"You knew Bent had had a small blood clot in the spring and that he shouldn't burden himself too much." "You failed to tell me out of self-interest." "Look me in the eye and say you didn't also try to discredit me by telling the Ekspres I had prior knowledge of Bent's illness." "I can guarantee Kruse won't sit on a ministerial chair in my government." "You can't fire him in the midst of all this, he's your number two and your EU minister, it stinks." "I just talked to our party secretary and told him to drop you as vice president." "You have to take over the post of EU commissioner." "You can't be unaware that I'm 31 years old and probably want to have children." "I love you." "I think you ran away too quickly." "Birgitte, you weren't here, you were gone 24 hours a day." "Of course it didn't work well immediately, I just became prime minister!" "You know where to find me, don't you?" "No one ever praises the prime minister, it's always the PM dishing out compliments." "So now I'm praising you." "You did a fucking great job." "Today we've shown what we want with Denmark." "I'm very happy about and proud of that." "Therefore, I'll now leave it up to the Danish people to tell us who's the best prime minister for Denmark." "I hereby declare elections to be held on Tuesday, June 11th." "'Midway on the journey of life, I suddenly found myself in a dark forest...'" "Dante, "The Divine Comedy" (1308-1321 AD)" "TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER" "The only thing we shouldn't do in this current western financial crisis, is to act like the two tourists who encounter a leopard on the savannah." "One of them hurries to find a pair of running shoes." "The other one says, 'are you crazy?" "You can't possibly outrun a leopard!" "' At which the first one replies, 'I won't have to." "I just have to outrun you.'" "Are there any questions?" "Do you agree with financially aiding big business, which the liberals implemented?" "No, I have no need for that." "Now you withdrew out of politics after being defeated by Hesselbo, what would you do if you were prime minister today?" "I would say what I always said at press releases in the State Department:" "'I have a principle of never answering hypothetical questions.'" "Danish transcript from mcilou (France), translated by superworm (Netherlands), SRT'd by micapam (Australia)." "Translations done by someone who doesn't speak Danish; relying on a knowledge of Dutch, German and English and using Google Translate, a dictionary and a little common sense." "'In Denmark I was born'" "I have a meeting at 10 o'clock with the overseer and the English architect of that new office building." "You got the mail about rescheduling that board meeting to 1.30 PM?" "Yes, that's fine." "So let's move on." "Chemichal waste." "We discussed this the last time, and the time before, yet, there doesn't seem to be any progress in the removal of the organic solvants that have been discharged directly into the river." "We did look into it." "The government approved the facility, including sewers and disposal of waste." "Let me just remind you that we are in the 21st century." "Ethical standards actually mean something between consumers and companies." "Especially when you are running a pharmaceutal company." "I expect us to try and find a solution." "Jeremy, could you give us an update on the new building, please?" "We are a little pressed of time, because the contractor ordered a less glossy tile for the west facade, so we are waiting for the correct tiles." "And how long is that going to take?" "It's only a matter of a couple of weeks or so, but it's important that we wait." "We are about to launch a new series of products." "Postponing is not an option." "Neither are the wrong tiles." "I'm sure you'll agree." "Let's move on." "We need to run through the agenda for the board meeting this afternoon." "Your department lost many viewers, Torben. 150,000 on the major news broadcasts." "I think it's more 120 or 130." "Public television is also about making programs that people actually want to watch." "But for me, it's primarily about quality." "Unlike the rest of the management, I think it's its a great value to make news that doesn't talk down to people." "Many want to discuss your number of viewers." "I'd rather talk about the consistently positive viewer reviews your broadcasts have been getting." "So we shouldn't talk about the size of the audience?" "Not as long as you keep strong formats like 'Juul and Friis'." "Well, guess what" " I'm actually very proud of it as well." "Torben, I have you in mind for the job of head of the current affairs department." "Now I'm obviously not the one making the decision, but they usually listen to my opinion." "Maybe it's a good idea to wear a freshly ironed shirt on Monday." "What did he say when you picked him up?" "It went fine, he nagged a little when I left here, but apart from that it went great." "You're a tough little man, aren't you?" "Has he slept?" "Yes, for 2 hours." "Are you hungry, honey?" "You like it?" "I'll come get him around 5 on Friday, if that's okay with you?" "That's fine." "Please remember to pack his cuddle toy dog next time?" "He missed it a great deal." "I will." "But it's a cat." "Okay." "An ugly cat that likes to say 'woof', then." "I couldn't get organic pear puree, so I had to go elsewhere." "The diapers were on sale there so I brought some with me." "Hey Grethe." "Hey Kasper, good to see you." "You too." "Are you staying for dinner?" "No, I'm out." "But it's your favorite food." "No, but thanks a lot." "Farewell, little man." "See you!" "Bye dad!" "I'll be fine." "Come here, baby." "You need a diaper change." "Come on." "Gustav..." "The red one." "But I hope you're not expecting expensive gifts every time I'm away for a few days, honey." "Well, do you think it's reasonable?" "This has been great meeting you." "I have to go in now." "See you later." "I'm just going to have a bath, then go out to eat, you?" "Okay." "And what about Magnus?" "Will he stay the night there?" "Okay, say hi for me when he comes home, and tell his dad it's okay if he comes the day after tomorrow." "No, I'm home." "Yes, you too, sweetheart." "Bye!" "I am sorry, but I can't seem to find my own room, would you mind if I use your bathroom?" "I desperately need a shower." "You got lost?" "Your room is much better than mine." "I used to be someone, remember?" "Thank you very much." "Anything, mister." "Thank you." "My God, there is food enough for a week." "Stay for a week then." "We are not going to be allowed to see each other in Copenhagen, are we?" "Did you read The Guardian this week?" "Immigration laws are tightened in Denmark again." "They wouldn't let me in, would they?" "I'm sure they wouldn't." "Not you." "As a former prime minister, would you consider me a dangerous terrorist or a refugee parasite?" "You don't want to discuss politics with me." "Are you defending what's going on in Denmark?" "Of course not." "It's just personal to me." "It's not any of your business anymore is it?" "This is absolutely delicious." "What's that?" "That's snake." "Really?" "Yes." "Here you are, honey." "Thanks, it's really nice." "Here you go, honey." "It won't be sold in Europe." "That's not true." "Thais has one and I think it's a newer model." "Thank you very much, loving and considerate mother." "Thanks, mom." "A small kiss then?" "No." "How was school, Laura?" "Fine, I got my note back for Danish." "I got a 10." "Is that right?" "I improvised at the end, and used some things from the outline we talked about." "Hey, there's Kasper." "...to swallow this, and Hesselbo would like as many people as possible." "Do you watch 'Juul and Friis'?" "Mathilde and Sarah think he's hot." "Then I have to ask: can the opposition even bend that far?" "We saw the Labor Party leaving the prime minister's this morning, and the Moderates will come in to talk the government this afternoon." "Is this project possible?" "The style certainly is different from when Birgitte Nyborg led the Moderates." "And when you were there." "We won't go into that now." "Let's see what Jacob Kruse said last night." "What do you and the Moderate Party say about the Freedom Party's demand for loosening up deportation laws?" "Don't you run the risk of violating human rights?" "Well, I'm not a lawyer, so I can't comment on that." "We're talking about the rights that ensure people who've got permission to stay in Denmark, won't be thrown out of the country for petty crimes." "Aren't the Moderates legitimizing this by just yesterday settling with the government?" "Now, you have to be careful not to put too much emphasis on whether decisions are legal or not." "Come on." "I think we should just enter the neg otiations now." "Undeniably a less firm statement than we're used to from the Moderate Party." "The other tourist says, 'you'll never be able to run from a leopard.' And the first tourist answers, 'I won't have to.'" "'I just have to outrun you.'" "Are there any questions?" "Now we're hearing that the Moderates are negociating with the government on the new economy package, what would you do if you were prime minister?" "I certainly wouldn't sell out my key principles of good governance, just to get my fingerprints on a big economic agreement that sells out human rights, which have always been the core of the Moderates." "We must be very careful that this country, which used to be known for its tolerance, freedom, and the Scandinavian welfare model, doesn't end up closing in on itself, becoming a country that doesn't care for others." "I would be very aware of that risk." "Can't we take that at the airport?" "It's very important that she's there." "Torben?" "This is also important." "5 minutes." "Torben, it's about Gregers." "Wait a minute." "I just talked to him and everything's fine, he loves us." "Gregers doesn't work here any longer, Torben." "They fired him an hour ago." "That's a fucking lie." "The new program director has already been announced." "I haven't been told, who is it?" "Alexander Hjort." "The guy from Warner Brothers?" "Yes." "Martin will be getting the new post of communications chief, which in time will eliminate Lisbeth's department." "Rumors are that the entire layer of division management is being scrapped." "Just fucking stop there." "He'll be taking a tour here in a minute, so I think we should get started now." "With what?" "Your mail server just changed its name." "It's fine again." "It still takes a very long time to download the emails." "It must be the Internet connection itself." "Are you sure this property is well-connected?" "Yes." "Call the landlord, how much are you paying for this right now?" "Not a lot, Phillip." "But the location is great and the kids love it." "I can imagine." "Magnuses room is the size of our old living room and kitchen combined." "Phillip?" "When you're visiting Hong Kong in March, I have something to do with the bank's board of directors at the same time." "We'll just have see what to do." "You wanted to say something?" "Did I interrupt you?" "What would you say if I wanted to return to politics?" "Holy shit." "I think that would be really good for the Moderates." "Are you being ironic?" "I mean it." "Kruse may well have formally gained control of the party, but they lack the vision and feeling with the public they had when you were their leader." "Some people will feel threatened." "Maybe the most bourgeois of them all, who were offended by your close cooperation with the left." "But also those Kruse promoted, and Kruse himself." "Yeah, yeah, but it all depends on what you're planning to do." "Candidate for parliament and political spokeswoman." "Foreign spokeswoman, maybe." "Yes, or financial." "But certainly not the chairmanship." "No, no, certainly not the chairmanship." "Torben Friis." "Good to meet you." "Welcome." "I'm a huge fan of your work." "Hello, Pia." "Hi, Alex." "I'm a really big fan of your work, and delighted to see it." "Of course I've got some questions and ideas, but I'd like to start off saying you run an absolutely fantastic show." "And I have to applaud you for finding Katrine Fønsmark." "She's the anchorwoman of the station, you have to be really proud of that." "Katrine?" "Come over here." "Just when you're talking about her." "Could you ask him to call me as soon as he gets out?" "Thanks." "This is Alexander Hjort, he is the new program manager." "I was just telling Torben that I'm a very big fan of your work." "Wonderful." "Thanks a lot." "Hello." "Hello." "I hope you haven't been waiting too long." "You know we were negociating with the government." "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me." "Of course." "I also think we should put the past behind us." "I had a difficult period, but as you know I talked it over with Sejrø, and everything's fine again." "You're certainly doing well as chairman." "Jacob, I have decided to leave business life." "I will be back in politics." "I'd like to emphasize that I naturally respect that my role in the party is totally different now." "You're chairman now, I'd just like to flank your leadership." "I understand what you're saying." "Completely." "You've got capabilities that are exemplary for many others." "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you." "I just can't see you as part of the Moderate project anymore." "You might want to be an MP again, but you can't with us." "I'm afraid your return would split up the party." "But I would work for a common cause." "I'd work for you." "It's about maintaining a delicate balance in the party right now, and you're too heavy, Birgitte." "You'll rock the boat too much." "It's my decision as president, my assessment of what's best for the Moderates." "So it'll be a polite 'no thank you' for your great offer." "I have an announcement for everyone here." "Torben and I will update you on what the new management structure will mean for the news." "We'll do that at 6.30 PM." "There'll also be an opportunity to toast Gregers goodbye." "Thank you." "So much for going home after office hours." "Hi mom." "I'm terribly sorry but I'll be home late, so I wanted to ask you if you'd be so kind to tuck Gustav in tonight?" "I miss him." "Give him lots of kisses." "That's okay." "Hi." "Shouldn't you just go home like you planned?" "I know management well enough to know we won't be told anything of importance." "And you didn't know Gregers, did you?" "Nope." "But I think it's important to keep track of what's happening." "It's also important to see your child." "I'm sorry?" "What are you implying?" "Forget it." "You know what's best yourself." "Katrine, disabilities or Africa first?" "Africa, I think." "Then I'd like disabilities first, please." "Why are you asking?" "That's all from us here at the 6 o'clock news, have a very good evening." "Oh, for Christ's sake." "Were we still on?" "I don't think they saw." "Who laid these cables?" "Must have been Chris." "Chris, wouldn't you like to say something?" "It won't happen again." "Thanks." "Would anyone bother to take this microphone?" "Hey, Katrine." "Are you okay?" "I sprained my foot because you absolutely insist on staffing my broadcasts with trainees." "We all have to be here tonight." "Thanks for today." "Are you coming home now?" "I thought you were working late." "It wasn't very important." "I think I'm going to make a lovely meal, then." "Mom, you shouldn't cook." "I'm here anyway, honey, it's no problem." "And I'd like to tuck in Gustav myself." "He's trying to say 'grandma', isn't that cute?" "I think it's fucking annoying that you moved the diapers, so I put them back where they belong." "You're right, honey." "He kicked me out, goddamn it." "Were you humble enough?" "I was so calm, I'm sure I was." "It was him who was utterly dismissive." "Then what the hell are you going to do, go back to Hong Kong?" "Yes, Bent, I don't know what else to do." "Challenge Kruse's leadership." "The statutes say that in principle, anybody can challenge the chairmanship in elections held during the national congress." "It's a completely crazy idea, Bent." "That way, I'm risking to blow up the party." "And the next congress is in one month, we won't have time to prepare anything." "I saw your interview with Jacob Kruse the other day." "It was fine." "Thanks." "And how are Kasper and your little boy doing?" "Gustav?" "It is going well, but me and Kasper aren't together anymore." "I want to emphasize that what I'm going to say is very confidential, whatever the outcome of our meeting." "I will be back in politics." "I'm going to challenge Jacob Kruse as chairman of the Moderates at the national congress, and I need a special advisor and press chief." "Why don't you just call Kasper?" "Kasper's and my project was prime minister, and that's finished." "We want something different now." "You're one of the journalists who challenged me most when I was prime minister." "I also know you were Hesselbo's advisor for a while, but that you and him disagreed too much politically." "I think you're the person I'm looking for." "What do you say?" "You might explain a little about why you want to return to politics?" "I thought you could tell me." "You know me better than most journalists." "Why?" "You are disappointed by the Moderates' current style of espionage." "They aren't defending the principles the party is based on." "If even the Moderates don't stand in the way of the Freedom Party implementing its immoral policies, then there's not much left." "Isn't the congress just a month away?" "Yes." "So I hope you're able to decide quickly." "Regarding your salary" " I'd like you to come up with a proposal." "Who will finance it?" "For starters, I'll pay it myself." "Later, it'll be paid by the party." "I know it's a big decision, but I need your answer within 24 hours, and you can't talk to anyone about it." "I'll be seeing you." "Yes, I know." "Gustav, shall we see if there's anything on TV?" "What was that?" "A little bear!" "Yes, I'm coming." "I'm coming, baby." "Goddamn it." "Fucking hell." "Hi." "Yeah, I just put him to bed." "There's something I just wanted to talk to you about." "Hi, honey." "It's me." "I took the 6 o'clock train." "Hey, Mouse." "Katrine, you shouldn't do it." "Think twice." "You have a steady, well-paying job." "What does she have to offer you?" "Sweetheart, you're a single mom." "We might be able to put it in the 8.30 PM broadcast." "Okay, I figure we have an agreement." "Am I interrupting?" "No, no, we're done." "Okay, I just wanted to talk to you if you're free." "Yes?" "I would like to leave." "Immediately." "How many voters can we expect to vote at the Moderates?" "There are just over 10,000 members, and 92 electoral districts controlled by a local chairman." "And those 92 are entitled to vote at the congress?" "Yes, plus the 18 current members of parliament." "So that's 110 people who are going to decide this here?" "Exactly, so I must have a minimum of 56 votes at the congress." "I'll focus on the people we'll need to contact in the group." "You take care of the hinterland, the local chairmen - you know God and everyone. [Danish proverb]" "I'll draft a press statement." "But we shouldn't make it public just yet." "We have to be prepared; it could quickly leak out when we're going to ask around." "And that's exactly why we need to keep our cards close to our chests at the beginning." "This means we'll have to consider whom to talk to first, who the biggest players are, who to count on for support." "Jon is at the top of my list." "He's got a lot of influence in the top of the Party." "Especially after you left." "Jon Berthelsen?" "Yes." "Also my favorite." "We don't always agree on how things should be done." "But I know we share many fundamental principles." "Jon and Kruse aren't really on good terms." "The rapprochement between the government and the Moderates continues with the government's new stimulus package." "The package has been criticized by the opposition because it's part of a comprehensive political agreement that also involves a tightening of immigration policy, as proposed by the Freedom Party." "Several political analysts will be discussing the Moderate Party's change of course." "Last year, work-related psychological problems triggered a..." "Hi Jon, it's Birgitte again." "I haven't heard from you yet, but I assume we're still having that meeting here at 11." "I'm looking forward to seeing you." "Hello." "Sorry, I just need to see your card." "Are you serious?" "Yes." "I actually don't have a card, but I just need to hold a meeting." "Okay, so you must be in here." "No, I can't have myself registered." "Is this really necessary?" "Can't you just call them to confirm your appointment?" "Yeah." "It's Birgitte Nyborg." "I'm standing in front of the guard." "He wouldn't let me in." "Hello, Nete." "Can't you be my guest?" "I'm standing next to Nete, it'll be fine." "Hi, long time no see!" "Hi Birgitte, good to see you." "Hey Helge, same to you." "We've missed you." "Just think that they would even dream of rejecting you." "Hi Birgitte." "You're a rare visitor, to what do we owe this honor?" "It hasn't changed that much." "Meeting with my party, courtesy visits." "I also have to get on, see you." "It probably won't the last time you run in here for a courtesy visit." "Good day, Lars." "I just received all your messages, I have some issues with my phone because I just switched companies." "I'm glad you came." "Good to see you, Jon." "Let's get to business immediately." "I'm returning to the Moderates." "Jacob Kruse won't have it, so I have no choice but to challenge him as chairman." "And you know what I stand for, and I know that you and I agree on several issues where you and Jacob did not." "That's fastastic news." "So you think it's a good idea?" "It's really good news." "If there's anyone who can help us out of this stalemate, it's you." "Several of us think the Party has sunk in apathy after three succesful years in government." "I'm glad you do." "No, Birgitte, I haven't said I'm in." "I love your idea, but I just can't sit here and promise you my support." "A lot of things changed in the Party since you left." "It's not just a question of what Kruse can do or what he stands for." "He dragged a lot of old heavyweights in the hinterland over to his side, with a mixture of promises and threats." "Especially district chairman Henning Johansen." "And you know how important he is in the Party." "I could give you a third of the local chairmen, maybe some MP's, but that's not enough to have a good chance." "But what you're saying is, that if I win this election, you'll give me your full support?" "Yes, you can be absolutely sure about that." "Of course she hasn't forgotten her political craft, we're talking about Birgitte Nyborg." "Look, I'd never dream of supporting a project like this if it wasn't sure-fire." "What about Kruse and his property tax?" "He's almost as liberal as Hesselbo." "How did it go?" "We'll be able to muster the necessary support easily, listen to me, there's no risk." "Jon Berthelsen has always supported Birgitte, and he's guaranteed to back her up this time as well." "Yeah, yeah, we went to talk with him and he's very positive." "We can't find the red car, it's a bit of a problem." "Yes, we have to know where you stand." "Okay." "Look, there's the red car." "We need to know where you stand." "That's fine." "You call us, fine." "Bye." "What did Johansen say?" "Shouldn't he be in Kindergarten or daycare?" "He's got an eye infection." "What did he say?" "He couldn't make any promises." "It amazes me how firm Kruse's grip on the senior party members really is." "What do we do now?" "We break the news." "Birgitte Nyborg is returning to Danish politics, following a two year absence in which she has been a lecturer and has had several board positions in the private sector." "We spoke with Birgitte Nyborg earlier today." "It's a pleasure to be back in Danish politics again." "I feel bad enough that I've been away." "Isn't this like the story of an old circus horse, missing the smell of sawdust?" "No, it's the story of an old circus horse who feels that there are a lot of people who aren't being heard." "Hi, it's Martin?" "Hi Martin, I've cleared it with Birgitte." "You can start at 3 o'clock." "That sounds great." "I'd like to have an hour, if that's okay." "We're a little busy today, I probably can't give you more than 45 minutes."