Tie pohjoiseen Page #2

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I sang a lot. I hymmed.

You did what?

- Hummed. You know.

Look! What do we have here?

Look, a new travel companion. A cat!

You'll wait in the car

as we visit the relatives.

Paakku? Have you told them

that we're coming?

In Finland you can visit relatives

just by knocking at the door.

That's how it is.

Yes?

Is your surname Paakku?

- Yes.

Do you have a wife called Minna?

- Yes.

Leo, Minna's father.

Timo, Minna's brother.

Sorry, but what is this?

- We've come for a visit. Here you are.

Minna's sleeping.

- Darling, who's there?

Minna!

- Your father came for a visit.

We have a cat with us, in the car.

So if you don't want the fish,

the cat can always eat it.

What can we cook from this?

- I don't know.

I hope we didn't disturb you

with our surprise visit.

No. - We were just screwing

for the first time in six months.

That's why Pertti is sulking.

- I'm not sulking.

Okay...

Why did you have to...

- It's true, isn't it?

When we talk about this,

it should remain between you and me.

Does it matter, who we talk about it?

You somehow look familiar, Timo.

- Okay

You do look alike.

- Do we?

Hey... Is this Anja?

- Yes.

Her mother.

Your mother I met after her.

Help yourselves.

We've grown the tarragons ourselves.

It's organic...

- Not a lot for me.

So... How...

I guess you've been in contact

trough Facebook. - Yes, little.

Father must've been a bit drunk.

- A bit.

You promised to visit sometime.

- And now I did.

What... what have you been doing for living?

I was a human statue for a while.

You know, with calcified hands and face.

It was a wonderful job,

but I had to end it quite quickly.

Why? - It's Impossible

to be still for long time.

Then, after the tsunami,

I moved to a monastery.

You're a monk?

- Well...

It must be an interesting occupation.

Or a spiritual... position.

At least more interesting than my job.

Pertti works as an interviewer

in a labor hire company.

As a recruiter.

I'm like a headhunter.

- What?

Head... Okay.

So, how's...

A monk needs to very disciplined...

Not nearly as much being a statue.

But I just do the laundry there

and clean and bake...

bread for the boys.

You can't make me into a monk...

Eat.

Do you remember when father left?

No. I was maybe two or three.

I remember that it was empty and

mother was watching me play on the floor.

And she couldn't play the piano. I wanted

to hear the songs father used to play.

I remember him having hair

on his face and hands.

And he smelt bad.

Why did he even make a child

if he wasn't going to be around?

Maybe he was just horny.

Pertti and I have a difficult

period going on right now.

So don't wonder if things are a bit strange.

- Okay

I have a feeling that

Pertti doesn't appreciate me.

Why not?

Pertti would like me to

be cheerful and social.

Like some goddamn...

public relations manager.

That's probably his dream.

But I can't help it for being what I am.

Minna, she's the quiet type.

Maybe you've noticed.

Spends all of her days online.

Almost nights as well.

My job's more social...

so we have at times,

how do you say it...

communication problems.

Could you please?

- What?

The whisk there.

- Oh, sure.

It's from oak sprigs, self frozen.

It's organic.

Dear god it feels god!

Really good!

We installed these rain like showers.

Minna had seen them in some decor magazine.

I thought it might become expensive

but if it makes her happy why not.

As a little girl I dreamed that

he'd remember my birthdays.

He never did.

Sometimes mom lied that

he had phoned when I was sleeping.

At Christmas I'd get a present that

was supposed to be from him

but it was wrapped on the same paper

as every other present.

I thought he'd send something

when he asked for the address.

I didn't think that he'd dare to come by.

At school I'd tell he's a musician

who's always on tour.

In third grade they started to ask

what band he was in.

I didn't even know what country he was in.

I hit one guy so hard he lost a teeth.

I couldn't hit another person.

I guess I'm the type that

can't hold her own.

Depressed in spring and fall.

And a bit in summer and winter as well.

Did it feel good?

- Apparently.

Minna, here you are.

Happy birthday.

My birthday is in february.

- No worries.

I'm just well in advance.

- Thank you.

Would like me to open it?

- No, no.

Life really starts at 40.

You aren't quite as confused

as before that.

Minna!

- Excuse me.

Minna! Come here, Skype!

It's your Skype.

- Did it feel good?

What's here...

It's great that someone calls her.

Frankly she's pretty asocial.

Compared to me, she's asocial.

Pour one for me.

Father!

- What?

Father!

These chairs, they aren't

really made for sitting.

Thank you.

I need to make a call.

Who do you have there?

- Surprise guest.

Hi! is it Anja?

Hi! Yes, it's me.

You haven't changed at all.

- Thanks, where are you?

Near Miami.

Earl, my husband,

owns a hardware store chain here.

Of course. You're looking good.

Oh, thank you.

What do you do?

Well, nothing.

- Okay...

So you have 'downshifted'?

- All my life.

Listen, Leo... - Yes, yes, I love you

from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you... But it's really great that

you've come to see Minna.

She has really missed you.

- Yes, maybe it was the time for it.

So, were you ever imprisoned?

- No, well...

It worked out fine.

I play golf! Can you imagine, me,

an old commie.

Once I nearly missed out on getting a visa

because of running after

those men during studies.

It's at ten o'clock in the morning.

Take a cab, I'll pay.

Thank you! Do you the piece?

Of course you do.

I'll make it to the evening show.

Okay, thanks.

This is how it goes sometimes. Bye.

So you're into music?

- You could say that, yes.

What kind of music do you like?

It varies.

Lately I've been listening to

Wagner and Schubert. - Okay.

Where do they come from?

They are composers.

But what kind of music?

- Classical.

Classical?

I'm more into the heavier stuff.

Would you like to hear?

- Sure, if you have more whisky.

I have something better.

Come.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

- This is lovely.

How was mother?

- Just fine.

It's pretty confusing...

this Skype.

- It is.

Pirkko's horse stables?

Are you going for a ride?

No... an old acquaintance

At Kemijrvi?

- So it seems.

This is intense!

At gigs... they have bloody

sheep heads in pikes

and naked woman with hoods on the heads

hanging from crosses.

Minna doesn't like at all when I smoke

but I have to relax somehow!

I feeling really good, hoh!

I feel free.

Are you feeling free?

- Sure.

Really, I mean it.

Are you feeling free?

Yes, yes.

- Dammit, more volume!

Now, Timo, now it comes!

Timo, now we love! I love the world!

I love you!

Timo, now we really love!

It's wonderful...

I cut mom's hair into a mohawk.

- Pretty wild.

Minna, call an ambulance!

- What is it? Calm down.

You calm down! My nose is broken!

It's not broken. Press here.

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