"THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO" (2011)

THE DRAGON TATTOO

Best Adapted Screenplay

Based on the book

originally published

AChristmascardvistaisspoiledbyablacklineof railroadtracksstitchedontothesnowylandscapelikea scarpointingnorthtoicydesolation.Aphonerings-

Anelderlymanwholivesaloneinthisrusticcabin- aretiredpoliceman-regardsthephone,bothexpecting anddreadingthecall.Hepicksupthereceiver.

MORELL

Whatkindisit?

VANGERO/S

I don’tknow.White.

MORELL

Andtheframe?

VANGERO/S

Dark.

MORELL

Postmark?

VANGERO/S

Sameaslasttime.

MORELL

No note.

VANGERO/S

No.

HenrikVanger-at82,evenolderthanMorell-listens tothesilencefromhisendofthelineinawood-paneled roomasbaronialasthepoliceman’swasspartan.

VANGER

I can’ttakeitanymore.

MORELL0O/S

I know.I’msorry,Henrik.

There’snothingmoretosay.Vangersetsthereceiver downandregardsadriedwhiteflowerina6”x11”frame restingonthebrownpaperitwaswrappedandmailedin. It’ssomehowominous,likethedarkstormcloudsthatnow burstoutside-

MikaelBlomkvist-40’s-regardsthegauntletof reportershe’1llhavetopasstogetoutofthebuilding. Ashe stridestowardthem,microphonesandcamerasswing inhisdirection.Withoutstopping-

BLOMKVIST

Whatisthis,themediaeventofthe year?

REPORTER1

Don’ttrytoplayitdown,Mikael,it won’twork.

BLOMKVIST

Don’ttrytoplayitup,thatwon’t either.

Feelingabitlikehe’sfleeingthesceneofacrime, whichinawayhe is,Blomkviststepsoutsideopeninghis umbrella.Acoupleofthereporterscomeoutafterhim-

REPORTER2

Willyouappeal?

BLOMKVIST

I'llappealtoyou,Viggo:Finda realstorytocover.

Hehurriesoffintherain.

NEWSCASTERV/O

FinancialjournalistMikaelBlomkvist wasfoundguiltytodayon16counts ofaggravatedlibelagainstfinancier Hans-ErikWennerstrom.

At atablewithapre-madesandwichandcupofcoffee, anda longcourtjudgement,Blomkvistwatcheshimself fleeingthereportersonthecafe’sTV.He’stheonly onetherewhowatchesit-nooneelseisinterested- whichonlymakesitworse.

TVNEWSCASTER

In anarticlepublishedearlier thisyear,Blomkvistclaimed Wennerstrom-founderandpresident of TheWennerstromGroup-usedState fundsintendedforindustrial developmentinPolandforanarms dealwiththeright-wingUstashein Croatia.

ThereportcutstoashotofWennerstromoutsidethe courthouseinanArmanisuit,surroundedbyhislegal team,confidentlyaddressingthereporters-

WENNERSTROMONTV

I havenothingagainstMr. Blomkvist.He’sagoodjournalist whoI don’tbelieveisguidedby

inaccurate,andinaccuraciescan’tgo unanswered.He-alljournalists- havetoacceptliketherestofus, actionshaveconsequences.

Donewithhissandwich,Blomkvistgoestothecounter.

BLOMKVIST

MarlboroRed...andalighter.

Hecomesouttampingthepack.Extractsacigarette.

lighterbutcan’tgetittofireinthewindandrain. Huncheshisbodyaroundit,coaxesittolife.

TVNEWSCASTERV/O

Blomkvistwasorderedtopay600 thousandSKEindamagesandallcourt costs,whichcouldbesignificantly more.

feeling.Heregardsthetrashbin.Fishesaroundit, findsthepack,putsitinhiscoatpocket.

HecomesthroughpastChristmasdecorationsandamostly- youngstaff.Theytrynottoregardhimasadead-man- walking,butaren’tentirelysuccessful.Heentersthe editor’soffice.

ERIKA

Whereyoubeen?

ErikaBergerisaboutBlomkvist’sage,and-likethe IKEAfurniture-sendsamixedmessage:afeministina mini-skirt.

BLOMKVIST

Walking.Thinking.

ERIKA

Smoking?

BLOMKVIST

Justone.

He sits,exhaustedanddepressed,inacheapPoangchair.

ERIKA

statementuntilwe’vereadthe judgmentinitsentirety.

BLOMKVIST

Ihave. Whoelse?

ERIKA

Everyonewho’severwantedtosee youhumiliated.

BLOMKVIST

You'vebeenonthephoneallday then.

ERIKA

I’masmuchtoblameforthisasyou.

BLOMKVIST

Youare?Youwroteit?

ERIKA

Ireadit. Iranit.

BLOMKVIST

Notthesame.

ERIKA

Ourcredibilityisn’tdead,Mikael.

BLOMKVIST

Mineis.

Theyregardeachotherinanothersilence.Then-

BLOMKVIST

I’mtired.I feellikeclimbing underaduvetandsleepingfora week.

ERIKA

Alone?

Hethinksaboutit...shakeshishead‘no.’

ERIKA

I alreadycalledGregerandtoldhim I wouldn’tbehometonight.

Amotorcycledivesdownadrivewaythatburrowsundera three-storybuilding.

DraganArmansky,40's,wholooksmorelikeabossofa NewJerseycrimefamilythanCEOofahigh-techsecurity firm,sitsbehindhisdesk,waitingwithanolderclient.

ARMANSKY

It’spossiblewecouldwaitforever.

FRODE

Youcalledher,Ithought.Youspoke to her.

ARMANSKY

I’mafraidthatdoesn’tmeanmuch.

FRODE

I don’tunderstand.

ARMANSKY

No oneherelikesher.Soit’s betterifsheworksathome.

FRODE

ButyoutoldherI wantedtomeet her.

ARMANSKY

ButI’vetoldhermanymoretimesI preferhernottomeetclients.

behindwecan’tseehim/herwell,butcanseewarylooks fromothersemergingfromandgettingintotheelevator.

FRODEV/O

Butyoulikeher.

ARMANSKYV/O

Verymuch.She’soneofthebest

fromherreport-

ThereportonArmansky’sdeskis200pageslong.

INSERT:Printedonitscover:MikaelBlomkvist,acase numberand,smaller,itsauthor,LisbethSalander.

FRODE

But.

ARMANSKY

I’mconcernedyouwon’tlikeher. She’sdifferent.

FRODE

Inwhatway.

ARMANSKY

Ineveryway.

Theblack-cladfigure-frombehindagain-stridespast coworkerswholookaway.

SECRETARY/ INTERCOM

Ms.Salander’shere.

Armanskybreathesadefeatedsigh,tapstheintercom buttontwicetosay‘okay,letherin.’

LisbethSalanderwalksin:Asmall,pale,anorexic- lookingwaifinherearly20’s.Shortblack-dyedhair- piercedeyelid-tattooofawasponherneck;probably severalmoreunderherblackleatherjacket-blackt- shirt,blackjeans,blackCaterpillarboots.

Frodeisonlymiddlinglysuccessfulinconcealinghis initialreactiontoher.Thisisn’tpunkfashion.This is someonesaying,Staythefuckawayfromme.

ARMANSKY

Lisbeth,Mr.DirchFrode.

FRODE

Howdoyoudo?

Shedoesn’tshakeFrode’shand,butdoesaddresshim:

SALANDER

Somethingwrongwiththereport?

FRODE

No. Itseemsquitethorough. There’sawealthofdatahere.But I’malsointerestedtoknowwhat’s notin it.

SALANDER

There’snothingnotinit.

FRODE

Youropinionofhimisn’t.

SALANDER

I’mnotpaidtogivemyopinion.

FRODE

So youdon’thaveone?

begshernottosayanythingunpleasant.Eventually-

SALANDER

He’sclean.Inmy opinion.

FRODE

He’s- excuseme?

SALANDER

He’shonest.He’swhohepresents himselftobe.In hisbusiness, that’sanasset.

FRODE

There’slessinhisassetcolumn afterhisconvictiontoday.

SALANDER

That’strue.Hemadeafoolof

thatway.

FrodelooksatArmansky.What’sthatsupposedtomean?

SALANDER

If hemadeupthestory,that’s outof character.Soisgivingup withoutafight.Peopledon’tdo thingsthatareoutofcharacter.

FRODE

Areyousayinghewassetup?

SALANDER

Thatwasn’tpartofmyassignment.

And,apparently,shehasnoopiniononiteither.

FRODE

You’requiterighthemadeafoolof

fooldidhemakeofhimself financially?

SALANDER

Thejudgementwilljustaboutempty hissavings.

ThisseemstopleaseFrodemorethananythingelsethat hasbeensaid,andSalanderseesit.

SALANDER

MayIgo?

FRODE

Yourreportislightinanother

youchosenottoinclude?

SALANDER

Nothingthatwarrantedinclusion.

FRODE

I’mnotsureifthatmeansyesorno.

ARMANSKY

IthinkwhatMs.Salandermeans,and Iagree,isthateveryonehasaright toa certainamountofprivacy,even whenthey’rebeinginvestigated.

FRODE

Notinthiscase.I havetoknow ifthere’sanythingabouthimImight findunsavory-evenifshedoesn’t.

Armansky’slooktoheratonceapologizesforFrode,and

morespinonitthananyotherpieceofrawdata-

SALANDER

He’shadalongsexualrelationship

marriage,butnothers.Herhusband

Blomkvist’s,sometimesathome.

Frodethinksaboutthat,perhapsimagininghowmuch simplerhisownlifewouldbewithsuchanarrangement.

FRODE

Youwererightnottoincludethat.

SALANDER

I know.

FRODE

Anythingelse?

SALANDER

No.

FRODE

Pleasethinkbeforeyousayno.

SALANDER

I did.

FRODE

I don’twanttobesurprisedby somethinglater.

Salanderoffersnothingmore.

FRODE

So. Nothingelse.Inthepersonal department.You’resure.

He likessandwiches.

Blomkvistisn’tsentimental,butdoeshaveafewframed snapshots:hisdaughter,hissister,andonewithErika- intheir20’s-inwhichhe’swearingablackleather jacket.

livingroomtofindhimtypingonhislaptop,ahalf- eatensandwichandglassofwaternexttoit.

ERIKA

UsuallywhenIwakeupinacold bed,it’sathome.

BLOMKVIST

Sorry.

ERIKA

Whatareyoudoing?

BLOMKVIST

Writingthepressrelease.

ERIKA

Saying-

BLOMKVIST

You’retakingoveraspublisher. You’resorryforanynuisance Wennerstromwascaused.Ican’tbe reachedforcomment.

ERIKA

You’regivingup.

BLOMKVIST

Justtakingafewstepsaside. Foryou.

ERIKA

Thismakesmesick.

OMIT: INT.BOOKSTORE-STOCKHOLM-DAY

Salandersitsaloneatatablewaitingforsomeonewith a coffeeandagifthaphazardlywrappedwithaChristmas bow,thepricetagstillonit,apaperbackbook-My60 MemorableGames,byBobbyFischer.Shenoticestheprice tagis stillonit.Peelsitoff.Dialsacallonher cell.Hangsupwhenitgoestovoicemail.

softlyinside,butnooneanswers.Shetriesthedoor. It’sunlocked.Thegiftinhand,shepushesitopen.

Shecomesintoanapartmentwhichlookslikeitcould belongtoaprofessor.Seesachesspieceonthefloor. Thenatrailofthemthatleadhertoanoverturnedchess tableand,nexttoit,abody.

Thegashontheoldman’sheadcouldhavebeencaused by afallintothecornerofthetable,orfromablowto it. Shequicklytriestodetermineifhe’sbreathing. Callsforanambulance.

It’sdoubtfulthere’sastrangerChristmasgathering

eggnogare:

Blomkvist;histeenagedaughterPernilla;hissister AnnikaandherItalianhusband;Erikaandherweirdly understandingartisthusbandGreger,whosearmisaround herwaist;afewotherfriends(andperhapslovers).

GREGER

neededyoursister.

BLOMKVIST

Sheoffered.

ANNIKA

He declined.

BLOMKVIST

As shehoped.

ANNIKA

Neveragoodideamixingfamilyand business.

BLOMKVIST

AndI stillwouldhavelost.

GREGOR

Didyouhave...anythingonhim.

BLOMKVIST

I hadalot. Itjustwasn’tany good.

ERIKA

It wasn’tevenaboutMikael.It wasWennerstromsendingamessageto thepressasa whole-andtheFSA: Don’taskquestions.

Blomkvist’sdaughterseemsconcernedforhim.

BLOMKVIST

I’mfine,Nilla.Youdon’thaveto worryaboutme.

PERNILLA

Mom’sworried.

BLOMKVIST

Aboutme?

PERNILLA

Aboutallthatmoney.

OutsidetheICU,Salandersitsonthefloorlikeadog whowon’tleavethespotitsmastertoldittowait.For thefirsttimesincewe’vemether,shelooksvulnerable.

upto hearhisreport-

DOCTOR

You’reMr.Palmgren’sdaughter?

SALANDER

Hisward.Hedoesn’thavea daughter.

Thedoctorisn’tsurethenifheshouldtalktoher.

SALANDER

Please.

Notallowedtogoinside,shepeersthroughglassat Palmgren,whoisunawareofher,orthenurseattending him,orevenhimself.Aspiderweboftubesemergefrom hisneckandwrists;oxygentubesfromhisnostrils.

DOCTORV/O

He’shadseverecerebral

fallitself,orastrokethatledto

stillhigh.I’mhopefulhe’1lregain consciousness,butthat’snot assured.Andit’spossible,ifhe does,therewillbeneurological damage.

OMIT: INT.METRO-MOVING-STOCKHOLM-NIGHT

They’rearoundthedinnertablenow,passingplatters around.Blomkvistnoticeshisdaughter’sheadisbowed in silentprayer.

BLOMKVIST

Nilla?Whatareyoudoing?

PERNILLA

Nothing.

BLOMKVIST

(pause) You’renotserious.

PERNILLA

I don’twanttotalkaboutitsince I knowyouwon’tapprove.

BLOMKVIST

Of -

(shedoesn’tsay)

Nilla.

PERNILLA

LightofLife.

BLOMKVIST

Lightof- what?

(shedoesn’trepeatit)

Whatisthat?

PERNILLA

Youthinkit’sallsenselessbutit isn’t.It’smorenaturaltobelieve in somethingthannotto.

Shebeginseating.Blomkviststaresather,feelinga littlesick.Acellphonerings.Noonecantell-as younevercan-whoseitis,andsoallpullthemout. It’sBlomkvist’s.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme.

Lookingbackathisdaughterwithsomeconcern,hesteps awaytotakethecall.

BLOMKVIST

Hello.

FRODEO/S

Mr.Blomkvist?

BLOMKVIST

Yes.

FRODEO/S

Forgivemeforintrudingonyour Christmas.MynameisDirchFrode. I’man attorney.IrepresentHenrik Vanger.Perhapsyou’veheardof (him)-

BLOMKVIST

Of course.

FRODE0O/S

He’dliketospeaktoyouabouta privatematter.

BLOMKVIST

Youknow,you’recallingatan awkwardtime.

FRODEO/S

I’msorry.I’mabouttositdownto Christmasdinnermyself.

BLOMKVIST

That’snotwhatImean.

FRODEO/S

You’rereferringtoyourrecent legaltrouble.ThathasprovidedMr. Vangerwithsomeentertainment.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme?

FRODEO/S

Hedoesn’tcareforWennerstrom either.

Frode,inhispolite,deliberateway,isreeling Blomkvistinlikeaperch.

BLOMKVIST

Havehimcallme.

FRODEO/S

He’dliketomeetinpersonifthat’s okay.Upnorth.Hedestad.

BLOMKVIST

No. sorry.

FRODE0/S

He’smuchtoooldtomakeatripto Stockholm,Mr.Blomkvist.Please. Ifyou’dbesokindastoconsider.

Blomkvistisn’tsurewhattodo,orsay.

FRODEO/S

Christmascard.

Salanderridesacrowdedundergroundtrain,butfeels evenmorecutofffromthepeoplearoundherthanusual; completelyalone.

Apassengertrain,barelyvisibleinaseveresnowstorm, makesitswaynorth.ThisisnoChristmascard.

Blomkviststaresoutatthebleak,northernlandscape.

BlomkivistdisembarkstofindFrode-whohecanonly assumeisFrode-beyondaveilofsnow,wavingtohim fromoutsideaMercedes.UnlikeBlomkvist,he’sdressed forthisGod-awfulweatherinafur-collaredtopcoat.

Frode’sMercedescomesacrossalongbridgelinkingthe oldindustrialtowntoarockyisland.

FRODE

FirsttimeinHedestad?

BLOMKVIST

Andlast,I’msure.

FRODE

It’slovelyinthespring.

BLOMKVIST

Yousaiditwaslovelyinwinter.

FRODE

Thisisunseasonable.

BLOMKVIST

I’1lbeon the4:30trainbackto Stockholm.

FRODE

Unlesswegetsnowedin...I’m joking.You’1llbehometonight,if that’swhatyouwish.

Thecarcomesupalong,bare-tree-lineddrive,leading toastatelymanor.AsFrodeandBlomkvistclimbout,a distantgunshotechoes,butneitherFrodenortheoldman whoappearsatthefrontdoorofthemanorpaysitany attention;justsomeonehunting.

VANGER

Welcome.Comeinside.It’swarm.

Itis warminside.Therearefiresinthefireplaces. AndVangerhimselfiswarminnature,yetspeaksquickly astheycomethroughthehouse-

VANGER

Thankyouforcomingwayouthere. Anna,takeMr.Blomkvist’s

freshenup?We’1lbehavingdinner later.Fornow,hotteaiswaiting. Unlessyou’dlikeadrinkinstead. Whatwouldyoulike?

FRODE

4:30trainbacktoStockholm.

VANGER

What?

BLOMKVIST

Ican’tstayfordinner.

Vangerlooksthoroughlydisappointed.Orhurt.

VANGER

Oh. IguessI’dbetterbequick then.Thankyou,Dirch.Mikael, thisway.

Teaserviceandpastriesonacoffeetableseparate BlomkvistfromVanger,whoseelderlyframeisindanger ofbeingswallowedupbyawing-backchair.

VANGER

Whatdoyouknowaboutme?

BLOMKVIST

Thatyouusedtorunoneofthe biggestindustrialfirmsinthe country.

VANGER

Usedto.That’scorrect.

Thereareframedblackandwhitephotographsonawall- factoriesandtrainsfiguringintoallofthem.

VANGER

My grandfatherforgedthetracks the4:30trainwilltakeyouhomeon- andmostoftheotherpre-state-owned raillines. Westitchedthis

andmilledthelumberthatbuilt modernSweden.

(pause)

Youknowwhatourmostprofitable productnowis?

(Blomkvistdoesn’t)

Fertilizer.

Blomkvistimagineshe’smeanttoofferawistfulshrug.

VANGER

I’mnotobsessedwiththedeclining healthofthecompany,butIamwith thesettlingofaccounts-andthe clockisticking.Ineedyourhelp.

BLOMKVIST

Doing.

VANGER

Officially,assistingmewithmy memoirs.Butwhatyou’dreallybe

you’ddothatbydoingwhatyoudoso well- thisrecentlegalmishapof yoursnotwithstanding.You'dbe investigatingthieves,misers, bullies,andmalcontents-themost detestablecollectionofpeople you'llevermeet...myfamily.

Sheexhumesanunwashedbowlfromasinkfulofdirty dishes,fillsitwithtapwaterwithoutrinsingit,dumps apacketoframennoodlesin,putsitinamicrowave.

ShetakesaCokecanfromananemically-stockedfridge toadeskinherso-calledlivingroom,aclutteroffull ashtrays,fastfoodwrappers,emptysodacans,paperwork, unwashedlaundry.

TheonlythingsofanyvaluehereareherMacBookand severalexternalharddrives.

NOTE:ChangesbelowareINSERTSonly:

thetopresultwhichtakeshertoFrode’sbioonVanger Industries’sitewithitsdistinctiveV.I.logo.

Hisofficialcompanyphotoaccompanieshisprofile:

UppsalaUniversityLawSchool...AssistantCounsel, VangerIndustries,1965-1972...HeadCounsel,1972- present.

Shetypesinanothersearch-Hans-ErikWennerstrom. ClicksonhisWikipediapage,whichshowsaphotoofhim alongsidehisbio.Sheskimsit-

Presidentoftheinvestmentfirm,Wennerstrom-gruppen... personalwealthof12billiondollars(80billionkronor) ---82-footyacht,villaontheislandofVarmdo...

Shedoesathirdsearch,types:

Wennerstrom+VangerIndustries-andhitsthe‘cached’ option-

Thereareonlyacoupleofresultsthatincludeboth terms.Shegoestooneofthem,abodyoftextofsome oldpagewiththecachedtermshighlightedinyellowand blue,andreads-

..-Hans-ErikWennerstrom,CPA,VangerIndustries AccountingDept.,1971-1972...

Hmmm.

Thechildrenofthe“thieves,misers,bulliesand incompetents”playonabeach.Ashutterblinksfreezing a 12-year-oldgirlinforegroundinblackandwhite-

VANGERV/O

ofmybrotherRichard.

ThesamephotographofHarrietinaphotoalbumVanger showsBlomkvist.

VANGER

Richard,whoImayaswellstart withtogetitoutoftheway,wasa Naziofthefirstorder-joiningthe NationalistSocialistFreedomLeague whenhewas17.

Apageinthealbumturnstorevealaphotoofayoung maninauniformwithaNazipin.

VANGER

Isn’titinterestinghowfascists alwaysstealthewordfreedom.

(Blomkvistcheckshiswatch)

The4:30. Yes.Okay.Anyway, RicharddiedamartyrtotheNazi causein1940-missedallthereal excitement-butnottheopportunity to regularlybeathiswifeMargareta andtheirson,Gottfried.

WeseephotosofGottfried,ahandsomeyoungman.

VANGER

Now,Gottfried-Harriet’sfather- waswhatpeopleusedtocallaGood- Time-Charlie.

BLOMKVIST

They’restillcalledthat.

VANGER

Arethey? Okay.

INSERT:CloseonaphotoofGottfried.

VANGER

He wasacharmer,aladiesman,a drunk.In otherwords,aborn salesman-whichiswhathedidfor thecompany-travelingaround, takingclientsouttodinnerandso on.

BLOMKVIST

Someonehastodoit.

VANGER

That’sright.Anyway,hediedin 1965. Drowned.Drunk.Hereonthe island.

Astudiophoto:Gottfriedwithhiswifeandtwochildren.

VANGER

HiswifeIsabella-whowaspretty muchuselessbeforeasaparent- becameevenmoresoafterhisdeath- whichiswhenIbeganlookingafter theirchildren-Martin-whoruns VangerIndustriesnowthatI’m retired-andHarriet.

A photoofamuchyoungerVangerand15-year-oldHarriet.

VANGER

Shewasbrightandcurious,a winningcombinationinanyperson.

BLOMKVIST

Andbeautiful.

Vangernodsasheregardsthephoto...

BLOMKVIST

Somethinghappenedtoher?

Vangernodsagain;issilentforseveralmoments...

VANGER

Someoneinthefamilymurdered Harrietandforthelastfortyyears hasbeentryingtodrivemeinsane.

OMIT: INT.SALANDER’SAPARTMENT-STOCKHOLM-DAY

The4:30trainleavesthestationwithoutBlomkvist.

Annagathersthecupsandleaveswiththeteatray.

VANGER

ItwasSeptember21st,1966.A Saturday.Harrietwas16.

ThreegenerationsofVangersdotthegrounds.

VANGERV/O

Mybrothers-alongwiththeir wives,childrenandgrandchildren- hadgatheredhereforourloathsome

wasalsothedaytheYachtClubheld itsAutumnparade.

Andwe seetheparade,and,amongthespectatorslining thetown’smainstreet,Harrietwithotherteenagegirls.

VANGERV/O

Harrietandacoupleofschool friendshadgoneintotowntowatch it. Shereturnedalittleaftertwo o'clock.

Aclockintheroomreads,2:10.Vangerandafewfamily memberssipafternooncocktails.Harrietappears.

VANGERV/O

if shecouldtalktome.Ihonestly don’trememberwhatIwasdoingthat I thoughtwasmoreimportant,butI toldhertogivemea fewminutes.

Sheleaves.Hereturnstotheothersintheroom.

VANGERV/O

Butin afewminutes,beforeIcould go upstairstotalktoher,something elseoccurred.

Acaranda fueltruck,bothgoingtoofast,collideon

carandspewinggasoline.

VANGERV/O

Theaccidenthadnothingtodowith Harriet-andeverything.

Vangerandtheothersreacttothenoiseofthecrash. Outthelargewindowtheycanseethebridgeandmanyof thoseonthegroundstrottingdowntogetacloserlook.

VANGERV/O

It waschaosaseveryonedroppedwhat theyweredoing.

Peopleandvehiclesconvergeonbothsidesofthebridge.

VANGERV/O

Police,anambulance,firebrigade, reporter,photographerandonlookers quicklyarrivedfromtown,asthose of usontheisland-thefamily- hurriedtothebridgefromourside.

Thetruckdriverhasmanagedtoclimboutofhiscab,but theothermotorististrapped.

VANGERV/O

Thedriverofthecar-aMr. Aronsson-waspinnedandseverely

pryhimoutwithourhands-since metaltoolscouldspark.

A localnewspaperphotographerandanotherman,snap picturesasVangerandotherstrywithoutsuccesstopry theinjureddriverfromhiscar.Asthechaosensues-

VANGERV/O

Abouttwentyminutesafterthecrash,

herselfsawher.

AnnaglancestoHarrietasshecomesin,thenbackout

reads2:35,stepsoutside,walkstowardthewoods...

Asthe sunsets,Vangerandtheothersonthebridgemake

comingfromthetownsidetakesoffhisjackettohelp.

VANGERV/O

WefinallygotpoorAronssonoutof hiscarandofftothehospital,and thoseofusonoursidedriftedback tothehouse.

Thefamilyhasassembledatalongdiningtable.

VANGERV/O

Thesunwasdown,theexcitement over,wesatdowntodinner.That’s whenInoticedHarrietwasn’tthere.

Vangerconsidersanemptychairaseveryoneelse, includingtheyoungmanfromthebridge,hisjacket drapedonhischair,passesplattersoffoodaround.

VANGERV/O

Andshewasn’ttherethenext

fortyyears.

OMIT: INT.VANGERMANOR-NIGHT

Vangerhasthesamelookofconcernonhisfacenowashe leadsBlomkvistupsomestairs.

VANGER

Whatwasshegoingtotellme?Why didn’tImaketimeforher?Why didn’tIlisten?

BLOMKVIST

Shecouldn’thaverunaway?

VANGER

Notwithoutbeingseen.

Thecrewscontinuetheirworkunderlights.

VANGER

Firemenstayedonthebridgeall

no oneswamacross,ortookarow boat. Allofthemwerestilltiedup on thissideSunday.Believeme,we checked.

BLOMKVIST

Shecouldn’thavefallenanddrowned?

VANGER

Thecurrentsaren’tstronghere. Anythingthatfallsintothewater turnsupnearby.Likeherfather. Hisbodydidn’tdriftmorethanten meterswhenhedrownedtheyear before.

Vanger’spausesatalandingtosteadyhimselfandhis laboredbreathing.

VANGER

No. Someonekilledher,Mr.

thatday. Someonecloseenoughto knowwhatsheusedtogivemeeach yearonmy birthday.

Heunlocksthedooroftheatticandpushesitopento revealaclusterofninedustyframeddriedflowersona wall.

VANGER

Thesewerefromher.

And,onanotherwall,fortysimilarly-framedflowers-

VANGER

These,fromherkiller.

Blomkvistregardstheforty...

BLOMKVIST

Whoknowsaboutthese?

VANGER

Me,thepolice,themurderer... andnowyou.

It’srainingasanelegantly-dressedwomanslowsbefore a luxuriousapartmentbuilding.Salanderapproachesfrom theotherdirection.Passing,shenotesthefournumber tonesthewomankeysinthecodelock.

Thedoorbuzzesopenandthewomandisappearsinside. Salanderdoublesbackandkeysthesamefournumbertones intheMiltonSecuritylock.

anunlockedservicedoorandtakesstairstoabasement machineroom.Examinestanglesofphonelines,meters, Wi-Firouters.Photographsthemwithadigitalcamera.

doorbuzzes,andamaninasuitonthesidewalkpushes itopen,seesher,holdsitwideenoughforhertopass.

Themanisa driver/bodyguard.Hecontinuestoholdthe doorforhisemployerwhonowemergesfromthebackofan idlingcarandcrossestoitintherain...Wennerstrom.

Therainhereisicierandmorepunishing.

VANGERV/O

Whenthepoliceinvestigationpetered out,Ikeptatit-

They’reeatingdinnernowinthediningroom.

VANGER

- studyingtheirreportsand interviews,alltheinformationthere was,andit’salot. I’vespenthalf my lifeexaminingtheeventsofa Singleday.

Andforallthat,he’snoclosertothetruth.

BLOMKVIST

I understandyourfrustration. Butwhatyou’reaskingmetodois a wasteofmoney.

VANGER

We haven’tdiscussedyourfee.

BLOMKVIST

We don’tneedto.Ican’tfind somethingyouhaven’tbeenableto in fortyyears.

VANGER

Youdon’tknowthat.Youhavea verykeeninvestigativemind.

Blomkvistwonderswhyheeveragreedtocomehereas Vangerrefillshiswineglass.

VANGER

Here’swhatIpropose:Youcome stayontheisland.I haveanice littlecottagebythewateryoucan use. YoustudythematerialIgive you. YoufindsomethingI’vemissed - oryoudon’t.

BLOMKVIST

Youwantmeto setasidemylife andcareerforsomethingthat’sa completewasteoftime.

VANGER

Thinkofitas awelldeserved

peopleyouwanttoavoidrightnow.

(nothingfromBlomkvist)

As forcompensation,I’1lpayyou twiceyoursalaryforasmanymonths as ittakes.I’11quadrupleitif yousolvethemystery.

BLOMKVIST

Mr.(Vanger)-

VANGER

I’mnotdone.I’11throwinone morething-eventhoughyou’rea terriblenegotiator.It’swhatyou wantmorethananythingelseandit can’tbeboughtatanyprice.I’11 giveittoyou...Hans-Erik Wennerstrom.

HepushestowardBlomkvistaplate:thecarcassofthe fresh-killedandcookedduckthey’vebeeneating.Itand thementionofWennerstrom’snameclouds,atleastfora moment,Blomkvist’smemoryofthetrainhemissed.

VANGER

Hebeganhiscareerworkingforme. AndI’vefolloweditwithinterest, shallwesay,eversince.Youwere rightabouthim.Youjustcouldn’t proveit.

Salanderclimbsaflightofstairsinabuildingthat couldn’tbemoredifferentthanWennerstrom’s.Knocks on adoor,waits,listenstosomedead-boltsunlocking.

Itopens,butremainsimpassablebyafigureweighing

intotheshadowsofhisdarkapartment.

PLAGUE

Wouldyouliketosit?Icould possiblyclearaplaceifnecessary.

It’shardtoimaginehowheoranyonemightaccomplish that.Theplaceislikea junkyard.Eventheunmadebed iscoveredwithstuff.

SALANDER

Didyoumakeit?

PLAGUE

Haveyousomethingforme?

Shetakessomecashfromapocket,handsittohim.He countsitandisunimpressedwithitstotal.

PLAGUE

I’monwelfare;Idon’tadminister it. Thisisn’tenough.

SALANDER

I hadtopaythreemonthsbackrent andeata littlebit.It’sallI haverightnow.

PLAGUE

I findthatsopoignant.

Somuchsothathedoesnothingmorethanlookather. Shereachestotakethemoneyback,buthepocketsitand movesacrossthedarkroomtoaworktablewherehigh-end

herasmallhomemadeelectronicbox,whichsheturnsover inherhands.

Whileit’sclearboththesepeoplearedeficientin behaviorthatgovernspolitesociety,it’shardtotell whichlacksitmore.

PLAGUE

No ‘thankyou?’

Erika,firsttoarrivethismorning,orsoshethinks, comesthroughtheemptyofficeswithaWayne’sCoffeeto- gocup-butBlomkvistisalreadythere,packingsupplies fromhisdesk,booksfromhisshelf.Asecondsuitcase, presumablyfullofclothes,sitsonthefloor.

ERIKAV/O

Youcan’tbeserious-

Hezipsthesuitcasewiththesuppliesinitclosedand gatherstherest.

ERIKA

We’reinourworstcrisiseverand you’rewritingamemoir?

BLOMKVIST

Youfiredme;Ineedsomethingtodo.

ERIKA

Youfiredyou;Ineedyouhere,not

is goingtolooklike.

BLOMKVIST

LikeI’vebeengutted.LikeI’m runningaway.Iam.

Theycrossthroughthebuilding,hewithhiscases,she withhercoffeecup.

BLOMKVIST

Wennerstromwantstoseemewaving awhiteflag,notaredone.Andthe moreitlookslikethere’saproblem betweenyouandme,themoreit’1l satisfyhim.

ERIKA

won’tbesatisfieduntilheshutsus down,andyou’releavingmetofight himalone.

Hekissesherbutgetsbacknomorethanhewouldfroma statue-andstepsoutside.

BLOMKVIST

It’sfourhoursbytrain.It’snot theNorthPole.

twosuitcases.Thistime,Frodeisn’ttheretomeethim. He struggleswithhisluggagethroughthesnowtoataxi stand.

As ataxipassesagasstationbythebridge,Blomkvist regardstheMiddleEasterndriver’seyeswhichregardhim intherearviewmirror.

BLOMKVIST

Thinkthissnow’sgoingtoletup anytimesoon?

HUSSEIN

ThisistheNorthPole.

hecan seeVanger’smanorandcoupleotherhouses.The taxidrivesoffanddisappearsintothesnow.

callitcozy. Intruthit’sjusttinyandfreezingcold.

Blomkvistunpacks.Putsclothesinawardrobe,setsout books,notepads,pens,CD’s,aCDplayer,hislaptopand a smallprinter.

receptionbars.Hearsafaint,plaintivecryandtraces ittoa window,beyondwhich,onthesilloutside,stands acatpeeringin.Heopensthedoor,andthecatheads straightforthekitchenette.Thenlooksathim.

BLOMKVIST

What. Milk?

Heopenstheoldfridge.Nomilk.Nothing.

Hecomesoutintofallingsnowholdinghiscellphone outinfrontofhimlikeadowserdivininggroundwater. Movesaroundtryingtogetasignal.Can't.

Hepurchasesmilk,butter,aloafofslicedbread,some packagedlunchmeatsandafewcansofcatfood.

Hewalksalongthestreetthroughwind-whippingsnow, cradlingthegrocerybag,celloutinfrontofhimagain. Anyofthelocalscouldtellhimhecoulddothisforever —-therearenocelltowersanywherearoundhere.

Grocerybagathisfeet,hedialsacallwithfingershe cannolongerfeelonthegasstationpayphonebythe endofthebridge.ItgoestoErika’svoicemail.

BLOMKVIST

It’sme. I’mhere.It’sfucking coldandI’mona payphone.Ifyou triedtocall,thereceptionsucks, andif youtriedtoemail,there's noneofthateither,so-so- I’m here- and-I can’tevenspeakit’s so fuckingcold.

Hehangsup,openthesamepackofcigarettesfrom

thewindandsnow,hurriesofftowardthebridge.

Asthecatlapsatmilkonaplate,Blomkvisttriesto getafiregoingusingpagesrippedfromabook.It’sa strugglehe’sgoingtolose;he’snoBoyScout.

Salanderappearsandkeysinthefourlocktones.

Inthemachineroomagain,shepullsonecableawayfrom theothersandwirestoittoPlague’selectronicbox.

Thebellinthechurchtowerclangs-

Butit’saknockthatdrawsBlomkvistawake.Having forgottenwhereheis,heregardsthecatsleepingwith him,thentheroom,andgroans.Hepadstothedoorin

onhisdoorstepwithahandcartloadedwithfileboxes.

NILSSON

I’mGunner.Thecaretaker.

AsGunnerexpertlybuildsafireinthefireplacefor him,Blomkvistworksatunpackingtheboxes-documents, fatpolicereports,notebooks,folders,photoalbums.

NILSSON

You’reanauthor.

BLOMKVIST

I’mwritingabiographyofMr. Vanger,yes.

Nilssonnods,butisn’tsurehebelievesit.Maybehe tooka lookinsidetheboxesbeforehebroughtthemdown.

NILSSON

Isawyouon television.

BLOMKVIST

That’sunfortunate.

NILSSON

Bitoftrouble,Iguess.

Blomkvistnodsandhopesthat’senoughtoputanendto thesubject.Itisn’t.

NILSSON

Nojailtime,though.That’sgood. Costyoualotofmoneythough,yeah?

dustshimselfoff,satisfiedwiththefirehe’smade.

NILSSON

There.

VangerhasventuredoutsidetoshowBlomkvistaround

greyskies,weatherforwhichBlomkvist,unliketheold man,isinadequatelydressed.

VANGER

Theislandisownedbymyfamily. Yourclosestneighborismybrother Harald,anotherNaziifyoucan believe.Twointhefamily.He’s detestabletoputitnicely,but you’1lprobablyneverseehim.He’s a recluse.

BLOMKVIST

He wastherethatday?

VANGER

Indeedhewas.

Vanger’slooktoBlomkvistadds,‘soconsiderhima suspect.’Heindicatesanotherhouseonthegrounds-

VANGER

That’shisdaughterCecilia’shouse. Theydon’tspeak.

BLOMKVIST

Doesanyonespeaktoanyoneonthis island?

VANGER

Actually,Isabella-Harriet’smother - wholivesthere-

(points)

- shespeakstoHarald-whichisone of reasonsIdon’tspeaktoher.

(points)

Cecilia’sbrotherBirgerlivesthere.

BLOMKVIST

Whodoesn’thespeakto?

VANGER

You,probably.Notthatyou’dwant himto. Hecanbe asunpleasantas Harald.

BLOMKVIST

I’mquicklylosingtrackwho’swho.

VANGER

Oh,howyou’1llwishwereitalways so. Soonyou’1llknowusallonlytoo well-withmyapologies. (points) OutthereismynephewMartin’s house;Harriet’sbrother.

It’samodernhouse-lotsofglass-outonthepoint.

BLOMKVIST

Whospeakstohim?

VANGER

Ispeaktohim. Herunsthecompany now,asIthinkItoldyou.

Blomkvistabit,butnotVanger.

VANGER

Someoneshootingtheirdinner. Gunnerprobably.Thecaretaker.

BLOMKVIST

Ijustmethim.

VANGER

Hewas19whenHarrietdisappeared.

Oldenough,Blomkvistgathers,tobeconsidereda suspect.Vangerpointsoff-

VANGER

Helivesoverthere.

Shiveringinthecold,Blomkvistturns.

BLOMKVIST

Andyoulivehere.

VANGER

Sorry?

BLOMKVIST

Yourhouse.

Fora moment,Vangerisn’tsurewhatBlomkvistmeans. Thenheis,andispleasedbyit.

VANGER

Yes,you’reright.Themanwho hiresthedetectiveshouldalwaysbe keptonthesuspectslist.

OMIT-—INT.COTTAGE-DAY

Anursetakesatrayaway,leavingSalanderalonewith Palmgren,separatedbythechesstabletheywon’tplaying agameon. Shewipeshismouthwithhersleeve.

SALANDER

I gotacallfromsocialwelfare. I’vebeenassignedanewguardian.

It’sunlikelyheunderstandswhatshehassaid.It’s unlikelyheevenknowsshe’sthere.

Tackedtoawall,amapoftheislandonwhichBlomkvist haswrittenthenamesofthelivingVangerfamilymembers andstaffintheapproximatelocationsoftheirhouses.

Nexttoit-3x5cardsandphotos-aVangerfamilytree-

istheword,‘deceased.’

ofanotewhenthecallfromVangercamein:“Officer Morellinformedbytelephoneofsituation,10:19p.m.”

GustafMorellstandsatthebowofapatrolboatslowly motoringpastthebridgewherethefirebrigadeworksto pumpthegasolinefromtheoverturnedtruck.

INTERCUT:Blomkvistreads,“Morellonsite,Hedeby Island,11:42p.m.”

Morell,feelinglikehe’senteredanAgathaChristie lockedroommystery,regardstheextendedVangerclan sittinginthelivingroomlookingsuitablyworried.

MORELL

I’dliketoseethegirl’sroom.

VANGER

It’sdownthehall.

MORELL

Ithoughtthiswasyourhouse.

VANGER

Itis. Sheliveswithme.

MORELL

Areherparentsalive?

VANGER

Hermotheris.

VangerpointsIsabellaout.Slender,overdressedand smokingaSobranie,sheimmediatelystrikesMorellasa womanaSvenomousassheisbeautiful.

VANGER

Thisway.

MorellfollowsVangerdownahall-

INTERCUT:Blomkvistreads,“Approx.12:05,inspected missinggirl'sbedroom.Found-“

A purseonthedeskinHarriet’sroom.Morellcarefully removesthecontents:Comb,pocketmirror,handkerchief, walletcontainingafewkronor,herID,andheraddress book.He leafsthroughthis.

Iwanttospeaktoeveryonehere. That’1ltakeallnightsoyoumight wantsomeonetoputsomecoffeeon.

YOUNGERVANGER

Whataboutthesearch?

MORELL

Firstthinginthemorning.

YOUNGERVANGER

No. Weshoulddoitnow.Shecould behurtoutthere.

Vangeriseitheragoodactororhasnothingtohide.

VANGER

Please.Ibegyou.

INTERCUT:Blomkvistreads,“authorizedourpatrolboat andtwovolunteercrafttobegin12:20a.m.-G.Morell.”

ThepolicepatrolboatandtwoPeterssonsmotoraround theisland,spotlightingtheshoreandrockycliffs.

Theweirdtableauxofcharacters,awaitingtheir interviewswithMorell.Atthemoment,he’sacrossthe roomwithHaraldVanger,takingnotes,drinkingcoffee.

INTERCUT:Blomkvistreads,“Patrol014andOrienteering Clubvolunteersassembled,6:40a.m.”

OMIT:INT.VANGERMANOR-NIGHT-1966

OMIT:EXT.HEDEBYISLAND-NIGHT-1966

Searchpartiescrisscrosstheisland,wadethrough ditches,checkoldbarns,shineflashlightsupchimneys. Woodsmenwithbloodhoundscombthroughwoods.

MORELLV/O

We searchedfordays...

EXT/INT.TRAIN-MOVING-LAKESILJAN-PRESENTDAY

Atrainbisectsthelandscape.Blomkvistlooksout.

MORELLV/O

Eventually,muchtohisdismay-and mine—-IhadtotalktoHenrikabout callingitoff-

Asthesearchcontinues,Morell,lookinglikehehasn’t slept-whichhehasn’t-peersdownarockyclifftothe water.Somehowheknowsthey’renevergoingtofindher.

MORELLV/O

ThefactthatI neverfoundabody didn’tsurpriseme.Youcan’tdig up anentireisland.

OMIT:EXT.CABIN-LAKESILJAN-ESTABLISHING

Thesameface-fortyyearsolder-themanwhospoketo Vangeronthephoneaboutthedriedflowers-nowspeaks withBlomkvistashescrapesoutthebowlofhispipe.

MORELL

ButIalsocouldn’tfindamotive. Wasitspontaneous?Wasitplanned? Didsheknowsomethingsomeonewished shedidn’t?Wasitaboutbusiness?

BLOMKVIST

Business?Shewassixteen.

MORELL

couldeasilyimagineherrunningthe businesssomeday,whichwouldmean someoneelsewouldn’t.

BLOMKVIST

Shewaswithsomefriendsthatday. Ata parade.Youmusthavetalkedto them.

MORELL

Shetoldthemshewasn’tfeeling

saidshekeptsecretsfromthem,too. ThemainthingIlearnedtalkingto themforhoursisthatteenagegirls arecomplicated.

BLOMKVIST

Ihaveone.

MORELL

Soyouknow. (Blomkvistdoesindeed) DidyoubringthelastgiftHenrik received?

BLOMKVIST

It’sattheNationalForensicLab.

MORELL

Icantellyouwhattheirreport willsaynow:It’saflowercommon

prints.NoDNA.

He lightsthepipe.Blomkvistwatchesthetobaccoglow.

BLOMKVIST

Iwantedtoaskyouaboutthis.

Heproducesanoldaddressbookfromhisjacketpocket. Ofcourse,Morellhasseenitbefore,andhandlesit delicately.Thedecadeshavedriedoutitspages.

MORELL

ShereceivedthisfromHenrikthe

timesthanIcansay. Iknowevery pageofit.

BLOMKVIST

It’sthelastpageI’mcuriousabout.

MORELL

As wasI.

BLOMKVIST

Theonlynamesnotalphabetized.

Morellnodsthatheknowsthatonlytoowellasheturns tothatlastpage.Onit,inneathandwriting:

Magda32016Sara32109R.J.30114R.L.32027Mari32018

MORELL

They’relocalHedestadphonenumbers. Thefirstbelongedtoawomannamed Margot,whosemotherwasMagda,who claimedshedidn’tknowHarriet.The fourth,R.L.,belongedtoRosemarie Larsson,anelderlywomanwhodieda

wereunconnectedinanywaythatI couldfind.

Hehandstheaddressbookback.It,andeverythingelse aboutthecase,clearlytroublehimstill.

BLOMKVIST

I’veremindedyouofthingsyou'd ratherforget.I’msorry.

MORELL

I can’tforgetit.It’smyRebecka Case.

Blomkvistisn’tsurewhatthatmeans.

MORELL

Everypolicemanhasatleastone

returningtoone-takingoutthe

youngmen,wehadtolaugh.

BLOMKVIST

Wasthisalsoamissinggirlcase?

MORELL

No,that’snotwhyImentionit. TheRebeckaCaseissomethingthat happenedbeforeHarrietwasborn. I’mtalkingaboutthesoulofa

neversolveit,andcouldneverlet itgo.

AndneithercanpoorMorellwithhisHarrietcase.

Anunexcitingsocialwelfarebuilding.

As amanbehindadeskreviewsathickfile,Salander reviewshim:About50;spendsmoneyonsuits,thinking thatmightdisguisehispublicservantstatus;nowedding ring;typicalcreep,asfarasshe’sconcerned.

BJURMAN

How’sMr.Palmgrendoing?Iwas toldhehadastrokeofsomekind. (nothingfromSalander) Terrible.

It is,butshecantellhecouldn’tcareless.Heleafs throughherfile-

BJURMAN

Whatexactlydoyoudoatthis securitycompany?

SALANDER

Makecoffeeandsortmail.

BJURMAN

Butnotfull-time.Notevenpart-

alongwithoutcoffeeormailinJuly andAugust?

Nothingfromher.

BJURMAN

Howmuchdoyouearnthere?

SALANDER

Enough.

BJURMAN

Howmuchisyourrent?

SALANDER

I paymyrent.

BJURMAN

When’sthelasttimeyouwerelate?

SALANDER

Never.

BJURMAN

Do youthinkthatringinyoureyelid makesyouattractive?

Salander,who’shadtosufferinsufferableofficialsall herlife,doesn’tdignifythequestionwithananswer.

BJURMAN

Here’stheproblem.Therea discrepancybetweentheobligationof Mr.Palmgren’sguardianshipandthe Managementofyourfinances.

SALANDER

It isn’tadiscrepancyoraproblem. It wascleartohimIcouldmanagemy ownfinances.

BJURMAN

Butthat’snotcleartome.

SALANDER

I’mnota child.

BJURMAN

No. You’renot.

(looksathertoolong)

Butyouwere. Andbetweenthenand now-

(indicatingthefiles)

- twoyearsinthelockedwardat St.Stephens,forviolentaggression- failuretoadapttofourfosterhomes andsevenschools-arrestedtwice forintoxication,twicefornarcotics use,andmostrecentlyforassault: a bottlesmashedintoaman’sface.

thinkingyou’veimproved,butlooking at this-

(thefile)

- nottomentionhowyou’relooking at menow-I canseeyouhaven’t. So theGood-Old-Mr-Palmgren-Daysare over. Startingnow,you’1llbegiven a monthlyallowance.You’1lprovide me withreceiptsforyourexpenses.

(MORE)

BJURMAN(CONT'D)

Ifthenumbersdon’tbalance,I’1l havetoassumethedifferenceis goingtodrugs.

SALANDER

I’vebeenonmyownsinceIwas twelve.

BJURMAN

No. You’vebeenapersistentburden totheStatesinceyouweretwelve.

Shewon’tlookathimanymore-notthatthere’s anythingevenremotelyinterestingtoseeifshedid.

BJURMAN(CONT’D)

Ms.Salander?Pleaselookatme. Becausethisisimportant.

Shedoes...ina waythatsays,I’dliketokillyou.

BJURMAN

Thisbehavioryou’redisplaying rightnowiselaboratelydocumented here- (inthefile) -so itwouldcomeasashocktono oneifI choseanalternativetothe lenientarrangementIjustoutlined. Isthatwhatyou’resayingwithyour Silence?You'dprefer institutionalization?

Salanderstepsintotheelevator,hitsthedownbutton. Asthedoorsclose-

Martin’shousedidn’tlooksofaraway,buttheroad Blomkvisthastoclimbtoreachit,andthefacthe,like allwriters,isoutofshape,taxeshim.Acardrivenby an attractivewomaninher30’spullsalongsidehim.

LIV

Mikael? (hemanagesanod) We’regoingtothesameplace. Hopin.

Martin,wearinganapron,opensthedoortofindbothhis dinnerguestsontheporch.

LIV

I foundhimatdeath’sdoorhalfway up thehill.

BLOMKVIST

I’mafraidI’mabitoutofshape.

MARTIN

No,it’sa climbforanyone.I should’vewarnedyou.Comeonin.

BlomkvistputsabottleofaquavitinMartin’shand.

TheplaceisfarcryfromVanger’smanor.It’smodern. Martin,LivandBlomkvistworkonthedinnerMartinhas prepared.Softjazzmusicissuesfromsomewhere.

LIV

I usedtoworkinthecompany’s petrochemicaldivisioninGoteborg. Whenitwassold,Iwentwithit.

MARTIN

A darkday.

LIV

I liveinHongKongnow,butcome backtoStockholmforfamilyevents, andwhenI do,Idriveuptospenda coupledayswithMartin.

MARTIN

Shecomesforthemoosesteak.

BLOMKVIST

Is thatwhatthisis?

Theyallglanceawaytoasound:Asoft,strange,

inBlomkvist’sglassandgetsup.

MARTIN

Something’sopen.Youlikethisone, or wouldyouliketotrysomething else?

BLOMKVIST

Thatone’sgood.

Martinheadsofftothekitchen.BlomkvistandLiv, leftwitheachother,seemunsurewhattotalkabout.

LIV

I sawyouonSkyNewsawhileago.

BLOMKVIST

Thatwasadarkday.

LIV

Sorrytoremindyouofit.

BLOMKVIST

It’sokay.Thereareworsethings thanlibel-thoughIcan’t immediatelythinkofoneinmy business.

LIV

You’rewritingabooknow,Martin said.

BLOMKVIST

Henrik’sbiography.

LIV

IloveHenrik.He’sfascinating. Martin,too.Togetherthey’rethe OldSwedenandtheNew.

BLOMKVIST

Theyare.

LIV

YouknowaboutHarriet,right?

Blomkvistdoesn’tsay.Thesoundofthewindstops.

LIV

Youdon’t?

BLOMKVIST

Ido.

Martinemergesfromthecellarwithabottleofwinein handandreturnswithittothediningroom.

LIVO/S

Thefamilydoesn’tliketotalkabout it,butitcan’tjustbesweptunder therug.

MARTIN

Whatcan’t.

LIV

Harriet.

Martindoesn’tcomment.Justnods.Silence.Then-

BLOMKVIST

Maybewecouldtalkaboutthat later.

MARTIN

We cantalkaboutitnow.

(BlomkvistglancestoLiv)

Livknowseverythingaboutmycrazy family.Whichiswhyshe’llnever Marryme.

LIV

That’sonereason.

Sheholdsupherlefthand.Aweddingringisonit. Thecoupleseemsverycomfortablewitheachother,not unlikeBlomkvistandErika.

MARTIN

Don’tputthatinyourbook.

that. Notjustthefamily,butthe company.

BLOMKVIST

Howso.

MARTIN

We’renotNordeaorEricsson,but we’restillthelargestfamily-owned

height,wehad40,000employees.We haveabouthalfthatnow,andthat downwardslide-anyonecantellyou- beganaftermysister’sdeath.It brokeHenrik’sentrepreneurial spirit,andhisheart.

AndMartin’s,too,clearly.Blomkvistdarestoask,as innocentlyaspossible-

BLOMKVIST

Youwereherethatday?

MARTIN

Everyonewashere,thoughIdidn’t getin untilaftertheaccidenton thebridge.The4:30train.

BLOMKVIST

I knowitwell.

44,

MARTIN

Itwasa terribleday.Andthedays after-searchingandnotfindingher -—wereevenworse.

Livsetsherhandatopherboyfriend’s.

MARTIN

Thisevent,Mikael,hastobea bigpartofyourbook.

Blomkvistpromiseshimwithanodthatitwill.

As Salandermoveswithacrowdtowardthedoorsofa subwaycar,someonebehindherroughlyyanksthestrapof hermessengerbagfromhershoulder-

Shegiveschase,pushespastpeople,catchesupwiththe junkie,grappleswithhim.Heslugsher.Shegoesdown, butdoesn’tgiveup.Catchesupwithhimonthe escalator,throwshimbackdownit.Thebagslamsonto themetalstairs,too,butatleastshehasitnow.

Shedoesn’trun.Shewaitsatthetopandwatchesthe

wiselydecidestoletitgo,hopstothedown-escalator anddisappearsintotheundergroundstation.

Blomkvistsiftsthroughaboxcontainingsomeof Harriet’spersonalbelongings:schoolpapers,textbooks, a Bible,theaddressbook,herwalletandID...

A knockonthedoor.Heputstheboxinaclosetontop ofothers,kicksitclosed,opensthefrontdoortofind a notunattractivewomaninher50’sonhisporch.

CECILIA

Hi. IthoughtI’dcomeoverandsay hello.I’mCecilia.

CeciliaregardsBlomkvist’sVangerfamilytreeonthe wall.Whereverheonlyhasanoldphoto,there’saPost- Itnextto itthatreads:RecentPhoto?

INSERTofCecilia’sphoto,takenwhenshewasateenager, anda Post-Itwithhernameonit.

CECILIA

We’realluncomfortablewiththe ideaofachronicleofourfamily.

BLOMKVIST

It’snotaboutthefamily.It’s aboutHenrikandthecompany.

CECILIA

LikeI said.

BLOMKVIST

It’snotmyintentiontopresenta maliciousportraitofanyone.

CECILIA

Unliketheonethatlandedyouin court.

BLOMKVIST

Unlikethatone.Correct.

CECILIA

So,whatyou’resayingis,you’re notreallyheretolookintowhat happenedtoHarriet.

Silence.Then—-

BLOMKVIST

I can’tignoresuchadramaticevent, butno,that’snotbyanymeansmy focus.

CECILIA

So allthoseboxesGunnercarted downhere-whicharewhere?-inthe closetnow?-weren’tHenrik’s privateinvestigation.

(Blomkvistcan’tthinkfast enoughtorespond)

I wondersometimeswho’scrazier-my Nazifatherormyobsesseduncle.

INSERTofthephotoofYoungHaraldinhisNaziuniform onthewall.

BLOMKVIST

Sincewe’retalkingaboutit,since youbroughtitup,whatwasHarriet like?

CECILIA

I’msureHenrikhastoldyou.

BLOMKVIST

He wasmyagethen,andsocouldn’t knowwhatwasreallygoingonwitha teenageranymorethanIcanwithmy owndaughter.Youwereherage.

CECILIA

Actually,mysisterAnitawascloser toherinage.

INSERTofthephotoonthewallofAnita,takenwhenshe wasabout17yearsold.

CECILIA

SheknewHarrietbetterthananyone-

shouldtalktoher.

BLOMKVIST

I’dloveto,whereisshe.

CECILIA

IfI hadtoguess-London.

BLOMKVIST

Youdon’tknowwhereyourownsister lives?

CECILIA

Ihaven’tseenherinyears.We neverreallygotalong.

BLOMKVIST

I’mgettingusedtothatcomment.

CECILIA

That’sthewayitiswhenyou’re alwaysafterthesameboys.

BLOMKVIST

Peoplegenerallygetoverthatsort ofthingatacertainpoint.

CECILIA

Oh,I’mlongoverit,andwon’t everhavetoworryaboutitagain. Shehatesthisplaceevenmorethan Ido. Sheleft,movedtoLondonand thatwasit.Youcouldn’tpayherto sendaChristmascard,muchless visit.

BLOMKVIST

I’1lltrytotrackherdownforyou.

CECILIA

Don’tbother.

BLOMKVIST

Formyselfthen.

He smiles.Shestudieshim.Maybehe’snotsobad.

CECILIA

If youdo,andtrytalkingtoher aboutus,don’tbesurprisedifshe tellsyoutofuckoff.

Atechtriestogetbeyondthedreadedblinking”?”on thelaptop’scrackedscreen.

TECH

Youbackedup?

SALANDER

Harddrivesathome,yeah.

TECH

That’sgood.Thisone’sdead.

Salanderagainstthestorewindow,cellphonetoherear.

SECRETARYV/O

I’msorry,he’sbookedallday.

SALANDER

It’lltakefiveminutes.It’s important.

SECRETARYV/O

Hold,please.

alwaysdo.Thesecretarycomesbackon.

SECRETARYV/O

Seveno’clock.

Salandercomespastajanitorwaxingalong,otherwise emptycorridor.Atthefarend,sheopenshernew guardian’sofficedoor.

AsBjurmanreviewsaMcJesusinvoice,Salanderwaits. Thethickatmosphereremindsherofalltheothersshe hassatinwithschoolprincipals,shrinksandcops.

BJURMAN

HaveyoueverhadanSTD?

(nothingfromher)

When’sthelasttimeyouweretested forHIV?

(MORE)

BJURMAN(CONT'D)

(nothing) Howmanypartnershaveyouhadinthe lastmonth? (nothing) Howmanyweremen?

Thatlastoneseemstoamusehim;noneamuseher.

BJURMAN

I’mrequiredtoaskyouthesethings. It’samatterofhealth.

SALANDER

Writedownanythingyouwant.

McJesusinvoiceagain.

BJURMAN

Whydoyouneedsuchanexpensive computer?

SALANDER

Forwork.

BJURMAN

Makingcoffeeandsortingmail.

SALANDER

Ishouldn’tevenhavetoask.I shouldhavecontrolofmymoneylike before.

BJURMAN

canbesociableandgetalongwith people.Canyoudothat? (nothingfromher) Shallwestartwithme? (pause) Shallwestartnow?

Ashe comesaroundthedesk,sheeyesasharpletter openerstickingoutabovesomepensinacoffeemuga childhaspaintedwiththeword,‘daddy.’

BJURMAN

Ifyou’renicetome,I’1lbeniceto you.That’shownormalpeopleare.

He standsinfrontofher,hiscrotchathereyelevel.

BJURMAN

You’vedonethisbefore.Youknow whattodo.

(MORE)

Do youwantthiscomputerornot?

Hetakesherhandandplacesitonthecrotchofhis trousers.

BJURMAN

Youfeelthat?That’sgaberdine. Unzipthem.

(shedoes)

And ...

(shetugsathisunderwear)

And ...

(shedoesn’tmove;hesmiles)

I likethereticence.Iprefera whorewhopretendssheisn’t.It’s almostconvincing.

Hegrabsherhairandroughlypullsherheadtowardhim.

SalandereatssometoothpasteinBjurman’sprivate bathroom.Whenshereturnstotheoffice,shefindshim calmlywritingacheck.

BJURMAN

Hereyougo. Aspromised.

Heholdsitouttoher,butwhenshereachesforit, pullsitbackalittle.

BJURMAN

I knowyou’renotthinkingabout

yourcomputergames.

Shetakesthecheckandleaves.

plotting.Thedragontattoovisibleonherbareback.

Blomkvist,whodoesn’tcareforflying,pourstwomini- bottlesofvodkaintoaplasticcup.

HespraysBinacainhismouth.Then,carefultolook bothways,crossesthestreettoaninvestmentbank.

reads,AnitaVanger.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme.I’msureIshouldhave madeanappointment.

ANITA

It’sfine.Please.Haveaseat.

TheaccentisallBritish.She’sbeenheremuchlonger

offershishand-

BLOMKVIST

I’mMikael.

ANITA

Mikael.Howdoyoudo.

Ashe sits,sheregardshimalittlemorecarefully...

ANITA

You’relookingforinvestment counseling,Mikael?

BLOMKVIST

Iwouldifhadanymoneytoinvest.

ANITA

Excuseme?

BLOMKVIST

I’mwritingabiographyofyour uncleHenrik.That’swhyI’mhere.

predicted,butitdoesn’tcome.

Theysittogetheratalittletableonthesidewalk.

ANITA

HowisHenrik?

BLOMKVIST

Good.Engaging.Ilikehim.

Shedoes,too.

ANITA

I haven’tseenhiminover30years. Or mysister.Oranyoneelseinmy family.

BLOMKVIST

MostofwhatI’mwritingabout predatesthat,soyourrecollections arevalid.

ANITA

I wouldn’tknowwheretostart,if thatwasa question.

BLOMKVIST

I cannarrowit.I’vegottenupto the1960s.To theeventthataltered everythinginHenrik’slife.

ANITA

Harriet.

(henods)

EverythingIknewaboutthatItold to -whateverhisnamewas-that policeman-whenithappened.

BLOMKVIST

Morell.

ANITA

My recollectionsthenwerealot betterthantheyarenow.

BLOMKVIST

I’mnotspeakingofthecrimeitself. I’mtryingtogetaclearersenseof whatHarrietwaslike.Particularly, towardtheend.

ANITA

father.Atleastherswasn’taNazi likemine.

BLOMKVIST

Washe abusive?

ANITA

Mine?

BLOMKVIST

Hers.

ANITA

Ineversawitmyself,butyoucould

she’dbewithdrawn.Thenextshe’d beputtingonmakeupandwearingthe tightestsweatershehadtoschool. Thenextshe’dbestudyingaBible likeanun- noVangerwasever religious-canyouimagine? Obviously,shewasveryunhappy.

BLOMKVIST

Sheneverconfidedinyouwhatabout, specifically?

ANITA

thatfamily.Henrik’stheonly decentpersoninit.

BLOMKVIST

Whatdoyouthinkhappenedtoher?

ANITA

Everyoneknowswhat.

BLOMKVIST

Butyouhaveno...thoughtsabout why,orwho.

ANITA

AllIknowisI alwaysfeltsorry forher.Evenmorethanformyself. Igotoutof therewhenIwas18and

thesamebutdidn’tmakeitto18.

Salander,onaparkbench,debateswithherselfifshe

scrollsto“NB”andhitssend.Itconnects.

SALANDER

Mr.Bjurman,please.It’sLisbeth Salander. (thecallisputthrough) --.-I’mfine.I’msorryImissed

-..no,nothingtobeconcernedabout ---Ineedanotheradvanceonmy

tonight?...Idon’tneedapen, what’stheaddress?

EXT/INT.HEDEBYISLAND—TAXI-MOVING-DUSK

Thetaxithatfirstbroughthimheretotheisland, crossesthebridge.Again,BlomkvistregardstheMiddle Easterndriver,whoregardshimintherearviewmirror.

Outsidethebuilding’sentrancewithabackpackslung overhershoulder,Salanderpressesanapartmentbutton. Asshewaits,shenotesthere’snosecuritycamera.

BJURMANO/S

Yes?

SALANDER

It’sme.

Thedoorbuzzes.Shepushesitopen.

Shemovesalongahallwaywithbothpurposeanddread. Knocksonhisdoor...Itopens,revealinghiminarobe.

BJURMAN

Comeonin.

Shetakesinthelayoutquickly:livingroom,dining area,kitchen,shorthallwaytoacloseddoor.

BJURMAN

Likeit?

SALANDER

It’snice.

BJURMAN

It’shome.

(pause)

So,whatdoyouneedmoneyforthis time? GrandTheftAuto5?

SALANDER

Food.

Hesmiles.Stepstowardher.Liftsherchin.

BJURMAN

Howareyou? Beenthinkingabout lasttime?Decidedyouwantedtosee me again?

SALANDER

Ijustwantmymoney.

BJURMAN

Well,let’sseeifIcanhelpyouout withthat.

Hewalkstothehallway.Shedoesn’t.Heholdsout hishand. Shefinallyjoinshim.Astheystepintothe bedroom,heroughlypusheshertowardthebed.

SALANDER

Wait.

Sheputsherbackpackandleatherjacketonachair. Sitsontheedgeofthebed. Hestandsoverher.She knowswhatshe’ssupposedtodo,butseemsunableto.

BJURMAN

Isthereaproblem?

SALANDER

Ijustwanttoknow,amIgoingto havetodothiseverytimeIneed moneytoeat?

BJURMAN

It’ssocutewhenyoudothatsurly

Shereachesouttoitandbeforeshecanreact,there’s a handcuffaroundthewrist.Hequicklycuffstheother tohisownwrist.Thisisbad. Shetriestogetout. Hegetsherina strangleholdandchokesherinto unconsciousness.

Shecomesto,onherstomach,seesherwristscuffedto theheadboardposts,heranklessecuredtothefootposts withsilkties,andscissorsslicingherjeansoff.She startstoscreamandhestuffshermouthwithher underwear.

BJURMAN

Please.Ihaveneighbors.

He lightsacouplecandles.SwitchesonsomeNewAge music.

BJURMAN

Whatwe’regoingtodonowisteach youthevalueofmoney.

Hewatchesherstruggle.Butshe’snotgoinganywhere. Hetearsopenacondompackagewithhisteeth.

BJURMAN

I forget-didIaskyoubeforeif youlikedanalsex?

Hecramsapillowunderherstomachandclimbsontop ofher.Shekeepsfightingbutthere’snotmuchshecan dohandcuffed.Eventually,sheretreatstoanotherplace insideherself.She’shadtogoherebeforeinherlife; it’stheonlyplacetogoinsuchsituations.

ThecatturnsitsheadtoasoundBlomkvistcan’thear. HehasHarriet’sboxofbelongingsoutagainandlooksat

Vanger.Heopensitatrandom.Hebrews:

HARRIETV/O

Faithistheassuranceofthings hopedfor,theevidenceofthingsnot seen. Throughfaithweunderstand thattheworldwascreatedbythe wordofGod- andthatwhatisseen wasnotmadeofthingsthatare visible...

Hesetsitdown.Rubshiseyes.Everything-his daughter,hislife,thiscabin,thewordofGod-is depressing.

Dawnlightoutsidethelivingroomwindow.

Bjurman,athisdiningtablewithaglassoforange juice,writingoutacheck.

Inthebedroom,Salanderslipsonherleatherjacket, shouldersherbackpack,hobblesouttothelivingroom.

BJURMAN

I’1lldriveyouhome.

SALANDER

I cangethomeonmyown.

BJURMAN

Areyousure?

It’sbizarre:hismannerseemstobeoneofgenuine

thedoorforherlikeaperfectgentleman.

BJURMAN

So,nextSaturday,here?

Shenods.Leaves.Thedoorcloses.

A lonefigurehobblesthroughtheemptystreets.

Shesetsacheckdown.Onthememolinehe’sneatly written,“forfood.”Shetakesabottleofwaterfrom thefridgeanddrinks.

Showerwaterhitsthedragontattooonhershoulder

waterreachesthedrainithasturnedred.

Comingthroughtreeswithabagofgroceries,Blomkvist seesaBMWparkedoutsidehiscottage.

Blomkvisttapsonthecar’sfogged-updriver’swindow. A handinsidewipesatit,revealingErika.Shelowers ita crack.

ERIKA

Isitanywarmerinside?

BLOMKVIST

No.

Ashe triestogetsomelogsinthefireplacegoing, usingmorepagestornfromoneofhisbooks,Erikawraps herselfinablanket.Thecat,whohasnotroublewith thecold,napsonthepaperworkonthedesk.

BLOMKVIST

WhathaveImissedbesidesyou?

ERIKA

Thesteadyexodusoftwo-thirdsof ouradvertisers.

BLOMKVIST

Seriously?

ERIKA

Isthathardtobelieve?Sittingup hereinLapplandwithyourcat?

BLOMKVIST

I’mnot. I’mworking.

ERIKA

I cansee.

WhatshecanseeistheVangerresearchcoveringthe wallsandtablesurfaces,andthatthethreadsofthe familytreeleadtoaphotographofVangeratthetop.

BLOMKVIST

Wouldyouliketomeethim?

ERIKA

Maybeinaboutanhour.Ifyou’re interested.

Heis.

VangerandMartinallbutignoreBlomkvistastheychat withErikaoverdinner.Theyseemcharmedbyher.

VANGER

I apologizeifyou’rehaving financialproblemsatthemagazine in Mikael’sabsence.

ERIKA

We’1llworkthroughthem.

VANGER

Areyousure?

ErikalooksatBlomkvist,buthehasn’ttalkedtothem aboutthis.

MARTIN

Howlongdoyouthinkyoucanhang on? Sixmonthsorso?

ERIKA

Thatsoundsaboutright.

Youknow,Iusedtobe inthe

dailiesbackinthe50’s.

MARTIN

We stillownone.TheCourier,here in town.

VANGER

Iletmy nephewBirgerrunitsince hecan’trunanythingelse.

Erikanodspolitely.

MARTIN

Sowhatdoyousaytotakingona partner?

ERIKA

We'veneverconsidereditbefore. Wevalueourindependence.

MARTIN

Yourindependenceisdependanton advertisers-ifwe’rebeinghonest. Howevermuchyouthinkthatis,you’d retain.Wedon’tcareaboutcontent.

Blomkvistsuddenlyfeelslikesomeonecominglatetoa party.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme.DidImisssomething?

VANGER

We’retalkingaboutaninvestmentin themagazine.

BLOMKVIST

that?

MARTIN

Notforthereturn,that’sforsure.

VANGER

(toErika) IfeelbadthatI’vetakeMikael awayfromyouattheworstpossible time.Thisistherightthingtodo. Themoralthing.That’sonereason.

ERIKA

And.

VANGER

Theenemiesofmyfriendsaremy

asyouhatewhathe’sdonetoyou.

Silence.

VANGER

Sowhatdoyousay?

Erikahalf-shrugstosayshe’1llconsiderit.

VANGER

Is thatamaybe?

Shenods.

VANGER

Wonderful!Morewine,Anna.

BlomkvistlooksatErika,butsheglancesawaytoVanger.

VANGER

I thinkMikaelisadaptingwellto rusticlife,bytheway.

ERIKA

Haveyouseenhimtrytomakeafire?

VANGER

Putthelogsonend,likethis.

Hemakesateepeeshapewithhishands,likepraying.

Erikalightsateepeeoflogsinthefireplace.

BLOMKVIST

Howlonghaveyoubeendiscussing thiswiththem?

ERIKA

I haven’tbeen.Theyaskedmeto comeupyesterday.

BLOMKVIST

Whydidn’tyoutellme?

ERIKA

WhywouldI. Youliveinthewoods.

BLOMKVIST

So Ideservetobetreatedlikean idiot?

ERIKA

I wantedtohearwhattheyhadto say. Youwould’vesaidnobefore theycould.

BLOMKVIST

I’msayingitnow.It’snota good idea.

ERIKA

Youheardmetellthemwecould hangonforsixmonths.Iwaslying. Withouttheirmoneywe’llbeoutof businessinthree.

BLOMKVIST

Youdon’tknowthisfamily.They’re crazy.

ERIKA

We'renotmarryingintoit.

BLOMKVIST

Weareifwe dothis.It’sexactly whatwe’redoing.

ERIKA

Youwanttosayno? lLet’ssayno. Insteadof50percentofsomething, let’sown100percentofnothing.

Thelogscrackleasflamesclimbthem.Shegetsup, comespasthim,unbuttoninghershirtasshedisappears intothebedroom.Hestaresatthefire.

ERIKAO/S

Mikael?

BLOMKVIST

What.

ERIKAO/S

I’mleavingthisGod-forsakenisland inthemorning.

BLOMKVIST

So?

ERIKA

Soareyoucomingtobedornot.

Salanderregardsaselectionofforearmtattoos:barbed wire,Celticbands,stringsofleavesandflowers.

TATTOOARTIST

Youthinkingonearmorboth?

SALANDER

these.Justaplainband,like handcuffs.

TATTOOARTIST

It’ssensitivethere.Particularly theankles.It’sgonnahurt.

Thatdoesn’tbotherherintheleast.Sherollsupher sleevesandwatcheshimreadythetattoogun.

SALANDER

Howmuchdooneof thosecost?

TELEVISIONIMAGE:

graphictothesideofhimisthedistinctiveV.I.logo ofVangerIndustries.

ANNOUNCER

PetrochemicalmanufacturerVanger Industrieshasacquiredacontrolling interestinMillenniummagazinewhich accordingtoanalystshasbeenin financialtroublesincelastDecember whenitscofounderMikaelBlomkvist wasfoundguiltyoflibelagainst Hans-ErikWennerstrom-

AnewscrewhascrammeditselfinsideErika’soffice, whereareporterinterviewsher-

ERIKA

We madeaseriousmistakelastyear, andwe regretit.Butwe’removing forward,andthisisthefirststep.

REPORTER2

Youwouldn’tsaythefirststepwas yoursackingofMr.Blomkvist?

ERIKA

That’sinaccurate.Readtheoriginal pressrelease,Viggo.Ididn’tfire him. He’sonsabbatical.

REPORTER2

Where.

ERIKA

I’mnotsure,tobehonestwithyou.

He’sathisdesk,thecatinhislap,reviewingthe albumofphotostakenonthedayHarrietdisappeared.

They’rearrangedchronologically,andVangerhasnoted theapproximatetimeofdayofeach.

Thefirstseveralweretakenonthemanorgrounds,by

glancesouttoseeatelevisionnewsvandrivingtoward Vanger’smanor-

A crewissetupintheyardbythewater,interviewing

cheerfulyellowshirt.Birgerunhappilylookson.

MARTIN

Millenniumisanexcellentmagazine. Wealsothinkit’sundervaluedright now,whichisgoodbusinessforus.

REPORTER3

Isanymagazinereallyundervalued

tomorrow?

VANGER

There’sanotherreason.Idon’tlike bullies.

REPORTER3

AreyoureferringtoMr.Wennerstrom?

VANGER

I’mreferringtoanyonewhotries tosuetheirenemiesintosubmission.

itagain,he’1llfindhimselffighting acompanythatcanaffordtofight back.

REPORTER3

You’reenjoyingthis.

VANGER

Alreadyit’sthemostfunI’vehadin years.

As aclerkringsuptheitemsSalanderisbuying- brightyellowducttapeandaplasticprotectivemask- shewatchesashotonaTVhereofWennerstrombeing interviewedoutsidehisoffices-

WENNERSTROMONTV

I’vealwaysadmiredHenrikVanger. He’sa titan-andagentleman.But he’salsoquiteoldnow-whichmay explainhowhecouldbetakeninby a convictedliar.

Salanderherreceipt.

Herhardwarestorepurchases,alongwithsomefreshDVD- R's,acoupleofplasticbottlesofink,andMcDonald’s KidsMealwrappers,sitbyherlaptop.

She’snottypingonitskeyboard,butcharactersare appearingnonethelessassomeonesomewhereelse,writes anemail:

TheFromboxreads:hwennerstrom<HEW@WG.com>

TheToboxreads:1jansson<LDJ@SkLaw.com

TheSubjectboxreads:Vanger/Blomkvist

AndtheMessage,whichisbeingtyped:

Cansomebodypleaseexplaintomewhatthefuckisgoing onwiththesetwoassholes-

onablurryoneofthefirecrew,thefocusinadvertently onthebackground-Vanger’smanor.

Whatcaughthisattentionisafigureinoneofthe

themanorandseesthatit’sHarriet’sbedroom.

Buthe’snotsureifit’sHarriet.Thefigureistoo softtoidentify-evenwithamagnifyingglass-butis wearingalight-coloreddressandhaslighthair.

Heglancestothefamilytreeonthewall-theteenage Vangergirls’photos-

ThreeINSERTS:Harriet...Cecelia...Anita...

Theyallhavelighthair,and,frankly,alllookalike.

saidbeforewasthelastpicturetakenofHarrietalive. It’snotreallyofher.

It’sawideshotoftheparadeitself-butshecanbe seeninthebackgroundacrossthestreetwithher friends,watchingafloat-atopwhichsomewomenin haremoutfitsdance-passby.

He slipsitfromitscorner-fastenersandturnsitover. There’saHedestadCouriercopyrightprintedontheback. Heturnsitoveragainandlooksatthephotoitself.

Guidedbythephoto,hewalksalongthetown’smain streettotheapproximateplacefromwhichitwastaken- outsideahaberdasherywindow-butit’sstillnotright.

Thephotowasshotfromahigherthanstreetlevelangle. He lookstoasecondstorywindowabovethestore.Then crossesthestreettowhereHarrietwasstandingwhenthe picturewastaken.Looksbackatthehaberdasherywhere, now,theownerpeersoutathim.

Onthepayphoneoutsidethegasstation-

BLOMKVIST

Iwanttolookatwhatthepaper hasinitsarchiveontheparade.

VANGERV/O

thealbum.

BLOMKVIST

Idon’tthinkso.

VANGERV/O

Why.

BLOMKVIST

Becausenophotographeratany newspaperintheworldtakesjusttwo photosofanything-especiallyafter havingtoclimbaflightofstairs.

VANGERV/O

Thebridgeaccidenthappenedduring theparade.Herushedover.

BLOMKVIST

Maybe.

Silence.Then-

VANGERV/O

Mikael,whathaveyoufound?

BLOMKVIST

photographers.They’rethemost insecurepeopleonearth.Ifit’s outof focus,ortheydon’tlike theframing,theyburyit.

Blomkvistfollowsthepaper’syoungishphotoeditorup narrowstairstoanattic.

PHOTOEDITOR

ThecurrentarchiveisonCD’s, naturally.Theolderstuff,still

youinterestedin?

BLOMKVIST

September,1966.

her,butshechoosesnottocomment.

ShepullsfourthickbindersoffashelffromSeptember 1966alone,provingBlomkvist’spointaboutphotographers -andpilesthemupnexttoalight-boxandscanner.

BLOMKVIST

Thankyou.

Hewaitsforhertoleave.Sheseemsreluctantto...

PHOTOEDITOR

Is thisaboutHarrietVanger?

BLOMKVIST

You’retooyoungtoknowaboutthat.

PHOTOEDITOR

Everyoneheregrowsupknowingabout her. It’showwe’retaughtabout strangers.

littlesurprisedtoseeherathisdoorstep.

BJURMAN

My dearLisbeth,howareyou?

SALANDER

rent.

Shelookslikeaschoolgirlwithherlittlebackpackover hershoulder.Howdidheevergetsolucky?

BJURMAN

Comeonin.

pocket.

BJURMAN

Sincewe’restillfiguringoutwhat youlike,Iwentshoppingforsome newtoys.

SALANDER

Me,too.

BJURMAN

You,too?Whatdidyoubuy?

ShepullsaTaserfromherpocketandjamsitunderhis chin,firingoff75,000volts-

Setdownontheruggedlandscapeunderanalmostmoonless nightsky,thecottagelooksvulnerable.

Thecat,curleduponachair,jerksitsheadupata soundneitherwenorBlomkvistcanhear,andstays absolutelystill,listening.

BlomkvistscrollsthroughtheCouriernegativeshehas convertedintopositivesandhasloadedintoPhotoshop.

day. Severalatstreetlevel-amarchingband,floats, childrenwithballoons,someinbetterfocusthanothers.

Hereachesthefirstofthehigher-angleshotsfromthe floorabovethehaberdashery,scansthecrowdliningthe street.Harrietisn’tinit.

Butinthenextsheappearsattheedgeoftheframe withherschoolfriends.Inthenext,she’sfurtherinto frame.Andthenext,standinginthesamespothestood earliertoday.

OMIT- INT.BJURMAN’SAPARTMENT-LATER-—NIGHT

Blomkvistselectsall18ofthehigh-angleparade photographs,transfersthemtoaniPhotofile,and reopensthemasa‘slideshow.’

Thefirstfew,accompaniedbythedefaultmusic,Minuet inG,dissolveattwo-secondintervals.Toolong.Too distractingwiththemusic.Andtoowide.

Headjuststhesizefunction-closeronHarrietgets ridofthedissolveeffectandmusicandreducesthetime- intervaltomakethetransitionsasquickaspossible.

Hehits‘play’againandwatchesashortjerky‘silent film’-akindofelectronicflip—-book:

herheadslightlytowardit.Hereyeswideninfear.

herconfused.Andthenshe’sgone.

BlomkvistbacksuptotheframeofHarrietlookingoff withfearinhereyes,andforthefirsttimebelieves withoutadoubtwhatVangerhasbelievedfor40years:

followedherandkilledher.Thecatwatcheshim.

Bjurmanslowlycomesto.

SALANDER

Good. You’realive.

Ittakeshimamomenttorealizeit’strue.Anotherto realizeitmightbebetterifhewasn’tsincehe’snaked onthefloor,face-up,wristsandanklesbound.Hetries tocryoutandrealizeshe’salsogagged.

Sheemergesfromtheshadows,standsoverhim,andhe seesthathereyesareringedinblackmascaralikesome

stepsoutofhisfieldofview,andhishandsstruggle againsttherestraints.

SALANDER

Recognizethis?

Hecraneshisnecktoseeshe’sbyherbackpackthat’s restingonachair.

SALANDER

Ihadit withmelasttime.Iset ithere.Remember? (hedoesn’t) Seethissnap?It’snotasnap. It’sawide-anglemicro-lens.

ShetakesaDVD-Rfromthebackpack,putsitinhis player,flipshisplasmaTVonwitharemote.Shegotit all- whathedidtoher-therape- inHD.

SALANDER

Thisshowsyousodomizingamentally impairedgirl.Ifit’severseen outsidethisroom,who'llbe institutionalizedthen?

He startstowhimper.

SALANDER

Here’swhat’sgoingtohappen. Payattention.

Hecan’t.Hecan’tevenlookather.Hislifeisover.He weepsintothegag.

SALANDER

Lookatme.

Hewon’t. Shestridestoherbackpack.Takesouta largedildo.Getsonherknees,andworksitintohis ass. Shecanonlygetitabouthalfwayup.Shehasto standupandkickittherestofthewaywithherboot. Hehowlsintothegag.

SALANDER

DoI haveyourattentionnow?

Shedoesindeed.Hevigorouslynodshishead,now,and aftereverythingshesays-

SALANDER

Whenyoucanwalkagain,whichI admitcouldbeawhile,we’regoing tomybank. You’1lltellthemIalone

that,you’llnevercontactmeagain. Eachmonthyou’1lwriteareportofa meetingwewon’thave.You’ll describehowwellI’mdoing,how sociableI’mbecoming.Thenyou’1ll negotiatewiththecourttohavemy declarationofincompetencelifted. Ifyoufail,thisvideowillspread acrosstheInternetlikeavirus. (hestaresinhorror)

(MORE)

SALANDER(CONT'D)

If somethinghappenstome-if I gethitbya car-ifyouhitme witha car-samething,ituploads automatically.

himthatshehasthem.

SALANDER

I’mtakingthesewithme.I’1l be checkingonyou.IfIever findanyoneinherewithyou, whethershecameofherownfree willornot-

HiseyesdarttotheTVashenodsthatheunderstands.

SALANDER

No. Notthevideo.

intheeye.

SALANDER

I willkillyou.

Andheknowsshemeansit.

SALANDER

Do youdoubtanythingI’vesaid?

(heshakeshisheadno)

Do youdoubtwhat’sinthereports aboutme? Whatdotheysaywhen yousumthemup?TheysayI’m insane.

(heshakeshisheadno)

No,it okay.Youcannodbecause it’strue.I aminsane.

Shegetsupoffhim,rummagesthroughherbackpackagain.

SALANDER

I knowit’1llbehardforyoutoabide by myrules.Especiallynomoresex. I’mgoingtomakeiteasierforyou.

thinghe’llseeisapairofscissorsinherhand,butit isn’t.It’ssomethingelsehedoesn’trecognize.She straddleshimagain.Hesquirmsunderherweight.

SALANDER

Liestill.I’veneverdonethis before.

He seesthatthethinginherhandissomekindof surgicaldevice,ashinystripped-downgunwithasharp pointandaplasticinkbottlewherethebulletswould go.

SALANDER

Therewillbesomeblood.

He strugglestotwisthisbodyaway,butit’suseless. Shedigsthetattooinggun’sneedleintohischestand

ofbloodspatterherplasticmask...

glassofwaterinthekitchen,wipesherprintsfromit.

ShecrossestothebedroomwhereBjurman’stoyshave

herbackpack.Looksathim.He’sunconscious.Shesets handcuffkeynexttoadarkstainonhisstomach.

We stayonthekeyassheleavestheroom.Hearingthe frontdooropenandclose,weriseuptoseehisentire

letters,fromhisnipplestohisgroin,is:

IAM ARAPISTPIG

OMIT:EXT.HEDESTAD-DAWN

OMIT: INT.COTTAGE-DAWN

Returningfromawalkandasmoke,Blomkvistsees- sittingoutsidethecottage,pettinghiscat-Harriet. Ofcourseitcan’tbeher,butitisateenagegirlwho resemblestheoldpicturesofher.Seeinghim,she waves.It’shisdaughter.

PERNILLA

Hi.

BLOMKVIST

Hi. Whatareyoudoinghere?

PERNILLA

Onmywayto Skelleftea.Icanonly stayacouplehours.

He arrivesandgivesherahug.

BLOMKVIST

What’sinSkelleftea?

PERNILLA

LightofLifeBibleCamp.

Blomkvisttriestohidehisdismay.

He’smadethemsomecoffee,and,ofcourse,sandwiches. Patientlywaitsforhertofinishhersilentprayer,and smilesbravely.

PERNILLA

They’renotdangerous.

BLOMKVIST

It’sfine,Nilla.Whateveryou wanttodo isfine.Everybodyneeds something.

PERNILLA

Justsolongasit’snotGod.

BLOMKVIST

I didn’tsaythat.

Astheyeatinsilence,Blomkvistcan’thelpbutthink aboutHarrietandwhatVangersaidaboutnotgivingher hisattentionwhensheneededit.

BLOMKVIST

I’mnotaroundenoughtoknow everythingthat’sgoingonwithyou, andI apologizeforthat.ButI’d neverwantyoutonottellme something,evenifyouthinkImight notwanttohearit.

That’swhatI’mdoing.

Theafternoontrainisboarding.It’snotcrowded.

BLOMKVIST

It shouldhavebeenmevisitingyou. I’msorry.

PERNILLA

It’sokay.Everything’sgood.

Henodsbutdoesn’tbelieveitanymorethanshebelieves he’sokaywithBibleCamp.Sheclimbsaboard.Waves.

PERNILLA

Bye.

BLOMKVIST

Bye.

Thetrainbeginstomove.

PERNILLA

Don’tgotoohardontheCatholics.

BLOMKVIST

What?

PERNILLA

Thearticleyou’rewriting.

BLOMKVIST

Whatareyoutalking(about)-

PERNILLA

TheBiblequotesonyourdesk.

BLOMKVIST

What?

Thetrainclearstheplatform.Hewatchesafterit. Whatwasshetalkingabout?Heglancesabsentlytothe taxistand.Husseinpointstohistaxi.Ride?

Blomkvistcomesin,goesstraighttohisdesk,sifts throughthepaperworkonit,thenseestheXeroxofthe lastpageofHarriet’saddressbook-theunknownphone numbers-hetapedtothelamp-

Magda32016Sara32109R.J.30114R.L.32027Mari32018

Itcouldbea coincidencethey’reBiblenames- Magdalene,Sarah,Mary-ormaybenot.Hedigsthrough Harriet’spersonalthingsforherBible.

Sinceallthenumbersequencesbeginwith‘3,’hegoes tothethirdchapter-Leviticus-noticesthatitsfirst facingpageisfaintlydog-eared-findsR.J’sverse- 1:14-on it:

HARRIETV/O

Ifa doveisthesinner’soffering, thepriestshallwringoffitshead, cleaveitswings,andburnitupon thealtar.

Pinchingacigaretteinashakinghand,Blomkvistpokes

beep.“Retry?”appearsonthecellscreen.

Backacrossthebridgebythegasstation,hemakesthe callonthepayphone.

BLOMKVIST

DetectiveMorell,it’sMikael Blomkvist.

MORELLO/S

Howareyou? NotstillinHedestadI hopeforyoursake.

BLOMKVIST

TheRebeckaCaseyoumentioned. Whatwasherlastnameifyourecall.

MORELL0O/S

Of courseIdo,butwhatwouldit havetodo withanything?

BLOMKVIST

Nothingprobably.

AsBlomkvistglancestothelastpageinHarriet’s addressbook,toR.J.30114-

MORELLO/S

Jacobsson.RebeckaJacobsson.

BLOMKVIST

Howwasshekilled?

MORELL0/S

Decapitated.Armscutoff.Burned.

past,headedforthebridge.

MORELL0/S

Butthishappenedinthe1940's-

BLOMKVIST

Hangona second.

Hewatchestheambulancespeedacrossthebridge.

BLOMKVIST

I’mgoingtocallyouback.

MORELL0O/S

Whathaveyou(found)-

Blomkvisthangsupandtakesoffatatrottowardthe bridge-

Hereachesthemanorjustastheambulanceisleaving

undone.

BLOMKVIST

What’shappened?

MARTIN

rubbingathisarm.Thencollapsed.

BLOMKVIST

Ishe (conscious)-

MARTIN

Ican’ttalk,Mikael,Ihaveto(go)-

BLOMKVIST

Go.

Martinpullsouttofollowtheambulancetothehospital. Blomkvistwatchesafterthem.

ThecatnapswhileBlomkvistlooksuptheotherLeviticus quotesfromHarriet’slistinherdog-earedBible-

HARRIETV/O

Thedaughterofanypriestwho profanesherselfbyplayingthe harlot,profanesherfather,and shallbeburnedwithfire-

HARRIETV/O

Awomanwhoisa mediumorsorcerer shallbeputtodeathbystoning-

There’saknock.HetucksthelistintheBible,sets asideandanswersthedoor.Frodecomesin.

FRODE

hedoesnow,wehavetosee.He’sin ICU.CanI haveoneofthose?

Hepointstothetable.

BLOMKVIST

A sandwich?

FRODE

A Scotch.

Blomkvistpourshimone,andanotherforhimself.

BLOMKVIST

I don’twanttobeindelicate.But HenrikpromisedmesomethingwhenI agreedtodothis.

FRODE

Wennerstrom.

I needtoknowwhathehasonhim. Now. Incase.

FRODE

In casehedies?Thatisindelicate.

BLOMKVIST

AndI apologize.

FRODE

I don’tknowwhathehasonhim,if you’reaskingme.Andhecan’ttell youin theconditionhe’sin.So... is thatitthen?

Silence.Blomkvistdrinks.Eventually-

BLOMKVIST

We alsoneverdiscussedwhoI'd reporttoifsomethinghappenedto him.

FRODE

You’dreporttome,butdoesit matter?Webothknownothing’sgoing to comeofthis.

BLOMKVIST

I’mnotso sure.

FrodelooksatBlomkvistalittlemoreintently.

FRODE

Whatdoyoumean?

BLOMKVIST

Imayhavefoundsomething.

FRODE

(pause) You’rejoking. (Blomkvistisn’t) Whatdidyoufind?

Nowit’sBlomkvistwhostudiesFrode.He’snotsurehe wantstotellhim.Andevenlesssothelongerhelooks.

BLOMKVIST

ThelasttimeIreportedsomething beforeIwassureofit,itcostme mysavings.

Frodestudieshimagain-wonderingperhapsifBlomkvist suspectshim.

BLOMKVIST

Ineeda researchassistant.Canyou authorizethat?

FRODE

Yes.Do youhaveone?

BLOMKVIST

Icanfindone.

FRODE

Iknowa goodone.Shedidthe backgroundcheckonyou.

BLOMKVIST

The.

FRODE

Doyouthinkwe’dhireanyonefor somethinglikethiswithoutdoing one?

Blomkvist’sbraintriestoquicklyinventoryhislife, pausingatitsdarkerrecesses.Frodenods.

FRODE

Yes,itwasquitethorough.

BLOMKVIST

Iwanttoreadit.

FRODE

ThatIcouldn’tauthorize.

Blomkvistisn’tsurehowtoplaythis.Thenheis. Setshisnapkindown,getsupandbeginstakingthings downfromthewall.Frodewatches.Thensighs.

OnlyafewlightsonintheMiltonSecuritybuilding.

Itisn’toftenasubjectofaninvestigationshowsupin hisoffice,butisalwaysawkwardwhenonedoes.

BLOMKVIST

yourreportwithme.

(itrestsonhislap)

Theinvestigator’snameisonit, butI canfindnorecordofher,and I’mprettygoodatthatsortof thing.

ARMANSKY

Woulditreallymatterwhathername 1s?

BLOMKVIST

It wouldifIwantedtospeaktoher, whichIdo.

ARMANSKY

Againstpolicy.

BLOMKVIST

Yousure?

ARMANSKY

understand.

BLOMKVIST

Letme giveyouanamethen.

Hejots“AnnikaGiannini”ononeofArmansky’sPost-Its.

BLOMKVIST

My sister.She’salawyer.

(gesturestothereport)

There’sinformationinherethat couldonlyhavecomefromoneplace. I thinkyouknowwhatImean.

Silence.Armanskytriesnottolooksick.Then-

ARMANSKY

Thereasonyoucanfindnorecordof herisbecauseherrecordshavebeen sealed.She’sawardoftheState.

BLOMKVIST

Whatdoesthathavetodowith anything.

ARMANSKY

She’shadaroughlife.Canwenot makeitrougheronher?

Blomkvistjustsitsthere,thepictureofcalm...

at atabledrinking,Salanderseemscomfortablewiththe noiseandherdatelessstatus,butdoesn’tavoidaglance fromanAsiangirlatthebar,anddoesn’ttellhertogo awaywhenshecomesoverandmotionstotheemptychair.

Salanderandthegirlfromtheclub,asleepinbed, entwinedlikesnakes.

Salanderwakes,disentanglesherself,andispaddingto thebathroomwhenthere’saknockonherdoor.

someoneknocksonitagain.Shecrossestoit,wrapping herselfinablanket.

SALANDER

Whoisit?

BLOMKVISTO/S

MikaelBlomkvist.

Hermindraces,asBlomkvist’sdidtothenewssomeone

itenoughtoseehim.He smiles,butit’sdisconcerting. She’snotsureit’saharmlessone.

BLOMKVIST

MayIcomein?

SALANDER

ActuallyI’mnotreallyup(yet)-

BLOMKVIST

That’sokay.

satchelwithhim.Takesintheplace,includingthegirl inthebedroom,inaglanceasheheadsforthekitchen.

BLOMKVIST

I assumedyouwouldn’thavehad breakfastyetsoIbroughtsomebagel

coffee?

SALANDER

Hey. Hey-

(hestops;looksback)

Whodo youthinkyouare?

BLOMKVIST

I’mtheguyyouknowbetterthanmy closestfriendsdo.

Heopenscabinetslookingforthecoffee.Shestares.

BLOMKVIST

We havealottotalkabout,sowhy don’tyoutakeashower,putonsome clothesandgetridofyour girlfriend.

Blomkvist,plungingaFrenchpress,watchesasthe girlfriendletsherselfout.Inthebedroom,Salander finishesgettingdressed,sticksherTaserintheback pocketofherjeansandcomesouttofindatablesetting that’smoreformalthanshe,oranyonewholivesalone, isusedto.

BLOMKVIST

You’reawake.Good.Breakfastis ready.

Hepoursher,andthenhimself,coffee.

BLOMKVIST

I guessIalarmedyoushowinguplike this.

SALANDER

If youtouchme,I’1lmorethanalarm you.

BLOMKVIST

Thatwon’tbenecessary.

tooneofthebagels-

BLOMKVIST

Yourreportonmewasquitedetailed butformenotveryentertaining.

A copyofitsitsnexttohisplate.

SALANDER

Itwasn’tmeanttobe.

BLOMKVIST

WhenIwriteaboutpeople,Itryto entertainthereader.

SALANDER

Wennerstromwasn’tentertained.

Blomkvistletsitgo.

BLOMKVIST

YourbossArmanskytellsmeyou onlyworkonthingsthatinterest you.I guessIshouldbeflattered. Healsosaysyou’retheonehegoes toforjobsthatare,‘sensitive’is thewordheused.I’1luse ‘illegal,’sincethatwhatitwas whenyouhackedintomycomputer. (theystudyeachother) I’mnotgoingtodoanythingabout that.I couldbutIwon’t.WhatI’m

itentertainsyou,maybeyou’1l decidetohelpmeresearchit further.Ifitdoesn’t,I’1llwash thedishesandleave...Areyou goingtoeventouchyourfood?

SALANDER

Whatkindofresearch?

BLOMKVIST

Lisbeth-mayIcallyouLisbeth?I wantyoutohelpmecatchakillerof women.

He’sarrangedsomeofhisresearchonthefloor,and watchesSalanderkneelingbeforeit,hereyespassing overphotographsoftheVangerclan,theaccidentonthe bridge,XeroxesoftheLeviticuslistandverses.

BLOMKVIST

I’veidentifiedR.J.Hername’s RebeckaJacobsson.

(MORE)

BLOMKVIST (CONT'D)

I havenoideawhotheothersare- or howthey’reconnectedtothedeath of a16yearoldgirl-buttheyhave to be.

Hiseyessettleonherblue-black“handcuffs”ashers settleonacopyofanoldHedestadCourierfrontpage: thearticleaboutthegrislymurderofRebeckaJacobsson.

BLOMKVIST

We needtosomehowfigureoutwho theyare,whathappenedtothem,what theLeviticusverseshavetodowith (anything)-

Shegetsup,goestoherdesk,beginsjottingsomething down,ignoringhim.

BLOMKVIST

Whatareyoudoing?

SALANDER

talkingifyouwant.

Blomkvist,slightlytakenaback,picksuptheLeviticus Xeroxfromthefloor.

BLOMKVIST

Wouldyoulikethis?

SALANDER

Gotit.

That’swhatshe’sjottingdown,frommemory:thenames, initialsandLeviticusnumbers.Shewakesherlaptop-

Hussein’staxibringsBlomkvistacrosstotheisland.

EXT/INT.COTTAGE-NIGHT

Hegetsoutwithhissatchel.Whistlesforthecat-

BLOMKVIST

I’mhome.

Hepicksupthebowloffoodheleftontheporch, unlocksthedoor,goesinside,andseesthecatnapping onhisdesk.Hestaresatit. Thenatthedoorhejust camethrough.Thenthewindows:allshut.

Nothinghasbeendisturbedasfarashecantell,but someonehasbeeninhere.

OMIT- 143A-161A

A windowonSalander’slaptopshowsamapofSweden dividedintoits21counties:Stockholm,Vasterbotten, Uppsala,etc.

ShestartswithSkane.Hacks*howeveronedoesthat* intoitspolicedepartment’scrimedatabase(orvarious countynewspapers’databases).

Shefillsintheyearfieldwith-1947-1966-and continuestotypesquickly.Whenweseewhatthatis, she’sinthemiddleoftypingthisfilterslist-

Homicide Female Rape Decapitation Dismemberment Fire Altar Priest Prostitute Unsolved Mari Magda Sara R.L.

Thesearchproducesascreenshowingmatchestosomeof thefilterwords-therestofthecasesynopsesgreyed out. Butalso,withallofthem,there’sthismessage:

FullPoliceReportNotDigitized

BlomkvistwatchesaHedestadlocksmithinstalladead- boltonhisfrontdoor.

Salandercomesoutofherapartmentbuildingontoan

mustbeabout3am.

Shetiesaduffelbagdown,climbsontothemotorcycle, kick-startsit,racesoffintothenight.

Salander’sHondaracespastapastoralagricultural landscape.

AnoldpolicedetectiveconsidersSalander’sdriver's license,herMiltonSecurityID,andalettersignedby thegiantsecurityfirm'sCEO,DraganArmansky.

No one’saskedmeaboutMagdainover 40 years.Noonehereevenremembers her.

Hewaitsforhertosaysomething,butshedoesn’tseem tounderstandconversationaldynamics,soit’suptohim.

Whywouldayoungladylikeyouwant to knowaboutsuchabrutalkilling.

SALANDER

It interestsme.

Doesit.

Shenods.He’snotsurewhichhefindsstranger-her

indicatethetattooonhers.

What’sthat.Awasp?

SALANDER

A friendofminecallsmethat.

So youtattooitonyourneck?

He’dbehorrifiedifoneofhisgrandchildrendidthat, butshejustshrugslikeit’snobigdeal.

Who’sthisfriend?

SALANDER

My trainer.

Aerobics?

SALANDER

Boxing.

Hardforhimtopicture.But,uponreflection-

Ihavea feelingyou’reprettygood atthat,eventhoughyouweigh-what -ninetypounds? (nothingfromher) Floatlikeabutterfly...

SALANDER

What?

(smiles) Comewithme,Muhammad.

Theoldmanrummagesthroughanoldfilecabinet.

Herhusbandwasourfirstsuspect- thehusbandisalwaysthefirst suspect,andusuallythelast-but

neighbor.Thenavagrant-

Hepullsathick,yellowedfolderoutandsitswithit andherata table.

Onceyougettostrangers,it’sonly amatteroftimebeforeyougetto gypsies,andyouknowyou’renever goingtosolveit.

Andthattroubleshimstill,thatheneversolvedit.

SALANDER

Howexactlywasshekilled?

Miss-I’msorry-

SALANDER

Salander.

MissSalander,ifyoudon’tmindmy asking,when’sthelasttimeyouate?

SALANDER

I haveahighmetabolism.Ican’t putonweight.

That’snotwhyIask. Iaskbecause it’sbettertolookatwhatI’mabout to showyouonanemptystomach.

Hepushesthefolderacrossthetabletoher...

OMIT-161E-1611

Blomkvistcomesintofind-likeMorelldid40years ago-a strangetableauxofsuspects-twoofwhomhe’s onlyyetseeninphotographsonhiscottagewall-

Birger,Cecilia,Frode,Martin,Gunnar,Anna,and, lookinglikeanagingoverdressedvampire,Isabella, smokingacigarette.

Howis he?

FrodetakesBlomkvistaside.

FRODE

He needssurgeryandthere’snoDNR. So it’suptothefamilytodecideto resuscitateornot,andthey’renot goodatdecisions.

Heglancesovertothem.Isabella’sstaringback.

FRODE

How’ditgowithMs.Salander?

BLOMKVIST

Shesaidyes.

Isabellagetsuptocomeover-

CanI seeHenrik?

FRODE

He wasasleepwhenIlastlookedin. We cancheck.

ISABELLA

No,youcan’tcheck.Youcan instructhimtopackhisthingsand leave.

MARTIN

Mother-

ISABELLA

Don’tusethattonewithme. (toBlomkvist) Thisfamily’shadenoughtragedy withoutyoudredgingitallupagain.

FRODE

Actually,Isabella,Mr.Blomkvist worksforHenrik.

ISABELLA

Andwhodoyouworkfor,Dirch? Remindmewhopaysyoursalary?

BIRGER

Weshouldputthistoavote.

MARTIN

Don’tbeanidiot,Birger.

BIRGER

It’safamilydecisionlikeany other.Cecilia?

CECILIA

What.

BIRGER

AmI right?

CECILIA

Youaresoseldomrightabout anything,it’shardformetosay yes.But (yes)-

MARTIN

No. WeshoulddowhatHenrikwants, andweknowwhathewants.

ISABELLA

Henrik-isintherefightingfor hislife.This- (pointstoBlomkvistlike he’sanobject) -is thelastthingheneeds.

A nursechoosesthis-theabsoluteworsttime-to approachIsabella.

NURSE0O/S

Excuseme,Mrs.Vanger,youcan’t smokeinhere.

Isabellagivesthenursealooksohardit’salmost frightening-calmlyflicksanashonthefloor-waits forthenursetoleave-andlooksbackatBlomkvist.

ISABELLA

Go backtoStockholm.Whenwewanta falsechronicleofthefamilywritten by alibelist,weknowwhotocall.

AsFrodeguessed,Henrikisasleep,wireduptomonitors, anddoesn’tstirasBlomkvistlooksinonhim.

Salander’smotorcycleparkedoutside.

Asyoungtravelerswithhugebackpackstrytosleep aroundher,SalanderreadstoherselffromaBibleby flashlight.Leviticus4:32-

HARRIET/PERNILLA

If aman’sofferingisalamb,it shallbea femalewithoutblemish.He shalllayhishanduponit’shead ..--Slaughterit...emptyit’sblood on thebaseofthealtar...andhe shallbeforgiven.

Anotherpolicestation.

Det.Isakssonisonthephone-

Forgetwhatshelookslike,Ivouch forher-

AnotheroldpolicedetectivehasSalander’scredentials andaphoneinhand-

DET.ISAKSSONO/S

She’ssmart.Andshe’sseriousabout this.

TheoldUddevalladetectiveregardsSalanderwaitingat thecounter.Intothephone-

UDDEVALLYDETECTIVE

(convincedbutjustbarely) Allright.Thanks.

Hehangsup. ToSalander-

UDDEVALLADETECTIVE

Thisway,Miss.

Heescortshertothefileroom.

OMIT-EXT.POLICESTATION-FARSTAESTABLISHING

JustlikeIsaksson,theUddevalladetectivepullsopen anoldcabinetdrawer,findsaparticularancientfolder in itandhandsittoSalander.Shebeginsflipping throughthereportsandcrimephotosinsideit,butwe don’tseethem.

SALANDER

CanImakecopies?

UDDEVALLADETECTIVE

Icanmakethemforyouifour machine’sbeenrepaired.

SALANDER

That’sokay.

Shebeginsphotographingthereportsandcrimescene pictureswithhercameraasthedetectivewatchesher, notwithoutsomekindofstrangesenseofadmiration.

OMIT: INT.COTTAGE-EVENING

BlomkvistconsidersBirger’sphotoonhiswall:Brother ofCecilia,sonofHaraldtheNazi,21-years-oldwhenhis cousinHarrietdisappeared...

BlomkvistandMartindrinkSkane.Martin’snormally breezydemeanorseemstohavesufferedfromhismother’s publicdisplays.Embarrassedbythemandher,he’smore seriousnow.

MARTIN

Myfamilyisimpossible.It’swhy thecompanyissuchamess.

(MORE)

MARTIN(CONT'D)

Pleaseacceptmyapologyformy mother’sbehavior.

BLOMKVIST

It’sallright.

MARTIN

It’snotallright,she’sunbearable. Butit hasnothingtodowithyou. It’sbetweenherandHenrik...She

drinking-herstateofmind-itall gotso badHenriktookmeandmy sisterawayfromher,leavingher aloneinouroldhouseontheother Sideoftheislandlikeshewas excommunicated.She’sneverforgiven him.

Andheseemsaslostnowashemusthavebeenthen.

MARTIN

Youhavetostayandkeepworking. You’reHenrik’slastchanceatsome

forhimonewayof theother,and I’lltrytokeepmymotheraway. But,please,doitasquicklyasyou can.

BLOMKVIST

I’1ll(try)-

appears,roarsup,parks.Salanderclimbsoffitand

her.

BLOMKVIST

Lisbeth,thisisMartinVanger.

MARTIN

Howdo youdo.

SALANDER

Fine.

Shecomespastthemwithoutanotherword.Martincan’t

herasshedisappearsintothecottage.It’shardto believe,buthehastoask:

MARTIN

Girlfriend?

BLOMKVIST

Assistant.

alreadyunpackingherthings-laptop,charger,changeof clothes.What’sshedoing,movingin?

BLOMKVIST

Anytroublefindingtheplace?

SALANDER

Everyoneintownknowswhoandwhere youare.

BLOMKVIST

That’scomforting.Areyouhungry? Wantasandwich?

SALANDER

No.

Busysettingupherlaptoponhisdesk,startingitup, sittingdownatit,she’sallbutignoringhim.

BLOMKVIST

Iusedtohavea motorcycle.WhenI was19.

SALANDER

Iknow.

Shehandshimherowndog-earedBibleandacopyofthe listofnamesandinitialshegaveher-

SALANDER

ThefivecasesfromHarriet’s list.Andfivemoreshemissed- threeI’msureabout.

Fivemore?Blomkviststaresatherbutshe’sturnedback toher laptop,bringinguppolicereportsandcrimescene photos.

SALANDER

Rebeckawasthefirst,likeyou thought...M.H.,isMariHolmberg -a prostituteinKalmar-murdered in1954.Leviticusverse20,line

“Ifa manlieswithawomanhaving hersickness,hehasmadenakedher fountainandshehasuncoveredthe fountainofherblood.”

Blomkvistdoesn’tseeaconnection.

SALANDER

Shewasrapedandstabbed,butthe causeofdeathwassuffocationwitha Sanitarynapkin.R.L.RakelLunde, 1957-

Salanderbringsupmorecrimephotos-

SALANDER

Cleaningwomanandpart-timepalm reader,tiedupwithaclothesline, gagged,raped,headcrushedwitha rock. Leviticus20:27.

BLOMKVIST

“A womanwhoisamediumorsorcerer shallbeputtodeathbystoning.”

She’slitacigaretteandbringsupthenextphotos-

BLOMKVIST

I onlysmokeoutside.

SaraWitt,1964.Daughterofa pastor.Tiedtoherbed,raped, charredinthefirethatburned downherhouse.Leviticus-

BLOMKVIST

21:9.“Thedaughterofanypriest whoprofanesherselfbyplayingthe harlot,profanesherfatherand shallbeburnedwith(fire)-

MagdaLovisaSjoberg,1960-

Severalphotosofadeadwomananddeadcow-

SALANDER

Foundina barn,stabbedandraped withfarmtools.Acowin thenext stallwithitsthroatslit,itsblood splashedonher,hersonit.

BLOMKVIST

Leviticus20:16-“Ifawomanlies withanybeast,youshallkillthe womanandthebeast,theirbloodis upon(them)-

SALANDER

(againonhislastword) LeaPersson,1962-

A photoofaprettygirlinridingjodhpurs,pettinga horse,andseveralmoreofherdeadnakedbodyonawet cementfloorsurroundedbytropicalfish.

SALANDER

Foundbyhersisterintheirpet shop-raped,beaten.Thekiller uncagedtheanimals,smashedthe

insideher.Leviticus26:21/22.

BeforeBlomkvistcanfindtheverse,she’sontothenext ones.Morephotosofmurderedgirls-

SALANDER

EvaGustavsson,1960.Arunaway. Raped,strangled,aburntpigeon

Andersson,1967,astudent.Raped, stabbed,decapitated-

BLOMKVIST

Okay-

SALANDER

I’mnotdone-

BLOMKVIST

It’sallright,we’relookingfora serialmurderer...Butwhatdoesit havetodowitha 16-year-oldgirl onanisland?

Salander,asweknow,isnotpaidtogiveheropinion. She’sahunter/gatherer,notananalyst.ButBlomkvist asked,soshegivesit-

SALANDER

Shewaslookingforhim,too.

OMIT- INT.COTTAGE-NIGHT

Thesilencetheyjustlefthasfollowedthemouthere. Theisland,morethanever,feelshauntedasBlomkvist looksoff,smoking.

BLOMKVIST

Rape. Torture.Fire.Animals. Religion.AnythingI’mmissing?

SALANDER

Thenames.They’reallBiblical. Thefirstwoman,thewhore,the VirginMary-Sara,Rakel-allfrom theOldTestament.

BLOMKVIST

Whichmeansthey’reJewishnames.

HeglancesofftoHarald’sdarkhouse.

BLOMKVIST

If there’sonethingtheVangershave morethantheirshareof,it’sNazis. There’soneofthem.

TheNazi’sshadowyformcrossesbehindtheshades...

Hepokesatembersinthefireplacetotrycoaxsome flames.

BLOMKVIST

I canseewhyArmanskyvaluesyouso highly.Yourworkisverygood.

SALANDER

It interestsme.

Hetakesablanketfromthebackofachair.

BLOMKVIST

I’lltakethecouch.Youcanhave thebed.

SALANDER

I cansleeponacouch.

BLOMKVIST

So canI.

Shetakestheblanketfromhimandsitswithitonthe couch.Hewatchesheramoment.

BLOMKVIST

Okay. (headsofftothebedroom) Goodnight.

SALANDER

Night.

Sheswitchesoffthelamp.Then,inamoment,inthe dark-

SALANDER

Harriet’snameisn’t.

BLOMKVIST

Isn’twhat.

SALANDER

Jewish.

SalanderbrowsesthroughaniPhotoalbumofold photographsofBlomkvistandthemotorcyclehementioned. In someofthem,Erikaiswithhim.Inallofthem,he’s wearingaleatherjacketnotunlikeSalander’s.

BLOMKVISTO/S

Whatareyoudoing?

He’sjustwokenupinatangleofblanketsonthecouch to seeherathislaptop.Sheclosesthealbum,leaving onthe screenwhatshewaslookingatbefore:hisiMovie oftheparadeandsomeannotatedpolicefiles.

SALANDER

Goingoveryournotes.

BLOMKVIST

They’reencrypted.

Shegiveshimadon’t-be-a-childlook.

SALANDER

Havesomecoffee.

BLOMKVIST

Iwill. Andthenwe’llhaveatalk aboutwhat’syoursandwhat’smine.

Blomkvistdragshimselfup,pourshimselfsomecoffee, addssomemilk.

SALANDER

It’samazingwhatyoufiguredout fromtheparadephotos.

BLOMKVIST

Thankyou.

SALANDER

Toobadyoudon’thavehers.

BLOMKVIST

Whose.

Shedoesn’tsay.Hecomesover.SheplaystheiMovie,

toayoungcouplestandingamongthepeoplebehindher. ThewomanhasanInstamaticcamerainherhand.

SALANDER

Her.

Sheadvancestothenextframe:Thewomanhasraised thecameratohereye.

Andthenext:Harrietturningherheadinforeground whileinthebackgroundtheflashcubeatopthewoman’s Instamaticflaresslightly.

Blomkvistisstunned,byboththefacthedidn’tnotice itbefore,andwhatitmeans:Thoughthewomanistaking asnapshotoftheparade,shecouldhaveinadvertently includedinitwhatever-whoever-Harrietsawatthat momentacrossthestreet.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme.

Hetakesoverhislaptopfromher,findsthelater Courierphotoshedidn’tincludeinhisiMovie,after Harriethasleft.

Inone,thecoupleismovingofftheotherway.In another,they’regettinginaparkedcartoleave.

plateispartlyvisible,buttoosmallforhimtomake outevenbysquinting.

BLOMKVIST

Canyoureadthat?

SALANDER

A, C,Three-therestisblocked.

He focusesonadecalonthecar’sbackwindow.The lettersareevensmallandblurrier,butshethinksshe canmakeout-

SALANDER

N,something,R,S,J-

BLOMKVIST

Norsjo.

SALANDER

Thensomething,K,something,R,I, F,something,I-

BLOMKVIST

Carpentry. (pointsbelowtheletters) Isthataphonenumber?

SALANDER

Toosmalltoread.

Hegetsup. Headsforthefrontdoortosmokehis Cigaretteoutside-

BLOMKVIST(ADR)

I’mgoingtohavetogotoNorsjo.

Heopensthedoortoleaveandseesontheporch-

Thecharredcorpseofthecat.Itslegs-sawnoffand arrangedintheshapeofaswastika-lieinthemiddle of adarkcircleofblood.

He seemstoostartledtomove,butwhenSalandersees it,sheimmediatelygetshercameraandbeginsframing close-upsofthecatparts,anditsheadrestingatop theseatofhermotorcycle.

BlomkviststaresoffatHarald’shouse...

OMIT:EXT.COTTAGE-MORNING

OMIT: INT.FRODE’SHOUSE-DAY

AsFrodescrollsthroughthephotosofthedismembered caton Salander’scamera,horrifiedbythem,sheregards at atableacrosstheroom:Birger,IsabellaandGunner.

BLOMKVIST

Iwouldn’tthinkHaraldwouldsign hisnamelikethis,wouldyou?

FRODE

I can’tsayIknowhowhethinks.He might.

BLOMKVIST

Hasanyonespokentohimaboutme sinceI’vebeenhere?

FRODE

MaybeIsabella.Nooneelse.

BLOMKVIST

Couldshedosomethinglikethis?

Frodeglancesofftoher.She’sstaringatSalander. AndturnstoBirger.

ISABELLA

Who’sthiscreaturenow?

Frodetakesonemorelookatthephotosbefore-

FRODE

I’mcallingthisoff.

BLOMKVIST

No. You’reauthorizingmetorent a Car.

BlomkvistandSalandercomingdownacorridorontheir wayout.

BLOMKVIST

I’msorryifthatwasuncomfortable.

SALANDER

Theydon’tbotherme.

BLOMKVIST

I’msurethey’renotusedtopeople wholooklikeyou.

SALANDER

Theydon’tlikeyoueither.

Acaranda motorcyclesplitapartataninterchange- theVolvotothenorth,Salander’sHondatothesouth.

SalanderpullsherHondaintoanundergroundgarage.

Noone sayshellotoher-norshetothem-asshe stridesthroughtheplacetothetechroom.

INSERT:Casessnappedopenrevealingsophisticated surveillanceequipment-severalcameras,mounts,hand monitor,cables.

TECHCLERK

Ican’tgiveyouanyofthis stuffwithoutauthorizationfrom Mr.Armansky.

SALANDER

Socallhim.

Theclerkpicksupaphone,butthensetsitbackdown. Picksupthelistagain.

TECHCLERK

Nexttime,I'dpreferyoufillout theproperpaperwork.

A Volvospeedsalongaruralhighway,farfromHedestad andtheVangers.

Onthepassengerseat-

INSERT:thecarrentalagreement-aprintofthe paradephotoofthecouplegettingintothecarhewas lookingatwithSalanderonhislaptop-andahand- writtennotethatreads-

NORS JO SNICKERIFABRIK

EXT/INT.HIGHWAY/VOLVO—-DAY

A POVthroughthewindshieldofahighwaysignalertshim theNorsjoexitiscomingup.

a stopoutsideitsonlyhardwarestore.

An ancientplacewithnarrowaislescrammedwithstuff.

CLERK1

CanIhelpyou?

Theclerk-forwhatBlomkvistneeds-istooyoung.

BLOMKVIST

I’mwaitingfortheoldergentleman, thanks.

Hegesturestoaclerkinhis60’shelpingacustomer.

Theolderclerklooksattheparadephotoofthecouple.

BLOMKVIST

Thecarpentryshopisgone.Idon’t knowifhe workedthereornot.Ifhe did,maybeheusedtobuyhardware here.

CLERK2

I don’trecognizehim.Sorry.

BLOMKVIST

I hadtostartsomewhere.Thanks.

Ashegathersupthephotostoleave-

CLERK2

I’mno detective,butIthinkI would’vestartedattheretirement home.

Blomkvistlooksup.Notabadidea.

Salanderchecksa‘mirror’ofBjurman’scomputeronher

himtowrite.

Agroupofelderlymenandwomeninarecroompass Blomkvist’sphotosaround.Oneoldmanoffers-

FORSMAN

ThisisBrannlund’skid.Hewasa contractor,thefather.

BLOMKVIST

Brannlund.

FORSMAN

Assar.

Blomkvistwritesthenamedown.

BLOMKVIST

Youwouldn’thappentoknowwhereI couldfindhim,theson?

FORSMAN

Nexttohisfatheratthecemetery. Hewaskilledinanaccidentonajob

alive- (thewomaninthepicture) Hiswidow.

Sheis stillalive,andsittingacrossfromBlomkvistin herlivingroomashetakesouthisphotos-

BLOMKVIST

In1966,youwereinHedestadwith yourhusband.

He showsheroneofthephotos.

MILDRED

Oh,mygoodness,thereweare.Who tookthis?

BLOMKVIST

Photographeratthelocalpaper.

Shesmilesatthepicture;itbringsbackgoodmemories.

BLOMKVIST

Youweretakingpictures,too.Which I’dverymuchliketoseeifbysome miracleyoustillhavethem.

MILDRED

Itwouldn’tbeamiracle.Wewereon ourhoneymoon.Butwhy?

to. IndicatesHarrietinthephoto-

BLOMKVIST

Thisgirlwaskilledthatday,soon afterseeingsomethingacrossthe streetthatfrightenedher.

MILDRED

Howawful.

Blomkvistnods;Mildredtakesacloserlookatthephoto.

MILDRED

Shedoeslookterrified.

Mildredgetsupwithpurpose,goesintoanotherroom, returnswithaphotoalbum.Leafspastweddingphotos, tohoneymoonphotosandstopsontheonlyoneshetook oftheparade.ShehandsthealbumtoBlomkvist.

Thesnapshotshowsthefloatwiththeharemgirlsin foreground,and-inthebackground,acrossthestreet- severaloutoffocusfigures-

BLOMKVIST

WouldyoumindifImadea copyof this?

Establish.

Hegetsintheelevatorwithoutreallylookingatthe figurealreadyinit.

BJURMAN

Ground,please.

startsdown.

SALANDER

How’syoursexlife?

Bjurman,terrified,backsintoacorner.Shepressesa buttonandtheelevatorjerkstoastopbetweenfloors.

SALANDER

I didn’tcaremuchforyourlast report.

(whichshehasinhand)

It feltperfunctory,likeyourheart wasn’tinit. Let’sseealittle moreenthusiasmformyrecoveryin nextmonth’s.

BJURMAN

I under(stand)-

SALANDER

Don’tspeak.Idon’twanttohear yourvoice.Justnod.

Henods.

SALANDER

Startlookingforashrinkyoucan bribetoswearunderoathhecanfind absolutelynothingwrongwithme.

Henods. Shegetstheelevatorgoingagainandsteps

rapedher.

SALANDER

Andstopvisitingtattooremoval websitesorI’lldoitagain-right here.

openandshestepsout,leavinghiminthere,lookingtoo frightenedtomove.Thedoorsclose.

HavingreturnedandscannedMildred’ssnapshotinto Photoshop,Blomkvistbetterdefinesonhislaptopits backgroundandthepeopleinframeacrossthestreet fromwhereHarrietwasstanding:

INSERT:Couples,kids,aclown.

INSERT:Thewatchrepairshopclockthatreads,2:00.

INSERT:Afigurestandingslightlyapartfromtheother people.

It’stooblurrytomakeouthisfaceorage,buthehas lightbrownhair,darkslacks,andadarkblazerwith somekindofpatchonthepocket.

Salanderblastsontothehighwayheadednorth.

INTCOTTAGE-AFTERNOON

BlomkvistregardsIsabella’stwophotosonthewall.

Inone she’sastunningyoungwoman.Intheother,the oldwreckshe’sbecome.

HeglancestoherhusbandGottfried’sphoto.Wherea secondmorecurrentphotoofhimshouldgoisaCourier articleabouthisdrowningin1965.That’swhenIsabella changed-andthisiswhereithappened-inthisold houseoutonthepoint.

Heuntacksthearticle-

Theboathousehasn’tfaredwell.Neitherhasthedock Blomkvisthastowalkontoreachit.Heglancesinside- noboat,justdarkwaterslappingagainstthepilings- looksbacktotheshoreatthelong-uninhabitedcabin.

Noelectricitybutenoughlightspillsthroughtheopen doorforhimtoseetheneglected,shadowyinterior:

Bedswithbare,orno,mattresses.Sticksoffurniture.

otherdebrisleftbyintrepidHedestadteenagers.

It’screepy,evenifyouweren’taloneinit,knowing whatyouknow.

Hekneelstolookatsomeofthebooks.MickeySpillane, abirdguidebook,somethingcalledTheEvilEmpireabout theUSSR,achildren’sbook.Heopensthislastoneand sees“Harriet”scrawledinaveryyoungchild’shand.

Havingclimbedthecliffabovethecabin,hefinds

restattheruinsofafort.

Apieceofthestonewallnexttohisheadsuddenly erupts.Asfragmentstearintohisscalp,hehearsthe delayedcrackandechooftherifleshot-

butcan’tfeelawoundunderit.Toucheshisfaceand findsthebloodiscomingfromhisforehead.

Hecanseenoone,andisalmostrelievedsinceifhe coulditwouldmeantheywerewalkingtowardhim,which wouldmeanhewouldsoonbeshotdead,pointblank.

him-therockycliffhejustclimbed.Aheadofhim-a clearingleadingtowoods.Reallyonlyonechoice-

thicketandstingingnettlesthattearathisarmsand

elbowsandtoeslikeaninfantryman.

Safeforthemoment,hefigures,hiddeninthewoods,he looksatthesunlowinthesky,anddecidestowait.

Salander,returnedfromStockholm,movesaroundthe cottage-insideandout-installingtheequipmentshe broughtfromMiltonSecurity:

Motiondetectors-securitycameras-softwarethat bisectsaPCscreenintoquadrantsshowingnight-vision viewsofeachcornerofthecottage.

OMIT:EXT. HEDEBYISLAND-EVENING

A figureappearsonaquadrantofSalander’ssurveillance PC. Comespastthemotorcycleandnearlyreachesthe porchbeforeshehears-

BLOMKVISTO/S

It’sme.

Sheopensthedoortoseehimcoveredinblood,pressing a tornpieceofhisshirttohisbleedinghead-and almostgasps.

BLOMKVIST

It’sthatbad?

Sheturnsthebathtub’shotwatertap-

BLOMKVIST

Isitstillbleeding? (touchesthewound) It’sstillbleeding...whyisit stillbleeding...

Shepullsalengthofdentalflossfromitscase-

BLOMKVIST(ADR)

Isthatdentalfloss?

SALANDER

Yes.

Splitsitintwothinnerlengthswithherchewedfinger nails-

Feedsoneofthelengthsofflossthroughtheeyeofa needle-

BLOMKVIST

Whatisthat- (hecanseeit’saneedle) Isthatnecessary?

SALANDER

Yes.

BLOMKVIST

We can’tjusttapeit?

SALANDER

No.

Sheperchesontheedgeofthetubwherehesits-still inhispants-half-submergedintepidwater-bottleof vodkainhishand.

BLOMKVIST

Didyousterilizethat?

SALANDER

No.

BLOMKVIST

Youdidn’t?

goesinthewater.Handsthebottlebacktohim.

SALANDER

Drinksomemore.

facewiththeneedleandfloss-

BLOMKVIST

Careful,it’smyeye.

SALANDER

Don’tmove.

Ittakesallhe’sgotnottomove,andeventhatisn’t enoughasshefirststickstheneedlethroughtheflesh. Hepullsawaywithagroan.

ofvodkatosteelhimself.

Shepierceshimasecondtime,drawstheflossthrough theskin.Andafterthatitdoesn’tseemtobesobad.

Assheworks,hiseyesglancetoherswithamixtureof dreadandgratitude,buthersarefocusedonthework. Hersthenbrieflyglancetohis,butnowhisaredown.

Hecomesoutofthebathroominhissoakingwetpantsand collapsesonthebed.Sheworkstopullhispantsoff.

BLOMKVIST

WhatamIdoinghere...whydidI evercomeuphere...

Hetouchesthewoundandlooksathisfingers-

BLOMKVIST

It’stoodarktosee...diditstop bleeding...Ithinkmaybeithas itstillfuckinghurts...

Sheregardsthesurveillancemonitor,thenight-vision viewsofthecottage.Shecan’tbelieveitbutshefeels vigilantmoreforhissakethanherown.

Shegoestoa windowandlooksout.Seesherown

bootsoff.

Shecomesintothebedroominhert-shirtandunderwear. He’sstillmutteringwithoutlookingather.

BLOMKVIST

Itwasn’tanaccident... Somebodywasshootingatme... It’sinsane...thesepeopleare insane...

SALANDER

Noone’sshootingatyounow.

Shepullshert-shirtoverhisstitched-uphead, cocooningitagainstherbreasts.Silence.Then-

BLOMKVIST

I’mprettysurethisisn’tagood idea.

SALANDER

Why.

Heextractshisheadfromthecocoonandlooksather.

BLOMKVIST

ApartfromthefactthatI’mold,we worktogether.

SALANDER

Youworkwithwhat’s-her-name. That’sworkedoutforyou.

Henods. That’strue.Then-

BLOMKVIST

I havesomestandardsofbehavior, believeitornot.

SALANDER

Youneedtostoptalking.

Sheclimbsontopofhim.

Afterwards.Sheopenshisdwindlingpackofcigarettes. Lightsone.Glancesovertohimlyingnexttoher.He’s notlookingatthesmokebutratherthestartlingtattoos onherbarelegsandarms.Eventually-

SALANDER

Youwantmeto openawindow?

adrag.Handsitback.

thetable.SitswithSalander.Listenstothatawkward, butnotaltogetherunpleasantsilenceyoualwayshearin thissituationthenextmorning.Shebreaksit-

SALANDER

I likeworkingwithyou.

BLOMKVIST

I likeworkingwithyou,too.

OMIT-INT.HOSPITALCAFETERIA-DAY

Establish.

FrodeandMartinstareatBlomkvist’sunprofessionally suturedheadwound;Salandernearhimlikeanemaciated bodyguard.

FRODE

Peoplehuntontheisland,Mikael. Gunner’soutthereshootingsomething

couldhavebeenastrayshot.

MARTIN

shoothim,he’dhaveshothim.

FRODE

Wegetpoachers.They’renotalways suchgreatshots.

MARTIN

Orhe’sright,Dirch.Whatifheis? Thishastostop.

FroderegardsBlomkvist.

FRODE

Doyouwanttostop?

BLOMKVIST

Ihavepolicereports,photos, Henrik’snotes,myownnotes,and Lisbeth’sresearch.WhatIdon’t haveareVangerIndustriesrecords. That’swhatIwant.

FRODE

Why?

Blomkvistdoesn’tsay.Only-

BLOMKVIST

Willyouauthorizeit?

FRODE

IcouldbutwhyonearthwouldI?

BLOMKVIST

BecauseI’masking.

FRODE

Theprivatecorporaterecords. (Blomkvistnods) Howfarback?

BLOMKVIST

Alltheway.

FrodeexchangesalookwithMartin.

BLOMKVIST

HenriksaidIhaveaccessto

need.

FRODE

That’snotwhathemeant.

BLOMKVIST

Let’saskhim.

FRODE

He’snotwellenoughtoask.

BLOMKVIST

I'dbe happytosignanondisclosure statement,ifthathelpsyou.

FRODE

Excuseusamoment.

FrodeandMartinstepawaytoconferinprivate.

MARTIN

I thinkHenrikwouldsayyes.

FRODE

That’swhyhehasme. Toprotect himfromhimself.Thisisinsane.

MARTIN

Whatdowe havetohide?

FRODE

Overthecourseof120yearsof doingbusiness?Plenty.

MARTIN

If heneedsthistodohisjob,he shouldhavepermission.

Thisgoesagainsteveryprivileged,confidentialbone inthelawyer’sbody.HecanonlystareatBlomkvistand Salanderacrosstheroom,wonderingwhyhehiredeither oneofthem.

BlomkvistandSalanderwalkdowntheroadfromMartin’s house.

SALANDER

WhatamI lookingfor?

BLOMKVIST

Anyconnectionsbetweenthe company’sholdingsandthetowns wherethewomenwerekilled...and everythingaboutFrode.

VangerIndustries’corporatearchivesarekeptinthe oldestbuildinginthetown’swarehousedistrict.The rumbleofSalander’smotorcycleannouncesherarrival.

Likesomeonevisitingarelativetheyneverliked, Blomkvistreviewsyetagainthephotosfrom‘thatday’- scrollingthroughthebridgeaccidentshots-

He stops.Oneofthefigureshassomethinginhishand hehadn’tnoticedbefore.Itandthefigurearesomewhat

sharpensthecontrasttorevealthatthegunisinfacta Hasselblad-typecamera.Looksattheman’sface-then athiswallofVangerfamilyphotos-unhappytoseeit matchesHarald...

Carbon-copiedororiginaldocumentsfromthe50’sand 60’ssurroundSalanderlikethewateraroundtheisland:

Financialanalyses,annualreports,internalmemoranda, tradeunionagreements,brittlenewsclippings,corporate staffphotographs,oneofwhichshe’sregardingnow:A muchyoungerFrode,posingagainstawalloflawbooks.

ThephotoofHaraldinhisNaziuniformonthewall.

BLOMKVISTV/O

Yourfatherwastakingpictures thatdaynoonehasseen.

CecilialooksattheblurredbridgephotoofHaraldwith thecamerainhishand.ThenatBlomkvist,coolly.

BLOMKVIST

I’dliketoifI could.

CECILIA

Soaskhim.

BLOMKVIST

Iwaswonderingifyoucoulddothat.

CECILIA

Idon’tspeaktohim,asyouknow.

BLOMKVIST

Youcouldn’tmakeanexceptioninmy case.

withwomen,butdoesn’tseemtohavemuchaffectonher.

CECILIA

Areyouafraidtobeinthesame roomwithhim?I’mnotsayingyou shouldn’tbe.

BLOMKVIST

Youwon’thelpme?

CECILIA

Sorry.

Salandergetsupandcrossestoananteroomwherean unhappyolderwoman-thearchivemanager-seemstobe doingnothingbutwaitingforthestrangegirltoleave.

LINDGREN

Areyoufinished?

SALANDER

No. I needtoknowwhereallthe factories,officesandprojectswere from1949to1966.

LINDGREN

Youalreadyhaveeverything.

SALANDER

I don’t.Nothingonsubsidiary corporations,partnerships,or suppliers.

LINDGREN

Thenyou’1llhavetodowithout.

SALANDER

whateverIneed,andIneedthis.

LINDGREN

He saidyouhaveaccesstothis floor.

SALANDER

Callhim.

Thewomanstaresatherforalongmoment,thenpicksup thephone.

Shelf.Salanderdoesn’thelpheroffthestoolandthe womanlooksatherevenmoreunhappilythanbefore.

Theblinds,asusual,closed.Coupleoflampsthrow shadowsonthewallswhichdisplayhuntingandmilitary trophies-wildgameheads,sabersandvintagefirearms- someofHarald’sdearerphotographs-somephotographsin dustyframes.

Blomkvist,aloneintheroom,looksatthem:Swedish Nazileaderinthe1930's.

HARALD

SvenOlofLindholm.

The92-year-oldcomesintotheroomfromthekitchen,

youngermaninthephoto,alsoinaNaziuniform,that Blomkvistislookingat.

HARALD

Me.

waitsformoreofaresponse.Finally-

BLOMKVIST

Handsome.

HARALD

(tapsanother) BirgerFurugard.Me. (andanother) PerEngdahl. (andanother) Me.

Blomkvist’seyesshifttoabolt-actionMauserinfantry rifledisplayedonashelf...

HARALD

Butyourinterestisinmymore candidphotographicwork.

Spreadoutonthedesk:Amapof Swedenshowingthe factorysitesandotherVangerholdings-andoneshe

appearatthesamelocationsonboth.

On ahandwrittenlistofthevictims,sheputsacheck nexttoRebeckaJacobsson,1949,Hedestad-movesonto MariHolmberg,1954,Kalmar-beginssiftingthroughthe mountainofVangerIndustriesclippingsfromthatyear-

AbonyNazipouringteainashadowyroomwithyouis bad,buttherabbit-printteacozyonlymakesitworse.

Blomkvisttriestoignorehimsettlingbackinhisworn leatherchairwithhischippedcup,andsiftsthroughan oldshoeboxofunsortedphotographs:

AholidayatLakeComo,early1950’sjudgingfromthe cars;aVangerfamilygatheringlongago;somemenposing byaslainwildboardanglingfromarope.

over,pullsoneout.

HARALD

Blom...kvist...

(lightsthecigarette)

Withan ‘o’-ora ‘u.’

BLOMKVIST

‘oo.’

HARALD

An ‘o.’Blom-kvist.

Haralddoesn’tsayit,buthisnodmeans,‘notJewish then.Good’Blomkvistreturnstothephotos,glancing upoccasionallytothesmokecurlinguppastHarald’s faceasheexaminesthejournalistatwork.

HARALD

I’mnota recluse.Idon’tclose my doortoanyone.Theyjustdon’t visit.

BLOMKVIST

Perhapsifyouredecorated.

HARALD

a thin,shinyveneer.LikeanIkea table.

(Blomkvistshrugs)

I’mthemosthonestofallofthem.

BLOMKVIST

Thefamily.

HARALD

Sweden.

photographofthebridgeaccident,and,underit,afew more.Hetakesthemoutandanglesthemtowardalamp.

HARALD

Twopointeight.

BLOMKVIST

Pardonme?

HARALD

TheZeissTessaronmyHasselblad. Excellentlens.

Blomkvisttriestonodappreciatively,butthebridge photosdon’ttellhimanythinghedoesn’talreadyknow.

He findsseveralmorethatappeartobeahunting expedition-menandbloodhounds-butthenseesMorell inone,morepolicemen,andastrickenHenrikinboots andraincoat,andrealizesthisisthesearchparty.Off tothe side,ayoungman,headturnedhalfaway,wearing a darkblazerwithagoldpatch,whichthat2.8Zeiss lensmakesclearisaprepschoolinsignia.Alion.

HARALD

Landscape?Somenicelandscapes there.

BLOMKVIST

No,it’s-I can’ttellwhoitis fromthisangle.

HetakesthephotoovertotheNaziwhoonlyhasto glanceatitamomenttorecognizehislatenephew’sson:

HARALD

That’sGottfried’sboy.

BLOMKVIST

Martin?

Haraldnods,handsitback,smokes.It’snotunusual Martinwouldhavejoinedthesearchparty-itwouldbe unusualifhehadn’t-it’shissisterthat’smissing- butthisblazerhe’swearingtroublesBlomkvist-

HARALD

Handsomebutuselessyoungman, Martin.Likehisfather.

Thearchivemanagershouldersherpurse,locksher anteroom,andapproachesSalander.

LINDGREN

We’reclosing.

Nowherenearfinished.

LINDGREN

I’mnotstayinglate.

SALANDER

I am. AndIneedaccesstoallthe rooms,includinganythatarelocked.

(nothingfromthewoman)

CallFrode.

AsHenriknapsandMartinclearshisdinnertray,Frode listenstothecallerontheroomphone-

LINDGRENV/O

Shewantstolookateverything.I don’tlikeherandIdon’ttrusther. There’ssomethingwrongwithher.

FRODE

Hangona second-

(toMartin)

I’mgoingtoletyoudecide.It’s Ms.Lindgrenagain.

Yes,Ingrid,what’stheproblem?

LINDGRENV/O

Thisgirlwantsasetofkeysnow. To myroomaswell.It’soutrageous.

MARTIN

It’sfine.Justtellhertomake suretoleavethekeyswithsecurity whenshe’sdone.

Havingfoundnothingofinterestinthe1954files, Salandermovesontothe1957killingofRakelLunde.

desk.

LINDGREN

thekeyswiththeguard.

readsayellowedclippingfromaLandskronanewspaper:

It’saboutVangerIndustrieshiringalocalcontractor, CarlenConstruction,tobuildaplant.GottfriedVanger- heretosignthecontract.

articlewaspublishedonedayafterthepaperprintedthe storyofthediscoveryofRakel’sbatterednakedbody.

Salanderflipsthroughthehandwrittennotesshemade duringhertalkwiththeretireddetectiveinLandskrona- andfindsthatpart-timepalmreaderRakel’smainjobwas as acleaningwomanforCarlenConstruction.

Thedetectiveinterviewedherco-workers,butnoonefrom VangerIndustries,includingthatfirm’srepresentative intownfora fewdays,GottfriedVanger.

GottfriedVanger...whichonewasheagain?Salander bringsuponherlaptopphotographsshetookofthewall ofthecottage:theVangerfamilytree.

GottfriedVanger,SonofMargareta&RichardtheNazi HusbandofcrazyIsabella,FatherofMartinandHarriet

Of alltheVangers-atleastbackin1950whenHarriet

goodlooks.

SheputsachecknexttoRakel’snameandreturnstoMari Holmbergandthe1954Vangerfiles.

BlomkvistflipsthroughoneofMorell’sreportsstating everyone’swhereaboutsonthedayHarriet’sdisappeared.

INSERT:AcrossfromMartinVanger’snameitreads: “Arrivedon4:30train.”

HebringsupthePhotoshop-enhancedBrannlundparade photoonhislaptop-

INSERT:Thefigurewiththeblazerandpocketpatch standingnearthewatchrepairclock,whichreads:2:00.

AndthephotoHaraldlethimtakewithhimof ‘Gottfried’suselessboy’-

INSERT:YoungMartinwiththesearchparty,theemblem clearlyvisibleonhisblazerpccket.

He shufflesthroughcopiesofarticlesinSalander’s victims’files.Looksatthelastone,LenaAndersson, 1967.Thephotoisa schoolwalletphoto-

INSERT:She’swearingasweaterwiththesameUppsala PrepSchoollionemblemasMartin.

HelooksatMildred’sparadephotoofthefigurestanding nearthewatchrepairclock.Itreads,2:00.

AndthephotoHaraldlethimtakewithhimof ‘Gottfried’suselessboy’withthesearchparty.Init andtheparadephoto,he’swearingthesameblazer.

HeshufflesthroughcopiesofarticlesinSalander’s victims’files.Looksatthelastone,LenaAndersson, 1967.Thephotoisaschoolwalletphoto-inasweater withthesameUppsalaPrepSchoollionemblemasMartin.

Knowingwhatshe’slookingfornow,Salanderfindsit fairlyquickly:AclippingaboutatimbercompanyVanger IndustriesboughtinKalmarandaninterviewinitslocal paperwithGottfried,twodaysafterMari’smurder.

Shejumpsto1960-MagdaLovisaSjoberg-Karlstad-and anarticleinitslocalpaper-thistimewithaphotoof Gottfried-aboutauniondisputeatitsfactorythere.

Blomkvistcomesoutwithhiscellphone,triestomakea

thataskshimifhewantsto‘retry.’Hedoesn’t.

Instead,underthedarkeningsky,helooksofftothe point.Martin’shouseissmallinthedistance,buthe canseethere’snocarinthedrivewayandnolightson. Hestaresatitforalongtime...

Salanderpullsa1962Uddevallapaperfromthefiles. Samedaythistime,thesamepageofthenewspaper:Lea Persson’shorrificmurderandanstoryquotingGottfried aboutanexpansionprojecttothetown’sharbor.

SheregardsGottfried’snewsprintphoto:Hisfacelooks morethan8yearsolderthantheoneinKalmarbutthat’s whatdrinkingtoexcess,andmurderperhaps,doestoyou.

BlomkvistlaystheLenaAnderssonarticle-andthe photographofthefigureattheparade-atoptherestof thejunkonthedesk-andquicklyscrollsthroughphotos onhislaptop,leavingonthescreenforSalandertosee whenshereturns:Martin’srecentVangerIndustriesPR portrait...

lookattheproblemsheleaves:thevictimslist-now with“Gottfried”jotteddownnexttoallbutonename:

1967-LenaAndersson-Uppsala

Nexttoit,thenewspaperarticleaboutthemurdered girl,withaschoolphoto.And,nexttothat,thereason there’sno“Gottfried”notation:hisobituaryina HedestadCourierclipping:1965.

We listentothefadingechoofSalander’sfootsteps-

As annoyingastheolderwomanwas,itwaslesscreepy

now,wanderingthroughitlookingforvendingmachines.

machinefinishes.Theplaceagainplungesintosilence. Shestartsbackwithhersnackdownahallway-

Tryingtolooklikehe’sjustoutforastroll, BlomkvistwalkspastMartin’sdarkhouse,thenturns around,walksupthefrontpathtotheporchandmakesa showofknockingonthedoor,justincaseanyoneonthe islandcanseehim,whichisdoubtfulinthisdarkness.

if leaving,butthenveersoffthepathandwalksaround tothe sideofthehouse.

Hepeersthroughafloor-to-ceilingwindow,butcan’t

anotherwindow.Triesthebackdoor.Unlocked.

Hecan’tseea lotinthedark,butdoesn’tdareswitch on anylights.Hecrossesthroughthekitchen,butwe staybehindtoregardaclosedbasementdoor...

Wepickhimupagainashecomesintothelivingroom, followhimtoawallofglass.It’spitchblackoutside.

We followhimdownahallway-butstopatabedroom doorwayasifthisisasfaraswecaretogo. Westay

hebeginsrummagingaroundtherecessesofacloset-

Apairofheadlightscomesacrossthebridge.

lightsoutthere.Headsofftothehallagain.

ThecarparksfiftyyardsfromBlomkvist’scottage.The headlightsblinkoff.Someoneclimbsout.

photographs.Hebeginslookingaround.

Theheadlightscomeuptheroadleadingtothepoint.

rifles.Threeofthem-andanemptyspaceforafourth one.

Thetreesoutsidethestudywindowflarewithlight.A momentlater,Blomkvisthearsasoundoftiresongravel.

Martinisback,andBlomkvistisinhishouse.

Martinwillenterthroughthefrontdoorbecausewe’re goingtotrytogetoutthebackone-

Blomkvisttripsoversomethinginthedarkandwegodown withhim.Thenupagain-throughthekitchen-pastthe basementdoor-grabsaknifefromadrawer-shovesit inabackpocket-hurriesoutthereardoor-

Blomkvisttriestosteadyhisbreathingasheslinks aroundthesideofthehouse.Ashepassesawindow,it lightsup-andweagainhitthegroundwithhim.

Hehurriesacrosstheyard,tripsoversomethinginthe dark-asprinkler?-andgoesdownagainintowetmuck.

Hegetsupandstartsdowntheroadasifreturningfrom aleisurelyeveningwalk-whichwouldbemoreconvincing withoutthelimp-notdaringtolookbackashegoes.

MARTINO/S

Hello?Mikael?

hisporchandwalkstowardhiscar.

MARTIN

Youreveningstroll?

BLOMKVIST

Hi. Howareyou?

Martinpullsagolfbagfromhistrunkandshouldersit.

MARTIN

Istoppedatthehospitalonmyway

something.

BLOMKVIST

What.

MARTIN

Comeonin,I’1llmakeyouadrink.

Naturally,thisisthelastthingBlomkvistwantstodo,

backtoMartin’shouse,tryingnottolimp.

Finishedwithhercandybarandcoffee,Salanderopens the1967files,looksthroughtheclippingsforanything ofnoteinUppsala,whereLenawaskilled.

Shefindsnonewsoffactoriesopeningtherethatyear, butshedoescomeacrossaPRnewsletteraboutawinter retreatforfiftyemployeesandtheirfamilies.

There’saphotoofHenrikpresentingsomeonewithaBest

fortwentyguestsandVangerfamilymembers:

ThecamerahascapturedHenrikpresidingattheheadof thetable,puttingonabraveface,raisingachampagne flute-aseveryoneelsedoesthesame-exceptforthe youngmanatthefarrightforeground.

He lookssullen.Butwhatteenagerwouldn’tatanevent asboringasthis.Salanderwouldlookevenmoresullen. Shechecksthecaptionandreads:

--.farright,MartinVanger(19),currentlystudyingin Uppsala.

Uppsala.SameplaceasLena-thoughit’swhatyoung Martiniswearingthatstrikesher:anUppsalaprivate schoolblazerwithaliononitspocket-thesameason LenaAndersson’ssweaterinthephotoofherinthe articleabouthermurder.

It’snotaseeriewiththelightson-exceptforthe factthere’sakillerinit.Martinsetsthegolfclubs downandbeginsemptyingagrocerybaginthekitchen.

MARTIN

Whathappenedtoyou?

BLOMKVIST

When.

MARTIN

Now.

Blomkvist’sclothes.Thefreshmudstains.

BLOMKVIST

I fellinthedark.

MARTIN

Youdon’thaveaflashlight?I’11l giveyouone.

BLOMKVIST

I justwasn’tbeingcareful.

Martinsmiles,butBlomkvistisn’tsurewhathesaid

foraflashlight.Theknifeblock-withonemissing- isrightthere.

MARTIN

How’stheinvestigation?

BLOMKVIST

Nothingnewtoreport.

Blomkvistnoticesadropofbloodfromhispantlegon thestonefloorandcoversitupwithhisshoe.Martin, notseemingtonotice,findsamini-Magliteinthe drawer.

MARTIN

DirchsaysMs.Salanderisclever. Maybeshe’1lturnsomethingup.

BLOMKVIST

Maybe.

MartinhandsBlomkvistthemini-Maglite.

BLOMKVIST

Thanks.

Salanderscrollsthroughlaptopphotostotheoneatthe paradetakenbytheBrannlundwomanonherhoneymoon;the peopleacrossthestreetandtheblurryfigurewearing theblazerwiththe“pocketsquare”...

SALANDER

Hello,Martin.

MartinpoursScotch.HandsonetoBlomkvist.

BLOMKVIST

Whatdidhesay?

MARTIN

What?

BLOMKVIST

YousaidHenrikaskedyoutoaskme something.

MARTIN

Ijustdid.

BLOMKVIST

What?

MARTIN

Howtheinvestigation’sgoing.That washisquestion.

BLOMKVIST

Oh.

Blomkvist’seyesonlydarttoariflebagleaningagainst thewallnexttoaboxof shells,butMartinfollows them.

MARTIN

Youhunt?Weshouldgohunting togethersometime.

BLOMKVIST

Sure.

Theydrink.Listentoasilence.

MARTIN

Nothingatall?

(Blomkvistdoesn’tknow whathemeans)

New. Toreport.

BLOMKVIST

No.

MartinregardsBlomkvistinanothersilence.Then-

MARTIN

I canseeyou’reanxious.

BLOMKVIST

No.

MARTIN

To gethome.Afteryourwalk.

BLOMKVIST

I supposeIam.

MARTIN

To havedinner.Withyour girlfriend.

BLOMKVIST

My assistant.Yes.

MARTIN

We’llhavebetterluckwithagun.

BLOMKVIST

sorry?

MARTIN

Whenwego hunting.

Martinpullsopenabardrawerandtakesfromita handgun.

MARTIN

A gun.Ratherthanaknife.

Hegivesalittlegesturewithittothehandleofthe knifeprotrudingfromabackpocketofBlomkvist’sjeans. Therearefreshdropsofbloodonthefloornexttohis shoes.

MARTIN

Youjustcouldn’tstayaway,could you.

Blomkvistdoesn’tknowwhattosay.Martin’sdemeanor, eveninthissituation,remainscordial.

MARTIN

yourdrink.Leavetheknife.

Blomkvist’shopeofgettingoutofhereunscathedis

pocketandsetsitonasidetable.

Salanderstridespastthenappingnightwatchmanwithout leavingthekeysorbotheringtotellhimshe’sdone.

Crossingtheemptyparkinglot,shetriesBlomkviston hercell.Getshisvoicemail.Kick-startsherbike.

Martin“leads”Blomkvistfrombehindbacktothekitchen, switchingofflightsastheygo.

MARTIN

Youknowwhat’sharderthan shootingsomeone?Justmissing

upatthecabin.

BLOMKVIST

Itdidn’twork.I’mhere.

MARTIN

Mikael,itdidwork.You'rehere.

Theycomethroughapantry,attheendofwhichisa door.

MARTIN

Openit.

theydescendMartinflicksaswitchandbarefluorescent tubesflickerontoreveal:Afurnace.Washer.Dryer. Olddiscardedfurniture.Andanotherdoor.Asteelone.

Astheyapproachit,Martinpressesalittleremoteand thelockonthesteeldoorclicks.

MARTIN

Pushitopen.

AsBlomkviststepsacrossthethreshold-

MARTIN

Switchisontheleft.

Blomkvistflipsitandarowofoverheadfluorescent tubesflickerson-oneaftertheother-revealinga subterraneantorturechamber:

Metaleyeletsboltedtotheconcretewallsandceiling andfloor-tablewithleatherstraps-bedwithleather straps-steel-meshcage-workbenchwithhandsawsand othertools-

Blomkvisttakesitinwithoneglanceandimmediately turnstotrytosmashtheglassinhishandintoMartin’s face-whichiscoverednowwithaplasticoxygenmaskhe holdstoit.GasplumesdownonBlomkvistfromabove; theglasscomesoutofhishand,shatteringonthecement floor-

TheHonda’ssingleheadlightshuddersasSalandercomes acrossthebridgeontotheisland.

Blomkvistcomestoonthefloor,handcuffedtoachain

avideocameraonatripod,focusingit-ashelffullof Betamaxtapes-andaTVmonitoronwhichhisownimage thenappears.

Note:thesteeldoorifwewerecloseenoughtoitto notice-whichwearen't-isnotlocked.It’snoteven completelyshut.

Satisfiedwiththeframingoftheshotofhisguest, Martintakesaseatonacomfortablearmchairupholstered inclearplastic.Itsqueaks.

almostsighs.

MARTIN

Whydidn’tyoujustgohome.

BLOMKVIST

I assumeyoumeantheopportunity forthathaspassed.

Martinsmiles,appreciating,perhaps,Blomkvist’s“easy” Mannerinthisdirecircumstance.

MARTIN

How’dyoudoit? Whatdidyoufind?

Blomkvistdoesn’tsay.Martinlookslikehehasallthe timeintheworldtowait,anddoes.Then-

MARTIN

Wecantalkorwecanjustgeton withit.It’sreallyuptoyou.

NothingfromBlomkvist.Martinshrugs‘okay,’getsup, goestohisworkbenchandtakesaplasticshowercurtain fromit. Ashe’slayingitontheflooraroundhis victim,Blomkvistchangeshismind-

BLOMKVIST

Ifoundapicturenoonehadseen before.

MARTIN

Of.

BLOMKVIST

You.In yourUppsalaprepschool blazer.

Martindoesn’tseethesignificance,butispleased Blomkvisthasdecidedto“participate.”Herewardshimby suspendinghisshowercurtainworktoreturntothe chair.It squeaksagain.

MARTIN

Whatdoesthatsay?

BLOMKVIST

Thatyouliedaboutwhereyouwere thatday.Orratherwhen.

MARTIN

DidI? IfI did,sowhat.People lieallthetime.

BLOMKVIST

ItalsosaidthatLenaAnderssonwas aschoolmate.

MARTIN

Lena... (hehastothinkbackto rememberher) Lenawasalongtimeago. (pause) Where’sthispicturenow?Withall theotherjunkonyourdesk?

BLOMKVIST

Aprintis. Digitalcopiesareona securephotosite.

MARTIN

That’salie...Howmuchdoesthe girlknow?

Blomkvistisn’tsurehowtoplaythatquestion...

MARTIN

Let’shopeit’sasmuchasyou. That’1lmakeitmorefun.Whereis she?

BLOMKVIST

morning.

MARTIN

Andthat’salie. She’ssittingin ourofficeslookingatmoreoldcrap. Ourarchivesmanagercalledme-very perturbedwiththisgirl.Lisbeth. I likethatname.Lisbeth.When LisbethleavesI’1lgetacallfrom security,soIcanbeatyourcottage to greetherwhenshearrives-

HeholdsupthekeyshetookfromBlomkvist’spocketwhen hewasoutcold.

MARTIN

I can’tthankyouenoughforbringing herto me.

AsSalandergetsthedooropenwithherkeyandcomesin-

SALANDER

Mikael-?

He’sclearlynothere.Shegoestothecloset.Takes outthesurveillancePC.Putsitonthedesk-nextto Blomkvist’slaptopwhichisnowdisplaying-notthe photoofMartinheleftforher-buttheAppledefault “lightspider”screensaver.

AsSalanderbeginsrewindingthecapturedsurveillance imagesbackwardsathighspeedtogettoearlierinthe day-

Martinreframesthevideocameratoincludepartof himselfintheshot,sitsagainandcrosseshisleglike thisisatalkshow.

MARTIN

Sowhatwouldyouliketoknow?

Therearesomanythings,butalsonopoint,soBlomkvist saysnothing.

MARTIN

You’rethejournalist,askme something.

NothingfromBlomkvist.WhichisokaywithMartin;he candothisalone-

MARTIN

WhatdoIdo withmyguests?Isthat thequestion?Well,before-Ido whatwe’redoing.Relax,havea drink,converse.Ilikethatparta lot-havingachatwhenyouboth knowoneofyouisgoingtodie. After-Isimplygetridofthem. Outtosea- (pointsoff) -unlikemyfatherleavingthem scatteredallovertheplacelike trophies.That’snotsmartifyou askme. That’sjustgarishandloud. Buthewasa garishandloudman. Frankly,hegotwhathedeserved.

NothingfromBlomkvist,butheiswonderingnowwhat happenedtoGottfriedifthedrowningwasn’taccidental.

MARTIN

Youcan’tbeasloppytechnicianlike that. Youcan’tdrinktoexcess likehedid.Thistakesdiscipline. It’sascienceofathousanddetails.

cleanup.I’msureIdon’thaveto tellyouyou’regoingtomakequitea mess.

NothingfromBlomkvist,butMartinnods.

(“Howdoyoudothisandstillfunctioninnormal society?”)

MARTIN

That’stheinterestingthing. BecausemostofthetimeIamjust

biggersecret.It’swonderfulreally -standingtherewaitingforatrain- orona streetcorneraspeoplebrush pastme.YouknowwhatImean;

(MORE)

MARTIN(CONT'D)

youcameuphere. Itmadeyoufeel- special.Didn’tit?

Blomkvistdoesn’tsay.Martinisalittlethrownby Blomkvist’snextunspokencomment-

("Yes,butmysecretsaren'trapeandmurder”)

MARTIN

No. I’mnota rapist.OfcourseI do thattoo-andatonetimeitwas enough-but-

(gathershisthoughtsto explainit)

A rapist,Mikael,getsoffon domination.Ineed...

(discardsafewotherwords before:)

- destruction.

Martingetsupandsetsaboutthebusinessof immobilizingBlomkvistfurtherwithablock-and-tackle contraptionofchainsandstraps.

MARTIN

CanI askyousomething?Whydon’t peopletrusttheirinstincts?They sensesomething’swrong-someone’s walkingtooclosebehindthem-yet theydon’tcrossthestreet.You knewsomethingwaswrong-youeven knewwhatitwas- butyoucameback intothehouse.DidI forceyou? DidI grabyouanddragyouin?I justofferedyouadrink.

(pause)

You’dneverthinkthefearof offendingcouldbestrongerthanthe fearofpain- butyouknowwhat?It is. Theyalwayscomewillingly.

Itamazeshim.Italwaysamazeshim.Hekeepsworking.

MARTIN

Andthenthey’rehere.Theyknow it’soverlikeyoudo-andstill somehowthinktheyhaveachance. “MaybeifIsaytherightthing-if I’mpolite-orI cryandbeg-maybe T’1lsurvive.”

(regardsBlomkvist)

Andthenthemomentcomeswhenthey realize...no,allhopeisgone.

(MORE)

MARTIN(CONT'D)

Andwhenthathappens-whenIsee thehopedrainingfromtheirface likeitisfromyoursrightnow- (whisperslikeit’sjust betweenthem) -well,Ifeelmyselfgettinghard justwatchingit.

Silence...

MARTIN

Saysomething.

BLOMKVIST

Youareasickfuck.

MARTIN

-..Isthisanintervieworan editorial?

Blomkvist,ofcourse,doesn’tanswer,orcomment,yet Martinconsiderswhatthejournalisthasn’tsaid...

("Martin,civilizedpeopledon’tdowhatyoudo.”)

MARTIN

You’reright,thisbehavioris

we’renotcompletelydifferent.We

justrequiresmoretowels.

MartinregardsBlomkvistinasilence.Then-

MARTIN

Anythingelseyouwanttoknow? (pause) Yousure? (pause) Allright.Whateveryousay.

Heyanksachainthatfeedsthroughthepulleysthatlift Blomkvistupontohisfeet-

Salanderwatchesthesurveillanceimages,forward-

Blomkvistleavingthecottageandpropertyonfoot. Blomkvistreturningtothecottage,goingbackinside. Blomkvistcomingoutandattemptingacallonhiscell. Blomkvistgoingbackinsidethecottage. Blomkvistcomingoutagainandleavingtheproperty. Blomkvistnotcomingback. Nothingbuttheskydarkeningtonight.Then-

Headlightscomingthroughframe. Afigureappearingonfootatthefrontgate. Thefigurejuststandingthere,lookingatthecottage. Thefigureapproachingit,and,asit’stryingthelocked frontdoor,themotiondetectionlightsnappingonand illuminatingMartin. Martinmovingtotheside,lookinginakitchenwindow, comingaroundfrontagain,walkingtothegate,turning around,lookingback,thenwalkingoutofframe.

Blomkvisthangsfromtheblock-and-tacklerig,leather straparoundhisnecknow,fedthroughaceilingeyelet. Withabigsewingscissors,Martincutsthroughand removesBlomkvist’spantsandunderwear-

MARTIN

It mightamuseyoutoknowthat whileyouwereoverherehaving dinnerwithmeandLiv-who,bythe way,findsmeveryconventional- Irinawasdownhereinthecage. Who’sIrina,youask?AgirlImet in Belarus.Justanothergirl.

them?

Hereturnstohisworkbenchtolayoutvarioustools nexttohisgunandadeskphone.

BLOMKVIST

Yoursisterwasn’tjustanothergirl.

Martincomesbackquicklyandyanksastrapthatcinches thenoosetighteraroundBlomkvist’sneckasitliftshim ontohistiptoes.

MARTIN

Whathappenedtoher.

BLOMKVIST

You’rechokingme-

MARTIN

Youfoundher?

BLOMKVIST

Youkilledher.

Martinjuststaresathimconfused.Then-

MARTIN

Youuselessfuckindetective.

He letsgoofthestrapandBlomkvist’sfeetcomeback downtothefloor.AsMartinreturnstohisworkbench, Blomkvistisnotonlyscaredtodeath,butconfusednow. DidMartinnotkillher?

ThenMartinisbackinfrontofhimwitharollof cellophane,pullsonthestrapagainuntilBlomkvistis balancingonhistiptoes,andtiesitoff.

MARTIN

Tootighttotalk?

It is.Blomkvistcanutternosoundbutagag.

MARTIN

Good.I’mtiredoftalkingtoyou.

HewrapsBlomkvist’sheadincellophane,completely cuttingoffhisabilitytobreathe,andcalmlywatches himstruggle....

MARTIN

Wouldyoulikemetodosomething aboutthat?

Blomkvistdesperatelynodsashe’sabouttosuffocate. Martinwatchesanotherseveralmoments...thenpokesa fingerthroughthecellophaneintoBlomkvist’sgasping mouth.

MARTIN

See?I’mnota monster.

He framesawideshotofhisnakedprey.Turnsonsome

lookpresentableintheshot.Thensmilespleasantly-

MARTIN

Youknow,I’veneverhadamanin here.I’venevertouchedamanasa matteroffact.Exceptmyfather,of course.Butthatwasmyduty. Harriet’s,too.

ThecirculationtoBlomkvist’sheadisbeingcutoffby

concretewalltotrytorelievesomeoftheweightonthe noose,butcan’tgetagrip.Martinwatchesthestruggle calmly,andjustascalmlyoffers:

MARTIN

It’stime.Idon’twanttobelate formydatewithourgirlfriend.

Heputsonaplasticrainponcho.Apainter’smask.

knife.StepsuptoBlomkvist.Looksathiseyes. Bringshisownheadclosetohisvictim's-

MARTIN

Goodbye,Mikael.

Hepullsthestrap,liftingBlomkvist’stoesoffthe floor,closingoffhisairagain...andisabouttogut himlikeawildboar...whenhehearsasoundlikesome kindofanimalbehindhim...

Heturnsandseesher-comingathimfromoutofthe shadowsbythesteeldoor-

Hedartsforthegunheleftontheworkbench-

Salanderjustasquicklyswingsa5-iron-his5-iron- likeabaseballbat.Itsmetal-wedgedendarcsthrough thegloomandslamsintothesideofhishead,sending himtumblingtothefloor.

Hestrugglesuptohisknees,andsheswingstheclub again,splittingfleshandcrushingboneashecrumples thefloor.

Shetakesthegunfromthebenchandshovesitinher

keyandhurriesovertoBlomkvistwhoonlywitnessedpart ofthespectaclebeforelosingconsciousness-

Shesawsthroughtheleatherstraparoundhisneck.

floor,bloodrushestohishead,bringinghimbackto lifejustenoughtoseewhatshecan’tbehindher-

Martin,bloodstreamingfromthegashinhishead, gettingtohisfeet.Buthe’snotcomingatthem;he’s tryingtogetout-

Blomkvisttriestosayhernametogethertolook.

atBlomkvist,stillhandcuffedonthefloor,and,likea childaskingaparentforpermission-

SALANDER

MayI killhim?

Nothinginhislifewouldallowhimtoagreetosucha thing-untilnow.Nowit’sasifheryearsofviolence anddegradationhavebeenpassedtohim.

Henods.

fromherbackpocket,checkstheclip,flicksoffthe safety,andturnstoleave-

BLOMKVIST

Hehasmoregunsintheden-

SALANDER

Iknow.

Shecomesupthebasementstairs,leadingwithhergun.

tothe livingroom,anddownthehalltothestudy.She easesaroundthedoorway-theroomisempty-looksto theguncase- seesthereareonlytworiflestherenow.

Martin’scarrecedingfastdowntheroadascloudsburst.

hillintheraintowhereshelefthermotorcycle,jumps on andkick-startsit.

Sheroarsontothebridge,chasingthetaillights. Gunsthebiketofullthrottle.Comesalongsidehim. He swervestotrytocrushheragainsttherailing- butshehitsthebrakes,avoidingtheimpact-

Sheacceleratesagainandcomesupontheotherside ofthecar. Heswervesagainather,butthistimethe bikepullsaheadofhim.Nowhe’schasingher-

theyraceoffit,hegoesinforthekill,butsheveers hardtooneside,leavinghimheadedstraightforthegas stationBlomkvistmakeshispayphonecallsfrom-and thetankertruckparkedthere-

Martinhitsthebrakes-hydroplanesintothetruck-and its,orhisowntank,orboth,explode-

car. Theraindoesnothingtodampenit.Shecould probablybraveittopullMartinout-butdoesn’t.

Asthe flamesburnhisclothes,hemanagestogethis handsontheriflehetookfromtheden,turnsitsbarrel tohisbloodyhead-butbeforehecanpullthetrigger, shehurriesover,yanksitfromhisgraspandstandsback again.It’smuchmorecathartictowatchhimburn...

chair,hiscoatwrappedaroundhim.Thehuntingknifein

barelymanagetospeak-

BLOMKVIST

Whereishe?

SALANDER

Dead.

ReminiscentofthelastphotographstakenontheHedeby Islandbridgefortyyearsago,policeandfiremenfinish upatthecrashsite.AwinchdragsMartin’scharred blackwreckofacarontoatowtruck.

Blomkvistisasleepinthebedroomwithwhatlookslike anecktattoo-theblackandbluemarkleftbyMartin’s noosethatnearlystrangledhimtodeath.Hedoesn’t heartheknockatthefrontdoor,nor-

SALANDERO/S

It’sopen.

thepictureofcalm,drinkingacupofblackcoffee.

FRODE

Where’sMikael?

SALANDER

Asleep.Coffee?There’snomilk.

Frodeabsentlyshakeshisheadno.

FRODE

I havesomeveryupsettingnews. Martinwaskilledinacaraccident lastnight.

SALANDER

Sad.

Frodeisn’tsureheheardright.RegardsSalander sippinghercoffee.

FRODE

What?

SALANDER

Isaidit’ssad.

FRODE

(pause) Whatdoyouknowaboutthis?

Shedoesn’tsayanymore.Frodegetsupandstarts towardthebedroom-

FRODE

Ihavetotalkto (Mikael)-

SALANDER

Lethimsleep.

It’snotarequest;it’sacommand.

FrodeisashenasheleafsthroughabinderSalander broughtfromMartin’schamberofhorrorslatelastnight:

A scrapbookofmurder.Adeathbook.Photosofwomen coweringinhiscage,tiedtothebed,deadonthetable- alongwithsouvenirsofpaintedfingernailsandlocksof hair- allcarefullytapedintothe‘album.’Theolder photographsarePolaroids;theneweronesdigitalprints.

Withlittletonodiscernibleemotion,Salanderwatches Frodewinceasheturnsthepages.

Frodecan’ttakeitanymore.Closesthebookbefore reachingtheend.Justsitsthere.

FRODE

Whatarewegoingtodo?

SALANDER

We’regoinghome,Mikaelandme. Idon’tknowwhatyou’regoingtodo.

FRODE

I’mgoingtothepolice.

SALANDER

Showthemthevideoswhileyou’reat it.

FRODE

The-

Salanderpointstoastackofvideotapes.

SALANDER

Wouldyouliketoseethem?

FRODE

No.

Blomkvisthalf-wakestofindSalanderlyingnexttohim, fully-clothed,watchinghim.Issheactuallythere,or partofadream?Helooksathera longmoment,then triesouthisvoice-

BLOMKVIST

Howis itsomeonewho's23isaward of thestate?

SALANDER

I’mmentallyincompetentandcan’t managedailylife.

Hesmiles,thinkingit’sjoke.Itisn’t,herealizes.

BLOMKVIST

Sincewhenhavetheysaidthat.

SALANDER

SinceIwastwelve.

BLOMKVIST

Somethinghappenedwhenyouwere twelve?

Shedoesn’tsay.Juststudieshim...

BLOMKVIST

It’sallright,youdon’thaveto tellmeanything-

SALANDER

I triedtokillmyfather.Iburned himalive.Gotabout80percentof him.

Oh.

Silence.Then-

SALANDER

We needmilk.

OMIT-—EXT.COTTAGE-LATER-DAY

Shepoursmilkinhercoffeefromthecartonshejust

themup:

Oneshowsayounggirlabout14,nakedfromthewaistup,

heronher stomachonabed,completelynaked,face turnedtothephotographer,frightened.

BLOMKVIST

Harriet?

SALANDER

Ithinkso.

Blomkvistcan’tlookatthephotoslong.Setsthem down. Something’stroublinghim-

BLOMKVIST

Martindidn’tdenykillinganyone. ButwhenImentionedHarriet,hewas confused.Hewasangry-atme-for notbeingabletotellhimwhat happenedtoher. (pause) Hedidn’tkillher.Andhisfather wasdeadtheyearbefore. (pause) Whatifshedidsomehowgetaway? Couldshehavedonethat?Couldshe havedoneitalone?

Hegoesupto hiswallofsuspects.

BLOMKVIST

Isshe’salive,there’sonlyone personinthisfamilywhowouldknow wheresheis.

HetakesthephotoofAnitadownfromthewall.

Henriksitsinoneofthechairs.Blomkvistinanother. Salanderpreferstostand.Eventually-

VANGER

PoorMartin.

Clearly,hehasn’tbeenshownthedeathbook,orbeen toldthetaleofBlomkvist’snightinMartin’sdungeon.

BLOMKVIST

I havetogoawayforacouple days. WhenIcomeback,Ihopeto haveananswerforyou.

Blomkvistamoment.ThenSalander...

VANGER

Wouldtheyoungladymindgivingus a momentofprivacy.

BLOMKVIST

She’smypartner,Henrik.Sheshould stay.

Atiny,tiny,tinysmilefindsitswaytoherfaceatthe mentionoftheword‘partner.’

VANGER

Whathaveyoufound?

BLOMKVIST

I’mnotsure.

VANGER

Don’ttreatmelikeachild.Tell me.

BLOMKVIST

I can’t.Idon’tknow.I needa week.

Vangerstudieshim.Then-

VANGER

I’vewaitedfortyyears.Icanwait anotherweek.

BlomkvistandSalanderreadmagazinesinapairofcoach seats.Acrosstheaisle-occupyingtwoseats-isone 300-lb.sleepingfigure:Plague.

Theydrinkpintsinanunpopular,almost-emptypub.A Curesongplays.

BLOMKVIST

I alwayslikedthissong.

(nothingfromherorPlague)

Youdon’t?

SALANDER

Idon’tlikeclassicalmusic.

A strange-lookingyoungmancomesin,regardsthestrange- lookingtrioatthetable,comesover.Tothefatman-

TRINITY

Plague?

PLAGUE

Trinity.

SALANDER

Wasp.

Blomkviststartstoofferhishandbeforerealizingno oneelsehasorwill.

BLOMKVIST

-.-Mikael.

withhumaninteraction.TheyalllookatBlomkvist,but he isn’tsurewhy.

SALANDER

Themoney.

Blomkvisttakesanenvelopefromhisjacket,handsitto Trinity.Hebeginscountingit-

Aloneinthebackofaparkedvanamidstelectronic componentshedoesn’tunderstand,Blomkvistanxiously staresoutatintedwindowatadarkrowhouse.

Headlightsflaredownthestreet.Anapproachingcar. Hehopesitpasses,butitinsteadpullsuptothegarage - waitsforthedoortogoup-pullsin.

BLOMKVIST

Fuckme.

HewatchesAnitaVangergetoutofthecar-thegarage doorcomedown-lightgooninsidethehouse-thendark figureshurryingalongthesideofthehouse:Trinity, Salander,andfinallyPlague.Theyclimbintothevan withtheirtools,firewires,alaptop.Nonespeaksas

justwatches.Finally,tohim-

SALANDER

It’syourturn.

Blomkvistknocksonthedoor.Anitapullsitopen.

BLOMKVIST

It’sme. Sorrytobotheryou.

Shedoesn’tinvitehimin,butdoesn’tshutthedoorin hisfaceeither.

ANITA

Whatdoyouwant?

BLOMKVIST

No one’scalledyou?

ANITA

About.

BLOMKVIST

Yourcousin.

Shehastwo,butdoesn’taskwhich-

BLOMKVIST

Martin.

ANITA

Whatabouthim?

BLOMKVIST

He diedlastThursday.Acar accident.I’msorry.

(nothingfromher)

There’sgoingtobeamemorialin Hedestad.Iknowyouhaven’tbeen backthereinalongtime,but-

ANITA

I’mnotinterestedinanymemorial.

BLOMKVIST

I understand.

ANITA

Whatdoyouunderstand?

BLOMKVIST

Thatyoudon’treallycareforanyof yourrelatives.Still,Ithoughtyou shouldknow.

ANITA

NowI know.

Andnow,sheclosesthedoor.

OMIT: INT.ANITA’SHOUSE-LONDON-NIGHT

Blomkvistreturnstothevan.Climbsin.

SALANDER

How’ditgo?

BLOMKVIST

Okay.I think.

He sitsandwatchesthemmonitorthephoneandcomputer tapstheyinstalledearlier.Oneofthelaptops,without anyonetouchingit,blinksontoaGooglescreen.

TRINITY

She’son.

A screennameandpasswordcharactersonaGmailpage typethemselves.Theyexpecthertogoto“Compose,”but sheopensoneofthemessages-spam-deletesit-marks a couplemoreandbanishesthemaswell.

TheonlynewthingleftintheinboxisaneBayalert. Clickingittakeshertoanauctionforatriple-strand faux-pearlJackieOnecklace:49pounds.Thecursor clickstheBuy-It-Nowbutton.

Asthe screenswitchestoAnita’sPaypalaccount, BlomkvistandSalanderexchangeaconfusedglance.

OMIT: INT.HOTEL-—LONDON-NIGHT

Salander’slaptopismonitoringAnita’scomputer,her hard-linephoneandcell.

Blomkvistemergesfromthebathroom,restsahandon Salander’sshouldertopeeroveritatthescreen:In oneofthewindows,cardsaredealingthemselves.

BLOMKVIST

She’splayingsolitaire? (Salandernods) Andshestillhasn’tcalledanyone.

SALANDER

No.

BLOMKVIST

Dowehavehercell,too?

Salanderpointstooneofthewindowsonthescreen. Hishandcomesoffhershoulder.

BLOMKVIST

I wassoshe’dleadustoher.

SALANDER

Putyourhandbackonmyshoulder.

Hedoes.Theywatchthesolitairegametogether...

SALANDER

There’sonlyonereasonshe wouldn’tcallHarriet.Shecan’t becauseHarrietisindeeddead.

It’sstrangeperhaps,buthedoessomeofhisbest thinkingduringsex-

BLOMKVIST

I wasjustthinking.Whatif-

SALANDER

Tenmoreseconds.

That’sfair.Shefinishes.Theyliethere.Then-

SALANDER

Okay,what.

BLOMKVIST

I wasjustthinking,therecouldbe oneotherpossibility.

OMIT:INT.HOTELROOM-LONDON-NIGHT

BlomkvisttapsonAnita’sopenofficedoor.

BLOMKVIST

MayI?

ANITA

Whatisit now.

Hecomesinandsits.

BLOMKVIST

I wanttoshowyousomething.

Hetugshisshirtcollarlowenoughtorevealtheblack andblue“tattoo”aroundhisneck.Anitaistakenaback bythesight.It’shardtoimaginehowanyonewouldend upwithamarklikethat.

BLOMKVIST

Beforehedied,yourbrotherhungme fromahook...Harriet.

Theysittogetheronaparkbench.

BLOMKVIST

AnitamarriedinStockholmin1967. It’srecordedintheSwedishGeneral Register.Butthefamilyneverknew, didthey. (sheconfirmsthatwitha shakeofherhead) I’mguessingshethencamehereona passportinhermarriedname,andyou followedonhermaidennamepassport.

HARRIET

Actually,itwastheotherway

totravelwithSpencermyself.

BLOMKVIST

Whatdidhethinkaboutthat?

HARRIET

Nothing.Onlythathelovedher. Shesaid,Ifyouloveme,you’1lldo thisandnotaskwhy.Heneverdid.

BLOMKVIST

Theybothdiedtwentyyearsago.

HARRIET

Acaraccident.Youfoundthat,too.

Blomkvistnods,reachesforsomethinginhisjacket pocket-changeshismind-changesitagainandpullsit out.

BLOMKVIST

Isthisyou?

HehandsherthelessgraphicofthetwoPolaroids SalanderfoundinMartin’sbasement-theyounggirl, faceturnedhalf-awayfromthecamera...

HARRIET

Iwas14 thefirsttimeherapedme.

BLOMKVIST

Martin.

HARRIET

No,my father.Hetookthispicture. Martindidn’tstartuntilhedied.

Blomkvistcan’thidehishorrorevenafterallhe’sseen.

BLOMKVIST

Whydidn’tyoutellsomeone?

HARRIET

I did.My mother.

Blomkviststares.Finally-

BLOMKVIST

Henrikwouldhavedonesomething.

HARRIET

Wouldhe? Idon’tknow.Ialmost toldhim. ButIwasafraidbecause of whatIdid.

(pause)

Youstilldon’tunderstand?

Hedoesn’t.Shestudieshim,andperhapsseesinhim whatSalanderdidlongago-thathecanbetrusted.

HARRIET

A yearafterthefirsttime- aftermanytimesduringthatyear- my fathergotdrunkerthanusualone nightandstartedbraggingabout womenhe’dkilled.Hequotedfrom theBibleashetoreoffmyclothes. He wrappedabeltaroundmyneck.He wantedtokillme.

Harrietmakesitoutofthecabinintornclothing,

canheardinsiderantingsomethingfromtheBible.

HARRIETV/O

I madeitoutofthehouseanddown to thedock.Hecamestaggering afterme-

Gottfriedemergesfromthecabinandstumblesdownthe hillinpursuitofhisalmost-nakeddaughter.

HARRIETV/O

I couldneverfighthimoffina smallroom,butIwasstrongenough outin theopentodealwithanold drunk.

Ashe comesontothedock,shewaitsforthemoment,and

stunsandsendshimtopplingoffthedockintothewater.

He surfaces,reachesforthedockplanks.Ashetakes holdofthemtoclawhimselffromthewater,shebrings thesharpedgeoftheoardown,buryingitinhishead likeanaxe.

He staresupher,uncomprehending.Hisfingersslide

sightbeneaththewater.

HARRIETV/O

WhenitwasfinallyoverIlooked up,andMartinwasstandingthere-

Sheseesherbrotherupbythecabinlookingdownather.

HARRIETV/O

Withalittlesmile.

HARRIET

Hedraggedmebacktothecabin... AllI’daccomplishedwassubstitute onerapistforanother.

YoungHarrietandherschoolfriendswalkalongthe town’smainstreetpastcrowdsliningit,andwerealize we'reseeingwhatwe’veonlyseeninstillphotographs.

HARRIETV/O

Acouplemonthslater,Henriksent

thoughtmaybe-maybe-thenightmare wasover.Untilthatday.

Thefloatwiththeharemgirlscomespast,andwewatch thesmileonyoungHarriet’sfacechangetofearasshe noticessomethingofftotheleft.

HARRIETV/O

Therehewas-acrossthestreet- lookingatmewiththatsamelittle smileonhisface.

A clearshotofyoungMartininhisUppsalablazer, standingbythecorner,smilingather.

HARRIETV/O

Itwasn’tover.

BLOMKVIST

How’dyougetaway?Anita?

Anita,framedinthebedroomwindow-likeinthe photograph-looksoutattheactivityonthebridge. Behindher,Harrietpacksafewitemsofclothing.

ANITA

Don’ttakeanything.

Harrietputstheclothesback.Picksupherpurse.

ANITA

Leavethat,too.

Thedinnerthatnight.VangernoticingHarriet’sempty chair.AndAnitasayingnothing,takingabiteoffood.

thebridge.

AnitaclimbsintohercaroutsideherfatherHarald’s house.Drivesdowntheroadtowardthebridge.

ANITA

Stayabsolutelystill.

TheblanketcoveringHarrietonthebackseatfloorboard movesslightly,thenisstill.

Apolicemanontheislandsideofthebridgewavesthe

roadtowardthehighway-

HARRIETV/O

Shesavedme.

Silence.ThenshegesturestoBlomkvist’sneck.

HARRIET

Howdidyougetaway?

BLOMKVIST

Someonesavedme,too.

Hegesturesofftothethin,strangegirlsittingon

doessomethingshehasn’tdonesincetheymet:smile.

Blomkvist,SalanderandFrodewaitinVanger’sstudy.A teaservicetraysitsthereuntouchedlikethefirsttime

roomwithVangerinit.There’safileonhislap.

BLOMKVIST

Howareyoufeeling?

VANGER

I’mfine.Thankyou,Anna.

anythingelse-

VANGER

Imadeyoua promise.Whetheryou foundoutanythingornot.

Heholdsoutthefile.Blomkvisttakesitandsees:

INSERT:Wennerstorm’snametypedonit,andafairly recentphotoofhimclippedtoit.

VANGER

Now.Whatdoyouhavetotellme.

A carpullsupthedrive.Parks.Thebackdooropens.

towardthefrontdoor-

Vangerpropelshiswheelchairdownthemainhall,but stopswhenheseesHarrietcominginthefrontdoorwith Anna.He stares,tryingtoreconcilehowshelooksnow comparedtowhenhelastsawher,ormaybetoconvince himselfshe’sreallyalive.Sheseeshim...

HARRIET

Hi,Henrik.

onhishunchedshakingshoulders.Frode,Blomkvistand Salanderwatch.Oneofthemisn’tparticularlymoved.

OMIT- INT.VANGERMANOR-DAY

AsFrodeleafsthroughthefilethatBlomkvisthas alreadyread-

FRODE

---Idon’tevenremember Wennerstromworkinghere,muchless beingfired...

BLOMKVIST

themoneyheembezzled.

FRODE

I don’tthinkI’mseeingthepoint.

BLOMKVIST

Yes,youare.

It happenedinthe1970’s...

Salanderwatchesthetwomenfromacrosstheroom...

I swearIdidn’tknowthiswaswhat Henrikhadonhim.IfIhad,I never wouldhavelethimbringyouuphere. Buthe wasn’ttryingtodeceiveyou.

BLOMKVIST

Comeon,heknowsyoucan’ttry somebodyforthis35yearslater.I likeHenrik,butheknowsthat.

Frodedisagrees-

FRODE

A man’sreputationusedtomean something-hestillbelievesthat. I’msurehethoughtyoucoulddestroy Wennerstromwiththisinthecourtof publicopinion.

BLOMKVIST

The“courtofpublicopinion,”Dirch, makescelebritiesoutofgirlswho

Wennerstrom’scarcassonaplate. Thisisn’teventheplate.Ican’tdo anythingwiththis.

FRODE

Ofcourseyou’reright... (pause) I’msorry.

BlomkvistandSalandersitoutbythewater,sharing

hisshoulder,whichstrikeshimasthemosttenderof gestures,comingfromher.

SALANDER

Fuckthesepeople...

BLOMKVIST

Yeah...

SALANDER

Harrietmostofall.

BLOMKVIST

Excuseme?

SALANDER

Ifshe’ddoneanythingbutrun, Martinwouldn’thavebeenableto killallthosewomen.

BLOMKVIST

Shehadnoideahewasdoingit.

SALANDER

Sheshouldhavekilledherfatherand him.

BLOMKVIST

That’swhatyouwould’vedone.Not everyone’syou.

She’snotsureshelikesthecomment.Decidesshe doesn’t.Takesherarmawayfromhisshoulder.

BLOMKVIST

Thatwasmeanttobeacompliment. Putyourarmbackonmyshoulder.

Shedoesn’t.Sohedrapeshisonhers.Then-

SALANDER

WhathappenedwithWennerstrom. Howdidhegetyou?

BLOMKVIST

I wasstupid.Igotsomethingfrom an anonymoussource,whoI’msurenow workedforhim.Itwasfake. Which he easilyprovedincourt.

Notagoodday,that.Then-

SALANDER

YouwereemphaticthatthewayI lookedintoyourlifewasillegaland

aboutWennerstrom?

Heregardsher,uncertainwhatshemeans...

SALANDER

I startedinvestigatinghimonmy own. Thenyoushowedupandhired me. I haven’thadachancetolook at itall-youandHarriet-fucking- Vangerhavekeptmebusy...butI mayhavesomething.

On Wennerstrom.

Shenods.Thenrestsherheadonhisshoulder.

OMIT:EXT.TRAINSTATION-HEDESTAD-DUSK

Anewfamilytreeonawallhere,morecomplicatedthan theVanger’s:TheWennerstromGroup,madeupofdozens ofcompaniesincitiesworldwide.AsErikalooksatit-

BLOMKVIST

Wennerstrom’sSwedishassetsare genuine,butthey’retheonlythings thatare. Therestisfunneled throughcompaniesinGibraltar, Colombia,andMacao.Thesecompanies producenoproductsandprovideno services.They’reshells.They laundermoneyfromarmsanddrug sales,andcrimesyndicatesin Russia.Andthatmoney-which accountsforallbut5-percentofhis holdings-endsupinaccountsinthe CaymanIslands.It’sacompletely illegal,criminalempire.

ERIKA

Howdo youknowthis?

BLOMKVIST

Thistimeyoudon’twanttoknow.

ERIKA

ThistimeIdowanttoknow.

BLOMKVIST

Ihaveaccesstohiscomputer,and hisaccountants’andlawyers’.

Sheisn’thappytohearthatexplanation.

ERIKA

Andhowdoyouhavethat?

BLOMKVIST

Icouldhavegottenitfromasource insidethecompany.

ERIKA

Butyoudidn’t.

BLOMKVIST

Butthat’swhatyou’llsay.

ERIKA

Butwhatwillyousaytome?

BLOMKVIST

Thatdependsonifyoureallywantto know.

ERIKA

Ido. Whogaveyouaccess?

Whatlookslike16-year-oldtattooedrunawaylets

paperbag,takesouttwobagelsandwiches,thesamekind Blomkvistbroughtwhenhebargedintoherapartment.

As sheputssomewateronforcoffee,Erikalooksat Blomkvist.Henods.Yeah.Her.

TVNEWS:

ANNOUNCER

JournalistMikaelBlomkvist-who thistimelastyearwasconvictedof libelinaStockholmcourtroom- doesn’tseemtohavelearnedfrom thatexperience.Ormaybehehas-

ThereportcontinuesonaTVinBlomkvist’sbedroom-

ANNOUNCER

In thecurrentissueofMillennium magazine,henowchargesthesame companythatsuccessfullysuedhim- TheWennerstromGroup-ofcriminal activitiesonaglobalscale- backingitupwithinternalfinancial reports,bankrecordsandemails- annotationsalmostaslongasthe articleitself.

Thecoverofthemagazinefeaturesaheadshotof Wennerstrom,and,rareforthemagazine,atabloid-style title:GANGLAND.Salanderleafsthroughthearticleas Blomkvistbrusheshisteethinthebathroom.

BLOMKVIST

He’11callitapersonalvendetta butit won’twork.FIcan’tignore bankingandsecuritiesfraudlike this. Thepolicecan’tignorethe organizedcrimestuff.They’1lboth havetoinvestigate.

SALANDER

Then.

BLOMKVIST

We’1llbebackincourt,butthis timeit’1llcosthim.That’sprobably it,though.Theseguysneverto prison.

Salandernods,butit’snotreallyinagreement.Or maybeitis.Inanycase,she’snotasenthusedabout allthisasheis.

BLOMKVIST

What’swrong.

SALANDER

It’sembarrassing.

BLOMKVIST

What.

SALANDER

I needtoborrowsomemoney.

Blomkvistgrinsandreachesforhiswallet.

SALANDER

50,000.

Hisgrinstaysstitchedtohisfaceamoment,then unravels.Heputshiswalletaway.

SALANDER

Ihavea chancetomakean investment.It’sasmart,safe investment.

BLOMKVIST

Idon’tknowthatIhavethatmuch.

SALANDER

Youdo. I’msorrythatIknowthat. Youhave65thousandinyourtwo accounts.

He’snolongershockedordismayedbyherknowingmore abouthispersonalaffairsthanhedoes.

SALANDER

You'llgetthemoneyback.I promise.

Severalpagestornfrompagesoffashionmagazines: Models-allofthemblonde-theirbeautifulfaces- designerclothes-accessories-make-uptips.

Applyingmakeuptothewasptattooonherneckandthe “handcuffs”onherwrists,Salanderpaysnoattentionto theTV showingWennerstromunderanumbrella,interviewed outsidethebuildingthatbearshisname-

WENNERSTROM

Theseallegations-likethelast onesfromthisso-calledjournalist- areasridiculousastheyareuntrue-

EXT/INT.CLOTHINGSTORE-STOCKHOLM-DAY

Salanderpurchaseswithcashexpensivedesignerclothes shenormallywouldn’tbecaughtdeadin.

WENNERSTROM

I’1lbeseeingMr.Blomkvistincourt again.I’mlookingforwardtoit.

EXT/INT.LUGGAGESHOP-STOCKHOLM-DAY

Hereshe’sbuyingahigh-endcarry-onvaliseand portfoliobriefcase.

REPORTER

Whatabouthisdocumentation?

WENNERSTROM

Fabricated.Allofit.

EXT/INT.WIGSHOP-STOCKHOLM-DAY

Goodwigscostmoney-liketheshoulder-lengthblonde oneatopablackLuciteheadSalanderispurchasing.

ANNOUNCER

TheSecuritiesFraudOfficeisn’t

of that.

EXT/INT.SHOP-STOCKHOLM-DAY

Aplacethatcaterstotransvestiteswho,amongother things,requireasSalanderdoes,latexbreasts.

FSAOFFICIAL

If evenafractionofwhatMr. Blomkvistisallegingprovestobe true,notonlywilltherebea securitiesinvestigation,butan organizedcrimeinquiryaswell.

EXT/INT.SALANDER’SAPARTMENT-DAY

Wearingthewigandadesigneroutfitshetakesherown passportphotoagainstawall.ShelookslikeErika.

REPORTER

Mr.Blomkvistnamesnosources.

FSAOFFICIAL

Andwe can’tforcehimto.Butwe canlookforthem.

REPORTER

Beginningwhere?

FSAOFFICIAL

BeginningwiththoseclosesttoMr.

innercircleofacorporationlike thiscouldhaveaccesstothiskind of information.

Notwearingthewignow,sheinspectsapassportPlague hasacquiredforherfeaturingthecrownofNorway,and somecreditcards.

OnhisTV,a packoflawyersstandwhereWennerstromwas standingbefore-outsidetheGroup’scorporateoffices- under,asusual,umbrellas-

LAWYER

Mr.Wennerstromisn’tavailablefor commenttoday,butashislegal counsel,I’dbehappytoansweryour questions.

REPORTER

Whereishe?

LAWYER

Athome,Iimagine.

REPORTER

Heisn’t.Hasheleftthecountry?

LAWYER

Idon’tthinkso.

A planetouchesdownonaZurichAirportrunway.

A customsofficial,satisfiedwith“IreneNesser’s” Norwegianpassport-nottomentionherblondehairand bustline-stampsapage.

Bellmenoutsidethe5-StarZimmerstahlHotelattendto theluggageofwealthyguestsemergingfromnicecars.

As adeskclerkphotocopiesMs.Nesser’spassport,she neitherhidesfromnorplaystothesecuritycamera.

Salanderemergesfromthebathroomwithoutthewigon. Crossesthroughthesuiteinherunderwear.Oddly-or perhapsnot-she’salsowearingapairofwhitegloves. Sheopensthebalcony’sdoorstoletinsomeair.On theTV:

ANNOUNCER

Withhisfailuretoappearbeforea SecurityExchangeCommissionpanel,a warranthasbeenissuedforThe WennerstromGroupCEO.

Animmigrationofficialappearsbeforethenewscameras-

IMMIGRATIONOFFICIAL

I canconfirmthatheleftSwedenon a privatejetthatlandedinParis lastweek,butwhetherhe’sstill there,wedon’tknow.Hecouldbe anywherebynow.

Shesipsatherroomservicecoffee.

“TreneNesser”entersBankHausenGeneralunderwatchful securitycameras.

Securitycamerasinsidewatchherandabankeratadesk inanareareservedfordiscreettransactions.

SALANDER

I haveanumberofaccountsatBank of Kroenfeld,CaymanIslands.Iwant to transferthosefundsandconvert themtobonds.

Asshewritesanaccountnumberonaslipofpaperfrom memory,HerrWagnernotices-assheintends-thepen she’susing-fromthevenerableZimmerstalHotel.

WAGNER

Naturally,youhavetheclearing codes.

SALANDER

Naturally.

WAGNER

Howmanyaccountswillyoube transferring?

SALANDER

Thirty.

Heglancesathiswatch,perhapsthinkingaboutlunch. Hisfaux-politeness-evenhisappearance-remindsher ofBjurman.

WAGNER

Thiswilltakesometime.

SALANDER

Forwhichyou’llreceivea4-percent commission.

WAGNER

Iwill.

SALANDER

Thenitwon’tbeawasteofit.

SheoffershimtheZimmerstalpen.

WAGNER

Thankyou,Ihaveone.

listofaccountnumbersandclearingcodes-

As shesortsthroughastackofbonds,theTVshowsa reporterinacolorfultownsquare.

REPORTER

ASwedishtouristvacationingherein Barbadossaysheknowswherefugitive financierHans-ErikWennerstromis: HereinthisCaribbeanisland’s capital,Bridgetown.Policereleased thisphotograph,takenyesterdayby thetourist,JensAssur-

A snapshotofWennerstrom,orsomeonewholookslikehim- tropicalshirt,hatandsunglasses-climbingintoacar.

REPORTER

-andsaytheybelieveitisthe disgracedbillionaire.

Sittingwithadifferentbankmanagernowassecurity cameraskeepsilentwatch,sheopensherportfolioand turnsitsohecan seeitscontents.Heglancesupwith a politesmilethat’ssupposedtomaskhissurprise.

HASSELMAN

Howmanyofthesewouldyouliketo convertfordeposit?

SALANDER

Allfifty.Intofiveaccounts.

HeworksouttheconversiontoCHFandhandsherthe calculator:A“2”followedbymoredigitsthanwecan count.

SALANDER

Thatlookscorrect.

TheremnantsofaMcDonald’skidsmealonthedeskwith thewigandwhitegloves.Shebypassesthehotel’s internetservice,uplinksherMacBookthroughhercell.

Fiveaccounts-theonesshejustestablishedatBank

fundsintooneaccountatBankKroenfeld,CaymanIslands, belongingtoaGibraltarcompany.

Irenecutsupcreditcards,flushesthemdownatoilet.

Dropsthescissorsinatrashbinonherwaytosecurity.

IrenedisembarkswiththeotherZurichflightpassengers.

Irene’searringsdisappeardownasinkdrain.Necklace fallstothebottomofapapertowelbin.

Irene/Salanderputsheremptyportfolioinanunlocked locker,wipestheprintsfromit,headsfortheplatform.

Shehasaprivatesleepingberth,butisn’tsleeping. She’ssmokingacigarettenexttoaNo-Smokingdecalon thewindowthat’scrackedopen,andtossestheZimmerstal Hotelpenouttothedarkeningcountrysiderushingpast.

Salander-lookinglikeSalander-entersherapartment withonlyherlaptopbag.HoldsIrene’spassportovera stoveflame.Setstheburningdocumentonaplate.

TakesaCokefromherfridge,sitswithit.Putsthe coldcantoherforeheadlikeacompress.Thenopensit, drinks,andcloseshereyes...

A darkfigureislookingupatherapartment,at

intothenight,weseeit’sBjurman.

ZURICHREPORTERO/S

Themanwhoisnowbeingcalled Sweden’sPabloEscobar,maynothave acountrytocallhome,butdoeshave enoughmoneytobuyone.

Thereporterstandsunderanumbrellaonthesamestreet Salandercrossedtogetfromonehoteltotheother.

ZURICHREPORTER

AccordingtotheInternational BankingCommission,Wennerstrom,just daysaftertheMillenniumarticle thatbroughthimdownappearedon newsstands,beganemptyingaccounts atBankofKroenfeldintheCayman Islands.

OMIT:EXT.STOCKHOLM—-EVENING

TheplaceistrimmedwithChristmasdecorationsagain. In aglassed-inconferenceroom,Blomkvist,Erika,anda fewotherssitaroundthetable,theirproductionmeeting interruptedbythenewsontheplasmaTVhere:

ZURICHREPORTERONTV

Thatmoney,approximatelytwobillion Euros,wasthenspreadoveranumber ofaccountswiththehelpofthis confederate,seenhereinZurich-

Securitycameraimagesof“IreneNesser,”enteringand leavingbanks.

ZURICHREPORTERONTV

—whoconvertedthefundsinto privatebonds,which,I’mtold,are evenhardertotracethanWennerstrom

searchforthewomanwhohaduseda

whereabouts,likeherboss’s,are unknown.

Herwhereaboutsarehere,roaringthroughStockholmon herHondalikethefirsttimewesawher.

Blomkvisthearsamotorcycleandglancesoutthewindow toseeSalanderpullingupoutside.

Hecomesout,meetsherathermotorcycle.Shetakesa cashier’scheckfromherjacketpocket.

SALANDER

ThemoneyIborrowed.

BLOMKVIST

Already.

Shenods.

BLOMKVIST

Thankyou.

SALANDER

Thankyou.

BLOMKVIST

Goodinvestment?

SALANDER

It wasokay.

Henods.Shenods.

SALANDER

Whatareyoudoinglater?

BLOMKVIST

Seeingmydaughter.

SALANDER

Okay.

Shenods.Henods.

BLOMKVIST

Youlooknice.

SALANDER

Thanks.

conferenceroom.Salanderclimbsbackonhermotorcycle.

SALANDER

Christmasagain...seeyousoon.

Whilethenursefillsaplasticdays-of-the-week containerwithaconcoctionofpills,Salandersitswith herPalmgrenbytheuntouchedchesstable.

SALANDER

Canyouhearme? (noindicationthathecan) Imissourmeetings. (pause) I’msureyoudon’t.Whywouldyou? Iwasalwayssuchaheadacheforyou. Nevershowingupwithgoodnews. Onlyproblems. (pause) Ihavesomegoodnewsnow.I’vemade afriend.I meanonethatyou’d approveof. (pause) I’mhappy.

OneofPalmgren’shandsmanagestopullslightlyaway fromtheother,triestoreachforher,perhaps,butonly makesitaboutaninch.Shereachesoverandholdsit.

A reporterbundled-upoutsidealow-rentbuilding cordonedoffwithpolicetape-

REPORTER

Behindthewallsofthisdingy roominghousebehindmeliesabody ina poolofblood-Amanwhohas beenlivingherethelastthreeweeks underthenameVictorFleming-

ThesamecafeBlomkvistretreatedtoafterhislibel conviction.

REPORTERO/S

AmanwhopoliceinMarbella,Spain, haveconfirmedisfugitiveHans-Erik Wennerstrom-

Blomkvistisatthecounter,acrossfromabarista,but hisattentionisontheTV-

REPORTERONTV

- shotthreetimesintheheadat closerangeinwhatisbeingcalleda classicganglandexecution.

BARISTA

Whatwouldyoulike?

Blomkvistglancesblanklyatthebarista,thenbackto theTV-

REPORTERONTV

TheinvestigationintoWennerstrom’s tiestocrimeorganizationsworldwide willnowturntospeculation:Which of themcaughtupwithhimbefore Swedishauthoritiescould?

BARISTA

Sir?

REPORTERONTV

Wennerstromspentthelastdaysof hisflamboyantlifeinsolitudeand anonymity,lockedbehindthedoorof Room3A-

BLOMKVIST

-..Coffeeandasandwich...that one.

REPORTERONTV

Indeed,aftercheckingin,hewas neverseenagain-untilthismorning whenthebuildingmanagercame callingtocollecttheunpaidbill-

Atailorbringsoutagarmentbagbearinghisexclusive insignia,drapesitacrossatable,returnstoSalander thephotographsheprovidedhimwithlastweek:

It’sofamuchyoungerBlomkvist-ataboutSalander’s agenow-wearingtheblackleatherjackethelovedand losttrackofyearsago.

Thetailorunzipsthebagrevealinganexact-though considerablymoreexpensive-replicaofthejacket.

SALANDER

It’sperfect.

TAILOR

Yourfather?

SALANDER

Afriend.

TAILOR

Mustbeaverygoodfriend. (shenods) He’slucky.

A perfectChristmascardvistathatactuallyturnsout tobe aChristmascard:Asnowyrurallandscapescene.

It’sstupid,butshe’swritingunderthepre-printed “MerryChristmas”inside,apersonalnotethat’smore Sincerethanshethoughtherselfcapable.

Sheblowsontheink,putsthecardinitsenvelope, neatlywrites“Mikael”onit,getsup-

Snow’sfalling,butunlikethebrutalwinterstormslast year,it’sjustheavyenoughtodustthecityinwhite powderthatreflectstheChristmaslightsinthetrees.

ThebeautyofhercitypleasesSalanderassherides throughitonhermotorcycle.Ormaybeit’ssomething she’sfeelingassheturnsontoBlomkvist’sstreet.

Sheparks.Gathersthegarmentbagandcard,walksunder constructionscaffoldingtowardhisapartmentbuilding.

Fromaroundthecornerahead,BlomkvistandErikaappear. He sayssomethingandshelaughs,putsherarmaroundhis waistandlaysherheadagainsthisneckscarf.

Salanderstopsmid-stride,ducksintoanalcoveunderthe scaffolding,waitsaslongasitshouldtakethemtoget insidethebuilding,thenpeersoutagain-

They’renotinside.They’vestoppedjustoutsidethe building’sentrance.They’reembracing.Andthelonger theystandtheretogether,thesharperthepainstabsat Salander.

Finallytheyseparate,butonlytoallowBlomkvistto unlockthedoor.Erikatakeshishandthen,andthey disappearinside.

Salandercan’tmove.Waitsforthepaintosubside- whichiteventuallydoes-butonlytobereplacedwitha senseofhelplessness.Thenthatsubsides,replacedwith afacadeofinsouciance.

TherichestgirlinSwedenemergesfromthealcoveand walksbackthewayshecame-tossingthegarmentbagand cardintoaconstructiondumpster-climbsontoherHonda -startsit-anddrivesoff-

Probablyforever.