Barnum and Fred are half-brothers, growing up in sixties Oslo. Barnum seems to have stopped growing, while his older half-brother, conceived after the rape of their mother and frustrated by learning difficulties, is sent away to a special school. Barnum s father is no better than a con man, giving the appearance of a travelling salesman, while the three women in the family (mother, grandmother and great-grandmother the Old One ) are all unwed mothers. Then the Old One is killed by a hit and r