" Is it someone's birthday?" " They're for you." " The interview had a lot of impact." " "At last, a dependable politician!"" "Thank you." "You saved us from the guillotine." "You want to discuss nuclear power?" " Do you know that woman?" " She's my sister." "Could I tell you something?" "No..." " What's this?" " Some accident at sea." " Viksten has covered it up." " You believe this crank?" "Do you know about the collision involving the Pandora?" " Do you know about this incident?" " Yes, I do." " We have to get rid of Charlotte." " She's a highly competent minister." "I'll be making certain changes after the elections." "Charlotte should have kept that in mind." "Thomas..." "It's pretty disgraceful if it turns out there was a cover-up." " What happens next?" " You did the right thing." " What's on your mind?" " You know." "Your display makes me wonder if you know what being a politician is all about." " Was I supposed to lie?" " At times it's best to say nothing." "I should be one of the first to know about any incidents on the Baltic Sea." "And it would be scandalous if such facts were suppressed." " You don't know if it's true." " I have a reliable source." "Every letter we receive is registered and a reply is sent." "But if someone sends 10-20 letters a week, they could be a crank." "In cases like that, only the first letter is registered." "And the rest are put in the same folder." "That's what generated these absurd accusations about disappearing documents and suppressed facts." " I call it administration." " So who's telling the truth?" "What's your intention?" "Stirring things up has nothing to do with politics." "The end justifies the means." "The truth is the end." " Do as you please." " Wait." "Why isn't anything happening?" "Did you expect Viksten to show up and rap your knuckles?" " He'll be in touch, all right." " Why is it taking so long?" "I guess they don't know what to do." "Or maybe they're just not unanimous." "There are several fingers on the trigger." "THE COVER-UP, WHY VIKSTEN DID IT" "Gert Jacobsson, leave a message." "I'm always alone, for Christ's sake." "No, we shouldn't see each other." "Maria..." "It gets too complicated." "Bye." " Something wrong?" " No." "Hi, sweetie." "I..." "I'm going to look for a job." "Assignments abroad will have to wait." "Maybe I can find something here." "If they'll accept a dad who can only work 7 5 %." "What about Jens?" " He likes it in day care." " The hours will add up." "And he's so little." "Charlotte Ekeblad speaking." "Hello?" " Hello?" " No one there..." " I bet it was Maria." " She calls all the time." " She does?" "No." "But she's alone all day long." "And all those hormone treatments..." "Micke is always working." "The only time they see each other is when he has to go to the hospital and jerk off." " Doesn't that sound poetic." " It's the truth." " What have you done today?" " I'll go watch the news." " Are you avoiding me?" " Why would I do that?" " You tell me." " I'm in a hurry." " Why doesn't the PM make a statement?" " He will, soon." "But any denials make it sound like there's some truth to the accusation." "Charlotte will have to go now, right?" "She's featured on our campaign posters." "That's a decision I haven't okayed." "Things like this don't happen if the marriage is a happy one." "This won't work..." "It was a mistake." "What do you feel for Charlotte?" "Indifference." "A bloody void of indifference." "Hi." "Hi." "Christ, I've really missed you." " I want to thank you." " What for?" "For taking care of Thomas." " I figured we could go out and eat." " Where you work." "All right." "We'll be getting together at Midsummer, won't we?" "Are we ready to go?" " Coming, Maya?" "Catch you later!" "Let's go to Mummy's workplace for lunch." "Let's have the bag." " Come." "Cabbage is good for you." "I don't feel like it..." "spending Midsummer with them." "What?" "We always spend Midsummer together." "I know I've been pretty wrapped up in myself lately." "I guess I haven't realised what you've been going through." "Really?" "What's it been like, then?" " When are you going to work less?" " I can't, not with this job." "The job you wanted me to take too, remember?" "You wanted me to go out there and fight." "Well, maybe I want to do that too." " What about that interview?" " I didn't get the job." "Because I could only work 80 % and I can't travel." "It will be your turn soon, I promise." "We can make it." "As long as we have each other." "Charlotte Ekeblad speaking." "I'm on my way." "It's a press conference with the PM." "All right then..." "I'll see you at home." "Is it all over now?" "Do you have any idea how many false alarms we receive each year?" "Are you familiar with the hallmark of a conspiracy theory?" "The lack of evidence." "Circumstances are presented with a shaky theory linking this circumstantial "evidence"." "That might be something to consider." "Then there's the human factor, which is that people talk." "Sooner or later..." "We will be meeting the press in four minutes." "No one knows what actually happened out there on the Baltic Sea." "Are you with me - or not?" "I'd like to start out by emphasizing that incidents are commonplace at sea." "A few years back we were alerted to the fact that a ship carrying nuclear fuel had been involved in an unpleasant situation." " Off the coast of Bornholm." " Where people go on holiday." "But the helmsmen managed to avert an accident." "Perhaps our statements should have been more explicit, but since the facts were not clear-cut, we decided to keep a low profile." "We did not want to generate panic." "A decision that turned out to be a prudent one." "You claim that no collision took place?" "That's right." "Charlotte, what do you say?" " I wasn't in office back then." " But Sören Bergwall was." "Sören Bergwall acted in a responsible and judicious manner." " But you are ultimately accountable." " Certainly." "But I have nothing to be ashamed of." "I can stand up to scrutiny." "As an aside, our Coast Guard will be provided with new boats equipped for cleaning up oil and towing tankers." "Now that's good news, isn't it?" "Thank you." " Charlotte, I'd like to..." " Not now." "You keep your cool and look to the future, like a true politician." "One day the truth will be known." "You're not responsible." "Of course I am." "I don't know what to do." "We are travelling musicians from the town of Skaraborg" "We are travelling musicians from the town of Skaraborg" "We can play the fiddley-fiddley-fiddle all day" "We can play the bass fiddle and the flute" "Maria, that song you do, how does it go?" "As long as we still can walk As long as we still can talk" "As long as we can still sing we'll drink our good health" "Cheers!" "Who ever told you the stork delivered babies" "To the joy..." "Did you know that the Green's spokesperson married a nun?" "What are you talking about?" "He was looking for an unspoiled bush." "Lotta, do you dream about politics?" "Then it's gone too far." "You need to keep a certain distance." "I never dream about reports." "I never remember my dreams." "I know what Thomas dreams about." "My wife." "Or rather..." "He used to dream of her, only now he doesn't have to." "Because now he can fuck her." "When we're at work, they screw." "Shut up, for God's sake!" "Just look at her." "You can't tell that she can suck the chrome right off a towing hook." "What?" "Is this true?" "Thomas..." "Is it true?" "I'm sorry." "Lotta..." "Oh, Lotta..." "What the hell have I done?" "How many times?" " How many times?" " Once." "That's all." "Where?" "Does it matter?" "No..." "In our bed?" "I see." "What was it like?" "Come on, what was it like?" "To penetrate my best friend in our bed?" "Was it nice?" "Where were the kids?" "Where were they?" "In the room next door?" "Did they see anything?" "Maya usually comes to us at night, did she do that when she was there?" "No." "Don't..." "I can deal with anything but this." "Well..." "No." "Christ..." "It hasn't been easy to reach you." "A new reality TV series is today's front-page news." "No one can be bothered by the Pandora incident." "I thought there had been a miscarriage of justice." "In the US, infidelity has more impact on a president's reputation than war." "Thomas moved out yesterday." " I thought you..." " ...had a happy marriage?" "No, a solid one." "I intend to go on working as usual." "You'll have to win back Viksten's confidence, or you'll be replaced by Hellenius." "I haven't given up on you, but you can't afford any more mistakes." "And don't let personal problems get in your way, like most women do." "Breaking down is not an option for politicians." "I won't break down." "No." "You know, men are twice as likely to cheat, compared to women." "If that's any comfort..." "Weren't you a little hasty, throwing him out like that?" "I bet you would have done the same thing." "Would I?" " Lisbeth speaking." " Hi, it's me." " Could we get together?" " Come and see me." " I'm stuck here." " I see." " Maybe some other time." "Take care." " Bye." "Hi there!" "Are you still up?" "Sweetie pie..." "Thomas..." "We're not surprised." "You can't combine being a minister and having a family." "It's an impossible equation." "Not if the minister is a man." "And besides, I'm the one who screwed up." "Do you want to borrow some money?" "It's a disaster." "I'm stuck in a meeting." "Could you help me out?" "Thanks." "You're a life-saver." "Well then..." " Freddy, do you have any candy?" " Let's check in the car." "Hi, it's Pierre, the doorkeeper." "Tell Ekeblad she has a visitor." "It's a relative." "All right." "Go on in." "Shout if you want more coffee." "The last time I was here I wasn't ushered into this holiest of holies." "You weren't exactly in the mood for the grand tour." "So, why are you here?" "Another protest meeting?" "You wanted to see me." " You came for my sake?" " I was entitled to some time off." "May I have your keys?" "Or should I stay at a hotel?" "And I'll take the kids along." "I've been so lonely." "Bye." "Bye, sweetie." "I'll see you later." "Bye-bye." "Good news." "Please read this and enter any changes you'd like made, and Louise will make a copy of it." "Am I interrupting anything?" "I'll come back later." " Hi." " Hi..." "I..." "Could you spare me five minutes?" "I don't have anywhere to stay." " I can't stay with my parents." " Because your dad cheats on his wife?" "And your mother just goes on polishing his golf clubs?" "I haven't been able to land a job either." " Who's taking care of the kids?" " Lisbeth." "She took care of me when I was a girl." "They're my kids too, I miss them dreadfully." "I need to find a place to live." "Without a job, I can't buy anything." "And I can't afford to sublet a place for 10,000 kronor a month." "I really don't want to borrow money from my parents." "All right, I'll lend you the money." " Thank you." " I'm doing it for our kids' sake." "Hi." " There's enough for you, too." " Thanks." "Hi." "This is great!" "LOTTA'S BEEN DUMPED" "I've got to go." " I'm sorry." " Magnus Svensson wants an interview." " I'll do it." "No." "He won't rest until he gets the answers he wants." "Things can't get any worse." " Shall we get started?" "Why didn't you have children?" "I didn't dare." "Both of us work at the plant." "You don't know how much radiation..." "The son of one of my friends at work got thyroid cancer." "There might be a connection." "That means we've both been living a lie." "I pretend that I like my job and you pretend that Dad..." "I don't know." "It's a one-bedroom flat in Bergsundstrand." "The windows face the courtyard, but there is a small balcony." " Brown tiles in the kitchen." " Poopy brown." "Are you kidding?" " It's been a while, Lisbeth." " Yes, Bua is out of the way." " What about these?" " Yes." "This will do for now." "Until you've made your mind up." "Listen..." "I can come back, you don't have to..." "Lotta..." " Shouldn't you be in bed soon?" " No." " What story are you reading?" " I don't know." " Is Aunt Lisbeth reading one to you?" " No." "Daddy, why do you have to go?" "I don't want you to go!" " Do you like to cook?" " Let's skip the small talk." "All right." "I'm not an interpretive journalist, I write about the facts." "Then I leave the rest to my readers." "I don't pass judgement." "Is it right to have the government driver pick up your kids from day care?" "Our tax money pays his salary." "The general public." " It's happened once or twice." " The day care staff says five times." "Take as many pictures as you like of me, but leave my family alone." " Aren't you separated?" " Don't take pictures of my children." " Are you seeing Henrik Sand?" " Henrik Sand?" "I'm sorry, I have more important things to do..." "Then tell me about the black-market flat at Bergsundstrand." "I'm sorry..." " Of course it was under the table." " A black-market contract?" "Did you think I could get a co-op for 300,000 in that area?" "I didn't give it much thought." "I figured it was a down-payment." "Damn it!" "Go to hell!" "The driver picked up her kids." "Your taxes paid for it!" "I was a victim" "Charlotte has always been motivated by a desire for power" "THE MINISTER'S BLACK-MARKET FLAT" "Do you mind?" "Yes." "What's the expression...?" ""Deus ex machina"." "We didn't have to do a thing - divine intervention." "The press shot her down." " Have you talked to Meyer?" " She's not taking our calls." "We're talking about Charlotte Ekeblad." "We journalists created her." "Right, we made her our political crown princess." "She was a breath of fresh air, a visionary." "Or so we thought." "And she looks good in pictures..." "K-G Bergström from Rapport here." "I want an interview with Ekeblad." "Hello, this Elisabeth Höglund from Aktuellt." " This is from Radio Sweden..." " This is from Expressen." "Lena Melin from Aftonbladet." "I have three questions..." " This is Elisabeth Höglund again..." " This is Mia from Agenda..." "Magnus Svensson." "Sweden's top journalist." "You tell it like it is." "What a great campaign against Charlotte." "Thanks for being on our side." "Listen, I want you to know that I'm not on anyone's side." "I heard on the radio that my "shelf life as a politician had expired"." "And that I was a product of media hype." "Does that make it all right to sink me?" "I've been an active environmentalist for 17 years." "That is my political foundation." "I have no reason to apologise." "I haven't done anything wrong." "Stop it!" "Leave me alone!" "That sultry office in Kampala never materialized." "But now I have a temporary post at the Palme Centre." "I just want you to know that you know where to find me if you need me." " I realise you're going through hell." " Mainly due to your efforts." " That's mine." " This?" "May I have it?" "Then I want these." "Okay, it's a deal." "You sit here." "Make sure the bad lady doesn't pinch any sweaters." "Dad didn't die in an accident, did he?" "He committed suicide." "Why do people lie to themselves?" "Maybe you have to." "In order to bear it all." "Yes, but for all these years." "It's too hard to take..." "The fact that he couldn't manage to go on living for our sakes." "Our dad loved being a fisherman." "But the nuclear power plant put an end to commercial fishing there." "They offered him a job at the plant." "To him, it was like being in prison." "He hated them." "It was as if he took the very existence of the plant personally." "That they were out to get him." "Poor Mum." " Did she find him?" " No." "I did." "They took away his pride." "You can go in now." "Unfortunately, I have various aspects to consider." "The elections are coming up and we need to be perceived as a solid unit." "We cannot accommodate distinctive personalities." "But I do have an offer for you." "Here is a press release." "You have two children, so no one will be holding this against you." "A post as the head of the Swedish Road Administration." "No, thank you." "Wasn't that what you said, Freddy?" "That there were two trips you never forget, your first and your last?" " Elon Larsson speaking." " Meyer here." "Elisabeth?" "What an honour." "You always ask me to dance even though you are shorter than me." " But now I'm asking you to dance." " So it's my turn at last." "I'd like you to add a name to your list:" "Charlotte Ekeblad." "All right." "We'll show those Party bigwigs who's in charge." "And finally get some attention!" "Dear friends..." "We have won the election." "Thank you very much!" " How does it feel?" " It's in the bag." "We beat them!" "The Social Democrats are the winners." "There's no mistaking the joy and relief on display here." "But the big surprise is in the province of Halland." " Henrik, are you with us?" "I most certainly am, Mats." "I'm in Halland, the heartland of Sweden." "Standing next to Charlotte Ekeblad." "More than 10 % of the voters voted for you." " What does that mean?" " That I'll be a member of parliament." "And that the people of Sweden have faith in me." "Will there be any changes?" "Even though we live in a fast-moving society, politics moves slowly." "Democracy is a slow process." "And that's how it should be." "Decisions should not be made too quickly." "Even though giving us politicians a kick in the behind can do wonders." "There's one more thing." "When it comes to work, I've always been honest." "I've never lied." " Never?" " Only to myself." " But I've stopped doing that now." " Thank you, Charlotte Ekeblad." "I'm back!"