Hey... - What?
You 'wail' remember.
Wailers. The Wailers.
I slept with them.
With the Wailers. All of them. At the same time.
That's a lot at once, there's eighteen of them.
It's not true, Francine.
Come on, let's carry on playing.
There. Three.
Come on, come out of my stomach, child.
Being born...
I'm alive. - Yes, you're alive.
At last. - Mum's here.
Two kids in one T-shirt.
I don't believe it. - Hello, Mummy.
I'm off. - Bye, Mummy.
Here. - Ah, some water.
Thank you, Mummy.
Give here. Right, bye.
Bloody hell, Mario, you're like a little kid. Do you have to?
I'm off.
That was good, eh?
Enjoy yourselves. Bye. - Bye.
Let's have a sleep.
Bye. - Bye.
And now we're awake.
And now we're asleep.
Listen.
Can you hear it?
Now.
This...
Those are the seconds.
It's night-time, we're in a palace in Venice.
The seconds are ticking past.
The story starts in the evening and ends in the morning.
The hours are passing. The Dance Of The Hours.
That's what it's called.
I don't like it. - That's not possible.
You can't not like that. - Maybe, but I don't.
Really? Then get out of my T-shirt!
Can I go and play football? - That depends.
How do you spell 'I will become'?
I will become what? What will I become?
Doesn't matter. How do you spell it?
It's more important to know what you want to become
than how to spell it.
Smart aleck. So what do you want to become?
Really want to become? - Yes, really.
A doctor.
To do that you first have to know how to spell 'I will become'.
I do know. - Do you? How?
With a W.
With a W! Go on, go and play wootball.
With a W. From wootball.
This is fantastic.
It reminds me a bit of Fleetwood Mac.
Fleetwood Mac? - Heard of them?
Yes. - Good.
This reminds you of Fleetwood Mac? - Not all of it, but...
Some parts.
Have you seen it, mini Speckolino? There, the sea.
No there, the other side. That big wet thing over there.
You're as smart as your father. - Come on, Milan, push.
Push, Milan.
When you sit in a wheelchair, it's as if
you've not only lost the use of your legs but your brain too.
If you ask someone a question,
two out of three reply to the person pushing you. Watch.
Excuse me, miss. Do you know where the closest toilets are?
The best thing to do is turn round.
See that hotel there? There's a toilet there, but you have to pay.
I think it should be accessible for you.
Alright. - OK.
Good luck. Bye. - Bye.
Did you see it? - I saw it.
A nice pair though. - A dynamic duo.
And they say there are no hills in Holland.
Do we have to watch Belgium-Holland in Holland?
Yes, we have to.
Look at little Jef.
Man is the only animal who comes into the world so helpless and defenceless.
A foal pops out. And jumps a few fences.
But we... look, it doesn't do anything. Just sits there.
That's because of our big stupid head.
We have to come out before it's fully grown, otherwise we'll get stuck.
That's why we're born before we're ready. We're unfinished.
It's also due to the size of that brilliant brain that we live too long.
With inventions like drips and Zimmer frames and stuff.
While you just lay there dribbling. - Calm down.
Is he at it again?
Life is a short bridge between helpless and helpless.
Crap. Who's helpless? Go on, tell me. Who's helpless?
Your theory's wrong. Man is the only animal who continues to care for others.
You look after Jef, and you Milan. - But that makes sense.
And we look after you, idiot. We're here, we're not going anywhere.
And you're definitely not going anywhere.
Remember? Leave no man behind? They're your words.
We're not going to leave anyone behind. No one.
If there's anyone we're definitely not going to leave behind, it's you.
Come on, Holland, come on! - Thomas, could you inject him now?
Yeah, I could.
Don't put him on.
Oh, come on!
You stink, pal.
You stink of Belgium.
Fuck this.
It happens, Mario. Come on.
I try... - Of course you do.
For Mum, for Dad. For Milan and for you lot.
But...
Things are looking grim.
Things are looking grim, guys.
Working from home is the modern thing to do.
I wouldn't mind doing it but I can hardly drive my car round at home.
It's not finished.
It... I haven't... I haven't finished it.
Don't worry about it, I'll just tell him...
I can't see very well any more.
It's getting hard to write, the speech isn't finished.
Don't worry, you know the mayor, he'll improvise.
'It is a great honour to be here today, blah blah blah.'
And before you know it...
Look after yourself, that's the important thing.
The rest will sort itself out.
Fuck.
I can't do it.
OK.
Thomas...
Well...
I can't do it like this.
I mustn't.
But I don't know if...
if I can keep going for much longer.
I'm losing, Thomas.
I'm losing my mind. - You don't know that.
Yes, I do. I do know it, Thomas, I do.
I can feel it.
I'm drowning. My body is already underwater.
And the water is rising.
And soon my head will be underwater too.
What will be left then? Nothing.
All I know is, it won't be me that's left.
But we will know it's you. We will know.
Your parents, and Milan. We will know.
You promised him you'd be there to see him graduate.
What for?
To give him what as a present? A father who's a vegetable.
To be there. Just to be there.
To be there. - Yes, to be there.
I've still got my slippers on.
Me too. - Oh yeah...
Go to sleep.
After years of fierce debating,
there is to be a marathon session on euthanasia in the Senate this week.
When he really cannot go on,
who are we to tell the patient he has to keep going?
The principle of the bill is that a doctor may end
his patient's life if the latter requests this himself
and if his suffering has become unbearable.
This request for euthanasia must be properly thought through and be repeated
and be checked by three doctors...
Hello, Robert.
You can just alleviate the pain, reduce the suffering.
But that is 95% of what we do anyway.
And we mustn't forget that less than 20 years ago
palliative care was not allowed, even though we think it normal today.
But what was allowed was for someone to lay there dying like an animal.
Until a nurse on the night shift, or a brave doctor, could stand it no longer
and at night, behind a curtain, quickly
gave them one injection too many or a dose that was just a bit too high
and the patient was put out of their misery.
Do we want to carry on like that?
That is the question the Senate has to answer this week.
And I hope the answer is a positive one.
Well, positive...
You know what I mean.
Thank you very much.
I'm glad you came.
There's something I'd like to say as I don't think you really understand me.
I would think it awful too if Mario were to decide to die at some point.
It would be terrible. - More than terrible.
Yes, more than terrible.
This law doesn't make him do it, it just gives him the opportunity to do it.
Gives him a choice, which is important for a patient, isn't it?
I don't know.
Call me naive, but I became a doctor to help people.
I wanted to save lives. - Of course.
I can't imagine me...
I wouldn't know how... - You don't have to.
But this law is going to be passed?
Yes, it looks like it.
69 members took part in the vote. 44 voted in favour...
It's an important first step. This law permits doctors...
not just to help people get better
but also to help them die. That is very important.
The Catholic Church has reacted sharply.
Wishing someone dead is absolutely monstrous.
Are you alright, Francine? - Yes.
It hasn't come as a surprise, eh? - No.
I'm more worried for Roger.
After the Senate the bill will go to the Lower Chamber,
but its opponents say...
An historic step, but for us an historic step too far that we will not follow.
I saw my grandmother die a slow, painful death.
For seven months, every hour of the day, she tried to pull her oxygen mask off
and for seven months it was replaced. - We would like to interview you.
Until she finally died.
We've all experienced this... - Because you are his doctor.
People who have had enough, who are worn out.
If doctors see any way of possibly extending that life, they will do so.
Suicide is permitted. Well, it's not, but what can they do?
They can hardly shoot you for it afterwards.
He's the one you want. He fits the picture better.
But dying painlessly in dignity,
saying goodbye, why isn't that allowed?
Maybe we all need to learn to cope with death better.
Then maybe we could learn to cope with life better too.
We got some good stuff. - Great.
Hello, Frank. - Did it go OK?
The pain is killing me but as Che Guevara said, 'Until victory always!'
Would you like a drink?
Going to join us in a drink? - No, I'm off.
What's the matter? - Nothing.
Smoke and drink a bit more, then you can spout some more crap.
Am I supposed to stop smoking now? - Ask your doctor.
It sucks, eh?
And we're going to interview Valaeys. That could be interesting.
Ah, Thomas. Can you give me a lift?
Thomas, we can't do this. We really can't.
God is watching us.
And... And you have to tell Mario. You have to tell him.
It isn't up to us to take a life.
Who is it up to then? - Him. He gives and He takes.
When He thinks the time has come? - Yes.
Let's be honest, Roger. Us doctors also intervene.
We extend lives.
You can't compare that to killing someone.
Life is sacred and it's the only one we've got.
So Mario should... - No, he should grit his teeth.
What if they come up with a drug tomorrow that can cure him?
What will we say then?
Is that why you come here? - Yes.
Our Lady can help me, I've bought enough candles.
How about I treat you to a candle?
You know, Lynn, over the years...
with every hour of every week and every month,
you have become more and more beautiful.
Of course.
What? - Everyone knows that.
Yeah, but I knew right from the beginning.
How beautiful you were.
And how fantastic you always thought I was.
And rightly so.
I can hardly see you any more.
But I still love the sight of you.
Sorry.
Fuck.
I'm the one who's sorry. - No, sorry.
I have to go. I have to...
Yeah, you have to go.
Could you just give me a cigarette?
Fuck!
Did you say fuck? What are we waiting for?
Sorry.
We've exchanged bodily fluids after all.
I couldn't.
I couldn't do it. It's awful, but I couldn't do it.
It would have to be him I can't do it with.
Because he's sick.
How bloody sick is that? - It isn't, Lynn.
It is, because if I'm honest I'd have done it hundreds of times.
Thomas, I could keep him here.
I could give him a reason to live, by kissing him and loving him.
And I don't do it.
You give him all your love. I see you do it every day.
You give him... all your love. - You don't get it, Thomas.
You have to be able to...
You have to be able to prove it.
You have to be able to do it.
You can only...
You can only do it like this.
You have to want all of someone, including their saliva, their bacteria.
Great.
Fantastic.
Right, I'm off.
There are others waiting for my hands of gold.
Bye. - Bye, Glen. Thanks.
I've done something stupid.
You, done something stupid? What a surprise!
Something really stupid. - What?
Lynn... I tried to...
kiss her.
Among other things. Stupid, eh?
I didn't succeed.
But I think she must feel guilty now.
If I tell her not to feel guilty
it's as if I'm saying she should feel guilty.
Dad. - Milanovic.
Dad. - Watch out, son.
How are things at school? - Boring.
Are they?
It's supposed to be like that, eh? Otherwise it wouldn't be school.
How are you doing at school? - I've failed everything.
You will have to try harder, eh?
Grandma.
Come here, sweetheart.
Look who's here.
Hello, Milan.
Did you manage to eat anything? - A bit.
How's he doing? - How d'you think he's doing?
He tells everyone his dad is an explorer
who may or may not come back.
Did you tell him that twaddle?
Be careful.
Are you alright? - Yeah. I have to be.
Yeah...
How is something like that done?
Is it an injection?
Do you really want to know? - Yes.
If one day the time has come...
I have to plan ahead, Thomas. For him too.
It can be done with an injection
or something they drink, usually barbiturates.
Then they sink slowly into a coma, like they're falling asleep.
And they're given something at the end to stop their heart.
Ah, Schubert. Hear that?
That's drama in musical form.
All the stories in this music
can only be told with this music. Can you hear that?
No.
I still can't hear it. - You still can't?
He never finished his eighth symphony.
It's strange, no one knows why.
It lay there for years and then he died.
Quite young, in fact.
Aren't you scared... of... of dying?
No, I'm not scared of dying. No.
Well... No, not really. It's strange, but I'm not.
In the whole of my life I've only been scared of one thing.
That something would happen to you.
But it won't, eh? You're going to be just fine, aren't you?
You're only half a symphony too,
but you're going to have to write the second half yourself.
I'm just sorry...
Silly.
...that I won't hear it.
Can you hear it now?
No. - Just say yes.
Yes.
Amid international interest,
the bill legalising euthanasia was passed in the Lower Chamber today.
That means patients whose suffering has become unbearable
can now ask a doctor to end their life.
51 voted against it and 86 voted in favour.
The Lower Chamber passes the law.
Apart from the Netherlands, Belgium is the only country to legalise euthanasia.
But it is noticeable that no one applauded the new law.
For Mario Verstraete, the MS patient who has become the public face of this law,
this is a victory but possibly also a defeat because, Mr Verstraete,
it could also be the announcement of your imminent... decision?
Listen, I see it like this.
I'm going to die at 40.
That's young today but in olden times that was a ripe old age.
Soon people may live to 150
and 75 will seem very young.
I'm not interested in how long someone lives,
just in how. I've had a fantastic life.
Mr Verstraete?
Darling? Darling? You poor thing.
Are you OK? - Yes, yes, I'm alright.
Dad?
I dropped it.
It's OK. It's OK.
We can... - Leave it, Lynn.
Leave it, darling. It's OK. It's OK.
It'll be fine.
I think we should follow the correct procedure.
Let's go round the table.
Olivier?
We've discussed it for a long time.
Usually I'm the first to tell MS patients they mustn't give up.
They mustn't panic.
But in 5% of the cases we are dealing with this kind of illness,
which attacks you from inside, as it were.
You can carry on living with it.
But if you don't want to...
That's why I'm going to...
Mario is mainly worried about the damage to his brain
and what may possibly happen: total blindness, inability to speak,
loss of memory and social skills...
It's not certain it will all happen but I understand what Mario is afraid of.
We won't turn it into a long, drawn-out funeral.
Here, 30 September. An excellent day.
Indian summer. Hoka Hey, as the Lakota Indians used to say.
An excellent day to die. 30 September.
Hold on.
It's not because you can do it that you have to do it, Mario.
You've got plenty of time. Eh?
Why rush it? You've got time.
You've got time.
I've lived a sloppy life.
And I don't want a sloppy death.
Don't begrudge me that. Let me at least get one thing right.
Do it with style.
I understand. I understand your fears. But why so soon?
I shouldn't have asked you.
Sorry.
We'll do it without you.
30 September.
Mum.
I'm sorry... sorry, Mum. - One day you'll learn to be quiet...
For all the trouble.
Things like that make you know you're alive.
Yes, but... it's not right. - Be quiet, son.
When you bring a child into this world, you know it will leave it one day too.
That's the way it is.
Just look at me sitting here.
39...
I'm 39 years old...
and I'm a baby again.
There aren't many who are that lucky.
Sorry, Mum.
It's OK.
Your Worship.
Can I hold it for a moment?
How are you going to feel?
Dad says I mustn't be too sad.
But I'm not going to listen to him.
And then, after that, I'll probably feel less and less sad.
And then...
I'm going to miss him, of course.
But...
I already spend most of my time with Mum
and when I'm not with Dad, he's still my dad.
So when Dad isn't there at all any more,
not even at the weekend,
he'll still be my dad.
Is it true that Dad, Speck and you fought the American army?
Yes.
Your dad stopped the Cold War all on his own.
The Cold War?
Or at least, warmed it up quite a bit.
Here we go.
Thomas? What have you got with you?
What I've got with me, pal, are the best things in the world.
What a coincidence, that is my final wish.
Then today's your lucky day. - Yeah.
Like Socrates said before drinking the poison...
I don't like that. Haven't you got anything else?
Now we go our separate ways.
I to die, you to live.
Which is better God only knows.
That's what Socrates said.
It could be that you come back as a sexy chick.
Could be...
Thank you.
Come on! Hey! - I didn't do anything.
It's true. What did you say?
Pardon? - Pardon?
It's not... It's not because of that fire...
But you want to be cremated, don't you?
Yes, definitely. Go up in flames.
But there's going to be a service. - That'll do, stop it.
I've already prepared everything. It's in the bag.
Or in the urn.
I've arranged the ceremony, chosen some music.
Music to cry to, but still fantastic.
I've also written a text.
I'm going to make a speech. - Are you?
A great speech. I'm already thinking about it.
Deeply philosophical. - Deeply philosophical...
But with a touch of humour. From Speck's box of jokes.
You'll be sorry you're not there. - That'll do, Speck.
I'm sorry now. What will it be like when I'm dead?
Maybe you can rehearse in advance. - OK, we will.
Then I can hear it. - Stop it.
I can correct things. - You're all sick.
He is sick, that's the problem. - Go and cool down, Speck.
D'you think I don't dare? - Yes.
You don't dare. - Let's do it then.
Come on then. At my old age!
Watch out. - Come on, pal. You're going in.
No, you're going in. - No, you are.
OK?
Yeah.
Make sure you're warm enough, Crazy Horse.
Unless you want to go for a swim. - No.
I'd rather stay here with you. - And me with you.
I'm going to have to miss you for a long time. You won't have that problem.
I've missed you all my life.
That's too cold! - You're going in.
No, no. - You're going in.
There's something horrible in there. An eel or a crayfish.
It's too cold. Not doing something is cool too.
I'm going to warm it up first. OK?
I'm not going in there then.
With regard to the best things in the world, I've brought something too.
But you have to shut your eyes.
OK.
Richard Strauss.
The best music in the world.
I'm tired.
Hello, Dad.
Good morning, Mario.
Did you sleep well?
No.
Neither did I. I was too hot.
Will you be OK? Will you manage?
You know what my father always said.
Don't complain, just get on with it.
And pray for strength.
You, pray?
Do you know the story of Simeon?
Get that book there.
That beige one. There. The one on Rembrandt.
It's on the cover.
Simeon, the old man who wouldn't die until he'd seen the Messiah.
It's a beautiful painting.
Simeon finally saw Jesus in a temple.
He held Baby Jesus in his arms, looked up to heaven,
blissfully happy, to ensure God kept His promise.
Absolutely blissfully happy.
Because he is finally allowed to die. It's allowed, even in the Bible.
Even there...
Yeah... But he's an old man, Mario, and you are a young colt.
Have you seen me galloping around much lately?
Dad, you believe... you believe in paradise.
And everything being fine in the end.
That we're all going to eat rice pudding off gold spoons.
Be happy...
Dad.
For me.
Have you already seen the Messiah? You haven't, eh?
Haven't I?
Watch out. Be careful. - Come here, son.
Sleep well?
No...
We didn't either.
The president of the United States, George W. Bush, declared last night
that if the UN's Security Council doesn't do anything about Iraq,
the United States and a number of their friends will do so.
He's asking Congress for their support. Bush...
Thomas Dhondt. Yes, just a minute, I'll go outside.
When? When had you thought to do it?
Yes.
OK, goodbye.
Here, Chinese throwaway. A different pong in the car for a change.
Will you be OK, brother? - It's one journalist after another.
Someone from La Dernière Heure phoned just now. Symbolic, eh?
To ask if we don't know anyone who can stop him.
And national TV asked if they can broadcast their interview tonight.
It's not a sports car.
Honestly. Chinese...
Come on, let's put it on a nice tray.
The Last Supper.
Ah, Malio. - A thirty-thlee for me.
With plawn clackers? - Andminelal water.
Minelal water, natulally.
Give him my legards. - I will.
An angel flying past.
That's what they say when there's a silence, eh?
Yes, that's true.
I had quite a lot I wanted to say but I've forgotten what it was.
Ummm...
I'd like to do my speech now.
If I may.
Everyone is here, so...
I think this is a good time.
Dear friends.
I thought that was a nice beginning. And it's true, so you can take it literally.
As everyone knows, I studied philosophy.
So if anyone should be able to talk about life and death, I should.
But...
Some English, to make it sound good.
I don't know anything, except what I learnt from you, Mario.
You squeezed more stupidity, wisdom and pleasure into forty years
than others do into 140 years.
It's simple.
We die because we live
and because we die we have to really live.
You fought for your life and your death.
That's typical of you.
Resigning...
before you are fired.
You've even pulled a fast one on death.
Actually, I don't feel that sorry for you,
but I do for myself.
Or rather, it's for all of us here...
that I feel sorry.
Your dad taught me lots of great things, Milan.
I've had so much fun with you.
That's why I am going to be so sad. It's going to be a real problem.
But here's an interesting philosophical dilemma:
if this is an amputation, would we rather not have had an arm?
If we're going to hurt so much, would we rather not've had so much fun with you?
Not me, anyway.
In fact, I reckon none of us here.
No one would have wanted to have missed out on a single moment.
Not even this moment.
We're going to swear and grieve because you are leaving.
But we're going to celebrate because you were here.
So go to sleep, you're tired.
The trees will still be there tomorrow, but won't know how to stand up straight.
The wind will still be there tomorrow,
but won't know in which direction to blow.
And we will still be there too.
And Milan will be there, to become cleverer than you.
Which isn't that difficult.
And we're going to tell our Jef all about you. All your exploits.
And we're going to stand up straight again.
You could do it with your crutches, so why wouldn't we be able to?
We've enjoyed looking up at the stars too much
to be afraid of the night.
We're going to learn to enjoy the pain of missing you
because this pain contains all our joy, our gratitude for having known you.
You won't be there any more, but you will always be with us.
And so I'm saying, 'Until always.'
Thank you for everything, Mario.
That was lovely. Lovely.
There they are. - Laurel and Hardy.
That was a long time ago too. - Yes.
Milan.
Hello.
Hello everyone.
Roger.
Hello, doctor.
Hello, Frank. - Mario.
Milan.
OK?
Yes.
It's been a good day. Not easy for anyone.
No, I can imagine.
Mario, I can just leave, if you like. It's important you know that.
And we can talk about it again later. You can have many more good days.
You should leave a good party when it's in full swing.
So, we'll... we'll do it.
Four pharmacies.
I had to go to four pharmacies.
Everyone seems to know all about it.
No one wanted to give it to you?
The fourth pharmacist had seen her mum suffer for three years. I got it there.
Well... Just a drink in a glass.
Will you dream of me? And me of you?
Of course. For a very long time.
I'll have an early night tonight. - Good idea.
See you later. - See you later.
Bye, Dad. - Bye, son.
I'm so glad you were my dad.
Me too.
Be careful on your expedition. - Yes, of course.
And you be careful on your bike.
Take good care of Mum, eh?
And tell her that I always loved her.
I'm so tired. So tired.
Fancy a drink?
Yes, could do.
Don't forget. Drink it all in one go. OK?
Thank you.
Thanks, mate.
No, thank you.
For an awful lot.
I don't know what to say.
You think of something. Make something up.
Something good, eh?
Chin up, Dad.
FOR MARIO AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS
THE EUTHANASIA LAW WAS PASSED IN BELGIUM ON 28 MAY 2002.
MARIO VERSTRAETE WAS THE FIRST PERSON
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LAW HE HAD FOUGHT FOR FOR YEARS.
Credit to >>> Christine Le Piez (Translated) i'm just join 2 subtitle become 1 :p