"MONOPOLY" "Mads Skjern's business ventures in Korsbæk are unstoppable." "His new clothes factory is going swimmingly." "He has bought a huge mansion and is building a department store   opposite Mr. Varnæs's home." "Maude and Hans Christian pick up the pieces on a trip to Paris   where they meet lively new friends." "They've also got a daughter, Helle." "Their children are not pleased, least of all Regitze,   who is forced to return a puppy on account of the baby." "Elisabeth plans to leave town after Kristen Skjern has married " " Skjold Hansen's daughter, Iben." "Kristen is not happy   and tries to persuade her to stay." "So does Dr. Hansen,   who encourages her to apply for the job as church organist." "As Mads Skjern leads the parish council, she doesn't expect to get it." "Ingeborg intervenes, and Elisabeth is chosen, so she stays in town." "Jørgen Varnæs' expensive mistress Gitte now lives in Switzerland." "Her ex-husband's family has helped Jørgen to a job at Graae's factories." "Mads buys a controlling interest, so Jørgen expects to get fired." "But Mads allows Jørgen to stay." "On Mads' terms." "THE PIECES" "WINTER 1938" " spring 1939" "The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, is welcomed   upon returning from his meeting in Munich with Adolf Hitler." "THE MALE HOUSEKEEPER" " Have you got a moment, Gudrun?" " Yes." " Where's Erik?" " He's playing next door." "Let's sit down." " Therese is getting along fine." " Yes, she's a good cook." "When we moved out here, I thought perhaps we wouldn't bring you." " Why?" " You'd been here seven years." " That's a long time." " But I've been so happy here." "And we've been very happy to have you." "And I'm glad you came along." "But can't I ..." "I'd really like to stay." " How old are you now?" " 23. I was 15 when I came." "Wouldn't you like to be something else?" "Yes, but how?" "And I'm happy here." "Gudrun, would you like to work in the shop?" " All the time?" " Yes, and learn the trade." " Go to commercial school and so on." " Of course, Mrs. Skjern, but ..." " But what?" " I'd miss you, especially Erik." " And there's the money." " You can go on living here." " But I can't be of much help." " You just see to your apprenticeship." " But who will clean this big house?" " I'll get a new maid." "I hope I'll have something to do in the shop too, once again." "Thank you, Mrs. Skjern." " You deserve this chance." " What does your husband say?" "About you?" "He thinks it's a good idea." "Things look worse for me." "He thinks I should sit around as part of the decoration." " Just like the other ladies." " Yes, God forbid." "CLOTHING FOR THE WHOLE family" "I can look at it." "Yes, keep the offer open." "Come in." "I'll let you know this afternoon." "Yes, Mr. Vinter?" "Sorry to disturb you, but Anker called from the clothes factory." "It was about the cloth for coats from Copenhagen." "It hasn't come." "It should have been there last week." " What does Jørgen Varnæs say?" " Anker couldn't get hold of him." "Could you call and ask him?" "If there's any trouble, put him through to me." "If we have to make a hot lunch, you can't boil bottles all morning." " Helle has to have her food." " You should've done it this morning." " It's not my fault you were up late." " I'm sleeping in the baby's room." " I never get any sleep." " She'll get her teeth soon." " Madam could take her sometimes." " Madam needs her sleep." "She's 20 years older than you." "Or should Mr. Varnæs stay up?" "They should have thought of that themselves." "At their age." "Mind your own business." "And turn off that pot full of dummies." "Come in." "What did Jørgen Varnæs say?" "He wasn't there." "He's gone on Christmas vacation." "Christmas vacation?" "Today's December 12." "Where is he?" "Find out where in Switzerland he is and get him home." "Christmas vacation ..." "Oh, Mr. Vinter?" " Forget about Mr. Varnæs." " What about the cloth?" "We'll do that ourselves." "By the way ... I have something to say." "I told you before about my plans for you." " You've mentioned it, yes." " We've expanded now." "I'd like to make use of you somewhere else." " You can always count on me." " Even if it's outside Korsbæk?" " Of course." " Your mother lives here." "I've flown the coop, kind of." "Mother would only be too happy if ..." " So you're still free?" " Yes." "I suppose so." "I want you to drive to Copenhagen and fix that business about the cloth." "Right now." "And if they object, go to Manberg, the manager, directly." "He's retiring in a few months, but he should still be on the ball." " And Jørgen Varnæs?" " Let him stay in Switzerland." " How is Helle, Esther?" " Asleep." "Day is night with her." " Yes, she's a real handful." " We'd like clean plates next time." "Esther should know how unbecoming grumpiness is." " But you look marvellous again." " Getting one's sleep helps." " Did the others scream as much?" " We had Elisabeth then." " And the nannies were different." " And Laura was younger." " We all were." " And Regitze?" "Has she resigned?" "She isn't cheeky anymore." "But she refuses to look after Helle." "It'll come." "No, thank you." "I have to go to the bank." "There's a card from Jørgen." "He's in Switzerland." "He's having a Christmas vacation with Gitte." " Isn't it a little early for vacations?" " Not in business, apparently." " It's different in banking." " I wonder ..." " ls Iben in there?" " Yes, she's in the living room." " Do you want to come?" " Not until after lunch." "Sit down." "Can't you make yourself a sandwich, so we can leave?" " I don't want to." " Then what's her name?" "Yrsa?" "It's Valborg now." "Valborg then." "So we can have a good ride before dark." "I don't feel like it, because Kristen gets angry." " Can't he eat lunch by himself?" " He wants me to sit there." "I got Egon out of that habit." "Those things take time." "I've spent a couple of years on it now." " Why did you get married?" " Why did you?" "We were told it was the thing to do." "And I was pregnant." "You were not." " You used to be crazy about him." " He shouldn't try to change me." " How?" " To make me like the other wives." "When he says, "What about pickling" I get the creeps." " Or, "You must learn to entertain."" " What does he mean by that?" "Arranging dinner parties, getting the flowers to stick out in all directions." "Smiling, keeping my mouth shut when the board is together." "You don't have to do that when you're married to a driving instructor." " Thank God I've got Ingeborg." " You said it was Valborg." " Ingeborg is my sister-in-law." " Oh, Mads Skjern's wife." "She's good at it, even though she's quite normal." "Dinners and things." "She's going to have the board tonight." " Are you going?" " No." " So you're free." " Yeah. I don't know what I'll do." "Can't you borrow the car?" "There's a Christmas party in Slagelse." " Isn't it just a bunch of farm boys?" " We could take someone along." "Plenty of interns at the hospital." " Are you about to saddle up?" " No, we're having lunch first." " Will you join us, Jenny?" " No, I had a snack in the kitchen." " Her husband can eat without her." " I'll wait in the stable." "I'll be there in half an hour." "I don't understand you, Iben." "Why must you choose her for a friend?" "She rides too." "You should be seeing people from our own circles." " They're all ancient." " Still, you could learn from them." " What?" " How to run a household, say." "It still surprises you that we have to eat every day." "You do have a help." " Valborg's already banging doors." " I have to agree with your mother." "It's a mystery what you learned at your Hausfrau course in Germany." "Maybe I learned that I don't want to be a Hausfrau." " Then why did you get married?" " I married you!" "Not the board, and a tub of soap, and an ironing board." " We each have our duties." " Nobody asked me what I wanted." " What is it you want?" " A riding school, for example." "I'm a bank manager. I can't have a wife that's a riding master." "No, it would be better if I thumped the organ in the church." "I also forgot to send your shirts to the laundry." " And how am I to interpret that?" " You'll just have to buy a new one." "Ask Valborg to bring my lunch to the bank." "Do it yourself, I'm going to the stables." "The house and the shop are going cheap. it'll be the first of a series." " If it's not too grand, we'll manage." " I'll be as cautious as I was here." "Jørgensen, the architect, will look at the house tomorrow." "It looks just like that place used to." "The living quarters above the shop   and two tiny shop windows." " Is my husband still alone?" " Mads Skjern is with him now." "Good." "His brother's with him, so I'll be able to do it." " Hello, Mads." " What is it?" "We're working." " Where are you having that dinner?" " At our house." "I thought at the Post House." "What a pity." "I thought I could borrow the car, if you were going around the corner." " Well, I'm not." " I can drive you." "Thanks, Mads." "Hand them over." "I hit the jackpot." " Do you want to come?" " No, thank you. I have to work." "Later perhaps?" "There's a Christmas party in Slagelse, Jenny says." " No, thank you, Mrs. Skjern, I ..." " Think it over." "We're leaving at six." " She's got a nerve!" " Be careful." " Why?" " If you encourage her." "She's a child." " She's just bored." " Bored people are dangerous." "I suppose you know all about that?" " I didn't mean it like that." " Please go back to your desk." "You mustn't be angry." "If I ask you to go to the movies with me tonight." "Please, say yes." "Mr. Skjern sent you to the factory?" "Mr. Skjern sent you to the factory?" "Yes, after he'd talked about the plans he had for me." " And the manager there's retiring." " He's old." "But he's a fine man." " And it won't be Jørgen Varnæs?" " He can stay in Switzerland, he said." "And when the boss says that, he means it." "And at 32, Arnold." "All thanks to being clever and not being tied down." " Believe me. lf you'd married her ..." " But I haven't." "With a wife like that, you'd never have become a manager." " Mr. Skjern doesn't like her either." " Quite right." "She'll never be a lady." " You will break up, won't you?" " I'm leaving town, aren't I?" " Thank heavens." "What time is it?" " Quarter to two." "I've got the childrens' class at two." "I wonder where Mr. Schwann is." " He's probably been delayed." " He's always on time for his meals." " Maybe someone invited him in." " Debt collectors are never invited in." " His lunch is ready for him anyway." " He's not a child." "No." "But he hasn't been himself since the Consul's dog bit him." "Come on, Mother." "You've got things to see to, too." "Come on, Erik." "Come on, Erik." "We're going home." "We're going to have guests." "He's a real rascal." "Not at all like Daniel." "He's probably taking more after the pig dealer." "There's plenty of time before the next ones." "Two coffees, please." "I think you'd better contact the hospital first, Mrs. Vinter." " What about?" " You are to contact ward B." " It's about Mr. Schwann." " ls he ..." "Yes." "He's dead." "The poor man." "He rang somebody's bell on the third floor,   and when they opened, he'd gone." "He was lying on the second floor." " He'd rolled ..." " We all have to go sometime." "Not down the stairs, Arnold." "But life goes on." "I have to go to the hospital." "Can you take the older children at six?" "We're open until eight." " Ulla, then." "They close at six." " I'll ask her." "Thank you." "That's arranged, then." "I'll help with the teenage class." "I can't come tonight after all." " What can I do for you, sir?" " A white shirt, please." "Haven't you changed your mind?" "Jenny says it'll be great fun." " Is the driving instructor coming too?" " He asks if your husband's coming." " God forbid!" "Go on." " Well, if you think ..." "We'll wait in the car." "Good night." " I think I'd better be going." " I hate it when everyone leaves." "It's been a long day." "Good night." "Good night, Mads." "The day ended well anyway." " Thanks for having us." " That's what this big house is for." "Ingeborg likes it." " I think your brother misunderstood." " His wife is very young." "I've known Iben since she was a child." "A restless creature." "I expect she'll settle down." "You can do Kristen a favor by talking to Iben." "I often talk to her. I like her." "Then you can influence her too." "I'm sure the Baron will agree." "Kristen needs a wife who can entertain." " He chose her." " She must be able to learn." "I'm not trying to change people." "Not even you, Mads." " That's one-nil to your wife." " Ingeborg is all right, really." "All right?" "She's wonderful." "That'll be for me." "Hello." "Hello?" " Thank you for the nice sandwiches." " Thank you for your help." "What would we have done without you?" " Well, I know the various classes." " We would never have managed." "And today, of all days." "Yes, it's sad about Mr. Schwann." "Deary me ..." "And on a Wednesday, when Madam Violet has so many evening classes." "Well, goodbye." " And thank you." " Goodbye, Miss Møhge." " More coffee?" " No, thanks." " You promised to take me home." " Mr. Schwann is dead." "Good heavens." "But you don't have to have a wake here." "Mother had to go to the hospital, so we had to do the dancing lessons." "I've got the bank as well, so I'd better be getting home." "Now you can take me home." " The folks are home." " I've got to go." " Can't we go to your place?" " No, I have a busy day tomorrow." "I'd like to know more about that job." "It's an important job." "I can't tell you anything more." "Because Mr. Skjern has to have a meeting before it's vacant." " Where is the job?" " I can't tell you. lt's not important." " It is." " I can't discuss that in the cold!" "Then we'll go into the gateway." "Come on." "I want to know, if we have to move and give notice and all that ..." "You're not coming." " Why not?" " It's best that you stay here." "It had to end sooner or later." "I never promised you anything." "It's for your own good that we break up. I have to go now." "It's your mother again!" "And your nasty boss who can't stand me!" "He's the one who always spoils everything!" " Stop it!" " Why are you doing this to me?" " Stop your screaming!" " Has he attacked you?" " No ..." " We were just arguing." " Can we walk you home?" " No, thank you. I live here." "That's what young people call arguing." " I could have been arrested." " I'm sorry, Arnold." " Go home, you'll freeze to death." " I don't care." "Come on." "Sit down for a while and hold my hand." "Just for a while." " If I must catch pneumonia too." " Just comfort me a little bit." "Then I'll understand it much better." "Then I'll go home." "It's much warmer like this too." "Can I have a little kiss?" "Just one?" "Shouldn't we go back?" "All the things you hear." "That should definitely be reported to the police." "Work in the shop?" "Well I never!" "And how will she get a decent girl instead of you?" "Look at what we got after Agnes." "We got Terese when we moved." "And she's all right." " It's not a real gentlefolk's home." " Real gentlefolk." "What's that?" "That's when the master and madam don't mix with us." " Everyone in his own place." " Still, if Mrs. Varnæs had told me:" "You've been here for seven years, wouldn't you like to learn banking?" " You wouldn't have your own home." " I might." "Some other way." "Yes, she wouldn't be waiting on people till late at night." "What about children?" "Would you like to sit at the bank, looking pregnant?" " You'd have to leave then." " Why?" "You can't have that kind of thing in a bank." "There are customers." "Then why could Agnes carry dishes looking pregnant for those customers?" "That's true." "Right up to the birth they kept at me." ""Oh, Mrs. Jensen, it's not for another week, you can iron."" ""And serve food, if I lend you a dress."" " I was nearly as fat as the Consul." " You can't be fat in a bank." "What about all the fat men?" "The Consul, he's on the board." " The Consul is a man." " Miss Mortensen at the cash desk." "Miss Mortensen." "She's ... she's a spinster." "Women will never get out of the mud." "The flight of thought is not for you." " Empty." "How about a little more?" " l'll do it." "No, I need to wash this down." "Can you get me a beer, Agnes?" "That stuff about flying ..." "What was it?" "The flight of thought, my love." "It might come when you get your own beer." " But you love it." " Who ever told you that?" "Thank you." "I bid 40." "Give it here." "Three beers, Boldt." "Isn't gambling inappropriate during the funeral of a past guest?" " Life goes on." "Your deal, Red." " I painted the stairs where he fell." " I bet that was a long time ago." " 1922." "The building was new then." "It had three storeys." "We called it the skyscraper." "May I pass on the rumor that Madam Violet will inherit?" " If there is anything." " He inherited money from his uncle." "Arnesen plucked that goose before he kicked the bucket." " Thank you for coming." " Mother insisted on coming." "She has few pleasures." " Who are those people?" " From where he fell, I think." " It was the least they could do." " Yes, they always had lots of bills." " Where are all the ladies?" " The Consul sent a wreath." "I should think so." "His dog always bit him." " How kind of you to come." " I was in town to see Father, so ..." "Mr. Schwann would've been happy." "You played beautifully, Miss Friis." "Thank you, Mrs. Violet." "I thought it was you ..." "Yes. I'm home." "Father isn't well." "What cheek." "What does she want?" "Let's go to my place to have coffee." " Well, I have to get back to work." " You must hear the news first." "Miss Jørgensen's become a corsettiere for Spirella." " A well-reputed company." " With quality goods." "For the discerning customer." "So it's finally over between Arnold and that girl?" "Yes, Arnold pulled himself together." " And the big job, where is that?" " That's a secret, for now." " Why?" " It'll be arranged in the new year." " Yes?" " Jørgen Varnæs is here." " Come in, sir." " Thank you." "Take these, will you?" " You're back from your vacation." " Yes, yesterday morning." " Well, it's only January 8." " The journey takes its time." " l'm too busy to take time off." " A trip down south does one good." " But perhaps you're going later?" " My family maybe, but not me." "One doesn't neglect much." "My work won't run off anywhere." "But I have less to do than you." "So I understand, after talking to Mr. Manberg." "I also expressed this opinion to the Graae family's representative." "Mr. Øster, the attorney?" "We concluded that all parties would benefit from another arrangement." "Meaning what?" "You're a free agent." "You want to come and go according to your temperament." "If you are to continue to work for us, it will be on a freer basis." "You will primarily, or should I say exclusively,   deal with matters concerning law." " Well, that's my speciality." " Exactly." "You'll be paid from case to case according to the current fees." "Well, there isn't that much work." "You know that." "If my fixed salary goes ... I realize it'll be a problem, for you." "But I'm sure you see that we can't pay large salaries without sufficient work." " I can't live on what you suggest." " Many people have to." "But you may not be able to do that, and I understand." "So I'm offering you similar tasks for my private enterprises." "The clothes factory and Skjern's shops." "I expect to open more shops." "You will deal with the Currency Exchange." "Unsound payers, the sort of thing I can't burden Mr. Øster with." "Yes ..." "I see." "Of course, you can think about it." "So he offers you to work for him as well?" " Yes. I won't earn more than half." " How much is half?" "600 kroner, optimistically." "I can't live on that." "Many people earn less." "Mr. Stein gets 550 a month." "He's been here for ages." "And he's always done a good job." " Unlike me, you mean?" " Yes." "You must be mad to think Skjern would let you go off for weeks." "I thought the Graae family still had a say." "They didn't say a word." "They've got people to look after their money." " For the dirty work." " lf you will." " What do you want me to do?" " When did you ever listen to me?" "Can't the bank get me something?" "I could get my certificate back." "You can't live on that." "Besides, Skjold Hansen handles our business." " Maybe he'll give it up." " Not for nothing." "He has a huge business." "The bank can't mean anything to him." "That's why you can't live on being our legal adviser." "Do you think Mads Skjern will use a lawyer who also works for us?" "The two businesses have nothing to do with each other." " Unfortunately." " Can't you talk to Skjold Hansen?" " You don't know Korsbæk." " I was born here." "That's a long time ago, although ..." "Although one would think you were born yesterday." "Did you get the message about the pharmacist?" "What's wrong with Daniel?" "We shouldn't have sent him to school, the way he looked." "I thought he was afraid of Mr. Andersen." "It's Mr. Andersen's fault that he has a fever." " Has he infected him?" " No." "Mr. Andersen made Daniel stand in a freezing corridor for over an hour." " Daniel told you that?" " Yes." "So did Henrik." "And it's not the first time." "Andersen bullies Daniel." "I think I know why." "Wasn't he the one who wanted to be the organist?" "Yes." "You'll be finished next summer." "How old will you be then?" "I'll be 34, so it's about time." " And you want to work in this town?" " Yes." "My father is not well." " And I went to this school myself." " There's nothing at the moment." " But I have your address." " Yes." "Or I could inquire myself." " Good luck with your exam." " Thank you." "Mr. Skjern!" "What can I do for you?" "You can tell me how long Mr. Andersen is to stay at this school." "So Miss Mikkelsen couldn't promise you anything?" " She said I could ask again." " Helle is starting school." "Maybe Hans Christian could have a word with Miss Mikkelsen." " l don't know ..." " You'll find something." " You're just tired of studying." " That's not it ..." " What, Vicki?" " Thank you, Esther." " What is it?" " I think he's dead." " Franco is marching on Madrid." " We would've heard." "He's famous." " You don't hear that in a war." " Sooner or later." "Nobody has heard from him for months." " I wish I knew why she blubbered." " That's none of your business." "There's always someone crying in there these days." "If it's not a guest, it's madam crying about Regitze." "Helle is crying." "Now that is your business." "What's this about, Ilona?" "Surely we can talk on the way home?" " It's about the school." " Well, then keep it brief." " I've got my coat on." " I'll be extremely brief." " You'll have to leave." " Why?" "This hasn't been the first complaint." "Those fussy parents won't let the school educate their spoilt children." "We weren't soft at the council school." "Spare me your memories." "You have to understand that it's over." " What is over?" " You can't teach here any longer." "You've got a pension." "You have your own apartment, too." "Stay there in the future." "Miss Svendsen doesn't like your tone." "is your housekeeper going to decide who stays in your home?" "Come in." " I'm sorry ..." " Do come in." " It's about the protocol, isn't it?" " Yes." "This will only take five minutes, then we can go over it." "He put you up to this!" "I've seen you smirking." "Spare me your innuendos." "You only have yourself to blame." "You'll regret your callousness, Ilona." "What on earth is that?" " l'm trying to learn French." " Can it be learned like that?" " So they say." "Daniel's better." " Me too. I saw Miss Mikkelsen." " What did she say?" " Mr. Andersen will be dismissed." " I hope you weren't too hard on her." " No." "Hello?" "Yes ..." "This is Mrs. Skjern." "Yes, my husband has come home." "Just a moment." "It's for you." "Yes?" "Hello, Mr. Varnæs." "Yes, of course." "If it can be here, before too long." "Straight away?" "Certainly." "Goodbye." " It's Mr. Varnæs." " I hope it's not inconvenient." " I tried to catch you at the office." " I left early, for once." "We're going to Brydesø for dinner." "Won't you sit down?" " I've been to parties here as a boy." " ln Mr. Munk's day?" " Your brother remembered that too." " Yes. I'm here on account of him." " Cigar?" " Yes, please." " Can I offer you a glass of sherry?" " Thank you. lf you're having one." "I expect your brother informed you about our new offer?" "Yes." "Thank you." "This is difficult for me ..." "Like I said, we're going out." "I'd like to say something first." "We haven't spoken for years." " We didn't have much to talk about." " You must believe me ..." " When you came to town ..." " Yes, we met a few times then." "I think I may have made the mistake of underestimating you." "You don't have to apologize now." "As you can see, things worked out." "Things may have been different if ..." "You know what I mean." "Yes." " But about your brother ..." " Yes." "Blood is thicker than water." " That applies to all families." " He's in a regrettable situation." " You object to him working for me?" " No, I don't." "But I'd like to ask you something." "You have every right to refuse." "My brother returned his certificate, hoping he'd be factory manager." " That was a little hasty." " That's true." "He has sold his law practice, but he could start again here." "There are many lawyers in Korsbæk." " If he got a reasonable basis ..." " I've offered him as much as I could." "Apart from your offers, would you approve   if he also gave Korsbæk Bank legal assistance?" " Korsbæk Bank?" " I understand if you refuse." "It's just that ..." "Doesn't Skjold Hansen do that for you?" "He's willing to give it up." "It's pocket money to him." " It'll be that for your brother, too." " Yes, but combined with the rest ..." "I can see now that I'm asking too much." " If it's just legal assistance ..." " My brother has no other influence." " I don't see why it couldn't be done." " Do you mean that?" "Provided I get Jørgen Varnæs's unconditional loyalty and discretion." "If not ..." "Well, you understand." "I thought Hans Christian was with you." "He had to go to a meeting." "He should be here soon." " Do you want one?" " No." "Is Gitte still in Switzerland?" " For the time being, yes." " Laura picked aconites in the garden." " A big chunk of it's gone." " Well, it was big." "And we won't see the building once the wall is up." "Skjold Hansen wanted to build three storeys." "But Hans Christian refused." "One big pile is enough." "You've helped yourselves." "I need to wash that sherry down too." " So you got sherry?" " That's right." " How did it go?" " Fine." " You see?" "Everything's all right." " That's up to you now." "It was kind of you." "We were talking about the garden." "We've picked aconites." " So you have." " And the building." "We'll barely see it for the trees, especially if it's just two storeys." "It's three now. I forgot to tell you." "That was the price Skjold Hansen wanted." "For a favor he did for Jørgen." " Waiter, the menu, please." " Certainly." " Nice of you to invite me, Inger." " I can finally repay you." " I thought you'd never go back here." " Just this once, as a guest." "Sit down." "Would you kindly replace the table cloth while we wait?" "Life goes up and down, Boldt." " I'll buy you a liqueur." " Has Arnold been appointed?" "No." "But remember the things I inherited from Mr. Schwann?" "I don't have room, and Arnold didn't want them." "So I had to go to an auction." "We didn't think it was anything special." "But then a man came to value it." "He said the picture of the boy   was by someone called Jens Juel." "He's famous." "Well, he died long ago, but the painting is worth a lot of money." "It's going to be sold at an auction in Copenhagen." " My good man ..." " The table's laid for today's special." "I see it consists of forcemeat and stewed apples." " I do not eat forcemeat." " Today's special is today's special." " May I offer you some stripey pork?" " How kind." "Why?" "." "In memory of all the stripes you put on my bottom at school." " Forcemeat!" " And?" " A jug of water." " A jug of Adam's ale." "Right." "The bill, please." "He's been Miss Mikkelsen's dinner sweetheart." " I'll pay the liqueurs." " There you are." "Without liqueurs, plus 10 %, 14,25." " Thank you." " Keep the change." " That was far too much, Inger." " Now he knows who I am." " And I'm not coming here anymore." " You're a proud one, Inger." " There's more coffee." " You take it." " I have to measure the consul's wife." " Is she having a Spirella corset too?" "It'll give her a girl's figure." "You should try." "A Spirella supports and puts everything into place." "And you're getting some money now." "Thanks, Inger." " Would you like to read the Courier?" " No, thank you, I get it at home." "Yes ..." "I know you, actually." "You're Mrs. Vinter with the dancing school." "Yes, I know who you are, too." "You taught Arnold at school." "That's right." "Arnold Vinter." "An excellent pupil." " Well, he is doing very well." " Pardon?" " I just said that Arnold's doing well." " Well, he went to a good school." "Allow me to offer you some of mine." "Well, I was going home ..." " I was going to offer you a liqueur." " Were you?" " With your permission." "Waiter!" " How kind of you." "Some fresh coffee, please." "And two DOMs." " The hairdresser's here." " So soon?" "She's early." " Yes, but she wants to do it now." " Show her up, then." " It's not like when Mrs. Erna came." " Fancy getting anyone on a Sunday." "When there's a party and the hairdresser's closed, what can I do?" " What I do, do it yourself." " You're not going to a ball." "I'm playing at the five o'clock performance in church." " Imagine if the priest heard you." " He never listens anyway." "He prefers his own voice." "Can you comb it a bit forward here?" "That's lovely, Miss." " Or is it Mrs. now?" " No." " Weren't you getting married?" " Not anymore." " But you've been engaged for years." " I feel so sick ..." " Miss Hansen, you poor thing .." " May I?" "Excuse me ..." " Sorry." " Was it something you ate?" " lf only I had." " Are you in pain, Miss Hansen?" "I'm going to have a baby." " But then you will get married." " He won't have me." " When you're having his child?" " It happened after we broke up." " But it was him." "In the gateway." " The gateway ..." "What does he say?" "He doesn't know." "He avoids me." "No, no one's like that." "If you tell him, everything will sort itself out." " He won't speak to me." " Then write to him and tell him." " Do you think so?" " Yes, it'll make him happy." "Dry your eyes now, and go down to the kitchen and have a cup of tea." "She can't even spell." "It can't be you ... in the gateway." " Say it isn't you." " I can't very well do that." "She's done it on purpose." " How shall I reply?" " You won't reply ... yet." "She can report me to the police." "What will Mr. Skjern think?" "I'll keep this." "I have that money from the picture." "I'm having a visitor." "We'll talk about it tomorrow." "Good evening, Mr. Andersen." "Come in." " Mrs. Violet ..." " Thank you." "You know Arnold ..." " How do you do, Mr. Andersen." " He was a good boy." "And clever." "He still is, Mr. Andersen." " Aren't you going home?" " I have to talk to somebody first." "Well, good night, then." "Where's Arnold?" "I thought he was coming, too?" "That stately Mr. Andersen is waiting for you out here." "Would you ask him to wait in the restaurant?" " Good evening." " Good evening." "Here you are." "Let's wait for the children before we have coffee." "Oh, yes, of course!" "Jørgen Varnæs delivered it himself." "Yes, he's been to Skælskør to do the paperwork." "Now it's no longer Skjern's Shop, but Skjern's Shops." " One, two, many ..." " Exactly." "I was thinking ..." "If Arnold gets that job, you'll need me in the shop." " But you still do the buying." " I miss the daily work, Mads." " The customers and the shelves ..." " That's a shop assistant's job." " But ..." " But what?" "Arnold will need me for some days in the beginning." "Then you can be me." " I think you should accept my offer." " Why can't I talk to Arnold about it?" "Do that if you want, but then I'll withdraw my offer." "It's a nice place." "And discreet." "And when the baby's been adopted, you can open your own hairdresser's." " How can you suggest it?" " It's hard to be alone with a child." " I mean well." " Arnold's father didn't leave you." "No, he died, but it was hard just the same." "And soon everyone can tell!" " You must give me an answer!" " I want to talk to my mother first." " You?" " I've got to talk to you." " We'll talk at home." " No, Dad's there." "And the others." " We can't talk here." " We could go to the park." "You've got Betty and her boy at home." "Yes, but your sister didn't get an offer like that." " But how can you ask me to ..?" " I want you to think carefully." " You've got a good job." " You've got five children yourself." " I had the first one by mistake too." " Me?" "And then I got your dad and the four more children." "Look at me." "Is that the kind of life you want?" "And the children." "What's become of them?" "But I always thought you'd get your own hairdresser's." "And now ..." " Do you think I should ..?" " Yes, for the baby's sake, too." "The second and third windows must be redecorated." "Mr. Vinter, the boss wants you." "Come in." "Sit down." "A while ago we discussed my needing you somewhere else." " Yes, that was before Christmas." " Now I can tell you what it's about." " Mr. Varnæs, the attorney ..." " Yes, we talked about him too." " His Christmas vacation ..." " Well, that's all over." " He has other jobs to do now." " So I understand." "Among these were the purchase of our next shop." "Look ... ln this little house in Skælskør we're opening a new branch   that will hopefully grow as big as this one." "And you've been here from the start   so I thought I'd make you manager of the shop in Skælskør." "I'm confident that you can do it." "There's a flat above the shop." " You'll get that, of course." " Thank you." "When will it be?" "The builders are working at it." "It'll take a couple of weeks at most." "I'll come with you to get the shop going." "But we'll discuss it tomorrow." "I'm off to Copenhagen, to the cloth mill." "Weren't they getting a new director?" "Yes, Mr. Øster's found the right man." "He's the one I'm going to see." "Mr. Vinter, your mother's waiting." "He's here, Mrs. Vinter!" "She's accepted the offer of a discreet vacation. I'm so relieved." "You were with the boss ..." "Has it been settled?" " Yes, he just told me." " You're going to Copenhagen!" " Not so loud, Mother." " They'll all know." "No, because I'm going to manage a shop in Skælskør." " I've left the phone number." " I rather like sitting here." "But I want to say goodbye to Arnold." " Good luck, Arnold." " Thank you, Mrs. Skjern." "Gudrun, if it gets busy, just call me." " Mother promised to take me." " She hasn't finished work." " She never will." " We have to live." " Yes, especially you." " I can't help it if I can't find work." " Now what?" " I have to buy something." "I don't care!" "You can tell Mr. Skjern!" "Let go of me!" "You'd better come, Madam, it's that hairdresser, Arnold's ex-girlfriend." "She's smashing the whole shop!" " What happened?" " I'm sorry." "She has a terrible temper." " Just start cleaning up." " Do you want me to call the police?" "No." " She'll get a good hiding." " I want to talk to you." " She has a train to catch." " Well, she can't go like this." " I had to take her." " Just leave her things here." " That looks fine." " Things are fine in Skælskør, too." "Oh, you know?" "Yes, we got it ready in time." "It's a nice shop." "And a nice flat." "I went there today." " Was that why you needed the car?" " I had to ask Mr. Vinter something." "If he was sure he'd remembered to bring everything from Korsbæk." " I suppose he had?" " No, he'd forgotten something." " But now he's getting married." " Married?" "Perhaps you didn't know he was engaged ... or did you?"