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SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE

0:0:14 (obiteljski portret)

- Nice! - An ideal family portrait...
Look into the camera, pIease.
Great! How about giving us a smile?
Let's see some happy faces. You too, Mother... Great!
Mind your hair! There we have it.
- That should do it, right? - Yes, l think so.
- We've finished with the girls. - You've been so good!
- Bye-bye! - They were good as gold...
How about some shots of the parents on the sofa?
Lean forward, you're sliding too far back. That's it!
- l'll try and make myself small. - Talk to each other.
Marianne, turn your eyes slightly towards us...
Look as if you were fond of each other... There, like that.
Hold that pose! Great....
- That's it. Thank you very much. - Good!
We'll need some portraits later.
Well then, let's start, shall we?
l always begin with a standard question, to soothe the nerves.
- l'm not particularly nervous. - Good. The question is:
How would you describe yourselves in a few words?
- That's not an easy one. - Not all that difficult, surely?
- l may be misunderstood. - Really?
lt may sound conceited to say l'm highly intelligent, youthful,
successful, sensible, sexy and l care about the world we live in.
l'm educated, well-read and a good mixer. Let's see...
l'm a good friend even to people who are worse off than myself.
l'm good at sports. l'm a good husband and a good son.
l have no debts and l pay my taxes.
l respect our government, no matter what it does.
l love our royal family. l've left the state church.
- Shall l go on? - Please.
- l'm a splendid lover. - Perhaps we can skip that question.
What about you, Marianne?
Well, what shall l say?
l'm married to Johan and l have two daughters...
- That's all l can think of... - Come on, think harder.
- l think Johan is awfully nice... - How kind of you.
- We've been married for 10 years. - We've just renewed our contract.
Unlike Johan, l lack the ability to see myself in such glowing terms,
but in all honesty, l'm glad l'm able to lead the life l do.
lt's a good life, if you know what l mean.
What else? My, this is difficult...
- She has a nice figure. - l'm trying to be serious.
- l have two girls, Karin and Eva. - You've already said that.
How about some personal data? Let's start with your ages.
- l'm 42, but l don't look it. - l'm 35.
Both of us come from obscenely middle-class homes.
- Johan's father is a doctor. - And my mother is the motherly type.
My father is a lawyer.
lt was decided from the outset that l was to be a lawyer too.
l'm the youngest of seven children. Mother ran a big household.
- Nowadays, she takes it easy. - Oh, does she?
Oddly enough, we get on with our parents. We see a lot of each other.
There's never been any friction to speak of.
Let's talk about your professions.
Mine is a bit unusual.
l'm an associate professor at the lnstitute of Psychotechnology.
Family law is my specialty. l belong to a large firm of solicitors.
Most of my work concerns divorce, but the interesting thing is...
Hold that pose!
Take a picture, l want to capture that expression. Good!
- My, l feel so... - lt will pass.
- Tell me, how did you meet? - l'll leave that to Johan.
- Lord, that is interesting! - lt wasn't love at first sight.
We both had a large circle of friends and ran into each other often.
We were also both involved in politics for several years
and we went in for amateur dramatics quite a lot as students.
Well, l can't say we made any deeper impression on each other.
Marianne thought l was stuck-up.
Johan had a rather highly publicized affair with a pop singer...
..which gave him a certain image and made him insufferable.
Marianne was 19.
She was married to a fool whose only saving grace was a rich father.
He was very kind and l was madly in love with him.
Besides, l got pregnant early on in the relationship.
- But how was it that... - That the two of us joined forces?
That was actually Marianne's idea.
My baby died soon after birth
and my husband and l divorced, to our mutual relief.
And Johan's singer had given him his walking papers.
We were both a bit hurt and lonely,
so l suggested making a go of it.
We weren't in love at all, but we were both downhearted.
And then we found out that we got along very well
and we really buckled down to our studies.
We moved in together, a situation our mothers actually took in their stride.
ln fact, they became good friends.
We were accepted as Johan and Marianne.
After six months we got married.
- By then we were in love as well. - Very much so!
- We were seen as an ideal couple. - And that's still the case.
- No complications? - We've never had material worries.
We're on good terms with friends and relations on both sides.
We have good jobs that we enjoy. We're healthy.
And so on, to an almost vulgar degree. Security, order, loyalty...
We're almost indecently lucky.
Naturally, we have our differences, just like other people.
But we agree on all the key issues.
- Don't you ever quarrel? - Marianne does.
Johan is very slow to anger, so l run out of steam.
This all sounds wonderful. All of it.
Only last night someone was saying
that the very lack of problems is a serious problem.
We are well aware that a life like ours can be dangerous.
How do you mean, dangerous?
The world is going to hell. l claim the right to mind my own business.
Live and let live, that's my motto.
lt sickens me to hear about the latest panacea.
- l don't agree with Johan. - So, what's your opinion?
- l believe in compassion. - Please elaborate on that.
lf people learned to care about each other in childhood,
the world would be a different place.
Hold that pose! Look into the camera, please.

0:7:59 (Peter i Katarina)

Listen to this:
''''''Marianne's eyes, blue as an old folk song, are lit up from within.''
When asked how she copes with a job and a household,
she smiles with shy delight
''and replies that she and Johan help each other.'''' That's true.''
''''''We understand each other, she says,''
brightening as Johan sits down beside her on their heirloom sofa.
''He puts a protective arm around her and she snuggles up to him.''''''
- Hey! - This is the best bit!
''''''So l leave, noticing that they seem pleased at the prospect''
that they can once more be alone together.
Two people who have matured: strong, happy and positive.
''People who have never forgotten to give love pride of place''''.''
- We almost died when we read it. - l was going to file a complaint.
But our mothers and our daughters simply loved the article.
What really riles me is that it says nothing about my eyes.
- lsn't there a secret glow in them? - They're more like dark pools.
- Very sexy, actually. - Katarina has a crush on you.
- Johan, will you elope with me? - A change would do Johan good.
He's been so good for 10 years and has never been unfaithful.
Are you sure?
l believe everything Johan says.
- Did you hear that, Katarina? - Johan is a better liar than you.
- But l have no imagination. - That's just it.
- lt makes you a better liar. - Peter tarts up his stories.
At times l really find it touching.
l read your article in TechnicaI Times. Even l could understand it.
- Actually, Katarina wrote it. - Are you that clever?
You see, l was in Germany and they wanted an article on the spot.
So Katarina wrote it and read it to me on the phone.
- But why did it have your by-line? - lt's not discrimination.
- We collaborate. - That's admirable.
You wouldn't say that if you knew the details.
Things are rotten between us. Cheers, Katarina, my poppet!
Cheers...
Does it bother you that l speak freely to Johan and Marianne?
- What is it, Katarina? - Nothing. Nothing at all.
Only Peter can be so damn clumsy sometimes.
Clumsy is the right word...
l take pride in being clumsy... and imaginative.
The funny thing is that according to Katarina,
l am nothing but a spineless jellyfish.
- Jellyfish? Now you're talking. - Let's try to enjoy ourselves now.
Exactly, because we mustn't forget...
l'm making a thank-you speech now.
Bearing in mind that fabulous magazine article
reminding us that we are in a happy home
that we must not soil with emotional rubbish.
Cheers, Marianne!
l may not envy your domestic bliss...
..but l envy your talent as a cook.
No, l really mean that.
l wish Katarina would learn to cook like that.
Katarina is a much better cook.
- Peter says l poison the food. - lt's a standing joke in our house.
- Right, it's obviously a joke. - One that's seen better days.
Well, let's go into the drawing room and have coffee.
Well, Johan, what am l to do?
l've put my foot in it again.
The girls will clear the table.
- lt's all too bloody touching. - What is?
Your marriage.
Johan and Marianne...
lt can move a person to tears.
ln fact, it makes you want to stick a pin into your beautiful balloon.
- So would you? - Cheers to you both!
- lt's been 10 years, right? - We just had our 10th anniversary.
- No skeletons in the cupboard? - You never know.
- Both Johan and l like tidying up. - You hear that, Katarina?
That's where you and l have been remiss... We never clean things up.
But next week l'll call Marianne and make an appointment,
so she can get started on our divorce.
Peter will have changed his mind by the time he's sober.
That's when the calculator starts running.
''This is what he says: ''''l'll agree to a divorce,''
''if Katarina gives up her claim to our assets in Switzerland.''''''
''And my reply is: ''''But it's my money, l've earned it.''''''
Then Peter will say he has multiplied it
and l can have the whole factory.
Then l say, that's nice of you to let me have a factory in ltaly -
that gets more risky with every rise in labour costs.
''- But Katarina, l've said... - ''''Take the whole set-up in Sweden.''
The apartment, the country house, the boat, the car,
''the shares and the premium bonds.'''' lsn't that nice?''
l get all the taxable stuff!
Excuse me for going on about such trivial matters,
but when Peter gets started on assets, l know how drunk he is.
- And the insults aren't far off. - That's what l've said all along.
Katarina is a businessman, with equal stress on both words.
A businessman...
ln addition to which, she's a brilliant artist
and she has an lQ of l don't know what.
She's attractive as well.
She's a paragon, and gift-wrapped to boot.
How l ever got lucky with that monster of perfection is a mystery.
l really think we'll ring for a taxi and go home now.
This can't be pleasant for Johan and Marianne...
No... Johan and Marianne?
They're candy figurines decorated with red ribbons.
Just like the marzipan pigs of our childhood.
lt's good for their moral fibre,
to gaze into the bottomless pits of hell.
August Strindberg
once wrote:
''''''ls there anything more fearsome''
''than a husband and wife who hate each other?''''''
What do you say? Maybe child abuse is even worse.
But then Katarina and l are children.
Deep down, Katarina is a little girl who is crying
because she has fallen down
and no one comforts her.
And l haven't grown up either.
l cry because Katarina can't love me,
in spite of my bad behaviour.
There's one thing to be grateful for.
That there is nothing more hellish than this.
That's why we're ready for a divorce.
Provided you listen to reason.
Provided we simultaneously,
in each other's presence
and in front of reliable witnesses, sign all the papers.
So no one can stiff the other.
- We'll call you up this week. - We have a great business lawyer.
Borglund can help you with the financial arrangements.
What do you say?
Even if we agree on money matters, you'll never let me go.
l'm convinced of that.
You think you're that bloody indispensable, my dear Katarina?
Whatever gave you that idea?
Do tell me... Tell us.
You force me to have sex,
since you can't get it up with other women.
Your need of a guilty conscience knows no bounds.
Now that it's all over with Jan l expect you're in a panic.
You're stuck with old Peter.
He has the right patience.
So you think you're the only one, do you?
How touching...
You think there are no others.
Let me tell you one thing, Peter...
Please excuse me if l'm rather outspoken,
but Peter is asking for it and he needs to be enlightened.
l'll tell you this, Peter...
You nauseate me so much...
..in a physical sense...
that l'd buy myself a lay just to wash you out of my sex organs.
''''''Abide with me, fast falls the eventide''
''The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide...''''''
You son of a bitch!
''''''When other helpers fail and comforts flee''
''Help of the helpless, Oh, abide with me.''''''
Whatever that's supposed to mean...
l hope there won't be any stains on the carpet.
l don't know about liqueur...
Why don't you bill me?
Do as l say!
Would you mind pouring me a cup of coffee?
l'm pretty sloshed.
Forgive us. We don't usually behave like this.
But you're our best friends.
You're our only friends.
Forgive me... Forgive us.
lf you ring for a cab,
l'll take my bacchante home
and we'll finish our little scene.
The finale is usually not suitable for an audience.

0:20:28 (jezici)

- What's the time? - Ten past twelve.
- Thank goodness we got rid of them. - Yes, things got a bit out of hand.
Do you believe it's possible for a couple to be partners for life?
lt's an absurd convention.
Marriage should be a five-year contract.
- Or be subject to annual renewal. - What about us?
No, we're the exception that proves the rule.
- So you think we'll stay together? - What a funny question.
Are you ever sorry you can't sleep with anyone else?
- No, are you? - At times.
- Well, l'll be damned! - lt's a purely theoretical longing.
l wonder if there's something wrong with me, l never feel like that.
- l'm content. - So am l. Now l've got it!
Katarina and Peter go through hell because they don't communicate.
They have to translate everything they mean into a common language.
- l think it's simpler than that. - We understand each other instantly.
We speak the same language, that's why we're doing fine.
l think it's the money.
lf you speak the same language, money is not an issue.
- You and your languages. - l see it all the time at work.
Sometimes it's as if the couple
are talking on bad telephone lines.
Sometimes it's like listening to two pre-programmed tape recorders
and sometimes it's the utter silence of outer space.
- l don't know which is the worst. - l don't know...
Supposing the kids went to day care while we worked shifts at a factory?
- lt wouldn't matter. - l think it would.
lf you speak the same language, it doesn't matter where you are.
That's a romantic view.
Do you think our relationship would suffer if we lived that kind of life?
- Yes, l do. Seriously. - lt would diminish our relationship?
''Regardless of our ''''language''''.''
lsn't the danger of estrangement just as great in the life we lead?
Definitely not.
Hard, tedious labour exposes people to much greater strain.
You're sillier than l thought and you're taking the romantic view.
- We'll see. - What? What will we see?
- l don't know, do you? - Are you teasing me?
- Aren't you hungry? - Yes, terribly.
How about some beer and sandwiches?
Sounds marvellous.