The Unforgiving Debtor (1942)

[music] [music] Greetings, good sir. For the quality of my baskets, can I vouch since my daughter herself has woven them. >> What rice do you ask for this one, old man? >> For that I do that ask one shekele. No quality or however good would balance so extremely priious. >> Have courage, father. >> It is not for myself I agree, but for you that you should know poverty. >> Father, Levi, come. Levi, there is anger in his face. I come for the money that you owe me. I trusted in a come vain, unless I have it not. My baskets have not sold today. Barely can I meet my expenses. Give me but a little longer, and I swear that I will pay you what I owe. Delay price. You have asked for a longer time until the setting of the sun shall you be allowed. And if by then the money is not paid, it shall be the worst for you and yours. It >> is useless so short of a fight. We're right to sell all the baskets. It would not meet the debt. >> My lord, I pray you have patience and we will pay you the whole of what we owe. Already we have saved a portion. My father is old and feeble and his filling weaving slackens. But I will work twice as hard to plant the basket. The whole night through >> enough. I tired of words. I want the money. See you that I have without fail toward thunder. Are we expecting guests that you adorn yourself with jewels, my wife? >> Ah, today your brother called. He begged me to tell you that Ahaz the merchant will visit you afternoon. >> Ahaz. >> The news disturbs you. We thought it was some business that would like to bring you more prosperity. >> I won't it was so. He comes to reclaim the thousand tarant that I owe you. >> We are rich. Paid him off. >> I have not the wherewith all to pay. All my money is laid out. To call it in or to lose my profits before they mature. We must link to some plan to put him off. >> Shall I tell him you were called away? >> Truth postpone the evil. You must find the shorter way. Stay. I have it. Come with me to the house. Stay eat of what I have to say. Misfortune has befallen us. Our money has been lost. We sit in poverty where where once we dwelt in comfort. Come take down the hangings and store away the furnishings. Hurry, hurry, for the time is short. Close the shutters and then get the gone. When he has come, he will receive a most surprising welcome. >> My lord is clever. He thinks of everything. >> Dress in the poorest garments you can find. Surely no one can fail be moved by a spectacle so sad as this. >> No, anyone would pity us. Oh, [laughter] he comes. Compose yourself. Your lips must droop. For sadness befits our present plight. Welcome, oh great and noble hair, to our humble dwelling. >> Why Levi, what is this? Where are the rare and costly furnishings which once adorned your room? How come you to be in so sorry a plight, my friend? >> Hard times have come upon me. The harvest is paying and many farmers whom I helped are unable to pay me what they owe. How can I press for payment when they are as sore beset as I am? >> My lord is gracious. But it becomes us not to trouble him with tales of our sadness. >> Nay, I would hear all there is to tell, but no man can see his friend and woman. Take this small sum, nay, I insist, and repay me when you're able. >> I am not deserving of such kindness. >> As for the thousand talents you brought me, I pray you forget the debt as I have. Oh, how do you know who is my There is none to be found like him for the princely generosity of his heart. Farewell and may prosperity soon shine again upon this house. A,000 talent. What a gift. We shall be rich indeed. And you? Well, you shall buy me that little necklace I coveted yesterday. >> This woman versus Carrie. Ahaz may yet be with an earshot. Truly my husband, no sher heads than yours. >> But so small a gift and so much worth as his. How mean the rich can be in giving. The hour of sunset approaches and we have sold but one basket today. What am I to say to Levi when he comes? >> Take courage, father. We can but tell him the truth and he must give us time. >> I'm here as I said at the setting of the sun. Where is the money you owe me? >> I have not. The time is short of wretch. For this you shall suffer. To prison shall you go. I will wait no longer. >> Have pity for he's old and feeble. And what shall I do with no one to protect you? >> Your father should have thought of that before. There he neglected his just debt. >> Just debt. May God himself strike you for those false words. Already have I paid you twice the amount I borrowed. I will myself go to the elders and let them know the wrong you do. You would threaten me, duck, you are. You a buck could sell in the marketplace. Perhaps a piggy will cool your heated blood. >> How do I get my money to my command so helpless? >> Out of the way, girl. You be beaten, too. Oh, most noble merchant, protect my father, for he is old and feeble and cannot tend the beating. >> Go to the help of the old man. >> Why leave us? What is the meaning of this? When I saw you at your house, you were poorly planned. Why are you belaboring this old man who can have done you no wrong? >> Is he going to collect my debt, but he refuses to pay? >> I have paid him twice what I have wronged, and now he threatens me with prison if I do not pay the amount in full once more. >> Levi, I showed you mercy and forgave you when I thought you were in need. Yours was a much greater debt, but you in your turn show no pity. Therefore, you shall be cast into prison until your debt to me is paid in full. [laughter] >> I beg you have mercy. Send me not to prison to languish there. My wife, my business, what will become of them? Be merciful, I pray. >> You should have thought of that before you threaten this old man. Mercy is not for men like you who know not the meaning of the word. You shall have justice instead. >> [laughter] >> How can I thank thee, sir? Yes, there ought that I can do to show my gratitude. >> Lord, save this. Forgive thy brother man in every way. So shall the joy of forgiveness from God above be ever in thy heart.