"DAY 62" " Did you get it?" " Yes." " What now, MacGyver?" " You'll see." "What have we got ourselves into?" "6 WEEKS EARLIER" "You can start serving." "OK?" "Shouldn't that be halal?" "What do you know?" "It can't be trusted." "Bitch." " What?" "What was that?" " That'll do, guys." "Roxy, go and throw those bottles in the glass container." "Excuse me." "Mrs Speltinckx, my condolences." "Sorry to disturb at a time like this, but I've been asked to do an inventory." "Seizure will occur in 2 weeks." "I assume the things in the communal areas belong to the retirement home?" "Could you come with me, please?" " Is there a problem, Joyce?" " A problem?" "No." "The man is looking at the place for his mother." "I'm going to..." "She won't stay much longer." "We need to discuss her apartment." "Honestly, Denise." "The man has only just been cremated." "I can't see why she should stay in such a big apartment." "Roxy!" " What's going on here?" " I have no idea." " I think a storm's coming." " What?" "What?" "Couldn't you throw them a bit harder?" "They didn't hear in Tokyo." "You said to throw the bottles away." "So..." "Yes." "No respect, stupid bitch." " Nouri!" " What?" "Say that again?" "You do understand Dutch, don't you?" "You stupid bitch." "Come on, then." "Hey." "Stop it!" "Bloody Turk." "Guys!" "Do something, Gilbert." " What am I?" " Hey." "Don't!" "Stop it!" "Stop it, goddammit!" "Do you want a clip around the ear?" "Stop it, guys!" "Come on." "Come here." "Give it a rest." "I said stop." "What a way to act!" "SCRATCH MY BACK" " Thank you, everyone..." " We demand an explanation, Viviane." "Why was that bailiff here and, above all," " how could you hide it?" " Calm down." "All in good time." "First, the incident with Roxy and Nouri." "Viviane, I want to know what's going on." " So do we." " It's just an unpaid invoice." "I was a bit sloppy." "I made a mistake and I'm going to fix it." "It'll be sorted out by tomorrow." "OK?" "All right?" "Can we get on?" "Right." "I think we all agree that what happened this morning was unacceptable." "And certainly at a time like that." "May I?" "I certainly don't want to condone the behaviour." " So don't." " Well." "Mr Dutchman's suddenly against it." "I don't have a problem admitting my mistakes." "I knew this would happen from the start." "You mustn't forget they are still young." "Yes." "And next time it will be one of us." " These things happen." " Elder abuse." "It's in the papers." "They should be given a second chance." "This was their second chance." "I..." "I think we should give them another chance." "If we throw them out now, it won't do them any good." "On the contrary." "And it won't be of any help to us either." "And I'm sure that..." "That Bert would think the same." "Consider this a warning." "And you won't get a second one." "If it were up to me, you'd be out right now." "But clearly some are prepared to stand by you." "Make sure it never happens again." "Now shake hands, go on." "Right, now go home." "Can we agree that that's the end of our misery for today?" "Yes." "But the gas and electricity bill is..." "Is it Alain?" "Hi, Alain." "No, Alain, I can't." "I really can't now." "I said I had to think about it for a while." "Yes." "Shit." "Sverre, we have been extremely patient with you." " That's the final straw." " That's not mine." "On drugs." "Sverre, honey..." " Have I misjudged you so badly?" " No, Mum." " The truth, Sverre." " Mum, it's not mine, I'm telling you." "Stop manipulating your mother." "Where did those drugs come from?" "How should I know if they're not mine?" "Of course." "You never know, never do anything wrong." "Go and explain that to that man in hospital." " Mum." " Right." "It stops here." "I'm washing my hands of you, young man." "He understands." "Don't you, Darling?" "No, Joëlle." "No." "If he can't be honest with his parents, he's not welcome here." " It isn't mine." " You've had your chance." "Go on." "Take your stuff and go." "Get out of my sight!" "Come on, get in." "Nouri, you're my pal, you know that." "But my back's to the wall, you understand?" "You get one more chance." "Take it or leave it." "OK, fine." "But you can tell Dominique yourself." " Don't blame me for the consequences." " Kemal." "This is the only way, otherwise accidents will happen." "OK?" "I'll let you know where and when." "Make sure you're there." "Now get out." "Maggie, not again." "Frans?" "When will Frans be home?" "Is he still marking exams?" " I've cooked dinner." " Come on, Maggie." "Go back to bed before Frans starts to worry." "Come on." " Yes?" " Yes." "Go back to bed." " All right?" " Yes, fine." "Be careful there." " I'm glad you're here, Vi." " For you, always." " What are you doing?" " Just imagine, you and me in the Caribbean." " Alain, please." " Come on, Viviane." "Close your eyes." "Can you see it?" "The clear blue water." "Palms in the distance." "It's really hot, but a gentle sea breeze means it's quite pleasant." "Stop it, Alain." "Did you call Myriam?" "I'm hoping to find other options." "What?" "And not sell it?" " No." " What about our trip?" " Our trip?" " Yes." "Your trip, you mean?" "Are you actually interested in what I do?" "Of course I am." "I'm doing it for us." "This here." "As if you will ever take a year off work." "I told the Board of Directors this morning." " Really?" " I realise I got it wrong, Viviane." "I focused on my job." "And put off all our plans, our dreams." "Later, later, later." "But you've made me see." "I'm grateful to you for that." "I got it wrong." "I want to work on us." "Get things back to how they were." "It's now or never, Viviane." "I love you." "I want to show you the world." "I still love you too." " Let's eat." " Yes." " I'm starving." " Me too." "Gaetan." "I've made you your favourite dish." "Well, had it made." "I didn't make it myself." "Gaetan made it." "Look." "DAY 17" "Good morning." " Here." "A cup of coffee." " Thanks." " Is there any stevia?" " What?" " Stevia?" " Ste..." "Stevia?" "I'm beginning to understand why your parents threw you out." "Come on." "It can't be that bad, can it?" "It'll have blown over in a week." "You don't know my dad." "OK." "You can't pretend you didn't do anything wrong, can you?" "I wouldn't let it slide!" "That's it." "Take their side." " What about me?" " What about me?" "You think being a criminal is that interesting?" " What are you trying to prove?" " As if you know anything about it." "I know more than I'd like to." "But my dad couldn't arrange community service." "Believe me, life is difficult enough." "Try explaining to women that you've been in prison." "Right." "I'll see you in the kitchen in half an hour?" "And not a word to Viviane, or I'll get into serious trouble." "What are you doing out there?" "And watch what you're doing on that grass." "It's artificial grass." "Are you going to phone that locksmith?" " This lock still sticks." " I'll do it tomorrow." " Tomorrow." " I've got time." "Yes." "Tomorrow." "Goedertier speaking." "Mr Mertens." "What a surprise!" "Yes." "Ad?" "I don't think she's going to come." "Gaby?" "Do you want to play?" " Me?" " Yes, who else?" "Yes." "Hey Sverre, you can play cards, right?" "Is the Pope Catholic?" "Come on, join us." "What are we playing?" "Texas hold 'em?" "Razz?" "Omaha?" "Bridge." "Really?" "What did I hear?" "That someone is training to be a hairdresser?" "This is our hair salon." "It hasn't been used for a while because we've had to economise." "What do you reckon?" "I'm sure you could make lots of people here very happy." "It's not looking that good at the moment, but if you give it all a wipe down then..." "I'm a hairdresser." "Not a cleaner." "Well, Gaby?" "Is that your poker face?" "What've you got?" "Just some pictures and a small bladder." "And I really need to go." "What've you got, Mia?" "Nothing." "Ad?" "Flush." "You're not the only one who can play, son." "Sorry, Granddad." "Sverre?" "Having fun?" "Right, thanks." "We'll do it again soon." " Mr Mertens." " Call me Ludo." "Here." "Don't take your eyes off that car for a second." "Understood?" "Werner, fantastic you could arrange this at such short notice." " Nice old car." " Nice old car?" " It used to belong to James Bond." " James Bond?" "Yes, honestly." "There are only two like it in the whole world." "It's priceless." "Goldfinger." "Goldfinger." " That is..." " Yes." "Honestly." "Everyone always sees us as the big, bad giant in the business, but I'm not a fan of all those impersonal old people's homes where the people are just a room number." "Two of our five core values are cosiness and homeliness." "And La Belle Epoque fits in perfectly." "Do you know how I started Marutea?" "No." "Dad had to go somewhere and we couldn't cope at home." "He had a wonderful time there, I'm sure he did." "That's exactly how I started." "But with my mother." "Really?" "A biscuit?" "Thank you." "Well?" "Can you manage?" "Don't worry." "It's not the first time." "I'm at work, Nelson." "What is the matter?" "Goddammit." "Where are you?" "Be right there, I'm coming." " What's your handicap?" " Twelve." "I'm not surprised." "Finance is obviously not your only talent." "That's why I wanted to meet up with you." "Look, Werner, I'll get straight to the point." "I'd like to put you forward for the position of regional manager." " Oh, right." " But..." "Your figures." "Your figures are nothing to write home about." "Yet you are in one of the wealthiest towns in Flanders." "What do you mean?" "Take Verbeek, your colleague." "The ground is much less fertile where he is than where you are." "But he more than doubled turnover last quarter." "With those Live Life investments." "Exactly, Werner." "With Live Life." "But I'm not really keen on offering them to my customers." "Why not?" "I have doubts about the bank behind it." "Bach  Goldstein." "Solid as a rock, man." "Solid as a rock." "They said that about Lehman Brothers too." "OK, Werner." "Look," "I'm prepared to back you for the position of regional manager, but you have to give me the right ammunition to convince the Board you're a good and loyal bank employee." "And therefore the right man for the job." " We understand each other, right?" " Yes." "So if you've got any moral objections..." "Nelson?" "Melissa?" " Nelson?" "Nelson?" " Hey, calm down." " Melissa." " Stop." " I want to see my brother and sister." " It's against the rules." "Fuck that." "What's the rule about kidnapping?" " Who said to lock 'em up?" " The judge." "Maybe we can arrange something if you calm down." " Maybe?" " Believe me, we only do it if we have no choice." "It's for their safety." "They were alone, nothing to eat or drink." " I look after them." " You can't." " I've got a job." " It's community service." "Be honest." "Are they safe with your mum?" " Roxy." " Hey, come here, you." "Up you come." "Hello." "How are you?" "What's it like here?" " It's not nice here." " Isn't it?" "I'll be back again in a few days." "Meanwhile, take care of your sister." " Promise me, Nelson." " All right." "We all knew it would come to this eventually." "It can't go on." "First her jewellery, now this." "What if I pay for a nurse to come in?" "It's not about the personnel, Frans." "She won't leave tomorrow, but I'd like you to look for alternatives..." "More suited to her needs." "Yes." "Where were you?" "I gave you a second chance and you've done it again." "Roxy went to fetch my medication." "Oh, OK." "Sorry." "Did your mum forget you?" "Or can't you smoke joints at home?" "It's just a cigarette." "I was in Amsterdam in the '60s, son." "That time's over." "I'm supposed to be old and wise now." "Please don't tell Viviane." "If you promise not to cheat at cards any more." "What?" "I won honestly." "Of course you did." "Sverre." "You can go home." "It's almost 7pm." "I left something upstairs." "I've come to see how you are." "Not good." " May I come in?" " I'd rather you didn't." " What's the matter?" " My husband has just died." "I've also lost a friend, you know." "Have you?" "Some friend you are." "Now you're talking nonsense." "This isn't what Bert wanted." "What Bert wanted?" "Do you really think he had no problem with it?" "He sacrificed his dignity for me." "And what for?" "Bert deserved better, goddammit." "Hey, take it easy, Granddad." "It's stronger than in the '60s." "Call me Ad." "I don't get it." "I'm 74 now, but still don't know any more about women" "than I did when I was 17." "And, one way or another," "I still manage to lose them all." "My ex-wife, my daughter..." "And now I've managed to lose the only woman who ever really mattered too." "You'll have to pay for that." "What?" "I'm short on cash." "I bare my soul to you and you go on about money." "I'm not a charity, Granddad." " Thank you." " And now shut up." "Where's that handsome boy with my breakfast?" "Sweetheart," "I have to talk to you about something." "If it's about that boy, I don't want to hear it." "Maggie, a time's coming" "when we can't live together any more." "That's fine, darling." "Where is that boy?" "You didn't send him away?" "No, Maggie." "I didn't send him away." "Yes?" "Oh, Nouri." "Nouri, seeing as Maggie's taken a liking to you," "I wanted to ask you whether you could look after her today?" "I have to... run an errand." "Not scared I'll kidnap her?" "OK, I understand." "That's fair." "I deserve that." "But she doesn't." "OK, it's fine." "Thanks, Nouri." "Thank you." "Can you feed her?" " I have to finish my round first." " I'll do that." " But..." " No." "I'll do that." "No." "4PM AT THE SHED." "KEMAL" "CAN'T, HAVE TO WORK" "BE THERE!" "He was smiling when I found him." "5 years." "He chased me for 5 years." "But I wasn't interested in such a boring old man." "I had enough admirers." " Until..." " Until what?" "Some idiot ran off with all my money." "I was 40, and suddenly I had nothing." "Oh wow." "And then?" "Then Bert turned up." "I really hope you meet someone like him." "I'll have three." "One with money, one to fuck, one to talk to." "Sorry." "I don't think I ever loved anyone more." "Sorry." " Frans?" " Here you are, Paula, your breakfast." "Why are you bringing it?" "As..." "As a favour to Maggie." "Enjoy." " Don't you ever wear a dress?" " You think I'm a dyke, right?" " A what?" " A dyke." " Someone who likes women." " And are you?" "No." "But my legs are too short and my arse is too fat." "What's wrong, Nelson?" "I can't, I told you." "Yes, but you look after your sister." "Hey, Nelson, promise?" "Nelson, stop going on." "I'll come tomorrow." "OK?" "I'm going now." "Bye." " Dammit." "I have to find a job." " Where is their mother?" "The drunk bitch has got herself locked up because she's scared I'll do something to her." " Have we finished?" " Yes." "You can get down now." "I'll talk to my son-in-law." "The father of those two little rascals." " He fits bathrooms." " A plumber." " A what?" " A plumber." "No, he has a bathroom company, designer bathrooms." "I'm sure he could use a good worker." "Why would he take me?" "Because he always listens to his mother-in-law." "A bonbon?" "A what?" " A sweet." " Oh no, thank you." " Would you like an ice cream?" " No, thank you." "Did you know you often look sad?" " Do I?" " Yes." "A handsome boy like you too." "Shouldn't you be at school?" "I've left." "Well, technically I got thrown out." "Why?" "I'm not a good student." "And I crashed the headmaster's car." "Oh dear." "And your diploma?" "Don't you regret it?" "It isn't easy for Mum at home." "I have to start earning money." "If I had my own garage then..." "As for that diploma..." "God knows." "Don't worry about it." "Frans can fix it." "I'll ask him when he's back from Gaston." " Gaston?" " His brother." " Don't you want an ice cream?" " No, thank you." " Are you ashamed of me?" " No, of course not." " There's just a long waiting list." " "There's just a long waiting list."" "I want out of here." "You promised me." " It's not that bad here, is it?" " I want out of here!" "Not those cups and plates." "Put a serviette on them." "Joyce?" "Hi." "Hi, Joyce." "Have you had a chance to ask Viviane when it may be possible to... pay me my wages?" "Jeanine and I have the same problem." "I haven't got any idea really." " I'll mention it again." "OK?" " Yes, if you could." "By the way, you're looking nice today." "Oh, I've got a date." "Have you?" "Well, great." "Isn't it?" "Right, I have to get on." "Viviane, I beg you, please don't make me put my wife in such a place." " It's like a zoo." "Animals in cages." " Frans." "I'll make sure she doesn't disturb anyone." "Plus, Nouri can help now, it's going really well." "Nouri won't be here forever." "But wasn't that the plan to start with?" "A place where you help each other." "Where old people are people, and not just old." "Hélène would have wanted that too." "Frans, please, leave my mum out of it." "You know it's true." " Hello, welcome to Ikaros." " The Regional Manager Seminar?" " Eighth floor, on the right." " Thank you, madam." "Could you help me with my button, please?" " There you are." " Thank you." "That's very kind of you." " What?" " Nothing." "Suppose terrorists attacked this place and made you fuck one of the old people," " who would you choose?" " Flo." "And which one of the men?" "You don't think their thing still works?" "But if you had to choose." "The Dutchman then." " And you?" " Viviane." " She's not old." " No, but she could do with it." "Sleazebag." " Is something the matter?" " Oh, no." "I just came to say thank you for this afternoon." "I do it for her, not you." "Maggie told me you were expelled?" "Yes." "So?" "You can always take exams outside of school." "Maybe I can find some spare time to tutor you." "If you come help with Maggie now and then." "After work, obviously." "Why would I?" "It may be an old man's stupid question, but do you realise the great future that could be yours if you did?" "A future doing what?" "Nodding yes from 9 to 5?" "Being humiliated by people like you?" " Is that your only prospect?" " No." "People will respect me." "Why?" "Because you're the big boss?" " There are other options." " Are there?" "Nouri, sometimes you have to look beyond what they've taught you." "They won't come and give it to you, you have to grab it yourself." "Fuck it!" "Good morning." " No." "No." " What are you up to?" " Kemal, you don't get it." " I think you don't get it." "Let's go." "This is the first floor with the apartments." "Can you note down that there's no lift?" "I'm glad I can see it for myself." "That way, I can absorb the atmosphere." "Absolutely." "This room, for example, is certainly worth looking at." " Perfect." " Thank you." "There's potential, certainly." "Gaby, could you... 5 minutes?" "Oh yes, of course." "Sorry, excuse me." "Thanks, Gaby." "I'll bring an appraiser and architect this week?" "Well, that's a bit difficult." "I don't want to worry the residents unnecessarily." "Besides," "I don't think an architect is necessary." "Everything's already here." "We have to maximise the number of rooms." "Sorry, I don't follow you." "Viviane, it has to be made profitable, doesn't it?" "You wouldn't have to sell it if it were, would you?" "Are there fish in the pond?" "Flo, you mustn't let yourself go like this." "The piano's been sadly neglected." "Ad is walking around, tail between his legs." "I'm not interested in Ad." "I've got an idea." " Too what?" " Too shark-like." "There'd be nothing left of the place, nothing." "Myriam wants to turn it into a zoo with cages." "I won't." " I'll find another solution." " What kind of solution?" "What's going on, Viviane?" "I can't abandon these people." "Sorry." "I'll find a solution, I promise." "One that works for both of us." "I just need more time." "Viviane?" "Viviane, one little thing, Nouri hasn't turned up." " What's the matter?" " Sorry, Joyce, not now." "Viviane?" "Viviane?"