Original subtitles

The "TOR" Film Unit presents

a film based on a novel by Emil Zegadłowicz

Screenplay

Photography

Direction

Take a look at the wonderful world around us.

Do you think there is no similar system...

... of eternal subordination to the same principle...

... of the infinite wisdom of God,

our Lord who rules the universe?

Even this housefly serves the same idea...

... of boundless happiness and harmony.

Yes, my sweet idiots...

... praise the Lord for rain and for shine.

He decides about it all.

He will and consent stand behind everything.

What's so funny, you fool?

NIGHTMARES

It's Sonia's ghost.

Flame off... flame on... off... on.

Spirit, come forth!

There! It's here!

A bad dream, was it?

Don't be afraid. It's just nightmares.

Daddy, why isn't Mom with us?

She's always liked loneliness.

We both just got in her way.

It's not her fault.

But we are so lonely, Dad.

Eat this!

A beautiful fruit, the apple.

Aromatic when alive

and when dead.

Can you smell the peelings?

Ami, Rami, dream, a dreamer...

Is the spell on?

Mommy!

Aren't you filthy!

Regret and sorrow, I'll leave tomorrow

Grief, nothing new What shall I do?

But I can't do it.

I'm to go and say: My colleague!

Please, enroll my son.

Anything wrong in it?

I thought you'd understand.

And if they say no?

Very well. I'll go with him.

Where are you now?

In school.

Correct.

But remember, not an ordinary school,

but an Imperial-Royal Lycee.

And where is it located?

In Wołkowice.

What town is it, Wołkowice?

- Polish. - No, Galician.

Repeat!

Galician.

- Galicia is a part of...? - Austria.

The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, my lad. Oh, God.

- And who's the ruler? - Franz Joseph.

Emperor Franz Joseph by the grace of God.

What is your father?

- Retired. - So what was he?

- a teacher. - No! An Imperial-Royal teacher.

What's your name?

Mikołaj Srebrny.

Son of Michał Srebrny... ... from Cracow?

He lives here now.

- Had to retire. - Nothing surprising about that.

Some of the things he said at school were...

Excuse me.

Tell him to come and see me.

We'll sit and talk about old days.

You can go now. You're admitted.

Happy, aren't you?

No.

Bullshitto!

This is Nikki.

Why don't you say it's him, you sleepy cow!

Nikki's visiting his good uncle!

Very cultured, aren't they?

What's this stare, uh?

- You'll live here. - And Mom?

Mom will stay with grannie.

Quiet! Why must he listen?

Bullshitto!

Let's have some vodka.

It's due to original sin...

Marecki, wake up!

Were it not for the apple from the forbidden tree...

... tasted by our parents... ... we would still be in paradise.

Alas, all went astray...

Ever since then...

... the devil lies in wait,

... whispering wickedness...

... to bring us fast to the doorstep of Hell.

Everybody has his own devil.

Srebrny!

What did I say about devils?

- There are No devils. - Sit down... What?

What did you say?

You say there are no devils?

And Hell?

No Hell either?

Who told you that?

My father.

I see. Your father!

That old pantheist!

So you're not afraid of devils.

No, I'm not.

But I will make you fear me!

Your father won't meddle with morality here...

Hail Mary, all of you!

Quiet!

Moron Janas.

No good!

Moron Kosek! Badly written!

Moron Rzepecki!

Very bad!

Moron Srebrny is a complete idiot!

Perfect muttonhead!

Give up school and become a shoemaker's help!

To shoes, I say!

No more written nonsense from you, right?

Right?

Give him a whack!

Hit'im hard!

All laugh now!

Laugh, can't you!

Scum!

Srebrny, the principal want yo see you!

Not a bad boy, but this brooding of his...

And worst of all - a mind of his own.

Must be watched.

Carefully.

All the time.

Yes, indeed.

The father a doddering old fool.

And the mother! Insane, to put it bluntly.

Everybody knows that.

He listens, so to say, inwardly.

In school one must listen outwardly.

A professor's wife can't be wrong.

Listening is our duty. Everywhere. Always.

This is what builds the state.

I'll chop off your hands, vandals!

Look what they've done!

You'll excuse me.

Listen, morons!

Who did it?

I'm asking, you scum, who was it?

Come on, idiots!

Who?

- What's your name? - Jan Stuck.

Your brain stuck? Was it you?

No, sir.

Then it's you!

Look now, don't you get drunk.

If he offers you a drink, say you've got heartburn.

It's a bit of your own fault, sir.

It it my fault.

No, thank you.

I've got heartburn.

Just a shot.

You must talk sense into him.

Yes, I intend to.

A. Come here, Nikki...

Let me do it.

I'll handle him myself.

That's my system.

Things look bad, Nikki.

- I don't want to go back. - You must.

It'll be wonderful for you.

Escape from chaos.

Saving youself... ... and others in the process.

There aren't many of them but they're best.

Nothing but fear and falsehood around us...

I protected you against it all. Was I right?

I suppose so.

Our years together,

a few of my ideas...

May they be your shelter and your aid.

One day you'll expand them.

I hope when others let you down...

... you can rely on my love for you.

Short as it is.

Have a drink, Nikki.

- The priest. what if he again... - Take No notice.

That's the system.

You know?

Off we go!

- If he, God forbid... - Shut up!

He still lives.

Yes, but if, then remember... ... we get the house and the land.

A hen keeps packing to find grain...

Mommy!

At last together, like Christians.

No more need to keep the old duffer.

And you? Leaving for the country, too?

With your permission, I'd rather stay here.

With your permission!

I'll do the deciding.

How much do you get from him?

- Six zlotys. - A month?

No, a week.

I'll pay 2 zlotys.

Show me your hands.

Bend your fingers.

You won't be a musician.

But never mind.

You loved Daddy, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

I know.

I'm ill.

You'll be alone.

May your life be easier than mine.

I thought you would stay here.

But go away from this house,

this street, this town.

Death, death is here everywhere.

I'm not able to love you.

Forgive me.

Don't listen to what they will say about me.

You'll forgive me one day.

Maybe God will so, too.

See, nothing but debts.

We'll have to save money.

You must give me all your earnings.

But I wanted to save up.

For Nikki.

You think I don't want to save for him?

If I could teach at home...

... I would make a lot more.

Well,

you know strangers.

They come in and dirty the house.

Don't keep the light on too long.

It costs money.

She's drunk.

I know.

Ever been to the theatre?

No.

And the circus?

Yes.

Play a circus tune, please.

Grannie will be angry.

Next time. Now sleep.

Mother!

This is Nikki.

Be a nice boy now.

A fine lad.

Kind of thin, isn't he?

Hands clean? No, not you!

Yes, sir.

You can go now.

Know what "kurwa" means?

Sure. Latin.

Curvus, curva, curvum...

Not that, fool. In Polish.

I don't.

It's a woman who strips naked - a whore.

And then you ride her.

What? How do you ride her?

Just ride her. That's all.

I'll ask Barbara to let me ride her.

- But that's your sister! - So what?

I can do as I please with her.

What now?

Nothing.

I only wanted to ask you to let us-

Stop it!

I won't talk, if you like.

They are angels, aren't they?

On a visit they ought to be polite.

Can I give them some cherries?

Miss Wilma, that's enough.

Dear children,

eat it all and you'll be fit as a fiddle.

Cherries make them grow fast.

Bring some more tea, Nikki.

More tea for Barbara.

I must bring tea.

Not asleep yet?

Have a nice dream.

- Is it fever? - No, it's not.

Bastards! Bastards!

A bad dream?

Nothing.

Just nightmares.

- Do You want something? - An apple.

They are out of seasons now.

The sin of lust.

Beware of it!

Or else you'll... ... burn in Hell!

Satan will quarter your bodies and then piece them together...

... so there will be no end to your agony.

But you may not go to hell if you...

... expiate

your sins...

... by penance.

Don't hide anything for Satan is only waiting for it.

Lying is a terrible sin.

All sins...

... originate from lies.

What do you want, idiot?

Father, Marecki tells lies.

What makes you tell me this, my lad?

Don't you realize?

It's your soul fighting Evil.

And Marecki will hang in Hell...

... for eternity.

Examination of conscience!

Do not uncover your bodies.

Satan is only waiting.

It's as if you said to him: Come in, please.

See how tears of penitence... ... wash away his sins.

Satan and all evil...

are leaving him:

Snakes, toads and earwige are crawling out of his mouth...

Look now!

A monster is emerging.

Scaly and hideous, like a crocodile.

A small dragon with huge, gaping jaws...

Sharp teeth like nails...

and the awful stench of its breath!

I recognize it!

It is the sin of lust! Yes, it is!

Why so late?

What's the hurry?

You'll pay her, too.

Quiet. I know.

Pay now.

Pigs! Doing it here of all places!

A tomb is as good as a brothel.

Be quick or I'll die of cold here.

The Lord will console you, son.

I'd like to serve God.

Very well.

But remember, Satan's temptations are many.

Are you willing to serve at Mass tomorrow?

- Yes, indeed. - Yes.

Give it back!

Here is the greatest dreamer, poet, decadent.

A maiden full of virtues.

Still a virgin.

My friend Mikołaj Srebrny.

Mikołaj Srebrny. Notes on Life.

Out into the world! Poetry, be my friend.

I love you, Life.

Forsaken by God and men I die of love, father.

Life hurts...

The idea I believed in collapsed...

"I anvy you. You are free. I am no one..."

I can't do anything. Glad you think so.

Death, death everywhere.

Useless life, meaningless death. In any case...

"It's all the same everywhere. Farewell, Father..."

Goddbye, Mother.

"Joanna means pure love."

You were everything to me till yesterday, Lord

I believed against hope and reason.

Today I see your crucifiction was in vain.

Maybe, good man, you lied to yourself?

Maybe you will return again, Lord

Your words shall calm the heart.

And great and eternal questions...

... will be forgotten by you, not God's but Man's Son.

Let me introduce Professor Chwostek.

He will teach physics and biology.

I wish you patience, dear colleague.

Physics is a great science.

One must know nature and sociology.

But the whole capitalist system - Out!

Out! Out! Put!

Human ideas and socialism...

Hush!

A case of discilinary transfer.

Too chummy terms with pupils.

Physics' theorems need not be taken dogmatically.

Experimentation counts.

Practice counts.

You must smell, taste,

listen to an object.

Let me demonstrate what I mean...

... wiht a simple experiment.

The ball passes freely... ... through the ring here.

One of the many laws known to physics, or science.

I think I heated it. Sorry, let me cool it quickly.

Every body immersed in liquid...

That's the wrong set.

We'll do it again at the next lesson.

It's my habit to devote the second half of the period...

... to questions and answers.

Is it obligatory?

Nothing is with me.

One more request, please.

Don't confine your questions to physics...

To the contrary: ask...

... about life. About your true interests.

We'll return to this experiment.

Gentelmen, nature loses nothing.

The priest would disagree.

- We can skip metaphysics - But religion is right!

You think so?

Look! Science is power.

You'll never grasp it, fool!

Moron!

Wankie!

- You're a wankie! - Bigot!

Tell me!

You really want it?

They kick you out for this.

It bears vengeance...

"... and the people's anger..."

... it's red with blood...

... of fighting workers...

Money! It must be there.

No, you simply ask for cheese, butter, flour...

A bottle of vodka...

You don't pay. You say: God bless you, comrade.

What is it?

I don't go to church anymore.

Not true. You've stopped praying.

Seeking consolation in Him.

Leave me alone.

I need faith of some kind.

- But it needn't be Roman-Catholic. - It can be this.

Here, my future hero!

Nikki, see what guests I've brought with me!

- Where's Auntie? - On a trip.

I've read Hamlet, too. I know life is shit.

Let's go get our ashes hauled!

Say hallo to the ladies. Bow!

Bubbly!

Sit close to me, won't you?

No, thank you.

You afraid of me?

No, why?

Then sit down.

You know...

... we kept a canary here.

- Someone left it open And - - He flew out?

No. A cat ate him.

Today I'm in no mood for it. Some other time.

Then let's drink.

Cheers!

Look at the misfortune we've suffered.

But it is God's will.

If a person is insane then it's better -

Bullshitto!

I'll take her to the doctor tomorrow.

You know how much it will cost?

Well, all right. Did I say anything?

I haven't written a word.

But you did.

Just a few notes.

Read it!

It's no good.

Read! Don't talk.

To be awake is a nightmare. Reality...

... means agony. A dream equals life and liberation.

Good daydreams extend dreaming...

"Bad daydreams spell sleepless fear. Life would then be nil."

Read the last line again.

Bad daydreams spell sleepless fear

"Life would be nil if that were all there was."

No! There's no soul.

There's only the brain which at the time of death...

... simply stops functioning.

And if a man dies...

... his feelings and thoughts also pass away?

What happens to our dreams?

What?

Maybe life is a kind of dream... ... from which we wake up to death?

Belief in the immortality of the soul helps us to endure.

We must bring about revolution, an end to opression.

I don't want to manipulate beliefe.

Is there nothing in your mind...

... that eludes physics?

You know you speak utter nonsense.

And who made this all up?

Rotten clerics!

To blind us to what's important.

People dying of hunger. Needing bread.

You know that, but not deep down.

I'm sorry.

Remember, only God exists,

the soul does not!

The brain exists.

Anyway, I'm only partly...

... a teacher of physics.

Thank you.

Six, you said?

What's this money for?

A famous actress will recite poetry.

Poetry!

You're just like your father!

Books! And the pocket is empty.

But they told us at school...

I'll make you an apprentice.

The best paid work today.

Actresses yet!

After Sophie's death we can't waste money.

We must save.

Was it any different before?

If Mother hadn't given you her money...

You think I'm guilty?

That my daughter died because of me?

Don't you know where the money went?

To keep you! For your school! You rascal, you!

Welcome, Professor!

One ticket, please.

Not going to listen to her?

Hello, Professor!

Why? It's worth it.

Got a few things to take care of.

- One student's pass, please. - His name, please.

Why do you ask?

Orders, that's all.

Mikołaj Srebrny.

And then I heard eagles flying in the sky...

... breasts against clouds like Greek boats against Persia.

Mad I went, and killing my lover... ... of dreams uncontained...

into wilderness I go. God cursed my soul...

... but I cursed Him!

My heart knows no fear since then...

and only dark deep waves can speak.

A wreck was rocking on the rocks ahead.

- All of them? - Axe in my hand,

I sailed off... ... against the hidden sun.

Two eagles fly above me...

... and me, a human...

... all alone.

If I were not a druid in stone...

... a finite God...

and a crownless king... If I were not...

... a madding bird of sea.

Were I not... ... burnt by agony,

were I not... ... a gravely solemn song.

"I'd led them all - to Thermepylae!"

Scandal!

The yellow flowers glitter bright.

Here's violets and other kind... ... all hailing sun:

We are losers.

But save us, Lord, in joyful light.

The sun is cruel in the sky.

Roses and liliacs shall pass away.

My vengeance will be sweet...

Your tears shall trigger a storm.

Roar, tempest...

... rip off the knots and ties...

... the Earth, this monster, has no entangled,

And cast them in the space... ... into the cabal poetry of nature.

Hidden fires shall break my heart, As glacier does it to a rock.

Oh, Greeks, my friends, just listen...

I'll give a sea to win a soul.

But what was mine?

A flower from a meadow green,

And quiet, endless pain...

"... that was so deeply in."

Our Professor was rusticated.

Without a charge.

Why?

He had personality.

It's always uncomfortable...

... and dangerous.

I'm having a class now.

There are more important things.

Three pupils: Durski, Sviestek,

Zylski.

The police chief inspector wants to see you.

You must understand...

... dear fellows...

... that there are things...

... that grieve me much.

Your friends, as it turns out, are suspected...

... of belonging to a clandestine organisation...

planning the overthrow...

... of our Emperor ruling here by the grace of God...

... and they mean anarchy.

I had not expect our pedagogical work...

... would be so wasted.

Sit down.

Remember the two glorious characters...

... depicted by our immortal bard, Adam Mickiewicz.

Gervazy and Protazy.

He had foreseen the fate of Poland.

But they stand for Austria and Poland!

When Austria says: Yes, Protazy...

... Poland responds...

Yes, yes, Gervazy.

Unfortunately, not all have learned the lesson...

... from "Pan Tadeusz".

They don't understand that hitting Gervazy...

... they also hurt Protazy.

Your colleagues turned out to be bad Poles.

Long live The Socialist Party.

You can kiss my ass together with your police...

"... and your comic Emperor."

I charge you for turning three of us to police.

It's also your fault our Professor died.

It's not true.

- Why did you do it? - I can prove it's a lie.

All this is a lie and you know very well it is.

You don't believe me.

- a cigarette. - He needs a scapegoat.

Next, one of you!

I wouldn't squeal on anybody.

- Marecki, you are - - Let us all smoke cigarettes.

Let me go!

He pissed in his pants! Swine!

Revolution means using force.

A group like us must tell

the masses the truth.

Impose our laws and beliefs...

And who authorized you to do so?

Stay, please! I'll show you something!

Lay off, can't you!

You'll just relax in bed.

- People will see it! - I'll pay handsomely.

- Didn't you say you were broke? - Enough for a funeral.

Then it'll be mine, anyway.

And your coffin! A gift from me!

A real beauty, that.

You're ruining me.

Don't say that.

I know what you used the orphan's money for!

Them whores!

What was it? Pneumonia?

I'm not sure but it's all right now.

Here's something to rub in throughout the week.

He has his finals.

He can't go to school in his condition.

Jesus! What am I going to do?

Goodbye...

... Goodbye.

The bell sounds strange.

Goodbye... Leaves keep falling.

Goodbye... To love is to pass away.

Farewell. Go I must.

Gervazy and Protazy.

I know what you mean but revolution has its own laws.

- There are other laws. - Well, of course!

Poetry, love, art...

This means nothing. Nil!

Perhaps...

... but I'll keep trying.

Join us. You're a Pole, a patriot, and socialist, aren't you?

He has only contempt for us.

It's better, I think, he's an outsider.

Traitor!

Gentelmen ex-pupils, quiet, please!

My former students...

... so close to my heart!

You're leaving us now.

You old professors

shall stay behind...

... lonely.

Too bad.

That's life, isn't it?

We loved you.

You're our glory.

You're the pride of the nation.

You're its future.

Don't forget us...

... when life...

We set the patterns, we the tutors and masters!

Some masters!

Long live our Professor, our mentor and our friend!

But we know Latin, don't we?

My dear children!

Let not the sorrow of departure poison your hearts!

Let us laugh and be merry!

Starring:

Music:

Subtitles: Bogusław Lawendowski.