Original subtitles

SPIRIT OF WINTER

Please.

My child, you must be reasonable.

I beg you. I don't want to.

Ioana, you know I can't keep you here.

You're 16 now. It's what was agreed.

Mrs. Gregoriu has done so much for you.

Don't cry.

I'll pray for you, my little bird.

Our Lord sees everything

and is great in every way.

He'll watch over you this Christmas Eve.

I'm sure of that.

Please!

No!

No!

Oh, shit, shit!

Nathalie, look at the time. I'm gonna be late.

My folks will have to wait.

Why didn't Alice wake us?

She must still be asleep.

Check out the snowfall.

It's gorgeous.

But a real pain on the roads!

Mom, you won't get this text until you've landed.

Don't budge from the airport. There's a lot of snow so I'll be late.

See you later.

Marc...

It's back.

What is?

I wrote all night. It's back.

My head was full of scenes.

I didn't want to lose them, so I wrote them all down.

I've got it.

I think I've finally found my story.

It came to me out of the blue,

and it's all crystal clear.

It was so powerful.

Do you realize?

That's great news.

Tell me all about it once I'm back.

What time do your folks land?

Ten after eleven, I think.

What's wrong with her?

At 16, you've better things to do than to take care of your folks!

- I don't know what's gotten into her. - She's 16.

- Don't you remember that? - Not really.

Let her grow up.

We should've kept some rather than drink it all.

Leave that, I'll take care of it.

Anyway, we don't do it very often.

- No hangover? - Me?

Never felt better!

I'd better get going.

Alice might wake up eventually and help me out.

If she's in a good mood.

Probably not.

About time!

Honey, I need you to help me.

Don't spend an hour in the shower, OK?

Honey...

are you still sulking?

Hurry up. I'll be downstairs, OK?

Urgency of the situation...

Still alive?

Hello, this is Maud's voicemail. Leave a message, please.

Maud, it's me.

Sorry to disturb you, but I have some great news.

I've started writing again.

There.

It all came to me so clearly.

I feel it, it's inside of me.

We're gonna bring out a damn book!

So call me back fast.

I wanted to share this wonderful news with my publisher.

And my friend.

Call me. Merry Christmas! Big hug!

I'll finish that later.

Oh, shit!

Hello.

Hello?

Marc?

Is that you?

Alice, come help me, will you!

What are you up to?

Dad will be back with your grandparents, the others will show up...

I can't cope alone.

Come on, that's long enough.

The window!

There you are! I didn't hear you come down.

You look so beautiful, honey.

A bit strange to choose black!

Not exactly a jolly color for Christmas.

Won't you wear the red one?

It really suits you, and I love it.

See that?

It's all white already.

It's going to be a magical Christmas, honey.

It's odd, the weather report didn't predict this.

I hope it won't be too hard for Dad.

Didn't you know? The climate's gone haywire.

You need to get out a bit more, Mom.

Hey, where are you going?

Stay with me, I need your help.

"Why the black dress? Wear the red one, I love it."

That's what you said, right? So I'm going to change.

Don't start, Alice!

Don't take it so seriously.

That dress suits you, too.

You say one thing, and then the other!

Stop it.

I've no wish to fight with you today.

Nor any day, come to that.

Wait!

Come on, let's talk.

I have something important to tell you.

It's back.

What's back?

Writing! My inspiration is back!

It's all so clear in my mind.

I'm so happy, I already called Maud.

It's all clear in your mind.

How long have you been saying that?

But this isn't the same.

This time I'm going to see it through.

Cool.

Hello?

Hello!

Enough of this, stop it!

Hello?

It's us.

Was it you who just called me?

No. Why?

No reason.

What time do you plan to get here?

Alice didn't wake us and I'm running late.

I know, Marc told me.

You reached him? I'm not having any luck.

What time will he get here with your folks?

They're closing all the roads.

Get here when you can, but things'll be running late.

Nathalie, you don't get it.

We're snowed in, we can't come. Sorry, gorgeous.

It's too dangerous.

OK, I understand.

It's crap for us, too. Who knows how long we'll be stuck?

We're so sorry.

I understand.

You're not mad at us?

I can't see you!

Good luck. See you.

Hello, this is Marc Weber. Leave a message, please.

Marc, it's me again.

When do you think you'll get here?

Antoine and your sister can't make it.

Is it really that difficult to get here?

Call me back, I'm starting to get worried.

Chill out, Alice!

You'll end up knocking something over and hurting yourself!

What was I saying?

Never mind, I'll glue it back together.

Can you get your mom to stop staring at me?

Know where the super glue is?

Absolutely no idea.

- It's for Alice's figurine. - Look, I'm too busy.

You make no effort.

Sorry? Can you repeat that?

I don't mean the meal, but your mood.

Dessert is served, everyone!

Come on, Alice, the dessert's ready!

- Your cake looks fantastic! - It's gorgeous!

Wow, so beautiful!

Alice!

You okay, Nathalie?

Fine. Serve the cake, I'll be right back.

- Stay, she'll come. - Be right back.

Don't touch it.

- Leave it to me. - I sense a massacre!

Same portions for everyone!

Come on, everyone's waiting for you for dessert!

Alice!

Alice?

Well, well...

who's hiding behind this curtain?

Alice?

Alice!

Alice?

Alice, honey?

- Let go of me! - Sorry, honey!

Stop it! Stop it!

I'm sorry, it's nothing.

- What happened? - Daddy!

Nothing, I was scared. It's not her fault.

Alice, it's nothing.

It's nothing, honey.

Let's go up, everyone's waiting.

Hush now, everything's all right.

- Come on. - No!

Come on, let's have a little dance!

The oven's stone cold and they'll be here soon.

Sorry, I was miles away. I totally forgot...

To turn on the oven!

I only have to add garlic to the roast and we're good to go.

Try not to use your cars, even equipped with chains.

Despite today's salting operations,

main and secondary roads are closed.

Look.

Wow!

Help is on the way for blocked vehicles...

Louise called. They're snowed in so they cancelled.

Why didn't you say?

I can't get hold of Dad. Can you?

No. But don't worry, I'm sure he's OK.

- So why doesn't he call? - No signal, maybe.

Why not set the table instead of worrying?

We're running late, remember.

And best crockery and cutlery, OK!

- Your mom's? - Yes. Thanks, honey.

Don't call me honey, please.

You're such a pain!

It's very dangerous. There's talk of 1.5 meters of snow...

I'm scared, Mom.

Scared something bad has happened.

Enough already! Why do you say that?

Why be all doom and gloom?

What kind of Christmas is this? It stinks!

Hey, it doesn't stink!

It's good sometimes with a smaller group.

It can even be better.

There'll be too much food.

You're right. Shall I make the desserts I planed or not?

Of course.

We ask you to be extremely vigilant.

Stay home and avoid using your car.

Traffic will be able to resume tonight.

Alice... did you see that?

See what?

What are you talking about?

Nothing.

Forget it.

You okay?

I'm just great.

Wow!

The table you laid looks beautiful.

I'll make individual servings.

Can you fetch the ramekins? You know where they are?

Hello, this is Marc Weber. Leave a message, please.

It's me again.

I just wanted to see how you're getting on,

whether you'd managed to meet your folks.

Anyway, keep me posted, OK? Big kiss!

I'm not here.

Yes?

- Who is it? - Aurélien.

Aurélien?

Come in, quick.

You scared me!

I'm sorry.

Is Alice in?

She's resting.

Is she asleep?

I don't know. Maybe, yes.

Can you tell her I'm here?

Sorry, this isn't a good time.

Our guests are on their way and I'm running late.

OK.

Tell her I brought this.

There was no hurry, it could have waited.

It's no bother, it's not like we're miles away.

- Go on, your folks will be worried. - OK.

- Merry Christmas. - Same to you.

Tell Alice to call.

Will do.

Bye.

Alice.

Can you explain?

What?

Have you two fallen out?

I just don't want to see him.

Do you want to talk about it?

Still no news from Dad?

Ah, with a bit of luck, that'll be him.

What are you playing at?

What?

- Show me your phone. - Why should I?

Give it to me this instant!

- What's wrong with you? - What's wrong?

Take a look at what's wrong.

Is this funny?

Do you find it amusing?

Stop it, Mom. Let me by, I'm thirsty...

Don't push me.

You don't know where it might lead.

I don't get what you mean.

You did this with Aurélien.

You did it together. Was it him I saw outside earlier?

You've totally lost it.

You've really fucked me around. Good job.

Great job. Hats off to you.

You really think you're the center of the universe!

Watch your mouth!

Watch your own! It wasn't me!

Who was it then?

Who was it, Alice?

Who else is here?

And the phone calls?

- Who are they from? - I don't know what you mean.

Tell me who it is. Who is it?

Fuck knows! Maybe Dad playing a rotten joke.

Stop it!

Stop talking bullshit.

Stop lying.

I can't take this.

I can't take this anymore.

I understand Dad. You're such a pain.

Why not go and write?

If your inspiration's back.

About time, huh?

So go write.

Go write and leave me alone.

Don't blame me for your shitty life.

Go write!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, honey, forgive me.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Alice?

Alice, let me in.

Come on, Alice.

Honey...

forgive me.

I'm so sorry.

Forgive me, my little bird.

I don't want us to talk like that.

You know I love you, right?

I believe you.

You're right.

It must be one of Dad's bad jokes.

Honey...

Mommy's very tired right now.

So she says things she doesn't really mean.

I'm sure that happens to you, too.

But it doesn't matter.

It happens to lots of people.

Come on.

Come on, honey, let's forget about it.

Stop calling me honey.

What do you want me to call you?

Anything but honey or sweetheart.

It's a real downer.

What do you think of...

"my little jerk"?

It's not bad, "my little jerk", huh?

Huh, my little jerk? Who's my little jerk?

Stop it!

- Do we call a truce, little jerk? - No!

- A truce? - Yes!

I'm sorry, honey, but I think we're stuck here, just the two of us.

I don't care. I didn't really want to see anyone.

Still...

it might be less fun.

I don't care, either. I didn't want to see anyone else.

What if we opened our gifts?

Yeah.

Here.

Merry Christmas, little jerk.

Thanks, Mom.

I'll go fetch yours.

- No, open yours now. - Really?

You first, I said.

It's my pleasure.

They're gorgeous.

Can I try them on?

Sure.

They belonged to your great-grandmother.

She gave them to her daughter just before she died.

Your grandmother, of course.

And she gave them to me just before she died.

But I...

didn't want to die before they belonged to you.

So there.

They're yours now.

Thanks, Mom.

But won't it bring us bad luck?

Stop it. What makes you say that?

You know, it's...

just a tradition, nothing more than that.

Hungry?

Hang on, the oven must be hot now.

Don't bother. It's just to keep me going.

Want me to do your hair, like when you were little?

Sure, I'd love that.

Be right back.

Mom?

Alice, won't you put that down?

How shall I do it?

A bun or in plaits?

What do you prefer?

What's with the silence?

It's your choice.

Plaits, then.

They suit you so well.

I haven't lost my touch.

Subtitles: Mark Bryant

Subtitling: TELOS Adaptation