Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Topol: Tevye
Photos
Quotes
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Tevye : Dear God. Did you have to send me news like that - today of all days? I know, I know we are the chosen people. But once in a while, can't you choose someone else?
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Tevye : [in song] Do you love me?
Golde : [speaking] I'm your wife!
Tevye : [speaking] I know!
[in song]
Tevye : But do you love me?
Golde : [singing] Do I love him? For twenty-five years I've lived with him, fought with him, starved with him. Twenty-five years, my bed is his...
Tevye : Shh!
Golde : [singing] If that's not love, what is?
Tevye : [singing] Then you love me!
Golde : I suppose I do!
Tevye : Oh.
[sings]
Tevye : And I suppose I love you too.
Tevye , Golde : [singing] It doesn't change a thing, but even so... After twenty-five years, it's nice to know.
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Villager : An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
Tevye : Very good. That way the whole world will be blind and toothless.
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[to God]
Tevye : Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?"
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Lazar Wolf : How is your brother-in-law? In America?
Tevye : Oh, he's doing very well.
Lazar Wolf : Oh, he wrote you?
Tevye : No, not lately.
Lazar Wolf : Then how do you know?
Tevye : If he was doing badly, he would write.
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Tevye : Where are you going?
Lazar Wolf : Chicago. In America.
Tevye : Chicago, America? We are going to New York, America. We'll be neighbors.
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Tevye : And in the circle of our little village, We've always had our special types. For instance, Yente the matchmaker, Reb Nachum the beggar... And most important of all, our beloved Rabbi.
Leibesh : Rabbi, may I ask you a question?
Rabbi : Certainly, Lebisch!
Leibesh : Is there a proper blessing... for the Tsar?
Rabbi : A blessing for the Tsar? Of course! May God bless and keep the Tsar... far away from us!
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[repeated line]
Tevye : On the other hand...
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Golde : Oh, you're finally here. Come, let's go home now.
Tevye : I want to see Motel's new machine.
Golde : You can see it some other time. Let's go home now.
Tevye : Quiet, woman, before I get angry! Because when I get angry, even flies don't dare to fly!
Golde : [sarcastically] I'm very frightened of you. After we finish supper I'll faint.
Tevye : [angrily] Golde, I am the head of the house! I am the head of the family! And I want to see Motel's new machine NOW!
[He looks inside then closes the door]
Tevye : Now, lets go home.
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Lazar Wolf : Tevye, after the marriage, we will be related. You will be my - papa!
Tevye : Your papa? Lazar Wolf, I always wanted a son. But I wanted one a little younger than myself!
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[first lines]
Tevye : A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!
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Tevye : Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a *fiddler*--on the roof!
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Lazar Wolf : How is it going with you, Reb Tevye?
Tevye : How should it go?
Lazar Wolf : You are right.
Tevye : And you?
Lazar Wolf : The same.
Tevye : I'm sorry to hear that.
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Tevye : [to God] Anyway, Motel and Tzeitel have been married for some time now. They work very hard, and they're as poor as squirrels in winter. But, they're so happy, they don't know how miserable they are.
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Tevye : [to God] It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. After all, with Your help, I'm starving to death.
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Tevye : As the good book says, if you spit in the air, it lands in your face.
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Tevye : [after seeing Chava and Fyedka talking] What were you and he talking about?
Chava : Nothing. We were just talking.
Tevye : Good.
[walks away]
Chava : [chasing after Teyve] Papa! Fyedka and I... We've known each other for a long time...
Tevye : Chaveleh, I would be much happier if you remained friends from a distance. You must not forget who you are and who that man is.
Chava : He has a name, Papa.
Tevye : Of course. All creatures on Earth have a name.
Chava : Fyedka is not a creature, Papa. Fyedka is a man!
Tevye : Who says he isn't? It's just that he's a different kind of man. As the Good Book says, "Each shall seek his own kind." In other words, a bird may love a fish, but where would they build a home together?
Chava : The world is changing, Papa!
Tevye : [rounding on her] No!
[calmly]
Tevye : No. Some things do not change for us. Some things will never change.
Chava : We don't feel that way.
Tevye : We?
Chava : Fyedka and I... We want to be married.
Tevye : What? Are you out of your mind? Don't you understand what that means, marrying outside of the faith?
Chava : But, Papa...
Tevye : I said no! Never talk about it again. Never mention his name again. Never see him again. Do you understand me?
Chava : [quietly] Yes, Papa. I understand you.
-
[Tevye admires the lavishness of a butcher's home]
Tevye : And all this from killing innocent animals.
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Tevye : Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything: how to sleep, how to eat... how to work... how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl that shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, "How did this tradition get started?" I'll tell you!
[pause]
Tevye : I don't know. But it's a tradition... and because of our traditions... Every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.
Men : [singing] Who, day and night, must scramble for a living, feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers, and who has the right as master of the house to have the final word at home? The papa! The papa! Tradition! The papa! The papa! Tradition!
Women : Who must know the way to make a proper home, a quiet home, a kosher home? Who must raise a family and run the home, so Papa's free to read the Holy Book? The mama! The mama! Tradition! The mama! The mama! Tradition!
Sons : [singing] At three I started Hebrew school, at ten I learned a trade. I hear they've picked a bride for me, I hope she's pretty.
Daughters : [singing] And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix, preparing her to marry whoever Papa picks? The daughters! The daughters! Tradition!
Men : [singing] The papas!
Women : [singing] Mamas!
Sons : [singing] Sons!
Daughters : [singing] The daughters!
All : [singing] Tradition!
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[after Chava elopes]
Tevye : [singing] Little bird... Little Chaveleh. I don't understand what's happening today. Everything is all a blur... All I can see is a happy child, the sweet little bird you were, Chaveleh, Chaveleh... Little bird, little Chaveleh, you were always such a pretty little thing, everybody's favorite child... Gentle and kind and affectionate, what a sweet little bird you were, Chaveleh, Chaveleh...
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[Perchik and Hodel have announced their engagement]
Tevye : He loves her. Love, it's a new style... On the other hand, our old ways were once new, weren't they?... On the other hand, they decided without parents, without a matchmaker!... On the other hand, did Adam and Eve have a matchmaker?... Well, yes, they did. And it seems these two have the same Matchmaker!
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Lazar Wolf : Have a drink?
Tevye : I won't insult you by saying no.
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Tevye : Then there are the others in our village. They make a much bigger circle. We don't bother them, and so far, they don't bother us. And among ourselves, we *always* get along perfectly well.
[pointing to Itchak and Avram]
Tevye : Of course, there was the time when he sold him a horse and told him it was only six years old, when it was really 12. But now, it's all over, and we live in simple peace and harmony.
[In Avram's ear]
Tevye : It was 12 years old.
[Avram nods]
Itchak : It was six!
Avram : Tevye knows!
[they begin arguing]
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Tevye : And until your golden day comes, Rev. Perchik, How will you live?
Perchik : By giving lessons to children, Do you have any children?
Tevye : I have five daughters.
Perchik : [Looking to Tevye in disbelief] Five?
Tevye : Daughters...
Perchik : Girls can learn too, girls are people.
Mendel : A radical!
Tevye : Oh, go away!
Perchik : I'd be willing to teach them, open their minds to great thoughts.
Tevye : Yeah? I'd like them to know the Good Book.
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Tevye : They gave each other a pledge? Unheard of. Absurd.
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[last lines]
Tevye : All right children. Let's go.
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Golde : Tevye! Tevye!
Tevye : What is it?
Golde : It's Chava. She left home this morning, with Fyedka.
Tevye : What?
Golde : I've looked everywhere for her. I even went to the priest. He told me they were married.
Tevye : Married?
Golde : Yes.
Tevye : Well... Go home, Golde. We have other children at home. You have work to do, I have work to do, go home.
Golde : [anguished] But Chaveleh!
Tevye : Chava is dead to us! We'll forget her.
[gently]
Tevye : Go home. Go home, Golde.
[Golde walks away, crying]
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Tevye : [to Golde] Quiet, woman, before I get angry, because when I get angry even flies don't dare to fly!
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Constable : [after the Jews of Anatevka declare they would fight for their homeland] Against our militia, our army? I wouldn't advise that!
Tevye : I have some advice for you. Get off my land. This is still my home, my land. Get off my land.
Constable : [Snatches the eviction notice out of Tevye's hands and rides off] You have three days!
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[the constable enters Anatevka]
Tevye : Welcome, your honour, what's the good news in the world?
Constable : I see you have company.
Tevye : [looks at them nervously] They are my friends.
Constable : It's just as well. What I have to say is for their ears also. How much time do you need to sell your house and household goods?
Tevye : Why should I sell my house? Is it in anybody's way?
Constable : I came to tell you that you have to leave Anatevka.
Tevye : How did I come to deserve such an honour?
Constable : Not just you of course, but all of you!
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Tevye : I would discuss the Holy Books with the learned men seven hours every day, and that would be the sweetest thing of all.
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Tevye : [about Perchik] Is he in bad trouble, that hero of yours?
[Hodel nods]
Tevye : Arrested?
[she nods again]
Tevye : Convicted?
Hodel : Yes. But he did nothing wrong. He cares nothing for himself. Everything he does is for other people.
Tevye : Yes, but if he did nothing wrong, he wouldn't be in trouble.
Hodel : Oh Papa, how can you say that? What wrongs did Joseph do? And Abraham, and Moses? And they had troubles.
Tevye : Yes, but... But why won't you tell me where he is now, this Joseph of yours?
Hodel : It is far, Papa. Terribly far. He is in a settlement in Siberia.
Tevye : [shocked] Siberia! And he asks you to leave your father and mother, and join him in that frozen wasteland and marry him there?
Hodel : No, Papa. He did not ask me to go. I *want* to go. I don't want him to be alone. I want to help him in his work.
Tevye : Hodel...
Hodel : Papa.
[sings]
Hodel : How can I hope to make you understand, why I do what I do? Why I must travel to a distant land, far from the home I love. Once I was happily content to be, as I was, where I was. Close to the people who are close to me, here in the home I love. Who could see that a man would come, who would change the shape of my dreams? Helpless now, I stand with him, watching older dreams grow dim. Oh, what a melancholy choice this is, wanting home, wanting him... Closing my heart to every hope but his, leaving the home I love. There where my heart has settled long ago, I must go, I must go. Who could imagine I'd be wandering so far from the home I love. Yet... there with my love, I'm home.
[the train is heard]
Tevye : [concerned] And, who my child will there be to perform a marriage there in the wilderness?
Hodel : [smiling] Papa, I promise you, we will be married under a canopy.
Tevye : Yes, yes. No doubt, a Rabbi or two were also arrested.
[the train pulls in, Tevye lifts Hodel's luggage aboard]
Hodel : [crying and hugging him] Papa! God alone knows when we shall see each other again.
Tevye : Then, we will leave it in His hands.
[he helps her aboard and watches the train pull out]
Tevye : [looking up] Take care of her. See that she dresses warm.
-
Tevye : Anyway, Motel and Tzeitel have been married for some time now. They work very hard. And the are as poor as squirrels in winter, but they are so happy, they don't know how miserable they are.
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Chava : Papa? Papa, I've been looking everywhere for you.
[Tevye begins to walk away without speaking]
Chava : Papa? Papa, stop! At least listen to me! Papa? I beg you to accept us!
[the scene freezes]
Tevye : Accept them? How can I accept them? Can I deny everything I believe in?
[looks back at Chava]
Tevye : On the other hand - can I deny my own daughter? On the other hand - how can I turn my back on my faith? My people? If I try and bend that far, I'll break! On the other hand... No - there is no other hand! No Chava! no!
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Tevye : [talking to God] I know. You are very busy now. Wars, revolutions, floods, plagues... all those little things that bring people back to you, but couldn't you take a second and get him his sewing machine?
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Tevye : Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as... as a fiddler on the roof!
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Tevye : [singing] It won't make one bit of difference, If I answer right or wrong, When you're rich, they think you really know...
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Tevye : Patience, woman, patience. As the Good Book says, good news will stay. And bad news will refuse to leave.
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Tevye : Golde, he's a good man. I like him. He's a little crazy, but I like him. And what's more important, Hodel likes him. Hodel loves him. So what can we do? It's a new world, Golde. A new world. Love.
-
Tevye : [saying goodbye to his horse] Well my old friend, it's time to say goodbye. The farmer Bushenko will be coming for you later. He's not a bad sort - if you are good to him, he'll be good to you. Take care of that leg, huh? Thanks for everything.
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Tevye : Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor. But it's no great honor either! So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
[singing]
Tevye : If I were a rich man, Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum, All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum, If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work hard, Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum, If I were a biddy biddy rich, Idle deedle daidle daidle man... .
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Tevye : Dear God. Was that necessary? Did you have to make him lame just before the Sabbath? That wasn't nice. It's enough you pick on me. Bless me with five daughters, a life of poverty, that's all right. But what have you got against my horse?
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Lazar Wolf : Tevye, I understand how you feel. But, after all, you have a few more without her.
Tevye : Ah, I see. Today you want one. Tomorrow you may want two.
Lazar Wolf : Two? What - what would I do with two?
Tevye : The same as you do with one!
Lazar Wolf : [pause] Tevye - this is important to me.
Tevye : Why is it so important?
Lazar Wolf : Frankly, because - I'm lonely.
Tevye : Lonely? Reb Lazar, what are you talking about? How can a little cow keep you company?
Lazar Wolf : [outraged] Little cow? Is that what you call her?
Tevye : What else should I call her? That's what she is! Reb Lazar, what are you talking about?
Lazar Wolf : Don't you know?
Tevye : Of course I know! We are talking about my new milk cow! The one you want to buy from me!
Lazar Wolf : A milk cow!
[laughs]
Lazar Wolf : A milk cow so I won't be lonely? I'm talk - I'm talking about your daughter. Your daughter Tzeitel.
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Tevye : [singing] Where do you think you are? In Moscow? In Paris? Where do they think they are? America? What do you think you're doing? You stitcher, you're nothing, Who do you think you are? King Solomon? This isn't the way it's done, Not here, not now - some things I will not, I cannot allow! Tradition! Marriages must be arranged - by the papa! This should never be changed! One little time you pull out a prop, and where does it stop? Where does it stop?
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Tevye : Either you're out of your mind or you are crazy! He must be crazy! Arranging a match for yourself? What are you? Everything? The bridegroom, matchmaker, and guests in one? I suppose you'll perform the ceremony, too?
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Tevye : It seems it was not ordained that you should have all the comforts of life.
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Tevye : But this corner of the world has always been our home. Why should we leave?
Constable : I don't know why. There's trouble in the world, troublemakers.
Tevye : Like us?
Constable : You aren't the only ones. Your people must leave all the villages - Zolodin, Rabalevka. The entire district must be emptied! I have an order here! It says that you must sell your homes and be out of here in three days.
Tevye : [angered by the eviction] And you... you who have known us all your life, you carry out this order?
Constable : I've nothing to do with it! Don't you understand? I wish you wouldn't say me!
Tevye : [quietly] I understand.
