Original subtitles

The ,, Tor” Film Unit presents

SPIRAL

Starring

Music

Director of Photography

Written and Directed by

- It's time you registered. - I've only just arrived.

What's so funny?

You'll freeze to death!

Are you the boss?

What boss?

- Would you lend me a rope? - Will the weather be fine?

It Will.

Where are you going?

What's it to you?

- Well, do I get it or not? - Suit yourself.

- Going alone? - Yes.

What are you staring at?

Your face seems familiar.

- From television. - Very funny.

- It's a bit short. - It will do.

Is that red Opel yours?

Why? Are you buying?

- Are you selling? - Yes...

Short of bread, huh?

Could you wake us tomorrow?

- Room Six. - And us. Room Two.

- If it's fine. - I doubt it.

In that case, why the rope?

To hang myself with.

Looking for something?

No.

- How about you? - I'm not with you.

Didn't I make myself clear?

What are you looking for in life? In general.

Some other time.

- May I? - Yours will be ready in a minute.

- Can I get tea here? - Yes, if you wait.

Why don't you take a seat?

- You sit down, please. - Thank you.

You were here last year? Or am I imagining it?

- You are. - I don't get it.

You're not always meant to.

Let me try and figure you out, ok?

- You're bored. - No,

it's you who seems to be bored.

- On the contrary. I can't keep up. - With what?

Looking for a bed-mate?

- Is that an offer? - No.

Good.

So we've... had ourselves a chat.

- How about introductions? - Why?

You've already been familiar enough.

And I've seen you somewhere.

It's my first visit. The mountains aren't my scene.

I'm a small-town boy. Just one outing to Warsaw.

It's never too late for that.

For what?

It's never too late...

How would you know!

How would you know, you...

Your tea!

Some nut case, huh?

Any accident and you're a couple of hundred dollars down.

It pays to buy an old car, drive around, earn a bit...

That's rubbish!

- An older costs 600 krona. - Go on! More like 1500!

- A friend told me. - You make a clear 1500 dollars.

At least. In just six weeks.

- That's 6000 krona. - You bank the rest for next year.

- Work permits are harder to get. - You're talking crap, buster.

Crap? Please, not in front of the ladies.

- Sheer bunk! - Been to Sweden?

No, but...

I could name at least a dozen people who made even more.

Jesus,

are you pregnant?

Yes. What's so surprising? That it's a bit late in the day?

That you're pregnant at all.

Why are you? Instinct, biology or...?

It always boils down to selfishness.

- Got any children? - No.

I'd call that selfishness.

Why?

I mean, you were thinking only of yourself.

You didn't ask him if he wanted to be born.

You just felt like spawning.

Don't you think you ought to have someone...

...to live for?

You now, do you intend to live only for yourself?

- You took your time catching on. - I did.

Why?

I used to think the way you do.

I was immersed in my job.

- But eventually I realized that. - I'll bring you some tea.

No thanks.

Is there a spare bed in your room?

- I'd have to ask the manager. - Do that.

Why did you say it was bunk?

I know it's getting tougher in Sweden.

I thought of going to Austria. But I don't speak German.

What are you on about? That's not the point.

Do you know why you're alive?

Do you?

What's my life got to do with it?

Account for your own life. Leave mine to me.

Must you eavesdrop?

You don't understand a thing!

The point of it all...

- We're not that ignorant. - Is that so?

I'm an expert, so let me tell you!

Cars, making it, trips abroad, getting laid.

Put it all together, squeeze it in your fingers,

and what have you got? A fistful of shit! Is that clear?

- No. - Because you're too dumb.

But what are you getting at?

You want me to knock myself out for posterity?

Skip the wisecracks, sonny. The last laugh may yet be on you.

Pipe down there!

Don't let him scare you! Carry on singing!

Could you please be a little quieter?

We can't hear ourselves think.

What is this? A gambling den?

Sing on! As a favour to me.

Stop being scared of everything! Sing!

Don't you know who that man is?

So, who is he? Who are you?!

Why don't you calm down?

You ought to know better, you're older then them.

- Who's that for? Leave it here! - It's not on the menu.

Calm down, they're my private guests.

And your private hostel, too, huh?

Could you spare us a moment?

Oh, I see.

I have a favour to ask. Kindly kiss my ass.

Clear off!

S|obs!

You'll see. You'll also end up...

Thanks. We'll eat in our room.

I'd like to apologize for my father.

Sometimes he can't keep his temper.

This is my wife, Magda.

I get it.

You're an only son.

How did you guess?

Daddy pulled strings for you.

No, not exactly.

What, no cosy flat?

A bull's-eye, eh?

Did he wangle you into college too?

There you're off target.

What are you? An off-duty shrink?

Tell me, is he a chip off the old block?

- So they say. - Not really.

You can say that again.

Daddy's a man. You'd prefer him to this drip, wouldn't you?

You've drawn the short end, pal. And so has your white pussy!

Something you ate?

No. It's just that I had a drink. And I had this disulfiram implant.

When?

The disulfiram, a year ago. The drink, just now.

You ought to lie down.

I haven't got a room.

How is that?

But does it matter? Having one or not?

I'm all right now. Thank you and sorry.

What's this?

I could lend it to you.

I don't have time for reading.

You can keep it longer. I don't mind waiting.

Where will all this philosophy get you?

- Is it a living? - No.

Or do you think it will help when life gets you down?

I hope so.

Suppose it doesn't?

I'll at least have had some fun with words.

Fun?

- But you have to eat as well. - I'll get by.

- Just like that? - I've been to technical school.

A philosopher-mechanic!

Why not?

- You mean it? - Yes.

Give me some coffee.

I'm planning to visit India next year.

I'm told you can pay in our money.

I want to go via the USSR and Afghanistan.

In India you can hike.

- Sure, but why bother? - Have you been to India?

Yes.

There are thousands there like you.

But people are still starving.

If I can't help, I may at least learn something.

Must it be India? Why not here?

I suppose you're right.

What do you want to learn? What are you looking for?

Well...

You mean to say you don't know?

No, I do know...

It's... Well, it's... Plato said —

- All right, save it. - Read it all, I suppose?

As a matter of fact, I haven't and I shan't.

Lend me a sleeping-bag.

Sure.

Well, are we climbing tomorrow?

Yes.

That is, I am and you are, but not together.

Why not?

Why don't you want to come with me? Got someone?

- No. - One, two three! I'm in luck.

So you won't come with me?

I apologize.

- You mean it? - I mean it. Why shouldn't I?

You're not my type.

What does it take to be your type?

You should know better than me.

Leave it!

Are you here on your own?

Leave that!

I have a feeling you're married.

I was.

He died in the Alps.

I'm sorry.

I have a daughter.

Here with you?

No. I don't take her hiking.

How old is she?

Fourteen.

Pretty?

She takes after her father.

Then you're lucky.

All right, all right.

What are you doing here? It's closed.

- What's the number of your room? - Hush.

We'll see what the manager has to say!

Hush, honey.

All right. But mind...

...you don't start a fire.

These old timbers would go up like a torch, huh?

- Where did you see him? - On Cubryna.

On the Gallery?

- I don't see anything there. - When did you see him?

- Just now. - Was he alone?

Yes.

No one booked in and I didn't see anyone leave.

Not this morning.

It was sleeting.

No, it was fine earlier. It only just turned nasty.

If it's the man with the Opel, we can check the car park.

He didn't even sign the register.

How do you adjust this?

You wear glasses, do you?

Had he been here before? You'd remember.

His face seems familiar. But these beards...

- Any of you kids know him? - Vaguely, but I can't place him.

Do you know him?

If he's not a climber, he's in a bad way.

Heaven help him if he gets caught in an avalanche.

Why don't we go there and shout?

- Take the walkie-talkie. - No, we can manage without it.

You're going?

Let's try together.

- Who's in No. 9? - Where did you find it?

By the weather hut.

- How do you know it's No. 9? - There was a note attached.

They've found the sleeping bag.

If he's left it behind, what will he camp out in?

Let's not panic. He's not a child.

If he wants to freeze or break his neck, it's his own outlook!

You don't mince your words.

We'll give him time until dark. You'll try shouting again.

No one's come down to Roztoki or Five Lakes.

You'll have to climb up to the Gallery tomorrow,

- if he doesn't come back. - One group?

Yes, five or six people. Whoever feels up to it.

Take climbing gear with you.

I'll give you a walkie-talkie.

Let me check it first.

Well, see you at nine.

Turn in now.

It was packed this morning.

This could easily start to slide.

Why didn't you take crampons?

Never you mind.

There are some tracks here.

Look out!

Now you know what I meant about crampons.

Careful. Follow the tracks.

Use your ice-axe!

My leg!

Get help!

This is Klimek 06 calling Ben-Eye! Do you read me? Over.

Let me go. It's a very gentle climb.

- Thanks, but I can handle it. - But I'm a doctor.

Call the helicopter.

Why? The ambulance will be here in plenty of time.

And the he|icopter's due in Rabka.

Rabka can wait. He has to be taken to Cracow.

I have contacts in the university clinic.

Helicopter to Sea-Eye lake! Do you read me? Over!

I read you. Over.

There's been quite an avalanche from the Gallery.

Something like 200 by 80 metres.

There distinct tracks there. Maybe of the man we're looking for.

Round up what climbers you have. l’ll notify HQ.

And pick up a tracker dog.

Search, search.

What did he found?

- What is it? - No, it's not his.

Carry on!

Watch out! A rock!

Is it his back-pack?

Who else could it belong to?

It's fallen from above.

Only a short way. It's not torn.

All right. We can call it a day.

I'll raise the helicopter.

This is Klimek 25 calling! Make for the avalanche site!

Can you see anything?

- No, it's passed out of sight. - May I?

Everything I say is of course an approximation.

As all textbook descriptions are.

No patient ever exhibits...

...all the phases of the syndrome in question.

Sometimes they simply don't have time to.

They die before reaching the aggression or apathy phase.

So we can never go rigidly by the book.

In each case we have to make an individual diagnosis.

Only on its evidence do we administer psychotropic drugs.

In other words, depending on what we have learned from...

al interviews, bl observations and cl tests.

Let me now go back...

...to the Piontek case.

Here I hold our psychologist a little at fault.

You judged him self-composed and over the depression phase.

In fact there was a relapse into aggression and protest.

Even though he was a potential suicide,

he clearly ran away with that intention.

I regard that as a sign of protest,

and not a result of depression. That's my criticism.

He wasn't here long enough. And there was no social interview.

I agree that he is not a typical case.

Here is a man at the height of his career, ambitious, energetic.

Living at full stretch, but an uncooperative patient.

- Why? - I don't know.

Presumably we failed to win his confidence.

I'm not surprised. A man at the top of his profession,

long used to authority, privileges, travel,

a high standard of living. These things count.

- How high? ‘ VVIW do you ask?

Not as a joke. Living standards are relative.

I'd say he was a contented man. Even if he didn't realize the fact.

He was successful and popular.

- Any psychiatric treatment? - Check the record card.

No, he was not in pain or on psychotropic drugs.

- He will be now. - At his request?

Surely with, say, euphoriants the patient's consent matters?

We try to ease everyone's departure as he sees fit.

There is no question of compulsion.

In terminal situations people often change their minds.

It's hard to ask them then, believe me.

You don't seem convinced.

You'd treat shock, wouldn't you, not argue?

What's our procedure now?

I'd like to try one more test.

Better not. We'll put him on tranquillizers.

And please remember that everything we have discussed...

...is a medical secret.

And do try looking less Iugubrious in the wards!

As for Mr Piontek, leave him in peace.

- I'm awake. - A lady's asking to see you.

- What lady? - She's waiting outside.

Don't come in. Wait there.

I want to lie down. My legs are aching.

What do you know?

I know.

- Am I upsetting you? - Yes.

Sit down.

Don't touch me. Everyone keeps stroking me like a cat.

It didn't work.

As you can see.

I understand.

What do you understand?

To understand anything you have to lie here dying!

What good's understanding anyway? Forget it!

Can't you see the “No Smoking“ sign? Get the hell out!

Did you see how pink he was?

Let me come and visit you.

Why?

Because you're alone.

I want to be.

Let me.

Let me, if you can.

I'll tell you why you're so eager to visit me.

You've a widow complex.

Don't come here.

I've got enough witnesses as it is.

There's a whole seminar devoted to my dying.

You're lucky.

All that fuss!

How much could your rescue operation have cost?

There were masses of people, weren't there?

Plus the helicopter.

That money could have been spent on treatment.

Stop that sucking noise!

I told them straight!

If I peg out before you,

it means they're taking better care of you.

After all, it's only my fourth month in here.

You've served a year already!

What did that questionnaire woman want?

Nothing.

And whether we discuss... you know what.

Excuse me, could you spare me a minute?

I'll see you off to your car.

I've read your book and I may be silly, but I'm baffled.

By What?

Oh, the bit about religion, I suppose.

For a start.

If a patient wishes so, we call a priest.

You term it religiotherapy.

I don't believe, nor, basically, do the patients.

Who now lives sub species aeternitatis?

It's easy to pigeon-hole, but everyone must react differently.

And they do.

So why is he taking it so hard?

Let me answer you as a man, not a doctor.

He is a very ego-oriented type of person.

But he worked hard, not just for himself.

But would you use the word “service“ in his context?

The term is inappropriate, isn't it?

He's what you might call the consumer type.

His kind take much longer to get over the aggression phase.

I've prescribed some drugs.

Do you think they will do any good?

They'll provide temporary relief.

Soothe his fears, make dying easier.

How can dying be easier, if you don't know a thing?

The reason why, the point of it all...

...whether it depends on how you lived.

I don't understand this philosophy of yours.

- It's pure mumbo jumbo! - Do you suggest anything better?

At least we try. In many hospitals they just look on.

You blame me and the medicine

for the failure of ethics and philosophy to answer certain questions.

I am only a doctor. I know no more. Do you?

No,

but I sense that something's wrong.

When you sense that something's right, come and see me.

Excuse me, but I'm in a hurry. Good bye.

Well, how are you? Anything you need?

I'd like to thank you for getting me this room.

My son wanted to visit you, but he's still in plaster.

Never mind.

He can drop by at the cemetery and bring me flowers.

I have a favour to ask.

I believe there's a crematory in Poznan.

It's hard to get in. Could you fix it?

Isn't it all the same?

No.

Would it be to you? Do you fancy rotting,

stinking?

Do you fancy stinking? Do you fancy being ordure after death?

Stop play-acting.

That man's said he was waiting for you.

I apologize.

I don't want you to think...

Of course I'll see to Poznan.

Why are you so afraid?

There's no need.

- There's no need to be afraid. - Aren't you?

I mean, you're old. You could go any minute.

Do you think it only happens to others? That you're exempt?

Our experience is that other people do the dying.

As you see, experience cannot be trusted.

What can be?

I know I'll have to face it.

And you're not afraid?

Oh yes, I am afraid.

Of the pain.

And all the... nastiness.

I'm fond of life.

But since it's inevitable...

...there's no sense in rebelling.

And you really imagine...

...that what becomes of you...

I've been reanimated twice.

I came out of an air crash unscathed.

I survived the war.

People dear to me were killed.

Better people.

No doubt about it. Better than me. While I am alive.

Why?

We'll never discover.

And you accept that?

You think... it makes sense? It has a meaning?

Yes, I do.

That some gain... while others must lose?

You honestly believe that?

Honestly? That's your honest opinion?

You're not allowed in here! You shouldn't.

I always have to shower after duty.

You've got visitors.

Only don't get up. I'll ask them in.

- Remember him? - Hi.

I hope you don't mind.

I was passing through. I live in Gdansk.

- I asked her. - What?

What did you ask her?

And she said...

...that you were here.

So I am.

I may be leaving soon.

I'm going to a sanatorium.

On the coast.

You're from Gdansk?

Leave your address. I'll get in touch.

You could pop in and we'll talk about philosophy.

What time's your train?

Not for a while.

Exams over?

- How did you do? - Okay.

You see?

Run along or you'll be late.

So long.

Thanks.

Funny, isn't he?

Don't worry. It's not for you.

Maybe there's something you need?

- You're a laugh, too. - That's good.

Where did you find him?

He was looking for you.

This sanatorium? Is that a good sign?

But you're better. I can see that.

What are you painting?

Some commercial stuff.

It's nitro and it won't wash off.

I have to finish by April.

By April...

You've plenty of time.

Don't be embarrassed.

I've been through it...

It's like this...

When the pain subsides...

...and the other thing starts,

everything calms down,

recedes...

Darkness... A flying fee|ing....

And a marvellous indifference.

And then light...

And you see...

...yourse|f...

And then when...

As a result of the doctors’ attentions...

...you wake up again.

However fond of life you may be,

you're not happy.

You have the knowledge...

...that there'll be another time.

That for a long time to come...

...you'll be involved in things you've discovered...

...are not the most important in life.

And that's all.

- Excuse me... - Sit down please.

Could you possibly have made a mistake?

I'm sorry, but you said it would take a different course.

There's no fever and he's feeling better. I can see.

Medicine doesn't know all the answers.

It can't anticipate everything.

Is he worse?

Is he, Doctor?

How long will it take?

A couple of days, a week at the outside.

In that case can I visit him daily?

Of course.

Thank you.

You can read his whole life history in this organ.

Look at this patch.

It resembles cirrhosis. We'll take some segments.

Who let you in here? It's barred to patients!

Please leave!

Doctor!

Didn't you hear what he said? Are you deaf?

Quiet.

It should be quiet in here.

Quiet.

Sonny,

what's wrong?

Nothing.

All right. A |ot's leaked out.

Any errands I can run?

Shall I draw the amount you wanted?

No need to get up. I'll fetch a bedpan.

Don't bother.

What have you done here?

There'll be a bruise. I'll rub it.

Careful.

Could you nip out and buy me some cigarettes?

You've still got some.

For later.

Why do you smoke so much?

I enjoy it.

Ok.

I'll manage.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Run along now.

In pain?

Jittery.

Hold on. I'll get you a pill.

Subtitles: Edward Rothert Distribution: Film Polski, Warszawa