Little Bird

♪ [Birds singing, insects chirping] [Birds singing, insects chirping] [Woman whispering] [Woman whispering] [Man snoring] ♪ Hmm.

♪ [Girl coughs] [Girl coughing] ♪ [Wind blowing] [Urinating] [Wind blowing] [Country music playing] Ernest Ashworth: ♪ Because I cared ♪ [Coughing] ♪ I gave my love to you ♪ Boy: Now, he's gonna have a mosquito bite right up here.

Dad: Yeah.

And then he scared the little bird.

And then, he said, "Aah!"

[Both laughing] Ashworth: ♪ You broke my heart in two ♪ ♪ Because I cared ♪ ♪ You left me ♪ ♪ Feeling blue ♪ ♪ Just for you ♪ [Dad and mom chuckling] ♪ Because I cared ♪ Mom: You're only gonna be gone for the day.

Dad: Maybe I'll just stay here instead just like this.

You're gonna make me a coffee or what?

Mom: I can't do it while you're kissing me.

I'm going to the truck.

Mom: Go.

Get ready.

Dad: I'm coming.

Mama?

Mama?

Can I have some milk?

Yes.

Can you go get your brother some milk?

[Kids laughing] I got this.

Ashworth: ♪ Because I cared ♪ ♪ I bought a wedding ring ♪ Ohh!

Ashworth: ♪ Because I cared ♪ Girl: I want to make a castle.

I can't.

It'll just fall.

Here, you love red team.

I love red team.

Yeah, I'll be red team.

Just make everything... Dad: He's nervous.

He's not even talking to me.

Mom: He'll come around.

He's been waiting for this a long time.

[Kids laughing] -Ah.

-Mm-hmm.

I love you, you know?

You do?

-Yeah.

-I still can't believe it.

We have four kids.

-It's not enough.

-Heh heh heh.

Need more.

Do you think he's gonna kill a deer today?

-No.

Ha ha ha!

-Ha ha!

Well, one of you better come back with something.

Now get.

Your dad's gonna be mad.

Well, maybe later, you can boss me around.

-Jeez, get.

-All right, then.

Leo, let's get a move on, my boy.

-Kill your first deer, Leo!

-Kill it!

I'll eat it all up.

Dad: Heh heh heh.

We'll be home after dark.

Girl: Ah... [Birds singing, insects chirping] These are so pretty!

Come look at them, Dora.

-Come see.

This is so pretty.

-I like it.

Niizh, we were looking at those!

Mom: Hey, can you twos get me some water?

[Vehicle approaching] [Clanking] Go inside now!

Go!

Girl: Go, go, go!

Go!

♪ [Exhales] [Man speaking Indigenous language] ♪ Buffy Sainte-Marie ♪ Hey, little bird, I remember you ♪ ♪ You with your dreams up higher than you could fly ♪ ♪ Hey, I remember you ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, little bird ♪ ♪ Lost in the summer sun ♪ ♪ Those were the days when your feathers were new ♪ ♪ And I remember you ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Now, it's all coming back ♪ ♪ The whole world is your habitat ♪ ♪ But more than that ♪ ♪ If we meet again, will you know me?

♪ ♪ So little bird ♪ ♪ Flash your colors, and I will sing ♪ ♪ Glide into time with the moon on your wing ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Little bird ♪ ♪ Like a gull of the sea ♪ ♪ Your resting place ♪ ♪ Could be heaven or countless oceans ♪ ♪ Far from me ♪ ♪ I mean, really, I'm just very busy.

OK, David, can I take a moment to talk -to you as my future son-in-law?

-Uh-oh, here we go.

-Dad, come on.

-All I want to say is I wish on you even half of the joy I've had being Esther's father.

It's all I want to say, but I will add that she just aced all of her end-term exams.

-Dad, stop.

-What?

First-year law school, I didn't ace all my exams.

She aced torts.

She aced contracts.

She aced property law.

Yeah, that's what it means when you say I aced all of them.

Means I aced all of them.

She's gonna win every fight, you know that, don't you?

-Oh, I know, I know.

-Oof!

OK, that's good, that's enough.

I'm gonna go check on Mom.

Don't say anything else.

OK. -She already wins every fight.

-Yeah.

What do you expect?

She's a daughter of two lawyers.

Mazel tov, Esther.

Beautiful simcha.

[Indistinct chatter] Woman: You look beautiful, Esther!

[Piano music playing] Woman: Oh, hey.

Hi there.

How are you doing?

[Indistinct chatter] ♪ -Are you doing OK over here?

-Oh, I'm good, I'm good.

I don't like any of these people.

Mom, a lot of them are from shul.

They don't know anything about art, politic, culture.

So, small talk with them.

I don't know why you try so hard to fit in with these boring people.

Who else am I supposed to try to fit in with?

[Young girl laughing] [Mom humming] What...do...you.

Want...to...make?

I got you.

[Humming] That's fine.

[Door opens] Woman: Good morning.

Auntie Brigit!

I brought a little something.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, hello, doll.

-She's a little bit hot, huh?

-Yeah.

She's got a little bit of a fever.

Oh, my.

I was on my way to town to run an errand, and I thought I'd bring you some fish.

Ooh...bannock.

[Dora coughing] Huh.

You're not feeling good, huh?

And your shirt's all dirt-- How come her shirt's all dirty?

-Oh.

I know.

I got to wash it.

-Oh, look.

It's OK. Come here.

[Dora moaning] Oh, yeah, she's got a bad fever.

Uh, do you want me to stick around and help?

No, no, it's OK. You go.

-Take some bannock with you.

-OK. -See you.

-Bye, Aunt Brigit.

[Mom humming] [Dora coughing] [Humming] [Vehicle engine starting] [Music playing on record player] Don't turn it up so loud, Niizh!

You two, outside, both of you.

Go pick some cedar for your sister.

-Bezhig, go first.

-Nooo!

Man: ♪ All the time ♪ ♪ Shine like the sun ♪ ♪ You'll be the one ♪ You're gonna be the rabbit like I said!

♪ Love came to see ♪ Just wait, Niizh!

I'm going faster than you.

♪ It ain't easy ♪ Hey, Niizh, you want to play dig the dog?

Man: Esther?

Esther?

David: Uh-oh.

I just thought of a story about David that I had to tell you.

Woman: Oh, come on, Dad.

She doesn't want to hear your stories.

Ha!

So, a couple of years ago, we're trying to get David to go to the youth group dance at the shul, you know, so he could meet a nice girl.

-Yeah.

-And he says, "No way."

But then all of a sudden, he is very excited to go, and we can't figure out why until we found out that Esther Rosenblum is going.

-Ha ha ha!

-Oh, my God!

I love that story every time.

Ah, Esther, what a dress!

-It really suits your coloring.

-Mom!

Oh, God.

You--you know why I think you and David are such a good match?

It's because you're both so sensitive.

Tammy?

Tammy, hasn't your brother always been so sensitive?

Tammy: No.

Oh, no.

David is the sensitive one, but Tammy here-- Tammy's moody.

-Right, Tam-tam?

-Hmm.

I'm not moody, I'm just annoyed by you.

-See?

-Well, Abby.

Abby, come here.

Have I introduced you?

This is my future daughter-in-law Esther.

Isn't she so gorgeous?

She's so exotic.

-Mom, Jesus Christ.

-What?

She's got a shayna ponem right here.

Right here.

Aww.

[Birds singing] -Pa?

-Hmm?

What if I don't get anything?

Well then, everyone's gonna laugh at you.

Ha ha ha!

It's not a competition, my boy.

We hunt for food, to take care of our family.

If I do get one, Mom's gonna be real proud.

Ha ha!

She sure will.

[Music playing on radio] Asin!

-Hey, Pops!

-Boys.

Leo... today you become a hunter, huh?

You guys hear Thomas here got a payout?

What the hell for?

-Move off the reserve.

-How much did they give you?

Come on, tell him.

Ha ha ha!

2,000.

-Ha ha ha!

-2,000... to get rid of you?

Not bad.

Asin: You know, if they pay us to move off the reserve, there'll be nothing left.

We ain't got nothing left anyway, Uncle.

-This is true.

-Stop kidding yourself.

Let's go then.

Asin: All right, boys.

Let's get a deer.

Yeah, let's do that.

[Men laughing] -Sellout.

-Ha ha ha!

[Mom humming] [Dora coughing] [Dora moaning] [Mom humming] [Dora coughs] [Dora coughs] [Mom humming] [Mom humming] [Birds and insects chirping] ♪ [Insect buzzing] [Twig snaps] ♪ [Kids speaking indistinctly] Ha ha ha!

[Wind blowing] Ha ha ha!

OK, you lovebirds.

-Speeches in 20 minutes.

-I have convinced your father to say nothing, you'll be happy to hear.

-Why?

What was he gonna say?

-Uh, well, he's your father, so he was gonna embarrass you.

Ha ha!

Yeah, a lot of single entendres.

-You know your dad.

-Please excuse me for a moment.

I'll be right back.

Excuse me.

Goodbye, darling.

Bye, sweetheart.

[Piano music playing] Mom, why are you standing over here all alone?

Where should I be standing?

Go socialize.

And why is this party so many people?

With so much display?

They have to let us know how much money they're spending?

Mom, please lower your voice and please don't say that -to anybody else.

-Who am I talking to?

Look, there's Dad and Cheryl.

I can't talk to him.

You don't have to see him.

I'll talk to him.

Zei gezunt.

He should live and be well.

Ha ha ha!

You go, you go.

[Sighs] Dad, you didn't tell me Cheryl was coming.

-Are you having a great time?

-Mm-hmm.

Thank you so much for coming.

You know, why don't you go get a plate, and I'll be back in a minute.

Honey, wait a sec.

I'm Not done bragging about you.

Where are you going?

-Hildie!

-Esther!

Hey, how is everyone behaving on a scale from terrible to terrible?

-Meh.

-Yeah.

Well, you look like a rock star and fuck them, right?

I got to show her something.

Aw, is it your dick?

Heh.

No.

Ha ha ha!

-David, where are we going?

-Shh, shh, shh.

[Indistinct chatter] Hey.

How you doing?

I'm good.

I'm fine.

I am.

You, uh... You only have in one earring.

-Oh my-- -Ha ha ha!

How are you doing?

-David-- -OK, OK, OK, I'll drop it, but you're lying, and it's not even... good lying.

Well, what did you want to show me?

I Wanted to show you these stairs.

This is the stairwell.

Welcome.

And, uh... and I wanted to give you a little break from the party.

I like this dress.

I can reach right up it.

[Panting] [Moaning] Yeah, we probably should get back to the party.

-Ha ha ha!

-It's right through there.

[Belt buckle clinking] Or we could stay.

[Unzipping] Oh, yeah.

We could stay, huh?

No, you're right, you're right, you're right.

You're right.

[Exhales] Ha ha ha!

[Zipping] I'm sorry.

I fucking love you.

♪ [Woman whispering] [Thumps on microphone] Hildie: Hi, everybody.

-Hi.

-Hi.

I'm Hildie.

Um, I'm gonna make a bitchin' speech at the wedding.

Ha ha!

But for now, a quick introduction.

Esther is consistently the most beautiful person I know.

And, uh, David's all right.

[Laughter] And now the happy couple!

-L'chaim!

-L'chaim!

[Applause] Esther: That was great.

[Insects chirping, birds singing] -You all right, Antsy Pants?

-Mm-hmm.

[Vehicle approaching] Niizh, no!

[Glass pops] Officer: Jesus Christ!

[Car door opens] David: So, for all of Esther's friends from law school, I'm a resident at Beth Israel General in emergency medicine.

David's dad: My son the doctor!

Thanks, Dad.

Yeah.

There have been some interesting shifts.

Uh, like the guy who took an axe to his own forehead and was bleeding all over the ground.

And then when I come home and I tell Esther all about this, how I slipped in the blood, how I started vomiting outside, how the axe guy saw me vomiting, and I had to sort of pretend like I wasn't vomiting because of him.

[Laughter] Esther puts up with a lot.

She puts up with all that and more.

[Camera clicks] When I'm with Esther, I feel happy.

Without her, I don't know what happiness even is.

[Camera clicks] Uh, that's what I mean when I say that I love you.

To Esther.

-To Esther!

-Mazel tov!

Woman: Mazel tov!

[Applause] Officer: Hey.

Do you think this is funny?

Hey, this is cracked!

-Go!

Run home!

-Stop!

-Come on!

Go get them!

-Hey, come back here!

Hey, stop running!

I'm not kidding, you need to stop right now!

No, Niizh, don't stop!

Aah!

[Insect buzzing] [Snap] Esther: To, uh...

Sorry.

Nervous.

[Laughter] To Marvin and Lea... Oh.

Thank you for this beautiful party.

It's huge.

I don't know how the wedding can top it.

[Laughter] David is my bashert.

For all the non-Jews, all one of you... wherever you are... he is my destiny... the other half of my soul.

[Camera clicks] I could talk about him for hours, but at this engagement party among friends, I want to say... my mother Golda... she had a sister, and her name was Esther.

She died...in Poland.

My mother was 12 when her whole family was...

So, I guess I do feel there is meaning in all of this in a future with David... and in a new Jewish generation and in bright shining lives stretching out ahead of us.

A prayer, and then I'm done.

[Speaking Hebrew] [Applause] [Cheering and applause] [Piano playing up-tempo music] I'm gonna dance.

[Singing in Hebrew] [Rhythmic clapping] ♪ Aah!

Let me go!

-Don't touch me!

-Hmm!

You're hurting me!

Let me go!

Don't touch me!

Aah!

Oh, let me go!

[Melancholy piano music] -Aah!

-Let me go!

-Let's go.

-Let me go!

-Aah!

-Let me go!

♪ Let me go.

♪ [Rhythmic clapping] [Wind blowing] [Gunshot] [Lighter flicks] [Piano playing light jazz] Lea: Did you hear her out there?

She and David are the answer to the Holocaust?

So she's just like a regular Jew?

Tammy: Mom!

Lea: I know, OK?

I know.

David is very happy with her.

She makes him very happy, I know that.

Tammy: So?

Lea: So it's not about that.

It's about all the other things.

We don't know anything about her family.

Why was she given up for adoption?

What was the problem there?

Woman: I think we know what the problem was.

Well, exactly, exactly.

Now what?

What?

Now she's gonna be a mother of her own, and that's--that's just gonna go fine?

Woman: Look, I think you got one of the good ones.

She's a lawyer.

I have a cousin who adopted one of them, and he's into the drugs -and all that stuff.

-Mom, it's too late for this.

I know it's too late, OK?

That's the whole point.

I didn't realize it was gonna go this far.

I thought she was like a little number.

Tammy: That's disgusting.

♪ Esther...Esther... don't take it the wrong way.

[Glass shatters].

OK. OK. No, that's fine.

I'll get someone to clean it up.

It's fine.

David: What's going on?

Esther: Nothing.

I just dropped a glass.

-It's OK. -Oh, God!

Someone's gonna clean it up.

It's fine.

-I got it.

-We're fine!

-Thank you, Mildred.

-Esther?

David: Mom.

[Indistinct chatter] Mom, can we go home?

-Why?

-It's fine, I just had enough.

Esther.

Esther.

[Car engine humming] [Car engine stops] [Car doors opening and closing] Woman: Nice to see you, Reggie.

This is Miss Halpern.

Reggie: Bet You were delighted to get our call?

Woman: Hmm.

These are the two children?

Reggie: Yeah.

Woman: Were you the one that threw the rock at their car?

Where was your mother while all of this was happening, dear?

Hmm?

You don't know where she was?

Home.

And where is she now?

Home.

They cracked our windshield, Jeannie.

Oh, yeah.

OK. Well, let's get these two into the car.

-I want to go home!

-Let me go.

Yes, that's exactly where we're going right now.

Get in the car.

-Ow!

It hurts!

-Get in the goddamn car!

OK, OK, he's in.

-You OK?

-Adele?

[Wind blowing] [Car approaching] Reggie: You want us to go in with you, Jeannie?

Jeannie: Generally, yes.

We like to have you in these situations.

-We don't know what kind of... -Mama!

Reggie: Or worse.

Jeannie: Yes, exactly.

And we don't know the mother.

Better safe than sorry.

-Hmm... -Hey, it's OK.

It's OK, it's OK. Bezhig: I want to go inside.

Reggie: Come on, let's go!

Just like we practiced, OK?

You don't come out until I get back.

Don't talk, don't move, OK?

-Yeah.

-OK.

I love you.

Jeannie: Unbelievable!

Bezhig: No!

Ugh, I want to go in my house!

Officer: Hey, hey, hey!

Going in our car!

-No, I'm not!

-Are these your children?

We're from Child Protective Services.

Ma'am, no!

[Overlapping shouting] You cannot do that!

Follow me!

Come on!

Come on, baby!

-The hell she doing?

-Where are you going?!

We just want to talk!

Aah.

My baby.

It's OK.

It's OK. -Hey, come back here!

-Niizh!

Bezhig: Niizh!

[Bird cawing] -Want one?

-No, thank you.

[Sighs] Can get lively.

But don't you worry.

He's gonna catch her.

Bezhig: No!

Mom: No!

Jeannie: Ah, there you go.

Mom: No!

Get down!

Let me go!

OK, OK. -It's over, it's over.

-No, no, no, no, no!

-Give me my daughter!

-Mom!

-It's OK. -Let me go now!

-I'm right here, baby.

-Let me go!

My baby.

My baby.

Bezhig: No!

Where did you say you were from again?

Hmm... Um, originally from Saskatoon.

Mm-hmm.

Although I did my B.A.

in Toronto.

In social work?

-I just graduated.

-Oh, you don't say.

Mom: It's OK, I'm right here, right here.

Reggie: Let's go!

Mom: Leave her alone!

My baby!

Give me my kid!

Jeannie: Ma'am?

Ma'am, your son damaged federal property.

He was up by the highway.

Why did you just run from the police like that?

All right then.

Adele: I think she might be too upset to speak.

Are you taking my children?!

Ma'am, what is your full name?

Patri--Patricia.

Patricia Little Bird.

"Little Bird."

OK. Mrs. Little Bird.

We're child caseworkers with the Child Protective Services in Saskatchewan, do you understand?

We're here to determine if you're a fit mother.

All right, shall we go inside?

-No, I want my kids.

-Let's go.

-I won't let you.

-Adele.

-Please!

-Let us out!

-Leave her alone!

-I'm sorry!

Adele, this is your chance to learn.

Mrs. Little Bird, how often do you leave your children unsupervised?

I'm sorry.

What's your answer?

There's always someone around.

Aunties, cousins.

Leo, my eldest.

He's 10.

He looks after them.

And where is he now?

Hunting with my husband.

Mm-hmm.

No fridge?

No electricity.

No one has that here.

There's no phone.

My auntie has a phone.

We go there to make calls.

Bezhig: Let me go!

Let us out of here!

We're sorry!

They're fed.

They don't go hungry.

There's no plumbing.

No one has that on the reserve.

Then how do you provide your children with clean water?

Rain barrels, haul it from the river.

Adele: Should we look at the rain barrels?

If there's water in them, then they have water.

[Scoffs] [Jeannie sighs] Jeannie: One bedroom?

Three children?

Yes, one bedroom.

[Whispering] The main things are... lack of food, lack of clean water, general poor conditions.

That's what these three ticks are here and then the client.

Adele: Mm-hmm.

[Jeannie exhales] We're going to have to apprehend your children today, Mrs. Little Bird.

Are you listening?

Mrs. Little Bird?

-Please-- -Ma'am, stay seated!

Adele, whispering: I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

[Dora coughs] Is there someone else in this house?

No.

No.

-We should take a tour?

-Mm-hmm.

[Tapping wood] Please.

Like I said, my husband has gone hunting.

[Clanking] Jeannie?

Get over here.

[Dora coughs] OK, come on.

Hey.

Come on, kid.

[Dora coughing] [Door opens] Hey!

Hey!

Stay back, ma'am!

-Grab this.

-No, no, no!

Nooo!

No!

-Give me my children!

-If you don't calm down, we're going back inside.

[Indistinct shouting] -That's it!

-Let me go!

-Aah!

-Get away from my son!

-Come on, I'll quiet you down.

-Calm down.

Oh!

Nooo!

[Engine revving] Nooo!

-Mom!

-Nooo!

-Nooo!

Let me go!

-Hey, hey, hey!

-Mom!

-Nooo!

-Mom!

-No!

Help!

[Screaming and sobbing] They're idiots.

They've always been idiots.

Twenty years I've known them, they've been idiots the whole time.

Lea--she likes the attention.

She likes everybody listening to her.

Oh, poor Lea, it's so hard to have this trouble with your daughter-in-law.

It's not a good quality.

But you're not marrying Lea.

You're marrying her son, and David is not like his mother.

So she said a few words.

So she said a lot of words.

That's Lea for you.

[Keys clinking] [Door opens] This is not your problem.

This is their problem.

You are... a beautiful person.

Lea is an old lady who likes to complain.

Esther... [Telephone ringing] And that's David calling, I'm sure.

[Ringing] Come on, you're not gonna answer?

Esther, you're not gonna answer?

David?

Jeannie: We're almost there.

This is where you'll be staying.

You'll meet a lot of other children who are just like you.

Adele, help them out of the car.

Right.

Come here.

OK. Can we go?

Woman: And who do you have for us today?

-Three new wards.

-Here we go.

All right.

-Let's go.

-Yeah, you go with her.

Go.

[Sighs] Excellent.

Come on.

♪ Golda: Yes.

Yes.

She told me all about it.

No, don't worry.

I know, I know.

It's not your fault.

[Golda speaking indistinctly] ♪ [Woman whispering] [Door opens and closes] Woman: It's bedtime.

[Dora coughing] [Dora crying] It's OK, Dora.

-It's OK. -Back in bed!

It's OK. She has a fever.

Woman: You see all the other children lying down?

Yeah, but she's still crying.

She'll stop.

It's bedtime.

Lie down.

[Dora coughing] [Dora crying and coughing] She's still crying.

Like I said, she'll stop.

[Dora coughing and crying] ♪ [Dora coughing and crying] ♪ Dora: Bezhig, please.

[Dora coughing and crying] Bezhig, help me.

[Bezhig sobbing] Bezhig!

[Woman vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪