Original subtitles

L�NGHOLMEN November 1910

Alfred Ander is decapitated.

It was the last execution in Sweden.

But the penal system was not reformed until the 1930s.

Reformer Karl Schlyter's slogan was "Depopulate the prisons!"

The reforms gave the Swedish penal system a good reputation.

Non-custodial sentences have resulted in only 5,000 full-time inmates.

The rest, 22,000 lawbreakers, serve their time outside the walls.

Completely new institutions have been created, open and semi-open jails-

- so-called colonies, where convicts are put to work as manual labourers.

Director-General of Prisons T. Eriksson has helped implement the reforms.

It's been satisfying creating the open jail system, and it's worth noting-

- that the courts strive towards non-custodial sentencing-

- and a full third of our clientele are rehabilitated-

- in completely open jails. No other country can match that.

Labour replaced idleness, and the penal system became big business.

Prisoners got 48 hours leave every six months.

There were other experiments: Special jails for youth offenders.

Some prisoners have conjugal visits, others live with their families.

Prisoners have holidays, and can study at academic institutions.

After a while, here at the school, we get to know one another.

We achieve a mutual responsibility.

Then we can start thinking about a move to an outside school.

There are 20 places here, and 5,000 inmates competing for them?

That's right.

- Are closed prisons necessary? - It depends on the level of threat.

You only have to read the papers-

- to understand that there are a number of criminals-

- who must be stripped of their freedom, at least initially.

They can then progress into open jails.

- Have closed jails also improved? - They have.

The government has requested that closed institutions-

- should be made more secure. It's not something we appreciate.

Increased security leads to an increase in violence against guards.

The only way out is to attack an official.

But the government is insistent.

We hold the world record in escapes, so there's nothing else for it.

Dr. T�rnqvist, chief physician, do you have time to treat your patients?

I'm notjust chief physician, I'm the assistant and researcher too.

I'm also the regional psychiatrist for the entire area-

- comprising ten institutions and a total of 800 inmates.

- So you have no time for patients? - It's not easy. I have time for-

- emergencies and extreme cases.

Severe problems and crises-

- perhaps severe alcoholics with delirium tremens-

- or acute drug addicts, delusional and paranoid.

We can get them back into shape, more or less-

- but we lack the resources to return them to society.

It's a fine hospital, with impressive equipment. But no doctors.

Yes, it's the world's biggest one-man hospital.

There's room for teams of doctors, psychologists, social workers-

- and researchers. - So why aren't they here?

The government, in its wisdom, built and planned it all-

- then refused to create the jobs for those who should have worked here.

- So there are no positions to fill? - There are none.

Is it standard practice to use drugs if time is of the essence?

It happens. I try not to.

When I took over, 40%/% of the patients here were on addictive psychodrugs.

Now the figure's 5%/% .

It's a bad habit - if you can't talk to them, give them drugs.

- But it happens at otherjails? - It happens everywhere.

- The result? - As one would expect.

If the convict is not sober when he leaves here, open jails are useless.

- He becomes an addict? - Or continues to be one, yes.

With that in mind, would you say our penal system rehabilitates?

I'll let the listener draw his own conclusions.

So much for the hopeless cases. But is it the same everywhere?

Do institutions destroy people, Director-General Eriksson?

I hear that a lot. There is a grain of truth in it.

But there are a great many examples I could take up-

- of institutions saving lives.

Hardened drinkers and drug addicts-

- live longer if they have their liberties taken away.

During their time inside, they can be kept away from these poisons-

- and that can give them a chance to survive.

Government of Sweden: You have the sole responsibility for our prisons.

You say that the modern penal system strives to rehabilitate criminals.

You're lying.

There is no rehabilitation in Sweden today. Only punishment.

For Lars G�rllng.

Got a cig?

- It's a shame... - For who? Me? Or you?

Cut it out!

- Halfers on more booze? 20 crowns. - Sure.

- But where will we get it now? - Norrmalmstorg.

- Sounds a bit dear. - Dear? You'll get the deposit back.

Here are my papers.

- Who's this? - That's my wife and my girl.

- Married with a daughter? - Cut! Let me see the book.

Lasse Karlsson and Bj�rn Vllson meet for the flrst tlme.

They descrlbe It In thelr book, "Hands across the wall"-

- a collectlon of letters and documents from 1965.

It's no falry-story. It's real llfe.

Thls fllm Is based on that book. B�rje Ahlstedt plays Bj�rn Vllson.

And I asked Stlg Engstr�m to play Lasse Karlsson.

- When did you start drinking? - When I was 14.

- What was your father like? - He was an alco... He drank too.

- An alcoholic? - Yes. Mum couldn't handle it.

- What did you do after school? - I worked at a photo lab.

- And I ran, I had the 100m record. - Yeah, but you drank all the time.

- Your first time in rehab? - When I was 22.

Wait, wait, that's not all. You got married, your wife got pregnant.

It's all in here. You started studying, you really tried to work it out.

- You really worked at it. - Yeah, I wanted to be sober.

I went into rehab voluntarily, ten days, to try and kick it.

- Did it work? - No.

- Then what? - Well, Karlsvik '62...

- Karlsvik '63 and Gudhem '64. - What's Karlsvik and Gudhem?

- Drying-out clinics. - And Christmas '63 at our place.

- Christmas dinner. - My mum was really nice to Lasse.

- But in '64, Lasse... - I went back to jail.

- Cheque fraud with a student nurse. - Margot and the rose.

Margot and the rose? What?

She was sleeping sweetly, so I blagged her chequebook-

- and left a rose in its place.

That was a smooth move. What'd you get for that?

- Fifteen months. Notjust for that. - It was an awful period.

You were so depressed, Lasse. I was really worried about you.

After six months he got 48 hours leave. Think about it!

Think about 48 hours of freedom after six months in jail.

The first beer after six dry months. It tasted like shit.

They don't start counting until he gets to Central Station.

Then he has 48 hours to get back to Central Station and go to jail.

Yeah, but stealing your chequebook? I think that's pretty serious.

Will you get it?

She's in the bathroom. - It's some guy!

"Hello mother, hello father."

"Here I am at Camp Granada..."

Is it him?

Am I hot or cold? Cold!

Come on! Phone for Margot. Can you tell her?

She's busy!

- Who was that chick? - A friend.

- Your best friend? - Nah.

- She seemed nice. Why'd she leave? - Dunno.

- You wanted to be alone with me. - Don't you want to?

Maybe.

- Are you nervous? - Nervous? Why?

- Are you? Huh? - No.

- Me either. - Sure?

Don't be scared of me.

- That other stuff's forgotten. - Is it?

- No. - Yes.

What is it? What are you thinking about?

Henry Miller. He deserves a fucking Nobel prize.

Sure. Why not?

- Come in! - Are you nuts? Who is it?

- It's Bj�rn. - Oh, Bj�rn!

- Hi, Bj�rn! - Hi!

How are you? Good?

- What's that round your neck? - A medallion. Do you want it?

- Take it as a present. - No, no. It's yours.

- Hi. Sorry I'm early. - Bj�rn, do you have the clippings?

- Of course. - Bj�rn's a bleeding heart-

- so he's doing national service. He does news clippings.

- Here are the books. - The books! Great!

Siddharta! I want to read that one.

- "God is different". - It's good. A bit simple for me-

- but nice. You should read it.

- Shall we go for a meal tonight? - When do you go back?

When do you go back, Lasse?

It's not worth it not to go back. Lasse!

Twelve days later, I was in Gothenburg.

Exercise!

Where the hell have you been? You run off from the colony?

Yeah. Got any snuff?

...l'll fix that fucking grass...

Yeah I was on the run, twelve days.

L�NGHOLMEN March 1965

Morning.

Open Wing.

Closed Wing.

Morning.

Morning.

Letter for you, Karlsson.

- Mustard? - No, thanks.

Mustard?

Toilet.

- Is it that blond guy? - No, it's the three-fingered guy.

The safecracker.

- He'll get solitary. - Yup.

- Hurry up! - Sure.

We're going on strike! We're going on strike!

- Move it! - Alright!

Subdued according to regulations and taken to isolation cell.

Hands off! What you gonna do to him? Straitjacket won't work. Teargas?

Calm down, before you end up there yourself. Fucking thief.

I'd do you for that. Only you're not worth six months.

Read any psychology? I'll bet you've never opened a bloody book!

- Do you ever empty that mailbox? - Of course. Why?

- It hasn't been emptied for a week! - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- It's a scandal! - I was five hours at the tax office.

- So what? This is important. - Ah, love letters is it?

Love letters! Look, just empty the mailbox!

Jesus, is that asshole still screaming?

- 1035 Karlsson. - Sit down.

- Been here before? - Yeah, autumn of '63. Four months.

You were healthy then, able-bodied. As you are now, right?

- No, I... - Spit it out!

I can't sleep. I'm nervous. I need valium and sleeping pills.

- Done. Able-bodied. - I thought this was a physical?

I'm going into solitary. You're supposed to get a physical.

Next!

Could you fix my shoe at least?

It's like medieval torture!

They lock up a sick man in isolation for a month.

No books, no cigarettes. What are they doing to him?

- Did he write that? - He has to fold envelopes for tobacco.

Lasse could commit suicide in there. I wonder if I wrote to them-

- what they would say? They won't want stuff like this getting out.

Exercise over!

Please sit.

- Disciplinary interview with intern? - 1035 Karlsson.

- Sorry? - 1035 Karlsson.

So, why did you do it?

You knew you'd get solitary if you abused your leave? So, why?

I was on a downer. My wife filed for degree nisi-

- Decree... - and I couldn't see my kid.

I was on a downer!

You left on March 12th and were arrested on the 24th.

That's one, two, three... That's twelve days.

- What did you do? - I don't have to tell you.

Where were you? Stockholm? Gothenburg? Malm�?

- Did you commit any crimes? - Oh sure!

I dug up buried treasure in Slottskogen.

So you were in Gothenburg?

I want to talk to a psychiatrist. I can't take it in solitary.

The doctor who examined you said you were fine.

- Able-bodied. - Was that an examination? I see.

I want to see a psychiatrist! You can't stop me.

- Oh yes I can. - I demand to see a psychiatrist!

- Then make an application. - I did. But no one has the time.

1500 thieves and one psychiatrist. 1 chance in 1500!

Interview concluded 3:10 p.m.

- He got three days in isolation. - It could've been a month.

- Maybe my letter influenced them. - "I find nothing in the journal"-

- "to indicate that Karlsson is sick"-

- "other than his premature alcoholism."

The nerve of them! Showing their true colours.

Any doctor will tell you alcoholism is a disease.

But they say he's healthy. Amazing!

"Due to a lack of beds in the psychiatric ward"-

- "we can only accept the mentally ill or those who risk becoming so."

See? You have to be nuts. Lasse has to make parole this time.

I'll see to it.

Remember last Christmas?

We did everything we could for him, treated him like our own son.

He met all our friends.

We even got him a job at the paper. And what thanks did we get?

He borrowed money, from you, me, the neighbours. He never paid back.

He had alcohol and drugs in the house. He lied constantly.

- And we were like his servants. - Servants?

We both know there's a divine meaning to life.

Lasse's body may be damaged, but his soul is pure.

Lasse can't function socially, but that's not important.

What is important is to awaken the individual's creativity.

And when Lasse's awakens... Well, one day he'll write books.

- He'll paint, write poems... - The effort must come from within.

If a person breaks his leg, you can put him in plaster-

- but you can't walk for him. He must take the first step himself.

I went in to rehab voluntarily, a ten-day vitamin cure.

- When was that? - Four years ago. Can I see a shrink?

- Can't you help me? - Excuse me.

Can you help me see the warden? So I can move to another prison?

Congratulations! Bj�rn.

- Anyone need to get a letter out? - Yeah, can you fix it?

I caught one of the screws at it today, in the toilet.

- I did! - More stories.

Who was it then?

Does it matter? I caught him drinking.

- He was steaming. - Cool. I've got three letters...

- I can fix us booze for Saturday. - Got any coffee?

- Can I borrow some? - Lf you've got snuff, we could swap.

- Don't take it all. - It's your turn!

You can't play a diamond!

- Is it you they call Mr. Sweden? - Yeah, so?

- Pull it out then, show us. - No chance!

- Let's lure it out with a sugarcube. - You should be in the loony-bin.

- S�tra? Nothing wrong with S�tra. - What do you know about S�tra?

Fucking nothing! When were you in S�tra?

You bet! My last stretch.

Fucking luxury. No work, money sent in from outside.

Pork chops and chicken, you cant rent a radio, all you have to do is pay.

Cook it in your own kitchen. Ha! See! And porno mags! Porn!

- And if you get into the elite... - Elite? You?

The Elite. Special Unit. Job on the outside, come and go.

And a TV in the Unit. TV! You've never even seen a TV...

You've no idea! That's only for the nutjobs. You're not even close.

Up yours!

- How do you get into S�tra? - Dead easy.

Just say you've been in too long. That you're getting into boys.

- They shit themselves, send you off. - Does that work?

Yeah, well it'd work for him, with that mustache...

- What? - Who wants to go to S�tra?

What's so good about that? It's a fucking nuthouse!

It's a mental institution! You're fucked for life after that!

No you're not. You talk to the doctor after a few months, that's all.

You'll be here for another year. Fuck you!

- Don't spit. - Only way you'll get a wash...

This is how you get into S�tra!

Go into the shower if you're gonna fuck each other in the ass!

- I had a visitor yesterday. - Who, grandma?

My chick was here. And we got lucky.

We got Visiting Room 1. No screws go near Room 1.

Did her standing up in there. It was brilliant.

She was dripping for it, man.

- Storytime again! - You gonna sit here lying like that?

- Don't touch me. - I'll get her to bring her granddad.

You'd have to stick in your pencil three times over to make her come!

Is Sune on a downer now? Soon as you mention a chick, he's on a downer.

- Just cos you're getting out soon. - You remember what she looks like?

- Probably been fucking everyone. - Or dried up completely...

Nothing wrong with your veins... Why do you want to go to S�tra?

I can't handle it here.

- Handle it? - I've no appetite. It's my nerves.

I don't get any visits. I never get to see my kid.

I have to get it together before I get out, or I won't make it.

I have to. I don't want to end up a nervous wreck on the streets.

I can't see any more. I have enough already.

- Why would S�tra be better? - I'd get treatment. It's a hospital.

- I could get my appetite back. - Do you had problems eating outside?

- No. - So it's just in jail?

- Then go straight, stay out of here. - Can I get into S�tra?

I don't know. Not for me to say.

- Send in an application. - I'd be much better off there.

I put my plan into action. It was a long shot, but I had to try.

I simply wrote down Lasse's story, under an assumed name.

Everything that had happened to him. 34 pages.

I borrowed money to get it printed.

An open letter to the powers-that-be. A wake-up call.

I got the addresses to the party leaders and speakers of the house.

I sent a hand-written letter to the Prime Minister, and one to the King.

I wrote to Director General of Prisons Torsten Eriksson-

- and to Medical Board Director Engel.

I wrote to professors, newspaper editors, medical doctors-

- academics, social workers, health officials-

- psychiatrists, surgeons-

- archbishops and more professors.

All in all, 27 people in power.

I also sent my open letter to 15 different newspapers.

Lasse!

Great stuff. Magic! It must be great to have someone on the outside.

Bring them down while you can!

- You and your articles. Troublemaker! - Eat shit!

On June 17th, my letter made the news in Gothenburg. On the 18th-

- it went nationwide, in three different newspapers.

On the 21 st, Lasse got to see the psychiatrist.

There's a place for you at S�tra from tomorrow. I called this morning.

We just have to fix transport. So you'll get to a better place.

There's been a lot about you in the news recently.

But that has nothing to do with this. That stuff doesn't affect us.

You're treated no differently.

Wow!

S�TRA HOSPITAL

I'm supposed to meet Nisse...

- How's the new arrival? - Alright.

- Do you need any sleeping pills? - No, no need.

Your studies are going well. You're a hard worker.

Is that a poem? May I see?

"I'm dunking biscuits on midsummer. It might be the first time."

"But this time I'm in a cell, dunking."

"Jussi Bj�rling in the speakers."

"The biscuits are nice, considering."

"But I can't concentrate on Jussi, so I think of the seven flowers"-

- "the girls will pluck tonight."

"Malte Lindeman put seven girls under his pillow."

"My thoughts drift on, and the biscuits are non-stop."

- Doctor, may I call my wife today? - Call? Can't you write?

Yes, but I've written several times, and I'm starting to get worried.

- Didn't you call the other day? - No, he hasn't called for ages.

- How's it going with the insulin? - We've managed to decrease the dose.

- Good. Keep it up. - How about that call?

- Let him call today. - Thanks.

You've ordered 200 lined A4 pages.

- What for? - Writing on...

Writing what? To girls?

You know that's not allowed. So what do you want them for?

"Lined, punched A4 paper."

- For your studies? - No, I have special paper for that.

This paper is for writing in general. I prefer A4.

The stuff you have here's no use.

And the guy I write to likes it if they're punched.

It's not up to me. The Director must approve all purchases.

Well tell the Director that I prefer A4 to the stuff you have here.

I'll do that.

For God's sake! How can they deny a request like that?

Writing paper!

- I want to see the Director. - You know you can't.

You'll have to make an application.

- You're late. - They sent Lasse back to jail!

He was supposed to get help. Now they've sent him back.

Discontinued the treatment, with no explanation.

They'll answer for this, if it's the last thing they do.

They'll explain. They're crazy!

In response to your letter-

- I can confirm that Karlsson was relocated for the following reasons:

He refused medicinal treatment in the form of pills, as well as therapy.

He showed little interest in talking to the doctors-

- and seemed unhappy with both the staff and the institution itself.

He himself said there is no difference between S�tra and other institutions-

- after being denied writing paper he could not afford, having no job.

He was told he could have the paper if he could pay for it.

Many people are waiting to get into S�tra, and we must prioritise-

- those we deem treatable.

My answer was this: I understand Karlsson was disruptive.

But he is sick. A bag of nerves. Institutionalised.

It would of course be much easier to deal with him if he were healthy.

But then he'd never have been at S�tra in the first place.

You say Karlsson could not afford paper worth four kronor.

Would it not have been worth four kronor - four kronor! -

- to buy the paper and keep him happy?

And as for refusing treatment. In 1964, Karlsson had an experience-

- which resulted in a mistrust of pills.

I said, I like this place. It'll sort my head out before I get out.

I'll do without the pills. No problem, he said.

And then he says I refused! If I'd known that, I'd've taken the stuff!

He wanted me to take Truxal, but that's no good if I'm studying.

I was there to study. It was going well.

And he says I didn't like it there! But I told you I did, Bj�rn!

I told you in my letters.

But it's not easy to talk about stuff in front of everyone. I'm shy.

Dr. Nilsson noticed that I was a good student. That made me happy.

But Dr. Berglund never came to my cell. He didn't care.

- What's going on? - I didn't get my medicine.

- I can't sleep without it! - Who did you talk to?

I sent a message to the infirmary, but I didn't get any tablets.

He said they won't renew my prescription from S�tra.

- You have to fix it! - Fix it? At this time of night?

- The press should know about... - Tell them! We're not scared of them.

We've survived worse scandals than this.

Can I have the tablets, then?

- Can't you sleep? - No.

- Do you want to walk around a bit? - Yeah.

- What? - Yeah!

Okay then. Give me a shout later.

1035 Karlsson? You have applied for parole.

What are your reasons?

- I've written them down. - Present them orally.

Orally? I've written them down. I have difficulty expressing myself.

If you get out early, what will you do?

Paint. Study.

- Do you have an apartment? A job? - No.

- "I have tried but failed." - How will you support yourself?

- What are your plans? - I'm going to stay with a friend.

- I'll paint and study. - Would the friend be Bj�rn Vilson?

"Supervised study, with the aim of acceptance to art school..."

Is it this Bj�rn Vilson who will supervise your studies?

He will be your tutor? What does he do?

He's a teacher, in Kungshamn.

- What are you going to paint? - I'll paint...

- Just paint. - But what kind of painting?

You must be able to say something. Or will you make frames for Vilson?

- How about an aptitude test? - Aptitude test?

No. I don't want to do whatever an aptitude test says I should.

- I'm going to work with art. - So you won't get a steady job?

Steady? Well I'll have to support myself while I paint and study.

- Wouldn't it be a good start? - But how can I work and paint?

I won't have time to do both. And I want to paint.

But you have to pay your wife support.

- She's getting money from the state. - Yeah, it's mounting up.

- I'll pay it off when I get out. - Then you'll need a job, no?

You applied for parole before, and were turned down.

Then you were given leave, and you abused the privilege. You ran off.

- I absconded. My wife had filed for... - Yes, yes, yes.

- That's no reason to abuse leave. - Isn't it?

They turned me down.

I can't read. It's all a blur.

They grind you down in this mill. Grind you down.

Bj�rn? I won't last two seconds before I hit the bottle again.

Okay that's it! Gather your things.

I dldn't know what to do. I've never felt so helpless.

Lasse needed money, and a place to stay. Where would he llve?

I flnally found a bedslt near me, for 100 kronor a month.

Then I got 3000 from someone, a gift for Lasse.

- 3000? From who? - I can't say. I promised not to.

I don't want to break it. What happened next was strange.

They refused to let him out unless he had a job and a flat.

So I said, well help out then. In the end I did it myself.

And I said, okay, now keep your end of the bargain. Give him his parole.

I wrote to them, the bigwigs at the Criminal Justice Department.

But they had a meeting before they got the letter.

Good news, Karlsson. The Department have granted your parole-

- from the 22nd September 1965. You just have to sign it.

Hi Lasse! Are these yours?

That's the lighthouse.

This is Sm�gen.

- It's been a while. - Yeah, eight or nine months.

Eight months and sixteen days, to be precise.

Got any beer, Bj�rn? No? Good, good.

- Did you find it? - Here it is.

See if you can get some air in there.

- Hi. This is Lasse. - I thought so. Hello.

I hope you'll like it here. Bj�rn can show you round.

Do they know about me?

This is great, Bj�rn. Just my style.

3000 kronor.

They gave me this train ticket, a single from Stockholm to Uddevalla-

- and 150 kronor. Put it in the file.

It's the first time I've had economic help when I've gotten out.

They say you must be able to support yourself, so I get 3000 kronor-

- then they let you go before they even know I've done it.

Where's the logic in that?

- You open it. - Did you buy wine, you idiot?

- We should talk about your complex. - Yeah, so I've had problems before.

But now I've got money, I can paint, I have this place.

- Don't talk about all that... - You and I should be able to...

- Don't say complex! - Well, problems then!

You understand the pressure I'm under? They're just waiting for me to go.

Don't go for them, go for you.

Remember when I went in voluntarily?

I promise, if I see the slightest sign, I'll be straight in again...

Great, Lasse. That's great.

- Hi Bj�rn. - Hi. Here are the brochures.

Psychology there, history there.

Sociology there. We'll get our socks on and see what you have to read.

- Hey, that one's blunt. Take this! - It's alright.

You have been released conditionally. You will be monitored for one year.

Stipulations: Karlsson may not consume alcoholic beverages.

Lasse!

What's up?

Paralysed. Been here three hours.

- You can't walk? - Can't move my legs.

Oh, now I can.

How's the correspondence course going?

- Fancy a walk? Meet some people? - With these hands? With the shakes?

- And the fishermen and everything. - No one here cares...

Sitting here drinking beer, a thousand beers. It's just not on!

- There's not an artist in the world... - An artist?

...who gets their inspiration from a thousand beers. Look at these cans!

The source of your creative force is not the alcohol by volume!

Lasse, I'm tired! I have no strength left to teach the children.

I've slept three hours!

"Portrait of Teacher", by Erik, age 9.

Nice, eh?

It's a good likeness.

Break the habit. Draw a line, Lasse.

- A line, there you go. - Another.

No, Bj�rn.

- When did you buy that? - This morning.

I took a taxi to town and bought it.

- How much? - 610 kronor, and 150 for the cab.

D'you think I can afford that? The one I've got is ancient!

When did you do these? They're amazing!

They're different from what you did inside, Lasse, they were dead.

These are vital, they're full of... They're people! You're alive, Lasse!

Turn it down, Lasse! Turn it down!!

Bj�rn! Critique! Critique!

- Honestly? - Great, Lasse, great.

Don't say it unless you mean it.

We'll send the five best ones to Lundgren.

He can show them to that art critic.

- You think so? - Lf that doesn't convince him-

- that you should get into art school, then nothing will.

Think, after you get in, I can come visit you.

How much do I get? Thousands?

Hard to say. But we'll work it out in a budget, for all your needs.

You'll need rent money, pocket money, money for clothes and tobacco...

...and I'll keep telling you, you're the best, top of the class.

You must be a genius.

Inside the gates are graves.

One of them is open.

There's a man in the coffin.

That man is my father.

- You have to sleep Lasse. Sleep. - Yet the corpse is me.

You have to sleep Lasse, sleep.

I can't take any more. I'm off sick for your sake.

I have my job to think about, I can't take any more.

- I'm going home now. - Well, fuck off then Bj�rn. Fuck off!

Wine, Bj�rn!

- I don't want any. - Drink it! Drink!

Music, Bj�rn!

- Louder! - No, the landlady!

Louder!

- Look after yourself, I'm leaving! - No, Bj�rn, don't go.

Stay here, for my sake. Stay for me.

- You could sleep here. - I can only sleep at home.

I've told you, I can only relax in my own bed.

- There, get some rest. Want anything? - What do you mean, want?

Coffee? A cigarette? I'll get you one.

Lasse!

Lasse!

That pole looks so strange.

- Remember you said you'd go back in? - Back inside? Never!

At least talk to the doctor here?

- You look weird, Bj�rn. - Lf you say so.

You want me in the nuthouse, eh? If they find out about the beer...

- For Christ's sake! - Just go to the doctor!

He's not that bad. You can get some downers, alright? He won't know.

I got Lasse to see the doctor. But there was no doubt about lt.

He sald Lasse needed help.

The only thlng Lasse would take was sleeplng pllls and Tryptlsol.

These are lovely.

Aren't they? He's done all this in ten days.

Been working night and day. All the creativity he supressed...

It's all come flooding out. It's unbelievable. All this!

Do you know who that is? It's my Snowy Bear.

- Can you explain this one? - Explain?

I'm a bit slow you see...

- That's nice. - He really worked on that one.

Lovely lines, soft. Nice colours.

- We should take it to the critic. - I can't really say. Take that one.

We'll take that to the test too. Tell mum all about it.

He's doing a test, in two days. For a scholarship.

- That's great! Exciting! - When are you off? Tomorrow night?

No, tomorrow morning. I'm going to Gothenburg, staying at Bj�rn's.

- Oh, it's you. What's the time? - I did these last night.

Don't wake Bj�rn. We didn't sleep too well.

- Don't you use oils? - Not any more.

I can't stand the turps and thinners.

- How are you, Lasse? - I can't take the pressure.

- From society, from Bj�rn, and you. - Come now, Lasse.

I want to be alone.

- But aren't you happy about the test? - No.

Aren't you going to Gothenburg?

Now that Bj�rn's got the wheels in motion? Help yourself a bit.

- It's not fair on Bj�rn if you don't. - I can't do this any more.

- How old is she here? - Eighteen months.

- Aren't they lovely at that age? - I can't handle myself any more.

I changed to Librium. Tryptisol got me down.

It's the height of laziness. It was all supposed to be packed.

But you've got time to drink. I'll pack them, 'cos we are going.

At 4 p.m. You'll be at the critics', and at 9 a.m. Tomorrow sharp-

- you'll be at the institute for tests. Number 16, Kungsgatan. Got it?!

Or should I write it on a note and hang it round your neck?

There are people queueing up for this test. Lots of them!

I'll make a fool of myself.

Shall we go to the ferry?

Hi, John! How about a drink at Eggers?

- I don't think you'll get in. - Get in?

- Not in your condition. - Condition?

Listen, come back to my place, sleep it off. Freshen up for the test.

- What about my mate? - No, just you.

- Okay, stuff it. - As you wish.

Thanks very much!

Hi Anna! Can we come up? We've nowhere to go.

How old is he? Are you going to corrupt him too? Get out of here!

How dare you come here? You didn't even bother with the test.

She's nuts. I know her...

Anna! Open up! I've nowhere to go!

I know I was nasty, but now I'm alone. I'm sober!

Please open. You said you'd forgiven me. You said.

Officer Jansson? It's Lasse.

Anna!

If he comes crawling back, be strong. He has to take the consequences.

Bj�rn, when I met him at Sm�gen-

- I'd forgiven him for everything.

Don't be sentimental now. It's not the same as love.

It was tlme for me to make a declslon.

If I just dlsappeared, he'd get a shock.

A healthy shock. The only way to get through to hlm.

I got tlme off from school, and wrote a letter to Lasse-

- saylng that I dldn't know when I'd be back.

- Then what happened? - Lasse's parole officer took control.

He did the test, and he really was artistic.

He went to art college.

How did it go? No good?

- How long were you there? - Three months.

Then I broke into a kiosk, and stole the strongbox from school.

Why?

I knew I was doomed to failure. I can't handle school.

The drink, you know? And the pills.

- But that's just the social background. - It's a social background alright.

- What'd you get this time? - Seven months.

Four for the crimes, and three for breaking parole.

- And you were sent to? - Skogome.

- A prison? - A closed prison. Near Gothenburg.