03x05 - The kids are not alright

[bunniefuu]

You have to go to school.
You've been away the entire week.

I haven't skipped school. I'm sick.

I get that you're not happy there,
but it doesn't help to stay away.

Can't I stay home for a few more
days until this is a little better?

Not going to school
isn't the answer.

We should clear things up
with those girls.

We're not clearing up anything.
Just stay out of it.

I'll just stick it out until summer,
when I'll move to Copenhagen.

From Astrid: We can talk
when I'm back from Geilo.

I think you're overdramatising.

I think you can answer the phone
even if you're in Geilo.

This is serious.

-Mum? Where's my concealer?
-I'll help you.

SUCK IT UP

Good luck. You'll be fine, sweetie.

-That sucks.
-It's so f*cking hard.

She's afraid of going to school.
I feel really sorry for her.

Why not talk to the parents of the
girls who held the counter-party?

I've tried,
and the Swedish one can handle it,

but Lara's mother,
who's my f*cking best friend,

is on a loveholiday.com in Geilo
and thinks I'm hysterical

and won't answer the phone.

My mother says
that you're only doing as well

as the kid who has it worst.

I'll talk to the mother,
and you'll talk to Bernhard.

-Hello?
-Hey, it's us.

Can you remove your headphones?

Bernhard? Remove your headphones.

We have to talk about
what will happen now.

The police agree that this case
shouldn't go to court.

So I won't go to jail?

No, sometimes, cases like this
are sent to the Mediation Service.

But both parties have to agree
to it. It's voluntary.

And Oscar
and his parents want it too.

They want to put me in jail.

It's been a while since August,
so they've had time to think.

And remember that you are
a lot more to Oscar's parents

than someone who hosed their son
with a pressure washer.

We've been best friends since
kindergarten. Have I mentioned that?

Yeah, you told me last time.

Right. He was
the first person I told, too.

That I'm a boy.

And he has always supported me
when the others bullied me.

-But on that day, he didn't.
-No.

We argued about how to wash
his dad's shitty car.

And suddenly, he said,
"Sometimes, you're such a girl."

And he kept saying it.

And I couldn't handle that.

So I got mad.

I'm sorry.

That's exactly what you should tell
Oscar in mediation.

You have to be sorry
and get him to believe you.

What was it like in therapy today?

Lars has been so grey and grumpy
that I had given him up,

but now it's like
he's bursting with energy.

Even though he's scolding me,

it's like I'm getting to know him
all over again.

That's the Swedish mother.

Okay. I'll go to my room
and work on Belarus,

so you two can talk.

I'm coming!

-It's good that you wanted to meet.
-We have to figure this out.

-Would you like some tea?
-Yes, please.

First I want to say that Michaela
is taking our divorce really hard.

-But that's no excuse.
-No.

She admits they held a counter-party
to sabotage the New Year's party.

But they've been going
after Sigrid for a long time.

On Jodel, a dreadful app

where you can write nasty stuff
anonymously. Do you know it?

-Yeah, I know what Jodel is.
-Oh, you do?

I've taken screengrabs
of the awful messages

and sent them
to Hans Petter at the school.

But why? What does Michaela say?
Why did they do this?

Lara was really upset when Michaela
and Sigrid became such good friends,

so she started telling Michaela

that Sigrid had said nasty things
about Michaela,

and then the little devils ganged up

and started a revenge plot
against Sigrid.

Oh, poor Sigrid.
Apparently, it was Lara's idea.

-Would you like sweeteners?
-Yes, please.

Three.

Pørni, we won't let this go.

No, we won't let this go.

Nobody thinks that you're a snitch,

but I have to take action
when kids are arseholes to you.

That's just what it's like
to be a kid.

But you're from the '70s,
so you have to fix everything.

It will just make things worse.
I don't want any help.

Okay.

No, sorry. This is too serious
for me to let it lie.

You'll have to deal with it.

And I'll deal with knocking
and waiting for a reply.

Mum... Please!

No!

"Sigrid smells bad
and looks like a pig.

If her p*ssy stinks as bad
as she does, I feel sorry for her.

Why does she want to live
when she's that ugly."

All of this is online
so everyone can read it?

No, you need an app to read this.

-I want copies of those.
-You'll get them.

I contacted the principal
after your e-mail,

and we have arranged a meeting
between the girls and a counsellor.

And I want this to be on the agenda
at the PTA meeting.

This isn't a regular PTA meeting.

It's more of an information meeting
about middle school.

I think it's important
that we figure out

why the girls think
it's okay to say...

I don't care about "why".
I want this to stop.

Yes, and we're going
to make that clear.

This is really not okay.

Yes. I understand that you are
affected by this...

You don't understand anything.

You don't get what it's like to have
a child you think is doing fine,

but then it turns out that
she isn't okay and has no friends.

She dreads going to school every day

and meeting the people who call her
an ugly pig who stinks.

And we will make it very clear
that this is not okay.

-We will spend a lot of time on...
-I just want this to end, right now.

I've been on holiday with Kjetil.

I honestly don't see
how this is such a big deal.

They were upset
that Sigrid didn't invite them

and made a counter-party.

Yeah, it sucks, but it's not mean.

Do you think it's okay
that Lara calls Sigrid an ugly wh*re

and says that she stinks on Jodel?

She and Michaela have created
a hate campaign on Jodel.

No. That's not possible.

Lara doesn't have Jodel.
You have to be 17.

So you're 100% aware
of everything she does online?

You know what? Right now,
Lara is quite vulnerable.

She's having a hard time because
Kjetil and I are moving in together.

Don't accuse her
of things she didn't do.

-I want to talk to her.
-Not when you're this upset.

She has never called
anyone an ugly wh*re.

-She doesn't have that vocabulary.
-Okay!

-Call me when you've calmed down.
-g*dd*mn it!

SIGRID'S DIARY
DO NOT READ!! f*ck OFF!


The worst day of my life so far,

besides when Amund threw Michaela
off the pier

at Sognsvann instead of me.

I hate my life. I don't want
to live. f*ck everything.

I hate everyone in my class.
I hate being me.

-Hello!
-Hi!

You know what,
I actually have to leave again.

Lars called
just as the taxi pulled up.

He invited me to a glass of wine.

The therapist has said that
we should try to do nice things

and not just talk
about difficult things,

once he's ready for it,
and I guess he's ready.

-I'll take a sip of yours.
-Of course.

-Are you okay? Did something happen?
-No, I just wanted to chat.

-Go save your marriage.
-Yeah, I'll have to do that.

Don't wait up.

If Lars is able to talk about
something other than the optician,

I think I'll sleep there tonight.

-Okay!
-Good luck.

Thanks. Bye.

Will you sleep here, Mum?

That's the plan.

I regret throwing away
all my clothes.

I didn't throw them away.
They're in the basement.

Thank you.

Poor Sigrid. Friendship stuff
can be awful at that age.

Sorry for talking so much
about my own issues.

I just don't know what to say.

It's fine. It makes me feel
that people can still lean on me.

Do you remember the trip
you couldn't go on,

when Anne and I went to Stockholm
about three years ago?

She was worried
that you didn't have enough friends.

People you can drink beer with
and have fun with,

not just people
you're responsible for raising.

Did she say that?

Sorry. I didn't mean
to make you sad.

I'm not sad. I'm just...

-I have friends.
-Not enough, according to Anne.

I just think she meant that...

she wanted you to have
more people you were close to.

She could be a bit harsh,
that sister of yours.

She wasn't suited
to be a diplomat, at least.

Sorry, but I have to get going.

I'll be back this weekend,
if you're up to it.

As long as I'm alive,
I'll be up to it.

Maybe you could bring me
a Flu Fighter from SmoothieXchange?

I think I'll be able
to drink one of those this weekend.

Flu Fighter?

Sure.

Could you go
and hang out with Sigrid?

I'm in a meeting
that will last a few hours.

I'm at the Farris Spa
with Stephen and Elisabeth.

-Elisabeth's Christmas present.
-Damn, I forgot.

But isn't Tuva staying with you?

Yes, but she also
had a late appointment.

Sigrid will manage on her own.
She's almost 13.

-Okay. Say hi to the others.
-Has something happened?

No. I'll call you
when you get home. Bye.

First of all, we're looking forward

to welcoming the new
eighth graders this fall.

I promise that we'll do everything
we can to give them a safe

and good start at their new school.

Very good. If you have any questions
to the vice principal

at the Engebråten School,
just fire away.

I would like to discuss some things
that aren't about middle school.

Let's do a round of middle-school
questions first, Pørni,

while we have Filip here.

-Yes. Jens.
-Yeah.

I just want to say
that I don't see the point

of only getting grades twice a year.

We have some experience with this,

and it's not like
we don't evaluate the students,

but the grades have been replaced
by running feedback.

There's less pressure on grades,
and in our experience,

students learn more
because they are less stressed.

All my tests were graded when I went
to school, and I turned out fine.

There will be more in tenth grade.
Go ahead.

-I work at Foss, and...
-Where do you work?

At Foss. And there we see
that students from Engebråten

have very good learning habits.

They don't lose much from not having
the pressure of grades...

They don't lose much, but a little?
Or what are they gaining?

-It has to do with well-being.
-We believe this too.

We haven't made it up ourselves.

We follow guidelines
from the Ministry of Education...

I would also like to say
that I find it really hard

to follow the schoolwork
when so much of it is done online.

I prefer to have things on paper

rather than having to learn
online solutions and all that stuff.

I think it's very complicated.

The school is committed to helping
parents with its IT solutions.

Also, I don't like that they start
at different times each day.

Can't they just start
at the same time each day?

It has to do with logistics,

and it also helps the students
to become more independent.

But they're not independent.

My daughter will be confused if
she has to get up at 10:00 one day

and at 7:00 the next day. That's...

Pørni, we're not finished yet.

And there's mingling
and pastries afterwards.

No, sorry.

I don't want to sit here and listen
to a bunch of 50-year-olds

who are dissatisfied
with the Norwegian school.

Excuse me.
You're talking to this guy

as if the school makes decisions
based on which way the wind blows.

Don't you think, Jens, that the
school has thought things through

before making changes
to grades and homework

since you went to school?

How would you like it
if I came and said,

"I have had a bank account.

And I have some tips on how
you should set the bank rate."

I bet you'd love that!
Be a little curious and ask

why they're
doing things differently.

Can't you ask that? Do you know why?

Because it's 30 f*cking years
since we went to school!

-We'll have the pastries now and...
-Why aren't you more interested

in whether or not your kids
are arseholes to other children?

Instead of trying
to get adapted start times

for your g*dd*mn child.
That's all I have to say.

Should we try
to keep this civilised?

Hi, Emma. I'm bringing your mum
a Flu Fighter tomorrow.

Pørni... Mum is dead.

Oh, no. Sweetheart...

-Oh, dear.
-Can you come over?

-When? When did she die?
-This morning. Emma made it.

She came down
from Bergen last night.

-Poor Emma.
-Yeah.

Hanna, could I ask you for a favour?

I know it's not
what we agreed on, but...

I was wondering if you could
come home for a few weeks

for Sigrid's sake?

Or mostly for mine, really.

Hey... Try to eat something.

Nothing will get better
if you don't eat.

-Thank you.
-No problem.

-Is Lars picking you up?
-Yeah, in about an hour.

It's great that you're trying again.

Yeah. We'll have to see
if he's able to get over this.

At the very least,
he's better at expressing himself.

And I can see that my bitterness
hasn't helped him.

It will be good to get Hanna back.

When is the funeral?

Next week. Sorry,
I have to get going.

Sigrid? Tuva has made cheese
croissants for lunch. Come here!

Do you have to drive her? Can't she
walk, so you can take the day off?

I can't today. I have to take
a boy to the Mediation Service.

Oh my God. I feel so sorry for you.

No, no hugs. I'll just start crying.

Is there anything you haven't said
or that you want to ask, Bernhard?

Bernhard?

Can I say something?

I have just been sad.

It has nothing to do with the fact
that I'm deaf in one ear, but...

I've just missed you, Bernhard.

Yes, but that punishment, him having
to help out with homework

at a school for the hearing-impaired
and learn sign language,

that's far too mild.

-Shut up!
-No, I'm sorry.

-It would be fairer if he had...
-Shut up, Mum! Okay?

You shouldn't have put
that pressure washer in my ear,

but I shouldn't
have called you a girl.

It's not the same thing.
It's just not.

I get it if you hate me, Anki.

She doesn't. It's just stupid.

I just wanted to say
that I've missed you.

I've missed you too.

Yeah.

It's not common for children
under the age of 15 to be suicidal.

That was made clear
in the Monika case, for example.

-I'm just so f*cking scared.
-Of course you are.

Reading that your child doesn't want
to live is just awful,

but it's her diary.

She may be exaggerating a little.

Hey... This is going to be okay.
It really is.

You're a damn good mother.
Do you know that? You are.

You fight for your kid
with tooth and nail.

But you can't protect
kids from everything.

No, but you should
be able to help them.

Yes, and you do.

You're going to nail those b*stards.

It'll be okay.

I know it.

Sigrid? Did you have fun
at football practice?

Honey, I'm home!

Nice! Are those cheese croissants?
I'm so hungry.

g*dd*mn. That flight is so long.

You look exhausted.
You really need to sleep.

I was supposed
to pick you up from the airport.

I didn't want to bother you
when you're so stressed.

I hitched a ride with a guy from
Michigan, and he got my number.

It's so good that you're home.

My blood sugar is really low.

I made a plan on the plane.
Don't stress the stuff with Sigrid.

We're going shopping, so she
won't be bullied for her clothes.

Come here.

Can you drive me
over to Emma right away?

Yes, of course.

I'm coming.

You're getting this.

Sorry, wasn't
the last one's name André?

No, that was the French guy.
That's two weeks ago.

Alejandro is a carpenter
and plays in a band

and looks like
a young Ubaldo Fillol.

-Who's that again?
-A legendary goalkeeper. Nerd.

We should go to Junkyard,
and we have to fix your eyebrows.

-You look like El Diablo.
-I want to look scary.

But you look like a mass m*rder*r.
An asesina de masa.

We're going to Junkyard.
She's too cool to shop with her mum.

Okay, I'll go to IKEA, then.
Sigrid, take this.

I'll be away for an hour,
and then...

Would you like tacos for dinner?

Sorry. I had to tell them something.

It's no excuse,
but I'm really sorry.

For the counter-party, too.
I'm sorry, with all my heart.

Thank you, Lara.

It's your turn, Sigrid.

-Would you like to see my new room?
-Yes, I'd love to.

-Hey!
-Hi.

Were you able to get
those two girls to talk?

Yeah. It wasn't that hard.
I have people skills.

And it's easier
to listen to one's sister

than to someone who was 12 years old


I promised to call Emma,
but Astrid is also coming.

It's stupid that you two
aren't talking, so I invited her.

Okay.

I owe you an apology.

Her stupid father said it was okay
to install Jodel.

That app is Satan's work.

I have been a... shitty friend.

I'm sorry.

I just go completely loco
when my kids are under attack.

I know. Me too.

It drives you nuts. I'm sorry.

I hear the funeral is next week.

Life is so f*cking short.

We have to look after
each other, Pørni.

Yeah, we do.

Do you have any booze?

Yeah. I have booze.

-Don't read that, Mum.
-No.

-You haven't read it, have you?
-No.

I mean, yes, a little.

-I'm sorry.
-You're so silly, Mum.

You shouldn't read that.

No, I just read the page
from 1 January.

I got quite scared.

Don't worry about me. I'm almost 13.

I wrote that I've had
an ab*rtion on page 14,

but I haven't,
and I won't k*ll myself.

It's just stuff teenagers say.

You're not a teenager yet.

I want to write, like Dad.

Then you have to use your own
experiences and your imagination.

That's what Dad says.

I'm sorry I read it.
That wasn't okay.

-But you have to go to sleep.
-I wasn't the one who woke you up.

No, that's true.
I'm the one who woke you up.

-I love you.
-I know.

Call me crazy,
but I think my trip gave me

such grandes perspectivas on life
that the guest room is too small.

-Can I sleep here, Sig?
-Sure.

I think it'll be a bit tight
with you too, Mum.

I know. I'm just going to lie here
for two minutes.