"Terrorists, that's what they are." "Put that in your newspaper." "Yesterday they attacked me again." "Play areas." "Streets are not for playing." "If they would at least play." "Do you know how much it costs our economy, by the way?" "All those cars, driving around." "One million a day." "Euros." "Do you know how many people dared to respond to my survey?" "Two." "Two people were brave enough to take a stand." "And one of those two, Gerard De Schepper, has died two weeks ago." "Coincidence?" "I think not." "I apologize for making you wait so long, Mr..." "Versporten." "I'm Tom Naegels." "How do you do?" "So you started a petition against a play area?" "Tell me more." "And who are you?" " Jonas Geinaerts." "Photographer." "Mr Naegels, they're terrorists, all of them." "Put that in your newspaper." "Hi, I'm Tom Naegels, and this is the book you'll be seeing." "It's called Los." "It's my third novel." "It sold rather well." "The only problem is, people don't realize it's a novel." "They think everything in here is real." "Not true." "90 per cent is true, of course, but 10 per cent isn't." "What you'll see here today, is the true story behind the novel Los." "With the exception of some structural and narrative changes, of course." "I work at the Local News desk of the most important paper in the country in the most important city of the country." "That's what we think ourselves, anyway." "My specialty?" "In-depth reports and honest portraits of the man in the street." "Well then." "The Gnome Liberation Front announces a truce." "Going once..." "Going twice..." "Tom, I think you'll write a nice story about it." "Alfons Verstappen wants to go on the highway with his donkey." "Who volunteers?" "Tom?" "And now for the nitwit of the day." "Leo Versporten has started a committee against a play area." "Play area from 3 p.m. till 8 p.m." "Ready?" "Could you smile?" "Sausages." "Leo is right." "This is an Al Qaeda training camp." "Naegels, isn't that the perfect house for you and Tine?" "I don't know..." "Jonas..." " Tine, it's Jonas." "We found a house." "Tom, it's beautiful." " Isn't it?" "Forget the other one, I want this one." "I knew it as soon as I saw it." " Thanks, Jonas." "Did you make an appointment yet?" " No." "When are you free?" " Tomorrow evening?" "No, grandpa's birthday." "Hello, I'm calling about viewing a house." "Mr Naegels, what do you have for us?" "Mr Naegels, here we are." "We're listening." "Farouk's second idea, I came up with as well, and Isabel's first one too." "You can't expect me each day to..." " Beg for dismissal?" "Take a bath, walk the dog, brush my teeth." "Is that all?" "C1..." " Come on, Edgar." "C2..." "C3..." "Wait." "There's an integration course in Borgerhout." "Who wants to integrate in Borgerocco?" "What do you learn there?" "Ordering bread in Moroccan?" "New Belgians get tips from Flemish people how things work here." "Unemployment benefits, child support..." "No, they help them integrating, they teach them how to live with us." "Even with you." "Anyhow, I'm sure you'll find the nitwit of the day there." "I hit if off with a babe last night." "Did you just 'hit if off' or..." "She had a husband and two kids." " And you have moral objections." "I don't, but she did." "So you are..." " Tom and Jonas, from the paper." "I think my colleague might have been a bit hasty." "The board and I don't think it's a good idea if yourpaper..." "There we go again." "Another fundamentalist intellectual who reads 'Le Monde' and only watches Arte, who has never read our newspaper, yet has formed an 'objective' opinion." "For such people, our paper is..." " A tabloid." "Vulgar populism." " Pure junk." "But we're a paper that writes about real issues for real people." "And in such a way that people actually want to read it." "You don't say." " Seriously?" "Really?" " Yes." "Oh, I didn't know that." "A positive report." "In that case..." "Can I have your attention, please?" "Tom and Jonas work at the newspaper." "They want to ask some questions and take some photos to show your success." "I suggest we get started with a circle of friendship." "Madame, can I ask you why you are here?" "Well, look at them." "Those people come here and they have nothing." "But still they laugh." "Excuse me, why are you here?" "On the street nobody smiles, but here, everybody smiles." "Thank you very much." " You're welcome." "I'm sorry." "Hello." "My name is Tom." "What's yours?" "I'm Nadia, from Pakistan." "Pakistan?" "Okay." "And why are you here, Nadia?" "I came here to meet other people." "You can say it in English if you want." "That's okay." "Is my Dutch not good?" " Yes, it is." "I'm sorry." "It is." "I come here to integrate, so I talk Dutch." "Absolutely." " Sorry, can you smile, please?" "Thank you." " See you." "I'm done." " When will it be published?" "This is for the weekend edition." "A big article." "I'm looking forward to it." " Jonas?" "Jonas." " One moment." "Jonas, come on, mate." " Bye." "Thank you." "Did you get everything you need?" "Everything except the Indian chick." " Pakistani." "You have over 50 photos." "Forget the shots, I want that chick." "What a babe." "You think so." " I saw you looking." "She had an interesting story, that's all." "That Nigerian boat refugee who had to eat his friend, wasn't interesting?" "You are unbelievable." "You didn't notice she's a babe?" " A little bit." "Sorry, dear, I lost all track of time and..." "But you did get a gift, right?" " Fuck, I..." "The deal was that you would get it." " I was out on a story and..." "Luckily I didn't forget." "What would I do without you?" " You'd die a lonely death, I imagine." "Sorry, mum, I was out on a story." " A story?" "Isn't that out of your paper's league?" "I write for the biggest paper nationwide, the most readers." "There I can make an impression." "What else do you want?" "That you don't waste your talent." "You're good enough for a quality paper." "There he is." "And don't start on politics." "Why not?" "You know full well why not." " Why not?" "In our flat, that was built thanks to Camille Huysmans, one of the biggest socialists ever..." " Absolutely." "...my good friend Camille Huysmans, they painted all balconies blue." "Can you imagine?" "Blue." "He would turn in his grave." " Blue is fresh." "Wasn't there an information session?" "If I had protested, they would have all voted in favour." "They're like that." "They're always out to get me." "Just because I dare to tell it like it is." "Are you all right, dad?" "Probably from the fumes of that paint." " Gramps, they're not all against you." "You should have seen what those Turks next door brought." "What was your story about, Tom?" " Do you really want to know?" "About an integration course." " Pardon me?" "Integration course?" "If we teach them how everything works here, they'll never leave." "We have to pay for that, I presume?" " Yes." "So what?" "They come here because they're prosecuted in their country." "What's wrong with that?" "If we had run off when times were rough, you'd have to work in the factory when you were nine." "But we didn't run, we fought." "Not for ourselves, but so you would benefit." "Yes, I'm well off." "Still, many did run." "America's full of Europeans." "They all helped to build that country." "But those refugees come here to take advantage of us." "Who wants coffee?" " Okay, why not." "Trappist beer for me." "Those people want a better future." "That's exactly what you wanted." "Have you ever talked to such a refugee?" "Then those parasites have to be willing to learn Dutch first." "They're not parasites and they speak Dutch." "I'll prove it." "Come with me." "Forget it." " Scared you might be wrong?" "Next week, I'll go back there." "I'll come and get you." "Leave him be." "I think..." " And your cava." "Here you go." "Good article, Tom." " You think so?" "Thanks." "Goddamn, that bastard." " What's wrong?" "Look, look at that." "Tom, it's a big spread." " Tine, the headline." "Integration for dummies." " Exactly." "Great." "Will you have a bad temper the whole day?" "I'm ready for the dummies." " If you're like that, you can't come." "I just quoted your article." "I didn't write the headline." " That was the best part." "Did you read the rest?" " Yes." "They have it easy." "Each month free room and board without working." "I've decided." "You stay home." " Why?" "Scared you're wrong?" "We have some new people here today." "Bob is from Belgium." "Welcome." "And Vasha." "Did I say it right?" " Vacha." "Vacha, Vacha." "And Raisha, right?" " Raisa." "They're from Chechnya." "Welcome." "Vacha and Raisa, tell us what you think of Belgium." "Belgium is a very beautiful country." "Beautiful buildings and beautiful people." "Thank you." " They're friendly." "And good food." "Fries." "Pay attention, you." "Or we'll never be integrated." "And beer." " From here." "The beer is nice." " What do we know about Chechnya?" "There was a war over there." " And a lot of poverty." "People who suffer." "Chechnya wants to separate since 1991." "But Russia doesn't want to give up the rich materials in the soil there." "So civil war ensued." "Independence warriors to some, terrorists to others." "The rebels are mainly wahabists, right?" "A sort of Muslims." "And you call the Chechen Republic Ichkeria, right?" "I know nothing about the Eastern bloc, but I do know this." "They may have liberated us, but what they did afterwards behind that Wall," "I can't approve of that." "So I say:" "Sorry, Stalin, your ideas might be nice." "But I can't approve of what you did with them." "We're talking about today." " Now it's even worse." "It's full of mobsters and killers." "And the worst ones, they send over here." "And they drive around in big BMW's with their square heads." "They wear those leather jackets, and guns." "Guns." "And they drink vodka as if it were water." "That's true." "It is true." "On vacation at the buffet, they'd trample you just to be first." "Those Russians are worse than the Egyptian locusts plague." "We had to go eat somewhere else." "We're not Russians, we want independence." "Independence?" "By throwing bombs?" "You're terrorists." "Ruthless savages who kill children." "Well, it's true, isn't it." "Take Beslan for instance." "They took a school hostage." " The gas attack in a Moscow theatre." "Moscow isn't in Chechnya." "They drive around together like a gang of thieves." "We're not thieves." " Last week there was a shooting." "Two people severely injured." "It wasn't us." "We're being prosecuted politically." "That's what they all say, but then they let their wives work the streets." "Exactly." "Does the truth have to be buried again?" "Where do you get off saying that?" " I have a right to." "Who is paying for this, you think?" "This girl here?" "Shut up." "We're guests here, grandpa." "Sorry, he doesn't mean it." " That's for me to decide." "Besides, they're the guests here." "Don't forget." "You still can't call her names." " I did no such thing." "Right?" "He didn't call me names." "He's right, he can tell the truth." "It's his money." "What?" "His money?" " I'm not the only one who says so." "And all that foolishness here..." " Grandpa." "Where is he?" "Is he all right?" " What happened?" "At the integration course, he..." " Extra tests?" "Forget it." "Everything all right, dad?" " I faint, and 20 doctors jump on me." "Of course our social security system is in trouble." "I get it." "You bought new machines and they have to generate money." "But I'm not playing." "Grandpa." "The doctor suspected it was an ulcer, which surprised no one." "Except grandpa, he didn't understand what caused it." "But at least now he was willing to benefit from our welfare state for a couple of nights." "And we finally could go home reassured." "So that was it." "In perfect order, as you can see." "My father built the back part himself." "He was really handy." "You can't find quality like that anymore." "Those Poles are also very handy." " What is the neighbourhood like?" "It's right up your alley." " All those cultures just outside." "Chairs on the sidewalk, drinking tea, loud laughter." "It's really cosy." "And there's a corner shop, Mohammed's." "They're all called that, but his goods are nice." "Big cans of olives, tasty." "I can't digest it, but it always looks very tasty." "And the butcher around the corner has spicy sausages." "And the baker sells those small colourful cakes." "Looks very good." "They keep fresh for a long time, they say." "A shame we can't stay here anymore." " Can I ask why you move away?" "My job..." " The grandchildren..." "He wants to be closer to work." " The grandchildren..." "I want to be closer to work, and she closer to the grandchildren." "An option?" " An option." "Yes?" " Let's take an option." "Hey, mum, we just took an option on a really beautiful..." "How bad is it?" " The cancer hasn't spread yet." "Everything should be all right." "Be positive to grandpa." "Don't talk about the cancer, we don't need to worry him." "And how are you feeling?" " What do you think?" "They're pumping me full of chemicals." "I'll probably light up in the dark." "Grandpa, the doctor said..." " Tom, don't start like Fons." "You should have heard him." "Be brave, you don't have cancer." "If I had the strength, I'd kick him out." "He probably didn't know what to say." " Does he think I'm stupid?" "Why do they give me radiotherapy?" "For a cold, maybe?" "And I can't have my Trappist beer, that's bad for my kidneys." "They can pump me full of morphine, but a little bit of alcohol, no way." "Are you ready for your bath, sir?" "That's all I needed." "That's it." "Thanks Philemon." "It'll be a great article." "Jonas, I'll see you at the office." "Excuse me, can I ask you something?" "Hey, Nadia." "Did you get a new job?" "A task for the course." "Ask a Fleming questions with another Fleming." "And where is your other Fleming now?" "He didn't come back after last time." " Last time?" "Sorry, my grandpa is uncontrollable." " It's nothing, it was rather fun." "He's like my grandpa." "He gets cross easily, and he's always right." "Can I ask you a question?" " Go ahead." "How do you celebrate Christmas, Ramadan, Chinese New Year?" "I just celebrate Christmas, at home, with family and gifts." "What would you do if you were prime minister?" "Can I see those questions?" "Your favourite dish, number of kids, favourite TV series." "Weird questions." "They teach me to be a good Fleming." "You know, I have some spare time." "Can I be your designated Fleming?" "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" "You don't need to ask me anything." " Why not?" "Because." " Whose initiative is this?" "The city council." " More money out the door." "How do you celebrate Christmas?" " Here." "In the bar?" " Where else?" "At home?" " I'm at home here." "Who do you celebrate with?" " Nobody." "All alone?" " Yes, all alone." "Come on, Nadia, we'll fill it in somewhere else." "No family?" " No." "No wife?" " No." "No girlfriend?" " Bloody hell, no." "Come on, Nadia." " Do you want a wife?" "Listen, you can always drop by if you feel like it." "What would you do if you were prime minister?" "Now she'll get an earful." "All muslims, piss off." "Put them in a boat and blow 'em up." "I'd make sure everyone gets along." "Fantastic." "What a beautiful answer." "Now we must go." "We're keeping the gentlemen from their daily special." "That's not the prime minister's job." "What would you do if you were him?" "Make beer free." "Now, that's the prime minister's job." "What else do you want to know?" " That's all." "Are you going already?" "Come on, stay for a while." "Barkeep, a beer for everyone." "I never thought I'd enjoy a near-death experience so much." "It was nice, I had a good time." "Wait here, I'll be back." " Okay." "Why do you automatically think:" "Fuck..." "Some immigrants in the dark, they're up to something." "Don't give them any cause, or they'll do something to me." "Damn, I'm a dead man." "You see?" "No reason at all." "Look." "For you." "A dead canary?" " It helped me to come here." "To have a real life." "You always laugh, but you do nothing." "Wear it close to your heart, it'll help you to do." "Thank you, I guess." "No, thank you." "So see you later?" " Yes, see you later." "I love you." "You tell her." "This is useless." "What is?" " This life." "Move over." "The doctor said the operation will remove the whole tumour." "You'll be around for a long time." "A couple of years in bed with a diaper." "And when you need something you push a button." "It's not that bad." " Isn't it?" "I hardly hear anymore, my eyesight is dwindling and I have to wear diapers." "Would you want that?" "And you?" "That's what I thought." "And that damned Moroccan girl changes and baths me." "I can do that." "Who says I want that?" "I don't think I'd want to do that." "For my mother." "I really don't think so." "Mum, please don't get me wrong, but I..." "I love you, I love you to death, but..." "Changing diapers..." "No way." "No way." "Parents should do that to their children." "And preferably only when they're very small, but not..." "But not the other way around." "That's... unnatural." "There are limits to parental love." "They have to stay parents." "Brainstorm." "Who wants to start?" "Mr Naegels." "A certain Jamal is reaching out to the immigrant youths." "To do what?" " No idea." "But those youngsters are very enthusiastic." "Guys." "Get up, stand up." " Yeah, man." "An invitation for a reggae concert?" "We've had it with your multi-cultural crap." "Don't you have any other ideas?" " But that's a..." "I still think it could be an interesting story." "Do you really think so?" " Yes, Edgar." "If you really think so, you can investigate." "Thank you." " In your spare time." "Isabel?" " I saw this morning..." "What do you want?" " I'm here to see Jamal." "National security?" " I'm a journalist." "Do you have your press card?" " Easy, he's one of us." "Ali." "Ali Weheda." " I'm Tom." "Naegels, I know, from the newspaper." " How come?" "We talked at the press conference of the Democratic Moroccan League." "Right, about the family picnic." "No, that was the League of Democratic Moroccans." "The fathers project?" "No, that's the Moroccan League for Democracy." "And I know you from?" " From the Democratic Moroccan League." "I've been to all of them, to all those press conferences." "From the platform of immigrant youths." "The Federation of United Muslims aren't taking them seriously." "They say the Union of Islamic Clubs have hijacked their father project." "Jamal is different." " I'm very curious." "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Jamal." "This is my truth." "These are my opinions." "Flanders is hypocritical." "If you're outright, they'll run you down." "It's all politics." "Come on with your initiatives." "Let's hope it works." "Flanders is scared." "There's no talk in the streets, just whispers." "Open your eyes and wake up from hibernation." "Jamal is my name." "Jamal is my name." "Jamal is my name, I'm stuck with it." "We'll attack." "We're getting killed." "No work, no money." "It's torture for the youths here." "You'll end up in the streets." "You behave, you have your diplomas, but your skin is brown, so no job for you." "We won't take it no more." "We bear our fists." "We have rights, we have power." "We'll bring about change ourselves." "With words and deeds and peaceful resistance." "Together with all the rest." "Brothers, sisters, the time has come." "Shake your fists, join our battle." "And wake up." "That was something else." " A bit radical, no?" "At least he has the guts to speak his mind." "Jamal fights for the Arabs' rights, and I for those of asylum seekers." "Or rather, one of them." "It's expensive here." " No more so than somewhere else." "Don't worry, it's on me." " It's still expensive." "Give me your papers." "We'll make sure they grant you asylum without a hitch." "I think that with this..." "I'm not sure, all those papers look very much alike." "No, it's not that after all." "I thought I had some notion of Dutch, having studied Germanic philology." "But I was aiming too high." "Perfect." "Yes, crystal clear." "Thank you very much." "I was right." "You have to fill in your name here." "If you have any other questions about this form, you can call Ella." "It's free." "Thank you." "You kissed her?" " Not really." "Not a French kiss, a normal kiss." "You're in deep shit." "You have to stop." "You can't see her anymore." "I don't know what came over me." " A quarterlife crisis." "That's what you have." "For the first time, you really have to make choices." "Up till now everything was fun." "Ajob, a girlfriend, party, drink." "But now you have to make decisions, and you are scared, Tom." "You're buying a house, then you'll have children." "Hold on, not so fast." " Not so fast?" "Tine's biological clock is ticking." "When you sign for the house, the clock goes off." "Then your merry life is over." "So you look for an escape, or a last fling before you really grow up, Tom." "Who says she really likes you?" " I do." "An asylum seeker who falls in love with you?" "It's possible." " Come on, Tom." "Did you take a good look at yourself?" "Or at her?" "What is this?" "I got Tine too, didn't I?" "Tine came on to you, and I don't know why." "And another thing, a guy like you can get lucky once, but the second time, there's more going on." "Nice, you're jealous." "Come on, an asylum seeker who could be deported, meets a naive yokel who falls in love with her." "She'll probably be deported soon." "Tears." "What is the last solution so Romeo and Juliet can stay together?" "Drinking poison." "Drinking poison..." "Marriage." "Idiot." "She'll be nice to you for two years and now and again you can touch her, or take her." "And when she gets her official Belgian papers, you'll get your official divorce papers." "That's how it is." "Not at all." "Nadia is not like that." "I'd think twice, Tom." "Rise and shine." "Time to buy our house." " Tine..." "We're here to sign the compromise." "It's called a compromise, but it is a binding document." "I'll start reading it out loud." "Sales agreement of a house between Mr and Mrs Frimmers, living in 7 Vooruitzichtstraat, 2140 Borgerhout, Antwerp, jointly called the sellers, and Mr Naegels Tom, living in Antwerp and Ms Mertens Tine, living in Antwerp..." "That is the compromise." "Questions?" "Do you have the downpayment?" " Of course." "Here you are." " Well then." "Can you sign at the bottom and pass it along, please?" "I can't." " What?" "Sorry, Tine." "I'm not doing it." "Problems?" "Would you excuse us for a moment?" "You need time?" "And now you find out?" "We're at the notary, Tom." "I just handed the man a cheque." "What are you doing?" "Well?" "I'm listening." " Darling, I'm a bit overwhelmed." "I don't know if I want to keep working at that stupid paper forever." "My grandpa is dying." " What's he got to do with it?" "Nothing." "I just don't know which direction I want my life - ourlife - to go." "We're completely pinning ourselves down with a house like that." "Tine, sweetie, this wasn't the plan." "We talked about Amsterdam or Paris." "You yourself wanted to go to New York." "I had a completely different image of our future together." "Do you have someone else?" "No." "No, really." "I just need to think." "Stay as long as you want." "But don't mess up my sex life." "I'm not planning on staying long." "I'll..." "Thanks." "Jesus, the big leap in the dark." "I'm afraid so." "I'm doing something stupid." " Yes." "I'm not on the right track." " No." "Cheers." "To the right to do stupid things." "Tom speaking." "What?" "Grandpa still hates the fact that he has to wear a diaper." "So he wants to be stubbornly independent, against better judgement." "They didn't find him until one hour later." "And now he's sure, yes." "I want euthanasia and that's final." "Don't just stand there, make it happen." "Calm down, dad." "Must you always exaggerate?" "Exaggerate?" "Do you think this is life?" "Or do you?" "You can have it." "Stop being so stubborn and do everything yourself, then the doctors and the nurses can do their job." "Are you happy you just have to press the button when you want something?" "And maybe you're happy if you can't leave your room, and you depend on everybody." "But to me that's no way to live." "Can't you understand that?" "No way, I won't fill out those forms." "He asked you himself." " Sorry, I can't let my father die." "Do you want him to suffer?" " No." "You don't have a choice, mum." "You have to." "You do it then." " No, I won't." "I can't even fill in my own tax form." "Give them to me, I'll take care of it." " Thanks." "Tell Tine next time she has to come too." "Grandpa needs all the support he can get." "Oh boy." "Supporting something is much easier when it doesn't concern you." "Throw out the bombs." "No more war for oil." "Whether you're white or black, of course." "Of course..." "But now it's real." "And now it's my problem." "Even if... you support all kinds of liberal ideals like the right of self-determination and all that noble crap..." "Letting him die with some dignity feels like murder." "Stop the bullying, stop the illegal passport control." "Stop the bullying, stop the illegal passport control." "Stop the bullying, stop the illegal passport control." "Mr Naegels." " Ali, was it?" "What's going on?" "We urge everyone not to take illegal police intimidation." "What intimidation?" " The constant passport controls." "What's wrong with those controls?" " Have they ever checked you?" "Me?" "No, never." "See what I mean?" "What seems to be the problem?" " We're just handing out flyers." "I call it intimidating the neighbourhood." "Passport." "So many cops for such a small group." "We should leave." "Hey, mister, where are you going?" "Yes, I mean you." "Come on, let me check your passport." "What are you still doing here?" " I'm just..." "Move along." "Go on, get." " It's all right, Tom." "Well, Ali..." " Ali, right." "What?" "What could I do?" "Protest on my own?" "Say that their actions are outrageous." "Ask to be arrested as well." "I could, but what would be the use?" "A cop in the end is still a cop, and Ali..." "I think he did break the law by handing out flyers in the street without a flyer permit or something." "And I don't have time to be a hero, I really don't." "Hello." "Come on in." "Sometimes it's really easy to forget the outside world and just be happy." "Grandpa wants to die, and I'm sitting here, laughing." "Can I do that?" "Shouldn't I be ashamed?" "Then I yelled:" "Watch out." "Didi was startled and... boom." "With a bang." "Today there was something strange." " Tell me about it." "Roger is the boss of the restaurant where I work." "He has asked me to marry him." "Roger, that fatso?" "With sweat stains under his armpits?" "You said no, I hope?" "Why?" " Be careful." "His name is Roger." "All Rogers are the same, you know." "Promises, promises, then sex, and then he'll kick you out." "Wait and see." "Who says so?" " I do." "He asked you for one reason only." "He wants to have sex with you, Nadia." "And you?" "Is my name Roger?" "So you don't want to have sex with me?" "I..." "I..." "Yes, well..." "Yes, no, hold on." "Wait a minute." "I..." "What is it?" "Tell me." "I made a joke and you're all:" "I..." "I..." "Wait..." "I..." "Very funny." "No other paper has this." "I have an eye witness account, an interview." "I can see that." "Finally something that I can print, Naegels." "A bit too positive, maybe, because they do disturb the peace." "They're not doing something illegal." " Who organizes this?" "That Jamal I've been..." " Who is he?" "Why don't we know him?" "I have a contact and if I..." " First priority, Naegels." "I want Jamal, not the flyer people." " Edgar, I..." "Jamal, understood?" "Ali, can't you insist he make an exception for me?" "I know he normally refuses." "I even agree with him." "But he can trust me." "If he doesn't speak, only bad stories will surface." "I know how it works." "Sir..." "Ask him, it'll be on the front page." "I have to go." "We can't agree." "The law is clear." "The patient has to have a medically hopeless condition of prolonged physical or mental suffering we can't heal." "Lying in bed in a diaper while shitting oneself, that's not hopeless?" "He shouldn't be so stubborn and let us take care of him." "You'll see, he can still enjoy his old age." "Physically maybe, but mentally he's collapsing." "I know him." "Sorry, Mr Naegels." "I've discussed it with the board." "We can't sign this." "Your grandfather isn't asking for euthanasia." "It's suicide he wants." "Maybe you can find another doctor who'll sign this." "Didn't Tine come with you?" " No, mum, she didn't." "What will grandpa think?" "Is it too much to ask?" " Mum..." "What's the story on his..." "I don't want to know." "Did you bring flowers again?" " No, Trappist beer." "Isn't Tine with you?" "You don't have problems, do you?" " No, no." "And the other thing?" "Any news?" "Your request was denied, grandpa." "Why?" "The doctor says you can still enjoy your old age." "Isn't this bad enough?" "Do I really have to be writhing with pain?" "I lie here dying inside my head." "According to the law, it's not enough." "Grandpa, why are you so keen on dying?" "Why are you so keen on living?" "I just..." "I still want to do a lot of stuff." " There you go." "That's tough, man." " Yes." "Now we have to look for someone who will sign his chosen death sentence." "And mum is a complete wreck, you should see her." "So don't do it then." "If you support something in theory, you have to have the guts to do it." "Maybe so." "Don't they have drugs there?" "So your grandpa is happy and thinks:" "That diaper isn't so bad." "What is this shit?" " Raw potatoes." "So Tine doesn't know you're celebrating two weeks with Nadia?" "I have a problem, Jonas." "I'm afraid to tell her." "I would get round to it, mate." "She might find out from someone else." "Better safe than sorry." " Yes." "Fuck, I sound like my dad." "Anyway, I'll be back late." "Don't wait up, dear." "Have fun, dear." "Come in." "Dinner is almost ready, so..." "A present." "Beautiful?" "Very beautiful." " Very?" "I mean, what can you say to that?" "It's not just ugly, it's completely wrong." "On top of the trunk there are fresh yellow spring flowers." "And at the bottom there are mushrooms." "In the same season?" "Nadia, are you coming?" "Bring the plate." " What?" "It's funny." "I want to eat over here." "Madame is served." "Is it nice?" "Don't you think it's funny?" "What does that mean?" " Just..." "It's not my cup of tea." "Not intelligent enough." "It's got nothing to do with that." "I also love very simple things." "Yes, like me." "You're one of the most intelligent people I know." "What is funny to you?" " To me?" "British humour." "Monty Python makes me laugh." "The Fast Show is fantastic." "I watch WW2 documentaries on 'The History Channel'." "I even watch theme nights on Arte, if they're not dubbed." "I don't know those things." "Smart stuff?" "Better than this in any case." "You see, I don't understand it." "Listen, Nadia, I can really enjoy popular humour very much." "Do you know The Strangers?" "The Strangers?" " Yes." "I don't know them." "They're five men from Antwerp." "Well, now there's four of them." "They write hilarious lyrics to very well-known hits, you see." "Wait." "Watch closely." "I'm on health insurance, That's the good life." "Health insurance, health insurance." "I don't work, and still they give me money." "Health insurance, health insurance." "Allah is great, and health insurance is great as well." "Bad example." "In the Navy by The Village People, do you know that one?" "With the police you become a real man." "With the police you feel good about yourself." "With the police you will be happy." "With the police, with the police." "Become a cop, become a cop." "They'll grab you with their long arm." "Check out cars, pester people, it's a fantastic job." "Being a cop is fun, you have all the power with that cap on your head." "With the police you become a real man." "With the police you feel good about yourself." "With the police you will be happy." "That was funny." "Can I sleep here?" "Wait, wait." " Is there a problem?" "No, protection." "Shit, Jonas." "Please, please, please." "Problems?" " No, it's nothing." "A drink?" "That's not mine." "Have a nice evening." " Sofie." "Sofie." "Sofie, hold on." "Shit." "Good morning, Peter." "Morning, Wim." "Hey, Isabel." "Edgar." "Brainstorm." " The ban on cell phones in hospitals." "How is it enforced?" "Have people actually died?" "A second idea..." "What's happened to you?" " He has a new girlfriend." "Really?" " They've exchanged juices last night." "Wait..." " Weren't you involved with Tine?" "A new girlfriend, that explains this tidal wave of inspiration." "Jonas." " You should show off such a babe." "Say, it's a chocolate one." "Multicultural." "I like." "You like?" "What's it like, Tom?" "Tasting another culture?" "I have a new girlfriend." "It doesn't matter if she's Pakistani or not." "My second idea, Edgar..." "Edgar?" "So, the fountain on Museum Square." "Those stupid jerks." " Easy, easy." "What is jerk?" "Those bastards at work have been laughing at me the whole day." "Why?" " Joking about us the whole time." "Why are you angry then?" "Those jokes aren't funny, they're insults." "They speak badly of us." "Why did you say it were jokes then?" "That was irony." " And what is that?" "Irony is..." "Hold on..." "Irony is when you say one thing, but you mean the opposite." "Why don't you just say it?" " Then it's not funny anymore." "Is that irony?" " No, now I'm serious." "Come on." "Sorry, I..." "Sorry." "Hi." "Is he home?" " Yes." "Why do you need my signature?" "Well, I can get a regularisation if three Belgians sign, so..." "Nadia, it says here, I have to declare I know her very well, that she's integrated perfectly and that she speaks Dutch." "I mean..." "Who..." "Who is that girl?" "What did he say?" " Didi is my best friend." "You can't be serious." "Ask a complete stranger's signature for your regularisation file?" "Integration is important." "If you don't speak Dutch after all this time, do you really want to integrate?" "Please." "Turn around." "Thank you." "I was so happy when you called." "Did you have enough time for yourself?" "Yes and no." "Sorry, Tom, I didn't mean to pressure you." "You were right not to sign." "I wanted things too fast." "I had my heart set on it and..." "So I go for it, but the house can wait." "Next year is okay too." "I'm babbling again and you can't get a word in." "What was it that was so urgent?" "Grandpa is very ill." "I wanted to ask you if we could visit him one last time together." "As a happy couple." "Are you serious?" "Come on, they have to realize this is unacceptable." "This is not dignified." "Did you even try and find a doctor who wants to sign?" "I'm sorry, this isn't intolerable suffering." "I'm sorry, the law is clear." "Have you considered Prozac?" "Believe me, I've really tried everything." "Those Christians are always going on about respect." "And for what?" "Respect to let people die in pain." "Write about that in your newspaper." "They cost the state a fortune by prolonging life on purpose." "They don't know who they're dealing with." "I don't think the editor would be interested." "Is a blue collar worker and his suffering not interesting enough?" "It's the first of a whole series of articles." "Here we can make a difference." "They have to change the law." "What difference?" "Many of our readers are old, and don't want to be reminded." "You know that." " We make the news." "We're the watchdogs of democracy." "Why did you become a journalist?" "You wanted to change the world." "We give the people a voice." "That's my job and yours." "This voice is important, it makes a difference." "It can make us the biggest newspaper in content as well as circulation." "And you can make it happen." "Finished?" "Look outside." "Where the cross used to be..." "Do you see a picture there of Michael Moore?" "It's..." " Tom, leave it to the guys at PBS." "If they're well organized, they might get extra funding." "Bad news, Tommy." " Can't be worse than Edgar's news." "Wait and see." "You're a very good friend of mine, but you're in the way." "Is that all?" " Is that all?" "Since you're here, I can't get laid." " And that's my fault?" "I know it sounds unfair, but could you live with one of your girlfriends?" "I was planning on moving in with Nadia anyway." "Are you sure?" " Yes." "I don't want you to..." " Jonas, it's okay." "Don't you like living with me?" "Isn't it cool here anymore?" "These are the last ones." " They're the only ones." "You didn't have to come up." " I'll do anything for my friends." "It's cosy here." "Where is she?" " Nadia?" "I think upstairs." "The other one, who doesn't speak Dutch." "You said she's beautiful." "She's all right." "I didn't say..." "All right, you say?" "Hi, I'm Jonas." "Are you Didi?" "If you need a signature, you just say so." "Jonas, in English." "If you need to sign something, you name it, I'm your man." "Didi, this idiot is the friend I told you about, Jonas." "Nice to meet you." " You too." "I have an idea." "Next weekend we have a party for Idol." "Nadia's coming with Tom." "So if you want, you can join me." "Idol?" " It's great." "Next weekend." "It's with friends, party, cava, fun." "I can invite whomever I want." " You should have discussed it." "Now Nadia wants to come as well." "Think about it." "Some of your friends are friends of Tine." "She doesn't know." "You can't keep hiding Nadia forever." "You're moving in with a new girl." "Fine, but Tine has to know." "She can't handle it." "I have to wait for the right moment." "I'll tell her myself." " Don't you dare." "You're not..." "Here, you do it." " Thanks a lot." "Tine, Tom here." "Funny, very funny." " It's your conscience, Tom." "Ali." "Hello, Tom here." "Sunday?" "Yes, Sunday evening is fine." "What's the address?" "No, I'll find out where it is." "No problem." "Thanks." "Exclusive interview with Jamal." "Sunday evening?" "Idol is on then." "The auditions." "Is it here?" " Yes, it is." "Come in." "It's here." " Here?" "He wants to frisk you." " Why?" "Security measures." "Jamal is not popular with the scared white man." "Go on in." "Mr Naegels, welcome." "Tea?" " No, thanks." "Thanks." "Listen, we know what's expected of us." "Be humble, smile, stay at home and be polite, shake the mayor's hand." "Then we're good immigrants." "But no more." "We take measures into our own hands." "Like Gandhi." "Peaceful resistance against the British oppressor." "Like Rosa Parks." "An insignificant black woman who didn't get up for a white man." "Like Martin Luther King." "He had a dream." "Me too." "I dream we're accepted without having to justify ourselves day in, day out." "Don't you fear negative reactions?" "Were the factory bosses happy when the workers fought for their rights?" "Do you think women's vote came about without protest?" "Did your colonies become independent silently?" "The government ignores so much talent and leaves it to rot." "I want to prevent those frustrated time bombs from exploding." "Who could be against that?" " Anybody." "If you don't communicate properly." "Talk to the press, Jamal." "I'm talking to you, aren't I?" " That's one paper." "Do you hear that?" "Broken Wings, Mr. Mister." "Fantastic band, right?" "I can see you're sceptical:" "How does he think of some white guys on stage?" "Who is the singer of this band?" "Michael Page." "He wrote songs for Donna Summer, Al Jarreau, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson." "Louder, louder." "Come on, guys." "Come on, guys." "It's really true." "Jamal likes to listen to Mr. Mister." "Meanwhile we're trying to be multiculti, listening to Khaled." "We send our children to workshops with henna in their hair and a djembe." "They learn how to breathe circularly to play the didgeridoo." "Just in time." "It's about to start." "Thanks, buddy." "How was the interview with Jamal?" " Super." "He is an amazing guy." "Beautiful people." "Kiss, kiss." "Save some cava for me." "He's not so extreme as people think." "I'll write it down now." " People?" "These are Nadia and Didi." "Didi and Nadia, these are people." "Let the selection begin." "Cava?" "What's up with him?" " An interview with Jamal." "With Jamal?" "Seriously?" "I've been trying for a week to get hold of him." "Yeah, well..." "I take it back." "This is the worst I've ever heard." "Worse than the mime?" " The mime was out of category." "It wasn't that bad." " Come on." "You, mean old cow." "That's industrial espionage." "Ella, read it tomorrow in the newspaper." "Bye." "Quiet, I can't hear him." "I take it all back." "This really is the worst I've ever heard." "Edgar, I've just sent it through." "Don't laugh at that guy." "He's just following his dream." " A beautiful dream it is." "Making a fool of yourself in front of a million people." "You're mean." "No, it's true." "Everybody should try to follow his dream." "Tom speaking." "Shit, mum." "Of course I'm coming over." "See you." " What's up?" "Grandpa's euthanasia request is definitively denied." "He went crazy at the hospital and collapsed." "I have to go there." " Can I come?" "Do you want him dead on the spot?" " I can't come?" "Yes, but I'd rather you didn't." "You know what he's like, you saw him." "I don't want to make things even worse." "So I'm worse?" "Not you, he is." "Don't worry, I'll ask Tine if she'll come with me." "Tine?" "Your ex, Tine?" "I'm going to get a drink in the kitchen." "I asked if you'd go to grandpa with your ex." "Yes, but..." " What do you think of me?" "I'm all right for your bed and at home." "Not good enough for outside." " No, it's just that..." "You don't really love me." "I do love you." "So show it to your grandpa." "Or it's over." "I can't see you very well, but you're not Tine." "This is Nadia." "Nadia is my new girlfriend." "Hi, sir." "Here you go." "Wait a minute, you're that girl from that silly course." "Well, has he integrated you well?" "More or less." "Thanks for the fruit." "That's better than flowers." "But I won't be needing it anymore." "I'm dying." " Grandpa, your request was denied." "Such a silly law won't get the better of me." "With all their crap." "If they won't give it to you, you have to force it." "What do you want to do?" "Do you want to force a new law?" "If they won't help me, I'll help myself." "I'll stop eating and drinking from now on." "Till the end of battle." "Naegels, congrats on your interview with Jamal." "Excellent." "Except the headline and introduction." " Don't whine, I really liked it." "By the way, does he really listen to Mr. Mister?" "Me too." "Hi, Wim." "Hello, Isabel." "Farouk, everything all right with the baby?" "How was Jonas's party?" " I can explain." "Think things over?" "Wait a minute." "Can't we talk like two adults?" "What are you doing?" "I'm off in an hour." "Shall we have a drink and talk?" "Tine, don't." "Don't." "Don't, Tine." "Bye, Tom." "Bye, Isabel." "Farouk, say hi to your girlfriend." "People, there's riots." "The city's on fire!" "For reasons unknown, dozens of immigrant youths took to the streets." "Police tries very hard to get the wild mob in check." "The mob is growing by the minute." "What are they saying?" " I'm trying to listen." "And wake up." "Guys..." "Those fucking Moroccans have stolen my lenses." "The cops just do nothing." "Fuck, all my lenses." "Damn, that's Ali." "Oh boy." "Dirty monkeys." "Moroccan yokels." "Retarded, disgusting, primitive banana shitters." "What did you say?" "Retarded, disgusting, primitive banana shitters." "Racist." " That's the first that came to mind." "Is that racism?" " Sure sounds like it." "The emotion of the moment tries to find the worst possible name." "This is our emotion of the moment." "Two of our sisters were shot dead by a racist." "I don't know anything about it." " And you're a journalist?" "Don't judge until you know the facts." " Sorry..." "What did you say?" "Sorry?" "They wreck havoc as if they're all related to those girls." "We are all brothers and sisters." "Why does this never happen with Jews, Russians, Chinese, Koreans, Turks?" "Why are you Arabs so much more aggressive than the others?" "We're not taking it anymore." " And Jamal's peaceful resistance?" "That doesn't achieve anything." "They spit on us." "But now they will have to listen to us." "You're all terrorists, no more, no less." "Scared white man." " Fundamentalist." "Racist." " Al Qaeda." "Your mother..." "Well, Naegels, that exclusive interview with Jamal..." "Peaceful resistance?" "Not." "We have to get to know each other." "Then we can put these events" " greatly exaggerated by the media - behind us." "Then we can make sure it doesn't happen again." "We always get the blame." "But what can we do?" "Is it the Flemings who smash windows?" "The police doesn't protect us." " What?" "They are racist." "So the youngsters revolt." "Keep them inside then." "They're your children." "The Islam will keep them inside." " I've got nothing against religion." "But isn't Islam the main problem?" "In your culture, boys are raised as gods." "Take Saddam Hussein." "Dictators like that only exist in Arab countries." "And without us, he would still be in power." "Don't forget America supported Saddam." "And if there are still dictators, that means America wants them there." "It's the Americans' fault." " Everybody is against Arabs." "Perhaps this conversation would run more smoothly if your women were here." "Go on, translate." "If we all lived by Islam, there would be no problems." "If we did that, we would sew our women's lips." "Damn." "I don't know if you know, but do you hear how we're talking to each other?" "I think we'll get very far like this." "Best of luck." "Pictures are approved of, press conference is done." "Any news from the debate?" " Not al all." "Isabel, continue pestering those clowns at city hall." "Wait, Edgar." "Don't we have to publish some retractions?" "Like what?" " They didn't find weapons at Jamal's." "That means he hid them very well." "Old news is no news, and old faulty news especially." "Boy, oh boy, you must have been bullied a lot." "Rejected." "I have to leave." "In thirty days." "This is a mistake." "It's not possible." "Someone with your background." "Fuck it, we'll appeal." "This was the appeal." "I was summoned to the hearing." "But I didn't get the letter." "So I didn't know I had to appear." "If you don't show up, you're not accepted." "There's really only one solution." "You marry me, then they can't send you away." "No way." "I mean it." "You think I ran away from Pakistan, just to be forced into marriage again?" "Forced?" "Nadia, we do love each other." "Most of the time, that is." "Would you have asked me if I weren't rejected?" "Would you ask me to marry you?" "Well, no then." "No, no, no." "I didn't have to marry in Pakistan, so I don't have to marry here." "I only ask to keep you here." " I'll marry from the heart." "Not because I have to." "Today you're sweet." "But maybe in six months time you say:" "Nadia, I've helped you." "Now you have to do this for me." "Now you have to clean." "And I wouldn't say no, because then we would get a divorce." "Do you really think I would do that?" "I thought so many things about you." "But after the situation with grandpa, I don't know anymore." "Well, then..." "I'll find a solution." "Without you." "Dad, Tom is here." "Your grandson." "Everything all right?" " Yes, fine." "Isn't what's her name here?" "You mean Tine?" " No, the chocolate one." "Nadia." "No." "No, she and I, that wasn't..." "You'll work it out." "Grandpa, if I won't see you again..." "Take care." "Excuse me?" "If I don't see you again, take care?" "These are probably my last words to him." "And what do I say?" "Me, Tom Naegels, journalist." "Man of words." "If I don't see you again, take care." "With my other grandfather, it was almost as bad." "He had a mug of coke with a drinking spout." "His arm cramps." "The spout fell." "My last words to him:" "Shall I put the spout back on?" "Sales have gone up, but the crisis is over." "We're back at two pages." "Tom." "Naegels?" " I'm sorry." "A new story." "Readers report that young rascals harass Santa at the Meir." "That's up your alley." "Hi, mum." "Everything all right, Tom?" "Not really." "Not now, Naegels." "You and your second-rate paper can kiss my ass." "With all your pseudo-intellectual bullshit about the reader." "I quit." "At some moments in your life, you have to make a decision." "You have to have the guts to act." "This is such a moment." "A moment when everything is right and absolutely nothing can go wrong." "Nadia?" "Goddamn." "Shit." "Shit, shit, shit, shit." "Didi?" "Come on, Didi." "What's going on?" " What are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same." " I don't want to know." "Where is Nadia?" "She left yesterday." "Didn't she tell you?" "No, she didn't." "Of course not." "You." " Where did she go?" "Come on, Didi, please." "To friends, somewhere in Paris." "Tom?" "Tommy?" "Sometimes you think you made the right choice, but... you've made it too late." "Then you have to live with the consequences." "But sometimes, you just have to live." "Tommy, you'll never find her." "At least, I've tried then." " And afterwards?" "You can forget about working as a journalist now." "You could finally write that book you've been going on about for years." "And what should it be about?" "About your experiences these past few weeks." "About grandpa, Nadia, Ali." "Who'd want to read that?" "Big bear." "A book." "Really..." "Stop." " Well played." "We're still looking for two ridiculous last words." "This is not goodbye, my friend." "Stop." "The last words we were looking for, were:" "Shall I put the spout back on?" "And if I don't see you again, take care, both by Tom Naegels." "Did Tom really say that?" " He really did." "Jesus." "Yes, yes, I know."