A Copenhagen Love Story (Sult)

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Happiness is right here.

400 steps up the steeple of Our Saviour's Church with no panties on and with Emil.

Jesus, I'm in love with you!

And he just said he's in love with me.

Everybody's hoping

Never to be abandoned

Alone

When you reach out to me

I am always there

I think most of us long to be entangled in other people's lives.

To belong to someone.

Someone who stays, when times are bad.

When everything turns sour and ugly.

Emil and I nearly didn't happen.

I didn't even notice him, the first time I met him,

-Congrats on your book. -Thanks.

-We are huge fans. -Really?

My best friend, Gro, brought him along.

-Hi, Gro! -Here you go.

-My favorite bubbly. -Congrats.

Thanks, darling.

Huge congrats. I'm going to pop out again…

-To charge the car. -It's got power.

I want to try it. We've just bought a Tesla.

-Right. -Thanks.

Mia, meet Emil. He's our upstairs neighbor.

Hi. Mia.

-Congratulations. -Thanks!

Emil needed to get out. Divorced. Lacking in vitamin D, right?

Exactly. On the brink of scurvy.

-Scurvy? -Yeah. It's an odd old word.

That's how I thought of him too. "Odd and old."

Dear Mia, Tour de Force is here.

The story about Rebecca and her struggles with love.

I love being your editor and am honored also to be your friend.

Come on up here.

Come on!

"Rebecca knew how to be in love."

"She knew how to be a dream, a fantasy,

but she didn't know how to be someone's girlfriend."

"Once again, she had fallen for an immature man with commitment issues."

"He didn't have to say anything. She could hear him think."

"'Let me get away from that crazy and emotional desperado."

"So, back in the saddle, Rebecca. Swipe, swipe, swipe."

No… It's that song with Tessa. Come on.

Not again.

-Come on! -Wait.

I actually didn't notice Emil.

I mostly saw this guy.

Do you want to come home with me and hear some red wine…

or listen to records and drink some red wine?

I've got school tomorrow.

-You're in college? -No, I'm in high school.

I'm a sophomore. At Rysensteen.

Some might say that. But not me.

No way, José.

I would still be screwing teenagers, had Gro not insisted…

Meet him for coffee, for God's sake!

He's sweet and decent, and you fascinate him.

-What's wrong with him? -Nothing.

Wouldn't it be fun to try an adult for a change?

And stop saying that he's too old! You're the same age.

-So I became an archaeologist instead. -Really? That's crazy.

So you go digging in Egypt with a tiny spoon?

No, I don't do that.

It's more like computer glasses and spreadsheets at the Glyptotek Museum.

I'm the exhibition director.

-I've read your book. -Okay?

-Yeah. -That was fast.

Well, I have plenty of time, when I don't have the kids…

Oh no! He's got kids!

-Gro did mention my kids, right? -Nope.

-She didn't. But it's f… -Don't worry. I won't whip out the photos.

That's the spot I had in mind.

Okay. That's a nice spot.

Do you create Rebecca based on your own experiences?

I borrow from my own life, fictionalize it and…

-Then it just evolves. -That sounds cool.

-I'm not even on IG, so I'm more private. -Okay.

Shit!

What?

-Can I just… -What's up?

-Can I hide here for a second, please? -Sure…

I dated the guy with the bike for six months.

Okay.

Is he dangerous?

I think he's spotted you.

He's stopped now.

-Hi. -Hi.

Would you tell the woman trying to hide I'd like my Prince album?

Hi, Jeppe.

Sorry about your album. I'll send it to you.

Is that all you have to say?

What do you want me to say?

"Sorry, I just left you like that," maybe?

-Good luck with her. -Stop it, Jeppe!

-Thanks. -I told you, you'll get your album back.

-Forget it. I've got Spotify. -But…

-I'm sorry you had to see that. -Don't be. It was a wonderful moment.

I have a knack for picking the idiots.

-Do you want me to beat him up? -Yes!

-I'll do that then. -No…

Anyway, I wanted to say that your book is really funny.

And I love the way you question the structures.

I like your humorous approach.

Say that again.

-What? -Structures.

Structures.

Your mouth looks sexy when you say "structures."

I get that a lot.

That's why I slip it into conversation.

Structures.

He was sweet, intelligent and mature, but I'd still be ditching him anyway.

-He's got two kids! -All right.

Isn't that pretty settled? Is that cool?

I talked to my brother and his boyfriend, who have an actual relationship.

So what if he's got kids?

-People have kids. -Right.

We don't, but I mean, people have kids, Mia.

-We're probably just very different. -So are we.

It took me three years to get your brother's humor.

"Oh, you're being ironic now and not callous."

I'm glad you think so.

But for once it's someone, we'd like to have a glass of red wine with.

Remember that freshman…

-He was a college freshman! -No!

-That guy with the band and daddy issues. -And threw up all over my kilim rug.

And drank my expensive Christmas Barolo from the ministry.

-Stop! -It was expensive.

You fucked in the bathroom! No!

-What? -Sorry!

-No, he can't cope! -I want to hear this. What?

I've hot-cycled all the towels.

-Great. -Don't worry about it.

-That was supposed to be a secret. -I've got it.

-I'll find a younger guy. -No…

-Here's to a younger guy. -No!

-I was being ironic, honey. -Good! Cheers.

And then I finally landed in my thirties

and decided to give "odd and old" a chance.

What are you doing?

-Can't you tell? It's a napkin flower. -It's pretty.

-Thanks. -Where did you learn to do that?

I took an origami course. Three months in Kyoto.

I lie. I got it off YouTube.

-You're silly. -I don't think so.

You have a lovely laugh.

Thanks.

It's for you.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

Right!

No!

No! You're awesome!

Don't stop.

Sorry, I've got to get it. It's Katrine's ringtone.

-What? -It might be important. I'll just…

Hey, what's up?

Now?

Right, bye.

They're on their way up.

-What? Who? -Felix and Selma.

I'm really crazy about you,

but it might be a bit too soon for them to meet you.

-I think you… -Yes, of course.

-Could we… Yes! -Right…

-What else? -My pants.

Here they are!

Goddammit.

Right. No, no! The kitchen stairs.

Dad!

Dad?

Okay!

-Did you have a nice day? -I've got a bogey.

On your finger? That's great!

Wash your hands. I'll get you some lemonade.

-But, Dad? -Yeah?

Selma says, Brother is a name. No goddamn way, right?

Yes. Mind your language. Sis is a name too.

It means sister.

-Yeah… -This is for you.

That's so weird.

-Dad, whose toothbrush is this? -Yeah, whose toothbrush is it?

Good question.

It's someone called Mia's… toothbrush.

Why didn't she take it with her when she left?

That's a good question.

-Dad, you're smiling. -Yes!

-You're weird. -Yes, I'm a bit weird.

It's just because Mia makes me very happy.

Did Mom give you a good beating at hers?

Or do I have to do it every time?

No…

Don't get annoyed, all right? I can just smell that it's tested as the best.

-When I read it… -Hi!

-Hi. -Hi.

-Hello? -How nice.

-Did you use the backdoor? -Hi, honey.

-Hi. -Hi.