"ALL IT TAKES IS A MIRACLE" "Thank you." "How about some hot chocolate, Per?" "No, I've got to get to work." "What's up with him?" "When I lived down in Skåne, I went swimming in the sea every day." "Crystal-clear water..." "A nice sandy beach, with sand dunes." "Those dunes gave shelter from the winds." "I was always clean in those days." " Bloody hell..." " You ought to go home, Olli." " I need to make some money first." " Yeah, but you're not well." "I'm fine, all I need is something to drink." "Only I really don't want to die on the streets." "What the hell are you up to?" "You fucking thief!" "My wallet!" " Somebody call the police!" "What the hell...?" "For Christ's sake, Olli..." "Drop the wallet." "Get the hell out of here." "Olli!" "Perkele!" "Send an ambulance, there's been a mugging." "A suspect has been apprehended." "The suspect was caught in the act." "There is reasonable cause to charge him with robbery and aggravated assault." " And the victim?" " He's in critical condition." "The suspect has refused to give us his name." "According to the police, he's homeless." "And he may have been deleted from the public registration system." "What on earth are you doing here?" " You're dead!" " Karl?" "This man is my brother..." "Per Gustav Jerlin." "I apologize to the court..." "I wish to retract this application for a warrant of arrest." "My brother is not..." "an unknown person, so the grounds for detainment no longer apply." " How will we contact him?" " Through me." "I will take full responsibility for him." "Per..." "Wait a minute, Per." "How long have you been living like this?" "Why didn't you come to me?" " Why would you help me?" " You're my brother." " I was wanted by the police." " That was 25 years ago." "Minor narcotics charges have a five-year statute of limitations." "They do?" "Where are you going?" "You were released into my custody." "I'll be at the station, after I've been to the liquor store." "How could you do something so stupid, stealing a wallet like that?" "I don't remember..." "I wanted to go home." " What's the matter?" " I met my brother today." "I made him sell our parent's place when our mother died." "I needed the money." "And he hasn't forgiven you?" "I haven't even forgiven myself." "Could you light the lamp?" "It keeps the gremlins away." "Thanks." "Oh, there you are..." "I've been looking everywhere for you." "A couple of police officers told me you usually have lunch here." "You're practically a local celebrity, it seems." "I'll go make coffee." "Come on in." "We've made a lot of changes." "You were such sweet little boys." "I'm Yvonne, Karl's wife." "I'm Per, Karl's dead brother." " Where have you been all this time?" " Around town..." " This is my brother." " We've introduced ourselves already." "You really put him in a spot, you know." "He had to rent a room in his own house while he was at school." "Let's drop the subject." "Per needed the money more than I did, for his musical career." "One that apparently wasn't successful." "The one thing I've never forgiven is that you nicked my hat." " It was Dad's hat." " But it had been given to me." "But..." "I'm joking." "Per has always taken things a bit too seriously." "I think I'd better leave..." "You know, I'd have to collect 396 cans to pay for that cab." "My employer will pick up the tab." "Your wife is pretty feisty." " Have you been married a long time?" " We've been married for 20 years." "I still love her." "Just as much as you once loved Anna." "Anna and I kept in touch." "When she got out of prison, she called." " I bet the drugs have done her in." " I don't think so." "Someone is still paying the rent for your house." "You wouldn't have rented out my house unless you thought I'd be back." "Am I so unreliable in your eyes that you didn't even believe I was dead?" "I was right, wasn't I?" "Anna had a baby, a girl, while she was in prison." "Did you know that?" "I think she called her Love." "Anna wanted to stay on at your house." "She said the child was yours, and I figured that's what you would want." "That you'd want them to live there." "Haven't you been in touch with her at all?" "Stay with us until all this has been cleared up." " You don't have to collect cans..." " I want to." "I've invested the rent money over the years." " I don't want it." " It's your money, Per." "The rent paid for your house." "You could always give it back to Anna, you know." "Do you want to bank to have it?" "I called earlier about a substantial withdrawal." "I'll be right back." "Why don't we open an account for you?" " I want it in cash." " That's unusual these days, Per." "Here you are." " You can't carry it on you." " Who would think of mugging me?" " Are you going to drink it up?" " I'm going to help a friend first." "Wait here." " I don't want you to go inside." " Why not?" "Olli dislikes the establishment." "Why, is he in trouble with the law?" "Was Olli the one who took that man's wallet?" "Per?" "What's up with you?" "Come on, Olli..." "Come on." "This wouldn't have happened if you had gone home." "To keep the gremlins away." "This will make it harder to prove your innocence." "Per!" "Per!" "Wait up, Per." "If you run away, both of us will be in trouble." "I'll lose my job and you'll go to prison." "Shit!" "My cans!" "You haven't changed at all." "That will be 79 kronor, please." "Hang on, I have to run a check on this bill." "ONLY 10 KRONOR REDEEMED IN CASH" " In Stockholm I get cash back." " We have new rules." " You'll get ten kronor in cash." " I've worked hard to collect them!" "I have to follow the rules." "Then I'll have to split them up." " What do you mean?" " Ten kronor at a time." " Would that suit the rules?" " I don't know..." "Listen..." "Start out with the cans you have in your bag." " What the hell...?" " You stole my bags!" " I found them." " You saw me collect those cans." " You're a bloody thief!" " I need the money!" "What can I have?" "You'll have to sit out back." "One and a half beers." "Six, if you go to the liquor store." "I'll give you a full glass if you tell me where you're going." " What about the rest?" " I only drink what I've paid for." " I'll be going." " No one has the time to listen." "I have all the time in the world." "Once, when I was a teenager, I sat at a cafe waiting for my dad." "Only Dad never showed up." "This man asked me what was wrong." "I told him I couldn't pay my bill, and he offered to pay it for me." "He told me that he had survived the Estonia disaster, and that he felt guilty about all the people who had died." "So helping me was like paying back a little bit of that debt." "I figured I should help someone out too." " How much is a ticket to Malmö?" " So, you are going somewhere." "I have a debt to pay." "It's 892 kronor, if you take the X2000." "Holy smoke..." "I thought you were dead." "People don't rest on the ground in Sweden." "No, but it's a free country and I'm kind of tired." "I'm going south." "Want to come along?" "Hope you aren't in a hurry." "I'm only allowed to drive 30 km/h." " Doesn't that get boring?" " No, I enjoy every second." " You haven't told me your name." " It's Per." " I'm Abbas." " Abbas..." "A man's got to eat..." " May I ask where you're going?" " To see Anna." " So, where does Anna live?" " In Skåne." "I came to the province of Skåne back in 1995." "A refugee, smuggled in." "They have a pretty R sound in Skåne, don't they?" "I can tell you're sad, by your eyes." " I just lost my best friend." " I'm so sorry for you." " I need wine." " Wine?" "The Koran doesn't allow alcoholic beverages." "And it's against Swedish law to drink and drive." " It doesn't make you happier either." " But opium's allowed." "Opium's good for everything." "Withdrawal symptoms, pain..." "Pain is nothing to be afraid of." "What brought you here?" "I didn't love my wife." "I loved someone else." "I was unfaithful." "I had a secret life." "And I ran away." "I didn't want to be stoned to death." "I see, it was a man." "What's wrong?" "Are you okay?" " I'm not used to being sober." " Don't worry." "You just rest while I clear up." " Can I have a ride?" " You're very young." "Does your mother know about this?" " I'm heading for Malmö." " Girls shouldn't travel all alone." " It just isn't done in Iran." " Does it look like we're in Iran?" " What's your name?" " Sara." "You can ride with us." "My name is Abbas." "Abba's, like the pickled herring?" "Per's from Stockholm." "He's riding along for a while too." "Good morning." "Abba's herring, that's me." "Per here is from Stockholm." "Remember?" " Is it all right to smoke in here?" " Sure." "Per says that Sweden's a free country, so go ahead." "That's how I pictured Sweden." "Free love, people living together..." "And gay marriages." "You want some?" "Why the hell did you do that?" "Thanks for the ride." "I hope that someone will be good to her." "You have to stop drinking, my friend." "And I hope you find your Anna." " She isn't mine anymore." " Are you sure about that?" "Per..." "Dinner, my treat." "Thank you." "Why are you following me?" "It's a free country." " How old are you?" " 17." "You should go home..." "just like Olli should have done." "Here." "Christ, it's dirty..." " How can you live like this?" " It's a habit." "Would you rather be dead?" "I don't know how you got all that money, but it can't be on the level." "There's no way you made it collecting cans." "Let's make a deal:" "We split it 50/50, and I'll keep my mouth shut." "Or I'll report you to the police, for robbery." "Which would be true." "Then I'd at least get a reward." "Okay..." "How much do you have?" "Where is it?" " In your sleeping bag?" " Stop it!" "I can't breathe..." "I need money, get it?" " It's not like it's yours." " Undo the sleeping bag, damn it!" "What's going on here?" "I'll go get a first-aid kit." " Beat it." " What?" "Go away!" " Are you okay?" " Absolutely." "I have sinus trouble." " Where's the girl?" " Who knows?" "But I'll be pushing off too." "My bag..." "We've got to turn back." "It's under that bunk." "I took care of your stuff when you passed out." "That's my wife, Lena." "I'm Victor." "It looked like that kid was beating the crap out of you." "What do you know?" "There she is." "You can ride with us for a while, if you like." "Where are you headed?" "I'm going see this friend I met on the Internet." " A guy?" " Who said it had to be a guy?" "I could be a lesbian." "It's trendy, you know." "Listen, I think I'd better get out." " In the middle of the woods?" " I need some fresh air." " Where the hell are we?" " Don't know." "Lena does the driving." " Would an apology do any good?" " It sure would." "As long as you mean it." "Are you one of those homeless people, a vagrant, or whatever?" "Something like that." "Then what's the deal with the money?" "You know, you're pretty annoying." "Not half as annoying as you are." "We left everything to help Victor quit drinking, and now we hook up with a drunk." "I know it's not your fault, but it's not such a great idea." "Well, if you want him to stop drinking, you should be supportive, not lead him into temptation." "I only drink with meals." "I know kids from chat rooms who are alcoholics." "Their biggest problem is that it's so easy to get hold of liquor." "Are you happy now?" "I don't understand why people drink." "It's really disgusting." "Getting drunk is fun, though." " Where are you headed, Per?" " To see an old girlfriend." "Has it been a while?" "Well, isn't she in for a surprise?" "Do you have anything worth stealing in that bag of yours?" "Rent money, from my house in Skåne." "25 years's worth of rent." "When my folks died, I cashed in my inheritance and bought a farmhouse in Skåne." "In the process, my brother was forced to give up the house we grew up in." "After a while, a whole gang of us shared that house in Skåne." "Anna, our friends and their women and children." "Cats and dogs and geese..." "And a goat." "We scraped some money together to buy a professional tape-recorder, and a few mikes..." "Well, everything you need to record music." "I guess that dream went bust." " Are you running away?" " Do you mind having company?" "Sara's not going to be happy that you split." "What about Lena?" " Where are you headed?" " Got any suggestions?" "I'm not exactly the right person to turn to for advice." "I made it myself." "It's good." "Lena's going to leave me if I don't quit drinking." "The last time I tried, I got these god-awful panic attacks." "I trashed our apartment and I almost beat her too." "If you leave now you'll lose her for good." "And you'll lose yourself too." "The only woman I ever loved was Anna, and I let her down." "We had promised each other we'd be together for life." " She's better off without me." " That's what I thought, too." "I want you to see me and see your future." "Go home, Victor." "Thank you." "Which direction should I take?" "South is that way." "What a bitch!" "I bet she stole your money." "Some people are actually honest, you know." "Christ!" "That money belonged to Anna!" " So you did steal it?" " No, but I owe it to her." " Will you go back to Stockholm now?" " I don't have any money!" "The whole Skåne thing..." "We did drugs, and some people got hooked." "Anna got hooked, and it was all my fault!" "She's paid rent all these years." "I was going to give it back to her." "So you've felt guilty all your life, and that's why you're a bum." " That's truly sad." " Yes, it is." "It's truly sad." "Haven't you had anyone?" "Yes." "But I let them down." "My brother always says that I take things too seriously." "I think too much when I'm sober." "I'm like that, too." "No sense of humor." "I never laugh." "But I bet Anna would like to see you anyway." "I mean..." "I would, I were her." "I'm hungry." " I caught you in the act." "Come on!" " I was hungry!" " You're hurting me!" " We have a zero-tolerance policy." "Come along." " We'll have to contact your parents." " Talk to my dad, he's over there." "Sara Månsson from Stockholm..." ""Reported as missing by her mother."" "My parents are getting divorced, so she's kind of upset." " Have both of you run away?" " No, I'm just not where my mom thinks I'm supposed to be." "Your daughter is only 15 and she's already shoplifting." "Since you were reported as missing, we have to call your mother." "Elisabeth speaking." "Sara is going back to Stockholm." "Her mom and dad are there." "You can go." "Just stay away from the girl." "If you hook up with a runaway, there will be trouble." "We're donating our coffee fund so you can get on a bus." " It's a contribution." " That won't be necessary." "Take the money, you'll be doing us a favor." "We're sending her home." "Take a bus going in the opposite direction." "We don't want to see you here again." "What have you done now?" "What's the matter?" "Dad wants them to go to counseling." "But Mom says she doesn't want to talk, she wants a divorce." "She's fed up." "With me too." "They want to scratch each other's eyes out in peace." "Maybe she's just trying to settle things." "Without getting you involved." "They've already decided that I'm going to live with her." "Those bastards can do whatever they like." "By Sunday I'll be in Copenhagen." " I thought you said Malmö?" " It's just some water away." "Jens sent me a ticket for the train across the sound." "It's time to collect cans." "Why do you collect cans when you own a house in Skåne?" "How many would we need to buy pizza?" "Look, I found 500." "Right here, on the sidewalk." "Good." "So buy me something to drink or buy something to eat." " Let's buy you some shoes." " Forget it!" "We can buy cheap shoes." "If you don't get some new shoes you can't collect cans to support yourself." "You'll die of beer deficiency." "No..." "Those feet are contaminated." "Come along." "Come on..." "Don't be such a sissy." "We'll sanitize them." "There you go..." " These are the only soft ones." " The color is questionable." "They're too expensive. 900." "These are genuine Williams boots from Australia." "I'll give you half off if I get to burn them... and the socks!" "For 450, sore feet will be a thing of the past." "I lied." "It was your money..." "I took it in the camper when I went to bed." "I didn't think you'd notice." "I want you to phone home." "No." "Forget it." "I can't be bothered." "I'll be all right." "Well?" "I'm going to go have something to eat." " Did you know my father well?" " He was a nice guy." "He left me some money." "Damn his soul..." "Why are you so angry?" "He asked me the same thing." "But when I tried to explain, he wouldn't listen." "Let's go inside and have something to eat." "He looks a lot like Olli." "It's like I'm at his funeral." "What did your mom say?" "I told them I wouldn't go back if they were getting a divorce." "And she said I was a child and I wasn't in charge of her life." "So I told her that she wasn't in charge of mine." " She'll set the police on you." " You can disappear in Christiania." " Does Jens live in Christiania?" " Yes, so what?" "Shit..." "The only people who live there are drug addicts and pushers." "According to Jens, the addicts had to kick the habit or move." "Now it's a healthy alternative community." "He has this houseboat he fixed up himself." "We've been chatting for months." "He knows everything about me." " And I know everything about him." " Chatting?" "Don't you know?" "Where have you been the past ten years?" "The last time I even read the paper was when Olof Palme died." "That's cool." "Do you have a picture of this Jens guy?" "Only on my computer." "He's 22." "Blond hair and blue eyes." "He's really hot." "Isn't he a bit too old for you?" "I told him I'm 18." "I do look like I could be 18, right?" "You just can't pass up a chance like this." "Don't you ever leave over 600,000 in my car again." " Is there really as much as that?" " Haven't you even counted it?" "Hi there!" "Over there..." "I was right here when the cops raided the place." "They arrested everyone." "And I just stood there..." "I couldn't move a muscle." "We'll spend the night in the old stables." "People go to bed early out in the country." "You can't go and die!" " Who are you?" " Help, we need an ambulance." " What the hell is wrong with you?" " That's for Anna." "I promised to sock you one if you ever showed your face here again." "You look like you need pest control." "And we could all use some breakfast." "Hi, Mom." "Don't..." "I just wanted to tell you I was fine." "All right!" "Anna always thought you'd be back." "But not even I pictured that it would take you 25 years." " Maybe I shouldn't have come." " Yes, it was right to come." "Only you should have done it a long time ago." "Anna is dead." "Was it the drugs?" "No, it was lightning." " What?" " She came riding on her bike." "And she was struck by lightning." "It went in through one ear and down through her body." "That was two years ago." "There she was, on the ground, smoke coming out of her shoes." "I'm sorry." "Let go." "We would have done the same thing." "You were lucky to miss the raid." "The rest of us had bad luck." "Listen..." "I recently found out that Anna had a baby while she was in prison." "Love." "Little Love..." "She's 25 years old now." "Anna and I always said that if we ever had a child, we would call it Love." "To me, Love is my daughter." "I've been a part of her life since day one." "I love her as much as I loved Anna." "Well, if her name is Love, then she must be mine." "Her birth certificate says "father unknown"." " Where is Love now?" " In Christiania." " Is she on drugs?" " No." "She's a singer." "She saved this hat for him, for when he came back." "Thank you." "So... what's she like?" "She's a lot like you." " What's the matter?" " Nothing." "Do I remind you of Anna?" "You're taking it hard, aren't you?" "It's probably harder on him." " Could you cut my hair?" " Why?" "It's nice the way it is." "Put it in a pony tail, and I'll give you a trim around the ears." "Who are you going to give the money to now?" " I'm going to give it to Love." " I figured as much." "She lives in Christiania." "If you were my dad, I'd want you to come see me." "And that doesn't have anything to do with the money." "So we're both going to Christiania then." "I don't want to miss Love's show tonight." "Johan said he would take me to the train station." "What about me?" "Who cares!" "I'll get there on my own." "You're such a fucking coward!" "Love..." "Love?" "Could you spare a minute?" "Who are you?" " My name is Per." " Hello." "I'm your biological father." "I don't know if Anna ever told you about me." "My birth certificate says "father unknown"." " I'd like a vodka." " Coming up." "Here you go." "You may be my biological father, but Johan is my real father." "He raised me." "He's been the best dad a girl could have." "I didn't know you existed, Love." "I only found out a few days ago." "But if you had kept in touch, you'd have known, wouldn't you?" "Mom waited for you her whole life, she even saved that damn hat." "But it isn't too late, is it?" "Actually, I came to give you this." " What is it?" " Rent money paid by Anna and Johan." "Are you trying to buy absolution by giving me Mom's and Dad's money?" "I want you to accept the money, I don't want it." "You don't owe me anything." "You should take care of yourself instead." "I've got to go on..." "You do know that Mom is dead, don't you?" " Will Dad be able to stay on?" " I'll put your name on the deed." "So that will be up to you." "Are you all right?" "Your nose is bleeding." "I'd really like to be alone." "Sara?" "That's my daughter, Emilia." "She gives me a hand now and then." "Your nose has stopped bleeding." "How are you?" "Do you know a guy named Jens here in Christiania?" " He lives on a house boat." " Sure, Jens lives down at the docks." " Is he dangerous?" " He's a character, all right." "He likes young people, particularly young girls." " Is he in his twenties?" " I'd say he was fortyish." " Are you Jens?" " Yes, who are you?" "Is Sara here?" "What the hell...?" " What's wrong with you?" " Where is Sara?" "You disgusting child molester!" " She's 18." " She's 15!" "How was I supposed to know that?" "We were going to have a good time, that's all." "Sara is my daughter." "And she's coming home with me, this instant!" "I know she isn't your daughter." "You are so pathetic." " You don't have the right to preach." " For the last time:" "Where is she?" "Take her with you." "She's whined about going home ever since she saw me." "Did you take a cab just to pick me up?" "Come with me." " What did that scumbag do to you?" " Nothing." "He posted a fake picture, that's all." " I feel sorry for the guy." " Were you going to stay with him?" "I was just about to call Mom." "The money..." " Didn't you give it to Love?" " She wouldn't take it." "Where is your bag?" "Shit!" "I left it by that bench." "He'll pay you." "It's damn near impossible to get rid of this money." "Do you want it?" "No..." "I would only waste it on stupid stuff." "But I appreciate the offer." "I have to call my mom, I need ticket money." " I should have accepted your money." " I'll buy you a ticket, silly." "Here." "Call your mom and tell her you're coming." " Will you be coming along?" " Where would I go?" "People like me should stay in Christiania." " Okay." "Then I won't go, either." " For God's sake!" "You're not going back there, are you?" "You'd probably get mugged, you look too nice and clean." "If you don't talk to your brother, you'll regret it all your life." "I'm going to go live with my dad." "In case you ever want to come and see me." "Jesus Christ, Per..." "You scared me." "Did they let you keep your job?" " Am I wanted by the police?" " No." "I was afraid we had scared you off for good." "I should have known you only left to go get this."