Better Times (Krøniken)

An ambulance! Call an ambulance!

He's had a coronary thrombosis.

Mrs. Nørregaard, I'll look forward to hearing your opinion.

I actually have very strong feelings. Especially for you, Mrs. Nørregaard.

Invite Aksel Frederiksen. I'll cook dinner.

His candidate has everything in order at home.

What do I have to give you? Only one thing. My commitment.

I've been made editor.

I'll be responsible for a whole book series.

You need to listen to the doctor.

Let Vang take care of the factory with Søs and Erik.

Erik? Is he home?

If I understand, you're now acting managing director?

You can call it that.

Your son has breathed so much new life into the old business.

10,000 kroner from Bella's radio concern to help Hungary!

- Let me show you the figures. - I prefer to do it on my own.

I'd like you to consider coming back and continue where you left off.

BETTER TIMES a family saga by Stig Thorsboe

PART 11

Thank you for your letter. I'm very sorry.

Is this your child support payment?

I forget, I know. It's for this month and the next.

From January I'll have the bank handle it.

You're looking well.

- How are the boys doing? - Fine.

- I didn't think you lived here. - Neither did I.

So much has happened at Bella. We're producing like mad.

We keep having to hire more ladies.

- So it's going well with your father? - Yes.

It's a bit worrying actually.

- But I know that it rarely lasts. - Maybe him illness has changed him.

- You still think people change. - I'm a bit naïve.

- Where are you going? - I'm picking up the boys from school.

Why don't I give you a ride?

In that thing?

- Aren't you 10 years too late, Erik? - It's never too late for an MG.

Come on, let's go pick up the boys.

A quick ride in a sports car before Daddy takes off again?

Thank you for the money.

Boys, I'm going up!

- No running on the stairs! - I'm first!

- What did I just tell you? - I'm first!

- That doesn't count. - Yes, it does!

- Where are you going? - We're going to get a beating!

Oh, right, it's Saturday!

- Henrik, stay here! - It's all right.

Ida, take a look.

- An allotment shed? - It's a steal.

Only eleven hundred, first-rate condition

and by the train station.

That sounds lovely.

Karen! Ida thinks it sounds lovely!

- So you'll soon be homeowners? - Don't encourage him.

I'm never going to set foot in that suburban idyll!

Guess what? I met Erik today.

And his sports car.

That thing is sure to impress the young ladies.

- May the kids stay for an hour? - Of course.

I need to take another look at a translation.

The publishing house's most spoiled author is behind it. Torsten Linné.

I should've never agreed to him. He's changed the style completely,

it's a disaster.

Ida? It's Saturday. You have the day off.

I'm the editor of the paperback series.

It's my responsibility. I have to get this book out before Christmas.

I have a meeting with him on Monday. I need to approach the subject.

When was the last time you had fun? Why don't you go out with that chap?

The one that fancies you?

Editor Sander? Oh Karen, you can't be serious.

- We'll take the kids. - Stop it.

I'm not going to go out with Sander or anyone else.

I'm sorry.

It's nice of you, but I don't miss having a man.

My work is more than enough for me.

My name is Karen.

I'm your representative.

I'm Karen.

- I'm Jette. - I'm Berit.

- I'm Annie. - Come with me.

- Does he work here? - Yes, but you won't see him.

What a shame.

- Have you worked with televisions? - No.

But my Aunt Ellen has one in her house.

Could we draw in the rest of the storage hall?

- I doubt it. - Sorry for the delay.

I had a meeting with Persson.

- I thought that was last night. - It was. And it got late.

Persson enjoys Copenhagen, especially in the wee hours.

I picked him up at his hotel and drove him to the ferry.

All right.

- He ordered ten thousand? - Yes, and exclusively the new "21".

You'll need to hire some more ladies.

We were just talking about that. The problem is where to put them all.

I heard a rumour last night.

Persson and I ran into a couple of ladies.

It was perfectly innocent. One knew Frandsen, the shoemaker.

She'd heard a rumour that he is considering moving.

What if we took over the shoe factory?

That sounds too good to be true.

Yes, that would give us enough space.

It would certainly solve our problems.

I wanted to remind Director Nielsen of the Works Committee meeting.

Thank you, Miss Toft. Erik, could talk to Frandsen?

But don't seem too interested.

He has an unpleasant talent for sniffing out money.

And meanwhile, let's try to think of other options.

Thank you.

Your mother was asking about Christmas.

She thought about inviting Ida and your sons too,

but she wanted to ask you first.

I'm not sure about that. I haven't seen them in a long time.

Ida wants me to stay away until I know if I'm staying.

Are you still thinking about leaving?

I was only planning to stay here while you were recovering.

You're back now.

I hope you don't feel that there isn't space for both of us.

Not at all, Dad.

It's just that America suits me well.

You know that the best.

But it would make me very happy if you help us solve our space problem.

Would Mr. Linné care for a pastry?

That is possibly the most disgusting offer I've ever had.

So, you're reading Rifbjerg?

All this insufferable grovelling to the youth!

Chronic ineptitude!

Mr. Linné, I wanted to talk about your translation.

- Yes, so you say. - It looks quite promising.

You may need to rethink a couple of things to find the right tone.

Find the right tone? What are you talking about?

It's obvious that an author wrote this translation.

The writing style is very personal,

but here and there it's different from the original.

Should I translate that rubbish word for word?

There's always a balance between writing freely

and staying loyal to the author of the work.

You're incapable of choosing proper novels

and apparently you're also incapable of judging my work!

Mr. Linné, you rewrote the novel's ending!

Miss! Write a check for me please.

I can't pay you the last instalment of the fee

until I see a translation that does justice to the original!

May I ask you a personal question?

Did you become editor here because you're sharing a bed with old Berg?

May I ask you a personal question?

Are your novels only published because no one dare tell you

that they're all talentless trash?

Good day.

- Was that Mr. Linné who just left? - Yes.

Was that Mr. Linné who just left?

Did anything happen, Mrs. Nørregaard?

I don't think so. I believe he had a tram to catch.

Oh, I see. Pastries? Is this your work again, Miss Strøm?

A bottled Carlsberg.

Why, if it isn't Frandsen!

Why does everything have to be so foreign?

I'll stick to Grethe Ingmann.

Strolling Through the Rain is the best song ever.

And she's only 19 years old.

Well, what do you want, Nielsen? Don't play bloody innocent with me.

You've asked around to find out where I was.

It's impossible to trick you.

- Is it true that you're moving? - Yes, that's entirely accurate.

I'm moving the factory to Maribo. Regional Development Support.

- We're sorry to hear that. - You're not sorry.

You want my buildings, don't you? That's why you're here.

Alright, alright.

I suppose you'd like to know what such a thing would cost you.

- There's at least one zero too many. - Give my regards to your father.

The bloke with the sports car is standing right over there!

Where?

- That's not him! - It is him!

Who will go over and talk to him, Annie?

- Not me! - Jette?

It's not that hard.

Just say, "Hi, haven't we met before?"

Oh dear, he's coming over here. Berit, you do it!

- Good evening. - Good evening.

- Don't you work at Bella? - Do you work there?

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Did I do that? I'm really very sorry.

- I have to get it off! - Annie, not here!

That went rather well.

You might get a bit cold walking home.

- May I give you money for a taxi? - No, thank you.

But you're welcome to give me a ride.

Yes, of course. No problem. Let me take your blouse.

Why the hell doesn't anyone spill beer on me?

Palle!

- Welcome to dark, old Jutland! - Thank you.

Hurry up and get in before you freeze.

Dreadful weather!

Just leave the bottle, Gerda.

And bring us some menus, please.

Well, Palle, let's chase the chill from our bones, eh?

- Cheers! - Cheers.

Let me tell you what I've been thinking.

If we were to create more workplaces in Kjellerup,

I think you'd have a good chance to be elected into Parliament.

It's this new law about Regional Development Support.