THE HALF BROTHER
"Those weeks I was in stupor were the best in my life. I was a prince."
"No, a king. I was exalted to a king."
"I can recommend a stupor if you want peace and quiet."
"It's like staying in a hotel."
- For God's sake... - How'd you find me?
- I always find you, Barnum. - Maybe I don't want to be found.
I translated the script and sent it to Black Ridge.
They just need to get financiers and a director. We made it, Barnum.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
- Go home to Vivian now. - Right.
Tell her what's going on.
Vivian?
I have something to say.
I've been worried about you. Where have you been?
The moving company is picking up the rest of our things today.
- Have you cleared out the basement? - Everything there can be thrown away.
- Are you sure? - Is there something you want?
I might want to start wearing platform shoes again.
Peder and I have heard from Hollywood.
They want "The Viking". We're going to go berserk, Vivian.
- Was that what you wanted to say? - No.
I just wanted to say that I'm not moving.
- You're going to stay here? - Yes.
Hi. You can just start with what's back here.
- Why aren't you moving with Vivian? - It's better this way.
The last Malaga in town.
- We can't let it go to waste. - No, not Malaga.
But I've asked if I can special order it. They said it's a possibility.
What's wrong with us?
- I can't have children. - So what?
It's not my baby.
So you're abandoning her?
She abandoned me.
It would be better if you love Vivian and the baby.
- I can't. - Then you're only half a man.
- Say that again. - This won't make you more whole.
Congrats, little big genius
- You broke in? - Vivian gave me the keys.
She had a boy, Barnum. A fine boy.
Fits right in, good size, screams like a madman.
- Who does he look like? - Humphrey Bogart.
- His name is Thomas. - Thomas. Why?
- Why not? Nothing wrong with Thomas? - Thomas?
Fucking hell!
Why the flowers?
The Americans are all go! They're in love with you, Barnum.
Really?
- Who the hell is Bruce Gant? - A script doctor. He's touched it up.
- Touched up? - Pacino is in, maybe Lauren Bacall.
- 91 pages? I wrote 133. - Let's not get hung up on details.
- This is a travesty. - Don't get on your high horse.
- It's ruined. The patient is dead. - A screenwriter can't be too good.
What you mean by that? Is that an insult or compliment?
You're too good. Americans like things more direct.
Direct? They want Vikings fucking on animal skins and crying all the time?
Emotions, Barnum.
He took out "One eye doesn't see the other." Stop staying I'm too good!
Stop this! "You're too good", what kind of shit is that?
- Whose side are you on? - I'm on our side.
Our side? Like hell you are!
Now I know where I stand with you. Fucking hell!
- Maybe you should... - Nothing is mine anymore! Nothing!
Dad's button
Excuse me.
Do you know where Aurora and Evert Nilsen's house is?
Dear Mom, I've gone away. Say hi to Dad. Arnold
Hi.
- Hi. - Welcome to the Fisherman's House.
- Do you have a reservation? - No, I live just down there.
I've never seen you before. Did you just arrive?
- A couple of hours ago. - What was the name?
Barnum Nilsen.
- Do you have any special plans? - I'm going to dry out.
Then you're not alone. Would you like something to drink?
Maybe some water.
- Where did you get this? - A couple of years ago. A quiet guy.
Buick Roadmaster convertible.
Unusual car in these parts. Where did you get it?
There was a man who owed us money for booze and a headstone.
If I'm not mistaken he was your father, Arnold.
We paid for your christening party
and we had to pick up the headstone all the way in Bodø.
Liberation Day.
All three of us fell for it.
What matters is not what you see, but what you think you see.
Two daughters and a son.
Is the deformed daughter leaving me?
Careful, don't let the applause out.
Good luck!
THE KNACKER
- Hi. - You have a letter. Here.
See you.
Dear Barnum.
The movie didn't happen in Los Angeles, but I sent the script to Denmark.
Denmark is the future, Barnum, I know it.
We're to meet them at the Berlin Film Festival. Your friend, Peder.
P.S. I can always find you. See you soon.
They're fairly new, have plenty of backing,
- and a hot director. - Directors...
Don't start. This time "The Viking" will get made!
Here's our long-lost friend. He got lost at the zoo.
Sofie.
- Barnum, is that a pseudonym? - It's my name.
- But I use it as a pseudonym. - There's a sucker born every minute.
No, Barnum didn't say that. He said, "Let's get the show on the road."
We just love "The Viking". A fanstastic script.
Thanks. Or you're welcome.
It's a great action film. And we'd really like to make it, but
it's hard to get funding for action movies. Especially in Scandinavia.
We're trying other angles.
Maybe we can make another kind of film, one with...
naturally with the same inner drive, but taking place in a smaller arena,
perhaps a bit more familial. Maybe we can make a new kind of family film.
Our director is working on a new Dogma concept.
- Excuse me. Schnapps. Double. - Coffee, a double.
So, as I was saying, we love "The Viking".
- And we'd like to work with you. - This is very exciting.
Have you... Are there any concrete plans?
We're very interested to hear what else you're working on. Barnum?
We'd like to hear what else you're working on.
- Pornos. - OK.
Yeah. I was in my hotel room today watching pay-per-view.
And it struck me how incredibly clumsy and talentless these porno movies are.
There's no plot, the characters are worthless, the casing is abominable,
and the dialogue is incredibly weak. There's really no dialogue at all.
- You're talking about erotic film? - No, pornography. Hard porn.
I mean, proper porn, but with a good story,
interesting characters, cutting edge drama,
and an Aristotelian build-up to the orgasm. Porn for a modern audience.
Porn for women, men, everyone.
The characters could be related.
What you think? Wouldn't that be something, educated porn?
I've seen this before. I've seen you fall, and I can't stay by you anymore.
- Nothing happens no matter what I do. - Because you sabotage everything.
I met Lauren Bacall.
- Our Lauren Bacall? - Is there any other?
Of course not.
Sorry. I'm not myself. I just saw two cash cows disappear from my life.
What did she look like?
Like a giant sphinx that had broken loose from a floodlight socket.
- Vivian called. Worried about Thomas. - Vivian is always worried.
- We can buy him something nice. - Sure. Sure we can.
You heard what the Danes said, family is what's in these days.
- Everyone thinks you're an asshole. - Everyone?
Yes, I seriously can't think of anyone who doesn't.
Well, I'm sure we can splurge on something really nice.
Of course. We don't have anything else to do in Berlin.
I brought a new script.
- Now you tell me? Why not before? - Because you woke me.
I hate being nagged. You call and hang up. You leave messages.
I try to prepare, but I never get a moment's peace.
- I've been badgered my whole life. - Are you finished?
- Don't rush me. - I haven't called you.
And I haven't left any messages.
Fred is back. Come home as soon as you can. Boletta.
- Barnum. - What are you doing here?
I just wanted to say goodbye.
- So you're not coming with me? - No, this is your thing.
- Can I ask about this new script? - Is that why you came?
- I can't give up. - Stock market not exciting enough?
Done it. Invested my sunflower millions in Finnish tires. Nokia.
Complete idiocy.
Good title.
- It's long, Barnum. - Yes.
- And not a comma can be changed. - Will you be all right?
I'll be fine.
- I'll buy something nice for Thomas. - Good.
And tell your half brother I said hi.
He's not my half brother. He's my brother.
See you! Tempelhof, please.
You said you wanted a new type of family drama. Read this.
Read it!
THE KNACKER TV Miniseries in Five Parts
- Where is he? - He's in the living room.
I'm not Thomas' father, Barnum.
At the moment, Thomas doesn't have a father. But that's not my fault.
I thought you would have understood. But you're not always all that smart,
even if Mom says you are.
- And Arnold isn't my father. - No?
I see.
A father takes care of his kids.
I didn't kill my father.
I killed the man who didn't dare be my father. Do I have to explain that?
Go to your family now, Barnum.
Hi.
- Is that yours? - Mine!
- Lots of cars. - Car.
Look at that one.
Come here. Hi.
Translation: Jennifer Evans www.undertext.se