PREVlOUSLY
Welcome to a new school year. Especially all the new pupils and staff.
- You don't say a lot. - l'm Jonas Poulsen.
l was the headmaster at another school.
Welcome to our first faculty group meeting.
lt's confidential, so if you're tired of a pupil, you can voice that here.
Did you wink?
- l won't wait forever. - OK.
- OK what? - OK, l'm ready.
He doesn't know what he's getting into, does he?
- l have time for a morning smoke. - l have time for a morning kiss.
When do you finish your progress meetings?
- Around eight, l think. - Then we can unpack my things.
Are you looking forward to moving in together?
Yes.
We need to get going if we're going to make it through the Black Forest.
- Jeppe, we're going now. You coming? - No.
- ls Jeppe OK with my living here? - Of course.
- Mind the branch. - Yeah...
He didn't want to walk to school with the old folks.
Even if you're really cool.
lt's the shorts.
l wonder what they're saying in there.
Let's get it over with. 30 seconds now or a year of whispering.
Good morning.
Good morning, boys.
Good morning.
Bloody hell.
Good morning.
Now everyone's seen us.
THE GARDEN
Why do we sing ''Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming''-
-or ''ln the Garden''?
What is the significance of nature in the hymns you mumble?
- What's going on? - l'm moving - Mads stinks.
Line, if your sensitive soul can't take it, you can switch places with me.
- Seriously? - Do l not look serious?
Fine. We were talking about nature, which can be a metaphor for anything.
Wait! Listen up.
For tomorrow, everyone pick a song about nature. Metaphors tomorrow.
And remember your progress meetings this week.
Have your parents let me know they can make it.
- Rita? - Yes.
- lf my mum can't come... - How about your dad?
- We'll find a time when your mum can. - But she works nights.
Every night?
She can't take time off?
Well...
She'll have to come some other time.
- On the lunch break, maybe. - Or she can ask again for time off.
Yes, that's a good idea.
No running!
OK, group meeting. Any additional points for the agenda?
- Then l'll start. - No, you're not getting off that easy!
- You and Rasmus. - Fine.
- We're a couple. lt's no big deal. - lt's huge!
- After all your many, many men... - Thank you, Hjørdis.
That's enough about that.
Fine. We've been together a while, and yesterday he moved in.
Yes, it's a big step. No, l'm not nervous about living with someone.
- No one asked. - You were thinking it.
Just give him space. lt's important that he feels at home.
When Uffe moved in l had to take down my ''Two Towers'' poster.
He doesn't think it works as an independent film.
- Right. Can we talk work now? - Yes please.
Progress meetings start tonight and we need a strategy.
- Strategy? - Yes, for winning them.
The meetings are a key part of junior school.
They're a battlefield where the parents blame their kids' stupidity on us.
lf you don't have a strategy, you'll be beating them off all year.
l choose to believe in constructive discussion.
l look forward to hearing how that goes.
There haven't been any problems at his other schools-
-but since he started here, l hear ''whore'' and ''fuck you'' and such crap.
Why didn't Kim stay at the other schools?
He was suspended!
We're worried that Andreas isn't learning enough.
Well, he'd learn more if you didn't keep him home when he's been drinking.
He can't go to school hung-over!
You write that Tine didn't come to school because her grandmother died.
ln fact, she's so dead she's been buried twice.
Could l see that?
- Hi! - Hi!
- Progress meetings, round two. - Yes, round two.
- Are your constructive talks going well? - Yes, the talks are very...
...constructive. l have a class now.
Mads has great potential, but his absences are a serious problem.
He isn't at the same level as the others. He has the ability-
-but he's just not there. We want to do something about that.
What are your thoughts?
- l promise to do better. - Yes, but now l'm asking your mum.
Yes.
That's not an answer.
We'll look at it.
- You'll look at it? - Yes.
lf you need more support of some kind...
lf there's something the school can do, let's talk about it.
We all want Mats to do well.
- Maybe we should think about it. - l think so too.
Yeah. - Right?
Of course, think about it, but we need to do something soon.
- This is not acceptable. Do we agree? - Sure.
- OK. - Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Mads.
What do you think?
That went well.
- Hi! We're Line's parents. - Can l have my beer now?
Hey, my beer!
Excuse me, isn't it our turn now?
- Yes, it is. - Thank you.
Hi, Line! - Come in.
- Hi! Hjørdis. - Klaus.
- Hi. - Hi, Amanda.
Jonas is getting coffee or tea...
- We'd like to get started now. - OK.
- We have a lot to talk about. - l'd like to have a constructive talk...
...about the essay about Prime Minister Stauning.
That was a good essay. - Good work, dear!
- We helped her. An exciting topic. - Yes, it is.
But she was meant to write about the French Revolution. You didn't know...
Yes, we knew.
Amanda didn't like the subject, so we had her write about something else.
OK...
Then l'd like...
ln an affirming way, l say that was wrong.
- l've made up a study programme. - We'd like to talk about that.
- OK...? - We don't think it's very ambitious.
- Well... - We don't mean to sound accusatory.
- What did you mean, then? - We're history teachers.
ln senior school. We know how hard it is to assemble good materials.
- That's why we... - Dear. - Oh, yes.
We looked at your study programme, and we have some proposed changes.
We've suggested other themes and more relevant literature.
Here are some reading lists and other things.
OK...
Hi, this is Rita, Mads's teacher. lf l've reached Mads's mother-
-could you phone me about our meeting today on 42 58 29 98.
Three, two, one: grown-up!
Hello, dear!
- Rasmus! - Yes.
Two seconds...
- What is it? - What's this?
- lt's from Vietnam. - lt should have stayed there.
- Here, perhaps? - Yes, it's visible there.
lf you don't like it after a week, then we'll take it down.
A month.
Blue fluted plates, Rasmus!
l'm so secure in my masculinity that l can afford to have feminine tastes.
- Or do you prefer yours? - Makes no difference.
As long as l can put ketchup on them, l'm happy.
- Ready? - Yes, go for it.
Come here, let's go out in the garden.
May l?
- But it's quirky. - Yes, but l have new designer lamps.
Maybe we should fix up the garden, too.
- My garden? - Yes, or our garden.
Right, our garden.
- l like my garden this way. - Darling!
lt looks like a compost heap.
You're the compost heap.
l think you can turn it down now.
l said, you can turn it down now.
- Are they done? - l think so.
- They're in love. - So are we.
- But we don't screw while they're here. - We could.
l'm not going to compete with my mother and my headmaster!
We can be quiet.
Come.
l have to use the toilet.
- Sorry. No, it's OK, l... - OK.
Sorry.
- Runny nose. - Er, yeah...
Shit, l ran into Jeppe.
Maybe l should talk to him and point out that l live here now.
You don't think he's noticed?
l'll talk to him, so it doesn't feel weird.
l'll talk to him later. Come!
- Hjørdis! - Hi!
- Would you like a hand? - Actually, this is for you.
lt's a history book for you to look at.
- Why is it a class set? - You can use it if you like it.
- ls it this way? lt's just a bit of help. - l didn't ask for help.
- No, but you could use it. - Thanks, but l'll follow my programme.
We want to make the school and its teaching as good as possible.
So do l.
At least take a look at it.
OK. Goodbye.
OK, remember what l said, that nature is often a metaphor for humans.
What kind of perspective is that?
- l don't know. - Hi.
Do you know where Rita is?
- l have to use the toilet. - Hello!
Mads...?
Stay here.
- Mum? - Hi, sweetheart.
- Come here. - No, l have to find Rita.
- She asked me to phone her. - We have to go now.
- ls everything all right? - l'm looking for Rita.
- That's me. - See, she is here!
l'm Kirsten.
- l'm Mads's mother. - Ohhh!
- Yes. You wanted to speak with me. - Let's go this way. Come here.
l've told her to remember to take her medicine.
She usually does.
lt's just since we moved...
- What's wrong with her? - She's bipolar.
Who was that you brought to the progress meeting? Mads?
- A neighbour. - Do you have any other relatives?
- What happens now? - What do you mean?
- You can't tell anyone. - Mads, l have to.
l'll be taken into custody!
They'll put you in a good foster home.
l don't want that. l...
l can't go through it again.
- l don't want to be separated from her. - You can't be responsible for your mum.
- We look after each other. - l understand.
But l'm a teacher. l'd be breaking the law if l didn't say anything.
Do you get enough to eat? What do you live on?
Mum is on permanent disability and l have a job.
That's not good enough.
l don't want to leave Mum!
l'm sorry.
- Hi again! - Bitch!
Cheers!
- Hi! - Hi! - Hi, sweetheart!
- What are you doing? - l'm not sure if it's the ignition coil...
Maybe we can buy a new one.
- What? - Can't the garden stay as it is?
No.
Didn't l say that l like the garden this way?
- lt can't look like this! - Why not?
lt's messy.
- l don't want a bourgeois garden. - A nice garden isn't bourgeois.
- How about a white bench and peonies? - No...
And unicorns eating magical grass and shitting rainbows.
l didn't say that. But l don't want a Pippi Longstocking garden either.
- Better that than Queen lngrid. - For god's sake, it's a garden!
Jeppe! Yes, come back.
l'll talk to him later.
So. We've had our first argument.
Yeah.
You can be...
- ...sometimes... - A real bitch.
Well, you can be somewhat strong-willed.
l want to feel that it's my home too.
So l think you need to compromise a bit.
Yeah.
What the hell, go ahead and fix up the garden.
- l want you to feel ready... - No more talk about feelings today!
Now we have to screw. Come.
There's the young lover!
- Do l hear wedding bells? - No, one step at a time.
- You look happy. - ln fact, just today...
...l signed the divorce papers, so l'm happier than ever.
- That's why you have the new hairdo? - That's right.
Look at us, standing here talking as if we were friends.
- Let's not exaggerate. - No. What can l help you with?
What experience do you have with taking kids into protective custody?
- Who? - l'm just interested.
- lnterested? - Yes.
l'll accept your lousy attempt at lying and hope you know what you're doing.
- That sounds like a good idea. - l'll see what l can find.
- Just to stimulate your interest. - Thank you.
You said thank you! Will wonders never cease?
What is it?
lt's just...
Since l told Amanda's parents that l'll follow my own programme...
They've been e-mailing, threatening to write to the papers and calling me.
They say they want to talk, but they don't listen!
Listen to me...
We can't all be like Rita.
lt's easy to sound a battle cry when you're a general.
- The rest of us have to try to get by. - How do we do that?
When you were in school, surely there was some girl who was a bully.
Yes.
Anita.
What did you do to avoid being bullied?
You made yourself invisible, so she didn't notice you.
You should do the same thing now.
Lock your door.
Don't answer the phone in the evenings. Eventually they'll forget about you.
- Why don't you answer? - lt's your turn.
They called at 1 1 .30 last night! Tell them that's not OK.
They'll say l'm uncooperative and that they'll contact Rasmus.
That's not cooperation!
- That's harassment. Fight back! - Erik told me to lie low.
That's not the Hjørdis l fell in love with.
- What would Aragorn do? - l'm not as strong as him.
What would Frodo do, then?
- Yeah, l'm more like him. - Would he run away, or fight?
- Gál rausa Nolhat. - Nolhat.
This is Hjørdis.
Yes. Did l wake you? Yes, it's four in the morning.
But l'm so excited about finishing up Amanda's study programme.
With all the challenges at school... - Oh! They hung up.
l'll try again, to show my enthusiasm.
- Gál mahía. - Aw, thanks.
Hi.
Mads and l are fine.
- Are you? - Yes. We don't need any help.
- lt didn't look that way. - lt was a mistake.
l forgot my medicine. lt won't happen again.
You don't need to be involved anymore, OK?
No, it's not OK.
Mads has to take responsibility for a grown-up. That's not OK.
We do things our way.
Mads helps me and l help him. That's how we've always done it.
- Don't come pushing your rules on us. - The rules are for the children.
They suffer when the rules aren't followed.
l only care about Mads's needs.
Mads needs to stay with me!
He's already lost his dad. lf you take him away he won't make it.
l know l'm not perfect, but l'm doing the best l can.
l'm really trying!
Do you have kids? Have you never made a mistake?
l was unlucky enough to be seen making my mistake.
l'm sorry.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
- Anything wrong? - l didn't get much sleep.
- Problems with Uffe? - l won a battle against some parents.
But?
l've always believed you could solve problems through discussion.
You're older and wiser now. Come now, l brought Danishes.
To celebrate that we're free of parents for another six months.
You aren't done yet. You have a meeting this afternoon.
With me and Jonas.
About Jeppe.
Jeppe is doing well.
But his concentration has varied of late.
- Hjørdis? - l agree.
- OK. - Rita. - We'll take care of it.
Right, Jeppe?
ls there any particular reason you've been so distracted?
- Standard teenage dementia. - Something may be bothering him.
- ls there something on your mind? - He's a teenager.
When he's not sleeping he has sex on his mind.
- Fine. Then we can... - Right, that's that.
l think it's difficult having Rasmus in the house.
OK... Go on.
- Jeppe, we can talk about it at home. - You don't talk about it at home.
- You never said you wanted to. - You didn't ask.
You didn't ask if it was OK for him to move in.
- lsn't it? - l suppose, but you could have asked.
You're right.
So...l'm sorry.
And l'd appreciate it if he didn't walk around the place naked.
And if you could be a little quieter when you...
You know. l can't sleep when you're making all that noise.
lt's good that this came out. l'm sure we can resolve this together.
l envision perhaps an agreement where Rasmus, to begin with...
...wears clothes outside the bedroom.
And that Rita asks Jeppe before moving a man in. Right?
- Jonas? - l agree.
l think you should keep it down out of respect for the others in the house.
We can assess your progress at the next progress meeting.
- Good idea. - Well! Fine. So then we're...
Right.
- See you! - Yes. Bye!
l'm sorry.
Are we OK?
l have more to do, so l'll see you at home.
- Hurray! - Hurray what?
- Talking worked. l told you. - Thank you.
l'm glad l could help!
Rita!
l've got these papers for you.
This is the number of our man in social services if you need a professional.
- lt might be a good idea. - Thank you.
- l'll have a look at this.
May l have one?
- You smoke? - No. Got a light?
Were we too hard on you?
l'll survive.
l didn't think you were the ''couple'' type.
People change.
What do your many, many men say about that?
l'm sure they have some way to get...things off their chest.
And what do you do?
See you.
Hi!
- Hi. - Look how it's coming along! Eh?
- Yeah... - Just let me put this down.
Look here, l've saved some dandelions for a salad.
lt's a new, Nordic trend.
- So l'm to eat my own garden? - Yeah!
- Later. - What are you going to do?
l'm going to get something off my chest.
Exciting!
Hi.
ls your mum at home?
- She's asleep. - OK.
Here are the rules.
l won't say anything until you've taken your final exams.
You'll be 15 then and won't be taken into custody, you'll get a support family.
Until then, l'm your support family.
l'll bring you lunch every day. l'll do your laundry at weekends.
ln return... Mads, look at me. This is important.
ln return, you'll go to school every day.
You'll do your homework and take your exams.
And if the slightest thing happens here at home, you'll tell me.
- Got it? - Yes.
Then l'm sure things will go fine.
- See you at school. - See you.
So, there is a beer fairy after all?