Festen Page #3

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One is green, the other is yellow.

You choose.

- One is green, the other is yellow.

- I'll take the green.

The green is an interesting choice.

It's a kind of "home truth speech".

I call it when dad had his bath.

I was very young

when we moved here.

Times changed completely for us.

We had all the space we wanted

and all the trouble -

we could cause in all that space.

In those days

this room was a restaurant.

I can't count the times my sister

Linda, who is now dead, and I -

- played in here, and she would

put things in people's food -

without their noticing -

- and we would hide...

Then she would begin to laugh.

She had the most infectious

laugh you can imagine.

In no time at all we'd

both be howling with laughter, -

- and of course we got caught.

But nothing ever happened to us.

It was much more dangerous

when dad had his bath.

I don't know if you remember,

but dad was always having baths.

He'd take

Linda and me into the study -

- as there was something

he had to do first.

Then he'd lock the door

and roll down the blinds.

Then he'd take his shirt off and

his trousers and made us do likewise.

Then he'd put us across the green

couch that's been thrown out now -

- and raped us.

Abused us sexually.

Had sex with his little ones.

Oh, Christian!

A couple of months ago

when my sister died -

- I realised that Helge was a very

clean man, with all those baths.

I thought I'd share it

with the rest of the family.

Baths summer, winter, spring,

autumn, morning, evening...

Helge is a very clean man.

I wanted you to know that, -

- seeing as we're celebrating

his 60th birthday... what a guy!

Imagine living a long life and

watching your children grow up!

And grandchildren.

But you didn't come to listen to me.

We've come to celebrate

Helge's sixtieth, so let's do so.

Thank you for all those good years.

Happy Birthday.

I've nothing to drink.

Fill our glasses!

Christian, you were the first,

but now it's my turn.

Else, it is your birthday.

- Helge!

- What did he say?

He said that it was

Helge's birthday, granddad.

Helge, it's your birthday,

and that's good.

You're a big boy now.

Your ears can take

a story from the seven seas.

- Good on you, granddad!

- I have to go.

When Helge was a young lad -

- he told me he had trouble

finding ladyfriends.

Kim...

- Hi, Christian.

- Hi.

I've got a plane to catch.

Stop! May I introduce

my boyhood buddy, Christian.

You know most of them.

Christian, how are you?

- I'm fine.

- Fine, you say?

Well done, Christian.

You've made your speech -

- and now you're going home.

The battle's lost. Nothing's changed.

- Over and out.

- Are you drunk?

Else I can't cook.

How long have we

known each other?

Since year one?

We scrumped apples together.

I've been waiting for this ever

since, and you just run away.

From your father, who drew

lots for you and your sister.

A brilliant start to your speech.

Drawing lots like your father.

What do you want, Kim?

Sorry to interrupt, granddad.

I just want to say -

- that I hope none of you

took Christian seriously.

He is my brother

and I love him dearly.

But what he said wasn't true.

And I should know, right?

Sorry for interrupting.

It was the shock.

At 7.15 your father'll come down to

give me a time for the main course.

"I think they like the food",

he'll say, as usual.

And he'll have his usual bitter.

... Just give me two minutes.

Oh, I thought you'd gone.

Come here!

Give me a bitter for me and my son.

- It tastes splendid.

- Thanks.

A fine first course,

I think they liked it.

- No, thanks.

- Oh, not you?

That tastes good.

It tastes damned good.

I do believe it tastes good.

Have one yourself and then put

the bottle away... come with me.

Alone.

Off we go!

Well, how are you?

- I'm fine.

- Really...

Are you sure?

Well, I don't understand a thing.

My memory must be failing me.

- Age, probably.

- What do you mean?

What you talked about.

I don't recall it at all.

You'll have to help me.

What happened?

Oh? Sorry, it's probably me

who got it wrong.

Don't apologise

or you'll really have me worried.

I'm just a bit strung up at the

moment with work, with my sister.

Forget it.

What you were talking about is

a crime; We must call the police.

No, don't do that.

Just forget it.

I'm not sleeping well.

I'm feeling a bit weird. Sorry.

- Are things going well upstairs?

- Yes, fine, fine.

It takes more than that

to shake them. Don't worry.

Have a good trip home.

It was nice seeing you.

They're waiting for me.

- Helge, it's your birthday.

- Oh, granddad, not again...

You're a big boy now.

Your ears can take

a story from the seven seas.

When Helge was a young lad -

- he told me he had trouble

finding ladyfriends.

I told him, "listen, lad!"

"Just buy a big potato and stuff it

down your swimming trunks -

go down to the lake -

- and they'll come running!"

Anyway, summer came...

- What do you think?

- Me?

I don't know what he's planning.

He came back in despair and

told me things were far worse now.

Nobody would talk to him.

"No wonder", I said.

"You should have put the potato

down the front of your trunks. "

For he's a jolly good fellow...

Michelle... Pia... a word.

Michelle come here, Pia come here.

A word.

We'll steal their car keys.

Over.

What? - Us? - OK.

It's Christian's turn tonight.

People mustn't go home yet. Over.

I don't think he intends

to say any more; He apologised.

Let's wait and see.

Don't tell the old waiters.

They need their pensions.

Off you go. Now.

- We mustn't leave any traces.

- No, no, we'll just look carefully.

Where the hell is it?

I have it.

Next room.

Is everything OK?

There aren't any

problems or anything?

No, no.

Everything is OK.

Is my brother staying the night?

I don't really know.

A taxi?

I'll check it out.

Hey, Charlie brown,

you've come to the wrong place.

- Can I go?

- Just a moment.

Listen, Max, I don't know where you

met my sister and I don't want to.

Oh, I've missed you so much!

- Michael, what are you doing?

- What the hell do you mean?

What the hell are you doing?

Mind your f***ing manners.

How dare you drag

some monkey to dad's 60th?

Are you calling Gbatokai a monkey?

- How dare you?

- Chill out.

You Nazi bastard!

OK, you can... push off.

Mum, wait a mo'...

This is my boyfriend, Gbatokai.

Mum, you haven't met him before.

That was another one.

Yes, yes, quite,

this way, please.

Forgive me for disturbing you again.

But I forgot the most important bit.

We're here for my father's birthday,

not all kinds of other stuff.

If I led you up the wrong track

earlier, I'd like to make amends -

by proposing a toast to my father.

- Please stand.

- Well done, Christian.

Raise your glasses.

Here's to the man who killed

my sister... to a murderer.

I must propose an interval.

Cigarettes... Giddyap!

Giddyap!

Play something.

Nice and easy.

Play something.

No, let's stay a while.

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