"Denmark's new PM is a dynamic one." "Happy marriages are uncommon here." "We don't master the art of compromise when it comes to our private lives." "What's going on?" "The best thing that ever happened to me is what you and I used to share." "But I don't want this to be what we remember." "I want a divorce." "You let the PM's spin doctor edit a news story." "You don't give a shit about the free press." "I quit!" "Labour is going to put the squeeze on you now." " What's your advice?" " Give them what they want." " They want the Ministry of Finance." " You don't have to give it to them." "I need you to resign." "This is why I left you." "You only care about your priorities and secrets." " I have no secrets." " That's all you've got." " I did what I had to do." " That's a PM's job." ""War is just when it is necessary."" " Machiavelli" "11 MONTHS LATER" " This is our most advanced post." " Out there the Taliban's in charge?" "We like to think we're in charge." "But the Taliban is out there." " Your last engagement was in April." " Yes." "It's been quiet for some time." "Thank God." "The PM will give a speech in ten minutes." "She will take questions from the press afterwards." " What the hell are you doing here?" " Embedded press." " Special treatment for the Express?" " I asked nicely." "I hear you're Laugesen's new star reporter." " What's the PM telling the soldiers?" " "Great job." "You're going home."" "In return, the army gives her a small coin." " Are you going home with the rest?" " This is Kalle, my cameraman." "We're staying a week to gain insight in the soldiers' everyday life." " So you're a war correspondent now?" " They say it's peaceful here." " Long time." " Yeah." "You're dating Lotte Ǻgård, the communications advisor?" " I love her blog." " Thanks." " Welcome to Afghanistan." " Thanks." "1 st division is heading out on patrol." " Nicholas." " Hello, Nicholas." "Excuse me, could I get a picture of me with the PM?" "We're heading out on patrol, so I'm going to miss your speech." "Babes are a rare sight down here   so I'm not going to miss the opportunity." "And another." " That's enough, Hedegård." " Have a good trip." " Have a safe journey." " You too." "Damn, that's good." "I'm very grateful that you put yourselves on the line   in order to promote peace and democracy here in Afghanistan." "You should be proud of your results." "Parliament will come to a decision on our engagement in Afghanistan soon." "I'm convinced we're going to withdraw our troops very soon." "In other words, I expect your mission here to be over soon." "On behalf of Denmark I thank you for your invaluable contribution." "It won't be forgotten, neither here nor back in Denmark." " That didn't go down well." " We do as the politicians say." "Period." " But you have your own opinions?" " We keep them to ourselves." "I've lost four young soldiers." "That's four too many." "The patrol that just left is under heavy fire." "Two wounded soldiers are coming in." "Hostile activity throughout the area." "The PM and the Defence Minister will be flown out now." "Kalle?" "Incoming wounded soldiers." "We want pictures." " Will they let us?" " They have to." "Katrine!" "We're flying out now." "We have room for you." "Coming?" " We're staying." " It's dangerous." "How do you think Laugesen will react, if I bail now?" "Bring this hard drive home, just in case." "See you in Copenhagen." " Two trauma patients." " Gunshot wound." "Lower abdomen." "And a gunshot wound in the neck." "Rapid, laboured breathing." "Get them stabilised." " What's the press doing here?" " We have permission." "Doc, come here." " We need to stop the bleeding." " Two more incoming." "Contact the field hospital." "He's dying, for fuck's sake!" "Episode 11 89,000 Children" "Yes, of course." "English, German and American camps were all attacked simultaneously." "Several casualties." "It looks planned." " Why now?" " The Taliban monitor the troops." "They know we want to withdraw them." "Their attacks make it look as if they've got us on the run   which would be a moral victory to the Taliban." "That's why I opposed any talk of withdrawal at this time." "Excuse me." "Lotte, it's me." "The camp was attacked   but we're on our way home." "I'm going to sleep at my place." "Call you tomorrow." "We don't know the scope of the Taliban offensive   but two Danish patrols were attacked simultaneously   in areas considered to be relatively peaceful." "Katrine Fønsmark, the Express." "Afghanistan." "That was the American Secretary of State." "The Americans want us to postpone the withdrawal." "I told him we have a cabinet meeting tomorrow." "Our aim is to withdraw the troops and put the Afghans in charge." "This proves they aren't ready for that responsibility." " Hello." " A press conference has top priority." "One of our soldiers is dead." "No." "How did it happen?" "Have you informed his family?" "Good." "Okay." "Thanks." "Another four soldiers died in battle in the upper Gereshk Valley." "Five casualties in one day." "It's unprecedented." "We need to discuss what to tell the press." "I'll ask the Defence Staff to meet us at the airport." "We need to get those soldiers home now." "Look." " You work for the Express, right?" " Yes." "Katrine Fønsmark." "Thomas Hald." "What's your angle on this?" "I don't know yet." "We've never had this many casualties in one day." "But our men are aware of the risk." "I won't interfere with your angle   but if you make them out to be innocent victims, people will be hurt." "A dead soldier is more than just that." "He's someone's son, brother, father." "All people who are proud of them." " Is that for their families?" " Yes." "We ask them to write a goodbye letter, and we send it home, if they die." " Think of them when you write it." " Of course." "Promise me to think of them." "WELCOME HOME, MUM" "I think she's still asleep." " She's not there." " Okay." "Get your gym clothes." " Good morning." " Did you sleep in my room?" "Hi." "We just stopped by for his gym clothes." "I just saw the news." "Rough trip, huh?" "What's this?" "A present I got in Afghanistan." "It's a coin dating back to Alexander the Great." "A famous king from before Jesus' time." "This coin was found in the area where I was yesterday." " Cool." " Nice." " Magnus, find your gym clothes." " It was a terrible trip." " Did you sign the papers?" " What papers?" "The divorce papers." "You need to fill them out." "I'm really sorry, Philip." "I don't remember where I put them." "Maybe they're at the office." " Coffee?" " No." "I just want those papers." "I moved out ten months ago." "I need you to buy my share of the house." "Send a new batch to the office, and I promise to sign them." " I need them later this week." " You'll get them." "Magnus, coming?" " Have a great day, sweetie." " See you, Mum." " Bye." " I'll send the papers over." "Bye." "Birgitte Nyborg landed this morning after her trip to Afghanistan." "A Taliban offensive forced the PM to leave   the Helmand Province and fly home." "So far five Danish soldiers have been killed in the fiercest battles so far." "Torben Friis." "What situation does this put Birgitte Nyborg in now?" "Probably her most difficult situation up till now." "She's rescinded the Afghanistan agreement." "The opposition is furious." "This leaves Denmark's participation in the war unresolved." "So Nyborg needs to decide whether to withdraw the troops?" "She's faced with the largest casualty figures " " Denmark has seen in one day." "As PM she has to support the war effort   even though she's opposed it from the very start." " Good morning." " Want to go over the PM's schedule?" "You can say "your" schedule, Jytte." "Cross out everything but Afghanistan." "At 9:15 a.m. The PM..." "You are meeting with the cabinet parties and the Defence Minister." "I summoned the Minister for Europe, Jacob Kruse, too." "Then a quick press briefing..." "When will the American Secretary of State call us?" "The day after tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. The Afghan NGOs called." " They want a meeting with you." " NGO?" " A non-governmental organisation." " I know what it is." " How about after the Secretary's call?" " I'll squeeze them in." "Why waste time on a group of Afghan NGOs right now?" " We have five dead soldiers here." " I don't need reminding." " See you in a couple of minutes." " Oh yes." "You just spoke to your colleagues." "Spain and Italy are still in favour of a withdrawal soon." "The attack didn't change anyone's attitude." "Well, Spain and Italy are the weakest countries in the coalition." "Their contribution is small." "Denmark has paid a steep price." "Our withdrawal will be understood." "Our job there is done." "The latest Taliban attack proves you wrong." "The US is asking us to stay there." " Stay?" " It's not for the Greens to decide." "There's a majority in favour of withdrawal." "Labour doesn't want us to withdraw until the strategic position is right." " What does the Defence Chief think?" " The military do as they're told." "They must have an opinion based on the strategic situation." "They don't want to withdraw from an enemy they think they can beat." "This isn't a Clint Eastwood movie." "We've been down there ten years." "We succeeded the Russians." "Maybe you just can't win in Afghanistan." "I'm going to tell the press that we believe in a speedy withdrawal." "We're doing everything to avoid further casualties." "Don't say that." "The press will use it against you in case of future losses." "We agree on the withdrawal, and we'll try to get everyone home safely." "But we don't agree on that." "We still want the withdrawal, but we're following the situation closely." "Thank you, gentlemen." "Change your shirt." "We're at war." "Wear something black and buttoned up." "The cabinet is aware of the situation in Afghanistan   and the reality of life facing our soldiers." "What if the US asks us to step up the Danish effort?" "I don't answer hypothetical questions." "My primary consideration is the safety of our soldiers   and to lay the foundation   for the Afghans to take control of their own country." " Birgitte..." " Thank you so much." " Beautiful." " Hey." "It's so good to see you." "You've been on my mind constantly." "We lost five men the same day." "It's insane." "Many of those we talked to may be dead now." " How was your day?" " Uneventful compared to yours." "I've advised an insurance company on how to communicate higher prices   without losing clients." "I've advised the PM on   how to communicate a higher casualty figure to the voters." "And I've bought oysters and champagne to celebrate your homecoming." " Did you buy an oyster knife, too?" " Nope." "It's in the top drawer." "I lack everything necessary to a decent household." "When you move in here, you'll have it all." " Is the PM going to help you move?" " No." "I don't have a lot of stuff." " Don't we have to rent a van?" " I have a furnished apartment." "Lotte, I've got two suitcases and a crate, and that's it." "Okay." "Not a whole lot." "Most of my stuff is in storage in the South of France." "I do need to get it, but after my Dad died..." " No, I really should go get it." " Hey..." "It's okay." "I didn't mean to pry." " Are we jumping the gun here?" " No." "You're the most beautiful woman in the world." "You have to call this guy." "Bye, Magnus." "I washed your new big towel and put it in the bathroom." "Great, Anne." "See you tomorrow." "Isn't it about time we withdrew the troops from Afghanistan?" "The PM and her party are in favour of withdrawal   but the Afghans aren't ready to take control of the country." "In two years the Afghans can take over the Helmand Province." "When I was PM, we proposed to send down Leopard tanks." "Nyborg rejected that proposal, and now five Danish soldiers are dead." "Don't you pin this on me!" " Hi." " Hi, sweetie." "Where have you been?" " Skating." " You forgot your skates." "I borrowed some off Rebecca." "When's dinner?" " I thought I'd order a take-away." " Count me out then." " What do you want?" " A home-cooked meal." " I haven't had the time for that." " No." "I'll make us a home-cooked meal tomorrow." "Magnus." "You want no. 5?" " No, no. 7." " Okay." "What about the hard drive I gave Kasper Juul?" "I sent him a text." "He's going to bring it over tonight." "Hi, sweetie." " Hi, Helle." " Rough trip?" "They sent us home because they couldn't guarantee our safety." "There you are." "You look good in green, Katrine." " Want to see some pictures?" " Hell yes." "That's good." "What have you got for us?" "We were there when the wounded came in." "I'd like to focus on the first soldier to die   and contact his family." "Did you clear the pictures?" "Good idea, but keep it simple." "Headline: "Birgitte Nyborg hesitates." "Soldiers die."" " I'd rather do a feature." " Let's do both." " You're going to blame the PM?" " She's paralysed." "Stuck in the pacifist PC policies of the Greens and her own Moderates." " She hasn't got the balls for a war." " You can write that in your editorial." "Cool, but I want your news article to back me up." "Welcome home alive." ""Nyborg hesitates." "Soldiers die."" "BIRGITTE NYBORG HESITATES SOLDIERS DIE" "I promise I didn't sneak a peek." "They sent us home 12 hours after you." "You had me worried." "Did you get enough for a story?" "Not the one I intended, but Laugesen had a few good pointers." "I bet he's blaming Birgitte for all the evils of the world." "Oh, come on." " Don't tell me you're blaming the PM?" " I can't discuss it with you." "That's the most simplified angle imaginable." "Didn't you resign from TV1 because you didn't want to be Friis' puppet?" " Now Laugesen's wielding your pen." " No, you're trying to wield my pen." " I just did you a favour." " Yeah, thank you for everything." "I've got a deadline." "Go home instead of manipulating the free press." "You're not part of the free press as long as you work for Laugesen." "And you know it." "BIRGITTE NYBORG HESITATES SOLDIERS DIE" "It's fine." "The American Secretary of State is on the line in a minute." "The latest memo from the Ministry of Defence is in the green file." "She's got a handle on it." "Yes, and her lacking sense of humour is a relief." "No need to waste time on such nonsense." " Mr. Secretary of State." " Thank you for taking the time." "I talked to your Minister of Defence yesterday." "He told me you were trying to find a way around the withdrawal." "Get the Minister of Defence for me." "He promised the US our support." "Another three soldiers died this morning." "Eight soldiers in two days." "It's a nightmare." " Did you get him?" " I can't get through." "What the hell's going on?" "Thorsen's testing you." "He's the army's man." "This isn't Labour policy." " Marrot backs Thorsen up." " Thorsen's stronger than Marrot." "Why can't that man keep his troops in line?" "We need to maintain a high level of information." "No cover-ups." "We must present a plan soon, or we'll look paralysed." "You have an appointment with the Afghan NGOs in half an hour." " Do you want me to cancel?" " No." " Tell us what you've got." " Nothing." "Christ!" "I can't write something I don't believe in." " I need to whip something up then." " Artists!" " What can you write?" " The story about Andreas Hedegård." "He was 23." "This young Danish guy was gunned down in a ditch in Afghanistan." " Calm down, Michael." " Okay, tell me the sob story." "Andreas wrote a goodbye letter to his dad." "I want to get a chance to read it." "Most soldiers write one, and they're sent to their families if they die." "I want his dad's permission to print it." "If you can get that letter, it could be a great story." "Can you get someone else to write about our paralysed PM?" "Hi." "I'm looking for Jørgen Hedegård." " That's me." " Katrine Fønsmark." "I called several times." "I met your son in Afghanistan." "I'm very sorry." "I talked to some of Andreas's friends." "Can you spare a couple of minutes?" "Yes." "Let's go in here." "I'd like to interview you and do a story on Andreas." "About the kind of man he was, and why he went to Afghanistan." " I don't know." " Why he went to Afghanistan?" "I don't know why." "I told him not to." " You didn't want him to go?" " No." "But he wouldn't listen." "I told him to come home." "He wouldn't do that either." "I don't have time for this." " Did you get his goodbye letter?" " I did." " What did it say?" " Excuse me?" " Can I read the letter?" " No." " Are you sure?" " I haven't read it." "I don't want to." "That's all I have to say to you." "I'd like to explain your situation to my readers." " I want you to leave." " I understand..." "I want you to leave now." "Thank you for your time." "You can write that I'm falling apart." "I despise that senseless war." "And no words and no letters in the whole world can change that." "Why does Kruse have to tell me you changed your stand on Afghanistan?" "I just happened to mention it to him." "We can't pull out now." "The Moderates have always opposed any participation in armed conflicts." "And it's a beautiful principle, but it's outdated." " Oh, so war's in now?" " No." "Sometimes war is inevitable." "I met with a female Afghan paediatrician today." "She exemplified the significance of the international effort." " Sure, just one element among many." " Could be a hoax." "Well-rehearsed stories served up for impressionable Western politicians." "I inherited this war from Hesselboe." "I never liked it." "But it toppled the Taliban, and that's a good thing." "I want the Taliban toppled through democratic means." "Yes, but how?" "How do you topple a dictatorship through democratic means?" "Not by turning ourselves into an occupying power." "I want out of Afghanistan as soon as possible." "But we can't withdraw until the situation is stable." "When in the last 2,000 years has the situation in Afghanistan been stable?" "The Taliban stoned women to death in public ten years ago." "In Saudi Arabia they chop off people's heads, but we have an embassy there." "What are you going to tell the Soldiers' Relatives Association?" "They're appalled at the losses." "They trust the PM to do what she said she'd do." " To withdraw our soldiers." " I don't know yet." " What about Amir and the Greens?" " I'm going to find out." " When did you stop listening?" " I didn't." "But I make the decisions." "Yes." "Your husband sent some papers for you to sign." " Leave them on the table." " He was very insistent." "Just get me that photographer in 15 minutes." " How's your story coming along?" " It's getting there." " Let me hear." " It's not done." ""The senseless war."" ""In his office, car salesman Jørgen Hedegård   is looking at the goodbye letter his son wrote."" ""But he's afraid to read it."" "Great." "And you have the letter, I take it?" "No." "He hasn't even read it." "He's in denial." "You can't write about the letter without featuring it." " We can't work with denial." " I'm not a psychologist." "A good reporter is everything." "That letter is your angle." " He won't let me read it." " Lean on him." "Laugesen's counting on that letter." "I'm off to the PM's press conference." "She's changing her policy in Afghanistan." "Get that letter." "Talk to you later." "In light of recent events, the cabinet is unresolved as to a withdrawal." "Danish forces will focus on stabilising the situation." "Good." "Are Hesselboe and the Liberals going to vote for the bill?" "Hesselboe is eager to end all talk of withdrawal." "Why did you change your stand?" "It's too dangerous to pull out now." "It will put the soldiers at risk." "Just say it's risky to pull out during an attack." "Be precise, serious, sharp." " What do you want?" " I think you should read the letter." "Maybe it will help you understand your son." "Why he did what he did." "My son died in a completely senseless war." "That's all I need to understand." "I just thought reading it might clarify things for you   and give you closure." "Closure?" "You think I need to close this down?" "No, that came out wrong." "I still think you ought to read the letter." "It's your son's last words, and he wrote them to you." "The Liberals' media adviser says Hesselboe wants to talk to you." "Just you and him at the Riding Grounds." " What does he want?" " He wouldn't say." "Your husband wants to know if you signed the papers." "Not now, Jytte." "I saw your press conference." "I think you got me wrong." "Meaning?" "We won't let the Danish forces stay in Afghanistan as if nothing's changed." "Meaning?" "I'm afraid you don't have the majority you just told the press you had." "The Solidarity Party is opposed to prolonging our engagement." "But you just said on the phone..." "We oppose a withdrawal, but I'm not going to vote for just any old bill." "Don't our soldiers deserve our joint support?" "Yes, but they need heavier arms, and you won't deliver." "We don't want to escalate things." "You leftists are so afraid of tainting your reputation   that you'd rather let our soldiers down than act responsibly." "You pulled this stunt in order to make me out to be paralysed." "Just withdraw the soldiers." "You're a good politician   but you can't lead a country at war." "Your withdrawal in the press won't hurt as much as on the battlefield." "Hesselboe is a cunning son of a bitch." "Unfair, but cunning." "He makes you change your policy, and then he withdraws his support." "What are my options?" "Bent would ask me that now." " Why don't you talk to him?" " I tried." "We just can't talk about this." "It's as if he's stuck in the party of yesteryear." "Kasper, what are my options?" "You have three." "1." "Stand fast." "You can't." "2." "Withdraw the troops." "You don't want to." "3." "Increase our effort with more men and more equipment." " I don't want to escalate the war." " In that case you don't have a choice." "You're caught between a rock and a hard place." "Withdraw the troops." " You've been wanting to all along." " And it's what everyone expects." "Little Miss PC, always doing the right thing." " Can we talk?" " Sure." "I haven't got that story on the dead soldier for you." "How much do I pay you?" "DKK60,000 a month plus free lunch and a pension." "What do I get in return?" "You asked for a heavy story." "So I sent you to Afghanistan, and then you wouldn't write the story." "Let me finish!" "You want to write a sob story." "So you start writing about dead soldiers, goodbye letters and parents." "And now you tell me I don't have a story for my paper tomorrow." "It was absurd to blame Nyborg for the death of those soldiers." "But no one says so because they're afraid to get fired." " Was that a request?" " No." "Get a grip, will you?" "Just write the story I asked for." "The Soldiers' Relatives Association is seeing the PM tomorrow." "Easy job." "That's all for now." "Have fun." "Hi, Philip." "Come in." " Something smells good." " Laura wanted a home-cooked meal." " And then she ate at Rebecca's." " That's life." " Want some?" " No, I just came for the papers." " Damn, I'm sorry." " Oh, come on, Birgitte!" "I totally forgot." "I see." "Look..." "I'm stuck in my rented apartment, until you buy me out." " I know." "It's not fair." " Can I pick them up at your office?" " Did you sign them?" " Yes." " Tell the guard I'm coming." " I can't." " What?" " I didn't sign them." " Why not?" " Because I..." "Because I don't want to divorce you." "I can't take anymore." "I'm at war at the office." "I'm at war at home." "I want you to be my husband." "I don't want to get a divorce." "Sometimes we have do to things even though we don't want to." "Okay?" "I want pictures of the parents." "Is the association only for relatives of dead soldiers?" "No, for everyone related to soldiers abroad." "What happened to the story from the camp?" "It turned out I didn't have one." "Let's get to work." "You're not meeting with the soldiers' relatives after all." " Kasper told me to cancel." " Why?" "I'm trying to protect you." "The parents feel impotent   and they blame you." "And the press is out there." "But they're expecting me to come." "Thanks, Jytte." "The PM always has a good reason." " Shall we?" " How long are they staying?" "An hour." "Where are you going?" "Birgitte." "The cabinet is paralysed." "Don't expect her to show up." " You don't want to do this." " I have to." "We don't want to risk any more losses." "We just want to find the right time to pull out." "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." "I'd like to explain to you the cabinet's considerations." "You had your picture taken with my son on the day he died." "Andreas was always a wild one." "Well, maybe not wild." "Restless." "The way young people are when they think life never ends   and that they're untouchable." "All this soldier stuff..." "I didn't understand what made him choose   to go all the way down there to fight someone else's battle." "I didn't understand." "And I still don't." "Andreas is more into cars and girls   and video games, you know?" "To fight a completely senseless war..." " This is his goodbye letter." " What does it say?" ""Dear Dad." "If you're reading this letter   it means I'm dead." "I'm sorry." "I came looking for adventure." "I'm still just a happy-go-lucky kid, and that's why I came down here." "But you know that." "Yesterday I read on the Internet   that 89,000 more Afghan children a year survive   since the Taliban was removed." "Schools and hospitals are being built." "Many are destroyed, but some are still standing." "89,000 children." "I guess that's what makes our effort worthwhile." "You're right about the senselessness of war, but 89,000 children..." "That makes sense to me."" " I'm sorry." " Don't be." "I never saw your story blaming the PM." " I never wanted to write that story." " What story did you want to write?" "It doesn't matter." "Excuse me." "I'm really sorry for pushing you so hard." "Go ahead and write your story." "Maybe there's some sense to it all." "What a crazy story." "Hey!" "Two bottles of wine." "New style?" "It's called for today." " Cheers, Kasper." " Cheers, Katrine." "Katrine?" " You called me Katrine." " I don't think so." " You did, honey." " No." "It's okay." " No." "I'm sorry..." " You just saw her." "And you were worried about her when she was under attack at the camp." "No, no, no." "When are we moving in together?" " When are we moving in together?" " Tomorrow, Kristian." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I was thinking about my ex." "HEAD OF DEFENCE" "PRIME MINISTER" "Colonel Hald." "Thank you for coming at such short notice." " When did you land?" " Half an hour ago." " You wished to talk to me alone?" " Yes." "Please sit down." "Look." "The cabinet is set to vote in favour of a withdrawal." "We can't agree on maintaining the status quo." " What do you think of that?" " We do as you tell us." "My personal opinion is irrelevant." "You hate to have people like me make the decisions, don't you?" "Soppy humanitarians who don't get what you're doing in Afghanistan." "You've lost me." "You hate it that I give the orders, but refuse to tell me what to do." "It's not for me to make the PM's decisions." "I'm not asking you to." "I've lost eight men in five days." "That's eight men too many." "What do you think I should do?" "I'm asking you." "There's only one way." "A joint international coordinated effort." "We can't pull out in the middle of an attack." "Please elaborate." "We must, together with our allies, neutralise the current wave of attacks." "We must stay in Afghanistan until we've trained their army and police." " How long are we talking?" " Five-six years." "And it requires more soldiers, more equipment and money." "Can you have a memo ready for me tomorrow?" " Think you can muster the support?" " Leave that to me." " When can you have it ready?" " Before midnight." " Oh, so you're going to deliver?" " Yes." ""89,000 CHILDREN"" "The cabinet obtained the mandate to increase the Afghanistan effort." "The decision was made after the Taliban offensive five days ago." "Four F-16 fighter planes and six Leopard tanks will be sent to Afghanistan." "We are against the war, but don't want to jeopardise the government." "Sometimes you have to do things even though you don't want to."