Ladies of Steel: Like There's No Tomorrow (2025) Movie Script
"Let's reach towards the sky!
Look, how..."
Maybe go the other way.
People are used to this here,
but there's a kindergarten over there.
-It is what it is. Let's move on.
-You're doing great!
LADIES OF STEEL
LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW
Let's do it a bit faster now.
We're speeding forward.
Pekka, that's awkward.
Stop ogling women.
22 centimetres.
Well, it's within the limit.
Wow, this looks good!
Well done, Elisabeth. Look, everyone.
What's this, then?
What have you given it?
Nothing.
You've watered it, right?
I don't know. Maybe I forgot.
Now you won't have a summer flower.
It's dead.
Remember what I said?
It all fell on deaf ears.
-Hello?
-It's Kanerva from the publishing house.
Do you hear me?
We always notify authors
when we must make room for new books.
I'm afraid we'll have to move
Free Girl books out of the warehouse.
Where?
They'll be pulped. Shredded.
Shredded?
The author can also redeem the books
for a small fee.
Oh, you're here.
I used the spare key. Look!
Look, what I brought you.
Plastic plants.
Completely maintenance-free.
I also brought you this. Look.
A feather duster. Cute, huh?
You can use this to...
-Yuck...
-This isn't working.
-What?
-This cooker isn't working.
Of course not. It's locked.
Locked?
So that you can't use it.
Go and eat in the dining room.
What am I supposed to do all day
if I can't even cook?
Mum, you can't live alone.
You keep falling over.
I fell once because the ground was icy.
That's right. Once is enough.
If you leave the hob on,
the whole place will burn down.
I don't want you to end up like Sylvi!
You need to accept the fact
that you're old.
I'm not that old.
Do you realise how lucky you were
to get this room?
These places are exclusive,
mother dear, but you got in!
Here's some yarn.
Make 20 pairs of socks for Roni's team's
bake sale, with the logo.
We've got to go! Jesus Christ!
Leave the yarn. Let's go.
Put your coat on.
-Mum, where's your co...
-No idea.
I'll take it.
See? You need constant supervision.
Don't make any rash decisions
in that state!
You're being hysterical.
Stay put. I'll come over.
Bloody hell!
Rosa dumped Bobbie,
probably because she had PMS.
What's the point?
She'll never find a better man.
Perhaps Rosa doesn't like him.
He's an HVAC engineer!
He was supposed to redo our kitchen.
Who's gonna do it now?
Can't she decide for herself?
It's a road to ruin if you let
immature brats like that decide.
Can we old people decide for ourselves?
No one can!
Do you have your wrist alarm?
Good. Keep it on, so I can track you.
To the second floor.
Here's your health insurance card.
Go through that door.
I've been here a hundred times.
You always get lost. Put your coat on!
-No need.
-It's drizzling!
I'll wait here in the car.
You left the door open!
So, what kind of symptoms
are you having?
I feel pressure in my chest,
I have trouble swallowing,
and I don't feel like doing anything.
Let's have a listen.
And breathe. Good.
Yeah, keep breathing.
Could it be gonorrhoea?
Nothing points to that.
I'm a writer. They say
a writer's lifestyle can lead to that.
-We need more tests.
-Acid reflux, then? Or colic?
It's a childhood disease.
Or agonophobia?
My head is awfully big.
Just a second. I'll consult
a more experienced colleague.
More experienced than you?
What are they, dead?
How's the situation?
It's not looking good.
Should we make a treatment plan?
I think it's too late.
Oh no. What did the tests reveal?
A huge tumour in the stomach.
She only has two weeks to live, max.
We can't take advantage of him
if they're no longer together.
Well, what do you think?
We need someone new.
Just Google some names.
HCA... or HVA... what was it?
Search using Bobbie's title.
She's back. Talk to you later!
Rosa knew very well
about the renovation.
I had told her that we relied on Bobbie...
It was Mirjami's time to go.
She's now in the Kingdom of Heaven,
in a much better place.
Her work here was done.
Already? No, no!
I'm not ready to go yet!
It's all right. Don't worry.
-We have plenty of time.
-No, we don't!
-Half an hour.
-No!
Hey, mind the door frame!
You'll scratch it.
What's going on?
And watch out for the...
For Christ's sake.
-Kerttu is moving in.
-Kerttu?
Sylvi's friend from the church.
-I know her. She's that awful...
-Hello!
That awfully nice person.
I'll rent her the back room.
Why?
Lads! Keep those filthy shoes
away from my rugs!
Take off your shoes, and some
other stuff, if you plan to come in.
The city will pay her rent.
As a bonus, there's meal service,
cleaning service, and physiotherapy.
Yes, for Kerttu.
They never check the names.
Okay, here you are.
I said "butter buns"!
I'm so sorry.
Shall I bake some right away? Yeah...
I thought you mentioned "meal service".
That food is shit.
Besides, Kerttu gets bored
if she can't potter about in the kitchen.
I need your car.
I have to retrieve my Free Girl books
before they're shredded.
Nobody's driven that car in years.
I went to see a doctor.
I had a health check on Wednesday.
The nurse said I was in excellent health
considering my age.
If you ignore my diabetes
and obstructive lung disease.
Great. I'm going to die.
We're all going to die.
I only have two weeks left.
A stomach tumour.
Oh my God.
Is that so?
Kerttu, put on your coat!
Grab my cane, the buns, and the cognac.
We're coming along.
We can't let a dying person go alone.
-You'd help me?
-Kerttu is a nurse.
-No, I'm an assistant verger.
-Close enough!
-Go get the keys! From the kitchen.
-What?
We need to hurry and start planning
the funeral.
Hymns, food...
But which priest will we choose?
I don't care! I won't be there.
Sylvi always said you're a whore
and whores don't get buried
in consecrated ground.
I said: "Nonsense.
Whores get buried there, too."
Inkeri, do you have a licence anymore?
I don't need a licence to drive.
-I'll take them all.
-There are 1,500 copies.
Hi.
The first edition sold like hot cakes,
but the second one, not so much.
It is what it is.
We should've marketed it.
Well, why didn't you?
You didn't want us to.
What do you mean?
You stressed
that you don't want any publicity.
Your daughter Maija told us
you wanted no TV interviews or anything.
Magazine ads don't sell books these days.
It all depends on author visibility.
Fucking Maija.
Are you taking them with you
in the coffin?
My life's work will not be shredded.
These books belong to people.
How much will you ask per copy?
A hundred euros?
That money would buy an amazing funeral!
Can you get me on TV?
This book is so old. It's too late.
I need to get on TV, right now.
One of our wellness writers
just died of an overdose.
They would've had a TV interview today.
This is the scariest thing ever.
Don't go, then.
I have to. I need to sell the books.
Welcome. I'll quickly go through
the broadcast with you.
This is a feel-good program me.
We won't talk about anything deep.
-We'll go live soon.
-Yes.
I'll tell the viewers about
your background,
how you published your
first book at the age of 70, and then...
A few minutes to air!
...we'll talk about what makes you happy.
You'll be an inspiring figure
and an example of the power of change.
Sit over there. You can take it easy.
Don't be nervous.
Whose phone is ringing?
Let's start the show.
Hi, Rosa. How are you?
I don't know. There must be
something wrong with me.
Bobbie and I are having a crisis, and...
I don't know what to do.
Leave him!
Sorry, madam. You need to end the call.
I kind of did.
But I miss him already...
That ship has sailed.
Just leave him and don't look back.
The broadcast is starting.
I thought I loved Tapio for 40 years
even though he was a violent despot.
He didn't hit me at first, either.
We really have to start now.
-We can't put this on air.
-Zoom in on Pietari.
?She's on the phone.
-We have to start!
Don't listen to your mum.
She doesn't understand love.
-We need to hang up now.
-Just cut him loose.
Hello and welcome to our show!
-I'm on TV. It's a live broadcast.
-Our guest today is Inkeri Ropponen.
The show is about to start.
She's best known
for her bold debut novel Free Girl.
I'm being interviewed.
I'll call you later.
Tell me when four is ready.
Cut to four, now. Graphic on.
Inkeri, what do your life and future
look like
now that Free Girl has been published?
Mum, Grandma is on TV.
The HVAC Association of Finland...
What? Is it a rerun?
No, a live broadcast.
Life? It's death that awaits.
AUTHOR INKERI ROPPONEN
I see.
Inkeri Ropponen...
-She's at the goddamn studio!
-Yeah.
If I was unhappy,
what advice would you give me?
What? Is she suddenly an expert?
Turn it off!
I guess you have to take into
consideration
what type of cancer it is
and how much you have to live...
It's very hard to be happy
if you have two weeks to live."
What is she talking about? Turn it off!
No. I want to see this.
What kind of positive
advice would you give...
-Did you know about this?
-No!
...to someone who's also dreaming
of a new beginning? Positive.
A frying pan.
Cast iron. Smack him in the head.
She's lost her marbles!
If freedom is not given to you,
you must take it.
But my time's not up yet.
Soon, I'll publish a sequel to Free Girl.
An autobiographical survival story.
From darkness to light
through the 1990s recession.
Awesome! This is great news...
Did she just say
she's gonna write a new book?
...to the fans of Free Girl.
And then, I'll travel to the Arctic Ocean
and...
throw myself into the sea.
Into the sea. Wow. Cold plunges can have
lots of positive health effects.
We're ending the broadcast right now.
Yeah. You can leave.
How can they let an old crone like that
speak on TV during prime time?
She's mentally incapacitated!
...nettle tea. Let's have a taste.
-Tastes horrible.
-Yummy!
Jesus Christ.
So, you're gonna write a novel
in two weeks?
Of course not.
I know I wrote another manuscript.
I'll find it, finish it, and publish it.
It's at the Savijrvi cottage,
hidden in the ceiling.
In the cottage
that was sold 30 years ago?
Yes, yes.
And then to the Arctic Ocean?
The water is awfully cold.
You'll die in there.
That's the point. I waited 30 years
for Tapio to take me there.
I'm done waiting. I'll take myself.
I'd rather drown than spend
my last days hooked up to machines.
Mum!
Don't you write a word about me.
Not a single word.
Or about Dad, Ville, or the kids. Get it?
-You're part of my life.
-We agreed you'd stop writing.
-I'm a writer.
-Be Donald Duck, for all I care.
I have the right to write
whatever I want about my life.
You realise how selfish that is?
I'm doing this for you all.
Who exactly?
You and the kids.
I have no money for you to inherit.
This is the only thing I can give you.
I've done so much for you.
I've organised everything.
Including that nursing home.
And you thank me
by humiliating us all in public?
Everything was fine
until you decided to become a writer.
My friends read your scribbles, too!
Don't you get it?
I'll write the truth.
The whole truth. Period!
About how you abandoned your daughter?
I've always helped you and defended you
at great personal cost.
Here's your babysitter device.
Raili, get in the car.
Is she delusional?
-You abandoned your daughter.
-Christ almighty!
-Delusional, delusional.
-What?
She's delusional,
just like everyone else.
I should've left Tapio a lot sooner.
Maija would've been spared, at least.
Maybe it's genetic.
Maybe Maija was born evil.
As a baby?
Of course she was, and is, just
like everyone. That's people for you.
If there's one thing I've done right,
I've been a good mum.
Maija!
We've talked about this! Stop it!
She's going to write
again, for fuck's sake.
Aren't you gonna say anything?
Like what?
She could write anything!
-About what?
-Your penis, for example!
My penis?
I feel like maybe
I should go talk to someone.
About what?
Something. I might be depressed.
Of course you are! You just left Bobbie.
What did you expect?
You need to go outside
and smell the spring meadow.
Lying around indoors is not gonna help.
What? For God's sake!
I guess it was a joke.
What was?
What could she even write about my penis?
I can't even...
If I had two weeks to live,
I'd commit crimes like nobody's business.
Public fornication, drug possession...
-Hello?
-Are you Maija Leppnen's mother?
I'd pick berries and pray.
I'd stuff freezers full of berries
so that I'd leave something behind.
What is this place?
A mausoleum.
-Who was buried here?
-Inkeri's purpose in life.
-Dear God!
-Hello?
-This is terrible!
-Let's go inside.
We can't go in there!
It's here somewhere!
All that's in there is Grandpa's body.
A body?
In a chair? Come on.
-Lord have mercy.
-Yes!
I told you.
That really is a novel manuscript
if I ever saw one.
"You, beautiful and shy.
Me, your woman, a dragonfly."
And a heart. It's my handwriting.
Is it a love poem?
It's not about Tapio, that's for sure.
Tapio. Of course.
Tapio has the manuscript.
Oh no! Someone's coming.
Let's go through the back.
What? Raili, quick! Help!
When they go in, let's run for the car.
-I don't run.
-We'll get caught.
So what?
The worst they can do is kill us.
And you're dying anyway.
Somebody's broken in.
With an axe.
What the hell?
I'll go take a look.
Yeah. You go. I'll stand guard.
Hey, don't go! Don't...
Hey, who are you?
What are you doing here?
We were picking berries and we got lost.
Someone tore the wallpapers,
drank whisky...
-Must be an animal.
-An animal drank whisky?
A sea duck! Or a waxwing.
Have a nice day.
Stop! You're not going anywhere.
Get the gun, I'll call the cops.
This is Ilona Pllri.
I'm calling from Savilahti.
Our cottage was broken into.
There are three old, white women
in our garden. You need to load it.
It's loaded. I can use a gun!
Stop yelling at me! I'll panic!
I wasn't yelling.
Yeah, I understand. A misinterpretation.
Sorry. All right!
Excuse me, we're in a hurry.
I have cancer, and I'm dying.
Right. We all have cancer, all of us.
Nobody is going anywhere.
Stay completely still. I mean it.
I'll call you back in a minute.
Hey, she was on TV,
on that program me we saw.
Put the gun down.
-The writer.
-Oh, okay.
Sorry. What are you doing here?
My violent ex-husband saw me on TV.
We hid inside your cottage,
but he found us and came in.
He started tearing the wallpapers
frantically,
pulled off the baseboards and...
He has always liked tearing wallpapers.
Is he hiding in the bushes?
He got scared when you pulled in.
Put the gun down.
Thank God you came.
Okay.
Well, would you like to stay for supper?
-No...
-Yes!
Do you need a place to stay?
It'd be wonderful
to sleep undisturbed for once.
Just a second. I'll be right back.
Oh, wow. Quite a day.
Yeah, it was...
Can we take some pictures?
Or just one?
-Sure.
-Will you?
Yeah, yeah.
-With a pan.
-With a pan.
Get out of there already.
You're gonna drown.
I wish I did!
What if that violent Tapio comes here?
Sylvi told me horrible things about him.
He's not really coming here.
But we'll go to him.
Tomorrow, we'll drive to Rovaniemi,
and then to the Arctic Ocean.
-Oh my God.
-Don't!
Let's go, Raili.
Let's make the most of this!
Move! Out of my way.
Stop it already!
Why don't you just write a new one?
I only have two weeks left.
I could write a novel in one night
if I wanted to.
I'm sure it'd be a bestseller.
Tapio broke my typewriter.
I haven't written since.
But you wrote Free Girl.
Well, the manuscript was almost finished.
I know the second one is, too.
The manuscript contains everything.
My whole life at that time.
And this book of wisdom really exists?
It does!
What if I can't find it?
What'll that make me?
I haven't accomplished anything
in my life.
You haven't?
And you have?
I've baked pies, brownies,
swept the floors at the parish hall...
-Oh, you fools.
-What about you, Raili?
I've enjoyed life.
I've lived only for myself, thank God.
I haven't settled for breadcrumbs
like you two.
But you didn't have the guts to dance.
You would've got in the Ballet School
if you'd applied.
Bullshit.
The ballet master Alexander Saxelin
saw you dance and told you to apply,
but you were too scared.
All artists are either gay or crazy.
It was Dad who said that!
You admired them.
I've hated dancing all my life.
One man after another.
Goodness gracious!
FREE GIRL
COUNTRY MARKEWhy are we going there?
Bog bilberries! Freshly picked!
An autobiographical expos!
Bog bilberries!
Signed by the author.
-No thanks.
-Buy one.
You shouldn't buy this.
It contains awful profanities.
Bog bilberries!
Buy a book! A novel called Free Girl.
This is better.
It's like a modern porn magazine.
I'm sure you'd be into this.
Inkeri!
This gentleman wants to buy your book.
Well, I can buy it
if you buy my bilberries.
Have a taste.
There you go.
Yuck. No one's gonna buy these.
I will. Ten litres.
If you buy ten copies of Free Girl.
What will I do with them?
Sell them. This is hot stuff.
I see.
Okay, it's a deal.
-Here are your bilberries.
-All right.
Six, seven...
Eight. Two more. And ten.
Thank you. And have a nice summer.
You too.
What do we do with these?
Make some sugar wine, for all I care.
-Bloody hell.
-What?
A random checkpoint.
I don't have a licence.
Excuse me.
I don't want to disturb you,
but is everything okay?
Can I help?
Well, I mean...
I left my driving licence at home,
and I don't want a fine.
I see. Well...
Hey, I can drive you to the end
of the block. It's no trouble.
-Yeah...
-Yeah.
You're a real angel!
Oh, please. We've all left our
license at home at some point.
Kerttu, get in the car.
Thank you so much.
I'm sure I can drive from here.
Listen. I just remembered...
Today is the national checkpoint day.
What's that?
It's... The police have
checkpoints all over the country.
They lurk behind bushes,
at intersections, anywhere.
What are they looking for?
A murderer, who dismembers old women.
-Really?
-Yes!
Raili, stop teasing her.
-How will we get there, then?
-I can drive you.
-We're going the same way.
-To Rovaniemi?
My son lives there.
-What a coincidence.
-Yeah.
I've been meaning to visit him.
-In Rovaniemi?
-Yeah. But I haven't got around to it.
I like your arms.
It's hard work at the marketplace.
-Do you offer any other services?
-Cut it out.
We need to know our driver!
I have a small shop
that sells everyday items.
I make sauna whisks
in the winter, and so on.
What would your wife say about
you taking a trip with strange ladies?
She's dead.
Just like my other wives.
Are there many of them?
Seven. Unfortunately,
they've all passed away.
Amazing women.
Different, but absolutely wonderful.
-Seven dead wives!
-At different times, of course.
I wasn't with all of them
simultaneously.
For goodness' sake.
A short fuel stop.
And a quick coffee.
An efficient man.
-Let's call the police.
-Nonsense.
He's definitely gonna kill us
if we snitch on him.
What shall we do, then?
The guy has to be taken care of.
You mean me?
I know your kind.
Kerttu and Inkeri might be as dumb as a
box of rocks, but you can't fool me.
We're the same, you and I.
You're only interested in money and sex,
in that order, which is fine.
But if you hurt Inkeri,
I'll personally scorch you to death
slowly, with a small flame.
But that one over there...
I don't care what you do to her.
You can use her
to satisfy your carnal desires.
I'm not that kind of man.
All right!
This is on me.
I can't eat sugar.
It upsets my stomach...
Bullshit!
If I'm buying for once,
you'll eat it, goddammit.
Down the hatch.
Right...
Thank you.
I think...
I need some fresh air.
What's taking so long?
-I'm sure he ran away.
-He's dead.
Lying in the bathroom.
I poisoned him with Inkeri's meds.
He's so old that they won't
even perform an autopsy.
Are you serious?
-You told me to take care of him.
-I did not.
-What did you give him?
-Are you a retard?
What did you give him?
These.
Those are laxatives, moron.
Dismembering killer
meets a shitty end.
I didn't think you'd have it in you.
Matti!
I'll be a little while longer.
I'm so sorry.
Can you get me a fresh
pair of trousers? And underpants.
Hand me your pants.
I'll rinse them clean.
No, they're going in the bin.
-No.
-Yes.
-A good pair of pants.
-No, they're not.
-Give them to me. I'll rinse them.
-No rinsing!
Give me the pants!
Give me those pants.
-I can carry my own pants.
-Are you all right?
I'll be fine.
I'm sure it was just food poisoning.
I'm sorry...
I'm sure...
I've come across
as slightly suspicious.
And there's a reason for it.
I haven't been completely honest.
My son doesn't live in Rovaniemi.
You had such a groovy vibe.
It stirred the young adventurer in me.
I thought it'd be fun
to join your gang.
Did you have a foursome in mind?
Sorry.
I'll take the next bus back.
You'll get rid of me.
Well, I lied, too.
I don't have a licence.
Not home, not anywhere.
I have two weeks to live.
Let's go before I die.
Get in the car!
A writer at work?
Where does your son live, then?
In northern Norway.
I'm planning to die in the Arctic Ocean.
So that's pretty close
to northern Norway.
My son doesn't want to see me.
Rosa says I've gone viral.
-Virile?
-Not virile. Viral!
Oh my God! I belong to the high-risk
group, and my brother has that ventilator.
Stop it!
You seem like a family who's always ready
to help and defend one another.
It's lovely to see.
She doesn't care about anyone
else but herself. She's a bully.
Nothing good, huh?
I could've used your help many times,
but you were nowhere to be seen.
Nothing comes to mind?
You didn't buy Maija a single present
even though you were loaded.
Doesn't it mean anything that I helped you
regain custody of Maija?
February 1984.
Tapio was on a business trip.
And you were so busy that you couldn't
even be reached at night.
In 1984, I had my hip surgery.
That was 1986.
In 1984, you ruined your hip
with another man.
Maija got drunk, and child services
took her into custody."
Rubbish.
Everything is rubbish
that's not in line with your story.
What do you want?
Were you taken into custody?
Why aren't you answering?
Because I'm mad at you.
I don't want to fight with you.
Don't write the book, then.
So were you taken or not?
Taken?
Write about elves and... fairy clubs.
I don't write children's books.
You'll come up with something.
But don't write about me.
I can't write about things
I don't remember.
Great! If you remember nothing,
then nothing has happened.
Write... Harlequin books or something.
What hasn't happened?
Why do you only want to depict
people as horrible?
I want to depict people as they are.
Like you and I.
Are we horrible, then?
Well, you can be a bit...
I can be what?
Controlling, aggressive.
Right. I don't have time for this.
We're done here. Bye.
That goddamn old crone.
For fuck's sake!
Do you find me
aggressive and controlling?
No, no.
-Okay. So you think I'm controlling.
-I didn't say that.
-You, say something.
-What?
What am I like?
-Decisive?
-I dunno. Boring.
Boring?
Well, you're not very emotional.
-Should I be emotional?
-I didn't say that.
I'm solution-oriented!
Everything would fall apart
if we all just sat here crying.
We need to get things done,
no matter how we feel.
People like me
keep this world turning.
Fr-fr-frying pan.
This has a shitload of views.
What is it?
Smack him in the head, in
the head. That's what I did.
A meme about Grandma.
-Jesus. No! Hey, delete it.
-I can't.
You can! Everything can be deleted.
Hack into it. Report it.
Child porn.
Call someone and say that!
ROVANIEMI 15
It should be behind that bush over there.
You should try out a coffin
while you're still alive.
People often buy the wrong size!
If it makes you feel any better,
I truly loved all my wives.
That's not gonna help
those poor women anymore.
Have you ever loved?
Yes! The autumn forest
full of lingonberries.
Kerttu.
What are you talking about?
This is Kerttu on Inkeri's phone.
Sylvi's friend from the church.
You think you're called Kerttu now?
-I really am Kerttu.
-Come on, now.
Kerttu, Kerttu.
Kerttu Kettunen. K.K.
-Listen, I don't have time for this!
-And who are you?
Me? I'm Maija, Inkeri's daughter.
Where is she?
Oh, dear child. My condolences.
We've already decided
on the flowers and cake.
-I'll help with the funeral, of course.
-What?
The coffin should be picked out soon.
And the hymns!
-What are you saying?
-Inkeri is dying!
What are you on about?
On the plus side,
she's still alive. For two weeks.
Hello?
Hello?
-Ville!
-My shift is starting.
Now, you have to start
whittling a coffin.
Whittling a coffin?
Whittling, building, constructing,
whatever.
3D print it, for all I care. We need a
coffin. We won't bury Mum in a bin bag.
Is Inkeri dying?
We'll make everything we can
with our own hands.
I'll be Mum's hospice nurse
and work like a dog,
sacrificing my own health
for her well-being.
And you'll help me. Are we clear?
At least she won't write anymore.
Is Grandma dying?
"No time to whine or analyse.
We can't fall apart.
Grandma needs us!
And you, go pack your things.
Your room will become a hospice.
What?
We're not a very religious family.
But now, we need to pray.
Of course he took a younger woman.
She doesn't look younger.
I'm sure he tried but couldn't get one.
I'd better go alone.
-Are you sure?
-Yes.
Inkeri!
I knew you'd come crawling back to me.
I came to get my manuscript.
What manuscript?
The one that I wrote in secret.
You stole it. I know it's here.
Oh, right! That manuscript.
Where is it?
It belongs to me.
I'm going to publish it.
Hey... You can't publish it.
Why not?
Inkeri... You're not a
very good storyteller.
Where is it?
"I burnt it.
Like everything else you left behind.
I'm not falling for that anymore.
Give it to me.
So that you could publish
more of your lies?
Truths. I have the right to do that.
There is no manuscript.
Inkeri, you know perfectly well
that you can't write.
I wrote Free Girl and also a sequel.
Hey, perhaps your lover has it.
I never cheated on you!
Bullshit!
-Are you gonna hit me?
-Stay away from me!
I'm so scared. No!
What?
An omelette! Who wants some?
Look, Susanna, we have a guest.
Yeah.
-Well... hello.
-Hello.
-Susanna.
-Inkeri. I'm Tapio's...
I know who you are.
I just quickly popped by
to get my manuscript.
Yeah, Inkeri is looking for her old junk.
But I told her it's not here.
Yeah, there shouldn't be
anything here...
Oh, the diaries! Maija's diaries.
We have a few. But that's all.
I can take them to Maija.
Oh, I can go and get them.
I'll get them. They're over here.
We've kept them safe over here.
Maija should have her diaries back.
Here you are.
-Thank you.
-Thank you. You're welcome.
And the music box!
There's a music box here. I'll get it.
Oh, dear. Did you leave
a music box here?
I thought I'd smashed it
against the wall ages ago.
But I guess I smashed the cuckoo clock
and those collector's plates.
Here...
Here it is. I think this belongs to you,
madam. Inkeri. Madam.
Oh, yes. Thank you.
Thank you. You're welcome.
I would've bought that book of yours.
-We're not buying anything.
-It was no longer on sale.
-I have one here.
-We're not buying anything!
Tapio!
You can have it for free.
I can write you an inscription.
But that's...
Oh, my. An inscription and everything.
-Here you go.
-Thank you so much.
All right. Bye, then.
Bye!
Enjoy your evenings at home.
Hey, I'll make the omelette now.
"Remember the frying pan
when Tapio turns into Evil Dan."
Did you find the manuscript?
WHERE THE HEART IS
What is this?
What if Tapio was right?
What if I had someone else?
What if I had someone else?
But who?
I don't remember a thing.
This isn't about your memory.
You just don't understand.
You never have.
And what you thought you understood,
you misunderstood.
Pertti!
Pertti! It was him.
Now I remember.
Tapio's colleague from the air force.
The love of my life.
Unbelievable. How could I forget?
And I sacrificed it all
for Tapio and Maija.
How to whittle a coffin yourself?
Coffins are not usually whittled.
You can whittle spoons, ornaments...
What? Why can't you issue
a missing person alert?
No, she's not answering her phone.
She's an old, senile woman who escaped
from an institution. And she's dying.
Yes, she is! Thank you, bye.
Ville!
There was animal magnetism between us.
He came to our cottage with his brother
one time.
They slept in the sauna cabin.
I was wearing a tight skirt.
I took them cold drinks
and watched him swim naked.
Good Lord!
Pertti and I were supposed to move to
Spain. We had even picked a house!
It was all planned.
I could have written, and he would've
become an airline pilot.
We agreed I'd come
and get Maija there later.
-You've always been easy.
-We never slept together.
-Thank God!
-Oh?
I never cheated on Tapio.
This was different.
A fiery union of two souls.
It's all in the manuscript!
We just have to find it.
Perhaps Pertti has it.
-Inkeri!
-Pertti!
Raili doesn't believe
we were going to Spain.
We were. We'd even picked a house.
I understand that you wanted to stay
because of Maija.
That's no lifestyle for a child.
Is that what you think?
I couldn't have controlled
myself anymore.
I would've torn your clothes off
right in the hallway.
I wonder how come
it didn't happen at our cottage.
Remember when you came there?
What are you talking about?
About the enormous sexual tension
between us.
-We can say it aloud at this age, right?
-Dear Inkeri.
I'm gay!
-What?
-I was already with Johan back then.
With your brother? But that's incest.
He's not my brother! He's my partner.
I thought you knew.
We spent so much time together.
But Spain?
We were all prisoners here.
You were Tapio's prisoner,
and we, the narrow-minded garrison's.
But then you started behaving strangely.
You stopped writing, isolated yourself...
I wonder if I left my manuscript here?
"I think you never wrote it after you
became good Mrs Housewife again.
And then there was
that horrible mess with Maija."
-What mess?
-But we had some good times, too.
We painted all night long,
recited Saarikoski's poems...
You were my best friend.
I thought we two had...
-Hi, honey.
-Hi.
-You remember Inkeri?
-Yeah.
How's Maija doing?
-Pertti.
-What?
A good wine?
-It's great. Take it to the kitchen.
-Alright. Okay.
Are you getting
me and Jussi Alanko mixed up?
I'm Jussi Alanko.
Do you need help
carrying the manuscript boxes?
I don't think
the manuscript even exists.
I'm 100% sure I wrote it.
You don't even remember
who you've slept with.
-Do you?
-I do!
All those hundreds of men,
all the positions, all the tender moments,
the caresses, the sighs.
All the furious wives who kept calling me.
And you don't even remember
your three desperate men, tops."
Who cares about the manuscript?
You'll die before it gets published.
-I need to save Rosa.
-From what?
From our family curse.
I don't want her making my mistakes.
Young people don't read books.
Rosa does!
MAIJA
DECLINED
Just bin them! Rosa won't miss them.
-Wouldn't the garage be better?
-Didn't she just move back home?
Imagine if everyone moved back home
after the first fight.
We wouldn't be here together
if I had run back to Mum
whenever you annoy me so much
I want to strangle you!
Chop-chop! Grab things and go.
Why isn't she answering?
Roni! Come on,
help me hang the wallpaper.
What do I need to do? I was just leaving.
There's not enough paste.
Let's hang it this way.
Don't do that...
You can't put it horizontally.
You can't...
This is how it wants to go.
Whose idea was it to take a little tube
like this... Goddammit!
What are these?
Second-hand. Practically free.
They all have to be taken inside.
Hurry up!
One, two, three. Let's go.
It won't...
This is the first door. We need to get it
in. It can't get stuck right away.
Okay, stop, stop!
Now it's in the right place.
There! It'll go straight in, boom.
We just have to swing it.
-Swing?
-It's just a bed!
I'm pissed off.
10 February 1984.
"I'm in a fucking institution"
"'cause Mum's not answering the phone
and Dad's away flying, again."
"I called my charming and wealthy
favourite aunt, Raili,"
"who came to the rescue, as always."
Does it really say that?
I exaggerated a little about myself,
but the rest of it was true.
You were being boned by some guy.
Maija was home alone.
She tricked Sylvi into buying her booze
and got her stomach pumped.
Read this and remember!
-Kerttu, coffee!
-Sure.
Why would I have forgotten
things like that?
If you want the truth,
you won't find it in your memories.
If I really had an affair,
whoever it was with,
I'm sure it was
because Tapio cheated on me.
Tapio did have an affair,
but you had one first.
How do you know?
Because he had the affair with me.
I'm fed up with your shit.
The poor boy was crushed
after finding out about your infidelity.
He came to me for comfort.
You're exaggerating again.
He wanted me to shout
his military rank during it.
But I made sure I was awful enough
that he never wanted me again.
You've always been awful enough
to keep everyone away from you.
Don't iron that, you retard!
It's silk!
Sorry! I was stupid.
Cut her some slack, for fuck's sake!
Why do you keep torturing her
and dragging her along?
Because you don't want
to die alone like Sylvi.
This is Inkeri Ropponen, hello.
Are you Juhani Alanko?
Are you the same Juhani Alanko,
who, in the eighties...
You were born in '91.
JUSSI ALANKO
10 February 1984
I'm pissed off.
I'm in a fucking institution
'cause Mum's not answering the phone
and Dad's away flying, again.
Sorry, I was just...
You know what I do
when I feel like that?
Get drunk.
No.
I go driving, aimlessly.
So beautiful.
Feels like those movements come
from the depths of your soul.
Go fuck yourself!
Stop the car. I feel sick.
I was... a shitty mother.
Nobody's perfect.
I wasn't there when Maija needed me.
You did what you could.
How can I remember everything
all wrong?
I was just as horrible as Tapio was.
I just didn't show it.
But here it was.
All those terrible things...
I've had a shitty life.
At least you've lived.
Perhaps there's no novel.
Perhaps Tapio was right.
There are no wise words
to pass on to future generations.
I'd better go to the Arctic Ocean
and throw myself off a cliff.
So that nobody has to see me suffer.
Isn't it better to go home?
-To your daughter.
-Maija hates me!
And for a good reason.
I've ruined her life, and my own.
And now I'm going to die. Alone.
Just like my sister Sylvi.
I have nothing, and no one.
I only had one life.
And this is how I used it.
Sorry, I'm out of control!
It's the tumour.
No, no...
This is outrageous.
I smell bad and everything.
No, don't...
I've...
I've had my eye on you
ever since we met.
-You have?
-You haven't noticed?
-Do you feel that?
-What?
My heart. Is this the end?
No, it's coming from somewhere else.
Oh Lord, if I, a traveller on Earth...
Or...
-Isn't this the wedding march?
-No. Or this?
Thank the Lord...
-What's that?
-A coffin.
Two beds facing each other.
We can't put my dead mother on a bed!
Lift it up!
There's just two of us.
-That's how it's done!
-With six people.
-Wait.
-Okay.
COCONUT OIL
Mother had an honourable and humble life.
She dedicated herself
to her family and her values.
Goodbye, Mother!
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
I can't get hold of Rosa.
I have no idea where she is. She's not
replying to my messages either.
-She sent me a message...
-To you? What did she write?
That she's staying with a friend. She
doesn't even have a room here anymore.
Well...
-Where will I put this?
-Find a place for it.
This is Inkeri. I'm unavailable...
Were you going to leave me in there?
No, of course not.
You shouldn't become attached
to a dying woman.
One doesn't have to go through
everything alone.
I had an affair with Jussi Alanko.
He was just like me.
A free-spirited artist.
Sensitive, beautiful, and poor.
But I chose Tapio.
I thought... it was the right thing to do,
with Maija and everything.
With you, I would've been happy.
Or not.
Who the fuck knows?
And it doesn't even matter now.
ALANKO JUHANI KALERVO
Home.
She had lied there for a week
before she was found.
You mean Sylvi?
Eight days, to be precise.
Which means 1.4...
-Why didn't we visit her?
-Because we have a life.
You didn't even come to the funeral!
-I was away.
-Bullshit!
You just couldn't be bothered.
You'll probably skip mine, too.
I'm not interested in funerals!
I don't do funerals!
My knee was so sore
that I couldn't come.
We're all selfish.
I'm out here, searching for something...
If I want to see someone,
I want to see them when they're alive.
In the coffin, no one is...
I can't take this anymore!
Shut up, for Christ's sake!
Now I know where it is.
Seventy-six...
Empty.
Bills!
NOVEL MANUSCRIPT.
UNFINISHED.
Needs to be finished...
What? "Needs to be finished."
Where's the rest?
I can't believe this.
Inkeri's time has come.
All right! You're awake.
I wondered why you disappeared
from my office.
You said you won't make
a treatment plan.
No, I did make a treatment plan
and prescribed you some meds,
but you never picked them up.
How have you been?
I'm feeling fine.
You fainted.
You were dehydrated.
Have you been eating and drinking?
Why would I eat
for a few days' sake?
What do you mean?
I only have a few days left to live.
Anxiety is not going to kill you.
The tumour will!
When did you get that?
You said I had a stomach tumour
and two weeks to live!
And that you hadn't had
the heart to tell me.
-My grandchild.
-Grandchild?
I didn't have the heart to tell
my grandchild that their dog was dying.
The nurse recommended
she be put down immediately.
What do I have, then?
I diagnosed you with anxiety.
Probably fatigue-related.
But if you've been feeling better,
you've done something right.
Has there been dancing?
-A little.
-Wild men?
Maybe one. Pretty tame, though.
So...
So I won't die?
No. Unless you get hit by a car.
Shit.
You can go home right now if you want.
So... this is great news!
Everything's ready
for Mum at home. Everything.
And I've actually learnt all the
procedures. I can remove the cannula!
No, no. The nurse will remove it.
I'll go get them.
Mum! Mum...
I'll take care of you till the end.
-Maija...
-Don't say a word.
How are you?
I'm feeling fin... bad.
Grandma needs to rest.
-Okay, bye.
-Bye.
Maija, listen...
No silly talk. You need to rest.
Just rest.
No, Maija... I'm so sorry.
-The situation...
-No!
I apologise for calling you selfish.
I don't know what got into me.
I've been pretty awful at times.
No, nonsense!
You've been a wonderful mother.
No, no.
The custody thing that Raili told me
about...
No... I guess it was true.
-I've forgotten many things.
-It happens.
The child services might still have
your old documents.
-You can get them if you want.
-I don't need to.
I had a good childhood.
No, your father was violent!
And I was a mess.
I should've left him a lot sooner.
That's life. Things happen.
It shouldn't be quite like that!
Let's not ruin this now.
Just focus on dying.
-Maija...
-No.
Let bygones be bygones.
I'll get you some soup and a straw
so you can drink it.
Hello. You can go in there.
I'll get some soup.
Oh my God. I have terrible news.
What is it?
I'm not dying.
-What?
-It was a misunderstanding.
So we've made all the arrangements
for nothing. Coffin and everything.
Maija doesn't know.
You can play dead.
-She might get caught!
-Really?
-What is it?
-Sorry. Nothing.
The vibe here is really weird.
I think this vibe is normal,
for your family.
Suffocating somehow.
It's probably because Inkeri... Ow!
I'm not going to die, after all.
She's known it for a while.
-No, I haven't.
-Sorry.
I knew it.
I knew this was some satanic plot
devised by you sick, old crones.
I knew nothing.
My freezer is full of death buns
and pies...
Cut the crap!
I'm sorry.
Aren't you relieved that I won't die?
You're making fun of me.
You always have.
You just said I was a wonderful mother.
Because you were dying!
I'm sorry. I really thought I was.
You made me apologise.
I apologised to you.
Is it a bad thing?
I spent all our kitchen renovation money
on this!
-I never asked you for anything.
-I never asked you for anything.
-I'm sorry.
-The fuck you are.
You're going to write.
"I will write." You will write.
Did you read my diaries, too?
I'm sure you did.
I might've had a glance.
-Maija darling...
-Don't call me "darling"!
You don't understand.
-I can write again!
-"Bloody hell. Out, now!
You're dead to me.
I don't have a mother anymore.
And I'm going to get a lawyer.
Present.
"...her youthful joy, energy and...
relationship with her daughter..."
ETERNAL GIRL
These things happen.
Let's just stay calm.
Hello!
-Hi, I'm Kanerva.
-Marc Makkonen.
The manuscript grossly violates
my client's privacy.
Her traumatic experiences
have been mixed up
with the disturbed introspection
of this demented author.
I mean, this is autofiction.
Do you understand literature at all? The
readers won't know which bits are true.
Everything's true.
All the more reason!
The text is a provocative expos, but it
also contains shameless and brutal lies!
My client is depicted
in an unfavourable light.
My client cannot accept
the publication of this book.
Wait. Sorry.
-We can get a lawyer too.
-And if it won't help?
If the book is significantly altered,
my client may consider
refraining from legal action.
We're not giving in to this blackmail.
-We're done here.
-Hey, let's listen to her suggestions.
"My 15-year-old daughter suddenly looked
frightened and fragile in the sunlight."
This will be rephrased as:
"As the sunlight fell on
my 15-year-old daughter's athletic body,
she looked gorgeous and tanned.
Her hair was shiny
after using Wella shampoo.
Excuse me, who wrote that?
I did.
What athletic skin?
There are several passages
commenting on my client's appearance.
All those passages need to be rephrased.
And... how about the depictions of
domestic violence?
They can stay.
As long as my client is shown
in a positive light.
And the references
to your own violent tendencies
in your youth?
They can stay too.
One more example.
-Page 35.
-It's there.
"Maija's tired eyes." No!
"Sparkling!"
"To my beloved daughter, Maija"
Oh! They already went
to the auditorium.
Hey, this needs fixing.
Mum still hasn't visited you?
She's just so stubborn.
I just... I can't stand her.
And you don't have to.
I can't stand her either, sometimes.
The closer you are to someone,
the more annoying they can feel.
But people won't change
until they want to.
Hi.
I'm so happy you came. Honey!
Why haven't you replied
to my millions of messages?
We even restored your room!
I'd like to introduce you
to my new partner.
Oh, who?
How come I haven't heard of him?
Because this is a new thing.
Hello, I'm Niki.
Hello.
I just thought of something.
Come with me to the kitchen, Rosa.
-Yeah. Just a second.
-Okay.
Just a second.
Sit down, please.
I knew you'd react like this.
They look like a literature student.
Completely broke!
You're going to business school.
You have a wonderful future ahead.
You two have nothing in common.
I have some popcorn over here.
Want some?
I'm fine, thanks.
Bobbie was well off, an HVAC engineer.
I told you I'm not going
to business school.
What?
You didn't study much either!
All the more reason.
And Niki is a hairdresser
and makes good money.
They're bald!
They have celebrities as their customers.
They did many people's hair
for the President's Reception.
And our hair looks like this!
They could do my hair sometimes, too.
It's a bit dry.
On one condition.
You have to call Grandma.
You can't keep avoiding things forever.
Whose hair have they done?
Which celebrities?
All right.
I thought I'd bring you
some of the stuff you left.
Thank you.
-I guess I'll be going.
-Stay for a while.
This is Matti.
-Hi.
-Matti and Maija.
Yeah.
You want coffee?
Well, if...
And one, two, three. Arms, legs.
And one... Great!
Finish your arms
and remember to breathe.
Run to your own spot.
Left foot, right foot.
Look over your shoulder.
And follow your breath back.
Look, how..."
Maybe go the other way.
People are used to this here,
but there's a kindergarten over there.
-It is what it is. Let's move on.
-You're doing great!
LADIES OF STEEL
LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW
Let's do it a bit faster now.
We're speeding forward.
Pekka, that's awkward.
Stop ogling women.
22 centimetres.
Well, it's within the limit.
Wow, this looks good!
Well done, Elisabeth. Look, everyone.
What's this, then?
What have you given it?
Nothing.
You've watered it, right?
I don't know. Maybe I forgot.
Now you won't have a summer flower.
It's dead.
Remember what I said?
It all fell on deaf ears.
-Hello?
-It's Kanerva from the publishing house.
Do you hear me?
We always notify authors
when we must make room for new books.
I'm afraid we'll have to move
Free Girl books out of the warehouse.
Where?
They'll be pulped. Shredded.
Shredded?
The author can also redeem the books
for a small fee.
Oh, you're here.
I used the spare key. Look!
Look, what I brought you.
Plastic plants.
Completely maintenance-free.
I also brought you this. Look.
A feather duster. Cute, huh?
You can use this to...
-Yuck...
-This isn't working.
-What?
-This cooker isn't working.
Of course not. It's locked.
Locked?
So that you can't use it.
Go and eat in the dining room.
What am I supposed to do all day
if I can't even cook?
Mum, you can't live alone.
You keep falling over.
I fell once because the ground was icy.
That's right. Once is enough.
If you leave the hob on,
the whole place will burn down.
I don't want you to end up like Sylvi!
You need to accept the fact
that you're old.
I'm not that old.
Do you realise how lucky you were
to get this room?
These places are exclusive,
mother dear, but you got in!
Here's some yarn.
Make 20 pairs of socks for Roni's team's
bake sale, with the logo.
We've got to go! Jesus Christ!
Leave the yarn. Let's go.
Put your coat on.
-Mum, where's your co...
-No idea.
I'll take it.
See? You need constant supervision.
Don't make any rash decisions
in that state!
You're being hysterical.
Stay put. I'll come over.
Bloody hell!
Rosa dumped Bobbie,
probably because she had PMS.
What's the point?
She'll never find a better man.
Perhaps Rosa doesn't like him.
He's an HVAC engineer!
He was supposed to redo our kitchen.
Who's gonna do it now?
Can't she decide for herself?
It's a road to ruin if you let
immature brats like that decide.
Can we old people decide for ourselves?
No one can!
Do you have your wrist alarm?
Good. Keep it on, so I can track you.
To the second floor.
Here's your health insurance card.
Go through that door.
I've been here a hundred times.
You always get lost. Put your coat on!
-No need.
-It's drizzling!
I'll wait here in the car.
You left the door open!
So, what kind of symptoms
are you having?
I feel pressure in my chest,
I have trouble swallowing,
and I don't feel like doing anything.
Let's have a listen.
And breathe. Good.
Yeah, keep breathing.
Could it be gonorrhoea?
Nothing points to that.
I'm a writer. They say
a writer's lifestyle can lead to that.
-We need more tests.
-Acid reflux, then? Or colic?
It's a childhood disease.
Or agonophobia?
My head is awfully big.
Just a second. I'll consult
a more experienced colleague.
More experienced than you?
What are they, dead?
How's the situation?
It's not looking good.
Should we make a treatment plan?
I think it's too late.
Oh no. What did the tests reveal?
A huge tumour in the stomach.
She only has two weeks to live, max.
We can't take advantage of him
if they're no longer together.
Well, what do you think?
We need someone new.
Just Google some names.
HCA... or HVA... what was it?
Search using Bobbie's title.
She's back. Talk to you later!
Rosa knew very well
about the renovation.
I had told her that we relied on Bobbie...
It was Mirjami's time to go.
She's now in the Kingdom of Heaven,
in a much better place.
Her work here was done.
Already? No, no!
I'm not ready to go yet!
It's all right. Don't worry.
-We have plenty of time.
-No, we don't!
-Half an hour.
-No!
Hey, mind the door frame!
You'll scratch it.
What's going on?
And watch out for the...
For Christ's sake.
-Kerttu is moving in.
-Kerttu?
Sylvi's friend from the church.
-I know her. She's that awful...
-Hello!
That awfully nice person.
I'll rent her the back room.
Why?
Lads! Keep those filthy shoes
away from my rugs!
Take off your shoes, and some
other stuff, if you plan to come in.
The city will pay her rent.
As a bonus, there's meal service,
cleaning service, and physiotherapy.
Yes, for Kerttu.
They never check the names.
Okay, here you are.
I said "butter buns"!
I'm so sorry.
Shall I bake some right away? Yeah...
I thought you mentioned "meal service".
That food is shit.
Besides, Kerttu gets bored
if she can't potter about in the kitchen.
I need your car.
I have to retrieve my Free Girl books
before they're shredded.
Nobody's driven that car in years.
I went to see a doctor.
I had a health check on Wednesday.
The nurse said I was in excellent health
considering my age.
If you ignore my diabetes
and obstructive lung disease.
Great. I'm going to die.
We're all going to die.
I only have two weeks left.
A stomach tumour.
Oh my God.
Is that so?
Kerttu, put on your coat!
Grab my cane, the buns, and the cognac.
We're coming along.
We can't let a dying person go alone.
-You'd help me?
-Kerttu is a nurse.
-No, I'm an assistant verger.
-Close enough!
-Go get the keys! From the kitchen.
-What?
We need to hurry and start planning
the funeral.
Hymns, food...
But which priest will we choose?
I don't care! I won't be there.
Sylvi always said you're a whore
and whores don't get buried
in consecrated ground.
I said: "Nonsense.
Whores get buried there, too."
Inkeri, do you have a licence anymore?
I don't need a licence to drive.
-I'll take them all.
-There are 1,500 copies.
Hi.
The first edition sold like hot cakes,
but the second one, not so much.
It is what it is.
We should've marketed it.
Well, why didn't you?
You didn't want us to.
What do you mean?
You stressed
that you don't want any publicity.
Your daughter Maija told us
you wanted no TV interviews or anything.
Magazine ads don't sell books these days.
It all depends on author visibility.
Fucking Maija.
Are you taking them with you
in the coffin?
My life's work will not be shredded.
These books belong to people.
How much will you ask per copy?
A hundred euros?
That money would buy an amazing funeral!
Can you get me on TV?
This book is so old. It's too late.
I need to get on TV, right now.
One of our wellness writers
just died of an overdose.
They would've had a TV interview today.
This is the scariest thing ever.
Don't go, then.
I have to. I need to sell the books.
Welcome. I'll quickly go through
the broadcast with you.
This is a feel-good program me.
We won't talk about anything deep.
-We'll go live soon.
-Yes.
I'll tell the viewers about
your background,
how you published your
first book at the age of 70, and then...
A few minutes to air!
...we'll talk about what makes you happy.
You'll be an inspiring figure
and an example of the power of change.
Sit over there. You can take it easy.
Don't be nervous.
Whose phone is ringing?
Let's start the show.
Hi, Rosa. How are you?
I don't know. There must be
something wrong with me.
Bobbie and I are having a crisis, and...
I don't know what to do.
Leave him!
Sorry, madam. You need to end the call.
I kind of did.
But I miss him already...
That ship has sailed.
Just leave him and don't look back.
The broadcast is starting.
I thought I loved Tapio for 40 years
even though he was a violent despot.
He didn't hit me at first, either.
We really have to start now.
-We can't put this on air.
-Zoom in on Pietari.
?She's on the phone.
-We have to start!
Don't listen to your mum.
She doesn't understand love.
-We need to hang up now.
-Just cut him loose.
Hello and welcome to our show!
-I'm on TV. It's a live broadcast.
-Our guest today is Inkeri Ropponen.
The show is about to start.
She's best known
for her bold debut novel Free Girl.
I'm being interviewed.
I'll call you later.
Tell me when four is ready.
Cut to four, now. Graphic on.
Inkeri, what do your life and future
look like
now that Free Girl has been published?
Mum, Grandma is on TV.
The HVAC Association of Finland...
What? Is it a rerun?
No, a live broadcast.
Life? It's death that awaits.
AUTHOR INKERI ROPPONEN
I see.
Inkeri Ropponen...
-She's at the goddamn studio!
-Yeah.
If I was unhappy,
what advice would you give me?
What? Is she suddenly an expert?
Turn it off!
I guess you have to take into
consideration
what type of cancer it is
and how much you have to live...
It's very hard to be happy
if you have two weeks to live."
What is she talking about? Turn it off!
No. I want to see this.
What kind of positive
advice would you give...
-Did you know about this?
-No!
...to someone who's also dreaming
of a new beginning? Positive.
A frying pan.
Cast iron. Smack him in the head.
She's lost her marbles!
If freedom is not given to you,
you must take it.
But my time's not up yet.
Soon, I'll publish a sequel to Free Girl.
An autobiographical survival story.
From darkness to light
through the 1990s recession.
Awesome! This is great news...
Did she just say
she's gonna write a new book?
...to the fans of Free Girl.
And then, I'll travel to the Arctic Ocean
and...
throw myself into the sea.
Into the sea. Wow. Cold plunges can have
lots of positive health effects.
We're ending the broadcast right now.
Yeah. You can leave.
How can they let an old crone like that
speak on TV during prime time?
She's mentally incapacitated!
...nettle tea. Let's have a taste.
-Tastes horrible.
-Yummy!
Jesus Christ.
So, you're gonna write a novel
in two weeks?
Of course not.
I know I wrote another manuscript.
I'll find it, finish it, and publish it.
It's at the Savijrvi cottage,
hidden in the ceiling.
In the cottage
that was sold 30 years ago?
Yes, yes.
And then to the Arctic Ocean?
The water is awfully cold.
You'll die in there.
That's the point. I waited 30 years
for Tapio to take me there.
I'm done waiting. I'll take myself.
I'd rather drown than spend
my last days hooked up to machines.
Mum!
Don't you write a word about me.
Not a single word.
Or about Dad, Ville, or the kids. Get it?
-You're part of my life.
-We agreed you'd stop writing.
-I'm a writer.
-Be Donald Duck, for all I care.
I have the right to write
whatever I want about my life.
You realise how selfish that is?
I'm doing this for you all.
Who exactly?
You and the kids.
I have no money for you to inherit.
This is the only thing I can give you.
I've done so much for you.
I've organised everything.
Including that nursing home.
And you thank me
by humiliating us all in public?
Everything was fine
until you decided to become a writer.
My friends read your scribbles, too!
Don't you get it?
I'll write the truth.
The whole truth. Period!
About how you abandoned your daughter?
I've always helped you and defended you
at great personal cost.
Here's your babysitter device.
Raili, get in the car.
Is she delusional?
-You abandoned your daughter.
-Christ almighty!
-Delusional, delusional.
-What?
She's delusional,
just like everyone else.
I should've left Tapio a lot sooner.
Maija would've been spared, at least.
Maybe it's genetic.
Maybe Maija was born evil.
As a baby?
Of course she was, and is, just
like everyone. That's people for you.
If there's one thing I've done right,
I've been a good mum.
Maija!
We've talked about this! Stop it!
She's going to write
again, for fuck's sake.
Aren't you gonna say anything?
Like what?
She could write anything!
-About what?
-Your penis, for example!
My penis?
I feel like maybe
I should go talk to someone.
About what?
Something. I might be depressed.
Of course you are! You just left Bobbie.
What did you expect?
You need to go outside
and smell the spring meadow.
Lying around indoors is not gonna help.
What? For God's sake!
I guess it was a joke.
What was?
What could she even write about my penis?
I can't even...
If I had two weeks to live,
I'd commit crimes like nobody's business.
Public fornication, drug possession...
-Hello?
-Are you Maija Leppnen's mother?
I'd pick berries and pray.
I'd stuff freezers full of berries
so that I'd leave something behind.
What is this place?
A mausoleum.
-Who was buried here?
-Inkeri's purpose in life.
-Dear God!
-Hello?
-This is terrible!
-Let's go inside.
We can't go in there!
It's here somewhere!
All that's in there is Grandpa's body.
A body?
In a chair? Come on.
-Lord have mercy.
-Yes!
I told you.
That really is a novel manuscript
if I ever saw one.
"You, beautiful and shy.
Me, your woman, a dragonfly."
And a heart. It's my handwriting.
Is it a love poem?
It's not about Tapio, that's for sure.
Tapio. Of course.
Tapio has the manuscript.
Oh no! Someone's coming.
Let's go through the back.
What? Raili, quick! Help!
When they go in, let's run for the car.
-I don't run.
-We'll get caught.
So what?
The worst they can do is kill us.
And you're dying anyway.
Somebody's broken in.
With an axe.
What the hell?
I'll go take a look.
Yeah. You go. I'll stand guard.
Hey, don't go! Don't...
Hey, who are you?
What are you doing here?
We were picking berries and we got lost.
Someone tore the wallpapers,
drank whisky...
-Must be an animal.
-An animal drank whisky?
A sea duck! Or a waxwing.
Have a nice day.
Stop! You're not going anywhere.
Get the gun, I'll call the cops.
This is Ilona Pllri.
I'm calling from Savilahti.
Our cottage was broken into.
There are three old, white women
in our garden. You need to load it.
It's loaded. I can use a gun!
Stop yelling at me! I'll panic!
I wasn't yelling.
Yeah, I understand. A misinterpretation.
Sorry. All right!
Excuse me, we're in a hurry.
I have cancer, and I'm dying.
Right. We all have cancer, all of us.
Nobody is going anywhere.
Stay completely still. I mean it.
I'll call you back in a minute.
Hey, she was on TV,
on that program me we saw.
Put the gun down.
-The writer.
-Oh, okay.
Sorry. What are you doing here?
My violent ex-husband saw me on TV.
We hid inside your cottage,
but he found us and came in.
He started tearing the wallpapers
frantically,
pulled off the baseboards and...
He has always liked tearing wallpapers.
Is he hiding in the bushes?
He got scared when you pulled in.
Put the gun down.
Thank God you came.
Okay.
Well, would you like to stay for supper?
-No...
-Yes!
Do you need a place to stay?
It'd be wonderful
to sleep undisturbed for once.
Just a second. I'll be right back.
Oh, wow. Quite a day.
Yeah, it was...
Can we take some pictures?
Or just one?
-Sure.
-Will you?
Yeah, yeah.
-With a pan.
-With a pan.
Get out of there already.
You're gonna drown.
I wish I did!
What if that violent Tapio comes here?
Sylvi told me horrible things about him.
He's not really coming here.
But we'll go to him.
Tomorrow, we'll drive to Rovaniemi,
and then to the Arctic Ocean.
-Oh my God.
-Don't!
Let's go, Raili.
Let's make the most of this!
Move! Out of my way.
Stop it already!
Why don't you just write a new one?
I only have two weeks left.
I could write a novel in one night
if I wanted to.
I'm sure it'd be a bestseller.
Tapio broke my typewriter.
I haven't written since.
But you wrote Free Girl.
Well, the manuscript was almost finished.
I know the second one is, too.
The manuscript contains everything.
My whole life at that time.
And this book of wisdom really exists?
It does!
What if I can't find it?
What'll that make me?
I haven't accomplished anything
in my life.
You haven't?
And you have?
I've baked pies, brownies,
swept the floors at the parish hall...
-Oh, you fools.
-What about you, Raili?
I've enjoyed life.
I've lived only for myself, thank God.
I haven't settled for breadcrumbs
like you two.
But you didn't have the guts to dance.
You would've got in the Ballet School
if you'd applied.
Bullshit.
The ballet master Alexander Saxelin
saw you dance and told you to apply,
but you were too scared.
All artists are either gay or crazy.
It was Dad who said that!
You admired them.
I've hated dancing all my life.
One man after another.
Goodness gracious!
FREE GIRL
COUNTRY MARKEWhy are we going there?
Bog bilberries! Freshly picked!
An autobiographical expos!
Bog bilberries!
Signed by the author.
-No thanks.
-Buy one.
You shouldn't buy this.
It contains awful profanities.
Bog bilberries!
Buy a book! A novel called Free Girl.
This is better.
It's like a modern porn magazine.
I'm sure you'd be into this.
Inkeri!
This gentleman wants to buy your book.
Well, I can buy it
if you buy my bilberries.
Have a taste.
There you go.
Yuck. No one's gonna buy these.
I will. Ten litres.
If you buy ten copies of Free Girl.
What will I do with them?
Sell them. This is hot stuff.
I see.
Okay, it's a deal.
-Here are your bilberries.
-All right.
Six, seven...
Eight. Two more. And ten.
Thank you. And have a nice summer.
You too.
What do we do with these?
Make some sugar wine, for all I care.
-Bloody hell.
-What?
A random checkpoint.
I don't have a licence.
Excuse me.
I don't want to disturb you,
but is everything okay?
Can I help?
Well, I mean...
I left my driving licence at home,
and I don't want a fine.
I see. Well...
Hey, I can drive you to the end
of the block. It's no trouble.
-Yeah...
-Yeah.
You're a real angel!
Oh, please. We've all left our
license at home at some point.
Kerttu, get in the car.
Thank you so much.
I'm sure I can drive from here.
Listen. I just remembered...
Today is the national checkpoint day.
What's that?
It's... The police have
checkpoints all over the country.
They lurk behind bushes,
at intersections, anywhere.
What are they looking for?
A murderer, who dismembers old women.
-Really?
-Yes!
Raili, stop teasing her.
-How will we get there, then?
-I can drive you.
-We're going the same way.
-To Rovaniemi?
My son lives there.
-What a coincidence.
-Yeah.
I've been meaning to visit him.
-In Rovaniemi?
-Yeah. But I haven't got around to it.
I like your arms.
It's hard work at the marketplace.
-Do you offer any other services?
-Cut it out.
We need to know our driver!
I have a small shop
that sells everyday items.
I make sauna whisks
in the winter, and so on.
What would your wife say about
you taking a trip with strange ladies?
She's dead.
Just like my other wives.
Are there many of them?
Seven. Unfortunately,
they've all passed away.
Amazing women.
Different, but absolutely wonderful.
-Seven dead wives!
-At different times, of course.
I wasn't with all of them
simultaneously.
For goodness' sake.
A short fuel stop.
And a quick coffee.
An efficient man.
-Let's call the police.
-Nonsense.
He's definitely gonna kill us
if we snitch on him.
What shall we do, then?
The guy has to be taken care of.
You mean me?
I know your kind.
Kerttu and Inkeri might be as dumb as a
box of rocks, but you can't fool me.
We're the same, you and I.
You're only interested in money and sex,
in that order, which is fine.
But if you hurt Inkeri,
I'll personally scorch you to death
slowly, with a small flame.
But that one over there...
I don't care what you do to her.
You can use her
to satisfy your carnal desires.
I'm not that kind of man.
All right!
This is on me.
I can't eat sugar.
It upsets my stomach...
Bullshit!
If I'm buying for once,
you'll eat it, goddammit.
Down the hatch.
Right...
Thank you.
I think...
I need some fresh air.
What's taking so long?
-I'm sure he ran away.
-He's dead.
Lying in the bathroom.
I poisoned him with Inkeri's meds.
He's so old that they won't
even perform an autopsy.
Are you serious?
-You told me to take care of him.
-I did not.
-What did you give him?
-Are you a retard?
What did you give him?
These.
Those are laxatives, moron.
Dismembering killer
meets a shitty end.
I didn't think you'd have it in you.
Matti!
I'll be a little while longer.
I'm so sorry.
Can you get me a fresh
pair of trousers? And underpants.
Hand me your pants.
I'll rinse them clean.
No, they're going in the bin.
-No.
-Yes.
-A good pair of pants.
-No, they're not.
-Give them to me. I'll rinse them.
-No rinsing!
Give me the pants!
Give me those pants.
-I can carry my own pants.
-Are you all right?
I'll be fine.
I'm sure it was just food poisoning.
I'm sorry...
I'm sure...
I've come across
as slightly suspicious.
And there's a reason for it.
I haven't been completely honest.
My son doesn't live in Rovaniemi.
You had such a groovy vibe.
It stirred the young adventurer in me.
I thought it'd be fun
to join your gang.
Did you have a foursome in mind?
Sorry.
I'll take the next bus back.
You'll get rid of me.
Well, I lied, too.
I don't have a licence.
Not home, not anywhere.
I have two weeks to live.
Let's go before I die.
Get in the car!
A writer at work?
Where does your son live, then?
In northern Norway.
I'm planning to die in the Arctic Ocean.
So that's pretty close
to northern Norway.
My son doesn't want to see me.
Rosa says I've gone viral.
-Virile?
-Not virile. Viral!
Oh my God! I belong to the high-risk
group, and my brother has that ventilator.
Stop it!
You seem like a family who's always ready
to help and defend one another.
It's lovely to see.
She doesn't care about anyone
else but herself. She's a bully.
Nothing good, huh?
I could've used your help many times,
but you were nowhere to be seen.
Nothing comes to mind?
You didn't buy Maija a single present
even though you were loaded.
Doesn't it mean anything that I helped you
regain custody of Maija?
February 1984.
Tapio was on a business trip.
And you were so busy that you couldn't
even be reached at night.
In 1984, I had my hip surgery.
That was 1986.
In 1984, you ruined your hip
with another man.
Maija got drunk, and child services
took her into custody."
Rubbish.
Everything is rubbish
that's not in line with your story.
What do you want?
Were you taken into custody?
Why aren't you answering?
Because I'm mad at you.
I don't want to fight with you.
Don't write the book, then.
So were you taken or not?
Taken?
Write about elves and... fairy clubs.
I don't write children's books.
You'll come up with something.
But don't write about me.
I can't write about things
I don't remember.
Great! If you remember nothing,
then nothing has happened.
Write... Harlequin books or something.
What hasn't happened?
Why do you only want to depict
people as horrible?
I want to depict people as they are.
Like you and I.
Are we horrible, then?
Well, you can be a bit...
I can be what?
Controlling, aggressive.
Right. I don't have time for this.
We're done here. Bye.
That goddamn old crone.
For fuck's sake!
Do you find me
aggressive and controlling?
No, no.
-Okay. So you think I'm controlling.
-I didn't say that.
-You, say something.
-What?
What am I like?
-Decisive?
-I dunno. Boring.
Boring?
Well, you're not very emotional.
-Should I be emotional?
-I didn't say that.
I'm solution-oriented!
Everything would fall apart
if we all just sat here crying.
We need to get things done,
no matter how we feel.
People like me
keep this world turning.
Fr-fr-frying pan.
This has a shitload of views.
What is it?
Smack him in the head, in
the head. That's what I did.
A meme about Grandma.
-Jesus. No! Hey, delete it.
-I can't.
You can! Everything can be deleted.
Hack into it. Report it.
Child porn.
Call someone and say that!
ROVANIEMI 15
It should be behind that bush over there.
You should try out a coffin
while you're still alive.
People often buy the wrong size!
If it makes you feel any better,
I truly loved all my wives.
That's not gonna help
those poor women anymore.
Have you ever loved?
Yes! The autumn forest
full of lingonberries.
Kerttu.
What are you talking about?
This is Kerttu on Inkeri's phone.
Sylvi's friend from the church.
You think you're called Kerttu now?
-I really am Kerttu.
-Come on, now.
Kerttu, Kerttu.
Kerttu Kettunen. K.K.
-Listen, I don't have time for this!
-And who are you?
Me? I'm Maija, Inkeri's daughter.
Where is she?
Oh, dear child. My condolences.
We've already decided
on the flowers and cake.
-I'll help with the funeral, of course.
-What?
The coffin should be picked out soon.
And the hymns!
-What are you saying?
-Inkeri is dying!
What are you on about?
On the plus side,
she's still alive. For two weeks.
Hello?
Hello?
-Ville!
-My shift is starting.
Now, you have to start
whittling a coffin.
Whittling a coffin?
Whittling, building, constructing,
whatever.
3D print it, for all I care. We need a
coffin. We won't bury Mum in a bin bag.
Is Inkeri dying?
We'll make everything we can
with our own hands.
I'll be Mum's hospice nurse
and work like a dog,
sacrificing my own health
for her well-being.
And you'll help me. Are we clear?
At least she won't write anymore.
Is Grandma dying?
"No time to whine or analyse.
We can't fall apart.
Grandma needs us!
And you, go pack your things.
Your room will become a hospice.
What?
We're not a very religious family.
But now, we need to pray.
Of course he took a younger woman.
She doesn't look younger.
I'm sure he tried but couldn't get one.
I'd better go alone.
-Are you sure?
-Yes.
Inkeri!
I knew you'd come crawling back to me.
I came to get my manuscript.
What manuscript?
The one that I wrote in secret.
You stole it. I know it's here.
Oh, right! That manuscript.
Where is it?
It belongs to me.
I'm going to publish it.
Hey... You can't publish it.
Why not?
Inkeri... You're not a
very good storyteller.
Where is it?
"I burnt it.
Like everything else you left behind.
I'm not falling for that anymore.
Give it to me.
So that you could publish
more of your lies?
Truths. I have the right to do that.
There is no manuscript.
Inkeri, you know perfectly well
that you can't write.
I wrote Free Girl and also a sequel.
Hey, perhaps your lover has it.
I never cheated on you!
Bullshit!
-Are you gonna hit me?
-Stay away from me!
I'm so scared. No!
What?
An omelette! Who wants some?
Look, Susanna, we have a guest.
Yeah.
-Well... hello.
-Hello.
-Susanna.
-Inkeri. I'm Tapio's...
I know who you are.
I just quickly popped by
to get my manuscript.
Yeah, Inkeri is looking for her old junk.
But I told her it's not here.
Yeah, there shouldn't be
anything here...
Oh, the diaries! Maija's diaries.
We have a few. But that's all.
I can take them to Maija.
Oh, I can go and get them.
I'll get them. They're over here.
We've kept them safe over here.
Maija should have her diaries back.
Here you are.
-Thank you.
-Thank you. You're welcome.
And the music box!
There's a music box here. I'll get it.
Oh, dear. Did you leave
a music box here?
I thought I'd smashed it
against the wall ages ago.
But I guess I smashed the cuckoo clock
and those collector's plates.
Here...
Here it is. I think this belongs to you,
madam. Inkeri. Madam.
Oh, yes. Thank you.
Thank you. You're welcome.
I would've bought that book of yours.
-We're not buying anything.
-It was no longer on sale.
-I have one here.
-We're not buying anything!
Tapio!
You can have it for free.
I can write you an inscription.
But that's...
Oh, my. An inscription and everything.
-Here you go.
-Thank you so much.
All right. Bye, then.
Bye!
Enjoy your evenings at home.
Hey, I'll make the omelette now.
"Remember the frying pan
when Tapio turns into Evil Dan."
Did you find the manuscript?
WHERE THE HEART IS
What is this?
What if Tapio was right?
What if I had someone else?
What if I had someone else?
But who?
I don't remember a thing.
This isn't about your memory.
You just don't understand.
You never have.
And what you thought you understood,
you misunderstood.
Pertti!
Pertti! It was him.
Now I remember.
Tapio's colleague from the air force.
The love of my life.
Unbelievable. How could I forget?
And I sacrificed it all
for Tapio and Maija.
How to whittle a coffin yourself?
Coffins are not usually whittled.
You can whittle spoons, ornaments...
What? Why can't you issue
a missing person alert?
No, she's not answering her phone.
She's an old, senile woman who escaped
from an institution. And she's dying.
Yes, she is! Thank you, bye.
Ville!
There was animal magnetism between us.
He came to our cottage with his brother
one time.
They slept in the sauna cabin.
I was wearing a tight skirt.
I took them cold drinks
and watched him swim naked.
Good Lord!
Pertti and I were supposed to move to
Spain. We had even picked a house!
It was all planned.
I could have written, and he would've
become an airline pilot.
We agreed I'd come
and get Maija there later.
-You've always been easy.
-We never slept together.
-Thank God!
-Oh?
I never cheated on Tapio.
This was different.
A fiery union of two souls.
It's all in the manuscript!
We just have to find it.
Perhaps Pertti has it.
-Inkeri!
-Pertti!
Raili doesn't believe
we were going to Spain.
We were. We'd even picked a house.
I understand that you wanted to stay
because of Maija.
That's no lifestyle for a child.
Is that what you think?
I couldn't have controlled
myself anymore.
I would've torn your clothes off
right in the hallway.
I wonder how come
it didn't happen at our cottage.
Remember when you came there?
What are you talking about?
About the enormous sexual tension
between us.
-We can say it aloud at this age, right?
-Dear Inkeri.
I'm gay!
-What?
-I was already with Johan back then.
With your brother? But that's incest.
He's not my brother! He's my partner.
I thought you knew.
We spent so much time together.
But Spain?
We were all prisoners here.
You were Tapio's prisoner,
and we, the narrow-minded garrison's.
But then you started behaving strangely.
You stopped writing, isolated yourself...
I wonder if I left my manuscript here?
"I think you never wrote it after you
became good Mrs Housewife again.
And then there was
that horrible mess with Maija."
-What mess?
-But we had some good times, too.
We painted all night long,
recited Saarikoski's poems...
You were my best friend.
I thought we two had...
-Hi, honey.
-Hi.
-You remember Inkeri?
-Yeah.
How's Maija doing?
-Pertti.
-What?
A good wine?
-It's great. Take it to the kitchen.
-Alright. Okay.
Are you getting
me and Jussi Alanko mixed up?
I'm Jussi Alanko.
Do you need help
carrying the manuscript boxes?
I don't think
the manuscript even exists.
I'm 100% sure I wrote it.
You don't even remember
who you've slept with.
-Do you?
-I do!
All those hundreds of men,
all the positions, all the tender moments,
the caresses, the sighs.
All the furious wives who kept calling me.
And you don't even remember
your three desperate men, tops."
Who cares about the manuscript?
You'll die before it gets published.
-I need to save Rosa.
-From what?
From our family curse.
I don't want her making my mistakes.
Young people don't read books.
Rosa does!
MAIJA
DECLINED
Just bin them! Rosa won't miss them.
-Wouldn't the garage be better?
-Didn't she just move back home?
Imagine if everyone moved back home
after the first fight.
We wouldn't be here together
if I had run back to Mum
whenever you annoy me so much
I want to strangle you!
Chop-chop! Grab things and go.
Why isn't she answering?
Roni! Come on,
help me hang the wallpaper.
What do I need to do? I was just leaving.
There's not enough paste.
Let's hang it this way.
Don't do that...
You can't put it horizontally.
You can't...
This is how it wants to go.
Whose idea was it to take a little tube
like this... Goddammit!
What are these?
Second-hand. Practically free.
They all have to be taken inside.
Hurry up!
One, two, three. Let's go.
It won't...
This is the first door. We need to get it
in. It can't get stuck right away.
Okay, stop, stop!
Now it's in the right place.
There! It'll go straight in, boom.
We just have to swing it.
-Swing?
-It's just a bed!
I'm pissed off.
10 February 1984.
"I'm in a fucking institution"
"'cause Mum's not answering the phone
and Dad's away flying, again."
"I called my charming and wealthy
favourite aunt, Raili,"
"who came to the rescue, as always."
Does it really say that?
I exaggerated a little about myself,
but the rest of it was true.
You were being boned by some guy.
Maija was home alone.
She tricked Sylvi into buying her booze
and got her stomach pumped.
Read this and remember!
-Kerttu, coffee!
-Sure.
Why would I have forgotten
things like that?
If you want the truth,
you won't find it in your memories.
If I really had an affair,
whoever it was with,
I'm sure it was
because Tapio cheated on me.
Tapio did have an affair,
but you had one first.
How do you know?
Because he had the affair with me.
I'm fed up with your shit.
The poor boy was crushed
after finding out about your infidelity.
He came to me for comfort.
You're exaggerating again.
He wanted me to shout
his military rank during it.
But I made sure I was awful enough
that he never wanted me again.
You've always been awful enough
to keep everyone away from you.
Don't iron that, you retard!
It's silk!
Sorry! I was stupid.
Cut her some slack, for fuck's sake!
Why do you keep torturing her
and dragging her along?
Because you don't want
to die alone like Sylvi.
This is Inkeri Ropponen, hello.
Are you Juhani Alanko?
Are you the same Juhani Alanko,
who, in the eighties...
You were born in '91.
JUSSI ALANKO
10 February 1984
I'm pissed off.
I'm in a fucking institution
'cause Mum's not answering the phone
and Dad's away flying, again.
Sorry, I was just...
You know what I do
when I feel like that?
Get drunk.
No.
I go driving, aimlessly.
So beautiful.
Feels like those movements come
from the depths of your soul.
Go fuck yourself!
Stop the car. I feel sick.
I was... a shitty mother.
Nobody's perfect.
I wasn't there when Maija needed me.
You did what you could.
How can I remember everything
all wrong?
I was just as horrible as Tapio was.
I just didn't show it.
But here it was.
All those terrible things...
I've had a shitty life.
At least you've lived.
Perhaps there's no novel.
Perhaps Tapio was right.
There are no wise words
to pass on to future generations.
I'd better go to the Arctic Ocean
and throw myself off a cliff.
So that nobody has to see me suffer.
Isn't it better to go home?
-To your daughter.
-Maija hates me!
And for a good reason.
I've ruined her life, and my own.
And now I'm going to die. Alone.
Just like my sister Sylvi.
I have nothing, and no one.
I only had one life.
And this is how I used it.
Sorry, I'm out of control!
It's the tumour.
No, no...
This is outrageous.
I smell bad and everything.
No, don't...
I've...
I've had my eye on you
ever since we met.
-You have?
-You haven't noticed?
-Do you feel that?
-What?
My heart. Is this the end?
No, it's coming from somewhere else.
Oh Lord, if I, a traveller on Earth...
Or...
-Isn't this the wedding march?
-No. Or this?
Thank the Lord...
-What's that?
-A coffin.
Two beds facing each other.
We can't put my dead mother on a bed!
Lift it up!
There's just two of us.
-That's how it's done!
-With six people.
-Wait.
-Okay.
COCONUT OIL
Mother had an honourable and humble life.
She dedicated herself
to her family and her values.
Goodbye, Mother!
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
I can't get hold of Rosa.
I have no idea where she is. She's not
replying to my messages either.
-She sent me a message...
-To you? What did she write?
That she's staying with a friend. She
doesn't even have a room here anymore.
Well...
-Where will I put this?
-Find a place for it.
This is Inkeri. I'm unavailable...
Were you going to leave me in there?
No, of course not.
You shouldn't become attached
to a dying woman.
One doesn't have to go through
everything alone.
I had an affair with Jussi Alanko.
He was just like me.
A free-spirited artist.
Sensitive, beautiful, and poor.
But I chose Tapio.
I thought... it was the right thing to do,
with Maija and everything.
With you, I would've been happy.
Or not.
Who the fuck knows?
And it doesn't even matter now.
ALANKO JUHANI KALERVO
Home.
She had lied there for a week
before she was found.
You mean Sylvi?
Eight days, to be precise.
Which means 1.4...
-Why didn't we visit her?
-Because we have a life.
You didn't even come to the funeral!
-I was away.
-Bullshit!
You just couldn't be bothered.
You'll probably skip mine, too.
I'm not interested in funerals!
I don't do funerals!
My knee was so sore
that I couldn't come.
We're all selfish.
I'm out here, searching for something...
If I want to see someone,
I want to see them when they're alive.
In the coffin, no one is...
I can't take this anymore!
Shut up, for Christ's sake!
Now I know where it is.
Seventy-six...
Empty.
Bills!
NOVEL MANUSCRIPT.
UNFINISHED.
Needs to be finished...
What? "Needs to be finished."
Where's the rest?
I can't believe this.
Inkeri's time has come.
All right! You're awake.
I wondered why you disappeared
from my office.
You said you won't make
a treatment plan.
No, I did make a treatment plan
and prescribed you some meds,
but you never picked them up.
How have you been?
I'm feeling fine.
You fainted.
You were dehydrated.
Have you been eating and drinking?
Why would I eat
for a few days' sake?
What do you mean?
I only have a few days left to live.
Anxiety is not going to kill you.
The tumour will!
When did you get that?
You said I had a stomach tumour
and two weeks to live!
And that you hadn't had
the heart to tell me.
-My grandchild.
-Grandchild?
I didn't have the heart to tell
my grandchild that their dog was dying.
The nurse recommended
she be put down immediately.
What do I have, then?
I diagnosed you with anxiety.
Probably fatigue-related.
But if you've been feeling better,
you've done something right.
Has there been dancing?
-A little.
-Wild men?
Maybe one. Pretty tame, though.
So...
So I won't die?
No. Unless you get hit by a car.
Shit.
You can go home right now if you want.
So... this is great news!
Everything's ready
for Mum at home. Everything.
And I've actually learnt all the
procedures. I can remove the cannula!
No, no. The nurse will remove it.
I'll go get them.
Mum! Mum...
I'll take care of you till the end.
-Maija...
-Don't say a word.
How are you?
I'm feeling fin... bad.
Grandma needs to rest.
-Okay, bye.
-Bye.
Maija, listen...
No silly talk. You need to rest.
Just rest.
No, Maija... I'm so sorry.
-The situation...
-No!
I apologise for calling you selfish.
I don't know what got into me.
I've been pretty awful at times.
No, nonsense!
You've been a wonderful mother.
No, no.
The custody thing that Raili told me
about...
No... I guess it was true.
-I've forgotten many things.
-It happens.
The child services might still have
your old documents.
-You can get them if you want.
-I don't need to.
I had a good childhood.
No, your father was violent!
And I was a mess.
I should've left him a lot sooner.
That's life. Things happen.
It shouldn't be quite like that!
Let's not ruin this now.
Just focus on dying.
-Maija...
-No.
Let bygones be bygones.
I'll get you some soup and a straw
so you can drink it.
Hello. You can go in there.
I'll get some soup.
Oh my God. I have terrible news.
What is it?
I'm not dying.
-What?
-It was a misunderstanding.
So we've made all the arrangements
for nothing. Coffin and everything.
Maija doesn't know.
You can play dead.
-She might get caught!
-Really?
-What is it?
-Sorry. Nothing.
The vibe here is really weird.
I think this vibe is normal,
for your family.
Suffocating somehow.
It's probably because Inkeri... Ow!
I'm not going to die, after all.
She's known it for a while.
-No, I haven't.
-Sorry.
I knew it.
I knew this was some satanic plot
devised by you sick, old crones.
I knew nothing.
My freezer is full of death buns
and pies...
Cut the crap!
I'm sorry.
Aren't you relieved that I won't die?
You're making fun of me.
You always have.
You just said I was a wonderful mother.
Because you were dying!
I'm sorry. I really thought I was.
You made me apologise.
I apologised to you.
Is it a bad thing?
I spent all our kitchen renovation money
on this!
-I never asked you for anything.
-I never asked you for anything.
-I'm sorry.
-The fuck you are.
You're going to write.
"I will write." You will write.
Did you read my diaries, too?
I'm sure you did.
I might've had a glance.
-Maija darling...
-Don't call me "darling"!
You don't understand.
-I can write again!
-"Bloody hell. Out, now!
You're dead to me.
I don't have a mother anymore.
And I'm going to get a lawyer.
Present.
"...her youthful joy, energy and...
relationship with her daughter..."
ETERNAL GIRL
These things happen.
Let's just stay calm.
Hello!
-Hi, I'm Kanerva.
-Marc Makkonen.
The manuscript grossly violates
my client's privacy.
Her traumatic experiences
have been mixed up
with the disturbed introspection
of this demented author.
I mean, this is autofiction.
Do you understand literature at all? The
readers won't know which bits are true.
Everything's true.
All the more reason!
The text is a provocative expos, but it
also contains shameless and brutal lies!
My client is depicted
in an unfavourable light.
My client cannot accept
the publication of this book.
Wait. Sorry.
-We can get a lawyer too.
-And if it won't help?
If the book is significantly altered,
my client may consider
refraining from legal action.
We're not giving in to this blackmail.
-We're done here.
-Hey, let's listen to her suggestions.
"My 15-year-old daughter suddenly looked
frightened and fragile in the sunlight."
This will be rephrased as:
"As the sunlight fell on
my 15-year-old daughter's athletic body,
she looked gorgeous and tanned.
Her hair was shiny
after using Wella shampoo.
Excuse me, who wrote that?
I did.
What athletic skin?
There are several passages
commenting on my client's appearance.
All those passages need to be rephrased.
And... how about the depictions of
domestic violence?
They can stay.
As long as my client is shown
in a positive light.
And the references
to your own violent tendencies
in your youth?
They can stay too.
One more example.
-Page 35.
-It's there.
"Maija's tired eyes." No!
"Sparkling!"
"To my beloved daughter, Maija"
Oh! They already went
to the auditorium.
Hey, this needs fixing.
Mum still hasn't visited you?
She's just so stubborn.
I just... I can't stand her.
And you don't have to.
I can't stand her either, sometimes.
The closer you are to someone,
the more annoying they can feel.
But people won't change
until they want to.
Hi.
I'm so happy you came. Honey!
Why haven't you replied
to my millions of messages?
We even restored your room!
I'd like to introduce you
to my new partner.
Oh, who?
How come I haven't heard of him?
Because this is a new thing.
Hello, I'm Niki.
Hello.
I just thought of something.
Come with me to the kitchen, Rosa.
-Yeah. Just a second.
-Okay.
Just a second.
Sit down, please.
I knew you'd react like this.
They look like a literature student.
Completely broke!
You're going to business school.
You have a wonderful future ahead.
You two have nothing in common.
I have some popcorn over here.
Want some?
I'm fine, thanks.
Bobbie was well off, an HVAC engineer.
I told you I'm not going
to business school.
What?
You didn't study much either!
All the more reason.
And Niki is a hairdresser
and makes good money.
They're bald!
They have celebrities as their customers.
They did many people's hair
for the President's Reception.
And our hair looks like this!
They could do my hair sometimes, too.
It's a bit dry.
On one condition.
You have to call Grandma.
You can't keep avoiding things forever.
Whose hair have they done?
Which celebrities?
All right.
I thought I'd bring you
some of the stuff you left.
Thank you.
-I guess I'll be going.
-Stay for a while.
This is Matti.
-Hi.
-Matti and Maija.
Yeah.
You want coffee?
Well, if...
And one, two, three. Arms, legs.
And one... Great!
Finish your arms
and remember to breathe.
Run to your own spot.
Left foot, right foot.
Look over your shoulder.
And follow your breath back.