"You checked the oil?" "Of course." "Water too?" "Plenty." "Right." "Dr Pulder speaking." "No, it's Kees, not Jaap." "Hans!" "How could you remember me?" "What?" "Coming here?" "No, nothing special to do this afternoon." "Lieske..." "I can't go to Amsterdam after all." "Why not, you punk?" "Because Van Inge Liedaerd just called me." "The neurosurgeon?" "Yes." "The famous neurosurgeon Van Inge Liedaerd." "He wants to consult me." "He wants to consult you?" "Couldn't you say no?" "I didn't think of that." "For weeks you promise you'll go with us to Amsterdam to celebrate Kamiel's discharge." "We've got tickets for the theatre." "Was it really that important?" "No, I mean..." "What's the matter?" "Your father isn't coming." "I mean, you don't have to..." "just because I..." "Asshole." "Shit." "Good old Kees!" "Sorry I missed your name this morning." "How are you?" "You haven't changed a bit." "I'm glad to see you, it's good to meet an old friend." "I'm sorry my wife isn't home." "She's in Amsterdam with my son." "Don't tell me you stayed just for me?" "No, at the last moment I couldn't go away." "I'm glad, it would have made me feel bad." "What would you like to drink?" "Sherry?" "Dry please, if you've got some." "This is really quiet." "Boy, just what I need." "If you like some cheese, help yourself." "Here's to you, old boy." "To our reunion." "Please, sit down." "If your wife's out, we could have dinner someplace." "Have dinner?" "A place like this should have a good old inn." "In our local Hilton they'd even forget the eggs in an omelette." "You must know of something around here." "You always were a connoisseur." "Me, a connoisseur?" "You used to get those dreamy eyes over good food." "I'm quite sure of that." "Yes, look at me...." "Just a worn out tumour picker." "I guess you'd like to know why I called." "Nothing serious:" "it's about my daughter Kitty." "She wants to be a doctor in a little village just like this." "It's something I've no experience with." "If anybody knows, you are the one." "So that's what it is." "I think I could tell you something all right." "Now please tell me in that unforgettable style of yours." "I thought I used to be a quiet one." "I think you gave yourself a premature burial here." "Well, maybe you're right." "I think I really lost touch with things." "Still, I envy you your wisdom, in coming here." "Really your kind of move." "Now when did you ever see me do something sensible?" "I think you're underestimating yourself." "Who, me?" "You must be thinking of someone else." "No, I really mean you, old chap." "You were unique." "Now don't give me that." "I'll give you anything you deserve, no joke." "When I told Verzijl I intended to visit you, we talked a lot about you." "Kees was the brightest of our set and he buried himself in the country." "Verzijl?" "Verzijl." "When I saw my wife and son leaving this morning, I suddenly thought:" "I am not a lady, nor beautiful but I do know where I live." "Remember?" "Faust or rather Gretchen." "That's the way I felt:" "A living creature, with lousy lines." "You are still the same Kees Pulder." "It all comes back." "But what do you mean with my wit and wisdom?" "I doubt the verity of your memory." "That's it!" "I doubt the verity of your memory." "And there was something with a squirrel..." "Yes, many a squirrel forgets where he hid his nuts." "Yes, that's it." "Don't tell me you think that's funny." "Oh, but we did." "You really mean that?" "There's a good restaurant I know, but it's about 10 miles away, and I've no car." "But I have one, I'll drive you." "Man, it's so good to see you." "Tell me about your life." "Just forget my pitiful life." "Now be honest:" "Would it be inconvenient if I stayed the night?" "Of course not, but our guest room is rather primitive." "A bit small, no running water." "But that's just fine." "No problem at all." "Jaap... eh Kees, do you run your own pharmacy?" "That's some pharmacy..." "You can only find this in the country." "Well protected too." "Oh that..." "I'll show you something else." "Look at this." "My one and only pride:" "the poison cabinet." "I got it with the house." "I never showed this to anyone before." "A marvel of ingenuity." "This is not an ordinary cabinet." "These two doors aren't hinged on the outside but right in the middle." "You wouldn't think so, because you see the hinges and the keyhole here." "So even if someone got hold of the key he'd try to open it in the normal way." "But look, you must insert the key." "Then turn it to the left." "So you can remove this strip." "Then to the right, take it out." "And watch it now:" "The door opens." "A real marvel of ingenuity." "So typical of you." "Quite nice, isn't it?" "This squirrel knows where he hid his nuts." "You tell me." "I'll leave the choice to you, to the gourmet." "Gourmet?" "Snails, I read here." "I never even tried them." "Great idea, snails." "Let's have some oxtail soup." "Veal for the main course but let's start with snails." "Kees, I think you're right." "Kitty should work in a hospital, though that can be rough too." "Once when I was in hospital for treatment a young nurse was upset because she had to wash a corpse." "A year later the same nurse was laughing about how she'd dropped a dead body by accident and how the mess flowed out of the head." "Another time there was that nun who gave me injections through my sleeve." "You've been treated quite often." "We really talk too much." "Nine o'clock already." "This dump is getting on my nerves." "Excuse me Kees, I've got to make a call." "Where is my friend?" "The gentleman went outside." "Hans!" "Leave me alone." "Sorry for the interruption, I had a hectic week." "Kees, if you only knew how much you still mean to all of us." "You really have no idea." "Remember how we both wrote in that student paper?" "Yes, the Echo-Hole, I remember." "And the poems you wrote?" "I knew them by heart, for years." "Lulu's legs were not so nice a swamp was in her eyes always away and gone when something nice was done." "I don't remember a thing." "All I remember is making the faculty list." "But what's the matter with you?" "Expensive and sour." "It's all right." "You should taste my wine." "Specially bottled." "I'll send you some." "If anyone's worthy of good wine, it's you." "Kees, we should have a reunion for you." "They all want that." "Maybe that's the real reason for my coming here." "To see how you felt." "Of course, I would love it but I'm afraid I'd disappoint you." "Time leans heavy on my shoulder." "Maybe you expect spirits and you'll get coffee grounds." "Turkish mocha." "Yes, dregs." "Not bad, is it?" "Seriously, would you come?" "I am flabbergasted." "Restore the old glory." "It sounds like you all want to sit at my feet." "The joy is out of Joyce." "And where's the bar in Barbara?" "Come on..." "Careful now, get out of the coat..." "We should..." "The hat..." "We should go to bed now, it's past midnight." "I'll be off." "Hans, if there's anything you need, I'm right above you" "Thanks." "Good night." "Hans..." "Sweet dreams." "A reunion... only for me..." "Want to see you..." "restore the old glory..." "I hope Lieske won't be a party-pooper." "Party-pooper." "Now watch it, when Kees Pulder says something, it's a direct hit, spot on..." "A sure kill." "Clarifying all." "Cheers!" "Good old Hans." "Empty, dammit." "But, gentlemen, this squirrel knows were he left his nuts." "Hans, are you asleep?" "Pulder..." "Kees the schmulder..." "Schmulder..." "Stupid squirrel..." "And when I say a dose I mean a dose." "The spirit, gentlemen, reigns supreme." "We don't know the long nor the short of it nor the ins and outs." "Our perception or access..." "Quiet, please." "Hans is talking poppycock." "Hans is talking poppycock." "Doctor, can you hear me?" "You came to change my nappy, honey?" "Then feast your eyes on the golden shine that proves my radiant health." "Go away." "You don't know what he came here for." "He came to dig up the good doctor." "Dig him out of his old garden." "A refreshing visit, I might say." "I admit I was getting dull lately lost in worrying about my patients." "Lieske was right when she said they don't appreciate me." "Go away, go now." "Lieske and Kamiel, get lost, I don't care where." "A penny is no loss but if I lost a penny, I'd be lost as well." "Little mouse, are you there?" "Have you come to see the doctor?" "That's just fine." "You only live once, after all." "Little mouse, let's hear where you are." "Are you wearing a ribbon?" "Today anything goes, it's my day." "Wait a minute." "What do you think you're doing?" "Rats, dammit." "That's all I needed, rats." "Our little mouse..." "Stupid hick..." "Silly cow..." "Piss in the bowl..." "Good morning." "Sleep well?" "Why not leave a message?" "So here's the message?" "And it's quite clear." "He took everything." "Not a bit left for a cancer patient." "Hans van Inge Liedaerd, a criminal addict." "Verzijl." "Verzijl?" "You'll be surprised to hear this, this is Kees Pulder." "We were in the same fraternity, ages ago." "Yes, I know it's Sunday, but there is something." "Maybe you remember me." "Kees Pulder, I was doing medicine." "Yes, our memories but I'm sure you remember." "Van Inge Liedaerd and I, the medicine men." "No, in our fraternity, I mean." "Pulder, Kees Pul-der." "Hello?" "Wait a minute." "Does squirrel mean anything to you?" "No?" "I'm just trying to refresh your memory." "Hello?" "Are you nuts, to hang up on me like that and talk that way to an old friend?" "Never mind that." "This is Kees Pulder and I need some information." "Let it be for common decency's sake then." "What exactly is the matter with Van Inge Liedaerd?" "Hans, that's right." "Trouble with the law." "Just been released." "Yes, I've got my own pharmacy." "What do you mean:" "country doctor fell for it?" "Now you watch your tongue." "No, you won't get involved." "But listen what's-your-name, eh Verzijl." "It was really great, you don't know what you missed." "It's a good thing I stayed home." "A new world opened up for me." "Tell me about it." "I can't tell you really." "It's a medical question." "He came to consult you?" "Yes, odd as it seems." "Could you help him?" "I'm afraid not." "Hopeless?" "I'm afraid so." "Was it bad?" "Even worse now he's gone." "But would you still get on as old friends?" "Very much so, yes." "Here are the programs." "Thanks." "I'll have a look at them tomorrow." "You want something to eat?" "This is the last egg." "Pulderschmulder, the warthog." "Signed Dr Van Inge Liedaerd cell 43." "Jesus..." "Father, I just saw a Jaguar." "I thought you would." "How can we fix that?" "I'll call van Bommel." "You expect him to come this late, on a Sunday?" "I'll try anyway." "He is coming now." "What do you know..." "It's the advantage of a village like this." "And being a good doctor." "I'm sorry." "May I presume you're his daughter Kitty?" "It means peace, at last." "You are the only visitor." "Do you want to stay?" "No, I was going anyway." "Do you expect any more visitors?" "I think not." "Good afternoon." "I hadn't seen him in years, when he called on me." "I live in a little village." "So you must be Dr Pulder." "The last person I'd expect to see here." "I didn't report the theft." "No, he confessed it himself, with all the rest." "You got yourself in trouble there." "Never mind. lt was nothing compared to what that day meant to me." "But that's a long story." "May I come to the funeral?" "Even if we are the only two?" "Certainly." "Maybe his girlfriend too." "Mrs Mies?" "He told you?" "No, but I found out." "Did he impress you that much?" "You might say so, yes." "Could I have a word with you afterwards?" "Where?" "At home?" "If you want to." "Well, you'll see what it leads to." "Like what he did." "I wish I could help you some way." "We got used to helping ourselves." "My wife would like to come to the funeral too." "I will tell my mother." "Goodbye." "Would anyone like to say a few words?" "This is ridiculous." "As an old friend, I came here to say that, in spite off your own problems and the hardship you caused, you were a great man." "And your skill saved many lives." "May their and my gratitude accompany you on your last journey." "Rest in peace, Hans." "On behalf of the family, thank you for coming." "Father's mistress." "That?" "For ages." "She also takes...?" "My husband might think she's great too." "My eyes never keep dry." "It's a silly request." "It wouldn't be nice to hear." "But if you want to come, I am always home." "Can we drive you to the station?" "That won't be necessary." "He drives around anyway with chickens and, whatchamacallits, rabbits." "I'll get in with Kitty." "If you follow us, you'll still have a procession for your great man." "Go on in, I'll tell mother." "Who was that creature you talked to?" "A friend of Hans." "I hope you'll stop this business now." "It looks like he put a spell on you." "That's quite right." "Then take a good look around at what he did." "What he had to sell to get his shots." "Is this a condolence visit?" "Sit down." "Till now people have had the decency to leave us alone." "Mother..." "My husband was a friend of Hans, so we wanted to..." "Show your sympathy in the loss?" "A lot is missing here, and if I'm right in your house too, after his visit." "Well eh, that's settled now." "We can't pay your bill, anyway." "There is no bill." "So you are the benefactor." "Coffee?" "No thanks, we must go." "So many patients..." "I would like to be able to help you in some way." "I wouldn't know why you should." "He's dead." "Dead and buried." "That's a great help." "Mother is bitter, you'll understand that." "Yes, of course, I'd feel the same." "Yes, but it's a fact that Hans meant a lot to other people..." "So they might want to do something for you and your daughter Kitty who wants to study medicine." "I don't think I like that idea." "Still, it's very nice of him." "I don't know." "I think it's rather strange." "We really must go." "I would be honoured if I could be of help to finance Kitty's education, or something." "We must go now." "Yes, but..." "You meant well, anyway." "Since I can do it, I don't see why not." "I wish you the strength to go on." "You too, Kitty." "I'll see you out." "Some other time then." "But my offer still stands." "Please remember my husband is something from the past." "Has been for years." "Passé défini." "Pulder speaking." "I just came back from a funeral." "A friend of mine." "Tell me." "Has it got worse?" "How many did I prescribe yesterday?" "Yes, it takes time." "Four more today and we'll see tomorrow." "It will be all right." "Who was that?" "Van der Voort." "He is worried about Elly." "Patience." "I am a doctor, not a magician." "Aren't you going?" "We'll see tomorrow." "But you were worried too." "Who is the doctor, you or me?" "Can I have some time to recover after burying my best friend without having to jump in that goddamn car right away?" "You are the doctor, but yesterday..." "Was yesterday." "But Elly is sick." "And Jack and Jill, Tom, Dick and Harry." "Kees, you are acting very strange." "I'm not the only one." "We'll have to talk about this soon." "Listen Pulder, you've been drunk for a week now." "We are going to talk." "Bless my soul." "Can't you see what's happening to you and what's got into you?" "You know..." "It's very deep but I think it's always been there." "What is it?" "Don't talk that way." "I'm not the dutiful drudge everybody thinks I am." "I think there are other, bigger, more important things." "I'm listening." "lt isn't easy to explain these things." "It is Van Inge Liedaerd, that Hans." "He led you on to think you're special." "What if there were some truth in it?" "You're special as a doctor, that should be plenty." "A dull drudge, you mean." "If your true nature is to be drunk each night..." "Is this the way we'll find each other again?" "Not by acting like you've become someone else." "A stranger to your patients, even to your friends." "Walking around drunk, driving even and making disgusting scenes here at home." "You might at least consider the possibility you're wrong." "Was your former life an act, hiding your genius?" "Nice lines, but beside the point." "You want to imitate that Hans." "I don't have to be like anybody." "Who do I want to imitate?" "I wouldn't know." "I really wouldn't know, darling." "Come to bed now." "Going to bed and everything is fine, oh no... lt seems very deep." "I mean it is very deep." "Hans..." "Hans may have cheated me but he left me a great gift." "He created a new world around me, a world I'm just beginning to see." "You couldn't understand." "Forget it." "I don't want to become a mummy." "What do I know about life?" "Not a damn thing." "But Hans did, and I want to know everything about him." "But who could tell me this?" "Someone who knew him." "Better than any other:" "Mrs Mies." "I'll see her." "I may be wrong, but at least I'll know." "Do you dive into bed now, you daring dragonfly?" "I'll plunge into that little pond." "Get out of here." "Drunkards sleep in the guestroom." "And I'm going to see Mrs Mies tomorrow morning." "There you are." "I hope you don't mind." "I don't see what you want." "Talk to you for a while." "No, I don't feel like it." "And I came all the way to see you." "Give me 15 minutes then." "No problem at all." "I'll be back." "I'll take my time." "See you later." "EVERY DAY FRESH LAID EGGS, EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS." "Good afternoon." "Sir?" "Do carry on." "I'd like some eggs." "Ten will do." "These are no factory made eggs." "They all come fresh from the farm." "They don't lay eggs on Sunday, I see." "Only natural products." "Nothing factory made." "Now didn't I meet you at the burial of Dr Van Inge Liedaerd?" "So what?" "Nothing at all." "There are plenty of weirdo's around here." "Weird?" "I greatly admired him." "Me too... not really." "Poor things, both of them." "But now he's dead, she's always welcome in my truck." "Do you know who he was?" "A doctor, they said." "But what a doctor." "Can you tell me about him?" "Here are your eggs." "Thanks." "Don't you have a box to protect them?" "I have a long way to go." "It's always worked with a bag." "It will do." "I'll give Mrs Mies your regards." "But don't let her carry that bag." "It's not for her." "I am Dr Pulder, remember?" "You said nice things at lover boy's funeral." "Nice." "He didn't deserve it after what he did to you." "He got so mad about that guest room with those rats." "Just a tiny mouse, no rats." "He got so mad he hit me." "Not what you'd expect from a gentleman." "Getting worse all the time, that falling." "Does anybody look after you?" "My son." "A big shot with Shell." "But I guess his boss glued his ass to an oil well." "I never see him anymore." "Will you have a vodka?" "Now that's..." "Not the little glasses." "Those hold more." "It's real nice of you to come but don't worry about me." "I have a cleaning lady." "She steals like a magpie." "And what's more, she drinks." "Cheers." "I can tell, because before I knew Hans I used to drink myself." "But he helped me to get off it." "You dry them." "You are a doctor too." "Hans helped me stop drinking." "Not a drop of blood left, the doctor said." "Got more holes in him then a flute." "You spoke like a friend of his, at the funeral." "But he wasn't a friend of yours." "Your... what's your name again?" "Pulder." "Yes, he couldn't stand that name." "Pulder, he said, Pulder..." "I'm going to Pulder for you, he said." "I wouldn't do it for myself." "He threw a brick through my window." "He was so mad at you." "He drove back all the way just for that." "I was in the car." "I hardly ever go out." "Then he calmed down." "Wasn't he afraid I'd report the theft?" "He said you were too dumb." "He was still my friend." "That bastard?" "Listen:" "Hans is pure evil." "He destroyed his wife bit by bit." "Very politely." "Pour me another." "And me." "There wasn't much left to destroy, though." "Still I thought I couldn't live without him." "But I'm doing fine, even if I land on my butt a lot." "And that hoarse laugh of his, when it happened." "Yes, I know what you mean." "Boy, did we laugh." "Delicious, this vodka." "Would you like to take a bottle home?" "As a kind of compensation." "I don't want to despoil you." "I've got enough for the rest of my life." "Alright then..." "I'll take one as a memento of this peculiar meeting." "All right, forget it." "It's about time for you to scram." "But pour me another first." "No, this one isn't empty yet." "Take another." "I'll put the bottle within reach." "Shut up and pour." "If I'm around some other time, can I drop in again?" "Do as you like." "But it wasn't true about the rats, believe me." "Don't forget your bottle." "Bring me something nice next time." "I must go now." "You still here?" "I'm sorry, I had an accident with some eggs." "Maybe you have a rag or something." "It's rather bad." "Dammit, woman, give me some rag." "Better come back when the maid is here." "Poor thing, you going home in that omelette?" "With a newspaper, I could..." "Now get lost with your mess." "I'll be off then." "Doctor Pulder..." "Doctor Pulder." "I'll try to drop by this morning though I'm not too well myself." "What time...eh, what temperature?" "38.7." "I'll really try to drop in then." "Dr Van Ooyen?" "But I told you I'd try to come." "Van Ooyen can't tell a running nose from a dose of clap." "Can I have it now?" "Have what?" "The car, to see a patient." "See a patient in that wreck?" "It's bad enough to have it out front." "I'm sorry doctor, but the fever kept going up so we got worried." "So we decided to call Dr Van Ooyen." "She's going to the hospital today." "Great." "So I walk all the way..." "Look, you always used to come right away." "But thanks all the same." "She'll be all right in hospital." "But I said I'd come." "Don't shout." "You said you'd try to come." "But I always come." "Not lately you don't." "They say..." "What do they say?" "Maybe it's just talk." "Thanks for coming." "Well, I wish her all the best." "We just put our faith in God." "Then you could have waited before calling Van Ooyen." "Don't overdo it, mother." "No one can get to be such a stinker overnight." "Who is a stinker?" "And what are you doing here?" "Is this a conspiracy?" "A conspiracy is the last thing we'd want." "Mother is worried." "That's why I'm here." "I asked him to come." "You're losing your patients." "You always played the noble doctor, and now you don't give a damn." "You're both wrong to think I'm in a bad way now." "On the contrary." "Being a provincial drudge was bad." "I've been a student too." "It may not have been as great as Hans said." "But I was alive then." "My horizon became smaller and smaller till I was just a piss gazer." "But there's more to life than urine and bowel movements." "I have been moved." "Yes, moved." "A new world was opened, and I must hurry." "But father, you were happy." "It only looked that way." "I'd rather die then keep up with that crap, that's final." "Now you can see for yourself." "Hans put a spell on him." "So he thinks." "No, I'd never do a thing like that." "But I didn't really ask you, stupid." "I just said: bring me something." "That's true." "That's great of you, you needed it as bad as he did." "I cut it down because he'd steal it from me." "You know he had an aristocratic name but so did I, as a girl." "Surprised?" "A girl." "once a girl, young and pure like a fairy, that's for sure" "If you think Hans taught you something, better watch it." "He ruined everything he touched." "I was a young girl, once..." "Careful now..." "You mentioned ruins." "I'll tell you something." "Once we both were in the clinic to get off the stuff." "But one day he just vanished." "You see what a bastard he was." "He took his car, some ampoules and some checks which bounced like Mrs Mies, and off he goes." "The surgeon with the golden hands, off to an expensive hotel." "Sunshine galore for a pale face with a bad habit." "Good afternoon." "There is a room reserved for me, is that right?" "Yes, room 117, one flight up, sir." "Jacques, François." "The manager." "Get the manager." "Why?" "A leak in the ceiling." "You, follow me." "It's from upstairs." "My God." "Move that table." "Get the repairmen." "The plumbers." "Maids with buckets." "And be quick." "My God." "It's here." "Get the manager." "Go see what's happening." "It's room 117." "Open that door." "Open up." "I'm here, no problem at all." "Who's got a key?" "Get a key." "Here it is." "Everything is fine." "Jesus, another calamity." "In the restaurant?" "A leak." "A leak?" "lt comes from here." "Excuse me." "Look at that mess in the restaurant." "It's terrible." "It's a guest." "I don't know what he did, it's incredible." "A catastrophe." "The manager was fired for letting him get away." "Magnificent." "A trail of ruins." "But he also left a few things undone." "But fortunately I have another doctor now to pick up where he left." "You mean me?" "Why do you think I tolerate you, stupid ass?" "Do you have anything to nibble on with the drinks?" "I'm not a rabbit." "I don't nibble." "You don't even know how to drink." "When you drink you don't nibble, it is no tearoom here." "We were getting along fine." "Nibble." "Crackers, or some nuts." "Country hick, nibbler, squirrel." "Get the hell out of here." "Calm down, you sound just like my wife." "Now get out." "But Mies..." "And leave me on the ground." "I'd rather be underground." "Can't you mind your own business?" "As a doctor I can't." "Doctors, great help they are." "Get lost." "You can't do this." "With you I am..." "I'll write to you." "I'll help you, if you want to kick it." "I'll write you." "See?" "You write, and here I come." "Little Pulder of mine..." "come to have a nibble?" "I was unforgivable." "Maybe I was a teeny-weeny bit drunk." "Come in, it's drafty as hell." "Dear Mrs Mies, I am your servant, and I can't say how much..." "Cut out the crap, that's finished." "It took me the whole day to write that damn letter." "The ink bottle got knocked over three times." "Never mind that." "You really admire Hans, don't you?" "Can't get enough of his heroic antics, right?" "Then I'll tell you of his last heroic stand." "But sit down and relax, there is no hurry." "You realize in what shape he was by then." "He sat in that same chair and I was over there." "He said:" "We could both take an overdose right now and kick the habit for good." "But I know something better." "It would be the first time you think of something good." "Not that spiritual bullshit of yours again." "I really know something nice." "Nothing to fear, just beautiful." "With splendid colours." "And overwhelming beauty." "Heralding the final liberation." "Our liberation." "Poppies." "Poppies?" "Are you nuts or something?" "Mies, listen:" "I talked to a toxicologist." "He told me about a woman who'd made a milk like liquid out of all poppy leaves." "But that wasn't all." "What do you mean: oh?" "Just oh." "Try to understand for once." "Okay, she drank it." "And then?" "Maybe she became red all over." "No, she drifted into unconsciousness never to awake." "Is this one of your good days?" "Hear who's talking." "But don't you understand?" "What we'll do?" "All over the place we'll sow poppies." "So you assume I want to die too... now?" "You want to outlive me?" "Darling, do you want another cure that won't work?" "Or a slow growth towards release, every day lovelier?" "And more promising." "Weep for flowers nipped in the bud." "You said it." "Thanks a lot." "So now you know." "We shall sow." "Now." "And all around there shall be red." "I wasn't ready for it then." "And he never got around to sow them." "But on the package it says the right time is now." "Sow sparsely." "And now you ask me to help you." "After all you are a doctor too." "And when they bloom, do you want us to..." "Drink the poppy milk?" "Yes, like Hans would have, in his style." "That would be real nice." "I'll come by every now and then to see how they are doing." "Just a few times." "So you'll do it?" "Die together?" "Yes." "No." "Sow together." "Absolutely." "No you fool, not like that." "You're wasting your seed, you silly Onan." "This is a symbolic act, like Hans would have done." "Cut it out." "If that's all you can do, you'd better go." "God what a clumsy fool." "How about a little break?" "That pig is guzzling from the bottle." "Now get in, it's getting too cold." "Come on now." "Now you go to bed, I'll do the rest." "I want to sleep, dammit." "Why can't I stay here?" "I wouldn't touch her." "But the rotten bitch..." "Let me sleep." "How the hell can I get all the way home?" "He came from there." "There was that girl, and he was just dead drunk." "Seems to be a doctor at that." "You are driving this car?" "Jesus." "Let me help her, I'm a doctor." "Looks like you've taken too much medicine yourself." "Come with me." "You arresting me?" "Call it what you like." "Let me help her." "In the back, sir." "...could let me help." "You take him away." "He should have been on the last one." "Now let's wait for the next one." "Maybe he'll only be released tomorrow." "Or he won't come home." "If so, I'll get him from that bitch with my bare hands." "He has to come of his own, or else I don't want him." "Mies, it's me." "It's been a while." "I came to see her, but she isn't home." "No, she isn't home." "Not there, anyway." "Visiting relatives?" "No, not visiting relatives." "Where is she then?" "Third row left, 18th grave." "There is a gravestone with her name." "Mireille Françoise Beeks van Ledendonck." "'The doctors whore' wouldn't fit." "She's dead." "Was she sick?" "Poison, they say." "I left some of my things in there." "Who has the key?" "Her son." "But I've one too." "I used to pick up the empty bottles." "Bring it back, please." "Sure." "Nothing left." "Except half a bottle for you, but don't touch it." "Old nibbler, throw a brick through a window go home and forget Hans and me." "Me... not quite..." "Mies..." "lonely woman..."