This is your fault.
No, no, no! No, let goof me! - Shut up!
The solicitor heard it from the Lenaerts family.
So I'm afraid the information is true.
Firstly, I'm going to have your child. Secondly, I never want to see you again.
I know someone who... - Why?
You didn't want it.
Are you going to look for a father for the child?
There's one on the list that isn't. Marchoul.
He's not a Fleming.
We're leaving! - I will...
...get you!
Jump off. That's it.
I'm going to throw you out. - I'm leaving.
Helena...
I'm the one who should be in there.
I killed that Kraut!
Fire!
Grandma?
Alessandra. - Grandma. Are you OK?
I fell over.
How long have you been lying here? - Since yesterday evening.
I'm not in pain but I couldn't get up.
I didn't panic, I knew you were going to come round.
Help me. Put me to bed.
It's OK, it's OK.
Sure I don't need to phone the doctor? - Yes, I want to rest.
Anyway, he's coming round to see me this afternoon. You can go.
Have you had enough of me? - I want to be alone.
Isn't it time you told me more about your secret laboratory?
Leave me alone, Alessandra.
I'd like to see her again, Alessandra. - No, no, no.
Can't you tell her it's me?
No, no exceptions. She had a fall last night and wants to rest.
Hello, miss. - This is Helena's granddaughter, Thieu.
Whose? - Helena's.
Come on, Thieu.
- Hold on.
Shouldn't I freshen up a bit first?
You still don't get it, do you? You're filthy dirty.
Maybe she won't be interested in me. That's possible too.
Maybe she's got someone else. - When I hear what she wrote,
I'm certain she's waiting for you behind that door.
Yeah. Maybe you're right.
Bloody hell.
Come on. Quick, quick! - Hold on, hold on.
George.
Thieu?
Bloody hell, Thieu.
Come on.
She's really gone downhill. - Yes. That's old age.
My grandma deserves better.
That's true. But your grandma was no saint.
I'm tempted to say, "Thank God!"
Are you going to just stand there or are you going to sit down?
I'm going to wait outside.
What d'you mean, she wasn't a saint?
He seems to retreat further from the world every day.
You grandma has her dark side like the rest of us.
So what's wrong with her then? - Nothing's wrong with her.
But she's been through things it's better not to go through.
Such as? - No, no. It's up to her to tell you.
She's not saying anything. She's getting me to delve into Alfred's life
but doesn't say a word about her own.
She suffered a lot of hurt. And she's still suffering.
George! - Hello, Mrs De Keyser.
George! Oh, you're back! - No, I'm just pretending to be.
Isn't Helena home? - Of course she is. It's Christmas Eve.
You can stay to dinner if you like.
Thanks, but I don't want to bother you.
I'm filthy dirty. I don't want to ruin your dinner.
You can freshen up a bit and I'll give you one of Henri's old suits.
Eh? Henri!
I hope you like chicken. I've done chicken and croquettes.
You like croquettes, don't you?
I've been thinking about nothing else for months.
Henri! Look who's here. - Mrs De Keyser...
We'll have to lay an extra place.
George? Good grief! Back from your holiday!
This calls for a drink. Come on.
What a surprise!
Mother, just look who's here! George.
We've got to celebrate this.
I'll hang some clothes over the chair for you.
Thank you, Mrs De Keyser.
Call me Germaine.
Thank you, Germaine.
Isn't the chicken a bit dry?
Maybe I should have left it in the oven for a bit longer.
Or used a bit more gravy.
It's delicious, Mrs De Keyser. - I couldn't concentrate on the food.
I kept thinking of the camps. It's so sad about Alfred.
The food's much better here than in the camps, eh?
Did you have chicken and croquettes there, George?
As I told Mrs De Keyser... - Germaine!
It wasn't so bad. - Oh?
Were you well looked after there, then?
I'm really pleased to be allowed to spend Christmas Eve with you all.
By the way, Helena...
I've just dropped Thieu off at Charlotte's place.
Thieu, the lad who wrote the letters? - She was looking good.
And she was very pleased to see him.
Well, there are two people that are quite happy, then.
You're looking good too.
I'd almost forgotten how beautiful you are.
You've become even more beautiful.
You're right, George. I think so too.
My daughter grows more beautiful every day.
Well... Here.
That'll keep us warm later,
when we go to midnight mass. - I'm not going to midnight mass.
Another one.
To beauty.
To chicken with croquettes.
George.
How would you like to come and work here, at the distillery?
Uh... Yes... Yes! I would like that very much.
Not instead of Alfred, I hope? - No.
What else are you going to do? There's a war on.
I don't want to get in anyone's way. - We need all the help we can get.
I'll think about it first. - You do that. But not for too long.
Midnight mass is calling. Are you coming to mass or not?
Helena? - No, Mum.
Put your hat on, Henri, it's cold. And we're going to be late.
See you later.
Helena... - George...
You go first.
George, you have to tell me everything.
What about? - You know what about.
What happened in Falingbostel? How did Alfred die?
It was an accident.
So tell me about the accident.
We were building a temporary bridge.
They asked me to choose some people to do it.
I asked Marchoul, Thieu, Alfred and a few others.
There was a pulley hanging next to it and it suddenly came loose
and was heading straight for me. Alfred jumped between it and me.
George!
He tried to say something, but...
Did he say anything?
Yes.
What?
That I had to take good care of you.
And then Helena took possession of George.
As if he were Alfred. But he wasn't Alfred.
She was in love with him though, eh? - She was in love with a dead man.
And George reminded her of that dead man every day.
I think she soon regretted it but...
Mr De Keyser had taken George on in the business straight away.
This is where it all happens.
Come with me. It's OK.
Here. Try this and tell me what it tastes like.
It's rather strong. A bit too strong for me, maybe.
But very... very warm? Warm?
My dear George, I have to conclude that you don't have a refined sense of taste.
This is almost pure alcohol. It's rubbish.
But it doesn't matter. We've got enough people with a sense of taste. Come on.
What the business needs is men who aren't afraid of work.
Helena will make the drink
but we need people to sell the bottles.
And I'll soon have to start thinking about my successor.
Watch out here.
Of course, you're wondering why I'm thinking of you.
Well, I'm going to tell you.
You're the first person in months to make my daughter smile.
Well, what d'you think? Are you coming to work for us or not?
A good salary, with board and lodging on top.
And if it works out, we can always discuss the future.
Maybe it's all going a bit fast?
But there, what the hell?
And then he moved in with Grandma? - Yes.
Yes, it all happened very quickly. - But they loved each other, eh?
I don't know much about that, child. There was a war on.
People behave differently during a war.
Have you told him yet? That you're pregnant?
No. We have to have sex again before I do that.
It would be very fast and a bit of a colncidence right after the first time.
Things aren't that passionate between us after that one time.
You have to give it time. Those lads have been through all kinds of stuff.
They aren't their normal selves.
I can feel Thieu isn't either.
He's been lying next to me for a whole week without laying a finger on me.
George sleeps in the room next to mine.
I keep hoping he's going to creep in, but...
You creep in then!
Louise!
Louise.
Louise! - Daddy!
No. No, no, no!
MOTHER OF JESUS ORPHANAGE
I'm going to come and see you every week from now on, Louise.
Sometimes even a couple of times a week.
OK?
And if something's up, ask the nuns to phone me.
At De Keyser. 23181.
You'll remember that, eh?
De Keyser 23181.
I'm not going to ask twice. - Over my dead body.
I'm not stamping this, I don't work for the Germans.
You're already working for the Germans, Frans.
What you earn as finance officer is paid by the Germans.
What does Mr De Keyser say about it? - That's immaterial.
Mr De Keyser appolnted me to take over his jobs.
Stamp the documents, now. - No way.
Then I'll do it myself. - That's illegal.
What are you going to do? Complain to the Germans?
Come on, George. Apologise.
You have to leave Frans's stamps alone.
I won't do it again, Frans.
I still think you're collaborating. - Thanks, Frans.
What are you planning to do?
What? - This is schnapps.
Yeah. - Schnapps, George.
We normally make genever at De Keyser, not schnapps.
It's like you just said. Normally we don't make it.
That's true, but times aren't normal.
If you want your factory to carry on running, you'll have to make it.
I'll decide what's best for the factory.
I'll cover for you this time. - What has Frans just told me?
Has schnapps been made here?
Not a single drop of schnapps will leave this distillery.
If you interfere in my distilling one more time, I'll throw you out!
I employed George. I'd appreciate it if you would treat him with respect.
I decide what's distilled here. And I'd appreciate it if he didn't interfere.
You're too hard on him. And yourself. Give yourself a break.
Aren't you coming in for a swim? The water's fantastic!
It's far too cold. - Cowards! Some soldiers you are!
I don't understand women.
They tell each other more than they tell us. It's like they don't trust us.
Everything I say to Helena just bounces off her.
When I look in her eyes there's nothing there.
If I say anything about it, she doesn't even answer.
I don't know any more what I have to do to make her love me.
I've still got it.
What have you still got? - Alfred's letter. I've got it.
His last letter, which you wouldn't give him an envelope for. I've got it.
It was in his pocket when he died.
Why did you keep it? - D'you want it?
I've got it, you can have it. I'll give it to you. I've got it. You can have it.
Then you can give it to Helena and she'll love you again.
Don't you get it? There's a herb in it.
I won't tell you what it is but it's a herb that grows
in a cool forest soll rich in humus.
Say you found it. It's an aphrodisiac. A love herb.
Bloody hell, Thieu. - Say you found it.
You've lied to her before. It wouldn't be the first time, eh?
That really cuts me up. You know that, I told you.
I want to move on. We have to move on. I don't want to be reminded of my lies.
OK. No problem. That's fine.
I'll keep it then. No problem. You can't have it.
I've got it. But I'm not going to give it to you because it's mine.
You're going to doone thing for me. Burn that letter.
OK?
It's part of Alfred and Alfred has to go.
Alfred hasn't gone yet but Alfred has to go. OK?
See. He's complaining to Thieu.
I'm glad. He needn't think I'm going to fall for him.
But the lad is in love with you, Helena. - But I'm not with him.
But he can be my child's father.
I'll help him to be a good father. - When are you going to tell him?
Here you are.
I'm pregnant, George.
We're going to have a baby.
Really? - You're going to be a dad!
That's fantastic!
Come here, pal!
Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
Grandma was poorly.
What's the matter? - Nothing.
Are you in a bad mood? - No more than usual.
You and Grandma have managed to block the sale of DKD yet again.
Our lawyer, your Italian boyfriend... - Ex-boyfriend.
Your ex-boyfriend has offered to resign but I refuse to take him up on it.
Cos I still believe in the sale. I must be the only one who looks at the books
and sees that things are going from bad to worse.
I just asked if anything was the matter. - No, nothing.
Everything is fine, everything is OK.
Is everything OK? - Yes. Everything is OK.
And is it OK that your daughter is pregnant?
What did you say? - You heard.
Who by? - Ex-boyfriend. Ex-lawyer.
What are you going to do? Keep it? - Yes, of course.
Are you? Oh sweetheart... Oooh!
I'm going to help you! Oooh!
I'm so happy!
How d'you feel? - Hungry.
That's good, sweetheart, that's a good sign.
Let's goout for a meal. What do you fancy?
I don't mind.
Ital... - Not Italian!
Oh, it's wonderful. Come here. Come here.
What are you dolng?
I'm making a cradle. For my son.
Well, I'm just trying it out.
I never expected you to do something like that.
Didn't you? What did you expect?
I didn't realise you were so good with your hands!
What should your father say to that? Eh?
Here, try this. It's delicious. - I've got my own. Mum!
He'll come back, sweetheart. - Mario?
Yes. - I don't want him back.
Men are idiots. They are.
Hey, Mum. You and Beppe?
Was it love? - Yes.
Your father and I were deeply in love. It was like a fairy tale to start with.
But everything comes to an end.
Eat up. Isn't it nice? - And Grandpa and Grandma?
Charlotte doesn't seem to want to talk about it.
They were very fond of each other. But they didn't always agree.
Of course, it's not easy if one of them is in prison.
Alessandra, sweetheart...
Waiter, a bottle of white wine, please. Thank you.
That's your second one.
They're only little bottles, Alessandra, and we've got something to celebrate.
Goon, eat up. - OK.
You've got to eat well now, for the little one.
I'm telling you, he'll come back.
I really don't want him back. You can have him if you like.
Don't say that. Come on, come here. Come here.
Come here, come here. I love you, I love you, baby.
I love you.
It's incredible how a ray of sunshine can do stiff bones a power of good.
And your lungs. You're almost speaking normally again.
I mean, I understand what he said. - It was about time.
What? - He's teasing you, Mum.
Spare the rod, spoll the child. - What's that supposed to mean?
It means I love you, Germaine.
Who are you saying that to?
I'm didn't say it, your father did, to your mother.
And I'm saying it to you.
Since George has been with us, De Keyser has been dolng slightly better.
So has Helena, eh child?
I've got something to tell you.
Goon, tell us then.
I'm pregnant.
You can't be, you're not married.
It's due in September.
So it was conceived in December. - December, yes.
You didn't waste much time, did you?
What will people say?
We will have a beautiful, intimate wedding.
In a wedding dress with a fat stomach? Honestly child!
What d'you think it's going to be? A boy or a girl?
It doesn't matter. We're both very happy.
What are you going to call it? - We haven't thought about that yet.
If it's a boy...
What? - I'll call him Alfred.
Burger King or McDonalds? - Burger King.
Coca Cola or Pepsi? - Pepsi.
Sprouts or red cabbage? - Sprouts.
Children or no children? - No children.
Barcelona or Benidorm? - Barcelona.
That's a strike!
That's fine. That's fine, it's beautiful.
The top is perfect. She can take it off.
But here, it should be a bit looser here.
So her stomach isn't noticeable. People don't need to see it.
People won't see it. - Won't they?
What d'you mean? There's the priest, the witnesses, the family.
I'm not getting married in church.
George, what d'you think of the dress? Show George, so that he can...
So that he can have a good look at it.
Well, George. What d'you think?
Fancy saying she's not getting married in church. You can't do that.
There's a war on, Mum. You can do anything when there's a war on.
I just want to invite two people. Charlotte and Thieu.
What d'you think of the dress, George?
What do you think of it?
I've told your father till I'm blue in the face that I'm not going to sell.
Anyway, I'm pleased to hear he's fine.
He's an honourable man.
Almost as honourable as me.
I hope you've inherited that from him. - Like father, like son, Mr De Keyser.
Don't forget to give him my regards, will you? Have we finished?
Or is there something else you want to say?
Well, Mr De Keyser.
I don't know if you know but I was in a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany
with George Reeckmans and Alfred Lenaerts, who you know.
Well, knew. Both of them. - No, I know them.
If it were up to George Reeckmans, I'd still be there now.
We were all in the same boat. George, Alfred and me.
Except that the Germans loved George.
They tended to almost think of him as one of their own.
Fleming policy, Mr De Keyser.
One day, George says
that the camp commander has ordered a bridge to be built.
Everything went well.
Until the twoof them started again.
Alfred and George argued about nothing.
If I'm not mistaken, your daughter was going to marry Alfred.
But George didn't like it. I think he was jealous.
And resentful. So he kept picking on Alfred.
One wrong word and there was a fight.
But this time he hit Alfred really hard.
And Alfred was lying on the ground. But that wasn't enough.
There was no stopping him. I was alone.
The Germans just let them get on with it.
Anyway, as I was there, I tried to save Alfred.
But George prevented me.
So that's what you came to tell me? That George killed Alfred?
And that you're a hero? - Sometimes the truth hurts.
Get out of my house.
Get out of my house!
Bloody hell! Get out, I said! Get out! Now!
You manipulating bastard! Get out! - Calm down, Henri.
Goon, go! Goon, get out!
Get out!
It isn't very serious but I want you to stay in bed for three days.
I haven't got time for that. I'll rest when I'm dead.
Three days. I'll be back. - But...
If you're ill, you're ill, Mr De Keyser.
What did the doctor say? - Nothing. I threw him out.
Grandma, he wants to help you. You've got to learn to accept your illness.
My illness yes, the lies no. - Whose lies?
Those people only say what suits them.
Are you sure you always tell the truth?
Or are there things you're keeping dark too?
Where is Martine? - In the kitchen.
I hope she's not dolng any cooking.
I've spent all day drinking, celebrating the fact I'm going to change my ways.
You've said that three times already. - Yes, but I mean it now.
Yes, Mum! I mean it.
But don't think I'm going to take less of an interest in the business
because I'm a granny now.
Mum, I don't want my child to call you Granny.
Grandma then? - No, I'm Grandma.
But... - What? I'll be dead anyway?
Is that you wanted to say? The name will be available again soon?
Have you got your eye on it? D'you want it?
No, Mum. I don't. I didn't mean it like that.
I'm Grandma and noone else. - Nana then?
Happy now? We're both happy, eh?
I'm so happy, Alessandra. For the first time in ages.
Nana is happy!
- Mum!
Were you happy when you became pregnant with Mum?
Say it, Mum.
You sometimes ask very awkward questions, Alessandra.
Answer, Mum. - Yes, I was happy, Martine.
It was the happiest day of my life, Martine.
Waiter.
Another bottle.
You're looking good. - Thanks. I feel good too.
What's up, aren't you enjoying it?
Yes, but sometimes I'm ashamed of being happy.
Why and with regard to who? - To Alfred.
Alfred is dead. - With regard to Alfred's memory.
Happiness isn't something to be ashamed of.
You don't turn it away if it knocks on your door, do you?
I've got to get back to work.
Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Louis. And Uncle Manille.
And Emile and Rogier and Alfonsien and Irène.
And Albert. Marie Josè.
I would have preferred to throw a big party too but Helena doesn't want one.
What are they all going to say?
We were invited to Bernard and Marie Claire's wedding.
You were ill for a week afterwards. The vol-au-vents were delicious.
There's a war on. People who don't understand are stupid.
Why does it all have to be on such a small scale?
Because that's what Helena wants.
If you love your daughter, that's what you want too.
OK.
Then it'll be the best small party ever given.
For God's sake! Wouldn't it have been better to have hired a hall?
This is the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to, Mrs De Keyser.
Look how happy our daughter is. What more could we want?
Oh, Germaine. Here, darling.
No, no, no! - Goon!
I'm very happy today.
Normally, that never happens to me but I'm very happy, I think.
Me too.
He was a fine person.
But George is too!
Are you certain about that? - Certain?
What is certain?
Is a tree a tree?
You're never really certain, but I'm very certain.
I think.
Come here, darling. - Henri, you've had too much to drink!
Behave! - I haven't done that enough.
Get off!
Hey, guys. Don't you know anything livelier?
This is more like a funeral. - Henri!
I want jazz. Jazz!
I want to dance! - No! Leave me alone!
Come on, everyone!
This is fun!
Henri, the doctor said not to exert yourself!
I'm not exerting myself. My legs are moving really easily.
And stop laughing like an idiot!
Laughing is good for you, Germaine! You should try it.
All change! - All change!
Suddenly he was lying on the ground and wasn't moving.
But he died well. He died really happy.
Ladies, the cemetery shuts at 9o'clock. Could you hurry up?
We're open again tomorrow morning from 8o'clock.
I hope, sir, that it'll be some time before I come back here.
Ignorant pig!
Here, did you see that? Heather, did you see it?
Don't you remember, Martine? I once made some lemonade
for Alessandra from heather and apples.
I called it a Sandra.
Oh yes, with ice, eh? - No, Martine, it wasn't with ice.