Abel

Abel is a 31-year-old who still lives with his parents. He suffers from agoraphobia and has not left the house in more than ten years. He fills his days spying on the neighbors and manipulating his parents against each other. He even tries to cut flies in half with a very large pair of scissors.

Victor seeks professional help and brings in a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist analyzes Abel's behavior and concludes that the real problem lies in the unhealthy dynamic between Abel's parents, not in Abel himself. This insight reframes Abel's symptoms as a consequence of family relationships. The therapist suggests addressing the parents' dynamic to help Abel cope.

A mesmerist is summoned as part of the attempted intervention. The bizarre figure tries to engage with Abel, but Abel remains distant and resistant. The mesmerist grows frustrated, highlighting the growing disconnect within the family. The scene underscores how far Abel is from the family’s attempts to fix him.

Victor tries to fix Abel by introducing him to a girl from his theater circle. He hopes shared social activity will coax Abel back into life. The plan fails as Abel remains withdrawn and suspicious of others. The episode reveals the parents' misguided belief that social contact alone can cure his symptoms.

Mother Duif and Abel secretly buy a television set against Victor's wishes. They hide it and hope it will give Abel a way to connect with the outside world. The act marks a small rebellion within a stagnant household. The TV becomes a symbol of their attempt to intervene in Abel's life.

Victor discovers the deception and explodes, driving Abel out of the family home onto the streets. The confrontation shatters the fragile balance at home. Abel now must navigate life outside, a place he has feared for years. The incident foreshadows further chaos in the family dynamic.

Abel meets Zus, who works at the peepshow De Naakte Meisjes, and she takes pity on him. She begins a relationship with him and offers companionship in a world he barely understands. Their bond provides Abel with a rare sense of acceptance. This relationship becomes a counterpoint to the family's dysfunction.

Abel discovers that Zus is involved with a married man, a revelation that shocks him. The twist becomes more painful when he realizes the man is his own father, Victor. He struggles with conflicting feelings of betrayal and tenderness. The discovery intensifies the rift between Abel and his parents.

Duif learns of Abel's whereabouts and informs Victor, escalating the conflict. The news triggers a new wave of anger and a sense that the family is spiraling out of control. The revelation deepens Abel's isolation as he is pulled between two worlds. The tension sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

Victor, in a drunken psychotic fit, confronts Zus and chases her from her place. The scene devolves into chaos as Abel's family clashes with the outside world. The confrontation at Zus's place crystallizes the breakdown of boundaries between family and sex work. The incident marks a turning point toward an irreversible rift.

Abel breaks the news to his mother: Victor had an extramarital affair with Zus. Duif absorbs this information with shock and anger, feeling betrayed on multiple fronts. The disclosure strains the last threads of trust within the family. Abel's revelation reshapes everyone's perception of the people they love.

Duif threatens to commit suicide but, after a moment, decides to calm down. She chooses to leave Abel with Zus and take her husband home instead. The household's fragile balance shifts again as family loyalties are tested. The decision marks a difficult but necessary turn toward some form of coexistence.

Abel laughs at the chaos and shares a moment with Zus. They cut a fly in two with Abel's giant scissors, a small surreal gesture that echoes his need to control the uncontrollable. The ending lingers on their uneasy companionship as the world around them remains unstable.