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02x07 - Episode 7

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Minister". Aired: 20 September 2020 – 13 October 2024.*
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It debuted as an eight-part series that follows populist Prime Minister Benedikt Ríkarðsson as his mental illness grows and his colleagues try to keep it a secret from the nation.

02x07 - Episode 7

Post by bunniefuu »

I'm leaving politics.
- What happened?

Benedikt decided to shut down
the embassy in India.

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

Are you taking your meds?
- Yes.

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

This isn't a manic episode.

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

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.

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.

Benedikt, Benedikt...

I need to be able to trust you.

I need to be able to trust you,
Steinunn.

Can I be honest with you?
He can't see you.

I can't take these pills.

You're headed
for another manic episode

and you must take this medication.

I'm not sick.
- Benedikt...

Can you do this for us?
- No.

I'm going to sail.

And if the Norwegians want a fight,

Benedikt can fall on that sword.

This is his responsibility.

Learn,

when faced with lies,
this rule of life, my soul.

With intensity

and ire,

quarrel not.

Thus it persists,

humble silence

calms a dispute.

A foo

often corrupts the truth,

for themselves.

So said Hallgrimur Petursson,

in the Passion Hymns.

Is that what you want me to do?

Should I stay silent?

Good morning.

Yes, good morning.
- Hi.

Eggert.
- What?

You need to start
packing your office.

And you have a meeting
at 10 with Bjornstad.

Good morning.

Eggert Einarsson.

Nice to see you again.
- Hi, Bent.

Sit.

How are you liking your new job?

Very well, thank you.

I'm looking forward
to getting to know you better.

It's good that we have such an
experienced man in this position.

Signdur Helga.
- Hello, Sigridur Helga.

I need to speak with
the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

One moment.

May I ask who's calling

This is Eggert Einarsson,

the Icelandic ambassador
to Norway, and this is urgent.

One moment.

Unfortunately, the Foreign Affairs
Minister is unavailable.

What?
- He's in a meeting.

Listen to me, this cannot wait.

I'll tell him to call you
as soon as he can.

Goodbye.

Damnit!

This is Svanhvit Richter.
I'm not available at the moment.

Please send me a text
if this is an...

So.

It's probably best to start
with the heavy stuff.

We can start with the books
and the folders.

We'll pack those in boxes.
I've also got some bubble wrap.

If you want to wrap your pictures
and the clock.

The boys will handle all, including
boxes, computer, and heavy items.

So.
- Well.

I just realised that
embassies matter greatly.

Especially when negotiations
are vital to prevent issues.

Alright.
- Yes.

Good morning, this is the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Good morning,
this is Eggert Einarsson in Oslo.

Yes, hello.
- I wanted to inform the ministry

that I am resigning,
effective immediately.

Excuse me?
- Yes.

Since you intend to run the
foreign service exclusively online

you might as well start right away.

Right.
- Give them my best.

I will, Eggert?
- Goodbye.

Come in.

Morning.
I just need a tie.

Thanks.

Hi.
Is he with someone?

Eggert Einarsson just resigned.

Why? Wasn't he going to be
out of a job soon anyway?

And then there's this.

The Olafsvik Fishing Company

We're on the front lines, Magni.

Hello, Porgeir.

What are you discussing?
- This is the advisory committee.

Oversee

the contest determining
the new psychiatric ward's design.

We're assessing the proposed
advert that they want to put out.

Which we've already published.

The building must have
a patient capacity of 150.

Are you aware
that in the last ten years

the mental disability cases
increased by thirty percent?

That's 8300 people.

He wants a bigger building.

Not everyone needs to be admitted to
a psychiatric ward. -More than 150.

Benedikt,
this is what we had decided.

The mental health services are about
to receive a five billion boost.

Along with whatever funds that had
been earmarked for this building.

The hospital is fuming because

we're allocating five billion
to the mental health services

while the other
departments get nothing.

Which is why I must split
the funds some other way.

It's not up to you.

Am the Minister of Health,
Benedikt.

Magni.

I'd be careful
about speaking that way.

People might think
you're having a manic episode.

Benedikt.
I'm serious.

This is for Parliament to decide.
Magni just executes their orders.

He's the executive power.

How about we just put a pin in this?
We can pick this up later.

We have more meetings to attend.

I think that's a good idea.

This falls under my ministry.
- We'll figure this out.

Let's go, guys.

This is not the time
for these kinds of meetings.

If not now, then when?
When they've built the psych ward?

No, but not right now.
The government is in shambles

because their budget proposal
crashed and burned.

I'm being careful.

I summoned both the minister
and the responsible committee.

I asked them to carry out
the will of Parliament.

I went through the proper channels.

I know you're passionate,
but it's not your ministry's concern.

No.
- This, on the other hand, is.

"While the Foreign Minister
focused on health care,

tensions increased near Svalbard."

Increased?

Some Icelandic company sends
a ship into Norwegian waters.

And the Norwegians are furious.
- And how is that my fault?

This must be prioritised.

Can I count on your support
if I run for chairwoman?

We can't place our bets
on a Minister of Finance

who can't even pass
her own budget proposal.

Look. -You must
understand that, Svanhvit.

We just need to get rid of this man
at the next National Assembly.

But you're too damaged for the job.

Who then?

I need to go.

There we go.
Let's take the teddies.

We'll take this one with us.

Hi.

Hi. How are you?
I don't have time to chat.

I've got an international
conflict on my hands.

No problem.

Don't you have the keys
to mom's summer house?

What's going on?
- Nothing. I just...

Steinunn?
- No, I...

I'll stop by.

I'll stop by and pick up the keys.

Steinunn, something's going on.

Benedikt is being
blamed for something

that he had nothing to do with.

The keys...

This is your husband.
You can't just leave.

He's a grown man, Porgeir.

Can I just have the keys?

Can you at least call him
and let him know?

Look after him.

Benedikt.

I'm going to need you
to switch phones.

What?
- Yes.

We've noticed increased Russian
presence in our systems.

This one is better protected.

Same number, it's good to go.

Russians?
- Yes.

Oh.

Prime Minister.

We heard the Norwegians were
threatening a fuss because of a ship.

Yes, so did we.

And we wanted to be present.

Present?
- At the briefing.

Please.

Did you invite these people?
- No.

Maybe more people are concerned
about embassy closures.

Is it ready?
- Yes.

Svanhvit, don't you just want to have
a seat? -I'll just take care of this

So, what's going on?

Here's the situation.

The ship is here.
It's started fishing.

This is the Norwegian Coast Guard.

They're about to reach them.
- And these are Norwegian waters?

Technically, yes.
- Technically?

Sounds simple enough.

We just turn the ship around
and everyone's happy, right?

This is slightly more
complicated than that.

These are Norwegian waters.

It's like sailing into another man's
bakery and stealing his bread.

What a load of crap.

My apologies, we haven't
been introduced. -That's right.

Hreggvidur Hreggvidsson.
That's my ship.

Here's the deal.

We haven't managed
to fill this year's quota.

According to the
Marine Institute's report.

The Icelandic cod stock is
steadily moving closer to Svalbard.

Our most important industry,
we must be allowed to fish there.

Okay, we'll get Eggert
to deal with this.

Eggert quit.

How do you know that?

Could this be your online
diplomacy test run?

Yes.

Our opinion is clear, we have
every right to fish in those waters.

This opinion is shared
by the Government of Iceland.

We dictate Iceland's
government opinion,

not vice versa.
- Benedikt.

The Svalbard Treaty.

This treaty is a hundred years old.

It says that all member states,
including Iceland,

have an equal right to make use of
resources within territorial waters.

These territorial waters
are four miles.

Do you follow?
- Yes.

Look. Just so you can
understand this better.

Look at this.

This is Svalbard.

Four miles of territorial waters.

This is where we are
allowed to fish.

But by the virtue of the sovereignty
they declared, Norway has laid claim

to a two-hundred nautical mile
exclusive economic zone.

All around Svalbard.

And they act as if these
resources are theirs alone,

because the contract

doesn't mention anything about the
equal rights of the member states

within an exclusive economic zone.

We believe that this is
a misinterpretation of the treaty.

As do all other countries
in our part of the world.

Is this true?

Yes. All countries agree,
except for Norway.

And you want to challenge Norway?

Norway?

We have a direct line to the ship.

Sigridur Helga?
- Yes?

Try to reach Bent Bjornstad for me.
- Yes.

We need Grimur.
- Why?

There's something going on here.

We need someone we can trust.

Can we trust him? -Yes,
he supported us in Parliament.

Is that right?
Just do this for me.

Hello.
- Hello.

The captain is on the line.

Grimur, get to the ministry.

Do I press this?
- Yes.

Good morning.

This is Benedikt Rikhardsson,
Foreign Minister. Who's this?

Haraldur Sighvatsson,
captain of RAN SH-505.

Hello, Haraldur. I ask that you
do not deploy any fishing gear.

We're trying to reach the Norwegian
authorities to prevent a collision.

We've come a long way,
we can't return empty-handed.

Excuse me, I'm speaking with you on
behalf of the Icelandic authorities.

I've got my own authority
to answer to.

Perhaps it's best if I let you speak
with that authority then. -All right.

Tell him that he's allowed
to bring the boat back empty.

No.

We don't go on such
a long voyage to lose money.

Excuse me,
I'm trying to prevent a collision.

I'm not.

I'm making sure that Icelanders
have ownership of their own cod.

What?

Why involve this man
in Iceland's decisions?

This is what's wrong
with the world today.

Overconfident wealthy men
who think they control everything.

Hey.

Could you please throw this man out?
And her as well, right now.

Let's just leave.

We need a minute to confer,
we'll get back to you later.

Benedikt, we need to
talk about this.

So, it is...
- We've got Bjornstad on the line.

Right.

I'm on my way.

Excuse me, the door is downstairs.

Grimur, good to see you.
Go find Porgeir.

Don't worry about this..

Hello, Grimur.

I want you to know that

there is an Icelandic ship fishing
near Svalbard and it has our support.

That is strictly forbidden.

We'll just have to try to strike
a deal with the Norwegians.

That'll never happen.
- Hi, Bent.

It's happened before.
- Are you two in this together?

Iceland's most valuable resource
is fishing in these waters.

Okay, just wait.

Who summoned the Coast Guard?
- Damnit!

What?

I'm trying to calm down the Norwegian
Minister for Foreign Affairs.

He tells me that we've sent an armed
ship into their territorial waters.

It's a declaration of w*r.

Who summoned the Coast Guard?
- You did.

What? No, I didn't.
- Yes, you did.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs
sent out a memo.

No. -Yes, according to the
Minister of the Interior.

Which is good.

A Norwegian battleship
is putting Icelandic lives in danger

on the open sea.

What is this man doing here?
Get out. Leave.

Must I do everything myself?
Get the hell out of here.

What's the matter with you?
- Out.

Sigridur Helga?
- Yes?

Get me the Coast Guard.
Benedikt, we need to discuss this.

Not before I've spoken
with the Coast Guard.

You are about to receive a call from
the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Don't listen to him.

Okay.
Thanks.

Yes. Thanks.
Bye.

Shut the door.

Look.

We have to tread very carefully.

This Svalbard dispute is both
ancient and flammable,

which is why nobody wants to touch it
or put the treaty to the test.

Nobody except this fine fishing
company from Olafsvik.

Why?

Because this doesn't just apply
to fish, but oil as well.

Not just Iceland, but also Russia
wants a share.

Hello, this is Sigridur Helga.

I'm transferring you to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Russia.

Here you are.
- Thanks.

Good morning.

This is Benedikt Rikhardsson, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs. -Hello.

Hello. Listen.

I am asking you to please reroute
the patrol vessel from Svalbard.

We have been told in no uncertain
terms not to take orders from you.

Not to take orders from me?
What do you mean?

The Coast Guard doesn't answer
to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Listen here, buddy.
- We need to go.

Hello?

He hung up.
- Damnit.

Benedikt?
- Yes?

Yes.

Hello? This is Benedikt Rikhardsson.
What's going on?

They've fired a few warning shots,
a bit too close for comfort.

You must leave their waters

and sit tight
while we figure this out.

We can't do that.
The trawl is in the water.

This is your minister speaking,
I'm giving you an order.

With all due respect, ministers
don't give orders on ships.

I must speak with Bent.

Keep an eye on this.
- Yes.

They've started sh**ting at them.

How is the online
diplomacy operation going?

We need to talk.

Finnbogi.
- Yes?

Come with me.
- Yes.

What?

Do you believe this will boost your
approval before the Assembly?

The fishing industry has
a lot of pull in our party.

Svanhvit?

What's going on here?

Benedikt, you need to think
of the bigger picture.

The cod stock is our
most valuable possession.

Fish?

How far are you
willing to go for fish?

We need to be careful,
there are Icelandic lives at stake.

Icelandic lives are also at stake if
we give up our greatest resource.

Svanhvit, Jesus fed a thousand
people with just two fish.

Benedikt.

Ministers must take responsibility.

As Minister of Finance, I must think
of the nation's natural resources.

Okay.

Then we just need a new minister.

You can't do that.
- What?

I am the chairman
of the largest party.

I don't know what game
she's playing, but it's over.

I want Grimur to take her place.

Benedikt,
we need a stable government.

Exactly.

What is he thinking?

Hi there.
Welcome to the government.

I'm so fed up!
We need to do something, Finnbogi.

Relax, he can't do this.

No, he's completely lost it.
- Porgeir?

Everything is going crazy!
Hello?

Pordur! What are you doing?
- What's happening?

Some bloody kid's got a shotgun.
Hang on.

Stop it!

Things are reaching
a boiling point,

we accidentally fired
at that Norwegian dinghy.

Hello?

Benedikt.

Benedikt.

What?
Come here.

This is Iceland calling,
what's going on?

We have a wounded mess boy, he's
been shot. The ship has been hit.

Listen to me.

Raise a white flag and sail away.

They think they can walk
all over us Icelanders.

Will you please get off
your high nationalistic horse

and get the hell out
of Norwegian waters?

Take him in here...
Yes.

Hello?

Hello?
Can you hear me?

Yes...

The ship is leaking.
We seem to be going down.

Our location is seventy-six north,
forty-five, fifty-four, ninety-four.

Twelve east, fifty-two,
seventy-five, sixty-seven.

I need to get the crew
off the ship. Over and out.

Hello? Haraldur, can you hear me?

Haraldur?

Hello?

Around noon

the fishing trawler SH-505

was attacked
by the Norwegian military

where it was fishing
south of Svalbard.

Roughly thirteen minutes later,
the trawler had sunk.

During the attack,
a young man was gravely injured

by a b*llet.

It is important that the
Icelandic people stand together

when it looks like it...

I think we should go home and rest.

The number you called
cannot be reached.

Do you know where your sister is?

Yes.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs
should have spoken

with the Norwegians ages ago,

but he was too busy sabotaging
his own budget proposal.

We must now defend the Icelandic
cod stock by any means necessary.

And how do you propose we do that?

Icelandic sailors must
take matters into their own hands

and sail north to show
the Norwegians what we're made of.

Says Hreggvidur Hreggvidsson,
a shipowner, and specifically states

that due to his ignorance,
Benedikt Rikhardsson

bears great responsibility
for the situation that arose...

Hi.

Hi.

What are you doing out here?

I just needed some alone time.

Is that okay?

No.

Not at the moment.

Are you just going to stay here

and act as if nothing's going on?

I need to think of my child.

And do you think this is
the best way to do that?

The last time her father acted
like this, he disappeared.

I can't risk him doing that
and taking Eva with him.

I don't think he's as sick
as he looks.

The man who is about
to start a cod-w*r?

Svanhvit is behind this,
they're playing him.

We are letting the party
slip through our fingers.

We?

We?

Yes, we.
- But I'm not a part of this game.

I'm on the side-lines
and I've had quite enough.

Steinunn.

We're in this together.

Do you know how long this took me?

Five hours.

There are sixty-eight of these
in this house.

Dad always told mom
that they were in this together.

Mom was much smarter than dad.

Much smarter.

Her name was Kvarann.

This was her family business.

Even so, nobody blinked an eye
when he took over.

Growing up, Porgeir would
get sent to work with dad,

while I was sent here with mom.

She was stored here.

She tried to find some purpose

after they convinced her
that she was worthless.

It really does sneak up on you.

Because I always told myself:

"I'll never be like that,
I'll never do that."

And where do I end up?
In exactly the same place.

I've risked everything I have,

I've sold my company

for my husband's benefit,
who, as it turns out,

doesn't respect me as an equal.

I think it might be best if I just

call for a car.

Why don't you...

Why don't you just sleep
on the couch?

Just get someone to pick you up
in the morning.

Hello?

Steinunn?

Steinunn?

Good evening.

Listen.

When I got home, there were
Russians in my house.

What?
- I think.

I need your help.

We need to prevent a w*r.
Follow us.

Hi.

We need to see Sigridur Helga.

This is not the best time.

I'm having a rather difficult talk
with Drifa.

Right.

Hi, Drifa.
Good to see you.

Well.

Communication is an
important part of a relationship,

but we just don't have time
for that right now.

I'm really sorry Drifa
but we need to go.

Sorry, I...

Seriously, now?

Porgeir, are you kidding me?

Russians broke into your house?
- Yes.

Their nuclear submarines
are headed for Svalbard.

They're readying themselves
for an actual w*r.

Can you prove it?

No.

Benedikt.
Would you give us a moment please?

Which one of us is
calling a doctor?

Look, I studied medicine
for thirteen years.

There's nothing to indicate that he's
currently suffering from psychosis.

Except for the fact that some
Russians are now after him.

Yes, but look.

An escalation of this conflict
works in their favour.

Do you want to be
responsible for

a nuclear w*r in Europe
if this is true?

We need to apologise to Norway
and diffuse the situation.

Can we get Finnbogi to join us?

Svanhvit has him in her pocket.

We need to go to Bessastadir
and speak with the president.

We'll do the talking.

Okay.
- Okay?

If what you're telling me is true,

then this is a very bad time
to dissolve the government.

Okay, but...

Can you at least ask Finnbogi
to back down?

Earlier today, Finnbogi told me

that Benedikt tried to kick
Svanhvit out of government.

Madame president.

Your government
is preparing for battle

and Russia is ready
to join the fight. Russia.

One wrong move

and we could find ourselves
in a global w*r.

Benedikt, the president cannot get
dragged into inter party conflicts.

I'm sorry,
but there's nothing I can do.

Need a minute.

The leaders of the priests gathered

many false witnesses.

Methodical they were,

as they lied and deceived.

They couldn't get
their stories straight.

Much they spoke, most of it lies.

Jesus.

Stayed silent

He stayed silent.

And so have

I have stayed silent

when they say

that I'm sick.

When they say that I am
responsible for an impending w*r.

What am I supposed to do now?

I'm comparing myself
to Jesus Christ.

Earlier today,
I had a conversation with

Russian spy.

All this tells me that I'm having
a manic episode.

But I don't feel like I am.

Because this isn't
a manic f*cking episode.

I'm in a hopeless situation
of my own doing.

Asking a madman to make decisions

for those of sound mind.

The drums of w*r have
begun to beat.

Go Iceland.

How am I supposed to silence them?

Benedikt.

Shouldn't we just go home?

What if the Russians lied?

What if they have Steinunn?

They don't have Steinunn.

How do you know that?

I just know.

They went to mom's summer house.

So?
Go with him.

Sure thing.

Are you comfortable?

I'm fine.

What?

Nothing.

Hi.

How are you?

Why are you here?

I just needed to get
away for a bit.

Look..

I'll speak with Aki.
I'm taking my meds.

I'm not sick.

Can I come in?

What's this?
Do you have a visitor?

Wei

Grimur?

Grimur.

What is he doing here?

Come here.
There, there.

We were just

discussing

the status of the party.
- In the middle of the night?

There, there.

Okay. I understand.

Hi, my love.

There, there. It's alright.

Can I have my child?

I think we should all just relax
and have a chat.

Am perfectly calm.

I won't get upset,
even if my wife

is having an affair with my friend.

That's out of my control,
that's your decision to make.

But I won't leave her here.

You're not entirely stable.
- Don't do that.

Don't.

Don't f*cking gaslight me.

Am perfectly calm

but this situation
is unsuitable for our child.

Boys, this woman, my wife,

she abducted our daughter
from her home.

It's time for my daughter
to go back home. -I am her mother.

Yes, but she shouldn't be here,
not in this situation.

Can we at least agree on that?

Yes? -Look.

Give her to me.
- Okay.

Benedikt.
- Yes.

Yes, alright.
- Yes.

Alright.
- I know, my love.

Let's go home.
- I know, okay.

We're going home.

Benedikt?
Mom wants to be alone.

Benedikt?

Benedikt?
- Relax.

Okay?
- Are you taking my baby?

She's just going home.
That's all.

Steinunn.

Steinunn?

Steinunn?

What are you going to do?

Get my child back.