{1057}{1107}In our relations with other people, {1110}{1208}we mainly discuss and evaluate {1210}{1273}their character and behavior. {1297}{1407}That is why I have withdrawn {1409}{1472}from nearly all so-called relations. {1508}{1620}This has made my oldage|rather lonely. {1659}{1803}My life has been full of hard work,|and I am grateful. {1805}{1870}It began as toil|for bread and butter {1872}{1987}and ended in a love for science. {1999}{2138}I have a son, also a doctor,|who lives in Lund. {2141}{2260}He has been married for many years.|They have no children. {2277}{2419}My old mother is still alive|and is very active, in spite of her age. {2543}{2658}My wife Karin|has been dead for many years. {2697}{2740}Dinner is served, Professor Borg. {2824}{2874}Thank you. {2877}{2953}I am lucky|in having a good housekeeper. {2985}{3088}Perhaps I should add|that I am an old pedant, {3116}{3193}which at times|has been rather trying {3196}{3313}for myself and those around me. {3366}{3442}My name is Isak Borg, {3464}{3524}and I am 78. {3550}{3680}Tomorrow I shall receive|an honorary degree in Lund Cathedral. {4049}{4128}WILD STRAWBERRIES {5586}{5663}In the early hours of June 1st, {5665}{5763}I had a weird|and very unpleasant dream. {5785}{5869}I dreamt that during|my morning walk {5871}{6003}I lost my way among empty streets {6006}{6065}with ruined houses. {13508}{13534}Are you ill? {13536}{13625}Miss Agda, please prepare|some breakfast. I'm taking the car. {13630}{13731}Please, Professor! Go back to bed|and I'll bring you coffee at 9:00, {13733}{13812}and we'll leave at 10:00 as planned. {13815}{13870}Oh, well, I'll go without breakfast. {13927}{13968}And who will pack your tails? {13999}{14069}- I will do it myself.|- And what about me? {14100}{14237}You can come in the car or fly.|Please yourself. {14239}{14349}I've looked forward to seeing you get|your honorary degree. {14352}{14445}And we had arranged|everything so nicely, {14448}{14527}and now you're taking the car. {14529}{14591}The ceremony isn't until 5:00. {14594}{14680}If I leave at once, I've got 14 hours|before the ceremony. {14683}{14740}You'll ruin everything! {14769}{14855}What about your son who is expecting you|at the airport in Malmo? {14858}{14951}You can think up an explanation. {15021}{15097}If you go by car,|I won't come at all. {15128}{15179}Now listen, Miss Agda! {15181}{15301}Take the car, and you'll ruin|the greatest day of my life. {15306}{15363}We're not married, Miss Agda. {15366}{15476}I thank God for that every night. {15479}{15584}I've used my common sense for 74 years,|and it won't let me down now. {15586}{15646}Is that your last word? {15649}{15697}Yes. {15747}{15881}But I shall say plenty to myself|about selfish, crabby old men {15884}{16016}who never think of those who have|served them faithfully for 40 years. {16020}{16090}Incredible that I have put up... {16095}{16210}with your bossing for so long. {16212}{16296}Just give the word,|and I'll leave tomorrow. {16299}{16428}I'm going by car anyway,|and you can do as you damn well please. {16593}{16735}I happen to be grown-up|and needn't take orders from you. {16843}{16917}No one can pack like you, Miss Agda. {16920}{16963}Really? {16989}{17023}Old sourpuss. {17025}{17073}Shall I boil you a couple of eggs? {17075}{17181}Yes, please, if you will be|so extremely kind. {17303}{17430}The faculty should have made me|honorary idiot. {17529}{17608}I'll calm the old girl down|with a present. {17610}{17675}I hate resentful people. {17677}{17787}I wouldn't hurt a fly,|let alone Miss Agda. {17814}{17852}Toast? {17855}{17907}No, don't trouble yourself|on my account. {17910}{17979}What are you cross about? {18118}{18159}Don't you want a cup? {18310}{18344}Good morning, Uncle Isak. {18346}{18459}Well, well, why is my daughter-in-law|up at this hour? {18461}{18548}Who can sleep when you and Aunt Agda|are making such a row? {18550}{18605}There has been no row. {18607}{18648}No, not at all. {18694}{18742}You're taking the car to Lund? {18744}{18770}Yes. {18773}{18814}Can I come with you? {18816}{18852}You're going home? {18854}{18924}Yes, I want to go home. {18926}{18967}Home to Evald? {18969}{19008}You don't need to ask why. {19010}{19075}I would take the train|if I could afford it. {19077}{19133}Of course you may ride with me. {19135}{19171}I'll be ready in ten minutes. {19260}{19296}Good heavens! {19976}{20082}Please don't smoke.|I can't stand cigarette smoke. {20084}{20118}I forgot. {20120}{20199}There should be a law|forbidding women to smoke. {20228}{20257}Beautiful weather. {20259}{20351}Yes, but sultry. {20370}{20430}- I think we'll have a thunderstorm.|- So do I. {20432}{20470}No, give me a cigar anytime. {20473}{20552}That's stimulating and relaxing.|That's a vice for men. {20554}{20626}And what vices may a woman have? {20629}{20703}Weeping, giving birth|and speaking ill of her neighbors. {20705}{20772}How old are you really, Uncle Isak? {20775}{20806}Why do you ask? {20811}{20852}No reason. Why? {20854}{20924}I know why you asked. {20926}{20974}Oh, well. {21031}{21127}Don't pretend.|You don't like me. You never have. {21130}{21187}I only know you|as a father-in-law. {21190}{21238}Why are you going home? {21240}{21286}On impulse. Nothing more. {21288}{21343}Evald happens to be my son. {21346}{21379}So he is. {21381}{21465}Evald and I are very much alike.|We have our principles. {21468}{21513}You don't need to tell me that. {21516}{21549}Now, this loan, for instance. {21552}{21595}I know exactly|what you're going to say. {21600}{21662}He should have paid it back|when he became an associate professor. {21667}{21727}It's a matter of honor for him|to pay back 5,000 a year, {21729}{21763}and so on, and so on. {21765}{21811}A promise is a promise. {21813}{21880}For us, it means|that we never can be free together, {21883}{21928}and that your son|works himself to death. {21931}{21988}You have your own income. {21990}{22036}Especially when one considers|the fact that you're filthy rich {22038}{22070}and don't need the money. {22072}{22206}A promise is a promise.|And I know Evald respects that. {22233}{22290}Perhaps.|But he also hates you. {22540}{22621}What doy ou have against me? {22623}{22664}Shall I be frank? {22667}{22700}Yes, I'm asking you. {22731}{22791}You're a selfish old man, Uncle Isak. {22794}{22902}You're utterly ruthless|and never listen to anyone but yourself. {22928}{23048}But you hide it all behind|your old-world manners and charm. {23072}{23204}Beneath your benevolent exterior,|you're as hard as nails. {23225}{23331}But you can't fool us|who have seen you at close quarters. {23374}{23439}Remember when|I came to you a month ago? {23479}{23549}I had a stupid idea|that you might help Evald and me. {23551}{23611}So I asked to stay with you|for a week or two. {23614}{23671}Remember what you answered? {23674}{23748}I said I'd be delighted. {23777}{23861}Perhaps you've forgotten,|but you said, {23885}{23983}"Don't try to draw me|into your marital squabbles. {23988}{24026}I don't give a damn. {24031}{24076}You and Evald must make|the best of it." {24081}{24117}Did I say that? {24120}{24199}- Not only that.|- Oh, no. {24201}{24242}These were your very words: {24263}{24319}"I have no respect|for mental suffering, {24321}{24369}so don't come lamenting to me. {24388}{24501}If you need therapy,|you'd better see a shrink. {24503}{24590}Or why not a minister?|It's in fashion now." {24592}{24633}Did I say that? {24649}{24721}Your judgments are very categorical,|Uncle Isak. {24724}{24808}I should hate to depend on you. {24911}{25007}I have liked having you|about the house. {25009}{25050}Like a cat. {25052}{25110}A cat or a human being. {25112}{25237}You're a fine young woman,|and I'm sorry you dislike me. {25239}{25304}- I don't dislike you.|- Really? {25306}{25359}- I feel sorry for you.|- Sorry? {25472}{25568}I'd like to tell you about a dream|I had this morning. {25573}{25628}I'm not very interested in dreams. {25630}{25721}No. No, of course not. {26038}{26086}Where are you going now? {26088}{26150}I want to show you something. {26939}{27073}We lived here every summer|during the first 20 years of my life. {27076}{27160}There were ten of us children.|Perhaps you knew that. {27198}{27232}Does anyone live here now? {27236}{27277}No, not this summer. {27376}{27440}I'll go swimming, if you don't mind.|We have plenty of time. {27443}{27479}Yes, by all means, do. {27790}{27860}The place where|wild strawberries grow! {28155}{28246}Perhaps I got a little sentimental. {28275}{28342}Perhaps I got a little tired {28344}{28407}and felt a bit sad. {28445}{28572}It's not impossible that I began|to think of this and that, {28574}{28663}associated with places|where I played as a child. {28694}{28752}I don't know how it happened, {28778}{28838}but the day's clear reality {28840}{28965}dissolved into the even clearer|images of memory {28968}{29028}that appeared before my eyes {29030}{29097}with the strength|of a true stream of events. {29517}{29536}Sara. {29610}{29648}Sara, {29668}{29723}it's your cousin Isak. {29766}{29886}Well, I've become quite old,|of course, so I don't look the same. {29910}{30049}But you, you haven't changed at all. {30190}{30260}Good morning, sweet cousin.|What are you doing? {30262}{30315}Picking strawberries, silly.|Can't you see? {30339}{30401}And who shall be favored|with these delicious berries {30404}{30495}picked in the early morn|by a lovely young woman? {30497}{30579}Nonsense. You know quite well|that it's Uncle Aron's name day today. {30581}{30639}I forgot to make a present. {30641}{30703}So he'll get a basket|of wild strawberries instead. {30706}{30735}I'll help you. {30737}{30821}You see, Sigbritt and Charlotta made|a tapestry and Angelica baked a cake, {30823}{30864}and Anna ha...
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