Original subtitles

A NETFLIX SERIES

- [nurse] We can see her now. - [police officer] I'll get her.

You can come in.

[nurse] Sit over there, the doctor will be here soon.

Dad?

Yes?

We can't go on like this.

- It's not going to work. - No, I know.

It's just that...

I'm so scared you'll make the same mistakes I did.

I never learned to...

like myself.

I've always thought...

that if I'm genuine...

that if I'm myself...

I'll end up like you.

No...

on the contrary.

You have to accept who you are,

otherwise you'll end up like me.

- [crying] Dad? - Yes, sweetheart?

I'm sorry.

But what are you sorry for?

If I'd visited you more often

and not let you go on all those walks by yourself...

If I'd been a better listener, maybe I would have understood.

But I didn't understand.

I didn't hear... I didn't realize. I ha...

I hate myself for not being able to stop it.

If I'd been there...

If I'd been there...

It wasn't your fault.

It wasn't your fault, you hear me?

- I don't know how to live without you. - But you can.

No.

Now you can.

[suppresses sob]

And I...

I'll always be there,

in you.

You need to learn to be your own friend.

Promise me.

I promise.

Dad...

[Sofie sobs]

[sad piano music plays]

[music intensifies]

[music fades out]

[children talking quietly]

[Johan] Don't just poke at your food, eat.

[Sofie] Hi.

- Mom! - [Sofie] Hi!

[Johan] They let you go just like that?

Hey, kids.

Go get changed so you're not late for school.

What are you doing?

I realize that it was really tough on you, and I'm really sorry about that.

But Johan, please. You have to stop complaining about me.

I want you to stop talking shit about me.

And right now, I'm really sad about Dad.

And I'm not crazy.

But I'll go crazy if I'm not allowed to be sad,

do you understand?

I need to find a way to carry this.

All of this.

Okay.

Okay?

If you promise to tell me...

if things get serious.

[voice breaks] I need to understand what's going on.

Because I don't always.

I don't want the kids to lose their mom.

- Hi. - [Denise] Hi.

So... what about your publishing house?

I've quit because of ethical conflicts.

Okay, I see.

What was it you said?

You wanted to tell the truth about Vivianne

and the literary world's oppressive structures.

Hmm.

I... I just want to stress

that I want to read the text before it's published.

Of course.

But is it okay if I record this?

- Yeah. - [journalist] Okay.

So. Erm...

Start from the beginning.

Hmm.

[clears throat]

The first time I met Vivianne was at an author talk.

And...

Vivianne quickly made it clear that she liked me.

But it's only now, looking back at it with a fresh perspective,

that I realize that she used her position and her cultural capital

to take advantage of me physically

and literarily.

Okay, that's... That's serious.

It is, actually.

It's not okay.

You've not placed a bet on the Nobel Prize.

- What? - The prize is being announced at 1 p.m.

Everyone has to submit who they think will get it.

We do it every year.

- Sorry, I have no idea. - Everyone has to choose.

- Have you seen Max? - You can always go with Joyce Carol Oates.

- Huh? - [Sofie laughs]

- It's no fun otherwise. - No...

Do you dare bet on Adonis?

Is that author with Lund & Lagerstedt?

- Ko Un is also a good option. - Right...

He was MeToo'd.

- The Academy likes that stuff. - [Sofie laughs]

Is that author with us?

No, Ronny.

Neither Adonis nor Ko Un are with us.

[Ronny] No?

But if it doesn't concern us, why are we spending time on it?

I don't know what business you're running.

But I assume that at the very least it has something to do with literature.

[ethereal pop music plays]

[female voice on radio] ...it'll get cloudy during the night.

There is a chance of rain in Bohuslän and Dalsland.

The rain will spread tomorrow...

[music continues]

[Max] Hi.

Hi.

Erm, you might not recognize me, but I work...

or worked at Lund & Lagerstedt.

- The IT guy from the reception. - Yes, sorry.

- Hi. - How did it go with your book?

Yeah, well...

I had that agent who thought I should change some things

so we'd be able to sell it as a TV series.

And then a streaming service bought the material.

It was supposed to be a big international thing in English.

But just as they were about to start filming,

the lead actor dropped out,

so they canceled the whole thing.

I don't know what kind of story it is anymore...

really, so I've... I've taken a break.

It started to take too much of a toll, spiritually.

It's only when I get out here that I feel like I can think.

I get what you mean.

It...

They only care about money,

their careers, or whatever they're fixated on.

Yeah.

I'm also tired of that.

- Yeah. - [cell phone rings]

Hey, it was good to see you.

You, too. Bye.

[cell phone continues ringing]

INCOMING CALL FROM SOFIE

[call disconnected tone beeping]

[sad piano music plays]

[shouts] Come on, everyone!

Have you seen Max?

Max quit yesterday.

- What? - Yeah.

Denise too, actually.

Quiet! [shushes]

It's about to start.

How exciting.

[man on TV] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Swedish Academy.

The Academy has just met

and decided who will be awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to Vivianne Ivarsen.

[dramatic music plays]

Vivianne Ivarsen...

[screams] Yes!

- Yes! - Yes!

- [cheering] - [happy music plays]

[Sofie] Oh, my God.

And I get to be a part of this.

I have to call my mom.

I have to call my mom! [giggles]

[excited exclamations]

[Caroline] Great!

[man on TV] The prize goes to Vivianne Ivarsen

for her experimental first-person narrative.

I've just spoken to Vivianne Ivarsen over the phone,

and she's very surprised and happy.

[under her breath] What the hell.

- [excited exclamations] - [Ronny] No...

I've gotten and interview request from The New York Times.

- Wow! - [Ronny] Everything is going to change.

- I'm going there. - What?

- You're going to New York now? - Yes!

When you're a working-class boy like me, you just have to carpe diem.

I'm doing it.

Remember that, do that.

- Go, go, Caroline! - [Caroline] Okay!

- [Denise] Hi! - Hey, what are you doing here?

- I changed my mind about the article. - Are you kidding me?

- No. - She just got the fucking Nobel Prize.

- This is the scoop of the decade. - I overdid it a bit. I was in shock.

I exaggerated.

- It wasn't entirely true. - [journalist] But what does it matter?

- I've got your own words. - [Denise] Hey...

Hey...

I'm sure I could arrange an exclusive interview with Vivianne.

Everyone will have that.

This will be sold abroad, The New York Times, Le Monde...

I can get out of the small Swedish pond.

- You can't just publish it. I... - You said what you said.

I won't censor myself.

I'm not going to blow my chances at an international career

because you got cold feet.

- Think about... - Hey, Björn!

- I think... - How was the archipelago?

- Yeah, it was great. - Yeah?

[Björn] We went out to Ängskär...

[quietly] Shit.

[sad piano music plays]

[music fades out]

Here...

you are.

Here's where you hang out. Nice.

- Really nice. - Why are you here?

Vivianne won the Nobel Prize.

Is that why?

No, to talk to you.

I want to be with you.

It might not work.

But I want us to try.

All the way, no secrets.

What do you say?

I don't believe you.

Why not?

Because you've proven again and again that I can't...

that I can't trust you.

You were with Caroline all of a sudden...

You made it very clear you didn't want to be with me.

Without giving me any reason why.

I don't know what you're thinking or feeling...

I barely know who you are.

The only thing I know for sure with you

is that you've dumped me several times now.

I don't want that again.

There has to be a fucking limit.

I'm sorry.

It's different this time.

I promise.

Prove it.

What?

Prove it's for real.

What should I do?

[sad piano music plays]

Something you'd never do.

Something that makes a difference.

Something that changes everything.

[music intensifies]

Okay.

- [excited conversations] - [Nille] Tommy, hey!

Thomas, right? Yeah.

- [champagne cork pops] - [cheering]

[man 1] I'm so happy to be here. The Nobel Prize, that's so cool.

- Thank you. - I've always felt it was old-fashioned.

But it's a blast when it's your publishing house.

Lund & Lagerstedt is an integral company, it really is.

Vivianne?

You've just been awarded

one of the world's most prestigious literary awards.

So how does it feel?

It's an incredible honor. To say otherwise would be presumptuous.

Will this affect your future writing?

Not at all, I hope.

I've always maintained a boundary between my writing and people's opinions.

I hope I'll be able to maintain that integrity.

- We're running out of glasses. - Wait.

- Oh, I have to take this. - Okay.

What a fucking blast!

I always really believed in this publishing house.

And in you, Friedrich. I never doubted your judgment.

Thank you, that's really heartwarming.

Friedrich, as a publisher, how are you feeling on a day like today?

I don't do so well with media.

Is that how you feel? Okay, thank you.

- Do you work at Lund & Lagerstedt? - Yes, I'm part of the core team.

Given this success, how are you feeling today?

What can you say? Simply amazing.

It's been a lot of work to get here, many late nights and toil,

but we've all supported Vivianne.

So you've worked closely with Vivianne in her artistic process?

Yes, I'm a creative financier of this ship.

Exciting title.

Yes, thank you.

So it turns out that qualitative literature has provided a result

that I'm quite proud of on a day like today.

Quality really needs people to defend it these days.

- Yes. - I write myself.

- So I know what I'm talking about. - Yes.

The first part of my series will be released this fall.

Oh, okay.

It's about a female cop.

- [Caroline] Oh, God! Hi! - [Denise] Hi, Caroline.

- [sighs happily] Come! - [Denise] Nice to see you. Yeah.

I've made a list of everyone who's asking for an interview.

Now Kulturnyheterna is calling.

- What? - Wow, but I'll take care of this.

Someone has to buy glasses at the NK store, so can I leave this?

- Wait, I'll be right back. So... - [Caroline] Okay.

We collaborate closely.

- But thank you for the congratulations. - [reporter 1] Thanks so much.

If you'll excuse me.

You're here.

I have to talk to you.

Can we step away for a moment?

- Yes, sure. - [Denise] Yeah?

[Vivianne] I'll be back.

[Denise] Great...

Could you sign this?

- Yes, of course. I'll be back. - [woman] Yes, could you?

- [man 2] Could you...? - [Vivianne] Whoa!

There...

[Denise] I...

Erm...

There's going to be an article.

- What article? - It's an interview.

I say things about you, us and...

I did it when I was sad, disappointed, and angry, and...

I wanted to get back at you, and...

I've tried to stop it, but it's impossible, and...

It's like...

Fuck, I realize how stupid it is.

It's so stupid, but...

But my feelings got the best of me, and it was...

I... Fuck, I mean...

I just...

You're so beautiful when you're in despair.

Do you know that?

I won't be mad, regardless of what that article says.

And I'm happy you found an outlet for your anger.

- Yes, but it's really... - I don't care what others think and feel.

Say what you want to who you want.

But... Yes, okay.

Okay?

Okay.

I mean, yeah...

Whoa.

Okay. Wow.

Come.

[mischievous happy music plays]

Look, it's on the front page of The Times.

[man 3] Amazing.

- Sofie! - [Sofie] Yes?

We're out of glasses. Can you buy some?

- Oh, no! Absolutely, I'll handle it. - Okay.

Excuse me.

- Can I have another drop? - [Caroline] Sure.

I'll get more. Glasses are coming as well.

[Nille] There you are!

[Sofie] Hi!

Where have you been?

I had to run some errands.

- Hi! - [Nille] Hi.

Well, Sofie Rydman.

Holy moly, we nailed it!

We nailed it.

- Vivianne! - Uh-oh.

I started to miss you.

[Denise laughs]

Yes, who are you going to fight with?

We have to get rid of Friedrich fast, so that his label doesn't get the credit.

Lund & Lagerstedt has to be in control.

We're about to make fucking literary history here.

I spoke to my lawyers an hour ago. He'll be gone by tomorrow.

Friedrich is a nobody. No one will ask for him.

Hello, everyone!

As CEO, I would like to propose a toast.

Cheers!

- [everyone] Cheers! - Cheers!

[Denise] I don't have anything, no...

Thank you.

[reporter 2] Sofie Rydman, CEO of Lund & Lagerstedt.

[reporter 2 on radio] In light of Vivianne Ivarsen winning the Nobel Prize,

our reporter is live from the publishing house Lund & Lagerstedt,

where we will now hear from CEO, Sofie Rydman.

The publishing house has come under a lot of fire since you took over.

You've taken a lot of flak.

[reporter 2] And now, on top of that, the Nobel Prize.

[Sofie] Yeah.

What do you have to say?

Er...

Well, on a personal level,

I've been really good at steering the company through modern times,

lying to myself and going wherever the money is.

To put it simply.

[reporter 2 on radio] What do you mean?

[Sofie on radio] Well, our entire society is built on a very rational concept

that financial profit is supposed to be what matters most.

And I, just like everybody else,

am afraid of strong emotions

that go in a different direction to that.

For example...

er, my dad died...

quite recently.

And I haven't even...

mourned.

[Sofie on radio] Erm...

But there are other values in life, as my dad used to say. He was a socialist.

I used to say to him, "Be that if you want."

"But to be part of the modern world, you have to be a realist."

Well, in line with that completely logical conclusion,

it would be a given for me as CEO to take full credit for this Nobel Prize,

even though I had nothing to do with it, whatsoever.

The problem with that is that life becomes so incredibly fucking boring

if you have to be tactical all the time.

[Sofie on radio] So today,

I'm choosing a completely different path,

and telling it exactly like it is.

And the truth is

that if anyone in here deserves full credit today,

it's Vivianne's publisher, Friedrich, and his label, Jägerstedt Publishing.

Cheers to you, Friedrich,

for believing in Vivianne when the rest of us didn't.

[shouts] Cheers!

[everyone] Cheers!

Tell us about your relationship with Vivianne.

Well...

What can I say?

Vivianne's books

have meant a great deal to me on a personal level.

Way before I had the honor of being her publisher.

I consider Vivianne to be a champion

of free thought.

Her writing is both... brutal... and sensitive.

And it has... given my own life meaning.

It's as simple as that.

I couldn't ask for a better publisher.

Friedrich is one of...

the few left who has a genuine passion for literature.

What the hell?

[mischievous music plays]

I just want to say I'm really sorry that we're out of glasses,

but new ones are coming.

Thank you.

[door closes]

[slow nostalgic music plays]

[music fades out]

What the hell are you doing?

I have to go buy more glasses.

[slow uplifting music plays]

[music fades out]

STOP BUYING AND SELLING!

Mom, what does that mean?

- Why shouldn't you buy and sell things? - [mother] Come on.

What are you doing?

Do you have a permit?

You'd better come with me.

If you touch me, I'll scream.

- [radio static] - By the entrance.

[guard] I don't know...

[slow emotional music plays]

["Roam" by The B-52's plays]

♪ Boy Mercury ♪

♪ Shooting through every degree ♪

♪ Oh girl dancing down Those dirty and dusty trails ♪

♪ Take it hip to hip ♪

♪ Rocket through the wilderness ♪

♪ Around the world ♪

♪ The trip begins with a kiss ♪

[song continues]

Subtitle translation by: Josephine Roos Henriksson