The Seventh Seal
(Det Sjunde inseglet)

Death approaches Antonius Block. Antonius Block (Max Von Sydow) Wait a moment. Death (Bengt Ekerot) You all say that. But I grant no reprieves.

Antonius Block lets Death choose which chess pieces to play. Antonius Block You drew black. Death Appropriate, don't you think?

The church painter is explaining why he is painting a mural about death. Church Painter (Gunnar Olsson) Why should one always make people happy? It might be a good idea to scare them once in a while. Jons (Gunnar Björnstrand) Then they'll close their eyes and refuse to look. Church Painter They'll look. A skull is more interesting than a naked woman. Jons If you do scare them-- Church Painter Then they think. Jons And then? Church Painter They'll become more scared.

Jons Do you have any brandy? I've had nothing but water. It's made me as thirsty as a camel in the desert.

Jons Our crusade was such madness that only a real idealist could have thought it up.

Mia (Bibi Andersson) You don't look so happy. Antonius Block No. Mia Are you tired? Antonius Block Yes. I have boring company. Mia You mean your squire? Antonius Block No, not him. Mia Who do you mean, then? Antonius Block Myself.

Antonius Block Faith is a torment. It is like loving someone who is out there in the darkness but never appears, no matter how loudly you call.

Jons Love is the blackest of all plagues. If one could die of it, there would be some pleasure in love. But you don't even die of it.

Jons Love is as contagious as a cold. It eats away at your strength, morale... If everything is imperfect in this world, love is perfect in its imperfection. Plog (Aake Fridell) You're happy, you with your oily words. You believe your own drivel. Jons Believe it? Who said? But I love to give pieces of advice.

Jonas Skat (Erik Strandmark) Kill me. I'll thank you afterwards.

Plog Jons, between you and me, isn't life a dirty mess? Jons Yes, but don't think of that now. Plog It's what you make it.

Jonas Skat is in a tree which Death is cutting down. Jonas Skat Hey, you scurvy knave, what are you doing with my tree? You might at least answer. Who are you? Death I'm felling your tree. Your time is up. Jonas Skat You can't. I haven't time. Death So you haven't time? Jonas Skat No. My performance-- Death Cancelled--because of Death.

A suspected witch is to be burned. Jons Why burn her at night? People have so few diversions these days.

Jons Who watches over that child? The angels? God? Satan? Or only the emptiness?