1. VILNIUS, LITHUANIA. A BIG YARD, AMONG SOME MODERN
BUILDINGS.  LATE AFTERNOON, IT STARTS TO GET DARK.

FREEDA, A 7 YEAR OLD IS WALKING ALONE IN THE YARD. SHE'S
WEARING A WHITE FUR COAT AND FUR HOOD AND LOOKS LIKE A
PRINCESS FROM FAIRY TALES. IT'S SNOWING . SHE IS SWINGING ON
A SWING WITH ALL HER STRENGTH, THE SWING IS HIGH UP IN THE
AIR, AS IF PUSHED BY SOMEONE WITH A LOT OF STRENGTH. THE
COLD DOES NOT AFFECT HER, SHE FEELS SHE IS TOO HOT. SHE THEN
GETS OFF THE SWING AND GOES TO HER FAVORITE CAROUSEL.
CAROUSEL IS COVERED WITH THICK LAYER OF SNOW. FREEDA CLEARS
ONE OF THE SEATS AND STARTS TO SPIN, HARDER AND HARDER. SHE
LOVES THE DIZZINESS AFTER A STRONG  SPIN. SHE LOVES THE
WORLD SPINNING AROUND HER. AS SHE IS SITTING ON THE STOPPED
CAROUSEL AN OLD LADY APPROACHES HER. "WHAT A LITTLE BIRD
LIKE YOU DOES ALL ALONE AT THIS HOUR IN THE YARD.?" FREEDA
SAYS SHE DOES NOT FEEL LIKE GOING HOME. THE OLD LADY
INTRODUCES HERSELF AS OLGA AND OFFERS FREEDA ENTERTAINMENT.
TO ACCOMPANY HER TO HER FRIENDS HOUSE WHERE THERE ARE PLENTY
OF SWEETS AND PEOPLE.
FREEDA IS HAPPY, FINALLY SOME ACTION. SHE IS NOT ALONE
ANYMORE. SHE PLACES HER HAND IN THE HAND OF OLGA AND
TOGETHER THEY WALK DOWN A PATH OF FRESHLY CUT PINE BRANCHES.


2. OUTSIDE, OLD PART OF VILNIUS

OLGA AND FREEDA APPROACH AN OLD 2 STOREY HOUSE. THE STAIRS
ARE COVERED WITH PINE BRANCHES. THE DOOR ON THE SECOND FLOOR
IS OPENED. THEY ENTER THE ROOM THAT IS FILLED WITH CANDLES.
FREEDA IS FASCINATED.

3. FREEDA'S GRANDPARENTS HOUSE IN AN OLD HOUSE IN VILNIUS.

FREEDA'S GRANDFATHER MOSHE 64, DACHAU SURVIVOR, LITS
HANUKKA CANDLES,  FREEDA'S GRANDMOTHER, LUBA, 50, BIRTHDAY
FALLS ON THE FIFTH CANDLE.  LUBA IS CONCENTRATION CAMP
SURVIVOR, WHO HAS LOST ONE OF HER THREE CHILDREN TO THE WAR.

AFTER THE WAR, WHEN SHE WAS SICK AND 40 SHE HAD A NEW
CHILD.
ESIA, FREEDA'S MOTHER, HER ELDEST,  HAS SAVED HER LIFE IN
THE CAMP BY WORKING FOR TWO OF THEM. HER YOUNGEST CHANALE
WAS SAVED BY A CHRISTIAN  SAINT.  FREEDA IS CONCENTRATING ON
HER FAVORITE DISH - LATTKES HER GRANDMOTHER PREPARES. SHE
LOVES FEEDING RUNTZI-PUNZI, SIBERIAN CAT, HER GRANDFATHER'S
FAVORITE PET, UNDER THE TABLE. FREEDA ALWAYS INSISTS THAT
THE WHOLE CHANNUKIA WOULD BE LIT. AND GRANDFATHER RESPECTS
CHILD'S WISH AND LITS ALL THE 9 CANDLES. WHICH IS A VERY
UNORTHODOX WAY TO PRACTICE JUDAISM. FREEDA IS HAPPY AND
KISSES AND HUGS HER GRANDFATHER.

4. INSIDE, THE DEAD WOMAN'S HOUSE

ON THE BIG TABLE IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM LAYS AN OLD LADY
DRESSED IN A BEAUTIFUL GARMENT. SHE SEEMS ASLEEP. WHY DOES
THE LADY SLEEPING ON A TABLE - FREEDA IS ASKING OUTLOUD.
OLGA EXPLAINS SHE IS DEAD NOT ASLEEP. WHAT IS DEAD ASKS
FREEDA, IN HEAVEN SAYS OLGA. GOD HAS TAKEN HER TO THE GARDEN
OF EDEN. FREEDA KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT GOD.
"GOTT IN HIMMEL HARTZIKER" MY MOTHER SAYS. GOD IN THE SKY
HEART. THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHILD IS
JEWISH. THEY ASK HER NAME AND SHE PROUDLY SAYS FREEDA.
MY GRANDMOTHER MASHA DIED. I SEE HER ONLY ON A PICTURE.
IS SHE IN HEAVEN? YES, SAID EVERYBODY IN A BROKEN CHORUS.
SHE IS WITH GOD, WHY DADDY IS SO SAD? HE MISSES HER, SAYS
OLGA. I MISS MY GRANDFATHER, HE IS IN ISRAEL. THE WOMEN
CHRISTENED THEMSELVES. ISRAEL LAND OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HOW LUCKY YOU ARE CHILD, SAID OLGA. HOW NICE THAT I MET YOU.
I PROMISED YOU SWEETS. THE COAT IS TAKEN OFF. THE HOOD GOES
OFF TOO.
FREEDA FEELS AT HOME. SHE IS OFFERED A SMALL CHAIR.
WHERE HAVE YOU FOUND HER? THEY ASK OLGA. ALONE AT THIS TIME
OF DAY AND NOT WANTING TO GO HOME. THANK OUR LORD JESUS.
OLGA HUGS FREEDA.

5. INSIDE, THE DEAD WOMAN'S HOUSE.

FREEDA STANDS ON THE CHAIR AND SINGING A POPULAR SONG ABOUT
A BLACK CAT. SHE SINGS BEAUTIFULLY. EVERYBODY CLAPS HANDS.
THE WOMEN HAD SOME VODKA AND EVERYBODY IS IN A MARVELLOUS
MOOD. FREEDA FEELS IN HEAVEN. SHE IS REMINDED BY OLGA IT IS
LATE AND IT IS TIME FOR HER TO RETURN HOME. FREEDA IS
PUTTING ON HER WHITE COAT AND HOOD, PUTS HER HAND INTO
OLGA'S WARM HAND AND BIDS HER FAREWELL TO EVERYBODY .
HER POCKETS GET FILLED WITH SWEETS.

6. OUTSIDE, EMPTY STREET. DARKNESS

FREEDA AND OLGA WALK HAND IN HAND, BACK TO THE MODERN
BUILDING WHERE FREEDA LIVES. THEY HUG AND KISS. OLGA CROSSES
FREEDA SEVERAL TIMES. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU, ARE HER LAST
WORDS.

7. OUTSIDE, A BIG FIELD, VILNIUS, NEXT MORNING

FREEDA WALKS WITH 2 GIRLDFRIENDS ACROSS THE FIELD ON THE WAY
TO SCHOOL AND TELLS THEM ABOUT LAST NIGHT ADVENTURE. SHE
SHARES THE SWEETS FROM HER POCKET WITH THEM. THEY DECIDE TO
JOIN FREEDA NEXT TIME THERE IS SOMEONE GOING TO HEAVEN

8. OUTSIDE, NEAR THE RIVER, EARLY AFTERNOON, SPRING

THE ICE ON THE RIVER HAS BROKEN, FREEDA WALKS WITH HER
FRIENDS TO SEE THE RIVER SHE LOVES. ON THE WAY HOME, SHE
SEES A PATH OF FRESHLY CUT PINE BRANCHES. HER HEART IS
FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION FOR YET ANOTHER PARTY. SOMEONE WENT
TO HEAVEN. THEY FOLLOW THE PATH. THE PATH LEADS TO A SMALL
HOUSE WITH A GARDEN AROUND IT.

9. INSIDE,  HOUSE IN MOURNING

3 YOUNG MEN SIT BY A TABLE AND DRINK VODKA. THERE IS NO
CROSS AT SIGHT.  NO CANDLES TOO. THEY ARE SURPRISED AT THE 3
GIRLS. A YOUNG WOMAN IS THERE TOO AND SHE OFFERS THE GIRLS
CHOCOLATES AND APPLES. NOBODY SPEAKS. THE BODY IS IN A
COFFIN ON THE TABLE. IT'S A MAN WITH WHITE BEARD. LOOKS A
LITTLE LIKE     A SANTA. FREEDA DECIDES TO CHEER THEM UP: HE
IS IN HEAVEN, WITH GOD, WHY ARE YOU SO SAD? YOU MISS HIM?
THE GIRLS SIT DOWN AND FREEDA TELLS EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS
ABOUT GOD AND HEAVEN.
GROWNUPS SIT THERE AND LISTEN, FREEDA IS AMUSING THEM WITH
HER CRAZY STORIES WHICH SHE MAKES UP AS SHE GOES.
SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT RELIGION THAN THEY DO, THEY ARE
COMMUNISTIC YOUTH WHICH WERE NOT BROUGHT UP TO BELIEVE IN
GOD AND THOUGHT OF RELIGION WITH CONTEMPT.. FREEDA SAYS: GOD
IS LIKE LENIN. GOOD. THE YOUNGEST OFFERS FREEDA TO MARRY HER
SHE BLUSHES AND SAYS SHE WILL NEVER MARRY HIM OR ANYONE ELSE
FOR THAT MATTER. I WILL NEVER MARRY.
THE THREE GIRLS RISE, SAY GOOD BYE POLITELY AND FLEE FROM
THAT HOUSE.

10. OUTDIDE. ON THE ROAD, MINUTE LATER

FREEDA TELLS HER FRIENDS THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY. THEY
DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HAVE A PARTY. THE GIRLS DISAGREE AND SAY
IT WAS FUN ANYWAY.