The Girl

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- Where are you going?

- Africa.

Africa? Oh, my...

I'll clean you up a little

and then give you your shot.

All right...

Is that okay?

Good girl...

Here...

THE GIRL:

Chiguma...

Tabora...

Dar es Salaam...

Massasi.

Hey, are you packing already?

- You're going to bring all that?

- Yeah.

Well, she's ten.

Or rather, she will be ten this winter,

so she's nine and a half.

I see...

You couldn't possibly

have told us this earlier?

Is there...

any kind of flexibility here?

We've made plans, you see.

I understand.

Fine. Goodbye.

Who was it?

- How did it go?

- She didn't have any other plans.

She said she'd be happy to come.

But I don't know...

- How did she sound?

- Good.

She seemed happy.

- What about swimming lessons?

- They can take her.

Should we go ahead and do it?

Even though it feels terrible...

Maybe we should cancel the whole

thing? And stay home?

We could try to go back home sooner.

And she'll be able

to come along next year.

Listen...

What?

We're finally going to do something.

Something real.

I can't stand living

in this cramped little world.

Stop it! That's not going to work.

- You're too little.

- Too little for what?

It's not our call,

SIDA makes the rules.

There are so many children

in need there, we can't let them down.

They don't even have water.

Children are dying every day.

Don't you think we should go there

and help them. Save them?

I bet you and Anna will have

a great time together this summer.

- I don't even know her.

- Not yet, but you will.

And then there's your swimming

lessons. That's fun.

- I can take care of myself.

- That's impossible, and you know it.

Right?

Next year's different,

then you can come along too.

Hey...

Look at me. Come on...

Guess where I went to swimming school?

Nowhere.

My mom taught me herself,

at the lake nearby our house.

I was so scared of water

when I was a little kid.

We're leaving tomorrow.

You do understand that, don't you?

Hey!

I don't think there's anything

in particular here.

I put the spare keys in this bowl...

Petter, you've got your bag, right?

There we were,

in the middle of the Atlantic,

and the surface

was all smooth, like a mirror.

The sky kind of melted straight

into the sea, if you know what I mean.

It was totally still.

Silent. Not so much as a breeze.

When you swim under water you see

the boat, like, all razor-sharp.

And you know that the ocean floor

is thousands of meters below you.

Doesn't that sound awesome?

Hang on, I'll show you...

Where the hell did he go? Here.

Claes.

Claes Curman. He lives in Danderyd.

He looks kind of sulky there,

but he's got charm.

He wanted me to go sailing with him...

But no, I didn't feel like it.

I need to put myself first now.

I've got my own life.

- Hi there.

- Hi.

Hi...

Hi.

- Weren't you going to Africa?

- No.

Well, my parents are taking us

to Legoland this summer.

All right, everybody over here.

I'm Ann Brtemark

and some of you know me already.

Hopefully, you won't have

to come back next summer as well.

We're going to work

real hard all summer.

And you'll all have

to jump off the high-dive.

- No!

- Oh, yes indeed.

Look... look at me.

Okay, let's practice jumping.

Did everybody hear that?

Next...

Next...

- Go on!

- Next!

Go on!

Hello there, paleface.

Not so fast... Come here.

Well?

- Nisse would a sailor be...

- No, do the dance, too.

Nisse would a sailor be

And set off for Jamaica

Filled a ship with bananas did he

And played the balalaika

Great!

So your aunt's here now, is she?

Gunnar and I were just saying that you

could have stayed here, you know.

Now that this happened...

Your parents were so lucky

that she was available.

I guess she's on vacation.

Here you go.

- What does she do for a living?

- Nothing, I think.

Imagine not having to work...

- We went to Morocco once.

- A man offered 20 camels for Mom!

So... why didn't

you get to go with them?

- I was too little.

- I agree.

You look like you're from Biafra, too.

They didn't go to Biafra.

- Did you wet your pants?

- I washed the car, like you told me to.

I meant the car, not your crotch.

Hurry up and change, it's almost 12:30.

And my salon's off limits while

we're away, Kristina. Is that clear?

Ever had a real boyfriend?

Have you?

Maybe I have.

You told me you couldn't catch a guy.

Because you're too fat.

Things change...

My cousin's coming next week.

- Gisela?

- Yeah, all the way from Stockholm.

She's had lots of boyfriends.

One of them had a car.

You can blow-dry my hair now.

Go on!

Tina couldn't come over,

she had to clean her closet.

- Why don't you call that cute boy?

- What cute boy?

The one over at the farm, who lives

with his dad. He seems really nice.

- Ola?

- Yeah.

I don't even know him.

Besides, he's stupid

and smells like a barnyard.

Like a barnyard?

Really?

- I don't know...

- Hey, give people a chance.

So, what does he smell like?

Hello there. Great, come on in.

Did you ride your bike?

Let's see... There she is.

Hi.

Hi.

I'll go make some lemonade.

No thanks, we're fine.

We have... lemonade left.

And then there's Russian, too,

but it makes your mouth hurt...

Yeah, everything's fine.

She takes her swimming lessons

and she's been really good.

Right, but you haven't been eaten

by wild beasts so far, have you?

Give me a break,

I am an adult, after all.

Yeah... Sure, hang on. Bye.

Hello. Hi, Mom.

I can swim 25 meters.

I can swim 25 meters.

Black pudding, I think.

Yes.

Bye-bye. Listen, Mom...

No, it's nothing.

Yeah.

Yes, I'm sure.

Everything's fine.

Bye-bye.

Can you really handle alcohol?

I can't handle much of anything.

But a person's

entitled to have fun, right?

- Where are you going?

- I...

I figured I'd go into town, okay? Bye.

Hey, sweetie-pie...

Come here.

Look who's here.

My little niece...

I have my ups and downs...

Yeah.

Dear Claes, I love you.

I'd love to go sailing. Call me.

''Sincerely, Anna''

You'll be all right, won't you?

Promise?

You know what it's like when your gut

tells you something's meant to be...

- Promise you won't tell Mom and Dad?

- I promise.

Good.

You understand how important it is

for me to take this chance, don't you?

And I'll be back,

I won't be away that long.

- Hey... You've got to be strong.

- Yes.

- Can you be strong?

- Yes.

- Let me hear you say it.

- I'm strong.

Bye. See you later.

Cheers...

''December 28.

Motala General Hospital.''

''A baby girl. Height: 48 cm.''

- Well, how about this?

- No, that.

You like that one...

Pink might be prettier on a little

girl like you. Don't you think so?

No? You like red better. I see...

- Here, I'll give you the tester.

- Thank you.

Well, hello...

- Nisse would a sailor be...

- No, not here. Sit down.

People might think you're crazy.

- Where's your aunt?

- At the post office.

- Want a ride home?

- No thanks, we'll take the bus.

All right. Bye.

Gunnar...

Anna said it was all right.

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