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6 - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A DARK HOUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD

2:18:24 (opet smo skupa)

What fun this is!
l went to the cottage yesterday and turned the heating on
and stocked up on food, just like old times.
- When did l last see the place? - Seven years ago.
- What about you? - l don't spend much time there.
Henrik's not fond of the seaside.
The girls and l go there occasionally,
but they have their own lives to lead.
- How is your husband? - Overworked.
He suffers from high blood pressure.
- How's your wife? - She's in ltaly, for a rest cure.
Funny that they're both abroad.
lt's almost indecent, l think.
That is what's so nice.
- The place hasn't changed much. - lt's a bit shabby.
lt needs doing up, but we can't afford it.
Put the car away, or Erik will see it and be over like a shot.
- That could be embarrassing. - l will, dear...
- Aren't you going to do it now? - No, later.
This does feel a little strange...
Let's stretch out on the bed...
l'm nervous. lt's like the first time.
But it's not.
lt's been nearly a year now.
lt was the day before my birthday
and today's August 28th.
You seduced me.
Did you ever see the last act of that play?
lt must have looked funny, our sneaking off like that.
- What made you decide? - l don't know...
l saw you the second l entered the theatre.
lt seemed natural to approach you.
l was terribly pleased.
So was l.
''- And you said: ''''Let's leave.'''' - And you blushed.''
- No wonder. l had such a hard-on. - You got me pretty hot too.
We hadn't met for two whole years.
That's right, exactly two years.
And now today's our first anniversary.
No...
lt's not our first anniversary.
lt's our 20th.
We got married in August, 20 years ago.
lt's an entire lifetime.
A whole grown-up life together.
lsn't that strange?
My dear! Sweetheart...
lt's this wretched old bed...
Our hotel rooms were suitably impersonal.
lt was wrong of us to come here.
- We should have gone to Denmark. - There wasn't time.
- This is all right. - No, it isn't.
l'll call Fredrik. He has a cottage.
- How will we get in? - l expect a neighbour has a key.
There's no harm in trying.
Fredrik? lt's Johan.
How are you? l've never been better.
Look, this is rather a delicate matter. Are you alone?
Could l possibly borrow your cottage for the weekend?
Exactly, something like that...
Very pretty. Young...?
She's almost too young!
lt's a sticky situation.
That's great!
l owe you a favour.
Don't say a word to Birgit now.
Women don't understand these things.
Right... The key is under the stone step.
Yes... Blonde.
With a great figure...
l'll call you. l really appreciate it.
Thanks. Give my love to Birgit. No, scratch that last suggestion.
- l found it. - lt's lovely!
Here's the step. lt must be here.
- Let's clear up. - Right.
What's wrong? You're crying.
You're so touching. l'm being silly.
Touching? That's amazing.
lt's the truth.
My dear, beloved Johan...
You've become so small.
You're so handsome this way.
You used to look so tense.
- Are people beastly to you? - l don't know.
l've stopped being on the defensive.
Someone said l'd become slack and gave in too easily.
l've accepted my true dimensions
with a certain sense of humility.
lt makes me kind and sad.
And you with your great expectations.
Those were my family's expectations.
l really wanted to live up to them.

2:29:15 (i na kraju malo sreće)

You wanted to know about my husband?
Getting married was a mistake.
lt was more of a joke.
When did you meet?
A few years ago.
lt was a purely sexual affair.
l see...
Henrik is... How shall l put this?
Very convincing in that respect.
He truly enjoys sex
and he made me realise l felt the same way.
l wasn't all that keen before.
l remember.
You don't like this subject, do you?
But it can't be helped.
l was obsessed by this new sensation.
l felt insatiable.
How nice... for you.
l became very attached to Henrik
and he liked me a lot,
but l caught him with other women.
What do you know?
l was hurt and humiliated, even jealous.
Jealous, you?
We had a violent scene and l told him to go to hell.
- So, did he? - Yes.
He said l was too histrionic.
l begged him to come back.
You look preoccupied.
Everything's fine, that's all.
Things just couldn't be better.
- lt's just that l can't stand it. - l knew it!
As if l care about your orgasms with that workaholic.
l applaud your emancipation.
You should write a novel.
The women's libbers would rejoice.
You're being ridiculous...
l tell you l don't give a damn.
lt suddenly mattered so terribly.
lt's just a taste
of the marvellous things life has to offer.
Think of the awareness we've gained.
lt's magnificent!
We've discovered ourselves.
One faces up to his insignificance, the other, to her greatness.
Here we are, trashing our spouses.
They're in this room with us.
lt's mental group sex to the max.
lt's like a textbook on life.
lt's fabulous, but l can't bear it.
l see, but l don't find it terrible.
l can't abide this cold light directed on my every endeavour.
How l battle with futility.
l try to cheer myself up thinking
that life is what you make of it,
but those are empty words.
l want something to long for.
l don't feel the same way.
l realise that.
l persevere.
l enjoy myself.
l rely on common sense
and my gut feeling.
They work together.
l'm content with my direction.
Time has given me a third partner:
Experience.
You should be a politician.
Maybe you're right...
l like people.
l enjoy negotiations,
prudence, compromises...
Rehearsing your election speech?
- Am l so impossible? - Only when you preach.
l'm not going to say another word.
No more home truths?
l promise.
Promise you won't mention that orgasmic superman again.
Promise to reign in your awful level-headedness.
lt will be difficult, but l'll try.
Could you possibly...
...use your female power sparingly?
l'll have to.
All right, then...
Let's go to bed.

2:35:39 (ljubav?)

What is it? There, there...
Come, sit here with me.
There, there...
What brings on nightmares like that?
- Perhaps it was something you ate. - Do you think so?
Unless there's something in your orderly world...
...you can't get at.
Hold me, l'm shivering.
l think l've come down with something.
- The girls have had colds... - You'll soon feel better.
Pull the covers up. That's nice...
What were you dreaming about?
We were crossing a dangerous road.
l wanted you and the girls to hold on to me,
but my hands were gone.
All l had left were stumps
and l'm sliding around in soft sand.
You're on the road and l can't reach you...
What a horrible dream!
Do we live our lives in confusion?
- All of us. - What do you mean?
Fear, uncertainty, a lack of wisdom.
Are we sliding downhill
and don't know what to do?
Yes, l think so.
ls it too late?
Yes,
but we shouldn't say things like that.
Johan, have we missed something important?
- All of us? - No, you and l.
At times l can read your mind
and feel such tenderness.
l forget myself without losing myself.
lt's a new sensation.
l understand.
lt grieves me that l've never loved anyone.
l don't think l've ever been loved either.
That distresses me.
Now you're being histrionic.
l know what l feel.
l love you in my selfish way
and l think you love me,
in your fussy, pestering way.
We love each other
like people do here on earth,
but you're so demanding.
Yes, l am.
lt's as simple as this:
Here l am in a dark house somewhere in the world,
with my arms around you
and you are here in my arms.
l lack empathy for my fellow human beings.
l'm low on imagination, l suppose.
l don't know what my love looks like and l can't describe it.
Most of the time l don't feel it.
You think l love you too?
Yes, l do.
lf we harp on, love will vanish.
Let's stay like this all night.
Oh, let's not...
One of my legs has gone to sleep, my left arm is dislocated,
l'm sleepy and my back is cold.
Then let's snuggle down.
Good night, my darling. lt was good talking to you.
- Sleep well. - You too.