Driver (2017) - full transcript

A few rules before we begin.

One, you came here on your own.

Once they find out
you have a driver

it's all over.
You won't see a penny.

Two, never stand at the doorway.
Go inside and sit down.

Don't show your references
until he asks to see them.

I keep the money and at night
we split it 50-50.

Got it?

Yeah, I got it.

Good.

Let's do a little exercise.



Tell me your story
as if I'm a rich man.

Okay, I'm a student,

a married seminary student.

Big family, thank God.

Seven kids.

Thank God, we're marrying
off our daughter

and we have obligations.

Too many obligations.

I don't know how
I'll come up with the money.

So I was thinking,

maybe you...

Maybe you could help me out.

Weak.

Listen, the guy's sitting at home
doing whatever he's doing,



suddenly you come along,
knock on his door,

interrupt him,

he just wants you out of there.

He'll toss you 20 shekels
just to get you to leave.

You need a story,

always have a story.

For instance, you say:

Last night

I was talking to my daughter
the bride.

I said to her:

We can't afford a wedding hall.

"What can I do?
We can't afford it."

My daughter asked me:

"Daddy, what'll we do?"

I said to her:

"If we can't afford a hall,

"we'll have the wedding in the synagogue
next door. What's wrong with that?"

As soon as she hears that

she starts to cry.

She cries and cries.
She doesn't stop.

I couldn't take it.

I said to myself:
I don't care what happens,

my daughter isn't getting married
in a synagogue.

My daughter will get married
in a fancy hall,

23 dollars a plate,

we'll have a band,

a photographer.

Whatever she wants.

How can I say such a thing?
It's a lie.

One thing you should remember,
a story is never a lie.

So who's first in line?

Weissbecker.

The guy's childless.
Poor man.

Tell him you'll invite him and his wife
to the wedding.

He lives upstairs,
in that mansion.

Good luck.

Hello, ma'am.
-Yes?

my name is Nachman.

I was wondering,

do you have a story for me?

A story?

Do you realize you've called
a pay phone?

Yes. do you mind?
One little story.

What a crazy world..

All right.

I'll tell you a story.

My husband, bless his soul,
is a very pious man.

I came home the other day

and he looked at me and asked:

"Excuse me, who are you?
What are you doing here?"

I said:
Shmuel, what do you mean?

"I'm Hedva, your wife.

"We have 37 grandchildren

"and 17 great-grandchildren."

To make a long story short,

We have a record by
the Beatles in the attic.

Ever heard of the Beatles?

Sure.

He used to listen to it
all the time.

I want to play the record
for him again,

that way he'll definitely
remember who I am.

So why don't you do it?

Here's my problem...

I don't have a phonograph.

People don't listen
to records any more.

If I hear anything
I'll let you know.

Good. We live at 22 Avtalion Street.

No problem. All the best.

Hedva,

where have you been all day?

I don't know,
where've you been?

Who are you?

Hedva,
'm Shmuel, your husband.

I don't know any Shmuel.

Hedva, it's me.

Did you go inside?

Did you sit in his living room?

He didn't want to hear a word.

He just handed me the money.

Don't ask for permission.

Open the door.
You make the rules.

You go inside.

There are those jerks
who just open the door a crack.

You have to be smart,

you tell him you're thirsty,

you ask for a glass of water.

Next thing you know, you're inside.

Well, with God's help.

Avraham Simcha Rosenbaum.

Piece of cake.

You have a reference
from his rabbi, right?

The second he opens the door
you hand him the reference.

Knock loud, he's hard of hearing.

Tell me,

what is this?

What do you think it is?

A notebook.

Very good.

In this notebook I have the details
of every rich man in Bnei Brak.

You don't say.

Where they live,
when they're at home,

where they pray,

what their story is.
Everything.

Hello. -Yes?
-Can I come in for a minute?

What for?

It's important.

I'm in a delicate situation,

I'd like to come in
and talk to you.

Just for a few minutes.

Here. Good luck.
All the best.

Can I...

What's up, Frischman?

Listen...

What?

Bentzelovitch started working
as a truck driver.

We could pull off
some serious jobs.

Go on.

Bentzelovitch, how much do you
charge for a night?

With or without a driver?

You think I can drive a truck?

800 shekels a night.

Not including gas.

And for a day?

I work in the daytime.

Okay. Anyway, for 800 shekels
we have a truck all night.

What'll you do with a truck?

That's the easy part.
I have a few ideas.

First of all, trolleys.

Supermarket trolleys?

No, stupid. Baby trolleys.

All the stairwells
are full of baby trolleys.

So? -So we go around
one night,

pick up all the trolleys,
load 'em up,

and that's that.

What'll you do with the trolleys?

I have a connection
with a dealer in the West Bank.

20 shekels a trolley.

A thousand trolleys,
that's a nice bundle.

Are you crazy?

How cruel are you?
-He's right.

Fine. Have it your way.

Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay.

Ay-ay-ay

Little lamb,

wake up.

Good morning.

Is Mommy back?

No, she's isn't back yet.

Where is she?

Get dressed.

All right.

I said to myself, I haven't been
to Ramat Gan in almost ten years.

As long as I'm here I'll go to Moshko's
eat a Sabrina,

like we did on all our anniversaries.

I get there and what do I see?

Well?

No Moshko's, no Sabrinas.

They opened a Starbucks there.

Just a second.
-what?

You wouldn't believe it.

There's a girl standing there...

Hold on, let me hear this.

Hello? Hello?
Are you with me?

Very good.

We'll continue next week...

My little lamb.

Are you hungry?

A little.

Delicious, huh?

Why don't you eat your chicken?

I don't like chicken.
-All right.

Make it quick,
have to be at work at eight.

Can I come with you?

Don't be silly. It's late.

You have school tomorrow.

When will you be back?

Very late.

I'm scared of sleeping alone.

What's there to be scared of?

Last night I couldn't fall asleep.

Let's see what desserts they have today.

You have to sit quietly
and not disturb us,

is that clear?
-All right.

It would be best if you slept.

Transplant? Your kidney?

Yes.

At your age?

God have mercy.

That's rough.

How old are you, kid?

Let's think, what does
every 21-year-old dream of?

Getting married.
-Very good.

What else?

Raising a family?

If you're dry,
your audience will be, too.

You're right.

Let's say you tell him:

I got engaged to a smart girl
from a good family,

a real looker.

The thing is...

you were diagnosed with a disease.

They called everything off.

Your life is in ruins.

You say to yourself:

Who would want to...

marry me with this disease?

Who?

Like that.

Elaborate a little,
spice it up,

tell him all your troubles,

your father's troubles,
your grandmother's troubles.

Get it?

Yes.
-Whatever it takes.

That's the building,
first floor.

There's no sign on the door
but his name is Birnbaum.

He's been a widower for years.
He's just waiting to make a friend.

You'll be his friend.

Go inside and tell him
about your life.

Be open, tell him about
your troubles too,

don't be shy,

the more you open up
the better it'll work, get it?

Yes.

Knock loud.

Go on. Good luck.

What?

Will you come with me?

My friend,
if I go, I don't need you,

I would go by my self,
you see?

Go on, it'll be fine.

Heaven help me.

Daddy,

why don't you just go with him?

Chani, what did I tell you?

It's okay, I'll be all right.

You know what?
Wait a sec. Come here.

Open it.

"Bless You, O Lord,
Who creates all with His word.

Now you can go.

This is the last time
I take you to work.

Little lamb...

Little lamb.

Let's go. Bedtime.

Chanileh,
when I was about 12

and my father died

I took it very hard

and so did my mother,
Grandma Tirza.

She was really heartbroken

and a month after he died
she sent me to seminary in Kfar Hassidim.

That's where I grew up.

Where did you eat and sleep?

There, I had a room,
at the boarding school.

The headmaster
was my friend,

we studied together.

And his wife was always
in the kitchen

and while we studied
she made us dinner.

She'd put a pat of margarine
in the hot pan

and pour the egg over it.

I'll never forget the way it smelled.

The margarine and the egg.

It smelled like home.

Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God
the Lord is one."

Blessed be His Majesty's name
forever and ever."

"May the angel who saves me
from all evil

"bless the youths
and call them by my name

"and the names of my
forefathers Abraham and Isaac

"and multiply on earth..."

Good night, little lamb.

I'll be right back.

If I were you,
I'd get out of here.

You know how much a driver earns
in Williamsburg?

How much? -That's where the money is.
This is small-time.

Get on a flight to Brooklyn.

I'm not flying anywhere.

I have a daughter, she has school,
friends, a life.

Don't be ridiculous.

Did you hear it's gonna snow
in Jerusalem?

What snow?

I remember the big snowstorm
of the year 5762.

I remember the whole family
standing at the window,

my mother sent me and my brother

to get a jerrycan of kerosene
from the basement,

we go downstairs,

shine the flashlight
on the basement,

when suddenly we see
a tired-out cat

lying there

with five teeny little kittens
nursing from her.

Unforgettable.

I think that's my very first memory.

How about you, Bentzelovitch?

Me?

What's the first thing you remember?

I was three,

My little brother was getting
circumcised. In synagogue.

And I remember lots of people
standing around and watching

so I pushed my way in, too.

The Rabbi sees me watching.

and he whispers something
to someone standing there

and then he comes up to me,
takes me aside,

gives me a lollipop and says:
"Go play outside."

So I went to play.

Nice.

Thanks.

Frischman, what about you?
-What about me?

What's the first thing
you remember?

I don't remember anything.

Come on, Frischman,
something.

I was a boy.

One day I go out

to ride my bike a little.

Anyway, there was another boy there

a little older than me.

He says to me: "Let's race."

Now, instead of turning
at the bottom,

I kept going straight.

I drove right into someone's garage

and fell, boom, with my bike,

right into the garage

and down one whole storey.

The next thing I remember,

I wake up in my mother's bed

and she's holding me
and crying.

She cried her eyes out.
I'll never forget it.

She was afraid something
happened to me.

I must've passed out.

Good story.

Way to go, Frischman.

But snow is so beautiful.

Too bad we're stuck like schmucks
here in Bnei Brak.

Did you know it snowed once
in Bnei Brak?

Yeah, sure.

It's like talking to the wall...

It snowed in Bnei Brak
70 years ago.

Ask your grandfather.

Hey, you gave me a brilliant idea.

We're gonna pull off a big one.
Listen. We take Bentzelovitch's truck...

Not the truck again...
-Just listen.

We drive to Jerusalem at night

before the snow starts to stick

and load the truck with snow.

We load it up with snow,
drive back to Bnei Brak,

we unload the snow, and then what?

What?

Everyone in Bnei Brak
comes to play in the snow.

Get it?
-Got it. It's your turn.

Good idea. Really.

Hold on.
Ruzumny, you sneak,

you got everyone else to talk.
What about you? -What about me?

What's the first thing
you remember?

The first thing I remember?

That's easy.

Well?

My son's funeral
is the first thing I remember.

Nothing that was before
will ever be again, my friends.

Nothing.

Your call is transferred
to the voicemail.

You've reached the voicemail
of 052-63924...

Step outside.

Move it. Outside.

Where is it?
-Where's what?

Where's my notebook?

You had your eye on it.

It's all right.

You had your eye on it, I saw.
Where's my notebook?

With the addresses?
-Yeah. You took it.

God forbid.
What are you thinking?

I've never taken anything
that wasn't mine.

Swear to me.

I can't swear,
but I promise

I promise I didn't touch
your notebook.

Swear it!

I swear,

I didn't touch your notebook.

Sorry I suspected you,

I just don't know
what I'll do without it.

Would you like something to drink?

To drink?

All right.

Coffee? Tea?

We have soup, too.

Soup?

I'll have soup.

It's good soup.

Yes, little girl?

Shouldn't you be in school?

How much is this?
-10 a piece.

I have a shekel and a half.

There's nothing for
a shekel and a half.

Can I have a little piece?

Little girl, I don't have time
to fool around.

I'll give you one book of stationery.

What'll I do with it?

It's perfumed.

All right, I'll give you a piece.

I need the rest of
my stationery back.

You're getting nothing back.

But I said just one.

Don't drive me crazy.

But that's stealing.
It's worth way more than ten shekels.

Don't sass me!
Go away and never come back!

How was school today?

Okay.

Did you study hard?

Yes.

What did you learn today?

Are you hungry?

A little.

My wife, Levana Somech
Rest in peace...

You are welcome to comfort us
at our home.

Everything melts, gentlemen.

Everything melts.

I want to show you something.

Did you know Levana?

You could say that.

Really?

Come in, sit down.
There's plenty of room.

Have a seat.

Thank you.

It isn't fresh.

You see this?

Yehezkel,

that's inappropriate.

Put it away.

Here.

Smell it.

Pass it on.

I bought it for Levana,
may she rest in peace.

I bought it
for our first anniversary...

Smell it.

Everything melts, gentlemen.

Hello? -Hello, Ehrlich?
-Yes.

This is Ruzumny, the Driver.

Yes. How are you? We're meeting
by Itzkovitch at 7:00.

Yes, but there's a problem.

What is it?

I lost all my addresses.

We'll have to play it by ear.

But what...

What's a driver worth without addresses?

I was counting on you.

What do I do now?

Here's a rule of thumb for you:
Never count on anyone.

If you want to come, come.

If you don't,
find yourself another driver.

Fine. That's what I'll do.
Thanks a lot.

What do you need him for?

Daddy.

What?

What do you need him for?

What do you mean,
what do I need him for?

He's a beggar.
He has a story.

He has references from rabbis.

I don't have anything.

We could collect money together.

We'll make up a story.

What story?

We'll say that...

I need surgery right away

so you have no choice
but to beg for money.

They'll give us lots of money.

Don't be ridiculous.
Don't say such things.

Why not, Daddy?

You must remember
some people.

What do you think?

A man sees a beggar
coming in with a child.

What comes to his mind?

He realizes he's dealing with a lowlife,
we won't see a penny.

We’re wet enough, let's go.

I'll do the talking.

You don't say a word, got it?

I'll tell them a story,
don't worry.

Yes?

Hello. Sorry to disturb you.

It's all right.

We got stuck in the rain
down here,

I have a little girl here
and she's very cold.

I'm worried about her.

Maybe you could make her
a cup of tea.

All right. Come on up.

Another beggar, I'll bet.

Please come in.

Come in, come in.

Sit down. -Welcome.
-Come in. -Thank you.

Make yourselves at home.
-I'll make you a hot drink.

Thank you.

Don't I know you?

No.

I don't think so.

You've never been here before?

No. No.

I know you.
You're the Driver.

No. What makes you think that?

You're Ruzumny, you bring me
all the beggars in Bnei Brak.

Don't you think I know that?

Have a seat.

We need your help.
That's why we're here.

Why? What's the matter?

My father and I are all alone.

What do you mean, all alone?

Until...

Until about six months ago
we led a perfectly normal life.

My wife and I lived here
in Bnei Brak

and we raised two children,

Chami

and Moishie, her little brother.

And about 6 months ago
tragedy struck.

Moishie was only four
when it happened,

he was playing in the parking lot.

when a car drove by

and ran him over.

You must've heard about it.

Yes, I remember reading about it
in the paper,

it was heartbreaking.

My wife took it very hard,

there's nothing more tragic
than parents burying their children.

I remember seeing

how they buried him

wrapped in a prayer shawl.

His body was so tiny.

Suddenly I started thinking about
wasting one's seed.

You bring a child into the world,

you raise him,

you play with him,

and then he's taken away,

just like that.

I said to myself,

if that's what God wants,

who am I to question Him?

But my wife,

she had a lot of claims
against God.

She wanted us to move to Tel Aviv

and start a whole new life,

but I refused.

No way.

On one hand I wanted to help her,

I wanted to be with her,

to do it for her sake,

but I couldn't stand to see her
so broken and in pain.

It kept reminding me of Moishe.

So for six months I stayed away
from home at night,

I wandered around

and only came home in the morning.

And then, a few days ago,

she picked up and left.

What's your name?

Chani. -Chani.

Come, little lamb, we're leaving.

No, stay with us.
-No, no.

It's okay, we're about to eat.

Wait a minute.

Here. -No, no. I don't want...
-I want you to have it.

Do me a favor and take it.

Put it in your pocket.

Look, Daddy.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

How much is admission?

Can't you see it's closed?
It's winter.

Come back in the summer.

Can't we come in for a minute?

Come in?

We came a long way.
Just one ride on the Ferris wheel.

I can't, buddy. I'm sorry.

Never mind.
We'll come back one day.

Hey!

Are you the psychiatrist?
-Yes.

Nice dog.

Are you crazy?
You think that's a dog?

That's a boot.

Therefore,
You should have come to me earlier.

The truth is I never thought about
visiting a psychiatrist.

But if everyone says you're drunk,
you'd better lie down.

Where are we going?

We’re going to Grandma's.

You'll be staying there for a while.

Why?

That's how it is.

Oh, what a nice surprise.

Hello, Mom.

I was about to run out to
the grocery store but come on in.

Chanileh,

stay here a minute,
I want to talk to Grandma.

I'll come visit.

I will. I promise.

Gimme a hug, I have to run.

Nachman..

Don't disappear on me.

Don't worry.

No, no.
-It's okay, Mom.

Take it back.
-A child, It's a lot of expenses.

All right, then.

Bye, Mom.

Take care of yourself.

I've been looking all over for you.

What do you want?

Bentzelovitch got off work early.

We're leaving for Jerusalem now.
The snow is starting to stick.

If we don't leave soon
they'll close the roads.

Do me a favor, you guys,

leave me in peace.

Are you crazy?
Everything's ready to roll.

The tickets, the booth,
the fences.

Posters everywhere.
You have to come.

Leave me alone, I'm in no mood.

I'm trying to cheer you up.

I don't want you to cheer me up!

Did I ask you to cheer me up?
-Okay,

I heard you. Enough.

Yes, Mom. What's new?

Nachman, finally you answered.
Where are you?

I'm...

in Bnei Brak,
where do you think?

Where is Chani?
With you?

She's with you, right?

Why would she be with me?
-She disappeared.

She isn't here, Nachman.
She's gone.

What do you mean, gone?
Gone where?

I don't know,
We went to bed after dinner,

I felt something was wrong,

I got up and saw she was gone.

When did this happen?
-Just now.

We have to call the police.

It's dengerous,
we have to.

Don't call, I'll take care of it.

Let me know what happens.
-Bye.

There's been a change of plan.
Make a U-turn.

In the middle of the highway?

Find a way.
-But we're almost there.

I don't care, go back now.

I'll say a prayer
and you'll repeat after me.

Okay.

"A song of ascensions.
Lord, I called on You from the depths.

Lord, hear my voice,
Let your ears be attentive...

Chani

Chani

Chani

If we don't find her within a few minutes
we'll go to the police.

Hold on, stop a sec.
I want to hear this.

I'm going to see Mommy.

How? you don't know
where she is.

The night before she left
she asked me

if I want to move to Tel Aviv
with her.

Why didn't you go with her?

I didn't want you to be alone.

He chickened out at the last minute,
the bastard.

What do you need him for?
He's trouble. A loser.

Get moving.

Let's hope they haven't
closed the roads.

You won't believe
what I dreamt last night.

What?

I'm driving to Haifa

and there's a kiosk
in the middle of the road.

And this guy is
selling sandwiches there

and I watch how he makes them
and it's unbelievable.

He takes this nice bread

like Hoisman used to have,
remember?

With the caraway seeds?
-Exactly.

Anyway, he slices it neatly,

takes two fresh,
delicious-smelling slices,

and spreads them with
this fancy yellow butter,

must be imported stuff.

Over that he spreads
slices of schmaltz herring,

but not the white kind
they sell in stores.

On top of that he grates
fresh horseradish,

then a slice of tomato,
a little salt, a little pepper,

and serves it to everyone.

And there's a long, long line.

Then, when my turn comes,
he skips me

and serves the next guy.

You don't say?

"Hey, mister, it's my turn."

And what does he say to me?

Well?

"No herring for you."

He said that?

I started crying in my dream
like a little boy.

But it was no use.

The guy wouldn't make me
a sandwich.

And?

Never mind.

Hello?
-Ruzumny.

What?
-You won't believe it.

what? talk already.

It's all over, kaput.

What do you mean?

The snow, stupid.

What about the snow?

Aren't you in Bnei Brak?

I'm in Bnei Brak.

I just got back from Jerusalem,

the truck is packed with snow.

I get out of the truck

when suddenly it starts to snow,
real snow, here in Bnei Brak.

What?

Look out your window.

Hello?

Ruzumny?

Ruzumny?

Hello?