Original subtitles

Hi, little monkey.

- What's that? - A van, obviously.

No, the other thing.

An old mobile phone. Isn't it beautiful?

You had to insert a quarter. You see?

It says 'telephone' on it.

Where's mum?

Mummy.

- Can you grab these? - I'll get the ropes.

I see a... shy boy.

A refrigerator.

Magnets.

A drawing.

His drawing.

Nice to see it's still up there.

- Take it easy today, will you? - I will. I don't have anything planned.

It was really nice.

- Hey. What do you think? - Did you get that paint?

Is it beautiful? Or is it beautiful?

A broken pay phone.

Family van Zand. Good morning. Who do you want?

Green wellies?

- Can I go too? - Pink striped trousers...

- No. No idea who you're after. - Me, me.

Hello, telephone. Hello?

- Have you packed your suitcase? - I will soon.

You always leave everything to the last minute.

You promised you'd have a look at the boot.

- I'll fix it when I get back. - Yeah, right.

You do a beautiful grumpy.

Five, four...

- The secret is... - To always remain calm underwater.

No matter what.

After Boesmansgat, we'll continue training in the lake.

It's yours.

Really?

Do you know where Boesmansgat is?

South Africa, right?

Located in a place called the Karoo.

There's an immense stretch of land, barren and desolate.

But there's something hidden underneath.

Surrounded by a few trees lies a small, murky puddle.

As if it's been raining.

That puddle is the entrance to one of the world's deepest underwater caves.

Boesmansgat.

282.6 metres deep. An atmospheric pressure of 30.

This watch won't make it.

More people have been to the moon than to the bottom of Boesmansgat.

With our equipment, Sjoerd and I just fit through.

We'll descend... Very slowly.

Step by step.

Metre by metre. Slowly on our way to the bottom.

The closest you can get to the centre of the earth.

It'll take thirteen minutes to reach the bottom.

Five minutes to get the job done. Not a minute longer.

Then begins the long journey back to the surface.

Twelve hours.

A twelve-hour ascent.

At a depth of 150 metres, Sjoerd will be waiting for me to do a check-up.

We'll continue our journey together. All the way back to the surface.

Where our crew awaits us.

Is it dark at the bottom?

There's no colour so deep down. Nor any light. Nothing.

Close your eyes.

- What do you see? - Nothing.

Beautiful pitch dark.

- I think you need to go to bed. - No.

What's the time? See?

Good night, little monkey.

Sleep tight.

Bye, dad.

A year later

Can I watch a video?

- Just one video. - All right, fine. One video.

- Who's calling? - Anony...

- Anonymous. Don't pick up. - But then I can't watch a video.

It'll only take a second.

Hello?

- Mrs van Zand? - Yes. Good morning.

Glad I caught you. It's the SNS Bank calling.

The Sins Bank? Now I can't watch anything.

We've been wanting to talk to you about your mortgage payments.

- Yes, I know... - Right. You're at risk of...

- I understand, sir. - Mum, I want to watch a video.

Mrs van Zand?

Excellent.

Boys and girls, your attention please.

This is your new classmate Koosje.

- Hi, Koosje. - Very good. You can sit next to Ronja.

There you go.

- Hi. - I'm drawing the sky.

The moon isn't great, but I'll erase it later.

We have a new girl in our class.

Her name is Koosje and she's really cool.

We are best friends now.

Her favourite colour is red and blue glitter.

She sits next to me in class. She's got brown hair.

She's the same height as me.

Dinner.

Boris. Boris.

One, two...

three, four, five...

Close your eyes.

- Done? - Almost. There.

Come and see. Take a look in the mirror.

- Brush your teeth and go to bed. - Can I please say good night?

Make it quick.

I'm in the phone booth.

It's time for bed.

Boris? Or Mum?

Cuddles or sniffs?

Okay.

Boris.

Stop it.

Faster, faster.

- Hello. - Hey.

- Morning. - Good morning.

Let's go.

Come on.

Living room.

Here, right? Look, morning sun.

And a swing over here. Right over here.

Reading the newspaper, cooking breakfast...

Cupboards over here with old granite tops.

You will find it at some garage sale.

Would you like some coffee? We're in the kitchen after all.

Do we have coffee?

Sure.

Double espresso.

Let me get on with it, I still got an entire house to design.

Watch out. The cat. He's sleeping.

- Hello. - Good afternoon.

- Hi. - Hello.

- First time? - Well...

You don't remember me, do you? I came to your house once.

- For a session. - Right.

You were able to communicate with my grandmother.

You told me about her ring. Where she hid it.

That's nice.

I know you don't do this anymore, but my father passed away.

I just want to...

To know if he's all right.

I'm sorry.

But I stopped doing that. Completely.

This is my job now.

So silly, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I wish I had your gift...

I would visit him every day.

If you ever decide to take it up again.

- Hello? - This is daddy John.

- We're having fun. - So we're not able to pick up.

Leave a message and we'll call you back.

Exactly, bye.

Wow, John... your voice.

I miss you, buddy.

Merel. I'm calling for you of course.

This is Sjoerd. How are you doing?

And how are the kids?

It's been a while. I'd love to see you guys some time.

Promise to call me? Bye now.

You have three new...

Messages deleted.

Mum, can I play at Koosje's place? Please.

- If Koosje's mum says it's okay. - Of course it's okay.

Perfect darling. I'll pick you up later.

- Bye, sweetie. - Great.

Shall we go and get some fries?

Did you know milkshakes contain rat poison?

I'll take a strawberry rat poison. And you?

You can have whatever you want.

I would like the XL hamburger combo meal with extra mayonnaise. And...

a croquette, cheese snack and six pieces of mini spring rolls.

Also a large coke.

A large chocolate milkshake. Make it two.

And a toffee caramel ice cream.

That will be all.

- I'll have the same, please. - All of it?

Yes. We're hungry.

That'll be 65.70 euros.

My daddy is a diver. He can go very deep.

Now that's something you don't hear every day.

He's also building our house.

- Wow, that's special. - He's incredibly strong.

- Really? - Quite handy.

You seem to have a cool dad.

I see we've been trying to reach you several times.

- Haven't you received our letters? - No, I haven't.

Well, yes. A reminder, but it's you who owe me money.

Let's see. Right.

If the body is missing, we need to investigate the disappearance first...

before the life insurance can be paid.

But...

It happened a year ago, is that correct?

Mrs van Zand? Our claims adjuster will be in contact.

Underwater death

- Epilepsy? - No.

Asthma?

Did he ever have heart failure or a stroke? He hasn't.

Was he in good health the week prior to the expedition?

No physical symptoms?

Shortness of breath?

- Okay. - Can I get you another...

Please.

Thank you.

Okay...

How would you describe your last conversation?

Well...

Normal...

Quite normal.

- How are you? - Fine. Late for a parents meeting.

We're heading down in a minute. I just wanted to hear your voice.

- I thought it was tomorrow. - That's what I thought as well.

The weather's bad tomorrow.

Please come in.

Don't worry.

I'll call you tomorrow night, when I'm back on solid ground.

Okay.

- Have fun. - Kiss?

- Yes, kiss. - Kiss.

Were you worried?

You told me: 'If anyone could do it, it was him.'

What went wrong?

Yeah! This is John's voicemail...

Is this a trick question? I fail to see the point of this.

I know it's uncomfortable, but I'm afraid I have to ask.

Not as far as I'm concerned.

I can come back another day, if you like.

There's no need.

I know your husband has passed away,

and you've been a widow for a year.

Even though his body will probably never be recovered...

We just have to find a way to pronounce him officially dead.

Hello?

Sjoerd?

This may sound like a cliché, but...

You're not the only one who's been grieving.

For such a long time.

Eventually, you and your children will find a way to deal with this.

But I have to be honest, the pain will always be there... and the missing.

One thing this job has shown me, is how resilient people are.

It's going to be all right.

Are you done?

You can go.

Please take the time to go over these.

Piss off. I don't need your fucking money. Fuck off.

I'm going to start working from home again.

So if someone's over, please keep that in mind.

Not too much noise.

- Deal? - Are you done?

I'm the captain. And you're...

You look so silly.

He's shuffling over.

Shuffling...

An elderly man.

Introverted.

Grey hair.

I'm seeing colours.

This place...

All was good here.

His uhm...

Grandchildren.

Your children.

He's proud of you.

- Are you okay? - Yes, sure.

Thank you.

This is for you.

A fox.

The head of a fox.

John Lennon.

John Lennon, only without his glasses.

John Lennon is never without glasses.

He seems kind of glum. Like this.

Also an owl. A beautiful owl over here.

What if something happens?

Let's hope so. I don't want it to be boring.

You want something to happen. That's it.

You're after the life insurance money, right?

I'm serious, I mean it.

I'd come visit you in your white room.

We'll have some tea.

You'll tell me all about the kids. And I'll tell you how much I miss you.

If I see you there... I'll know for sure I'll never see you again.

I don't want that to happen.

I really don't.

Nothing's going to happen. I promise.

- Mum? - Yes, sweetheart?

I have some questions about dive training.

All right.

I don't know much about it, but maybe we could go to a diving school together?

No, I mean... Since you started doing this again...

I thought you might sit in the chair and ask dad.

Sweetheart...

These are my questions.

"How deep are you? Is it cold and dark? We'll come and get you..."

I don't know if I can. Or if I'll be able.

I'm sorry.

- I can't. - Try again.

I haven't looked for him before.

I'm too scared.

- It's about your sister, right? - Twin sister. She was just a little girl.

I will try to contact your sister.

I never know who presents themselves to me.

I follow them and let you know what I'm feeling and seeing.

- Would you like some water? - Let's get started.

Of course.

All right.

Dreamy girl.

She wants to play.

She's funny.

Dancing.

And... music.

Go away.

Get away.

Maybe we should stop.

Morning. Sander Toussaint, estate agent.

Merel van Zand. Please come in.

- Welcome. - Thank you.

You could really make something wonderful out of this.

There's always something to do with an old house.

You should have seen it when we moved in.

- Great for the kids? - Certainly.

They were both born here. They've never known anything else.

Lovely.

So much light.

High ceilings.

- May I? - Sure.

I know someone who could redo the plastering for you.

It's a simple job, but it will really increase the value of the house.

Shall I call him right now? Just so we know where we stand.

Oh, sweetie pie.

- Are you okay? - Fine.

Madam, you don't have to decide right now.

No, we definitely want to leave. For sure.

- Sjoerd. - Hey, Ronja. Hi.

Hi, Boris. Good to see you, mate.

Let me say hello to your mum.

Will you join us for lunch?

So you also have one bar of air pressure.

Which means you experience a total pressure of 3.5 bar on your body.

Well done. That's really amazing.

And do you know the pressure at 200 metres?

- Twenty? - Close. 21 bar.

- I'll give you a hand. - No need.

You guys need to stop growing.

- Hide and seek. Right now. - Maybe later, okay?

Count to ten.

Mummy, go hide.

All right.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Ten. Coming to get you.

Merel?

Hello?

- Daddy's home. - Dad?

Dad?

- Daddy? - Dad!

John?

Dad? Daddy?

Go find him.

In the cupboard.

Are you in here?

Boo. Got you.

- Our little secret, okay? - Yes.

Hello?

Hold it here, in front. Lift it up.

When you bring it down, you slide your hand down, like this.

All right? Spread your legs.

Legs wide.

Yeah, way to go. In one go.

Want to try this one?

Sjoerd?

When do you think you'll bring him up?

Bring him up?

You're going to bring dad up, right?

I've been so busy recently.

South America, Mexico, Indonesia.

I haven't even had time to come and visit you guys.

But you are going to try, right?

You know...

Sometimes we say things we desperately want to happen...

but they can't really.

You know what I mean?

Shall I take over?

How are they coping?

Yes. Quite well.

They're doing just fine.

How about you?

Sure.

Sweet of you to ask.

It's good to be here again.

In John's main artery.

I'm selling the house.

You are?

Why?

Just a lot of hassle with the mortgage and taxes...

Just a hassle.

That's the way life goes, Sjoerd.

Do you blame me?

You stopped answering my calls.

- Sjoerd... - I know what you're thinking.

He even suggested it himself.

He said:

'Don't you think it's time for you to go first for a change?'

- And... - I'm sure he forgave you, Sjoerd.

Did he say he did?

- Do you contact him often? - No, Sjoerd. I don't.

I don't believe you.

- You don't? - No. Why wouldn't you contact him?

Maybe it's not that easy.

Merel...

Have they been playing tricks on him? He had to know.

He forgot about the rule: don't look back.

In a glimpse, he saw her disappear into the underworld.

Poor Orpheus. He will never see her again.

I feel sorry for him, don't you?

He shouldn't have looked back, right?

Now off to sleep, darling.

- Love you. - Me too.

Night-night.

- Can you take us to school? - Only if it's okay with your mum.

- What do you... - A bacon pancake.

- Bacon. Anything else? - It has to be a heart-shaped one.

A heart-shaped bacon pancake.

- Here are the plates. - Thank you very much.

My daddy also gives me money.

I'm going to ask him. If it's okay.

Eighty-four, eighty-five...

Eighty-six, eighty-seven...

Eighty-eight, eighty-nine...

Ninety.

I thought, why not pick up some groceries.

Maybe I can whip up a pasta tonight.

This one's the best, according to the guy in the shop.

I couldn't sleep last night. I've been thinking...

All I ever do is work. I don't even have time to spend any money.

I'd like to pay the mortgage from now on.

That's really not necessary.

- It's very sweet of you... - Please.

Let me do this for you. Seriously.

You shouldn't sell the house.

- Consider it a loan... - I don't want to.

But you don't have to do this all alone.

- Did you bring milk? - Milk?

Milk. You finished it this morning. Boris can't sleep without a glass of milk.

I'm sorry, I didn't know.

- What did you do to my car? - What do you mean?

- The boot won't open. - Yes, it does, just push the button.

It kept opening automatically. Boris said it drove you crazy, so I fixed it.

That's our stuff.

Maybe you should just leave now.

Sure.

- It's just... - It's all right.

Sweets. From the sweet shop. Then we played for a bit.

Daddy?

Can I have some allowance?

Where?

In a cupboard?

Can I?

Is that all right with you?

Where are you?

In the water?

I'm sorry. Cards only.

- Right. But I'm already in this line. - Merel. Just take this one, go ahead.

- I can't. - Sure you can. Don't worry.

They're always having the giggles. It's so funny.

- Ronja really loves coming over. - She always talks about her dad.

- What's his name again? - John.

You and John should come over some time.

We could have a drink together.

We don't know a lot of people in the neighbourhood.

- Sure. - Are you free on Wednesday?

- Well, John... - Right, he's off diving.

In South Africa, wasn't it? When will he be back?

I'm not sure exactly.

We'll just see. Bye now.

Bye.

This is for buying sweets. My daddy gave it to me.

Kim told me your father died.

No. She's fine. She just wants to go home.

All right.

What happened, sweetheart?

Is it something to do with daddy?

Mum, I'm not feeling well.

- What? - I'm not feeling well.

Don't be such a baby, Boris. Please.

Can I stay at home?

Why are you stressing? We're way too early.

I have an important appointment.

What kind of appointment?

With a client.

What kind of client?

Boris, get a move on.

On with it, Boris.

Where are you going, Boris? Have you been crying?

Hey, cut it out.

- We're about to start. - Yes.

- Hi, welcome. - Where's Sander?

The real estate agent is inside, to answer all your questions.

Creaking floorboards. You hear that?

Take this wall out, to make it one big...

I love the place, and these...

- ...wooden frames. - That's part of its charm.

Excuse me for a second. What's going on?

I've changed my mind.

- I don't want to go along with it. - But it's going great.

- I want to stay here. - Why don't you wait outside?

- I want to stay. - I can't send these people away.

Of course you can. I'm staying. End of story.

- I'm sorry. - Please...

- Ma'am. Everybody. - Please follow me downstairs.

Too bad.

Too bad.

Leave a message and we'll call you back.

Exactly, bye.

I'm fully aware of your situation, but...

- I can't let this kind of behaviour... - No, I get it.

Have you apologised, Boris?

Perhaps you should discuss this at home.

- I'll see you tomorrow, Boris. - Thanks.

Well...

What happened?

Tell me what happened, Boris.

Goddammit. I'm getting sick and tired of your behaviour. Seriously.

Are you going to ignore me forever?

Fine. Have it your way.

Where's my money?

Well?

What money?

If you're such a big boy, tell me what you've been up to.

- Me? - Sneaking around.

You're the one selling our house.

What?

- You have no idea what's going on... - Without even asking us.

- I don't want to live somewhere else. - Stop it.

I do everything for you and all I get is shit.

- Bitch. - What did you call me?

- I wish you'd died. - Boris...

Shit.

Boris.

Bloody hell.

Bor...

- Pick up, pick up... - I want to call daddy.

- We need to talk about that pay phone. - Why?

Because daddy's dead.

- Stay inside. - I want to call daddy.

I said no. Go find your brother.

Come down from there.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Mummy.

Mummy.

Hey, guys.

It's going to be fine.

That was quite a scare.

Are you okay?

It's going to be all right, mate.

We'll keep an eye on that fractured rib

to prevent pneumothorax or fragmentation.

We'll keep you in overnight...

If we leave it as it is, it will collapse at some point.

Just like the tree.

- I don't want it gone. - I know, baby.

Ronja, wait.

Daddy, the pay phone has to go.

It's broken. We can't talk any longer.

Okay.

Boris?

He wants to talk to you.

Come on.

Testing. Hello?

Testing. Boris speaking. Hello? One, two, three...

Testing.

Daddy...

I miss you.

I can't come for you yet. But I'm practising.

Or maybe you'd rather stay down there.

That's also fine with me.

Bye daddy...

Shit.

You're gone.

It's so hard. You bastard.

Goodbye, sweetie.

Let's go.

Kitty, kitty.