Original subtitles

Here, the earth rocks when you walk. The water table's high here, you see.

When it rains, the fields turn into a giant swamp.

That's when the cattle sink in and have to be hauled out with chains.

Once a cow sank so deep into the mud, it vanished.

Six months later it turned up again, inflated like a balloon.

It gave birth to a two-headed calf with a calf's head and a human head.

You've got to keep such a freak out of sight. Everyone knows that.

Still, the farmer kept it. Soon after the cattle got mad cows disease -

- and the women lost their unborn children and their minds.

The men gathered at the bar, -

- and one early morning they dumped the beast in the bog -

- where it sank with a wretched roar.

Since then, there hasn't been any fuss with neither cattle nor women.

THIS STORY IS BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS

You just snapped? Or...

Hell, it can happen to the best of us.

You're getting a second chance. That's the good thing about the police.

- I don't suppose much happens here. - When it does, just report it to me.

- So I know you've got a handle on it. - Of course.

We'll soon have you back in Copenhagen. If you want to go back.

- You might like it out here. - I doubt it.

What if you find yourself a new little missus here, eh?

He's here.

- Alone? - With the chief from T�nder.

Mojn. That's what we say here. It means both hello and goodbye.

If the chumps give you any trouble, just call T�nder.

Hi there.

Oh, hi. Dr. Zerlang, the local quack.

- Robert. - I live across the street.

- Welcome. How was your trip? - Longer than I'd expected.

I'm from Copenhagen, too. Or Virum. But that's the same thing over here.

I only meant to stay for a couple of weeks.

We've got lots to talk about, you and I. It's going to be great.

- Do you play cards? - Sorry, I don't play.

Your predecessor did. And so does the shopkeeper and the priest.

Well, I'm afraid I don't.

The locals had rather seen a marshall with local blood in his veins.

- They like to handle things themselves. - I see.

Good thing for everyone I'm only here for a short while, then.

I actually came to give you this.

It belonged to the old marshall, and I've been looking after it until you came.

Otherwise it's going into the bog.

You've reached Josefine, Hanne and Squeaky.

We can't answer the phone right now. Leave a message after the beep.

Mojn.

Hello.

You won't find anyone. The new guy's gone.

- The new guy? - He's newer than the old guy, anyway.

- From T�nder. But no one used him. - Why not?

Ingelise Buhl from the machine pool. You're new, too.

- For a brief spell. - Good... that you're here, I mean.

- He just up and left his shop? - No, he disappeared.

- Disappeared? - The way people disappear here.

- I'd better not say any more. - Mojn.

- Mojn. - We have reserved seats here.

Funny, the old marshall always came in for his beer around this time.

I'm the new marshall so I just want a soda.

- Mineral water? - Please.

- Where's the new bicycle dealer? - Has he disappeared?

If you can't find him, maybe you should see a cycleologist.

Cycleologist.

You've reached Josefine, Hanne and Squeaky.

We can't answer the phone right...

Is this a bad time? It's me with the bike.

Forget what I said about the bicycle dealer. About the bog.

- You didn't mention the bog. - Just forget it.

- Is anything wrong? - Can I trust you?

I am the marshall.

- What if you want a divorce? - Not really a police matter, huh.

- If your husband beats you? - Does he?

Yesterday, he slapped me.

- Just like that? - Just because I said you looked good.

- Your picture was in the weekly. - Well, that's asking for it, isn't it?

- Do you want to report him? - I talked to the old marshall about it.

He told J�rgen so I got another beating.

A month ago Dr. Zerlang had to stitch me up. Look.

- You shouldn't put up with that. - I have a daughter.

- She's nine. - Does he beat her, too?

Not yet. She takes the baby carriage out for a stroll when...

When what?

J�rgen is dangerous. You can't imagine how dangerous.

Well, now you know.

Since it's the police asking, yes.

J�rgen has broken arms, legs and noses all around town.

- Mostly when he's drunk. - Hasn't anyone filed a report?

A report? No. Who'd dare report J�rgen?

- The wife? - Especially not her.

Does he beat her?

The old marshall thought she beat herself in order to get attention.

By the way, I received your medical record from Copenhagen.

I thought you might need some more pills, just to settle down.

- After that business. - I've got a handle on it.

- Robert speaking. Skarrild Police. - Moos here. Where the hell are you?

- I'm on patrol. What's up? - I caught a shoplifter red-handed.

- Yes? - Are you coming or what?

Mojn.

In here.

Something's been stolen?

- He hid it under his coat. - Where's the thief?

Get out here.

Here's the culprit. Knud is his name.

- Surname? - We call him Klepto.

- Is this your first offence, Knud? - Robert, come here.

That's not how we do things.

The old marshall just clipped them on the ear and sent them on their way.

- I don't hit children. - But you'll just get T�nder involved.

Then he'll get an even worse beating at home, and they won't wear gloves.

Okay, Knud.

I'll let you off with a warning, but next time you're in for it. Off you go.

- Hello, Marshall. - Hello.

I hear you've talked to my wife.

I don't know who you are or what you mean. Just get out of my car.

She showed you her scar.

She cut herself with a broken bottle.

It's your word against hers. I want you to get out of my car.

Know what this is?

Ingelise with a bread knife.

She hasn't been right in the head since she had Dorthe. Crazy.

- In that case she needs help. - I love her. I love her, get it?

And I take care of her but you're upsetting her.

I'm just doing my job.

You don't understand our ways even though Moos tried to teach you.

- Right, Knud? - What the hell are you doing?

- Giving you a hand. - Don't ever do that again.

You mind your business, and I'll mind mine.

Hanne speaking... Don't call us.

I just wanted to let you know I'm in South Jutland. "Mojn" and all that.

I want to talk to Josefine.

- Why? - I just want to hear her voice.

Well, you can't. You'll only make her cry. Bye.

It's clear you're not from around here, the way you hang up your washing.

It's so disorganised. Look at the neighbour's.

Here, we hang up towels next to towels, and then trousers -

- and finally socks. In pairs.

- Is that how you do it? - No, but then I'm from Aabenraa.

There. Now we're like them. Mr. and Mrs. Normal.

- Why are you spying on me? - It's purely routine.

- Bored already? - Just trying to find out what's what.

What are you going to do? About my life.

- What do you want me to do? - I told you about my husband.

- You seem happy together. - It's all an act.

J�rgen puts on an act for the town, and I for Dorthe.

Let's bide our time.

- Until I get beat up again? - Without a report, I'm helpless.

You need broken limbs or just a black eye? Or does someone have to die?

No. That's not by the book.

Fancy some of that, Marshall? That's the hairdresser.

- Lone TD. - T's for Thousand. Guess what D's for.

- Got your own hairdresser back home? - No.

- More into young men, maybe? - Leave the marshall be.

We've got married women here, too.

Yes, people talk.

How quiet the marshall went all of a sudden.

- Well, remember who she's married to. - What are you talking about?

What are you all talking about?

- They're talking about your wife. - What about Ingelise?

You ought to take better care of her.

- Yes? - It's Dr. Zerlang. We've got a problem.

Ingelise came in this morning, very confused and with a bloody face.

- I've given her a sedative. - I'll say!

- I just gave her the usual dose. - It's not the first time?

No, but it's the first time she's refused to go back to her husband.

What did she say?

People talked at the bar and J�rgen got jealous.

- You said we had a problem. - There. What are we going to do?

- Let her sleep it off. - Not here. I have patients.

- You doped her. Put her on the couch. - No! J�rgen'll tear the place apart.

- Then what do you suggest? - You're the marshall.

Sort out your own mess.

- What happened? - You know very well what happened.

People talked at the bar.

- Where are we running away to? - I'm taking you to T�nder.

- I'm not going to T�nder. - You won't go to T�nder or home.

- Then what? - You don't get jack shit.

This is all there is. There's nothing else.

It's all mud, cows...

... and rubber boots.

Take me away from here. Away from J�rgen.

You need to file a report first, but I don't know if you're ready for that.

Okay.

I have to call my daughter.

- That was J�rgen. - And?

What are you doing here anyway?

- Trying to move up the ladder. - It's a career move then, huh?

- You could say that. - That's not what I heard.

Some people say there's something wrong with you.

You got posted here as a punishment.

- It's a punishment to live here? - Others say you're divorced.

Don't go there.

- They say it's because you're gay. - I'm not gay.

Can you prove it?

- I've got a daughter. - What's her name?

- Josefine. - How old is Josefine supposed to be?

- Almost eight. - We haven't seen much of her.

No, neither have I. I haven't seen her in months.

Why not?

- Funny. She thinks I'm in Australia. - Is that funny?

- Why are you in Australia? - It was the country furthest away.

Why are you here, Robert?

I did something terrible.

What did you do?

I pulled a gun on my wife.

Why?

Because she was going to take everything away from me.

- I'd like to go home now. - Are you leaving?

- What about the report? - You can forget your fucking report!

What sick game are you playing? Do you want to get beaten up again?

I want to go home to my daughter. Let me go!

Skarrild Police.

- So, what got swiped this time? - A ghettoblaster from the street.

- Great place to put it. - I put my goods where I like.

Kids need to learn to keep their hands off. They only learn the hard way.

Come here. The officer wants to know if you want to get beaten or busted.

- Sorry. - Don't apologize.

They don't deserve any better.

That'll teach you!

In case you have visitors.

Mojn.

- What's your teddy called? - Buller.

- What happened to his foot? - He hurt it.

What's wrong?

Open the door!

It's J�rgen.

Open the door!

- Is my wife here? I want to talk to her. - No.

- Don't let him in. Hit him! - Let me in.

- Knock him out! - God damn it!

How did he look?

I need to talk to her. Just for a second.

- She doesn't want to talk to you. - I just want to see if she's okay.

- She's fine. - I want to hear it from her.

- How are you? - Okay...

Mojn.

- Mojn. - What did you say?

Mojn.

- Do you have any more of those pills? - What pills?

- The ones we talked about. - Oh...

Robert, forget Ingelise. I've barked up that tree, too.

Is it true J�rgen isn't Dorthes father?

- Whoa, where did you hear that? - I'm the police.

Well, he's fathered at least seven of the other runts running around town.

Seven?

I'm the doctor.

We still need a fourth player for our card game.

No, a beer please.

Well, young Dorthe is taking the baby carriage for a stroll again.

What did you say?

I said, young Dorthe is taking the baby carriage for a stroll again.

Ingelise.

- I'm sorry. I'm so dumb in the head. - There now.

Calm down. It's okay.

You should've taken me away from here.

I'll take you with me to Copenhagen.

- I want to go to Aabenraa. - Okay, Aabenraa.

- Promise? - I promise.

Lie down with me.

Come lie down with me.

I want to feel you.

I want to feel you.

Let me feel you.

Ingelise!

Ingelise!

- T�nder Police. - I have a confession.

Your name, please?

- Hello? - It was an accident.

Robert? It's Zerlang. I'm calling from the machine pool.

Get over here. Ingelise is dead.

I'm warning you. She's not a pretty sight.

- Cause of death? - Cardiac arrest. And excessive blows.

- J�rgen? - Who else?

Well, what have you got to say for yourself, J�rgen?

The last time I saw her, she was alive. I swear.

So she bumped into a door? Is that why she's such a mess?

What kind of idiots do you take us for?

- Admit that you hit her. - Yes, but that never killed her before.

The last time I saw her, she was alive, God damn it.

- How did you find her? - Dorthe found her.

I want to be with my daughter.

Well, I guess you're going to call T�nder Police for assistance.

I suppose I'd better.

But it's an open and shut case. J�rgen more or less confessed.

It's not like you think. I killed Ingelise.

Nonsense. You may feel guilty, but that's not the same thing.

You may have caused their argument but that doesn't make you a murderer.

You never should've invited her home. That'll come out.

And the fact that you fooled around and kissed in your garden.

Robert.

It's not in my best interest to have T�nder Police snooping around.

I prescribed Ingelise quite a lot of medicine.

I found this on the floor.

Maybe she overdid it.

She's been in T�nder Hospital before, with an overdose.

I was reprimanded.

- What are you trying to say? - Let's keep a cool head.

Hold our horses, as they say here.

I'll write a death certificate that won't cause a stir.

I'll just write "cardiac arrest". That'll do.

- That's not quite by the book, is it? - No, but it's not a lie, either.

If J�rgen is charged, we'll both be dragged into it.

There's no need for that, is there, Robert?

And what about young Dorthe?

Want her to lose both her parents at the same time?

There's been a... a tragic accident.

Ingelise Buhl is dead.

Dr. Zerlang has examined her and concluded -

- that Ingelise Buhl died from cardiac arrest.

Love brought Ingelise Buhl to this town years ago.

From the very beginning she was a strange bird -

- and never quite settled in here with us.

Some of you may say we should have made her feel more at home.

That we should have helped her.

But it's no secret that Ingelise had a difficult disposition.

It's hard to help someone who doesn't want to be helped.

Let's not in our grief reproach ourselves -

- but take joy in the fact that Ingelise finally found peace.

The family invites you all for coffee at the bar.

Let me through.

I propose one minute of silence in honour of the deceased.

- You'd better keep an eye on J�rgen. - Why?

People put up with a lot here. But not a wife-killer.

She died from cardiac arrest.

Take my advice... If you want Dorthe to keep her father.

Dorthe!

Dorthe!

Dorthe!

J�rgen!

J�rgen.

Go get him.

I said, go get him.

You're meddling in matters you don't understand.

You'll pay for this.

J�rgen, get in here.

You shouldn't have done that.

Find Dorthe.

Your boots, J�rgen.

Have any of you seen young Dorthe since the funeral?

Or do you know where she is?

- I'm sick of being made a fool of. - Then go back home to Copenhagen.

It won't be long. I'm turning this case over to T�nder Police.

- Why drag T�nder into it? - I will, unless you tell me where she is.

We don't want anyone from T�nder snooping around.

- Dorthe can't be alone with J�rgen. - J�rgen is her father.

Dorthe is afraid of J�rgen. After all, he did kill her mother.

Says who?

Who says J�rgen killed Ingelise?

And at the end of the day, who really killed Ingelise?

When Dorthe took the baby carriage for a stroll, her mother was beaten.

You all knew that.

What did you do? Eco-Tage?

What did you do, Hansi? What did you do, Helmuth?

You swilled your beer and let them carry on.

That's the way it works around here. Everyone knows everything, -

- but no one does anything, and now that little girl's mother is dead.

Well, if that's how you feel about it...

We'll tell you where she is, then.

Open it.

It's the police, Dorthe. Open up. She asked to stay in there.

Dorthe, it's Robert.

Hi, Dorthe. What a nice place you've got here.

Dorthe, no matter what people say, your dad didn't kill your mum.

It was an accident. Her heart stopped beating.

The doctor says so and he knows what he's talking about.

I saw you.

You left our house with blood all over your face.

- You saw me? - Don't you remember?

- No. - You were bleeding from your face.

You passed by me.

You tried to stop him. Didn't you?

- Have you told this to anyone? - No.

Good.

No matter what your dad's done, he didn't do it on purpose.

He misses your mom just as much as you do.

Right now he misses you terribly.

I haven't seen my daughter in ages and I'd be so happy to see her again.

- Where's your teddy? Buller? - At home.

You've reached Josefine, Hanne and Squeaky.

We can't answer the phone right now. Leave a message after the beep.

Hey Josefine. It's Dad. I just called to say happy birthday.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

I'm coming back from Australia soon, so I hope to see you.

I'm really looking forward to it.

You sure have settled in lately.

Mojn.

That's right, I took your boots with me from the bog.

- Keep them. - Thanks.

How are you? Is there anything I can do for you?

I want my name cleared. I want a fair trial.

- What for? - For what happened.

Nothing happened. You haven't been charged with anything.

- Okay, then I want to turn myself in. - What for?

- That business with Ingelise. - She died from cardiac arrest.

I'll call T�nder Police myself. Maybe they can get to the bottom of this.

Stop thinking about yourself. Dorthe doesn't need a father who's in prison.

- I didn't do it. - No.

But tell that to T�nder Police.

We handle things ourselves here.

The quack's got some pills that'll see you through this.

Talk to Dr. Zerlang. He'll help you.

It's just like the old marshall. He could put 'em away, too.

We thought you were a fag. But fags don't drink like that.

- You thought he was. - You thought so too.

- We've got new seats. - I told you you weren't welcome here.

- Why? I pay cash. - You know very well why.

No.

Go home, J�rgen.

If you throw me out, I demand that you say out loud what I've done.

What about you, Marshall? Can you tell me what I've done?

If no one can, I have a right to order just like the rest of these apes. Two beers.

One for me and one for the marshall.

Don't you want it? Or are you still popping pills?

Dr. Zerlang sure has got his records straight.

Here's to the marshall and his good ideas.

Two more.

Here's to Dr. Zerlang.

Two shots.

Two more, please.

Two more.

And another two.

Two more beers.

Dr. Zerlang sure knows where it's at.

Want to talk about Copenhagen?

About the time you came home and found your wife on top of a colleague?

Were you really going to shoot them? The both of them?

- None of your business. - Christ!

Were you going to do it? Huh?

What happened? Come on.

I don't remember!

You were sent to the nuthouse. Three months with unsteady nerves.

I've got something for you.

You were there, Robert.

Dorthe cleaned house today and found this under my and Ingelise's bed.

Know what she told me?

That she saw you outside our door with blood all over your face.

Because you'd beaten Ingelise half to death.

Were you going to fuck her?

Were you going to fuck her? You've got two options.

Either you call T�nder Police or you and I take a trip to the bog.

And get it over with.

- You forgot one. - Right. But you haven't got the guts.

- I don't have much of a choice, do I? - No, you don't.

But Dorthe will be left without a father. Can you live with that?

I'm sorry, J�rgen, but some say you aren't her real father.

Know what's good about that?

Hello? It's Dorthe.

My dad hasn't come home and he's not at the bar.

I don't like it here.

One of Eco-Tage's cows sank into the mud.

We hauled it out but it was a filthy mess.

We need to talk.

- Yes? - We'd better go inside.

Can't we talk here?

- We'd better go inside. - I've got a confession to make.

Inside.

What a downpour last night.

The fields will be flooded for weeks.

- Yes, what a downpour. - You can say that again.

You had a confession to make?

Yes, I... never got around to writing the reports you asked for.

Never mind. Not much happens around here, I suppose.

Not more than I can handle.

- You wanted to talk to me? - You've got a girl who misses her dad.

- Josefine? - Dorthe.

Her dad's name is J�rgen. She called us this morning.

- When was the last time you saw him? - At the bar.

Yesterday at around six or seven.

We had a couple of beers and I went home.

That corroborates my information.

- Did he seem depressed? - His wife just died. Cardiac arrest.

So I understand.

Chief.

They've found a rubber boot in the bog.

They're already at it.

I've found something.

This is a goddamned mess.

I've got this sister in T�nder. She's got a boy. Grown up.

A good kid but he got himself in a jam.

Drugs and what have you. That's who we just hauled up.

He was looking at three years, but I pulled some strings -

- and set him up with a bicycle shop in this town.

I never should have done that. Damn!

But if we say J�rgen Buhl killed himself, -

- and call it suicide, we'll close the case here.

- What about your men? - I don't see any men. Do you?

That's another good thing about the police.

And you'll be wanting to get back home to Copenhagen, right?

Hello... Zerlang?

I just stopped by with this guy.

You can dump him in the bog next to everyone else.

- Mojn, then. - Fed up with the town already?

I'm back on duty in Copenhagen.

- I thought you'd settled in here. - Yes, but I've got my daughter there.

- Well, that's nice. - Certainly. If you are going home.

If?

Come on, Robert. We know everything.

- What do you know? - We know you killed Ingelise.

- You didn't mean to, but you did. - She died from cardiac arrest.

- And you put a bullet in J�rgen's chest. - Or two, to be precise.

- We don't blame you. - We don't miss any of them.

They caused so much tension, but that tension's gone now.

You're our man now, Robert.

What if I leave anyway?

Certain things about you will get out. Things that will harm you.

- Especially in Copenhagen. - So as I said, you're our man now.

Seven.

Solo.

- Mojn. - Mojn.

Subtitles: Helle Schou Kristiansen SDI Media Denmark