Fennimore and Gerda (1981)

FIRST PICTURE
Two young friends, Niels Lyhne, a writer, and Erik Refstrup, a painter, are staying with Consul and Frau Claudi and their daughter, Fennimore, at their country home. Erik goes off to the fjord to paint, while Niels is content to be with Fennimore. She tells him of her boring existence and how she longs for life; Niels is saying how much he loves her when Erik returns at the threat of rain and asks Fennimore for a song. She sings about a girl pining for excitement.

SECOND PICTURE
It is evening. Erik and Fennimore are sitting in a boat by the Claudis’ landing dock. They disappear in the darkness as another boat approaches, rowed by Niels. Niels is left to moor the boat and catches sight of Erik and Fennimore embracing passionately in the garden. Her song, he now knows, was not for him!

THIRD PICTURE
Three years have passed Erik and Fennimore have married, and their marriage is on the verge of break- down. Erik has lost interest in his work and has written to Niels inviting him to visit them. When Niels arrives, the three drink to each other’s health.

FOURTH PICTURE
Later that evening, Erik and Niels recall old times and the aspirations they shared in their teens. Niels is busy on a novel, but admits that he works very slowly Erik’s disillusionment is all too clear. He talks of death: but death of the spirit when a man works on and on yet achieves nothing, and he is wrung to the depths of his soul.

FIFTH PICTURE
It is a late summer afternoon. Erik sits despondently at his easel. There is a commotion outside. Some of his friends have come to take “the great painter” to the fair at Aalborg. Fennimore begs him not to go, but he leaves her weeping on the sofa. Niels tries to console her with memories of Erik as he was as a boy, and gives her his word, he will be her friend always.

SIXTH PICTURE
Fennimore waits up for Erik, yearning to recapture their first days of love. Erik comes home sodden with drink, and falls on the sofa in a stupor.

SEVENTH PICTURE
Autumn has come; Niels and Fennimore are out for a walk. Niels discovers a bird’s nest and when Fennimore bends over the bush to see it, he clasps her hand and kisses her passionately For a moment she is horrified by the consequences, but when Niels reassures her he has loved her all along, she yields and vows to be his forever.

EIGHTH PICTURE
It is now winter. Niels and Fennimore have become lovers. Fennimore waits for him impatiently in the twilight. Her maid enters with a telegram: Erik is dead- thrown out of a cart. His body is being brought back to her. Fennimore is distraught; Niels must never enter the house again. She rushes out to intercept him.

NINTH PICTURE
Niels is stunned. They both feel the sting of remorse and Fennimore rails on Niels nevermore to come near her. He slinks away toward the fjord while she watches Erik’s body being borne back sadly and slowly to her. The sight of it is too much: she flees and collapses in the snow.

TENTH PICTURE
Three years have passed Niels has given up his writing and returned to the farm where he played as a child. It is harvest time. The farm lads and land girls sing happily in the evening light. Niels has found contentment.

ELEVENTH PICTURE
The following spring Niels calls on Councillor Skinnerup. The object of his visit soon becomes apparent; Councillor Skinnerup has four teenage daughters. When Niels joins them from the house they scatter, giggling, out of the way. Niels greets Gerda, the eldest, with a little present, a book with a pressed ivy leaf plucked in Verona from Romeo and Juliet’s grave. He proposes, is accepted, and the councillor gives them his blessing. He leads his delighted daughters indoors leaving the new pair of lovers to kiss.

Eric Fenby, 1976 (Used with permission)