"Unexpectedly, Bent Sejrø has resigned as minister of finance." "Why does Jacob Kruse have to tell me about your new stand on Afghanistan?" "Bent would've asked:" ""What are your options?"" "But we aren't on speaking terms." "Will the PM help you move?" " I don't have that much stuff." "You must have some personal items." " Cheers, Katrine." "Katrine?" "You quit so as not be controlled, but Laugesen is controlling you." "I didn't sign them." "I don't want to divorce you." "Sometimes we have to do stuff, even if we don't want to." ""Keep your friends close to you, but your enemies closer."" " Sun Tzu" "Denmark is sending a new European commissioner to Brussels." "The new European commissioner is being selected as we speak." "It's all up to the PM." " Repeating it doesn't make it right." " Speaking for the tabloids, are you?" "You're going to have to change that." "Nothing is settled yet." "Wanna bet?" "I don't make bets with people who write horoscopes." " Who is the new commissioner?" " I can't say yet." "I need to discuss it with Betancourt." "Many pieces have to fall into place." " Will it be someone from your party?" " Nothing is settled yet." " Is Jacob Kruse your candidate?" "Thrilling theory." "Langager and Guldborg aren't options." "Sejrø is too important for the party." "Man, you can talk." "Labour might get the post in exchange for one of their ministries." "Profound." "I've got to go." "What can I write from a source close to the PM?" "Labour will pay a steep price for the post." "But you didn't hear it from me." "Fønsmark from the Express is good." " Croissant?" "Coffee?" " Coffee, please." " What did you give her?" "." "That Labour might get it." "That won't happen, so let's spin it like that." "Betancourt won't give anything away." "I think the Finns want climate, and the Brits foreign and security policies." "And France have their sights set on one of the vice-presidencies." " What's left for us?" " Depends on the candidates." "The Moderates want to send a party man, naturally." "But we want a post with as much influence as possible, don't we?" "Unless you use the post to get rid of someone." "You can send someone to Brussels  you just want out of the way and make it look like a promotion." "You want us to use a powerful post to exile an undesirable?" "By no means." "It would be highly inappropriate to go that far." "Betancourt wants you to call at two." "Is that okay?" "Jesus!" "What is his agenda?" "His own." "Still, a lot of Danish politicians have been sent to Brussels   never to be heard of again." "In Brussels no one hears you scream." "GOVERNMENT" " Episode 12 In Brussels No One Hears You Scream" "Anything else?" " Still waiting for the commissioner." " It may not be a Moderate." " No one wants to read about the EU." "It's too complicated and unsexy." "Complicated?" "Oh, come on." "The PM is appointing a commissioner." "The Danes know nothing about it." " So let's enlighten them." "The Commission helps legislate in the EU." "Let's write about it." "People only want to hear about salaries and corruption in the EU." "Give me a break!" "The commissioner is Denmark's voice in Europe." " Every party wants that post." " What a scoop to break the identity." " Can you do that?" " Sure we can." "Fine." "You're on it." "Right, we need to follow up on the escaped convict." "You're on that." "Who's on the health debate the 27th?" "Great." "Looks like we all just got some homework." "Haven't they been in there long?" "The group meeting is over." "Only the PM and Sejrø are left." " No, I absolutely disagree." "You usually do." "You need opposition!" "Who was opposed to your escalating the war?" "." "I didn't escalate anything." "I just gave the military what they needed." "You sound like Hesselboe!" "Who opposed you?" "Amir." "I'm sorry, but most people agreed with me." "Including Kruse, your own protégé." "If you aren't smart, you need to surround yourself with smart people." "If you're smart and reasonable, surround yourself with equals." "Agreeing with me doesn't make you a fool." "Just because Jacob Kruse agrees..." "And then he takes off!" "Still at odds, huh?" "You need a better relationship to your closest party ally." " Bent isn't my closest." " Political spokesman, deputy leader." "You can't have someone you're at odds with discharging those duties." "You've been fighting ever since you fired him from the Ministry of Finance." "It's been a year." "The press knows your friendship is over." "I think you should reconsider whether to keep Sejrø on such high posts." " He's not exactly your crown prince." " I don't need a crown prince." "As the PM you're vulnerable." "You should think about taking on a protégé for the sake of the party." "My most relevant protégé is also the most logical commissioner candidate." "I prefer him as the commissioner." " Jacob Kruse." "That's your decision?" "I talk over lots of my decisions with you, but not all." "He's on his way now." "I want to hear his thoughts about the post." "His thoughts are focused on becoming a commissioner before he turns 40." "And a very progressive choice, at that." "Kruse can make a difference down there." " He's young and full of initiative." " He's a fan and a yes-man." "You sound just like Sejrø." "Jealous of Kruse's success and firm convictions?" " I have all that, too." " Except convictions." "Betancourt is on the phone, and Kruse is here." "I'll handle Betancourt." "Take care of your good friend Kruse, will you?" " Jacob." "Betancourt is on the line." " It is decision time." "What are we hoping to get?" " I don't know her agenda." "I see." "So, only she and Bent Sejrø know all the secrets?" "Presumably." "I hope I can reveal the identity of the Danish candidate tomorrow." "Thank you very much." "Goodbye." "We may get a vice-presidency if we present the right candidate." "Perfect news." "How awesome to have a PM who speaks fluent French." "Jacob, our group meeting ended with irrelevant discussions." "What are your thoughts about the post as commissioner?" "I think it should go to a Moderate." "It's a unique chance for the party." "I agree." "Do you see any obvious candidates?" "That's not for me to..." "I'm asking you." "Anyone goes." "Even you." "I only see one obvious candidate." "Bent Sejrø, of course." "On one hand Sejrø is a perfect candidate." "He's got an international network, and you'll get him out of your hair." "And on the other hand?" " I smell a strategic rat." "It's your job to smell rats." "I have to believe in Kruse's good intentions." "I'm talking to Betancourt the day after tomorrow." "Put a lid on it until then." "Sure you want to go to that debate?" "It'll be us and a few random letters-to-the-editor loonies." "You only go to debates, if you've got nothing better to do." "Sorry." "I'm just puzzled." "It's my birthday on Thursday." "31." " I can't stand it." " Why not?" "Because..." "Where were you at 31?" "You were a Paris correspondent, and you had a child." "I share my student's flat with my espresso machine." "I doubt I even like espresso." "Times were different then." "People weren't caught up in the career race." "Tell that to my mother." "If I go home on Thursday   she's going to tell me I'm wasting my life and ought to get a family." "If you go home?" "Don't spend your birthday at a brain-dead debate meeting." "Tell your mom you're coming and tell her to shut the fuck up." "In a nice way." "There's only one thing worse than having a family." "And that's not having one." "See you." "Good morning, Niels Erik." "Make a note in your black book." "I brought Magnus with me because we're going to the doctor's." "Welcome, Magnus." " Go sit on the couch, sweetie." "I trust the PM had a good weekend." "The press has been ringing all morning." "TV1 asks..." "We're not announcing anything until I've made my final decision." "There you go." "I'll be right back." "I promised Magnus a soda." "Always put the bottle on the coaster   or you'll stain the table." "It's an expensive table." "All the allowances in the world couldn't pay for it." "Well, former PM Poul Hartling left a stain over there   so I guess Magnus can leave just a tiny stain." "I'll keep Magnus company until his mother returns." " How about a Coke instead?" "Yes, please." " Come to assist your mom today?" "." " I have a doctor's appointment." "I may need to have my ears punctured again." "I tried that as a kid, too." "But when you're sick, you get spoiled." "When I had scarlet fever, I got a binder full of Donald Duck comics." " First editions." " Still got them?" "Sure." "I'll show them to you some day." "Call Betancourt's people." "Bent, what are you doing here?" "I've drawn up a list of commissioner candidates." "I've got a tight schedule." "You have to make an appointment." " Magnus is going to the doctor's." " Yes." " Good luck, Magnus." " Thanks." "You got a Coke?" "I can't hear my own music." "He just had his ears punctured." "Not so loud, pumpkin." " Hi." " Hi, Bent." "I told Magnus about my old Donald Duck comics." "Him being sick I thought I'd give them to him." "Take good care of them." "They're valuable." " His hearing is still off." "They should be read, not sold." "Nice of you to drop by." "Coffee?" "No thanks." "I'd like to ask you something." "Why won't you talk to me anymore?" "I do want to, but since you're not a minister anymore   we don't see each other that much." "Bent, you knew why I had to fire you." "Yes, but why did that entail  that I stopped being your friend?" "Kasper, I've made my decision." "Sejrø is the new commissioner." "I'll talk to him tomorrow, so we can announce it at the press conference." "A man like you will prompt Betancourt to offer us one of the heavy posts." "Maybe even a vice-presidency." "Don't make me wave the good salary and the perps in front of you." "Thanks, but I'm not interested." " Why not?" "This is just to relieve you of your guilty conscience." "You're sending me off to Brussels to keep me from nagging at home." "For DKK 2.5m you'll be rid of your most severe critic in the party." "I'm trying to get Denmark a highly competent European commissioner." "The Moderate Party's first commissioner ever." "You." "Nice explanation, but it's not the truth." "It's a grand job, but this is not the way to do it." "We've been this close." "We've stood shoulder to shoulder." "If you can't fit me in anywhere, fine, but don't try to buy me off." " What?" " He said no." "You don't say no to a job like that." "What a shame." "He could have done a first-rate job down there." "The Moderates won't get it now." "Our other ministers are too inexperienced." "Unless you want it." "You're doing great as the minister for European affairs." "You know the system, you're clever and popular." "Are you offering me the post?" "I'd like to hear your thoughts about it." "Your offer is flattering   but I feel a huge responsibility for my ministry." "We're in charge when Denmark takes over the leadership in six months." "I'd really like to be the minister in charge of that." "We can't come up with a good Moderate then   so we'll just have to make Labour pay a steep price for the post." " Let me talk to Sejrø." "You won't get anywhere." "Maybe I can get through to him, because we're not that close." " It can't hurt." " Okay." "Try." "He's bright." "And it's sympathetic that he feels responsible for his ministry." "Kruse is aiming higher." "If Sejrø goes, he'll be second-in-command." "He's not going to put that on the line by wasting five years in Brussels." "Stop treating the commissioner post like a rotten egg." "It's an extremely powerful post." "Not if you're commissioner for multilingualism or neighbourhood." " Press conference in two minutes." "And we haven't got a commissioner." "Find us a couple of seats." "I just need to..." " Happy birthday on Thursday. 31." "Yup." "How'd you like to see your old friend Kasper?" "." "I'm going back home." "To hear your mom fret about you being a spinster?" "." "Maybe I'll just work the whole day." "Let me treat you to a nice dinner." "Just tell me how many we'll be." "Good morning." "That's all, folks." "Any questions?" "Any comment on the rumour  that Bent Sejrø is a candidate for the post as European commissioner?" "I don't comment on rumours." "I can assure you I'm doing my utmost to find the best candidate possible." "Labour is mentioning Pernille Madsen and Troels Höxenhaven." "Do you like to hear me repeating "no comment?"" "Can you comment on the latest rumour  that Sejrø is a candidate for the post?" "I'm not sure it adds to the question's validity to ask it twice." "Sources say only Spain and Denmark's nominations are outstanding." "Don't we risk getting a less attractive field?" "No, I just talked to Betancourt." "The major posts are still vacant." "Call Betancourt." "I won't have the Express write our hesitancy will get us an inferior post." "I'll spin it so it sounds like the French are trying to corner the game." "Sounds French to me." "Who is the Danish commissioner?" "." "The two people we approached turned us down." "According to the Politiken Pernille Madsen's interested." "She's interested in anything that gives her more stars on her shoulder." "Nonetheless, she's our best bet now." "Let's hear what Labour has to offer." "I want the Ministry of Finance back, if they get that post." "Or the Ministry of Business Affairs, and they shut up the rest of the year." " Hanne." "Anything wrong?" " What do you mean wrong?" " You seemed a bit off before." " Off?" "Or distracted." "Let me remind you you're speaking to your editor." "How I do my job is none of your business." "Hi, Bjørn." "Thank you for coming at such short notice." "I guess you want to change ministers because of the commissioner post." " I thought you'd choose Kruse." " Jacob is a fine minister." "And he's preparing for when we take over the leadership in six months." "And Bent?" "Those rumours are a hoax." "But Labour always wanted a commissioner post." "I'm sure you're aware that it'll cost you." "Hi, Kirsten." "Long time." "Yes." "Bent told me you're busy." "You in particular, I mean." "Yes." "Are you here to see Bent?" " No, I'm here to see you." "Your secretary said you were out." "Birgitte, I have a great favour to ask of you." "They said on the radio that Bent was one of the top candidates  for the commissioner post." "Please don't choose him." "It was a heavy blow to him when you fired him." "It's taken him six months to resign to the fact   that his presence isn't needed here 24 hours a day." "He's slowly turning back into an ordinary human being." "He tends to the garden and the grandchildren." "Bent already turned down the post  so I'm looking at other options now." "Well... good." "That's wonderful." "Well, that was it." "Thanks." "Bye." " Please don't tell Bent I stopped by." " Sure." "Hi, beautiful." "Tearing down the bathroom?" " No, I'm just clumsy today." "I love it that you have your own key." "I cleared a cupboard for you in the bathroom." "And I made our first joint dinner invitation." "Nina and Thor are back from Vietnam." "They're coming over on Thursday." "Nina is my old school mate." "She's a project manager." "Thor's a journalist with the Weekly." "Are you called anything other than Kasper Juul?" "What do you mean?" " I'm going to order a door sign." "Do you want it to say other than Kasper Juul?" "Are you okay?" " Sure." "It's been a tough day." "I heard Nyborg had to dodge the issue at the press conference." "But you trained her well." " Do you have plans on Thursday?" " No." "I can reschedule." " Stop it." "Thursday's perfect." " Sure?" "I bet you don't even remember what I just told you." "Who's coming for dinner?" "Your old friend from school Nina, who's a project manager." "Her boyfriend Thor is a journalist with the Weekly." "What time are they coming?" "You little as pie." "At seven." "NYBORGTO REVEAL NEW COMMISSIONER TOMORROW" "Hi." " Can I come in?" " Sure." "Don't mind the mess." "Looks just like my apartment." "Would you like anything?" " Maybe an espresso." " Sure." "I've had some personal issues to deal with these last few days." "Thursday is my daughter's birthday, too." " She's turning 25." "Then why are you off to the debate?" "Her father's wife just can't stand the sight of me." "I'd better stay away." "Screw the wife." "You're not there for her sake." "Your daughter will be hurt, if you don't come." "It's not working." "You forgot to turn it on." " Oh..." "It'll be a while, then." " Never mind." "I just dropped by on my way home." "See you tomorrow." "Bye." " Yes." " You have a visitor." "I didn't make an appointment." "What can I do for you?" "I've thought it over, and I'm going to accept after all." "The commissioner post?" "It's a bit late in the day." "Betancourt put the squeeze on me   so I offered the job to someone else." " Who?" " Pernille Madsen." " You can't be serious." "We get the Ministry of Business." "She hasn't got any clout." "She'll get some inferior field." "What the hell took you so long?" "Labour is going to be furious." "Can I still get the post, or do you prefer Pernille Madsen?" "It's a dream come true to have a Moderate of your calibre in that seat." "You did clear this with your wife?" "What do you mean?" "Has she been here?" " Look, you need to talk to your wife." " What did Kirsten say?" "Not much, but she was quite passionate about it." "Kirsten wants me to retire." "Butt out of my marriage." "You've made it very clear we have a purely professional relationship." " Let's keep it at that, okay?" " Fine." " Is the job mine?" "Yes." "Congratulations." "Good evening, Bent." "I'm glad we only have to choose commissioners every five years." "What are you going to tell Marrot?" "What do you think?" "Good evening, Bjørn." "I'm sorry to call this late." "Good morning, dear." "Wow!" "Going some place?" "I'm having lunch with my daughter." ""Maybe new commissioner." Who is the new commissioner?" "No two rumours are alike   but Nyborg is announcing it any second." "I thought you promised me a name." "Who's covering the conference?" " We both are." "Think you're up to it?" "I heard about your little outburst yesterday." "Drink yourself to death, for all I care   but don't embarrass my paper." "Are we clear on that?" "Michael?" "I distracted Hanne." "That's why she didn't hear the question." "Good story, but I'm not buying it." "You get credit for standing up for your soul sister, though." "You enter the Hall of Mirrors and stand behind the two rostrums." "After the photo session you introduce Bent Sejrø." "And then he takes over." "And then we'll take questions." " Jacob Kruse is here." " Fine." "Congratulations on your choice." "It's going to be great." " He'll do a first-rate job down there." "Thanks." "For your efforts, too." "I bet you did yours to make him change his mind." "You'd better think about finding a new deputy leader." "That job's vacant now." " I was thinking about you." "It's yours if you want it." "Thanks a lot, Birgitte." "I'm thrilled to bits." "It's a challenge I can't wait to meet." "Good luck with the announcement." "Well done, Bent!" " Congratulations." " Congratulations." " Thanks." "Let's go over the agenda." "The conference is in 35 minutes." "We enter and take our places." "Are there two rostrums?" "Yes." "I'll begin." "I introduce you as my new commissioner   briefly stating how happy I am that you accepted the offer." "I admire your dedication." "You've always been my role model and mentor." "My big challenge now is how to manage without you." "Words to that effect." "And then you take over." "Sure." "Put them closer together." "TV gives a false impression." "And make sure they're flush." "Christ, Hanne!" "What's going on?" "Christ, Hanne!" "Look out." "Come here." "Are you okay?" "Come here." "Easy now." "Let me see your hand." "Christ, Hanne!" "Excuse me." " Have you got a minute?" "The press conference is in four." " I'm holding Hanne's seat." " She won't need it." "Damn!" "Hanne?" "I really want to help, but the conference is on now." "What happened?" "I thought you were meeting your daughter." "Hanne, we need to get you out of here before anyone sees you." "I have to take her to the ER." "Will you call us a cab?" " Not the ER." " No." "The cab's taking you home." "Hanne, the cab is going to take you home." "Go to bed and don't call anyone." "I'll think of something to say to Laugesen." "What is the greatest challenge facing the European Union?" "The lack of popular support for the Union's political project." "Most of our national legislation is based on our membership." "You have a solution?" "Sure." "That's why my salary outshines the PM's." "I'd better do something about that." "Thank you for coming." " Congratulations." " Thanks." " Congratulations." " Thanks." "Congratulations on your appointment." "The European Affairs Committee convenes at five to celebrate." "We think it will draw quite a crowd including reporters." "Bring them on." " Did you...?" "Yes, a cab took her home." "Thank you for being so discreet." "She owes you one." "No, Hanne owes you one." " Who got the post?" " Bent Sejrø." "Laugesen is going to kill me for not covering the conference." "I taped it for you." "I'll send you the file." "There now..." "Don't forget your things." "About tomorrow..." "I'm not going back home." "Want to do something?" "With a whole bunch of people or just the two of us?" " Is your girlfriend okay with that?" " Sure." "We're adults." "I'll book a table for 7 p.m. tomorrow." " I'll pick you up at the Express." " Sounds perfect." "There he is." "Looking good, Sejrø." "You're on live on TV1 after the committee meeting." "Let's take one thing at a time." "The papers want a double interview." "You're in for a tough schedule next week." "Parliament has to ratify your appointment on Tuesday." "The hearing will take six-seven hours." "They'll ask you anything." "Bent loves exams." "There's the chairman of the committee." "So you finally found your commissioner." "All roads lead to Sejrø." " I chose the best." "We look forward to his speech." "They'll let us in in five minutes' time." "Bent, look at me." "Who's going to water the garden?" "Who's going to water the garden?" "Can I come visit him?" "Hang on." "What ward is he in?" "Thank you." "It's a cerebral embolism, and it's serious." "They don't know, if he's going to need surgery." "Thanks." "I've written a press release." "Thanks." "And then there's this." "You're going to be furious   but it's below us to respond to trash like that." ""The PM knew Sejrø had suffered a cerebral embolism."" "Bent had one before?" ""According to a source close to the family, Nyborg was aware   that Sejrø had suffered a cerebral embolism earlier this year." "And yet she chose him for the stressful post of European commissioner."" "What an ugly lie!" "I'm going to the hospital." "Any news about Bent?" " I'm on my way there." " You're not to blame." "The Express thinks so." "Nobody takes them seriously." "I have the party's unanimous support to take over his duties." " So don't worry about that." "Thank you." "Good morning." "Happy birthday." "I broke it off two days after the Wall fell." "CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE TIME TO DO IT ALL" "Thanks, Hanne." "I really appreciate this." "My daughter didn't show up yesterday." "She kept me waiting for two hours   and then texted that she just couldn't face me." "You haven't talked to her since?" "We don't have the best relationship." "We don't have any relationship." "I don't see her." "Camilla grew up with her dad." "He got custody after the divorce." "She was five." "I thought mothers were sure to get custody back then." "I was always away   in my correspondent days." "I was never home   in Denmark." "So, no birthday with your daughter?" "No, I'm off to the health debate." "I might just buy one of the letters-to-the-editor loonies a soda." "How serious is it?" "The embolism is bound to cause paralysis to a certain extent." "What's the prognosis?" " It's too early to say." "We don't know which centers have been affected." "You have no business here." "You knew Bent was ill." "You knew about his embolism, and yet you offered him a demanding job." "The papers are lying." " I asked you not to." "You didn't say why." "I knew nothing about Bent's illness." " Jacob Kruse said he'd inform you." "You told Jacob Kruse?" "Yes." "Everything." "I spoke to him two days ago, just before I met you." "He didn't tell me." "Kruse deliberately betrayed his colleague and me." " It's happened before." " Don't let it get out." "Moderates stabbing each other in the back up to an election is bad PR." "Kruse doesn't deserve a minister post." "You can't fire your second-in-command." "It looks bad." " Hi." " Shut the door." " Sit down." " How was Sejrø?" "I just told the party secretary  that you're resigning as deputy leader as of this minute." "I'm considering Henrik Kjærså as the new minister for European affairs." "You're taking over the commissioner post." "Sejrø can't go to Brussels." "You yourself were in favour of a Moderate commissioner   and you're the obvious choice." "But my work, my family..." "I've worked my butt off for..." "Kirsten Sejrø came to you and told you about Bent's embolism." "You kept that knowledge from me to further your own interests." " It's not my fault he didn't tell you." " Stop." "I'm not finished." "You also told the Express I knew about Bent's illness   to discredit me." "Why should I discredit you?" "Because you're after my position." "Look, I may deserve a serious reprimand   but can't I just get a smaller ministry?" "No, that would be a waste of talent." "It's not a job you turn down." " Sure it's okay?" " You can meet Nina and Thor later." " Good, because I don't..." " Kasper, it's okay." "I've been in a relationship based on mistrust." "Never again." "Go on." "Hey, hey, hey." "Say congratulations from me, if that's okay." "Kisses." "Happy birthday to you..." "Happy birthday, dear Katrine." " Happy birthday." "Thanks." "Let me just send this." "Someone is joining us." "I hope that's okay." " Our old friend Hanne Holm." "You're a good person." "Thanks." "So are you." "You're just ashamed to admit it." "Good evening, Kasper." "Thanks for the invite." "Katrine didn't want me to be alone." "You'd think it was Christmas Eve!" "You're very welcome." "We're just three old friends." "I promise you this:" "We won't run out of things to talk about." "One of the oldest finds in Europe." "A copy of the Venus of Willendorf." " Beautiful, huh?" " Just what I've always wanted." "Oh, come on!" "It's art eternal." "The original is 24,000 years old." "That's what I call a hint." "It's very nice." "Thanks." " I'll just go and let down my hair." " I'll call a cab." ""Three old friends." We do go back a long way." " "In vino veritas", you know?" "." "That's what all the drunks say." "You're fooling yourself." "You still love Katrine." "I can tell." " Let's go." "We're going to have a ball." "Pumpkin." "You can't sleep?" " Did you have a bad dream?" "Yes, about Bent." "I think I'd better give him back his comics now that's he's sick." "What an excellent idea." "We'll pack them." "When Bent is feeling better, we'll go visit him together." "I miss dad." "Would you like to sleep in my bed?" " I want to go over to Dad's." " But I'm right here." "Yes, but I want to go over to Dad's." "Okay." "JACOB KRUSE NEW COMMISSIONER ONLYYOU KNOW" "ONLY IN THE EXPRESS..." "I'd like to thank the PM for this fantastic appointment." "Still, I'm sad to leave my post as minister for European affairs." "Kruse is the new European commissioner for multilingualism." "Yes, Nyborg had to move fast." "Bent Sejrø had been promised one of the heavy posts." "Yes, rumour had it that he was in line for a vice-presidency." "Correct." "But a greenhorn like Kruse   can't expect to get a post of that magnitude." "That's why he's stuck with a rather inferior field." "Bent, I'm truly sorry about all this." "Do you think we can go back to being friends?"