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01x03 - Episode 3

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Riding in Darkness". Aired: October 31, 2022.*
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Three women with different connections to one man need to find a way to get out of the monsters grip.

01x03 - Episode 3

Post by bunniefuu »

Based on real events. Details have
been adapted for dramatic purposes

and all place and character names
are fictitious.

-Heddesta.
-Hi, it's me.

-Hi.
-How are you?

So-so. How about you?

-I reported Tommy to the police.
-I know.

You have to leave, Frida.
That's a really toxic environment.

I didn't realise how bad it was,
until I got some perspective.

It's not a good place.
You have to get out.

And you're my best friend.
I miss you.

I miss you too.

So leave. You can stay with me.

-I'll call you later.
-Alright.

-Who was that?
-The vet.

-Adils.
-What did he say?

He heard the police were here.

Okay.

-Rosén.
-Hi, it's Lotta.

-Do you have a minute?
-Yes.

I tried to call Linda,
but she hasn't called back.

The police took Tommy
and they won't let me speak to him.

I'm sure Molly
must have come up with some lies.

And I don't get it.
After all we've done for her.

I'm sure they'll release Tommy soon,

but I don't know
how I'll manage here.

-Everything is just...
-Lotta, I helped Molly report him.

Molly told me and Tomas
that Tommy had molested her.

But I know a bit about
yours and Tommy's history...

RIDING IN DARKNESS

And the pockets...

Sit down. Take off your shoes.

Your watch.

These are
completely baseless claims.

They're totally made up.

I would never in my life
do something like that.

Well, you see...

This Molly is very dysfunctional,
okay?

She's from an a*usive home.

She's a compulsive liar.
I'm sorry to have to say it,

but you really can't believe
a word she says. Unfortunately.

The investigation
has grown even further today.

We've received another three reports

from Bettina Hansson,
Malin Broström and Linn Wenger,

concerning sexual exploitation,
alternatively sexual molestation.

-Okay, I...
-Wait a minute.

We can't comment on that
until we've heard the interviews.

First left, then the second
on the right. Welcome.

Welcome, everyone!

As you may know,
Tommy Lundh has been arrested.

Four girls from Heddesta
have accused him of sexual abuse.

For me, this all started

when I noticed that Molly
had left Heddesta after the summer.

When I asked Tommy about it,
he said she'd stolen money

and had started getting into drugs
and prostitution.

I thought this sounded strange, so I
called Molly and asked how she was.

She broke down and told me
what she'd been through.

I went with her to the police,
where she reported him,

and now Malin, Bettina and Linn
have also reported Tommy.

I feel like driving up to Heddesta
and just k*ll him.

-That f*cking b*stard!
-So, Tommy is now in custody.

-What is Lotta saying?
-She claims it's not true.

That's probably a natural reaction
if you're in shock.

-And Linda?
-I haven't been able to reach her.

But we talked about Molly at the open
house and she also found it unlikely

that Molly would steal money.

I know that several girls
just left a few years ago.

-Maybe we should contact them?
-Wait.

Have you and Tomas actually seen
any signs of this happening there?

I've sensed that something was off.

Hasn't Jenny ridden there for years?

And you've socialised
with Tommy and Lotta?

-Yes.
-Yes.

Jenny says
that nothing has happened to her.

But she's told us
about strange goings-on.

Such as having
to spend the night there

if you wanted to join
the competition team.

I've always thought he's too nice.
Seems to have something to hide.

Excuse me, we're talking about
Tommy as if we presume he's guilty.

We need to keep calm
until we know more.

I totally agree.

You're saying that Lotta is in shock.

I'd be too, if some girls
made up stories about my husband.

"Made up"?

If you'd been there when Molly told
us, you wouldn't call it that.

-I'm not saying they're lying.
-Then what are you saying?

Let's not judge him yet.

I agree with Tomas -
Molly is very convincing.

And three more girls
have reported Tommy.

Talk to your children. Have they had
experiences that didn't feel good?

I talk to Sofie every week,
after she's been at Heddesta.

She's told me nothing like this.
On the contrary.

She's exhilarated
when she gets home.

I've also watched her riding lessons
from the stands

and seen how Tommy is
with the girls, so...

To me, this seems totally...

-I don't believe it.
-I feel the same way.

And we've already paid the tuition.
5,900 kronor...

What the hell? The b*stard is
in custody for sexual abuse

and you're talking about tuition?

-It's a lot of money for us.
-It's a question of ethics too.

But sure,
if you want your daughter...

He's in custody. Are you deaf?

I just think we shouldn't judge him
yet. What's the hurry?

If it's one per cent likely
that this is true,

let's get the kids out of there now!

-True. Listen to him!
-But that's what I'm saying, it's...

-But listen...
-Calm down, everyone. Calm down.

It's okay to have different opinions.

That's why we're here talking
about it.

-Hello, Katarina.
-Is Linda in?

Linda?

Hi, sorry to bother you this late.
Do you have a minute?

I'll come out.

-I'm going out.
-Alright.

I've tried to reach you.

Have you heard that Tommy has
been arrested?

Yes, I know. I've spoken to Lotta.

Okay.

I've spent so much time there
over the years,

and I've seen absolutely no signs
indicating that this would be true.

I know. Neither have I.

But...had you heard Molly talk about
it, you'd feel differently.

Possibly. Or I might have felt
that I don't know Molly very well.

And it's my responsibility
as an adult to be careful.

Your main responsibility is
to go to the police

if you hear about a serious crime.

And it's not just Molly.
It's three more girls.

I won't judge anyone
until I know more.

Think about it. Who's been
a stable girl the last few years?

Molly has no dad,
her mother is an addict.

Bettina's dad is in jail.
Mum remarried.

Frida has no contact
with her parents.

That's the point of Heddesta.

To give girls like that a chance.

But they're easy targets,
don't you see?

They have no close adults.
They're sitting ducks.

Or you have your own reasons
for believing this.

What do you mean?

Linda...?

I'll take it. - Lotta.

That f*cking paedophile
should die...

Who was it?

Somebody who...

-What did they say?
-That the paedophile should die.

Hey...

It's alright.

Won't you sleep in here tonight?

Please?

Of course. Of course I will.

Thank you.

Frida, I'm hungry.

Hungry?
Then how about a sandwich?

-Yes.
-Yes. Come on.

-There.
-I want to make my own sandwich.

Okay, you can do that.

-I want this bread.
-Go on.

b*stard

Are you coming? We're about to start.

We're not quite done here.

-But I want you to be there.
-Okay.

Frida and I are going to a meeting.
Go inside.

You can watch TV, read
or do arts and crafts.

-But we want to finish here.
-It's okay, we'll do it tomorrow.

No, we'll finish.

Okay, but go straight inside
afterwards.

And you're absolutely not allowed
to visit the horses.

If you need us, we're in the café.

Hello, everyone. Welcome.

You probably saw the stable wall.

I haven't had time to paint over it
yet. It's been a bit much today.

I'm sure some of us here
can help out with that later.

After the meeting.

Well, I'm sure you've all heard.

Molly and some other girls have
reported Tommy for sexual abuse.

He's in police custody.

These are lies, of course,
from beginning to end.

I can assure you that,
and so can Frida.

The police will question him,
soon realise that it's all lies,

and everything
will go back to normal.

We're all counting on that.

Last night, someone called
and shouted that they'd k*ll Tommy.

I unplugged the phone
after three calls.

So if anyone couldn't reach me,
now you know why.

This is a nightmare for you
and the children. It's unbelievable.

But I think I'm speaking for all of
us when I say

that we're here tonight
to show you our support.

Thanks.

Mum told us not to go in.

Victoria?

It was autumn and Tommy molested
you and someone else in his car.

-Who was that person?
-Frida Karlsson.

It's not very easy
to get hold of her.

No. Well, she still lives at
Heddesta. Unless she's left now.

Do you think she'll confirm
what you've told us?

Yes, because I spoke to her last week
and she told me she'd call me.

-Daddy!
-Oh!

-I missed you.
-And I missed you.

I missed you so much.

-What have you been doing?
-Sweeping.

-But not for the whole week?
-No.

-Have you been playing at all?
-Yes.

Good. Let's play a bit more.

Thanks for staying. Lotta wouldn't
have coped without you.

-I don't know about that.
-Well, I do.

You're a rock, Frida.
We need you now, more than ever.

Me going to jail
would be the end of Heddesta.

We'd have to sell the horses.

Some might even
have to be put down.

Listen...did the police contact you?

Yes.

Hell, Frida...

You know me, right?
You know I could never hurt anyone.

That's just not me. Right?

So you have to help us
tell the truth to the police. Got it?

Good girl.

The papers have written
about it a lot,

so there'll probably be
a lot of reporters there.

What I'm worried about is
having to meet him.

You won't have to.

Tommy will watch the proceedings
from a separate room.

Great.

And when it's his turn,
you'll do the same.

I'll be there,

but I'm not allowed inside
the courtroom until I've testified.

-Right?
-Exactly.

Will you have anyone else supporting
you there? Mum or dad, perhaps?

-No.
-My friend Nella is coming.

-Not your mum?
-No.

Or I told her she couldn't. I don't
want her to hear all the details.

The main hearing in case B-1514,
1991 is now in session.

That's Lotta's mother.

Gothenburg public prosecution office
versus Tommy Lundh. Please, begin.

The defendant is charged with
sexual exploitation,

sexual intercourse with a child
and sexual molestation.

Tommy Lundh committed
the crimes on several occasions

and exploited the plaintiffs'
position of dependence

in a subtle and ruthless manner.
Thank you.

We seek damages in the amount
of 75,000 kronor to Molly Bennett,

60,000 kronor to Bettina Hansson,

10,000 kronor to Malin Broström
and 4,000 kronor to Linn Wenger.

My client denies these claims.

There is no truth
in these statements of deeds.

And as he has not acted in the
way that the prosecution claims,

he should not pay any damages.

I started riding there
when I was in year eight.

And after year nine,
I became a stable girl.

What did that entail?

I took care of the horses
and gave riding lessons.

Sometimes, I took care of
Tommy's and Lotta's children.

-You also lived there?
-Yes. And I got meals.

And some salary, but not very much.

When was the first time something
happened that you found odd?

It was
after my first riding competition.

When we got back, Tommy said
it was time for a massage.

That they did that
after every competition.

So he asked me, Frida and Bettina

to strip to the waist
and lie face down on the floor.

Then he started massaging us,

but he also touched my bottom
and between the legs.

-Did you bring this up with anyone?
-Yes, with Lotta.

But she got angry
and said it was a lie

and that I had to leave Heddesta
at once.

I had nowhere to go,
so I was...very upset.

But then she came back and said,

"You can stay if you promise
not to lie about Tommy again."

-But it was no lie?
-No. But I promised anyway.

Will you tell us about the first,
more serious as*ault?

Tommy was giving me a riding lesson
late one night.

He was angry
and shouted at me the whole time.

And he forced me to ride backwards,

which made me fall off the horse
several times.

-Had he been drinking?
-He drank during the lesson.

Beer or spirits,
I can't remember which.

And finally,
Tommy left the riding arena?

Your Honour,
I believe that's a leading question.

-The prosecution may continue.
-Thank you.

You told the police
that Tommy left the riding arena.

-What did you do after that?
-I went to the tack room.

I put down my saddle
and Tommy appeared behind me...

...and unbuttoned my trousers, pulled
them down and then had sex with me.

What did he do with you,
more precisely?

He put his fingers inside me...

...and pulled my legs apart,
and then he inserted his p*nis.

-Did you try to make him stop?
-Yes.

I said, "No, stop". But he answered,
"You're going to have to take this."

What do you think he meant by that?

I think he meant
that this was part of the deal.

If you work at Heddesta,
you have to go along with it.

Thank you.

In a police interview on September 9,
you stated

that Tommy Lundh molested you
on New Year's Day of this year.

That he forced you to have sex

in the cellar
of the Heddesta dwelling house.

-Yes, I said that, but...
-Wait. Wait, Molly.

Did you or did you not say
in a police interview

that Tommy Lundh forced you to have
sex with him on New Year's Day?

Yes, I did.

Tommy actually
has an alibi for that day.

He and his partner Lotta
celebrated New Year in Borås...

-...together with friends.
-Yes.

So that piece of information
cannot be correct.

No, but...

Listen, I remember that it was winter
and the day after some big party.

So I thought it was New Year,

but then I realised
it could have been...

What comes after New Year?

-Twelfth Night?
-Yes, that could be it.

But you're certain it was winter,
and after Christmas?

Yes, I'm pretty certain.

-Perhaps Twelfth Night?
-Yes.

Twelfth Day falls on January 6
every year.

On the weekend after that,
January 12-13 this year,

there was a big spring term kickoff.

-Remember?
-Yes, we have one every year.

You then spoke
with Anneli Lundborg,

whose daughter rides at Heddesta.

-Yes, maybe I did.
-Anneli recalls this very well.

You told her
that you loved being at Heddesta

and wanted to work there for the rest
of your life. Could that be right?

Yes, I suppose so.

But that was only a few days

after Tommy supposedly
r*ped you in the cellar.

You told Anneli,

"I just love being at Heddesta."

-How does that add up?
-Well, because...

Because we who worked there always
tried to suck up to the parents.

We smiled
in order to create a positive image.

Tommy did too.
He's the one who told us to do it.

So what you told Anneli
and the others wasn't true?

No, absolutely not.

Molly, do you...

...tend to say things that suit the
purpose, even if they're not true?

-No. But...
-Thank you.

-No more questions from the defence.
-Thank you.

Hello, Krusse!

-Have you ever had a horse?
-No.

They're such personalities.

Some are so empathetic.
They can sense how you feel.

Krusse, my horse,
was my best friend.

He was always there for me
through my worst times.

He protected me.

What the hell?

Stop the car. She's in the paddock
with Krusse. Stop!

Victoria? Get out of there!

But he's being good.

You're not allowed in there.
Get out.

You're not allowed in there
on your own.

Listen...

Frida told me that some boy
was mean to you today.

What did he say?

Did he say that I was disgusting?

Do you know why he said that?

Because some girls have lied
about me.

-Do you remember Molly?
-Yes.

She's one of the girls who lied.

That's naughty.

-You shouldn't lie about people.
-No.

Are you nervous about the trial?

Yes, a little.

I've compiled a few questions
that you might get.

And what to answer.

Have a look
after the dishes are done.

Yes.

And then let's practise together.

-I ask the questions, you answer.
-Okay.

Great.

...LOTTA AND FRIDA
THAT IT WAS NOT r*pe

NO ABUSE.

MEMORISE!

SPEAK CLEARLY
AND NEVER HESITATE

Linn says that you, at the party,
convinced her...

-...to take a walk in the fresh air.
-That's a lie.

Several witnesses confirm
that you left the house together.

I presume that's Bettina,
but she's part of this conspiracy.

No, several witnesses.

The prosecution refers to witnesses
who will not be heard.

Duly noted.

-Please, continue.
-Thank you.

Tommy, you and Linn
were seen leaving the house

by Bettina, among others.

Well, perhaps we went out
to get some more soda.

Then Linn says that you tried to kiss
her and pull down her trousers.

That's totally made up.
I would never...

Anyone who knows me
would tell you that's impossible.

I would never... I'm not like that.

But then Lotta drove up
and interrupted you.

Hang on. So Lotta is out driving
aimlessly on a Saturday evening?

Wait, Tommy. Molly confirms this.

She says that when Linn got back to
the cottage she was very distraught.

So Molly and Bettina confirms this?

Both of them part of this g*ng.
No one else? How about Frida,

who lived with Molly in the cottage?
What does she say?

The defence, please?

When Molly came to Heddesta,

what was
your first impression of her?

Good. She is a girl
with her head screwed on.

Capable, fearless, good at riding.

And what was the relationship like
between the two of you?

It was good.

-Perhaps a bit too good.
-How do you mean?

I noticed very early on
that Molly was attracted to me.

There's nothing strange about that,
it happens all the time.

Girls often
fall for their instructor.

But I also know
that it's not about me personally...

...but about my role,
about what I represent.

Because these young girls
really love horses.

I know a lot about horses,
so they fall in love me.

This thing you're telling us now,
how did it manifest in Molly?

Well, she used to linger in
the riding arena after the lessons.

She wanted to be alone with me.

Glances, touching...

Jealousy towards the other girls,

if I said something appreciative
to them.

How did you handle this situation?

When I notice
these types of signals,

I make sure
to keep a proper distance.

I try to avoid bodily contact.

I try to avoid anything that could be
interpreted as interest on my part.

-You said that this is common?
-Relatively common, yes.

But regarding Molly,

did anything about her stand out
compared with the others?

Yes, I do have to say that.
I think she had...

...a very vulgar way
of making jokes and talking,

which is not very common
with sixteen-year-olds.

It was very often about sex,
and so on.

She liked showing off naked.
She'd walk around in her underwear.

Lotta and I talked
about it many times.

We thought
it didn't seem quite normal.

We presumed
it had to do with her childhood.

-In what way?
-Molly comes from a broken home.

An addictive mother and...

The plaintiff's background
is irrelevant.

The defence disagrees. This is about
the credibility of the plaintiff.

I ask you to keep to the subject.

-Please, continue.
-Tommy...

...when you, so to speak, withdrew
from Molly, what was her reaction?

Most girls can handle a rejection,

if you're being clear enough,
but she got very...

...incredibly jealous and...

And then money started disappearing
from our office.

After a while we realised
that it could only be Molly.

A lot of money?

No, certainly not.

And I honestly don't think it was
about the money, really.

I think it was a way
of trying to get back at me.

But, well...

We realised we couldn't let her stay,
so we asked Molly to leave Heddesta.

Did you and Lotta think that
the matter was settled with that?

Yes, of course.
That's what we thought.

And then came these accusations
from Molly and three other girls.

What was your reaction to that?

Shock, naturally. It's...

This has been a nightmare
for both me and Lotta.

For the whole family.

I can't imagine anything more awful.

I see. Do you have any thoughts

about the fact that

these police reports were filed
almost simultaneously?

Hundreds of people ride
at Heddesta.

Some of them are bound
to be unhappy about something,

so that you can...

...bamboozle them into doing this.

You mean that those
who reported you are lying?

They're lying.

But I also want to say that I
don't think Molly is alone in this.

She's not that hardened.
No, she was assisted

by certain parents
with their own reasons

for wanting to destroy our business.
That's disturbing.

If you want to find the real culprit,
that's where you should look.

-I, Frida Karlsson...
-"I, Frida Karlsson..."

...do solemnly declare and affirm...

"...do solemnly declare
and affirm..."

-...to tell the whole truth...
-"...to tell the whole truth..."

...without omitting,
adding or changing anything.

"...without omitting,
adding or changing anything."

Thank you.

The defence may begin.

Frida, you and Molly lived together,
is that right?

Yes, in the cottage.

And you were best friends?

Yes, we were together night
and day.

What's your view

on Molly's claims about Tommy
Lundh having molested her

more or less every week
for a whole year?

It's not true.

-Are you quite sure?
-Yes.

Like I said, we were always together.
I would have noticed.

Molly has also said
that she, you and Bettina

started a pact
for the purpose that none of you

would ever be left alone with Tommy.

-Is that right?
-That's not true.

-That's also not true?
-No.

In one of the interviews with Molly,
she has described

something that was supposed
to have happened in the car.

It was in the autumn.
Tommy drove you into the forest

and had sex with you both

in the back seat of his car,
one after the other.

What is your comment to that?

It's not true.

-So that's also a lie?
-Yes.

Thank you. I have no more questions.

Thank you.
The prosecution may begin.

Thank you.

Frida...

...do you know what perjury means?

Yes.

Lying in a courtroom
is a serious crime.

I'm not lying.

Someone is lying, we know that.

It's either you or the four girls
who have accused Tommy.

You still live and work at Heddesta.

Would you really dare
to tell the truth...

...if Tommy had molested
Molly and you?

I have told the truth.

Molly was your best friend, Frida.

Take this chance to tell us
exactly what happened.

I'm not lying.

"The 38-year-old riding instructor
and his lawyer claim

that the accusations
are part of a conspiracy

by the girls and parents."

That's brilliant!

"Friday saw the beginning
of the trial against the man

who stands accused of sexually
abusing his riding pupils."

RIDING INSTRUCTOR
DENIES ABUSES

Good morning!

Did you sleep well?

Everything went wrong.
I should never have reported him.

-Rosén.
-Is this Katarina?

Yes.

My name is Louise. I was a pupil
at Heddesta a few years ago.

-When your daughter started there.
-Right, I remember.

I'd like to speak to the police.
About Tommy.