Eva

I was on my way home. To Mum, Dad and Frida.

And my little sister Lena, who was only seven when I last saw her.

And the nearer my childhood world drew,

the fainter became the grandeur I'd brought with me from the city.

There's the Ridge - it looks so small.

Everything seems smaller.

You sound as if you'd been away for 50 years.

It's been two years since I was last home.

I've been in the service for two summers.

And this summer?

I'll be leaving the service soon. I've got a job in a band, it pays better.

- Who are you going to join? - A band in the city amusement park.

You can't get a better earner than that!

It's funny... It was smashing to leave home.

And now it's smashing to return.

On two days' leave - sure. Any longer, and it wouldn't be much fun.

No, maybe not.

Maybe it's not all that jolly after all.

At first it's a heaviness of heart which intensifies

and turns into something else.

A shadow behind me, which grows blacker the closer I get to home.

A shadow I can never shake off

and which has haunted me since I was a boy of twelve.

Dad!

I've driven Old Anna all by myself all the way from Lännheden!

Bo and Frida! Come and eat!

Bo, come and eat at once now!

Mind your own business, girl!

Does Anders know that you play with dolls?

That's a lie, you brat!

The same to you, silly!

That's all.

Right - leaving on time, at 7:00pm.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

You'd better get inside, Bo, or your mum'll get cross.

- Oh, Mum never gets cross. - Stop here anyway.

That's it! Soon you can drive her yourself.

- Good night! See you tomorrow. - Bye!

- Sleep tight! - Bye!

Don't scratch that bite!

- It feels so good. - Do as I tell you!

It's already big as a bun.

Then you must have scratched your tummy a lot...

Eat up, and stop talking such nonsense.

When I grow up, I'll have lots of babies in my tummy.

You can only have one at a time.

Auntie Ellen had two! So there!

That was an exception.

Then Berglund's cat is a big exception.

She had eight kittens!

Imagine if you were to have eight babies, what would you do?

I'd ask you and Bo to help me with them.

Is he drinking inside you now?

Eat up!

- The Area Manager just went past. - So I saw.

It didn't occur to him to come in and say hello.

Maybe he was in a hurry.

He visited Ingelson's in Bomträsk.

Maybe he had an errand there.

He was making a point.

- What? - It was meant as a ticking off.

I've fallen out of favour because we have different politics.

- Surely he doesn't care about that! - Him, not care?

Mum! Did you see me drive Old Anna?

No, but I can tell from your nose! Come here.

You look a fright!

And your shirt, too!

- Here, have a sandwich. - Thanks.

Bo, I'm not too keen on you riding the shunting engines.

Oh, where's the harm in it?

- Why shouldn't I? - I think I know better than you.

I like it even less when you yell bad words at your sister.

- Especially when there's a train in. - She started it.

It was not! Bo's lying!

- I'm not, you're the one who's lying! - Quiet!

Don't leave your sandwiches like that!

- It was your own fault. - Shush, Bo.

- You don't have much sense. - Oh, no?

You're twelve. You live and eat at home. When I was your age...

- I know all that. And I know that... - Shush, Bo.

Something tells me not to thrash you.

I don't know what, I can't explain.

I ought to give you a good thrashing.

You're the stronger.

Listen, Bo...

Can you tell me what's the matter?

You're telling me off even though it was your fault.

The sandwich, you mean?

Yes, that was wrong of me.

There's other things, too.

Don't cry now.

- I'm not crying. - What's wrong, Bo?

- You've been acting so strange lately. - Leave me alone.

Bo says that Mum is the most beautiful woman in the world!

- Bo! - Don't!

Don't talk like that to your mother!

I hate you all!

I hate everyone! I don't give a damn about you!

Shame on you!

Have you gone mad! You scoundrel!

Bo!

Bo!

Bo!

Come back, Bo! Come back!

We're never going back, Kay.

Come on!

Bravo, Marthe! You've inherited your father's talent.

Would you like a piece of chocolate?

- Yes, please! - Come here, then.

- Help yourself. - Thanks.

- What's your name? - Bo.

Bo Fredriksson.

- How old are you? - I'm twelve.

- But I'll soon be thirteen. - I'm ten.

This is my daughter Marthe.

My name is Josef.

These are my brothers Fritz and Karl.

Friedel's phenomenal Tyrolese Trio!

- How do you do? - How do you do?

- How do you do? - Would you like some food?

- No, thanks, I'm not hungry. - I am.

Do you mind my eating?

Of course not.

We can talk, if you want to.

- What was your name again? - Bo.

- You're not from Sweden, are you? - No, from Austria.

But I don't remember it, I was only two when I came her.

What do your father and his brothers do?

They sing and play in amusement parks.

Oh, really?

Have you always been...

- Have you never been able to see? - No.

Can't you see the sun shining?

No, but I feel it on my skin.

And I can smell timber and the forest.

We're just passing a red cottage!

It looks like... a big wild strawberry.

I know them, they taste nice!

And right next to the house there are poppies!

What are poppies?

They're big, red flowers.

Red...?

- Don't you know what red is? - No.

It's both angry and happy.

Blood is red, and barns and cottages.

It's a sharp colour.

- Like a trumpet sounds? - Precisely!

- I'll be back soon. - Where are you going?

I'm helping to drive the train.

Bo! Aren't you coming back soon?

Yes, as soon as we pick up speed.

Here's the coffee!

That's it until after the last number.

But then we'll all have a drink!

- Aren't you playing after the show? - Only for an hour.

Then we can do as we please - whatever you please.

We'll see...

- It's me, Bo. - Hello!

Oh look, more audience for Friedel's world-famous Tyrolese Trio!

Can I take Marthe for a walk?

I see...

First we have to look you over.

Come over here!

Are you afraid?

I'm not afraid of anything.

That sounds good.

Give me your hand.

You have a very ordinary hand.

You'll become quite a hard but wise and open man

when you grow up.

I can see that the lines of love and dark death

often cross each other.

Other than that, it's an ordinary hand.

You'll reap sorrow and joy in equal measures.

Well, it doesn't look too bad.

Do you believe in this?

No, I don't believe in grown-ups.

Don't you like us grown-ups?

No... all grown-ups are mean.

I know...

But you like Marthe?

Oh yes, we're getting married!

But what will I do without Marthe?

You can come and visit, of course!

How kind of you, Mr Fredriksson.

Well, since you're getting married, you can go for a little walk.

Thank you!

But don't leave her, Mr Fredriksson!

Oh, no!

Anything dangerous in mine?

Yes... for me.

A meeting with a dark and handsome man.

- Great passion... - Money and marriage?

No, no. No money and no marriage.

Only pleasure!

- Bo! - Yes?

How come you don't like grown-ups?

All grown-ups just want to push you around.

Is it true you're never afraid?

Yes, it is.