Better Times (Krøniken)

I've taken back my maiden name.

Your husband's staying in America?

You pop up after a year and a half and want to see your boys.

My father offered me a seat on the board of directors.

- Where'd you get that record? - From America.

General strike for one lousy weekend!

It's easier to like your party when it pursues conservative policies.

And you've ignored the workers' right to strike.

- I shouldn't have done it. - It's rather sensational.

- The boys are fine. - It's easier for you to leave.

You'd never have made television sets if I hadn't pressured you.

BETTER TIMES a family saga by Stig Thorsboe

PART 10

I've really missed you, darling.

Have you had a nice time with Daddy?

And with Grandma. How's Erik?

Fantastic. He'll never move back here.

To Bellahøj, please.

Now she's asleep.

My head!

I haven't really landed yet.

Just think. A day ago I was running around in New York.

- Is it morning or night over there? - Isn't it early afternoon?

Erik's found a girlfriend. A lovely girl, a dancer.

She hopes to be in a new musical on Broadway.

- That sounds good. - West Side Story.

Oh, the red wine. I'm completely smashed.

I can't remember the last time I slept.

- Do you know where Kjellerup is? - Kjellerup? Is it a town?

Between Viborg and Silkeborg.

I received a funny letter from over there

from the local Party chairman.

What did he want?

He asked if I'd run for parliament.

You're kidding! May I see it?

Aksel Frederiksen. Someone you know?

No. He must've read my articles.

It wasn't on Krag's recommendation, in any case.

Parliamentary candidate! Congratulations, congratulations.

I really don't know. I think I'll say no, thanks.

Why?

I'm not really a politician.

You saw how I lost my head on May Day.

I take it too seriously.

You always used to say one can't take it seriously enough.

All that flying has made you silly. Don't you need some rest?

- I'm making a stop-over right here. - To bed, Søs!

Only if you promise to go see that man from Kjellerup.

We'll see.

Sleep well.

Palle, it's Jutland, you know.

Yes, Viborg and Silkeborg. They're in Jutland.

I like Jutland. I'll go with you.

Hungary is still marked by the unfortunate events

that took place two months ago in which Soviet Russian tanks

crushed any hope of democracy and self-determination

for the Hungarian people.

Thousands of refugees have risked their lives crossing the border.

Palle, I can't fall asleep if you're not there.

You're pretty good.

For a beginner, that is.

It's my mum! She's home. She'll kill me!

- Hi, Mrs. Jensen. - Kurt, what are you doing here?

I'm hanging up the washing for my mum.

- Now I've heard everything! - Life's full of surprises.

- Your surprises usually aren't good. - Good night, Mrs. Jensen.

What's your problem?!

- Is it true she's a communist? - Yes, so what?

Then she's for the Russians.

I don't know anything about it. I have to go or else she'll flip out.

- Thanks for the dance. - We can do it again sometime.

I'd like that.

Keep the change.

Look who's here. Hi, Søs.

- Am I late? - No, we're awaiting you patiently.

I even took a taxi. Daddy will have to pay that.

Your presence at board meetings is an extenuating circumstance.

How was your trip? Søs has been in America visiting her brother.

It was fantastic.

- Did you fly over the North Pole? - No, via Glasgow and Hamburg.

- It only took 24 hours. - Ingenious, isn't it?

Well, hello, hello.

- Are you back? - Hello, Daddy.

It seemed your boys looked a bit scared.

I laid it on the line. I have to do everything myself.

Come in. You can close the door.

- Please take a seat. - Are there problems?

We're losing ground to other manufacturers.

It's difficult to know why.

Our advertisements are boring. They're livelier in America.

You should have seen Erik's latest campaign.

Isn't Erik in the sales department?

He's just been made head of marketing.

- He has? - Hello, Miss Toft.

- Yes. They're ten men. - And Erik's the boss?

I'm impressed! What do you think of that, Kaj Holger?

- Excuse me, what did you say? - I said I'm impressed.

Yes. Definitely, definitely.

You look a little tired, Father.

Maybe it's because I'm a bit impatient.

Vang and I would very much like to make it to the lodge this evening.

Bo and Henrik, time to come up.

- Come on. - Mum's freezing.

Let's go up and eat.

No! Look who's coming.

It's your cousin!

- Hi. Visiting your dad? - We've invited ourselves to dinner.

Søs is at a board meeting.

Thanks a lot for the loan. It's a fantastic book.

It definitely deserves the good reviews.

- It's already the third printing. - Congratulations.

The publisher must be very glad to have you.

- Is there a new book on the way? - I don't read manuscripts anymore.

The editor found out that the boss had been letting me read them

and threatened to quit.

- I have to know my place. - You shouldn't put up with that.

You don't know Berg's Publishers. They're some funny types.

- It doesn't matter, Palle. - Yes, it does.

You've given them a bestseller!

I just talked a little with the author.

But that book wouldn't have been published if it weren't for you.

How was Søs' trip? Is Erik doing well over there?

Yes, I think so.

I'm sure he's already found someone new.

Well, I've got food on the stove.

Would you bring the boys up with you?

Just when she'd finally stopped talking about him.

I should have denied it.

- Do you think it's serious? - It was hard to tell.

Look what Margrethe and Grandpa found!

Are we having schnapps now?

It's not every day one's son runs for parliament!

Nothing's decided yet, Dad.

I have to meet the man and I'm not certain I'm interested.

I'd have to quit my job on the trade council,

and I'm not sure I want to do that.

I think I'm at my best as an independent.

I'm pretty damn sure Krag would agree.

- Thanks. - Palle.

Cheers, my boy. This is a great day.

- I wish your mother was here to... - Don't make a speech.

No one expected that you, my boy,

would attain one of the highest positions in the land.

Just remember where you come from when you're sitting up there.

He's hopeless!

One has a right to be proud of one's son.

- Cheers, Palle. - Cheers.

Hi, Palle.

- Where have you been? - Nowhere.

- And where is that? - Isn't it a free country?

Not when you're 15 and late for dinner.

- I hope you haven't been with Kurt. - Little Kurt?

He's not so little anymore. Emma thinks he's very interesting.

I don't know what you're on about! I'm tired of you checking up on me.

- This isn't the Soviet Union! - What?!

How can you still be a communist

after what the Russians did in Hungary?

- She didn't get it from me. - I wouldn't be surprised if she did!

Interesting to hear about Erik in America.

Isn't it time you brought the kid home to Bella?

I offered him a job recently, but he wasn't interested.

- Why not? - Love of adventure. What do I know?

Young people have a will of their own these days.

It wasn't because you had a falling out?

No, why should we?

I have no higher wish than that Erik would come home

and be part of the business.

An ambulance!

Call an ambulance! An ambulance!

- How is he? - They don't know much yet.

That's what I've been saying. He works himself much too hard.

- Where is he? - A four-bed room on the right.

Four beds? My father's not staying in a four-man room!

I'll talk to the consultant doctor when he comes. Just go in.

Your mother's waiting in his office.

Your husband has had a heart attack.

It needn't be serious, depending on where the clot is located.

- And when will we know? - Within the next 24 hours.

I won't hide the fact that it could be serious.

But there's no reason to worry unnecessarily.

- May we see him? - Not the first couple of days.

Your husband needs absolute quiet.

I'm sorry about the mix-up when he was admitted.

Managing Director Nielsen has been moved to a private ward.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

How's your former father-in-law?

- His condition's unchanged. - That can be a good sign.

The first two days are the most critical.

Things will improve, you'll see.

I've waited in line a half hour at the Royal Theatre, but I succeeded.

Two tickets to The Marriage of Figaro this evening!

Your wife will be glad.

I didn't dare come home without tickets.

Oh, are you here? I put a manuscript in your tray.

I must say, Sander. Finally, something you approve of?

Tyge Stenberg's new poetry collection.

I'm looking forward to it. You had high expectations.

I'm afraid they weren't met.

It's clever in parts, but...

And you've also finished Rhapsody in Budapest?