Original subtitles

OUT OF BOUNDS

- Do you come by every day? - See that semaphore?

- Yes. - When it's up, we come in.

Pretty smart.

When we want to go home, we'll just raise that thing.

- Does he know we're coming? - I wrote we might.

- Did he reply? - He never replies to my letters.

- There's no phone or e-mail here. - Wow.

Is that a raven?

There aren't any ravens out here in the middle of the sea.

- How do you say "raven" in Swedish? - Korp.

Hey, korp!

Amazing how it changes.

What's up with the microclimate out here?

He isn't home, is he?

He can't be far away. The boat's here. Come on.

Only fools tidy up.

- A true genius controls chaos. - You're a fine one to talk.

I never called myself a genius, but I'm an okay journalist.

Cool to get a glimpse of the shrine.

So this is how Nathan Hermanson lives.

Think he'd give an interview?

Interested, huh? Are you turning into a snob?

It's kind of sad to be so into sports.

In a 100 years, who cares?

- Let's wait outside. - Yeah.

- Let's hoist his gift. - We'll ruin the surprise.

It'll make a nice welcome.

Yeah, let's do it.

We have the chocolate for him, too.

Here, girl.

- Hi. - Elvira!

Hi, Dad.

Elvira!

Stop that.

She isn't used to guests.

Dad, this is my boyfriend, Oskar. Oskar, this is my dad, Nathan.

- I can see that. - It's a pleasure to finally meet you.

I'll show you where you're going to stay.

- You'll have this all to yourselves. - Great.

The outhouse is up the hill, and there's the flashlight. Have fun.

You don't need to lock the door. I'm the only one on the island.

- Was anything wrong with my flag? - No.

- It's a gift from Oskar. - I see. Thanks.

- You'd think someone died in here. - Don't say that.

We don't need to stay that much in here. We'll go for long walks.

Who usually lives here, you think?

- A lesbian couple from Germany. - Ornithologists?

A couple of lesbian ornithologists from Germany.

Let's make the bed.

Yeah.

I'd just like to see the soccer lineup.

I'm covering that game.

How about food? You didn't know it was going to be like this?

I haven't been here in five years. Back then there was a harbor store.

And the campground had a snack bar. But that was mostly in the summer.

The island has seen better days, it seems.

Aren't you hungry? All we've had today are a couple of biscuits.

- Oskar, I'm pregnant. - What?

How did that happen?

- How far along are you? - Not far.

I missed my period and bought a pregnancy test.

- Why haven't you told me? - I took the test a couple of days ago.

And I'm telling you now, aren't I?

Hello there, Elvira.

Who's a good girl? Hi there.

Let's not tell your dad, okay?

- Fed up with your house already? - Yeah. Are we intruding?

- I was just about to work. - We'll come back later then, Stella.

- I thought you were hungry. - The Dane's hungry, is he?

- I can wait. - For what? For me to cook for you?

- No... - Better find something to eat then.

I forgot to bring food, Dad.

The sea's full of fish. Take the boat.

Sure.

- Let's go fishing then, Stella. - Okay.

- Can we borrow a couple of rods? - Everything is in the boat.

- I'm not wearing those. No way. - Yes!

Hi.

- Catch anything? - No.

Here.

You can thaw them in the sea.

- We'll eat in a couple of hours. - Okay.

- He doesn't seem thrilled to see us. - He's happy to see us.

- He just doesn't show it. - He sure doesn't.

You don't look like father and daughter.

If you hadn't told me, I'd never have guessed.

- It's those ravens again. - There aren't any ravens out here.

- They sure aren't seagulls. - Maybe they're vultures.

- Why do you kiss on the mouth? - Relax, Oskar. He's my dad.

It's strange to kiss your own daughter on the mouth. My dad doesn't kiss me.

- He doesn't even kiss my mom. - That says more about your family.

I remember a birthday, before they split up. I turned four or five.

We hid in an igloo we'd made.

He and my mom had had a fight, so we hid from her.

Then he taught me how to smoke because it was my birthday.

I puked like crazy.

- How could the commune stand him? - They couldn't.

But he didn't give a damn.

- But how... - I don't care.

I'm just happy to see him again.

I wouldn't have forgiven him for taking off.

I just think it's great he's there for me now.

But he isn't. He's cooped up on some island out of touch and out of reach.

Stop it!

So, Oskar. How long have you been seeing my Stella?

Well, two years, I guess.

On and off, but two years altogether.

How come I haven't met you before?

I don't know. We've often talked about coming to see you, but...

- You haven't seen Stella in 5 years. - Why do I see you now?

- What do you mean? - Why, Romeo? Is she knocked up?

Did Stella tell you?

Don't you ever feel lonely out here? I'd go mad living on an island.

Maybe you should get an au pair or something.

- It must be lonely... - I'm not lonely.

I have Elvira, and sometimes I meet the fishermen at sea.

Every other month my art dealer visits me.

- Each year, in February and March... - You go to Rio.

You haven't missed the carnival in 30 years.

I googled you. Sorry. I know about your apartment in Copacabana, too.

- How often did Stella's mom go? - Never, I'm afraid.

She must have gone with you the year Stella was born.

Oh.

- Don't you miss your family? - Sure I miss a woman now and then.

But I've been better off out here at sea missing my wife and my kid...

than at home with my wife and my kid missing the sea.

It's spared me a lot of worries...

if you want to make life easier for yourself, that is.

Easy now, Elvira.

He knows you're pregnant.

Why did you tell him? I wanted to tell him myself.

He just knew. I didn't say anything.

- How long have you had her? - Elvira? Quite some time.

- Know what breed she is? - A Labrador? I'm not big on dogs.

- A Rottweiler. - Hell no!

She's a Labrador Retriever. The best dog breed ever bred.

- What makes it so good? - Who says she's good?

She obeys me...

and if I get tired of her, I can always get rid of her.

But Elvira is nice and happy every day.

She doesn't talk a lot of shit.

If I keep her on the island, away from other dogs, she won't get knocked up.

I see. Not many women would accept those terms.

Oskar says you know I'm pregnant.

Isn't it great?

Sure.

But we don't know if we're keeping the baby.

Or Oskar doesn't. I really want to.

But not if it means he's going to run off to some island later on.

The two of you have already had an abortion, right?

That's true.

But that was two years ago. We were young and had only just met.

No relationship can survive two abortions.

Anyone can make a mistake, but if you choose abortion a second time...

- Then what? - Well, then you don't want to commit.

- So you think we should keep it? - No, Stella.

I'm just saying that no relationship can survive two abortions, that's all.

Look, on one hand you say no relationship can survive two abortions.

On the other you say you don't think Stella and I should keep the baby.

Then I can only conclude you want us to split up.

- Conclude whatever the hell you like. - You're arguing that...

I'm not arguing anything.

- You're jumping to conclusions, not I. - Cut it out.

How about some dessert? We have those biscuits.

- Thanks. - Would you like some?

Not now. But you two go ahead.

- Biscuits? - Yes, please.

You can speak freely now. You don't think we should keep the baby.

You don't want us to be together. You think I'm wrong for Stella.

Don't you tell me what to think.

- So you tell me. - And don't tell me what to do either.

Want one?

- How about a beer? - Sure.

No thanks.

- You don't drink? - Sure, but...

I'm tired. I'm going to bed.

Good night.

Gross!

Jesus Christ!

Are you asleep?

- Were you asleep? - Yes... or no. I think I was awake.

- Why aren't you dressed? - We went for a dip.

- A dip? - I'm going to pose for him tomorrow.

- Think you can find something to do? - Like what?

You could go for a walk.

Pose! All he paints is squares.

- You're still dressed? - God knows who slept here before.

- You might get a pelvic infection. - Relax, Oskar, will you?

- Was that Nathan talking? - No, me.

- Were you born early? - What?

What makes you ask that?

Nothing.

That stuff he said about no relationship surviving two abortions.

You think that's true?

- Do you? - I guess.

- So that means it's over between us? - What?

- It means it's over. - I heard you.

- I don't know. Can't you sleep? - No! You're breaking up with me.

- I'm not breaking up with you. - I don't get it then.

- What's wrong with the two of you? - Nothing.

You're the one who goes on and on about breaking up.

Come on in if you want to. Don't go prowling around out here.

You're scaring the dog.

- I didn't want to intrude. Sorry. - Say that to her.

Extend your hand.

You seem distressed.

Out and about in the dead of night. Trouble with the missus?

No.

I just think it was wrong of us to come out here now.

We keep arguing over that baby.

She's going to decide for herself, Romeo. Girls do as they please.

I can't leave such a big decision up to her.

It's my responsibility, too. It does take a man, after all.

Don't you ever feel a sense of responsibility?

Are you sure you're the father? We men never know for sure.

Stella can stir things up. She got that from her mom.

Here you go.

Let's talk about something else. Cheers.

I had a dream as a boy.

I dreamed about going to jail. I wished for it.

It seemed peaceful to me. You'd be left alone.

The world couldn't bother you.

So I wound up having it my way, after all.

Herring... Eat!

Shame you had to paint over that.

Don't suppose you kept the earlier version?

I guess you can't undo like on the computer. I couldn't do without that.

I just liked that picture, that's all. Sorry if I'm babbling.

No thanks. Sorry.

How come you say sorry all the time? Have you done so much wrong?

No, it's just the way I talk.

Stella and I have an intelligent TV.

It tries to find a pattern in what we watch.

It knows I see the Sunday game...

so now it tapes related programs whether I ask it to or not.

The other day it taped a couple of hours of gay porn for us.

I watch the soccer games, and Stella likes elaborate musicals from the 50's.

That combination apparently fits the viewer profile of a gay man.

After that I surfed other programs to deprogram or educate it.

I surfed past debates, Formula 1, rodeos, horror films.

Meaningless violence, that kind of "straight" programs.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Seems you already know a lot about the art of upbringing.

At least when it comes to TV.

Cheers.

I don't suppose you have a TV?

- Fucking ravens. - So they are ravens?

I told Stella so, but she didn't believe me.

I don't know how they managed to get out here. Stubborn beasts.

I've littered the island with poison, but they don't give a shit.

- So now I shoot them instead. - I saw the shotgun in the outhouse.

- You shoot ravens from in there? - Sometimes.

DAD

Holy shit.

Dear Dad. I'm fine. The boys in my class are such a pain.

Think I'll put off boys until high school. Love Stella.

Elvira, get in.

One day your canvas will have a built-in backup. Memory, I mean.

You won't have to paint over it. You can go back to earlier drafts...

You don't paint with oils?

I use rabbit-skin glue and pigments. Old school. Oils are for women.

Fresco is for men.

Michelangelo said that, and he was right.

What's the difference?

Oils you can keep dabbing on without knowing what you're doing.

But fresco and rabbit-skin glue force you to have a clear image...

before you start.

Wouldn't it be cool to experiment without any serious consequences?

I don't mind consequences.

So why move up here?

A daughter is a major consequence of something.

- You ask too many questions. - It wasn't a question.

By the way, my paper asked me to ask you...

if at some point...

It's my own idea, actually.

Would you be interested in giving an interview at some point?

So that's why you came.

No. I thought it could be interesting for the both of us, but forget it.

I don't give interviews. Not even to my daughter's boyfriends. Get it?

Sure. I would have treated it with respect.

Maybe you should leave Stella alone for a while.

Isn't that what I'm doing?

I've got a 5 hp outboard motor in the shed with a full tank.

If you want to go, I can fit it on the boat. No problem.

- I'm not sailing anywhere at night. - Might be best for you to leave.

Come back some other time. I've talked it over with Stella.

I'll get the boat ready and wake you up at dawn. Go say goodbye to Stella.

- Hi there. Where have you been? - Nowhere. Out and about.

I had an interesting exchange of views with your father.

Why are you talking like that? I'm your girlfriend.

He wants to sail me away in his boat.

- He said he'd talked it over with you. - Come here.

Oskar, what's up?

The place is crawling with dog's hair.

You've been drinking rum.

Stella, I can't with the dog watching.

You can't? You're not doing anything.

It's just with the dog watching...

I'm sorry, Stella.

- I need to share something with you. - Share away.

I know you don't like to talk about your mom's death, and I respect that.

Get to the point.

Where was Nathan when your mom died?

I don't know. Out here, I guess.

Rio, Brazil, Copacabana, I don't know.

Was it never an option for you to go live with him when she died?

Oskar, where is this going?

I don't think Nathan's your real dad, that's all.

What the hell are you saying?

What gives you the right to say that?

Call it a work injury. It's what they teach us at journalism school.

The dates just don't add up. People haven't been in the right places.

It's just a gut feeling.

Where are you going?

If I'm your dad?

As far as I know, Stella.

We can do a DNA test if you like.

What a delight he is, your boyfriend. A real catch.

Why the hell did he come here?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Did I ever tell you you ate a sleeping pill when you were three?

I don't think so. Go on.

We kept a jar of sleeping pills in the window where your mom and I slept.

Your mom always had trouble sleeping.

One evening while I was sketching, you woke up and got hold of the pills.

You managed to swallow one before I could stop you.

I panicked and tried to make you throw up.

I stuck my finger in your throat, while your mom urged you to vomit.

And in the middle of it all you said:

"I'm a good girl, Daddy."

But we couldn't make you vomit, so I called the hospital...

and they reassured me a dose like that was harmless to infants.

They just told me to keep an eye on you for a couple of hours.

So we all sat down and had blueberries and granola.

While the sun set. It was a beautiful summer evening.

Your mom and I...

I didn't mean to... ruin things between you before.

Don't worry. I think you overestimate your own importance somewhat.

- Go on, Dad. - Your mom was a crazy woman.

But we loved and respected each other.

And we were as good parents as we could be.

Can I venture an alternative version?

You go to the Rio Carnival every year in February and March...

and you yourself said that Stella's mom never came along.

But Stella was born in November, so you can't be her dad, can you?

Didn't Stella's mom get pregnant while you were in Rio...

or am I just being stupid here?

And then you found out. Isn't that why you ran off to this island?

Ask him.

Go on, ask him.

Ask him, Stella.

Stella!

Stella!

What do you want?

I saw you coming back. I just wanted to see if you were okay.

Who are you then?

Why didn't you just tell me truth?

Come here.

Go home, Elvira. Go on.

Wait!

What did he say?

You're all pale. What did he say?

Tell me, will you?

- He thinks we should keep the baby. - He said what?

Hurry up if you want to go on the same boat as me.

Could you imagine being the father of a child that wasn't yours?

- Why do you ask? - Like Nathan.

No. I don't think I could.

Subtitles: Helle Schou Kristiansen