Original subtitles

Does your father really not mind that we're using his car?

He's so rich, he won't even notice.

That's not an answer.

He likes me.

How long have you known he's your father?

Not for long.

Ten years or so.

But if he likes you, why don't you move into his villa?

And why doesn't he give you a job in his factory?

I don't want any work and I don't want to live in a villa.

I'm fine like this.

But you've got to do something.

Why? I'll be rich anyway.

Working is for normal people.

Someone like me prepares for the future best...

by doing nothing.

How did your father get so rich? Not by doing nothing.

When he bought the factory, it was just a slaughterhouse.

It wasn't doing very well. Cor wondered what the problem was.

He noticed that a meat factory produces a lot of waste.

Cow and pig glands were just thrown out.

And Cor added the waste to sausages?

No, cows make hormones with their glands.

And that's where Cor's lucky.

Because the waste is full of hormones.

And he met a bunch of Americans who...

are looking for a hormone factory to experiment with...

something that was very special and new in those days.

The pill! -So that's why VD produces the pill.

Pure luck. He never worked for it.

Less rich people worked for him.

I'm following in the footsteps of Cor Van Doorn.

The figures are very clear.

At the moment, everything's going well. Production's running smoothly.

Sales have only slowed down a little bit.

But if we continue like this, VD will be forced to close in six weeks.

Due to a lack of liquid assets. In short, VD's going broke.

VD broke? Impossible.

The entire economy's in decline.

Housewives have to economise. And who gets hit the first?

We do. They'll buy less meat.

Doesn't every housewife have to serve meat every day?

This reports says Dutch housewives don't think meat's indispensable.

They still see meat as a luxury.

Dutch housewives cook vegetable stew and pea soup.

We're not a country of double hamburgers and big steaks.

Figures show there's a decline in the sale of meat.

We're simply selling less.

That means we have more and more unsold inventory.

And what about our American exports?

The land of double hamburgers and big steaks, as my friend called it...

is experiencing an economic high.

Meat sells well there.

We can't gamble on America.

We're weak in that market.

Besides, American checks on imported meats are insanely strict.

Unpredictable even.

In the past year, we've exported 17 million dollars worth of meat to the US.

13 million dollars worth of that was rejected...

and returned to us by the Americans.

All the returned meat was checked again here.

Apart from one small shipment, all the meat was of good quality.

If VD doesn't act, the company will have to close within half a year.

The unions and the media can't hear a thing about this.

Of course, but we have to do something.

A company like VD can't go broke. Think of the people we'd have to fire.

It would be bad for the trade balance.

Of course, the government would help if we got into trouble.

No, they won't do that.

Too many people who wouldn't do anything to help a company like VD.

Gentlemen, let's go back to the essence.

How can we make sure Dutch housewives start buying meat again?

At least they still fuck.

At least Dutch housewives still fuck.

Excuse me, may I ask something?

I think I understand Mr Van Doorn.

Originally, VD was just a meat factory...

but a lot has changed.

The pill has gone from side product to main product...

and meat has become a side product.

I'm glad you bring this up.

I wanted to...

Housewives can cut back spending on meat, but they have to take the pill.

Unless they want to get pregnant, but who wants that?

They can't cut back spending on the pill.

Therefore...

the pill guarantees us an income that can make up for setbacks with meat.

We can increase the price of the pill. They have to buy it anyway.

I wanted to talk about that.

They have done research into the pill.

The outcome is very discouraging. -How?

Don't we... copulate anymore in the Netherlands?

We certainly do, but...

women are getting fed up with the pill.

With our pill.

We did extensive research when the sales of our pill started to slump.

We discovered something very unpleasant. -What?

They're scared of all that hormone junk in their bodies.

The report shows that any contraceptive that's as effective as the pill...

but that doesn't have side effects...

such as enlarged breasts, headaches, dizziness, suppressed menstruation...

that 9 out of 10 women would prefer such a product over the pill.

They're simply waiting for it.

And why don't we come up with that product?

And compete with our own pill? -Of course.

Mr Van Doorn means that we should launch such a product before the competition.

Exactly. Next time I'm here, I'd like to see such a product.

I don't care where you get it.

A product that will obliterate the old pill.

Apparently, that's the only thing that can save VD.

It is clear... what VD has to do.

Good day, gentlemen. -Good day.

Can you come with me, Jan?

I'd like to discuss something with you.

Always those problems at VD.

They'll find a solution.

No, people like that always see the problems, but never the solutions.

We need one good idea. -Yes.

One good idea.

In 1947, I happened to be in Puerto Rico because the Americans happened to be...

testing the pill there.

And I happened to be the director of a bankrupt meat factory...

who could use the pill as a side product.

Some people thought that was a very coincidental idea of mine.

We could have another coincidental stroke of luck.

Luck...

I get grey hairs remembering it.

The pill had never been properly tested when we started selling it.

It could have been a failure, or poison.

Nevertheless, we're looking for something similar.

Yes, but without me.

VD can go bankrupt. I'm set for life.

But you're not an old man. -I'm not an old man, but...

if you want to do something for VD, you have to be young, inexperienced...

unaware of the risks you're taking. -Are you thinking about a successor?

It's the only thing I'm thinking about.

Hey, asshole.

You're not alone on the road.

What are you doing? Have you gone crazy?

I can keep kissing you, but all you do is study.

I want your baby.

Let's make a baby.

To make a baby we have to marry first.

Well, aren't we getting married today or tomorrow?

Getting married costs money and babies cost even more.

And we have no money. -I'm earning money.

VD will stop paying you the moment you get pregnant.

Then you'll still make money. -The scholarship.

Look around you.

It's a miracle my mother could pay for the school.

The only reason I can study is because of the scholarship...

from your very own VD factory.

It's not much, but it allows me to live and work.

We won't have children until I graduate.

Ok, no children then.

I guess you want to read these old men's books all day.

I study processes of aging.

I'm looking for products to delay old age.

In a couple of years, people will live 2 or 3 times longer than now.

Then we'll only need half the amount of babies.

Are you two fighting? -No.

I just want to get off the pill and have a baby.

But your son doesn't want that. -He's quite right.

Why ruin your youth?

You have plenty of time for children. -You didn't wait long either.

No, but I didn't have the pill.

And I didn't have a job with a big company like VD.

And my boyfriend had no scholarship.

So I have to thank God on my knees.

And yet I want your baby.

I can't imagine that I'm a child of my father's.

He's completely homosexual.

But he must have gone to bed with my mother once.

Because they had to get married.

All my family now wonders what kind of boyfriend I have.

I want to get married, I want children and I don't want to wait too long.

Just so you know.

Of course I understand Commissioner Van Vliet's very busy...

but could you tell him I'm calling on behalf of Cornelis Van Doorn?

Thank you.

Hello? Yes, Commissioner. How are you?

You've received the concert tickets?

Oh, your wife enjoyed it very much. Good, good.

No, it's only a small thing.

A bike rider attacked Cornelis Van Doorn.

No, Mr Van Doorn's fine.

We don't want to pursue this, but if the bike rider files a complaint...

against Mr Van Doorn, we'll have no choice.

Exactly, we need to protect Mr Van Doorn's reputation.

Could you check if a complaint has been filed?

Yes, I'll wait.

No? But there's a bike rider who has been attacked himself?

He didn't know by whom?

Good, thanks.

Everything alright?

A bike rider has been hit by someone in a large car...

but he didn't see the number plate.

He wanted to file a complaint, but some smart police person noticed...

that his tires were worn.

There was no complaint filed and there's no case.

One hand washes the other again.

This is Anneke Van Doorn. -Tania.

And this is Broer, President of the local court.

I'm Tania. -Hello.

And this is Cor Van Doorn, my long missing father.

Ah, the big man behind VD.

I believe Cor's on the war path again.

Good evening, this is our program "Axed".

In our previous show, we discussed Lajos ballpoints.

They were horrendously expensive.

You may remember that Mr Pieterse told us here in the studio...

that he paid 35 guilders for one of these ballpoint pens.

Mrs De Vries paid 75 guilders for a Lajos ballpoint pen.

These ballpoints pens may look nice, but they often don't work.

Sometimes they write in the wrong colour and sometimes they leak.

In short, this is a ballpoint pen you should never buy.

After our broadcast, we received many complaints from people who were conned.

The Lajos factory no longer exists.

After the complaints on our show, the company has had to close.

We wanted to inform you about this success.

This week we're checking out a new washing powder...

and a newly introduced cat food.

Hello, mother.

Hello. -Hello.

Hello, Broer. -Hello Els.

Hello, little brother.

Something wrong? -I didn't know you and he were brothers.

We're not.

I mean I didn't know you and she were sisters.

I thought Anneke was your wife.

Basically, I don't understand at all.

Hey, Huub! -Yes.

This girl... -Tania.

Tania. -Tania.

Didn't you explain to her how our family works?

A bit. -What does 'a bit' mean?

She knows I'm your son. -And?

That's all.

No more? -No.

You go to your mother.

And I'll explain to Tania how our family works.

Tania, beautiful name.

Broer over there isn't my brother.

He's the President of the court.

He's also an unofficial advisor of mine at VD.

And since he's been that for 20 years, we all like to call him Broer.

Clear? -Yes.

Are you comfortable? -Yes.

Make yourself even more comfortable for the following story.

Just after the war, VD wasn't doing very well.

My father had been supplying the German army, just like everyone else.

But our competition made such a big deal of it that the government...

felt obliged to intervene.

The factory wasn't doing very well under government supervision.

And to make a long story short...

nobody was very interested in VD shares...

of which my father was the only owner.

And then, old as he was, my father fell in love.

With a shop girl, roughly your age.

He'd done that before.

And the girl fell pregnant. He'd done that before too.

It happened more often in those days. I've made girls pregnant as well.

Huub... No, nothing.

Huub's one of those cases.

We used to have our own solution.

You'd give the girl some money so she could start a nice tobacco shop.

Or you'd find a homosexual who could marry her.

A homosexual?

Yes... -But isn't that very mean?

What? Oh...

You couldn't do that now but in those days, homosexuals had a very hard time.

Those people didn't have it easy.

And if they were married, especially to a pregnant woman...

people wouldn't gossip about them as much.

That's how it used to be.

Do you understand, Tania?

Maybe I do.

This shop girl, who was your age, had such an influence on my father...

that he bequeathed his VD shares to the son who was prepared to marry her.

Do you understand?

So I married that woman and Anneke is now my wife.

And her daughter's a child of my father.

Which makes me her...

brother.

Little brother. -Yes?

We're wondering why you don't join us.

Join us, Els. I have to explain one more thing to Tania.

I became practically the sole owner of the factory...

and Broer managed to buy the few shares that my brothers had inherited.

I begged for them. -Yes.

That really made me the sole owner.

The fact that the government seized the factory...

was reversed by Broer using a smartly handled legal case.

It wasn't that smart.

VD wasn't doing well in those days.

The government wanted to get rid of it. They were afraid of a bankruptcy...

discharged workers and all that mess.

All I had to say was that it would be very unreasonable to take away...

the factory from him, just because his father collaborated with the Germans.

The government was quite happy.

Would you like a drink?

Come, pour yourself something. -Yes, please.

What's happening with you?

Nerves. -Ah, relax.

This also comes from our factory.

It works very well and calms me down a lot.

You might be our best customer.

Cor asked me to ask you to spend the weekend here.

Will you also stay here?

I don't suppose so.

I'd very much like to stay here.

Shall we sit down?

Broer, can we talk for a...

Of course.

Have a seat.

I was at the VD meeting this afternoon and...

they were saying we'll be bankrupt in six months if we continue like this.

What's the problem?

What's the problem? The problem is that I don't see the way out anymore.

I only see all the things that can go wrong.

In the old days, I used to be an optimist.

Whenever they suggest a solution to me...

all I think is that's it's a stay of execution.

What are you trying to say?

We need fresh blood in the company.

Let's assume for a moment that you're right.

What kind of fresh blood were you thinking of?

I was thinking of Els. She's my rightful heir.

That's crazy.

Didn't you repeatedly tell me that, since I married Anneke...

the law now assumes that... -Yes, the law assumes that.

Well, then Els is my rightful heir and she'll get the company.

But Els isn't the right person to run VD.

Especially not to save the company from bankruptcy.

What if we make Els marry the guy I had in the car this afternoon.

A nice guy, Jan.

Jan? -Yes.

Jan's a smart guy, but why force him to marry Els first?

Why not?

He also has to get ahead in life.

I married the same way and I have a very good marriage.

That was 20 years ago.

Put him in charge of VD if you have faith in him.

But don't force him to marry Els first.

But Jan's not family. -So what?

I want to keep the company in the family. Blood of my blood.

You have more children.

Huub? -No, not Huub.

Huub's only interested in the pill because he can chase women with no risk.

He doesn't ask himself how much VD makes from it.

There are more.

Yes, one more.

A son. And another daughter.

Yes, so find him and meet him.

No don't find him. I know what I want.

Be smart, Cor.

Look at all the possibilities before you decide.

Come. -I want Els. I'm sure.

If you don't like the boy after you meet him, there will be nothing lost.

At least you won't have to blame yourself if things go wrong with Els.

I think I won't stay for dinner after all.

Come on, cheer up.

We've survived more hard times together.

Is the boy home?

Careful, he might hear you.

I've come from Cor. He wants to talk to the boy.

I believe the company needs him.

Did Cor say that? -I'll have to tell him about Cor.

Confirm everything I say.

Did you think we never checked on people with a VD scholarship?

Don't get up. -Good evening.

How are you? -Let's not talk about me.

Let's talk about you.

We've been closely following your progress.

I must say we're quite content.

I'm also happy that Mr Van Doorn's very happy.

Even though that's for another reason.

Tell him then.

Rien, have you ever considered that he might not be your real father?

He loved you like a real father, but he wasn't.

Why are you telling me this? -Because the truth always wins.

That's what the truth is like.

Your real father wants to talk to you.

Do I know him?

What does he want from me? -I'm a good old friend of his.

You're a son of Cornelis Van Doorn.

So that's why I got the scholarship. -No.

You got it because of your capabilities.

Why did you never tell me?

How could I?

And dad? Did he know?

Of course he knew.

We were so different in many ways.

Your father wants to talk to you. I'll arrange everything.

He can drop dead.

That's very cruel.

And also not very smart.

All my life I haven't seen him and now I have to show up.

Go talk to your father.

It's not that hard. I'll arrange it.

I can't see shit.

I don't see many streetlights.

That's to keep normal people away. -Oh, come on.

Didn't you know? -No.

That's to make sure people who have no business here, don't go here.

What's this?

Hello? Is that the police?

Listen, there are some youngsters roaming around here.

They look rather rambunctious.

I'd rather not give you my name because I live in this neighbourhood.

I don't want them to find out that I informed you.

Yes, near the railway crossing.

What will you do? Yes, beautiful!

Thank you.

Sure, who gives a shit?

No one saw or heard anything.

If anyone of us talks, we'll all be in trouble.

But if we all keep our mouths shut, there won't be a problem.

Understood? Let's go.

Yes, VD himself speaking.

Yes.

Everything's quiet here.

No, speak freely, Commissioner.

I'll bring you to your room.

Oh, that's pretty bad.

I bet you don't have a toothbrush with you.

No problem, there's a new one in every room.

We have guests so often, it's like a hotel here.

Which room would you like? -That one.

That's funny, that's my room.

In that case... -No, no, you'll get my room.

My condolences to the widow.

And to everybody from the police station.

I'll have someone represent me at the funeral.

Is there anything I can do for you, Commissioner?

No, I understand. Thanks a lot for the phone call.

Yes, goodnight.

Hey, that's a surprise.

Hello.

Feel like one glass?

Do you want to sleep here too?

If I can.

You can sleep with anyone, so why not with me this time.

Yes.

We have a crazy marriage, don't we?

We only got married for the money.

There wasn't a lot of love between us.

And you have a child that isn't even mine.

And we never had much contact in bed.

Occasionally, when it suited.

Like now.

And we always gave each other total freedom...

to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend.

So we should be very unhappy.

And yet we have a very good marriage.

You've been drinking quite a bit, haven't you?

Don't we have a good marriage then?

Yes. -Right, and that's because...

we've given each other the freedom to shop around a bit.

People should do that a lot more. Give each other the freedom to...

shop around. That keeps a marriage good.

Nonsense.

I've always known you'd have girlfriends.

And I never had a problem with it.

We didn't marry out of love, after all.

But what would have happened to our good marriage...

if I had followed your example?

If I'd gotten a few boyfriends in my bed.

Did you never have a boyfriend?

No.

You've always had that freedom.

Yeah right, if I'd have had a boyfriend, you'd have gotten jealous.

No way. -Oh yes.

Dramas, divorce, Els would have been raised by a second father.

Third father. -Exactly.

No thanks.

But are you really telling me...

that in all the years of our marriage...

you've never had a boyfriend? -No.

But you're on the pill. -Yes.

Don't tell me that you took the pill every day for all those years...

for the rare occasion that I'd end up in your bed.

I've been wondering about that myself.

Why don't I stop taking it?

Oh, you're a darling.

Where are you?

Do you ever think about Els? -What?

What do you mean? Do I think about your daughter?

Just as I said.

That good marriage of ours started with her.

Sometimes, I fear you neglect her.

Can't you visit her more often?

She can be so nervous. She needs it.

Tell me exactly what you're worrying about.

While I make myself comfortable.

Tell me.

I worry that you won't do right by her.

That she won't get VD from you.

You've talked to Broer. -No.

Yes, you've talked to Broer.

Broer also told me he doesn't want Els to get the factory.

Don't worry.

I've got very big plans with Els. Very big plans.

Awake already? And Cor's still asleep?

You should have seen it. I was trying to fall asleep like a good girl.

And who sneaked in? -A stranger who got lost, I bet.

The boss himself.

With this look in his eyes. And half drunk.

I'm almost certain he went into the wrong room.

So he stayed with you?

I'm afraid so.

Is it that terrible?

To tell you the truth... I almost forgot he was such a sweet man.

Since VD can't make it today, I'll chair the meeting.

We all have to look at a series of contraceptives...

and present the best ones to Van Doorn.

I don't need to repeat how serious the situation is.

The possibilities to come up with a new product are limited.

But I have a product that has been tested in China and Canada.

It has no bad side effects and it's very reliable.

Is it in there? -How many to that package?

One.

Are you saying it's that big?

It's very reliable. -We can forget about it.

I don't see myself leave the house with such a big package under my arm.

I'm going to have a beer, wife.

Anything else?

As our friend already said, the choice is very limited.

We don't want a pill or other hormone products.

We also don't want condoms or coils.

They're incompatible with our production system.

That leaves spermicides.

What makes spermicides interesting to the public...

isn't the gels themselves, but the way they're applied.

I mean the way the product has to be applied to the genitals.

That seems correct to me.

People want a fairly reliable product that's easy to use.

And that's pleasant to apply.

Because that's the main thing.

Here I have a product that's very pleasant to apply.

Look.

The spermicide gel's already in here.

All one needs to do is lightly brush the penis or vagina before coitus.

So that some spermicide gel stays behind.

We've done some experimental research about this.

I could show you some movie clips if you'd like.

No, let's continue.

Anyway, we believe that this way of applying the gel...

does not create an interruption of lovemaking.

On the contrary, lightly brushing the penis can have an arousing effect.

Sounds good, but I think it's a bit strange.

I'm not convinced either.

It may be fun to tickle with a brush but if you have to do that every time...

you'll start to feel you're a psychopath or a sexual pervert.

I'm also afraid that many people, when they buy the product...

will keep the brushes so they can reuse them.

Possibly with a spermicide that they'll buy from the competition...

and that they'll apply to the brushes.

People can't be that unhygienic that they'll reuse the brushes.

If we're not careful, they'll be spreading STDs with the brushes.

Think of the court cases, the damages we'd have to pay.

And if the product would be a hit, thrifty people wouldn't buy the product.

They'd rather use an old toothbrush.

Next.

The next product comes from Bulgaria.

It's known there under the name Stop B.

Show me.

Dear man, the case is crystal clear. Why don't you admit it?

You drove into another train because you didn't stop for a red signal.

No, the signal was green. -How is that possible?

It happens that a signal's green when it should have been red.

A mistake has been made somewhere.

Do you expect me to believe that?

You could also ask other railway people.

They can confirm this.

Perjury has never helped anyone. The case is very clear.

Those signals are automatic. Nothing can go wrong with them.

The fact that you hit another train at full speed means...

that you ignored the red signal.

I'm going to sentence you for that and it will be a severe sentence...

because we can't have our public transport exposed to danger...

by engine drivers who want to act like cowboys.

The court considers the case proven...

and sentences you to an imprisonment of 7 months.

It seems like a sad case.

The widow wants to sue the railway company because the railway sleepers...

were laying on the road unsupervised.

But that won't lead to anything, of course.

Where were those sleepers exactly? -On a public road.

But in a rather remote neighbourhood.

Do you know the railway crossing behind Cornelis Van Doorn's house?

The one in the dark? -Yes, that's the one.

Apparently, they constructed an obstacle with sleepers on the road there.

At the same time, the police were called about noisy young people.

So a motorcycle policeman went to check it out.

He died riding into the sleepers.

And what about the youths who built the construction?

They were probably drunk as well.

They found vomit by the side of the road.

But other than that, they didn't find a trace of them.

Now the widow wants to sue the railway because they couldn't find...

the real perpetrators.

I don't think she'll succeed though.

Your mind's somewhere else.

Do you realise how big the scandal would be if they'd ever find out?

If others would know you and I have a relationship?

I don't even want to think about it.

I'd jump out of the window. I'd take poison.

I love you so much. -Yes, but this can't continue.

Do you want to leave me?

No, where did you get that idea?

You sounded like you wanted to end the affair.

No, we just have to be realistic. -There you go again.

You're making excuses to tell me you want to get rid of me.

No.

You're my father, my brother and my lover. That's reality.

What were you thinking about? -What?

You were thinking of something else just now.

I was? -Of Tania.

Tania? Which Tania? -Tania, Huub's girlfriend.

The one you were talking to and running after.

Not at all. Tania, no.

I was thinking of the factory... worrying.

Lots of worries. Did you know the pill has gone out of fashion?

Are you loyal to the family product?

No, I don't like the pill.

So what do you do? -I count my days.

Don't worry. I count my days very precisely.

Today we could do it. The day before yesterday, we couldn't.

My God, there are so many options these days.

There are pills, there are coils, there are thingies, gels, condoms...

And what do you do? You count your days.

I don't take the pill anymore.

No, I understand. You count your days.

You take a pill for your nerves, you take a pill to stay awake...

you take a pill to go to bed, you take a pill to fall asleep...

but you don't take the only good pill.

It made me fat and I want to be able to wear a bikini on the beach.

Bikini sure, but what if you're pregnant?

I won't get pregnant. You're upsetting me!

I won't be pregnant, I won't be pregnant!

Jesus, you're confusing me!

You won't abandon me, right, dad?

Cute brother of mine.

Let me introduce you to one of my children.

This is Rien. -Tania.

Huub! Come here for a moment.

I'd like to introduce you to a new little brother we found for you.

Rien, this is your brother Huub.

Don't worry, he won't steal your girlfriends.

Rien's an intellectual and a pharmacologist.

Right!

The contraceptive we'll be discussing today...

is called Stop B. It's new and revolutionary.

We're convinced that this product meets all the requirements that...

VD has in the current situation.

The packaging looks like the one in which the pill became popular.

We could have used a different packaging...

but we picked this one because it will remind people of the pill.

And they might more easily assume that this product is as reliable.

There's one big difference with the pill however.

This product isn't taken orally, but applied, before sexual intercourse...

on the genitals of the man or the woman.

One drop from a capsule works as a spermicide...

for a maximum of 3 hours.

So that's the end of the pill and the condom.

Exactly.

The product is especially interesting because both men and women can use it.

That's a good sales pitch in these days of equality between the sexes.

I also think the name's very good.

Stop B reminds us of Bulgaria, where the product originates from.

It also suggests what its purpose is: stop baby.

Without being inappropriate or rude.

I think that Stop B is what the market's asking for at the moment.

What do you think?

I think it's great.

It really has no side effects? -No, absolutely not.

It's not a hormone product, but a spermicide.

You don't swallow it, so it can't enter your body.

I'm quite positive.

You put one of these in your pocket and you're all set.

And if you meet a girl, you don't have to ask if she's taking the pill.

And you also don't have to fool around with condoms.

Yes.

Rien, what do you think?

How has the product been tested? -The Bulgarian figures are positive.

What does 'positive' mean?

Reliability is 60%. -What does that mean?

It comes down to this. If in a population that doesn't use...

contraceptives, 100 children are born in a particular period...

then if that population uses Stop B, 40 children will be born.

So the product is 40% unreliable.

Wait a moment, Stop B's unreliable? -Yes.

No, of course not, but this gentleman's bad at statistics.

Your own figures say this product is 40% unreliable.

You're simplifying matters.

If one doesn't use contraceptives, the chance of pregnancy's 1 in 50.

On average.

Some people have quintuplets the very first time...

but I'm talking about averages.

So the chance is 1 in 50.

When a contraceptive like Stop B is used...

with a reliability factor of 60%...

the chance of pregnancy's 1 in 120.

What kind of nonsense is this?

The perfect contraceptive doesn't exist.

A chance of 1 in 120 sexual intercourses with Stop B seems acceptable to me.

I don't get statistics.

I only want to know if it's reliable or not.

If it wasn't reliable, VD wouldn't start selling it.

Besides, the Bulgarian reliability figures were based on...

the stuff they were using there, the Bulgarian gel.

We use a much better gel, of course.

What are the figures for the new gel?

What do you mean?

There are no figures for it yet.

Why not? -How could there be figures for it?

The product hasn't been used in the Netherlands yet.

So you're introducing a contraceptive that you haven't tested yet.

Don't be silly.

Of course, our gel is much better than that Bulgarian yoghurt.

The Bulgarian chemical industry doesn't amount to much.

It's a communist country, you know.

Forgive me when I say that what you're saying sounds amateurish.

Your standards for testing pharmaceutical products...

are disproportionate.

Yes, imagine we'd have had to test the pill like that.

Rien, I think that if we did what you'd like...

there would never be any new medication introduced.

Tania, what do you think of Stop B?

If it's reliable, I'd use it for sure.

I think it's a very good product.

Rien hasn't been present at our previous meetings...

and he doesn't realise that the survival of VD directly depends on how fast...

we introduce this new product.

Rien, we have to keep a factory running.

We're not a research lab.

On the other hand, I think Rien does have a point.

Every new product has a few teething problems.

We've seen it with the pill and it could happen with Stop B as well.

That's why, during the advertising campaign...

we should add a disclaimer about the reliability of the product.

Then nobody will buy it.

People shouldn't doubt the reliability of VD products.

No, of course not.

But if problems do arise, we should be legally covered.

That's why I think it would be wise...

to use the slogan "for people who find 'natural' as important as 'safe'"...

in each advertisement.

"For people who find 'natural' just as important as 'safe'."

We've given "natural" and "safe" an equal value...

but we've given up a bit of safety.

With that slogan, we'll be fine in court...

in case Stop B turns out not to be completely safe.

That's very brilliant, Broer.

I like to hear you talk like that.

You've more than earned your salary today.

Stop B will be advertised the way we just agreed on.

Does anybody else have any ideas? -Yes.

We should give a big party for the in-crowd.

For TV people, actors, football players, et cetera.

As a marketing event when the product is launched.

It'll be in the newspaper and everybody will know about it.

I think it's a good idea. You're all invited.

And now I'm closing this meeting.

You didn't say what you think of Stop B.

Everybody knows my opinion.

What is that opinion?

It's a bad product.

Do you know the Bulgarians didn't want to sell it to us?

They think it's criminal to put it on the market.

In Bulgaria, Stop B was very popular for a while, but also very unreliable.

They withdrew the product right away.

Where's Els? -Els...

I haven't seen her. Could she still be home?

Give her a call. She should be here tonight.

I had a little domestic with Els.

And I haven't seen her for a while.

What are you waiting for? Call her. -Ok.

Be careful. -Yes.

Doing a job for the boss again? -I always do the delicate phone calls.

Have you seen the new son?

I've only heard stories about him.

I hope he's not a serious successor for Cor.

Unfortunately not. Cor doesn't want him.

There he is.

How long have you known each other? -Since three years.

Three years? -Yes.

Then it's time for a divorce instead of a wedding.

I can't stand that asshole.

That asshole's your father.

Let's have some fun, please.

Just because you don't like it.

I don't understand what you like about all these people.

It's more fun than your mother's little shop.

I never see people like these there.

Red Mien.

You look so worried. -How would you feel?

Rien just introduced me to his fiancée.

He may know he's my son, but does she know she's my daughter?

Is that your daughter? -Yes, she's my daughter.

That's why she has that job in the factory.

If you look at them well, they resemble each other.

It's what you deserve.

But how do I solve it? -Don't do anything.

I mean, you've been married to your father's wife all your life.

You live with your own mother.

So don't be surprised if our brother marries a sister.

I'll drink to that.

If you insist on solving it, that may be a delicate job for Jan.

What are you standing there? Did you call Els?

I'll call right away. -Yes, do something.

We've got the best car!

But how did you get it?

Your attention please, ladies and gentlemen.

I'd like to say something about the pill.

Something I've been wanting to say for years.

And tonight I'm saying it.

About the pill.

The pill turns us into slaves of the man.

We had to take hormones every day.

Men could do what they wanted, without being afraid of having children.

But that medieval situation has come to an end thanks to Stop B.

So let's throw out those old pills!

She's not answering.

Let's hope a gentleman's keeping her busy.

Stolen. That car's been missing.

Everybody stay where you are.

Keep an eye on things here.

But what are you here for?

There's a stolen car out there. -A stolen car?

Marijke.

Come with me. It's all been solved.

It's always the same.

They come here because there's money here.

And they want it too.

Stealing cars, drug trafficking, all for a bit of money.

It makes them think they belong here.

But it never works. It always ends badly.

You let big thieves go and you hang the small ones.

Besides, stealing a sports car doesn't mean much.

Even if you win a 100,000, you still won't be rich the way they're rich here.

They think that because they're beautiful and young...

and because they like to fuck, that they're going to make it.

Those artist types will do anything for money.

If they get a chance to come suck up here, they will.

They hope to be accepted and we're acting all nice to them.

And they think we mean it.

And you have girls who think they can get a rich guy by going to bed with him.

I know all about it.

What happens then? -Nothing.

A rich guy doesn't want a poor girl.

But you got married. -Don't ask how hard that was to achieve.

Of course, I wanted Els' father to marry me because I was pregnant.

If I hadn't hoped that, I wouldn't have fallen pregnant.

But it wasn't a lot of fun. That old man sold me like cattle.

He who wanted the factory, had to take pregnant Anneke as part of the deal.

And being pregnant, I didn't have much choice.

I had to marry someone.

In hindsight, I'm lucky that I ended up doing so well.

Most of these girls were bought out when they developed a belly.

The first period that you're married... terrible.

Your husband's friends treat you like garbage.

If I hadn't had a daughter, I wouldn't have lasted.

I was young then and I could handle more.

I thought it was good for my daughter.

But in hindsight, I'm not sure.

Els is a bundle of nerves.

I think that's caused in large part...

by all the things that have happened here.

No girl, keep your wits about you.

I'll have a sip.

Heard from Els? -No.

We'll find out what it was.

There go brother and sister.

So Huub killed that officer. -He didn't.

If you insist on taking the blame, I can arrange that.

I have very good connections with the police.

I didn't do it. I've got nothing to do with it.

You can at least be charged with complicity in car theft.

You have a choice.

You tell me exactly what Huub did with the officer that night...

or you can follow your boyfriend to jail.

It was an accident. We were drunk.

Huub and I were kissing in a phone booth and then he called the police.

Just for fun.

To have a go at our friends who might be arrested or interrogated.

We couldn't know they'd send that motorcycle cop.

So Huub called the police? Then Huub's also guilty.

It's alright. We'll get married.

And we'll have children, right?

You're right. The party sucked.

Are you alright? -Yes.

I was bored but you enjoyed yourself, didn't you?

Jan seemed ok.

Yes, he's quite nice.

Goodnight, mother!

Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again...

even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Her strength faded and her energy disappeared.

Death is better than a bitter life.

Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

May the Lord grant Els eternal rest.

And let perpetual light shine upon her so she may rest in peace.

The Lord has given and the Lord has taken.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Did the doctor find anything? -Els was pregnant.

By Cor? -We don't know.

Suicide? -Can't be proven.

She had taken too many sleeping tablets.

She always did that to stay calm.

It could have been a coincidence.

Don't cry, mum.

You didn't even know the girl.

I knew Cor.

What did you know Cor from?

Easy, easy.

It seems VD has overcome its biggest problems.

Yes, Stop B is a huge success.

If this keeps up, we'll obliterate the pill.

Good, so I can leave with a clear conscience.

Because I do want to leave.

You may know I wanted to give the company to Els.

No use crying over spilt milk, though. Els isn't with us anymore.

But that means I have no legal heir.

Your wife, Anneke.

I can disinherit her if I want. -Yes, you could do that, of course.

But that's not the point.

The point is that I have no legal children who can succeed me.

And I want to solve that before I leave.

Did you know Tania was pregnant?

Tania?

Huub's girlfriend? -Former girlfriend, yes.

Is she pregnant by you?

Tania and I thought so.

Did you use Stop B?

Don't worry, she won't sue us.

I want to legitimise the child.

That will be my heir.

And if Huub marries Tania, he can take charge of the factory in the meantime.

Until the child's an adult.

Huub? -Yes, wasn't he her boyfriend already?

She can marry him. -But Huub's not the man to lead VD.

Let's discuss my other son. That Rien that you found for me.

He's such a... dick.

If we had listened to him, we wouldn't have released Stop B.

And we would have been broke now.

Huub's a very good guy. Believe me.

And what he doesn't know, he'll learn.

When I look back at everything...

things didn't go so badly.

Wealth and power make a man a bit crazy and unscrupulous.

That's why it may be good that the child grows up in an environment...

that's not rich. Also not too poor.

So he won't be spoilt before he starts.

He'll get spoilt soon enough after he arrives here.

We'll take Huub. That's a very good idea.

You do the paperwork, Broer.

So you need a document to legitimise Tania's child...

a will that designates the child as sole heir of the VD factory...

and a document that designates Tania's husband as guardian of the inheritance.

If they'd have predicted it, I wouldn't have believed it.

That I was living with my own sister. We were going to get married.

And that I'd start a relationship with my father's wife.

Almost my own mother.

What about me?

In all the years I was married, I had Cor in my bed very occasionally.

And never any other man.

And now with you, I feel like I missed something.

I'm getting even with Cor. -Because you're now with me?

No, that doesn't make you even. He has so many women.

If you only knew what you're doing to him.

I've been to see the doctor. I'm pregnant.

Pregnant?

Weren't you taking the pill?

Yes, but I stopped when I got with you.

Jesus, you must know the chance to get pregnant is extra big...

when you stop taking the pill. -But it's beautiful.

Sometimes, the pill's even used to make a woman pregnant.

She takes it and then she stops. -Oh, come on.

I'm telling you I'm pregnant and you start a gynaecology lesson.

Rien, you'll be a father.

What do we do now? -Nothing, I'll just have the child.

I know they think I'm a bit stupid, here.

But I know the law by now.

The child may be yours, but in the eyes of the law, it's Cor's.

He drove Els to suicide.

And I just know he wants to give the factory to Huub and Tania now.

Tania's pregnant by Cor.

But I've got them both where I want them.

God Almighty.

I didn't sacrifice my entire life to see the factory go to Tania's child.

It will be a nasty surprise for them.

This child will inherit VD.

I can send you to jail for a couple of years for that car theft.

But I won't. I'll cover it up.

But in exchange, you forget everything about that party when the cop died.

Understood? -So if I ever talk about that night...

Or about the phone call she made with Huub.

I'll give you the maximum sentence I can give you for car theft.

Ok? Then you're free to go.

There's something I have to tell you.

I'm pregnant.

What are you saying?

I don't understand it either. I've always used Stop B.

I didn't mean to set you up.

Don't think I like it.

Take the first plane to London tomorrow and ask a cab driver for the clinic.

Don't explain anything, just say 'clinic'.

Ok, I will.

I could go to the same one as the last time.

Stop B's still selling very well. That's not the problem.

The point is that we're getting very bad news.

Yes, we've done some research and the results aren't good.

There's the problem of reliability. We knew Stop B's not very reliable.

There are also many people who aren't applying the product correctly.

Women tend not to apply the product deep enough in the vagina.

So the semen never makes contact with the paste.

There are also men who don't carefully apply the product...

at the top of the penis.

They apply the paste at a lower part of the penis.

So the spermicide doesn't do its work.

There are also many people who think the product's active for three hours.

We've heard of men who had a bath between applying the product...

and having sexual intercourse.

Of course, the product gets washed away.

There has also been a case where fellatio was performed between...

application of the product and the coitus.

Because of the tongue movements of the woman over the penis of the man...

the product dissolved in the woman's saliva.

That's a big shame.

There's also a very strange misunderstanding occurring.

We could have prevented it with a bit of research.

The packaging of Stop B looks very much like that of the pill and of aspirin.

That's a good thing. We chose that packaging to make Stop B look reliable.

But it turns out this packaging confuses people.

They don't apply this product to their genitals.

Believe it or not, but hundreds of people use it orally.

She's lying when she says it's my child.

She's lying!

Everybody knows you slept with me recently.

Me? When?

When you were chasing after Tania and ended up with me by mistake.

Oh, that time.

Yes, I slept with you, but we only slept.

Broer, solve this for me, because I'll deny being the father.

What am I saying? I'm not the father. Rien's the father.

You're the father. -Rien's the father!

What did I tell you about that Rien?

We should never have gotten him here.

That's why you didn't want my arm at the funeral.

That's why you went with him.

Broer, sue her for adultery and anything else.

I don't want that child, is that clear?

That's exactly the problem.

The law's on her side.

But there must be witnesses of adultery.

Money isn't the problem, is it?

And otherwise we'll make Rien talk.

All that won't help, Cor.

The law doesn't care who your wife has slept with.

Not at all.

The law just wants the child to have a father.

It doesn't matter what kind of type the father is.

The husband of the mother's the father of the child.

At least according to the law.

Imagine if men could deny they were the father just because...

the women committed adultery. Think about it.

All those women who commit adultery.

The law knows no doubt and acts in the interest of the child.

You're the father of Anneke's child. Case closed.

Think well, Broer. There must be exceptions.

Special conditions.

Yes, there are a few exceptions.

But they won't help you.

Only if you can prove beyond any doubt that you can't be the father...

you might have a case.

And how do I prove that? -That's the problem.

You can't prove it. On the contrary.

There's something else.

You could take a blood test after the child is born...

to prove that you're not the father of the child.

A blood test, yes.

I knew there was a way out.

But I don't have any faith in the blood test.

You don't? -We're assuming Rien's the father.

Rien's your son, so Rien has your blood.

So Rien's child has your blood as well.

I'd forget about the blood test.

What should I do then?

You'll have to get used to the fact that Anneke's pregnant with the heir of VD.

That's all. Reconciliation.

That seems the way to go.

Reconciliation?

With...

With Anneke?

Never... never... never.

He's in the back.

Hello.

I brought her with me. That seemed best.

It sure is.

The factory needs you, Rien.

I don't need the factory.

Listen.

A bunch of amateurs is in charge at the moment.

We need an expert.

Someone with feeling for pharmaceutical products. You.

Cor might disagree.

I've discussed it with Broer and he's behind me.

Why should I?

I could tell you, for instance, that lots of workers will be fired if...

this management stays on.

I could also tell you that it's sad that such a good factory goes to ruin.

Tania.

Yes.

This is Broer's idea.

Tania's pregnant by Cor.

Maybe you could marry Tania...

and raise the child as your own.

So that Cor can be convinced to pass management of the factory on to you.

Right?

Sorry...

Should I do that? -Yes.

It's not possible.

And you're pregnant?

Yes. -By me? Or by him?

I don't know.

What I just said was quite a mouthful, but we really have to think about it.

It's not possible.

That whole theory about Tania and the child's wrong.

Why?

Because Cor's having a child himself, from his wife.

Anneke.

Let me write down. You had mushroom soup?

That's at least 300 calories. -That's a bit much.

If you don't hold your tongue, I'll also count that roll.

And you had steak with lettuce. -Yes.

That's 175. And you had ice cream... with whipped cream?

But I didn't eat the whipped cream. -You'd better not.

All together it's a lot. I can already tell.

What are you doing?

It's the bloody automatic. It always stays stuck.

Excuse me.

I think the indicators aren't working either.

When we just turned onto the road... -That's easily checked.

Yes? -Yes.

I'll stop there.

Have her chances improved now that she lost the baby?

I'm afraid not. It's very unclear.

All those bruises and now also an abortion.

Oh good, it's you, Cor.

Yes.

I don't understand it. We were doing so well together.

But now something went wrong anyway.

Do I still have my child?

Everything will be fine... with you.

Then everything's been for nothing.

May God's mercy be bestowed upon her and may her soul rest in peace.

Amen.

Don't worry. It's all been arranged for you.

It's all been arranged for you. It's all in black and white.

Right, Broer?

But what is in black and white?

Tania's child has been legitimised by Cor.

He who marries Tania gets the factory. -Are you serious?

Yes.

This is the woman you'll be dealing with.

Why me?

They wanted Cor, but that's impossible now that Anneke died.

As if it doesn't affect me. -You're the best choice.

Every argument she can use against us about Stop B...

you've already used against us.

You know much better what you're talking about than she.

So you think I can do it?

There's one problem.

She's pregnant and she wants to crucify us for it.

But that's also to our advantage.

She talks nonsense and you know exactly what you're talking about.

If you stay calm, she'll hang herself.

You do research at VD.

That's why I'm asking you whether Stop B was sufficiently researched...

before it was launched.

How do you mean? Whether I tried it with my own fiancée?

I want to know whether it has been researched intensively.

In Bulgaria.

Not in the Netherlands?

I believe Bulgarian women get pregnant just like ours.

Like you.

So the VD factories haven't tested the product sufficiently.

You just wanted to make money quickly with the product.

That isn't true.

People often call VD a factory, but it's really a research lab.

You're lying. -Then it's pointless to interview me.

Good evening.

...the Nazis.

That's why the government confiscated the factory after the war.

Afterwards, the factory remained in the hands of this collaborationist family.

Besides the pill, VD also produces meat.

A lot of meat.

American exports demonstrate what the quality of this meat is.

The American health services have sent back millions worth of meat...

because it didn't meet basic hygiene requirements.

This meat will now probably be sold in the Netherlands.

At VD they think that Dutch housewives aren't that critical.

The same factory that sells bad meat here...

now produces a new, popular contraceptive, called Stop B.

It stops just about everything.

Except babies.

Right.

She's said enough for us to sue her so badly she'll never be on TV again.

We'll get that station on the brink of bankruptcy.

We'll put her through the wringer.

But that doesn't help us right now.

Are they still there?

He means the protestors.

They're still there.

And tomorrow there'll be more of them.

We'll need to fire more people.

All because of that TV broadcast.

Nobody buys from VD anymore. No meat, no pill, no Stop B.

We'll have to close down and the workers will be out on the street.

It's all Rien's fault.

Exactly. -Huub.

Have you got a moment?

Where's Tania? -Here, darling.

Here.

This is all yours.

All of VD is yours.

It's very simple, Huub.

It's going to cost years to get VD back on its feet.

That's not your kind of thing.

Do you want to take it away from me? -Let me finish.

There's a man walking around freely who I can have arrested...

for car theft.

But the moment I have him arrested, he'll suddenly remember...

that you're responsible for the death of the cop.

The moment you marry Tania, I'll arrest that man.

Rien... I can't stand the sight of him anymore.

I can't stand the sight of Rien anymore.

I think you've earned a long, paid holiday.

Somewhere far away. What would you think of Puerto Rico?

Shake Cor's hand and do it well.

Because you'll never see him again in this life.

Do you like that?

Relax, Cor, relax.

CAPITALIST BLOODY MESS

You'll see it won't be so bad to be married to me.

I don't want to give you a hard time.

You're afraid of me because you think I'm a bitch...

that's capable of anything.

But I promise you won't regret it.

Perfect, perfect.

We're going.

I'll see you tomorrow. -What for?

We have to get the factory back on its feet.

We're at the point where they started 20 years ago.

We should start working on serums that delay old age.

And we'll make sure all old people will buy them.

Do you know how much I loved you?

Sometimes I think you know.

And sometimes I think you don't.

We had to be careful in bed in those days.

'Being careful' it was called.

Take no risk.

Leave before the gospel.

That was way before the pill.

Get out.

That girl you studied with...

You weren't there that night.

And I was sure it was because of her.

That you'd gone with her.

I was still young then, and jealous.

I wanted revenge.

And in order to do that and to feel like a woman, I went to Cor that night.

And Cor took every woman he could. So he took me as well.

But he was careful. He took no risk and got out.

And the next day, it turned out something else had been going on.

You hadn't been with the girl you'd been studying with.

You'd just been running some errand.

That night, in the dark, I tried to make amends.

Even though you knew nothing about it.

I held you so tight you couldn't get away.

I wanted to prove how much I loved you.

I loved you so much, I wanted to get pregnant by you.

And I did get pregnant.

And you found out I'd been with Cor the night before.

And you were fed up with me.

I had to tell Cor I was pregnant with his child.

It had to have a father.

But it was your child.

Very clearly. Rien looks just like you.

That's why Cor never trusted him.

And we had to keep our mouths shut all that time.

But we succeeded. Rien conquered VD.

It was about time.

It's a strange world.