[ Man ]|Number 14...
Eliza Naumann, Oakland Tribune,|Oakland, California.
- " Oppidan "|- " Oppidan "
[ Sighs ]
[ Woman Coughs ]
[ Eliza Narrating ]|My father told me once...
that words and letters hold all|the secrets of the universe.
That in their shapes and sounds...
I could find everything|and see beyond myself...
to something special...
perfect.
My father told me once...
that I could reach|the ear of God.
[ Woman ]|Eliza?
''Nozzle.''
[ Male Announcer ] From KQED public radio,|this is "The California Report. "
I"m Scott Shaffer. On today"s show,|people from all over the country-
[ Female Announcer ]...thousands of|supermarket clerks are on the picket line.
70,000 union workers at Vons-
...walked off thejob late Saturday|after contract negotiations fell through.
At issue are-
[ Helicopter Approaching ]
Ron says the Alfa's|gonna be ready this afternoon.
- Great.|- So I"ll pick it up and stop for groceries.
- Okay.|- Hey.
Hey, what are you doing?|That's my breakfast.
- This is terrible stuff. How do you eat this?|- [ Chuckles ]
- I'll see you later.|- Yeah, see you.
[ Car Door Closes ]
- Bye. Thanks for the ride.|- [ Mrs. Naumann ] Okay, bye-bye.
[ Eliza ]|Bye.
- Got your lunch?|- Mm-hmm.
Bye, sweetheart.|I'll call after school.
- Okay.|- Okay. Bye-bye.
- Thanks, Mom.|- [ Car Door Closes ]
[ Children Shouting ]
[ Boy ]|Hey, wait up.!
[ Man ]|Eliza, let"s try "possibility. "
[ Eliza ]|"Possibility. "
P-O-S-S-I...
B-I-L...
- I-T-Y. ''Possibility.''|- Correct.
Courtney. "Graphite. "
- Correct.|- [ Girl ] O-R-O-W-
- [ Man ] That"s incorrect.|- [ Boy ] L-I-
[ Man ] Incorrect. I"m sorry.|You"re excused.
- [ Boy ] C-L-T-|- [ Man ] "Placebo. "
- P-L-A-|- [ Man ] "Random. " "Indemnity. "
- I-N-|- "Flux. "
- ''Flux.''|- "Fluorescent. "
- [ Eliza ] F-L-U-O-|- [ Man ] "Archaeology. "
[ Eliza ]|A-R-C-H-A-E...
- O-L-O-G-Y.|- [ Sighs ]
[ Mr. Naumann ] Who"s going to|be handling it? Who do we have this year?
We"ve got Louis, Thomas-|We"ve got-So, that"s James.
Uh, ''Aspects of Biblical Religion.''|Ron usually takes that.
Look again. Uh, 1 90;
Topics in Religious Studies,|the Upanishads.
I could do that or-
[ Speaking Hebrew ]
[ Continues ]
- Coffee? Thanks.|- On the stove.
[ Mrs. Naumann ] You know that dinner|of yours? We used every pot in the house.
- That wasn't worth washing a pot or two?|- Or 1 0.
- [ Chuckles ]|- [ Continues ]
- What's this?|- He's helping her with Hebrew school.
[ Mr. Naumann ] Do you understand|a word you"re saying?
- I understand a lot of it.|- Yeah? Okay.
- Translate, hotshot.|- Um, it's about where Abraham sacrifices-
- No, not sacrifices.|- ...uh, starts-
- Yes?|- ...to sacrifice Isaac to God?
- Yes?|- ...to sacrifice Isaac to God?
- You're being a bully.|- A bully?
[ Scoffs ] Maybe, but why shouldn't|he know what he's saying?
Isn"t God in the words?|See, God is the words.
The spoken words,|the utterances.
How do we reach|the ear of God, Aaron?
- [ Speaking Hebrew ]|- Exactly. You speak with him. It's ridiculous.
MostJews don't understand|what they're saying in services.
Well, that's what attracted me.|The mystery of it all.
- I thought it was Dad"s cooking. [ Laughs ]|- Very clever.
You missed a spot.
You"re slipping. Come on. Let"s go.|Let"s play. Let"s go.
- Come on.|- We'll finish this later.
Hey, what do you think|about changing the tempo-
[ Cello Tuning Up ]
I love this piece.|You been working on this?
[ Violin, Classical ]
[ CelloJoins In ]
- [ Continues ]|- Good night, honey.
[ Rock ]
- Hey.|- Could you drive me somewhere?
[ Aaron ]|So, uh, what is this again?
[ Eliza ] I told you already.|The district spelling bee.
Don't you have to win|your school bee to be in that?
- Uh-huh.|- God, Elly, that"s great.
Wow. I'm totally impressed.
Dad must be in Dad heaven.
- He doesn't care.|- How can you say that? He loves this stuff.
I put the letter under his door.|He never said anything.
I'm sorry.
[ Woman ] The spelling bee|is a truly American tradition.
I"d like to welcome you to the|Oakland Tribune District Bee.
Spellers, be proud.
You are examples of the best|and brightest in our area.
[ Man ]|"Sequel. "
''Sequel.''
S-E-Q-U...
- E-L.|- Correct.
- [ Applause ]|- [ Man ] "Orangutan. "
O-
[ Man ] "Turpitude. "|"Fresco. " "Homonym. "
Hom- Homonym.
H-O...
M-O-N-Y-M.
[ Woman ]|Correct.
[ Man ]|"Coyote. "
- ''Coyote.'' C-O-Y-|- ''Affix.''
- [ Gavel Bangs ]|- "Susurration. "
"Dendroid. " "Extenuate. "|"Notorious. "
"Anvil. " "Hydrofoil. "|"Graduate. "
- ''Oasis.''|- ''Hoodlum.''
- [ Gavel Bangs ]|- ''Macrame.''
M-A-C...
R-A-M-
[ Electricity Crackles ]
- ...A-Y?|- Incorrect.
- [ Gavel Bangs ]|- [ Applause ]
[ Applause ]
[ Eliza ]|S-A-L-I...
N-E. ''Saline.''
[ Mr. Naumann ]|So, a paradox.
[ Mr. Naumann ]|So, a paradox.
God is... everything-
a perfect, luminous essence.
But even God wants more-|to experience more, to give.
So God creates a vessel,|a container...
that can receive this...|gift of God's pure light.
His divine light|pours into the vessel.
- Come stand here.|- The vessel, of course...
- can't contain the magnitude|of this light, and it shatters.|- [ Door Closes ]
Destroying the vessel,|and scattering its broken shards...
in a big bang of creation.
Now, man's job is to locate|and gather these shards...
to make the vessel-|our world- whole again.
Now the cabalists called|this fixing, this mending-
they called it...
Tikkun-
- [ Person Clears Throat ]|- Tikkun olam, the fixing of the world.
Now, any act of goodness,|altruism, kindness...
that contributes to that idea|is considered tikkun olam.
It"s an extraordinary idea- that we|can restore what has been shattered.
In fact, it's our responsibility|to try, each of us.
Out of the very pieces|of the destruction...
God has left us hope.
- [ Chattering ]|- Polytheism papers due next Tuesday.
[ Mr. Naumann ] Elly, this is fantastic.|Why didn"t you tell me?
- I did, but you didn't say anything.|- Hmm?
She thinks you've|been ignoring it.
- I put the letter under your door.|- What letter, honey?
- From Dr. Morris.|- Dr. Morris?
It's probably in the mess|on your floor, Dad.
- I'm really sorry. I didn't see that letter.|- She beat out a lot of kids.
- Yeah?|- You'd have loved it.
[ Laughs ]|Did you do that?
Oh, man.|[ Laughs ]
I got another chance now, don"t I? Because|you moved up to that next level, right?
- The regional bee in Sacramento.|- Oh, perfect.
Perfect. We"ll all go. This is really,|really important, and this-
[ Inhales ]|This is a beautiful thing.
Let's take this home.|We'll show it to your mom, all right?
We'll put the top down|on the Alfa.
Wow, what a great day!
It's okay.
Go with Dad.
I'll, uh, see you at home.
Okay, in the Chronicle, the Trib|and the Montclarion. Listen to this.
- [ Aaron ] Wow.|- ''Winner of the spelling bee...
''that took place Saturday afternoon|at Albany High School...
was sixth grader|Eliza Naumann. "
''Sixth Grader Bests|Middle Schoolers.''
[ Aaron ]|Let me see.
- That's great. I'm proud of you.|- ''Naumann casts a spell.''
- You know, you've always been good at spelling.|- Yeah, but not this good.
- It's not important.|- [ Mr. Naumann ] Of course it's important.
You know, there are people|who believe...
that letters are expression|of a very special primal energy...
and when they combine|to make words, they-
they hold all the secrets|of the universe.
- You remember the Vikings?|- [ Phone Ringing ]
Okay, the Vikings|called this epli.
Now, when they took it across the sea|in their ships, it became apfel.
Across another border,|it became appel.
By the time it got to us,|it was ''apple.''
A-P-P-L-E. Its spelling|contains all of that.
It holds its history inside it.
Yeah, but that's not the secret|of the universe.
- Isn't it?|- [ Mrs. Naumann ] Yes, thanks.
"Miss Naumann,youngest district|spelling champion ever. "
- You know that?|- Mm-mmm.
Wow. Mimi?
Mim, we"re all going to Sacramento|next month.
[ Aaron ] We came here for|the science fair. Remember?
Yeah.
Come on. Let's take a picture.|Excuse me. Could you hold this?
- Everybody.|- All right.
- Smile.|- [ Camera Shutter Clicks ]
- There you go.|- Thanks. Thanks a lot.
[ Applause ]
[ Applause Fades ]
- ''Lorgnette.''|- ''Lorgnette.''
L-O-R-G...
N-E-T...
- T-E?|- [ Man ] Correct.
[ Man Coughs ]
[ Sighs ]
- ''Dandelion.''|- ''Dandelion.''
D...
A...
N...
D...
E-L-I...
O...
N.
- ''Dandelion.''|- [ Man ] Correct.
[ Applause ]
- [ Woman ] "Daguerreotype. "|- [ Boy ] "Daguerreotype. "
- [ Bell Dings ]|- [ Man ] Incorrect.
- [ Applause ]|- [ Woman Coughing ]
- ''Chiliastic.''|- ''Chiliastic.''
- [ Woman ] "Inchoate. "|- ''Inchoate.''
Correct.
[ Woman ]|"Suture. " "Iridium. " "Nomic. "
"Staccato. " "Pharmacopoeia. "
- ''Glissando.''|- ''Glissando.''
[ Man Coughs ]
G-L-I-
[ Whispering ]|''Glissando.''
S...
A-N-D-O. "Glissando. "
I'm afraid that's incorrect,|but don't leave the stage.
If number 26 misspells her word,|the bee will continue.
If she spells it correctly,|she"ll be the winner.
Number 26,your word is "batik. "
- ''Batik''?|- "Batik. "
''Batik.''|[ Sighs ]
- [ Applause ]|- [ Mr. Naumann ] Wow.!
Yes!
That's my girl! I can't believe it.|Oh, that's great!
I brought you a glass of water.
- Thanks.|- Here you go.
Hmm. Is that my old suitcase?
Dad gave it to me|for the state bee.
[ Chuckles ]|I didn't know we still had it.
My parents bought it for me|when I went to boarding school.
Were you scared?
At boarding school?
Um- No. Uh-
I was already about your age.
There was nothing|to be scared of.
- Why'd they send you?|- Hmm.
That's what people did.
Were you there...
when they died?
Uh... yeah. Um, yeah.|I was at school.
Mm-hmm.
This is for you, Elly.
It was mine.|My mother gave it to me.
- What is it?|- [ Gasps ]
Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no.|Don't- Don't-
It doesn't come apart.|It's a- It's a kaleidoscope.
You look through it|and see things.
Hold it towards the light.
- Hmm?|- Like that, yeah.
- Oh.|- Turn it.
I used to carry it with me.
Mmm. I loved the way|it holds the light.
Do you see that?
Elly?
Um-
When you're trying|to spell a word...
what happens... to you?
I mean, when|you close your eyes?
I start out hearing it|in my head...
in the voice|of whoever said it.
Then the voice changes...|into something else.
The word's voice.
And then I can see it.
- What?|- The word.
I can see the word.
- Mom?|- Go to sleep.
Mmm.|[ Kisses ]
Good night, Mom.
What you did today|at the bee...
it was, uh...
remarkable.
Good night.
- [ Sighs ]|- [ Glass Cracking ]
[ Eliza ] Were you there...|when they died?
[ Mrs. Naumann ]|Were you there... when they died?
[ Eliza ]|Were you scared?
[ Muttering ]
[ Singing ]
[ Whispers ]|I'm tired. I'm tired.
[ Sighs ]
You know, Elly's never|had anything like this.
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|I used to carry it with me.
[ Woman ]|Mimi? Mimi?
On y va maintenant,|ma douce.
[ Birds Chirping ]
- [ Dog Barking In Distance ]|- [ Door Opens ]
Hey, sweetheart.
[ Sighs ]
You look like you|could use a snack.
I cut up some cheese or you can have|a cookie if you want, but...
all that sugar,|you"ll probably crash later on.
- Protein"s better.|- How come you're home?
I came home|to be with you.
Come on in. Come on.
Come on in.
You know, I thought this|could be our study area, right here.
Now, we don't have|as much time as I'd like...
but I think we can get through|a lot before the state bee...
and then, hopefully...
we'll have another chance|for the nationals.
What do you think?
You know, it'd be like|you were one of my students.
[ Sighs ]
I'm pretty good|at this kind of thing, you know.
- [ Phone Ringing ]|- That's Mom.
- Hi.|- Hi, honey. Are you okay?
Dad's here. We're in his room.
- Dad?|- He's gonna help me study.
- [ Snaps Fingers ]|- He wants to talk to you.
- I'll see you later.|- Okay.
- Bye.|- Bye.
- Okay. Hey.|- Hi. What"s going on?
- I rearranged some office hours|so you don't have to rush home.|- Oh.
- Anything wrong?|- No, I'm-
I'm-I'm fine. I'm just-|[ Chuckles, Sighs ]
- Uh, make sure-|- Mimi.
- It's okay. We're having a good time.|- Okay.
Okay. Bye.
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ] What happens|to you when you close your eyes?
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|...when you close your eyes?
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|Do you see what I see?
[ Birds Chirping ]
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|What happens to you, Elly...
when you close your eyes?
- Do you see what I see?|- [ Eliza"s Voice ]...what I see?
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|In the world.
- In the light.|- [ Eliza"s Voice ]...light-
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|In everything around us.
[ Sighs ]
Here.
- [ Door Opens ]|- Hey!
[ Water Running, Shuts Off]
- You all right?|- I'm fine.
Yeah? I expected you hours ago.|Where you been?
- [ Sighs ]|- [ Cello, Classical ]
I was starting to worry.|Called your cell. You didn't answer.
- Oh, I forgot to charge it.|- Oh, right.
Uh, Phil asked me to coauthor|the Lancet paper.
I guess he wants someone|to wash his petri dishes.
I thought you|only washed my dishes.
- [ Continues ]|- Hmm?
- There's food here.|- Thanks. I got something.
All right. Aaron?
- Aaron!|- [ Stops ]
Not so loud. Elly's studying.
[ Metronome Clicking ]
[ Water Running ]
I want you to write|the letters. All right.
I'm gonna start you off here now,|but you gotta keep your eyes closed, okay?
- Take a deep breath.|- [ Breathes Deeply ]
- [ Whispering ]|- And just say the letters to yourself.
The whole thing,|backwards and forwards.
- [ Continues ]|- Uh-huh. Relax.
Just-Just concentrate|on the letters.
- [ Murmuring ]|- Good. Good, keep going.
[ Whispering ]|V-W-X-Y-Z-Y-X-W-V-U...
T-S-R-QP-O-N-M-L-K-
- [ Continues, Indistinct ]|- Open your mind to the letters, Elly. Concentrate.
Put each one in your mind.|Let them flow through you...
from your hand to the pad.
[ Murmuring ]
[ Continues ]
Okay. You can stop.
That was wonderful,|really wonderful.
[ Chuckles ]
I didn't do it.
You know, it's not|what they look like...
it's what they feel like.
You were perfect.
Okay, I'd like us to try something else now,|a little bit different.
[ Sighs ] Now, I want you to close|your eyes, take a deep breath.
[ Breathes Deeply ]
And now I want you|to open your mind...
to all the words in the universe|that contain the letter E.
[ Holds Sound ]|E-
E-
- Two, uh, chocolate Kwik shakes.|- Okay.
Really good.
- [ Man ] Oh, great. Is this our champion?|- That's my girl.
- Elly, this is John.|- Hi.
[ Mr. Naumann ] I brought|you here, Elly, because I want us...
to start thinking about|something beyondjust spelling...
beyond letters and words.
You know that|to become a professor...
I had to write a thesis,|kind of a book.
I wrote about|something very special.
About kabbalah-|Jewish mysticism.
And one of the most famous|of theJewish mystics...
was a man called|Abraham Abulafia.
What's a mystic?
A mystic is a person...
who believes that you can talk...
really connect with God.
Not just pray,|but have God listen...
and sometimes, in special cases,|have God talk back.
Aaron sings to God.|I've heard him.
Yeah, well, we all can do things|in praise of God-
write poetry, simply pray.
But I'm talking about|something more...
something that|almost no one can do...
something beyond words.
What?
Let God flow through you.
Abulafia believed that|by concentrating on letters...
the mind could be opened up...
and reach what|he called shefa.
What?
The most special way|of being together with God.
Steps to getting there|are in these books.
Exercises, words and letters.
- [ Eliza ] Like what we"ve been doing.|- Yes, exactly. Let me show you.
[ Mrs. Naumann ]|Elly?
Mmm?
Elly?
Elly. Bad dream?
I have a present for you.
It was mine|when I was your age.
But we'll pick something up|before you leave tomorrow, if it doesn't fit.
Get dressed for|school now, okay?
Thanks, Mom.
[ Door Closes ]
- Hey.|- Hey. Hey. What's up?
- Uh, nothing.|- I'm late. Uh-
- I was returning your Brodsky.|- Oh, God. I forgot about that.
Yeah, could you put it on top|of my desk? I got to go. See you.
- Okay. Bye.|- Bye.
[ Door Closes ]
[ Car Horn Honking ]
[ Church Bells ]
[ Man ]|Have mercy on us all.
Make us worthy to share|eternal life with Mary-
- Oh, sorry.|- [ Woman ] Excuse me.
...the apostles|and with all the saints...
who have done your will|throughout the ages.
May we praise you|in union with them...
and give you glory through|your son,Jesus Christ.
This is the Lamb of God who takes away|the sins of the world.
And happy are those who have|been called to his supper.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Whispering ]|The body of Christ.
Dad? Is God red?
Red?|[ Chuckles ]
No.
[ Mr. Naumann ] The support about|which a lever pivots; "fulcrum. "
[ Eliza ]|I"ve almost got it.
F-U-L-C-R-U-M.
Well done, Elly Belly.|Okay. "Puerile. "
Maybe that's enough|spelling for now.
Okay. Earth to Aaron.|Come in, Aaron.
- What?|- So how about it? What do you think?
- How about what?|- I asked you 1 0 minutes ago.
You think you and Mom will survive|a few days while we're at the state finals?
Yeah.|[ Exhales ]
Sure. Whatever.
Aaron? You didn't eat anything.
- [ Dishes Clattering ]|- Thought he liked my cooking.
[ Door Closes ]
Okay, 7 1 3. This way.
It's on this side.
[ Mr. Naumann ]|Here it is.
- [ Door Closes ]|- Wow, look at this.
Adjoining rooms, pretty cool.
Why don"t you pick one, honey?
- Which one do you want?|- This one, I think.
Take the other one.|It's got a better view.
You'll like it better.
You wanna practice a little?
- Mm-hmm.|- Good.
[ Ship"s Horn Blows ]
[ Woman Whistling ]|Tiger?
[ Whistle ]
- Tiger.!|- Oh.
Come here. Come on.|Sorry about her.
- [ Laughs ]|- Don't worry about it.
- So, are you?|- What?
A Hindu.
- Oh, no. No.|- Too many gods?
Yeah, something like that.
- I'm Chali.|- Aaron.
- Nice to meet you.|- You, too.
- School stuff?|- Uh, no.Just checking it out.
Something's missing.
- How do you mean?|- From your life.
[ Chuckles ]|Yeah, I guess.
I used to feel that way.
I was raised a Catholic,|but it felt like empty ritual.
[ Both Laughing ]
Yeah, my mom was Catholic...
and she, uh, converted|when she met my dad.
We'reJewish.
- Can I give you something to read?|- Yeah, sure.
[ Fog Horn Blowing ]
My number's on the back.
- Oh, awesome.|- [ Laughs ]
- It was nice to meet you, Aaron.|- Yeah, you too.
Girl. Come on, you.
- Bye, Cali.|- [ Chuckles ] Chali.
Chali.
That is correct. Except that you've omitted|the last and most important word.
[ Channels Switching ]
[ Phone Ringing ]
[ Ringing Continues ]
9:30.
[ Inhales ]
[ Ringing Continues ]
[ Line Ringing ]
[ Alarm Chirps ]
Uh-Y-You're not|riding with me?
No, I've got some stuff|to do after school.
- You-You sure?|- Yeah.
[ Key Slides Into Ignition ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Dialing ]
[ Line Ringing ]
Hi,you"ve reached Saul Naumann.|Leave me a message and I"ll get back to you.
- ''Selenic.''|- ''Selenic.''
S...
E-L-
- [ Exhales ]|- L-E-N...
I-C.
''Selenic.''
- [ Bell Rings ]|- [ Woman ] That's incorrect.
[ Applause ]
[ Feedback ]
[ Man ]|"Cumulus. "
"Cumulus. "
- [ Thuds ]|- [ Gasps ]
[ Child ]|Hurry up.!
[ Doorbell Buzzes ]
Hi. Um, I'm here|to see Chali.
[ Speaking Foreign Language ]
[ Mrs. Naumann"s Voice ]|Here, is it here?
Is it the light here?|The air?
The noise? The dirt?
- Everything?|- [ Clattering ]
Everything here? Everything.
God has left us hope.|God has left us- God has left us hope.
[ Gasps ]
...E-E-N. ''Duvetyn''?
- [ Bell Dings ]|- [ Woman ] That's incorrect.
[ Applause ]
''Cotyledon.''
''Cotyledon''?
[ Man ]|That is correct. "Cotyledon. "
May I have|a definition, please?
A cotyledon is the primary|or embryonic leaf...
or leaves of a seedling.
What is the derivation,|please?
"Cotyledon"comes to us|from the Greek.
C-O...
T...
- [ Eliza"s Voice, Whispering ] Y.|- Y-L-
- E.|- E-D-
- O.|- O-
- N.|- N. ''Cotyledon.''
[ Woman ]|Correct.
Hey. You"re late.
- Mom knew.|- Well, she"s late too.
Guess what? Your little sister won.|She's going to the nationals.
- Yeah?|- Washington, D.C.
I'm cooking a victory dinner.
Evening, champ. What"ll it be?|Broccoli or beans?
- [ Groans ]|- I know, I know, but you|gotta eat something green.
- Do you want a- Congratulations.|- Thanks.
- So what happened while we were gone?|- Nothing.
Nothing? Something's gotta|happen in three days.
- Not really.|- No?
- You know, I left a sonata|on your bed before I left.|- Yeah, I found it.
Want to give it a try|tomorrow, maybe?
Um, I'm going out for pizza|and a movie tomorrow.
There wouldn"t be a girl involved in|this pizza-movie venture, would there?
- No, there wouldn't.|- You don't have to be embarrassed about a date.
- It's not a date. So-|- Okay.
Uh, I've got homework.
- Dinner in an hour.|- Yeah.
Fine.
[ Door Opens ]
- Mim, is that you?|- Yeah, i-it's me.
[ TV, Indistinct ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Plucking Notes ]
[ Violin, Classical ]
[ Sighs ]
- Mom?|- Yes?
I think the blouse is lucky.
- I'm gonna wear it at the nationals.|- Elly, you startled me.
- I didn't know you were still up.|- I was watching TV.
Let's put you to bed.
[ Violin Continues ]
I love you, Mom.
[ Sighs, Gulps ]|Me too.
G-Go to sleep now.
I love you, Elly.
[ Continues ]
[ Sighing, Shivering ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Saul ]|We"re not alone.
Any of us, we can|make connections.
- Tikkun olam.|- Yes, we can fix what's been broken.
We can make things|whole again.
Gathering shards.
- Yes. Together.|- [ Sighs ]
Hold me. Please, hold me.
- Hey. Hey!|- [ Moaning ]
[ Saul Gasping ]|H-Honey.
[ Panting ]|Oh, honey.
Oh, honey. Oh, God.
[ Saul ]|How about this one?
- Okay, thanks.|- Sure I can't tempt you, Aaron? It's really good.
- [ Car Horn Honks ]|- That's my ride.
- We only need three.|- [ Car Door Closes ]
- That's perfect. Thanks.|- Okay.
- I'd like to meet your friend.|- Maybe next time.
There"s a girl at the gate.
Hi.
- Hey, uh, hi. Hi.|- [ Chali ] Hey.
- [ Saul ] Hi.|- Hello.
Aaron, introduce|your guest here.
- Hi, I"m Aaron"s dad.|- This is Chali.
- Chali.|- Chali?
- Yeah, Chali.|- Chali. Okay.
- I"m Miriam. Nice to meet you.|- [ Chali ] Hi. Nice to meet you.
- You want some, uh,|chicken before you go?
- Oh-|- I"m famous for the sauce.
- She doesn't want any.|- No? Let her answer for herself.
[ Chuckles ]|Actually, I don't eat chicken.
- Why not?|- 'Cause I'm a vegetarian.
Oh, interesting.|I was a vegetarian once.
- Okay, let's go. Come on.|- Okay. It was nice to meet you all.
- Okay.|- Bye.
- Nice meeting you.|- [ Saul ] Have fun. Come again.
I grill a mean tofu.
[ Aaron ]|Bye. See you later.
[ Saul Reading In Hebrew ]
Okay, my translation.
This notebook is my translation|of Abulafia"s words.
It"s his guide, Elly,|for reaching shefa.
"Cleanse your heart and soul.
''Permute the letters|back and forth.
"This will arouse in you many words,|one after the other.
"You will feel then as if|an additional spirit is within you.
"You will experience|ecstasy and trembling.
''In this manner,|you will reach beyond yourself.
''Go slowly,|as the path is dangerous...
and must be traveled|with caution. "
- I'd like us to try this.|- What?
A permutation.
Other people...
have tried to do these,|but almost no one has felt...
that special feeling|that he wrote about.
I haven't been able|to do it. I tried.
It was very important|to me, but... I couldn't.
But I think maybe you can.
I think you have|what Abulafia had.
I saw it on the stage|at the bee.
I think you can use|his methods to achieve shefa...
to reach the ear of God.
Let me show you|what I mean.
Let's permute|the word ''Earth.''
What's inside|this word? ''Earth.''
''Heart.'' ''Rathe.''
- Like in Boggle.|- Yeah, like that.
Except the combinations don't|have to mean anything in the usual sense.
Try another one.|You do it. Uh, ''library.''
[ Saul"s Voice ]|Make yourself right.
Cleanse your heart and soul.|Permute the letters back and forth.
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|Permute the letters back and forth.
- You will feel then-|- You will feel then-
- ...as if an additional spirit-|- ...as if an additional spirit is within you.
- In this manner you will-|- In this manner you will reach beyond yourself.
Go slowly,|as the path is dangerous...
and must be traveled|with caution.
[ Whispered Chanting ]|Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare...
Hare Rama,|Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare...
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,|Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare...
- Hare Rama, Rama Hare-|- [ Knocking ]
- [ Beads Clatter ]|- [ Drawer Closes ]
Yeah?
- It's me.|- Hey.
- She was nice.|- Thanks.
[ Typing ]
[ Sniffs ]|It smells nice in here.
[ Ratchet Clicking ]
[ Inhales ]
[ Crickets Chirping ]
[ Soft Gasp ]
I'm sorry I'm late.
Where were you?
- Miriam?|- I'm just tired, and I want to go to sleep.
- [ Belt Buckle Clatters ]|- [ Zipper Unzips ]
[ Sighing ]
[ Brushing Continues ]
[ Beeps ]
[ Miriam ]|Will there be supervision?
Mm-hmm. I took|the blue sleeping bag.
All right.
[ Pen Scratches ]
- Hi. Uh, Aaron's going camping.|-Just for the weekend.
Mom said it was okay.
[ Saul ]|Alone?
Uh, no.|With the Sierra Club.
-[ Miriam ] Bye.|- Bye. Thanks a lot.
[ Eliza ]|Bye.
- [ Door Opens, Closes ]|- I like camping.
[ Drum ]
- [ Bells Jingling ]|- [ People ] Hare, Hare, Hare Krishna
[ Continues ]
[ Saul ] Elly, I want you to take|one simple, easy breath...
and draw the sound out|from very deep inside of you-
- Krishna, Krishna |- till you can taste it completely.
And when you're ready,|just let your body move.
[ Continues ]
[ Eliza Singing|Sustained Note ]
Hare Krishna|Hare Krishna
[ Continues ]
[ Fades, Resumes ]
[ Continues, Echoed ]
[ Fades ]
[ Resumes ]
[ Thuds ]
[ Continues ]
[ Fades ]
[ Smacks Lips ]|What's wrong?
Why do you|look like that?
- [ Inhales ]|- Dad?
You moved the way|Abulafia described it.
I want to do more.
[ Chuckles, Sighs ]|Remember what I told you?
We're gonna take|our time with this.
- Okay.|- If we go too fast, this could be dangerous.
What we're doing here|is a very special kind of knowledge.
- The words in this notebook are very powerful.|- 'Kay.
We'll see how it goes|after the nationals.
It- It feels so light.
[ Whispers ]|Yeah. Yeah, light.
All right.|Just one more time.
[ Singing Sustained Note ]
[ Stops, Inhales ]| Adonai
[ Chanting ] Hare Rama, Hare Rama,|Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare...
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,|Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare-
[ Eliza Singing|Sustained Note ]
[ Tires Squealing ]
[ Note Fades ]
[ Crickets Chirping ]
- [ Barking ]|- [ Gasps ]
- Hello.|- Hello.
I'm really happy here, Chali.
[ Birds Cawing, Chirping ]
- [ Gasps ] Oh. Oh.|- It's okay.
Oh, dear.|Why didn't you wake me?
- I just found you here.|- [ Sighs ]
You're bleeding.
- What is this?|- Uh-
Oh, I must have bumped-|bumped my head on the table.
- How"d you do that?|- I don't know.
Hey, what's going on, Mim?
- Nothing.|- Nothing?
Is there something|you want to tell me?
What?
Because I don't know what you're doing.|I don't know where you've been.
I don't know where you went.|I don't know anything.
[ Sighs ]
I'm sorry.
What's the matter with Mom?
Oh, she just fell|asleep here, honey.
In the kitchen?
Yeah, she's okay.|She's- She's okay.
Your brother's|coming home tonight.
We're gonna-We're gonna have|a nice family dinner.
[ Glass Cracking ]
[ Sirens, Faint ]
- Hey.|- Hey. Back from the wilderness.
- All in one piece.|- Yeah.
See the article on Elly|today in the paper?
- No.|- About her going to the national bee.
So how "bout you?|Sacrifice any virgins out there?
Hey.
She"s been gone all day.|She didn"t take the car.
And in the morning...|her head was bleeding.
You saw that?|Her head was bleeding?
Elly... if-if I tell you something...
will you promise|to keep it to yourself?
I didn't go camping.
Where'd you go?
To a place for...
people who want|to get closer to God.
Dad wants to get|closer to God.
Yeah, well.
Do you like it better...|there?
[ Phone Ringing ]
[ Saul ] Hello?|Yes, this is Mr. Naumann.
Yes, Saul Naumann.
[ Sighing ]|Look.
Your mother"s been-
I'll call you as soon|as I know everything, okay?
[ Door Opens ]
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Brushing ]
Is it because of my spelling?
It has nothing to do with you.
Go to sleep.
What is this?
It"s the address your wife gave as her|place of residence. She had the key in her pocket.
Manager said she's had|the space for years.
We"re looking into how much|of this stuff is stolen.
[ Tinkling ]
[ Objects Jingling ]
[ Loud Tinkling ]
- Mind if I smoke?|- No.
[ Police Radio,|Indistinct ]
[ Sniffling ]
[ Crying ]
[ Crickets Chirping ]
[ Saul ]|She"s in the hospital.
She was exhausted.
Sick and confused.
Can I see her?
I don't know. Some hospitals|have rules about children.
- But I'll see later when I get there.|- Will she get better?
Yeah, yeah.|Of course she will. Yes.
[ Sighs ]
Aren't you riding|with us?
I've got some stuff|to do before school.
You didn't eat anything yet.
Good-bye.
- Bye, El.|- Bye.
- Maybe we'll try some takeout tonight.|- Yeah, maybe.
[ Door Opens, Closes ]
[ Buzzing ]
[ Woman On P.A.,|Indistinct ]
Did you see it?
[ Sighs ]|Yes.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
I've never|seen anything like it.
It's beginning|to hold the light.
- I'm sorry. I don't understand.|- The shards, putting them together.
Tikkun olam-|to make things whole.
Hold the light.|You showed me.
Miriam, it-|It was a metaphor.
A-A poem.
Yes, a poem.|I made a poem.
The police think that you took|all those things.
- Some of them are mine- ours.|- And some aren't.
I needed more.
They said they found you|in another family's house.
I need you to come home, honey.|Kids need you to come home.
[ Breathes Deeply ]
I don't want|to come home right now.
They're not going|to prosecute.
They just want to make sure that you|get some help. All you got to do...
is you say you're sorry that you took|the things that didn't belong to you.
I'm not sorry.|It wasn't stealing.
- Miriam, please,just-|- I thought maybe you'd understand.
- I do understand. I do.|But I need you to come home.|- Stop it. You don't understand.
I can"t go home|with you now, Saul.
Look at me.
What do you see?
You-You love to talk-
talk about things that don"t-|that don"t come from your heart.
You talk and talk|and talk and talk.
Are they all empty words?
Do you want to understand?
Understand me?
[ Sighs ]|This?
That room, those things-
It wasn't-
Miriam, please.|Please, talk to me.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I-I want to go back|to my room now, please.
Tell me what"s wrong, please.
I just wanted to hold|the light, that's all.
I didn't do this|to hurt you.
She took some things|she thought were hers, but they weren"t.
The doctors are|working with her now.
[ Eliza ]|She said she didn"t want to see me?
Elly, she"s-She"s really not ready|to see anybody right now.
She took all that stuff|and now we can't go to the finals.
[ Tires Screeching ]
What are you talking about?|Who told you we"re not going?
It's my fault, isn't it?|That's why she's sick.
No. That's-|That's not why she's- [ Sighs ]
It is nobody's fault,|all right?
We'll go to the finals,|and your mother will watch.
It's on TV. We'll tell her|about it, okay?
All right. Okay?
- [ Cell Phone Ringing ]|- I'm sorry, baby.
Yeah? Aaron, where are you?
No, uh- No, they're|keeping her in the hospital.
I'll explain when-|when you get home.
Of course you will|be coming home. Where are you?
Aaron? Where-
I can't deal with this now.
- [ Beeps ]|- Shit!
[ Beeping ]
Where am I calling?|The what?
All right.|Stay in the car.
[ Doorbell Buzzes ]
- [ Speaking Foreign Language ]|- I've come for my son.
- Yes?|- If you don't give him to me, I will call the police.
- Come in.|- Right.
Oh, Aaron.
All right, get dressed.|We"re going home.
- I am dressed.|- Then let's go.
- You can't keep me from coming back.|- Oh, really? Watch me.
- I really can't believe you did this.|- Get in the car.
[ Car Door Closes ]
[ Aaron ]|Don"t talk to me.
[ Saul ] Get back here.|You"re acting like a child.
- Eliza has more sense.|- Of course you think that.
- She agrees with everything you|say. Talk about brainwashed.|- I'm not finished.
- Don't walk away!|- You're going to stop me|from going to my room now?
- I want you to come here-|- You do not get to tell me what to do-
- control what I feel or think.|- Stop it.
- I'm not Eliza. I'm not Mom.|- Goddamn it!
- You do not talk to me like that!|- You don't fucking control me!
She's not even in the hospital, is she?|She just got tired of being here.
Tired of you and your house|and your cooking and your religion...
and your everything,|and you just can't face the truth.
You want to know|the truth, Aaron?
Your mother has been stealing things|for years. Maybe her whole life.
She's very sick.|She's in a mental institution...
and I don't know when or if|they will give her back to me.
You're the one who's sick.
- Me?|- Yeah,you.
[ Scoffs ] Who's the one|who's walking around in a sheet?
- In orange bedsheets.!|- Stop it.
- Aaron,you are a baby.! You"re a kid.|- Stop it! Stop it!
You want to go to- Go to your room.|Go to your fucking room!
- Go.!|- Why can't you live your own stupid life?
Why do you have to drag me|and Elly into it?
Why can't you leave us alone?
[ Door Opens, Slams ]
[ Sighs ]|Aaron.
Aaron?
Please, God.|Please, please, please-
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|We can talk-
really connect with God.
Notjust pray...
but have God listen.
And sometimes|in special cases...
have God talk back.
Got it?|Okay, this way.
[ Man ] Chris Wilcock,|Midland Monthly News.
- "Ecchymosis. "|-[ Chris ] "Ecchymosis. "
E-C-C-H-Y...
M-O-S-I-S.
- ''Ecchymosis.''|- [ Man #2 ] Correct.
[ Man #1 ]|Number 1 3.
Arrow Arram, Hillsdale Morning Sun,|Hillsdale, Michigan.
''Thanatophidia.''
Please, please make sure|that she knows I called.
- [ Sighs ] All right. Thank you.|- [ Handset Settles In Cradle ]
[ TV, Indistinct ]
Dad?
Hey. Hey, you were incredible|up there today.
Thanks.
- What"s your brother doing?|- Watching TV.
You want to try a few more,|just to keep loose?
Mmm, I don"t know. Okay.
All right, no thinking.|''Usurper.''
U-S-U-R-P-E-R.
''Piazza.''
P-I-A-Z-Z-A.
''Origami.''
[ Flapping ]
''Origami.''
O-R-I...
G-A-M...
I.
You can do this.
Yes, you can.
[ Sighs ]
[ Aaron ]|He should leave you alone.
- It's okay.|- Hejust wants this for himself.
You know, he's using you,|like he used Mom...
and like he used me.
I just think you should|forget about him.
That's all I mean.
He needs this-all the attention|and the control-
and he doesn"t even know it.
He needs Mom.
[ TVContinues ]
[ Sighs ]
What are you doing down here|this time of night?
I want to see|the television cameras.
You in that spelling|contest tomorrow?
- I don't see them.|- The cameras?
[ Woman ] I guess they don't|bring them till the morning.
You better get back to sleep before your|mother comes down here looking for you.
She won't.|I need to win first.
Don"t be silly. Nobody"s mother|needs her to win anything.
[ Saul"s Voice ] Go slowly.|The path is dangerous-
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|The path is dangerous.
- and must be traveled with caution.|- With caution.
The words in this notebook|are very, very powerful.
[ Eliza"s Voice Whispering,|Indistinct ]
[ Saul"s Voice ]|Permute the letters back and forth.
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|Permute the letters back and forth.
This will arouse in you|many words, one after the other.
The light.
[ Saul"s Voice ] You will feel then|as if an additional spirit is within you.
Light, light, light, light.
- [ Eliza"s Voice ] L-I-G-H-T, light.|- Light, light, light-
Cleanse. Heart.
L-I-G-H-T, L-I-G-H-T,|L-I-G-H-T-
[ Chanting, Indistinct ]
[ Saul"s Voice ]|Let God flow through you.
[ Eliza"s Voice ]|I want to reach the ear of God.
[ Whispered Chanting ]
- To reach the ear of God-|- I want to talk to God.
The sounds.
The letters.
The letters.|The sound.
[ Chanting In Foreign Language ]
[ Crackling, Thunderclap ]
[ Gasping, Shivering ]
[ Exhales ]
[ Aaron ]|Elly? Hey, Elly.
You okay?|What happened?
[ Distorted ] It"s 7;30.|We"ve got to get you cleaned up.
- Come on. Let"s get you ready for the-|- [ Door Opens ]
Everybody up?|I got orangejuice, croissants.
This is it, kiddo.|This is the one.
Come on. Let me help you.
[ Applause ]
These are the final rounds, and|they"re on national television.
Everyone up here is already|a champion. So let"s have some fun.
[ TV] Deepak Shri,|the Portland Sentinel.
- "Strongylid. "|- [ Deepak ] "Strongylid. "
S-T...
R-O-N-G-
- [ Man ] "Abiogenist. "|- [ Boy ] "Abiogenist. "
- [ Deepak ] "Strongylid. "|- [ Boy ] A-B-I-O...
G-E-N-I-S-T.
- [ Man ] "Sacculate. "|- [ Boy ] "Abiogenist. "
S-A-C-A-L-A-T-E.|''Sacculate.''
- [ Bell Dings ]|- Incorrect.
[ Man #1 ] Eliza Naumann,|Oakland Tribune.
"Toolach. "
''Toolach.''
T-O-O...
L-A-C-H.
[ Water Running ]
[ Faucet Turns Off]
[ Eliza"s Voice ] We can fix|what"s been broken.
N-O-C...
T-I-V-A-
- [ Man #1 ] Margaret Ricski, Denver Standard.|- G-E-N-T.
- "Recidivism. "|- ''Noctivagant.''
[ Margaret ]|"Recidivism. "
- [ Bell Dings ]|- [ Man #2 ] Incorrect.
R-E-C...
I-D-I...
V-I-S-M.
- "Recidivism. "|- [ Man #2 ] Correct.
[ Applause ]
Jeffrey Prather, Gardner Star Times.|''Photophygous.''
- ''Photophygous''?|- "Photophygous. "
P-H-O...
T-O...
P-H-I...
G-O-U-S.
- "Photophygous. "|- [ Bell Dings ]
- [ Man #2 ] Incorrect.|- [ Applause ]
[ Man #1 ]|Number 1 4, Eliza Naumann...
Oakland Tribune,|Oakland, California.
- ''Oppidan.''|- ''Oppidan.''
O-P-P-I-D...
A-N. ''Oppidan.''
[ Man #2 ]|Correct.
Margaret Ricski.|"Solipsism. "
''Solipsism.'' S-O...
L-Y-P...
S-I-S-M.
- ''Solipsism.''|- [ Bell Dings ]
I'm afraid that's incorrect.|Please do not leave the stage.
The rules require that the next speller|spell both this word...
and an additional word correctly|to become the champion.
[ Man #1 ]|"Solipsism. "
[ Eliza ]|"Solipsism. "
S-O-L-I...
P-S-I...
S-M.
- "Solipsism. "|- Correct.
One more word for|the national championship.
''Origami.''
''Origami.''
[ Man #2 ]|Eliza?
O-R-I...
G...
A...
M...
Y.
- ''Origami.''|- [ Bell Dings ]
[ Man #2 ]|Incorrect.
[ Man #1 ]|"Origami. "
''Origami.'' O...
R-I-G...
A-M-I.
- "Origami. "|- [ Man #2 ] Correct.
- [ Applause ]|- Number 26. One more word for|the national championship.
[ Man #1 ]|"Catastasis. "
[ Margaret ]|"Catastasis. "
C-A-T...
- A-S-T-A-S-|- [ Aaron ] Dad?
I-S. ''Catastasis.''
- Dad?|- [ Applause, Cheering ]
[ Sobbing ]
[ Man #2 ] Congratulations.|Ladies and gentlemen...
the new national spelling bee champion|from Denver, Colorado.
[ Eliza Narrating ] My father told me once|that I could reach the ear of God-
that words and letters would guide me|to reach beyond myself...
to know the world|as whole again.
And like the ancient mystics,|God will flow through me.
And we would be together.
She's my daughter.
[ Crying, Laughing ]
[ Woman Singing ]
[ Continues ]
[ Continues ]
[ Ends ]