"PASSENGER" "Scenario" "Cast:" "Director of Photography" "Director" "Andrzej Munk was unable to complete his film" "He died in a car accident on 20th September, 1961" "We have no intention of adding what he had no time to say himself" "We are not searching for solutions which might not have been his  nor seeking to conclude the plots which his death left unresolved" "We merely wish to present what was filmed  with all the gaps and reticence  in an attempt to grasp whatever is alive and significant" "Andrzej Munk was our contemporary" "We shared his hopes and fears, and while not anticipating the answers  we may perhaps manage to present questions that he wished to pose" "The story begins today  in a place where yesterday and tomorrow scarcely exist, only the present" "This luxury liner is an island in time  and each of her passengers is an island, too" "Worries and ambitions fade away during a voyage" "A passenger isn't part of a society  a nation or a group - free, without a biography" "The world turns a smiling face to passengers  friendly, ready to serve  not too curious about where they come from, or why they are travelling" "But we will not observe this idyll with such cheerful indifference" "We shall give our attention to this passenger" "She is a German  who hasn't seen her country, or Europe at all, for years" "Now she is returning with her husband  whom she married in a foreign, hospitable continent" "England... the first port of call in Europe" "What has Liza seen?" "Her husband does not understand  why this encounter has upset her" "Don't call me "poor little thing"" "You know nothing about it" "My time in the camp  was not what you think, my dear Walter" "I wasn't a prisoner, I was an overseer" "Don't look at me like that." "I didn't hurt anyone" "And if Marta is alive  it's only because of me" "I haven't told you much about my past." "You were an emigrant" "You'll never understand how we had to live and obey our leaders" "Perhaps it's best for us both  if you hear it at last" "I was sent to Auschwitz in the summer of 1943" "I took charge of a command working in a storehouse outside the camp" "I had nothing to do with the prisoners, only their things" "Everything belonged to the Reich  and I was responsible for seeing that nothing was destroyed or stolen" "There was a war on and we all lived as soldiers" "Some were drunk with power, but I just did my duty" "I always tried to help those women whenever I could" "I had to select an assistant from a new transport" "Work in my command was easier than elsewhere  and the treatment was more humane" "I saw something vulnerable and childlike in Marta" "I was sorry for her" "She became my clerk" "It was a pleasure  to watch her change back to a normal girl, a girl from freedom" "I hoped that one day she would be really free  and I did all I could to help her survive" "Then I discovered that her fiancée Tadeusz, was in the camp  and as we needed help with book-keeping, I brought them together" "Thanks to me they met again" "One day she fell ill and was taken to hospital" "Conditions were not good there, we lacked medicines" "We couldn't cope" "Anyway, our soldiers at the front were worse off" "I decided to have Marta back in the block" "I could care for her better there  make sure the doctor visited her" "I got sulphonamide and vitamins from the SS dispensary" "I saved her life" "I didn't ask for thanks, but at least I deserved her trust" "She didn't want to show it" "When she recovered she was more withdrawn than ever" "Whatever it was, it was something I couldn't understand" "Attention!" "When I realised what it was all about, it was too late" "She went to him of her own accord" "She must have expected this visit" "I had no idea what her offence was, but I knew  when Untersturmführer Grabner came in person to claim his victim  nothing on earth could save her" "Marta was taken to the death block." "I wanted to see her once more" "Before leaving for the Reich, I said I would like to see the death block" "It was awful" "Then I saw Marta" "I, an SS Overseer, was as powerless as she was" "Until now I was sure Marta had shared the fate of Tadeusz" "Perhaps Walter will be touched and repeat "poor little thing"" "But the response of the husband learning of his wife's past  that's not really important, the director probably used him  so Liza could recount her first, noble version of herself and Marta" "The second version, she will keep to herself" "There is a gap in the film  to be filled with various events taking place on the liner" "Munk began to film these events  but never completed them" "The motivations of the Auschwitz revelations would have been detailed" "We are left with fragments - happy passengers  Liza, staring at Marta  trying to be sure it is really her" "Under such tension Liza recalls the truth well enough" "I was sorry for her." "How naive I was" "She didn't give a damn for my kindness" "I, a German, denied myself everything  I had no private life, no love, no rest from duty" "She, a Pole, committed for a political offence, had what I lacked" "She didn't need me to be happy" "It wasn't my doing and it wasn't by accident that Tadeusz was there" "Prisoners exploited our trust." "Those given tasks ran the camp  pulling wool over our eyes" "Even some German foremen were in with the gang" "He's not here" " What do you mean?" " The Capo sent him to hospital" " Who's this?" " He can take his place" " Another one of your tricks?" " No, the other may have typhus" "Decent Germans are at the front, not hiding in a camp" "You stinking coward" "In 1936 I fought in Spain." "I didn't get this uniform for cowardice" " Do you know the job?" " Yes, I do" "I let it go on" "In the battle we fought  I knew that cunning was more effective than brutality" "They played at love, thinking no one knew." "They had no right to" "But I knew, and if you know what someone really cares for  and you can give it or take it away  you are the master" "I keep getting reports of theft" "Confiscated items are Reich property." "Prisoners are stealing, trading..." "Yesterday a woman prisoner was caught lifting boots from the store" "Today we found some buried gold" "Ober, a simple soul, an idealist, was bewildered by such things" "Yet in the end she said something sensible" ""We must win the confidence of chosen prisoners and establish order" ""Only the best in the garrison and the best of the prisoners..." ""...can restore this camp's proper character"" "This idea was not new to me" "Overseer Weniger wishes to take command" "Unfortunately, I had moments of weakness, too  and Marta was able to take note" "Even dogs have temptations they can't resist" "Major, Inga's pet, was extremely fond of cheese" "He wasn't to know he would soon pay for that" "A brat!" "Impossible." "I'll have a look" "Do you trust her?" "I'd better check" "What a lovely brat it is!" "Another stupid joke by the Special Command" "I was humiliated." "Because of my weakness  Marta involved me in a dirty business  an accomplice in an effort to save a Jewish child" "Then the fight for Marta, against Marta, began to excite me" "It's my birthday today" "No one here remembered my birthday  no one gave me such flowers" "The roses came from the SS greenhouse" "Prisoners from the men's camp worked there" "I decided to begin the attack  let Marta know that I could give her Tadeusz  like a sweet for being a good girl" "Thank you, Madam Overseer, but it's impossible" "Anyway, I'm not all that keen to see her" "Still here?" "They're waiting!" "Hurry up!" "He's got urgent work at the Commandant's villa" "You know, Madam, we've got artists here from all over Europe" "That's his girl..." "sketches for a medallion" "He longs for her, but they can't meet, as you know" "I was close to mastering Marta" "I told her to take the numbers of those by the wire." "She didn't react" "So then I said  Tadeusz" "She understood" "But for that dog, Marta would have been mine" "I GAVE MAN EVERYTHING" "I disliked such spectacles - they soiled the dignity of our struggle" "Of course, the punishment was necessary..." "Marta's gesture rather pleased me" "I didn't suspect that it was more than a spontaneous reaction" " Gruyere cheese?" " Yes" "The men did it" "Who in the men's camp could have known of Major's taste for cheese?" "Who would take revenge on poor Weniger?" "I decided to put pressure on Marta, but then..." "Take over command!" "Strength 53, two in hospital" "An international commission is coming." "Your command looks best" "Choose a prisoner to answer questions" " Your assistant?" " She's in hospital" " Typhus?" " No" "Why not bring her to the block?" "Individual care... a good impression" "One of the two was Marta  but I still fought for her" "I'm ready for punishment" "I had to see her" "Here you see a typical barracks for women" "Here's one of our convalescents" "She is recovering, isn't she?" "Yes, she's had medicine since yesterday" "Only since yesterday?" "How long has she been ill?" "A week" "It's war, even our soldiers at the front are often short of medicines" " How long have you been here?" " About two years" "Is this your first illness here?" "Yes." "I've checked her medical card" "No illnesses in two years?" "No flu?" "No cold?" "Do you get letters regularly?" "Of course." "We don't limit their correspondence" "It's not against the regulations" "Do you allow visits by relatives?" "That's forbidden in every country" "These are political prisoners" "Of course, we allow prisoners to visit each other sometimes" " When?" " In cases of illness" "Has anyone visited you?" "Her fiancée is a prisoner, too" "Another "political" - he visited her a few days ago" "Well, Marta, did he visit you?" "Yes" "Congratulations!" "Promotion for sure!" "Ober was pleased with me and my protégé," "She talked about promotion, maybe transfer to the Reich" "I rejoiced, too" "Marta had finally given in to me" "I planned to take her with me when I was moved, to be my right hand" "The life of the camp family rolled on, through weekdays  and holidays" "I rejoiced too soon" "Behind my back they behaved as though the camp barely existed" "Perhaps they sensed it was their last meeting  but what did I care about such sentiments?" "I should have finished her" "This was the moment" "I really saved her life this time" "I deluded myself into thinking  she'd be grateful at last" "Here" "The Commandant wishes to see you" "I'll deal with this" "Roll call!" "A note was found" "Who wrote it?" "Marta, step forward" "Translate" "I... too, am always close to you in my thoughts" "Always close to you..." "Louder" "I don't even have to close my eyes to have you near me" "You are within my reach" "I like your hands, the palm of your hand..." "Darling... my beloved..." "It doesn't matter that you can't speak to me" "I remember your voice" "Although you're not allowed to be near me  I can talk to you yet" "We can talk to each other, speak to each other" "Darling... it must be autumn now" "I lie beside you in the grass  among golden leaves  soon it will begin to rain" "You will shield me from the rain, you will cover my hair" "I walk in mud, without leaves" "Darling, do you..." "It's good that you exist" "I kiss your lips  so they won't be sad" "I kiss your eyes, so they will bid me "good night"" "The end" "Go back" "The note is stupid and unimportant" "I won't report it if the author steps forward" "If she delays she'll be sent to the Corrective Company" "You'll all go there if no one owns up" "The Commandant wishes to see you" "You'll stay here all night if necessary" " You, too?" " I've just been called" "She's furious." "She's been named as a war criminal" "A broadcast from London gave details of the transports" "How do they know what goes on here?" "Why does she want us?" "Inga, come in." "Liza, wait" "I didn't understand the language of the note  but a love letter would not have numbers and familiar German names" "Your duty here is finished." "You're posted to Berlin" "You're posted to headquarters" "Do you know that we must discuss a painful subject first?" "Your command hid a Jewish child" "That's impossible" "Weniger was on duty then and admits it was possible" "Well, if Inga admits she was on duty..." "You must remember." "I said it was a baby in that pram and she brought a doll" "I don't remember" "It couldn't have happened in my presence" "Liza, how can you..." "Your word is enough." "Your command is well-disciplined" "I know Liza she would admit an offence" "An SS officer never evades responsibility" "I know my duty." "The command must be punished if it is guilty" "I request they all go to the Corrective Company" "Very well." "Prepare your report" "Overseer... the Blockmaster would like you to come to the command" "Command affairs no longer concern me" "Perhaps Overseer Inga, then, because someone's confessed" "You're all going for correction" "But I confessed." "Please keep your word" "Untrue." "You couldn't have written it" "You know I could" "I don't know." "It was just some lovesick rubbish!" "No, you know it was me" "She forced me to it" "She wanted to destroy me, I had to defend myself" "Those last words are not very clear" "How did Liza defend herself  and influence Marta's fate  the fate she recounted to her husband  and now prefers to end unfinished?" "But we shouldn't ask too much of the Overseer  she's admitted enough" "Justifying oneself is only human" "Anyway, what is this recollection of a game  between overseer and chosen prisoner?" "An apology, an escape  from cruelty and evil, only too human?" "In the vague, unreal background, people die, silently, casually  anonymously, as others perform their duty  victims trampled into the mud, over whom she walked, unseeing" "Set on a liner, an island in time  this story can be concluded easily" "The brush with the past did not last long" "Marta, or someone resembling her  disembarked at the next port of call" "The ship sails on" "It's doubtful if the women will ever meet again" "Liza won't be challenged by truths buried in the mud of Auschwitz" "Nothing can disturb Liza's life among people  indifferent to yesterday's crimes, who even today..." "Film completed by:"