The Last Word (2020) s01e04 Episode Script

1
What is death?
An end?
A beginning?
A door?
Death can be many things.
Mostly, it's a bleak affair for everyone.
But does that mean that
funerals have to be bleak affairs, too?
In other cultures, people dance
and make music, laugh and shout.
And what do we do?
Conformity, coldness, piety.
I believe every person is unique
and therefore deserves a unique funeral.
I believe that every life
and every death has a story worth telling.
I don't believe in rules. I believe in
creativity, honesty, feelings and humor.
My name is Karla Fazius. I'm a eulogist.
And I want to be there
for you.
So, what do you think?
I don't know. I
I think it's somehow…
Good?
Funny.
Funny?
Because
Weddings.
That would be your thing.
Take all the time in the world you need
to find out what you all really want.
Sugar?
Sugar, yes. I'd like to come back
to the pallbearers--
Pallbearers, a choir, white doves.
Sounds more like a wedding.
Rapha and I have spoken a lot about this.
That's nice, but Raphael
and I were married for 20 years.
I know him inside out, too.
My husband's lover thinks he needs
to explain my ex-husband to me.
Have you ever asked what Rapha wants?
Can you please stop
this constant dick-swinging competition?
What do you think of the suggestions,
Mr Cornet?
Cornet.
Yes, Cornet. After all, it's your funeral.
In Tibet,
I read about the principle of sky burials.
The body is torn apart
and fed to the vultures until the flesh
has been gnawed to the bone.
Those are then ground down
and scattered in the wind.
I'd like something like that.
Laid out in the garden
and eaten by the crows.
Well, what we could do is
scatter your ashes in a mountain stream.
-No.
-Or an Alpine funeral in Switzerland.
No, thank you.
I haven't heard anything even close
to a good suggestion from you
in the last two hours.
-Raphael.
-Heike.
I'm in pain, I feel dizzy,
and if I don't get out of here right now,
I will shit my pants. Hannes, let's go.
It's too bleak here, anyway.
-Let's stay in touch, okay?
-Yeah, sure.
Shit.
-Shall I drive you to Dr. Owusu's later?
-No, thanks. I'll take the bus.
-I'm happy to drive you.
-Mom, seriously.
Yep. You need to realize, Karla,
you're not needed anymore.
You've been written off as a mother.
LOCHAU FUNERAL HOME
WE DON'T NEED A EULOGIST AT THE MOMENT.
So, what's the plan, then?
Are you going to give speeches
for dead people until you die?
First of all,
it was your idea that I get a job.
Secondly, I enjoy it.
And thirdly, it's well paid.
First of all, true.
Secondly, why? Third, why do I have to pay
for groceries, then?
You should do something you enjoy again.
Put your top on the right way round.
What?
Oh, shit.
Crow funeral. Viking funeral.
Tibetan mountain funeral
with sound bowls and yak butter tea.
For fuck's sake.
I don't know what else to say to them.
If I don't think of something,
the Cornet job will be gone.
-Could you hold up the arm, please?
-Yeah, sure.
Maybe it was a mistake firing Karla.
What do you think?
Damn
This would be the perfect job for her.
-Then ask her.
-I can't.
Why not?
Because I fired her.
You okay alone? I have to go upstairs.
Andi.
Just tell her that you need her.
She will understand.
How are you today, Tonio?
No idea. You tell me.
You want me to tell you how you are?
Yes, isn't that
what my mother pays you for?
You want to tell me
about your bed-wetting?
Has it happened again?
No.
Good.
I'm pleased to hear that.
How are things at home right now?
Do you feel that your mom
and sister understand you?
I'm 15. What do you think?
Okay, sorry.
No one talks to me like you do.
I
Everyone treats me as if I was
I don't know, like a child in a war zone,
who can't know about the fighting.
-Does that sound stupid?
-No, not at all.
And not just my mother and Judith,
in school, too.
They're scared of saying the wrong thing,
so they say nothing.
And they expect the same from me.
I need to pretend nothing's happened
and everything's normal.
But nothing's normal, is it?
-Fazius speaking.
-Karla, it's me.
-Borowski.
-Yes.
Hey, I How are you?
Good.
Can we keep this short?
I'm pretty busy right now.
Yes, of course.
I'm sorry I haven't been in touch
for so long, but I have a new job for you.
I'll be straight with you.
I lost the last four funerals to Eitner.
And this job
Well, it could really help me.
And this family, well,
it'd be right up your street.
Ronnie said I should tell you I need you.
So
I need you.
Karla?
Are you still there?
Say, "Please."
Please.
Hello, Grandma.
How are you?
What the hell has put you
in such a good mood?
I'm not in a good mood. You are.
You can't pull the wool over my eyes.
You're in love.
What? No.
Or have you finally had sex?
No, Grandma, no. I haven't.
-What are you doing? Watching porn?
-You guys usually don't care about me.
If you say so. See you later.
Anyway, you wash the body,
being particularly thorough
around the orifices.
I cut his fingernails and toenails
but I don't always do that.
Then you have to stuff the butt
with cotton wool and bind the penis.
And then you get to the ligature.
-That mean anything to you?
-Yeah, sure.
-Cool.
-No, of course not.
For the ligature, you take a cotton thread
and put it in down here.
Here. Up through the inside of the mouth.
Then here, through the nasal septum,
back into the inside of the mouth
and then you tie a knot in it.
-Then the mouth is closed.
-Okay.
That's impressive.
Yeah.
Can I watch you sometime?
Sure.
Cool.
Hello, I'm here for my annual cleaning.
There are a few issues.
Very funny.
But a lot of it does have to do
with your previous job, right?
Those aren't teeth.
Rocks?
Rocks, mountains, that kind of thing?
No, that's a phall It's a willy.
You paint willies. You paint penises.
But yours--
And you still wonder
why I didn't tell you?
-I need to go. I'm late.
-As soon as things get serious, you go.
No. As soon as I want to go,
you get serious.
Our roles have reversed, Stephan.
You're playing at being an artist and
I earn the money, take care of the kids
and do the housework.
-Got it. When will you be back?
-Tomorrow evening.
After I've dropped Tonio off at home.
-Good morning, Frauke. How are you?
-Karla.
-I'm glad that you found some time.
-Sure.
-Again, please forgive me.
-Forgiven and forgotten.
Thank you. Are you ready?
Mrs. Fazius.
You sound
as if you're half wedding planner,
half spiritual leader.
And no, that's not meant as a compliment.
Listen, I've got final stage lung cancer.
All of this is very important
to my husband here.
My ex-wife less so.
My daughter doesn't want to spend all day
in a stuffy funeral parlor.
And I don't want my most intimate secrets
to be laid out here in public.
So just organize a decent funeral for us.
With crows in your garden, you mean?
-Or a Viking burial?
-Yes, but that's not possible.
Usually, planning a funeral is done
without the deceased being present.
And even I want to stick
to a few conventions.
And so
I suggest that you just leave.
Excuse me?
Just leave and let it be a surprise.
Or you could look at coffins
with Mr. Borowski.
And urns.
I would like to talk to each of you,
individually, one by one.
I'll have a smoke.
Heike. Can I call you Heike?
When I met Rapha, I'd just started working
as an interior designer.
Hannes, he's a cutie, no doubt.
And then they moved
into the neighboring apartment.
And I stayed with Lea
in the apartment we owned.
The first few years were really difficult.
Your boss is quite nice.
Is he married?
I always felt like the third wheel.
But he's always been determined.
He always knew exactly what he wanted.
Hopeless.
That's Rapha for you.
Yes. And then came the cancer.
We swore we'd get through it together.
But you've seen how things are between us.
I've looked after him mostly on my own
for the past two years.
He always comes up with these crazy ideas.
Like these funeral ceremonies.
But I have no idea what he actually wants.
Lea, could I have a quick word
with you, too?
UNDERTAKER OF THE YEAR -
THREE GENERATIONS OF SUCCESS
ALEXANDER EITNER
COMBINES TRADITION WITH MODERNITY
What a moron.
"Ecological," "super modern."
Asshole.
-Hey.
-Hey.
So you got what you wanted?
Frauke I think we need Karla.
She helps us keep decent customers.
Like the Cornet job.
We need her, do we?
-What do you think? That--
-It's fine.
We all want the same thing after all.
I want it to work out.
Between us.
Okay.
Come on, then.
Borowski.
Come on, we can skip the foreplay.
Oh, God.
That would be for the whole family.
If everybody wants it.
It's a bit tight for our sofa.
Yes.
But it has the right humidity
to be a wine cellar.
-So Heike can't complain either.
-And we're in nature.
Look. You always wanted
to move to the countryside.
-What's happening now?
-I want to talk to you in private.
Your family is trying their best
to cater to your wishes.
-So?
-But the ceremony is for the relatives.
It isn't for you.
It isn't for the deceased.
"Neither the sun nor death
can be looked at with a steady eye."
Wow.
La Rochefoucauld.
You're well prepared.
It's ridiculous.
The pain is so severe, I have to swallow
bucketloads of medication.
And I look at the others
living on without me.
And arguing over trivial matters.
And I want to go up to them and shout
all my fears and pain into their faces.
I don't want to have to think
about all of this.
Is that so hard to understand?
No, but it's whiny.
You have the opportunity
to give your family a good farewell.
And maybe you could resolve
the odd conflict, too.
Just pull yourself together.
You are rude.
Okay.
What do you suggest?
Yes, it sounds so easy.
Everyone acts as if they know what to do.
This, that, don't get fat.
What's important in life.
But no one actually knows.
What do you think?
I think if you find something
that makes you happy,
and you can make a living doing it.
And friends, family.
Taking care of others.
And croak at the right time.
When you've done everything.
Is there a specific reason
you're thinking about that?
I don't know. What do you think?
I think you're an extraordinary boy.
But you're only 15, dammit.
You don't need to agonize
over every existential question.
Our time is up again already.
-Do we have to finish?
-Don't you think that was enough for now?
We could do something else, right?
I don't want to talk all the time anyway.
-We could just hang.
-My next patient will be here soon.
What about doing something at the weekend?
Tonio, you're
You've made great progress in such
a short time. It's really impressive.
I don't think we need to see each other
more often.
Yes, but--
Do you really want to have to come here
every week for all eternity?
See you next week?
I'll go first.
-Bye.
-Ciao. See you next week.
Good to see you. Come in.
-This is where you spend your lunch break?
-Even Ronnie needs some daylight.
Can I have a bite?
Stop grinning.
I'm not grinning.
You make me feel uneasy. Do you know that?
Is that good or bad?
I don't know.
Did your parents still
What?
have sex?
I have no idea.
I don't want to think about that.
Why would you even ask that?
Because Andi and my mother had sex
all around the showroom yesterday.
-Okay.
-The things I saw
I can't get Andi's small, white ass
out of my head.
No, seriously. It's there all the time,
no matter what I do.
There's someone coming.
I think he wants something from you.
Do you know him?
Konstantin.
I do not want to see her right now.
How are you?
-I'm fine. And you?
-Okay.
I'm doing well.
I wanted to ask you out to dinner.
Just like that.
I don't want to be rude, but
Then just say yes.
Please.
Alright. One dinner.
My toothbrush.
Why is she grinning like a 13-year-old?
-I'll call you, okay?
-Great. Thanks.
Your gift.
-Don't you want to open it?
-Sure. Yes.
-Yes.
-I hope you like it.
It's a dress.
Dress.
You will look beautiful in it.
I'm sure.
I washed it.
Of course.
I'll call you.
Yes. Okay.
What was that all about?
Maybe they like each other.
PEER: I WANT TO SEE YOU!
Him again. I
What's wrong?
My boyfriend is annoying.
My ex-boyfriend.
Something in between.
Anyway, he's annoying.
Right, I've had enough daylight.
Shall we start?
Is everything okay, honey?
-Shall I make you something else?
-No, thanks.
I'm just not that hungry.
Can I go to my room?
Yes, of course. Sure. Yes.
Seems like therapy's really helping.
-What is it?
-Nice dress.
It's a cardigan. But thanks, anyway.
Okay.
Karla?
Turn the music down!
Leave me alone!
Tonio!
Tonio!
Shit.
I want to be alone.
And I want to bang Harry Belafonte.
What's up with you?
You were so unbearably happy
just the other day.
Lovesick?
Who's the lucky girl?
No one.
Does she not want you?
Or did things just not work out?
The first time is always disappointing.
Oh, Grandma,
just leave me alone, will you?
You can trust me with your secrets.
I'll take them with me to my grave.
Very well.
As you wish.
-It's my therapist.
-What?
I'm in love with my therapist.
What's the problem?
She said that once I'm better,
I won't need to see her anymore.
It's simple.
What's simple about it?
Well, if you can no longer see her
when you're better,
then you'll just have to pretend
you're not well.
I've never seen you smoke before.
I thought my death
would be the right time to start.
What?
I think I sometimes missed
you being like that.
Being like what?
Well nonchalant.
Not so uptight.
Do you think we would've stayed together,
if you hadn't died?
How
How were you able to do this?
To keep it from us.
For such a long time.
Every day, every morning, every night.
You must've been scared
that the truth would come out.
Didn't that wear you down?
No.
I didn't have to lie to myself anymore.
I came home at night and I was happy.
To be honest, you guys benefitted from it.
I was happy.
And so were you.
Yes.
Dear Cornet family
we have come together today
to say goodbye
to Raphael.
A husband
a lover
a father.
Someone who influenced and engaged you.
Normally, I would talk about Raphael,
or maybe sing a song
or dance.
Not very well, but I could do it.
Throw a farewell party.
But I don't want to talk.
I want you all to talk.
I want the three of you
to tell Raphael all those things
you always wanted to tell him.
Well, mainly, I'm sad.
All I want to do is cry all the time,
but I know that you don't like that,
so I hold myself back.
Heike?
I was always jealous of the two of you,
but couldn't admit it.
I was always scared he'd kick me out
and go back to you.
And I used to be in love with you.
Papa
sometimes it's hard for me
to see you like that.
The way you are now.
I'm scared that might hurt you.
Okay, shit.
I don't want you to go
but I don't know
how much longer I can take this.
I'm angry
because you made my life so complicated.
And now, I have to sit here
and listen to this shit!
Can't you see that we all know
you're scared shitless?
But how is that our fault?
Do you have to confront us with that
every single day?
Can't you just enjoy
your last few days with us?
Goddammit.
So?
How did it feel to be dead?
I don't know.
There are things I have to think about.
Thank you.
Tonio.
Only 15 minutes. Fuck! Shit.
LIVING HUMANELY, DYING HUMANELY
IS THE DISEASE SEVERE AND NOT CURABLE?
Hey!
Hey.
I didn't know
you were capable of sweating.
I'm surprised myself.
Raphael Cornet passed away last night.
-Really?
-I picked him up this morning.
He's downstairs.
Here.
I found this in his coat pocket.
"Thank you. Sorry. Bye."
Short and sweet.
Shit.
Shit.
-Do you think that I--
-Nonsense.
What about the funeral rehearsal?
He killed himself
because he didn't want to suffer anymore.
It was a relief for the Cornet family.
I keep doing everything wrong.
And I
Do you think
I'm dealing with my grief the wrong way?
Karla, I've been doing this shit
since I was a kid.
I can't even tell you how many
bereaved people I've had to deal with.
Some of them
seem as though they can handle it.
Well, and with others, you can tell
they'll never get over it.
And others just sit there
and don't seem to care about anything.
But if you're asking me
whether there's a right way to mourn
No.
And if there's no right way,
then there's no wrong way.
-You're a good friend, Andi.
-Yeah?
Everything alright?
Yes, thank you.
I'm going to get back to Cornet.
No.
Nope.
I'm off, then.
Okay. I won't be long.
Excuse me!
What are you doing?
-I'm taking some cash.
-No, I mean that.
What does it look like?
-You can't do this.
-Of course I can.
And what about Ronnie?
He's coming with me.
Ronnie, could you come here?
-He's 22.
-He's my son.
Sorry, but you wanted him
to be my son, too.
You keep saying it's all about family.
But it's never about me or Ronnie.
It's all about your damn business!
I can't bear to watch anymore.
Are you coming?
Don't involve me in your shit.
Frauke, I need you.
Don't forget to feed the fish!
Subtitle translation by Yoona Moon