Het Verlangen Page #2

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What do you mean by that?

- What do you want, Bri?

You are who you are.

Be happy with that for once.

Anyone would kill to look like you.

And you're still not satisfied.

Don't be so difficult.

Bri, this is it.

Right? It's all you're going to get.

Be satisfied with what you have

and who you are.

So this is it?

For the rest of my life?

Dicking around with drunken idiots?

- But that's fun.

Every day on my knees

to cram feet in a pair of shoes?

What's wrong with shoes all of sudden?

- Nothing. But there is more, Maris.

Don't you ever think about that?

Brigitte, there you are.

- It's nice around here.

Yes, of course. I'm on my way.

Herman's at the railway station.

I'll go and pick him up.

Welcome. Mi casa es tu casa.

- Sorry?

Mi...

Never mind.

It belongs to my parents.

It's been in the family for about 30 years.

Jesus, what a lot of books.

What's on the program?

Practicing.

- Oh, OK.

Nice.

Cows.

Everyone...

...masturbates.

You too, don't you?

- None of your business.

In any case, you have to regard it...

...as the protagonist going through

an ex...

...istential...

...crisis.

Protagonist?

The hero of the book.

- Leontien.

Leonie.

- Whatever.

Well, that is rather important.

You must have read it?

Well, I...

Found it hard to get through,

to be honest.

How far did you get?

- Midway...

...chapter 1.

Look, I'm trying, OK?

It's just f***ing thick and difficult.

Optimism, but she's in a crisis.

- Yes.

That's not possible at the same time.

- Of course it's...

Sexual es...

...capades.

Benjamin.

- Right. Benjamin.

Who becomes seedy

because of unrequited love.

Excessive sex.

- Suicide.

How's it possible

that you two are so different?

Look at those shoes.

Look at those shoes.

- What about them?

Ems.

Contradiction.

- Contradictio in terminis.

What?

- That you have... contradiction.

"And afterwards, on the same day,

in a caf in Heeg.

I hear my mother's voice.

Oh, death, thou art truth.

Closer to you."

That's written by Reve.

I'm here with Brigitte Hooijmakers,

the writer of "The Longing".

"The Longing" is your first novel.

A huge success.

In one sentence:

What is "The Longing" about?

It's about Leontien.

- Leonie.

You can remember one thing, can't you?

Just the name.

- It's about Leonie.

She's in a crisis.

She's going through difficult times.

She has excessive sex.

- What kind of crisis?

Just existential crisis.

Just one notion.

Just existential crisis.

- Not 'just'. And sit up straight.

Sit down.

- But she's slouching.

Know what? Do it yourself,

if you have all the answers.

Idiot.

- Idiot?

Come on. She'd barely said a sentence

and you're picking on her.

Never mind then.

Who wants more wine?

- I do.

Brigitte, come back.

- Where's the wine?

OK.

Unrequited love.

Emotional isolation.

- Existential crisis.

Suicide.

- Chuiside.

No, not 'chuiside' Suicide.

- Suicide.

Hey, Herman. No need to get up.

Don't be so nervous.

The Amstel Hotel.

Know how expensive that is?

In my day...

- In your day everything was better.

When writers still wrote

with pen and ink.

Have some faith in your sons.

Observation.

Peeping into people's bedrooms.

Pregnant, giving birth.

Don't keep it in.

What if they mention masturbation?

- As I said:
emotional isolation.

With pride we present to you

the writer of this magnificent debut:

Brigitte Hooijmakers.

Good afternoon.

That music was their idea.

So this is it. My first one.

I was pregnant with it for five years,

not nine months.

Let's not talk about the delivery.

I thought we were having a small party...

...but Marc and Bo said

it had to be this way and here.

Well, like, they know best.

At least, that's what they think.

A number of you received

and read the book earlier.

I'm available for all your questions.

The lady over there.

Why did you feel the need

to write this book, madam?

You can call me Brigitte.

Well, the need...

It was a story that was deep inside of me.

And that had to be told.

I actually, like, couldn't keep it

inside of me.

I couldn't keep it inside of me.

Theo?

- Mrs. Hooijmakers, I read it...

...and there's something voyeuristic

about it. I mean that in a positive sense.

How do you see that?

Well...

You know...

I wrote this. I leave it up

to other people to judge it.

What was most important to me...

...was depicting the existential crisis

of my main character Leontien.

Leann.

Leann.

This is it for now.

There will be more time later

to take photos and ask questions.

Thank you.

Very good.

One thing's for sure: He can't even

boil an egg without his wife.

The literary world gathered

in the prestigious Amstei Hotel...

...for the presentation of the novel

"The Longing".

The spotlight was on newcomer

Brigitte Hooijmakers.

You look great.

She looked stunning

in her Mart Visser dress.

Nice that a writer can be well-dressed

after all.

Renting the Amstel Hotel for a first novel

is quite something.

I haven't read it yet, but...

- Too thick for you.

True. I don't like thick books.

But fair is fair: that woman looks like

she can go straight onto the catwalk.

I was blown away by that dress.

A gorgeous Mart Visser dress.

Queen Maxima has worn those heels before.

They looked good on her.

Do they say anything about the book?

- A book?

Did you talk to Herman?

- On the phone.

He's thrilled he doesn't have

to participate in this farce.

Three sentences and I was on the phone

for 30 minutes.

Hey,Bo.

Scenario 2.

What do we say to dad?

It was either this or go bankrupt, right?

Yeah.

- Come on, sweetheart, let it go.

Go for it and surrender.

It'll be fine.

- Yeah, that's what you're like.

Footloose and fancy-free.

Lover after lover.

I'm just not like that.

- No, you're into happily ever after.

That's why you divorced.

Did you finish it?

It would be nice...

- I'm trying.

Know how f***ing thick it is?

I have to look up ten words

on every page.

Don't worry, it's fine.

Plenty of coverage,

the numbers are promising.

You know the themes,

you know how it ends.

But this is what it's all about.

- I'm nervous enough, thanks.

On channel 1, dad.

Or isn't that what you wanted to ask?

Nien, it's on 1.

Listen, Bo, I read it again this week

and discovered all sorts of new things.

It has an incredible maturity

and profundity.

I had my doubts about you two

having my instincts about books.

But this novel proves it.

Proud, proud, proud.

- Hear what your mom says?

Dad, we have to go in now.

Enjoy.

- OK. Bye, dad.

So there they were. In the acclaimed

cultural talk show of the Netherlands.

Boudewijn felt mostly pride.

He had succeeded in presenting

a masterpiece to a large audience...

...in the most conspicuous manner.

But Marc was struck by terror again.

Publishing House Goudemondt was,

in front of a million viewers...

...having a shoe salesgirl

represent herself...

...as a serious writer.

Questioned by the most popular interviewer

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