Silas was looking for freedom and independence.
He ran away from his circus because he was treated poorly.
With his friend Godik the Lame, he began facing new challenges.
Even the poorest people give him something for his artistic performances.
He could earn money in the city.
They were staying with an old woman in humble lodgings.
The woman was involved in some shady business.
She had hidden something behind a stack of firewood.
Silas wanted to know what that was.
He wanted the woman out of the house, and he had a plan.
Do you want to buy a wooden spoon?
What do you want here? Go away.
Do you want to buy these spoons?
- Are you serious? - Yeah!
- Better get out of here. - Thanks!
This money comes from the other side of the sea?
- Yes, I think so. - Thanks.
I have a message.
I have a message for you.
A man wants to talk with you.
Silver...
Who?
The man who gave me the coin, wants to see you in the harbor pub.
- Don't lie to me. - I never lie.
Maybe it's my son.
You have a son?
What do you think? Go on, beat it!
What is it?
- OK? - That woman's smart, but not smart enough.
We've got to hurry.
Stay up there. You're too slow with your limp.
- I didn't mean it that way. - It's all right. Hurry up.
Is it silver? It's pretty heavy.
- Of course. - Is it valuable?
More precious than all the money here.
- There's lots more. - Put it back there right away.
Did you find your son?
Ask again.
Could you find your son?
Too bad.
Come on, let's head off to the beach.
This is just the weather we need!
Godik, Godik!
- The smugglers. I'm going to watch. - Be careful, Silas.
Hurry up.
Gently.
Don't make a noise.
Damn it!
- What are you doing? - I have to go down there.
Have you gone crazy? Stay here.
If only we don't suffer at the hands of the top guys.
Are you afraid of those two louts? Come on!
Attack them as they sleep, shut their mouths for keeps.
- Strangle them? - Or take them them with you.
They know too much, they know everything.
And when they're dead, or if you've got them...
Nobody will miss them.
When?
Tonight.
- And their horses? - I'll take care of that.
Tell the miller to send 40 next week.
It's going well. One day, we'll live in my palace.
If we don't go to the gallows.
Keep your mouths shut and no one will trace the boys here.
They want to murder us. We've got to go. Pack everything.
What?
You heard me — they want to kill us! Here, the bowls.
Quickly!
Let's move.
Quickly! Quietly!
Come on, Blackie. Very quietly.
Silas!
Oh, so you want to escape!
- Godik, push the gate open. - You're not going anywhere!
Silas!
Cut them down!
Godik, come on!
- Do you remember our musician at all? - Sure.
They were going to hang him on the gallows, because he was a thief.
But they turned him loose.
- Now he thinks he'll live forever. - Come on, Silas.
No, he really does.
People have wanted me dead at least three times: first Bartolin, then Emanuel,
and Philip also always wanted me dead.
And even Maria tried it, too — then there's last night.
I don't think I can keep being lucky.
It's like being freed from the gallows.
Here, hold these.
Is anyone there?
It's the little girl the old hag kidnapped.
- Open up. We won't hurt you. - I can't.
You know us, anyway. What's your name again?
My name is Jenny and she is my grandmother.
- Are you alone? - Yes, I can talk to anyone.
Let us in.
I shouldn't let anyone in.
- Don't worry, we won't harm anything. - We only want to warm up.
Where did she go, that old witch?
Don't we know those guys?
- Tell me, or I'll strangle you. - Stop, please.
We're here because Godik needs to rest and because we're hungry.
And was there anything else?
And we wanted to stay overnight.
This isn't an inn for thieves.
We're not thieves.
Then how did you get those two horses?
Yes, of course. I saw you in Jenny's village.
Let's go.
We'll pay for our lodging.
- With what? You're broke! - With a bar of silver.
- Say that again. - With a bar of silver.
- Show me. - The silver is in the city.
- Don't lie. - I never lie.
Jenny, fry up some bacon, pancakes, and potatoes.
Sleeping — You can sleep here.
Where is the silver — exactly?
In an old house with a stable owned by a deaf woman.
I do know that woman... Where exactly?
She knows where there's more silver.
- Why didn't you take some? - How could I start?
A deaf old woman?
And dumb. She always pays only half of what I charge for knife-sharpening.
Yeah, that's her, all right.
And awfully stingy.
- You're pretty tight, too. - I know.
- Have you always been so mean? - Always!
Why?
Did they set you free from the gallows, too?
Well, you are brutal.
Why do you betray a deaf woman? You're no better.
She wanted to murder me and Godik.
And I think you'll let Jenny go if you have the silver.
Jenny is my granddaughter, you got that?
That horse again. He gets lonely.
How did you get in here? I had you tied up.
Come along now.
The old hag is gone.
She went to get the silver.
We can sleep when you bring that crazy horse back outside.
Scissors-sharpening! Scissors-sharpening!
I don't need any. Get out of here.
- What are you up to? - You're about to find out.
- Come on, Jenny. - I don't dare to.
Don't be afraid, we have a big head start.
- No. - She'll never catch us. Come on.
Now where's that silver of yours?
You're too late, you old hag.
Who do you get the silver from?
Who?
I'm not saying.
All right, have it your way.
Why did you tell her about the silver?
- I knew she would leave us there alone. - So we could get away.
I'll talk.
From the miller... on the upper river.
The hoof prints are still in the sand. Maybe we can track him.
Who would do this?
If anyone's going to cry, it's me. It's my horse.
You don't have to be upset, Jenny.
We got away safely, and nothing will happen to you.
I'm not staying here by myself.
Nobody is.
You only have one horse. Two can sit on it.
My horse will only take one, Jenny, and that's him.
- Why him? - Because Silas to hurry.
If I don't catch that old hag before she gets that silver...
I'll never see Blackie again.
I'd head straight to the mill on the river.
But where's that?
You'll find out where the mill is.
We'll wait here for you. Good luck.
Look... Blackie was a bit lively for the old hag.
I must catch that woman before she gets that silver. Let's go.
We were supposed to wait in the dunes. If we miss him...
Jenny, he's going to the mill on the river — so we'll go to the river.
- All right. - We're the only ones who can help Silas.
I guess so.
They've almost killed him three times. But you never know.
Please understand, I must get Blackie back.
You like Blackie, too, don't you?
And don't you want to see Godik again?
She got away. I'll show her.
Do you have money?
Shoes cost money.
That's all right, then.
- You'll have to wait two hours. - No, now.
In two hours. I have other jobs.
Now.
In two hours, I'll only pay one silver piece.
And so?
But if you do it now, I'll give you two pieces of silver now
and another when you're finished.
You're smart. Are you from the city? Are you looking for someone?
Yes, a tall, smelly old woman. Maybe you've seen her.
They call her old hag. She's stolen my horse.
With that description, you're talking about a black stallion.
That's Blackie! Have you seen him?
Yeah, this morning. He galloped upstream along the river.
Upstream along the river?
If you ask me, the old hag is the devil's grandmother.
The mill on the river... where is that?
Well? Where is the river mill?
Over there, right behind the river bend.
Wretched woman. Her mouth was stuffed with peat. Who does she think she is?
Hello... Hello.
Is anyone there?
So much the better.
First we get the silver — then we leave this miserable country.
So, stallion, you stop here to rest.
Soon, you'll have a lot to carry. Silver is heavy.
And if anyone comes, keep your cool.
Don't be angry that I'm laboring you — it's not much farther.
Hey, hello. Can you tell me how far it is to the mill?
Get lost, brat. I've got a lot of work to do. Beat it!
He needs a rest.
And I'm hungry.
Well, I understand. We'll rest. We're not there yet.
Actually, I can't go much farther, either.
I really can't. Let's see what I can catch.
Where is it? Where is it?
I've searched everything and everywhere!
Nothing... that simply can't be!
The house burned? Who was it?
If only I were a horse...
Maybe because we took this break, Blackie will be lost to me forever.
But maybe we'll get lucky and that woman will still be at the mill.
Fingers crossed.
That's right, fingers crossed.
I'll get some wood so we don't get cold.
Have you gone crazy? These fish were for me.
My fish were all I had to eat.
Horses don't eat fish. Why did you?
Just because you're wearing that hat?
Well, if you eat fish, you can also cross your fingers for me.
Go on. Maybe you can grab those boys. Good luck.
The fat guy makes it sound so easy.
Wouldn't you know — the mill was just around the bend.
And we didn't know it.
Not a trace of Blackie...
We might have found the old hag if not for your gluttony.
I'll see what we can learn. Let's hide you.
Well, the silver is still here.
Then Blackie must still be somewhere in the neighborhood.
What do you want from me?
Think carefully... What was I here for?
Flour? Say so then.
I have the time. I'll stay here until I learn what I want to know.
I like ladies visiting, especially lookers like you.
That makes me happy, Miller.
What's this talk about?
- This surely is the river mill? - You're joking, right, woman?
I still have to convey the greetings of that old deaf woman...
... from Fisherman's Alley.
What deaf woman?
Someone who can't hear anything? I don't have any friends like that.
- No? - No.
And now it's time to leave.
I'm tired and don't want to stand up after working so hard.
You wanted to give me a beating, wretched meal worm?
Your friend's house burned down... unfortunately.
I don't have any women friends.
The silver behind the wood was gone.
I got a little fire going on her account.
Yes, that was bad.
That fire was out of my hands... if you know what I mean.
- They will hang you. - For speaking with you?
No — because tomorrow the militia will be here to search the mill.
Thos bags are not just for flour or cereal.
You'll hang within a week.
You're lying.
You've betrayed me?!
Why should I have betrayed you?
The deaf one told the truth.
Where's the silver?
Let's have a drink.
I have good wine downstairs. Then you tell me everything. Agreed?
All right.
What was that?
Oh, nothing.
Where there's meal, there are rats and mice.
They eat here until their bellies are thick and round.
Why should I worry?
Why should I possibly care about corn and grain now?
Rotten cow...
- Miller. - Yeah, I'm coming.
Where did you get that?
You dropped the flute on the floor.
That is NOT my flute, Miller.
That flute belons to a rat.
And if we don't find that rat at once...
then they'll hang us both.