The Seventh Seal1957

[Jöns encounters a man painting a church mural about mass death.]

Jöns:
Why all this daubing?

Painter:
To remind people of death.

Jöns:
That won't make them any happier.

Painter:
Why make them happy? Why not scare them?

Jöns:
Then they won't look at your picture.

Painter:
Yes, they will. A skull is more interesting than a naked woman.

Jöns:
If you scare them-

Painter:
They think-

Jöns:
Then they think.

Painter:
And are still more scared.

Jöns:
And fall into the arms of the priests.

. . .

[Jöns points to a part of the mural with a line of suffering people.]

Jöns:
What's that rubbish there?

Painter:
People think the plague is a punishment from God. Crowds wander the land lashing each other to please the Lord.

Jöns:
Lashing each other?

Painter:
Yes, it's a horrible sight. You feel like hiding when they pass.

Jöns:
Give me a gin. I've had nothing but water. I feel as thirsty as a desert camel.

Painter:
Scared after all?