Original subtitles

BLIND CHANCE

Scenario and direction

Write

Seventeen minus nine equals eight

That's how your mother wrote eight

I'm only going to Denmark. I'll write to you, Witek

I suggest we go through the names

- Kubin - No problems with him

- Who was he? - The "Prime Minister"

Still, he kissed a woman in the cloakroom. He can be transferred

This one was "Minister of Health"

Still, his marks are good, he has leadership qualities, but he's popular

Screw her!

What's wrong?

She was my primary school teacher. I detested her

But you've noticed me at last

I bought you presents, but I didn't like your school reports

You knew, didn't you?

You know what pleased me most? When you beat up that teacher

You had bad marks ever after. I never did like star pupils

Especially in real life

Will you stay the night?

My son, Witek

- I've only got the room for an hour - I must make a call

You call, but never say anything

Father

They're taking me to hospital. I want to say, you don't have to...

- What? - Nothing

My father

Were you pissing or being sick?

Well, all the best

You feel you lack the vocation?

Why?

My father's died. He wanted me to be a doctor

But finally he said I don't have to...

I'd like time to think it over

Of course

You've a moustache

Beer, please

A student's ticket to Warsaw

You're lucky not to have missed it

It was a near thing

Mind your feet

May I go to the toilet?

All right

But don't get lost

Now, get going!

Take my shoes

He didn't want to escape?

Sometimes people don't want to escape

If they hit this bone hard enough...

...you walk like this for ever

It's getting worse

I sort of confessed at the trial...

...because it was for the Party

As a Party member I had to confess things I didn't do

I didn't think about it

And Krystyna...

...Ionged for freedom

- You talked about her? - Yes

She was white all over... strange for such a woman

And she had that down on her upper lip...

...and about her ears...

...and fat, ugly hands

Perhaps that's why I touched her, because of the fault in her

Ugly, fat hands

She could't remove her wedding ring when Adam...

...when Adam was taken to prison in 1949

They took him, so he had to be a spy, though he wasn't...

...and for a year I tried to explain it to her

Then I moved in with her

Did we try that phone call?

No reply

And today?

I still believe. And she?

When they locked me up...

...she began to doubt if she was the wife of a spy

But she believed in me

She couldn't credit that I, too, opposed the Party and communism

She stopped believing the Party

She believed in herself

Him and me were in the same prison

She visited us both

Him and me passed each other

She was even whiter then, even paler

That down on her upper lip...

Ask for Krystyna

I'm calling from a pay-phone. May I speak to Krystyna?

Say you're from the Institute

It's me, Krystyna. I got back some hours ago

You weren't in

You haven't been able to sleep?

There's nothing... I've been away

And I'm going again soon, so I haven't bought anything

No, I can't eat this late

Have I shown you the photograph?

Anyway, you'll probably meet her some day

A picture from thirty years ago

Don't think of those days...

...in real terms

When did they release you?

Too late. Spies were released in '54

Deviationists were released slightly later

By the time I was released...

...they'd been together for a year

And you?

Well, I got this apartment

I think I'll end up here

And you believe in all this?

All this and that

Perhaps it's easier for me to believe...

...because here I am

Here I am more equal

After prison...

...I didn't want to be equal

They made offers to me, of course

I left prison with people who were able to make lots of offers

But you can see what's happening

It's all quite simple

We failed, but you may succeed

Yes, you, for instance

Want a blanket?

Go to bed; I'll stay up for a while

You'll find a blanket there

I have several blankets

My father died ten days ago

I was too late to see him

But he told the doctor to tell me that I needn't do anything

This is Mr. Dlugosz

The Dean gave him leave; fourth year of medical studies

You think you lack the vocation?

That says everything

You read it?

It's well written and I agree with it

Whatever you do is done well

We can start now

Would you like to listen?

- Werner is leaving in three weeks - For long, probably

Let me know if you need anything

I know what I want to say, I don't need to read it

I'd like to offer you...

...the ideals to which I have been committed...

...for forty years

Every generation craves for light

It needs reassurance and faith...

...in a better, more just path

An urge which is older and younger than Marx...

...resembles a narcotic

Early in life it is a joy, because the light seems so near...

...so reachable

Finally, it brings bitterness

We can see how it has receded

I have been through much these forty years

I see that the light has receded, but I should not discourage you

You can be sure of one thing

Without that bitterness, that hope...

...life would be lamentable

Don't be afraid; her eyesight is bad and she doesn't wear spectacles

Do you recogize me?

May I kiss your hand?

Will you talk to me?

Will you wait?

- Who is it? - My first love

Remember to turn off the gas

Adam gave me his card and told me to contact him after you leave

I don't know what to do about it

Do as you wish

Is it an application for a passport?

No, for the Party

It's a pity we didn't go to bed when we were seventeen

Stanislawski... athlete

Zimmerman... it says here here that he's a mechanic

Buzek... I'll have to check

There's a problem with the list of Polish Youth

They're asking who's who

Dear Witek, sit for a moment with us

We have a problem

Trouble at a clinic

Junkies, and so on

Drug addicts

We sent new doctors and nurses, we kicked out the old staff

Now the patients say they don't want them and they'll burn the place down

It would be easy to call in the police, but we have to go there ourselves

Hold on a moment

He could go

How about it?

We can't go, because they hold us responsible, but you...

Comrade Adam thinks well of him; Adam says we should have a go

But what should I do there?

Calm them down, at all costs

We'll stay here, awaiting your call

Is the car here?

There's a query about Buzek and others

Well, Buzek is an aeroplane engineer

The place isn't far away, you'll be there in an hour

He's going

From Warsaw H.Q.

Documents

We've met before. I'm from H.Q.

We can burn the lot in five minutes

- What's the code for Warsaw? - Dial 8

Just like in America

It's me

The doctors are in the cage

I've just arrived

I'm calling from the manager's office

This is the "education" room

The manager's office is nicer

True, isn't it?

With potted plants

Since they took over, two boys and a girl have made the trip

She poisened herself, they hanged themselves

One was in this cage for four days

Before?

- No one killed themselves - What do you want, then?

Can't you read?

Reinstate the previous staff, medical administation, not "Youth" control

- You're the manager? - Yes. This is the therapist

- And the others? - They escaped in time

- Can I speak to them? - Yes

- What can I do? - Think of a way to get us out

Who was here before you?

Old fools who allowed drugs smuggled in. They were devoted to "persuasion"

But no one hanged themselves?

We saved one. The other deaths were judged as misadventure

- Will they do as they say? - Sure, they're all mental cases

We're not afraid

Just like in America

Could you get everyone together?

There was roll-call, then a news review...

...they read our letters, checked parcels, deprived us of visits

And they made me a group leader- do I look like one?

As far as I could tell the old manager liked us

This one killed Stasek because he made love to me

Her boy-friend hanged himself

We walk the world in search of a new life

We never cease awaiting the arrival of a new love

Telephone call for you

A meeting

They escaped! Bring the cans!

Stop it! You have me!

Bring buckets, we'll spread it around

Pour it everywhere

Can you hear?

I stayed, otherwise they would burn the place

Anyway, their demands are just

We'll wait until eight

It's only water, we have to rehearse it

A good starting point for you; it's good that you showed some weakness

I was scared

I know. But understand that such a moment can be used

A moment's weakness makes you more like them, they relax, then you gain control

But it wasn't necessary to let them hear you say their demands were just

But they were

Yes, but your actions should concern authority, prestige, concessions

I'd like a fair solution

Yes, but don't express personal opinions alone in front of them

But I was alone

No, you had a phone, you knew the authorities would back you up

Mr. Dlugosz

Wasn't it you who phoned a year ago, before Werner left?

Werner and I were once good friends

He told me quite a lot

About prison?

If he had left earlier, we could have been in each other's shoes

You think it's chance? They beat him and he confessed without being guilty

- It's a matter of character - Mine, too

But later, for fifteen years...

...I exercised my legs

He lacked the motivation

How can a man still believe an ideal which destroyed much of his life?

Every ideal has a time of instability. The Inquisition was worse

Believers died at the stake. When John XXIII came, the church revived

Are you sure the period of mistakes will not return?

Here? How can we be sure?

We are going through a stage...

...when everything disintegrates

These people are helpless, these people in power

It's only a matter of time before the structures crash

You think that, and you speak about it?

- Aloud? Yes - But why to me?

Because those at the top don't want to listen to me

I must find some support. Perhaps you?

What are we going to do?

Scissors

- Where were we? - What are we going to do?

Be on the inside; nothing can be improved from the outside

When things disintegrate, someone has to pick up the pieces

You or I... somebody has to do it

We can't just leave the country; would you leave it to them?

What frightens me is that one loses freedom

It's possible to be so dependent

That's the meaning of organization. They know of every step I take...

...but I accept it

And you know what I said and didn't say to the addicts

Because you took your first step

Let's start from the beginning

What's it to you?

I must know all about you, if we are meant to stay together

Don't you see?

The first was a boy at scout camp. I was wearing very tight knickers

To make things worse, another boy was beside us...

...pretending to sleep, but panting all the time

I had to stretch those knickers. My skin was sore

- Did it hurt? - My skin?

Yes, it hurt. I've had three abortions

One because of love, two because of accidents

The first one was in hospital

It was awful. They shaved me. They don't shave private patients

How many more blokes were there?

Exactly? Six

No, seven. Only once with the seventh, he hit me, here

I slept with him in a hotel, the Europejski Hotel

Where were you with the others?

In bed, the bathroom, a car... once in a toilet

I love you

I love you, too

I wanted so badly to find you during that year

I went to the hostel several times

I've been here, too. I was afraid to telephone

What's up?

They bring so much stuff. Someone may get caught, God forbid

- Well? - All right so far

He complains about the underground literature here

"What sort of a country will it be?

"Different, just, noble. Europe's best sons will give their blood for her"

Do they distribute the books?

No, we take them to other places. Local lads arrange the distribution

It's fine organization

I'm here with a girl

See what books I have

It's funny you should keep your boat here

They store illegal stuff

- How many are involved? - Quite a few

Is your girl involved?

I'm not asking you to give me names

It's good to know what's going on

It's important for us to have our own information, rather than from others

Take that into consideration. Think it over

- You'll meet the French in July? - That's the plan, but I'm not sure

When is Werner back?

Soon, probably

He will sail the seas!

- What are you drinking? - Vodka. I'm getting drunk

- Are you alive? - Yes

- What is your sign? - The White Eagle

- When were you born? - June, 1956, in Poznan

Me, too, only in Lodz

There were tanks in Poznan at the time. Father stayed at the factory

When mother knew her time had come, she went to the hospital alone...

...gave birth to us, and died

My brother and me. I was born first, that why I am alive

It seems to me that I remember the moment

I have this picture under my eyelids

Has guts. Started talking in public

I understood a lot thanks to you

Thanks, that was the idea

May I?

- I think you'll be elected - I don't know

It's very important with whom one walks apart

It would take ages to explain their system to you. Just look at this

That way, it's a calculator. Here it's a clock...

...there's the date, and if you put it into that mode...

...there's a stopwatch, to fractions of a second

Now press this button

Each figure has its tone

Now try to set the clock

There are ten programmed tunes

How small, and so clever

You're doing well now, being promoted

Yes, I'm a member of the Council now

What's this?

As though it died

- I didn't want to meet you at home - Yes, Werner is back

We'll have to make different arrangements. I'll phone

They found books in Lodz. Two lads were arrested, the printshop closed

Your identity card, please

You?

Come with me

Comrade Adam is engaged now

Have you calmed down?

Should we call the police?

No, throw the little shit out

And keep quiet about it

I'm moving out. You persuaded me it's possible to believe in something

I believed you, like a fool

When my aunt in Lodz saw my Party card she broke down and cried

She was so moved, she said her life wasn't wasted after all

Damn her tears and your cameraderie

It's all for your wielding of power so you can do as you please

- I've done nothing for years - That makes it even worse

Sometimes people get arrested. Even girls

Your friends made an informer out of me

That's why I punched his face, with this hand

- That bloody grass! - I know, he phoned me

Wait a minute

You forgot your ticket to Paris

Dean

You'll lose your newspaper

I answered every question with: "I don't know"

- Did they beat you up? - Of course not

A very dishy interrogator, with blue eyes. He looked like...

...like him

Come for your reward? You got me out?

Shall I take my knickers off?

I didn't arrange anything

I'm confused

You were supposed to go to France

I don't want to go

Go. When you come back, marry the daughter of...

I'll spit in your face when you become a minister. Now I feel sorry for you

Taking the globe with you?

No, I don't know what to do with it

Listen, take this for me, will you? But be careful, it's crystal

- We've met before - Yes, with the addicts

I'm grateful to you for getting me out of that shambles

- What are we waiting for? - Passports

I have the passports, but there's a problem: Strikes in Lublin, Lodz...

We must help our people there; you must go to them

Beer, please

A student's ticket to Warsaw

Stop him! Call the police!

- Name? - Dlugosz, Witold

- Date and place of birth? - 27th June, 1956, Poznan

A student?

Yes. On Dean's Leave

He struggled, then he hit the policeman and a colleague

A week before I caught him relieving himself at the station

I didn't report that incident

- Is that true? - No

The Court finds the defendent guilty...

...and sentences him to thirty days loss of liberty...

...with the obligation to do unpaid, supervised community work

Kiss my arse

I hope the punishment will serve an educational purpose

We are studying for four years. In twenty years we will...

- Have you got wine? - No, we haven't

Wlodek will be Deputy Prlme Minister

Janek will be abroad, with an income of at least 100,000 dollars

In 1977 we will dig the bottle up

Well, they didn't

It's a pity we don't know their surnames

What are you here for?

I had a fight with a station guard. And you?

The Flying University

I allowed lectures in my flat and a neighbour complained of nuisance

What shall we do with the bottle?

Put it back. Maybe they'll dig it up from under this eagle

- Is there a Deputy Premier Wlodek? - I don't know

Wait, there's something on the back

I dug it out in 1975. I thank God you didn't make it

I'm Marek

- I'm Witek Dlugosz - No surnames

- Who told you all this? - My father

My father died two weeks ago. I didn't see him before the end

I only spoke to him on the telephone

I asked the doctor if she knew the meaning of my father's last words

She said he didn't want to die...

...although for some time it seemed as though he accepted it

Introduce yourselves

He's new and clean

Robotnik and another newspaper

I've 4,000 zloties for you, for books

Can you get Burek on literature...

...and Kowalik's The Social System?

They are for the free trade unions

The telephone number is there

Couldn't he deliver?

To start with, telephone and make an appointment

- Should I mention the Father? - Call me by name

That will be difficult

A month ago I missed a train here; if I hadn't, I wouldn't be here now

- It's not only a matter of chance - Sometimes I think it is

Did you forget something?

No, it's me, I telephoned yesterday

What's happened?

- From Stefan? - Yes, the priest. What's happened?

Nothing

I have money for you. Seven thousand

I saw them, the bastards

It's not altogether their fault, and it's not that bad. I'll tidy up

No need to be ashamed. Everyone is scared

I'll help you

This fell on the floor

How did it happen?

They came in, with flowers

On behalf of the workers, they said

Gratitude for my taking care of them...

...when they're sacked or harrassed...

...and in thanks for the leaflets... it was rather nice

I was about to make coffee for them

Then the tallest one turned over the table

In five minutes, everything

Weren't you scared?

I live on borrowed time

It's twelve years since I was given three years to live after surgery

If God presented me with my life, I've nothing to fear

I panicked for a moment

But there is nothing I should be afraid of

There's nobody to worry about me

Same here. My parents died, so did my husband

There's nobody to worry about, is there?

Do you really believe that God made you stay alive?

Who else?

Don't worry, He may come to you, too, if you do what He expects of you

He may come if you help others

But you could ask Him yourself, He will understand

Do you know what Mother Theresa used to say...

...when asked what one can give a dying person?

Faith, that we are not totally alone

I was alone a moment ago, but you came

That's good

Looking for someone?

Someone is following you

Impossible

What are you doing?

We cast seeds into the wind, not knowing where they may fall

Not knowing who will reap the harvest, who will sing at the harvest festival

We must sow our poor soil, though we lack ploughs and harrows

Even if the wind devours the seeds, even if crows attack the sowers

Daniel? Don't you recognize me?

You went away to Denmark

My sister Wera

- Are you back for good? - Only a few days. Mother died

I'll see who it is

Shall we stay?

This is my place

If you do this again I'll inform the authorities

Auntie wants to call the police

A pre-war communist; her husband was an old fighter

When we moved from Poznan...

...all the locks were changed here and everything made more secure

- Will she call them? - No, she's a good sort

She thinks I've done it to annoy her, so she's upset

- What are you smoking? - "Sport". First thing I bought here

Mother divorced father; she lived alone

No one knew she'd died, until bottles of milk accumulated outside her door

And what about your father?

He builds roads in Denmark. We have a house and everything

He seems to have got used to it, but I always feel that I'm far away

It's Danish: "I am happy in this small, happy country"

Why didn't you go with them?

- I didn't want to - She fell in love

- Is that true? - Yes

In 1968 someone shouted at her: "Jews to Israel!"

A boy slapped his face, and she fell in love with that boy

He was expelled from university, then she married him

He's an aeroplane engineer now

At that time I didn't know the reason for your departure

- How old were you? - Eighteen

- How old were we? - Twelve

I remember exactly how we said good-bye

You and your father were going uphill, towards a car. He called you

There was no car

- Will you come to Lodz? - Yes, soon

Look out for me

- But why have you come here? - I want to be baptised

I'd like to be baptised

Are you crazy? What for?

To have a purpose in life

Many derive peace and security from it

True, but one needs faith for that

I must have it, since I know I want to speak up, not to be passive

- Join the Party - They don't know

- Do you pray? - No

Give it a try one day

Lord

It is done now. Baptism is a formality, but I am here

I did what I could

Now I beg You:

Be. I am ready. I ask You to be

I will never ask anything of You again

Just be

One thousand. Time for eggs

- How many for you? - Two

- I'm cooking eggs. How many for you? - Three... no, two

- How goes it? - We've printed two thousand

The son of my Dean, medical school

I've something for you to read

- Did you bring something to eat? - Yes, twenty eggs

The Polish Treaty of Independence

Your passport. Have you a visa?

Yes, and a ticket reservation

What is the purpose of your trip?

Catholic Youth Association world gathering, near Paris

Well, here's your passport, but it's not so simple

You were involved with illegal literature. You were arrested

- You had meetings in your apartment - Someone else's apartment

Irrelevant. We don't want you to inform on your friends

We know it all, anyway

In France you will make new contacts

We would like to know what is going on

We'll give you a phone number; dial and give the names

We can even make a deal that it will concern the French only

And what if I agree?

Then you will get your passport

You could have been run over

Did you see me pull her back?

I didn't notice

Strange day

Never had such a day before

I went to mother's grave

I have a grave now, you know

Everyone has graves to visit

I hadn't, until now. I came from nowhere

You can't understand that, can you?

You're making this up

No

You had a grandfather, a grandmother. Everyone has

You must have predecessors

I know nothing about them; mother never told me

I don't know who they were...

...where they are, nothing

One of my grandfathers was in the 1863 Uprising

The other took part in Pilsudski's "Miracle on the Vistula"

Father was in Poznan with General Kutrzeba, and in the 1956 events

He died in bed three years ago

They're all within reach

I never thought of that

What did your father say to you when he was dying?

How do you know about that?

He wanted to tell me something...

...but he waited too long with it

I telephoned often, to enquire after him; it took him some months to die

I kept putting the phone down; I couldn't keep asking how he was

He knew it was me who kept phoning

Good tea

In our fourth year, at a post mortem, one student had a strange expression

They were opening up her old teacher

Later she told me she tried to imagine she was opening her

Why am I telling you all this?

Because I was telling you about the filmManhattan

We talk so much; we've told each other everything, I expect

No, many things are difficult to tell others

Have you such things?

- You wouldn't tell me? - Not even you

Fear? What else?

Things about my father, about God

About my crooked toe

And something I don't know how to tell you

- But you'd like to - I don't know how

It could be a bit about both of us

Are you sleepy?

Get up, I'll show you something

That's what you wanted to show me?

There is... there was a note inside

About the past and the future... it's gone now

You were going to France

I didn't get the passport. It would have been my first flight abroad

My husband maintains those planes

You told me

Didn't you want to go to bed with me?

I did

Do you believe in God?

Really?

- Were you baptised? - Recently

How is it?

The priest asks if you're ready to accept the Catholic faith

- And what do you answer? - Yes

They found out?

Where were you?

What about the boys?

In prison

You were supposed to be here, too. Where were you?

You suspect me?

Give me the keys

And never show up again

Don't you understand?

Everything will clear up

- What about me? - Pray

Pray not to hate those who accuse you

Always remember that this is a conspiracy

It is difficult to dispel a suspicion

You will come to France with us

We'll have plenty of time there

- You'll calm down - I won't come with you

- To the Praga district? - From over there

Is Wera in? Do you know when she will be back?

I'm her brother's friend

She's gone to Lodz

You were out. I waited four hours. Wera

Did you hear?

Was the girl who stayed with you a few days Jewish?

There were many wonderful communists

- What are you listening to? - Radio Free Europe

Workers in many Polish cities and at the Ursus factory in Warsaw struck

I'm glad you haven't gone abroad now

A student's ticket to Warsaw

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 the first time, on the floor?

Leave them in the office, I'm too busy now

To see me?

Yes, but I don't know where to start

You gave me leave

I remember. Was it a mistake?

No, I'd like to return and make up for the lost time

You said you'd lost the vocation

It returned

It doesn't look like it, although...

I've something to tell you

I'm three months pregnant

You really want to marry me?

Aware of the rights and duties...

...of establishing a family...

...I solemnly declare...

...that I contract marriage...

...with Olga Matwijszyn

I'd like to talk to you. We have a proposal

We'd like you to stay at the Academy

I really wanted to work in a hospital

You can. But you can spend some hours with us, preparing your Ph.D.

I've a lucky streak lately

Does that bother you?

A prescription

Couldn't she be taken to hospital?

I'll bring the medicine myself

I'll visit often; don't send her to a nursing home

It will only be a month or two now

They've been practising for ten years

What for?

They say no one else in the world can keep so many going at once

Who talked to you?

The First Secretary and another one

They said they'll give me a position...

...which will enable me to work better on my Ph.D.

I want to refuse them, but I don't know how

- Do you believe in God? - No

But you could say that you do and you won't make compromises about it

They couldn't check on that

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

You won't go along with them?

You've a moustache

I've heard that they made you an offer and you refused

Shall I sing you The International in the evenings?

We've maintained the treatment for a week

Any improvement?

Here's the last ECG

The heart is more stable

Can I talk to you for a moment?

We're collecting signatures of scientific workers

Students are persecuted for advertising the Flying University

Who is he?

They want to expel him from the university for printing leaflets

Not everyone wants to sign it

You've stood out in the past

Yes, but I won't sign it, either

Isn't it the Dean's son?

What's the trouble?

At the station? I'll come at once

Thanks for coming here so late

It's a private matter

You know my son was arrested

I'm going to Warsaw, but that's not the issue

I was supposed to go to Lybia in a month's time

Impossible now

Some time ago I didn't sign a petition protesting against his arrest

At the time I thought you were right

I'm not so sure now

I just didn't want to take sides

You're a decent sort and it's all of no importance

I'd like you to replace me in Lybia

It's just a conference, you can read my lectures for me

- You needn't decide now - Of course I'll go

Hear me out before you agree

I've no one to turn to now; I doubt if anyone would help me

I expect they'll expel me from the Academy

They should let you out of the country, but it may be your last trip for years

I'd like you to think it over

If you decide to go, let me know

If not, we haven't seen each other

I'll go

It's for the 10th July, but my wife's birthday is on the 9th...

...and I'd like to go a day or two later

I love my wife very much

There's a connection on the 11th, via Paris

I'll check whether the ticket is valid for foreign airlines

A beautiful lighter

Yes, the ticket was bought with foreign currency

Leave it with me, I'll make the reservations

- When shall I call back? - In two or three days

Are we clearing up?

Go to bed. I'll just empty the ashtrays

Will you come to Warsaw with me, to the airport?

No, I'm on duty that day

- Don't go - Are you serious?

I decided, and I'd like to go

I looked at you one night

Nothing

Listen, write and tell me how you feel about this: We're expecting a daughter

A light?

Passengers on flight 277 to Parls, go to gates 3 and 4