Take My Hand (Tag min hånd)

This is our house. It has a heated floor in the bathroom.

We bought it when I was expecting Magnus. I know every corner of it.

- Please. - Thank you.

Keep the change.

And this is my husband. The one struggling with his balance.

- So, can you find the door? - Sure. If I can see it.

Damn ... I forgot my key.

Well, you said you brought yours so I didn't bring mine.

We met when we were young, and we've been together for almost 25 years.

Claes wanted children, but waited patiently till I'd gotten my degree.

Claes works with IT solutions, and we've just been to a company dinner.

Why's that lying there?

- Loose boards. - Didn't you get hold of the carpenter?

Sure, a week ago. I think he has a selective memory.

We've been working on an extension for a year. An annex for our son.

- Magnus? - Hey, hey. Claes ... let him sleep.

He's a teenager and we'd like him to stick around for a few more years.

- His window's open. - I'll go wait by the door.

- Claes always finds creative solutions. - Dad?

I just forgot my keys. Go back to sleep.

- Dad! - Yeah. Sorry. Sleep well.

- And he usually finds a good solution. - It wasn't locked.

Sunday. I love that word. Peace. Quiet. Birds singing.

Freedom to be together and do something fun.

Family. Time to be there for each other.

Is that an arrow?

Claes is a good dad. He's great with Magnus.

They're always finding stuff online and have the same ability -

- to immerse themselves in the oddest characters on the Internet.

Whenever I look at them I can't believe my luck.

- You told the licorice story. Again. - It's funny.

Luckily, I can still laugh at my husband's jokes.

Either they're really funny, or his enthusiasm for them is worth it.

Someone has to perk up a company -

that's as entertaining as ... dill.

I'm a medical doctor, and I'm working on my dissertation.

It requires self-discipline if you're to tend to your family, too.

I'm the one who wakes up the house, and it has long since ceased to bother me.

It's time. Come on.

Morning, Magnus sweetie.

Upsy-daisy.

I was warned about the changes of that age -

- but who knew they could sleep so much?

I should show him off at work as a special medical case.

Here we go ... Magnus, you still aren't dressed. I have a conference, come on.

- Okay, Mom. I'm practically ready. - So...

Don't you have a meeting? There's a huge stain on your shirt.

- A stain. On your shirt. - Where?

I wouldn't say I'm a perfectionist.

- That little thing? - Yes.

We don't see Magnus much anymore. He has new interests in life.

- Can the girls resist you? - Mom ...

Every day I fear he'll want to go to school on his own. I love taking him.

- It's a chance to talk about nothing. - Are you going to the club today?

- Yeah, I'll go after confirmation prep. - Come again?

- What? - You're getting confirmed?

Yeah, I had to sign up fast or I wouldn't get the cool pastor.

I hope this phase passes when he realizes the work involved.

- Big hug for mama. - Yeah. See you, Mom.

Have a good day.

I always look forward to work. I like that there are expectations.

I'm an invasive cardiologist. I tend diseases of the heart.

It's my job to make sure it keeps beating.

The catheter has passed through arteria radialis to aorta ascendance.

Signe is my lunch buddy and close friend.

You're staring at my lunch again. We'd better swap.

Unbelievable.

She's a brilliant doctor. And her life is unreal.

Are you still seeing Wednesday Kim? I don't get that arrangement.

What don't you get? It's perfect for me.

He comes by after work every Wednesday. We have a nice meal. Hang out. Have sex.

The next morning I go off to my work, and he goes off to his.

- What if he meets someone new? - Nah, that won't happen.

A chubby 50-year-old man who spends his time in the forest counting birds?

Hardly.

I couldn't live like that.

I love everyday life.

- Did you say something? - What?

- Did you say something? - No.

Yes, that's also a part of life. It doesn't bother me.

We have chosen each other.

Does it get boring from time to time? Yes, of course it does.

There are loads of ways to live. Loads of options.

- Excuse me. - Hi, Maja.

- Hi. I have morning briefing. - Bye ...

They must think I'm the most straitlaced suburban wife in the world.

But I love the life we've built together.

It's important to find time for little surprises and to keep the spark alive.

"Hi, honey. Will be home tomorrow. Sorry."

But Claes travels a lot for work.

I miss him when he's away -

- although I've gotten used to it through the years.

Sort of.

- Hi, sweetie. - Mom, what the hell?

Shh ... I'll just lie right here.

Don't do that!

I always look forward to Claes coming home.

- Hi, honey. - Hi. Welcome home.

- Shall we grab some lunch? - Uhm, no, I gotta stop by the office.

But it was a good trip?

Yeah. Sure ...

- Pull over. - But the office?

Yes, but ... Just for a minute.

Okay, Claes. Please tell me what the hell is going on.

I want a divorce.

You want a divorce?

Easy now. We've been married 20 years. We have a child together. Magnus.

We have everything together. You don't just say: "I want a divorce."

Honey, I'm ...

I'm so sorry, but it's because ...

... right now ... we've reached a point when I don't love you anymore.

There, there, there. Shh, shh. Honey ...

You're having a crisis. Okay? Do you understand?

- No, not really. - It's normal, and we can fix it.

We'll talk over a nice bottle of wine or to a marriage counselor or not.

- Yeah, I'm not doing that. - What would you like to do, honey?

Yes?

Yes, goddammit! Ding-dong what?

- I don't know what to tell Magnus. - No. Where are you now?

- Out walking. - Okay.

I drove around till the battery went flat.

- Shall I come over? - No, no. I have to get hold of Magnus.

Hi, sweetie.

- Are you sure this it what you want? - Yes.

- Can we talk? - Magnus, do you have a minute?

Sit down, please.

Claes ...

So...

Your mom and I have, after many long and deep conversations -

agreed to get a divorce.

It's important you know that we're still friends and that we love you -

- just as much as always. Right?

You'll stay in the house, and we'll make plans -

- for you to stay with me every other weekend -

- once I've gotten my housing situation in order. Right? Yes.

So, that's the lay of the land.

But ... why are you getting divorced?

Uhm ... what can I say?

Sometimes grown-ups simply grow apart.

Like, lately Mom has spent a lot of time on her work and dissertation -

- and that has taken her in a direction where it's taken up a lot of space.

We must all be constructive. I, for one, would like to be just that.

So, uhm ... yes.

I'll call you, okay?

Yes, it's so constructive of you -

to ditch your family for some cheap ...

- Hi, Elin. Morten. - Hi.

I'm sorry, honey.

- It's okay, Mom. - Sweetie ...

Know what? Dad's just having a little crisis.

Everything's gonna be fine.

3 weeks later

We gotta go, Magnus. Come on.

- He's an asshole. - He mustn't have been happy.

Forget him.

If you change your Facebook status ...

- Hi, Maja. - Hi.

- Can you change it back? - I think so. Why?

I'm already getting friend requests from random men. Including Sebastian.

That guy? He's hot. Is he the one from Endocrinology?

- Yeah. - I'd jump him in a heartbeat.

You have no idea how few men I've slept with in my entire life.

One. Claes.

Well, and Christopher from continuation school.

So not just one then. You've slept with two.

- Okay, Signe. It doesn't matter. - Sorry. No, it does matter.

Don't you think that ... some day ...

... a little ray of sunshine like that comes along and ...

... you find renewed energy and then ...

Yeah ... But I miss Claes.

It's vitamin-D at the very least.

- Did you pack a warm sweater? - Yes.

I could pack you a lunch.

What'll you do while I'm at Dad's?

- Have a moment to myself. - So, you'll be working.

No, honey. I'll be relaxing.

- Where are you staying? - Dad said he'll take me to the house.

- Oh? "The house?" - Yes. Susanna's.

- Where is it? - Skovbrynet, I think.

I'll miss you. See you. Call me if there's anything.

Bye.

Hi, sweetie. Shall I get your bag?

Oh, yes. Yeah, take me, Claes.

- Take mel! - Ah, it's wonderful. So right.

- Is it better than with your ex? - Much better.

- How much better? - A thousand times better.

I already filled out my part. It's 650 kroner.

- Okay, yes. - And maybe go offline on Facebook.

Magnus keeps getting the notification: "Friend nearby."

- Okay. Thank you. - Have a nice evening now.

Signe, it was so embarrassing.

Please don't turn into Jeanette. Still crying over Jens five years on.

Her wheels have come off. So, you did a pericardiocentesis?

And you have him on a double hemo-plate protocol? Perfect.

That's an A+++.

- You're doing an echo, right? - Right.

By the way, I'm going out with some ladies on Friday. Wanna come?

Maja? What's going on?

I was the one who found him boring. If anyone was leaving, it should be me.

I'm way better looking than him, too.