Original subtitles

Aron?

It's me, Jasper. You have to stay here.

Screenplay by Bent Rasmussen

THE BALD GHOST

Producer Nina Crone

Dear God�...

It's me, Jasper.

Aron can't be dead!

Couldn't you make him just seem dead?

You can see he has to wake up. Otherwise his boat will sink.

This is the world's best knife!

I'll give it to your Witch's Claw,

if I can have Aron back.

Aron?

Prust!

Shhh�...

Oh well, Prust�...

Jasper, get some sleep.

- �Aron has peace in his coffin. - �Do as your mother says, Jasper.

What do you say now, Vejmand?

Three aces�...�you're cheating!

Good morning.

Good morning.

Our new teacher Sigumh�j stopped by. We're a little pressed for time.

There's enough time for coffee I hope?

- �I don't drink coffee this early! - �I follow the vicar's lead.

Hi Mourids.

Aron's old whore cat!

He always wanted to be buried in his cupboard.

Over my dead body�... so to speak.

An ungodly impulse. You can't take your possessions with you beyond the grave.

We only bury you in a proper coffin.

Stop! He might not really be dead!

There, there.

Aron!

Aron!

Now that's what I call loyalty - going to the grave with his master!

But that wasn't Aron's wish. He's yours now Jasper.

That's how Aron wanted it.

He said so many times.

Watch it now, won't you?

"In eastern sky the sun will rise,

"and sprinkle gold upon the clouds. "

"on rolling sea and mountain top,

"lights up both land and towns. "

I'll take care of you.

I promise. Just like Aron did.

Will he be burned or buried?

Aron will go in the Unknown tomb, there's only room for his ashes.

Prust will soon be happy again�-�he has you now.

Don't forget school!

You saw him too, Prust, the man in the boat this morning.

Do you think the Witch�s Claw took him?

We're going to miss Aron.

School!

Stay here, Prust.

Don't you have a watch, Jasper?

You're never on time. That's not good. You'll fall behind!

I was handling things with Aron�... �and Prust�...

Aron is dead, please don't blame this on the dead. Sit down!

"Begone all witches. Begone all trolls. "

That's what we say, when we want to separate good from evil.

The Midsummer Bonfire is a pagan custom.

But the feast of Saint Hans is a holy celebration.

Mr. Sigumh�j?

Yes, my boy?

When Mr. Sigumh�j talks about good and evil, you could think about Jasper.

He did a good deed today.

That's why he showed up late.

Because he did a good thing, and separated good from evil.

I don't follow you, Mourids. What good deed?

Jasper drowned the whore cat!

That's a lie!

Let's have some order in the class! You're being disruptive Jasper.

Maurids and Thorkild too. We have serious stuff to cover!

By midsummer people like to go in the river.

But if you can't swim, it's deadly. There are currents and whirlpools

you won't be able to handle.

Now, do like me.

Prust!

Lie down on top of your desks. Like me. That's good!

Prust!

Alright, watch me first.

There we go! Are you all set?

Very good Beatrice! Now take your arms

and move them forward, then back and kick with your legs

- �and your arms. - �I'm exempt from gymnastics

and besides, I can swim.

Kick with your legs!

Then forward with your arms, and pull your legs back.

That's good Penelope! Again.

Whore cat!

And forward�... Jasper!

Hey, where are you going?

Aron!

There you are, Prust.

Did he hit you?

You mustn't roam around like that.

It's too dangerous.

So�...

Sorry Mr. Spider, but my friend is hurt.

and Aron said that spider webs are good on wounds.

See Prust, now it's running off to spin a new web!

This is good for you Prust.

It helps.

Look Prust.

It's dead

like Aron.

Prust!

You've eaten the corpse at the funeral!

Dear God,

Me and Prust have buried a fish

who couldn't swim.

Make it swim again in the stream of the Unknown

where Aron is.

And if Aron has no boat there,

see if you can get his old boat back to him.

And tell him hi, from me and Prust.

Amen.

Dad!

In ancient times people were often buried with their belongings.

It was a little easier then.

You take this.

It's too nice to toss in the fire with all that other stuff!

Don't worry Prust. You're valuable too, and I'll take care of you.

Prust is an old cat, Jasper. Don't get too attached to him.

A -

R�-

O�-

N

Aron is a strange name. Where did he get it?

People have lots of different names.

Mr. Sigumh�j says I've got a strange name too.

- That teacher of yours�... - He also said

... �stop talking, be quiet and attentive!

- But that's my name! - When we go home�...

... �I'll show you the origin of your name.

Well, Vejmanden's finally here.

Hi!

Off you go, so we don't trip over you.

Then I'll take Prust so you don't step on him.

Well what do you say, Prust?

Girls visiting!

Hi girls!

Hello boy!

That's funny.

- �Is that yours, Jasper? - �Yes.

It used to be Aron's.

Kinda cool, huh?

It's definitely you, Beatrice!

A gift for your girlfriend, Jasper?

Is it dangerous to go in here?

Here it's OK, but downstream past the pier is dangerous.

And near the Witch's Claw, it's deadly!

The river has claimed many victims there.

The claw

pulls them

down into the vortex.

Look out!

- �Stop it! - �Thorkild!

Jesper is a dim-witted mealworm.

It's not a bit dangerous here.

Quit showing off for the girls, Jasper!

You'll pay if you do!

- �Fetch it if you can! - �Let him go.

You're such an asshole, Mourids!

That's dangerous!

Serves him right.

He could've just grabbed it.

Jasper! Come here!

Jasper!

It'll be easier if we take it apart.

What's in this closet?

It's a damn monster, this thing.

Oh there you are. Could you go look for the key?

Weird�...

Aron must've taken the key when he died.

Or maybe one of the other Unknowns has it.

At least this'll be the biggest St. Hans bonfire in living memory.

- �Should the closet go in the fire? - �No, someone could use it.

- Now how about a nice game of cards? - No, I have my bookkeeping to finish.

Tomorrow then? Check with your wife.

You were going to show me something. About my name.

It's late, Jasper. We have to get home to your mother.

You have to keep a promise! Like you always say.

I keep my word to Prust.

- �Prust stays here. - �It's not in the vicarage, is it?

No, you only go there if you absolutely must.

So, Prust.

Stay away from the Holy Cat in the vicarage.

And watch out for Mourids. He'll cut off your ears!

Come on, Jasper!

Did I get my name from the dead?

We all take our names from the dead.

Is that the Tomb of the Unknown, dad?

Peace be with you, Aron.

I don't think he has peace dad.

Yes Jasper, Aron is at peace.

It's us, the living, who aren't.

Now we have to be quiet. We don't want to awaken the dead.

Come!

Isn't it amazing? Look closely

and you can almost see it come alive.

Try to picture it son.

I don't need to know today, dad.

Look, there it is.

We're here.

It's very old. We learned the text in school.

Now hear all of you, and listen:

"An unknown man of God came to the town at the ford.

- �Our town? - �Yes, our town.

"An unknown man of God came to the town at the ford.

The sickness and the suht were made to halt at the river

and claimed no harvest among man or beast."

Now it's about you:

"And that man of God was called Jasper

and was henceforth a blessing for the parish.

God bless his soul with eternal bliss. Amen."

What does "suht" mean?

Suht? It's an ancient Nordic word for plague. Plague is�... a specific type of disease.

The evil stopped at the river. Do you understand?

No. Not really.

"Yonder, where the road hits the bay,

there's a house where I will stay,"

Here's where you'll stay - with Jasper and the world's best mom and dad.

I don't want you swimming on the other side of the pier.

Imagine if the Witch's Claw took you!

- �Prust is hurt. - �Crazy cats get themselves cut up,

that's the only real concern Prust has.

He's definitely a hunter

and the father of every kitten in town. The vicarage too.

I think he misses Aron.

Now I have to come and tickle you!

Knock that off�... I'm sitting here trying to do taxes and�... ouch!

Percentages and dividends.

Mercy!

Hey Prust.

- �Prust and I are going to bed now. - �Goodnight.

You'll stay up here now. With Jasper.

You miss Aron, don't you?

So do I.

But I can tell you, not being alone helps.

Be glad you have me.

Aron is with the Unknown, and we don't know much about them.

Otherwise they wouldn't be unknown.

Or he could be out there among the stars.

Space is very, very big.

Look at you. A couple of night owls.

Here's a bed for Prust.

Thanks!

Get under your blanket, Jasper.

Sleep well.

Both of you.

Say goodnight to dad.

You're an outdoor cat, aren't you? Good enough for me.

Go for your usual evening walk.

Be careful near the vicarage!

Dad?

Dad!

Dad, are you asleep?

Yes Jasper, we were asleep�... �almost.

Jasper, why are you still up?

- �There's someone outside�... - �That's rubbish, Jasper.

It sounds like a burglar.

No, you're imagining things.

There were sounds, and sound doesn't come from nowhere!

Well then, let's stick our noses out there and scare your ghostly thief away.

Then we can have some peace and quiet. OK?

Well, where is he?

There's your thief!

Give it up. You don't have the key. Come on.

- �But dad! - �No, come on.

- �But there was�... - �Come.

- �The door was closed, and then�... - �You know what?

Enough with the robber stories - come inside.

But dad!

We're going to sleep!

Come on!

Thorkild! Raise your hand to speak.

It's good to know where your name comes from.

My name is carved on a stone in the church, so it's a very old name.

- �My father memorized it�... - �Today's news: his father can read!

There's a picture of him in the church, go see for yourself.

"And that man of God was called Jasper. "

That's what it says.

He came from the outside. No one knows where.

If his name was Jasper, he came from Loony Land. Amen in the church and done.

Mourids, don't talk that way in class!

Jasper's on to something here.

The man on that stone was very wise.

Some day we'll go up there and I'll show you.

If he was so wise, his name couldn't have been Jasper.

If Mourids wants to say something he'll raise his hand.

That's my dad!

Will Jasper please sit down.

Now, Jasper!

It's my father, he's in the yard with Aron's old closet.

- �He loves Aron's old shit. - �Knock it off Mourids!

- �Jasper, sit down. - �That's my father!

Alright, class dismissed!

Hey sweetheart!

Mr. Sigumh�j, this is Aron's closet.

- �Hello. - �The town wants everything cleared.

We threw most of it on the fire.

But we felt this was too nice to throw away, and we thought of you.

It's considerate of you to think about the school.

This could come in handy.

- �Yes, it's interesting�... - �Can we have it in our classroom?

It's a very special closet. Isn't it?

Yeah�...

The key's gone, Mr. Sigumh�j.

Aron had it, now he's taken it to the Unknown.

And one of Them lives inside.

So it has to be in our class, right Mr. Sigumh�j?

Or someone else might want it�...

My dad will take it!

So for the record, the vicar has said that?

Heard him myself.

Well if he's interested, it should go to the vicarage.

- �Yes, but if the kids�... - �We have plenty of closets in the school.

But, Mr. Sigumh�j�...

"Saint Hans, Saint Hans�... We want peace here on Earth�...

... �Saint Hans, Saint Hans�...

Peace can be found, if hearts never doubt and turn cold. "

- �Where's Prust? - �He was at home when we left.

This'll only take a moment, Jasper. Then we'll head back.

- �Well, here you are at last! - �I hope you like it.

So this is the famous closet.

That thing's filthy and disgusting. Why is it here?

It's an antique, it just needs cleaning.

Let me look inside�...

Does the moving man have the key?

There we have a problem, the key has disappeared�...

Take it away!

Here, kitty.

Prust!

- �Prust, come back! - �See mother?

The whore cat's stealing our food!

Away with that filthy cat!

Away with all of you!

You come here with a closet that doesn't have a key.

It's completely worthless!

I knew we'd have a problem with this thing.

What about Prust?

He wanders everywhere.

Don't worry. Cats always find their way home.

Prust!

Oh Prust�...

A sausage from the vicarage.

- �It's not your fault. - �Jasper, come on!

We don't want to be in debt to the vicarage, so go back and give them a fresh sausage.

- �And what should I tell them? - �You just have to hand it over,

say sorry for your cat and yourself, because you didn't control him.

That's not how it was!

"I'm sorry for my cat

and myself, because I didn't control him. "

"I'm sorry for my cat

and for myself, for�...

for�... �and here's a brand new sausage!

Aron�...

Aron. It's me, Jasper.

I miss you.

Can you hear me?

I don't know what it's like with the Unknowns.

If you can hear�...

I have to tell you about Prust.

He misses you too.

He whines and complains and does his own thing.

It's not easy when you're the one responsible.

Now they think he's stolen a sausage from the vicarage. But that's not how�...

"I'm sorry for my cat and because I didn't keep it under control. "

"I'm sorry�...

Sleep well, Aron!

"I'm sorry for my cat�... "

I'm here with a new sausage to replace the one eaten,

almost eaten - from my mother�...

"I'm sorry for my cat�... "

- �Well if it isn't Jasper Mealworm. - �I brought a sausage, from my mother.

- �What are you doing here? - �You lured Prust!

Prust is a whore cat! And he's doomed!

Just so you know.

- Doomed! - You can't do that!

You're just jealous.

We don't eat cat meat here, little baby Jasper!

Who don't you go swimming with the girls and show them your little mealworm!

You can pretend to have a girlfriend, moron.

Jasper! What happened?

Nothing, let's go home.

Can I get some sleep tonight?

- �I've polished it. - �Can I see?

I think it comes from the Unknowns. And I've actually seen one of them.

So many exciting things happen to you, Jasper.

- �It's old junk. - �It's a sign from the Unknowns.

The moon was reflecting off it, in our courtyard.

More of his bragging and lying.

- �Cool, isn't it? - �Yeah.

Shall we go swimming?

Look what Jasper found. He says it comes from the Unknowns.

- �It was just lying there, all of a sudden. - �Well I must say�...

- �What is it, Mr. Sigumh�j? - �It looks old.

Pure silver. An ancient artifact, a so-called Dana-find.

- Jasper found a dame's behind! - No, Thorkild.

A bottle opener. It's an ancient Nordic bottle opener.

If your eyes are open you may find something.

I'll put it in my pocket, and later we'll go to the museum and ask them what it is.

- What's the problem, Mourids? - I'm exempt from swimming.

Then you can be my assistant. Come!

"The world's ugliest�... most heinous�... stray cat is sentenced to a horrible death.

If you value the whorecat's life, come to the church at midnight."

Prust!

-�Have you seen Prust? -�No.

He just ran off, I'm telling you! I call that truancy.

No, no, that not like him, just running away. There must be an explanation.

Explanation? He got out of the swimming lesson!

-�That's not the reason. -�Are you saying it's my fault?

-�Your words, Mr. Sigumh�j. -�I can't spend any more time looking.

And Aron's closet, I see you've stolen it for yourselves. That's theft!

I've had enough of that thing. It has to go, right now.

Stop that talk! You know how Sigumh�j is.

It needs to go back where it came from - now!

Now don't blame the boy. There must be something we don't know about.

Hi Jasper.

-�What are you doing with Aron's closet? -�It's going to be staying here.

Well, nobody else wants it.

-�Prust is gone. -�He's always roaming about, isn't he?

He's a captive in the vicarage.

-�Captive? -�Yes, captive.

The Holy Cat is Prust's girlfriend. I think he's there of his own free will.

"The world's ugliest stray�... sentenced to a horrible death.

If you value the whorecat's life�... come to the church at midnight."

Dear God,

Will you please give Prust back to me?

Goodnight, Jasper.

Now sleep tight.

When you wake up tomorrow, I'm sure Prust will be back.

Aron, it's me, Jasper.

Don't worry.

I've come to get Prust.

Prust, it's me, Jasper.

Mourids is going to pay for this!

Have you seen Prust?

He was Aron's.

I was taking care of him.

Now, Mourids has hurt him.

He must pay!

I understand you are angry.

But revenge, that's not the answer.

I'm Jasper.

Jasper�...

It could be the name of a rare flower.

-�Or a holy man. -�That too.

It never leads to anything good, seeking vengeance.

- But look what he's done! - Revenge leads to revenge

and the evil never dies.

The only way to fight against evil

is to fight for the good.

Who are you really?

My name is Innocence.

Innocence?

That means 'The Innocent'.

Is that why your head is bald?

Do you want to touch it?

You're one of the Unknown, right?

Then you know Aron.

He's also with the Unknown.

-�Aron was your friend? -�Yes.

And now Prust only has me.

Jasper, wake up.

Well, you're already dressed.

And Prust!

See? I told you he'd come back.

Hi Prust.

You're very hot.

I think you have a fever.

Sleep now, Prust.

It'll help you get better.

Innocence?

Innocence, are you asleep?

Hi Jasper.

I see you.

Join us�...

... if you dare!

Come on Jasper, it's nice and warm.

Are you shy? Scared of the water?

We won't lay a hand on you, will we Beatrice?

Now it's my turn.

-�Bet you can't swim to the pier. -�That's easy.

Underwater.

Here comes Jasper!

-�Jasper Mealworm. Enjoying yourself? -�Get off me!

Showing off for the girls again?

How about a made up ghost story?

- Just when we were having fun! - Found any more treasures?

Get off me!

You're just a little skirt chaser who goes after the girls!

Skirt chaser.

Help!

Are you crazy, Mourids? It's fucking dangerous!

The Witch's Claw.

He's drowning!

You have many more good things to experience in life.

and pleasure to give others.

And when you grow old and sick, death comes as a liberator.

Where is Prust? I have to find him!

We were scared to death! We thought you drowned.

Where's Prust?

What matters is, you're alive.

But where is Prust?

-�He's at home. -�The boy is safe! Thanks everyone!

Come on, let's go home to him.

So Prust.

You really are sick.

There�... that should help.

If you're very sick, it might make you sad.

Maybe we can help him. Vejmanden and I�...

We've put cats to sleep before. It's quick.

No one will put you to sleep.

I promise.

Never.

Aron, it's me, Jasper.

There's a problem.

And if you guessed Prust, you're right.

Here. See for yourself.

I know there isn't much you can do

now that you're dead and at peace.

I just thought I'd tell you.

Innocence? Prust is sick.

Innocence?!

Look Prust. I did it myself!

See!

There, there, Prust.

We're just going to sit here and wait for Innocence. Very quietly.

Jesus, Jasper!

I could have�...

-�What on Earth were you doing? -�Just sitting there, me and Prust.

-�And now it's all destroyed. -�Do you know what almost happened?

-�How did you get in there? -�It just opened by itself.

Please stop that boy! You keep scaring the hell out of me!

What about Prust? I can tell you

that Prust has the right to decide when he dies.

Of course. Prust himself will decide.

I promise!

Sleep now Prust,

and get well again.

-�Good morning! -�I'm not going to school today.

Because Prust�...

Of course you have to go.

You're going on a field trip today.

I can't leave Prust alone.

You know what? What if

your mother and I took Prust to work.

He can have fun in the car.

Would that be okay?

- This is it. - Come on out here

and let the nannies take over.

Time to go, Jasper. We're in a hurry!

- Come on, Jasper! - Why bother waiting for that sissy?

Mourids!

Have a nice trip!

- Take care of Prust. - We will!

We ride one behind the other. No weaving around.

Look, they're making out!

Jasper and Beatrice! Why are you rolling around on the ground?

Therefore, the river became a kind of deity that people of the time offered sacrifices to.

Items that were important to them.

Tools, weapons, jewelry�...

We're lucky today, that all these things have been preserved by the river.

Yes. Now we proceed to the Middle Ages.

Many thanks�...

Now Jasper Mealworm,

We had to ride all the way here to this shit museum

and listen to this old lady's crap

because of your fucking bottle opener!

Treasure.

- How do you know what it is? - You're jealous, Mourids!

It's a bottle opener, and Jasper's going in the stream on the way back!

And if it really is an ancient artifact you're going in the water, okay Mourids?

He gets to take a dip.

By the Witch's Claw.

-�Yeah, a bet! -�Yeah, come on Mourids!

Fine with me.

I'm going to enjoy watching Mealworm get baptized!

Don't linger, kids. Follow along and pay attention. Come on!

Here we see how monks dressed.

See his cowl, with the large hood that protected him in bad weather.

On his feet he wore crude, homemade sandals.

And what do we have here? A medieval shoe buckle!

Fine piece of Danish silver. Who found it?

It's a real treasure find! Who did you say�...?

He found it�...�Jasper did.

Small but sharp eyed!

So your name is Jasper?

The museum would like to give you this gift, as a reward�...

Here you go!

And thank you.

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

This is cowardly, so many against one.

That kind of thing is like sending knights to a joust.

I don't hesitate to tell you, it shines a light on our school.

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

In with Mourids!

No, move aside children! What is this?

Mourids, are you alright?

Mourids! Someone needs to go get help!

I can't swim!

Help!

Help!

Mourids!

Help!

Mourids, hold on!

Hold on!

Get some help over there�... hurry up, Thorkild!

I'm coming!

Try to hang on, we're coming!

I'm stuck!

Hurry up, Thorkild!

We're here, Mourids!

Jasper, grab the line.

Good! Get it around him.

We've got him.

Oh no!

Dammit!

There we go. A little more.

Carry him over there.

Careful! Go easy with him.

Innocence!

Prust!

-�So you picked him up? -�Yes.

We're setting off on our journey now, Jasper. It's time.

First Aron�...

...�now you and Prust.

Does it have to be this way?

-�Are you going back to the Unknowns? -�We are all

just part of eternity, my friend.

Good journey, Innocence.

Say hi to Aron.

-�Take good care of Prust. -�Goodbye Jasper.

I'm proud of you.

Jasper.

Now�...�uh�...

-�Now don't�... -�It wasn't Vejmanden!

Prust is dead.

You mustn't be sad.

Oh, Innocence has taken him back to the Unknowns�...�to be with Aron.

The St. Hans bonfire is about to be lit. We're running late.

"Begone all witches,

Begone all trolls.

On this loveliest evening of summer."

Generation after generation has driven off the evil with the heat of the bonfire.

The flames of the bonfire, which symbolize the power of good.

This eternal battle against evil,

this eternal invocation.

Begone all witches, begone all trolls�...

We have one among us

who has done a great deed today,

and saved our son Mourids from evil.

The furniture hauler's son, Jasper.

For that, my wife and I would like to present him a gift.

And now we sing Drachmann's beautiful midsummer hymn!

We love our country�...

Aren't you going to look, Jasper?

Over the land, under the beach�...

let the welcoming voices cry out:

We sing your word on the road

You're so little and cute.

I guess you came from the Holy Cat's belly,

so Prust is your father.

You should be proud of that!

I baptize you in the waters of Aron's river,

to Little Prust, and you should know

that you have a father among the Unknowns.

and that's a good thing�... because they're our friends.

Oh, how cute!

Want to hold him?

We can hold him together.

He looks like his father - just smaller!