MONOPOLY
Mads Andersen-Skjern settled in Korsbæk in 1929.
The town had an old and strict social pecking order.
A widower, he married lngeborg, the daughter of Oluf Larsen.
She is divorced from a man who was jailed for fraud.
Mads has a son: Daniel. He also adopted Ingeborg's daughter Ellen.
Mads thrives, while his competitor, Albert Arnesen, goes to the wall.
He has gone bankrupt and committed suicide.
Vicki, his young widow, and Miss Jørgensen and Mr. Schwann -
- are left to pick up the pieces.
Mads is interested in Arnesen's property with the empty store.
Mads' brother Kristen still hopes that Elisabeth -
- will marry him, now that she has come back from abroad.
But Arnesen's death makes it even more impossible.
Agnes, the maid of the Varnæs family, has had a visit from Boldt.
Laura fuels her suspicion that she is pregnant.
Boldt refuses all talk of marriage.
But Agnes is not pregnant and finds a new friend, the socialist ''Red''.
A scandal is brewing because Jørgen Varnæs, the conservative candidate, -
- cheats on his wife, Minna, who comes from an influential family.
She wants a divorce, which send Maude reeling.
DEPLOYMENT
Your report about the attitude to your plans is amazingly positive, -
- also among the workers and farmers who were asked.
And you're subscribing a considerable amount of shares yourself.
They'll be divided between me, my wife and our two children.
- Three, in due course. - A practical measure.
- Do you want coffee now? - Yes please, Ingeborg. My wife ...
Mr. Øster, the attorney. Yes, this is the family's fifth shareholder.
- When is the baby due? - We're expecting him in November.
- My husband's sure it'll be a boy. - We'll call him Erik after my father.
- Nobody's named after me. - As long as he doesn't look like you.
She's becoming just as cheeky as her mother.
You've only put down 500 kroner.
- Yes, but there'll be more coming ... - Haven't you softened up Katrine?
My wife comes from a long line of farmers.
They keep their money in their stockings and mattresses.
I wake up at night and wonder if it's crimpy wool l'm lying on.
THE LADlES' STORE
CLEARANCE SALE
- Madam Violet. lt's been ages. - The purple dress in the window ...
Perhaps it'd fit me, for the dancing school.
- I'm so sorry about it, for your sakes. - It's too late to be sorry. Now.
Yes. lt fits perfectly now.
Thank you, Miss Grøn.
Miss Grøn is so skillful.
Yes, and now she's going to sew ready-made clothes ...
... for those people over there. Oh, Violet, it's so terrible ...
All my life ... And now what?
Maybe your life's turned out like this because you always had your dignity.
I'd always hoped l'd marry Albert. At least after his mother had died.
- There, there ... - And then he married that little chit.
- And now Albert's dead. - What will you do now, lnger?
My sister has a glove shop in Haslev.
I remember Emmy. Has she got a vacancy for you?
l'd rather work without pay for her than for those people over there.
- They killed Albert! - Miss Jørgensen ... Oh, sorry.
Get out, both of you. Out!
Why did she get so upset?
The poor thing, she's so proud. And what will you do now?
A buyer must turn up and re-establish this business, the finest in town, -
- so that discriminating ladies can have their good taste fulfilled.
You were always such a fine man. I'd hoped that Arnold would be like you.
- There you are, Madam Violet. - Thank you. How much is it?
- 22. - Thank you.
- There you are. - Thank you.
Well, goodbye then, Mr. Schwann.
- How can I be of service? - Forgive us for barging in.
- Can we take some measurements? - No! You're disturbing our business.
I'm sure you know me. Kristen Andersen-Skjern.
We've had the pleasure of meeting before, at the Post House.
Well, you can't come into a decent shop with people in work clothes!
As you well know, the house here and the business are up for sale.
- And as possible purchasers, we ... - Did you say possible purchasers?
- We've negotiated with the widow. - I want that confirmed. Immediately!
- Mrs. Arnesen. - What is it, Mr. Schwann?
Some people from over there claim to be possible purchasers.
- l refuse to believe it! - Well, Mr. Schwann, it's like this ...
Those people! What would Mr. Arnesen say?
He's unable to voice his opinion. It's up to the living now.
- Mrs. Arnesen and yourself. - And l want to say ...
Please do, if you want to be liable for a large sum in this bankruptcy.
But l suppose you're not, right?
I've advised Mrs. Arnesen to sell at the most favorable price.
And through Mr. Øster l've received an offer that neither you nor Vicki ...
... Mrs. Arnesen can afford to ignore.
Both of you will come out of this without any debts -
- and the creditors are more or less indemnified. Everything is sold.
But, what about ... oh, l'm sorry. That beautiful old table from the Consul's.
Never mind. All that old junk will be sold anyway.
I've still got my duties downstairs. If you'll excuse me.
Poor man.
- He's been here for 45 years. - It's about time he woke up.
- What is it now? - I can't stand it any more.
Those poor souls down in the shop, and money and creditors -
- and putting on a face -
- and wearing ugly black dresses and everything being so miserable ...
- What a collection of miseries. - You talk of nothing but mortgages!
It's all over in a few days. Then we'll find a place for you in Copenhagen.
Dad will never allow it. He wants me to move back home.
And I only married Albert to get away from home.
Now dry your eyes. You're not going home to your father.
Mr. Varnæs, l'm appealing to you, as the leading man in town.
I've always looked up to you and your father and his father ...
You'll have to take action.
- Please call Mrs. Arnesen to order. - l don't understand.
You must prevent her from selling to the firm across the street.
I'm powerless in that matter.
I can't hold back the financial storm that Arnesen's death has brought on.
But l put my inheritance into it. Haven't I got a say?.
You were joint owner of the shop and of the goodwill that was part of it, -
- and also joint owner of the stock and liable for the debt in this stock.
But the house belongs to the wife. Well, not any more.
But what about me?
May l give you some advice? Why not cooperate with the new owner?
He'll probably move his shop across the street.
He'll need a head man who knows the well-to-do people.
My mission in life was in the Ladies' Store.
Take on a new mission in life and carry on the old, noble traditions.
- Can't you see that? - Well ...
Yes, you do have a point there.
Think about it, Mr. Schwann. We all have to move with the times.
Halt! Left turn! Good morning, Victoria.
Do you think you're on a maneuver?
I'm glad to see that you've decided that you cannot live here any longer.
- I'm moving as soon as possible. - Good girl.
So perhaps 58 and 84 can be of service by bringing your things home.
- But Father ... - 58, 84, take that one now.
Yes, sir.
Stop it! l give the orders here. Put it down!
Forward!
- Victoria. - Go away!
- I say, is this a war? - Dismissed!
- I just came to offer Victoria a home. - l don't want to live in the barracks!
Would you prefer a home for fallen women?
- Perhaps Vicki has other plans. - Plans? God forbid.
She's scandalized herself enough, along with my good name.
Your good name?
When I think of your escapades when you'd sent Mother off on a cure.
- It's different with men. - Is it? That's never been proved.
- Your mother was frail and reserved. - Do you think Albert was any fun?
- Only a flirt says that. - I hate your hypocrisy!
- What will people in the town think? - I'm going to Copenhagen.
In that case you're no longer my daughter. Do you understand?
l'm disowning you!
Father's a fool.
He just hasn't been trained to understand people. He's a soldier.
l hate the barracks. And all the ranks and the yelling and shouting.
And the parties. The officers had to dance with me and Mother first.
Ridiculous! And l've never had any education. What'll become of me?
- Do you think l can learn something? - Yes, you will learn and grow up.
- Three drops before bedtime. - You're the only one l'll miss.
- l wonder? - And Father. Maybe. A little bit.
The old fool.
- Mom ... - And stockings. Beige and gray.
- Yes, Mr. Vinter. Hello Ellen. - Mom, listen.
A man wanted to talk to me at school. He asked me if l my name was Ellen.
Ellen, go upstairs with Daniel. I'll be with you in a minute.
Holger, what do you want? l don't want you here. Come this way.
- What do you want? - I wanted to see you and Ellen.
- Ellen is fine. - So are you, l can see.
We've done all right. So you can get going.
- l live here. - In Korsbæk?
Yes, l got a job in the warehouse of the grain and feed store.
- But why here? - It's hard to find work.
And I wanted to see Ellen grow up.
People like me have few joys in life.
Ellen's been adopted by my husband.
- He'll understand, I'm sure ... - Please go.
Maybe we can meet and talk about it. I have a room.
Perhaps. But you have to go now.
- He's gone. - Is he the one who went to jail?
Your own son-in-law is behind it, but you won't even buy shares!
That money must be invested! What the devil do you do with it?
- It's in land, if you must know. - Have you buried it?
- What do you think? - I don't know.
Did you buy land? But land is worth nothing at the moment!
The more one gets now, for later use.
- Look, Katrine ... - Stop pestering me. Here's Ingeborg.
l'll go and ...
- Ingeborg, should you be driving? - Would you rather l ran?
I need to talk to you. Hello.
- Have you come about those shares? - What?
No, l've come because Holger has turned up.
- Where? - Here.
Here in Korsbæk.
- What does Mads say? - He doesn't know.
I don't know how to tell him. Mads is so busy right now.
Well, so are you.
- But the worst is to do with Ellen. - What's that about Ellen?
Holger has tried to contact her. He says he wants to see her.
- He does, does he? - Mads would never understand that.
I'm going to have a word with Holger.
I have a right to be fond of my daughter.
We know the way you show your love.
You never took care of Ellen or lngeborg while you had them.
We all get older. I've got feelings too.
How much do your feelings cost this time?
- What do you mean? - It's all you ever think about.
How much?
- Well? - I hope you've got some money left.
Never put all your eggs in one basket.
- You'll have to cough up 5,000. - He wanted that much?
He demanded 10 at first. But l'm used to dealing with pigs.
- And now what? - It's to start over somewhere else.
- Oh well, we'd better pay then. - I can't make you out, Katrine.
Yesterday you didn't have a bean for shares, and now you pay up 5,000.
- This is different. I know about this. - You'd put your money into Holger.
I'm putting my money into making Ingeborg and Ellen happy.
- What is it? l'm rather busy. - We've got our report cards.
- Was Mother happy with them? - We got 25 øre each.
Well, you've earned it. But Daniel, have you slackened off in arithmetic?
- It's so boring. - Arithmetic is very important.
One day you'll sit at my desk, so it's no good if you can't do your sums.
Here's two more 25-øres for the piggy banks.
Learning to save up is important too.
Tell him.
We've seen the man who was in jail.
- Who? - The man called Holger.
- He came up to Ellen at school. - But Miss Andersen threw him out.
- He's been here, too. - He talked to Mother.
But Mother wouldn't talk to him.
Why don't we put this in the window instead of the gray suit?
- Where are you going? - On an errand.
I'll be back in an hour.
Holger Jørgensen, the boss wants to see you.
Jørgensen, you came here on trial. But we'll have to part company again.
- Why, Mr. Olsen? Haven't l ..? - You've worked well.
But it seems we can get on with one less, -
- and we have to consider that.
- Yes, but what'll I do? - There's no other work in this town.
It's tough, but l've got this for you instead.
- What is it? - Look ...
It's a kind of consolation. A single ticket to Canada, a sum of money -
- and an advertisement from the Canadian immigration office, -
- guaranteeing jobs for all immigrants.
I wish it were the same here.
You can get your wages from Miss Sørensen's office.
Thank you.
Have a safe journey, Jørgensen. As soon as possible.
They're beautiful.
- Goodbye, then. - Goodbye, Vicki, and good luck.
- The same to you. - What about me?
Oh, you'll be fine. I'll come back when l've grown up!
- Mads ... We need to talk. - lf it's about Holger ...
- Did you know? - Don't worry about him.
- But he's ... - You and Ellen won't see him again.
- But how, Mads? - Trust me.
We won't talk about him either.
- What's going on in there? - It's Frida Voigt, the writer.
She believes that women should work ...
- What utter nonsense. - I rather agreed with her.
Work. As if women hadn't enough to do.
- Some have. - It's the way she looks.
She has no chance of getting married, and then they become that way.
- What do you think you look like? - Well, l never!
The kind of people who come here these days!
Here l sit waiting, year in, year out. Thank you for coming.
- I was about to leave. - Me? Again?
- The feminist meeting. - Abandoning your home?
What does the candidate have to say about that?
- Jørgen's got his own problems. - I saw you today with Dr. Hansen.
Yes, we saw Vicki ... Mrs. Arnesen off. She's moved to Copenhagen.
Poor creature. But she did get a little money out of it.
And she's got her boyfriend, Aage Holmdal.
Oh, Holmdal Junior.
Well, he's going to marry Mr. Øster, the attorney's, daughter.
- I think he forgot to tell Vicki. - That's hard on her.
Why? l'm sure she'll be better off without him.
And what about you? Are you better off alone?
- l get by. - With your own apartment.
- Yes, and my own piano. - And what about us, then?
Elisabeth ... Look at me.
It's so difficult. Things keep making it worse, like the Arnesen business ...
All that family nonsense. This isn't the days of Romeo and Juliet.
And God knows we're not 15. And Korsbæk isn't Verona.
- It's not the outside world either. - Elisabeth ...
I can give you a way of life which is just as good as your sister's.
- My sister's? God forbid. - Well, better, then.
Tell me what you want. Tell me what you want me to do. Now. Always.
- Now? - Yes, now.
You can order me a cheese sandwich. I'm famished.
Mr. Schwann, how can l be of service? This is a surprise.
Yes, one would never have thought it possible, but times have changed.
- And how are you, Mr. Schwann? - I'm fine, thank you.
I've always been in good health. I've had four sick days in 42 years.
Today's young people go to bed at the first sneeze.
And now they want two week's summer vacation.
Just think of it! lf the Consul ...
- See you at 8 o'clock! - Yes. Sorry, Mr. Schwann.
If you'd be so kind as to introduce me to your boss?
Enter. Yes, Mr. Vinter?
- There's a gentleman to see you. - Can't my wife deal with it?
It's Mr. Schwann from across the street, the one who became a partner.
- He'd better come in then. - Perhaps l'd better leave.
Good morning, Mr. Schwann. We've often nodded to each other.
Won't you sit down?
Good morning, Mr. Andersen-Skjern.
Until now l've only observed your shop at a distance, -
- but now l'm here.
- Yes indeed. Cigar? - No, thank you.
- So, now you're here. - Yes.
Respectfully, l've come to offer you my assistance.
As you see, l've kept myself up-to-date on fashion and tastes -
- over the past 42 years.
So when l heard that you were going to re-establish the Ladies' Store -
- as a shop for the best customers in this town, -
- I thought you'd need a man with expert knowledge of these customers.
I'm at your disposal, Mr. Andersen-Skjern.
I'm pleased to hear your offer.
ln other circumstances l'd be happy to accept it. But ...
- But what? - The Ladies' Store will not reopen.
But haven't you bought the property?
Yes, but for another purpose, Mr. Schwann.
For what?
It's public as of this afternoon, when we open the subscription for shares.
It's going to be a bank.
Good morning, Mr. Schwann.
Here's your washing then. You don't fetch it yourself.
I don't understand you, Arnold. Why don't you come back home?
You're too thin. Who's been feeding you?
- Not now, Mother. - It's that awful girl.
What's the matter, Mr. Schwann? Why are you standing here?
- It's all over. - You mustn't say that.
It would be better to be at peace, like all the others who are dead ...
The boss, the timber merchant, the grocer, the hardware dealer.
Wiped out by the forces of evil, Madam Violet.
- It's time that's taken them. - Yes, time ... and me, too.
People like us don't die like those who've tried being rich.
For us who've never owned so much, it makes no great difference.
That's all right for you to say, you've got Arnold.
Arnold's moved out. He'd rather live with that common chit of a girl.
Yes, that cheeky little thing from the hairdresser's.
I saw them come out of the changing room together.
Their clothes and hair were all out of place.
You can expect such a thing there.
In the Ladies' Store, that sort of thing would never happen.
- Quite a meeting. - They put all the blame on me.
A bank manager who doesn't know what's going on in his own town.
I did refuse him my support.
If he'd had an account here, this never would have happened.
- But l didn't know the man. - All the more reason to watch him.
- How are things with you? - Minna just won't listen to reason.
- I suppose she'll calm down. - Well, Maude's waiting with dinner.
l have to leave right away. Send my regards.
- You'd better take it easy. - That's my business.
The trouble with you is you think everything is so damn easy!
There'll be six for dinner. My sister's coming, and my brother-in-law, too.
- Let's discuss what we're having. - Now?
I've decided already. Asparagus soup, chicken and savarin cake.
- My sister used to ... - Yes, in the morning.
If you came upstairs in the morning, we could discuss the shopping.
Just sleep as long as you can, Madam.
- What about the housekeeping? - Mr. Varnæs has the accounts.
- He's so busy. - Aren't we all?
- Excuse me, Madam. - Sorry. I was just ...
You'd better go to the living room. Down here, one's hair gets greasy.
Good evening.
- Where's Jørgen? - To hell with Jørgen.
Hans Christian, mind your language. And what about dinner?
- How was your meeting? - To hell with the meeting.
- Don't talk to me like that. - To hell with ..!
lf you'll excuse me.
- Good evening. - Ladies ...
- Goodness. - It's terrible! He's intoxicated.
- Perhaps he needed a drink. - You would say that.
You go around with those people. I curse the day they arrived here.
- All this is their fault. - All what?
Nothing is the same as it was. What's happened to us?
Why should I be punished? I always did the right thing.
- That's the trouble. - I held up the family name.
I married respectably. lf l'd done like you, and did what suited me ...
What then? Would you have married Ernst?
- He was just an art teacher then. - Just think if you had ...
I didn't dare.
- Do you still see him? - I can't avoid it here in Korsbæk.
So you knew all about the business at the bank.
- l had an idea. - And you're on their side.
Maude!
l'm going to bed.
Here l am cooking for six. The guests don't turn up.
- Then the family go to bed. - Mr. Varnæs is in the spare room.
- He's well and truly pickled. - Mind your own business!
As if you were perfect.
Your health, Mrs. Fernando Møhge and Colonel Hachel.
- You too, Mrs. Holm. - Your health.
Thank you. Yes ...?
- Mr. Holm! - Excuse us for barging in.
- Mr. Lund is from the central board. - May l ask which board?
I forgot. The party. Mr. Lund has come from Copenhagen.
- Sit down, gentlemen. - Thank you.
I presume this is about a contribution to the election funds.
I wish it were. No, actually we've come because ...
- It's not easy. - Mr. Varnæs ...
It's ...
We've agreed ...
We've agreed to talk to you about your brother.
- About Jørgen? - The attorney, yes.
We had great expectations when we asked him to represent the party.
Yes?
He's getting himself into something our constituents won't tolerate.
- What do you mean? - You see ...
A Conservative Party candidate can't have marital problems.
- Lund seems to think ... - What?
It's sad ...
It's common knowledge that their marriage is breaking up.
Jørgen's wife is the daughter of one of the Party's finest supporters.
- If they get divorced ... - lt's unfortunate.
- But what can I do? - As his older brother, advise him.
We all have our moments, but be smart enough to keep it quiet.
Our Party is the guardian of the family institution.
I'll see what l can do.
Thank you.
We have met before ... here.
Yes, a family gathering.
I thought it was more discreet here than in Copenhagen.
You need a glass of sherry. A glass of sherry for the gentleman.
There are not so many people here at this time of year.
- It was kind of you to come so far. - Don't say that.
I know the way, and l can't wait to hear what this is all about.
Good, Trine. You're getting better and better. Tell your parents from me.
- It's you, Dr. Hansen. - Could l come in for coffee?
I've just finished with my last pupil.
Goodbye, Trine. See you on Wednesday.
If you can wait, I'll fix something to eat.
That depends upon my patient. She's in labor at the hospital.
We'll hope for the best.
lt's your own fault l keep coming here like this.
This is the nicest sitting room in the whole town.
Excuse me.
You as well!
Is it here that fine, young students can take violin lessons?
As well? Oh, hello.
You can see the excuses I have to make to get in here.
- Do you want some coffee? - Please.
If l could just put this precious instrument down.
He's mad!
She's alluding to my constant siege in the last two years.
l've laid siege for ten years, without any success at all.
Perhaps l should change my tactics. I do play the cello.
Champagne on a Wednesday.
ls Mr. Andersen Skjern celebrating his becoming a bank manager?
Yes, that's true.
- Hello? - That'll be the hospital.
There's no danger of this baby returning to its mother again.
- Thanks for coffee. - Not at all.
l'll ring when there's something to celebrate.
You're going to be an uncle.
Now you know the lie of the land ... This is embarrassing.
Not at all. But what can l do if he likes being with me?
Explain to him that his position is at stake.
In return, the family will go to great lengths ...
Great lengths?
You can make us a proposition which we can discuss ...
- So Mads got his son. - That's what he wanted, you said.
Mads gets everything he wants.
Whilst l, his poor little brother ...
... wish for only one thing.
A wish which can't be fulfilled now. You know that.
But later, perhaps?
Perhaps.
May l be excused?
- Daniel's got a baby brother! - He's going to be called Erik.
- Don't shout. - Father was at a meeting all night.
- Daniel's got a little brother. - Don't talk with your mouth full.
Did you learn that at Daniel's?
I met Mr. Schwann yesterday. He was out delivering bills.
- He's a debt collector. - Can he live off that?
The bank got him some grants. He boards with the dance teacher.
- Madam Violet, she's nice. - It's time for school now.
- What have you forgotten? - May l be excused?
- How did it go? You were late? - Yes, it dragged on.
- Was she reasonable, the woman? - Who? Oh yes, very much so ...
- And not uninteresting. - What do you mean by that?
Will she give up Jørgen, so we can get this business sorted out?
She wants to sail to America on the Queen Mary.
- That's how it will end. - But she'll come back again.
- But you promised ... - I won't listen to any more.
- Why are you behaving like this? - Do you think l'm enjoying myself?
Now there's one more in that family! Where will it end?
Suffer the little children to come unto me -
- and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of God.
For whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, -
- he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up into his arms and blessed them.
Therefore we shall help this child to his blessing and baptize him -
- in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.