Scenes from a Marriage (TV Mini Series)

Oskuld och panik (1973)

Anita Wall: Fru Palm, journalist

Quotes 

• Fru Palm, journalist : It's so nice to see that you and Johan get along so well. You are truly happy, aren't you? Everything you say sounds so wonderful. But then again, someone should be entitled to a perfect life.

  Marianne : I don't know about perfect, but we're fortunate. We're happy.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Could you define the word "happiness"?

  Marianne : Do I have to? It's a women's magazine. You have to. If I said anything about happiness, Johan would make fun of me. No, I can't. You'll have to make something up. Don't be evasive. Happiness is contentment. There's nothing I really long for. I want things to stay just the way they are. What about fidelity? Really, now. Come on, help me flesh this out. Johan's a dear, but nothing much is said while he's around. Fidelity. Yes, fidelity. In a loving relationship. What should I say? In your line of work you must have come across - My personal belief is that fidelity needs to be a given. It can't be an obligation or a rule. You can't promise fidelity. Either you're faithful or you aren't. I'm faithful to Johan simply because I enjoy being faithful. I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow or next week.

  Fru Palm, journalist : It's a women's magazine. You have to.

  Marianne : If I said anything about happiness, Johan would make fun of me. No, I can't. You'll have to make something up.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Don't be evasive.

  Marianne : Happiness is contentment. There's nothing I really long for. I want things to stay just the way they are.

  Fru Palm, journalist : What about fidelity?

  Marianne : Really, now.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Come on, help me flesh this out. Johan's a dear, but nothing much is said while he's around.

  Marianne : Fidelity.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Yes, fidelity. In a loving relationship.

  Marianne : What should I say?

  Fru Palm, journalist : In your line of work you must have come across...

  Marianne : My personal belief is that fidelity needs to be a given. It can't be an obligation or a rule. You can't promise fidelity. Either you're faithful or you aren't. I'm faithful to Johan simply because I enjoy being faithful. I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow or next week.

• Johan : To be honest, it's not that simple.

  Fru Palm, journalist : That's true. How do you mean?

  Johan : Once upon a time, we felt safe. Nowadays we realize that bad things can happen at any time. That's the difference.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Are you afraid of the future?

  Johan : If I dwelt on it, I'd probably be paralyzed with fear. Which is why I don't. I like this old sofa and that lamp. They create the illusion of being safe - such a ridiculously fragile illusion. I like Bach's St. Matthew Passion even though I'm a nonbeliever, because it creates a sense of piety and community. I depend heavily on interaction with our relatives, since it recreates the childhood experience of feeling protected. I enjoy Marianne's talk of compassion. It soothes the conscience, which acts up at inappropriate intervals. Remaining content requires a certain technique. You need to put a lot of effort into not caring. I really admire people who can laugh everything off. I can't. My sense of humor isn't well-developed enough to pull that off. Are you going to include that?

  Fru Palm, journalist : No, it would be beyond our female audience, if you'll excuse me for saying such a thing.

• Marianne : We're well aware of the hazards of a life like ours.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Hazards? How do you mean?

  Johan : The world is going to the dogs, and I prefer to live and let live. I'm entitled to simply look out for number one. It makes me sick to hear about the latest panacea.

  Marianne : I don't feel the same way as Johan.

  Fru Palm, journalist : How do you feel?

  Marianne : I believe... in compassion.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Could you please expand on that?

  Marianne : If we all learned to care about our fellow man from childhood, the world would be different.

• Fru Palm, journalist : Why are you so upset?

  Marianne : At work I see people who collapse under the weight of unrealistic emotional demands. I find it barbaric. I wish...

  Fru Palm, journalist : What?

  Marianne : I find it difficult to get the right perspective on this issue. That's why I'm reluctant to discuss it. But I wish people - I wish we weren't forced to play all these roles we don't want to play, that we could be kinder to each other. Don't you agree?

  Fru Palm, journalist : Yes, a more romantic life.

  Marianne : That's not actually what I meant. I meant the exact opposite. You see how poorly I express myself.

• Fru Palm, journalist : I have one last question while Johan is on the phone. What about love? You have to make a statement about love. That's what this series is all about.

  Marianne : What if I don't want to?

  Fru Palm, journalist : Then I'll make something up. And I assure you, it won't be half as good.

  Marianne : No one ever told me what love was, and I'm not sure you need to know. But if you want a detailed description, you can look in the Bible. There Paul describes love.

  Fru Palm, journalist : Right, in Corinthians. It's beautiful.

  Marianne : The only problem is his definition casts us in such a harsh light. If Paul is right about love, it's so rare that hardly anyone ever experiences it. But as a recital piece at weddings and other special occasions, it's certainly very effective. Personally, I find it's enough to be kind to the person you live with. Affection is also good. Humor, friendship, tolerance. Having reasonable expectations. If you have all that, then love isn't necessary.