Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Page #8

Magda 32016 Sara 32109 R.J. 30114 R.L. 32027 Mari 32018

MORELL:

They’re local Hedestad phone numbers.

The first belonged to a woman named

Margot, whose mother was Magda, who

claimed she didn’t know Harriet. The

fourth, R.L., belonged to Rosemarie

Larsson, an elderly woman who died a

few years before. The other three

were unconnected in any way that I

could find.

He hands the address book back. It, and everything else

about the case, clearly trouble him still.

BLOMKVIST:

I’ve reminded you of things you’d

rather forget. I’m sorry.

MORELL:

I can’t forget it. It’s my Rebecka

Case.

Blomkvist isn’t sure what that means.

MORELL:

Every policeman has at least one

unsolved case. Back then it was old

Torstensson. Year after year he kept

returning to one - taking out the

files - uselessly studying them. As

young men, we had to laugh.

BLOMKVIST:

Was this also a missing girl case?

Dragon Tattoo Final 9/1/11 SZ 38.

38.38.

MORELL:

No, that’s not why I mention it.

The Rebecka Case is something that

happened before Harriet was born.

I’m talking about the soul of a

policeman. Poor Torstensson could

never solve it, and could never let

it go.

And neither can poor Morell with his Harriet case.

EXT. STOCKHOLM - DAY

78

An unexciting social welfare building.

INT. BJURMAN’S OFFICE - DAY

79

As a man behind a desk reviews a thick file, Salander

reviews him:
About 50; spends money on suits, thinking

that might disguise his public servant status; no wedding

ring; typical creep, as far as she’s concerned.

BJURMAN:

How’s Mr. Palmgren doing? I was

told he had a stroke of some kind.

(nothing from Salander)

Terrible.

It is, but she can tell he couldn’t care less. He leafs

through her file

BJURMAN:

What exactly do you do at this

security company?

SALANDER:

Make coffee and sort mail.

BJURMAN:

But not full-time. Not even part-

time consistently. They somehow got

along without coffee or mail in July

and August?

Nothing from her.

BJURMAN:

How much do you earn there?

SALANDER:

Enough.

BJURMAN:

How much is your rent?

Dragon Tattoo Final 9/1/11 SZ 39.

39.39.

SALANDER:

I pay my rent.

BJURMAN:

When’s the last time you were late?

SALANDER:

Never.

BJURMAN:

Do you think that ring in your eyelid

makes you attractive?

Salander, who’s had to suffer insufferable officials all

her life, doesn’t dignify the question with an answer.

BJURMAN:

Here’s the problem. There a

discrepancy between the obligation of

Mr. Palmgren’s guardianship and the

management of your finances.

SALANDER:

It isn’t a discrepancy or a problem.

It was clear to him I could manage my

own finances.

BJURMAN:

But that’s not clear to me.

SALANDER:

I’m not a child.

BJURMAN:

No. You’re not.

(looks at her too long)

But you were. And between then and

now

(indicating the files)

-two years in the locked ward at

St. Stephens, for violent aggression -

failure to adapt to four foster homes

and seven schools - arrested twice

for intoxication, twice for narcotics

use, and most recently for assault:

a bottle smashed into a man’s face.

You may have conned Mr. Palmgren into

thinking you’ve improved, but looking

at this (

the file)

-not to mention how you’re looking

at me now - I can see you haven’t.

So the Good-Old-Mr-Palmgren-Days are

over. Starting now, you’ll be given

a monthly allowance. You’ll provide

me with receipts for your expenses.

(MORE)

Dragon Tattoo Final 9/1/11 SZ 40.

40.40.

BJURMAN:

(CONT'D)

If the numbers don’t balance, I’ll

have to assume the difference is

going to drugs.

SALANDER:

I’ve been on my own since I was

twelve.

BJURMAN:

No. You’ve been a persistent burden

to the State since you were twelve.

She won’t look at him any more - not that there’s

anything even remotely interesting to see if she did.

BJURMAN (CONT’D)

Ms. Salander? Please look at me.

Because this is important.

She does ... in a way that says, I’d like to kill you.

BJURMAN:

This behavior you’re displaying

right now is elaborately documented

here

(in the file)

-so it would come as a shock to no

one if I chose an alternative to the

lenient arrangement I just outlined.

Is that what you’re saying with your

silence? You’d prefer

institutionalization?

79A

INT. BJURMAN’S OFFICE BUILDING - DAY 79A

Salander steps into the elevator, hits the down button.

As the doors close

EXT. HEDEBY ISLAND - EVENING

80

Martin’s house didn’t look so far away, but the road

Blomkvist has to climb to reach it, and the fact he, like

all writers, is out of shape, taxes him. A car driven by

an attractive woman in her 30’s pulls alongside him.

LIV:

Mikael?

(he manages a nod)

We’re going to the same place.

Hop in.

EXT. MARTIN’S HOUSE - EVENING

81

Martin, wearing an apron, opens the door to find both his

dinner guests on the porch.

Dragon Tattoo Final 9/1/11 SZ 41.

41.41.

LIV:

I found him at death’s door halfway

up the hill.

BLOMKVIST:

I’m afraid I’m a bit out of shape.

MARTIN:

No, it’s a climb for anyone. I

should’ve warned you. Come on in.

Blomkvist puts a bottle of aquavit in Martin’s hand.

INT. MARTIN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

The place is far cry from Vanger’s manor. It’s modern.

Martin, Liv and Blomkvist work on the dinner Martin has

prepared. Soft jazz music issues from somewhere.

LIV:

I used to work in the company’s

petrochemical division in Goteborg.

When it was sold, I went with it.

MARTIN:

A dark day.

LIV:

I live in Hong Kong now, but come

back to Stockholm for family events,

and when I do, I drive up to spend a

couple days with Martin.

MARTIN:

She comes for the moose steak.

BLOMKVIST:

Is that what this is?

They all glance away to a sound: A soft, strange,

wailing wind. Martin drains the last of a bottle of wine

in Blomkvist’s glass and gets up.

MARTIN:

Something’s open. You like this one,

or would you like to try something

else?

BLOMKVIST:

That one’s good.

Martin heads off to the kitchen. Blomkvist and Liv,

left with each other, seem unsure what to talk about.

LIV:

I saw you on Sky News a while ago.

Dragon Tattoo Final 9/1/11 SZ 42.

42.42.

BLOMKVIST:

That was a dark day.

LIV:

Sorry to remind you of it.

BLOMKVIST:

It’s okay. There are worse things

than libel - though I can’t

immediately think of one in my

business.

LIV:

You’re writing a book now, Martin

said.

BLOMKVIST:

Henrik’s biography.

LIV:

I love Henrik. He’s fascinating.

Martin, too. Together they’re the

Old Sweden and the New.

BLOMKVIST:

They are.

LIV:

You know about Harriet, right?

Blomkvist doesn’t say. The sound of the wind stops.

LIV:

You don’t?

BLOMKVIST:

I do.

Martin emerges from the cellar with a bottle of wine in

hand and returns with it to the dining room.

LIV O/S

The family doesn’t like to talk about

it, but it can’t just be swept under

the rug.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes