"The 1981 version of the film, complete with censored fragments." "No...!" "in" "BLIND CHANCE" "Written and Directed by" "Piš... 17 - 9 = 8" "Good." "Your mother wrote her eights the same way." "Daniel!" "Daniel!" "It's Denmark I'm leaving for." "I'll write you." "Let's go through the names." " Kubín." " That's obvious." " Who was he?" " Premiérem." "Prime Minister." "Still, he kissed a woman in the cloakroom." "He can be transferred." "Kaminski has three failing grades, evident again." " And Dlugosz." " Who was he?" " Minister of Health." " He's a half-orphan." "And an A-student." "Exemplary behavior." "Has leadership skills, but everybody likes him." "Fuck her!" "Fuck her!" "What's with you?" "She used to be my teacher." "I hated her." "First time you've noticed me, is it?" "I'd buy you skates or a bike, but I never liked your good report cards." "You figured it out, right?" "Guess what made me happy..." "You beating up a teacher at thirteen." "Then your grades dropped to straight Cs." "I never liked top dogs." "Nor top students." "You're still here?" "Kasia, this is my son." "Witek." " Come on, the room's for an hour only." " I must make a call." "And say nothing, as usual?" "Witek?" "Is that you?" " Yes, Dad." " They're taking me to the hospital." "One thing, in case you come late:" "there's nothing you have to do." " Like what?" " Nothing at all." "Dad!" "My father." "Pissing or throwing up?" "OK, luck's with you." " Your heart isn't in it anymore?" " That's right." "Well?" "My father, who's just passed away, saw me as a doctor." "But on his deathbed he said to do as I pleased." "I'd like to think things over." " Of course." "Pity." " You've got whiskers, sir." "The train to Warsaw East Station will depart from Platform 2." "Are you blind?" " Like a bat out of hell!" " Sorry." "All the money that is wasted." "A beer, please." "A student's ticket to Warsaw." "One to Lomza." " You could've missed it." " Yeah." "I almost did." "They can be 350 and 490." "Mind your feet!" " May I go to the restroom?" " Go." "But be right back!" "Scram." "Beat it!" "Take my sneakers." " He wouldn't run?" " No." "Sometimes you just don't want to." "When they've beaten your shinbone hard, you end up with a permanent limp." "No." "It used to taste better..." "And I pleaded guilty at the trial." "But it took me time to realize, that I'd better admit to things never done or thought." "And Krystyna..." "was waiting for freedom." " Have I told you what she was like?" " Yes, you have." "She was white, all over." "Peculiar, indeed." "She had fair fluff above the upper lip and near her ears." "And large, ugly hands." "Maybe that was why I touched her." "Because of her imperfections." "Those fat fingers..." "She couldn't get off her wedding ring when Adam... when Adam was arrested in 1949." "Being held back then implied that you were a spy." "He wasn't one, but who cared?" "It took me a year to get it across to her." "I moved in with her in the end." " We called already?" " Yes." "No answer." "And what about today?" "I haven't lost faith." "Have they?" "When I was arrested and pleaded guilty she started having doubts about whether her husband really was a spy." "Although I had convinced her." "I, too, was against the Party and communism and she lost faith in the Party." "She had faith in herself." "We were in the same prison." "She would visit us." "We'd pass one another." "She was even whiter and paler then and had that fluff above her lip." "Go on. 45-21-95." " Hello?" " Ask for Krystyna." "It's a public phone, hence the poor connection." "May I talk to Krystyna, please?" "Say you're from the Institute." "I'm from the Institute." "Hello, it's me." "Krystyna?" "I came back a few hours ago." "But you weren't there..." "Yes, yes." "Losing sleep the last few nights?" "And what?" "..." "Hania?" "But you are so..." "I was away for a couple of days and I'm leaving again." "I've done no shopping." "No, I can't eat at this hour." " Well?" " Have I shown you the picture?" "No." "I hope you'll meet her someday." "This picture is thirty years old, and I don't want those times to materialize for you in any way." "When did they let you go?" "Too late." "In 1954 they started releasing spies, us, "dissenters"," "a bit later." "When I got out, they'd been together for over a year." "And you?" "I was offered this apartment, moved in..." "For good, I suppose." " And here..." "Do you believe in all that?" " Here... and everywhere." "Maybe being here makes it easier to believe." "I'm sort of... more equal here." "Mind you, after prison I never wanted to be less equal." "And I did have tempting proposals." "Some of my fellow inmates had... a lot to offer." "But you sure see what's happening." "It's as simple as ABC." "If we didn't make it, maybe your generation will." "You for instance." " Want a blanket?" " Yes, please." "And go to bed." "I'll stay up for another while." "Get yourself another blanket." "I have a few." "My father died ten days ago." "I didn't make it to his bedside." "But I got his final message:" "there's nothing I have to do." "Well..." " What can I do for you?" " Please." "Could yo do..." "Yes I can." "Witek!" "Come here." " This is Mr. Dlugosz." " What's he doing?" "Four years of medical studies, now on sabbatical." " Second thoughts about becoming a doctor?" "Yes." "That'll do for an introduction." "See if we can get started." " Have you read it?" " Yes." " Any comments?" " You know I share your views." "It's well written." "All you do is done well." "We're ready for you." " You want to listen?" " I'll be happy to." " Werner is leaving in three weeks." " And for a long time too." "Should you need anything, let me know." "I know exactly what I want to say." "I won't be using any notes." "I wish to acquaint you with... my revised views on the concept I've adhered to for 40 years." "Each generation wants some kind of light, needs assurance and faith that the world can be organized better and more fairly." "This desire, older than Marx and younger than Marx, is like a drug." "At the beginning of life it brings joy because the light seems within reach." "At life's end it brings bitterness as you realize it's drifted far away." "I've been through a lot over these forty years and the light is now even more distant than at the outset." "It's a bumpy road, but trust me:" "life without that bitterness, without that hope would be pathetic." "Relax." "She's short-sighted and doesn't wear glasses." " Hang on." " Sure." "Czuzsko?" "Czuzsko!" " You recognize me?" " Hi." "May I kiss your hand?" "Witek!" " Can we talk?" " Sure." " Witek!" " I won't be a minute." " Who is he?" " My first love." "I'll be right back." "Goodbye then." "Remember to switch off the gas." " Just a second..." " Yes?" "Mr. Adam gave me his card." "To contact him when you're gone." " Well?" " I'm not sure what to do." "Do as you please." " Applying for a passport?" " No." "For Party membership." "We should've gone to bed when we were seventeen." "Farmer?" "There is Stanislawski." "Sportsman?" "Jacek Wszola." "Zimerman of course!" "Engineer?" "I'm not sure." "It says "mechanic" here." "Buzek." "Yes, I'll double-check." "Idziak and Buzek." "May I?" "Haló, všichni pánové jsou na porade..." "Ano, naopak." "Excuse me, there's a problem with the list of young Poles..." "They're asking who these are." " Close the door, please?" " Who is he?" " Witek." "Please sit down, Witek." "Join us." "We have a problem." "The boys at Miodowa have staged a riot." " I don't get it." " Cocaine, amphetamine," " marijuana, heroin." " Narcotics!" "We re-staffed the center with young people, doctors and other workers." "But they say they don't want the young ones." "Threaten to set the place on fire." "We don't want to call the police." "We have to go there." "You know what?" "He can go!" "What do you say, Witek?" "Hey, it was he who had the green jacket!" " Yes!" " You see, we can't go there." "It was our move that sparked it off, so it could only get worse." "But you..." "Give it a try." "Comrade Adam spoke well of him, didn't he?" " Would you do it?" " If you insist..." "But what am I to do there?" "Calm them down, whatever it takes." "We'll be here all night, on call." " He'll need a car!" " What about the list?" " Who are Buzek and Idziak?" " Look them up, will you?" "Idziak is a moviemaker, Buzek - an aircraft engineer." "Aha." "Well the clothe..." "Well then, change into that jacket." "It's a one-hour drive." "Go." " Our men are on stand-by." " OK." " Who is it?" " From the Warsaw Board." "Your ID." "From Warsaw." "We've met before." " Dlugosz." "The Warsaw Board." " Hi." " We've got ten of them." " Five minutes to burn it down." " Warsaw area code?" " 8." "More than 8." "Like in America, isn't it?" "Dlugosz speaking." "From Miodowa." "The doctors?" "In the cage." "No, I just got here." "Looks like the director's office." "This is the counselor's office." "The director's is a bit nicer." "Isn't it?" "It's one with a palm plant!" "Look, pal..." "Since you guys took over, a girl and two boys have pulled the plug." " What have they done?" " They what?" "She poisoned herself, the two hanged themselves." "One spent four days in this cage." " And before?" " Nobody ever." " Then what is it you want?" " Can't you read?" "1/Cancel youth oversight, 2/ reinstate old staff and 3/ hospital status." " Are you the director?" " Yeah." "He's Dr. Walocha." " I just wan t to talk." " Our therapist!" " What about the rest?" " Ran away when it started." " May I talk to them?" " Let him." " I'm not sure what to do." " Try to get us out of here." " Who was here before?" " Old farts, helpless suckers." "Drugs were smuggled in, but they believed in persuasion as the method." "But there were no suicides." "We rescued one." "As to the other two, we were cleared of any negligence." " Time is up!" " You think they can set fire?" "Sure." "They're all nuts." "We're not afraid." "Like in America!" " Can you call a meeting?" " OK." "Roll calls in the morning, then press reviews." "They grounded us, read our letters, searched our parcels and banned all visits in the end." "Gestapo!" "On top of that they made me group leader." "Do I look like one?" "I barely knew the old director, but I thought he liked us." "He liked Staszek too." "They caged him for making love to me." "The suicide's girlfriend." "We're roaming the world, in search of a new life." "We keep looking forward to yet another love." "We are different..." "A call for you." "...that's why you cut us dead." "We are different but able to get ahead." "Of the country, the land of the..." "Hello?" "Yeah, a meeting." "Hold on." "We are different, but able to get ahead." "We are different..." "Come on!" "Jump!" "We are different, but able to get ahead." "Hurry!" "They got away!" "Bring the cans!" "Gasoline!" "All hands on deck!" "Be quick about it!" "Go!" "Quickly!" "I'm staying on!" "Stop spilling!" "Get him!" "Bring the buckets and bowls!" "It's too slow from the cans." "Use the bowls!" "Lock it!" "Did you hear?" "What?" "I stayed when they threatened to burn the place down." "Yes, three demands." "I think they're right!" "We wait till eight, then we start the fire." "It's just water!" "A test." "Relax." "You got off to a good start." "A moment of weakness helped." " I got scared." " I know." "Such situations can be traded on." "Through a momentary exposure you become like them." "Thus they drop their guard and you gain the upper hand." "But it was a mistake saying" " they were right." " They were." "But why rush to let them know it?" "If better timed, it could serve a purpose add to your prestige, help obtain concessions..." " I wanted fair play." " You were there officially, mind you." "You'd have acted differently as a private person, alone." "Why?" "I was alone." "No." "You had a phone, the police and the authorities to fall back on." "That gave you assurance." "Krystyna, this is Mr. Dlugosz!" " Hello!" " Hello." "Wasn't it you who called us before Werner left last year?" "Yes." "We used to be friends." "I know." "He told me many things." " About prison?" " That too." "Either of us could be in the other's shoes in life if he had been released earlier." "You think it was pure chance?" "He was beaten into a false confession." " It's a matter of character." " They beat me too." "But for the next fifteen years I did this leg workout routine." "He didn't have a purpose." "Strange how you can stick to an idea that messed up your life." "Every idea has its time of errors." "The Inquisition did worse things, yet people died at the stake having faith in God." "Then John XXIII breathed new life into the Church." "What if the time of errors recurs?" " In this country?" " Yes." "Search me!" "It's a trying moment..." "Everything's falling apart." "Those who govern are helpless." "This system is doomed." "It's just a matter of time." "Is that what you think?" " And you say it?" " Aloud?" "Yes." " Why to me?" " Because the guys at the top won't listen to me." "I need some kind of backing." "Maybe you and the likes?" " Then what should be done?" " Adam!" "The scissors..." " What was I saying?" " I asked what to do." "You have to be inside." "An outsider can't help." "When all of this comes tumbling down somebody will have to pick it up." "Who?" "You, myself, somebody." "We can't leave this country to them, can we?" "One thing frightens me..." "Losing freedom." "Being under somebody's thumb." "This is an organization!" "Myself, I can't take a single step without the rest knowing about it." "And I accept it." "I'm a plain member and yet you know what I said or..." " didn't say at the detox center." " Because you made the first step." " Let's start all over again." "Try." " What for?" "I need to know everything about you." "If we're to be together." "If we're to be at all..." " Can't you see?" " I can." " Go ahead then!" "The first was a guy at a scout camp." "I had my panties on." "Very uncomfortable." "His pal next to us, pretended to be asleep and panted throughout." "I had to pull my tight panties aside and ended up chafed." " Did it hurt?" " The chafing?" " No." " It did." "I had three abortions." "One was love, two were haphazard." "The first was done in the hospital." "It was disgusting." "They shaved me." "Private doctors don't." " How many more guys?" " Exact number?" " Yeah." " Six." "No, seven." "Including a one-night stand." "He bit me right here." " Where?" " Here." "We had sex in a hotel." "The European." "Where else?" "With the others?" "In bed, in a bathroom, once in a car, once in a toilet..." "I love you." "I love you too." "I very much wanted to find you these past eighteen months." "I tried the dorm now and again." "I've been at your door." "Too afraid to ring the bell." "What's up, boatswain?" "They're bringing more and more." "Two boatloads by now." " Should anyone get caught..." " Why?" "No, nothing." "Forget it." "He complains you keep samizdat here." "Have to somewhere." "Until we take it to town." " Will be a lot?" " Quite." "Who's that guy?" "He's OK." "Witek!" " Hi." " Hi." "Good morning." "Shouldn't you keep it out of sight?" "Brandys..." "Konwicki." "Have you read it?" ""The Polish Complex?"" "You can buy it from him." ""Our homeland tomorrow?" "She'll be different..." "just, noble, wise, a role model for all of Europe, risen from the blood of her best sons."" "The boys are distributing it?" "No." "We're taking it to Gdansk, Krakow or Szczecin." "And they have boys there who distribute it locally." "A helluva system!" " What are you doing here?" " I'm with a girl." "Czuszko!" "I've bought some books." " Here?" " Yes." "Funny that you have your boat here." "Why?" "They keep that a hundred yards from you and it's illegal." " Are they cool dudes?" "How many?" " They're great." "Quite a bunch." "Make me think of scout resistance in Nazi-occupied Poland." "Well organized, nationwide." "Good to have the likes of them on your side." " They're the ones with black neckerchiefs?" " Uh-huh." "Is she in it too?" "OK, I'm not asking for names." "It's good to know what's going on." "And to rely on your own sources." " Take this into consideration." " Meaning what?" "Just give it some thought." "Are you going to the meeting with the French in July?" " Probably." "I don't know yet." " When is Werner due back?" "Soon..." "I think." "I'll see you!" "He'll be sailing the seas!" " What are you drinking?" " Vodka." "Getting drunk." " Are you alive?" " Yeah." " The Polish emblem?" " White Eagle." " When were you born?" " June 1956." " Me too, but in Lodz." " Tanks had just rolled into the streets of Poznan." "Father worked at the riot-hit plant, stayed there overnight." "Mother's labor pain started." "She headed to the hospital, gave birth to us and died." " How?" " Me and my brother." "I was born first, that's why I live." "I seem to remember the moment." "It's in my mind's eye." " Yes, intelligent." " And what guts!" "And the way of speaking..." "Talk of the devil..." "Your speech was a real eye-opener." " That's what I wanted." " Very daring indeed." " Do you have a moment?" " Yes, I do." " It looks like you'll be elected." " I don't know." "It really matters who you step aside with." "I'll need more time to tell you about their system..." "Just look what they manufacture." "Press here and you get a calculator." "Then there's the time, the date..." "Push here and you get a timer, one centisecond accuracy." "Give it a try." "Push right here." "See?" "Each number has its musical note." "Now set the alarm." "Ten tunes to choose from." "Tiny, but does it all." "You're doing very well." "Climbing the ladder." "Yeah." "I'm on the Main Board." "What's this?" "Go on, knock it." "Looks like it's dead." "I chose outdoors because there's trouble." " Yeah." "Werner is back." " No." "We need some kind of plan B to meet." " I'll call you." " Why?" "They found our books on the boat, jailed two boys, took out the printing press and all." "Ms. Olkowski?" "Your ID, please." "Yours too." "Ah, it's you..." "You come with me." "Comrade Adam is busy now." "What's with you, motherfuckers?" "Dumbstruck?" "Cooled off?" "Do we call the police?" "No." "Kick him out!" "And keep your mouths shut about it!" "I'm moving out!" "You told me that I could trust them." "I was a fool to believe you!" "When I saw my aunt in Lodz and showed her my Party card she said her life hadn't been wasted and wept." "Screw her tears!" "Screw your veteran business!" "Some idea!" "It's all about power." " I'm in the back seat." " That's even worse." "Everywhere people get detained." "Including girls." "That buddy of yours, he's made a rat of me." "That's why I slapped his mug!" "With this hand!" "I know." "He called me." "Wait a second." "You forgot your ticket to Paris." "Excuse me!" "You'll lose your newspaper." "Czuszko!" "Czuszko!" "I kept saying "I don't know"." " To whatever they asked." " Did they beat you?" "No." "The officer was handsome." "Fair hair, blue eyes, blue jeans." "He looked like..." "Like that one!" "I won't be long." "You got me out and want your reward?" "Shall I strip?" "I had no say in it..." " I seem to have lost my bearings Czuszko." " You were to go to France." "I don't want to go." "Go, come back, marry the daughter of a Politburo member." "Call me when you're nominated minister." "We'll meet and I'll spit in your face. 'Cause now I pity you." "Jesus..." " Hi." "Taking the globe along?" " I've just moved out." " Hi." " Hi." "Have some room in your bag?" "Take this for me, OK?" "Careful, it's crystal..." "Take care!" " Hi." " Hi..." " Dlugosz." " We've met, haven't we" "Yeah." "In Miodowa." "You did me a service pulling me out of that madhouse." " What are we waiting for?" " The passports." "Speak of the devil!" " Hurá!" " I have them, but there's trouble." "Unrest and strikes... the Lublin railroad, some plant in Lodz." "We've heard from our insiders." "The trip is cancelled." "It's time to close ranks..." "The express train to Warsaw..." "Are you blind?" "Where do you go?" " Sorry." " Like a bat out of hell!" "All the money that is wasted." "A beer, please." "A student's ticket to Warsaw." "One to Lomza." "Wladek!" "Stop him!" "Call the police!" "The only censored fragment of the film lost beyond retrieve." " Last name?" " Dlugosz." "Witek Dlugosz." " Born?" " June 27th, 1956." "In Poznan." " Poznan?" " Poznan." " Are you a student?" " Yeah." "On sabbatical." "He got into a fight with me, then beat a policeman and tussled with my colleague." "A week ago..." "I caught him urinating at the station, a physiological necessity." "I didn't report it, but he's the one." " Is that true?" " No." "The defendant is found guilty... and is sentenced to thirty days... of unpaid community work under supervision." "Kiss my ass." " Pardon me?" " Nothing." "I hope the punishment will fulfill its educative function." ""The year of 1957." "We're fourth year university students. 20 years from now..."" " Got some wine?" " No, sorry." "We have the ticket!" ""Wladek Prime Minister, Staszek minister." "Karel editor-in-chief." "Jan will be abroad with an annual income of at least $100,000." "We'll recover the bottle in April 1977." Signatures." " Sons of bitches." "It's May." " No last names, unfortunately." "What are you here for?" "A railroad guard picked a fight with me." "And you?" " The FU." " What?" "The Flying University." "I made my apartment available for lectures." "Until a neighbor filed a disturbance complaint." " What do we do with this?" " Bury it again." "In case they're back to get it." " Any deputy Prime Minister named Wlodek?" " I don't know." "Wait, there's something overleaf." ""I dug it up in 1975." "Every night I thank God... that you guys didn't make it, Janek."" " Marek." " Witek Dlugosz." " Come on, no last names!" " Why not?" " Who told you all those things?" " My father." "Mine died two weeks ago." "I wasn't there." "He told me over the phone there was nothing I had to do." "Like what?" "He wanted me to be a decent man, a doctor." "I don't know what he meant..." "I'm told he didn't want to die..." "Though long before he seemed resigned to his fate." " Hi." "Meet Stefan." " Stefan." "Witek Dlu..." "Witek!" " New?" " New and clean." "Here you go." "The Worker and other prints." "And 4 thousand for the books." "Try to get Burek, the one on literature," "Gornicki on the Church and Kowalik's Social System." " Much sought-after." " Seven in total." "To be remitted to the free unions." " The phone number's inside." " Couldn't he deliver it?" " Why not?" " Sure." "Call and what?" " Arrange to meet." " Do I mention you, father?" " Call me Stefan." " It's tough, damn it..." "A month ago I missed my train right here." "Or else I wouldn't be with you now." " It's not just pure chance." " I wouldn't be so sure." "You forgot something, gentlemen?" "No." "It's me." "I called yesterday." "What happened?" " Did Stefan send you?" " Yeah, the priest." "What's wrong?" "Nothing much." " I have money for you. 7 thousand." " Thank you." " I saw them... the beasts." " Well, it's not quite their fault." "I'll clean up, it's no big deal." "You've been with us long?" "Not really." " You didn't know things happened..." " No." "Don't feel ashamed." "It's human, everybody's scared." "Let me help you." "You dropped something." " So what's the story?" " They came with flowers." "On behalf of the workers, they said." "Thanked me for helping those who are fired and oppressed." "And for samizdat pamphlets." "It was really quite pleasant." "I offered to make some coffee." "Suddenly the tallest of them grabbed the table and threw it over." " It took them five minutes..." " Weren't you scared?" "No." "I'm living on borrowed time." "I was supposed to live three years after surgery and it's twelve already." "If God let me live on, there's nothing to fear." "I did get shocked..." "Briefly." "I didn't know it could look as bad as that." " Otherwise no jitters." " Good for you." "There's nobody to worry about me." "Same here." "My parents and my husband are dead." "There's nobody left to worry about." "You really think it was God who saved your life?" "Who else could have?" "Trust me, He may come to you if you act to His liking." "If you help others, He may come." "Or try and invite Him yourself." "He'll understand." "Do you know what the Mother Teresa of Calcutta, said?" ""what you could offer a man half an hour..." ""before his death." ""The faith that he's not quite alone" she said." "I'm glad you came." "Are you looking for someone?" " Witek, you're being followed." " Am I?" " Can't be." " What exactly are you up to?" "I don't like it when they call me buddy, pat me on the shoulder with a grin, over use such words as "friend" or "brother" greet me with: "Hello, long time no see!"" "I don't like it when they read my letters, stick around to see what's written there," "I hate those who gladly break your face as a shortcut to saving the world." "I detest the helpless eye expression of an animal at point blank range." "I abhor the coincidental fashion in which they block your road to change." "I can't stand unaccountable reasons, irreparable losses make me sick." "I hate counting unfulfilled wishes until the hangman hears the last I pick." "I detest it when a crackling noise cuts short my phone conversation." "Shots in the back of someone's head are to me an abomination." "I hate myself when I chicken out, try to excuse mean acts on my part, ...smile ingratiatingly at those I serve though I despise them with all my heart." "...smile ingratiatingly at those I serve though I despise them with all my heart." "See you." "To your right, OK?" "You go left." "Wait a moment..." "OK, to your right." " See you in 3 weeks." " Good!" "Are there any cassettes with your songs?" " Sure." "Over here." " Two please." "To your right." "Daniel?" "Remember me?" "Witek!" "Summer 1968." "You were leaving for Denmark." "Witek!" " Hi!" " Hi!" "My sister Vera." " Witek." " Werka." " You're here for good?" " No, just a few days." "Our mother passed away." "Let me see." "We'll stay, huh?" "It's my apartment." "If you do it again, I'll inform the authorities." "Cigarette?" " My aunt wants to call the police." " Why?" "She's a pre-war communist, Lodz governor's widow." "When we moved in from Poznan, we had the door walled up, so it's a bit of a patchwork, with stairs to the kitchen." "She'll do it?" "No, she means no harm." "Thinks I'm being naughty." "And when mad at me, she'll address me as "comrade"." " What do you smoke?" " Polish "Sports"." "I couldn't wait." "They got divorced before we left." "Mother lived alone." "Her neighbors were alarmed by bottles of milk, lined up on the doorstep." "How's your father?" "I saw him just briefly." "He builds highways in Denmark." "We have a house and all." "He got accustomed, I can't." "Can't get over the feeling that I'm someplace distant." "What does it mean?" ""I'm happy in this little happy country." In Danish." " Why didn't you go with them?" " I didn't want to." " She was in love." " Really?" " Yes." " It was 1968..." "Someone yelled at her "Jews go to Israel!"" "A young man popped up and punched him in the face." "She fell for him then and there." "The university expelled him." "She ended up marrying him." "He's an aircraft engineer." "I didn't know back then why you had to leave." " How old were you, Vera?" " Eighteen." " Ourselves?" " Twelve each." "I remember well how we said goodbye." "You followed your father uphill to the car, he called you..." "There was no car." " Will you come back to Lodz?" " Yes, I will." "Soon." "Watch out for me." " You came for a reason, huh?" " To get baptized." " What?" " I'd like to be baptized." " Are you nuts?" " Whatever for?" " To give my life a purpose." "It can be a source of assurance and peace of mind." " You're an example." " Yeah, but you need faith too." "I may well have it, because I know what to do." "I want to speak out, object." "Not to stand by." " Then join the Party." " They won't enlighten me." " Do you pray?" " No." "Try one day." "Oh Lord!" "It's done." "I've been baptized." "Here I am." "I've done all that's required." "And now I ask you... to be." "I'm ready, I'm baptized." "So please, don't fail to be." "I can't back out now." "I promise I'll never bother you again." "Just be." "Oh Lord... 998..." "999... 1000!" "Time for eggs!" " How many do you want?" " Two." "Shorty!" "Shorty!" "Change of shift, wake up!" " I'm scrambling eggs." " Three please." "Or make it two." " Hi." " Hi." " Got something to take out?" " Two thousand copies." " Come on." " Ok." " Hi!" " Hi." "You haven't met?" "Shorty, introduce yourself." " Staszek." " He's the son of my Dean at the Medical University." "Marek." "I have something to read for you." " And something normal to eat?" " Sure." "Twenty eggs." " Oh my God!" " Eggs!" " What is it?" " The Polish Independence Agreement." " Here's your passport." "Got a visa?" " Yes." "And a flight reservation." "What's the purpose of your trip?" "A Catholic youth rally outside Paris." "An international event." "Your passport is ready, but it's not as simple as that." "You were in contact with various people, with ilegal literature got arrested for illegal prints, organized meetings at your place..." "I only made it available." "Never mind." "We don't want information about your friends." "We know enough." "But in France you'll meet new people." "We want to know who you're seeing." "And what's going on." "All you'll have to do is call us and give the names." "OK, let's narrow it down to French citizens." " What if I agree?" " You'll get your passport." "Watch out!" "He'd have hit you." "I saved her from being run over." " I didn't see." " Come along." "What a strange day." " Unlike any other." " Why?" "I visited my mother." " So?" " Nothing." "I went to her grave." "I have a grave." "Like everybody else." "I didn't until now." "I came from nowhere." "You don't understand what it's like, do you?" " It's all in your imagination." " No." "You sure had a grandpa, a granny..." "Everybody has them." "You must have had ancestors." "Not that I know of." "My mother never told me." "Then it was too late to ask." "I don't know who they were, where they are." "I know nothing." "Two of my great-grandfathers were 1863 insurgents." "One grandpa was with Pilsudski, beat the Soviets in 1920." "Father was in the army in 1939, in Poznan worker protests in 1956..." " He died in his bed 3 years ago." " You have them close at hand." "I never thought of that." " What did your father tell you dying?" " How do you know?" "He did want to tell me something but kept putting it off." "I would call him repeatedly to make sure he was alive." "He'd been dying for months." "I'd hang up when he answered." "He knew it was me and why I was calling." "He couldn't ask as he wanted." "He knew that I knew, why?" "The tea is good." "In my fourth year during an autopsy a student had a funny look on her face." "They were cutting up her teacher." "One she used to hate." "She fantasized about performing it herself as she watched." "Why am I telling you this?" "Because I told you the plot of the movie "Manhattan"." "We've been talking for so long." "There must be nothing left to say." "I don't think so." "There are many things you can't tell anyone." " You have such things?" " I do." " You wouldn't tell me, either?" " I wouldn't." " About fear?" " Also." "What else?" "A few things about my father..." "About God..." " About God?" " About God." "About my crooked toe..." "And there's something I wouldn't know how to tell you." " But you would like to or not?" " I couldn't." "Something about you and perhaps about me." "Sleepy?" " No." " Get up, I'll show you something." "I'm cold." "Just a moment." " Got it." " Is this what we came to see?" "There was a note inside." "About the past, the future... and how everybody fared in the end." "But it's gone." " You were to go to France." " I won't." "My passport was withheld." "It was to be my first international flight ever." "My husband works on international flights." "I always..." "You told me before." " Do you want to sleep with me?" " Sure." " Do you believe in God?" " Yes, I do." " Really?" " Yes." " Were you baptized?" " Recently." "What is it like?" "The priest asks if you want to accept the Catholic faith." " And what do you say?" " Yes, I do." "Witek!" "Witek!" ""I love you!"" ""I love you too!"" " A police raid?" " Where have you been?" "Where's everybody?" "In jail." "You were supposed to be here with them." " Are you suspecting me?" " The key." " And don't come here ever again." " Man..." "Fuck!" "Get out!" " No." "Read my lips:" " No!" " Then wait till things get cleared up." " What about me?" "Pray, so that you will not come to hate those who accused you." "And remember:" "this is conspiracy." "A higher level of responsibility." "A suspicion is hard to shake off." "You're going to France with us." "We'll have plenty of time." " You'll calm down." " I'm not going!" "The express train of Warsaw will arrives at the platform 5, topic 8." " Excuse me, is here Prague?" " Prague?" "Over there." " Thank you." " What do you want?" " Is Vera at home?" " No." " Do you know when she will be back?" " No." " I'm her brother's friend." "She's gone to Lodz" ""You were out." "I waited four hours." "Vera."" " Did you hear?" " Hear what?" "Wait." "Was the girl who stayed with you a few days Jewish?" " Yes." " There were many wonderful communists." "I know." " What are you listening to?" " Radio Free Europe." "This morning strikes began in a number of Polish cities." "A work stoppage has been reported at the URSUS tractor factory..." "I'm glad you haven't gone abroad now." "Are you blind?" "Where do you go?" " Sorry!" " Like a bat out of hell!" " All the money that is wasted." " A beer, please." "A student's ticket to Warsaw." "One to Lomza." " How come you're here?" " I phoned;" "your aunt said you're leaving." "I wanted to accompany you." "I was five seconds late." "I looked for you after the funeral." "Remember our first time?" "The Students' Union room, on the floor." "Leave your credit books in the office." "I have to go." "This is not the appropriate place." "Do you want to see me?" " Yes." "I just don't know where to begin." " Well, go ahead." "You approved my sabbatical." "Yes." "I remember." "Was it a mistake?" "No, I'd like to return and make up for the lost time." "I've reconsidered." " You said you'd lost the vocation." " It returned." "It doesn't look like it, although..." " Yes?" " I've something to tell you." " Yes?" " I'm three months pregnant." " You really want to marry me?" " Yes." "Aware of the rights and duties of establishing a family I solemnly declare that I contract marriage with Olga Matwijszyn..." "Olga Matwijszynovou." "Let's have a word, Witek." "You're being considered for an academic position." "I really wanted to work in a hospital" "You can work in a hospital, of course.." "But you can spend some hours with us, preparing your Ph.D." "I've a lucky streak lately." " Does that bother you?" " No." " Here are the prescriptions." " Couldn't she be taken to hospital?" "I'll bring her the medicines." "I'll visit often; don't send her to a nursing home." "It will only be a month or two now." "What are they doing?" "They've been practising for 10 years." " What for?" " For nothing." "They say no one else in the world can keep so many going at once." "Who talked to you?" "The first secretary." "And another guy, I don't know him." "They promised me an assistant slot and a fast-track Ph.D." "Oh, they did." "And?" "I want to refuse them, but I don't know how." " Do you believe in God?" " No." "Never mind." "But you could say that you do and you won't make compromises about it." "Yeah..." "They can't read my mind." "I used to put them off by saying that I did not believe in the Party." "But I don't advise you to do that;" "they got angry." "Actually, why won't you accept?" "They're right." "Party members do have easier lives." "It's bitchy what they're doing." "No." "I won't." "You've a moustache." " I hear you got an offer." " How do you know?" "From the hospital." "They say you refused." "You want The Internationale in bed?" " We've maintained the treatment for a week." " Any improvement?" "Here's the last ECG." "Doctor..." "The heart is more stable..." " Well?" " Can I talk to you for a moment?" "Excuse me." "See the difference." " Good morning." " Hi." "What is it?" "We're collecting signatures from academics." "For what?" "Students are persecuted for advertising..." " for the Flying University." " Who's this one?" "They want to expel him." "For samizdat." " But who is he?" " The son of our Dean, that's why the Dean didn't sign." "Rumor has it you refused to join the Party." " I did, but I won't sign this either." " Why not?" "I don't want to get involved on either side." "It's only human to be scared." "I'm not scared." "I'm a doctor because I want to be accountable for what I do." "No strings attached." "Thanks." "Son of a bitch..." "Hello?" "How are you?" "It's all right, really." "Of course, no problem." "Train station?" "I'm on my way." "Thanks for coming at this late hour." " No problem, sir." " I want to ask you a personal favor." "My son has been arrested." "I'm going to Warsaw..." "Anyway..." "I was supposed to go to Lybia in a month's time." " They won't let me." " He was arrested for samizdat?" " Yes." "I didn't sign the protest letter." "I know." "I thought you were right." "Now I'm not so sure." "I couldn't." "I want to be impartial." "You're a decent man, that's all that really matters." "I came to ask you to replace me." "You know my methods." "It's just a few consultations and lectures." "I have them written down." " No need to answer today." " I'll go, no problem." "Hear me out before you say yes." "I can't think of anybody else... willing to help me out." "I may be removed as Dean." "I expect they'll expel me from the Academy." "Even forced out altogether." "They should let you out of the country, but it may be your last trip for years." "Please think it over." "If you decide to go, call me." "Otherwise just forget we met." "If not, we can pray together." "I've decided!" "I'll go!" "It happens to be my wife's birthday so I'd reschedule if possible." " I'll see what can be done." " I love her so much!" "There is a flight the next day, via Paris." "I'll check if the other airline will take you." " I like your lighter." " It's OK, purchased abroad." "Yes, the ticket was bought with foreign currency." "Leave it with me, I'll make the reservations." " When can I come back?" " In a couple of days." " Great." "Let's clean up." "Go to bed." "I'll just empty the ashtrays." "Will you come to Warsaw with me, to the airport?" "You know I'm on duty." " Don't go." " Are you serious?" " No." " My mind is made up." "I want to go." "I looked at you one night..." " Well?" " Nothing." "I'll tell you something..." "Write me your thoughts." " We'll have a daughter." " A daughter?" " Have a light?" " Sure." "Thank you." "Passengers on flight 277 to Paris, go to gates 3 and 4." "Enjoy your flight."