02x06 - Episode 6

[bunniefuu]

We're proposing a bill tomorrow.

What kind of changes
are we talking about?

That those who suffer
from serious mental illnesses

are prohibited from
being a minister.

Are you insane?

How important is this trip?

Some meetings are less
about discussing economics

and more about networking.

But don't we have ambassadors whose
job it is to make these connections?

It's what diplomacy is all about.

...that there are no protocols
in place for what to do

if a minister,
becomes seriously mentally ill

while in office.

A g*y rights activist gets assaulted
and nobody seems to care.

They're always looking
over my shoulder.

Every day, they encourage me
to say that you're getting sick.

I assaulted him.

Did you attack someone
because he was g*y? -Yes, no!

First I kissed him.
Then I beat him up.

I think we need to
face the fact that

Benedikt won't be the leader
of this party for much longer.

It isn't over until it's over.

People with mental health issues

often find that the doors
to society are tightly locked.

This nation has elected a man
who suffers from a mental disorder.

In my opinion, the newly passed bill
is a political attack on him.

Therefore, I have decided
that the newly passed bill,

which prevents
mentally ill individuals

from serving in government,

will be put to
a national referendum.

Honourable speaker.

Let's just call this what it is.

This is a filibuster.

Some matters need to be
talked about at great lengths.

Like when you felt wool
so that it can be used

to knit sweaters and mittens.

This budget proposal
is not fit for purpose,

because in it, mental health
is but an afterthought.

And I won't let that happen.

Which is why I think it's important

to examine the history
of mental health matters in Iceland,

which begins with the
so-called Ingjalds Idiot,

who was tied to a post.

By implementing these changes,
we are anticipating

a combined income
of 955 billion,

while expenses are..

What about the
mental health services?

You've cut all increases to the
mental health services budget.

Minister for Foreign Affairs.
As I've just pointed out,

we've anticipated reduced
government investment

spending across the board,
which is the basis

for improving the economic
well-being of households...

That's all clear.
But the decision had been made.

That funding was for building
a new psychiatric ward,

And new strategy
for mental health nurse training,

and initiating staff expansion
and bed augmentation,

and this was just the first step.

Yes, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
but the Treasury is running a deficit

and we need to face reality.

Reality?
What?

Are you saying that I'm
out of touch with reality?

No. The committee
also criticised your plan.

What?

Is that true?

Yes, so...

Minister for Foreign Affairs.

There was a dispute
concerning the high amount of

additional funding allocated
to mental health services,

that doesn't make a profit.

Minister of Health,
we need to start somewhere.

Yes, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

We reached an agreement to do it
this way. -Minister of Health.

We’ve promised to build
that psychiatric ward. -Yes.

Making promises
can be a dangerous thing.

We ran a poll
and these are the results.

Isn't an absolute majority needed
to win a national referendum? -No.

This is enough for the bill
to become law.

How do we turn this around?

Benedikt.

We're not turning anything around.

This is for the nation to decide.

If they don't want mentally ill
people in office, so be it.

So, you believe the people
know what they want?

Yes, I believe so.

I just need to do my job.

We're five days away from a vote that
could see you forced out of office.

Then I've got five
days to do my job.

To convince them not to
starve the mental health services.

The papers picked it up.

"Retracts promise on mental health
funding boost."

How did this make the news?

The comments from the committee
haven't been made public.

We're not the only ones
trying to influence this vote.

If you don't mind,
I have business with my minister.

You have a meeting with
a fishing tycoon from Olafsvik

and the ambassador
for India is here.

Theodore?
- Yes.

Is he never actually in India?

No.

Hello.

Hi.
I've been thinking this through.

I know how we'll solve it.

Solve what? -The lamb meat dilemma,
how we can sell it to India.

Really?
- Yes. So.

We need seven hundred million
to get this done.

Seven hundred million?
- Yes.

Seven hundred more?
- Yes.

It's simple.

The other day,
if we would have sold that meat,

it would have been
worth two billion.

Hang on. For years, you've tried
to sell lamb meat in India.

Yes.
- With no success.

Not really.

And you want an additional seven
hundred million to close the deal?

Precisely.
Then it'll work.

How much does it cost
to run this embassy?

Roughly.

Around one hundred million.

Per year?
- Yes.

What if we just
shut this embassy down?

Seriously. Then we could free up
money for some proper causes.

What? -Yes.

What are you thinking?

What do you mean?
- What happened?

Benedikt decided to shut down
the embassy in India.

That saves a hundred million annually
for the mental health services.

Can't you see
how irresponsible this is?

The whole point of this embassy
is to employ one man.

And he's never even there.

It's the twenty-first century.

If we need to speak with India,
we just pick up the phone.

It's not that simple.
- Hang on.

This is a good thing.
- What?

This is a good thing.

I think we can win
the national referendum.

We'll use Benedikt's sickness.

If there's one thing
people can agree on,

it's that the health care system
needs saving.

We'll let Benedikt
face this head on.

If he announces this, people will
think the illness has returned.

Exactly.

If closing a hundred million per year
embassy means he's ill,

it shows that a sick man is just
what we need to fix this system.

The minister won't be able
to see you today.

Is that so?
- Yes.

Look, I...

I'm not keen on using my mental
illness as a weapon in this battle.

Maybe it's best if
the national referendum passes.

Yes?
The bill?

Okay.

Came up with an idea, I supported
it and now you're annoyed.

Came up with an idea?

Pull it a bit.

I'm going to dad's for dinner,
he says he's got an investment idea.

And you're actually considering it?

I'm not an idiot, Benedikt.

I'm trying my best with
the hand I was dealt.

Do I need to come too?

No, you don't need
to trouble yourself.

No...

I'll stay with Eva.

Dad probably wants to see her.
- Which is more important?

That your dad gets to see her or that
she gets to spend time with her dad?

Well?
- What's going on with you?

Seriously. I'm doing
everything I can to help you.

I've just sold my company.

Okay, let's not talk
about our daughter.

Let's talk about work.
- Okay, sure.

Okay, you want to talk about Eva?

She's almost one.

You spent the first six months of
her life paralyzed with depression.

Since then, you're always at work
and I've taken care of her on my own

and the last time
you looked after her

you set the f*cking house on fire!

I think it's time we all team up

and become a real family.

Sounds good.

We can all go to Tenerife,
the whole family.

Me, you, Benedikt.

You know just as well as I do
that Benedikt is on his way out.

Even if the national referendum
doesn't take him down,

he's lost the party.

And Svanhvit will be elected
chairwoman at the National Assembly.

Well, you know Benedikt.
He's always got an ace up his sleeve.

You probably made a pretty penny
when you sold your media outlet.

It must be a few billion.

Why don't you use that money
to invest in our companies?

Was this your ploy?

To force me to sell so your
conglomerate could absorb my money?

The acquisition of this media outlet
had nothing to do with me.

Sure.
- We're in a similar position.

You bet on the wrong horse.
I bet on the wrong horse.

It's time that we stand together.

I'm old, I'll soon retire.

You bring the money.

I sign the entire Kvarann
conglomerate over to you.

Then you'll take over.

Thanks for dinner.

Did you see that?

Well.

Let's play.

Resign.

What?

Why?

I can't be your assistant.

If what I did in the
Faroe Islands gets out,

and the fact that you covered it up
your career is over.

You're my doctor.

I need you.
Let's play.

I've written
my letter of resignation.

Let me ask you something.

I want an honest answer.

Are you resigning

because I'm finally
getting decent at basketball?

Hey.

I know you're not stable.

I know what that's like.

We can't avoid responsibility.

I'm not avoiding responsibility.

I'm being responsible.

Okay, Porgeir.

I'm leaving politics.

I hate it.

It's like drowning in some
damned quicksand.

But I will get this
psychiatric ward done.

After that,
I'll quit and so can you.

But you're a doctor
and you know this system.

And I need your help.

You're still insufferable.

If what I did in the
Faroe Islands gets out,

you can forget
about all your plans.

I just need a little more time.
Please.

It's overwhelming being constantly
stuck between dad and Steinunn and...

Good morning.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs,

I have decided to close
the Icelandic embassy in India.

This will save the Icelandic nation
around one hundred million.

My suggestion to
Parliament is that

this money should instead be used
to fund mental health services.

In the budget proposal,
these services are underfunded.

This money exists.
We can find it.

I believe I've found
the first one hundred million.

In four days, the Icelandic
nation votes on a bill

regarding the mental health
of government officials.

Presently, I am perfectly healthy.

But some believe that these laws will
be used to push me out of office.

If that is the case,

then I intend to make
the most of the time I have left.

I will work tirelessly to find more
money for mental health services,

before I'm deposed.

Any other questions

No?
Thank you all for coming.

What's this?

Are you resigning

What's the matter with you two?

What do you think people will say

if his assistant, his medically
trained assistant, resigns?

Do you realise how that looks?
- I'm not right for this job.

I know you're struggling
with something right now.

But we are trying
to keep Benedikt afloat,

so could you please
just get over it?

Benedikt isn't even
going to stay on.

He's going to quit.
- Yes.

At some point.

No.

That went well.

What?

The least you can do
is to stay on until then.

What's going on?

Steinunn found
my letter of resignation.

She says I can't quit.

That explains why she's so mad.
Do as I say.

Of all the countries in the OECD,

Iceland is the worst in which to
experience a mental health problem.

That's a fact.

Mental health issues make up
twenty-five percent

of all cases in
the healthcare system,

yet only 4.6 percent of the
healthcare budget is spent on this.

It is unforgivable not to fix this
deficit in the next budget proposal.

Next on the list of speakers is
the honourable Minister of Finance,

Svanhvit Richter.

Honourable speaker.

In this discussion, it is important
to stick with what's real.

And the reality is...

I've called for a parliamentary
party meeting.

I can't leave. If I do,
the speakers list might run dry.

The opposition is due to speak,
you can leave for three hours

and the discussion
will still be ongoing.

If we intend to allocate
additional funds to one matter,

it will inevitably impact others.

Where else are
we supposed to make cuts?

You've entirely lost
the support of the party.

Can't you see how few we are?
They all fled.

They don't want to get caught
in the crossfire.

And how are we supposed
to pass this bill without our people?

This bill will not pass
in its present form.

We should perhaps find
a compromise.

I am not compromising.

When I drafted this bill,

I worked collaboratively with all
the ministers, all of them,

except one,

and it's not even
his f*cking department.

I think this meeting is over.
- No, Benedikt.

You need to understand that you
aren't the only member of this party.

We need to present a united front.


health services.

Magni.
- Of which 26.6 million...

Come one, wait.
- What?

This falls under your ministry.
Join the fight.

I won't engage.
I just won't.

Magni, wait.

Will you support me?
- Support you?

Sure.

Benedikt is doing you
a massive favour.

If he gets this through, you're
the minister who gets the win.

I've made a deal with Svanhvit.
- Hey.

The terms have changed.
- The terms have changed?

Benedikt makes me look
like an idiot

who has no control
of his own department.

We'll just do it together.

Not if Benedikt acts like this.

Then it's impossible.

You go and try to sort
your party out.

I need to go to a meeting.

Nice cane.

If you keep behaving like this, we
won't stay in power for much longer.

You know that we

are constitutionally bound
to follow our own conviction. -Yes.

But we are a party.

Are you taking your meds?

Members of Parliament
are bound solely by their conviction.

Article forty-eight.

Will not break that rule
just to fall in line.

Excuse me.

We need to be responsible

and support this vulnerable
subject.

Benedikt.

Isn't it strange how you are fighting
so hard on behalf of mental health?

Because I might need to
this service?

Yes.

I think that makes me the
right person to fix this service.

One in five Icelanders will use this
system at some point in their lives.

It's a flawed system.
I know it firsthand.

Don't you think
I should use that experience?

Yes.
- Exactly.

Hi.

Are you awake?

Hi, how are you?

My love.

Shouldn't you be asleep?

I know.

Should we get something to eat?
Come here.

Come here, let's not wake up mom.

Should we sing

Close your eyes.

Let's see.
That's it.

It's alright.

Yes, I know my love.

That's it.

What are you doing, Benedikt?

She needs to sleep.

I just put her to bed.

No.
- Yes, I did.

Why aren't you asleep?
- Because she woke up.

Did she wake you?

Yes.

But that's fine.

You need to get some sleep.
- Being a parent means losing sleep.

Steinunn, I also need
to take care of our girl.

Not at three in the morning.

We’ve discussed how
important your routine is.

Steinunn.

There's nothing abnormal
going on here.

Eva woke up and I sang to her.

We're in the middle of an election

that will determine
your political future.

For a long time, I've felt as

if I'm not allowed
to be alone with my child.

Why is that?

Am I too sick to be trusted with her?
- You can't take care of her.

You don't give me a chance
to look after her.

You have one role
to play in all of this,

and that is simply
to stay employed.

Okay?

I've made every sacrifice I can make.
Yet you just live in your own world.

You don't show me the tiniest bit
of consideration or respect.

Go to bed.

There, there.

We're all making sacrifices.

As you know, a new psychiatric ward
has long been planned.

But now,
reinforcements have arrived.

Steinunn.

Good morning.

As the wife of a man
who struggles with a mental illness,

it came as a great shock
when the Minister of Finance

walked back the decision
to increase mental health funding.

This matter is close to my heart.

Which is why I've decided
to donate one hundred million

towards the construction
of a new psychiatric ward.

Steinunn.

Thank you, Aki.

Thank you.

You're good at this.

You think so?

Yes.

The minister will see you now.
- Great.

Is he in there?
- Yes.

We've been waiting
for forty minutes.

Yes. -Hreggvidur has been
trying to reach him for a week.

Because of what?

The Icelandic cod stock.

Are you sure you're in
the right ministry?

The organisation is
moving to Norway.

Benedikt has just been asked to
do an interview on TV tonight.

Excuse us.

Are you kidding me?

Why don't you just write about this
in your new paper?

We can try to find another time.
- Great, thank you so much.

If we look at the causes of death

in the year 2000 of people
aged eighteen or under,

we see that suicide
accounted for 0.9%.

Twenty years later,
this number has...

Will anyone back him up?

Nobody from the governing parties.

Not even you?

What do you think?

Will this go on all night?

I suppose so.

He needs routine.

And sleep.
Otherwise...

You know..

I don't think I can take
another episode.

I'll eavesdrop,
see what I can find out.

We're in the midst of a pandemic
and we must talk about it.

What do we do?

You wanted a sick man
in your government.

This is what that looks like. -Are we
sure he's having a manic episode?

He started a filibuster to oppose
his own party's budget proposal.

Should we adjourn the proceedings?

Isn't it time to invoke
Section seventy-one?

And end the debate?

That hasn't been done
in fifty years.

It would cause an uproar.

If there was ever a time,
it's now.

It is not reassuring if the Finance
Minister can't back her own budget.

Fewer people die in car crashes
than by their own hand.

Think of the National Assembly.

We need to see
who's in charge, right?

We need to agree to do the same
for the mental health system.

Benedikt, why has this decision
been made at this time?

Because it's unnecessary.

We’ve got a well-paid ambassador in
India who does our nation no good.

No good?
- Yes.

Of course, the real issue
is your governance.

You're rash and reckless.

That is the real issue.

Rash and reckless?
- Yes.

Eggert, you are the Ambassador
of Iceland to Norway. -Yes.

For how long
would you like to do that?

What? -For how long would
you like to do that?

Eggert, you don't even
speak Norwegian.

Do I need to be able to do that?
- Benedikt.

You are the one that hired him,
or rather appointed him.

I didn't do that.
Svanhvit did.

I think it's time we
asked ourselves

where this rashness
and recklessness stems from.

Me or these parasites?

Can you imagine having to listen
to this? From your own boss?

I've spoken with all the other
Icelandic ambassadors

and they all agree that
we have reached our limit.

We can no longer work for this man.

What are you saying

Will you go on strike to object to
the closing of a single embassy?

We might have to. -Look who's
dismantling the foreign service now.

Sometimes drastic measures are needed
to stop authoritarian politicians.

But wouldn't it actually be great?

What?
- Look.

Embassies were invented
in the fourteenth century. -Yes.

Then it was normal to have
people on their payroll

running errands abroad.

Since then, we've invented the phone,
the fax machine, the internet.

It is forbidden to
close some embassies.

We are collaborators
of the United Nations.

You just discussed closing them!

I was simply pointing out that...

But what if we only close the
embassies that we are allowed to?

We can save around five billion per
year and build a psychiatric ward.

This is a great idea, Eggert.

I'll make the announcement
right now,

following Eggert's revelation.
- No, Benedikt.

If the budget stays the same,
I will start a filibuster.

That will cause other nations to
close their embassies in Iceland.

And so what?

We'll just schedule
an online meeting.

Because we live
in the twenty-first century.

What about you, Eggert?
In which century do you live?

Well.

We're out of time.
Big ideas are forming.

Embassy closures and the
Foreign Minister filibustering

his own government's
budget proposal.

We'll see you again tomorrow,
still in the twenty-first century.

Thank you for coming.

That was not what we decided to do.

We?

I know.

I need to be able to trust you.

I need to be able to trust you,
Steinunn.

Trust is a two way street.

You donated a hundred million to
mental health without consulting me.

I found five billion for mental
health without consulting you.

That makes us even, right?

I've decided to cancel
the national referendum

and withdraw the bill regarding

the mental health
of government officials.

So, you've seen the poll?

What poll?

A poll was conducted
after your interview.

Sixty-three percent of the nation
planned to vote against the bill.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

What matters now
is the government coalition.

I'll withdraw the bill.

In return, you'll end
the filibuster.

Agreed.

Great.

Thanks for coming.
Thanks for the coffee.

We won.

We won.

As I said in that interview,

it's hard to put your finger on
what an ambassador's job actually is.

Which is why the biography of
Gunnar Thoroddsen is so helpful.

In it, he describes a normal day
in the life of an ambassador,

when he's not throwing
expensive c*ck parties.

On those days,
he worked three to four hours.

For two hours,
Gunnar wrote a doctoral thesis.

After that, he played the piano
for forty minutes.

Then he napped for an hour.

Lastly, he studied French
for an hour.

Which is fine.

Except for the fact that Gunnar
Thoroddsen

was an ambassador to Denmark

and the last time I checked,

French was not the
official language of the Danes.

Can you get that?

That's Benedikt's psychiatrist.

Who?
- Him.

It must be clear that I'm
doing this on your behest.

What?
- Come home, Benedikt.

You've made your point.

If you keep this up,

the whole nation will think
you're having a manic episode.

All of you have recently asked me
if I'm taking my medication.

And I am.

I am in good health.

Are we done?

We want Aki to conduct
a psychiatric assessment.

The bill didn't pass.

There is nothing that says
a sick man can't be a minister.

This might still make a difference.

Will you enforce laws
that don't exist?

Are you taking your meds?
- Yes.

Do you feel like you're having
a manic episode?

No.

Do you have trouble sleeping

Well.
It's three in the morning.

Do you struggle to concentrate?
- No.

Has your impulsive behaviour had
any negative consequences? -No.

Are you feeling confident?
- Aki.

This isn't a manic episode.

What I'm doing here really matters,
that's all.

Conviction is not the
same as mania.

Are you overspending?

No.

Well.

I am about to spend five billion
on your new psychiatric ward.

So?

I don't think this man is having
a manic episode.

Sure, he is impulsive and tired,

but I would be too if I were him.

Now what?
Is he just supposed to keep going?

I already gave you the Olanzapi

Do you think it's time
to give it to him?

Not at all, he would crash.

He'd end up in the empty set.
- The empty set?

Yes, it's maths jargon.

The empty set,
the set which has no elements.

I can't become the empty
set right now.

I'm a bit too busy for that.

Maybe you should do it after
the debate, just in case.

You must assess the situation,
it's up to you.

Okay, I'll walk you out.

Thanks for coming.
- Thanks.

Hi, I'm Ragna from RUV.

Quick question, what are you doing
here in the middle of the night?

This is Aki,

my psychiatrist, and he was here
to conduct a psychiatric evaluation.

And I did pretty well, right?

What's your opinion,
is Benedikt sick?

Look.

This kind of evaluation
isn't infallible. But...

But nothing indicates that this man
is having a manic episode.

Exactly.

Thanks for staying up with me.

The Minister of Finance says
that there is no money to be had

but I say to you,

I could run the foreign
service entirely online

for just a tenth of
the current cost.

I just need permission from
the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Hi.

You're up?

Yes, it's alright.

Look.

My love.

Hello, my dear.

Look at that.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Benedikt, Benedikt, Benedikt.

Steinunn?

Why don't you just head home?

We here have a responsibility,
we must face reality.

The proclaimed reality here
is merely misconceptions.

Last night, a specialist declared

that the honourable Minister for
Foreign Affairs is in perfect health.

This same specialist is the head
of the psychiatric ward.

His institution stands
to gain billions

if the minister gets his way.

This is a clear conflict
of interest.

Therefore, we cannot
trust his assessment.

There it is.

That sentence will be her downfall.

We can't trust specialists.

She's the one who's out
of touch with reality.

Keep that in mind
when you vote on the matter.

The next speaker is the honourable
Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Benedikt Rikhardsson.

Honourable speaker.

So...

Iceland is not the
biggest country in the world.

Our foreign service doesn't need to
match what larger nations offer,

we don't need to spend billions on
buildings around the world

to house retired politicians
on a fat salary.

What we do need is mental health.

Dear members of Parliament.

The debate has now gone
on for thirty-eight hours.

The parliamentary committees
have asked for a break to confer.

We will take a thirty minute break.

I suggest we support the Foreign
Affairs Minister's proposal,

to shut down all embassies

that aren't in international
organization committees.

I will be making a list
of how the votes fall.

You can all feel the pressure
from society.

So tread carefully.

The Foreign Affairs
Committee has authorised

the honourable
Minister for Foreign Affairs

to shut down twenty-two embassies.

This is an experiment
and will last one year.

It is plain to see that
the budget proposal drafted by

the honourable Minister of Finance
is inadequate.

And on top of that,

she suggested that we no longer
put our trust in specialists.

My question is, who here is
actually trumpeting misconceptions?

Let's vote on the honourable
Foreign Affairs Minister's proposal.

I hope the honourable Minister of
Finance learns something from this,

that she should listen to her fellow
party members, the opposition,

or her chairman at the very least,

when working
on such important matters.

You're going to shut down
the foreign service?

Wasn't that what
you were fighting for?

One embassy, not the entire
f*cking foreign service.

What about issuing passports
or consular assistance?

Don't you get it?

If Benedikt beats Svanhvit,
that's huge.

We can't back down now,
we have to see this through.

Then Benedikt can take
some time off.

He can go and do something else.

And we take over...

Can I be honest with you?

He can't see you.

Benedikt Rikhardsson's
proposed amendment

was passed in Parliament today.

Thirty-seven voted for the amendment
and twenty-six voted against it.

This could impact the
Finance Minister's position.

I've been trying to reach this man
for a whole week.

He's been busy.

This is the f*cking
Minister for Foreign Affairs.

And this is the cod stock.

Our biggest natural resource.

I'll talk to him.

No.

I'm going to sail.

You'll act as if you have no idea.

And if the Norwegians want a fight,

Benedikt can fall on that sword.
This is his responsibility.

But he's sick.

You couldn't ask for
a better scapegoat.

I can't take these pills.

The budget proposal is
on its way to the second reading

and I'm completely reinventing
the foreign service.

I can't just stand by and watch as
you have another manic episode.

I've just had
a psychiatric assessment.

I just need some rest,
then I'm good.

Why don't you ever
listen to my opinion?

Someone has to fight
for people like Kari.

All those broken
and exhausted people,

dying just because mental health
issues aren't sexy enough.

If you take this medication,

it'll balance you out for the
National Assembly.

Then we can move forward.

It seems that nobody cares enough
to fight for this but me.

Nobody but you?

For months,
we've all fought alongside you.

But now it's over.

I'm taking my meds.

I'm not sick.

I'm tired but I'm not sick.
You must see that.

If you're not sick, then I don't
know what's going on.

I know you're taking your meds
but they're clearly not working.

Me, you and Aki all agreed
that you need to listen to me.

You're headed
for another manic episode

and you must take this medication.

I can't.

Do you remember how I became?

When I took this medication?

I will not turn myself into
some medicated spectre

to prevent someone else from taking
my chair at the National Assembly.

Benedikt.

I'm only thinking of you.

And us.

Us.

Can you do this for us?

No.

Benedikt.