Carmen (2022) - full transcript

Carmen is a charming story, inspired by true events, set in a village in Malta. Carmen has looked after her brother, the priest at the local church, since she was sixteen years old. Now almost fifty, she is suddenly left to start a new life. Facing her past, Carmen brings colour to the lives of the villagers in this compelling story about a woman finding her voice.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

(church bells tolling)

Priest: Carmen!

♪♪

Emanuel!

Emanuel!

♪♪

(priest continuing in Maltese)

(priest continuing in Maltese)



(sighing)

(singing in Maltese)

(Carmen singing
melodically in Maltese)

(singing in Maltese)

(all singing in Maltese)

(singing in Maltese)

(blowing out candle)

(lock clicking)

(coins rattling)

♪♪

(cooing)

♪♪

(making kissy sounds)

(cooing)



(cooing)

(bell ringing)

All right, all right.

Ha.

(speaking Maltese)

Shh!

Carmen: Francis! Francis!

(clattering)

Francis...

(breathing heavily)

(church bells tolling)

Sorry.

(church bells tolling)

(church bells tolling)

Carmen: If I cannot...

stay at the rectory,
where will I go?

God does not
abandon his children.

You are good, dear Carmen.

And you will live
eternally in bliss.

When will that happen?

When will what happen?

Bliss?

When you die, of course.

Oh.

I have been my brother's
housekeeper since I was 16 and...

Yes.

You are a blessing.

You are like, um...
Santa Zita -

patron saint of domestic work.

She used to say,

"A servant is not holy
if she is not busy;

"lazy people in our position..."

(chuckling)
"...that is fake holiness."

She said that?

Mm.

In prayer,
you will find your way.

Father Anthony will
be arriving any day now.

He was ordained in Rome
and he studied in England,

and we are blessed to have
him come back here to Malta,

and of course, his sister -

Rita - will take care of him.

Now, please,

I'm sure your family
can take care of you.

There is no one.

But this is Malta,
everyone has family.

We're all family.

(sighing)

(sobbing)

(sobbing)

(door closing)

(footsteps approaching)

Woman: Carmen.

The key?
For the rectory.

My brother will need one.
I think you have the other.

(birds fluttering)

(fluttering)

♪♪

(chattering in Maltese)

♪♪

(cooing)

(cooing)

(cooing)

(pigeon cooing)

(pigeon cooing)

(sighing)

(door thudding)

(sighing)

(pigeon cooing)

(pigeon cooing, wings flapping)

♪♪

♪♪

(clattering)

(footsteps approaching,
man whistling)

(whistling)

(church bell tolling)

(bell tolling)

Tonio.

Rita.

(kissing sounds)

Rita: I can't.
I can't do this anymore.

Let's go away. Tomorrow,
I get my brother's boat

and we can go to
Blue Lagoon together.

No. No, I can't.

My brother hasn't arrived yet

and he wants the
church to be ready.

You're going to end up your
brother's keeper all your life.

You're going to end up
just like Carmen.

She walks around looking like

she's carrying a
frozen lamb in her chest.

Rita:
I won't be like her,

but I can't be who you
want me to be either.

Tonio: Rita, please.

I can't see you anymore.

Rita!
Wait! Rita!

Rita, please!
(screaming)

(bell clanking)

(breathing heavily)

(clanking)

(rooster crowing)

(pigeon cooing)

(cooing)

(cooing)

(snoring)

(groaning)

(moaning lightly)

(snoring)

(snoring)

(snoring)

(pigeon cooing)

(snoring)

(light moaning)

(pigeon cooing)

(muttering)

Elena...

(breathing heavily)

(breathing heavily)

Dear blessed Jesus,

help me.

Tell me what to do?

I'm have a frozen lamb
in my heart

and I don't know how to melt it.

(sobbing)

(sniffing)

(exhaling sharply)

(sniffing)

(creaking)

(cooing)

(slamming)

(clattering)

(women muttering in Maltese)

Sorry, Father.

My English it is not so good,

but I try.

Father...

(in deep voice:) Uh-huh.

(speaking Maltese)

Father, I have...

bad thoughts in my
mind about my husband.

Every night, he come home drunk

and he smell of whiskey,

and I say in my heart,

it is nice if, one day,
he don't come home

and I sleep in the bed alone
and I don't smell the whiskey.

Well...

He force me...

to...

you know...

and I-I don't want...

every night.

Please, Father,
tell me what to do.

If I stay one more night
with my husband, I will die.

Carmen (in deep voice:)
God is not evil.

It is man.

Ehh, Father, sorry?

Go home...
to your husband,

make him the same food
for breakfast,

lunch, and dinner,

do that until
he doesn't come back.

Ehh, but... but...

No buts. Go.

Okay.
Uh, thank you, Father.

God bless.

(coins clattering)

(coins clattering)

(door opening, closing)

(sobbing)

(sniffling)

Forgive me, Father.

Carmen (deep voice:)
That's okay.

(sobbing)

(sobbing)

(sobbing continuing)

(sobbing loudly)

(sobbing)

I'm fine now.

Thank you, Father.

(sniffling)

(sniffling)

(shaky breathing)

God bless.

(sniffling)

(footsteps receding)

(coins clinking)

(coins clanking)

(footsteps receding)

(door creaking open)

(door closing)

(cooing)

(cooing)

I will pay you back.

I promise.

♪♪

(sighing)

(birds chirping)

(muttering in Latin)

(church bell tolling)

(muttering in Latin)

(church bell tolling)

(breathing heavily)

♪♪

♪ Madelena ♪

♪ Madelena ♪

(singing in Maltese)

(both laughing)

♪ Madelena ♪

Joey! Joe!

Hey!

(Joey muttering in Maltese)

(door slamming)

(muttering in Maltese)

(sighing)

♪♪

♪♪

(rooster crowing)

(children laughing)

(laughing,
chattering in Maltese)

(laughing,
chattering in Maltese)

Shh!

(laughing,
chattering in Maltese)

Shh!

(voices quieting)

Go, Andrew, go.

(laughing,
chattering in Maltese)

Quiet.

Andrew:
Forgive me, Father,

for I have sinned.

I took some money from my
brother's piggy bank.

You must put the money back

and double the amount.

Double?

Are you not sorry for your sin?

Yes Father, but...

Or you can clean
the church for 2 months.

Okay.

OI put the money back.

Good boy.

(laughing,
chattering in Maltese)

Nun: Quiet!

Forgive me, Father,
for I have sinned

and I haven't been to confession
for a long time.

My mother died and
my father said God is evil

for taking my mother
away from us.

Is God evil, Father?

God isn't evil.

God is very tired,

and when we are tired,
we make big mistakes.

I want you to
sing to your father

every night and every morning,

and keep singing

until he sings with you.

Do you understand?

Yes, Father, I understand.

(coins clinking, clattering)

Girl: Forgive me,
Father, for I have sinned

because I didn't do my
homework for one week.

Girl 2: Forgive me,
Father, for I have sinned.

I stole my sister's toy.

Boy: Forgive me,
Father, for I have sinned.

I fought with
my sister yesterday

and I feel sorry about it.

(chattering)

Quiet.

Keep in single file.

(door closing)

(humming)

(chattering in Maltese)

(snoring)

(chuckling)

(speaking Maltese)

♪♪

Man: Rosa!

Go back to your mother.

Leave my mother out of this!

How can I?
She's all you think about.

What do you want me to do?!

Be a man!

Be a man and say no.

Man: Rosa!

(humming)

(snoring)

(footsteps approaching)

It's a miracle.

I did what you say me.

I cook the same food

in the morning,
at twelve o'clock, at night.

At first, he was angry.
He shout a lot.

And then, he eat nothing.
And one day,

he did not come home.

Good.

(sighing)
Yes, Father.

Now, I am...

so light and happy

and I have a lot of
love in my heart.

(sighing)
What to do now?

I don't want him back.

I don't miss him.

Missing.

He is missing.

Yes.

Yes! Missing person!

I would put up
the signs everywhere,

and when he's seeing them,

he will feel shame and he
will go more and more away.

I will do that. Thank you,
thank you, thank you!

(clearing throat)
A few Hail Marys...

Oh, a day full of Hail Marys.
(speaking Maltese)

Thank you.

(whispering:)
Thank you, thank you.

(men chattering in Maltese)

(loud Maltese pop music playing)

(children laughing)

(man singing in Maltese)

(woman humming)

(man singing in Maltese)

(children speaking in Maltese)

(children speaking in Maltese)

(nuns knocking at door)

(man singing in Maltese)

(man singing in Maltese)

(man singing in Maltese)

(birds cawing)

(Carmen screaming)

(Carmen screaming)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

(speaking inaudibly)

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(footsteps approaching)

(door opening)

(footsteps approaching)

[Woman sings "AVE MARIA"]

(sniffling)

Behind the alter,
there is a room.

In that room,

there is a
small door on the wall.

Open the door

and inside is a key.

Take the key

and open the collection box.

Take all of the money inside...
(sniffling)

...and get a ticket to Rome.

When you get there,

go to the
Cavalieri di Malta keyhole,

stand and sing.

I am sure someone
will guide you.

Yes, Father.

(footsteps receding)

(footsteps approaching)

(lock clicking)

(gasping)

(coins clinking)

Your brother is a saint!
A saviour!

He's here?

Of course.

(gasping)

What in the name of God
do you think you're doing?

My nylons were itchy.

You will rot in hell for this.

- Let me explain.
- No!

You need to go.

Now!

Where's my brother?

What have you done with him?

He never came.

Maybe he ran away.

That's not possible.

Rita...

Rita!

No none can blame you
for falling in love.

It is rare and beautiful.

Go. Go and
find your bell ringer.

(sniffling)
I can't.

Why?

I have to wait for my brother.

Father will never speak
to me again if I abandon him.

And what does your father
speak to you about now?

How is the cooking
and the cleaning going

for your dear old brother?

You need to go! Now!

(splattering)

(pigeon cooing)

Sorry, Jesus.

Rita:
Your underwear.

♪♪

Sorry.

(pigeon cooing)

(chuckling)

(cooing)

(knocking)

(rock music playing in distance)

Hello?

♪♪

♪ No doubt about it ♪

♪ You just can't see
things my way ♪

♪ Oh, well ♪

♪ No doubt about it ♪

♪ You'll always get in my way ♪

♪ Well, I called you up ♪

♪ At a quarter to nine ♪

♪ The line gets tied... ♪

May I help you?

♪ I called you... ♪

Were you looking for me?

I have some things
you might like to buy,

nice gold things

I don't need anymore.

Things you don't need? Okay.

I can see why you don't
need these things.

How did you acquire these?

My brother,

he passed away and
they were his.

He was a holy man, your brother?

Very holy.

Don't these holy things
belong in a church?

He had some extra holy things.

I see.

No, that's not for sale.

That's a bell ringer.

Like, from a church?

Okay.
(sighing)

Okay.

How much would you like
for these extra holy things?

I don't know.
How much can you give?

(stomach grumbling)
Sorry.

Let me check with
my books in the back.

Whoa, whoa.
Are you all right?

I am fine. Thank you.

No. No, you're not.

Please.

Okay. Um...
You're hungry

and I was just about
to make some food for myself.

Why don't you eat with me?

No. I don't want to
be any trouble.

You're not any trouble at all.
It'll just take a few minutes.

But I only have
leftovers, though.

I hope that's okay.

That's fine.

And I only have wine to drink.

That's okay.

(chuckling)
You came to the right place.

This is pretty much the
only pawn shop on the island.

Would you...
like some more wine?

If it's no trouble.

It's no trouble at all.

Thank you.

You are American?

No. My mother's Maltese
and my father's Canadian

and they're both
back home in Canada,

and I decided to take over
the shop for my Nanna Maria.

I'm feeling a bit dizzy.

Why are you so kind?

It's nothing.
(sighing)

I shouldn't have
given you so much wine.

Thank you.

Do you need me to call someone?

Um... there is no one.

Oh...

I don't know your name.
What's your name?

Carmen.

Carmen.

My name's Paulo.

Oh, that's a nice Maltese name.

Saint Paul and his shipwreck.

(chuckling)

(sighing)

(breathing deeply)

(horn honking)

(horn honking)

(men chattering in Maltese)

Paulo?

That is too much.

Oh, no.

There's a lot of
gold in that chalice

and a lot of holiness, too.

I cannot take that.

Why not?

I never saw so much
money in my life.

Well, you're entitled
to it. Here.

Thank you.

(cooing)

♪♪

(snorting)

(donkey braying)

♪♪

(door closing)

Rita:
This morning.

Um, candlesticks, a chalice, and
money from the collection box.

How can that be?

Money from the collection box.

Looks like you do great
business here in church.

I keep this for evidence.

Yes. A witch.

She was giving absolution.
Great sin.

I think she's so lonely

that she called on the Devil
to keep her company.

You can do that?

Do what?

There's... there's a number
to call the Devil?

Joking in this way
is blasphemous.

(chuckling)
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Uh, please...

I gently guided her out the door
and I started dusting,

and that's when I saw
the things were missing.

You were having an early siesta.

I go boogie at the disco
with the ladies, you know?

Anyway, uh, can you tell me

a description of this woman?

Yes. She walks around like she
has a frozen lamb in her chest.

She's old. She has a soft voice,
like she has too many secrets.

And she has big hands,

- like man hands.
- Big hands.

Rita: Yes, yes. And she's
a bit taller than me.

Her name is Carmen -
the dead priest's sister.

Carmen?

It's gonna be okay.
We're gonna look for Carmen.

We'll find her. Don't worry.

In the meantime...

Ah!
One last thing...

Could you lock the door?

Because I had my key and
I don't know where it is.

Yes, of course.

(officer speaking in Maltese)

(door opening, closing)

♪♪

(bleating)

(bleating)

(man wolf whistling)

Hey! Hello, ma!

(wolf whistling)

♪♪

♪ Knocking on my door ♪

♪ Don't wanna let you in ♪

♪ My baby's on my telephone ♪

♪ Well, it ain't no... ♪

Paulo.

Hey!

Hi.

So happy to see you again.

(chuckling)
Um...

Uh, can I...

Can I grab you a tea? Or...

Uh...

You have some more wine?

Wine?

(scooter engine rumbling)

Hop on.

(scooter engine rumbling)

(engine revving)

You're gonna want to put
your hands around my waist.

Yeah.

(scooter engine rumbling)

(engine revving)

♪♪

♪ No doubt about it ♪

♪ You just can't see
things my way ♪

♪ Oh, well, there's... ♪

♪ No doubt about it ♪

♪ You'll always get in my way ♪

♪ Well, I called you up ♪

♪ At a quarter to nine ♪

♪ The line gets tied and
I wait on the line ♪

♪ I called you up ♪

♪ Just to save for a date ♪

♪ Why can't you break it? ♪

♪ Honey, what a mistake ♪

♪♪

Paulo...

Hi, Tom.

(church bell tolling)

All my life...

I wanted to
ring the church bell.

(church bell tolling)

But... the church doesn't
allow women to ring the bell.

And now,
our village bell is broken.

Hmm.

♪♪

(whistling)

(whistling echoing)

(chuckling)

♪♪

Yeah, my Nanna didn't even
like talking about the war,

but one thing she said was it
made your annoying neighbours

not so annoying anymore.

We needed each other.

We thought we were too small

to mean anything to
the rest of the world.

They bombed us
every second hour.

One day, I was running
to the shelter

and the German
pilot flew so close

I could see the colour
of his eyes.

And then, a boy grabbed my hand
and he pulled me into a corner,

and the pilot dropped
a bomb on the shelter,

killing everyone inside.

(sighing)
That, um...

That boy who saved your life,

who was he?

I never saw him again
until the victory parade

and when the war was over.

Ahmad.

An Arab?

Yes.

Carmen: Thank you.

Paulo: Yeah.

Cheers.

Cheers.

(chuckling)

It's very good.

May I?

What?

Was that okay?

I don't know.

Paulo: What is it?

Carmen:
I am so much older than you.

Paulo:
Souls don't know time or place.

♪♪

Carmen! Wait!
What's wrong?!

Hey! Hey, hey! What...

What is it?

What?

It's just a dream.

We... we can go now.

(sighing)

♪♪

(scooter engine rumbling)

Should I take you home?

I left my bag in your shop.

Okay.

(scooter engine rumbling)

(scooter engine rumbling)

(sighing)

(church bell tolling)

(church bell tolling)

I will get my bag.

(church bell tolling)

(sighing)

(sighing)

I'll see you soon.

I look forward to it.

(man singing in Maltese)

(group singing in Maltese)

(group singing in Maltese)

(group singing in Maltese)

(knocking)

Paulo?

Paulo?

(scooter engine rumbling)

Hey!

It is your mother?

What? No, no!

This is my friend.
This is Carmen.

Carmen, this is Genevieve.

Pleased to meet you.

Carmen!
Carmen! Carmen!

(sighing)

(men catcalling in Maltese)

(church bell tolling)

♪♪

(cooing)

(chuckling)

(sniffling)

Tom:
A cacophony of emotions.

I hope you don't mind
a stolen good.

It's the thought
that counts, right?

Thank you.

That's better.

(sniffling)

You're young Paulo's friend.

Yes, I saw the two
of you walking.

You'll be all right, then?

I'm fine.

Good to know.

Well, then, I'd better be off.

I'll take the boat out
and hope to catch a breeze.

Your boat?

Yes.

(locks clicking)

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Is the rectory?
I'm looking for Carmen.

Carmen?

She doesn't live here anymore,

but if you see her,
call the police.

Wait. I'm sorry.

(chuckling)
I think I have the wrong person.

No, no. Carmen - I know who
you're talking about.

She stole from the church.

She stole candlesticks
and a chalice.

She sold them to me.

She showed up out of nowhere
at my shop in Valletta.

See?

Police here
do nothing but sleep.

I'm gonna find her.

You bring the chalice

and candlesticks
back to the church.

(line disconnecting)

♪♪

Cheers.

Cheers.

To the most beautiful siren.

Siren?

Mm. They lure sailors in and
have them crash to the shore.

Oh, that's not me.

(chuckling)
Let's hope not.

♪♪

Paulo:
The Arab.

Tom:
I didn't see a wedding band.

Is there a boyfriend?
Hope it's not Paulo.

Nice enough bloke, but a little
young, a little odd, too.

No. Of course not.

A beautiful woman like you and
no one to tuck you in at night?

Thank you.

♪♪

You must be getting cold.

No, I'm okay.

Well, drink up;
that'll warm you.

Whoa!

Oh! I'm sorry.

No!

♪♪

(cooing)

(cooing)

We can go now!

What's this game you're playing?

Game?

You didn't get
on my boat for nothing.

Please stop!

I'm not going to hurt you!

Stop. Get away from me.

God, you Maltese women...

(sighing)

...always playing
hard to get.

Nothing wrong with a bit of fun.

Two lonely people?

I'm not lonely.

No?

No.

Come on!

No! Go away!
Get off me!

There we are!

- Go away!
- Come on!

Don't be a fool!

- I was only playing with you!
- Go away!

- Come on!
- No!

Suit yourself!
Bloody Maltese!

(muttering)

(engine revving)

(sighing)

(whirring)

♪♪

(coughing)

(gasping)

♪♪

Rita in muffled voice:
Carmen! Carmen!

Carmen!

(gasping)

(gasping)

(coughing)

Rita:
Did you want to drown yourself?

To drown yourself
is a great sin.

Sin? Sin?!

All you ever talk about is sin.

You have no idea about sin.

I'm sorry.

You were right about my brother.

He's not coming.

Why don't you have
anywhere to live?

You don't have anyone.

You have no one.

(whirring)

♪♪

Carmen:
I was 16.

I fell in love.

Ahmad...

He was an Arab.

A proud Arab.

Always wore his turban.

My father, my grandfather
and my great grandfather

did not like Arabs.

But love was...
bigger than them.

This destroyed my father.

He sent me to be my brother's
maid in the rectory.

I would try to see
Ahmad whenever I could.

People talked...

they told my father...

I was seen with the Arab boy.

We planned to
run away to Tunisia.

In the morning of our escape,

they found Ahmad at
the bottom of the cliff.

They told me he killed himself.

(projector whirring)

(waves crashing)

(Carmen chuckling)

Rita:
Careful.

♪♪

(chuckling)

Rita:
I need to see Tonio.

I must see Tonio.

(chuckling)

(chuckling)

(bell ringing)

(chuckling)

Rita: Tonio!

Tonio!

I'll get you there, Rita!

Rita:
Thank you.

Faster! Faster!

Tonio!

Tonio!

(splattering, pigeon cooing)

Tonio!

(pigeon cooing)

Tonio!

Rita!

Tonio!

Rita!

Oh, Rita...

♪♪

(horn honking)

Carmen!

Hi.

What is going on?

(engine revving)

Remember your wish?

(church bell tolling)

(laughing)
(church bell tolling)

(church bell tolling)

(laughing)

(church bell tolling)

(laughing)

(church bell tolling,
kids cheering)

(Emanuel speaking in Maltese)

(church bell tolling)

(Emanuel speaking in Maltese)

(church bell tolling)

(man singing in Maltese)

(church bell tolling)

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(church bell tolling)

(laughing)

(church bell tolling)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(woman singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪

(man singing in Maltese)

♪♪