"THE LAST DAYS OF EMMA BLANK" "Yes." "Do you have to cut it so short?" "I'm in time, no?" "It's time, madam." "I want the high-necked dress." "Tonight I want to paint." "A still life?" "Should I set something up?" "No, I'll paint Theo's portrait." "Come on, Theo." "Come." "Come." "Thank you, Lord." "For the roof over our heads." "For the energy to fight against the evil that exists in all of us." "And foremost: for the food on the table." "Amen." "Are you ill?" "Who, me?" "Yes." "No." "Straighten up a bit then." "She's not here, is she?" "I'm here." "And say: nice soup, Bella." "I haven't even tried it yet." "Will you say it?" "Do I have to say something?" "Nice soup, Bella." "Nice soup, Bella." "What's this?" "There's a tie in my soup." "I wouldn't put a tie in the soup, would I?" "There's a tie in my soup." "I see that." "And it's my tie." "This is a very expensive tie." "Damnit." "Who would do this?" "I want an answer." "Meier?" "I could have done it, but I didn't." "Don't provoke me, Meier." "Stop it." "Is Meier the only suspect?" "Yes, who else?" "Gonnie wouldn't do this." "No, but Theo would." "Do you know anything about this?" "Who did this?" "I count to three." "If nobody confesses, I'll chop of my hand." "One, two, three." "Last chance." "I'm chopping." "I'll chop..." "Chop then." "Which colour, madam?" "Grey, for the background." "Blue." "Cobalt." "Haneveld?" "Yes, madam?" "Coffee." "Is this cobalt blue?" "Yes, madam." "Burnt Sienna." "Thinned down." "Done." "Beautiful, madam." "Goodnight, all." "Goodnight, madam." "Goodnight, madam." "Come on, Theo." "Off the couch." "Come." "Go." "Not allowed." "Not allowed." "Go." "Off." "Gonnie?" "Gonnie?" "Bella?" "Can I join you?" "I overslept." "Because you were worrying." "Don't worry, Haneveld, I'll be dead before winter." "I want an egg." "Bella, an egg." "That shouting... is it necessary?" "This afternoon, you'll buy a bell." "Do your best, Haneveld." "And I want to see a moustache under your nose." "A moustache?" "A moustache." "To give you some style." "Four minutes?" "Four minutes what?" "That egg." "Yes, and an eel." "For breakfast?" "Is that a good idea?" "Yes, that's a good idea." "Madam..." "An eel, Bella." "I found a canoe." "In the canal." "A canoe in the canal?" "Yes." "Does it belong to anyone?" "To no one." "When does a canoe belong to no one?" "When it's on the bottom." "Meier found a canoe in the canal." "Did he?" "A leaking canoe." "Of what use is that?" "I'll fix it up." "There will be no canoe in the garage." "Let him be." "An old canoe, who cares?" "Where did you find that canoe?" "Near the jetty." "Bring it back right away." "Someone owns the jetty and that canoe." "It's a wreck." "I don't care." "You can hardly call it a canoe." "Are you deaf?" "Bring that canoe back." "I don't see an egg." "Is it Easter?" "Do I have to look for it?" "It's coming, madam." "Sorry." "Good morning, Gonnie." "Theo, stop that." "Theo, stop that." "Don't." "Go." "Take him out." "I'm not doing well." "Who would give me eel?" "It's alright." "Go." "Go." "Who would give eel to a sick person?" "She insisted." "You don't give eel to a sick person." "It's not the eel." "She's not well." "She's not well and you give her eel." "Haneveld?" "I won't jerk you off for a while." "Haneveld." "Yes, madam?" "Come lay with me." "It might calm me down." "Meier, you have to go town." "Are you coming?" "Alright." "You can't go through the dunes." "No, we're taking the coastal road." "Cold." "There's your father." "Are you two crazy?" "Are you in love with him?" "That's none of your business." "Are you in love with him or not?" "No." "What was that hug for then?" "I was consoling her." "Consolation." "That's how it starts." "You go to town." "And you go home." "Go." "I'm no longer a maid." "I'm quitting." "You'll be a maid as long as you need to." "She's waiting for her lunch." "At an unlaid table." "Because you're here." "You shouldn't be here or with him." "Wasn't madam sick?" "She's better now." "Sick, not sick." "That's not the deal." "Healthy, sick, dead." "That's the order." "She promised she'd die." "Don't talk about your mother like that." "You're not going to ruin it for the others." "Just keep going." "It'll be over in a couple of weeks at most." "I'm young." "I'm supposed to be bored." "Do you want to swap with Theo?" "Come on, go home." "I could set the table..." "We'll wait." "Shall I..." "We'll wait." "Aren't you hungry?" "Yes, I'm hungry." "You should have stopped Gonnie." "You're her superior." "Haneveld is head of the household." "Not when he's in my bed." "Then you are." "Nobody ever told me." "A bit of music, madam?" "Is it that very hard?" "I seem to be surrounded by a bunch of brain damaged toddlers." "Do your work with love, a kind word." "Is that too much to ask?" "Theo, for instance, has to crap." "No one sees it, wants to see it." "Does it taste well, madam?" "Another thing." "Yes, it tastes well." "But why isn't it delicious?" "And did you buy that bell?" "No, madam." "An electric bell?" "Your problem." "A bell." "Is that a problem?" "No, madam." "Go buy a bell." "In town." "A house bell, that rings." "Manual or electric?" "Electric." "Haneveld, could you get my coat?" "You're not going out, madam?" "Yes, I am." "A little stroll." "Who's coming?" "Are we going for a walk?" "Yes." "Do I have to come too?" "You can come too." "Should I take provisions?" "We're not going on an expedition." "We' re going to go for a little walk." "So I don't bring anything?" "What do you think, Bella?" "Do I sit here?" "Now I'd like a roll." "Yes, me too, but it wasn't an expedition." "Preparing some rolls, how much work is that?" "Now I'm hungry." "I'll have some water then." "Jesus, Theo." "Thanks, Theo, but it's not really allowed." "You can't say that to a dog." "'Thanks, but it's not really allowed.'" "How can he understand that?" "He understands, don't you Theo?" "Shall we go home then?" "What's wrong, Bella?" "Are you bored?" "It could start raining and I didn't bring any umbrellas." "No, imagine." "Would you like some more water?" "No, thanks." "If it had been a broth or white wine..." "But it's not." "No, it's water." "Stop it, Theo, Theo." "Get lost." "You can't." "You can't." "I saw you, Meier." "I saw you." "So you take a detour while we're at home, waiting for that bell?" "But you're not at home." "You didn't know that, did you?" "It's a big coincidence that we're here." "And why through the dunes?" "Anything we don't know about?" "No." "Anything obscene maybe?" "No." "Something in the bushes?" "That's enough." "Stay out of it, Bella." "Meier's my son so I defend him." "Careful, Bella." "Have you got a bell?" "Shall we go?" "It's not possible, is it?" "A carefree outing." "Ouch." "Ouch." "Are you doing it on purpose?" "Get lost." "Gonnie?" "Put your arm around me." "Where's your moustache?" "Moustache?" "I want you to wear a moustache." "I asked for it yesterday." "I thought it was a joke." "I figured as much, but it wasn't." "You know I don't have much of a beard." "So what?" "Stop it, Emma, please." "I want a moustache under your nose." "I want you to do me a favour, to do something for me." "Do you think I'll walk around with a fake moustache?" "Yes, I do." "Well, you're wrong then." "The only one who'll do something for me, is Theo." "Tomorrow you'll have a moustache." "And if not?" "What do you think?" "You're a bitch." "As you wish, Haneveld." "Meier?" "Yes?" "Look at me sometimes during the day." "So I know I'm not alone." "Otherwise I feel weird." "You know what I mean." "Yes." "A kiss." "I so need a kiss, Gonnie." "I don't." "One kiss?" "You stink, Meier." "Go away." "Come on, Theo, take it." "She's asleep." "I won't tell." "Theo, Theo." "Hey, how are you?" "How's it hanging?" "Old Theo." "Look here." "Look?" "Watch me." "Hey." "Where is it?" "Where's the ball?" "Where is it?" "Hey, look, hey." "Look?" "Where is it?" "Fetch, Theo, fetch." "Fetch, Theo, fetch." "Where have you been?" "Gonnie?" "Gonnie?" "Yes." "Are you angry with me?" "No." "Can I come in?" "No." "I won't do anything." "I'll just lay next to you." "I'm sleeping." "I can't hear what you're saying." "Come on." "You've had your chance." "Bye." "Gonnie, Jesus, I love you." "I can't comment, of course." "No." "I know my bit, you know." "What are you doing?" "Say that Gonnie's the wrong girl." "She's your niece." "Can't you get anything better?" "I can see it happen already." "She'll kill you." "Within a few years you're history." "A bit sick, a bit tired, nervous." "And she keeps on babbling." "Gonnie's not a hot girl." "Are you finished?" "Do you know how big the world is?" "You touched her pussy when you were eleven." "Shut up." "Yes, pussy, yes." "Your dick's getting excited over the only pussy you know." "Gonnie's pussy." "Shut up." "What kind of mother are you?" "Gonnie's nothing." "What is she good at?" "She can kiss." "What do you know about kissing?" "You kissed one mouth." "One silly mouth." "Come here." "What?" "Come here." "What are you going to do?" "I'll show you what kissing is." "That's kissing." "Now go to bed." "Hungry." "Emma Blank's hungry." "You have to ring, madam." "What's that?" "You have to ring." "Where's that bell?" "On the buffet." "Is that your moustache?" "Yes." "Why so big?" "I thought a little moustache would be childish." "There's a lot between a little moustache and this thing." "I asked for a moustache that fits." "Doesn't it fit?" "A moustache that looks good on you." "Have you got any more moustaches?" "Yes." "Show me." "Come back with a moustache that looks as if you've had it for years." "Yes, and now do something." "Some daily activity." "Yes, stop." "Next moustache." "Are you wearing it?" "Yes, I am." "Right, now come out with some style." "That's it." "Why does dad have to have a moustache?" "I'm asking a question." "Why does dad have to have a moustache?" "Stay out of it." "Maybe we should create a system for..." "For using the bell, yes." "I'm sick, Haneveld, but not demented." "Taste it." "Taste it?" "Take a bite." "Check if there's no poison in it." "It's good." "Call Meier." "We'll set some clear rules about the use of the bell." "Why does dad have to have a moustache?" "I didn't hear you girl." "I repeat:" "Why does dad have to have a moustache?" "Shut up." "Bring me some tea, rather." "As if I humiliate Haneveld." "Do you feel humiliated, Haneveld?" "Not at all." "I was called." "Here I am." "Haneveld can do as he pleases." "That's not how it is." "Tell me how it is then." "How it is?" "Can I go again?" "No." "As if anyone can say how it is." "Whatever it is, it's temporary." "A blink in your lifetime." "It's painful that we have to discuss this." "Do you long for something else?" "Difficult studies, maybe?" "Are you behind this?" "It's very simple." "If you don't like it here, you leave." "That's all." "We're the clowns at the cancer ward." "I don't have cancer." "Oh, now she doesn't have cancer." "I never had cancer." "Which disease do you intend to die from?" "I'm exhausted." "Exhausted, do you understand?" "I can't believe I'm answering." "Away with her." "You were born exhausted." "Exhausted people, should die." "I am dying." "Yes, when it suits you." "Can't you start something with her?" "A bit of kissing, a bit of fucking." "But no babies, please." "Haneveld has condoms." "Just relax." "Did you return that canoe?" "Yes." "Did anybody see it?" "No." "Easy, isn't it?" "To say nothing." "Do as you're expected." "What a hassle." "Don't follow me, promise?" "Theo." "What is it?" "What is it, Theo?" "Do you want to show me something?" "It was a wreck." "It was nothing." "Come on, Haneveld, you know what to do." "It's was on the bottom." "Haneveld, you saw it." "It was junk." "Is anything happening?" "I won't do it." "Theo." "No." "No." "Why?" "No." "Control yourself." "No, Meier." "I despise you." "Bitch..." "Get a grip." "No." "Meier." "I want to be able to trust my staff." "Poor boy." "It's half past eleven." "We have an agreement." "Where are Haneveld's cigarettes?" "What's that?" "What?" "What you're putting on the bread." "Meat paste." "Chocolate sprinkles on top of meat paste?" "I'm hungry." "It has to be bad." "Or else I can 't stop." "Do you want my company?" "No." "Are you talking?" "Say something nice?" "Yeah, that's easy." "Giving birth to you was very hard." "It was a painful delivery." "So?" "I'm your mother." "I don't have much time left." "What do you want?" "A nice gesture." "I'm trying to get closer to you, Gonnie." "I'm reaching out." "Fuck you." "You can still take that back." "You're out." "Gonnie's out." "Haneveld?" "Madam?" "Come to me." "Stop fooling around." "We're almost there." "Keep going a bit longer." "Do you hear me?" "I hear you." "Good morning, Meier." "Good morning." "Madam." "Madam." "Well?" "What?" "I was called." "Yes, I'm glad you're here." "Is Gonnie out?" "You've got that right." "We don't mention her name anymore." "Who cleans the bathroom and the toilets?" "That seems clear to me, Bella." "I'm a cook, not a maid." "Gonnie's gone." "How hard are you going to make this?" "I won't get on my knees." "Nobody's too good for anything." "Theo's too good for everything." "Do you want to be the dog?" "May we have some reason, please?" "That sausage is sour." "Can't you taste it?" "A new slice, but without crust." "And put something nice and tasty on it." "So that I'll enjoy eating it." "That's not your moustache." "That's not the moustache I picked." "Don't touch me." "A cloth, a wet cloth." "Warm." "It's my bowels." "Theo has to crap." "Yes, very important, that Theo has to crap." "Take it easy." "Gonnie, a glass of milk." "I thought I was out." "Are you crazy?" "Get milk for your mother." "Dear Gonnie, it hurts so much." "Oh darling, why is it so difficult between us?" "I so much want peace." "Even a thousand shards can be glued back together." "Isn't that right?" "Yes." "I want to sit on the couch." "What's that stench?" "Theo crapped himself." "Put him under the shower." "Is that my job now?" "Yes." "Is there any more eel?" "No eel, madam." "It's not good." "I need something fatty." "Fatty." "Butter?" "Don't talk nonsense." "Butter." "Yes, butter." "Come on, madam, butter's bad." "I want butter." "Is that alright?" "Doesn't she want it?" "That's enough." "What will you do?" "Either you accept the consequences or you leave." "I don't amount to much in your eyes." "Do we have to cheer you up now?" "I asked a question." "Are you staying?" "I'm, staying." "Then do what you have to do." "Meier, defrost the freezer and throw anything out that's over the date." "And don't hack." "Don't hack?" "Don't hack the ice." "You'd damage the elements." "They don't have any ambition." "They just do anything." "If we were on a boat, I'd throw them overboard." "I don't want you to get into bed with Emma anymore." "Are you giving me a hard time too now?" "As if I do that because I want to." "I'm providing a service." "That's all." "I don't want it anymore." "Or else that's it." "No need to answer." "I'll see what happens." "Don't hack." "You got a screwdriver so you can hack." "Be patient." "I'm going." "Well, shit then." "Come on, Theo, shit." "Go away." "But I have a present for you." "What are you doing?" "I want you to keep your hands off Haneveld." "He's my man." "You haven't been together for ten years." "What makes you think that?" "We have our problems sometimes." "Do you love her?" "Do we have to?" "In front of everybody?" "Do you love her or not?" "Jesus, Emma, shut up." "You're my husband." "I won't die with a cheating husband at my bed." "What's wrong with you?" "I'm not your husband." "Is it sex or love?" "It's impossible to answer this." "Abstinence until I'm dead." "Is that a sacrifice?" "We're not having sex." "You sleep together." "Every night." "Sleep, yes." "Can Meier go?" "And Gonnie too?" "Sleep." "I know my Bella." "It's unbearable." "And you know why." "Richard?" "Remember Richard from the real estate agency?" "Does that ring a bell?" "Madam?" "Not madam." "I'm Emma." "You're confusing things." "Who do we serve?" "Emma or madam?" "We prefer madam." "And a real madam doesn't ponder about the past in front of the staff." "Direct us, Emma Blank." "How can we dance if you stumble?" "Dare to hate me then." "Look after me for selfish reasons." "We look after you." "Help me when I fall, that's it." "I want value for money." "I know what care is." "Oh, is that where you're heading?" "I mentioned it by coincidence." "We know." "You better." "Emma, the nurse." "I and only I helped them to their ends." "Pushed." "Especially mummy." "No heater allowed." "She was shivering with cold." "With fever." "With cold." "You didn't think for one second about how it's like to die." "That you want to be nice and warm." "You don't know what you're talking about." "A death-room should be cool." "That's aesthetic and healthy." "Warmth leads to acceptance." "People should fight." "Death shouldn't come easy." "I'm going." "No, you're not." "I'm a human being and I feel compassion for my wife." "I'll take care of her as if I had a degree in it." "I'm a decent person, Bella Blank, a decent person." "Haneveld, am I a decent person?" "Meier?" "You're a decent person." "That's right." "A decent person deserves care." "And I didn't demand that care." "I requested it." "With restraint and modesty." "But there was no reaction and then I mentioned an inheritance." "You're lying." "You came up with a crude deal you mentioned a fortune, and you assigned roles." "I have no fortune at all." "What's that?" "There is no fortune." "The house is yours and everything in it." "You promised us each one fifth of the inheritance." "Yes, one fifth of the house." "This house belongs to the bank." "You mentioned shares and bonds." "Shares of daddy's machine factory, but that went broke." "Is there no fortune?" "Are you deaf?" "I want to paint." "Gonnie, dear, can you help me up?" "Bella?" "Gonnie?" "Gonnie, a bit of water, please." "Theo?" "Theo?" "A bit of water, please." "Your sister's thirsty." "Bella, there's nothing left of me." "I already crapped myself." "Damnit, Bella, you can't do this to me." "A glass of water." "I'll die anyway." "A sip from the bucket then, please." "The sponge, give me the sponge." "An egg for me too, Meier." "I'm no longer a hand." "Of nobody." "And certainly not of you." "An egg for me too, Meier." "Shut up." "Theo helps Meier clean the freezer today." "I don't need any help." "You don't give orders, Haneveld." "Take a deep breath and calm down." "Hitting Theo because he was lying on the couch." "You have to hit a dog now and then so he knows who's the boss." "You're an incredible asshole." "From now on each for their own." "No way." "Each for their own for what?" "Don't be so sensible." "If there's anyone we need to fear, it's you." "You've got that right." "I'll keep an eye on you, bastard." "Stop it, Bella." "All the men in this area have wives who start crying in the middle of the day." "Because you had your hands on them." "Don't let this get out of hand." "Theo's a rat." "Be happy there's no war going on." "What's this?" "Shut up." "Now you feel pity, suddenly?" "Not pity." "It's almost over." "I can hear music." "That's the orchestra at heaven's gate." "I can hear music." "There is no music." "Haneveld, put your ear on my head." "DIE ALREADY." "I'm sorry." "It was a mistake." "I don't love you." "Martin" "You're my uncle." "In secret please, your relationship." "Give her something to drink." "What?" "Give her something to drink." "Do you want her to stay alive?" "I just don't want her to be thirsty." "Not too much." "Let's not drive ourselves crazy." "It's mummy." "She didn't even have milk." "Is that a mother?" "I breastfed you." "You don't remember, but I do." "I'll still spit it out." "All the milk you gave me." "You're here thanks to me, girl." "Is it unbearable?" "Yes." "If I had been smarter, I'd have bitten those stupid tits of yours." "She's dead." "She died." "That's what we wanted." "If anyone has doubts..." "We're innocent." "She had water." "That was out of goodness, you hear?" "Out of goodness." "Who would have thought, Bella." "It's over." "Over and done with." "Do something about Theo." "Do something about Theo?" "Or else he'll take Gonnie." "Isn't Gonnie with Meier?" "To keep Theo at a distance." "It's a fake relationship." "She won't last." "When she drops Meier, Theo will be there and he'll take her." "By force even." "Theo isn't human." "Come, Haneveld, I'll help." "It's about your daughter." "I'll smoke a cigarette." "To your health." "Why so deep?" "A grave should be deep." "Where's Gonnie?" "In her room." "Doesn't she need to eat?" "What's wrong with her?" "I can't handle this." "What?" "That I have to ask him where Gonnie is." "Why is nothing ever the way I wanted it to be?" "Son-in-law Meier." "Gonnie's crying." "Yes, and I don't want her to cry." "And I want you to stop portraying Meier like a fruit fly." "Do you want me to love you?" "I can't if you hate my son." "I don't hate your son." "Do you know what I want?" "Peace and quiet." "I want to watch cycling on TV, with a bag of paprika crisps." "And that somebody likes that I like that." "Here's Gonnie and nothing's wrong." "Gonnie and I are going tomorrow." "To town, right Gonnie?" "I'm not going to town." "What made you think that?" "You made that up, Meier." "Gonnie." "Go away." "What are you doing?" "Go away." "You're not him, Meier." "You're not him, that's all." "You're not him?" "I don't love you." "Not right now, because you're confused." "I'm not confused." "I don't love you." "Am I history?" "Stop it, Meier." "It's over, finished."