Norway. 2010.
25-year-old Sara is a lonely, disadvantaged girl. On a dating website, she meets 50-year-old Morten - a widower who lost his wife and their 11-year-old child 4 years ago. Sara makes a deal with Morten - in front of people they pretend to be father and daughter, and behind closed doors they are a pair of lovers. There's just a small problem - over time, Morten doesn't see Sara as a lover, but as someone he misses...
Chapter 0 - Introduction
Sara, 25-year-old single, living in Oslo. He works in a publishing house. She was raised by her grandmother Ingrid until she was 23. You ask what about parents? Well, they decided that after turning 18, Sara would be fine. And just like that, they broke off contact with her. So she went to grandma's. Unfortunately, beloved Grandma died 2 years ago. And there is no doubt that Sara will not return to her parents. So she came up with a plan... Meanwhile, meet Morten. In the 1980s and 1990s he had a music label and his life was good. He had a wife, and in 1995 their daughter Lilla Amaranth was born. Unfortunately, in 2006, Morten's world collapsed. Some idiot with a BMW, forcing the right of way, killed Helena (Morten's wife) and Lilla. And so he was mourning until 2010. 3 months after getting used to this thoughts, Sara appeared with an unusual proposition. Sara found Morten on a dating site. They talked until 3 a.m. Sara, seeing and knowing that they were both wrecks in life, suggested that they would pretend to be a family in front of people, but in reality they would be a normal couple. Who kisses, hugs and from time to time indulges in intimacy. Morten wasn't convinced. But Sara convinced him that he could have 2 in 1 and reminded him that at his age no one would want him.
Chapter I - Pathological "family"
Chat on a dating site:
- Morten, can I tell you something?
- Sure!
- My mother had CDs with your band. Who would have thought that I would get to know his singer better?
- Irony or coincidence. But I must admit that your proposal is unusual. But I understand your point of view. Can I ask you something?
- Of course
- Are your parents alive?
- Yes, they just don't care about me. And I want someone who will take care of me... So both of us are missing a puzzle piece.
- I see. But how would I play your dad?
- In front of people we would be a "family", you know, typical parental relationships, and behind closed doors we would be two adults who love each other.
They decided to meet. Sara and Morten decided to pretend it was a job interview. Morten brought a few pieces of paper and a briefcase, pretending it was a job interview at his label. However, their conversation was mainly about the arrangement. They managed to eat 4 cakes and drink 3 coffees until they finally agreed on what it would look like. Morten will pretend that Sara is his daughter by buying various things and spoiling her, and she will be his lover at night. Morten started by going to the electronics store with Sara. He played in front of everyone that Sara is his beloved daughter, and since her birthday is next week, he wants to buy her an iPhone. And so he did. At his place, however, at night Sara began to play the main role - his lover.
Sara and Morten "got to know each other" until 2 a.m. And then they went to sleep.
In the morning, Morten began to wonder if he was a Sugar Daddy or just a guy who had a younger and pretty lover? In the morning... Sara could still feel Morten inside her body, hugging her from behind. And so she thought - "The guy is physically fit in these matters, he is handsome. So why doesn't anyone want him?"
- Hey, honey... - Morten whispered into Sara's ear, hugging her naked.
- Hello, Morten. - Sara replied, stroking his chest.
- How do you feel after yesterday?
- It's obvious you have experience. - Sara laughed, still hugging him. Morten felt like he was in the 80s. Young, full of energy and a beautiful girl next to him. Only now he has wrinkles, has gained a bit of weight and is a total wreck. But apart from that he felt great. Morten slowly pulls out of her and wants to go to the kitchen to make breakfast. But where are his panties? So he reached for a new one, and Sara immediately had a man's buttocks in front of her eyes. Morten suddenly noticed a set of new underwear still with the Victoria's Secret label... it was supposed to be a gift for Helena for her 20th wedding anniversary. He looked at Sara and asked if she wanted to try it on. Morten handed Sara the underwear. She looked naughty but sexy.
While waiting for Morten and breakfast, Sara plays with her new iPhone. I see that my friend wrote:
- Hey, where are you?
- I have a new boyfriend and I couldn't come to you.
- Seriously? What is his name and how old is he?
- Morten, he's 50... Just don't tell anyone, okay?
- Oh fuck, girl. I knew you had a penchant for "daddy". - she wrote this with three laughing emojis.
- Anna, you don't understand!
- I see. You're just a whore who will fuck anyone. Adios!
While trying to reply, Sara noticed that Anna had blocked her. After this incident, Sara started crying and hid in the bed. Meanwhile, Morten brought breakfast... Sara, still naked, hides in the sheets after what Anna texted her. Morten tries to convince Sara to talk.
- Hey, little flower... - Morten is looking for Sara under the sheets.
- Go away... - says Sara, crying.
- I have cocoa and pancakes...
Sara covers herself with the blanket and takes breakfast from Morten. Morten sees that Sara was crying, but he will ask her why later. After Sara told him about the quarrel with Anna, Morten went to get something. This is his family album. The photo showed his then 50-year-old grandmother with a man 15 years older than her, whom she met on vacation in Albania. Morten told Sara that if Anna considered them a pathological couple, what would she say about his grandmother and her second husband? Sara browses through the photos. He finds photos of Morten from 1986. A handsome Norwegian man. Probably at some concert with a band. Another photo - 1994. Helena in the 7th month of pregnancy...
- Morten, look. - Sara shows Morten a photo of Helena.
- My Helena... And in her belly Lilla...
On February 17, 1995, a beautiful baby girl was born. And 11 years later... - Morten started to cry.
- Come here... - Sara whispered, hugging and kissing Morten. Sara holds a photo of Helena when she is pregnant.
The next photo was from the maternity ward. Lilla was so sweet... Among the photos in the album, Sara finds a paper about being discharged from a psychiatric hospital.
- Morten, what is this? The date is 3 months after your girls died...
- I... wanted to join them... - he starts to cry. - I was in the hospital for three months, you know?
- How did you want to join?
- I was driving my car very fast at night, wanting to provoke an accident in which I hit a tree. Unfortunately or fortunately, I landed in a cherry field. When the ambulance arrived, I could barely speak and was shaking. I'll tell you something...
Flashback, 2006. 3 months after the death of Helena and Lilly, Morten at the psychiatrist's office:
- Name, surname, age, marital status?
- Morten Faknøg, 46, widower
- Why a widower?
- Three months ago, my beloved girls died in a car accident. Wife Helena, 44, and daughter Lilla Amaranth, 11
- Why did you want to kill yourself?
- My world is empty without them...
Chapter II - Two coffins
Morten told Sara that there were two coffins at the funeral. One normal, the other for a teenager. Helena's coffin was open, but Lilla had an urn. But it's quite unusual, which is why Morten thinks it was a coffin. Morten remembers Helena's face in 2006. He walked up to her coffin and took her hand. He asked her to pretend she was dead and in fact she would get up soon. Unfortunately. Morten took the wedding ring off Helena's finger and put it in his pocket. In return, he gave her a pendant he bought the day before his death.
- Then I had a stupid thought of going in there to Helena and they would bury me too. I know, stupid. I kissed her on the lips goodbye.
Morten went to get a huge box marked "Helena". Blouses, skirts, hair nonsense, make-up...
Morten took out one blouse and said:
- It was the blouse she wore during her pregnancy... Sara, I want to show you something. I haven't opened this room in 4 years.
Morten took Sara's hand and led her to the wooden door. He opened... And this is Lilly's room. All her things, clothes, toys, records etc. And on the wall there was a photo of Lilly from her communion. - Her third name was "Mortena". The feminine form of my name. Lilla Amaranth Morten Faknøg. There was Lilly's 2008 class photo on the desk. Everyone in the class attended her funeral.
April 18. Morten wakes up at 8 a.m
- Morten, why aren't you sleeping?
- I'm going to the cemetery to visit Helena and Lilli. Do you want to go with me?
Sara went with Morten. Morten's mother lies in the same cemetery.
They reached Helena's grave.
"Helena Grønn-Faknøg. 1962-2006"
"Lilla Amaranth Faknøg. 1995-2006" Morten places 44 roses on Helena's grave. And for Lillka, 11 tulips. Sara hugs Morten, who looks at the graves.
- I could lie there with them... - Morten touches Helena's grave.
- But you're here with me. - Sara kisses Morten on the cheek.
Suddenly Morten starts humming:
"Night, red night.
Angels calling me now
They say you're okay
But my heart is broken
Night; one night.
Everyone is gone.
But don't worry I'll be there soon too..."
- Nice song - says Sara
- I wrote it after Helena's death and 2 days before my suicide attempt...
Morten and Sara are sitting on a bench in the cemetery.
- What happened on the day they died? - Sara asks
- Lilla was coming back from extracurricular activities - she plays the electric guitar. She was talented. Helena, as always, picked her up on Thursday. And as they were returning home, the BMW gave way. Helena lived for 15 minutes and Lilla died in her arms. Meanwhile, I was making cutlets at home. Around 4 p.m. they called me that Helena and Lilla were dead. The pan fell out of my hands and all the grease was on the floor.
Suddenly someone approached Morten
- I loved your daughter...
- Who is this? - asks Sara
- Jacob. Lilla's sympathy. Jacob is now 15 years old. He was at Lil and Helena's funeral 4 years ago.
- I didn't understand why my Lilla was left with only an urn... But I remember that I gave her a small bouquet of tulips. Her friend Esther was crying terribly. And she promised herself that she would never get behind the wheel.
Chapter III - Morten, Sara and... the baby?
Morten and Sara still remember their arrangement. One day, Sara talks to Morten.
- Morten... does "your shooter" still work?
- Why shouldn't it work?
- Because you're... old? - Sarah laughs. Morten just sighs.
- Do you know that the best position for making babies is when the woman is sitting on penis? - says Sara, trying to start a conversation about motherhood.
Morten choked on his whiskey.
- Kids? I'm begging you... I have you, that's enough. And there is one problem...
- What?
- I like being intimate with you, giving you gifts... but my feelings started to change. Half a year ago I saw you as a lover and now... as if you were the reincarnation of my daughter...
- What? Do you want to break the contract? - NO. Just change it.
- How?
- We will be a family... you will have a father and I will have a daughter... I feel bad when we sleep together as a couple.
- Listen to me carefully. I'm dating you for money. You think I can't have someone my own age? I can. But they don't have money and you do. And I don't give a damn if you don't have a family. I'm only interested in your wallet. I sleep with you because you give me gifts. Nothing more. First our arrangement suited you, and now suddenly it doesn't?
And then Morten interrupts her... - You slut... Get out. - What? - GET OUT. From my apartment and my life.
Half a year later... Morten, drunk as hell, calls Sara: "You whore. I'm going to kill myself because of you! You hear me! This is my farewell to you. You'll get the fuck out of my will. Goodbye, whore in hell." Hearing this news, Sara quickly runs to Morten's apartment. Fortunately, he has a duplicate key. He enters the apartment and there... Morten hanging from the ceiling. He quickly calls an ambulance. In the hospital. Morten apologizes to Sara for everything. She apologizes for being terrible and confesses that she missed having a dad and that she also felt bad sleeping with him. She just didn't know how to tell him. Sara and Morten exchange their last kiss and from now on they will be father-daughter. Sara adds that she was really sorry about his tragedy. And she saved him because she doesn't want Morten to suffer.
End.
Bonus Chapter 2024.
Sara is 39 years old, Morten is 64. Morten attends counseling for alcoholics, widowers and other therapies. Meanwhile, Sara takes care of Morten. She makes his meals, irons, washes his clothes, etc. Since 2011, Morten has not made a single suicide attempt. Therapy taught him that Helena and Lilla are in a better world and he should focus on Sara. Morten regularly visits the grave of his beloved girls. Morten lives alone with Sara. And they have been married since 2012. Morten told Sarah that he was leaving everything in his will to her.
