Better Times (Krøniken)

- We're here! - Welcome home!

It's lovely to see you again.

Let's hear about Palle's new job.

He's going to be a bank manager.

- Aren't we going to be happy here? - I hope so.

Your dad would be here, if it wasn't for your grandpa.

I don't want to hear about my dad. He was a loser.

I'm a complete failure as a mother. I want to control my children.

That's why I resented my dad.

Why did your mother never remarry? Don't you think she misses it?

My mum? No, definitely not.

Why did you do that, Palle? Now I can't sleep.

How about learning everything from the ground up?

It means starting as an apprentice, which takes four years.

- I won't tolerate any excuses. - I'd love to.

You'll start on August 1st.

BETTER TIMES a family saga by Stig Thorsboe

PART 18

Margrethe?

Let's go!

Why do we have to leave?

- Vera has a nice lunch waiting. - I'm not hungry.

Grandma and Grandpa need their little siesta.

Can't I just go be with Dad in Copenhagen?

He doesn't have time for that. He's working.

- Let's enjoy our last week here. - I'm just so bored.

That has never hurt anyone, darling.

I haven't lifted a finger.

I've just been reading books while they've been competing to wait on us.

- Are they from your garden? - Of course!

- We put your post over there. - Thank you.

- Was she there? - There was no answer.

- I'm going to bike over there. - His girlfriend?

Three weeks is a long time at that age.

- I'm going too. - Now? But it's Sunday.

I want to see if Bella's colour television is out.

- When do you start working there? - The day after tomorrow.

I'm going to Ivan's place afterwards.

I'll see you at Bella then!

At least they were home for five minutes.

Won't you come for dinner at the allotment?

Herring with home-grown potatoes.

- That sounds tempting. - Palle is coming too.

I thought he was on holiday.

A grass widower doesn't have time for that.

Søs and the girls are at her parents' place.

He's been asking about you.

I think I'll have to pass.

I have to unpack. I'm dead tired after the train ride.

I think I'm going to go to bed early.

Take a nap and then come. We're eating around 7.

I'll see how I feel. Don't wait for me.

What do you have there?

One of the postcards from the fridge.

Give it to Grandma, Marie. That's right, give it to Grandma.

- Leave her alone, Margrethe. - Fine.

Go ahead and destroy the postcard.

I don't know what it is with her. She's constantly picking on Marie.

- Perhaps she's feeling left out? - Why would she?

I bought tickets for the local revue tomorrow night.

I'm sure she'll enjoy that.

- Didn't the postman bring the paper? - No, my dear.

You'll have to try and fall asleep without it.

Isn't that it, right under Mum's chair?

Yes. And it looks like someone has already read it.

Yes, I have. So now you don't have to.

- What are you trying to hide from me? - You're on holiday, Kaj Holger.

- Give me that paper. - I see!

- What is it, Mum? - I told you not to read it.

Bodil Koch states that she would rather focus

on expanding art museums and theatres

than spend money on something as unimportant as colour television.

Does it really matter what she thinks?

A lot has happened while you and Palle were in the US.

Bodil Koch is minister of cultural affairs now.

Colour televisions belong under her.

- Damn! - Please rest for a while.

How am I supposed to relax after reading that?

- I'm going to the office tonight. - You're not serious?

He makes it sound as though he'll go bankrupt without colour television.

He's quite worried about all the money he has invested.

Sales of black and white televisions have declined.

Your father actually considered closing the factory two years ago.

Was he really planning to close Bella?

There's a new development on Dagmar Street.

The architect called.

The building permission came through.

They can start the demolition.

The building contractor has backed out.

- What does that mean? - They couldn't wait.

They're trying to find another one.

We won't even find an available apprentice.

We have an agreement and they have to keep it.

Well, we've kept them on hold...

Families have moved out, trusting that they'll move into a new house.

Our credibility is on the line. Ask the architect to speak to them.

That building needs to be demolished now.

- I'll try to get a quick answer. - Good.

- Hello? - It's Palle.

- Hello, Palle. - Welcome home.

- Did you have a nice holiday? - Yes, thank you.

What about you?

Your dad said you haven't even had time to go on holiday.

Well, I had a week off with my in-laws up in Tibirke.

That was more than enough.

- Are the girls still up there? - Yes.

Where were you last night? We were waiting for you.

I hope you didn't stay away because of me.

We shouldn't see each other so often.

Is it because of what happened in Germany?

It would be a shame if we can't see each other at all.

- Ida? - Yes. I'm here.

Why don't you come to my place tonight?

I'll cook dinner, you can tell me about your holiday.

We can just talk.

Just a moment. Yes?

The architect just spoke to them. The demolition can start tomorrow.

That sounds good. Thank you.

All right, I'm back. Ida?

Ida?

- Yes? - Hi, Dad. It's Margrethe.

- Oh, it's you! How's it going? - It's going all right.

- We're going to the theatre tonight. - What do you mean?

- Are you coming to Copenhagen? - No, I wish.

It's the local revue. It's so boring.

I've heard it's usually quite entertaining.

Can't you come up here? We have an extra ticket.

Grandpa had to go to Copenhagen.

I wish I could. But I just can't.

But you're not working tonight, are you?

Unfortunately, I am. I have a meeting.

But I'll see you tomorrow, all right, my love?

Bye, Dad.

Send my regards, and give Marie a kiss from me.

Bye.

What did you think of it, Margrethe?

- Did you understand everything? - Yes, of course.

I was a bit surprised at how political it was.

It was probably a good thing that your dad went to Copenhagen.

He wouldn't have sat through it.

- I didn't expect Viggo Valentin. - I could have done without him.

I thought he was good.

You should have said hello to him. You performed together.

That was so long ago. He wouldn't remember me.

Søs!

- I thought I recognised you. - Hello, Viggo.

Hello.

- This is my mother. - Hello.

Thank you for the show; it was entertaining.

Thank you for coming.

And here's Margrethe, all grown up and beautiful.

- Hello, Margrethe. - Hello, Mr. Valentin.

- We agreed to be on first name terms. - Do you still live in Aalborg?

Yes, they won't let go of me.

- I can show you the theatre there. - I would like that.

We must be getting home.

- Are you still working in television? - No.

- She takes care of my little sister. - Oh, you have a little sister now.

- Let's go. - Do you still sing?

No, Margrethe doesn't sing anymore. Get in, sweetie.

That's a shame. You're talented.

- Goodbye, Mr. Valentin. - Goodbye. Margrethe?

Don't forget to call me if you're ever in Aalborg.

He hadn't quite forgotten about you.

I don't know who he thinks he is, inviting her to Aalborg.

Apparently, he enjoys giving tours of the theatre to young girls.

- What are you talking about? - You, my dear.

Don't you remember? You met Viggo Valentin once.

I don't think you were more than 18 or 19 years old.

Suddenly he invited you to see the Royal Theatre.

I don't remember that.

He sent you a signed photograph of himself too.

I threw it out a few years after you moved out.

But I don't remember if you took him up on the offer?

Of course I didn't.

I probably advised you against it.

I didn't know you'd known him so long, Mum.

I haven't.

You should go look at it.

We can go together tomorrow. It should've been torn down ages ago.

They renovated our building. Why couldn't they do the same?

It's an old dump.

The toilet's in the yard and damp on the walls.

Do you know how long it took for the residents to move out?

Two weeks.

- Where did they move to? - The Ishøj area.

Then they'll move back to the new flats.

36 ultra-modern flats with toilets, baths, and everything.

I'm accomplishing a lot more than I did in parliament.

What do they call you at the bank? Director From?

Mostly just "Palle."

What does that say about the shape of this country?

In some places the shape is better than ever.

It sounds like you've had enough to drink.

You look like you've had a good summer.

I've had a great summer.

I've had a feeling that everything can change.

- Everything is possible. - That sounds wonderful.

I feel like becoming a student again.

That was my old plan, to study for a Master of Arts in Danish.