Mon, Oct 30, 1978
Sixten Svensson is work-shy. He avoids employments and he doesn't want to work at home either. Because of this his family sinks into poverty, and his wife has to beg her parents for money and their neighbors for food. Their daughter Märta is well aware that baron Urse is highly interested in her. She dreams of getting married to the baron and to live a fashionable life with him, but his wife forms an obstacle to this. When the baron offers her an appointment as a housemaid, she declines the offer because of his wife. Outside the village shop some of the villagers are inspecting the raft which is used every summer when they cleanse the stream from too much vegetation. This is a yearly event, which turns into a ritual festivity of great importance for the village. To be chosen as one of the men on the raft is a great honor.
Mon, Nov 6, 1978
The villagers are gathering in the shop to elect this year's crew for the raft. They need three men aboard and one to tar the vessel. After a tense discussion Erik is elected as the second man on the raft, while Percy is appointed to do the tarring. Percy gets furious and leaves the meeting. The alderman Abraham then suggests the disregarded Nikodemus to replace him for the tarring, and Svensson to be the third man. At Valla baron Urse, Louise and Mon Cousin sit alone, since all servants have left them, because of no salary. Suddenly Urse remembers the election. He turns up at the meeting, proclaims that he invites all of them to dinner at the inn, and surprises everybody by suggesting himself to be the first man on the raft.