"THE SWEDENHIELMS" " Good morning." " Good morning, Miss Boman." " Please come inside." " Thank you." " It's cleaning day today." " That's right." "I want this house spic and span for Mr. Swedenhielm." " He'll be back from his trip today." " It's the end of the month, too." "Why don't you have a cup of coffee in the kitchen before you start?" "I'll start cleaning in the sitting room." "Scoot!" "You, too." "Can't you see I'm cleaning?" "The papers don't say a word about the Nobel Prize." "Mutti..." "We might not get it this year, either." " Do they award it to crazy people?" " Well, we sure need it." "You know what a tight spot we're in." " Are things worse than usual?" " They're worse than ever!" "Father's creditors just gave us an ultimatum: our money or our lives." "If he can't scrape up the money in Gothenburg..." "I don't know how he'll be able to protect his patents." " What would happen in that case?" " That would be disastrous!" "It would be the end of us!" "Tell me the truth, how much do you need?" "Well, let's see, Mutti dear..." "A couple of hundred should tide us over." "It would only be for a day or two." " Just for a day or two." " A couple of hundred..." "That's pretty disastrous." "This family's always getting into a fix about money..." "Lucky!" "So you're the culprit!" " Go ahead, take a look." " I've got a lot riding on this." "FRANCE WON TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP" "Hang it, she won the bet!" "It would be nice if you showed some interest in your father's research." "We probably won't get the Nobel Prize this year, either." "You don't say?" "That can't be." "Why don't you get that?" "I bet it's for you." "It's bound to be the girl who won the bet." "Hello." "Good morning." "Have you seen the papers today, darling?" "I won the bet, how about that?" "That's the last time I'll take you on, you sweet little minx." "That's probably just as well." "What's my prize?" "Let's see, you get to pick me up at 3.30 at the air field." "Roger that." "Goodbye." "So long!" "How are you fixed for money, Bo?" "This is all I have to my name." " I'm in dire need of money." " Who isn't?" "This won't do at all!" "Have you seen Lucky?" "Where the heck did that dog go?" "This is all that's left of my funds..." "Dearest Lucky, you're the only one here who doesn't need money." "There you are, Lucky!" "Good morning, boy." "Good morning, Mommy dear." "Did you have a good night's sleep?" "I'm glad to hear it." "Say, you wouldn't happen to have...?" " Aren't you in a hurry?" " That's right." " Well, get moving, then." " See you later." "Oh, I should have given you a hand with that." "Rolf..." "Thank you, Mutti." "You're the greatest." " I'll repay you soon." " Of course..." "I need things for the laboratory... chemicals." "Shoo, and go take care of your magic potions." "Don't be such a show-off, I can whistle, too." "Good morning, you little sleepyhead." "I've come to wish you a happy birthday." "Oh, isn't that sweet of you to remember my birthday!" "Just as long as you forget my age!" "What nonsense..." "Just look at this lovely weather!" "It's spectacular, and that's unusual for November." " Was there anything in the papers?" " Not a word." "I don't think we'll get the Nobel Prize this year, either." "Actually, that wasn't what I meant." " I wondered if I was mentioned." " What would they write about you?" " Well, it is my birthday..." " Sorry." "You'd better get up, it's cleaning day." "Don't rush me, Mutti." "May I at least have some coffee first?" "Lieutenant Swedenhielm is quite an ace." "Hi there, boy." "What do you think of your master?" "Hello!" "Quiet, Lucky!" "The best thing on Earth is the sky." "Hello there, Astrid." " Have you been waiting long?" " Not at all." "It is better to give than to receive, but doing both is even better!" " What if someone sees us?" " It's too late now." "Don't I have the right to kiss my own fiancée?" "That's it for awhile, I was ordered to pick you up." "We'd better be off, then." "Come on, Lucky." "Come in." "Pardon me..." " Why, it's lieutenant Swedenhielm." " Hello, Mr. Eriksson." "I was wondering if you could possibly help me out again." "You see, I'm in trouble." "I see, five hundred..." "That's a great deal of money." "It's quite a sum to borrow without some kind of collateral." "Let's take a look and see what your outstanding debt is." "Three hundred... seven hundred..." "Twelve hundred." "No..." "I can't lend you any more money." "Not until these notes have been repaid." "Quite a pretty penny they amount to." " Isn't my name good any more?" " Not without collateral." "If your father signs the note, I will grant you the loan." " Otherwise my answer is no." " My father?" "He would never do it." "Maybe you'd better give it a try." " Good day." " Good day." "Hi!" "My, doesn't this look cozy?" "Peekaboo, Mommy dear." "Could you come out of hiding for a second, please?" " What do you want?" " I haven't had a bite to eat all day." " I see..." " Come on." " What did you have in mind?" " I'll tell you." "Sandwiches with caviar, smoked salmon, sardines slices of veal, tongue and cheese!" "All washed down with a cold beer and a tiny little schnapps." "You don't ask for much, do you?" "I forgot to mention five crisp hundred crown bills." "And that was all!" "You must be out of your mind." "No, but that bloodsucker Eriksson is." "He refused to lend me more money." "You're awfully lucky, you don't have to bother with usurers." "That's true." "I don't." " Are you serious?" " I sure am." "Have you been to a loan shark?" "Well, you genius son of a genius..." " Where else would I get money?" " But that's terrible!" "A boy like you is doing something a man like myself was ashamed to do." "Have you done it, too?" " How much are you in the hole for?" " The sums vary..." "It's a very complicated story..." "That looks great, Mommy." " You're done, aren't you?" "Here you go." " Mommy?" " Yes?" "When my mother died in childbirth, you promised to be like my mother." " Well, what of it?" " Don't try to deny it." "So when I, 25 years later, ask for sandwiches with caviar and salmon you bring me cold cuts?" " Did you ask for caviar?" " I sure did." " Genuine Russian caviar?" " That's right." "You must be out of your mind." "I'll settle for this." "Cold cuts are humble fare, but they're tasty." " Do you go to Eriksson, too?" " No, my man's called Hallgren." "That's quite a nasty business..." "Hang on, Mommy." "Wait a minute!" " Where shall I put the ladder?" " Over there, by the window," " Those curtains are coming down." " Scoot, professor." "What a lot of fuss just to tidy the place up a bit." "This is more than "tidying up a bit"." "Isn't it just like a man to say something like that?" "Thank you." "You're a good boy, even if you are a man." "What a sight!" "Just look at that dust." "I'd better take the whole lot down." "That's right, there have been rumors to that extent." " I heard it yesterday." " Hush, Julla dear." "My father has been mentioned in connection with the Nobel Prize." "So I've heard." "But we haven't heard anything definite." "My father will be thrilled to hear it!" "Yes, I intend to sail to India on the Gripsholm." " Do you know when she sets sail?" " I don't, unfortunately." "Spare us your silliness until we're certain of the prize." "How right you are, professor." "Aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" "You're such a bore!" "Of course Daddy will get the prize, who deserves it better?" "Didn't our newspaper man here mention an interview?" "We'd like to do an article on the entire Swedenhielm family." " Stop that racket, it's distracting." " Not at all." "I enjoy hearing Miss Swedenhielm play." "May we take some photographs of the home?" "That sounds marvelous!" "Should I wear this dress or change into something else?" " You look charming." " Take it easy, Julia." "All right." "I'll take charge here, since I'm the oldest." "You are probably familiar with the fact that the Swedenhielm family is possibly one of our most noble." "What a windbag!" "Our family has been very prominent indeed in the field of science." " What a braggart!" " My father is possibly one of the most brilliant scientists and inventors of his time." " Did you get that?" " "...possibly the most brilliant..."" "And with regard to myself" "I am my father's most valuable research assistant." "I guess he forgot the "possibly" that time." " What?" " Let me get a word in edgewise." "Have a seat, Mr. Pederson." " Have you seen my latest show?" " Good grief!" "Of course!" "It's charming." "So inspired, so vibrant!" "I had to live at the dressmaker's place for three weeks on end!" "There are five costumes for the first two acts alone." "Tell me about the colors and the styles." "Two outfits are from Patou." "Black cellophane and silver lamé." "There's one from Lanvin as well." "It's white..." "I'll take this junk." "It belongs to the actress and goes to the attic." "Look, a letter." ""Mr. Rolf Swedenhielm"..." "They must have missed it." "Thank you, this will make great copy." " I'm looking forward to the article." " I'm glad..." "Let's just take some photographs, and we're done." "How about if I pose here by the flowers?" "You will do no such thing while I'm cleaning." "Pardon me, is the lady on the ladder a member of the family?" " Come have your picture taken." " She's one of the family." "She may not be a blood relation, but we love her." "I'm sorry, this is Miss Marta Boman, my father's faithful housekeeper." "She's a lady of few words." "Ever since Mother died she's been our beloved foster mother." "You're going to get your picture in the papers too!" "That's too grand for the likes of me." "It hasn't been easy, taking care of Mr. Swedenhielm." "He's very particular about his food and he likes his wine." "My father was a simple coppersmith from Askersund." " Have you heard of him?" " No, I'm sorry." "The Swedenhielms are known to be a handful and they don't have much money." "You wouldn't believe how much it costs to keep the boy in uniforms." "Not to mention keeping track of Julia's little doodads." " They all need taking care of." " You're embarrassing us!" "I'm just being truthful." "I can tell you..." "And they call that dusting!" "It wouldn't do for me to slip up and I never do." "Thank you, that was very interesting." "Little touches like that really make an article." " Thank you very much." " You're welcome." "Oh, Mutti, you're so sweet." " Excuse me..." " Excuse me, Mr. Swedenhielm." "Here's a letter with your name on it." "It's marked urgent." "That's right, it completely slipped my mind." " That's odd, it's from Dad." " Has Dad written to us?" "The handwriting is his and it's postmarked in Gothenburg." " He was supposed to be back today." " Maybe he needs money for his fare." " He can't be that foolish!" " I wonder what's wrong?" "I wish he had written something on the envelope." "We don't have a clue what he wants." "This is very puzzling, indeed." " Why don't you open it?" " Right." "It's addressed to me." "Hurry up now." ""Dear children, I have no idea when I will return home"" ""or if I will ever return at all." "I'm in low spirits."" ""And in case I never see you again, I want you to forgive your old Dad."" ""I wanted the best for you all, but I have accomplished so little."" "Oh, Mutti, it's a suicide note!" " He's dead!" " Pull yourself together, Julia." " It doesn't say anything of the kind." " Don't jump to conclusions." "Why else would he write, "In case I never see you again"?" "What an unfortunate turn of events." "My condolences to you all." "Please forgive us, Mr. Pederson, but at a time like this..." "I guess Mr. Swedenhielm wasn't as strong as he looked." "Hello, hello, my dear children, hello!" "I'm home!" "What on earth is the matter?" "Well, kids?" "Aren't you glad to see me?" " Isn't that just like the man!" " What's going on?" "Daddy!" "How could you give us such a scare?" "Where is that letter?" "Did you write this letter?" "Yes, I guess I did." "You understand, I was feeling very downhearted." "I was flat broke and I risked losing my patents." "Other people would reap the benefit of my hard work." "Not a word from the Nobel Committee." "So depressing." "You will get the prize, the reporters have already been here." " That's no guarantee." " We've been interviewed before." "I'm so relieved to be back home in the bosom of my family." "Not to mention the pleasure of seeing Boman again." " Do you never stop cleaning?" " It's my cleaning day today." "I know that, but I also know how unpleasant it is." "Wouldn't it be nicer to enjoy each other's company instead?" " But it's the end of the month." " So?" "It's also the day I return from an exhausting trip." "As you knew." "Calendars are dependable, I can't say the same for you." " I'll stick to the calendar." " You are a pain, Boman." "Let go of the ladder!" "Are you insane?" "Daddy, you're scaring the daylights out of Mutti." "She doesn't scare easily." "Listen to this, I'm going to foil you." "If our home is all topsy-turvy, we will take ourselves elsewhere." "If we're denied the comfort of our own home..." " Well, we will just have to dine out." " Let's have Russian caviar." " And champagne." " If you like." " It's my birthday today, Daddy." " Oh my goodness!" "Happy birthday!" "Well, that certainly calls for champagne." "And we'll dine on fried goose liver smothered in onions." "It's my favorite dish, and we never get it at home." " Can you pay for a meal like that?" " My dear Miss Boman..." "There is always money to spare for champagne." " Do I have time to change?" " If you hurry." "I need to work a few hours." "If you get moving, you might make it." "You ray of sunshine, you!" "What on earth shall I wear?" "I need your help, Mutti." "Let me look at you, Mutti darling." "Don't be in a bad mood, please?" " You rascal!" " So what shall I wear?" "Your blue outfit." " Isn't the white one prettier?" " Go with the blue!" "All right, I'll wear my red dress." "Come on, Mutti." "Well, if it isn't my youngest son." "You don't often grace my lab with your presence." "That may be so but you see..." "I wanted to ask you a favor." "Why are you so glum, my boy?" "I thought we were going to be jolly today." "Could you please help me out for once and sign this for me?" " What is it?" " Are you applying for a bank loan?" " Not exactly." " Will you be able to pay it back?" " Yes, in two months' time." " Why do you need the money?" " It's a private matter." " Are you planning to get engaged?" " Perhaps." "I guess I'll have to sign it." " You're the greatest, Dad!" " Remember this, Bo." "This is the one and only time I'll do this for you." " There you go." " Thanks, Dad." "Bo, bring Astrid along tonight." "I see... 500 crowns." "Here you are, Lieutenant." "One, two, three, four..." "And I'll keep the last one, as usual." "Did you give him money for this?" "You've been fooled, Eriksson." "This isn't the handwriting of Swedenhielm Sr." " No?" " No." "This is a forgery." "I'm positive, I have several notes of his." "I have a few right here." "A forgery, you say?" " May I buy these notes?" " Do they interest you?" " How much?" " Thinking about blackmail?" "Tell me your price." "How about 1,000?" "I don't know if you've read the papers but he won't get the prize this year." "You might have a hard time calling in that note." "WILL THE NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY GO TO CANADA?" "Rolf Swedenhielm to be passed over." "Daddy will be devastated!" "We can't do a thing about it." "We'll just have to soldier on." "I guess I'll go down to the lab." "I'm going to check that everything is in order for the night." "I'll go read my lines." "Don't take it so hard, Bo." "Nothing has changed." "And I have money, you know." "Well, I don't." "I'll probably be forced to resign." "Thanks." "I'll break the engagement if you do." "Thank you." " Come on, kiss me." " No." " Why did you say thank you?" " You saved me some trouble." "Now I don't have to be the one to break things off." " Are you serious?" " Yes." " Why would you do such a thing?" " I won't tell you." "I insist!" "The unpleasant truth is that I don't love you any more." "Couldn't you do better than that?" "So, you're not in love with me any more." " Were you ever?" " No." "Is that so?" " So why did you propose?" " Because..." " Because you were rich." " You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Have I become poor all of a sudden?" "No, but I have." "Listen to me, Astrid." "We've always regarded Dad's patents as a potential fortune." "If he doesn't get the prize I will remain forever poor." "And a poor man who marries a rich wife is a nasty creature." "It would make me a lap dog." "Such a cute lap dog!" "A tall, dark, lap dog." " Come here, boy." " I'm glad you can make jokes." "I know it's old-fashioned." "But the Swedenhielms are tremendously old-fashioned." " Kiss me." " I said no!" "Well?" " Hello." "Good morning." " Good morning to you." "It's a new day for you youngsters, but it's twilight for me." "Have you reached an understanding?" " Have you been eavesdropping?" " Not for long." "I didn't hear much while snoring, but between snores, I did hear things." "What is your opinion?" "Isn't Bo too clever for his own good?" " I think Bo is right." " Right?" "To break up with me?" "Why are you so ruffled, little girl?" "Why not wait a few years?" "Until Bo has established himself." "Since Bo doesn't want to live off his wife, we won't be happy." "Do you define happiness in terms of being in love?" " Of course." " Remember this, Astrid." "Love will fly out the window the day you say:" ""Don't forget that I have the money."" "That day will never come!" "That may be true, you're a decent sort of girl." "But remember that Bo is used to living large and living with a rich wife won't put a stop to that." "He's welcome to spend everything I own." "But what if he falls in love with someone else." "A poor girl that he decides to keep on the side?" "Don't forget that I have the money!" "I knew the words would pop out sooner or later, but not that soon." "What a hateful old beast you are!" "You and your sense of honor!" "Don't sell your birthright for a mess of pottage." "Our honor is our birthright." " That makes me the pottage..." " But a very tasty mess." "But it cannot compete with the satisfaction of a clear conscience." "Look at me." "I've been stripped of everything:" "my work, my fame, and my fortune." "But there's one thing no one can take from me..." "And that's my honor." "I have held on to my honor as if it was a glittering prize." "I've never relinquished it." "I've been called a failure, I've been called a fool." "It doesn't bother me." "The fool is still happy, because he has honor in is name." "If Bo doesn't want me..." "I'll marry you instead." "You like to toy with men, don't you?" "And there's nothing wrong with that." "But you must never strip a man of his honor." "Honor is not to be toyed with." "Honor is the snowy white shirt that we mortals put on when we prepare for eternal sleep." "That's an old-fashioned notion." "That may be so, but it's one that saves us from damnation." "Dad!" "Where are you?" " Rolf?" " What is it?" " Could you please feed me my lines?" " I don't have the time." " I've set everything up." " I'm coming." "Would you excuse me?" "I'm so glad we had this talk." "Are you ready to perform the experiment?" "Have you had a run of bad fortune?" "That's not it." "The good ship Swedenhielm is starting to sink." " Be a smart girl and save yourself." " I don't intend to be smart!" "Watch out, poverty is contagious." " Think of your glorious future." " There's no need to be cruel." "Picture Bo, all worn out and pasty, forced to trudge to his little job at a tiny little office in our tiny little town running into you, now a Countess driving a fancy car." "You will avert your eyes from the spectacle of your youthful folly." "No one can tell me that I get winded and rush my lines!" " Do me a favor, feed me my lines." " I don't have the time." " Why don't you ask Mommy?" " Where is she, by the way?" "It will all come out right in the end, my boy." "There's something indecent about marrying money." "What is right and what is wrong?" "Are you sure you know the answer?" "At times it's so difficult to know what's right." "Yes, I agree..." "I'm sorry, I have to get back to my kitchen." "Cheer up, sonny." "What's this?" "What are you doing here?" " Don't you know that he's upset?" " Yes." " Why aren't you comforting him?" " Because he won't let me." "Don't let that stand in your way." " But if he doesn't want me around..." " Don't ask for permission." "Just show him that you love him even if he is poor." "I love him even more now." " But that doesn't matter to him." " That's the Swedenhielm way." " Don't let it bother you." " You're such a dear!" "Can't I do anything to help?" "I have money!" " How much money will it take?" " Keep your money." "People need to help themselves." "They should work to earn their keep." "That's the best." "You almost out-Swedenhielm the Swedenhielms." "Nonsense!" "Go in to him." " Shall we get moving?" " I'll be with you in a minute." "I hope the analysis will corroborate our theory." " It will." " All right..." "Let's get started." " You think you're so clever." " What do you mean?" "Your kiss reveals what your words deny." "There's nothing dishonest about loving someone." "But pretending to not love a person you love is dishonest." " That makes you dishonest." " If you were only as poor as I!" "Rich or poor -what does it matter, as long as we love each other?" "It's going to take a while before we can marry." "Then we'll wait, because I'll never let you go." " "Think on thy sins..." - "They are loves I bear to you."" " "Aye, and for that thou dieth." - "The death that kills for loving."" ""Some bloody passions shake your very frame."" " What's wrong with the man?" " He's unhinged by jealousy." "This is "Othello"." "You read so woodenly." "Roll your eyes a bit, to inspire me." "If it doesn't suit you, we can stop." "Dear Mutti, don't get all huffy." "I know you can put some life into it." " "That he hath used you..." - "Unlawfully?"" "Is that what they've done?" " How does it end?" " In tragedy." " I suspected as much." " There." ""No, his mouth is stopped."" "What a display!" " You're upstaging me." " I have hidden talents." "Let's move on. "Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone!"" ""Down, strumpet!" What?" "What kind of language is that?" "Are they allowed to say such things?" " "Banish me, but kill me not!" - "Down, strump...!"" ""Down..."" " Good lord." " I think it was..." "That would be the laboratory!" "Open the window!" " All our work down the drain!" " Let's assess the damage." "Wait a minute!" " We did it!" "We did it!" " Take a look..." "You're right, we did it!" " Oh my goodness!" " Just look at this mess!" "Those walls had just been washed." "And the floor... and everything." "Boman..." "Are you going to fuss over a spot of soot?" "Can't you invent things without making a pigsty of the place?" "Should I tell you what I think of you?" "All right, I will." "You are a royal pain!" " That's what you are." "There, I said it." " So you've told me over the years." "For 25 years you've nagged me, and tidied and polished." "Cooked, did dishes and made beds too." " You whined when I went away." " And packed for you." " You nagged me at home." " And cooked for you." " You nagged me about bills." " And made do without money." " If I ever tried to save money..." " Wait just a minute!" "Did you say "save"?" "You are nothing but trouble." " And I want you out of my house." " I've heard that before, too." "Sure, I can leave." " What will become of you then?" " I'll tell you, Boman." "I will ascend to seventh heaven." "I'll be dressed in lovely white shirts that never need washing." " Fine, I'll see you in heaven." " That's fine with me!" "I still need the housekeeping allowance." "Has it run out already?" "It seems to vanish in no time." "Leave us to work, we're busy." "See you later, we have work to do." "This would appear to be quite an unlucky day." "First, I lost the Nobel Prize." "Then my most expensive piece of apparatus was blown to bits." "And to top it off, Boman took my last money." "But I won't let it get me down." "To the apple tree I go to pick myself some fruit" "The apples hanging there glow brightly red" "But way up in the sky a silver apple gleams" "Where no winds touch its dark blue velvet bed" "You sing, I'm no good at this." "Oh, silver apple of the moon I see you" "But I can never harvest you, I know" "You shine above me in the sky so blue" "Filling my poor heart until it glows" "Autumn winds they shake my apple tree so dear" "I try to shield the rest from the bitter rains" "So my friends may feast to their heart's content" "No matter what my moon apple remains" "Oh, silver apple of the moon I see you" "But I can never harvest you, I know" "You shine above me in the sky so blue" "Filling my poor heart until it glows" "Hello." "I see One moment, please." "Mr. Swedenhielm, you're wanted on the telephone." "I don't have any unsettled business." "Tell him to go to Hell." "That a boy, Dad!" " Do you expect me to repeat that?" " Yes." " Don't you agree?" " All right." "Mr. Swedenhielm would like you to please go to Hell." "Yes, I'll tell him." "He says that he doesn't mind going to Hell since he'll meet you there." "What an amusing chap!" "I think I'll have a word with him." "Could you let me by?" "You sweet thing!" "Thank you." " Hello..." "Yes, this is Rolf Swedenhielm speaking." "What's that?" "Excuse me?" "Sounds like bad news." "Nitwit..." "Simpleton, fool, idiot..." "Dear children..." "I've just been awarded the Nobel Prize." "Don't cry, Daddy." "Well, that's how it feels to win the Nobel Prize..." "It wasn't at all the way I had pictured it." "But it's true, the prize is mine..." "The prize is mine, and I'll just have to accept it gracefully." "But this is wonderful news..." "Isn't it?" "Then why all the glum faces?" "We'll come around." "Remember, when you experience true joy there's no need to be happy." "Come here, children!" "How are we going to celebrate my new-found lofty status?" " With champagne!" " Champagne, of course!" " Boman, where are you?" " Mutti!" "There's a gentleman at the door asking to speak to Mr. Swedenhielm." " Shall I show him in?" " Yes, Boman." "I promise to behave." "Show him in." " I wonder who it could be?" " Who knows?" " Who is it?" " Is he a reporter?" "His looks don't say much about his line of work." "Forget it." "Let's go." "Who could this be?" " Hello, did you wish to have a word with me?" " My name is Eriksson." " Do I know you?" "It's Erik Eriksson." "My goodness!" "Erik, old chap!" "Well, what a pleasant surprise." "Take your coat off." "Do come in." "Well, what do you know?" "I didn't recognize you at first." "Come on in and meet the family." "Let's go to my study." "No one will disturb us there." "This way, Erik." "Here you go, Erik." "Please have a seat." " I haven't seen you for ages." " Almost 40 years ago." "My, time does fly!" "The last time I saw you..." "I was on my way to prison." "Let's not stir up that old business." ""That old business" could have been hushed up, you know." "Your mother promised mine that she would see that it was hushed up." " But your father refused." " Poor Mother." "She didn't know any better, my father couldn't let you off." "You had a position at the bank and you betrayed his trust." "You had to face the consequences of your actions." "There is no room for compromise in matters of honor." " Not under any circumstances?" " Not under any circumstances!" "What if one of your sons were involved?" "Why bring them into this discussion?" "My boys are honest, they would never do such a thing." "I'm not so sure I agree." "How dare you!" "I have evidence of deceit on their part." " Where did you get these notes?" " I've helped your youngest son out." "You could call me a banker of sorts." " What about these?" " I bought them off a colleague." "He claimed that the signature wasn't yours." "But he figured that you would pay up." "And I tend to agree with him." "I see that you've noticed the stationery." " Why would I do that?" " It's custom-made." "The portion where the Lieutenant's initials would be has been cut away." "It can't possibly be true..." "Bo, my son!" "Don't take it so hard." "The Lieutenant is just a boy." "You won't be as strict as your father was, I presume." "Tell me, Eriksson..." " May I buy these notes?" " I see..." "I presume you intend to hush the matter up." "So, there may be room for compromise in matters of honor?" "Please, Eriksson, show some compassion." "Temper justice with mercy." "When do you want the money?" "Don't worry, there's no rush." " Your credit is good." " Thank you." "Would it be all right if I kept these right away?" "Do you mind?" "Of course not." "Your word is worth more than a slip of paper." "Whether it be false or genuine." "We don't run into each other often." "But if we should happen to do so again remember that people treat you as reasonably as you treat them." "As for your son, I'll leave you to be the judge of his behavior." "Good day." " Has Dad's visitor left?" " Yes." " I wonder what that was all about." " I haven't the faintest idea." "I see." "How about breaking out the champagne?" "Shouldn't we wait for your father?" "Bo!" "My son!" "Did you call for me, Dad?" "." "What is it, Dad?" "Is something wrong?" "No..." "Nothing's wrong." "Go away." "Go away!" "But wait!" "Send Boman in." " Can't I be of help?" " No!" "Do as you're told." "Go away!" " Sonny?" " Dad wants to have a word with you." " You called?" " That's right." "Well, Boman..." "If you would be so kind as to remove these papers and burn them." "Burn every last scrap." "Have I made myself clear?" "Every single scrap!" "It shall be so." "Are you going to be understanding about this matter?" "Silence." "Not a word about this to anyone." " Is that clear?" " Perfectly, Mr. Swedenhielm." "I've aired out your room and turned down the bed in case you are ready to retire." "It's about time!" "It wouldn't do to keep the King waiting!" "We've got plenty of time." "If you come too late, they might give that prize to someone else." "Just out of spite." "Your father's running very late." " Go upstairs and hurry him up." " Who, me?" "No." " I'd rather let him be late." " Dear Mutti..." "This is going to be a disaster." "I'm out of my mind with worry." "You wouldn't happen to know why Dad's been so crushed lately?" " Well?" " No." " Do you have a clue?" " No, I don't." "And the less I know, the better." "Do any of you know what's bothering Dad?" "He hasn't smiled or even uttered a word for ages." "We're usually a pleasant bunch." "People are always going on about how amusing we are." "They should see us now, as solemn as the high priests of Egypt." "If either of you have committed robbery or murder come clean and stop troubling our dear father." "He's troubled already." "Yes, he appears to be so very sad." " What if he refuses to go on?" " You make it sound like the stage." "It's a kind of performance." "He's probably practicing in front of the mirror right now." "Picturing the moment when the King hands him his prize." ""Thank you, your Royal Highness, for your kindness"" ""in awarding an old man like myself such an honor."" ""And right you are to do so, Sir."" ""For I have been faithful to two causes all my life."" ""Happiness...and honor."" "Why am I nervous, do you suppose?" " Well?" " He's pacing like a caged animal." "That was the radio." "I guess it's gone completely around the bend, too." "I'm so nervous, I need to powder my nose." " Have you seen my mirror, Bo?" " No, how should I know where it is?" "Here he comes!" "I don't dare stay here." "Well, is everyone all set?" "Let me have a look at you." "You look grand, Daddy!" "And so I should, I'm your father, aren't I?" "I'm flushed." "And I can't find my mirror, either." " What have you done with my mirror?" " Julia, please!" " What's this?" " Bo stole my mirror." "That's utterly out of the question." " What's out of the question?" " That I would stoop to thievery." "What about forgery, then?" "You shouldn't have done that, Father." "I'm in uniform." "Answer me!" "Have you dabbled in forgery?" "Answer me, or I'll tear that uniform off your back!" "Yes, Father." "Forgive me for striking you." "I hadn't intended to do such a thing but I so hoped that you were innocent." "It may not have been Bo." "I may be the culprit." "Daddy, I'm such a scatterbrain." " Perhaps I did it!" " Is that so?" "Who knows?" "Maybe all three of you are capable of such a thing." "No, no, no..." "I cannot accept the Nobel Prize." "I cannot accept such an honor." "A person incapable of raising honest children is unworthy." "Are you going on about those papers?" "Didn't you say that the matter was to be forgotten?" " I don't wish to discuss it." " You certainly will." "How dare you suspect Bo!" "Your poor boy is innocent of wrongdoing." "The person who signed your name to those notes is Marta Boman." "If you're familiar with the name." " Mutti!" "That's impossible!" " I find that hard to believe!" "Hush, children." "I'm talking to your father." "If you're lying to me, I'll have your hide!" "Take a look at this note, the paper's identical." "I've already paid back the loan to that scoundrel Mr. Ek." " But this is Bo's stationery." " I don't have any of my own." " Why did you do it?" " We needed the money." " But I gave you money." " When you had it." "But you never wanted to starve, even when you were broke." "Are you telling me I haven't been a good provider?" "You don't know much about providing." "Inventors don't expect to be bothered with petty details." "You left that to me." "Sometimes parties with paper lanterns and champagne to create an oriental atmosphere for a certain young person." "Really, Mutti!" "Relax." "You aren't the only culprit here." "Bo's silk shirts cost a pretty penny, too." " Silk shirts, you say?" " Do you expect him to go shirtless?" "Should he look shabby compared to the others?" "No, that won't do if your name is Swedenhielm." "What am I supposed to do with you?" "Have me thrown in jail, I expect." "How long has this been going on?" "That's none of your business." "I've paid every single note on time with the exception of those two." " We must get to the bottom of this." " I see." "If you insist." "The first note dates back seven years." "When two scientists started assembling all that equipment and those dangerous chemicals, in order to impress the world." "Miss Boman, do you claim to have financed my work?" " Did you perform the experiments?" " Well..." "I certainly wouldn't have made the mess you did." "Just throw me in jail and have it done with." "Would you stop saying that!" "What on Earth am I going to do with you?" "I've already told you:" "Have me thrown in jail." "It would be like a vacation." "Even though I'm an ordinary person and not a fancy inventor it just so happens that I get tired at times." "That's the truth." "Oh, Marta..." " Do you remember my wife?" " That dear sweet thing?" "Of course I do." "You know that I loved her more than anything on Earth." "Yes, I do know that." "But no other woman has ever made me quite as happy as you have today." "Where's my hanky?" "When Mutti cries, we might as well call for Noah's Ark." "Please wait here." "But, Marta..." "Why didn't you say anything all this time?" " What was I supposed to say?" " That you were behind it all." "You must have been mad to believe anything else." "Mad?" "That's the doorbell." " Didn't you hear the bell?" " All right..." "You rascal, you!" "I'd really like to know what possessed you to say that you did it?" "It was silly of me, but I thought that Rolf might have..." "What are you saying?" "I thought that you did it..." "I thought that the two of them..." "What's the matter with you all?" "The hall is packed, the King is on his way, and here you are!" "Oh my goodness, let's get moving!" "Where's my hat?" "Mr. Swedenhielm, don't forget your fancy medals!" "We really must hurry!" " Put it on in the car, Dad." " You're right." "We're in a hurry!" "Boman!" "A certain person will drop by this evening." "Eriksson wants his money." "If I'm not back by then" "I want you to give him the full force of your sunny personality." ""Sunny personality"..." "He's always been absolutely insane!" "The royal family has been seated." "Here come the recipients of this year's Nobel Prize." "But where is our Swedish prizewinner, Rolf Swedenhielm?" " Goodness me!" " Please fasten it quickly." " How can I be calm now?" " Just go in." "I can't go in there like this!" "Dear Lord, if only Boman was here!" " You're ready now, sir." " I'm incoherent..." "There he is!" "What a relief!" "And now our very own Rolf Swedenhielm steps forward to receive his prize from the hands of our King." "Thank you!" "THE END"