Original subtitles

Birgitta? Birgitta?

Birgitta Piik? Now that is a star in the detective universe.

This is Emma Ols, our new colleague.

You were there, you're a suspect.

Do you see anything missing in the display case?

You can surely try to help me? Please, Nora?

-I can't take this case. -Merit Popovic, the SU unit.

-There are missing narcotics. -I am here if you want to talk.

There's nothing weighing on me.

By god, you seem a little uptight. Aren't you going to sit down?

But that's Nora too, so maybe you're a good match.

Did anything happen during the evening that you can tell us?

Oh my god! Why don't you knock, you brute?

-What? What do you want? -I am so terribly sorry.

It pains me that the atmosphere took such an unfortunate turn.

I just wonder if there's anything I can do...

No. I want to sleep, and not wake until tomorrow morning - and

then I want to leave here as quickly as possible. Is that understood?

-Yes, of course. Good night. -Good night.

-And what did Tony want? -Unclear.

Rather unpleasant type, that, if you ask me.

And his relationship with Birgitta, well that's very strange.

But he invited you into Birgitta's room, for a glass of cognac?

How do you know that?

I don't know, I guessed.

Now you were being clever, weren't you? Yes, he did, but I declined.

I see.

But... Yes, I heard someone who was in there later. Who screamed.

Who did?

I think it was Ursula. It sounded like her.

-And what did she scream? -Nothing pleasant, exactly.

But you should ask her.

What was it in the manuscript that made everyone so upset?

Well, the others think that she has written an awful lot of lies.

A load of slander and invention.

What do you think, then?

Well, I'm hardly in the manuscript.

A bit on the periphery, perhaps.

Why's that?

Well, I had no quarrel with Birgitta and I had other interests.

-Like? -I was quite popular, actually.

But my God, what does that have to do with this case?

What is that supposed to mean? Show some respect!

I've scraped off many of your kind from the souls of my shoes.

As for what it said in that manuscript, you can dream on, if you think you'll ever know.

What do you mean by that?

So she assassinates the character of her old

classmates - people she hasn't had contact with in decades. Why?

But let's look at it from another angle. Let's consider the motive.

Birgitta describes shame

indiscretions and secrets concerning these three.

In that case, this is a manuscript that they don't want published.

That someone burned. But who?

The murderer, perhaps.

The medical examiner has confirmed that Birgitta died of cyanide.

She had 0.15 grams in her blood, which is a lethal dose.

-That's quite a painful death, isn't it? -Yes. Perhaps that was the intention.

The technicians haven't found any fingerprints on the broken glass yet.

I think the old ladies are all lying.

Yes, speaking of old ladies. The internal investigator wants to talk to you.

Yes... No, I don't have time.

Oh really? Okay, what should I say then?

What does it look like I'm doing?

You're in a meeting.

Yes, so what are you going to say?

That you're in a meeting?

Well, you don't have to be a prick about it.

This is a dreadful script. She's stabbing me in the back.

I met Birgitta a few years ago.

We'd drifted apart after

graduating, but I contacted her.

Was there a particular reason you got in touch?

I suggested that I write a biography of her.

Why's that? Well, you...

The pension for us cultural workers is just a joke.

Oh no, I actually thought it could be a good deal for both of us.

Birgitta being a celebrity, and I with my sharp pen.

Isn't she a writer herself?

I'm a cultural journalist.

Birgitta writes, or wrote, clichéd dime-a-dozen crime novels.

Which have sold around the world. That must have felt...

I prefer quality over quantity.

-What happened then? -Well, it didn't happen.

But I met her a couple of times.

We had great conversations. Open and confidential.

But she has certainly exploited it, I now realize.

She was the one who made me talk most of all-

while she... refilled my glass.

Did you have any one-on-one meetings that evening?

No, I didn't. I drank too much and went to bed.

OK. Because we have information that you were in her room

and that an argument was heard.

Who said that?

Yes, I got a little angry. Well, don't I have every right to be?

I felt hurt.

-You. You have let me down. -Have I?

You have written things I told you in confidence.

Who owns the truth? Who owns the story of their own life?

You have exploited me for your own purposes!

You can't copyright reality.

You're not printing that, do you hear me?

How did that make you feel?

Well, I felt like I could just throttle her.

But my god, I didn't do that.

-What did you do? I just said. I went to bed.

And you didn't become friends again first? Over a little cognac, maybe?

No, I don't drink cognac.

I'm a walking cultural cliché. I'm strictly red wine.

Do you have a Country house?

Yeah, I have a plot at Tanto. Is there something wrong?

I was thinking about this thing with insects and bugs that you always need to kill.

It's annoying. But then you use cyanogenic glycosides. Effective.

-What are you talking about? -Cyanide.

I have a fly swatter.

Alexander? Hello?

How are you? Hello? Hi.

I need to talk to you.

No, I don't have time.

But it'll be quick.

No, I'm in the middle of an investigation, that has to come first.

They've managed to secured part of a fingerprint from the broken glass.

So now they are going to compare them to the ladies. And Tony.

-Yes, I will get back to you. -Yes, good.

-I finally read this. -Shouldn't you be sitting on the bench?

It is not a cosy mystery Birgitta has written.

-No it is an autobiography. -She exposes them brutally.

We know.

A psychologist who has affairs with her male

patients - right under the nose of her poor husband.

A woman who claims to work high up in the

banking industry - but actually works in customer service

and has lost all her money in the divorce.

Pretends to live in upper Östermalm, but lives in a studio apartment at Hökarängen.

And an alcoholic journalist who gets fired because of plagiarism.

And what about Monica then?

She writes about a young woman who is interested in her fiancé.

-Can it be Monica? -It is not quite right.

Because this young woman seduces the

fiancé, gets pregnant and forces him to marry her.

But Henrik was conceived at Capri.

That is something I heard way too much about.

She says she has no problem with Birgitta.

But then the last chapter is missing.

Under "epilogue" there are only five digits.

Alexander? What do you think?

Nora, someone is waiting for you in reception.

It was urgent, there was some sort of mishap in the family.

Is it Anna?

What happened? Is she okay?

Well, shouldn't you know? You are the ones that kept her in custody?

What? There was an mishap.

Yeah, it's one hell of an mishap that you arrested my poor mother!

On what basis, if I may ask?

But you idiot! Don't you realise how worried I was?

-Family mishap? -Of course it is a family mishap!

For me! For my family!

What is this crusade against my mother?

She happens to say something marginally questionable about the

boy's parents - so you intend to throw her in a cell with bread and water!

Is that professional? I demand that she be released immediately!

Have you completely lost your mind?!

Do you really think she is sitting here because of a personal vendetta?

Are you out of your mind? She is one of five people of interest-

- in a murder investigation. It has nothing to do with me!

It's not even my investigation!

Oh really...

-No, no, no. -Sorry. I'm getting desperate.

You know how she is, so nervous. I don't know what to do.

You should go home and take a shower, because you stink like hell.

Then you can go to your mom's apartment and get

a blanket, toothbrush, clean clothes, and come back.

Will you drive? Because I don't trust him in this state.

Are you aware that your son has the emotional intelligence

level of a twelve-year-old?

Then perhaps you are also aware that it is your fault.

That your constant manipulations have made

it impossible for him to ever leave the womb.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Are you, Nora? Are you without sin?

You, who preferred your career over being a good wife and mother.

And you, who cannot keep a man for more than twenty minutes.

How many have you managed to get through since poor Henrik got rid of you?

But was faithful to my beloved

Harald - in joy and sorrows all these years

- But if it's a sin... - Be quiet

How long had you been married before Henrik was born?

- Why? - I'm just wondering

You've always talked about Capri

Yes, Henrik was conceived during our honeymoon in Capri

Hello, Henrik, it's me Are you at your mother's?

Okay, I'll come round. Bye

Perhaps you could still try to show some empathy - -

for this dreadful thing that mother is going through now

Locked in a cell, accused of murder

She isn't accused of murder, she's being questioned for information

Hell, "questioned for information"? What's the difference to her

It's horrible anyway, don't you think?

Yes, it is a pity for little mommy

I understand if you want to put as much distance as possible between you and this family

- But Anna is not like them, I promise you - OK

Amazing how you can be so cold.

This has not been a picnic for me either

I am all alone. I have no one to talk to.

Gisela is completely absorbed with Pyret and...

No, now it's not enough that she's doing Bamsegym

- and art...

Come on! Spare me.

I have no interest in listening to how you and Grisela-

can't get your life puzzle together. I feel a little sick.

Can't we just agree that it is most unfortunate for you, as usual?

I'm just trying to say that mom is the only one who understands me.

Why don't you divorce Grisela and marry your mom?

There are certainly cultures that accept that sort of thing.

No, for crying out loud... Seriously. For crying out loud!

-Hold this. -What are you doing?

What are you doing?!

We found out who inherits everything. Drumroll... Tony!

That was no surprise.

-What are you doing? -Just give me a second...

How are you doing?

No, I'm fine. I probably just have a little bug.

Look.

What? What is it we...?

We need to do another interview.

Birgitta's display case. Was there cyanide in there?

Okay...

Look closely now. Here's a selfie Monica took.

Small brown bottle with a red label.

And 24 hours later, the bottle is gone. What was in the bottle?

Yes, it's cyanide.

-Where did it come from? -I bought it.

Birgitta asked me to. It was research for a story she was working on.

She often wanted props before writing, for inspiration.

Yeah... Someone must have broken in.

-What did the epilogue say? -What?

The epilogue. She wrote an epilogue but a couple of pages are missing.

Where is it...? Yeah, here.

It just says some numbers: 99721. What does it mean?

I have no idea.

I advised her against writing this book.

-Why was that? -It would stir up so much anger.

But she wanted to get back at them.

-Get back at...? -Yes...

Monica, Anita, Ursula, Kerstin, they... They weren't nice.

-Was Monica mean too? -Absolutely! She was the worst.

-In what way? -They tormented her when they were young.

Such gross acts that the scars remained for life.

-Look, there she is. -See, Birgitta.

They spread false rumours about her, that she smelled bad.

-that she shoplifted, that she slept with guys for money.

And once some guy planted cheat notes in

the bathroom before an exam and ratted her out.

She claimed she was innocent, but she got suspended.

The others turned their backs on her.

They dropped her like a hot potato and went

on with their lives. Without even looking back!

And she... She never came back to school after that.

And those events followed her through life.

The fascination with betrayal and alienation—

-influenced Birgitta's writing

-and made her beloved of readers worldwide.

Okay, look. What is she wearing?

She is so gross!

She invited them there because she wanted to see their faces when they read.

She wanted to watch them being revealed. It’s about shame.

In these circles, shame is so much worse than guilt.

If the facade falls. They are left with nothing.

Who do you think killed Birgitta?

I don’t know.

But you’re the one who’s inheriting her estate.

I think it’s him.

He had the motive, he had an alibi from the ladies…

…which is stronger than theirs. And now he’s rich beyond belief.

How are you doing?

Are you okay?

Do you have time?

- Won’t you take a coffee roll? - No, thanks.

-They are home-baked. -Yes, Ok. Thank you.

Well, you’ve been here a few years now. Are you enjoying it?

Yes. I find it good here.

I understand you think this is all terribly awkward.

Well… I can see that you are here to do your job

– but I don’t want to get involved, that’s all.

I don’t feel comfortable suspecting colleagues or anything.

This could just as easily be an accounting error…

Your colleague seems to be avoiding me.

I have checked out all of you now, but...

Okay. No, I think... I mean, he's not feeling very well.

He says he has an infection. That's probably what's bugging him.

I know that he went through a trauma and was taking painkillers.

Yes. So what...? What's that to do with this?

I'm just stating facts.

I would say that he is the station's best cop.

Okay.

But if you know that someone is abusing drugs on the job-

-then finding that person actually ends up helping him or her.

You understand that, right?

I have to take that. Are we done?

-Bye. -Bye.

Hi. Where's Alexander?

Okay... I think you guys need to let the women's group go soon.

-You can't keep them any longer. -No, we still have a few hours left.

No... But... I think they are old.

And I think...

What is it?

It's the press. I mean, the press is waiting outside the office.

I had to sneak out the back way.

Hi. I figured something out. Look.

Yes, she's pregnant.

Monica has always said that Henry was conceived on their honeymoon.

So maybe it is true what Birgitta writes.

That Monica is... What does she call her? "The seductress."

So it's Monica who is described in the worst way in the book.

Hello. Uh... Welcome.

Yes, he has been acting strange all day.

Yes, the whole day. He has been strange all day.

How are you?

I'm not really feeling great.

No. Why are you sitting here?

I am going out to Birgitta's house.

I think maybe that we may have missed something.

-Yes, yes. I'm coming along. -No.

No?

No, it's not necessary.

And I just want to... I just need to be left alone for a while, okay?

Alexander, what is going on?

Please, tell me before I start guessing.

Can you be so kind to just step out of the car?

We need to talk you again. And you should have a lawyer with you.

You said earlier that you did not meet Birgitta again during the evening.

No, not when I got rid of that eunuch-

- then I locked the door and didn't come out until the next day.

We have just got a response from forensics

and they secured prints from Birgitta's workroom.

Your fingerprints are on Birgitta's brandy glass that she drank from.

But somebody must have planted it.

Where did you get hold of this?

Well, you must have missed burning one. Have anything you want to say about that?

The said about that crap, the better.

- But I'd like to say one thing. - Exciting.

Yes, well, we'll see. In this manuscript, four young women

are mentioned. All of who have betrayed Birgitta.

And let's agree that three of them are Anita, Kerstin and Ursula?

Then we come to the fourth young woman.

Now it's getting interesting, because a young man pops up in the events.

And I thought I'd read you how he is described.

He is "kind-hearted, handsome and affectionate".

And he comforts Birgitta, she falls in love with him

-and then they get engaged.

And the young man, he becomes seduced by a fourth young woman.

I read how she is described. It is not much fun.

Because she is "sociopathic, cold, calculated and untrustworthy".

End quote. And the fourth young woman gets pregnant.

She manipulates a proposal out of him and

she lives the rest of her days as

a sort of a housewife version of Caligula.

And Henrik was hardly conceived on the honeymoon, was he?

He looks like he's grown a bit there.

You are the fourth woman, Monica.

And I understand that it must have been horrible

- to read this about yourself. To have your good reputation as a

grieving widow - dragged through the dirt, and in public as well.

It stings. It can probably make a person murderous.

You don't have to respond to that, Monica.

Besides, it says here that he wasn't even the father.

The reason I said that Henrik was conceived

on the honeymoon - was to avoid gossip.

But it's perfectly clear that Henrik was Harald's son!

I should know! Oh, that vile Birgitta!

She didn't deserve any of the success she had!

I'm glad she's dead! I wish I had done it myself!

Cognac?

5 000 kronor a bottle. Here you go.

What did you want to talk about?

Can you hand me my glass?

Thank you.

First of all... I want to express my condolences on Harald's death.

Thank you. But that was a long time ago now.

I still grieve for him.

But most of all I grieve for his having

had such a loveless life with you.

You have no idea what you're talking about?

Harald chose me. And we had a love child.

The only one you love is yourself, Monica.

What is it? What...?

You...you've poisoned me!

Oh my God...

What are you doing?

Here's some reading material.

I'm not going to try and stop you.

But I beg you with all my heart to stop.

I promise we can get through this together.

I love you.

The calmness I feel right now...

I don't know how to explain it.

It's like...

It's like I've walked around with a constant feeling like I'm drowning.

Like someone's been holding my head under water.

And now I can finally breathe again.

It's this pain. This anxiety.

Not being able to sleep, and...

I understand it.

But I don't get why you didn't tell me.

Don't you trust me?

There have been so many times when I've looked at you when you

were asleep - and thought... tomorrow I'll tell you everything.

But then you wake up, and then...

I don't know. I just feel shame.

Just the thought of how you'd look at me.

And how do you think I would have looked at you?

Like I don't deserve you.

Like I don't deserve you.

We have to go back now.

You know who it is.

I've read the last chapter. I understand what's going on.

-I thought it was weird. -Is Pär here?

-No. -Then I'll drive.

The suspects will be dismissed soon. Bring in Tony.

Prosecutor Nora Linde. I'm assisting the regular prosecutor here.

I'd like to start by asking you if you

were in Birgitta's room that evening.

I've read the last chapter.

Birgitta was like a mother to you, wasn't she?

You were the one who broke into the cabinet and took the bottle of cyanide.

She writes about a writer who fakes their own death.

And she has the help of her assistant.

Birgitta was sick. She had pancreatic cancer.

She was on strong medication and had a prognosis of two to three months.

We found the medical notes in the safe.

Birgitta had... planned the evening.

Planned every detail of her last perfect crime mystery.

Why is there no coverage on this island?

The murder of herself.

Can you pass me my glass?

Even though Birgitta wrote literary fiction - she still

had a unique understanding of the human condition.

She saw through the hypocrisy. And she foresaw Monica's panic.

But why?

It feels so extremely far-fetched to stage your own death.

She wanted them to feel what it was like to be tormented.

She always used to say that the wounds that are

inflicted on you in your youth - they shape a person's life.

Those wounds never heal.

She wrote that "her boys and girls

in blue" - would get to the bottom of it.

Yes, she was very fond of the police.

Yes, she knew that you would solve it.

So it was always intended that the truth would come out?

Was the whole thing just a practical joke?

It's rather macabre.

Yes. She hadn't planned to publish the book.

As she put it: “Who cares about a bunch of old broads?”

Thanks for stopping by.

I have reason to believe that you are using narcotics.

Oh, yeah?

I got a tip-off.

Who from?

I’ll wait here.

Give it to me. Give it. Give it to me.

Can you just look away? Look away, I can’t do this if someone’s watching.

Thank you.

You. I did it for you. Alexander. Don’t go.

Now this is all yours.

As Socrates said: “Nothing ever is ever better than justice.”

It’ll take about two weeks to get clean, so I’ll see you then.

This is gonna be a hell of a ride.

-You don’t want the phone? -No.

If something happens, what will you do?

I brought a couple of flares, that’ll have to do.

You don’t have to be macho.

No, I’m... I’m scared shitless.

But I don’t have a choice.

Text: Pablo Diaz Bernal Iyuno