Puzzle Child (Raaiselkind)

It's standard procedure.

Lift your arms, please.

Open your legs, please.

Mrs. Dorfling.

Mrs. Dorfling…

by now you are aware that…

your son is dead. Is that right?

Do you know why you're here?

What happened to your son, Mrs. Dorfling?

How did he die?

-He drowned. -How?

-In the bath. -When?

Early morning.

Did you know he was bathing?

No, I…

I quickly went to my room.

I sat for a moment.

Who ran the bathwater?

I did.

Why would you run the bathwater…

if you intended to go and lie down?

I wanted to bathe Alexander. He didn't want to.

When the…

weather moves in, it unsettles him.

I gave up. I was tired.

I…

I must have fallen asleep.

How old was your son, Ma'am?

Nine.

So at the age of nine,

you still needed to bath him

and he still threw tantrums?

Colonel…

if I didn't bath my son,

then he never would have bathed.

His 'tantrums'…

as you put it…

were not those of a naughty child

that didn't get his way.

He couldn't help it.

He had to calm himself.

You just said that you had to bathe him.

So…

would he have bathed himself?

No.

No?

Alexander didn't like bathing.

He was scared of the plug,

that it would suck him in.

He wouldn't have climbed in by himself.

Mrs. Dorfling…

let's start at the beginning.

Were you a happy family?

The tunnel was dark and dusty,

and Poppie was relieved when they got to the exit.

The exit was next to the fountain in the castle's garden.

Thanks.

The water sprayed through a fish into a shell-shaped bowl.

Poppie threw the coin into the water.

"It's my dream to find the lost treasure",

she said excitedly.

Alexander.

That's my grandfather's name.

What if the doctor is wrong?

Maybe it's a little girl.

Alexandra.

It won't be.

I saw his thing-a-ling.

Oh no.

-Impressive. -Yes, for sure.

But his father's son.

So you both wanted the child?

Of course.

Almost ten years after the birth of the previous one.

We were surprised…

but overjoyed with the idea of another baby.

A child.

And you were happy?

Very.

It's just cramps.

Get the prescription I gave you.

A lot of babies struggle with them.

It… It will blow over.

"Reflux" they call it English.

It's when the milk flows back into the baby's throat.

It's similar to heartburn.

It burns the baby's throat severely

and his throat is blood red.

Get the stuff I prescribed from the pharmacy,

many babies have it.

It will blow over.

Mommy.

-Hey. -Will it never stop?

It will.

He's a baby and babies cry.

But Annie's baby sister don't cry this much.

Annie's baby sister is a year old.

Don't worry, my love.

Not long now, things will get better.

Okay.

Sleep tight.

A homoeopath?

A homoeopath!

I thought the natural approach might help.

So, what did the homoeopath say?

He gave Alexander a syrup.

Bloody waste of money.

Ms. Ingrid.

Today we need to put our heads together.

We can't push the stroller day in and day out,

up and down the street, just to keep Boetatjie quiet.

I…

There's this old lady,

just down the road from me,

that knows how to make dagga tea.

Do you want me to get Boetatjie a bottle?

Yes.

Yes.

Get one, let's test it.

I have to go.

Come, we're going to be late.

You don't have to worry, Ma'am.

The paediatrician works with this regularly.

He'll know exactly what to do.

Thank you, Doctor.

Thank you.

I can't take this anymore, Ingrid.

My work is suffering.

If I've aged in eight months,

I can't imagine how Miriam feels.

It's not even her child.

Maybe I should get someone to help with washing and ironing.

Don't be ridiculous.

We're not making ends meet.

Zettie's talking about a youth camp and…

Theresa wants a new racquet.

I didn't even hand in the offering last month.

Just a thought.

Yes, but your thought is ludicrous.

One thing is certain.

We're not leaving the specialist until we have answers.

I want to know what's wrong with the child.

Alexander.

I can't find anything to be worried about.

Physically,

the little chap is healthy.

You know, some children

have a tendency to be colicky.

Maybe it's a milk allergy.

Could be the breastfeeding.

I'll prescribe soya milk,

as well as a new type of sleep syrup.

Start with solids.

The little guy is underweight.

If nothing changes within two weeks,

bring him back to me.

Thank you.

I got numerous references.

He's the best.

For crying out loud, Ingrid.

We were there less than half an hour.

He's a specialist.

We have to accept his consultation…

Specialist be dammed!

What did he do for our child?

Dumped some crap on us.

He said we can bring Alexander back

and we don't have to pay again.

What for?

What for, Ingrid?

Yes.

For us!

For our child!

His hearing is 100%.

What worries me,

is his very strange behaviour.

I would advise you to get him to the.

Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town as soon as possible.

Just for further testing.

Dammit, Ingrid.

For three years,

we've seen one doctor after another.

You're listening to crap.

I'm the one who has to grovel to the bank manager for a higher limit every month.

But you always have money for poker.

At least my poker money bought the child a horse.

What did you jumping from one quack to the other achieve?

We're still his mother and father.

I won't stop searching until I get answers.

Your searching will lead to us having to sell another policy.

Are you out of your mind, Dawid?

Don't tell me you sold a policy.

What the hell was I supposed to do, Ingrid?

Do you think money falls from the sky?

I think just wait outside. Please.

I'm fine.

Alex, come on.

Come on, my boy.

Mr. and Mrs. Dorfling…

your son is autistic.