King Eric is a strange and eccentric figure; he is extremely suspicious and prone to unexpected decisions. Disturbing the courtyard, he settled in his Stockholm palace a mistress - the soldier's daughter Karin, whom he sincerely loves and from whom he already has two children. But at the same time, as befits a monarch, he makes plans for a dynastic marriage with Elizabeth of England and awaits the arrival of his envoy from England in the palace park. Downstairs, on the lawn under the windows of the pavilion, Karin sits embroidering, and the guard ensign Max, her former boyfriend, to whom she chose the king, but not out of vanity or self-interest, is hanging around her: Karin is sorry for Eric, without her, as it seems to her, he will disappear. The king notices the soldier from above and, in order to scare him off, rolls nails down from the balcony. Max leaves, but another man takes his place - Goran Persson, a former adviser to the king, now in disgrace. Having overheard the conversation Karin with the ensign and making sure of her loyalty to Eric, he offers her friendship. In addition, he brought Karin good news - Eric's wedding embassy failed. The king, having seen Persson from above, continues his strange trick and throws down after the nails a hammer, a flower pot, pillows, a chair ... Goran Persson runs. The king laughs and calls him back, but he does not return.
At this moment, Niels Sture, who returned from England, appears on the lawn. He came to the king's reception with relatives - Svante and Eric Sture, which causes the king displeasure. What was the crowd like as witnesses? Elizabeth refuses him? Where is the letter? The Queen ordered him to answer in words - and so rude that his tongue does not turn ...
The king is angry. He drives the comers out, tossing after them the objects thrown earlier from the balcony. Near the king appears Marshal Yullenshern. He wants to sweeten the bitter pill: Elizabeth refused because she had a lover - Count Lester. Then you need to kill Leicester! - the king decides without hesitation. And kill Lester Yullenshern! But he refuses this honor, Yullensherna is a nobleman, not a murderer. The king banishes Yullenschern too.
Goran Persson returns. Calm Eric says to him: he just refused to Elizabeth - because she got a lover. Although the evil Sture, of course, will spread the rumor that she rejected Eric. Goran Persson calls on the king to calm: let Eric not judge others too harshly and repeat the word “love” more often, then they will love him too. Good is rewarded. He himself, for example, sheltered an abandoned woman with a three-year-old child. And what? His house was filled with joy.
So who will Goran Persson advise to marry him? Katarina of Poland. But the king has just given permission to marry her to his half-brother, Duke Johan! He had already sailed on a ship. So you have to catch up with him and judge! Yullensherna has just reported: Duke Johan has already secretly been married to a Polish princess. Thus, he violated the ban on relations with a foreign power without the permission of the king. Eric agrees. Why not goran Persson to be his advisor again? Goran agrees. But only if in his hands he will have real power. He does not need the position of Secretary of State, who is responsible for everything, but doesn’t even dare to utter a word with the king. He will not give up the post of royal prosecutor. Eric accepts his terms.
House of Goran Persson. His mother asks if the king really brought him back to court. And of course, forgot to set a salary? Yes, there was no talk of him. But Goran Persson is ready to serve the king without a salary. He will not leave the king. They were born under one star. In addition to Goran, Eric has only his Karin.
Persson's house is Svante Sture, Secretary of State. He insults Yoran and his family, calling him a whore whom Magda warmed by him, and the owner himself - priestly spawn. Goran is not afraid of a distinguished guest, for him he is a symbol of the hated nobles, predators who separate the king and the people, Persson reminds Stura that he owes him the title of first count of Sweden. But let him know: now the second official after the king in the country is he, Goran, so let Svante beware! That leaves.
Comes in caused by Goran Max. He receives a warning: let Karin leave alone! It can be transferred to another city. Or eliminate it! Max dares Goran and leaves the house. But almost immediately, a king appears on his doorstep. Does Goran Persson know that the duke, having married Katarina, is now seated with the rebel Finns in the castle of Abo? Then Duke Johan, according to Persson, must be captured and executed. But only by decision of the Riksdag (Swedish parliament). Everything should be done, as far as possible, within the framework of the law. Does the king know that his worst enemy Svante Sture has just been here, insulting Goran and his family! The goran himself is to blame, the king believes, he has repeatedly been offered any title to choose from, but he refuses. Why? Because Goran wants to be judged only by his deeds! Yes, Eric understands him, he himself feels himself a stranger among the Swedish nobility. Maybe because its roots are in Germany?
Unexpectedly, Mons appears at the door, father Karin. He is stunned to see the king in Joran’s house, but he sets out his business rudely and boldly. He will not tolerate his daughter living in debauchery! There is a person who is ready to cover up her sin and marry her. And here, in family affairs, let no one stand in his way, at Mons! Even the king himself! Eric explodes, but curbs his anger: in front of him is the grandfather of his children. Goran Persson refuses to take a petition from Mons. Okay, then Mons will go to Secretary of State Svante Stura!
After the departure of Mons, Goran promises the king that he will settle the matter. And he settles it in his own way, having called his nephew - the one-eyed giant Peder Wellamson. He should take six dozen well done to help, put the ensign in a bag and drown him. So that not a drop of blood is spilled!
Outraged against Sweden, Finland and Poland, Duke Johan was captured. The Riksdag condemns him to death, but Eric grants him a pardon. The Dowager Queen (his stepmother) intriguing against the king is preparing a pardoned triumphal meeting. However, Goran Persson sets a trap for the conspirators: at the time of the meeting and the introduction of welcoming speeches, everyone was arrested. Now they must be judged by the Riksdag gathered in Uppsala. Before he speaks in an accusatory speech, Eric, at the request of Karin, lets the children in: they want to see the pope in the royal ermine mantle (at the height of summer!) And in the golden crown. Little Sigrid imperceptibly for the father wraps his doll in a scroll with a written performance. Of course, the king is not able to speak without a piece of paper, and the Riksdag does not want to listen to witnesses on his part - they are of too low an origin. The conspirators are justified. But this does not prevent Persson from judging them - now not by law, but, as he believes, by justice. The talents of the one-eyed nephew of Peder Wellamson are again used. He requires a small refund - an increase to corporal. The conspirators were killed in the basement.
Neither Goran Persson nor King Eric know that by then Karin was taken away with the children by the Dowager Queen. She came to Karin to ask for relatives, but when she found out that Karin had no influence on her husband’s decisions and was the last woman at court, she feigned pity on her and frightened her, saying that the only person Karin could ask for help was namely, Ensign Max, did not disappear at all, but was killed by the vile order of Goran Persson. After this, the Queen easily takes away Karin with her children.
Royal Castle in Stockholm. Duke Johan (he is already at large) agrees to seize power with his brother Duke Karl. The execution of the petty nobles, arranged by Eric in Uppsala, does not particularly grieve them, for the country it is only for the good. But you cannot leave the madman on the throne. Although is conscience, repentance, repentance - insanity? The king was just looking for the taken away children in the forest, got lost, slept on bare ground, in the rain. But it’s absolutely certain madness to go to the soldier Mons and ask him for the hand of Karin’s returning daughter! Both dukes are invited to the wedding, but they will not go to it - they guess about the trap set by him.
The same festively cleaned castle. Eric admits that the enemy was more magnanimous than he thought: they and Karin spared their children, and he took life from the nobles ... Yes, he, Eric, does not deserve his happy fate! Eric is also upset that he could not invite the faithful Joran Persson to the wedding, this was opposed to know.
Ceremoniesmaster announces: Erica and the Queen want to see the people! Eric orders people in. Among them, father Karin is a soldier of Mons: he, as always, is rude and arrogant and almost brings the king out of patience. Eric would love to kick out this audience. But who is this? Goran Persson? Yes, he was just from Uppsala: he managed to persuade the Riksdag - Yoran obtained a condemnation of executed nobles. But the king has already sent letters to the country with the news that the executed are innocent! Well, the Goran will no longer settle the affairs of the king! Eric destroys everything he builds. So now both dukes did not come to the wedding. Someone warned them. Most likely, Karin. Yullenshern approaches the king: nobles will not come to the festival - here is a pack of printed letters. Well, Eric decides, let the folks walk around the tables! The one-eyed companion of misfortune Wellamson enters the hall, he reports: the castle is surrounded, in the next hall - the Dukes Karl and Johan. Marshal Yullenschern kneels before Eric: Lord, save and have mercy on the good king, a friend of the people of Eric the intercessor!
The common people feasting in the hall, but people feel uneasy: do they praise the demented Or maybe he’s not so weak-witted if they are sitting here at the tables! Eric is a good king, he married a simple girl.
Yullensherna enters the hall. He announces: His Majesty the King of Sweden Johan III! The duke of Karl, walking next to Johan, moves away from him and makes a sign to his entourage. Johan betrayed him: they agreed that they would share the throne. Yullensherna exclaims: “It seems the world has gone mad! Eric thought so too! ”
A little girl at the table asks her mother: “Will it all end soon?” The Duke Karl turns to her with a smile: "No, dear child, the struggle does not end - never!"
