"Yes, Malin?" "My minx." " Hi." "You're in a good mood." " Yes, this is a good morning." "Sorry to bother you, but my brother called, and is rather upset." "Can you do an hour with him before the others." " Of course." "Anything special?" " No, no." " Just the usual disappointment." " Ibsen's great lie, Malin,   a bubble you never can burst." " So long." "I was sitting in the car, holding the steering wheel with my good hand and my bad hand." "As I understand it, it's you, Torbjorn, who wants out." "Yes, that's right." "He's the one who wants..." " I'd like to ask why." " Because she's stupid!" "And you believe the relationship should go on?" "I think he hasn't really thought it through." " There you go." "She's stupid!" " Let's rewind." " How did you first meet?" " I ran the care facility..." " She was real pretty." " And now?" " Now, she's stupid!" " Why is she stupid?" "She doesn't want me to learn stuff." "She just wants to protect me." "And you, Elise, why are you in this relationship?" " Because I love him." " See?" "She's stupid!" "It's not the obvious choice, Elise." "You do have a reason." "I've been with a few men." "They're all alike." "Let you think you're the only woman in the world,   and then they just leave." " Why do they leave you?" " Because she's stupid!" " We've covered that, Torbjorn." " She's as dumb as a brick." "But you love him?" "He's got a bigger heart and a better personality than anyone else I've been with." " But you don't want this anymore?" " No, I don't." " Couldn't we try again?" " No, thanks." "I don't want to." " You're stupid!" " That's enough of that." "I'd go so far as to say that you can't be together anymore." "Elise, just get a grip." "And you, Torbjorn..." "I don't care that you're "different"." "You're an asshole." "You're an evil mongo, Torbjorn!" "Malin, you can get your brother now." " Thanks a lot." " You're welcome." " Are we going home?" " Yes." "I'll pick you up in a few hours." "We'll go to the baker and get you a chocolate muffin." "We'll get you a toy tomorrow." "Relax, all right." "Bye." " Hi, Benedikt" " Hi, hi." " How's Alexander doing?" " It's a week since the fever broke,   so he's practicing for the parade." " OK, take care." " See ya." " Hi." " Hi." " I thought that was you." " Wow, it's you!" " Long time." " Was that your son?" "Yes." " What happened to his mom?" " Car accident." " You poor thing." " No, it's..." " Yeah..." " I haven't seen you here before." " You don't drop him off?" " No, I've been working a lot lately." "It's impressive how you keep going after such a tragedy." " And a bus, too..." "Christ!" " Yeah." "No..." "You just have to grit your teeth and take one day at a time." " But you have a new girlfriend?" " What do you mean?" "The brunette who drops him off." "Mia?" "No, no." "She's a Russian au pair." "I'd love an au pair." " I'm sure she can recommend someone." " I doubt it." "She's a rather odd bird." "But she's great with Alex." "It work's out." "Glad to hear it." "I have to get going." " Nice to see you again." " Nice to see you, too." "How about a glass of wine this evening?" "Today's not great." "It would have been her birthday, you see." "Feels weird." "It would be great, but maybe another time?" "Listen, we can swing a wee glass of wine." " Are you sure?" " Very sure." "It'd be really nice." "This evening?" "Yes." "Where do you live?" "I'll come to your place." "The au pair gets nervous around alcohol." "Her dad was a drunk, violent..." "A lot of bad guys out there." "You're such a great guy." "You really are!" " See you tonight, then." "Great." " Tonight." " Bye." " Looking forward to it." "Take care." "Great, Dag." "Great job." "Depends on your definition of great." "He didn't want to be with her anymore." " Mission accomplished." " Right..." "You must have some interesting family dinners." "Mom had him when she was 50." "On the late side." "For me, it was the best of both worlds." "I grew up as an only child,   and then got a world class baby brother." " That's how I began to write." " For him?" ""Lil' Caterpillar takes the tram." "Lil' Caterpillar becomes an eagle."" " He liked that a lot." " Normal children's books?" "As he got older, I wrote different stuff." "Not Trond Espen Seim topless?" "No, but it did involve Pia Tjelta." "He hit puberty." "I couldn't have him jerk off to Donald Duck." "Malin, can you cancel the rest of my day?" "I have to go shopping, and then home." "I'll tell them you're drunk." "They'll believe that." "Yes!" "Do it." "Do you know yourself if you're stark, raving mad?" "Oh yeah." "I'm sure." "Bye." " Hello." " Hi." " Notice anything different?" " About...?" "About me!" "Notice anything different about me?" " You look a bit better?" " I've quit the oxygen mask." "I have a lung disease caused by aerosol." " Do you know what contains aerosols?" " I'm not good at this stuff." " Opiates is more my cup of tea." " Hairspray!" "Full of aerosols." "My wife used hairspray." "A can a day." " You killing my wife..." " You killed your wife." "What's the difference?" "She's gone in any case." "And I can breathe easy." "Listen..." "Can you do me a small favor?" "Just smack me with this?" "In the face." "Hard." "Thanks." " Hello?" " Hi." "It sounds like you've come to the right place,   but anything related to relationships has to go through the office." "Call that number, and I'll help you." " Hey, you." " Hi." "There you are." "Come on in." "It's a little scary when you're in a good mood." "I've heard that." " That was a very long week." " You think?" " Nice funeral?" " Simple." "Glad it's over." "This is a bit childish, I know, but you both have to close your eyes." "He might be too little to get it." "Closes your eyes." "Come on." " It's not dangerous." "Close your eyes." " Yes, yes." " Don't look." "Just come along." " No." "There's a threshold." "Lift you leg a bit." "I'm turning you around a bit." "Stand there." "Before you open your eyes, I just want to say   that I'm not manic." "I'm not trying to force anything." "You were gone for a week." "I finished things up." "It can be yours, too." " Or you can sleep on the couch." " Yeah." " Can I open my eyes now?" " Yes, you can." " Is this for Leon?" " Yeah." "I kind of figured..." "that no matter how we..." "I'm serious about the uncle staff." "I mean..." "He doesn't have a lot of others." "He can be here by himself if you need some time off." "If you think it's a good idea." "When you do something really weird, I think..." "Find a normal guy who like you." "Who gets flowers for your birthday." "You're not normal." "Or maybe you're the only normal one." "When I woke up this morning, " " I thought it was over." "Now, it's..." "Now it's just me left." "Now, everything begins   with me." "Now I get to decide how my family looks from here on out." "I'm all alone in the world, with a huge load of responsibility." "And then you do this." "I just thought we could cook." "Think less, and just be." "Wasn't that the...?" "Come on." " Come on." " Yeah." "Yes, we're deep-frying." "I feel like I'm included in a pagan ritual." "Almost." "Man has fried poultry since before Christ." "The Romans fried people, but only as entertainment." "Have a glass of wine." "I opened a bottle." "It's not a problem for me." "Don't feel weird." "It's not gifts, but necessities." "Two for you and one for Leon." "Leon's is not a necessity, more of a..." "It just seemed stupid that just the two of us would..." "Stop." "Thanks for caring." "There." "What's this?" "I don't think he likes gravy." "Look at him." "He likes gravy." "Yes, yes." "Yeah, that was tasty." "Hey, baby." "I'm on my way to Ernst's." "He needed some help moving some stuff." "I feel I owe him one after that thing with Dag." "He bills him, but it was nice of him anyway." "No, no." "How early?" "That's not a problem." "I'll be straight home." "Yeah, great." "Love you." "Bye." "Yes, hello." "Hello?" " Hi, it's Benedikt." " I was busy with bedtime,   but now it's all good." "Come in." " Hi." " Hi." " Wow." "Look at this." " It's for tomorrow,   but I figured this was a better occasion." "I'm not sure I deserve this." " You do." "But first, tequila." " OK." "It seems brutal, but I've lived in Mexico   and learned that the only way to end the day   is with a shot of tequila." "Hello?" "Hi." " Did I wake you?" " No, no." "I saw lights through the holes." "What are you watching?" "Quality." " Is that something..." " It..." " You first." " If you want to watch, " " I'll make room." "Or I can lie next to you." "If that's OK?" "I just need to pretend that the world doesn't exist for a bit." "In that case, you've come to the right place." "Hello?" "How are you doing?" " I'm not quite sure." " That's what happens   when you drink tequila from a mug A one-way street." "One shot caps the day, but ten will ruin tomorrow." "Maybe not the best choice of day to ruin, huh?" " Shit." "What time is it?" " 9:30." "We have to go now." "I tried to wake you an hour ago, but you were out." " There's breakfast on the table." " Yeah." " Bye." " Bye." " But listen - thanks for last night." " Yeah..." "Hi, Mia?" "Don't hang up, please." "I'm on my way." "I swear." "I ended up getting drunk with Ernst." "Passed out." "Sorry." "I'm on my way." "I'll grab a cab, and be there fast as hell." "Mia!" "Sorry." "Amazing to think that some of these instruments are involved in making music I actually like." "This isn't so bad." "I haven't been outside on Constitution Day for 18 years,   but this is just right." "Doesn't have to be any bigger." "Are you feeling brave?" "Don't get fresh." "Hurrah, yes." "Hi." "Where's Alexander?" "He got tired of waiting for you, so he's with mom." "Sorry." "I managed to pass out." "I'll go home and change, and then be back." " I got real worried for you." " I understand." "So I called Ernst." "You weren't there." "Yes?" "Benedikt?" "I haven't seen him in days." "I have to hang up." "I'm on a tanning bed." "Bye." " Yes." " No." " Yes, I..." " Where were you?" "I'm giving you one chance, Benedikt." "Where the hell were you?" "Sorry." "Sorry, Mia." "Happy Constitution Day." "Thanks." "You've always been good at cheering me up." "What's happened now?" "I fucked a girl who works at my son's daycare, then threw up on Mia   and then wept in public." "The usual." " Come on in anyway." " Thanks." " Beer?" " Yes, please." "Love some." "Couple of hot dogs." "Figured you'd be hungry, having just puked." "Thank you." "This is how it should be." " How so?" " You're in there with Eva." "That works." "I sort of belong here." "Feels safe and familiar." " I guess it does." " No worries." "It won't last." "Never tell God your plans." "That's a sure-fire way to make him laugh." "You're not that bad at cheering up either." "There might be two ways of looking at a glass, Dag, but life will always be half empty." "That's how it is when you're one." "We're two, you know." "Three." "We are three." "That's important." "Four, including you."