The Company of Wolves

- Hello, mummy! - Hello, darling.

- Any presents for me? - A surprise.

- What? - You know!

- No I don't, what? - Where is she? Did she miss tea again?

She said she had tummy-ache so she's sulking in her room.

- It's her age. - She's a pest!

So were you once! Now go and wake her.

Pest, pest!

I want you to have a word with her.

Well, I have. I've tried... I've been upstairs to see her...

- Yes, but not... - She always tells me I don't understand her.

- Oh, that's ridiculous. - Well, she's right.

Go away!

They want you downstairs!

You have to come out sometime, you can't sulk in there forever!

Open the door!

Open it!

You've been at my lipstick too, haven't you!

Pest!

What makes you so different anyway! Buck Teeth!

Come on out, pest!

It's not because I want you, either, it's because Mummy wants you!

Pest, pest, pest!

Say goodbye to your sister now, so you'll never forget her.

Stay with me, child.

Chew on this. It'll keep your mind off things.

Man that is born of a woman

has but a short time to live and is full of misery

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower

he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.

In the midst of life we are in death.

For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy

to take on to himself the soul of our dear sister here departed

we therefore commit her body to the ground

earth to earth

ashes to ashes

dust to dust

Your poor sister, all alone in the wood, and nobody there to save her!

Poor little lamb!

Why couldn't she save herself?

You don't know these things, you're only a child!

Daddy...

There, there, pet.

Shall I take her home with me tonight?

Her mother's in no fit state to look after her.

Come, pet.

I want to stay with Mummy.

Mummy's not well. Just for tonight.

Come, child, come with me.

It's a long way through the wood, but safe by daylight.

Safe if you keep to the path...

There's lots more of these in the wood,

if you know where to look!

Berries!

Don't stray from the path, girl!

Did you not hear what I told you?

Once you stray from the path you're lost entirely!

The wild beasts know no mercy.

They wait for us in the wood, in the shadow,

and once you put a foot wrong

they POUNCE!

There, there, my precious.

Don't take on so.

It's something you have to learn,

otherwise you'll end up like your poor dear sister!

Granny, can I have one?

I can't see why not.

You've got a lot to learn, child.

Never stray from the path, never eat a windfall apple...

and never trust a man whose eyebrows meet!

The best winter wool, pet, woven across the valley

so good, so soft I thought I'd knit a shawl for your sister.

But now, you know what I'll do?

- What, Gran? - I'll make one for you!

A very special shawl for a very special lady.

Soft as a kitten.

There's something I should tell you.

Yes?

But maybe you're too young.

Tell me, Gran!

Too young to understand.

Oh, go on, Gran, tell me!

Maybe no child is ever too young.

A wolf may be more than he seems.

He may come in many disguises.

What's that?

The wolf that ate your sister was hairy on the outside.

But when she died she went straight to Heaven.

The worst kind of wolves are hairy on the inside,

and when they bite you, they drag you with them to Hell!

What do you mean, hairy on the inside? Like a furry coat?

Hush now, foolish child, and listen.

Once upon a time there was a Woman in the village,

and she married a travelling man...

They've all gone now.

It's a shame your people missed the wedding.

Maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

My brother's idea of a joke!

Why are you staring like that?

Because I've never seen anything like you before.

Don't they have girls where you come from?

None like you.

Come out of the shadows.

Let me see you, my love.

Are all travelling men as handsome as you?

So you think I'm handsome?

The first thing I noticed about you

was the way your eyebrows meet.

Does that spoil me then?

Come to me and I'll tell you.

My dear?

I must just... go out into the yard for a moment...

Why ever for?

Call of nature.

So she waited...

and she waited...

and she waited again.

Surely he's been gone a long time?

No! It can't be!

He upped and ran, that's all.

It was in his blood.

Wasn't he a travelling man?

Anything?

Not a hair nor a hide of him.

Nor a footprint.

What's that, might I ask?

I told you I heard a wolf last night!

They came and took him while he was making water,

when a man is at his most defenseless.

Murderers! They're murderers!

But she was a young thing

and cheerful of temperament

and she found another husband

not too shy to piss in a pot!

And they lived happily ever after!

Indeed they did not!

First time passed, happily enough.

What a mess!

Oh, don't start!

Shut up!

Here.

Time passed, and she gave him children.

And that was a bad time for wolves, those years, oh yes!

Not a sheep or a cow was safe.

But for herself all went right as a trivet

until... one winter's night...

My God...

I'm starving.

Do you want something to eat?

Didn't you hear me the first time!

Where did these three spring from?

Out of my belly!

Your children... but not my children!

Whore!

Adulteress!

You hoped I'd never come back!

I thought the wolves had taken you!

Better a wolf than a whore!

If I were wolf once more, I'd teach this whore a lesson!

He looks just the same...

as the day I married him!

I'd never let a man strike me.

Oh, they're nice as pie until they've had their way with you.

But once the bloom is gone, oh, the beast comes out.

When the wolves, though when the real wolves...

when the real wolves mate, do the dogs beat the bitches afterward?

Animals! All wild animals!

Well, that's enough wool for tonight.

Bedtime.

What about a kiss for Granny?

Don't I deserve a kiss for my story?

The best of all girls!

Of course you won't stay a young girl much longer.

Your mummy and daddy will need all the help they can get.

Just grow wise, learn all that you can, now that your sister is gone.

Caught!

Caught who, you snotty-nosed ragamuffin?

I caught Rosaleen!

Oh no, nobody catches my little princess!

Come along, my child.

There's too much food now there's just the three of us.

Don't grieve.

Least said soonest mended.

Rosaleen!

Shall we play now?

Play what?

A game!

I know a good game. Close your eyes.

Now, come to me.

Closer, closer. Come on.

Closer.

There!

Now what?

Olly olly, can't catch me!

Mummy...

Yes, pet?

- Does he hurt you? - Does who hurt me?

Does Daddy hurt you... when he...

No, not at all.

It sounds like...