everything alright?
Yes. It's just
We decided it's the right decision.
I see. It isn't an easy decision.
Sadly, you can't get back the advance.
It was part of the agreement.
And I want you to understand
that once I tell her, it's final.
Yes, I understand.
-What did I say?
-Sir, calm down.
-You will not talk to us that way.
-"We'll see." Yeah, like the last time.
Please leave now. This meeting is over.
I don't believe a word you say!
You're all scum!
You call this welfare! Whose welfare, huh?
You scum! Pieces of shit!
I'm not coming back here again!
Shtisel? Please.
Come.
Are you Akiva? Akiva Shtisel?
Yes.
-And you?
-I'm Racheli Shtisel, his wife.
It says here you're a widower.
We got married, bless God.
Do you have the marriage certificate?
Yes.
Yes.
Well, this changes the picture.
Fine.
Let's do this step by step.
Akiva, please describe for me
and the committee members
the chain of events as you see it.
Yes, of course.
The chain of events?
Where do I begin? I mean
The nursery that Dvoraleh attends
I'll sum it up.
The whole thing happened because of me.
We were busy looking for an apartment
and Akiva sent someone else
to pick Dvoraleh up.
It was a mistake
and it will never happen again.
We created a family.
I'm so proud
to be a mother to sweet Dvoraleh.
What do you do, if I may ask?
I'm a VP of investments
and co-owner of Warburg Capital.
-Have you heard of us?
-No. Not really.
It's a big investment firm.
Mainly in New York,
but here in Israel too.
Okay, nice.
Look, Akiva.
What the social worker saw
looked very bad.
We hear the child's grandfather
has suicidal tendencies.
This year has been so hard for him
since he lost his daughter.
My wife, bless her memory.
He started taking medications.
Now he's living with my father
who's taking care of him.
But in any event,
we no longer live with him.
And it says here
there's a problem with alcohol?
There is no problem at all,
I assure you, Orly, and you.
We started a new chapter.
You can trust us wholeheartedly.
We very much want Dvoraleh
to come back to us today.
Akiva.
Akiva!
Thank you.
Ruchami?
Are you here?
I'm here, but don't come in yet.
I called all day, you didn't pick up.
Is your phone alright?
Maybe.
Maybe it's not alright.
We have to be open with one another.
Even if we disagree.
I want to talk things out
until we find a solution.
I thought about what I said yesterday.
I wish I hadn't said it the way I did.
You wish.
Anyway, I called Avigail already.
You did?
It's too late, Hanina.
What?
What do you mean?
She's pregnant.
What? Who?
Gabriella, the surrogate.
She's pregnant.
Avigail told me
even before I could call it off.
Really?
Yes.
Wait, don't take it off.
You're so beautiful like this.
And no one has to know
it's a pillow and not a belly.
No one has to know.
Even I don't have to know.
Can I hug you, like this?
-What rhymes with "pickle"?
-Tickle!
Way to go, Zelig.
I will tickle whoever eats
-A pickle.
-Very good.
Did you eat your pickle?
Ruchami!
-Hello.
-Ruchami!
-How are you?
-Enjoy your dinner.
-Would you like to join us?
-I just came to say hi.
Ruchami!
-What a surprise.
-Hi, Mom.
I want to talk to you.
Don't worry, I'm not really pregnant.
I thought you were going to die.
You'd be risking your life.
I know.
Then what's this?
A pillow.
Sponge.
Hanina talked to the head of his Yeshiva
he allowed us to get a surrogate.
-He did?
-Yes.
But I'm only telling you.
No one has to know.
Hanina didn't want me to tell you.
I can't hide this from you.
You're lucky. I would die
if I thought you're pregnant.
This is wonderful, Ruchami.
My child, why are you sad?
I don't know.
It's kind of sad.
Yes, but you'll have a baby.
Maybe even twins.
Yes.
I'm so happy, Ruchami.
You'll be a great mother.
An amazing mother.
I couldn't imagine
you not having children.
Thank God you found this solution.
It doesn't matter
if it's in your belly or not.
It will be your baby.
Yours and Hanina's.
Right.
My chickadee.
Yes, my chickadee.
Thank God that trouble is over.
Thank God you're here with us, Dvoraleh.
Grandpa's Dvoraleh.
Tell me about the young lady.
-Racheli?
-Yes.
Did you pay her for this?
-Believe me, she doesn't need my money.
-Then what?
She's just a good woman.
I always prayed
you would marry a good woman.
Don't let Nuchem hear that.
Actually
Where is Nuchem?
He Never mind.
-But is he okay?
-Yes.
He went to this studio.
Radio or music, something like that.
-With this lady.
-Really?
-That's a good sign, right?
-Absolutely.
A very good sign.
Two miserable souls,
they'll help one another.
Miserable souls? Who?
Forget it, Nuchem and his nonsense.
One day he wants to die,
then he finds himself a Royzaleh.
Believe me, two peas in a pod.
We're listening to the "Kreutzer Sonata
No. 9" for violin and piano
by Ludwig van Beethoven,
performed by pianist Jan Panenka
and violinist Josef Suk.
"The Kreutzer Sonata" was originally
known as "The Bridgewater Sonata."
Nechama, less talk, please.
Bridgewater, the legendary violinist,
played the piece with Beethoven
at the premiere performance,
but after said premiere,
Beethoven heard that Bridgewater
had insulted a lady friend
that Beethoven held in high esteem.
Then and there he changed the name
and denied
the arrogant violinist the honor.
-Enough with the chatter.
-Nechama, please, go on.
-Who do you think you are?
-You don't want to know.
Just be quiet. Let her do her job.
Author Leo Tolstoy
named his famous novella,
the one about an entangled
love and jealousy trio, after the sonata.
And if any listener hasn't yet read
this wonderful novella,
I warmly suggest you do, from the heart.
And now, let's listen.
Ruchami, what brings you
all the way from Jerusalem?
You came highly recommended.
And you want to remove the IUD.
Yes.
There are a few details missing
from your medical records.
Are you allergic to latex, iodine
or anything else you're aware of?
-Nothing at all.
-Alright, let's begin then.