MONOPOLY
Mads Andersen-Skjern, widower and father of Daniel, -
- visits Korsbæk in 1929 as a commercial traveler in clothing.
He goes to the fine old clothing shop, The Ladies' Store, -
- owned by Albert Arnesen, an ageing father's boy -
- who is married to a young and lively girl, Vicki.
Andersen-Skjern is ignored and neglected.
He sees the same happening to all lower-class customers and leaves.
Opposite Arnesen's shop, the saddler's house is for sale.
Diagonally opposite is Korsbæk's bank.
lts manager is Hans Christian Varnæs.
His family is the top of the town's social upper crust.
Apart from his wife Maude and the children Ulrik and Regitze, -
- the family includes his sister-in-law Elisabeth, -
- who now runs her sister's house after an unfortunate engagement.
Frequent visitors are Varnæs' brother Jørgen, attorney in Copenhagen -
- and Conservative candidate for the constituency, -
- his wife Minna, Colonel Hachel, father of Vicki, Dr. Hansen, -
- 96-year-old Mrs. Fernando Møhge and her daughter, Misse.
Mads Andersen-Skjern decides to investigate Korsbæk's possibilities.
ln the Railway Restaurant he meets Oluf Larsen, the pig dealer, -
- and his friends, who confirm his belief that Korsbæk has possibilities.
The pig dealer invites him and Daniel home to his wife Katrine, -
- his daughter lngeborg, a divorcee, and her little girl, Ellen.
Next day, Andersen-Skjern buys the saddler's house in Korsbæk.
THE NElGHBOR
Have you had enough?
- You mean ''Yes, thank you''. - Yes, thank you.
- I'd like to pay, please. - Yes, that's 2 kroner and 55 øre.
- Does that include 10 % ? - Yes.
One today's special, two sandwiches, two milks, 2,30, plus 10 %, 2,55.
2 kroner and 30 øre, and 25 øre, 10 %.
Well, rounded up, that is. There you go.
Come on, Daniel. Goodbye.
- Goodbye, and thank you so much. - Not at all.
Ulrik!
- This way, Ulrik. - That was that boy Daniel.
Don't you give me any trouble now.
Agnes, fairest of Valhalla Valkyries!
You and your folk high-school talk.
Do you want to look at Boldt's magazines?
And a sip of Boldt's beer?
- Leave some for Regitze. - No, thank you.
How about a cake, then?
- What does Boldt get in return? - A kiss if you don't have a cold.
Boldt? He's fit as a fiddle.
- What's this? - A secret!
Good. Madam thinks we're in the park, but they find that boring.
Shall we go into the lounge?
- It's all right for tonight, then? - Yes, l think so.
- Will your tips cover movie tickets? - Not if l had to live off that guy.
The one with the boy?. What's he doing here?
Living off his money, l expect. Sleeps sitting up to save a hotel bill.
What a miser. Thanks.
But he'll lie down soon. They say he's become your neighbor.
- My what? - He's moving into the saddler's.
- Quiet! Or it's the park for you two. - Just let them.
We don't want the couch to give in. Did you say at the saddler's?
- Yes, his widow's sold up ... - No, not here. We've got to go.
Come on, children ... Oh no, Regitze!
Right, Ellen, let's see if Daniel's at home.
- Come on. - Quick ran off.
- Where? - That way.
We'd better catch him first.
I say, did the apprentice break his arm?
As you're walking madam's little treasure yourself?
Daisy's in heat.
How about the wife, then?
Pull yourself together.
- But that's Albert, Mother. - Albert who?
- Albert Arnesen. - How do you do, Mrs. Møhge.
Albert, the draper's son? My, he's grown.
- We're out paying visits, Mother. - Ask him if his mother's in.
My mother died 26 years ago.
- Mother, you remember that. - She was at Fernando's funeral.
Yes, but now let's ask Albert -
- if his dressmakers will alter your satin dress. The gray striped one.
- Yes, l remember it well. - Now, what Mother had in mind ...
- She's perfectly capable of walking. - I'd prefer being wheeled about too.
- Yes, thank you, my wife's fine. - He says his wife is fine.
Right, back to work.
- Yes? - It's about a banking transaction.
- I see. - I'd like to become a customer here.
- I see. How exactly, Mr. ..? - Mads Andersen-Skjern.
- Are you here on business? - I live here.
- I thought you lived in Skjern? - No, my name is Andersen-Skjern.
Oh, l see. l just didn't think ... Have you moved to town recently?
- I've bought number 1 4 Algade ... - Excuse me.
Mr. Stein ...
- Good afternoon. - As l said, l've bought 14 Algade.
With the intention of starting a business, so l'd like to raise a loan.
Yes. Well, the bank can't simply ...
Of course not. But l have the property as security.
Yes, yes ... Excuse me for one moment, please.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Holm. The manager will be back in a minute.
- I'll wait in his office. - Would you show Mrs. Holm in?
- Sorry, that was the consul's wife ... - I'd better speak to the manager.
- But you just saw that ... - I can wait till Mrs. Holm's finished.
- The manager's very busy. - Just call me when he's free.
What's going on?
- It's not for ladies. - Let me see ...
It's Arnesen, the draper, who's talking.
Meanwhile, his wife's dog is being ...
- Being what, run over? - lf only.
No, it's worse than that. You know ... No, sorry, l'm sure you don't.
- Do you mean ..? - Yes. You wouldn't want to see it.
Grandad, there's Quick. What's he doing to that little dog?
- Look at those dogs, Agnes. - Don't look, it's not for children.
Everything must come to an end.
Goodness, we have been talking ... We'd better get going, Mother.
There were two just before. One on top of the other.
- Mother is 96 ... - I can smell pigs.
While you were entertaining the ladies, -
- my Quick put a bun in your little four-legged friend's oven.
- What do you mean? - That we're almost related now.
- Isn't Agnes back yet? - No. Who does she think she is?
It's probably the nice weather. I'll take the tray.
At last!
- Where have you been? - In the park as usual.
Look at you! The children are only to eat cakes at home, you know that.
- If madam knew ... - It's a secret.
Get them washed. In the park ...
- Yes, in the park. - Which park?
I know who's moved in at the saddler's.
- lt's the man with the boy. - The people we saw at the station.
- He's a nice boy. - Do we know them at all?
They're from Jutland. They're going to open a shop. Clothes, they say.
Clothes? That can't be. Arnesen's right opposite.
lt's just what l heard.
What nonsense.
The things that girl hears when she takes the children to the park ...
There. Thank you for your visit, Mr. Munk. I'll see you Wednesday.
Everything will sort itself out. Give my regards to your wife.
That's it. l'm going to the Club.
- For me? - The gentleman's been waiting.
Very well, then.
The manager will see you now ... for a brief talk.
How do you do. My name is Mads Andersen-Skjern.
Varnæs. Please sit down.
Excuse me. Just one moment ...
Get me the Post House, please.
Hello, Mr. Varnæs here. Could you put me through to the Club, please?
Hello, Frederiksen? Could you tell the bridge table that I'll be a bit late?
Yes, they can play l'hombre in the meantime. Thanks.
- Do you play bridge? - No.
lt's the latest thing. You should try it. lt's very stimulating.
- For what? - This one.
Well, let's get down to business. How can I be of service?
I've come to you about a loan.
I'm off. l've got a tennis court in 20 minutes.
You're playing a lot of tennis these days, Mr. Holmdal.
- Mixed doubles. - Don't mix more than you ought to.
Take good care of the Kingdom's finances, Miss Mortensen.
You're a big boy who can be so quiet for such a long time.
- What's the big boy's name? - Daniel.
Would you like to try stamping?
Aren't you clever? You should go into banking.
I must see it from the bank's point of view.
We have one draper's shop already. The Ladies' Store.
The ladies, yes, but what about the women and the girls?
I'm not an expert, but l know that there are various small shops.
And there are mail order firms, too, if people want something delivered.
- Why not bring that trade here? - l appreciate your enterprise.
But l have obligations towards my old customers.
Many of them are third, and even fourth generation in this town.
You won't give me a loan, then? Even though I can put up collateral.
- So the answer's no. - If you wish.
It's your wish. I can borrow money elsewhere.
That's all right then.
I thought it best for the money to work in the town where l'll earn it.
But thank you for your time.
- What a nice boy you've got. - I'm stamping.
And so clever. You'd think there were bankers in the family.
- Thank you. Say goodbye, Daniel. - Goodbye.
with our feet we go stomp, stomp, stomp
with our hands we go clap, clap, clap
don't forget, will you now doing the polka, we know how ...
- Already? Did you go to the Club? - There was no bridge.
I was delayed, and Albert couldn't come.
- Oh, why not? - He had to go to the vet.
- Has he got rabies? - No, he had to bring ...
- Daisy? - Is she sick?
Sick? No, l'd say it's never felt better ...
It's a silly story. The animal's in heat, and Albert was walking it.
He met Aunt Møhge and Misse -
- who started talking about the gray satin dress which they want altered.
And while they were engrossed in flounces and furbelows -
- the pig dealer's mongrel came along, and pop!
- Hans Christian, the children! - We saw it ourselves.
You did what? How awful. It's Agnes' fault.
It happened in the middle of Algade, so it can hardly remain a secret.
- Albert ... He's always so unlucky. - Hans Christian, the children ...
- And with a mongrel, too ... - Didn't Albert realize at all?
Not until the pig dealer told him that they were related now ...
- ls that funny? - Yes, it's damn funny, Maude.
I think it's a stupid, vulgar story.
- The saddler's house has been sold. - Yes, Agnes told us.
- It's going to be a draper's shop. - What nonsense. Who told you?
The man who's going to open the shop. He came to the bank.
- What for? - He wanted to raise a loan.
But, really, when Arnesen ... that man must be a fool.
I don't know about that. But he didn't get the loan, if that makes you happy.
Albert might have to watch out for more than just male dogs.
l'm back. Come on, Quick.
Tell Mother to give you something nice to eat, eh?
He just did today's good deed. He's covered draper Arnesen's bitch!
You're shockers you are ...
- Hello, girls. - Hello, Grandad.
- The sun's yellow. - This one is green.
lngeborg, has the paper come? Thanks, lass.
- What's for dinner? - Pork and cabbage.
Sounds good. l say, Mother ... Is there enough for two more?
- Yes, why? - Daniel's coming to visit Ellen.
He's bringing his dad. l'm going to have a chat with him.
So it was a no. You weren't posh enough for the bank manager.
- He was polite enough, but ... - Snooty.
Not really. He just wants everything to go on being the same as always.
- So now what? - Well, you did say that ...
- Yes? - Can Daniel stay here a few days?
I have to go to my home town. My brothers can sign for me.
Posh people never talk about their money, but only their money counts.
Somebody else may have much more, but it doesn't count.
- Money is money. - But there's still a difference.
lt's oneself that lends importance and power to money.
- Look, he's got a chestnut hat. - No, it's a cone.
Have a seat.
Ellen, have we got room for Daniel for a few days?
- We've always got room for Daniel. - Of course we have.
- What are you reading? - Poems.
- I don't understand that sort of thing. - That's nothing to boast about.
She'll never forget that she's been to a folk high school.
- What poems are they? - By Axel Juhl.
Will you read one for us?
Yes. l don't really know ... This one ... it's so true.
''Everywhere I'm homeless and homeless I shall die.''
''But l'm happy with my lot for so much can beset us.''
''l am glad l never owned for he who gets, might lose.''
Did you understand any of it?
He who gets loses nothing. He who gets, grows richer.
The upholstered chairs must be beaten, too.
- Can't we use that one? - My sister wants them beaten.
Oh no, Hans Christian, please don't smoke your cigar in the dining room.
- The smoke gets into everything. - I can smoke it at the bank.
- Thank you, my dear. - Good morning.
It gets into our clothes too. Haven't you noticed?
No, but my nose isn't as delicate as yours.
Having a sense of smell is awful, really.
- Sometimes even the children smell. - How can you say such a thing?
When they come home from the park, I think Ulrik smells of beer.
Laura, look!
- Well, it got this far. - We can put it by the stairs.
Will you take this?
- Is that how they live in Jutland? - Look at that washstand set.
- And no decent kitchenware either. - They say it'll be a draper's shop.
Not opposite Arnesen, silly.
- What's so interesting? - They're moving in.
Our house must still be cleaned. Laura, my sister needs you.
Minna and Jørgen have been to a wedding with the royal family.
And she wore green and ermine ... Oh, is that you, Laura.
- You know about the board dinner? - Miss Friis and I made this ...
But if you prefer golden pheasants ...
- Mind the ladder doesn't give way. - Very funny!
- I thought as much. l told Agnes ... - What, Laura?
That there isn't going to be a draper's shop.
- What's there going to be, then? - A pig dealer's.
- Has my sister ..? - Madam went upstairs.
The minute l said there was going to be a pig dealer's over there ...
That's what comes from staring out of the window. Look at the sign.
THE CLOTHES SH ...
THE CLOTHES SHOP
The Clothes Shop opens on Wednesday
That's fine, lad.
We're running it in The Courier and The Social Democrat on Tuesday.
- That's for you. - Thank you very much.
- He got 2 øre, it'll bring him luck. - I'll be damned. All in one go, eh?
Not all, Larsen, one must never do that, but almost.
About the staff ...
I've taken on an apprentice and I've advertised for a lady, for a start.
It's just that lngeborg ... She didn't like to ask herself.
- Does your daughter want to ..? - It seems so.
- If you need a lady anyway ... - That's odd.
I had it in mind all the time, but l didn't dare ask.
- I think of her as someone special. - What'd you do without me?
l really don't know, Oluf Larsen.
Have you seen this, Miss Grøn?
What are you doing, crumpling the boss's newspaper like that?
''We wish to inform to the honored customers in the town and country ...''
What customers? ''... that The Clothes Shop opens tomorrow ...''
''The Clothes Shop.''
''... which can be recommended for all articles of clothing.'' I wonder ...
''Quality is a matter of honor ...'' ''Reasonable prices ...''
And ... well, honestly ... ''Pleasant service''. He must be mad.
Have you seen this, sir?
- You look as if war had broken out. - Perhaps it has.
Albert, have you seen it? The advertisement.
- Which advertisement? - The one for the clothes shop.
That doesn't concern us. ''Honored customers in the town and country...''
What honored customers there are stick to my store. He won't last long.
4,50 kroner.
There you are.
Thank you and goodbye.
We've come to give you a handsel. Take your pick, Katrine.
And Ellen, show Grandad what you'd like.
- I want my satin dress now! - It can hardly be ready so soon.
It's probably been stolen. Tell Albert he's got to find it. Now!
Yes ... yes, Mother.
You'd like that one? How much is it?
1 1 ,50. lt's imported from England. But if it's for Ellen ...
Here's 20 kroner. The 8,50 are for good luck.
- Thank you very much, Oluf Larsen. - Let's see what Gran's found.
She's not usually a great spender.
Misse, where have you got to?
- Can l be of service, Madam? - I want to speak to Albert.
Albert? The young man's name is Fritz.
- Where is Albert? - Come along, Madam.
Get your hands off me, you filthy man!
No man has touched my body since Fernando died in 1895!
- Mother, Albert isn't here. - No, he's hiding, the coward.
Come along, Mother dear.
All right, you can stay out and play as long as you stay near the house.
- Can you find all those places? - Yes.
The plumber's right around the corner.
There. Here you go.
- Come straight home afterwards. - Yes.
- Daniel, can l come? - I'm going a lot of places.
That's all right.
- How much have we got? - 12 øre each. She gave us five.
They must be very rich.
Miss Jørgensen, look at this.
- Who's that boy? - Why, it's the Jutlander's.
I can see that, but the other one?
Good heavens, isn't it the bank manager's son, Ulrik?
16 kroner, please. One moment.
20, 30, 40, 50 and 100. There you are.
Thank you, Madam. Goodbye.
Mr. Varnæs, how can l be of service?
It's very embarrassing for me, but l'm obliged to enter your territory.
- There you are. - So you do give out money after all.
- I've confiscated it from my son. - What's that got to do with me?
He's earned it running errands for your shop along with your son ...
Daniel. Yes, they're good friends.
My son does not run errands for other people.
That's too bad for your son.
I ran errands when l was six. That's why I get by without your help now.
My family doesn't need to run errands to get by!
- I don't know your principles ... - But many of us have noticed yours!
l'll take that as a compliment.
- This incident has made my wife ill. - l'm sorry, for you, too. Good day.
Hans Christian ...
Mr. Varnæs.
Brother-in-law ...