Nightborn (2026)

[bunniefuu]

Wow.

Well, you were right.

It's amazing.

Was all that junk there

when you were little?

No. Just the woods.

Ah, so is that a thing

in the Finnish countryside?

Just throw all your rubbish

in the woods?

No.

Well, maybe a little.

- Aah!

- Oh, yes!

I need to-- I need to

carry you through.

Yeah. Ohh!

Aah! Ohh!

Huh.

Okay.

This is, uh...

Yeah.

- Yes?

- Yeah.

This is gonna be

a bit more work.

And a bit of fixing.

Patching up.

Put some carpet down there.

Have plenty of time after work.

I...wanna show you something.

This used to be

my and Taru's bedroom

when we spent the summers

here with Grandma.

There was this...

lovely green wallpaper.

It's still here!

Oh, wow.

Hmm.

Well...

we did want nature close by.

This is...

- We'll get rid of it.

Look.

There used to be

an armchair here

for reading bedtime stories.

And then a dollhouse over here.

This lovely old rocking horse

over here.

And then we can put

the crib for the baby here.

There's definitely enough room.

For all three kids.

For all three kids.

And...

What about London?

f*ck London.

Hmm.

- Yeah!

- Yeah!

Whoa!

Whoo!

Saga?

Jesus.

Saga!

Oh, my God!

Listen.

As you shout,

so will the forest answer.

What?

It's a saying in Finland.

I used to sneak here in secret.

Why?

Grandma forbid me to come.

The forest takes its own.

Ohh. Really?

Make me a mother.

A lot of patching up.

Is she all right?

What is this?

Is it alright?

W-What's happening?

What is happening?

What's the matter with it?

What's happening?

What's wrong with it?

Shh.

I was so worried.

These are for you.

Is he okay?

Yeah. Yeah. He's, uh...

You're both fine.

I want to see him.

Okay.

Yeah. Wait.

Bring him here.

I want to hold him.

He won't break.

Oh, yeah. I know.

I can show you.

You can hold him like this.

And into Mommy's arms.

Scooch.

- Yeah.

Daddy is like a support network

at this stage.

Yeah...

Mummy's hug calms down.

Never seen such a hairy baby.

Is this...

You have a healthy baby boy.

You had a pretty

difficult birth, so you

can get therapy if--

No, everything's all right.

I'm totally fine.

What's that?

Nothing.

Everything is good.

- Okay.

- Okay.

Get the flowers.

- Oh.

Yeah.

Eh. Take another one.

Wait, darling.

I can-- I can help.

No, no. I'm good.

This is where it all begins.

Us.

Here we go.

It's your new home.

Look how Daddy's

renovated it all for you.

- Jon. He's hungry.

- Upstairs.

Down there's the kitchen.

Oh, look at this.

Big window.

And this is

a very special room...

...Mummy's made just for you.

With lots of love.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Shh.

Mummy's little darling,

you'll get some food soon.

Darling.

Yes.

There.

Ow!

Oh. Does it hurt?

No. No, no.

You okay?

Yeah.

Remember

what the midwife said.

Eye contact is crucial.

Yeah.

Maybe upholstery's a bit off.

Let me just get this up.

I-- I know how to do this.

Is the nipple hitting

the roof of the mouth?

Just...

Stop it!

It's-- Sorry.

Mummy's sweetheart, hi!

Careful! He could fall!

It hurts me when I touch.

I'm your daddy. We're not

gonna hurt you, are we?

That's it.

There we go. That's better.

It's like a tiny

little tail sprout.

That's cute.

Better?

Good evening, good night,

With roses adorned,

With carnations covered,

Slip under the covers

Early tomorrow, so God willing,

You will wake once again

Early tomorrow--

What-- What if

you stop singing?

I'm doing my best.

I know.

I'm-- I'm just trying to help.

Yeah, but he doesn't

want to sleep.

No, he just doesn't

wanna sleep alone, do ya?

That's better now, isn't it?

He's lifting his head up.

How's he doing that?

Oh, you're such a little

miracle, Christian, aren't you?

Does he look like

a Christian to you?

Saga.

Just put him

into those party clothes now!

So nice that you came.

Saga?

So nice that you came.

- Mother.

- Surprise!

- We came to help you.

- Hi!

We couldn't wait

to see the little prince!

- And a lovely dress!

- Thank you.

You look really tired.

I'm fine.

Your button is undone.

It's okay.

It's still a bit unfinished

as the baby was born early,

there wasn't time.

But when it's all done,

the view out will be beautiful.

Was it necessary to do all this

with you so exhausted?

Hey, it's really beautiful.

- Wow!

- Look, Anna!

What a dream room

Auntie has made!

Isn't it fine?

- Yes!

- Isn't this wallpaper--

- Just like when we were kids.

It's lovely.

When will you go back to work?

Uh...

I'm taking five years off.

- What?

- Yeah.

We'll have two more babies.

Kids are small

for such a short time.

If you miss

all those lovely moments,

you can't get them back.

Yes, but---

Yeah, he's not very happy

at the moment.

I have a sleeve.

Should we try?

Oh, yeah.

- Clothes hurt him.

- You little darling!

Come here now.

You're a big boy!

Let's give you

to your grandma.

Careful, he's a bit heavy.

- Who do we have here--

- I can take it--

I didn't k*ll you two either.

Sounds like he's hungry.

Has he eaten?

Yes, he's eaten.

Why on Earth did you want

to move in to this wilderness?

I got it wrong.

Oh. We just-- We just wanted

him to grow up around nature.

I know that Saga always liked

more trees than people.

What do you mean?

What was that?

No. Saga was a bit

antisocial as a kid.

You always said

your friends laughed at you

for being so weird.

Let go!

Ohh!

Mother! Help!

I'll call an ambulance.

Get my doctor's bag.

Are you okay?

I don't know how it could

yank so hard.

- I wasn't holding him wrong.

- I didn't mean that.

I've been wondering if there's

something wrong with it.

I don't think

babies should be like that.

You were just like that

as a baby.

- Are you staying the night?

- Overnight flight to Boston.

The lectures begin.

Weren't you supposed

to be retired?

I just don't happen to be

a bun-baking granny

sacrificing all their time

to grandchildren.

So you didn't get that

from Grandma.

You have a really romanticised

idea of how people should be.

Hi! So nice that you came!

- Congratulations!

- Thank you!

- Are you okay?

- Yeah, I am.

Congratulations!

Gets a bit lost, but...

There he is!

He's a bit of

a crybaby now but...

- Strong lungs, at least!

- That's right.

Loud enough. Congratulations!

Mum. Let's go.

Yeah.

I'll calm him down a bit here.

But so lovely that you came.

See you in a minute!

Why did it look so weird?

Shh!

No, I'm, uh,

director of sustainability.

Get me an earlier ticket.

No. No, no, no. For tonight.

Yes, yes. Tonight.

- Babies are usually cute.

- Yeah.

She chose the dress herself.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

I can take Christian.

He wants to be in the dark.

Well...

He's kind of why

they're all here.

Ohh.

Yeah.

Dear friends.

Thank you all for coming.

Most of you have been

absolutely lovely.

Others, a little bit Finnish.

In a good way.

Unfortunately, my father,

due to illness,

he can't make it

and bless our child.

But he will be

very pleased to hear

that our baby's name is...

Kuura.

What?

His name is Kuura.

I just felt a little sick. But

so lovely that you came!

Bye!

Now first of all,

you take care of yourself.

That's the most important thing.

You should know.

Bye!

You're mad at me.

I think Kuura is a...

beautiful name.

But we have to

do this together, okay?

We have to be us...

or none of this makes sense.

It makes me feel bad

when you just decide something

and then ride right over me.

I do everything wrong

all the time.

That's not what I'm saying.

Why are you correcting

every single thing I do?

I can't do anything right.

You made us a beautiful baby.

I'm just... trying to help.

Then stop instructing me...

...telling me to do this

and not to do that.

You could just...

praise me sometimes.

And I am sorry about the name.

Hey.

Why don't you want

to kiss me anymore?

What? I do. All the time.

But you don't.

Okay.

This is all new and weird

for both of us.

But you are the best mum

in the world.

There's something

wrong with it.

"Him." You mean "him."

He's just a bit sensitive

to sunlight.

He'll be fine.

Saga!

Hey!

Shh!

What are you doing?

Hey, you mustn't

rattle him like that!

Shh! Shh, shh, shh, shh!

Now it sleeps.

It doesn't sleep at all

at nights.

Hi!

- Look.

- Yeah.

You can move around

much better already.

What did the doctors say?

They said I am fully healed.

That's lovely!

Isn't it?

I'm still pig ugly.

Hey, nonsense!

Why do you say that for?

Everything is really

fine now, right?

Yeah.

Who's awake now?

Will you smile for Auntie?

- It never smiles.

- Good!

It's a bit strange.

Hey, darling!

Look, he's smiling. Yes!

- Good.

- That's just a grimace.

It isn't! Look at it! Good!

I'm looking.

What was that?

Hey, Anna!

Ugh. It's so awful.

Yeah, I'm just trying to--

Just making a pile over here.

Okay.

Did I ever tell you

what Granny said

right towards the end?

She called me, went on and on

about all this junk,

saying it kept "them" away

or something.

Keeps out the neighbors?

How very Finnish.

No. Cold iron.

"Cold iron burns them."

She lived in a world of her own.

Poor thing.

Don't.

Are you still in pain?

Is it asleep?

Please call him "him."

We don't have to do anything.

Just thought I'd be nice.

Or nasty.

You're beautiful.

I love you.

Look! It's sitting!

No. Come on.

Babies can't sit at that age.

Oh, yeah.

Stop it!

Sorry. I just...

You need rest.

So go to sleep.

Leave him. I don't mind.

I'll handle it.

Shh, shh.

MUM

Well, hi!

Finally you answered.

Saga!

Oh, hi.

I forgot it's night there.

Isn't Kuura sleeping yet?

Well.

You were a night owl like him

when you were little.

You had something to say?

I had?

Yes, you tried to call.

Saga!

Um...

Did Grandma ever say anything

about this forest?

The forest?

She always said there's

something dangerous in it.

That's one of her stories.

She believed

there were some... whatever.

Saga?

You been able to sleep at all?

Let Jon put Kuura to bed

for a change.

You must get some sleep.

Yeah, everything is fine.

Saga!

Saga? Saga?

What have you done?

There was...

What?

The floor. It was rotten and...

How has that tree grown back?

Kuura. He was calling it.

Okay.

I think that's something

we can talk with

the child-health clinic about.

I just want to know

what this is.

Exactly. We'll get some help.

Go ahead. I'll be fine.

How briskly

you wave your arms about!

You're such a tall

and heavy boy.

Your boy is perfectly healthy.

Sorry. Uh, like I said

before, my Finnish...

I'm sorry.

Shouldn't you examine this?

You can put his clothes on now.

I can dress him.

No. He's quiet now.

Don't touch him.

It'll scream

the moment you try to dress it.

He may have

some sensory defensiveness.

And perhaps a bit--

Yes. Each baby is different.

He is exceptionally

well developed

and really big for his age!

Good, strong muscles.

Like an ape.

Yeah, when he was born,

he had hair all over him.

That's quite normal.

But, um...

He sucked my blood.

It could be he's so hungry,

he sucks whatever

he can get into his mouth.

Well, you can tell

when he's hungry

if you watch his face closely.

You have probably

seen those little...

sucking lip movements.

And that's when

you can start feeding.

Right. Okay. Yeah.

You've been under pressure?

No. I'm alright.

But that's not the issue.

The problem is this baby.

Or how you feel about him.

All these difficult emotions

are perfectly normal.

But the fact is, the baby feels

better when you feel better.

I could make

a referral for you, Saga.

And you can make an appointment

to talk about things.

Thank you.

And the father is alright?

Yeah. Um, well, I mean...

Sometimes the early days

with a small baby

can be surprisingly hard,

especially for the mother.

No, I understand that.

For a lot of moms,

this new creature

can feel completely alien.

That went well, I guess.

I won't breastfeed him

anymore.

- You mean-- Wait.

- Never again.

If you're struggling

to bond with Kuura...

He sucks me dry.

That's why breastfeeding

is so important for you!

You're not even listening!

Babe, I am.

I am, okay?

I'm just trying to s--

- I want...

- To sa--

- I understand.

- ...you to stop!

You're completely exhausted.

I get it.

Your problem is...

That child!

No.

Your problem is your

relationship with our child.

What you're feeling is...

Don't tell me how I feel!

Of course they're early.

Who?

My parents.

We talked about this.

When?

Hey! Hello.

It's so lovely to see you!

Oh, is this the baby?

Oh, yeah, he's just sleeping...

- Oh.

- Son.

Dad.

Ooh. Hello...

Ooh! Steady, love!

Let's get some light on,

shall we?

He's a bit sensitive to light.

It's the child that ought to

learn from you, you know.

Just let people

raise their own children.

Oh!

So lovely to see you. Saga.

Welcome.

I'm so sorry about this mess.

The baby came early, and

we haven't found the time to--

Oh, never you mind.

Christian, shall

we give them the, um...

- Oh, yes, yeah.

- For the housewarming.

Ooh.

Ta-da!

- Wow.

- Wow.

Made him myself.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Right. well, uh, shall we

finally bless the child?

I'll go and get him, then.

Yes, please.

I read that local tales here say

that if you don't bless a child,

the trolls will take them.

- Ohh.

- Do people still believe that?

- No. Not anymore.

- That's why some families

still have troll blood

running through their veins.

Oh. Here's the little darling.

Lucky for you, those old trolls

are afraid of holy water.

So we can still save you.

Sanctify this water by the

power of the Holy Spirit...

so that they may be cleansed

and born again.

Now, what happened

with the name?

Oh, we--

Your father

took it pretty hard.

Not that he'll say a word, mind.

Almighty God,

Heavenly Father,

we ask you to bless this child

in the name of Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father...

and of the Son...

and of the Holy Spirit.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Amen.

Ooh.

Yeah. That's better.

Is that...?

Yeah, yeah.

The seeds you gave me.

- Ohh!

- They're taking really well.

You've got some pumpkin

growing and some courgette.

Yeah.

And some beetroot here.

And kale.

- And is the soil good?

Yeah. It's taken

a bit of work, but it's...

Well, it's certainly

all looking beautiful.

How did this get here?

Are you alright, dear?

Yes. This just... grew.

Makes no sense.

That's nature, Jon.

You can't fight it.

For me,

it was almost meditative,

doing all the household work

with little Jon.

He was such a happy baby.

- Oh, Mum!

Well, you were...

my little sunshine.

Kuura doesn't really smile.

Well, of course,

every baby is different,

but we raise them with our love.

It really is the greatest

happiness in the world

to be a mother.

Don't you think?

It wasn't even hot!

What did you do?

What the hell did you do?

There is no fire.

It wasn't even near

the fireplace.

Just for once, can you just

think about what you're doing?!

It's just... cold.

It's cold iron.

I know what you are.

Drink.

Hey, babe!

Us.

All three.

Oh.

How's the formula going down?

Oh...

You know, he actually slurps up

as much as he can get.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

Great.

Maybe now I can feed him, too.

So it doesn't just fall on you.

Yeah.

I think it's better I feed him.

At least for now.

Okay.

How was work?

Yeah. Good. Just...

...so Finnish.

What?

When is the last time

I asked you anything like...

"Did you have a good day?"

This is terrible.

Hmm. Wow.

The first year is the worst.

Yeah.

Divorce rates off the scale.

You haven't thought about

anything like that, have you?

- What? Divorce?

- Yeah.

No. Of course not.

I tell you everything.

You tell me everything, yeah?

Yeah.

You remember

how we were saying

we were gonna start

on another one about now?

Can you imagine

being pregnant now?

Yeah.

I'm joking.

Yeah.

It'll come...

when it's time.

Yeah. Yeah.

By the way,

when's your appointment?

- Appointment?

- Yeah. The referral.

The children's

health-clinic thing.

You didn't book it.

I feel so bad when you tell

everyone I've got problems.

Yeah, we do have problems.

I don't want you

to speak for me.

That was the whole point,

that you could

speak for yourself.

I'm telling you now.

You could trust me at least

a bit and give me some space.

That's what

I've been trying to do!

Don't correct me!

Stop interfering!

Space. Okay.

Jon.

Jon! Jon!

Hah!

MUM

Hi! Where are you?

- It's Kuura.

- What?

What's that noise?

- It's Kuura!

Who else has he mauled already?

Hey, is everything alright?

- You never ask that.

- Well, I'm asking now.

Yes.

Or I'm just...

Sometimes I think

I'm going to k*ll that child

if it doesn't get me first.

You know, I thought exactly

the same when you were little.

You did?

Yes, this one time

I was so tired of your screaming

that I left you outside a shop

and drove away.

Well, I drove back

and took you with me.

But at the time I had the

feeling you were sucking me dry.

You were just a terrible child.

They always say

that the wonderful moments

make up for the hard ones

many times over.

But I wouldn't be so sure.

Go away! Go away!

Saga, what's happening?

Saga!

Saga!

Where have you been?

Where have you been?

Where's Kuura's clothes?!

He'll freeze to death!

Get inside.

Looking for this?

Just please tell me

you have an explanation.

- It won't drink milk.

- Neither do I!

W-What are you gonna do,

start putting blood in my tea?!

No. You are not giving another

drop of blood to our son.

It won't take anything else.

- Saga, please.

- Give it to me.

- Let go!

- Give it to me!

Saga!

I don't know

who you are anymore.

If I don't give it blood,

it'll suck it out of me.

It'll k*ll me.

I don't know if I'm more afraid

for you or for Kuura.

So what do you want to do?

Pick a day.

Go into town.

Go-- Go and see some friends.

Get yourself better.

While I take care of Kuura.

I want you to see...

you don't have to

destroy yourself... or us.

I want you to be happy again.

For us to be happy together.

Me too.

How are you?

How's work?

I've missed you.

Hey, there's the Mum!

She's enjoyed the nesting life

while we've slaved away!

We want to see photos!

I don't really have

too many good ones.

I so remember that,

no time to snap away.

All we have

are some terrible blurry pics.

- I'll take the vegetarian menu.

- It's really, really good.

So, how's work?

No, no talk about work!

Your life is much

more important!

Show us at least one pic,

this is not an official event.

I so remember that being

the best time of my life.

Yeah!

We just talked

about how nice you always were.

- Thank you.

- But then I suddenly realised.

None of us really knows you,

you know?

Maybe it's the Boss Role.

I've actually missed work a lot.

Hey, been there.

The sense of duty knocking.

Your stand-in guy has

actually been quite good.

Are you allergic?

- Did you have the shrimp?

- No, the vegetarian menu.

- Nuts?

- I've got to go.

Hey!

Hey.

Hey. Alright. Yeah. Okay.

What happened?

Are you okay? Talk to me.

...anyway, just trying

to support Saga.

She's still having

a pretty rough time.

What about you?

Like, deep down.

Was just...

I was so looking forward

to being a family.

Ohh.

Being a dad.

You're doing great.

I'm always away.

I don't know

what's going on here.

I think Saga

is just exhausted.

I think it's something

more than that.

Nice.

Juice for madam.

Thanks...

Um...

Anna, go and play

with your cousin Kuura.

No!

It's not safe.

Shut the f*ck up!

I'm gonna go and, uh...

shovel some snow.

Mother.

It's all right.

Hi.

It's just awful,

we still haven't got those boxes

unpacked.

I so hoped for a lovely and nice

little girl like Anna.

But instead--

I got that monster.

Studies say that if you don't

show empathy to your child

during the first three years,

he may never learn it.

I've given that thing

absolutely everything.

Right.

It just takes and takes and

takes.

Soon there'll be nothing left of

me.

But I can't be without it.

And I don't see the sense in

that.

And where's the happiness?

Things don't always go as

planned.

I just wanted our kids to have

what we had.

You're really living in a

reality all your own.

You think I really had fun

playing with you as a child?

Everything had to be

on your terms, and no matter

how shitty you acted

you were the one who needed to

be understood.

And it's still the same.

Mum called me to ask how you and

Kuura are doing.

But nothing about me or Anna.

Because we

must be doing really great.

You're still making

such a big deal of your

problems and emotions

that there's no room for the

rest of us.

Now you've moved on to

smothering your own child!

There's nothing wrong with

Kuura!

It's you who's making your

family life unbearable!

No one else!

Anna!

Hey! Hey!

Darling,

it's alright! Show me.

Let me see!

Saga, just leave it!

It's alright, we'll take you to

a hospital.

Taru?

You're the monster!

Ahhh!

Ah!

Wah, wah, wah.

Ah, ah.

Ah!

Wah, wah.

Whee!

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Look at him, all dressed up.

Now we can have a nice old

proper family dinner.

Let's get you in here.

Let me just get your leg

through there.

Have you spoken to Taru yet?

Anna's doing better.

If you're interested, that is.

But her finger

is gonna remain a stump.

What do you want from me?

Kuura, let's teach you

some table manners.

Okay?

Ah, Kuura.

Say "please."

Here comes the airplane.

Starting from now...

we're gonna

raise this child right.

So I'm setting some limits.

Human limits.

Right.

Here comes the airplane.

It's as much my fault

as it is yours.

Ohh.

Okay.

Okay.

Here comes...

the airplane.

Wheeeeee.

The metal hurts him!

Oh, will you just give

your f*cking fantasies a rest?!

Sorry, Kuura.

Mommy and Daddy are

just having a little argument.

It's all gonna be fine.

Here comes the airplane.

This child...

can't be raised.

Don't say that.

There's nothing

you can do about it.

You're wrong.

I'll prove you wrong.

Let it eat.

"Him"!

I'm not just gonna stand here

and watch you turn him

into a monster.

Leave it alooooone!

It's asleep.

I should apologize.

Okay.

I guess...

...for many things.

Thank you.

For what?

For showing me

who you really are.

It's just, it's been too hard.

Kuura is--

- You're right.

But not Kuura.

You.

What?

I always wanted a big family.

And then we met.

And I could see

our entire future.

Me too.

But you k*lled it.

And now it's like

I can't feel anything anymore.

It's like this impossibly heavy

weight is pushing me down.

Just because you feel bad

for being away so much.

You should never

have been a mother.

You hate our child.

You've turned him

completely dysfunctional.

I don't think you know

how to love.

I don't think you can love

anyone.

I don't need to listen to this.

You never listen to anyone.

You're so utterly,

blindingly selfish.

Taru was right.

You're the monster.

And I'm taking Kuura away

from you.

What?

He still has a chance to be

a perfectly normal boy.

He just needs professional help.

So do you.

You're not taking him.

I'm saving our child.

I've already spoken

to my parents.

It's done.

- Let go.

- And I'm gonna get full custody.

Let go!

You're hurting him!

You're hurting him!

You're hurting him!