Original subtitles

Based on real events. Details have been adapted for dramatic purposes

and all place and character names are fictitious.

Hey! Hey, stop!

Stop!

Could you drive me into town? I have to get out of here. My mum will pay.

-Where do you live? -Hagagatan. Please, please, please!

-All right... -Thank you!

Ignore her. Just drive on by. Drive!

Hi. She can't leave without her parents' permission.

That's not true. Drive!

-She's a minor. This is illegal. -She's lying!

-Come in, we'll phone her mum. -We'll do that.

-Please, no... -We'll do that.

Turn in here.

RIDING IN DARKNESS

ONE YEAR EARLIER

JUNE 1990

Mum?

Mum?

I'm going now. To Heddesta.

So I'll talk to you later.

-See you tonight. -No. I'm moving out now.

Moving out?

Yes. To Heddesta. I'm going to work there.

Oh yes, you told me. I just... I didn't know it was now, that's all...

Can you get the lighter for me? I think it's in my handbag.

No, you shouldn't smoke in bed.

Molly...

-Goodbye! -Kiss kiss!

A round of applause for Sara on Daisy.

Time for our youngest competitor today.

-Victoria Lundh. -Ready?

It's going to be fun.

Remember what we talked about. Kick on over the jump.

-And rein in. -Welcome in, Victoria.

Good luck, Vickan! Remember to relax.

Yes, next year you'll get to ride.

Here we go.

That's it.

Good.

Good job!

Good, Vickan!

Zero faults from Victoria Lundh on Lady!

Hi!

Finally!

-Hi, Kharma. Did you compete today? -Yes, she was really good.

-She won. -What? You won? Clever girl!

You're to stay with me in the cottage.

Yes! It's going to be so much fun!

So you just finished school yesterday?

Yes.

-And you didn't go out partying? -No. Not that I remember.

That's good. I can count on you.

-What grades did you get? -Straight A's.

Congratulations! No, tell me what you really got.

Bad grades, mostly D's.

What you don't have in your head you can make up for elsewhere.

I heard that Kharma won the 148cm category.

Was Malin riding her?

-Malin doesn't work here anymore. -No?

We discovered that she was stealing money from the café.

Don't mention it to anyone. We don't want people to start talking.

-For Malin's sake. -No, of course.

We feel awful. We really trusted her.

Yes, I understand.

So for the next competition, you can come instead.

I'd love to!

-Really? -Yes!

Goodnight.

-Goodnight. Thanks for the tea. -Nighty night.

-Goodnight. -Goodnight.

You're doing great!

Now let's stop...

Good! Nice! Good work, Linn.

You're in a much better position in the saddle, can you feel it too?

I think you should try trotting.

Keep your legs on.

Legs on.

Heels down.

-That was great. Don't you think? -I was a bit nervous.

Of course. Remember to keep your heels down.

Next time. Super.

Tommy, I...

-I don't think I'm ready for this. -You're ready.

I feel...

Linda did it. Are you worse than her?

You can do it, Katarina.

Stop being a silly cow. Go on. Chop chop.

That's it.

-Look at that! -Good job!

-What did I tell you? -Fantastic!

Good, everyone!

Can't you sleep?

No. I'm really nervous about tomorrow.

But you want to compete, right?

Yes...

Yes, I do, but don't you want to compete too?

-No, no. It's not my thing. -No?

I'd crash into the first fence and break my arm or something.

-Totally embarrass myself. -Frida, that's no help!

Thanks for putting that image in my head. Frida!

You shouldn't have said anything! Now I'm never going to sleep!

Okay, girls... Let's stick together today, like a team.

When one person is competing, the others watch.

And I don't want you talking to anyone outside of the team.

People talk such a lot of crap. They're jealous of us, remember that.

Because we're from Heddesta, and they know they don't belong with us.

Are you with me? Good.

The 138cm category is starting at 11:15. Bettina, you're the 12th out.

Molly, you're 23rd.

Sandra, the 148cm category is starting at 1:30. You're 3rd out.

-Four faults, and a time of 62.52... -We'll crush them.

Competitor number 23, Molly Bennett

from Heddesta Riding Centre on Zickzack.

Let's go!

Come on, Molly, what is it?

Pull yourself together! Now let's go.

Molly and Zickzack, you may begin.

Go, Molly!

Send him forward, send him forward... Yes!

No one will beat that. There's no chance!

Zero faults. 56:40, the best time so far from Molly and Zickzack.

Here's what we're going to do.

Molly, you ride in the 148cm category too.

-I thought Sandra was doing that. -We're here to win.

Go and get ready.

-Are you okay with this? -Sure.

-Hi, Molly. -Hi, Malin.

-Congratulations. I saw you won. -Thanks.

-I'm riding at Karleby now. -Jenny told me.

But I miss the horses. Most of all Kharma.

Kharma has such an amazing competitive instinct.

She can be so incredibly sluggish, but then...

I have to go!

What did I say about talking to people?

Why the hell can't you do as I say? Are you stupid?

You are never coming to a competition again.

Hey! How did it go?

-I came third. -Congratulations!

-Molly won the 138cm and 148cm. -Did you? Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Yep, we have a future world champion here.

I'll unload the van. See you later.

So you rode in the 148cm category too?

-I think Sandra was pretty annoyed. -She'll get over it.

You won. It was the right decision.

Oh, no thanks...I don't want any.

Try it. You'll like it. I promise.

Have I ever been wrong about anything?

You had to think about it. You can't remember a single time I was wrong!

-Tommy, she doesn't want it. -She can try it.

Just a sip. You'll like it.

-Was it awful? -No.

I told you so.

-I'm going to bed. -You do that, love.

Goodnight.

-Don't stay up too late. -No.

We'll stay up just long enough. Come on, let's go and sit on the sofa.

Bring your wine glasses.

Molly?

I'm going to explain how the competition group works.

It's an elite activity. Okay?

If you want to be a part of it, ride the best horses, win championships,

you have to go for it 100%. You got it?

You can't have a lot of distractions on your mind.

So it's incredibly important

that we can also talk about non-riding topics.

If there's something you're worried or sad about.

You understand? So they don't take your focus from the competition.

Good. Frida, why don't you start?

When did you last talk to your parents?

I don't know.

At Christmas, I think. I talked to my mother.

And your dad didn't like your boyfriend, wasn't that it?

No.

Why not? Didn't he have a job?

He was no choirboy...

You said you spoke to your mother at Christmas.

Which of you reached out?

Me...

She never calls me.

It's like she doesn't care...

This is good, Frida. Just let it all out.

Molly, how are things in your home?

I think you have something inside you that needs to come out.

You've listened to Frida talking about difficult things.

-Like I said, if you want to... -My mother drinks.

Okay.

Sometimes she meets a guy who also drinks.

Then there are a lot of parties in my house for a few weeks.

Until he leaves. Then she drinks more to drown her sorrows.

My real dad lives in England.

But I haven't seen him in maybe five years.

So I've taken care of myself since I was around 10.

And I try to keep an eye on Mum.

This is what I mean. You see?

Heddesta is more than a riding school,

it's a place where you get a second chance.

Someone cares here.

Lotta and I, we care.

You get to learn a job, learn to take responsibility, grow up.

That's the most important part of what we do.

I don't give a shit about whether you win some competition.

But seeing girls like you get on the right path,

and knowing that, without Heddesta,

you'd have a hell of a tough time now.

That's what motivates me.

Okay...

Massage time.

Take off your top.

You're very tense, Molly.

Try to relax.

Okay, that's enough for tonight.

Goodnight.

Tommy can get like that when he's been drinking.

Should we say something to Lotta?

I don't think so.

It's better to...

...just...

Here comes the cucumber helicopter...

Have you both had enough? Then we'll go and do your teeth!

The vet is coming at 11, to look at Dojo's front leg.

-Can you show him? -Sure... Lotta?

This is so hard to say, but...

I feel that I have to say something.

Last night Tommy wanted to massage us.

And he touched me between my legs.

And it felt really uncomfortable and strange.

-Why are you making this up? -What?

I'm not making anything up.

You can ask Frida...

I'll have to ask Tommy if this is true.

-Molly. -Yes?

I've spoken to Tommy, and he says you're lying.

-What? Lotta, I swear... -I want you out.

Leave Heddesta. Straight away.

Pack your things. I want you on the next bus.

I don't have anywhere to go.

You should've thought of that before.

I spoke to Lotta, I tried to get her to change her mind, but no...

-I'm so damn stupid... -No you're not.

Yes, I am! Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut, like you said?

I've ruined everything. So damn stupid...

Hi, Kharma!

Hi!

I'm going to miss you so much!

Don't forget me, Kharma.

Tommy changed his mind.

You can stay.

If you promise never to tell a lie like that again.

Okay.

Hop on, I'll give you a lift.

-On that? -Yes, on this.

Come on.

Tell me when you're situated.

-Okay, hold on! -I'm holding on.

Oh my God!

Victoria, never go cycling with your mother! Thanks for the ride!

Hello.

-Hello. I'm Lis. -I'm Victoria.

I'm sorry you had to wait.

You've reported your father for assault.

-Yes. -This assault happened this evening?

Yes.

But it's happened many other times.

From when I was little until I moved away from home.

Many, many times.

People probably thought my sister and I lived in paradise.

We lived on a horse farm.

We could ride as much as we wanted to.

We had kittens...

From the outside it probably looked fantastic.

Hello, my name is Linda.

"...and I'm an alcoholic."

No, that wasn't what I was going to say.

Sorry. My mistake.

I'm the chair of the riding association here at Heddesta.

I want to thank you all for all your help today.

We showed the best side of these stables.

I feel proud to the bottom of my heart,

and I think that you should too.

But there are a couple of people I want to name in particular,

and I'm thinking of course of Tommy, and Lotta.

What you do here is something quite fantastic.

And it means a lot, to so many people.

So thank you. Thanks for being here.

And cheers!

Cheers.

Thank you. Thanks, everyone.

And thanks, Linda,

for your dedication to Heddesta Riding Association.

But most of all I'd like to thank the girls and boys who ride with us.

You're the ones who make it all worth it.

Watching you work, and struggle, and learn,

and grow, and develop.

Seeing your eyes light up

when you do something you thought was impossible...

When you get to see that, then you feel really lucky.

And now I'd better stop before I...

You know how much I love you all. Everyone.

Horse cheer!

-The horse cheer! -Finally!

Ohhh...cheers!

We must have better music than this!

How is your shoulder?

-Is it still stiff? -No, it's better now. But thanks!

Molly! Could you give Katarina a massage? Her shoulder is stiff.

-No, don't be silly! -Come on.

-Molly has magic hands. -You don't have to.

She's happy to.

Go up to the bedroom!

For God's sake, get upstairs! Massage time!

We can go in here.

You can lie down here.

-On my stomach? -Yeah.

It'll be great just to lie down. I haven't had five minutes to sit.

Okay...

Where does it hurt?

It's in my right shoulder. It comes and goes.

Right now it feels fine.

-Here? -Yes, exactly there!

That feels good.

What's the matter? Was it the massage?

-Molly wanted to do it. -She wanted to?

Yes.

So she came over and asked you if you wanted a massage?

-No... -Tommy told her to do it, right?

Why are you asking if you already know what happened?

There's just something I don't like about that place.

Tommy snaps his fingers,

and the stable girls have to obey his every whim. Like, why?

Why should they have to serve us all evening? Are they servants?

No... You're right.

I don't want Jenny sleeping over there, that's all I'm saying.

I don't care if she begs. She'll have to change riding schools.

Or stop riding.

Go up to the house! I said, go up to the house!

-Did you hear? -Yes.

Come inside.

What happened to the door?

Lotta?

Molly, stop asking questions about things that aren't your business.

-Sorry. -Do your damn job instead.

When I was little, we had a stable girl called Molly.

My father is not the type to regret things...

...but there's one thing I think he regrets.

And that's that he didn't leave Molly alone.

Subtitles by Jennifer Evans