Original subtitles

DEAR KURT

Are you Lena Horstmann, the owner of this charming house with...

a need for minor renovations?

I only own half of it. A Mr. Ries bought the other half.

Right or left half?

The upper one, with the broken roof.

The butt-ugly bathroom is yours too.

What are you doing?

What do you think? Carrying you over the threshold!

-It's tradition. -When you marry, not buy a house.

What's the difference?

This binds us for life too, at least to the bank.

There's something else for houses. A topping out?

That's when they finish the roof of a new build, ours is crumbling.

A house something?

Ah! You mean a house-humping!

I totally forgot.

We have to hump in every room.

It's tradition.

Five rooms! Kurt comes in three hours.

We'll manage with ease. Go on, strip.

-Weirdo! -You think it's fun for me?

I didn't make the rule. We've got to do it.

We have to unload stuff. Kurt, we have to build Kurt's bed...

Yes, yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

Right, that does it for the living room.

Is the guest bath a room, too?

This is my favourite spot.

I like the smell so much.

It smells like cotton, cock and sweat.

Do I have a spot like this?

You rarely smell of cock.

I'd like to check that now.

Very good!

Even better!

Woah! Jackpot!

I give this spot a B+ for bouquet.

Which room now?

Ho, now we're going to get back to slogging away.

Kurt, Jana's here!

Dad! Dad! Dad!

Where's my room? I want the biggest one!

I'm picking my bedroom!

-What happened? -Big Kurt just got emasculated.

Kurti, you need to grow fast. Your head is bad news at this height.

-How was school? -Good.

There was a question only I knew the answer to.

-Who needs the toilet? -No. "Who farted?"

He wants to pick a room.

Sure, as long as it's upstairs and doesn't have a bathtub.

The trailer's still full.

-You wanted to set out early. -Yes, and we did.

But...

We just got... stuck in something.

I picked a room, but it's empty.

So I can't do homework. I don't have a desk.

That makes complete sense. I'd tell my chief editor the same thing.

We have to ask Dad what he thinks.

No, not Dad!

Not Dad?

-What are we eating? -What did you bring?

"'Whoosh,' went the jet of water,

and with a 'hiss,' the fire became ever smaller.

The house is saved. Yay!"

Kurt, that must've been the 33rd time. How about another book?

Here.

Astronauts are cool too.

-Astronauts suck. -Why is that?

Do they save anybody? No. Can they put out fires? No, they can't.

They fly rockets into space.

If the rocket catches fire, who do they call?

Good point.

I get it. All right, then, we'll stick to...

stories about firefighters.

Goodnight, Kurt. Sweet dreams.

Night!

"Sometimes fire is good,

like candles on a birthday cake or on Christmas trees..."

Can I have Tofu?

Tofu?

Right, what did you like best about today?

Picking my room was cool.

And at school everyone laughed when I said "fart."

Where do we meet in our dreams?

In the climbing gym.

Wait, the row boat on the lake!

Okay, but wait for me, don't leave me standing in my swimsuit again this time.

Another Dad story, but not from a book.

Okay.

There was once a prince and he had a huge crush on a maiden.

-What's a maiden? -A maiden is a girl.

Ew! A girl!

Okay, there was once a prince and he had a huge crush on another prince. Better?

Yes, much better.

They couldn't see each other

because their parents, the two kings, couldn't stand one another.

One day, one prince so longed for the other that he grabbed his cell...

Hey, Dad! They didn't have cell phones then.

-Do you want to tell the story? -No.

See?

Well, one of the princes had been grounded and locked in a tower.

The other prince had snuck to the tower, but didn't know how to get up it.

But the prince in the tower had long blond hair that he braided

and threw out the window so the other prince could climb up.

-Is he sleeping? -Yes.

He's snoring!

This is officially the world's ugliest bathroom.

Yep. A highway rest stop was in the running for a while,

but I'd say the tiles decided it.

Or it's so damn ugly that it's cool?

Why aren't you using a towel?

They're still in the truck.

The first night in our own house.

Are we grown up now?

Totally!

Better not. He can hear us.

Hey, he's sleeping.

The mattress is too loud, and we're too loud.

I don't want your son hearing us. Him counting our condoms is enough.

We at least have to be quiet.

Oh, great! Sex without making noise is like...

cappuccino without milk.

Really? You'd rather no sex than quiet sex?

No, I don't want that either.

-Lie down. -Yeah. Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

I swear.

What are you doing?

Kurt, Lena just wanted to blow up the air mattress.

-What is it, Kurti? -There's a monster under my bed.

Really? I have one under the covers.

Can I sleep with you guys?

Yeah, sure.

Don't you have to finish blowing?

No, there's enough air in it now.

-Yes. Yes. -Right, Kurt?

All good.

-Who do we have here? -Hello!

It's Kurti!

-Right! Three is much better. -Yes.

We'll see if those monsters have the guts!

Kurt, sweetheart, can you flop onto your dad?

-No, he stinks. -But I can't breathe.

Lucky you. Dad stinks like a fart, from out of his mouth.

The both of you stink too.

Lena, I can see your butt.

Dad, I can see Lena's butt.

Me too! It looks fantastic! Grade A.

Can you stop talking to your son about my backside.

Why? It's part of the family.

No, it's not. My backside isn't related to you in any way.

Number one or number two?

We'll see.

We'll see?

-Want an autograph? -No. Why?

Kurti, do you have to leave your cars lying all over?

Number two!

Shit.

-What happened, sweetie? -From brushing. I'll never do it again.

Aw! You lost your first baby tooth.

Losing them is good. It means you're not a baby any more.

But I don't want to eat soup forever. I want pizza and everything.

Buddy, you've got enough teeth to eat pizza.

-Plus, new ones will grow in soon. -No, they won't. That's a lie.

-What? -Says Elsa.

-Who's she? -She's in my class.

Listen, Elsa from your class is telling fake news.

You said the F-word!

That's a different F-word, Kurti.

Everyone loses their baby teeth, then you get cool, super sharp

adult teeth.

No, there's nothing sharp.

You see?

Super sharp!

-Should I keep it for you? -Yes.

-But we'll leave the bloody gunk on it. -Bloody gunk!

-It's the best. -The absolute best.

Hi, I'm your new neighbour.

I wanted to introduce myself. Kurt Ries.

I brought you something.

Eight years sober.

I wouldn't have drunk it then either.

Okay.

-Coffee? -Love one.

Don't take it personally.

-This is Jupp. -Jupp! Great name for a dog.

Well, you're a handsome fellow.

If he didn't drool so much. Careful, it'll leave stains.

You drool? I can't imagine that.

Who's that?

My Andi. It's been 13 years now.

-I'm sorry. -Me too.

But do you know what I tell myself?

I'm grateful for the time I had with her.

When she was here, I didn't always see it that way.

She could be pretty darn nasty.

Well, me too.

But when it's all over, you realize what you lost.

Your dog is really awesome.

My daughter gave him to me.

To cope with the grief.

I told you to watch your clothes.

Ugh!

Our washing machine is screwed.

-You can do your laundry here. -Thanks.

Very good.

Lena?

Two snails meet by the roadside, one wants to cross

and the other says, "Careful, the bus is coming in an hour."

I don't get how you remember them all.

I'm clever, like Dad.

-What do you call an annoying bear? -I don't know.

Un-bear-able.

-Oh, no. I'm not done. -I'll finish.

No, you planted the Christmas tree. I'll do Jasmine.

-Hello! -Hi.

-Hi. -Hey, cutie. Well?

Oh, man! You're as filthy as can be, huh?

Get your stuff and wash up. Peter's waiting.

Then Peter should watch TV. I have to plant Lena's flowers.

-She's called Jasmine. -Great.

But that'll take forever with that girlie trowel.

Huh? Why is it a girlie trowel?

-It has flowers on it. -I am planting them with it.

Yes, but those are pink and purple.

Well, flowers are pink and purple, right?

-Lots of them, yes. -I give up. You two win.

-Now get your stuff. -I'll save it for you.

Yes, like that.

But Jasmine, she'll die with no soil.

It's an "it."

-Now let's go. -But Jasmine is a girl's name.

I'll put her inside,

water her, and you can plant her next week.

-Okay? -Great idea.

Jasmine, an "it"!

Mom's an it and Dad's an it!

Hurry up!

I'm already on my way!

Quick fast!

Hand up.

Come here.

Wipe it right off!

I love you from here to the sun and moon and back.

I love you from here

to the moon and back,

and to the sun, twice around it and back.

And I love you from there to Saturn,

twice around it,

to Pluto, five times around it, then to the sun...

Boys, we really have to go now.

-Don't dare plant Jasmine without me! -No way!

Kurt, remember you're taking him to school Wednesday.

-Wednesday. -Great.

-Bye. -Bye.

-Bye, Lena! -Bye!

Bye!

-We can get back to house-humping. -No, time to work.

-Just the bathroom? -First, work.

Wow.

That's nice.

You are a very thoughtful woman.

You share your house with me.

You feed me. You know what?

One day I'll make you my bride.

-We don't need that, do we? -No, we don't need that.

I don't even think it's romantic, all the "till death do us part" baloney.

It's so contractual. You promise it once and then that's how it is.

I think it's much nicer to decide anew each day.

Like, "Good morning.

Yes, you're still the right one for me."

Good morning. Yes, you're still the right one for me. I love you.

I love you. A lot.

You're so much of what I desire and need.

And a few things that I don't desire,

but need.

And just very, very little of what I neither desire nor need.

Lena Horstmann.

Do you want to live with me under a broken roof?

With a Kurt who...

I mean with two Kurts, or rather one and a half Kurts,

who both love you very much,

with the muddled family and all that stuff?

Do you want to simply survive with me?

Absolutely.

And, Kurt Ries, do you want to survive with me?

You bet I do!

I hereby declare us damned to survive together.

Now we get to tile the bathroom.

Oh, yes! I do.

-I love you. -I love you.

-I love you more. -I love you more.

What's invisible and smells like worms?

-No idea. -A bird's fart.

Okay, we've had enough fun. Now let's learn something, okay?

Kurti!

I know it's early, but this isn't the right place to sleep.

Oh, it's fine if you talk quietly.

Kurti, please get up. Quick-witted!

But I think that joke was around when I went to school.

Right, livestock, that means "living goods."

-What good do we get from chickens? -Eggs!

Very good.

Hey, the right egg's on vacation.

Okay. What good do we get from sheep?

-Cheese! -Fake news!

-Yeah, fake news. -No, that's not fake news.

-What Elsa says is true. -Baa!

-Same to you! -We don't just get wool from sheep.

We also get milk.

-And we make... -Cheese!

-Very good, Elsa. -Baa!

What do we get from cows? Ada?

Milk, leather and steak.

Great!

What do we get from... a pig?

Homework!

-Hello, Kurt. -Hello, Kurt.

-Make way. -Make way.

-Are you copycatting me? -Are you copycatting me?

I'm as ugly as poo.

True.

-You're a numbskull. -Just joking.

I was just joking.

Thanks.

Ew!

I hate caramels.

I have a raspberry lollipop.

In my backpack. I'll run and get it.

-Everything okay? -I slipped on Kurti's car.

Welcome to the club.

Take care. I need you still.

You need me? For what?

We haven't humped in the basement.

But please stop whistling.

-Why? -It sounds like shit.

Like shit?

You have no clue about music.

Know what I did when I wanted to annoy the hell out of Jana?

-Hm... You whistled? -That's right.

-That's probably why she left you. -Could be.

Speak of the devil!

Yes?

I haven't been in yet.

Mrs. Schultheiss.

Screw you too, little sister.

Answer!

Please answer.

I don't hear from you for five days and now I'm supposed to drop everything?

Laura, Kurt is dead.

No.

No, Lena. Please no.

Impossible. Where are you?

Are you okay? Did you have an accident?

Yes... I mean, no. He was.

He had an accident. Somehow, he... slipped off

the monkey bars or let go, no one really knows.

Why was he climbing? I thought you were moving in.

Children climb, I don't know why.

Children...

-Lena, which Kurt is dead? -Not my Kurt, his Kurt.

Little Kurt?

He's dead?

Yes.

I'm coming. Are you in the new house?

No, not now please. I have to...

Kurt is with him now, and so is Jana.

We're in the hospital.

I have to see what he needs, or...

I need to be there for him.

But what do you need, sweetie?

Kurt. I need Kurt.

I'll be in... I'll be in touch again, okay?

Yes. Any time. I love you.

I'll make us some dinner.

Why do you need a seatbelt?

Okay, let's drive back now.

Stop! We'll end up in the field.

Now forward again.

Like this... Careful.

Now the wind shield wipers are on.

Damn! How do you turn them off?

-Can I honk? -Yes.

-How? -Push the centre of the steering wheel.

Huh?

-Nice and hard. See. -Ah, hard.

Nice and hard. There!

Cool!

Driving is cool, Dad.

You're the world's best driver, even Mom says so.

If Mom says so, it must be true.

You drive better than Dad does.

I know.

Why do you need a seatbelt?

We buckle up so we don't fly through the wind shield.

-We don't want that, do we? -No, we don't want that.

Is this the clutch?

That's the parking brake, honey.

What's it for?

The parking brake stops you from rolling down hills when parked.

-How does it work? -Like this...

Click!

Two blondes are standing by a car.

They'd left the key in the car.

They tried to unlock the car with a wire.

One of them says, "I can't do it."

The other one says, "Try again.

It's going to rain and the top is still down.

Good one, Kurti.

That one's really good.

Damn, man!

Ah, shit. It's warm. Aren't you warm?

Aw, it's so hot in here.

Sorry, Kurti, but the AC is on the fritz.

-Then buy a new car. -How? Will you buy me one?

Ha-ha! I'll buy you one when I'm grown up.

Aw, Kurti, that's sweet of you.

Let's park.

Yes!

Cool invention, the parking brake.

I was thinking the same about seatbelts.

Driving lesson's over.

-We can do it again next week. -Okay.

Okay? Great. Give me five.

Yes.

That is our entire selection of urns.

But only those on the last page are suitable for a woodland burial.

They're biodegradable.

A Lego urn?

We have some with cars too.

Or air planes.

Or astronauts.

Astronauts suck.

Do you have one with...

firefighters?

No.

You know, when it's a cremation...

Rescue pastilles?

I beg your pardon?

Do you know Rescue drops? Bach flower extracts?

These are the pastilles.

Rescue candies.

They'll help for sure.

Right.

Then I'll need...

your signature.

Yes.

Yes.

Dad, can you write with your eye closed?

-Can you write with your eyes closed? -Sure.

-I don't believe you. -You don't? It's not that hard.

Then write something.

-With my eyes closed? -Eyes closed!

Don't you dare peek!

SOMETHING

-What's that? -Something.

You said to write "something."

Ha-ha! It's super easy.

See if you can write your name.

My name?

Of course I can.

-Eyes shut. -My eyes are shut.

That's super easy.

Right here.

Eyes shut.

"My son is supper sick.

He's not combing.

Maybe in two weeks or something."

Dad, you cheated.

Me?

I cheated?

Yes.

That takes the biscuit!

Hey.

Where's Peter?

No idea.

At a friend's or a bar. I don't know.

He had to get out.

I get it.

-Do you want something to drink? -Do you have some wine?

Ow! Dad, watch your driving!

-Hurry up, we're late. -Dad, I don't feel good at all.

What is it?

Fever.

I'm getting frostbite touching you.

I don't want to go to school today.

-And may I ask why not? -Because...

Dad, can you be punished for something you didn't do?

No, that'd be unfair.

Okay.

That dude is driving me crazy.

Whew! That's good, because I didn't do my homework.

You said you had none.

-That was a white lie. -A white lie?

I'll tell my teacher you'll whack him if he's mean.

That's just what I'll do. What?

Kurti?

Kurt!

Kurti, come back here! Kurti!

All I needed to say was, "Let's go home and do your homework.

We'll say you were sick on Wednesday."

Maybe he'd still be alive if you two had been on time.

You were only late because I went out and slept too long.

I've been thinking of nothing else all day.

If I'd done that and not that, then things would've gone differently.

If we had stayed together, then...

-... he'd still be alive. -We'd all be unhappy.

-We were never really happy, were we? -Uh-uh.

Only just at the very beginning.

-So you rule out reconciliation? -Absolutely.

-Definitely. -Definitely.

But I'm a family therapist,

if you don't want to save your marriage, what do you want here?

We have a two-year-old son and want to know

how to handle the divorce.

I see.

Tell me, do you know the fourth commandment?

The one about your neighbour's wife?

-Thou shalt not steal? -Honour thy father and thy mother.

I thought this was marriage therapy, not the fucking church!

We're not in church, but...

it's a good commandment.

Sorry, no smoking.

-Seriously? -Yes.

If you take it literally, it also means

you should honour the father and mother of your children.

Your son loves both of you.

If one of you speaks badly of the other

it affects your son, no matter which of you it is.

Do you not give a shit? Could you maybe listen?

Put the phone away! Hey!

Yes!

-Dude! -lt'll upset and hurt him.

He loves you both!

He'll wonder who's telling the truth.

When he's old enough he'll judge you himself.

He'll decide who did him good and who didn't,

who was fair and who was unfair.

Also, the one who speaks badly of the other in front of the child

does the child a great deal of psychological harm

and will also pay the highest price for it.

Your child will punish you for the pain he suffered.

So I never tell him his father is unreliable

and that I'm basically responsible for all that comes with adult life?

Exactly, and I won't say

you always treated me like an employee, not a spouse.

I don't think you've understood me.

You are my employee.

Well, I quit as your copywriter and husband.

Kurt, what will I do without you?

You're our best copywriter!

Well, that was a very tender compliment.

Would you perhaps like to return it?

Search deep inside yourself.

She's a great mother. Happy?

Don't say it to me, say it to her.

You are a great mother.

And you're a great father.

He's the only good thing we made together.

I'm at a loss for words today,

so I am going to use those of Erich Fried.

"Not nothing...

without you

But not the same

Not nothing without you

But perhaps less

Not nothing

But less and less

Perhaps not nothing without you

But not much any more"

"Sometimes fire is good,

like candles on a birthday cake or on Christmas trees,

or in your St. Martin's Day lantern.

'Whoosh,' went the jet of water,

and with a 'hiss,' the fire became ever smaller.

The house is saved. Yay!"

Lena,

how are you?

Me?

You haven't even thought about that, have you?

Yes, I know that.

I know that.

It was the same for me back when Gabi died.

That's why I'd like to talk to you.

I'm worried about Kurt.

-And Jana. -Sure.

But you lost someone too.

But not my child.

But still a child,

who was also yours in a way.

Pain is pain.

You know, it's a huge comfort to me that my boy has you.

That you love him, that you... take care of him.

But I know my son.

He keeps to himself, like I do.

But he'll manage it. I'm sure of it.

I firmly believe that.

But...

He won't be like before.

-Yes, I know. -None of us will be.

And it will never...

be completely over.

In ten, 20, 30 years, Kurt will still mourn.

It will certainly get better and easier, but...

it will never have not happened.

You two have a long, hard road ahead of you.

And it won't always take you forward.

Perhaps it will get better and then...

his birthday, Christmas or some memory will crop up

and it will all come back, as bad as on day one.

The two of you will only manage it

if you listen to your feelings too.

Grief is very dangerous.

It can make you disappear, until there's nothing left of you.

What do you mean?

I mean, I don't know if you can make it easier for Kurt.

It's wonderful that you want to try. It's just...

No one else will tell you this. You have to look after yourself.

Kurt won't be able to do that, not at first anyway.

And survival

is an egotistical exercise.

Always.

Not for us.

We survive together.

Yes.

Yes.

How long since you last smoked?

Four years and two months.

You know, Dad, when...

Mom died you said that...

she lived on in me.

I didn't understand that at all then.

You were so little back then.

Yeah.

But it helped me anyway.

It made things better somehow.

Easier.

But when Kurt...

When Kurt was born, I understood it.

And now, Dad?

Say something, Pops. Please!

Kurti...

I...

Come here.

Come here.

Kurt.

It takes time.

But you'll manage.

Hey.

I love you.

I love you too, Pops.

I've never said this to you...

but I'm proud of you.

Dad...

what are these?

I already explained it to you.

-They're condoms. -Yes.

But the question is, what do you need a condom for?

It's better to have a condom and not need it

than to need one and not have one.

Do you collect them?

No, I don't collect them.

Good, because last week you had eight, now you just have three.

I'm really glad you can count now.

The big question here is,

what did you do with the other condoms?

Did you blow them up and pop them?

Or did you do sex with them?

Bloody gunk! It's the best.

Yes. The absolute best.

Dad.

Can you pick me up?

I want to go home.

Well, then, let's get him home.

Well?

Hey, Kurti! How's the pajama party?

Why?

Kurti wants to come home.

Kurti wants to come home.

Well, then, let's get him home.

Kurti, Grandpa and I are on our way.

Typical!

When I have a good hand...

A good hand! Your cards are total garbage.

-Hey! -What's the problem?

-You're cleaning that up later. Okay? -Yeah, yeah.

Come on.

Well, you trickster?

Open up.

-But I don't want anyone to see us. -Oh!

-What's up? -I don't want to sleep somewhere else.

-Okay, get your stuff. -But it's so embarrassing.

Elsa and Peter are here and they don't want to go home.

-Kurt, can you... -Hold on.

Kurti.

Do you know what a compromise is?

Then listen up.

But then hit it. Do it quick. Out.

-I don't know the game! -You have to lay a card in card games.

-Have you ever played cards? -No... Yes!

Yes, poker, in... at 14.

-14. You hard of hearing? -No, you mumble.

-This is because you can't play cards. -Dad!

I'm playing!

You've got all...

-And another one! -Shit!

And another one! And...

Shaka-laka! Thanks for playing along.

Ah, shit! 7-0!

-7-0. -Cheater!

You taught me that, Dad.

You're such a crappy card player, Dad.

But you're a really great dad.

And you're a super awesome grandpa.

You're a super awesome dad too,

but unfortunately a god-awful son.

A good son lets his dad win for once.

Yeah, you'll think of me

when little Kurt beats the hell out of you.

Aw, man, today...

-Nah. Let's put on some dance music. -What?

That's Wolf... Hey! You nuts?

-That's Wolfgang Ambros. -Who?

My absolute favourite! Aren't you a half Austrian boy?

Yeah, but I can't help that.

It's been ten days now Since I've shaved or washed

And I've got nothing but a bottle of rum

In my coat pocket

I have it for breakfast

And then I bum a cigarette

A schilling now and then

And people walk towards me

Like a wall closing in on me

I'm the only one going towards it

So it seems to me

But I pull myself together

And close my eyes...

Watch it, I was a youth champion in Styria.

Super-duper heavyweight class.

-Do we want to play another round? -No.

Hey.

-What are you doing here? -Bringing food.

How are you?

Dumb question.

Is Kurt home?

He's at work.

Thanks.

You look pretty darn tired.

How are you sleeping at the moment?

All right.

Well, just look at you.

-Shall we wash it? -The washing machine's broken.

Come to Berlin with me.

-To do laundry? -No, to get away.

You've been holed up here for weeks.

I can't go away. Kurt needs me.

Kurt's never here.

He's either with Jana, at the burial site or at the bar.

Yes, and when he comes home, I want to be here.

Okay, and I want to be there for you. I want to look after you.

-That's what big sisters are for. -I don't need looking after.

And what about your laundry?

Man, how awesome!

-That's Jupp. -Jupp? I mean the bus.

Hello.

Andi and I took that all the way to Afghanistan.

-Now it doesn't move. -Afghanistan?

-Isn't that dangerous? -It was hippy heaven.

It was before the CIA funded the Taliban.

-And who are you? -Laura, Lena's sister.

-Older or younger? -Younger.

Just joking. Older.

Hannes, Kurt said we could maybe do laundry here.

Sure.

-Hello, Lisa. -Kurt.

The others are in Conference Room One.

Städing has been a fixture in German homes for decades.

The name Städing is basically synonymous with milk.

This is about making this traditional brand viable for the future.

What moves young people today?

-Her again! -Above all else, their environment.

Absolutely! My kids pester me morning to night.

"Daddy, Daddy, your car is ruining the environment."

And we have her to thank for that!

"Daddy, Daddy, your car is ruining the environment."

All just because of that girl.

-What do you drive? -What else?

An SUV. An SUV.

-An SUV. -That was obvious.

Yeah.

At those Friday demonstrations... I mean they're ten and twelve.

Come on! They're kids.

Kids.

Do you have kids?

-Me? -Yeah. Do you have kids?

Yeah, it...

It's about our children's future.

It's about the future. It's about the...

It about our children's future.

I mean, children still have a future.

A pretty long one at that.

Where would we end up

if kids didn't have a fucking future?

Huh? That's what matters, right?

That our kids are still around after we're long gone.

Why else do we do all this crap? Huh?

Say something!

Go on! You jerk!

Kurt, you know you can't smoke here.

Screw it.

Kurt, the commiseration here in the office has been immense.

It isn't always easy to deal with someone

who has experienced such a horrible loss, but...

Kurt, life goes on.

It has to.

Here in the office we have to function, despite our commiseration.

And I'm not functioning.

Because of this morning?

How should I have functioned, Frank? In your opinion.

-Go on. -That's not what I mean.

I know just how you feel.

You know how I feel?

Damn it, Kurt, I have kids.

Living kids.

It's a hackneyed saying, but it's true.

Time heals all wounds.

"Heals."

Heals?

I don't have an illness, Frank.

I lost my child.

You can't operate on it, or take pills or anything.

That's how it is.

-Forever. -Kurt, um...

Cut the "Kurt" crap. I know my name.

Tell me what you want from me.

That pitch was important, you knew that. You wanted it to do it anyway.

It's my job, how I earn my money.

I'd like to make you an offer.

I want to give you the opportunity to take leave. Paid, of course.

Deal with your grief. When you're doing better, come back.

When I'm doing better?

Ah, Frank!

If I can do anything for you, call me.

I'll do that Frank. When I'm doing better, I'll call you.

I don't know what was worse after Andi died,

the people who tiptoed around you or those who didn't tiptoe at all

and just screwed off like you'd died too.

My brother, at the funeral,

he said, "I know it's not the same, but when Iffy died..."

I socked him one, really good.

And who was Iffy?

His canary.

Sorry.

Go on, laugh.

Laughing helps.

We had a hamster, Willi. Hamsters are clever.

He opened his cage and flitted through the house.

Andi had a low tolerance. After a glass of wine she was...

She plopped down on the sofa.

Willi was looking for crumbs in the nooks.

Andi didn't notice a thing.

We watched a whole episode of "Crime Scene,"

although we knew who the murderer was after ten minutes.

It wasn't till she went to bed that I saw Willi.

-On the sofa pillow. -What did you do?

I put him on my armchair and told her I had smooshed him.

-You never told her the truth? -What for?

It rains shit plenty in life, at least I could hold an umbrella over her.

Yeah.

But we gave him a nice burial, in a pizza box.

In a pizza box?

Yes. He was pretty flat.

Verticutting lawns? Seriously?

-It makes a huge difference. -We're a city magazine.

No one cares about yards.

Some have roof gardens, Ahmet.

Our readers have no lawns. Most don't even have a balcony.

Why not write about something you know about?

Or that interests our readers.

For example, about...

blended families.

Or about grief. That's something you know.

How's your boyfriend?

How do you think he's doing?

Sorry, that was a... dumb question.

I'll say.

Oh my God!

Oh my God!

Sorry. Have you hurt yourself?

-Kurt? -I can't move my legs.

You screwing with me?

No, it's all numb.

What? I'll call an ambulance.

Come on. This can't be happening.

Shit, shit!

-Lena! -I've nearly got it.

I've nearly got it. For emergencies...

-Lena! Lena! -There.

What?

You're such an idiot!

Now you've got plaster in your hair.

-Does it look good? -Everything looks good on you.

Dad, what does it mean to be dead?

Why?

Elsa's mom says when someone dies, they fall asleep peacefully.

I always fall asleep peacefully, but I wake up again.

-That's a good thing. -Why don't you wake up when you're dead?

You know, Kurti,

when you're dead, your body has stopped working.

Your hearts stops, you stop breathing, you can't eat

or drink.

You can't sleep when you're dead either.

-Does it hurt? -No, you can't feel anything.

That's sad.

Only for the person who loved whoever died.

-When do you die? -Ah!

Not until you're really, really old.

-We won't die though, right? -Well, someday.

But luckily that's way far off in the future.

Besides, nothing can happen to you because you're clever and strong.

You look before crossing the road.

And I'm here. Remember that documentary?

When the daddy eagle attacked the mountain lion to save its chicks?

-Just like that. -When I'm a dad I'll look after my Kurt.

Like an eagle dad.

How do you know you'll have a Kurt? Maybe you'll have a girl.

Then I'll look after little Kurtina.

Little Kurtina?

Luckily you have time to come up with a name.

-No way! -Look.

Yeah, great job. I can usually do it too.

-May I? -Sure.

It is nice here, isn't it?

Look how big the lavender has gotten.

Kurt's jasmine should blossom soon.

That's not Kurt's jasmine. You planted it.

Kurt...

Kurt, do you still want this?

I mean, to be here, here in Brandenburg.

In our house.

With me?

I'm sorry, but...

I don't want to be anywhere right now.

Kurt!

Kurt!

-Kurt! Kurt! Please! -Damn it!

Stop! Please! Stop! What the hell are you doing?

I'm redoing the bathroom. Like you wanted me to.

We need new tiles. The old ones suck. No one can live like this.

Not in the middle of the night with a hammer!

No? If I do nothing, it's wrong.

If I do something, you disapprove.

What do you want from me? What else do you want from me?

Stop!

Kurt!

You're scaring me!

Lena, I... I can't do this any more.

I know. I know. I love you so much.

I love you so much.

-About... -It's okay.

No. Let me say this. It's hard enough for me.

Okay.

I've lost control

of the grief,

of every other emotion.

I can't control it, I...

I'm not sitting in the driver's seat, I'm...

somewhere in the trunk, or the basement.

Sometimes I'm happy to be back there in the dark.

Then I don't have to see the world.

But you're on the outside,

where there's no more Kurt.

Can't I come to you?

No. I don't want that, Lena.

It's horrible in there.

I don't want you to be there too. I want...

I want you to be well, for you...

to be in the light.

In the garden. You've made everything so beautiful here.

But how can we find each other again

if you stay there and I can't come in?

I have no fucking idea.

I'd so like to do it differently, better.

But whenever I try it hits me from somewhere I didn't expect.

Do you want to go to a self-help group or something?

Sit in a room listening to other people talk about their dead children?

That'll only make it worse, won't it?

What's Jana doing?

She goes to a grief counsellor.

But she says talking to me helped her more.

Would you rather be with Jana now?

No.

We were at the same spot in our grief, we're not any more.

What do you mean by that?

At times one of us is doing better than the other,

but it's never both of us at the same time.

Then one of us says something that upsets the other one.

It's worse with other people.

Everyone knows I'm the guy whose kid died.

That's my thing now.

They're all afraid of me.

Afraid to laugh or to be in a good mood.

They treat me like a bomb that can go off at any time.

-Oh, I think I do that too. -What?

I don't dare be sad around you

because I don't want to cry in front of you.

Why not?

I cry the entire time.

I feel so pretentious next to you

because your suffering is just always bigger than mine.

Yes.

I just don't know where we should start.

I was thinking of how...

how it would be if we started to clear out Kurt's room.

Neither of us dares go in there

and it's kind of like an open wound.

No.

-I can't do that yet. -Yeah, okay.

If I go in there then it's certain.

Then he's gone for good.

If I go into his room and pack up his stuff, then...

then it'll really be true, then...

then I won't be a dad any more.

And how about if we went away?

Where to?

I don't know. Um, just away... To the seaside or something.

Yeah, maybe.

Then things will have progressed here. The roof and bathroom will be finished.

-Maybe it'll do some good. -Yeah.

Maybe it'll help.

Yes, maybe.

I don't know, Kurt.

Lena, just do it. It's hair. Worst case, it'll be too short.

It'll grow back. Big deal!

Worst case, parts will be too short and it'll look like you had a lobotomy.

-Do it. -Okay, on your head be it.

-I don't want to hear any complaints. -I promise.

-There. That'll be 40 euros. -40?

That's a cut-rate price.

This is a really good time to distract me.

Enough making out, back to work.

-Don't make a hole. -You just promised me something!

-It has to be really good. -Keep still!

Keep still, please!

-I'll sue you if it's not. -I have very good lawyers.

They'll ruin you.

Keep still!

Done.

-Well? -Feels good.

But I can't judge it because I can't see myself, you coot.

-Coot! -You got a mirror?

Yes.

Well, yeah...

It's really cool.

I mean it.

When I see this, I wonder why I've been paying a barber.

If you had cut it before,

we wouldn't have had to buy furniture on eBay.

I love you.

-I'm so cold. -Wimp.

-You're not cold? -No, I'm never cold.

-You're shivering. -Because I'm furious it's not colder.

-You nut! -Hey! Hey!

Come here!

Come here!

What are you doing here? Look at the state of you!

You look like you ran into a bus.

Hey, you.

Look.

Well, how was it?

So beautiful. The Baltic Sea is really great.

-Did the bus hold up? -Yes!

-It's great fun. -You can have it.

-What? -Yeah.

A gift. Suits you guys.

Really? Are you serious?

Of course.

Hey! First kiss in 13 years.

-He gave us the car. -Really?

-Yes. -Thanks.

New hairdo.

If you sue, you'll win.

-No, it looks good. -Thank you.

You can cut mine too.

-Cut what? -Still got the vodka I brought you?

Sure, if you want to drink the stuff.

Want to see how the roof and bathroom look first?

In a sec.

-Yes. -Hi, it's Lena. Sorry.

-Is Kurt still there? -No. He drove off three hours ago.

-Strange. -Can I do anything?

No, thanks. It's all right.

Thanks, Hannes. Goodnight.

Goodnight, Lena. Sleep tight.

-Hey. -(speaking Serbian)

-Another one, David. -Man...

Missed.

Good shot.

You're a pussy.

A real one.

-Another one. -That's enough, Kurt.

One more.

You give me your car keys, I'll give you two.

You can get them tomorrow.

-Please give me another one. -You shouldn't drive.

Please!

Come back tomorrow.

Please, David.

-Speak German to me, loser. -You dumb?

-No. -We're not going.

Stop now, man!

Kurti, have you really come?

We agreed to it, Dad, right?

This is nice.

Oh, shit!

Kurt?

Kurt.

Whoa!

Can you stop farting for once?

At least on our anniversary.

-I didn't fart! -Rico!

-I know how yours smell. -Do you want a megaphone?

-Sure. -Jeez!

Your father wears me out.

I really didn't fart.

-Dad, we all heard where it came from. -I really didn't!

-It's fine, Dad. -He didn't fart!

Mom, stop picking Dad apart. It's getting annoying.

Grandma and Grandpa are fighting. How about you tell them a joke?

To distract them. You have such good jokes.

Where do pencil's go on vacation?

Pencil-vania.

Just like that, but at the table, okay?

Everyone listen, it's joke time!

Good day, Mrs. Fisher, I came

to pick up your daughter to go fishing.

But my name's Mrs. Humphries.

Well, I didn't want to be too gung ho.

Kurti.

Oh my God!

The doorbell rings and the dad opens the door to a young Italian boy.

He says, "Hello, my name is Tomasso. I'm here to screw your daughter."

"To what?"

"To-mmaso!"

Who taught him such jokes?

Not the joke book we got him.

-Flip charts? -That's right.

Dad!

-I'm on the phone. -You still there?

-Dad! -Kurti, please!

Dad!

Dad!

No flip charts. We'll look like cavemen.

We have to show Mercedes Benz more.

-Okay, no flip charts. -Dad!

-Dad! -Kurti, enough! I'm on the phone.

It's work. Not a word from you until I ask you to talk.

Ask me where our car's rolling to.

What?

Hello, Kurt.

Stop! Stop!

Kurti, it's all under control.

Dad! Dad, that's why there's a parking brake, right?

Right, I need a bathrobe.

-Lena, why are you crying? -I'm not.

-But you look sad. -Yes.

Sometimes sunsets make me a bit sad, especially over the water.

But it's pretty. Why do you think pretty things are sad?

I don't know. Maybe because they end so fast.

But the sun always comes up again.

You're right about that, Kurti.

Kurt?

Come on, sit up.

-What happened to your face? -I fell.

-You fell? -Yes.

And where's your other shoe?

Did you get into a fight?

I don't know, Lena. I blacked out.

Kurt, we can't go on like this.

-Are you leaving me? -No! Nonsense.

But you've sort of left me, right?

-Lena... -I'm not reproaching you.

But...

we've been here for more than half a year and...

Kurti's been gone nearly just as long.

You're not here, and me...

I'm so quiet that I'm basically not here either.

I don't want to disappear.

You know, in the meantime I've become so lonely here.

-I really don't know what I should do. -You don't have to know right now.

But I have to know, and I have to do something.

You said you don't want to be where Kurt isn't any more. I get that.

But...

then I don't want to be here either.

You haven't slept in our bed in ages.

And Kurt's bed is empty too.

So I'm renovating a house no one wants to be in

and paying with money we don't have.

So what now?

The roof is fixed, the bathroom's new, the floors are nice,

the garden is a dream.

If we sell now...

But where... Where would we live?

I could live with my sister.

And me?

Your apartment is only sublet.

So you want to leave me.

You have to grin and bear it.

Kurt, I want to be with you.

I really do, but...

I don't think we'll manage that here now.

Tell me you want to be here, in this house, and we'll forget selling.

Laura knows someone from Styria who's looking here.

Kurt, please get help.

Right, where do I start?

Start by telling me a bit about yourself.

I...

My son died, Kurt, at six years old.

-What line of work are you in? -None. I'm on leave.

-And when you're not on leave? -A copywriter, but that's irrelevant.

Mr. Ries.

Why are you here?

Why did you make this appointment?

I'm stuck.

I want...

I don't know, I want...

to function again.

I...

I've lost control of everything.

Grief isn't something you can control.

Grief has control over us.

But grief isn't an illness.

It isn't a problem.

It is the way out of the problem,

the way to a new and different life.

And when do things get better?

There is no formula.

It's different for everyone.

Roughly?

Well, some people get over the shock after two or three years.

Others need five or more.

It's not a race.

Isn't there anything I can do to make it easier, for others too.

Right now, looking after yourself

and your needs is the top priority.

What do you want?

Right now?

I think I want to go home now.

Thanks for your time.

-I love the rhododendrons! -Yes, we've done a lot in the garden.

-Hello, I'm Lena. -Hello, Joseph.

-Nice to meet you. -Sorry we're late.

Five hours stuck in traffic, and the AC was shot.

Oh, dear!

-Gloria, nice to meet you. -Hello.

Just gorgeous!

An enchanted garden, the shutters and the ivy!

Oh, and these roses!

A lot has to happen here. That tree has to be felled.

-Why? -It blocks all the light.

But it's pretty.

Yes, but shady.

Go on, have a look around.

Is this okay or am I bowling you over? Do you need more time?

No, if Kurt wanted to stay he'd have said something by now.

Do you really want to fell that lovely tree?

Of course not, are you nuts?

It's all tactics.

-Think it through a bit. -I'm already in love.

Me too.

-Where's Kurt? -He cleared out Kurt's room.

Now he's fixing the washing machine.

-Movement is good. -Movement is good.

Shall we go in then?

Holy shit!

The hardwood flooring is a dream!

We love it too.

Floor heating?

-Sadly, not. -Shame.

It feels so nice!

Yes, we loved that too.

-It'd be better varnished. -Why?

Well, ladies... then it's easier to clean.

Okay.

As if you've ever had a cleaning rag in your hand!

I want this house, not any other.

Glori, the more enthused you are, the more expensive it gets.

-Can we see upstairs? -Sure.

Just a warning, we haven't done the stairs yet.

No problem.

I love renovating!

Boy, oh boy!

-I told you. -I love old wooden planks.

-Glori! -Sorry.

If we all get on them at once

will they hold, or will we fall through?

I assume they'll hold.

-It's holding. -It's holding.

It was just a polite question.

I don't want to break my neck.

Whoa there!

-What is it, Peppi? -The stairs creak.

Stairs in old houses do that.

No need for sarcasm.

We're interested in your house,

but due to the flaws we're going to have to talk about the price.

Flaws?

He doesn't mean it that way. He has a hard time showing enthusiasm.

All right.

-Where does that lead? -The old guest bath.

But there's just a broken washing machine...

Kurt!

Oh, God.

Oh, God! Damn it. I'm so sorry. You...

Shit, Kurt.

I'm such an idiot. I didn't think about it.

Are these the potential buyers?

Okay.

-Then here we go. -Gloria.

Hello, Joseph.

Okay, this is the bathroom.

It used to be the world's ugliest bathroom.

My son lost his first baby tooth in here.

Brushing his teeth.

What else?

Yeah, I knocked out the tiles. With a hammer, I smashed them to hell!

Okay, next room.

Right, this here

is our living room.

Our first night we slept right here on an air mattress.

But it made noise during sex, so Lena tried to give me a blowjob.

Kurt came in because he had a monster under his bed

and we all slept on the mattress together.

Nothing against Lena's blowjob skills in any way, but...

that was...

the loveliest night of my life.

Right.

Now I'll show you Kurt's room.

-No, Kurt, please. -No, Lena. Let me do this please.

Yes, this is my son's bedroom.

It's where he explained to me that...

cell phones didn't exist in the Middle Ages.

I told him the firefighter story for the 33rd time here,

because he thought astronauts sucked.

This is where

I told him the last fairy tale I made up,

about two gay princes who were very in love.

One of them had long blond hair, like Rapunzel.

I asked him for the last time what he liked best about that day.

For the last time we agreed to meet in our dreams, in row boats on the lake.

Yes, and he chose this room himself.

He was so proud of that.

Okay, he wasn't here long,

but he was at home here, and so am I and so is Lena.

And that's why you can't have the house. It's our house, Lena's and mine.

Any more questions?

-No. -Good.

I'm so sorry.

No, Lena.

I'm sorry I left you alone here with all your grief.

I'm so sorry about that.

I'm so sorry.

Lena, I can see your butt.

Dad, I can see Lena's butt.

Kurti!

Kurti, your jasmine is blossoming!

Come get some shashlik.

They look like they'll give you cancer.

-Put them over the flame. -Those organic?

Course! From organic farmers.

-Organic! They're from Aldi! -Turn them a bit.

On the side they're totally white.

Who's grilling?

-Looks good. -This one?

Well, you're not getting it.

-Is that all we have? -They're eating the hair off my head.

"Not nothing without you

But not the same

Hot nothing without you

But perhaps less

Not nothing But less and less

Perhaps not nothing without you

But not much any more"

Fried was right.

But not entirely,

because nothing here is without you.

We aren't without you, Kurti,

not one of us, not even for a day.

There's Grandpa Wolfgang,

Grandpa Enni and Grandma Marion,

Sami and Tofu,

your aunt Laura,

your teacher and your friends.

Everyone who loves you.

I am here.

Your mom and your dad are here.

They think of you every day.

And when they think of you, they're happy.

Kurti, your smile, I will never, ever,

ever forget it.

"MEMORY IS THE ONLY PARADISE OUT OF WHICH WE CANNOT BE DRIVEN."

Cut the "talk to me" crap, dimwit. I lost the pitch because of you.

-It was a sure thing! -You've lost nothing.

-I've got it under control. -No you don't!

-Kurt, I've really got this. -Raimond!

The only thing you've got is plaque!

-That wasn't nice. -You screwed it up, you monkey fucker!

In my book, Raimond is synonymous with laziness!

What kind of a shitty name is that anyway?

I can't help my name.

My parents gave it to me.

My middle name is even worse.

-Karlheinz. -Ouch.

Raimond Karlheinz?

-Your parents must've despised you. -No, they were very loving.

I'd rather talk to a horse.

At least it has a bigger head than you!

You done, Kurt?

I'd like to spend vacation like you work, fuckwit!

And where would you go?

Shut your god damn stupid face, you...

flunky!

Dude!

Can you give it a rest?

-I can't believe it. I... -Jana, it's okay.

-No. -Are you speechless, chatterbox?

You know what, I used to love you, but that was long ago.

The way you treat my employees is utterly unheard of.

-For shame! -Can we discuss this in private?

No. Everyone can hear this.

You're disrespectful, abusive,

and so out of line!

Is it my fault that fuckwad completely screwed up?

-What? -Again!

-Don't you get it? -Jana...

-I think Guru peed on you. -Where are your values?

My ideas of humaneness and moral conviction are different.

So I say this ceremoniously in front of everyone...

The way she talks to me! In front of everyone.

Are you wearing the helmet I got you?

Yes, Mom.

-Hey, you're hurt. -What? It's nothing.

Why aren't you wearing a helmet? That's irresponsible.

Honey? Has something happened?

-Were you on your phone? -Yes, Mom.

And drinking coffee! You trying to kill yourself?

Are you blaming me even though you nearly killed me?

It seems I am, doesn't it?

-Should I drive you to the hospital? -ls there coffee?

I don't think so, but...

Maybe I could treat you to a coffee.

-What do you say? -ls your wife coming too?

Oh, no. I'm divorced. It just won't come off.

-That's a new one. -Got an angle grinder on you?

Sadly, I forgot it today.

Good one.

-It really won't come off. -My God!

He's such a bad actor!

Wait, I have...

my divorce lawyer's card here somewhere...

Boy or girl?

Boy. Kurt, two years old.

Kurt, that's a cute name.

Is he as handsome as you?

Yes, I'm picking him up from day care later if you want to come.

I'll have a coffee first.

-And two ibuprofen. -Got them.

One moment.

Here.

Water.

Great service here.

-It really won't come off. -We should get together.

This is the worst first meeting of all time.

-True. You're a coot! -So are you.

How about we two coots have coffee?

Now?

Is it okay if my wife comes?