"Film Polski presents:" "A film by:" "Without Anesthesia" "Starring:" "Screenplay:" "Photography:" "Produced by:" "Directed by:" "I was in Honduras when they fought with El Salvador that "football war"." " The football war?" " That's right." "The other newspapermen had gone to El Salvador thinking El Salvador was where the action was." "There was only one telex and it was being used by the President of Honduras." "I couldn't just push him aside or Honduras would loose the war." "How often have you been threaten with execution?" "Four times." "How many revolutions have you seen?" "Quite a few." "Two in Cuba." "First when Fidel entered Havana." "The other, at the time of the Bay of Pigs." "In Chile, the abortive anti-Frey putsch and the overthrow of Allende." "Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, among the guerillas." "I was also with the Tupamaros in Uruguay." "The Brazilian peasants revolt, the Nordeste and a dozen coups at least, in Africa." "Besides death, what risks have you faced as a journalist?" "Three Againist One" "Finding myself expelled for writing things..." "What's your worst fear, in that case?" "Disaster." "I've had my share of setbacks but unmitigated disaster, never." "By that I mean physical incapacitation having to give up my job, my way of life humiliation, degradation, impotence." "Is that why as a reporter you cover the Third World, but not Poland?" " Good question." " I agree." "Let's have the next one." "But don't these roving assignments also mean... travel, prestige, expenses." "In other words." "...money in the bank?" "No, I don't think so." "A Chilean friend once told me that he had been a socialist all his life and acquired nothing except one or two such undervalued assets as a wife who was his closest friend and companion and children, his greatest joy." "Where's he?" "He's dead now." "I don't see the relevance." "I also have a wife and children, and he was my friend." "Exactly." "Why isn't your wife here?" "I don't understand why you ask." " I'll switch off." " No." "Let me quote a favorite writer of mine:" ""A wife is not a menagerie to be put out on display."" "Don't watch this." "It doesn't bother me a bit." "Really." "That's not the point." "Then, don't watch." "...then our ways parted." "One is a professor, the other a priest..." "Do you love me?" "Do you?" "I must be going." "I want to pick-up Kookie at my mother's." "You're taking Kookie along?" "It'll be better." "I don't think he'd dare to..." "You're right." "...a point of reference." "There's no other truth about the times than the one imported on people's life-stories." "How do you find the truth in yours?" "By answering the questions:" "Who am I?" "Who do I want to be?" "Who can I be?" "Who do you want to be?" " Who I am." " Who could you be?" "No one else." "So your life story is a total triumph?" "So it seems." "You've walked of the bonds between you and your colleagues." "Here is our television version of them." "These are not only bonds, but also security in the climbing sense." " Will they hold?" " I doubt it." "Tell me was the formula of this show cleared with you?" "Of course." "If you remember, you liked the idea a lot." "Yes..." "Except that I pictured it a little differently." "The synopsis was precise enough." "If you lack this social instinct, then just don't be a reporter." "What do you regard as your vocation?" "I simply have a duty to inform, and do it quickly." "Whose idea was it to begin the series with him?" "He's a journalist who's a genuine household name." "Award of the year for his book, and deservedly so." "Tonight's Friday." "There's a weekend ahead." "People expect something different." "Afterwards they complain, and I don't blame them." "This isn't what I recall discussing." "...one sees the reporting of the world affairs is so trivialized, stereotyped with so much left unsaid as if falsified." "The significance of events are played down and silence is very dangerous." " It's daddy!" "Yes, your daddy!" "Historians deal with putsches, revolutions, rebellions." "But a mother who becomes aware of no sound coming from the nursery is driven by some instinct." "...to rush in and see what's wrong." "Silence plays a similiar part in history." "...to examine how adequately the mass media serves the purpose of truthful information." " What's the matter?" " Nothing." " I'm taking Kookie to the airport." " I'll dress her." "Josefa will." "I use the word "truth" cautiously and respectfully." "With my conscience I decide what to write and what I'm unwilling to or be unable to write." "You learn this the hard way." " Relax" " Be back in an hour, mother." "Come, Kookie." "Being on the spot, I'm the best judge." "Hi, sweetheart!" " You're on television." " You don't say!" "How you've grown!" " What have you brought me?" " Wait till we get home." " Show me, show me." " Ah, not yet!" "Everything alright?" "Daddy, you're on television." " What's going on here?" " Expanding." "What is it?" "Come over here." " We've moved out." " What?" "Kookie and I have moved out." "Are you out of your mind?" "I'm not discussing this in front of her." "Don't look for me." "My lawyer will be in touch." "Polo, come here, drink." "Why are you crying, mommy?" "Your nose is running." "Shut up!" "I'm sorry, my darling." "That's better." "What about your family?" "We ask you once more." "You're always running around." "How do they feel about it?" "I don't run around." "I go away and I come back." "They wait, knowing I'll be back." "Can you ever find the time to dream?" " Occasionally, in a plane." " What do you dream about?" "Of my children growing up never ashamed of what I do and what I write." "Mother..." "It's Jerzy." "Is Eva with you, mother?" "No, she isn't." "She didn't say when she'll..." "No, she didn't." "I know you used that quote from Balucki to warn us off this subject but, nevertheless, we've prepared a little surprise." "Face the screen." "Could I use your phone?" "It's a waste." "If she's there she won't take the call." " Fresh water." " Why not?" "She doesn't want to talk to you." "Stenia, what's wrong with you today?" "Get things ready for an extraction." "Upper right molar." "Don't be dense!" "Your teeth are a mess!" "When did it start?" "A month ago." "I'd say that she's being an idiot." "I had a big fight with her, but she's acting crazy." "Think of the children, of Kookie, I said." "Besides you love him, I said." "She does, you know." "In a month she'll come to her senses and kick herself for letting some snotty..." "Do I know him?" "No." "Didn't she tell you?" "You know who he is?" "I'm her closest friend." "I can't just drop her." "I never thought she'd take it so serious." "That's the trouble with these faithful wives." "A whiff of romance can put wild ideas into their heads." "Now, please rinse your mouth!" "Without anesthetic." "It's more scary than pulling the tooth." " But the pain." " I'll handle it." "If only he'd be interesting." "Not a twit with glasses!" "Make some coffee, Stenia, but not your usual muck." "Could you tell me if I know him?" "You probably don't." "He's a new fish in Warsaw." "A writer of some sort." "A poet, I think." "The type a woman likes to mother." "It could be a novelty for a while." "No woman with a self-preservation instinct would go for that." "But she lacks it." "She's had it too easy." "See, you're being a fool." "A cynic said: "God, spare me the physical pain the mental kind I'll endure." Forward." "She complains that you went away..." " It's better?" " Yes." "...when Kookie was born." "She says she wants freedom." "I say, she wants a new man, not freedom." "Or she'd not be getting involved so quickly." "For God's sake, will you learn to use a tray?" "Don't you know what they are for?" "You're to blame too." " Chin up." "Comfortable?" " Yes." "All the same, she'll be back." "You were too easy-going." "To a woman, a man like that doesn't care." "Yell and beat her up." "Show her there's a man in the house." "Open wide." "Take it easy." "Easy now, quiet!" "Just one more second." "There you go." "Just find yourself some lady-friend and she'll feel threatened, and come crawling." "Clench." "Right." "A cold compress tonight." "Be strong." "Men always think it couldn't happen to them in such a banal way." "I'll soon be with you." "Good morning." "You sent a summons." "Just a request." "Your name?" "Jerzy Michalowski." "Yes, now I know." " As far as..." " One second!" "Maria!" "Would you type this please?" ""On behalf of the petitioner, a sensitive woman...", so on." "Well, now?" "As far as to why you summoned me here, you should know that I refuse to consent to a divorce." "...about our marriage." "But it's no worse than others regarded as excellent." "Probably even better." "Could you speak up?" "I don't consent to a divorce." "I don't know what my wife told you about our marriage." "But it's no worse, rather, even better... ..than others regarded as excellent marriages." "But that's not the point." "The point is... that your wife doesn't want to go on living with you." "She maintains that you two had no true relationship." "You're two complete strangers who once thought, were in love." "Being a more mature woman now, she thinks there's no point in keeping up the mockery of a marraige." "What?" "The mockery of a marriage." "What is it?" ""The respondent drinks to excess, hold debauches." Excuse me." "You know the building-bricks theory?" "The bricks either match or they don't." "And after 15 years, she knocks them over, just like that?" "I'm confined to merely act as legal advisor to your wife who wishes to dissolve the marriage she says is a failure." "She has spesific charges to make." "What if I contest the action?" "In that case the required procedure is as follows:" "We have to prove a complete breakdown of the marriage." "Sexual incompatibility non-support, acts of aggression, all sorts of unsavory matters." "How're you going to prove it if it isn't true?" "No, I assure you, proof is never a problem." "Let me ask, as one of your faithful readers." "What good can this possibly do?" "Shouldn't civilized people behave, accordingly?" "This way, it will be so extremely messy." "You'll leave the court hating each other for life." "Think of the children!" "Suppose we both work out the causes of the marriage breakdown?" "The problem is that there's no marriage breakdown!" "Very well, then you don't agree with working out its causes." "Contents of the petition?" "A joint application for divorce without conceding guilt?" "I don't agree to a divorce" "Very well, I'll inform my client." "How does she intend to prove me guilty?" "My dear sir!" "It's been my experience that anything can be proved againist any of us." "Guilt is a flexible concept, depending on one's discretion." "Nice meeting you." "Good day and thank you." " Who is he?" " I don't know." " What's he doing here?" " He's one of us." "I'm staggered by how candidates are presented here." "Instead of laughing like Mr. Michalowski here... let's substantiate our proposals with factual arguments." "That won't be no problem." "I'm listening!" "To the point, gentlemen, please!" "My reaction, my over-reaction to the proposal of..." "Mr..."Really Here" was due by the shock of these two books' comparison." "It's been said that reportage now serves the purpose that novels once had." "We're dealing with this phenomenon." "For example, Mastecki's book... is more than just a collection of reporting." "He shows us... awkward aspects of our lives personal, professional, social, political and the intricate patterns between them." "We all know how diffucult that is." "We've been waiting for and needing a book like this." "The public's response is a factor that we can't in all decency ignore." "It's a powerful honest book." "I realize that Truth is an overused word whose meaning sometimes even escapes me." "But reading "A Shorter Week"..." "I got that rare feeling that here was a true picture of our realities and true literature." "By comparison, Koleba's book is beneath notice." "Have you finished?" "What about Gralak's "The Tourist's Poland"?" "Exactly, Gralak." "Now we have another candidate." "Perhaps Mr. Rosciszewski wishes to speak?" "Look, we can put both nominations to the vote but we all know what this adds up to." "Perhaps, we ought to take a vote?" "There's nothing to stop us." "Then, let's vote." "Just a minute." "Surely we, of all people, have a duty to speak our minds." "Let us not be fooled by a lot of hocus pocus." "For your information..." "I've read Mastecki's book very carefully." "You say it is a true picture of our realities." "I am a Pole too." "I live in this country, at this point in time." "I see more of Poland than Mr. Michalowski who chooses to travel elsewhere and in all conscience I can say that the Poland of "A Shorter Week" is a country which..." "does not exist!" "Compare Koleba's book." "It is written with affection, not venom." "Instead of sneering superiority, it has courage." "The courage to show the loftiness and beauty of life instead of a bleak, seamy and absurd one." "That's all." "Yes, that's really something!" "I don't know Mr. Rosciszewski but we seem to, at last, have a genuine demagogue." "Something we've been in need of." "Who is Mr. Rosciszewski?" "I've been a journalist for 20 years and know what to make of such speeches and books, like Koleba's." "After 3 years here, my opinion must command some respect." "If you trust me at all, believe when I say that Mastecki's book is easily the best book of the year!" "Who gave you the right to pontificate?" "Who am I, you asked." "I ask, who are you?" "Who gave you the right to pass judgement?" "The immunity of your smart-set pundits has run out!" "You have no one in your corner but the coffee-house!" "Which coffee-house?" "It's a symbol." "I don't intend to get into a slanging-match for this isn't even an exchange of views." "However, the issue is extremely important." "It's a good book and deserves the award." "It's a..." "A product of conformism." "A bunch of half-truths!" "How can you say that!" "Hell!" "Your half-truths are in fact the very limit of what is possible to write today." "Well!" "What do you mean by, "possible to write"?" "That simply confirms my point that the facts the.." "...author ventures to interpret, are from a conformist angle!" "Possible, impossible..." "permissible, non-permissible." "That's not Koleba's criteria, it doesn't carry weight for him." "You have a point." "Koleba is swayed by quite a different criteria." "Let's address your distinction of what is or not "possible"." "What would you write about, if you could do so?" "I would write a book about you only it happens to be impossible." "You might have guessed that as things stood, Mastecki had no chance." "But for you, Gralak would have won, not that creep." "I agree it reflects badly on the paper." "Never mind." "Forget it." "Realize that a man with your talent will never be liked by his colleagues." "They're a mean lot." "The fact that you prefer people to nature... plays into their hands." " Your non-involvement..." " Why do you call it that?" "If I get involved in minor things, then my word won't have validity." "Remember, it's not wise to ever get involved in any lost cause, whatsoever." "A drink?" "Sorry, I've been a poor host." "Why are you steamed up?" "We're both the wiser for this conversation." "Your worst calamity would be to lose your self-preservation instinct." "You ought to watch out a little." "In what sense?" "Yes?" "Put him through." "I saw you on TV last night." "Not only me, I'm afraid." "Yes..." "I'll have to say good-bye now." "Call me if you have any problems." " Is Ola in Moscow?" " Yes." "Is she doing well in school?" "Thanks for arranging it." "It was nothing." " Don't eat for two hours." " Thank you." " Something wrong?" " No." "I think I've got it all figured out." "Go in." "It seems to me that one heart to heart talk with Eva..." "You think so?" "I'm convinced that she thinks so too." "A frank talk would end this whole nonsense." "She dreads having to face absurdity of her decision." "But having made it, she thinks she has to stick to her guns, come what may." "I know how she feels." "That's why I ask you to tell her I understand, and respect it." " Me tell her that?" " What?" "I should tell her, right?" "I should do it?" "Can't you see they've put her againist me?" "They're hiding her from me!" "I can't even get in touch with her!" "Do me up, please." " For your information..." " Careful!" "...I spent three whole days staking out the place and couldn't see her." "Sent letters." "Haven't reach her." "That's why I'm here." "You know where she is." "Have no fear, I won't insist that you tell me." "I just want for you to do one thing for me." "Please give this to her!" "Will you both please leave me alone?" "You come here whining, she comes here crying..." "She cries?" "You say she's been crying?" "I thought so!" "Crying!" "This isn't the way, you know." "You ought to have more self-respect." "You shouldn't crawl." "Do you think she's some kind of a saint?" "Didn't I tell you what to do?" "Pride is neither here nor there." "I want her to know that I bear no grudge." "That she need not fear having a talk with me." "I believed that in certain areas of life one must never accept a compromise." "Especially in the relations between the sexes." "But now I see that this is the one sphere where one can accept a compromise." "A compromise." "If she'd only come back I'd accept any terms." "No recriminations." "I realize now that I was too smug." "Treated her as if I owned her." "That's exactly how I treated her." "She caught on and decided to punish me." "I don't blame her." "But all the things ...which still remain between her and me count for more than any pride, self-esteem or anything." "I'm sure that she thinks exactly the same." "So you won't agree to divorce?" "No, I won't!" "No, that's out of the question!" "They're very stupid tactics." "They're not tactics, it's my life!" "You should have a greater sense of self-respect." "Screw self-respect" "Please take this to her, I beg you." "Wanda, please, take this to her!" "I'll try to see her tomorrow." "No, not tomorrow, today." "Go see her and give her this I'll get your coat." "You're out of your mind." "Here, put it on." " Your arm, please." " All right." " Hurry." " My bag." "Where is it?" "There it is." "Take it." "Please, hurry!" "Take a taxi." "You've gone quite mad." "I won't mince my words." "It's a general and diffucult question." "Turn it up." "The world expects us to make a concrete choice." "To stand up and be counted." "It's really you!" "By choosing a committed cause..." "Nonsense!" "They've cut everything." "It's been stripped of the natural context!" "No." "The girl's a bit inane but you come across very well." "You don't need to humor me." "I know it's lousy." "It's truly dreadful!" "For a first appearance, it's splendid." "Don't take it so hard." "...the award went to Koleba, though it deals with a truth that incenses the coterie." "So what you're saying is that his writing is..." "What's wrong?" "I know you don't want to watch." "Why punish you?" "Watch a movie." "But I don't want to see a film." "I see you're upset but must you behave like this?" "Of course I'm upset." "It's nerves." "One can't be sincere with you." "But I understand." "You're not used to sincerity." "What's going on with you?" "To your success!" "You know I don't drink." "I made a fool of myself." "He's much more fluent." "A real television personality!" "You go for that." "For cheap exhibitionism contempt for people but all the time playing to the gallery." "A sly illusion here, a snide dig there." "How intelligent am I, how outspoken!" "Meanwhile, I'm licking all the right boots." "Yes." "They're good at that!" "Putrid merchandise wrapped in shiny cellophane!" " Who's that?" " You know who!" "I didn't take elocution lessons." "I didn't attend fancy schools or learn how to lie in literary cafés!" "But I'll fight them all to the last ditch." "I know, darling." "I made a fool of myself and that's all they need." "To pounce on my least slip-up." "Who are "they"?" "No one was actually watching." "No one?" "I'll bet the wrong people did." "You're the best." "You mean that?" "Sure." "Because you're sincere, always right and know what's what." " Do people see that?" " I'm sure they do." "Tell me does he watch his TV appearances?" "It varies." "He doesn't give a damn." "He's so sure of himself, of his charm, of his name." "He's got another thing coming!" " Oh, Wanda." " May I?" "Come in." "Why the flowers?" " Is Eva in?" " Yes." " Oh, Wanda." " I want to have a talk with you." "In private?" "Make us some tea, please." "You might at least read it!" "What for?" "That's cowardice." "So what?" "What am I to tell him?" "I don't know." "I've got to tell him something." "Anything you like." "That I was too hapy with him or too unhappy." "That he's too interesting, or too boring..." "Suit yourself." "Can this Jacek offer you any kind of security?" "Yes." "It's the reverse set-up." " Do you love him?" " Yes." "Will you marry him?" "I don't know." "What then?" "He's quite the opposite of what you think." "Dreadfully vulnerable." "Terrified of nothing going right for him in life." " If I..." " If what?" "...were to leave him, maybe he'd kill himself." "I'm sure he wouldn't." "How can you know?" "In any case, that's not the point." "What is?" "Good-bye, Jacek." "He wrote you?" " Yes." " Saying what?" " Skip it." " I'm entitled to know." "You're not entitled to anything." "I haven't even opened the letter." "I can tear it up here and now." "Don't bother." "From him too, I bet." "Lecture canceled." "Why aren't my students here?" "Please check the schedule." "No one notified me of anything." "You have no classes this term." "You canceled them yourself because of your trip." "I didn't cancel anything." "I notified Mrs. Kruszewska that I'd start this week." "You'd best see her." "I just type the schedules." "I was told to cancel your classes." "Who told you?" "I was given a schedule." "I suggest you clear it up with her." "Now I realize what must have happened." "I'll take it up with the Dean." "Good day." "I'm sorry, sir." "Good morning, sir." "What's the gang doing here?" "What's up?" "Come on, out with it!" "Come here, Piotrek!" "Good morning, Professor." "We tried to reach you on the phone about your seminar." "It means a lot us." "But I understand that you were notified." "That's the point!" "That we were notified." "We heard that you were forced to resign." "It's news to me." "That way, it's less trouble." "Our best seminar!" "We've got up a petition to clear up with you." "Wait, wait!" "May I explain something first?" "No one has forced me to resign." "There's been some unfortunate coincidences." "I was going to be abroad for some time so the seminar was suspended." "Hold it!" "Listen, listen!" "My plans changed, but by then, my slot was filled." "It's too late now." "We'll have to wait till next year." "We inquired, and something's fishy." "It's pure coincidence." "Coincidene...!" "Like hell it is!" "With people like you, it's never a coincidence." "When I was your age I also thought that politics was behind everything." "But most often things like this are plain muddle." "May I see that?" "It's out, and I wasn't even sent a copy." " Could you autograph it?" " I don't have a pen." "If I may give so some advice I'd be careful with petitions." "I'm not recommending playing it safe but make sure that the issue is really important." "A petition is a collective act and so not to be undertaken lightly." "You have to be certain it will serve its purpose." "In other words, shove it!" "Tell you what..." "We can talk there." "We can have a few drinks." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Don't be bashful." "It's so sweat." " How about you?" " No, thank you sir." "Come on, Agata, let's go." "What's the matter with you?" "I don't get you at all." "Why can't you do as I say?" "Please..." "listen." "Look at me, Agata!" "Let's suppose a man's wife has left him." "Is that earth-shaking?" "The law says, no." "Wonder why people get married?" "People imagine there's such a thing as a metaphysics of marriage." "Intimate communion with one another." "Joint acquisition of property, mutual compromises liberation of shame in each other's presence." "The fact of moving towards death of growing old together." "Whatever is there." "What's there to depend on if we can't tell what values are?" "How can you up and say I don't want to be with you I'm leaving." "Is it that what they had is unimportant?" "Someone you love may become a stranger." "Should one behave in a civilized manner?" "Work things out?" "A man ought to fight for values that he believes to be important." "Love?" "You can't force anyone into love." "You talk about a man whose wife has left him and he discovers there's no criteria and refuses to accept it." "You understand that, but not the point of the petition?" "Or that you can be dumped, or cross out by the boss' pen?" "You're waiting for justice to be done and some criteria to prevail and that is wrong and harmful." "These two things have nothing in common." "You've missed my whole point." "You can't even see how they tie up." "Perhaps..." "I'm fine!" "Perhaps, they do tie-up after all." "Let's go." "Come on, let's go." "Goodnight, professor." "Thank you." "Hello Kookie!" "Give me a kiss!" "Let's sit down." "What have you brought?" "What is it?" "Madame mustn't find out we've been here." "I've already warned Kookie not to let on." "Frankly, I can't stand it there any longer!" "The grandma tried to tell me what I was to say at the divorce hearing." "But I told her that I wouldn't say a word againist you." "The poor child's so miserable." "My master's never spoken a harsh word to me." "My sweet little girl." "How can I testify againist you?" "Go and play with the horse." "I feel sorry for Kookie." "She kept asking, where's daddy?" "Where has he gone?" "When will he be back?" "So today I said:" "We'll go and see daddy, but mum's the word." "They say that I turn her againist Mr. Jacek but she herself senses he's a thief." "Don't exaggerate." "Barging and running everything!" "That's snake!" "Kookie's gotten so jumpy." "She lies awake at night scratching her fingers till they bleed." "The poor girl." "All on account of her nerves." "It's sad." "You better leave us here." "Daddy, why aren't we living at home anymore?" "Tell mummy that you don't want to see Uncle Jacek anymore that he's to stop visiting." "Tell her you want to be with daddy and mummy." "OK?" "Tell her today, will you?" "Wait, I'll buy her something." "There, ther." "Don't cry, love." "Come on, don't cry." "That's a good girl." " Sofie..." " What is it?" "Come here, will you?" " Yes." " Where's my "Newsweek"?" "You've stopped getting it." "Your name's off the list." "What do you mean?" "Why the other desk?" "Where's my "Stern"?" "You can always borrow mine." "Why are you here?" "They haven't informed, yet?" "What are you standing there for?" "Sofie..." "Yes, sir?" "Make sure he gets all the foreign papers." " Yes, but..." " Is that clear?" "Yes, sir." "She's such a scatterbrain." "Now, everything allright?" "Look perhaps I'm not in the best of shape right now so it occured to me that I should seek your advice." "You may not know that Eva we've seperated, temporarily." "That's why I turned down that assignment." "But I now feel that if I went away for a couple of weeks to gain time to give her time to come to her senses." "As long as I'm here, I feel so helpless and scared of doing something silly." "Something that would take us beyond the point of no return." "I don't know if I'm thinking straight." "What do you think?" "I agree." "It'd be a good idea." "...to go away for a while." "I'll call the Association and arrange to send you on vacation." "I'm sure they'll do it for you." "You've got me all wrong." "I don't want a vacation." "I meant that UN invitation." "I'd like to go back to work." "Let me see." "That assignment is not available." "You backed out yourself." "You kept saying, I was the only one who could go." "To think about it!" "You're getting all upset again." "I'll tell you." "There's been certain changes." "Who's going?" "None of us." "You've been instructed not to send me, haven't you?" "Who said that?" "Why repeat idiotic gossip?" "No one would give those orders." "Even if they did." "...I'd be the first to tell you." "Surely in all these years you've seen you can trust me." "Don't you?" "Pardon me." "I thought no one was in." "Eva asked me to collect some things from a closet in the hall." "Which one is it?" "Oh, this is the one." "The maid's stuff and some clothes of Kookie's a skirt a sweater." "It's curious all men are true to type when their masculine pride is injured." "Off they rush to find themselves a piece to prove how dandy and attractive fellows they still are." "Who is she?" "What does she do?" "I don't know." "Got any liquor?" "Just a moment." "I hear you're drinking a lot." "Pretty, I must say, but..." "You disapprove of her?" "I wish I knew what theses girls expect." "Eva had a fight with him and her mother." "Now it's good for you..." "No." "I'm past the stage of trying to fight back." "You can't even guess the state I was in." "But I've gotten over it." "At the hearing I felt neither love nor resentment." "Inevitable, I suppose." "Are you sure you're not fooling yourself?" "I'm afraid I probably am." "Why is that so unfortunate?" "You know..." "I keep... dreaming of Africa." "I miss it terribly." "The weather here is so unpredictable." "I can't live in such an erratic climate." "I'm sorry." "She also asked me to bring her the dog." "Polo..." "You're too busy to look after him." "Come here, Polo." "Come along." "Let's go." "Kookie's very fond of him." "Take care." "Yes, we're leaving now." "Eva." "I want to explain." "Or rather to apologize." "Don't hang up on me." "How's Kookie?" "I really miss her." "I'd like to come and see her." "What are you doing here?" "Answer me!" "Clear out of here!" "Take your things and go!" "Get out of here!" "You're to get out right now!" "I don't want to see you here!" "This is my father's house!" "Get out!" "Take this and get out!" "What did you tell them at School?" "That you're ill." "Suppose they find out I'm not." " Doesn't matter." " No matter." " Did your mother call you?" " No." "You took your passport, got a ticket and here you are?" "That's right" " Looking for something?" " No, no." "Daddy, how can I help you?" "I spoke to mother." "We're all going for a walk tomorrow." "You've got to work it all out, together." "Things can't go on like this." "Daddy." "If one can't concentrate on one thing, is one superficial?" "It can also mean being interested in everything." " You do it?" " At times." "You're that homesick?" "No, but I have the feeling that what matters in life is passing me by." "At any rate, I've learned to be on my own." "Very important." "It's not a knack I ever mastered." "How can I help you?" "If it gets too tough, you can always come back but a little patience wouldn't come amiss." " Coming back is hard." " I agree." "One thinks that time has been standing still and waiting." "...but when you get back, there's no one to talk to." "Take Kathy." "We can't really be friends anymore though you called us thick as thieves." "Who am I to return to?" "To us." "To me." "Mishka asked me to buy him some jeans." "I still have some vouchers left." "He'll get above himself." "He saw me off at the airport." "Big sacrifice for him!" "Kathy once tried to kill herself." "It wasn't over a boy." "Don't." " You took the dog after all." " Yes, I'm sorry." "The woman downstairs rang up mother to complain that Polo was howling all the time." "Besides, Kookie missed him." "Howling?" "She didn't say anything about me?" "No." "Be careful!" "She's still only a baby!" "Did you inform Ola?" "Of course not." " Who did, then?" " Don't ask me." "I assumed you wrote to her." " You out of your mind?" " Not yet." "I didn't want her to find out until it was all over." "She's very sensitive and inclined to over-dramatize." "For that matter, she gets that... ..from you." "But luckily she's sensible and has a mind of her own." "She gets that from you." "How's Kookie?" "Just fine!" "Why do you ask?" "No particular reason." "You can see yourself that she's filled out, grown." "Let's talk." "What about?" "You won't accept any of my proposals." "Okay." "Have you taken a new job?" "Yes, I managed to get a post at the Institute." "I always wanted to go into research." "Or have a shot at it." "Now I've been given a chance." "By whom?" "Girls!" "Ola, come back!" "Hold on, we have to talk." "We already have." "But go ahead." "Let's talk!" "Not like this!" "How then?" "Surely I have some rights." "We should have one or two things explained." " You have none." " I think I do." "Luckily I don't have to listen... to your homilies about right or wrong." "No, you've got yourself a better guru." "Idiot!" "You think I'm jealous?" "Mother, look at her!" "By herself!" "I feel disgust not jealousy." "I can understand a woman falling in love." "Going overboard." "But with a creep like him?" "And what are you?" "A liberal!" "A coffeehouse oppositionist!" "I'm a what?" "Oh baby, will you...?" "Repeat that?" "A coffeehouse oppositionist!" "Ola will have lunch with us at mother's." "She'll spend the night there and then go back." "You think so?" "Yes." "Just don't make things diffucult for her." "She has a mind of her own." "True, but I think that..." " Everything OK?" " OK." " We meet at granny's?" " I have an appointment." "You ought to be there." "I'm afraid I can't be." "But it will be okay?" " Okay." " Promise?" " Promise." "Bye-bye, Kookie." "Good morning, I have an appointment." "Of what nature?" "Private." "I called and was scheduled in for today." "Please take a seat." "There's a Mr. Michalowski to see you." "I see." "Good morning." "It's a pleasure to meet you." "Excuse me, but..." " What's the problem?" " I thought..." "I've long wanted to meet you." "What can I do for you?" "I was to see Mr. Bronski." "Bronski is away on sick leave." "Till when?" "It's hard to say." "But I'm standing in for him." "Well now?" "Is there something I can do for you?" "No, I'll come back later." "How's Ola?" "In Moscow?" "Yes." "Is she doing well?" " Thank you for arranging it." " Forget it." "I went to your office." "Not mine anymore." "Why didn't you let me know?" "I was in a boxing match." "I see." "I warned you about nasty surprises." "I underestimated you." "Knockout?" "No, on points." "A split decision at that." "Three to two." "That's always some comfort." "I suppose." "The reason I dropped by, is strictly business." "You must own a tailcoat." " A tailcoat?" " Right." "Could you lend it to me for a year?" "Half a year?" "It happened so quickly I didn't have time to get one made." "I have one I haven't worn in years." "Is it a decent posting?" "It's not here, so it must still be packed." " Found it?" " Yes." "Yes, it's a good posting." "Nice and relaxing." "It's fine." "Just a bit tight." "You can let it out." "Tails should be a little tight." "It adds a touch of class." "If they are tight it shows you've worn them a lot and aren't new at it." "Tell me, which embassy is it?" "Later." "You can read about it in the papers." "Till then, I'm making myself a nuisance." "What else is left?" "Cheers, Ambassador." " Sore with me?" " Why should I be?" "I loused things up for you." "If anyone did, it was me." "Some pretext was needed for easing me out." " Damn!" " What?" "So, it's not thanks to me?" "That's how life is." "Excuse me." "Don't you know the first rule of rotation?" "If someone is good at his job, he has to be moved on." "If he is outstanding in agriculture switch him to sports." "If sports is his forte, switch him to education and so on." "Now, you've become too good an expert in your field." "You sound bitter." "Me?" "Not a bit!" "Can't you see how happy I am?" "Do I look good?" "It's hard to accept the absence of any sense of any concrete pattern in all this." "I know." "It's your youth-organization kink coming out." "Listen." "You ought to take up writing detective stories collecting stamps." "Buy a country cottage, try gardening." "Or learn, I forgot you're already a linguist." "Say, you could give me a crash course in French." "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, mon general?" "How's my accent?" "Is that you?" "I want to talk with you." "Mother's asleep, so is Kookie, and the maid in the kitchen." "Maybe tomorrow?" "No." "Right now, please." "It's important?" "You see?" "We can go to our I mean my place." "Alright." "Wrong key." "Had supper?" "I seem to have been skipping supper lately." "Go on." "Take a seat." "Not here, over there." "You've prepared this very nicely." " Looking for something?" " Matches." "Here they are." "You've not replaced the stove?" "I totally forgot." "I've been busy." "It might blow up any minute!" "Shouldn't you do it?" "The whole place needs fixing." "It's not worth it now." " I mean since now..." " Never mind." "With prunes, the way you like it." "Your plate." "Just a second." "Such big portions." "Is it good?" "Delicious!" "We hardly eat at all on account of mother's liver." "We go hungry in fact." "Salad?" "For later..." "Why don't you eat?" " My mind is wandering." " Eat up." "I carved big portions." "I'm glad you like it." "More?" "Just a prune." "Damn!" "Some wine?" "Spring's here." "I've been too busy to notice." "But it's still cold." "That's our climate!" "Remember coming back from Ethiopia frozen stiff and saying there was nothing worse than cold weather in hot countries?" "It's the simple truth." "Excuse me." "Eva, where are you?" ""Let's not complicate our lives."" "Are you crazy?" "Petitioner and counsel are both present in court." " I uphold the petition." " Respondent?" " I move that it be dismissed." " Witnesses?" "Summoned and ready to be called." " Respondent?" " No objections." "The court admits the evidence." "Call the first witness." "First witness." "Closer, closer!" "Move to the stand." "What can you say relevant to this case?" " Me?" " Yes, you." "One night I couldn't sleep." "The lights were still on in the surgery and I saw the doctor and him in a suggestive position." "What do you mean by "suggestive" position?" "He was sitting in the chair and she was leaning over him." "I didn't look too long for fear they might see me." "Counsellor?" "What you saw showed physical intimacy between the doctor and him?" " What?" " Physical intimacy." "I suppose so..." "The witness has testified in court that she saw physical intimacy between the respondent and doctor Wanda Jakowicz." "Your Honor, the witness hasn't said that she saw physical intimacy between the respondent and the doctor only that she supposed so." "I ask for an exact record of her evidence." "Make up your mind." "Did you or not see physical intimacy?" "Yes." "That's what the record says." "Any further questions?" "No, your Honor." " And the petitioner?" " Yes." "Were the petitioner and Dr. Jakowicz friends?" "Yes, they were..." "So he deceived his wife with her friend." "Correct?" " Yes." " Thank you." "Counsellor?" "When did this incident take place?" "Let me see..." "After the petitioner had left her husband?" " He told me." " Who did?" "Thank you." "Was it after she had moved out?" " No, no before." " Before!" "So the respondent betrayed his wife's trust by misconduct with her best friend." "Witness dismissed." "Send the next one!" " Madame..." " Please say "Your Honor"." "Your Honor, the master did not wrong Madame." "They got on very well." "I was with them 15 years." "Her mother told me to say but I just can't!" "Madame was good to me too but the master was more human." "He enjoyed a joke and giving presents." "Did you receive many presents from the respondent?" "He always bought things for the children." "That other lady meant nothing to him." "What other lady?" "What lady?" "Where did you see her?" "When did you see her?" "She walked into the bathroom." "When was is that you saw her?" "When?" "I can't remember." "I was in a German camp." "They beat me on the head." " Easy on her." " One moment." "Was the petitioner at home at the time?" "She wasn't." "Who was there?" "That lady, when Kookie and I called." "Was she naked?" "Sweet Mother of God!" "She was naked." "Did you and the child visit after you had moved out?" "We may have." "Was it before or after you moved?" " I think, before." " Before." "Thank you." "Please don't question her." "She's scared stiff of them." " She can help us." " No." "No questions." "Dismissed." "Next witness!" "What do you know of this marriage?" "Mr. Michalowski is a man a bit temperamental... and he's lacking in..." " Self composure?" " That's it." "Is he a heavy drinker?" "Yes, I think you can say that." "It's no reason to go berserk." "But who of us is without sin?" ""Berserk" What makes you say that?" "One ought to respect the other man's point of view." "But Mr. Michalowski recently assaulted a colleague with whom he had a disagreement over a book award." "Both were in the panel." "The disagreement caused the assault?" " Correct." " Thank you." "Were you present when he struck his colleague?" "No, I wasn't, but..." "Do you in fact know the cause of the conflict?" "The victim told us what it was all about." "Perhaps Mr. Michalowski was not all coherent...?" "Do you know who the other man was?" "Question overruled." "Irrelevant and immaterial." "I'm not authorized to tell." "Are there any other questions?" "No?" "Thank You." "The next witness!" "What do you know of the parties' marriage?" "He showed no respect for my daughter's occupation." "At the time I didn't know him." "Later I learned that he tried to rape my younger daughter." "Please be more spesific." "You'd best hear it from my younger daughter." "Why did your daughter move out from her home?" "I was ill at the time and she moved in to take care of me." "She wouldn't have left him but then she found out that during her absence he was bringing home women while she was nursing me and indulged in fornication with them." "When she was absent, he was fornicating other women while she looked after her ill mother." " Correct." " Yes." "Did he buy the maid presents?" "Yes." "To make her tell tales." "He also bribed the children, but they refused." "In your opinion would the situation be better or worse by a divorce?" "For the children." " Better." " I see." "Were any other reasons for them to quarrel?" "Any number of them." "Like..." "Like...different points of view?" "Exactly." "I almost forgot." "They had entirely different political views." "He wrote one thing and said another a very bad influence on the children." "My daughter had to reprimand him about this." "He was forever looking for scandal everywhere." "You mean that he questioned official statements?" "Precisely." "When did you learn of this alleged attempt at rape?" "Recently." "After your daughter moved out?" "I can't remember." "In what circumstances?" "My daughter told me." "Which daughter?" "Both of them." "Both." "You appear to dislike your son-in-law intensely." "On the contarary." "I was very fond of him." "Thank you." "Witness is dismissed." "Are there any motions?" "None from the petitioner." "I request an adjournment in order to call the petitioner's sister." "There's no need for an adjournment as the witness is in court." "Please call the witness." "State your name." "Halina Lukasik." " Occupation?" " Student." " Age?" " Twenty-two." " Relationship?" " Sister." "You have the right to refuse to testify." " Do you?" " No." "I warn you that you're obliged to tell the truth." "Perjury could lead to prosecution." "Eva was away, and the maid was off." "Jerzy call me to say he was expecting some foreign journalists." " She's lying." "I went over to make sandwiches." "When they all had left, I started to do the dishes." "Suddenly I felt I was being watch and saw him staring." "Then he came over to me and began kissing me." "I was taken aback and stunned." "I tried to free myself." "He grabbed and dragged me into the bedroom and threw me..." "That's enough!" "Please continue." "Continue with your testimony." "It's a good thing that I'm fairly fit otherwise..." " Counsellor." " I have no questions." "Counsellor?" " Yes, I do!" " Proceed." "When did you tell your sister of this alleged assault?" "After she seperated from the respondent." "Why only then?" "Not to distress her." "Did you also tell your mother?" "No." "She has no idea." "She doesn't know." " Counsellor?" " No questions." " Counsellor?" " Me neither." "The court will now hear the parties to the action." "Proceed." "I uphold the petition." "Please speak up." "I wanted to say that I must get this divorce." "The petitioner upholds her charges as being true." "Please, go on." "Please tell us, what do you wish to say?" "Really!" "I apologize for my client's behavior but you can see for yourself the state she's been reduce to." "It was an accident, I'm certain of that." "He stayed in all the time, writing and writing." "I went out for just a moment." "I told him the bathroom heater could blow up at any time." "I went out for just a moment."