Original subtitles

Ah! It had to be a real tree again.

Wait, I got it.

Guys, I've found it.

- Who knows about electricity? - Knows? This will be good.

- Within 10 minutes, what did I say? - My Jan can manage that.

Like with parks maintenance, you mean?

Come on, Jan, my boy. Spray it, go on!

I'm calling the fire brigade.

No, Oleg, my boy. No. Come on!

Would you give 50 shower curtains to your family for Christmas?

I don't think so.

No, I need these Christmas presents right now.

No Oleg, you fix it.

I need these presents tonight. OK?

Yes. OK, man.

This is how you manage it.

You have to do it all yourself these days.

Yes, hi. This is... Sorry, wrong number.

I was, just...

Merry Christmas. Yeah, bye.

So, guys... Is everything OK here?

Almost ready.

CHILDREN,

Wow, I'll say...

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas...

Well, Oleg... I didn't expect this from Oleg.

Merry Christmas, uh...

You are, uh... Oleg...

Uh... Well.

- Ah kid, of course. - Fons.

You are...

Yes, sorry. I didn't realise. I thought you...

Not a problem. Come in.

Come in.

Where did you find that hottie?

Where did you find her? Why didn't you say?

Oleg sent you with the presents. Yes?

- Fons. - Do you speak Dutch?

- Fons. - Let me deal with this.

Oleg sent you with the presents.

No reaction. Do you speak Dutch?

Fons. And this is my girlfriend, Kato.

No.

- Oh, yes. - No.

- Really? - Yes, yes.

Yes, this is Kato.

Welcome, Kato.

Hey, do that in your room.

Give it a rest.

Lindsey, I've got something for you.

Oh my, who is it this time?

- Hey, hi Pepe. - Hi, Stan.

- Ah, kid. - What have we got here?

Hello.

- Irena. - Stan, not bad.

Why have you been hiding her from us?

- Hi everyone. - Here she is. This is my Kato.

All right, then.

This is my own remix of Beats of Love, especially for you.

Yeah, people...

Fons, come and join us.

So, people, the...

I have some very important news. This is Lindsey.

The love of my life.

And you're Stan's big flame?

Yes.

Oh my, you haven't even had time to put any makeup on. Come with me.

Man, where's your brain?

- Invite some random stranger. - A complete stranger?

- We're made for each other. - Peter, try to be a bit more serious.

Well, look. Here he is.

Yes, look.

Stop, Jan.

- It's always the same with you. - Don't get so wound up.

Nice you came.

Sit down. Yes.

- Kato, isn't it? - Yes.

Pretty girl.

And Lindsey, Dad?

Children.

I'm very happy that we're all here, sitting round the table together.

Familiar faces.

New faces.

Our mother would have liked it this way too.

You know it's been 24 years since

we had our last Christmas celebration

with her.

In our little house, in Texas.

Texas? You're from America?

- It's a suburb in Genk. - Ah, Stroppendrager.

Genk, with a "k". As in keeper.

As I was saying, 24 years ago.

24 years, and in those years we've all missed her.

Yes, the bell... For the presents.

Sorry.

Continue.

I'll continue.

Where was I?

You know what she used to say.

"Not only in the mine is everyone black.

At home we are too."

Yes.

Hello, good evening.

Sorry I'm late.

- Yoko? - Peter?

I thought it was over between us.

You didn't text me back, so...

I've just come from the clinic. The surgery.

- Remember? - Ah, yes. Yes, that surgery.

That's embarrassing.

Yes.

Embarrassing, Peter?

OK. Who's going to stay?

I'm really not going to choose now.

How about 'eeny meeny miny moe'?

Jan, my boy...

- Look here. - Yes, it's OK.

Come on, guys.

Dad is busy. Can we?

Sorry. Sorry, Dad. But...

Drop it now, please.

Where was I?

- The mine. - Thanks.

"Not only in the mine is everyone black.

At home we are too."

- Really? - Not really.

They were black because they were dirty.

And everyone was the same.

That's what I tell my toddlers: you're all the same.

I've actually got a real black kid in my class this year, Dieudonné.

Thanks.

You know it was her wish

that the Vranckens would always support each other,

in the good and the bad times.

Yes, the bell.

That's the presents. I just have to...

- Sorry. - Number 3, or what?

- There might not be enough food. - What do you take me for?

What do you take me for?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Oleg, finally. Oh, my boy. Give me that cap.

Oh, guys.

- You... - No, you.

Do you see why I didn't want to bring you to this madhouse?

Dad?

Presents!

Well, boys.

He's with Mum, I guess.

"Children,

"it's 24 years since we had our last Christmas with her

"in our little house in Texas.

"And you know what she said:

"not only in the mine is everyone black.

"At home we are too.

"It was her wish that the Vranckens would always remain black.

"In the good and the bad times.

"Those 24 years were not easy.

"A new life in a new town.

"A new job.

"Above ground.

"And four little ones at home.

"That causes sparks.

"And in the last few years those sparks turned into flames.

"And I found it harder and harder to put them out.

"That weighs me down.

"When I am gone, who will put the fires out?

"That's why I have a special present

"that I can't wrap.

"But that's for after dessert, so enjoy your meal.

"To our mother, to the Vranckens.

To life."

Looks like it pays well to be a probate lawyer.

Do you know what this would cost in maintenance?

I wouldn't want to swap.

Come on, the lawyer is waiting.

Take it easy. I'm having a hard enough time as it is.

You shouldn't have had so much coffee at the wake.

My father just died.

They're here too.

Darling, no. I had enough arguments with people at the wake.

I didn't start it.

Calm down, OK?

It's not easy being sane amongst a bunch of idiots.

I know, but this is what we agreed at home.

Fortunately, we don't have to see him any more.

What was that?

Well? Say that again, double chin.

Are you off again?

OK, come on, stop it!

Ah, Jan...

Sorry about...

Hey, are you just going to keep quiet?

Is that how we're going to play it?

Well, I can keep quiet too, mate.

Hey, Jan Man, I can keep quiet too.

Looks like they could do with some dusting here.

Yes, some disgusting hovel this is.

If you don't mind... The others have arrived.

Al?

You must be wondering why you're here.

- For the inheritance. - I mean here, in this house.

Well... your dad, he was slightly worried

about your relationships.

What's with our relationships?

- Weren't you going to keep quiet? - You keep quiet.

No, you.

- So you argue quite a bit. - Argue? Us?

- Come on. - Peter.

- That's why he bought this house. - Are you kidding?

Surely he couldn't have afforded this.

Well, he used his redundancy pay following the mine closure wisely.

- That's how he bought this house. - What?

He managed to buy this castle with that little bonus?

Who are you trying to kid?

Was he playing the lottery?

Yes!

- So this house is ours now? - Yes.

But listen.

Your late father did have one condition.

And that condition is that you spend a year together

in peace and harmony living together under one roof.

Once you do, the property is yours.

- No! - Yes.

- No, really. - Yes.

I assume you'd like to give it some thought.

No.

We don't have to think about it. We'll do it.

We used to live together as kids.

Wow!

Say, this is no hovel.

This house was made for me.

- And you didn't know anything? - Anything is a big word.

No, I didn't know a thing.

How long has he been planning this?

Wow.

Never mentioned a word.

Yes, baby. You know what they say about still waters.

Never do that to me.

This is just amazing. I could fit my room into this space ten times.

This is going to be a fantastic year together.

With seven under one roof?

Darling, I'm not sure if I'll manage that.

Once the year is over, all our debts will be paid off.

That was the first thing I was thinking of too.

If you don't want to, we won't do it.

But what do you want?

I want to be happy with you.

I think I can be happy here.

So what do you think?

Shall we do it or not?

All right. Is everyone here?

Listen.

Irena and I...

We're not sure we want to do this.

What?

We don't need that money.

Come on. It's a top investment.

What I find strange is that there are no doors.

- Is that a period feature? - What?

- Is that a period feature? - Yes.

They've been stolen. Taken out.

- Real professionals. - How? Just the doors?

You know what a door like that costs?

It was all the rage in the '90s.

Everyone wanted an old door. A new one just wasn't good enough.

It's like the fashion in cartwheels.

Suddenly, it was hip to have a cartwheel as a coffee table.

I jumped on the band wagon too. I still have 40 cartwheels.

Without doors, this is a no-go for me.

Are you listening to me?

- We're not keen on this. - Come on, Jan, seriously.

Jan, it's only for a year. Right?

If you pull out, none of us get anything.

It was Dad's last wish.

Yeah, OK.

For you guys. But not for us.

If we get it right, make clear arrangements...

I can sort that out. Then we should manage fine.

So, we're doing it?

We?

Yes, I assume that I'll be coming to live here too, right?

Not according to the lawyer, just the Vranckens.

Excuse me? Either Kato comes with me, or it's neither of us. OK?

That's all settled. The Vranckens are moving in together.

Yes. We'll barely even notice we're living together.

Right, Peter...

That's why Dad bought this.

Don't exaggerate. We're not making that much of a fuss.

OK. Behave yourselves. I'll be back in 5.

Stop that, OK?

- Dad wouldn't let you. - One piece is all right.

Hey, kid. Look over there.

What's over there?

Go on, Fons.

Come on, man.

Dad wouldn't let you.

So you can't take it.

- Damn! - Stan started it.

- No but, because... - Yes, you started it.

There she is, la mamma.

Good job, Peter.

It's beautiful.

Now she's with us too.

OK, but first things first.

Who gets which room? I thought...

I'm picking mine.

We're taking the one at the back that faces south.

- Come on, come on. - Yeah.

- There are enough rooms, surely? - Enough.

This light is perfect if you want to paint.

Fantastic.

Fons, baby. Look.

- Our bed can go here. - But...

A second one.

Oh, this would make a perfect dressing room.

- Yes, Stan and I... - We...

We were going to have a look around, right?

Super. I'm sure you'll find a room that suits you.

Come on, Stan!

Come on, there are plenty of rooms.

- Yes, this is fine for me. - Yeah? For me too, in that case.

How do you like our room?

Pretty cool, right?

I want going to put an old desk there so I can make a craft corner.

Then I can prepare for the theme weeks at the nursery.

Hold this.

Thanks. I'll be right back.

- I think this is... - No. No!

Don't we have the same right to a nice room?

I bet Peter will stand his ground and want this room for his DJ stuff.

Yes.

Hey guys, isn't this the perfect room for my stock?

For a businessman, stock is the heart of his business.

Stan?

Yes, that's what I thought.

You said Peter.

Honey, come and look. I've found the solution.

There we go. Two nails and it'll be done.

I'll hang it here and then you can sleep in your private quarters.

What do you reckon?

As a separation between my perfect naked sleeping body

and those barbarians? Tasteful, honestly.

I got it wrong again.

Honey, I'm just trying to come up with something, quickly.

What good is a door, anyway? It's just...

Who needs a door for a bedroom? Not me.

For a car, OK.

But for a bedroom...

Yes, that's perfect!

- Do you have any more? - No.

Yes...

Yes, I have got some more.

Do you know what? Here you go. I'm too good. Here you go.

- 20 euros. - Thanks.

- 20 euros? - Yes, on its way.

Hey.

- What's so urgent? - Yeah...

I'll be there. Yes, bye.

Here's the lucky one. Good afternoon.

Versnick, of Versnick and Versnick. Agents in luck.

This flat is just perfect for a happy couple. Come on.

Everything within arm's reach. The bathroom is here.

And this is the family kitchen.

And this is the lounge.

All small spaces, low energy use.

All very modern, very Japanese.

- And a very low rent, of course. - Excuse us for a moment.

What were you thinking?

A space for us. That's what you wanted, isn't it?

So this is your solution.

Being pushed out by everyone? Stand up for yourself.

The only thing I want is to be happy with you.

And since the house came up, we've been fighting lots.

We never used to fight. My brothers...

Don't blame it on them.

- Couples tend to fight. - But...

You're walking away from your problems.

- That's not true. - Yes, it is.

Stan.

It's also perfect for a young single person.

- Did I already say that? - Whatever!

Hello, Stan is unhappy.

The atmosphere here, the business about the rooms...

Can't you see?

Make sure you find him and let him have whichever room he wants.

- Fine. We'll have yours. - Damn it.

But yours is great too, you know.

He's not answering. Do you know where he is?

It's not the first time he's run away.

Run away? And no one knows why?

Is it because you blamed him?

- If he'd let me... - Be quiet!

If he's not home before dark, there'll be no dessert for a month.

Make sure you find him.

Damn it! And clean the car!

You can pick the room you want.

As long as you come back.

What do you think, kid?

When it's about money, they're on board.

It's not about that.

No, it's not...

only about that, OK?

We sometimes forget that...

you're a bit different.

More like Mum.

In the future, we'll discuss things first.

All right, OK. I want to give it a go.

We miss you, Dad.

You've got us by the balls again.

- Yeah. - Bastard.

- Careful, Peter. - Yes, Jan.

Careful.

ONE WEEK LATER

We're all here today with our beautiful family

and beautiful women.

I'd like to thank Dad

for this brilliant initiative

which shows a lot of psychological insight.

An insight which I've inherited from him

and that I often need as team leader for the council.

Have I ever told you about the first day that I...?

Wonderful.

Wonderful speech, Jan. Powerful too.

If I can summarise the rest: to the Vranckens.

- Yes. - To a wonderful year.

To Dad.

Yes, to the Vranckens.

NEW TEXAS

Damn!

Ah, brilliant.