[newscaster] Today is also a very special day.
It is spring equinox.
Typically, it's said that it is a day when night and day are equally long,
but this isn't entirely correct.
Spring equinox is an astronomical occurrence.
PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY WARD
It is when the sun passes the equator.
And this happens around 5:57 p.m. today.
It is also the time
when light and darkness are balanced equally.
[Astrid] Cyning sayeth,
"Giveth thy own life."
"Which thee so reluctantly forsake."
"Giveth without coercion,
lest all wilt suffer."
Lest all wilt suffer.
Excuse me, do you know where Astrid Agerskov's room is?
Is she expecting you?
-Uh, no. -Only relatives are allowed to visit.
Yeah, I am a relative. I'm her ex-husband.
Could you please show me where her room is?
She's right down there. Room 21.
Thanks.
[Astrid] "Ostara flows in the blood as water flows in the river."
-[knocks] -Astrid?
Astrid?
[Astrid] It's 21 years today.
[theme music]
[indistinct background chatter]
[man] Yeah. So, we're here to talk about Astrid.
We've all been through quite a journey here,
but I think it's been a very successful one.
Our assessment is that she's ready to go home.
She's started reacting positively to her medicine,
although it took a little longer than expected.
[Lene] But is it really necessary to fill all this stuff in her?
[Dennis] Lene, not now.
[man] It seems that Astrid has created her own narrative
about what happened to Ida,
and we're worried about her development
in regard to discerning between fantasy and reality.
[Lene] Which narrative are you talking about?
She often talks about an Ostara goddess which...
I understand you know about?
-[Dennis] Yes. -Yeah?
It's an old folktale that Astrid is very fond of.
She's gotten this idea that Ida was this Ostara goddess
and had to be sacrificed.
This suggests that she's looking for meaning in Ida's disappearance.
A meaning she's found in this tale.
[Dennis] Yes. But what can we do?
[man] It is very, very important that you continue to help Astrid
by reality testing.
Don't go along with her little stories even though they may seem innocent.
[Dennis] Are you ready? Here we go.
Huh?
-Did you pack your pajamas? Good. -Yes. I did.
-Toothbrush? -Yup.
-What about your sketchbook? -I don't need it.
Oh. Don't you draw at Mom's?
I don't draw anymore.
Okay.
You're not sick. And when you're not sick,
-you shouldn't be taking pills. -But...
It's just something Dad makes you think.
At Dad's I can never have Coke.
But now, you're at my house.
Look, people think you're sick, just because you're different.
But you know what?
You're not sick.
You're just special.
Lene?
[approaching footsteps]
Astrid?
I need to ask you about something.
And you have to promise me to answer honestly.
Yes, well, of course.
Is Ida not my sister?
-You've been talking to Dennis. -Just answer me.
Do not trust him.
What is it you aren't telling me?
Is it true that we aren't sisters?
It's almost like she's here.
Don't you think?
As if she's just, uh, gone on a trip...
and might be home any minute.
Astrid, sit down on the bed.
Close your eyes.
Yes. Good.
Now breathe in deeply.
[breathes]
Yes, even deeper.
Very good.
And now I want you to go back in again.
-Where? -Don't be scared.
I'm right here, and I'm gonna stay with you.
Just close your eyes and go inside your cave.
Imagine...
Imagine if you could find her.
Imagine if we could get Ida back. Wouldn't you like that?
-Yes, but... -We both know that she's in there.
Right? So... Come on.
Just close your eyes.
Well, don't you want to?
-Yeah, but... -Don't you want to find your sister?
I want to, but...
Don't you think she would've done the same for you?
No matter how afraid she would've been, she would've done it!
Now, do as I say. Close your eyes.
Go in and find Ida.
I can't. I can't get into the cave anymore.
You are the only one who can.
[Dennis] I don't even understand how you could do that!
What is going on inside your head?
You need to get help, but you'll have to find it yourself.
She's never going back to your house again. Never!
I'm filing for full custody.
And I can tell you, if you resist this,
I'll drag you to court.
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Your mom isn't doing well.
She's sick.
You're not staying with her ever again. I promise.
Good night, honey.
Dennis started spreading those rumors right after Ida disappeared.
-Why? -Well, I guess he...
He needed an excuse to move on.
Yeah, so he came up with... with this idea that he wasn't her father.
But it was only to punish me.
Punish you?
So he could blame me, leave me.
And with a clear conscience, find someone else.
But it wasn't Dad I heard it from.
It was Amelia.
Amelia. Huh.
I have something to show you.
Let's see.
There.
[Astrid chuckles softly]
-I just need to find it. Hm. -You look so sweet there.
[Lene] Look here. Yeah.
-[Astrid] Hm. -It's Dennis and Ida.
Hm.
[Lene] She has exactly the same twinkle in her eye.
Don't you see it?
We were so happy back then.
No matter what he says now, we were happy.
Mm-hm.
-[Lene] Do you remember? -[Astrid] Yeah.
[Lene] Our trip to southern France.
-We ate so many ice cream sandwiches. -Oh, yeah.
-[Astrid] And drank Orangina. -[Lene chuckles]
I...
It's been so long.
-Hm. -Hm.
Sometimes I think...
-it's probably just something I dreamed. -Hm.
The day Dennis took you away from me, my world fell apart.
I didn't understand.
No, no, you were just a little girl.
I'm sorry.
Hm.
-[glass breaks] -Sorry.
[Lene] Ah, never mind. Never mind.
-[Astrid] Sorry. -[Lene] Don't worry.
How funny.
This picture always made me so jealous.
Hm.
What's wrong?
This was taken a month before I was born, wasn't it?
Hm, uh...
Uh...
-I don't know. -You're not pregnant.
It must be a mistake.
-It must've been taken the year before. -No, because the date's printed on it.
It's printed on most of these photos.
There are dates on all of them.
Right?
So, why aren't you pregnant?
What?
Uh...
-Are you also lying to me? -Uh, no. I...
Answer me. Are you lying?
Say something!
You were... You were a little gift for us.
What are you saying?
We got you when you were two weeks old.
-So you've been lying to me? -I... No.
No.
So Dad isn't my dad?
-Who? But... -Who were my parents then? Huh?
Tell me. Where do I come from? I'd really like to know that.
You and Ida are special. You are sisters.
You are daughters of the equinox.
But we always felt like we were your real parents.
[inhales sharply]
[moans]
Astrid?
What's going on, Astrid?
Do you see her?
Astrid?
[door opens]
-Astrid? -[door closes]
[phone beeps]
[phone beeps and buzzes]
It's Astrid.
[Doris] It's Doris. Why don't you answer your phone?
Torben woke up, and he wants to talk to you.
Who? Me?
Yes, goddammit. Hurry up! He says it's important.
Hi. I came as fast as I could.
After all I've done for him.
I've stopped knitting.
Okay.
He wants to see you. So, go see him.
Torben?
I saw you.
And you saw me.
Do you remember? When you were a girl?
In the orange haze.
In the cave. Where all the students are.
I was trapped in there all these years.
I could see and hear everything.
But I was paralyzed.
I yelled and screamed, but I couldn't get through.
You know that feeling?
-I haven't been there a long time. -You're the only one
who can understand this.
We weren't supposed to be there.
Something went wrong.
[breathes deeply]
Oh, honey, where did the time go?
Yesterday you were just a little girl.
I have to get ready.
Yes. But of course. I'm sorry.
I'm sure it's gonna be a lovely day.
I have a present for you.
This.
My mother gave it to me when I graduated.
Can I put it on you?
Hm.
Mm.
You look so pretty.
So young and pretty.
It'll be fine, sweetie.
Everything.
Hm.
What's that, Ida?
Oh, that's just...
-Your leg. You're bleeding. -Yeah, that.
Where's that blood coming from?
I don't know.
-Where's that blood coming from? -I don't know.
-Ida. -Let me go!
No, no, no.
What have you done?
I couldn't do it.
Did you get rid of it? Tell me it's not true!
Let me go.
You need to leave me alone now.
-Get out. -No, Ida.
Get out!
Look, no, Ida...
Listen to me. Ida? No!
Ida. Ida? You have to stay home. Do you hear me? Do you?
You don't know what you've done, Ida.
You have to listen to me. Ida.
What are you staring at?
When you showed me the photo, something happened.
I wasn't here anymore. Only there.
-Can I see it again? -Yeah.
That one.
Henrik?
He isn't human.
What is he, then?
It's the Cyning.
And he's furious.
Twenty-one years ago, he didn't get what he had been promised.
And he won't let go before he gets it.
There is no escaping him.
You'll have to face him.
What is it he wants?
You know better than me, Astrid.
You have always known.
It's me.
Thank you.
[Ida] There's no separation between the physical and the spiritual world.
And there is no word to describe this worldview.
That's just the way it is.
[woman] Good.
I have no further questions.
[Henrik] No, neither do I.
Please wait outside.
[Ida] Mm.
QUIET EXAMS
-[Dennis] Finally, you're done. -Yes.
-Oh, sweetie, I'm so proud. -Thanks, Dad.
From what we heard, it went pretty well.
I hope so.
To think you've graduated.
Mm-hm.
Congratulations.
[Henrik] Well...
we both agree that you covered the text well.
You knew your concepts, and you even added your own reflections.
Did a great job. So, you get an A+.
-Wow. -[Henrik] Congrats.
Thanks.
Congrats.
-Congratulations. Have a great day. -[Dennis] Thanks.
-Whoa! -Woo!
[Dennis] Oh, that nearly killed me.
-Lene? -Yeah, just a little bit.
-[Lene] Yeah. -[Dennis] There you go.
-Ida, are you coming? We're leaving now. -Oh, okay. Well, yes.
-Cheers, then. Okay. -Now?
You better go along.
See you at home.
[graduates chanting]
[festive music plays]
Hey, baby.
CLASS OF '99 WE DID IT!
Hey.
Hi.
I wanted to apologize.
I've been really stupid.
-How have you been stupid, Falke? -I should've said something.
About what?
-It wasn't supposed to be like this. -Oh.
-How was it supposed to be? -We shouldn't have gone.
[scoffs]
-[Jakob] Cheers, boys! -Cheers!
All right. Are you ready?
Hold on tight. We're going!
[boy] Woo! Come on! Come on!
Cheers!
Congrats!
-[horn honking] -[students cheering]
Hey.
Astrid?
Can we go inside and talk?
No.
Where are you going?
Please, just move.
-I would like to talk to you. -What do you want to talk about?
Huh? That you lied to me my whole life?
You really think we need to have that conversation now?
I understand if you're mad at me.
No, I'm not mad.
But we only had you admitted because we were worried about you.
That's always been your solution.
How could you lie to me all these years?
-Lie to you? -Yeah.
You were the only one I had and the only one I trusted, and relied on.
And...
and then you just pretended to be my dad.
Astrid, I'm your dad.
And everything I do is out of love for you.
You're exactly like Lene.
Astrid? Astrid!
[David] Astrid?
Astrid, open.
Astrid, open the door.
You're not going anywhere.
[bump]
Astrid, I'm gonna break the window. Astrid, open the door.
-Oh, come on. -Unlock the door, will you?
-Welcome. -Thanks.
Help yourself.
Oh, thank you. Oh, sweetie.
-I'm going inside. No, I want to go in. -Please stay here.
-What do you want? -Ida, you can't go.
You're in danger. He's coming for you.
-Who are you talking about? -Listen.
I made a deal. I know it was stupid of me.
-But I never thought that... -Who? Who are you even talking about?
You have to believe what I'm saying.
-Dennis is not your real father. -I don't want to hear this.
You have to hear this.
I couldn't get pregnant,
so I made a pact about you.
I promised to give you away when you were 18.
Because I didn't think
-he was ever going to come back. -What?
But he did. He did.
And I made a promise instead to give your firstborn away.
[scoffs] Really? Do you hear what you're saying?
But then you got rid of it.
You've killed his child.
-All is lost. -Get away from me!
Ida, now he's coming for you instead.
-You're completely insane. -You have to stay.
You've ruined everything.
-Do you understand? -[Ida] Let me go!
-Let me go! -Ida, please don't go!
[Ida] You're crazy.
[Lene] Ida, he demands a sacrifice.
Now go on out there.
I'm looking for Henrik Malmstrøm. Does he live here?
Henrik?
-Hey, Astrid, is Ida inside? -Yeah.
Thanks.
-Ida? -I don't want to talk to you.
-Something's wrong. -Yes, Jakob.
-Everything is wrong. -No, with this.
The Grimoire. I stole it from Henrik.
-I know that. -How do you know that?
-It doesn't matter. -But it's gone now.
Ostara. Every 21 years.
Ostara. Twenty-one years.
Every 21 years.
-What happened that night? -Let me go.
Don't touch me.
Fuck you, Jakob. Fuck Amelia.
Fuck my mother.
Fuck all of you.
[suspenseful music playing]
[breathes heavily]
[students cheering]
-[engine turns over] -[horn honks]
Bye.
Thank you for coming.
-[upbeat music blares over radio] -[cheering continues]
[drumming and chanting]
[mysterious music]
[growl]
[Ida screaming]
[Ida's scream fades]
[pop music plays]
[chaotic cacophony]
[grunts]
[Amelia] What happened? Where is everyone?
THE FUTURE AND FREEDOM AWAIT
[mysterious voice] Ostara.
[ethereal music playing]
[ethereal music continues]