"I only had my Eurocard from the ministry I'll sort it out with the ministry" "This will make the right person Prime Minister if used wisely" "These receipts are proof that the Prime Minister bought gifts for his wife worth 70,000 kroner at the government's expense" "You're only ever home at night" "And our sex life is almost non-existent" "At least you can be with the kids I miss that" "You go to the appointment with the school psychologist" "Find out how to stop our son from wetting his pants" "Katrine?" "Who are you?" "Your father's name is Peter Juul." "There is no Peter Juul at Eurocopter" "My father took his new wife's name" "He works for the French military" "My mother committed suicide when I was three" ""History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake"" "Thank you." "That was most educational I'm sure the Prime Minister opposes the killing of pilot whales" "Have you stopped wearing a tie?" "lt's the summer break" "What will happen while Parliament is in recess?" "Who told all the head cases that our diary wasn't full, Sanne?" "There's a society against the killing of pilot whales on the Faroe Islands lt's cruelty to animals lt's cultural cruelty to animals, and it's not the government's business" "Anything else?" "An Irene Juul called" "She's very keen to talk to you" "Sanne, you know you're the only woman in my life" "Would you like to see the post?" "Not really." "Anything important?" "Ornithologists wanting to turn northern Jutland into a national park" "Out" "The Danish UFO society" "Out" "And there is also this one..." "Michael Laugesen has written a book about his time in Parliament" ""A caustic and revealing description of life in Parliament" "" Exit tells the true story of Danish politics..." ""...the scandals, swindles and dirty tricks"" "I'll be back in an hour" "Hanne..." "That was quick." "He's not expecting you just yet" "Do you have the book?" "We've given ten copies away to the critics, for their eyes only" "Tell me what it says about me I've saved your neck when you've needed rumours confirming I'm sorry, but I can't" "Michael is down the hall." "Talk to him yourself" "Hi, Michael" "What the hell do you want?" "Can I have a word?" "Talk to my PA and get an appointment lt's important" "OK, I need a piss." "You have two minutes" "Did you write about the receipts?" "The receipts brought Hesselboe down I wrote a book about Parliament." "I had to mention them" "Did you say where you got them?" "Read the book I hate it when someone tells me the ending" "Don't you wash your hands?" "It doesn't make the smell go away" "And Kasper..." "Perhaps you should stop throwing out the jobs pages" "You can't escape the past" "You dropped something" "list OF critics" "The Silly Season" "We're with the school psychologist" "Thank you I'm here as Magnus' mother, not as the Prime Minister" "l hope that isn't a problem" "Not at all" "Phillip tells me Magnus has had a few accidents and wet his pants" "His teacher feels that he is a bit out of sorts I have spoken with her I imagine it has something to do with me and my job" "Everyday life obviously changes when your mother is the Prime Minister" "So yourjob causes Magnus' accidents?" "He's trying to get attention" "Magnus has also wet his pants at school" "And you're not here I'm sure it's about something much bigger than getting your attention lt's not the quantity of time that counts" "In stressed homes, a child reacts to the tone and atmosphere at home..." "Tone?" "Has the atmosphere changed since you have become busier this past year?" "Yes, it's more matter-of-fact" "Phillip and I discuss practicalities" "Practicalities?" "We're more professional." "There are more logistics" "We don't always have time to be friendly" "Do they also see you happy?" "What do you mean?" "Do you think your husband is happy?" "Yes, I do" "Nothing is going on in Denmark" "How about abroad?" "Laugesen's memoirs?" "The book isn't out yet I know what it says I know you do." "But it won't be out till Friday." "Anything else?" "How about buttermilk soup?" "Buttermilk soup?" "Sales of cold buttermilk soup are going through the roof ls that so strange?" "Sales are determined by the weather, and this summer is unusually hot" "Sales are up by 25%." "That's 500,000 litres a week I have an employee who can provide a perspective" "On buttermilk soup?" "Excellent idea" "Let's use that tonight." "And lay it on thick" "Shouldn't we report news?" "lt is the silly season" "There are seven civil wars going on in Africa" "Calm down" "And cholera in Bangladesh" "Shut up -l bloody well won't" "Shut your bloody mouth, will you?" "We have to think of our ratings" "And I don't have to remind you that management loves a nice, happy story" "Buttermilk soup is today's hottest, happiest news" "You can't possibly believe that dairy products qualify as..." "No, I don't want you to give me the book" "Just lend it to me for an hour" "It's OK, Kasper." "I heard about Laugesen's book I'm getting hold of a copy" "What can it say?" "It will dish the dirt on politicians and this government" "Are you in contact with the other media advisers?" "How about you?" "Laugesen must remember the receipts" "I am on the case." "I'll get the book." "No problem I hope you're right" "Are you OK?" "You don't look busy" "Am I right?" "No" "Can I buy you dinner?" "I don't dare go out with the great spin doctor lt's not that dangerous" "And your big news was..." "cold buttermilk soup" "Shut up now" "We may as well have a blank screen till Friday" "What's happening on Friday?" "Laugesen's book will be out" "Oh, yes." "Michael Laugesen." "I've heard of him" "Who has his book?" "Katrine, I know one of you has a copy lt's confidential l'll just mention some names and you can shake your head" "Why is it so important?" "Does Torben Friis have it?" "I don't know lt's you, you nasty thing" "You have the book ls it Ulrik?" "Darling, can we talk for a minute?" "What about?" "Are you happy?" "Am I happy?" "What kind of question is that?" "l want to know how you feel" "OK, fine. I'm slogging away" "We'll survive. I'll survive." "That's how I feel" "Do you mind?" "OK lf you could have anything, what would it be?" "A different job." "I'd like to do something different I teach 22-year-olds about the business sector l'd love to run a company I'm often asked to" "The other day a headhunter rang to ask if I was open to offers" "At that moment I was actually happy" "So you want a new job" "Fine." "What would that entail?" "Sending the kids to boarding school" "Or getting someone to do the school run" "And cook and talk to them" "We could hire an au pair" "No" "We decided we wouldn't" "Do you want me to quit?" "l didn't say that -lt's about priorities" "And what are yours?" "We're talking about you" "Bloody hell!" "You're good" "Do you know that?" "Yeah" "Could you tell your boss to ring me back?" "That's all I am asking lt's not hard." "You're his secretary!" "Just tell him Kasper Juul rang three times" "A woman in reception wants to talk to you" "Can't you see I'm busy?" "I'm sorry." "He's not available" "OK" "She says she's your mother" "I said I didn't want to see you" "So why are you here?" "If you want to contact me, ring me" "Your father is dead" "What did you just say?" "Kenneth, your father is dead" "I'm impressed you work here, Kenneth" "My name is Kasper now" "What are your plans?" "Kenneth, it's just that..." "Do you mind?" "What do you want?" "l need your help I don't know who else to ask" "Just with the practical things for the funeral" "The hospital is asking all kinds of questions" "l can't help -l don't know what to say I can't help you" "If you need help, ring the council" "But I don't know what to say." "Please come home l haven't been home since I was twelve and I have no wish to go home now" "I'll contact an undertaker" "That sounds perfect" "Yes" "Lovely" "Didn't you want to show your mother around?" "She could have come up to say hello lt wasn't my mother." "It was our old housekeeper" "A rather senile old woman who thought I was her son" "Now I see why the guard said that she called you Kenneth" "Actually, it's rather sad" "She just lost her husband -l see" "These are the design proposals for our homepage" "Do I need to be involved?" "Yes, it's our public image" "Let's take a seat" "When Parliament is not in session the rest of us can get some work done" "Aren't you going on holiday?" "A long weekend in August" "We don't manufacture children's shoes or ice cream here" "We rule Denmark and that demands total dedication" "Ministers have always taken holidays." "Hesselboe did" "Hesselboe pretended to take holidays" "A Prime Minister has to appear to be a normal human being" "That doesn't mean they actually go on holiday" "There isn't time for any of us to do that" "Not even for me" "Does your wife understand?" "My present wife does" "My two ex-wives didn't" "Phillip?" "Yes?" "I put the country on automatic pilot." "We're going on holiday." "Now!" "OK" "We could borrow Mads and Malene's summer cottage in Skagen" "Should I ring them?" "It sounds lovely, but intelligence can't clear that at such short notice" "How about the house on Bornholm?" "Right next to your father?" "Doesn't the Prime Minister have access to her own summer house?" "The coolest in the country" "Marienborg, your official residence" "lt's a country mansion" "So?" "What's wrong with that?" "Welcome to Marienborg" "Thank you" "This is Magnus" "And Laura" "Hello" "Hello" "Hello" "Will the children be sharing a room?" "No, thank you" "Fine" "They'll have separate bedrooms" "Great" "We have more than 1 ,100" "You might be sleeping in the same bed as a president" "Do you know all about the place?" "Not everything" "Would you like a guided tour later?" "Very much." "Thank you" "I was wondering about dinner" "How about pizza?" "I promised Magnus" "Good idea" "Excuse me I make dinner when the Prime Minister is in residence" "We didn't know" "Can't we cook for ourselves?" "It isn't customary" "Tonight it's pork tenderloin in a creamy mushroom sauce" "Many ministers have enjoyed it" "ls 6:00pm suitable?" "Fine, thanks" "Pork at six?" "Can't you ask her to take time off?" "l don't know if I can" "Really?" "I thought you were the Prime Minister" "JUDGEMENT DAY" ""Everyone is anxious about Laugesen's revealing new book"" "Will that be a problem for you?" "No, Kasper is getting hold of a copy" "We can read it before it comes out" "What's it about?" "Who is sleeping with whom" "There are always rumours" "Yeah" "Who are you sleeping with?" "What?" "is there anything about you?" "I don't think so." "No skeletons in the closet here" "No, you're a goody-two-shoes" "Top marks and a demure dress" "You're so good, you don't dare ask the servants to take time off" "Are you suggesting I'm boring?" "Not at all" "Just that I have a good wife" "Don't believe everything you read in the papers I'm filthy" "I can't sleep" "I can hear strange noises" "Come here" "Don't you bloody touch me!" "l need to borrow it for half an hour -l am telling you... lf you don't leave now, I'll call security" "Give me that fucking book!" "Just leave, will you?" "You're history" "Up yours" "What the hell is wrong with you?" "What do you mean?" "Did you tell Kasper that I have Laugesen's book?" "No" "Are you sure?" "Yes, of course" "Then why has he been ringing me non-stop and is now threatening me?" "You must have got it wrong" "Got it wrong, have I?" "How about, "You'll never get to interview the Prime Minister"?" "ls Kasper mentioned in the book?" "lt's confidential. I signed a waiver" "Right" "Can't you see that it's a problem that you two were going out?" "Don't take the driving test if you're not ready" "Come by on Monday, and we'll talk, all right?" "please let go of me... I'm only going to Århus for three days" "Come here, Kenneth" "We'lI have a really good time" "While Mummy is away, we can be noisy and watch videos" "We can have a boys' night" "And we'll have Daddy's food, not Mummy's" "I'lI make burgers with chips" "The works." "And ice cream for dessert" "Coffee?" "Would you like some coffee?" "No, thanks" "Has the undertaker been here?" "lt's lovely to see you" "Shouldn't he be here now?" "Your father's shirts" "Do you want to go through them?" "Some of them are new" "No, thanks I think you're the same size" "By the end he was as thin as a rake I don't want any" "Take your time to make the right choices for the deceased I just want to get it over with I understand" "But there are decisions to make about the service, the cemetery and the coffin" "Did he have any final wishes?" "lt will be a strictly private affair I see" "Will the service be held in church?" "No" "He didn't belong to a church" "Kenneth, he did belong to a church" "We agreed that I would handle this" "He didn't belong to one" "Right" "Burial or cremation?" "Burn him" "How about a plot and a headstone?" "Can you still get unmarked graves?" "I would like to get a..." "You won't look after it, anyway" "You know best, Kenneth -l do" "An unmarked grave" "Right" "That's about it, then" "There are some documents for your mother to sign" "Possibly tomorrow" "You can bring them here, and I'll get her to sign them" "Of course" "And as I said, as soon as possible" "Can we canoe together?" "Of course." "We'll beat the girls" "Yeah, right!" "I'll just get a jumper lt's Mum's" "It's Kasper" "Let's hide it down here" "Are we leaving now, Mum?" "As soon as your father is ready" "That's my mobile." "Where is it?" "Kasper?" "Hello?" "I couldn't get hold of the book" "But..?" "But I'm sure Laugesen isn't holding anything back" "What does he have on my ministers?" "l don't know I'm sure the book will reveal that I gave Laugesen the receipts" "Do you have a strategy if it's revealed?" "No" "We'll have to meet and talk" "Yes, OK" "See you" "The worst case is that he exposes you" "That could be ugly -l know" "One option is to remain passive and let Laugesen take the blame" "Say you showed him the receipts during a party" "But he used them and abused my trust" "The trouble is, that doesn't seem credible" "What's the alternative?" "To go on the offensive" "You gave them to Laugesen deliberately" "How will that get me off the hook?" "You saw the receipts in an undisclosed place and were so appalled that you thought something should be done" "You came to me and suggested that they be made public I refused" "Frustrated, you went to Laugesen" "Because I thought Hesselboe's actions were reprehensible" "Precisely" "And you sacked me" "We couldn't work together due to a moral disagreement" "If I ever become Prime Minister will you be my spin doctor?" "What the hell are you..?" "Look what I found" "What?" "A Prime Minister's favourite champagne according to the housekeeper" "Have you tasted it?" "l cheated, yes" "The housekeeper is watching the children so they won't barge in for an hour and a half" "So I think you should kiss your wife" "Wait a minute I can't do it like this" "Should I do something else?" "No, I don't mean that. I... I'm not in the mood" "You're never in the mood any more" "Because you're never home" "We spend every night together" "You come in at 3:00am with a laptop under your arm" "Yes, but now we're on holiday" "We have peace and quiet" "And we have time I wanted to have sex for the first time in a month" "That's fantastic, and I'm sorry I can't participate in the official programme" "I miss my wife" "Why won't you answer your phone?" "Things are busy here" "You threatened Ulrik today." "Have you lost your mind?" "Why is the book so important?" "What's in it?" "I don't know what you mean" "That's why you flirted with me the other day" "Stop it, Katrine." "It's our job to get information" "Yes, I know that" "You tell whatever stories you need to get what you want, but..." "But what?" "You still don't get it after all this time lf you just told me the truth, I would do anything for you" "Can I get you a beer?" "There's one piece of information I never got Laugesen to divulge" "What would that be?" "How he got hold of the receipts from my wife's shopping trip" "When did you last see them?" "When I gave them to Ole DahI who died that very evening" "Two days later, Laugesen showed them to me during a TV debate" "I don't know how he got them" "Did Ole give them to Laugesen?" "No, Ole was very loyal" "No, the truth lies somewhere else" "We'll see if the truth is revealed in Laugesen's book..." "Was it you?" "Did you give Laugesen the receipts during the election?" "is that what he has on you?" "Tell me what happened the night Ole died" "Sit down" "Tell me the truth for once, Kasper" "It's true that I took the papers that night and gave them to Laugesen" "But I didn't go through Ole's bag" "And I did it to save you and your career" "The bag fell over and the bloody receipts fell out" "And you took them?" "Katrine, those papers proved that the Prime Minister broke the law" "You have a duty to act when that happens ls that how you plan to explain it to the press?" "That you were doing your civic duty?" "You stole them from a dead man" "Here we are I need your name and address here and your signature here here and another signature here" "Here's a pen" "So name and address here" "Come on." "Name and address" "Signature, signature, signature" "Feel free to read it first I don't know where to start" "We'll take them one at a time" "Let's start with your signature here" "Can't you sleep?" "Me, neither" "I saw your light on so I know you're awake" "Are you missing Mummy?" "She's coming home on Tuesday" "Do you remember that game we played last time in Daddy's bed?" "I think I'll be able to sleep now" "Let's have some fun first" "When we're alone, we get to decide when we want to sleep I'm tired now, Dad." "I want to go to sleep" "Excuse me." "Do you have a minute?" "The crematorium called." "They have a slot at 12:30pm tomorrow" "A slot?" "Yes, to cremate your father" "Would you prefer to postpone it?" "Tomorrow is fine" "Do you have any opinion on what the deceased should wear?" "No" "Then we'll take care of that" "See you tomorrow in the chapel" "Excuse me" "Hang on a minute" "I'd like him to be cremated in these" "Pyjamas" "Climate Minister Amir Diwan is an inept womaniser" "Finance Minister Bent Sejrø had an affair with Yvonne Kjær" "Justice Minister Troels Höxenhaven has homosexual proclivities" "Several politicians are threatening to sue Laugesen for libel" "And most interesting of all is that it was spin doctor Kasper Juul who got hold of the receipts..." "Yes, Birgitte?" "Morning, Kasper" "Why are my top ministers talking to the press without consulting us?" "I can't gag them" "Have you spoken to their media advisers?" "We should agree on what to say -l have" "Not all spin doctors can control their politicians" "When will you be in Parliament?" "At noon" "Noon?" "Laura, stop making that racket!" "You've known for days that the book was coming out today" "1 1 :30am" "OK." "See you then" "Any comment on the book?" "No comment" "Are the allegations true?" "He'll be hearing from my lawyer." "End of story!" "These allegations are groundless" "We're suing for libel lf you do that you'Il get into a quagmire about whether they're true I don't have to prove that I didn't bang every woman in my group" "But they will ask you, Amir" "And Höx will have to discuss whether he's gay" "That's absurd I've been happily married for sixteen years" "Amir and Höx mustn't talk to the press" "Well, someone has to" "TV1 has asked for a comment" "You give them a short and relaxed comment" "Your holiday has been interrupted by a trivial matter lt's bloody important that we put a stop to it now" "What about the slander about you and Yvonne Kjær?" "You know it's true." "I had an affair with her lt was a right mess, but what's done is done" "Deny it." "You've been sleeping with the enemy" "Denying it would be attaching an importance to the book and admitting it has a valid point" "This has to be hushed up" "But it's in all the papers" "They're all talking about Laugesen's book lf we refrain from commenting it will look like idle gossip and something we shouldn't take seriously" "Our strategy is not to comment" "But we demand a retraction" "No retraction lf we want this to work, we must keep our mouths shut" "But you have to comment, Kasper" "The most serious accusation concerns you and the information on Hesselboe that Laugesen got hold of" "That's bloody specific" "That was what overturned the government I don't see how we can remain silent about that" "How do you feel about Laugesen's book?" "Very relaxed" "Have you read it?" "No." "Gossip doesn't interest me" "Then why break off your summer holiday?" "A Prime Minister has better things to do at times than feed the press" "And the allegations about your spin doctor?" "I was aware about the receipts when I recruited Kasper Juul" "Can Kasper Juul keep his job?" "He'll be making a statement to the press." "That's all I can say right now" "Thank you" "Birgitte Nyborg" "Come on, now. I'm on holiday" "Thank you I'll coordinate it with the office and get back to you" "OK, thank you" "TV1 wants me on the news" "Do it, Kasper" "We can't hush that part up" "Kasper, just so we're clear a media adviser must never be a liability to the government I can't make political sacrifices to save you lf we want to continue to work together make sure you do a good job" "Today's menu is meatloaf" "lt looks delicious" "Thank you" "And it's a suitably light dish for summer" "Laura, that's enough with the mobile." "Come and eat lt's hot and I'm not hungry" "Sit down" "Did you play swingball today?" "No, I fell on the pavement" "The crybaby bawled for ten minutes" "Bitch!" "Mind your language" "Let's have a nice dinner" "Why can Mum text when I can't?" "Because she's the Prime Minister" "How long are we staying?" "Louise is having a party on Friday" "Ask your mother I don't know." "We'll see" "Didn't we both agree to come here?" "Please pass me the potatoes" "Yes, yes" "But it depends on whether you have time to be with us" "Give me the potatoes, please" "You're not really here" "What do you mean?" "You know what I mean" "Give them to me..." "No!" "OK, let's go home" "Fine, let's go" "Come on, kids." "Let's pack" "Can I invite lda over tomorrow?" "Yes" "Hey, answer the phone" "Laura speaking" "Dad, it's for you" "Sascha Rousing from some headhunter thing" "Phillip speaking" "That sounds good" "Tomorrow morning is fine" "Bye" "They're offering me a big position" "Of course I'll say no, but I'll have to talk to them first" "If you like I have some booze for people who are camera shy" "No, thanks lt's not my first time" "Of course. lt was just a thought" "Laugesen will be in once you're done with Juul" "He'd like to talk to you on air I only agreed to be interviewed on my own" "Fine. I just thought I'd give you the option" "You have, twice." "The answer is still no" "Lean back" "lt's my daughter." "Do you mind?" "Go ahead" "Hi, sweetie" "No, Mummy is at work" "We're on in twenty seconds" "l want to apologise for my behaviour -lt's fine" "Just so..." "lt's fine" "Five seconds, four, three, two, one." "Go ahead" "The Prime Minister's spin doctor, Kasper Juul, is a key figure in this" "Laugesen claims that you gave him the receipts that toppled Hesselboe" "How did you get hold of them?" "I can't comment on that I was led to believe they came from Hesselboe's spin doctor, Ole Dahl I can't reveal my sources I'm sure you understand, being a journalist" "Onto a different subject..." "How did Laugesen get them?" "Birgitte Nyborg wanted nothing to do with them but Michael Laugesen did" "How can you defend approaching another party leader with them when your own party leader didn't want them?" "I can't but I disagreed with her" "The receipts proved Hesselboe was using government money for private purposes I felt a moral obligation" "So you acted ethically?" "If that's true, I don't understand why Birgitte Nyborg sacked you" "That's a widespread misconception I resigned because of our disagreement" "We discussed the matter before working together again" "So you think you can continue in yourjob?" "It depends on whether you believe ethical people can be spin doctors" "Thank you, Kasper Juul" "He isn't a spin doctor for nothing" "Farmers in France have again been protesting... I saw the interview" "You did well" "Thanks" "You always were a genius storyteller I don't think you understand" "You'd rather lie about everything than look yourself in the eye" "You sound like a spoilt brat that has never experienced how shit the world really is" "Goodbye, Katrine" "We were talking" "No." "You were talking. I was leaving" "Then leave. lt's easier than taking responsibility" "My father died, OK?" "Oh, your father died?" "Really died?" "Or did he move to France again?" "Hi" "Goodness" "You're home -l came home to change" "TV1 wants me to comment on Kasper and the receipts" "Beer at eleven in the morning?" "Are you becoming a serious drinker?" "I went to meet the headhunters" "They asked if I would be the CEO of via Electronics in Northern Europe" "That's a big deal" "I'm sorry, darling" "You really deserve that job" "I accepted it" "What?" "I took the job" "But we agreed that it would be impossible" "We did, but the problem was, I wanted it" "You wanted it." "Yes, I wanted it." "Don't you see?" "I wanted it" "This is Kasper Juul." "Leave a message" "Hi, it's me again I wanted to talk about yesterday." "Give me a call" "Prime Minister's Office lt's Katrine Fønsmark for Kasper Juul" "He's not available." "He's attending a funeral" "A funeral?" "Yes, he'll be in later on" "Can I take a message?" "No, thank you" "Hello?" "The Prime Minister finds no cause to take the matter further" "Kasper Juul is a trusted employee" "This case hasn't changed that" "But you disagreed with him?" "True" "But Juul made an ethical call and took the consequences" "And I respect that" "Isn't Mummy coming home at 1 1 :30am?" "Kenneth..." "You and I need to talk lt's important that you and I keep our little secret to ourselves" "Mummy wouldn't understand" "She would be upset and angry with you if she ever found out" "And you don't want to upset Mummy, do you?" "Kenneth, look at me" "Do we have a deal?" "hello" "Here comes Mummy now" "No more burgers for us now, eh?" "We're due in the chapel soon" "Aren't you going to get changed?" "Mum, we have to go soon." "Get dressed so we can go I can't, Kenneth" "I can't" "Your mother?" "She's not coming"