"MONOPOLY" "Mads Skjern's pious sister Anna comes to Daniel's confirmation." "She doesn't understand the lifestyle of her brothers." "Wine and dance are not in line with the way Mads was brought up." "She senses Kristen's marital trouble and takes it all out on Ingeborg,   whom she accuses of impropriety." "Daniel and Mads turn against Anna." "She leaves town, full of misgivings." "Agnes, who is married to Red, takes on jobs as a waitress." "When she gets one at Daniel's confirmation, she expects Red   to look after Knud and Aksel." "But Red is at a meeting with comrades   who have kept the faith despite the German-Russian pact." "Aksel falls into the pond." "He survives,   but Agnes decides she doesn't want to depend on Red anymore." "They stay together, but she starts mending stockings." "Colonal Hachel has a stroke and dies   on reading that his foe, General Prior, is now commander-in-chief." "Vichi is now a teacher and has been reunited with Herbert Schmidt,   who has returned from the Spanish civil war." "LAURA'S BIG DAY" "SPRING 1940" "Stockings mended - 25 øre Agnes Jensen" "Come in." "Hello, Agnes." "Here's four stockings." "They have been washed." " I suppose you did that." " Yes, the new girl doesn't wash." "I should have called myself a nanny back then." "I could've avoided much." " Sit down." "I'll get the coffee." " I almost miss Esther." " Why do you put up with this mess?" " Dirty stockings would be worse." "A real lady doesn't give you dirty stockings." "This way, we find out who the real ladies are." "Mrs. Skjern, the bank manager's wife, doesn't wash hers." " Neither does her mother." " And her sister-in-law?" " Always." " That's after she got Esther." "She's always done it." "Try it. lt's half coffee." "Where do you get it?" "Our stamps don't go that far." "Boldt sells stamps." "Don't tell Lauritz." " Is that where your money goes?" " l save most of it." "For a stitching machine and a button machine." "For covering buttons, when people make their own clothes." "Monday the eighth." "We're not doing anything, are we?" " Not that I know of." "Why?" " Laura gets her medal." " Right. 25 years with pots and pans." " We have to be in church at 9:45." "The princess is coming at 10." "Can Frederiksen take us?" " Gasoline is for business only." " That was revoked. I read about it." " But it was reintroduced yesterday." " Do we have to go by train?" " Yes." "You've done it before." " Yes, but ..." "Not with Laura." "And what time are the trains now?" "I can soon find out." "I'll call the station." " Where is the phone?" " She's put it in the bedroom again." "Miss Hollenberg." "Every time she talks to her boyfriend." "I thought the soldier had broken up with her." "Wasn't that why she moped?" "Yeah ..." "No." "Good grief." "You don't say." "Yes ..." "No ..." "Mr. Varnæs would like to use the telephone, if you'll permit it." "You don't say." "Good grief ..." "Thank you, Laura." "Tell her she can't talk in the bedroom." "My husband's bed is totally flat." "You should tell her." "She answers me back." " I thought the engagement was off?" " She's found someone new." " I hope he's a nice person." " It won't last long." "I'm sorry, but you'll have to take the 7:46." "Did you hear that, Laura?" "On Monday, when you get your award." " I always get up at 6:30." " lt'll be a big day." " 25 years is a long time." " You've served longer than my wife." " Isn't it seventeen years, Maude?" " Eighteen." "Ulrik is 1 7." "That's true." "Yes?" "Talk of the devil ..." "Is it Ulrik?" "Why can't he tell us where he is?" " He's with Ellen Skjern." " l know." " Why doesn't he come home to eat?" " The phone was busy for two hours." "They ate at Ellen's grandfather's place." "The pig dealer asks if we want half a pig next week." " You never know." " If you want ..." "If it's not too fatty." "That's fine, Ulrik." "Just say, yes, please." "Good." "Bye." "I'll say it again." "They won't have it." "You calling in the bedroom." "And madam doesn't want you sitting on the bed." "Understood?" " Yeah ..." "Any coffee?" " Will you be able to lift your cup?" "That was nice coffee, Laura." "These days, if it tastes of coffee ..." "It won't for much longer." "There aren't any more coffee stamps." "Then we'll have to risk it and try substitute." "If I may ..." "Agnes knows a place where you can buy coffee stamps." "That's not exactly allowed." "We should leave that to Laura, along with Agnes." "Thank you." "Today:" "Fried eel" "I suppose you'll want eel too." "You can afford it now." " The wife having a business and all." " Rissoles!" " It's really nice." " Eel reminds me of stockings." "My home looks like a snake farm." "They're all over the place." "At night I dream that they're alive and that they're after me." "I wake up in a sweat and scream for help." "But it's only Mrs. Holms large brown half-silks lurking on the washing line." "Here's the long arm of the law." " Has anyone seen Herbert Schmidt?" " He's in Copenhagen." "He hasn't been to the station to show 100 kroner." "Can't I be allowed to show you 100 kroner on Herbert's behalf?" "He has to prove he's not destitute, not you." "I a week he'll be able to buy the whole police station." " Don't you read the papers, Sofus?" " Oh yes." "The Times." "If you left the local rag, you wouldn't come here to ask stupid questions." "I'm only doing my duty." "Then you should know that Herbert is putting Korsbæk into the spotlight." " He's putting on his own play." " What's it called?" " What do you think?" " Something with legs?" " No." "But I'll still treat you to eel." " Something with boots?" " You're damn bright, Sofus." " Boldt!" "Eel for the officer." " Give me a coffee stamp, will you?" " I don't know what you mean." "I'm free until four, we could go cycling with the boys." "Aksel and I are going to see Laura get her medal." "Then we're going to see a rehearsal of Herbert's play." "He invited us." " Then I'll look after Knud." " Marie is coming." "I know the way you look after children." " That time ..." "I've told you ..." " Just wait for Marie and let her in." "That's all we ask." "Come on, Aksel." "You'll have to wait here." "Madam, this way, please." " I thought it was you, Maude." " Anne Grete." " What are you doing here?" " You remember Oline, don't you?" "I inherited her." "She's over there." "Would you please go in, ladies?" "The princess will come on the hour." "They could have put a stick in the stove." "I knew your parents well." "How is your mother?" " You know Mama." "She's brave." " We all need that these days." "Yes, with all that's happening." "That was Mrs. Wender's mother-in-law." "She gave Oline the medal for 25 years." "And now it's 40 years." "Yes, it's a big day for Oline." "Please stay on this side when the princess walks by." "You may take your coats off, but keep your gloves on." "We took the wrong streetcar." "My, it's cold." " May I ask what brings you here?" " We used to serve together." "Can the boy keep quiet?" "Then sit in the back row, but be absolutely quiet." "Get in line." "Your Royal Highness, ladies,   and all who stand guard on our society, welcome." "Also to those, whom we have the pleasure of paying tribute today." "It is nice to note that, even in these times of war close to our borders   and decadence in our country, we see you sitting here as living proof   of the fact that diligence and loyalty still exist." "I want you to know that you represent the best in our people:" "The person in service." "If everyone were like you, it would look different." "For we are all people in service." "You have served your mistresses, as they have served their families." "Thus, everybody has filled their place in society   and joined in the fight against the dangerous forces that entice women   to forget their purpose   as the ones chosen to guard our homes." " The most blessed task of all ..." " Mommy, I have to pee." "The most blessed task of all." "For we know that God is behind us." "And God looks into the living room as well as into the kitchen." "God, who is the most faithful of all, knows what loyalty is worth." "His reward will be a thousand times greater   than what we can give you." "Hurry up." "Otherwise we won't see Laura get her medal." "And now our patroness, Her Royal Highness, will present the medals   as your names are called out." "Berta Sørine Andersen for 50 years of service with the Severin family." "Hanne Marie Jensen, 40 years with the Nyborg family." "Look at you." "Why did you have to do it yourself?" "Come on." "I don't want to ..." "I want to stay here." "It smells." "Thyra Hansen, 25 years with the Hammer family." "Stay here, and don't move until I come back." "Laura Larsine Sørensen, 25 years of service with the Varnæs family." "Will Your Highness grant the committee the honor   of having a small glass?" "And the Reverend?" "You scoundrel!" "What do you think you're doing?" "Get out!" " That's my son." "Let go of him." " He has nibbled on all the cakes." "That doesn't make them poisonous, does it?" "You're just like your father, you can never control yourself." "Head up." "Now we're going to see the Royal Guard." "Agnes!" " Aren't you with madam?" " She met a friend from Odense." " I told her I could look after myself." " Come with us." "We have enough food." "He can't have much of an appetite now." " Do you want tea or coffee?" " I should go to Mr. Jørn's." "I knew he made your clothes. lf you wait, you can meet my husband." " Do you always stay here?" " Whenever we're in Copenhagen." " Coffee." " Two coffees." "I should have put on bigger shoes." " Here's Emil now." " Yes, and look who I've found." " Herr Holz!" "Where did you find him?" " Good day, ladies." "This is my childhood friend Maude Friis, now Varnæs." " A cup of coffee with us?" " lf the ladies agree." "How nice." "We've just had a lovely time with Mr. Holz and his friends,   skiing in Geilo." "Are your friends here too?" "No." "Max and Johann are in Hamburg." "They might come later." "Then we must see them." "Right, Emil?" " Are you staying here?" " At this hotel, yes." "It's a small world." "First Maude." "She was at the ceremony too, with ..." " Laura, our cook. 25 years." " Where's Oline?" "I put her to bed." "With her medal." "Maude's husband is a bank manager." "So is Mr. Holz." "But unfortunately I don't have such a lovely wife." "He's almost as cheeky as his dad." "He takes from the rich and gives to the poor." " I have to take a taxi to Mr. Jørn's." " I have things to see to, too." " What are your plans?" " I have to get back to Korsbæk." "Can't you stay for dinner?" "I've just arranged it with Mr. Holz." "You will have dinner with us?" "To think that we know him." "Maybe he thought of it in our living room." "How do you think up a whole play and get them to say what's written?" " Come and look at the rehearsal." " No, I think I'll go home now." " But we're finally in Copenhagen." " I've been here long enough now." " You have a first-class ticket." " l prefer to sit here." " It's only valid until Korsbæk." " That's where l'm going." "You can't." "We don't stop until Vordingborg." " We'll have costumes on Thursday." " It was exciting all the same." "Right?" " Yes." "The revolvers ..." " They're not for kids." "They shouldn't be for adults either." " We have to go home now." " Will you wait while I write a note?" "That's a deal." "See you tomorrow at ten." " lt's for Vicki." " We'll come and see the play." "Yes." "Goodbye, Agnes." "Goodbye, little man." " Is anything wrong?" " No." "But give my regards to Lauritz." "Tell him that it's happening now." "Lauritz will know what I mean." "Goodbye." " A call for you." " Thank you." "Here." "Yes?" "Maude ..." "Did you book a call?" "I can believe that." "That's fine." "I'll have dinner at the club." "No, they're dancing." "Laura?" "I haven't checked." "But I suppose she's here." "Has Laura come?" "Is Helle asleep?" "You'll have to mind her until Laura comes. I'm going to the club." " There you are." " I was in Vordingborg." "What's that?" "From Lower Korsbæk." "I'm going to the movies." "When did it come?" "Aren't sir and madam in?" " lt's me." " What do you want?" "To get rid of this." "The paper's disintegrating." "What is it?" "Mrs. Skjern wanted you to have it." "We got the other half." " There isn't any." " Have they eaten so early?" "They haven't eaten at all." "They're out." " I haven't eaten either." " Are you ill?" " No." "But there's nothing to eat." " Come over to us and eat something." "They're kind." "No matter what they say." " I couldn't get anything down." " We also have real coffee." "I can believe that." "So you go home and drink your coffee." " Are you sure you're not coming?" " I'd rather starve." " Hello?" "Anyone home?" " Miss Friis." " I didn't mean to frighten you." " There's no one here." "Only Helle." "But you are here." "And I came to give you this." " It looks like a butcher's shop." " It's half a pig." "From them." " A case." "For me?" " It's for your cheroots." " What else did you get?" " 100 kroner from Mr. Varnæs." " And this ..." " Did you have dinner with my sister?" "No, Agnes came." "And madam met a friend." " So you've eaten here all alone?" " I haven't eaten." "I'd better start on that pig." "There's peace and quiet to do it." "Out of the question." "I haven't eaten either." " Shall I make something?" " No." "Let's go to the Post House." "I've never been there." "Then it's high time you went, after 25 years." " But Helle's asleep." " Where are Ulrik and Regitze?" " They come home from dancing at 8." " That's in 10 minutes." " We'll get them to look after Helle." " You know Regitze won't do that." "Ulrik, then. lt'll be fine, you'll see." "No more excuses." " I can't get into my new shoes." " Wear the old ones." "I'll catch Ulrik." " Wine. lt's really too much." " We're celebrating." "Think of all the nice dinners you've cooked for me." "No, thank you." " The jelly's not home-made." " Don't expect your quality here." " The chicken wasn't fried in butter." " Maybe they don't have stamps." "They do have plenty of sugar stamps." "There's too much of it." "The cook should know that his match is sitting here." " I don't want to sound ungrateful." " You don't." "I complain too, when the music's off key." "I hear you playing in church every Sunday." " Imagine that I should end up there." " Yes, who would have thought?" "When you were with madam ..." "Agnes and I used to say   that you'd probably come back." "Sometimes you have to decide what you want from life." "And then stick to your decision." "Can I ask you a question?" "Wasn't it difficult?" " I felt I could look after myself." " But you were younger." " Not that young. I was 35." " And I'm 50 ..." " You didn't mind I stayed in town?" " As long as you had a nice day." " I dined at the club." " We dined at Terminus." "They'd met a very charming German when they went skiing in Geilo." " He was there too." " Do Germans have time to ski?" "They're not all involved in the war." "He was a bank manager." " What's he doing here?" " Meetings." " Did Laura have a good day?" " Agnes came." "I'll say no more." "She'd brought her child." "He shouted during the ceremony." "Suffer the children to come to me, as the Bible says." " He also ate the Princess's cakes." " He needed it more." " Have you spoken to Laura?" " No, she's probably gone to bed." "I'll just go and see if she got home safely." " Hans Christian?" " Yes?" " What is it, Maude?" " Look at that." " It must be a prize pig." " lt's Laura's medal." "Ulrik must have done that." "How can he do such a thing?" "Poor Laura." " Where did you get it?" " Agnes brought it from the city." " Someone came to warn Herbert." " I didn't understand the banging." " Has something happened?" " Herbert's gone to Sweden." "You'd better read the letter yourself." "It sounds very unlikely." " He'll be back soon." " You think so?" "Who can that be?" "What is all that noise?" "Yes?" " Please excuse me ..." " What time is it?" "Quarter past seven." "Mrs. Møhge called." " What did she want?" " She wanted to get to her safe." " The bank doesn't open until nine." " She says the Germans have come." " Nonsense." " I'm just telling you what she said." " Aunt Møhge talks a lot of nonsense." " Well, she's nearly 100." "We might as well get up." " Yes?" " It's me again." "I think you should see these." "What on earth is this?" "We'd better get up." "Aunt Møhge was right." "... and have landed several places." "Under protest, the Danish government has decided ..." " Shouldn't Ulrik and Regitze hear it?" " They wanted to go to school." "The German troops are acting in connection with the Danish Army." "The population are to refrain from any sort of opposition." "The government will attempt to protect the Danish people   from accidents of war   and requests the public to remain calm under the new conditions." "Law and order must be kept, and loyal behavior must be shown   to all authorities." "Copenhagen, April 9th 1940." "Christian Rex." "Th." "Stauning." "And now a proclamation from His Majesty the King." "ln these difficult circumstances for our nation, I urge everyone ..." " Are you leaving?" " Yes, life has to go on." " Who will go shopping today?" " I must get blackout curtains." "Apart from all the other things people will need." "God save Denmark." "Shouldn't you take Hitler down from the privy wall?" "And Fritz Clausen?" "Nobody goes there but me." " I don't want him hanging there." " Should Mejer be removed too?" "No, you can leave him." "We should have silk stockings again on Friday." " And blackout curtains?" " They're coming before tonight." " Are they blinds?" " Yes." "We'll get cloth later." "Right." "Goodbye." " I was just trying to reach you." " Things look black." " I want to hear if ..." " Excuse me." "Tell them we must have the last ones by Saturday." "Blackout curtains." " Yes, new things to think about." " That's why I wanted to see you." " Can you drop everything else?" " I've just got through my pile ..." "Excellent." "I'll need you for at least two weeks." "Probably longer." "You're going to travel around the country to make contracts." "For flax." "To systemize the deliveries." "I buy the flax and then the mills can process it." "They have to keep going." " Doesn't flax need ... scutching?" " Yes, that's another thing." "You can arrange the papers on the way." "To buy a scutching mill." " When is this to be?" " Now." "No time like the present." "Before others get the same idea." "I wanted to ask you if you could do without me for a few weeks." "They say you can still get to Sweden." "I want to go on to Switzerland." "But it's a private matter." " I presume it's Mrs. Graae?" " Yes, she is down there." " l want to help her to come home." " She can arrange her own transport." " It means a lot to me." " You are working for me." "If our agreement is to continue, you'll have to take on this task." " At such short notice?" " lt's the times." "Sørensen's already in Copenhagen." "I expect him back any moment   with a list of all the agricultural consultants." "You'll visit them, in order to contact every farmer who can grow flax." "If they have an offer already, you bid more, within reason." " You'll get a percentage." " Can't it be put off for three days?" " I'll be flying to Switzerland ..." " It can't." "Here's the address of the scutching mills." "You can call me tomorrow." "I have to go." "There's a lot of work to do." "I'll call, then." " Good luck." "For your sake, too." " Thank you." "Mrs. Graae probably prefers to stay in Switzerland, the way things are." "Thank you. lt's lucky we can't see them when the curtains are drawn." " I think Laura has coffee ready." " Yes, it's in the pot." "I hope he doesn't fall off all those ladders." " I'd like a word with you." " It's not Miss Hollenberg again?" "No, it's me." " I'm leaving in May." " What did you say?" " I've been thinking about it a lot." " But you've always been here ..." "How will you settle down in another house?" " No, I said that to myself as well." " But you have to live." " l want to be a party cook." " What are we going to do?" "You can always get a cook from a good family, like Miss Hollenberg." "She gave notice?" "Today?" "Mama's right." "It never rains, it pours." "Where are we going to get a cook like Laura?" "And today of all days." " I understand that she wants to try." " But today?" "After that beautiful ceremony yesterday." "The Reverend spoke so nicely about Paul's letter to the Ephesians ..." " Paul wrote piles of letters." " Well, this was true." "About not letting yourself be snared by fraudulent demands." "I know the Rev. Arreslev." "He's not one of the Lord's chosen ones." "He has confirmed several children from the Royal Family." "He can be a bonehead all the same." " Misse!" "Are you going on a trip?" " No." "It's something else." "Mother has been to her safe." "Yes, she called about it this morning." "Now she wants to bury everything." "The silver, the jewelry." "And the bonds." "We tried to find a place in the park." "But there were too many people." "And now ..." "Now she demands that I bury everything in your garden." "In our garden?" "Have people gone crazy?" "Mother's family always buried everything when the Germans came." "And now she says we must buy kerosene and dried cod." " Why kerosene and dried cod?" " She did the same before W.W. I." "We had 50 kilos of dried cod when the war ended. I threw it away." "If you had kept it, you would have had it today." " This is hardly a day for jokes." " Sorry." "It was gallows-humor." "Come, Misse, I'll help you bury it." " Aren't we going to the garden?" " No, this way." " l have never lied to Mother." " There's a first time for everything." "And if you ask me, today is particularly suitable." "We won't see my husband before late this evening." " As long as I can be here a while." " Can I offer you anything?" "We both know that this is terrible." " But for me it could be even worse." " Won't you sit down?" "My great-grandparents were German." "My mother was German." "I always thought it wouldn't come to this, but ..." "Now it's as if I'm related to a bunch of criminals l have to see every day." " Do you understand?" " Yes, but you're not to blame." "I kept telling myself that there are nice Germans." "Germans who read literature, who listen to great music   and despise this little ... corporal." "It must be the majority." "We will hear from them sooner or later." "You can call it self-deception." "My wife ..." "Her sister is married in Germany." "She can't face the facts." "She thinks they'll be gone next week." "She can't understand that ignorant people can have power." "I may be better to have that faith on a day like this." "Yes, for oneself. I can't speak to her." "She goes off for a ride on her horse, like this morning." "She didn't even listen to the news." "All day she's been reading ..." "Racine." " I'm reading Racine as well." " But you deduce different things." "I've never met anyone as alive as you." " l hardly say a word ..." " But you listen, Mrs. Skjern." "I have a feeling you'd like to stay for dinner. I'll just tell them." "Hello." " Have you closed the business?" " No, I've rented premises." "From the sailor." "He's stranded in Hull, England." " Who told you that?" " Mrs. Larsen." "The shipping company told her." "After all, she owns the house." " How much do you have to pay?" " The same as him: 30 kroner." " You can't do that without asking!" " As you can see, I can." " I've hired Marie to help." " What does Fatty say?" " He doesn't know." " Laura's moving into the little room." " For 10 kroner a month." " Why?" " She quit her job." " She's going to be a party cook." "I could use one, since my wife has been seized by avarice." "Mrs. Larsen said they came to ask about Herbert." "There too?" "It's a good thing he got away." "Yes." "He can't stay here thanks to your friends." "Weren't you at that rally?" "You said it was fine. lsn't that true, Marie?" " I don't get involved in politics." " You don't know what it's about!" "Since you do, why don't you pay for the blackout curtains?" " I'm so sad that Herbert had to go." " Maybe Lauritz is, too." "Katrine wanted me to take him down." "Mussolini and Fritz Clausen, too." "They don't understand." "Just look at that 'procalmation'." "As if they'd never been to school." "Mussolini and Clausen went down." "And I took this guy off the wall, but then Mejer seemed so lonely." "I've had him on my privy wall since Ingeborg got married the first time." "What does your son-in-law say to that?" "Maybe that's why he persuaded Katrine to have a toilet put in." "So he didn't have to look at the Dean." "Katrine doesn't care about the Dean." "But she wanted him taken down now. I tricked them both." " How?" " I nailed him to the inside of the lid." " Shouldn't you sit with your allies?" " Like Agnes, you don't get a thing." "No." "Do you?" "We kept hoping that Laura would change her mind." " It's so ungrateful." " After you got her the medal." " This bun is not home-made." " Yrsa is not a trained cook." "Yrsa?" "She used to be with Iben." "Cooks muck." " Didn't your daughter train her?" " Iben is an even worse cook." " But she's married." " She should get a good cook." " They don't grow on trees." " No." "Or they run off." "There should be a law against it." "Leaving your job." "Yes, they should stay for a year at least." "For their own sake." "The Housewives' League works for that." " I read your letter to Parliament." " We need compulsory service." "Where would we be, if a wife couldn't get help to learn to run her house?" "But the one with the veil, you'll keep her?" " Yes, she takes care of Helle." " How is the little sweetie-pie?" "She had her second birthday." "ls she as clever as the other two?" "Ulrik was an exceptional child." "He talked when he was 1 1 years." "We don't think Helle talks as well." "She mostly says yes, yes and no, no." " Don't be unfair to her." " Have you heard other things?" " Yes." "Good grief." " There's a gentleman." "Ladies ..." "You were so kind as to invite me." "So here I am." "You said you were a bank manager." "Before ... that day." "My apologies. I couldn't present myself as an officer then." " Sigmund Holz." " Elisabeth Friis." "Please follow me." " Will he be quartered here, Misse?" " No, Mother." "I met him through friends." "He said he was a bank manager." "That was before we were occupied." " What is that?" " From the German." "Take them away!" "He's gone now." "He was extremely charming." "Yes, they are polite." "So was Heinrich, Iben's fiancé." "Now we know what he was doing in Norway and Copenhagen." "And I told him visitors could call on Tuesdays." "He didn't even understand that he wasn't welcome." " Was it nice out there?" " What do you think?" "ln a hut on the Strip, with Mother." "I'm not doing that again." "Your father will probably build a better house next year." "One?" "Twenty." "He's developing all of Jørgen Varnæs's plot." " They'll be like sardines in a can." " Anyone home?" " Oh, no." "She's in the hall now." " Is Viggo here?" " Should he be?" " He's supposed to meet me here." " Maybe he found another woman." " Viggo?" "I'm enough for him." "Any coffee?" "Of course. I'll get a cup." " I got it." " What?" " Everything's hidden, right?" " Your head anyway." "It supports and shapes, as Miss Jørgensen says ..." "Duckie!" "Happiness on earth!" "Are you going to war in that armor?" " It's my new Spirella corset." " It looks like it was built in a dock." "You can roll it down now and shut up while I tell a fairy tale." "They have leased everything:" "The buildings, the garage." " Who?" " The Germans." "For their car fleet." "The Consortium can set the rent." "It'll be a fortune." "We can pay the whole thing." " Where do they get all that money?" " I guess they print it themselves." " Is it you?" " Yes, it went on till late." " Why aren't you in bed?" " Lauritz is at a meeting. I'm working." " Would you like a cup of coffee?" " Yes, please." "The price of coffee stamps has doubled." "Mrs. Didriksen uses a quarter of coffee and the rest substitute." "Imagine serving that to visitors." "And what a kitchen." " I wasn't to use any butter." " They eat butter when they're alone." "Then they shouldn't invite people for dinner." "At least the Varnæs family were not mean." "And they didn't meddle." "That's how you recognize a real lady." "Then tell them you won't stand for it." "Mrs. Holm wanted to teach me how to make a hollandaise." "With flour!" "Not to mention Mrs. Strøm." "I thought they were upper-class ..." " But what?" " My lips are sealed." " Oh, come on." " You should see their gas oven." "And there were only two embossed towers on the back of their silver." " The guests don't see such things." " No, exactly." "But I do." "Was the invitation for dinner?" "I forgot to ask." "Stein said the mayor wanted to see us at the Post House." " But he's a Social Democrat." " Stein said it was about a charity." "But during a vacation ..." "He should know that I am in the summer house." "He doesn't know our habits." "Hurry up, Maude." "All right." "I have to look civilized when I've just come from the country." " What is that?" "Community singing?" " It's our neighbor's 50th birthday." " Shall we take the bikes?" " I just cycled six kilometers." " And I'm all dressed up." " We have to hurry." "The mayor won't be that particular." "They say he's a printer." "We can be correct all the same, when he wants to see us for dinner." "We're supposed to meet the mayor." "He must have booked a table." " I think it's the meeting in the hall." " Are there more than us?" "They've laid the table for coffee for about 50 people." " Coffee?" " Yes, with sponge cake." " You got our message?" " The bank called the summer house." " You're on the Strip." " For another week." "This is my wife." " We knew your predecessor." " Yes, he was from your party." "This way, please." "The chairmen of the organizations are here." "But we also need money men." "I've saved a couple of chairs." " Good evening, Mr. Varnæs." " Good evening, Mr. Skjern." "This is Mr. Skjern and his wife." " What is it about?" " Charity, says Viggo." "Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Korsbæk, I bid you welcome." "In these difficult times, a group of elected officials and chairmen   have taken this initiative to protect our national values,   and our town with its lovely surroundings." "Also to teach young people about these values,   so young and old alike can stand united as true Korsbækians." "Shoulder to shoulder, we will guard what no one can take away from us:" "Our countryside and our cultural heritage." "We should also look after the health of our children and youngsters." "For we build our future on them." "So we have invited citizens from the associations and business,   to urge everyone to pull together with regard to our proposed project." "It will take sacrifices, not only from the gentlemen,   but also from the ladies, whose bazaars and handiwork have proved   that they can collect money." "Let me reveal now that this is about the foundation of a pleasure park:" "Korsbæk Pleasure Park." "Where old and young can meet,   and where our sports people can do as they please." "Hear, hear!" "It's nice to sense your good will." "One of our town's, I might say,   most active businessmen has already promised his support." "I expect his example to be followed." "But before we reveal our plans,   let's sing one of our Danish songs:" ""l Love The Green Groves"." "Could anything be more appropriate on this occasion?" "It's number 85." " Mr. Skjern is in the hall." " Yes, and I'm here." "Two beers, and two plates with three sandwiches." "What would you like?" "I'll get the menu." "What's the meeting about?" "I heard it was about a pleasure park." "Well, I think we're ready to reveal our plans on this poster,   which was made by the council architect and the municipal gardener." "The area will be familiar to some, who have summer houses there." "Mr. Strøm, Mr. Holm , Mr. Skjold Hansen, the Varnæs family," " Mr. Skjern." "And here ..." "Here, thanks to a generous offer from Mr. Lorentz Andersen,   we can have the pleasure park, a short bike ride from central Korsbæk." " That's the Strip!" " Nothing will grow there anyway." "Here the bandstand, here the sports club and the children's summer camp." " You can study the map closer." " Did you know it was on the Strip?" " No." " Yes, Mr. Skjold Hansen?" "Why must the park be there, down to the fjord?" " The water is dirty." " A very good question." "We now get to the next point, which concerns all at my table." "We plan to make public footpaths here and here,   to give Korsbæk's citizens and the children of summer camp   access to the sandy beach on the Sound." " It goes past our land!" " May I?" " All the plots have private beaches." " We plan to cancel that provision." "You can't do that without the consent from the owners." "Why don't you speak up?" "Must we have all sorts of people on our beach?" "With all due respect, Mr. Mayor, why must the pleasure park be there?" " And not at Molefield House?" " Because there's no proper road." "Just an old sunken road that can't take the traffic." " May I?" " Certainly, Mr. Skjern." "Thank you." "And a schnapps." "Those flax contracts need washing down." " And two liqueurs for the ladies." " Two more." "He doesn't like us to come here without our gentlemen." " Aren't I a gentleman?" " We've often wondered about that." " Maude, won't you sit over here?" " No, I'm waiting for Hans Christian." " That's that." " They certainly got their money out." "Well, we got the road to Molefield House paid for." "A most amusing evening, Knudsen." "You can't just go." "What will people think?" "Am I supposed to listen to how we lose our private beach?" " We got the pleasure park moved." " Yes." "Thanks to Mads Skjern!" "You could learn something from him, instead of just sitting there ..." " I'm tired." "And the danger's over." " You did hear Mrs. Skjold Hansen?" "The German car fleet is going to be moved into the garage." " That didn't make me less tired!" " All thanks to your useless brother!" " You should have seen him." " Maude, there's Laura." "Yes, I've been cooking." " Good evening, Laura." " Fancy meeting you here." " How are you?" " Fine, thank you." "I hear you're in demand." "That's no surprise." " How are things at home?" " Well, we're not hungry." "My wife has begun to try her hand in the kitchen." " Oh, God." "It's the bomb alert." " It had to come some time." "Let's go into our basement." "Quickly." "Thank God the children are on the Strip." " Laura can break in our shelter." " Don't switch the light on!" "Laura?" "This way." "There you are." "Come in." "Sit down, Laura." " It's not so bad here." " No." "Unless the house collapses." " We used to have jam jars here." " We won't get much jam anymore." "We'll have to see that we're invited out, so we can enjoy Laura's cooking." " The food at Mr. Strøm's was nice." " It wasn't easy." " There was much they didn't have." " Really?" "There was plenty." " They all have enough flour." " Well, after all, food is rationed." " We'll all have to live with that." " Not even the pots were all right." "But otherwise you enjoy freedom?" " Yes. I wanted it myself." " Yes, you did." "We're managing too, aren't we, Maude?" " Yes ..." " But now we're here." " What if I got some supper?" " What if a bomb drops?" "I'll risk my life for a salami sandwich." "You mustn't make your own food." "I'll do it." "I'll go and draw the curtains first." " Glasses." " In the cupboard on the right." "Back to the cave." "Come on, Laura." " What's the matter?" " I'm just a little tired." "We'd always be happy to have you back." " I don't know ..." "When?" " Whenever it suits you." "Have finished your phone calls?" "Then you can start on the pots." "They haven't been scoured since I left." "It looks like things are going fine here." " Look what I found in my pocket." " Oh, that." "I only discovered it today." "You didn't think it had been lost?" "I haven't thought about it at all." " Well, here it is." " Thank you."