Original subtitles

They�ll be here in a moment.

THE SPARROW IN THE CHIMNEY

Mum?

Mum.

Shall I set the table outside?

Stop that!

They�re here.

- Hello. - Hey! Nice to see you!

What was that?

- It was in the chimney. - Leon!

It�s probably nesting on your roof. What happened to you?

- I fell. - At school.

Poor guy.

Hello.

Hello.

Are you too good to hug me?

If you don�t crush me.

- Can you manage your backpack? - Easily. Can you?

Oh, Mum�s necklace.

- Let�s take the stuff up. - Hiya!

Everything OK?

- Can you take this? - Yes.

- How was your journey? - Pretty good.

He�ll come later to kill the chickens.

Really?

For Dad�s party.

Your shoes are dirty.

Take them off!

Your T-shirt�s dirty too.

- Is this Christina�s room? - Yes.

Am I sleeping here?

You�re sleeping next door. Come!

Isn�t Christina coming?

Yes, she is. Later.

What a busy bee you are!

- My bed used to be there. - Little Jule used to snore here?

What�s this?

- My dove costume! - I see.

- Do you still like drawing? - Yes.

Mum said you used to like drawing too.

Do you have any towels?

I�ll bring them in a minute.

Don�t you draw anymore now?

No, I don�t draw anymore now.

What are you doing?

Why don�t you take care?

Ow!

It�s your own fault!

But I want this one!

Are these all cookbooks?

Stop it! I�ve sorted them.

Stop it!

Is everything all right?

Yes, why?

May I draw at the table there?

Yes.

Where�s Johanna?

At school. I�m sure she�ll be here soon.

How is she?

Her wrists need to get stiffened.

What?

Will she still be able to dance?

She has to stop. But she doesn�t want to.

That�s terrible!

This smells delicious!

- Leon�s addicted to cooking. - That�s handy!

I�m lots of things, but not addicted to cooking.

No. More likely addicted to eating.

That stinks! Stop it!

I brought this for you.

I hate perfume.

A nice neck smells best without any.

- Is she asleep? - Yes.

Good.

What�s this?

That�s from the kids. To see how much they�ve grown.

But you�re not allowed!

You�re not one of us!

We made marks too. Upstairs.

Yes, by the wardrobe.

Where Mum couldn�t see them.

Are we eating outside?

Yes.

Will Markus and Johanna eat with us?

Take the other plates!

I got this from the cellar.

It was all dusty.

She loved this.

It used to be cosier here without Mum�s stuff.

Take the other ones!

Why? They�re beautiful.

Ah, our Little Miss Cheep-Cheep!

Come here!

Hello.

Markus!

- Good to see you! - Hi, handsome.

Hello.

- Shall I get lettuce from the garden? - Yes. Hello, Leon.

- Did you have a good journey? - Yes, fine.

- Shall we party into tomorrow at the Greek�s? - Good idea!

Let�s have something to drink now too!

Don�t pretend you didn�t know!

Oh, sure.

- Edda was there too. - Would you like to see the garden?

Yes, please.

Do you still have green fingers?

Take off your shoes!

And wipe this up!

But this is for the table, not the floor.

No, it isn�t.

Yes, it is.

No, it isn�t!

It is! It�s yucky to use the same cloth for table and floor.

Stop it!

- Leave him! - Ow!

You�re late!

And you�re insane.

Hi.

- Hey, here too! - Hello!

- You good? - Yes.

- I�m looking forward to the party. - Me too!

You smoked!

I�m rehearsing with the girls in the cellar tonight.

No, not today!

Yes, I am!

Stupid cow!

Here.

Wow, thanks!

It�s really beautiful.

Hello.

Hi!

Well, handsome gatherer.

- All well with you? - Yeah.

Johanna...

My God, you�ve...

Ripened, right?

Soon ready for picking.

I�m sure you�ve already been picked, sweetie.

Here, your things!

- You�ve torn it! - Are you crazy?

You looked like a slut in it anyway.

Do this again and I�ll burn your wardrobe.

Tight things tear easily, that�s normal.

And old wood catches fire very fast.

Just one cigarette�ll do it.

Would you pass me the glasses?

- Here you go. - Thanks.

Her wrists need to get stiffened.

Yes, I know.

Sad about the dancing.

Recently she watched an old video.

A school performance with her dancing.

As a little butterfly with colourful wings.

She kept watching it over and over.

I just sat there and watched.

Hello.

The door was open.

- Hello! - Don�t keep leaving the door open!

A house needs to breathe too. And the door�s the mouth. Right?

Right.

Hello!

I�m Jule, Karen�s sister.

- Liv. - Our dog whisperer.

I didn�t know you had a sister.

Uncomfortable things are kept quiet.

- We�re dining out later. Care to join us? - We�re staying in!

With the kids and the baby. Still lots to do for tomorrow.

Something to drink?

OK.

I could look after the kids tonight.

Really?

That would be great!

Thanks.

So you could eat with us tonight.

I�d be honoured!

Look, this is what I�m cooking.

It looks delicious!

Do you live nearby?

- Across the field in the cabin. - Mum�s cabin?

Why Grandma�s cabin?

She often went there.

Especially at night.

- Did she have a lover? - Sort of.

Be quiet! Leave Mum in peace.

- I�m leaving now. - Let�s collect caterpillars.

All right.

- How long�s she been living there? - A few months.

- She was in jail before that. - Jail?

- I thought it was a psychiatric ward. - Why?

She mixed sleeping pills and Viagra in men�s drinks

and jerked them off when they fell asleep.

When they found out, they put her in a loony bin.

What?

Jule, don�t believe all she says!

Why was she in the loony bin?

- She burned down her ex�s house. - What?

I�m off, then.

Bye.

Bye.

- Bye. - Bye.

Come on!

See you later!

And why did she burn down the house?

No idea.

Maybe he tore her clothes.

He�s killing the chickens.

What happened?

A beheaded chicken fell from the sky.

That�s how angels look here.

It got away from me!

Hello, Konrad.

Pardon me!

- Hello, Konrad. - Hello, Jule.

Good to see you. You look great!

Blood rain makes you beautiful.

Better get the tables for the party only tomorrow.

- Then I�ve time to clean them. - Great! Just tell us.

- See you tomorrow. - Thanks a lot!

- He�s still the same. - Yes. He still fancies you.

Don�t be daft!

Goodness me, who�s this?

The thing�s almost ready?

- Only the roof to go. - I�ll get it done today.

Really?

So tell me about Grandma.

Did she have a lover?

A female lover. In town.

- Yeah, sure! - I mean it.

Did Grandpa know about it?

- Yes, he even caught them. - Oh.

- What are you giving your Dad tomorrow? - A balloon ride.

And I�m dancing and Leon�s baking a cake.

- Is Christina doing something too? - No idea.

When�s she coming?

I don�t know. She postponed her flight.

Why?

Because she doesn�t want to see us.

Are you nuts? She can�t wait to see you.

It�s because of the operation.

What operation?

She�s always had such bad stomach pains.

- Stomach pains? - Yes, even as a child.

Then the doctor discovered something weird in her belly.

What?

Her dead twin sister.

Yeah right, her dead twin sister.

Yes, really! In her belly!

She grew like an ulcer, and then slowly suffocated.

She was in there for years, dead.

Fused with the intestines.

Well. They removed her last week.

She was tiny, like a fist.

An angry little fist.

Did they bury her?

No, chucked her in the bin.

Lucky girl!

Why lucky?

Well, she was spared this house.

And this mother.

The roast�s ready!

One spoon�s enough.

- Would you like some? - Yes, please.

Thank you.

Would you like some?

Yes, please.

How was the holiday?

Nice. Except the flight home. We got turbulence.

I thought we were all going to die.

You were afraid of flying as a kid too.

True.

Want some too?

Thanks.

I told myself if I thought �fucking pilot�, the plane would crash.

Aren�t you eating?

Leon doesn�t eat.

He pukes.

I�ve already eaten.

Pass me the pepper, please?

Strange. How loud the birds are here.

They don�t sing here. They scream!

Can you pass me the gravy?

You�ve become a flower too, Edda.

So I have!

I still sometimes think �fucking pilot� now,

but I�m convinced the plane won�t crash.

I can think whatever I like, it won�t crash.

You�re eating nothing at all.

Pass me the water, please?

Oh, God! I�m sorry.

Leni!

We�ll rinse it off.

I�ve got blood on my blouse already, and now this.

What a sight I am! It�s ratatouille.

Wait, I�ll do it myself.

Excuse me?

Excuse me?

We�ve arrived.

Thanks.

Hello?

Karen?

Are you all right?

Yes, why?

No reason.

It was delicious.

- I�ll go finish the extension. - Fine.

Everything OK?

- Markus? - I...

Can you show me where the tools are?

Do you like him?

Christina�s favourite biscuits.

I hope she chokes on them.

- Where are you going? - To meet the girls.

- And you? - Shopping.

- Got money left? - Yes.

Good.

- I�m going back to the office. - Fine.

Here!

The plates.

FOR UNCLE MARKUS

- Hi there. - Hello!

- Hello. - You�re Christina.

And you�re Liv?

Johanna talked a lot about you.

I see.

Nothing good, I�m sure.

I�d have liked to see the island before all the cormorants came.

Must�ve been beautiful!

Johanna and I often used to swim out there.

We lay down in the grass,

imagined we�d stay there forever.

Now it belongs to the cormorants.

Till it disappears completely in some years.

And nothing remains.

I�ll go, then.

- See you later. - See you later.

Come!

Hey! Fuck off!

Do that again and I�ll gouge out your eyes

and stuff them into your fucking mouth!

Trust me, I can do this.

Let go of me!

Leon!

Are you all right?

Quiet!

Probably a squirrel.

I wish I was a squirrel too.

I could just climb trees all day,

bury nuts and sleep.

And at night,

you could snuggle up under your bushy tail.

Are you crazy?

You�d be a dog...

chasing me,

mauling me.

Did you know that to dogs, people don�t exist?

What?

Dogs think people are dogs too.

Do they?

A world without people...

That would be my paradise.

Is that so?

Look!

Wow, great!

Really nice!

Where did you go?

- For a walk. Why? - No reason.

Stop it!

What?

Pulling out your hair. Mum used to do that too.

Maybe in your sick dreams.

When did you become like this?

- How? - So vicious!

Hey, there you are!

- Everything OK? - Hello.

What are you doing here?

I...

May I borrow this?

Are you coming swimming too?

I have to cook.

Did someone hit you?

- Oh, sorry! - Can you fasten this for me?

There.

- Thanks! - You�re welcome.

I�d like to take a shower.

Here, this is mine.

It has a really nice scent.

Do you want this one?

Thanks.

You�re welcome.

- Are you coming swimming too? - Yes.

- Your swimsuit�s in the suitcase. - I know.

- Do you need bath towels? - No, we�ve got some.

- Are you coming swimming too? - Sure.

- Edda? - Yes?

Put some sun cream on.

OK.

Our marks.

- How small we once were. - Right.

I never understood how you could move here with Markus and the kids.

What else could I have done?

Sell the house? Just like that?

For example.

Mother loved this house.

And we hated it.

Sometimes I can feel her.

As if she was watching me.

Secretly, through a crack in the door.

Then I feel, that I�m no longer here.

That she�s here.

Having crept into me, very slowly,

without me noticing.

Then I wonder where I�ve gone.

Where am I?

Gone.

You�re gone.

She couldn�t control me. That�s why she hated me.

Whenever she smiled at me, I felt her hatred, quite distinctly.

When she stroked me, her hands trembled.

Almost imperceptibly, but I felt it.

As if she had to stop herself from crushing me with her hands.

It was the happiest day when she was finally gone.

When at last she was no longer here.

You�re a monster.

No, the monster is you.

What are you doing here?

I�m going swimming.

What�s the matter?

Why aren�t there any keys on the doors?

Because Mum took them away.

- Why? - So nobody could escape her.

- Coming swimming too? - In a minute.

- Well Edda, is it nice? - Yes!

Why doesn�t Mum talk about Grandma?

No idea.

So Grandpa knew about it?

- About Grandma and the woman? - Yes.

When it came out, he smashed up the cabin

and threatened to shoot the woman.

Wild!

How old were you then?

No idea.

About four?

Konrad told me about it.

Right.

She barely went outside afterwards.

She didn�t speak to Dad anymore.

He repaired the cabin, but she never went there again.

Whenever I couldn�t sleep at night I heard sounds.

A soft creaking.

Then I imagined her coming into my room with a cushion in her hand,

gently smothering me to sleep.

Leon used to be like that too.

Now he�s just broken.

Hey!

Shit!

Leon!

Leon, I didn�t mean it.

I�m just a silly cow, you know that.

Come.

Leon, you�re not broken. OK?

What�s this here?

What do you think?

Love bites, sprouting just like that. Here. And here.

You�re getting everything wet!

Are you crazy?

Don�t touch me!

Don�t think I�ll spare you just because you�re crippled.

Don�t think I love you just because you�re my mother.

Who did this?

The same ones?

Who was it?

What are you doing there?

Johanna peed on the floor.

I see.

You haven�t written to me for a week.

Well, I�m here now.

What happened to your face?

He got beaten up.

Hello.

Hello!

Did you really have a twin sister in your belly?

What?

Johanna said so.

Just trying to make you more interesting than you are.

Better boring than a liar.

Better a liar than a coward who just runs away.

There!

Now your pain is invisible and your beauty visible.

Thanks.

Are you coming swimming too?

- I�ll quickly take my things up. - You�re sleeping in my room.

Fine!

Did you miss me?

Nope.

Hello, Christina.

Hello, Mum.

Your hair�s lighter.

From the sun.

What happened to your hand?

Nothing. Just a little burn.

Would you like some tea?

Yes, please.

- Did you have a good flight? - Yes.

The carpet�s nice!

To stop the parquet getting scratched?

You�re late.

I went to the lake for a bit.

Thanks.

- Is our party in the garden tomorrow? - Yes.

I made up the couch in Leon�s room for you,

but you can get your own room back on Monday.

I�m not staying after all.

What? I thought...

I�m flying back on Monday.

I�m sorry.

Hello, I�m back!

- Hello. - Hello.

Hello!

Hello!

- You look great! - Thanks.

- Hello! - Hello, Dad.

- Did you have a good flight? - Yes.

Good.

You�ll soon meet your new cousin.

- I�m excited. - Napping right now.

Charming!

I�ll take my things up.

- Are you in Leon�s room? - Yes.

Dad�s been sleeping in the cellar lately.

- How so? - He snores.

- Have the chickens been fed yet? - No.

They�ll all get killed anyway.

Want an ice cream too?

Yes, please!

- On a stick or in a cup? - In a cup, please.

Don�t you like to lick?

What�s your problem, Johanna?

We don�t have any ice cream in cups. That�s my problem.

Everything all right?

Yes, we�re licking ice cream.

- Leon, what�s that? - He got beaten up again.

Is that true?

They�ve beaten him up again.

You finally noticed? Great Dad!

Why don�t you get a divorce?

To make your life hell!

Will you take the rubbish out?

You can booze later.

Busy, busy!

Dealing with the rubbish.

Deserves a medal.

Dad does a lot with us.

Leave it there!

Leave it!

No.

I hate you.

What did you say?

I hate you.

I wish you were dead.

I used to wish that too.

That Mum was dead.

Liv... Coming to babysit the kids.

We�re staying here!

No, we�re going out.

Everything�s been organised.

- Hello. - Hello.

Get your dirty clothes!

Stop it!

What?

Always meddl...

Did the bin bag rip?

Yes.

- Some milk? - Yes, please.

Leni makes milk too.

Yes.

A few drops, at first.

Because of the hormones in the breast milk.

- From her nipples? - Yes.

They used to burn babies like that.

They thought they were born of witches.

Ah, Edda�s found the piano.

- Hey. - Hey!

You OK?

Let me help you.

Are you crazy?

- Shall I play a children�s song too? - Yes!

And... 1, 2, 3, 4!

- Dad played a lot when I was little. - Did he?

I used to dance next to him so that he wasn�t so alone.

- Concentration! - 1, 2, 3, 4!

Somehow I was often with men who were like him.

Similar arms and similar eyes.

When I slept with them it was like sleeping with him.

Feeling all his loneliness in me.

Nothing else.

You always were Dad�s favourite.

Fuck you!

He should�ve left her.

Do you know how he died?

Yes. Heart attack.

He shot himself, down in the cellar.

Bring your dirty clothes!

Quiet!

Fireflies.

Shit!

Don�t put the gold-rimmed ones in the microwave, they�re mother�s!

I put the plate in the microwave.

Why?

Why?

I just did.

We�re leaving!

They�re leaving.

Bye.

- Have fun! - Thanks.

She�s asleep.

- Just call if there�s anything. - OK!

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Hi, Leni.

What a jolly baby you are.

Really?

Yes?

You want out?

OK, come here.

Out with you.

Want to see what�s up here?

Do you want to put it on?

No.

Don�t you want to be a bird?

The rat�s back.

Cool! Does it come often?

Yes.

I always give it some nuts.

- Where�s its mother? - She�s gone.

Most animals forget their mums once they�ve finished nursing.

Said the biologist.

- Are you a biologist? - I was.

And now?

Now I�m nothing.

What�s this?

A sea squirt... Liv gave it to me.

They usually die in an aquarium but this one looks good.

- Do they live in the sea? - Yes.

They wander around looking for a place they like,

where they�re protected. Then they settle there...

- and eat their own brains. - That�s gross!

Their time for moving is over, so they no longer need their brains.

They�re like a tree then, deeply rooted.

They never have to decide anything again.

Never again.

And if they want to move again?

They can�t. They�ve no brain left.

- Dinner�s ready! - Great!

- Should I take something out? - Yes, the cutlery.

OK!

Did you know that Grandpa shot himself?

Yes.

Konrad mentioned it once.

Why did you never tell me?

I don�t know.

Why did you leave?

Because I was fed up with your lies.

Tell me!

I didn�t really leave.

I was here all the time.

I think of you all every night.

Of you, of Leon.

Of her,

sitting alone in the kitchen.

I left to forget that.

But somehow everything�s more present now.

Do you know what hurts most?

Much more than my joints.

That I just can�t love her.

I�m going outside for a moment.

I had no idea you smoked.

This is where you two first kissed.

Oh, a shooting star!

Another little star gone.

A little star good and kind.

It used to shine so sweetly, So sweetly and refined.

I knew so well the very nook Where it dwelt, up in the sky;

In the garden at eventide, I�d look Until my star I�d spy.

It�s vanished now, my little star,

I seek it hither and yon,

Where once I beheld it from afar,

But star now see I none.

I�ve missed you.

I�ve missed you too.

- OK, you two? - Back home?

Thanks.

Finally!

Yes, I�m coming!

You�re very punctual!

- We�re rehearsing. - Right.

- Turn off the light when they come! - Got it.

Be quiet!

- What are you looking for? - More strings of lights.

Why aren�t you coming back to us?

No reason.

Because everything always gets broken.

Like what?

Everything.

Everything gets broken.

Once, I was sitting in the garden with a girlfriend.

We were alone and we kissed.

It was beautiful.

Then I suddenly saw her at the kitchen window.

She looked at me...

and smiled.

I was afraid she�d be angry, but she just smiled.

Showed me that it wasn�t me who was wrong,

but that the world was wrong.

I often think of that moment.

I feel very close to her then.

But when I�m here in this house,

then she�s very far away.

I�m afraid too.

I know.

But you�re not alone.

You�ll find lots of people out there.

Lots of them!

They�re coming!

Leon, where are you?

I�m going downstairs.

- Good. - I�m coming!

Where were you?

You must hide! Quiet when they come!

Yes.

Hello?

Hello!

What are you doing here?

Waiting for you.

In the dark?

Leni?

Hello?

Are they outside?

Oh, that�s nice!

How was the Greek restaurant?

Nice!

Do you like your birthday garden?

Yes.

Wow! Look at Edda!

Here you are!

All well?

She just fell asleep.

Hey, sweetie!

4, 3, 2, 1!

Fireflies glow to attract sexual partners.

When they�ve found one, their light goes out.

The females lay eggs and die and the males fly away.

When they�re hungry they kill a snail.

They sit on the snail�s shell, and whenever the snail pokes its head out,

they inject poison into its neck.

Till it dies.

Then they eat it.

They fear no other animal.

They all know,

fireflies aren�t food.

Fireflies are pure poison.

Turn it back on!

You need to go home now!

Fuck off!

Let�s go swimming.

Yes, let�s go!

Shit!

I�ll clean everything up tomorrow.

The cat�s dead.

- Please pass the plate. - With the spoon?

Yes.

With the spoon!

And the knives.

I�ll be right back. Anything else I can do?

- Anything else we need? - Yes, milk.

Oh, already up?

You�ve slept half the day.

Hello.

Hello.

Konrad�s bringing the tables.

I�ll do the lanterns!

Careful!

There�s coffee.

The tables are on the way!

Aren�t you eating outside?

Hello! Cat got your tongue?

A wolf...

is always quiet before it kills a lamb.

Here...

A kiss from me.

Thank you.

Why are they going to stiffen your joints?

Because my body�s destroying itself.

Till it�s completely immobile. Like...

a rock.

Like a rock?

As long as I can still move,

I�ll move twice as much, three times!

So that I�ll always remember how it was to be free.

Till then, I submit to no restraints.

Not any!

Look!

Now it�s ready.

Oh, beautiful!

Now the caterpillar can fly.

Hi there!

The door was open again.

Well, it�s the mouth.

And it wants to breathe.

Have you already peed out his sperm?

I�ve collected it in a condom.

I see.

What are you doing?

We�re greeting each other.

- Konrad�s brought the tables. - Good.

I�ll walk the dog today.

- Do you want me to come with you? - No.

- Can you empty the dishwasher? - Sure.

- See you later. - See you later.

- People will soon be here. - Good.

What are you doing?

- The birthday cake. - No, I�m doing that.

No, I�m doing it.

That�s a man.

We ran out of women.

Should I put them on for you?

The shoes?

Yes, fine.

You can stand up now.

What are you doing there?

That�s not your blouse!

Yes, it is!

The first guests are already here.

- Is Karen back yet? - No!

Oh, man!

- Hi! - Gosh, Jule! Hello.

- Katja! - Nice to see you.

Come into the garden.

Are you dreaming?

What are you doing?

We�re decorating the cake.

What are you doing here?

Here you are!

Look at you!

Where have you been?

Out.

- You look... - Good!

Thanks.

Everything OK?

Yeah!

Markus� birthday is killing me.

How old were you when Grandpa shot himself?

About eight.

I heard the shot.

Really?

I was in the garden and ran inside at once.

I somehow knew something had happened.

And?

Mum was setting the table as if everything was normal.

I went down to the cellar to Karen.

She was sitting beside Dad.

Blood everywhere.

I sat down next to her,

took her hand,

till Konrad came and picked us up.

I held her hand all that time.

Her cold hand.

I didn�t let go of her.

Why did you never say anything?

I don�t know.

Can I wash them?

Is that enough?

Yes.

Where are the napkins?

I�ll bring them.

Shall I bring the cake?

In a moment.

What are you looking for?

The napkins.

Who are you?

Your lover.

What happened to us?

I don�t know.

The napkins?

Everything OK?

Why are you doing this?

What are you doing here?