Original subtitles

Okay.

Hi, Vidar!

You don't know me,

but I knew your mom back in the old days.

Congratulations on your big day.

When I was confirmed, my Aunt Bente told me:

"Life is like a chest of drawers. Drawer upon drawer.

And you have to make sure to fill those drawers with something good."

Christ, I have to do that again.

Oh, it's rolling.

Okay.

I can't seem stop this camera, so I'll just try again. Take two.

Elin?

Hi.

I'm Hege's sister.

Yes, of course, I can see that.

I didn't know you were still in touch?

We aren't really.

But I'm Vidar's godmother.

-So that's why I'm here. -I see.

It's not a role I have mastered brilliantly, but...

It's no longer fashionable

to make sure they're brought up in the Christian faith.

I don't think we'll even bother having godparents.

Congratulations. Lovely.

What about you? How far along the track are you?

I've left the track.

Gone off-piste.

Gone off the beaten path, as it were.

-No children. -Oh, I see.

-But... -I am a stepmother.

To a girl of twelve.

That's a great age.

Don't tell anyone.

Okay, I see.

That's what it takes to get through this.

So...

So.

It's been a while.

Yeah.

You just ran off.

I know.

As far as I'm concerned, you could have made... contact.

You don't hate me?

Not anymore.

I did hate you.

Yeah.

But I have grown up.

Become older.

Yeah.

But...

Oslo.

Any good?

It's at least a little better than here.

Yeah, it's...

I can see that.

What the hell are you really doing here?

No, I...

-I don't know. -Right.

I'm trying

to prove to myself that I can be trusted.

Or something like that.

By saying yes to an invitation?

Yes.

And then going, and dealing with it.

Yeah.

Sounds more like some sort of penance.

Good I met you, then.

Yeah.

Do we still have unsettled business?

Eirik?

Eirik?

There you are.

I think we need some help

with tables and practical things.

Yes, I can take care of that.

Nice to see you again, Elin.

Stella, I can explain everything.

-Let go of me! -I can explain.

Stella...

-I can explain everything. -I never want to stay here again!

-Hello, my dear! -Cut it out.

What a cute little girl!

-Don't! -Hi, Elin.

Good to see you.

-That was so awesome! -You'll scare people to death.

-Did you see your mother? -No, I stayed at a hotel.

The whole trip bordered on masochism.

-What did you do this weekend? -Bought some flower bulbs.

Then I delivered some clothes to a flea market.

And then I...

-I took myself off Tinder. -No!

No! Why?

Because Jon Erling, if that really is his name,

picked up someone else on Tinder while I was buying him a drink.

It's...

It's not worth it.

I'm too good.

-But no one sees it. -You're the world's best.

You are.

And I'm perfectly happy alone.

Happy enough, anyway.

-Are you on speaking terms? -No.

Nothing.

Hey.

I'm the one

who has to say something.

There's so much to apologize for, I don't know where to start.

And here I lie, gassing my womb with incense.

-That's how it gets softer. -What if you boil it?

It's getting warmer.

My uterus might not be the problem.

The last few times, it's as if the eggs have deteriorated.

How was it...

Did you ever try egg donation?

No.

We never did. There was no real donor register back when we were trying.

My eggs looked fine then.

Why don't you try mine?

I mean it.

As many as you want. If they're good enough.

-It's legal now. -With an anonymous donor.

From a state register, between the ages of 25 and 35.

-Not a favor from a friend. -Nitpicking.

Mom, are you coming?

We're already out of candy.

Out of candy? I bought 5 kilos!

-They've eaten everything. -No! Fine, give them dates.

These dates are fancy. Look.

It's Halloween, mom!

Take those dates, and let's scare the shit out of them.

Ready, set, go!

Okay.

Now...

That does not look good.

Can I do it myself?

Hold it like that and inject it into your stomach at an angle.

Push.

Excellent.

Christ.

I wonder what your Chinese gods will say

about you filling your body full of synthetic hormones.

You're tricking your body into mass-producing eggs.

The capitalists are in charge in China.

And they love mass production.

They love it.

That's true.

Norwegian family tree?

-Isn't that Bjerk's logo? -Yes.

It's a long article about them. How groundbreaking they have been.

For the Norwegian research community.

They've received funding for a huge project on epigenetics.

Sure.

But...

Can they take that tree metaphor any further?

It works.

Conducting research at an international level

as an independent, private Norwegian clinic is pretty good.

We could have done the same thing if you had only listened to me.

Hi, I'm calling

because someone has left a baby carriage outside my job.

It's cold as ice. Can you please come quick?

-Thank you. -We'll be back next week, Knut.

Have you been waiting for mommy and daddy?

-Did you bring diapers? -Yes, I have them.

They're here.

Hi there. We got a call about an abandoned baby carriage.

We've just been inside playing.

He's fine being outside.

Did you place the call?

Is the baby okay?

Yes.

01, this is F404.

The situation by the bookstore, with the abandoned child...

Alexander?

Mom, you have to come and get us. Come and get us!

We know he isn't alive.

Mom, come get us now!

Is that your baby in that baby carriage?

Mom, you have to help me.

He's just for practicing.

We live in our own apartment.

Social workers come and check on us, but we never need help.

It's a mild mental impairment.

And I'm on the spectrum.

True, Alexander, but as much as one percent of the population

may be within the autism spectrum.

How long have you been trying to have children?

A year and a half.

And your family doctor?

She said it might be nature's way of saying it's not such a good idea.

We hope for a more respectful treatment in the private sector.

We know we're a little different.

But we love each other.

You can't consider it. That child will go straight to Child Services.

I'm not saying I disagree with you.

But many disabled parents manage to care for children just fine.

With some adjustments and some help.

What degree of disability are we talking about?

Hard to say. I couldn't establish that from one conversation.

They didn't come with a letter stating their exact mental age.

But he did bring his mother to the appointment.

Sure.

It just feels so unfair. They have every right to want a child.

Where else have they been rejected?

-Stop being so grumpy! -I'm being a realist.

This is complicated.

You're making me the realist.

You come across as nice and I'm a cynical jerk.

You feel bad because you know what you have to do.

Thought maybe it was a hassle to cook in that tiny kitchen.

It's fine, as you can see.

-What do you have there? -Lasagna.

It's hot.

Want some?

It's insane.

It is.

Introducing a fake husband, a fake father,

to Child Services, in front of a child.

That's completely insane.

Makes you want to help her.

I think she knows it wasn't okay.

You often realize that when you're completely fucked.

How long did your marriage last?

We aren't divorced yet.

I hope you understand

what a betrayal it would be for Stella if you take her back.

After this.

Good work, people.

Thanks, you too.

Wait for me, girls.

-Bye. -Wait, I'm coming!

Shit!

-Have you seen this? -Yes, you posted it online.

Aren't you worried it might be too much?

Junior high, grades,

puberty, boys...

And practice four times a week?

-Maybe. -Maybe?

I don't push her.

She should be allowed to try.

As long as we make it clear she can slow down if she wants to.

Right now she is so keen

that it would be wrong not to give her the opportunity.

Some just have "it".

Hi!

Hi.

Are you hungry?

We have plenty of food.

Could you...

I need sperm.

Now.

-You need sperm now? -Yes.

I'm trying egg donation with Maiken.

The eggs are mature, but I'm out of sperm.

Do you hear what you're standing here saying?

-Having a good time? -I don't want children with Maiken.

I want you to stop!

Fuck!

Shit.

Has something happened? Something more?

With Elin?

Yeah, now she wants to try egg donation.

I didn't even know that was legal.

Whatever.

I want no part of it.

She wants to use Maiken's egg.

Maiken?

-You're having a baby with Maiken? -No, I'm not. I said no.

She isn't getting any more sperm. It's over.

-Okay? -Yup, that's how it is.

-What? -I don't know...

You don't know what? Tell me.

I was just wondering if she...

Would she

use someone else's sperm?

And if so, what would be worse?

That she never takes no for an answer,

or that she has a child with someone else?

This is cool!

I can't promise you won't feel anything.

Imagine getting a cocktail like that every time in this chair.

You do here.

Perfect!

Okay, here comes the first jab, are you ready?

One, two and three!

Okay.

And breathe.

Deep breaths. That's it.

And here comes the second jab.

One, two and three.

Ok, we're there!

-Just breathe. -I was starting to enjoy myself.

-How many are there? -There are lots of good ones.

I considered becoming a doula.

A doula?

A birthing partner, like a helper.

Many people use them now.

Okay, is that a protected title?

Probably not, and it involved 90 weekend classes and an exam.

For something that should be pretty intuitive:

To show consideration and say "push, push!"

Shit, so that can become a child?

Ok, careful now.

-Be careful. -I know.

You've done this before, doctor.

Doctor Elin... Moe.

She's a professional egg hunter.

Aren't you?

God, how wonderful! We have to celebrate.

Can we... When are you...

We have to celebrate before you put that in.

Are you mixing me with Bjørn now?

A little infidelity in the petri dish.

-Remember to breathe. -Damn, it's cold!

Just breathe.

What the hell?

Hi, CC, it's Lilly.

I'm at Bien.

I came to pick up my bike.

I saw Elin and someone else come out and got this feeling...

I don't know, I may be wrong.

But I think Elin just did a procedure in here. On someone else.

Yes, there are unmarked eggs in the incubator cabinet

we no longer use.

Hi.

Christ!

Should we call the police?

No.

I'll sort this out.

Try to go back...

Maiken?

Maiken? Hello?

-Hey. -Hi, Tobias.

Where's your mom?

She went to bed, she was exhausted.

CC, she's sleeping.

-Who was that? -My uncle.

Maiken?

What is it?

What are you up to now?

-What are you and Elin up to? -I can't deal with this now.

It's legal!

Legal? Are you completely...

We could be shut down!

People can lose their jobs!

Because I'm not registered somewhere,

or because I've only donated eggs to Elin?

Stop playing stupid!

Bien is my life work!

It's our father's life work, for Christ's sake!

Incredible!

Are you telling me what's good for dad?

I'm talking about a reputation Bien has spent years to build.

There are a thousand good things you can do for dad!

Dad isn't interested in my help!

But I'm interested in your help with him.

My god!

You come here shouting.

What are you and Elin up to?

Elin is my best friend.

Should I not help her?

Your best friend?

Don't make me laugh. If she's your best friend, then put your foot down.

Put my foot down?

That was very well put.

You put your foot down!

Why do you come to me talking about the clinic's reputation?

Why don't you go to her, CC?

Are you afraid?

You know what? She is so done with you.

You'll never get her back.

What about you, Maiken?

Huh?

Single going on ten years.

It's your fault she can't stop.

You drag her into your so-called clinic, lay her down,

and stick needles up her chakras!

That's why Elin can't stop! And one more thing:

I come in here and this place looks like

an absolute mess! Like a welfare case lives here!

-You can leave now. -And Tobias...

-Tobias, is sitting out there... -Go!

And you lie up in your room full of needle marks.

Get out of here! I've heard enough from you!

Good night.

Looking for your eggs?

They have been destroyed.

I'm wondering what to do now.

I could have you arrested, of course.

-But Bien would go down the drain. -Stop it.

It's so strange.

After everything you and I have been through over the years.

Everything we've said to each other and done to each other.

I have never been able, at any time, to imagine Bien without you.

But now I'm wondering how to get rid of you, because...

You're going to ruin everything here.

You'll destroy everything we've built.

And do you know what the worst part is?

I don't think you care. You don't give a shit.

-Of course I care. -You've lost it completely!

You've lost it.

I don't know if you can continue being a doctor.

We at Bien have decided to say no. Unfortunately.

I understand if that feels unfair.

But we all know it's highly probable

that Child Services would take over care.

We don't know that. We should be allowed to try first.

Mom?

I understand that is how you think. I get it.

This isn't easy for me.

I see that you love each other and have a lot to give.

But when you seek help to have children,

higher demands are placed on the parents.

This is a couple with their own home,

stable finances, and a solid safety net.

They have every possibility to be successful.

Daily childcare is demanding. You have had good help all your lives.

But taking care of a child

demands that you be the adults.

And that transition,

it's a huge responsibility.

It can be too difficult.

But that transition is difficult for everyone.

Do you know anyone who knew exactly what they were getting into?

Or how life would change?

I had Alexander when I was 19.

A high school dropout with a mentally-challenged son.

Do you think I had the slightest idea what I was getting myself into?

What I had

was this incredible love.

The power of which I had never experienced before.

Which helped me overcome everything.

Do you have children?

-Know what I mean? -Our ability to love is irrelevant.

-But do you have children? -Why the hell do you ask?

That's none of your damn business. Excuse me.

It's time for us to go.

Come.

There's nothing for us here.

Just the same ignorant condemnation we meet everywhere in life.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

Elin?

I can't stay here any longer.

I have to go, Morten.

I'm not well.

I just have to go.

Hi, Bjørn.

I'll do it.

Huh?

Not that I approve, but if you're going to cook up a kid,

I'd rather it be mine than someone else's.

Where are you?

I'm completely finished.

I'm finished.

Subtitles: Plint plint.com