Better Times

Erik’s sister Søs has just become engaged but her fiancé won’t let her continue her modeling career. She is assaulted on New Year’s Eve but rescued in the nick of time by Ida’s next door neighbour, Palle.

Ida may not be able to complete her evening classes because she can’t find another job following her dismissal. But an unexpected reference from Bella comes to her rescue, and in gratitude she agrees to see Erik again.

Ida discovers that Erik forged her reference from Bella, and finds out that she is carrying his child. Søs is willingly seduced by a famous actor and decides to apply to drama school against her parents’ wishes.

Ida goes into labour with little Bo just as she is about to take her last exam. Kaj Holger doesn’t want his daughter on the stage of a seedy vaudeville theatre and arranges to have her fired.

Erik puts everything he owns in his new factory and Ida discovers to her dismay that she is pregnant again. Søs is depressed by her unsuccessful stage career and gets her revenge on her father by living as flightily as possible.

Erik is forced to let Kaj Holger take over his company. Ida and Erik’s marriage is sorely tested. When Søs discovers that she is pregnant, her parents arranges for her to go away until the birth.

Erik is back at Bella but suddenly finds himself competing with a young rationalization expert, Thomas. Thomas gets engaged to Søs, who does all she can to forget the daughter she had a year before. But her mother steps in.

Erik is unwell and gets admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Søs runs away from her wedding and goes to Palle’s, where she is reunited with her one-year-old daughter.

Ida gets a job at a publishing house as a secretary. She reveals an unexpected talent when she helps a young author get his novel published. Erik shows up for his mother’s birthday party and talks things over with Ida.

When Kaj Holder has a heart attack Erik comes back and takes over the management of Bella with great success. Ida is appointed as commissioning editor. Palle is urged to run for parliament, but doesn’t feel he has Søs’s support.

Søs seeks other challenges than the stay-at-home housewife. Ida thrives on her work as an editor at Bergs Forlag, while Børge has petty-bourgeois dreams, which are certainly not something for Karen, at least not to begin with.

Palle is busy with his party work and wants another child while Søs is more interested in finding a job. Ida and Erik gently approach each other again. At the same time, there are changes at the publisher that are not to Ida's advantage.

Ida, Palle and Søs are going with the children to the North Sea to visit Ida's parents at home in Ringkøbing - but not everything goes as planned. Ida receives a surprising and very different offer from Kaj Holger and Erik.

It has been almost two years since Erik finally broke up with Kaj Holger, and is now working on a new project. Palle has become a member of the parliament, which does not quite work out as he had expected.

Erik works on a new promising project and tries to make peace with his father. Meanwhile Søs is moving up in her career on the television theater, but Palle struggles with complicated politics.

It's been two years since Erik died, and Ida hasn't worked at Bella since. Karin is trapped in sorrow, while Kaj Holger is preoccupied with running Bella. Søs is now a tv-producer and is away from home a lot of the time.

Søs does everything she can to make Palle give their marriage a last chance - but it takes drastic measures.

Søs and the girls are on vacation in Karin and Kaj Holger's cottage in Tibirke. Palle misses Ida and has to work hard at his new job to implement the banks redevelopment plans.

Henrik thrives working at Bella but cross the line when feeling wrongly treated. Bo is a little sad and pushing himself, but then he makes an interesting and new friendship - while Ida revives an old one.

While Ida tries to make a new home for herself and the boys at Søren's house, Henrik challenges Kaj Holger to think in new ways. Søs and Palle makes sacrifices to make their marriage work.

Three years has passed and the family is celebrating Henrik's 20th birthday. Kaj Holger is looking forward to getting Henrik back to Bella, after his service in the army. Karin misses Bo, who has chosen to move to Sweden.

Karin comes home from the hospital and shortly after has a surprise visit. While Søs decides to quit her job and move in with Ulrik, Margrethe has gotten a small role in a movie without asking her mother.