00:00I can't take it anymore. I'd be better off dead. That way, at least my family can collect on my insurance.
00:07No! Don't do it, man!
00:13I'll admit, when I saw you, I was really scared.
00:16I understand, but believe me, there's a good reason I look the way I do.
00:19Really? What on earth could it be?
00:22Let's not waste any time on me. Tell me why a man like you wants to kill himself.
00:26Hmm. Sometimes just talking about your problems allows you to see them in a different light so you can solve them.
00:33Different light? Not this time. All I see ahead for me is destruction and darkness.
00:39Burdens are smaller if you share them.
00:41Why should you care about my pains?
00:43I do.
00:44All right, you asked.
00:46I am Hans Müller, a merchant. I've been working hard to expand my company into new markets abroad.
00:52I borrowed money from all over Europe and gambled every bit of it on one shipload of spices from the West Indies.
01:00The hurricane that sank that ship also sank me. I can't pay back any of my creditors. I can't even afford to pay for this room.
01:06And the only real problem you have is that you need money.
01:09And that's a small problem? I'm losing my business and my home, my family. How will I care for my children?
01:15You needn't worry anymore.
01:20I don't have an old strength left to worry. There's no way out. It's hopeless. I don't know what to do.
01:26Oh, Father, Father, you're back.
01:37Yes, my darlings.
01:41We're so glad you're home now. Was it a good trip?
01:43Mm-hmm. I can see nothing ahead for the business but success from this time on.
01:48Father!
01:50Christina!
01:50I'm so glad to see you.
01:52Oh, Father.
01:53Welcome home, Father. Are you staying?
01:57Mm-hmm. And I won't need to travel ever again.
02:00Oh?
02:00I have something very important to tell all of you. Come over here with me at once.
02:04Huh?
02:08Well, my darling daughters, as of yesterday, the business of Mueller Mercantile is no longer mine.
02:14Oh.
02:15Huh?
02:16I mean, I now have a partner who has given me a tremendous amount of money.
02:20Mm-hmm.
02:21When did he ask to join you?
02:23I asked him, as well as offering him the hand of one of you.
02:26Is he handsome as well as rich?
02:29Well, his looks are a little out of the ordinary.
02:32Oh, Father, where is this new partner? Will he be here soon? We want to meet him.
02:36Mm-hmm.
02:38Well?
02:39Mm-hmm.
02:39Mm-hmm.
02:40Mm-hmm.
02:46Johan, would you come in here, please?
02:49Mm-hmm.
02:55Good heavens!
02:56Oh.
02:57Oh.
02:57Oh.
02:58Oh.
02:58Daughters, this is Johan, my partner.
03:00Oh.
03:01Oh.
03:01Eldest daughter, Gisella.
03:03Oh, Father.
03:03My youngest is Tetra.
03:04Oh.
03:05Oh.
03:05And my middle child, wearing the pink, is Christina.
03:07He's gruesome.
03:09Oh.
03:10Oh.
03:10I am not in the least amused.
03:13Oh, wait for me, Gisella, wait.
03:15Tetra.
03:16Oh, you're disgusting, Father.
03:18Talking about marriage with a vile creature like that.
03:21Yes.
03:21He looks like an animal.
03:23He even smells like an animal.
03:25Father, if you think I'll stay here to be insulted, you better think again.
03:29Hmm.
03:30Why, of all the...
03:35Johan, I'm sorry.
03:38Christina, dear daughter, I can't begin to tell you how important it is.
03:42It's all right.
03:44His appearance is very odd, Father, but he's helped you so much.
03:49And...
03:50In his eyes, I see such a kind and gentle soul.
03:53I believe I would be honored to become his wife.
03:56You would?
03:57When Johan heard Christina's words, his heart warmed.
04:02For the first time in four years, he felt hope and love.
04:07But for three more years, he still had to do the bidding of the demon who'd given him the bear skin.
04:16Oh.
04:16Christina, I want to give you something.
04:21Here.
04:22I want you to take this and keep it safe until I return.
04:25I will.
04:27Um...
04:28I will.
04:32Christina.
04:34I have to go away from you now, and I can't tell you the reason, but I'll be gone for three years.
04:38You must trust me.
04:40If, after three years, I have not returned to you, you'll know that I have died.
04:45You must then pick up and go on with your life.
04:47And the sad part will be that you never really knew me.
04:50And I do so want you to know me, Christina.
04:52Oh, Johan, I'll wait three years or three hundred.
04:56Yeah.
04:57Oh, no.
04:59Oh, no.
05:00Oh, hold on there.
05:10But I...
05:11Uh...
05:11I just want to...
05:12Oh, no, you don't.
05:13Look out, a bear.
05:26He sure looks like one.
05:27Go away.
05:28Scrimp you.
05:30Be.
05:30He sure does.
05:31Take that back.
05:32And so, Johan continued along his cold and weary way.
05:38Nowhere was there a kind greeting for him.
05:41Nowhere a friendly face.
05:42And always his thoughts turned to Christina.
05:46The good-hearted young woman worked and waited.
05:49And her thoughts also were of the one she loved.
05:56Darling.
05:57Although seated in pleasant, warm surroundings, wearing the half-ring Johan had given her,
06:04Christina had her trials as well.
06:07Well, little sister, how are you bearing up, huh?
06:10Huh?
06:10I was just thinking, if you want him to come back, why don't you put on a sweet expression?
06:14Bears like sweet things.
06:15When he gets back, be careful no one calls you honey.
06:18He just might mistake you for his breakfast.
06:24I wonder what kind of wedding it'll be.
06:26Oh, I'm sure it'll be very lovely.
06:28They'll hold it out in the forest and invite all their animal friends.
06:32And instead of a wedding cake, they'll serve bears.
06:34You hear me stop it.
06:39We shouldn't tease her.
06:41After all this time, Johan's probably not even alive.
06:45If he hasn't frozen to death, he's probably been hanged as a thief.
06:51For all her comforts, Christina was heartbroken with worry.
06:56It was now a year since Johan had left Christina with a promise to return.
07:10Two more years to go without the solace of a friend or ally.
07:14The unchanging truth about time is that it passes.
07:21Johan's seven years in the bearskin had come to an end.
07:24It's over at last.
07:26Ah!
07:31Hello, demon.
07:32Where are you?
07:33Demon, I'm here.
07:34It's been seven long years now and I've come back.
07:37You can have the bearskin.
07:38Demon, where are you?
07:44You, demon, come out.
07:46I did everything I was supposed to.
07:51Hey, demon, where are you?
07:53I've come to give this bearskin back to you.
07:59There you are.
08:00Go ahead, Johan.
08:03You can take off the bearskin now.
08:04I will.
08:08Here.
08:08Here you are.
08:10Thank you very much.
08:15Now then, what about my riches?
08:17You promised me you'd make me a wealthy man if I survived the seven years.
08:21That's right.
08:21Well, where's my reward?
08:23Just reach into your pocket.
08:25Pull out the gold as much as you want.
08:26Oh, I'm my own bank.
08:30Hmm.
08:31Hmm.
08:34Oh!
08:36Oh!
08:37Oh!
08:38Thank you, demon.
08:41Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
08:44Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
08:46Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
