BASED ON AN UNSOLVED CRIME
[indistinct chattering]
[dramatic music playing]
THE MOZART BROTHERS
12:30, 3:30, 4:30, 7, 9:15
[door buzzes]
Nice meal, Stig?
[officer] Papa-Zulu-Zulu-four-three-six.
[police radio beeps]
[knocks on window]
[officer] Hello?
Stig Engström?
-Are you Stig Engström? -Huh?
Yeah.
I… I just … I need…
[loud scratching]
[breathing shakily]
[low growl]
[whimpers]
[grunts]
You haven't eaten a thing, Stig?
Did you get any sleep at all?
No.
Well…
I'd say you're looking a little better today.
Oh?
You've done five days now so you should feel better soon.
Hey.
Have you been waiting long?
-An hour maybe. -Why didn't you come inside?
-Because I didn't feel like it. -Okay. It'll be good to get home.
Trouble finding the place?
No, Stig, this is the second time I've picked you up.
-Yeah, I was just wondering. -But there won't be a third time.
No, no, no.
I mean it. You know that. This is the last time.
I swear to you that this will absolutely never happen again.
I assure you.
Good.
[engine starts]
So, Stig,
what brings you here today?
Hmph.
I wish I knew.
This wasn't my decision.
-What happened last night then? -You should have it there in your papers.
But can you tell me in your own words?
This is pointless, just sitting here
answering questions you already know the answers to.
What happened was you were arrested for drunk driving.
Arrested? Well, that's debatable.
You're meant to take a breathalyser test three times a week.
And you are to, um…
Walk around wearing this thing.
Yes.
-And talk with me. -[sniffs]
Well, uh, that's going to be a pretty thankless task for you.
Okay.
How so?
I have the deepest respect for your profession,
and I am sure you're burning with the desire to solve
everybody's little problems, but mine have been solved.
What do you mean?
I mean that this incident was the result of, um…
financial issues, but they have been resolved now, so…
all's well that ends well.
Yet here we are.
[chuckles ruefully]
Yeah.
This is going to be, uh…
an interesting little game, isn't it?
Why don't you tell me then about yourself?
Well, I'd be glad to.
I happen to be a part of modern history.
Something you can tell your grandchildren.
-This is between you and me. -[chuckles] Oh, well, that's a shame.
-What do you know about the Palme murder? -Mmm…
Ah, you're too young.
But, uh, I…
I was a witness, a key witness in the Palme trial.
-He practically died in my arms. -That would have upset anyone.
Yeah.
I was also the one that took care of Lisbeth Palme,
who was in terrible shock.
But she told me what happened and described the murderer.
I was also the one that guided the policemen in their pursuit.
Hmm.
Yes, and many people say that I'm the only person
who escaped with their honour that night.
So, I called Margareta Engström to ask about Harry Levin.
But, obviously, she couldn't remember anything,
she said that the Palme investigators are now asking questions.
I mean, that can only mean one thing.
That they've also taken an interest in Harry Levin's gun collection.
What really happened when Stig got the gun from the collection?
Did he steal it? Or did Harry Levin give it to him?
[sighs] Yeah, unfortunately anyone who'd know are either dead or senile.
But it only makes sense that the gun came from Levin's collection?
Yeah, well, it's likely Stig brought the gun to Skandia
and kept it in his office.
I mean, we know that he sometimes ran into Palme near Skandia.
But, um, my guess is that he wanted to keep the gun nearby,
in case an opportunity arose.
Okay, let's say Stig has a weapon.
Mm-hmm.
And he sees Palme in front of him.
I`m sure he's fantasized about this moment,
but to actually do it, huh?
To approach him, point a gun at him, at another human, and pull the trigger.
-I've been thinking the same thing. -Yeah?
That's why I started looking into Stig's life
to see if there was anything that could solve this riddle.
Did he know how to use a gun? I found something from Stig's first job.
-The Army Ordnance Administration? -Yes, exactly.
They had a shooting club.
I mean, this was serious stuff.
If you were a member, you went shooting, you competed.
And Stig was a member.
So he definitely knew how to shoot a gun.
In that case, we need to print your book.
I thought you didn't want another amateur theory.
Oh, I don't.
But you know how he got his hands on the gun,
and you know that he could actually use it,
and how the murder went down.
This is not just another theory.
This is the answer.
"I WAS MISTAKEN FOR THE MURDERER"
FEBRUARY 28TH, 1986 - 21:11
[unzips coat]
[sighs]
[Margareta] I'll put the everyday things, like dishes, here
so you can reach them more easily. How does that sound?
I couldn't care less what you do with the dishes.
-What about this 40th birthday present? -Chuck it.
I've divided up the silverware into two. And…
Oh, stop it, Stig.
It's a cosy apartment.
In a nice neighbourhood.
[scoffs]
It's been almost a month now.
-Should we set up your drawing board? -No!
-How long can you live like this? -Well, that decision is up to you.
I have no intention of living this life, a dead life, in this rat's nest.
And I'm not signing those papers.
No, you don't need to. The divorce will go through without them.
Please, Stig.
This is how things will be from now on.
You… You'll come around. I know you.
And then we'll have done all this for nothing.
You're making fools of us.
[dishes clattering]
-[man] It's exquisite! -[woman] Mmm.
-[woman] Is it real ivory? -[man] Of course.
-[woman] And the black pieces? -[man] They're ebony.
-Thank you very much. -You're welcome.
It must've cost a fortune.
Not in India.
You have no idea. Nothing costs anything.
In India, life is extremely comfortable for Europeans.
[woman] Stig, how do you like India?
Good. It's warm.
-[woman laughs] -[man] Not like here.
Are you really staying at the railway hotel?
We have plenty of beds here.
No, thank you. We're taking an early train.
-We have our reservation. -Mm.
But why?
Because we want you to be a Swedish boy.
You are a Swedish boy. Sweden's your country.
Where will I live, though?
[woman 2] Here.
With Aunt Siv and Uncle Erik.
They're already terribly fond of you.
And before you know it, we'll come home to Sweden to see you.
And we'll send loads of letters and postcards to each other.
And in a few years, your little brother will move here.
[man] Make us proud.
I didn't ask for this.
I have lived my life with moral integrity, stood by my principles, but they did…
all they could to break me, both physically and mentally.
-Physically? -Well, yes.
-In what way? -Look at me. I was an elite athlete.
I was the school champion in running
and now I am arthritic.
I can hardly walk.
I drag my leg because that damn idiot who gave me the wrong treatment
and refused to take responsibility.
-A doctor? -A dentist.
It was 30 years ago. Thirty years of constant pain.
You were saying there were several.
Ha! There were many.
Malicious colleagues.
False friends.
The sadists in Sigtuna.
-They all got what they wanted. -Hmm.
-You feel let down. -I was let down, betrayed.
That must be very hard.
Yeah.
Is there anything that you yourself could have done differently?
[Stig] Hmm.
Something that bothers you?
Something you regret?
[intense music playing]
Yes.
That, uh…
That night…
I…
I wanted to do what's right.
Make things right.
How?
[beat pulsing]
What do you regret, Stig?
[beat intensifies]
That I…
[beating rapidly]
[beat stops]
That I didn't speak up.
That I let those real idiots just stand there wasting valuable time.
That I didn't give that policeman a real telling off.
Too late to change that now.
Well…
I suppose that means we're…
we're done, right?
[reporter on radio] Our next guest is journalist Sven Anér.
-Welcome. -[Sven] Thank you.
You've just come out with your book, Cover-up: The Palme Murder,
where you claim that there are a lot of suspicious circumstances
concerning the murder of Olof Palme.
Things that the police have refused to investigate,
and which several authorities have helped cover up.
[Sven] Mm-hmm. Yes. That's right.
[reporter] Can you give us an example?
[Sven] Sure, uh, the strangest one is the so-called "Skandia Man".
There are many unanswered questions
regarding his role at the scene of the murder.
He has lied about what he was doing from the start,
-both to the police and to journalists. -[telephone ringing]
We know that he was in close proximity to the crime scene
-at the time of the murder. -[continues ringing]
But everything he said about what happened afterwards is a lie.
Every witness denies seeing him,
but the police refuse to question him further. Why?
[groans]
Yeah, it's Stig.
Hi, Stig, Leif Stenberg from the Express.
So, Sven Anér is being interviewed on-air about his Palme book.
In his book, he says you're lying about your role in the Palme murder.
Can you comment on that?
Uh…
-What? -How do you respond to Anér's allegations?
[Sven on radio] …kill the Prime Minister and get away with it?
-I believe Stig Engström… -[Leif] Hello?
Stig?
[Sven] I request that the Swedish police
should immediately hear Engström explain again his movements--
[broadcast stops]
[Stig panting]
Hell.
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[groans]
[pants]
[doorbell ringing]
[doorbell continues ringing]
Oh, hi, Stig.
Are you all right? Come in and sit down.
[groans]
Yes, it's…
my heart.
Has something happened?
Why can't they just leave me alone?
Who?
-The… the journalists? -Yes, I… I can't take it.
-I'll get you some water. -Okay.
[exhales]
[water pouring]
[man] Hi, Stig.
Do you need some help?
You look like you're dying, but you're not, are you?
[melancholy music playing]
[telephone ringing]
[Stig] Hello, Engström?
Oh, hi, Petronella.
How sweet.
Yeah, no, I'm fine.
I feel good.
Yeah, things are better than ever.
That's… that's right. We…
We went our separate ways, but… I thought it was about time.
Yeah, I'm making a fresh start now.
You only live once, hmm? So I've…
I've started cycling.
I got one of those… A really good one, 24 gears.
Yeah, ten kilometres a day, minimum.
No, I… Uh…
Oh, no, no, that's… I, uh… That's over now.
I haven't… I haven't had a drink since…
Well… it's been three weeks.
Yeah.
Oh, yes, do.
Yes, yeah, okay.
Yes. Bye now. Bye-bye.
FEBRUARY 28TH, 1986 - 22:19
[suspenseful music playing]
[door creaks shut]
[reporter] Prosecutor Krister Petersson leads the investigation…
I'm sorry, I have to go. Can I call you back? Bye.
[Krister] We're mainly working on a very interesting lead.
And my aim is to make a decision about prosecution in a few months.
[reporter] So you've gotten closer to solving Palme's murder?
[Krister] Yes, we have.
We'll be able to show what happened on the 28th of February, 1986.
[reporter] What do you mean by "what happened"?
[Krister] We'll be holding a press conference
where we'll reveal who murdered Olof Palme.
[line ringing]
[cell phone ringing]
Margareta Engström.
Hi, Margareta. This is Maria Johansson from the Palme unit again.
Yes, hi.
Um, I have with me Krister Petersson.
He's a prosecutor and he's leading the Palme unit.
-Hi, Margareta. -Hi there.
We have a few more questions to ask you, is that all right?
Sure, that's fine.
The day after the murder of Olof Palme,
it's believed that you and Stig had planned to go to Idre.
Yes, but, um…
we went later because of all that was going on.
What do you remember about the trip? Did anything happen?
Anything out of the ordinary?
No, it…
We were skiing, and…
everything was fine.
Do you remember if any calls were made from your cabin?
No…
Well, the thing is,
on the evening of the 5th of March, while you were in Idre,
the police received two identical anonymous tips, ten minutes apart.
The tips concerned a large man with a mid-length dark coat
who was seen running
where the killer disappeared.
And then he got into a blue Opel and drove away.
-Are you there? -Yes, I'm here.
Okay, this man had a wrist bag, just like Stig's.
And if the tips indeed turn out to be true,
it would give Stig an alibi.
Another man fitting the same description, disappearing in an Opel.
A few moments later,
someone called a priest and said the exact same thing
and demanded that the priest pass the tip to the police.
It almost sounds like someone tried to help Stig. Right?
Hello?
I'm listening.
[Krister] At least two of the tips were called in by a woman.
We aren't sure about the third.
We want to know if it was you who made these calls from your cabin.
No, it wasn't.
Are we done now?
[man yelling] Hello? Stop!
Hey, stop!
Can you please stop?
You have to pay the bill. Stop! Stop! Come on, man. Stop, please.
Come on, you need to pay, sir.
-Uh… -You have to pay your bill.
So sorry, I…
Six draught beers, a Jägermeister and a Vesuvius pizza. 423 kronor.
-Yeah… -[bike clatters]
Is that all? Let me see. Is that all you have, 250?
Are you trying to screw me out of 150? Give me your card.
I… I'm sorry, I don't have a card.
Fuck this. Get lost, you bloody drunk.
I'm not a drunk! You hear?
[dogs barking]
Hello. This is Anna.
Hi, Anna. It's… It's Stig.
Uh…
I'm sorry, Stig, who?
Stig Engström.
Oh, Uh… Hi, Stig.
I'm sorry, you sounded so different.
Thank you for the poems you sent me. They were very sad.
Were they yours?
Yes.
Is there anything on your mind?
Uh…
Do you remember when I ran into you and your son Rickard?
[Anna sighs]
Yes.
If… If we had…
If we were still married,
and he was my son, do you think that…
that I would have been a good father to him?
Yes, Stig, I'm sure you would've been, but, listen…
Did you know that I'm the Skandia Man?
No, what's that?
Uh, how much do you know about the Palme murder?
Uh, Stig, I'm sorry, but I have to go now.
Take care.
[line clicks]
Hello?
Stig?
What? Who's there?
It's Petronella.
-The door was open. -No, no, no, no, no.
Why don't you just go?
But Stig, how are you?
Just… Please, just go.
Just let me help.
-Let me help clean up. -Go away!
Okay.
You were so close.
That night, you were so close to…
saving me.
You were so close.
[door opens]
[Siv] So, me and Uncle Erik sleep in the room next door.
And you know where the outhouse is.
Or, in an emergency, there's a pot under there.
-Good night, Stig. -Good night.
[door closes gently]
[wind whistles softly]
[telephone ringing]
-[fly buzzing] -[answering machine beeps]
Hi, Stig. Uh, it's Petronella.
Um, I came over a while ago, but nobody answered the door.
[sighs] Um…
I've been thinking about what you said when we last saw each other,
that I was close to… to saving you.
-[flies buzzing] -I've been thinking about it, and, well…
I think I might know what you mean.
[buzzing]
I don't want to say any more on your answering machine
but, please, get in touch as soon as you can.
Okay?
Bye.
[answering machine beeps]
[flies buzzing]
[indistinct chatter]
-Quite satisfactory… -I know what you mean.
[suspenseful music playing]
[indistinct conversations]
[indistinct conversations continue]
[girl laughing] Petronella!
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct]
[suspenseful music builds]
[music stops]
[Krister] Good morning.
JUNE 10TH, 2020
We will now present our prosecutorial decision
and the conclusions we have reached
in the investigation surrounding the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme.
With regards to this investigation,
I feel we have come as far as can be expected.
There's one suspect that we can't ignore.
That person is Stig Engström,
in the media known as the Skandia Man.
And, as Stig Engström is no longer alive,
he can not be prosecuted and brought to trial.
And therefore I am closing the case now
on the grounds that our suspect is not alive.
One crucial detail is what happened earlier that night.
During questioning, Stig Engström denied leaving his workplace
before clocking out to go home that evening.
But due to the security guard's statements,
we know that he went out for dinner
and was therefore at the location and saw the Palme's were in the vicinity.
There's a nice clothes shop on the other side.
[elevator dings]
[time clock beeps]
-Well, good night. -Good night.
-Sleep well. -Thank you.
[intense music playing]
[inaudible]
[heartbeat pounding]
[Stig] Olof?
-No… -Olof!
[gunshots]
[Lisbeth screams]
Olof!
[sobs] Olof!
[radio news bulletin theme plays]
[announcer] Prime Minister Olof Palme is dead.
He was fatally shot tonight in the city centre of Stockholm.
He was shot at the intersection between Tunnelgatan and Sveavägen.
He died later at Sabbatsbergs Hospital.
The Minister of Finance, Kjell-Olof Feldt,
and Vice Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson have been informed,
and they confirm that Olof Palme is dead.
The police are looking for his murderer
and there is a major effort underway in Stockholm.
The taxi switchboard has put out a description of the killer.
According to the police,
it was a taxi driver that noticed that a person had been shot.
[bus passengers murmuring]
The driver notified his switchboard, who in turn notified the police.
The command centre sent armed officers to the scene.
Olof Palme was shot at 23:30, that is half-past eleven,
an hour and a half-hour ago.
The government has been holding emergency meetings
to determine what the next course of action will be.
[passengers continue murmuring indistinctly]
[dramatic electronic music playing]
BASED ON THE BOOK THE UNLIKELY MURDERER BY THOMAS PETTERSON
It has not been proved that Stig Engström murdered Olof Palme,
but the Swedish police and Prosecution Authority suspect him.