Episode 4

♪ ♪ RADIO ANNOUNCER: Crown Princess Märtha arrived in America with her children.

♪ ♪ FRANKLIN: Märtha-- I'm so glad you came.

(laughs) (speaking Swedish): (exhales sharply) (explosions rumbling) London is being bombed.

(speaking Swedish): (speaking Norwegian): ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (crowd shouting, cheering) (crowd chanting "Sieg heil!

", soldiers marching) ♪ ♪ FRANKLIN (voiceover): Like most men of my age, I had made plans for myself.

Plans for a private life of my own choosing and for my own satisfaction.

These plans, like so many other plans, had been made in a world which now seems as distant as another planet.

(sighs) (voiceover): Recent world events have made it clear that a great war in Europe has become not merely a possibility, but a probability.

(groans) I have seen war, and I hate war.

♪ ♪ (chuckles) I have seen how its destructive forces have torn men-- and civilization itself-- apart.

I have said this before, and I shall say it again and again and again: sons of the United States are not going to be sent into any foreign war.

I give you assurance and reassurance that every effort of your government will be directed towards that end.

This nation will remain a neutral nation.

(reporters clamoring) ♪ When can I see you again?

♪ ♪ I've been waiting out here ♪ ♪ For so long ♪ ♪ And I don't seem ♪ ♪ To find a reason ♪ ♪ To keep building these castles ♪ ♪ Out of snow ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ They only melt away ♪ ♪ When spring is arriving ♪ ♪ And you won't be here ♪ ♪ Waiting to drag me down ♪ ♪ Into your pond ♪ ♪ ♪ (exhales) (indistinct chatter) (sighs) MÄRTHA (in Norwegian): ASTRID: Mmm.

(all speaking Norwegian) (Harald giggling) MÄRTHA: ♪ ♪ (Astrid squealing) ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Skies are blue ♪ ♪ And the dreams that you dare to dream ♪ (song continues in background) ♪ Somewhere over the rainbow ♪ (kids crying) ASTRID: ♪ Birds fly over the rainbow ♪ ♪ Why, then ♪ ♪ Oh, why can't I?

♪ (bell ringing) (softly): (speaking Swedish): (knock at door) (chuckling) (speaking Norwegian): PASTOR: (door opens) (Märtha greets pastor, man coughs lightly) (speaking Norwegian): (picks up glass) (sets glass down) (shuffles paper) (clears throat softly) (crowd murmuring) WOMAN: (breath trembling) MÄRTHA: (organ playing) CONGREGATION (singing in Norwegian): MÄRTHA: (breathes deeply) (bells ringing, cars passing) MORGANSTIERNE: (car horn honking) PHOTOGRAPHER: Your Highness, over here!

(flashbulb pops) Thank you.

(exhales) (cars idling) ♪ ♪ RAGNI (speaking Swedish): MÄRTHA (speaking Swedish): No, I want them to go all the way down to the floor.

Your Highness, permit me to suggest that you choose rather a shorter length, to the sill, like this.

This is the fashion of the day.

But this is just a temporary solution.

I'm planning on bringing the curtains back home to Norway.

Ah, yes, of course, Your Highness.

♪ ♪ (car horn honking) FRANKLIN (in distance): Good morning, everybody.

(car door opening) (Franklin talking indistinctly) ♪ ♪ MÄRTHA: Beautiful flowers, thank you so much.

You're very welcome.

HARALD (in Danish): FRANKLIN: Mm-hmm, yes.

I knew you'd recognize him.

This is for you.

(in Norwegian): MÄRTHA: Thank you, Godfather!

FRANKLIN (in Norwegian): HARALD: So sweet of you.

Hm.

Is this a family album?

Yes.

May I see it?

Of course.

I had an undeveloped film roll in my camera when we left home.

Oh, that's Harald, hm.

(pages turning) ♪ ♪ I'm sorry, Märtha.

I can't begin to imagine what you've been through.

♪ ♪ So how is the campaign going?

Ah, well, it's going to be a very close race.

But you are certainly the better candidate.

(chuckles): Thank you.

But I'm afraid Mr. Willkie has one advantage.

He's completely new to politics, never held public office, which means he's not had the opportunity to make any mistakes.

Or enemies.

Yet.

(sighs softly) What keeps you from dropping out entirely?

The war.

Can't you leave that to a successor?

Unfortunately, there is no viable alternative candidate in our ranks.

As for Willkie, it would be a catastrophe to leave this with an amateur.

So, it's not the war itself that holds you back.

It's your sense of duty.

I truly don't want this, Märtha.

(chuckling): Eight years, it's more than enough.

What would you do if you could choose freely?

If you weren't the president?

(kids playing) To run through a field.

Topple over.

Lie in the grass, stare up at the sky.

And climb a mountain, take in the view.

Feeling free.

But I'm chained to this chair from morning till night.

People come into my office day after day.

Most of them want something from me-- mostly things I can't give, nor would if I could.

You sit in your chair, too.

But if something goes wrong, and you're tired or annoyed, you can get up, you can walk around.

You can leave the room.

I can't.

What about you, Märtha?

What would you do, if you weren't to be the future queen?

No one ever asked me that before.

(knocks on door) RAGNI: Telephone, Your Highness.

From London.

Oh, excuse me.

MÄRTHA (in Swedish): OLAV (on phone, in Norwegian): (Märtha sighs) ♪ ♪ OLAV: (Olav hangs up) FRANKLIN: Oh, now I'm going to be very pretty.

I'm so sorry, I have to go.

I want to stay with you all.

Oh, are you leaving so soon?

Yes, you have business to attend to, and I have a campaign to run.

Come, say goodbye, children.

Give me a hug.

You come see me at the White House anytime.

Bye, Harald.

HARALD: Goodbye.

RAGNHILD: Goodbye, Godfather.

Love you all.

CHILDREN: Bye!

See you soon.

(kids calling and playing) You know, I just wanted...

Listen, I... (both chuckling) You go first.

Well, I just want to say how wonderful it is to talk with someone who doesn't have a hidden agenda.

Believe me, in my life, that hardly ever happens.

(inhales deeply) You make me relax, my dear.

And I appreciate that.

Likewise.

Hm.

(inhales deeply) If there's anything you need to make this easier for you and the children, don't hesitate to ask.

I... (exhales): I'm sorry, but I have to ask you this.

Would you please meet with the Norwegian ambassador, Morgenstierne?

So you do have an agenda.

I'm sorry.

I was asked to... No, no, Märtha...

I understand.

But I have to decline.

Lots of European ambassadors have been lining up to meet me lately, and they all pretty much want the same thing: "Please, sell us munitions," but the Neutrality Act forbids the sale of weapons to nations at war.

Look, there's nothing I would like more than to bury my fist into Hitler's face.

So you want to fight the Nazis, but, at the same time, you're telling the American voters you won't.

Yes.

It's politics, Märtha.

And politics is all about knowing what hand to play and when to play it.

You make it sound like a game.

I'm sorry, but the attack on my country doesn't seem much like a game to me.

I understand.

I do.

Thank you so much for coming.

MAN: Mr. President, your car is ready for you.

Sir... (engine starts) All right, bring the president's car.

Ready, Mr. President?

One, two, three.

MORGANSTIERNE (speaking Norwegian): MÄRTHA (speaking Norwegian): ♪ ♪ (door opens) (car door closes) (sighs) (car door closes) MÄRTHA (in Swedish): (in Swedish): (engine starts) NEWSREEL REPORTER: Election morning ends the presentation of the case.

It is a jury chosen regardless of race, color, creed, or sex.

In city and town, in fair weather and foul, an estimated 45 million voters-- perhaps a record number-- go to the polls to exercise their heritage, the right to choose their president.

REPORTER: It is late in the night, and the result of the United States presidential election is still in doubt.

REPORTER: The current election returns represent almost 46% of the total votes cast today, and are actual figures based on news services from polling stations in the East, in the South, and parts of the Midwest.

Election returns from the West are now trickling in.

REPORTER: The current returns, with 24 of 48 states reporting, gives Roosevelt an early but uncertain lead.

Willkie, on the other hand, still has a commanding lead in several states carried by Roosevelt in 1936, such as Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The early returns from Indiana also seem to favor Willkie.

Should he win this state, it would be an additional 14 electoral votes in his favor.

♪ ♪ (knock at door) (door opens, (radio playing in next room) Uh, sir... Leave me alone.

Can I... Leave me alone, damn it!

♪ ♪ (birds chirping) (speaking Swedish): ♪ ♪ (strap cinches) (murmurs) (grunts) Thank you, Missy.

REPORTER: Down rainswept Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington comes President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Mr. Roosevelt returns to the Capitol for the first time since his reelection.

(crowd cheering) A crowd of over 300,000 braved wind and rain to welcome the president.

♪ ♪ (cars passing, horns honking) ELIZA: Let's see what they have here.

RAGNHILD (in Norwegian): ASTRID (in Norwegian): RAGNI (speaking Swedish, chuckling): RAGNHILD AND ASTRID: (chuckling) PASTOR: ASTRID and SIGNE: (voice rising) (shouting) ♪ ♪ WOMAN (distant): A bit of a rose pattern in it.

There's also something with even more colors... (voice fading) ♪ ♪ (explosions, gunfire, men shouting) WOMAN: What do you think?

Ch-choose whatever you like.

Whatever?

MÄRTHA: Yes, whatever you think is best.

You decide.

I like the blue one.

It's just this way, Your Highness.

Hello.

Hello.

We'll be there soon.

(man coughing in distance) NURSE: Here you are.

This way.

Alfred.

There's someone to see you.

(speaking Norwegian) (sobbing) (shuddering breath) ♪ ♪ (sniffles) ALFRED (in Norwegian): (takes paper) ♪ ♪ Take me to the Norwegian embassy.

Right away, Your Royal Highness.

(car horns honking) ♪ ♪ (knocks on door) Mr.

Ambassador, you have a visitor.

(speaking Norwegian): MÄRTHA (speaking Norwegian): Thank you.

(removes pen cap) (stammering) (exhales) (exhales, clicks lighter) (impersonating Franklin): My dear Ambassador.

(chuckles): Welcome to the Oval Office.

(clears throat softly) What can I do for you?

Please, please, have a seat.

So what can I do for you?

No time to lose, good man.

(chuckles) (exhales, clears throat) You mean, "Yes, Mr.

President."

Of course.

Mr. President.

Well, I'm sure you are aware of, the Norwegian gold reserves are placed safely here in America.

Now, this puts our government in a unique position to purchase weapons and military equipment... ...directly from American armaments manufacturers.

MORGENSTIERNE (continues in Norwegian): ♪ ♪ (exhales) ♪ ♪ (phones ringing, typewriter keys clacking) MISSY: Can I help you?

You can't-- Märtha, they're having a meeting.

You can't just go... Märtha!

I am so sorry!

Quite all right, Missy.

Well, I... think we're done here now.

Please stay, Eleanor.

If you have time.

I would like to make a request on behalf of the Norwegian Cabinet.

Oh, well, this sounds very formal.

What's on your mind?

We would like to ask the United States to sell us weapons, aircraft, and other military equipment (sighing) in the fight against the Nazis.

Hm... (clears throat softly) Märtha, we've had this discussion.

The Neutrality Act prohibits me from selling... What about the 50 destroyers you recently sold to Great Britain?

(exhales) Well, technically, we didn't sell them anything.

We gave them some obsolete ships-- old junk, to be honest-- and in return, they gave us some navy bases; it was a win-win deal.

So, technically, you can work around the Neutrality Act.

A lot of people claim that trade was against the law.

We certainly will not do that again.

I've heard that Churchill is appealing to you to find a way around that same law so America can further help the British.

Märtha... You know where I personally stand on this matter.

But I've promised my voters to keep America out of this war.

(exhales) Franklin, you've sacrificed so much to stay in power-- your family life, your sleep, your health...

But if power isn't used to govern according to your own personal convictions-- what you believe in-- what is the purpose of fighting so hard?

Anyone could sit in this Oval Office and carry out the will of the voters.

But it takes a strong person to do what's right.

(clears throat) When I was pregnant with Ragnhild, just three weeks before my due date, our house caught fire.

The entire building went up in flames.

The smoke and flames were visible for miles, and in no time, neighbors came over.

Not to watch, but to help put the fire out.

These people, they took a huge risk.

And for what?

To save some old furniture?

No.

To be good neighbors.

That was very kind of them.

Yes, kind.

But also the smart thing to do.

Because, as you all know, fires spread.

And Europe is on fire, Franklin.

Help my country.

(footsteps retreating) Don't go getting any funny ideas now.

♪ ♪ (knock at door) SIGNE (in Norwegian): (engine stops) ♪ ♪ Olav!

♪ ♪ (Olav speaking Norwegian, Märtha speaking Swedish) (exhales) (laughs) ♪ ♪ (heavy breathing) (door creaks) (Ragni speaking Swedish, Nikolai speaking Norwegian) (both laugh) (sighs) (sighs) (Märtha speaking Swedish, Olav speaking Norwegian) (sighs) (breathes deeply) Hmm.

CHORUS (voiceover): ♪ God rest ye merry, gentlemen ♪ ♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪ MÄRTHA (speaking Norwegian): ♪ ...on Christmas day ♪ ♪ To save us all... ♪ (shutter clicks) ASTRID (in Norwegian): MÄRTHA: ♪ Comfort and joy ♪ ♪ Oh tidings of... ♪ ASTRID: (door opens) OLAV (from outside): (Märtha laughs) (kids exclaiming) RAGNHILD AND ASTRID: (Märtha speaking Swedish) ♪ ♪ (cheers, applause) (speaking Norwegian) MÄRTHA: (shutter clicks) ALL: ♪ Peace on Earth and mercy mild ♪ ♪ God and sinners reconciled!

♪ ♪ Joyful, all ye nations, rise ♪ ♪ Join the triumph of the skies ♪ ♪ With angelic host proclaim ♪ (kids playing) Children, in honor of our guests, we will do things slightly differently and follow the Norwegian tradition, and open our gifts tonight-- on Christmas Eve!

(cheers, applause) FRANKLIN: And I get to be the first to open all my gifts!

CHILD: What?

OTHERS: No!

No?

But I'm the boss!

No, you're our grandpa!

Just Granddad-- oh, tragic.

Well, would you allow me at least to be the first to give a gift-- would that be all right?

KIDS: Yay!

Yeah!

Oh, good.

Because this gift is so special, it cannot wait.

Literally.

Ragnhild and Astrid, come, girls!

Yeah.

All right, are you ready?

(guests exclaim) Oh, I'm very excited-- what could it be?

What could it be?

All right, open it-- quickly.

(chuckles, kids reacting) I know how much you miss your own dog back home.

And I did check in with your mother before I bought it.

Yes.

MÄRTHA (in Norwegian): ASTRID AND RAGNHILD: Thank you, Godfather.

Aw... (chuckles) Thank you.

(puppy yips) Look, he's very curious.

(laughter, indistinct chatter) Mmm, mmm...

The best... the best so far.

Fitting.

FRANKLIN: Listen, listen...

I want to get serious.

I'm going to introduce a new bill to Congress.

MISSY: Point of order.

What happened to the No Politics During Cocktail Hour bill?

Ah... FRANKLIN: Well...

I will use my presidential authority to grant an exemption to that rule.

But only for me.

(laughter) Oh, that is so unfair.

Now, you all know the gist of this idea, and I and a few others have been kicking this idea around for a while.

We contend that by arming the British now, we are promoting the defense of the United States.

I mean, if Britain falls, who's to say that little madman won't turn on us next?

It sounds like an attempt to reverse the Neutrality Act.

No, not at all.

We are still neutral.

Please explain the logic to the rest of us, because, you know, we're not as smart as you.

(laughs): Nonsense.

But here it is.

We don't actually sell arms to the British.

We lend or lease them.

When the war is over, we get them back.

In order not to repeal certain existing statutes, I would call it the Lend-Lease Act.

What do you think?

Well, timing-wise, I think it's tantamount to political suicide.

It is a poorly disguised revocation of the Neutrality Act, and I am totally opposed to it.

Think of your legacy.

ELEANOR: It jeopardizes the United States... HOPKINS: Fat chance of it ever getting past Congress.

ELEANOR: And it will eventually draw us into war.

FRANKLIN: Mm-hmm.

So you don't approve of it.

MÄRTHA: I think it is a splendid idea.

MISSY: Of course, you do.

MÄRTHA: If Great Britain falls, this country will be a solitary island of democracy, surrounded by dictatorship, and, and totalitarianism on all sides.

In such scenario, I'm afraid your neutrality will not protect you.

I speak from experience.

FRANKLIN: Bravo.

My point exactly.

ELEANOR: You sound just like Churchill.

Well, I like Churchill.

OLAV (in Norwegian): ELEANOR: Thank you, and good night!

Goodbye!

OLAV: Thanks again!

♪ ♪ (Märtha sighs) ASTRID and MÄRTHA (speaking Norwegian): (exclaims in mock disgust) (chuckling) (man pounds car) ♪ ♪ Here.

Thank you, Arthur.

I strongly dislike these changes, Franklin.

And now, so soon after the election.

The timing might not be the best but, unfortunately, I cannot dictate world events.

(pouring liquid) You're mad about her-- that's what this is about.

(chuckles): Nonsense!

Nonsense.

You think I don't recognize that look in your eyes?

Are you jealous, Eleanor?

I don't care about your romantic escapades.

I do care that you are letting your urges change the political direction of this country.

Is that what you think?

It's what I know!

You know nothing about my motives!

Oh, I know everything about your motives.

We cannot close our eyes to the fact that the entire Western democratic civilization is at stake!

This is not about doing the right thing, Eleanor-- it's about doing what is absolutely necessary.

This is not going to end well.

♪ ♪ FRANKLIN (voiceover): In the present world situation, there is absolutely no doubt that the best immediate defense of the Unites States is the success of Great Britain defending itself.

(on radio): It is possible to either lease or lend certain munitions, subject to mortgage, to the people of Great Britain.

If you get the munitions back at the end of the war, you are all right.

Let me give you an illustration.

Suppose my neighbor's home catches fire, and I have a length of garden hose (on radio): 400 or 500 feet away.

Now, what do I do?

Well, I don't say to him, "Neighbor, "my garden hose cost me $15, you need to pay me $15 for it."

I don't want $15.

I want my garden hose back when the fire is over.

♪ ♪ (voiceover): I have recently pointed out how quickly the tempo of modern warfare could bring into our very midst the physical attack which we must eventually expect if the dictator nations win this war.

(exhales excitedly) We learn much from the lessons of the past years in Europe-- particularly the lesson of Norway, whose essential seaports were captured by treachery and surprise.

(car horns honking) (on TV): As long as the aggressor nations maintain the offensive, they-- not we-- will choose the time and the place and the method of their attack.

That is why the future of all the American republics is today in serious danger.

The need of the moment is that our actions and our policy should be devoted primarily-- almost exclusively-- to meeting this foreign peril.

Let us say to the democracies: We Americans are vitally concerned in your defense of freedom.

We shall send you, in ever-increasing numbers, ships, planes, tanks, guns.

This is our purpose and our pledge.

What the hell is he up to?

This'll get us straight into the war!

He promised to keep us out of the war!

America first!

CROWD (chanting): America first!

America first!

(chanting): America first!

America first!

(chanting): America first!

America first!

(chanting): America first!

America first!

(glass shatters) POLICEMAN: Get down, get down on the ground!

(crowd chanting, shouting) ♪ ♪ CROWD (chanting): America first!

America first!

♪ ♪ RADIO ANNOUNCER: ...out of fear that it will bring the country into the war abroad.

No war matériel has been provided to the Allies.

MÄRTHA: My country is bleeding and the help from America hasn't come.

MISSY: She's manipulating you.

All she sees is a man who happens to be president.

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♪ ♪