Original subtitles

Communicate password.

Repeat that.

Just for a minute, I've gone stiff.

I'm not tired at all.

Guess I'm past that point.

Here, have one of mine.

Thanks.

Your mamma never taught you to shut doors?

Top quality! See how beautifully it burns...

What?

Hold your fire! Who's firing? Hold your fire, I said!

Don't touch him! Careful!

Multimedia Est and Antena 1 present

THE PAPER WILL BE BLUE

Repeat that!

Confirm 14! Over.

What are they saying?

Copy.

You go straight ahead on Colentina.

Yeah, I know. Where exactly? Give me.

Is that all?

Yeah, that's all.

Should we switch to the TV frequency, and see what's happening?

So what did they say, Vasile? Any problems back at the Unit?

They didn't say anything about it, Comrade Lieutenant.

Vasile, see if you can receive Radio Free Europe.

Soldier, I thought I told you to stay put and shut your big mouth!

Who made you a fucking politician?

You're here to obey orders!

Is that it?

They shall pay for it, under the laws of a country that is civilized...

They shall pay for it, under the laws of a country that is civilized...

And democratic.

Of course. If a country is civilized, then it is democratic.

- Right! - Shut up for a moment.

I would like to introduce the commander of the guards defending the national television station,

to report to the people just how this strategic resource of the people is being defended.

- Let's see! - Shut up!

This is Lieutenant-Colonel Oana, Commander of the Armored Unit,

and I have been charged with the noble assignment of defending the Romanian National Television station,

Do you know this Oana guy, Comrade Lieutenant?

Turn it up, Vasile. He's from the Armored Unit.

I request the support of the entire, of all the people in the area,

to help me with this, to carry out this sacred assignment.

Tonight nobody is allowed to sleep in Romania.

We must be out on the streets to prevent any hostile acts.

The night is the friend of the enemies of the people.

Take it to the streets, my dear Romanians.

Civilians shouldn't be allowed to carry weapons.

- But that guy's a colonel - Who's a colonel?

We need your protection,

We should've been there, not chasing around.

Why the hell go to the TV station? Can't you hear what's going on there?

So that's what's eating you both.

It's not you they called for.

OK, Vasile, sign off the air.

Give a civilian a gun and he'll shoot himself in the ass.

Look, peace and quiet.

What do we need quiet for? Action, that's what Costi wants. Terrorists, all that crap...

Right, Mister Costi? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Keep your heads down till this whole mess is over. Because you never know how things will turn out.

Maybe we can get a leave on New Year's Eve. I haven't seen my folks since Easter.

What terrorists are you talking about?

If I don't know anything about any terrorists, how's it that you know?

You want to go home?

Can't you see we're on patrol here, trying to keep order in the suburbs?

What are they saying?

Did they say anything about Ceausescu? Did they get him?

I don't know, see for yourself.

Where is this music coming from?

I don't know, I think that's what they're playing on the radio.

See? Things are changing.

I think they'll shut our department.

The secret police department has already been shut down.

How do you know?

Did they say anything?

They said it on TV. Internal affairs are next.

Cool, then we can finally go home.

Or, they'll turn us into a regular military unit.

- Good evening!

- I. D!

Where are you headed at this hour?

Dorina...

Why were you hurrying?

I wasn't

I'm not sure they're correctly aligned.

What's not aligned?

I was driving with them dipped!

- Really? - Really.

- Guns, anything in the trunk?

- The Skoda has it at the front.

If you want I'll open it for you.

And if I don't find guns in your trunk, Will you let me search you?

Just like that, in the street? Not very nice.

Say I get tomorrow off.

Is that nicer?

Where can I find you?

Don't you remember my address from my I. D?

How about her? She's found her man!

OK, Dorina.

Tomorrow, about nine o'clock, I'll come pick you up.

Is that ok? Thanks.

So how am I, am I ok?

I'd say you're fine.

Bye, now.

- Need a push? - Please.

Turn off the wipers.

Guys! Let's push!

They've all gone mad.

Here.

Wait, what's your frequency?

Turn to sixty, look from there.

It's not there, I tried.

Voinescu is on sixty point three.

He's not, Comrade Lieutenant.

Keep searching.

Sixteen on Rahova and going down.

Keep at it.

Repeat that.

On Rahova...

And who's on Militari?

The fifth group with Boncea.

Tociu-who?

Give that to me.

Roncea. I said Doncea. Copy.

"Watch out for the Great Bear". Over.

- Someone's got through. - Who is it?

"Watch out for the Great Bear". Over.

- Identify yourself.

- Who's on Militari?

This 4 North.

Get off the frequency.

- Me? - Not you, the other guy.

Is that you, Viorel?

Switch to the green frequency, I'll find you.

Who's there? Lt. Voinescu?

- Get off. Over.

It's not Voinescu.

- Who, me? Over.

Maybe they've already changed the password.

We'll try again later.

There's Marius. Down with the dictatorship, Marius!

Down with communism!

Ole, ole, ole, ole, Ceausescu's gone away!

See...

...how people are enjoying their freedom...

Comrade Neagu, why don't we switch sides and fight with the people?

Haven't you seen? Things are changing!

Listen, Costi. Do me a favor.

Stop making it difficult for me in front of your comrades.

You have to understand that things aren't so...

Let's not go into it.

Comrade Lieutenant. I've got Comrade Lieutenant Voinescu.

So do we have an agreement there?

Right, Comrade Neagu.

Yeah, copy.

"Watch out for the Great Bear".

Viorel, what's up with you, playing dead?

No, I am on Grivita...

Where are you? You sound like you're speaking from the grave.

What did you say?

Where are you?

In Regie.

What is going on at the headquarters?

Ours?

Yes man, ours.

They've taken Dinu and...

They've arrested him?

The counter-intelligence officer?

- Arrested that son of a bitch...

OK, good. Listen, I can barely hear you.

Hey, I received orders not to get involved in petrol...

"Petrol"?

What "petrol"?

What "petrol"? Over.

Not "petrol". "Ratrol"...Regie...

I don't copy.

At the TV station... It's a disaster.

No way.

They say about a hundred dead...

Hell!

A hundred and more... Many...

Talk to you later, I can't make out what you're saying.

You heard that?

A hundred dead at the TV station.

Those sons of bitches!

Voinescu was on Grivita, near Regie.

He says all's quiet there.

Here's not bad either.

They took Dinu and locked him up.

Fuck that son of a bitch.

See, now's the time to get rid of them all.

And what are you proposing, Rambo?

You want us to go to the TV station, get shot in the head?

Fuck it, I want to go there.

Hey, mind your mouth!

And stand up straight when you're addressing an officer.

I wanna go there and fight! You can stay here, and hide like a rat!

What did you say?

Costi. Give me your gun.

Come on.

And the magazines.

I see we talked in vain.

And the bayonet.

Okay, now you can go right down to the TV station and fight.

What's all this shit about the TV station?

And watch your mouth around a higher ranking officer!

Don't worry, Lieutenant! What am I, anyway? A poor army mechanic.

The doctor must have given away a lot of packs of Kent and coffee to get his son gets stationed in Bucharest.

And now he's acting up in front of me.

Right, Lieutenant?

Right.

I'm the fool, for watching out for him and powdering his ass.

Come with me.

- Come on, let's go. - Where?

Great. Maybe someone else would like to join him and play hero...

How about it, Vasile?

Sir?

Costi, don't be stupid, stay here.

- You're afraid, that's it!

Yeah, go with him, at least we'll know then.

He's really going.

Fine. Let him.

Listen to me, soldier! Get in the vehicle right now.

You deaf, soldier? Get back here.

Now he's screwin' with me.

Costi, don't make me come after you or you're dead meat, do you hear me?

Babo, are you coming?

Costi, quit messing around.

This is called defecting. You're going to jail.

You commie son of a bitch, I'm gonna go fight!

And after we win, you'll be the ones behind bars.

"We" who? Wait a second. Hang on.

We're on code red.

I can shoot you right here and nothing will happen to me!

Screw code red.

Aim for his legs, he'll come back, you'll see.

What terrorists are you talking e fuck? Move along!

Come on, Costi...

...come back, stop making trouble.

Here, look, I'm putting the gun away.

Maintain your positions!

Come on, let's be reasonable.

Don't shoot, you idiot!

Get in the car!

Hurry!

Start the engine!

Costi!

Freedom!

Hello, Mama?

It's me.

Yeah, I'm ok.

Are you watching TV?

What's going on?

What's going on at the TV station?

I'm not at the base.

I'm on the Metro, at Victoriei.

Would you calm down for a moment?

Mom, I'm hanging up now.

I'm going to the TV station, to defend it.

I'm not coming home.

No, mom, I'll come when we've won.

Go ahead and tell him, I don't care.

...what's he going to do to me?

I want...

Mama! I want you to call Angela,

tell her I tried to reach her, but there was no answer.

Forget it. I know what I'm doing.

Look! Look what they're firing at us!

Pipera goes to Aviatorilor, too.

Or we could go through Baneasa, then over the bridge.

Or we could take the back route via First of May.

There's no roadblocks on First of May.

- Why not go via the airport?

- Airport?

You'd better figure something out, because I'm not going by the TV station.

I'm not insane yet, although I'm getting there.

How dare he call me a communist.

Now I'll be court-martialed because of him...

Don't worry about him, Comrade Neagu!

He's fucked! I'll make his last three months a living hell.

You fucking bastard, Costi!

Bobo, get over here.

Look here: Sandu Aldea Street. See it?

Yes.

Are you sure it's there?

If we get there, I'll recognize it.

I hope it's the right street.

Come on...

Bobo, he's your friend. Tell me...

How could he do this?

I want to understand this kind of behavior.

Did he tell you anything today, yesterday, about deserting?

Wait, he didn't desert.

He just had one of those "moments" but he didn't desert.

I mean, he didn't say he was going home.

He said he was leaving to fight at the TV station.

What do you mean he didn't desert? He abandoned his mission.

I understand there are "moments", but I don't understand...

Come on...

I bet if we go to this place right now we'll catch him with his trousers down.

If those people shoot him I'm fucked.

I'll be damned if anyone else gets out of the car!

This Sandu Aldea street, it's mainly villas, right?

It's a one-story villa.

Rich bastard.

We'll take him by surprise; he's got nowhere to run.

Boys, trust me,

I know how you feel.

Look, each of you say what's on your mind.

Do you think I liked Ceausescu?

Neagu to report, Neagu skipped for promotion,

Neagu is a priest's brother-in-law, he's a mystic, he's a mother fucking idiot.

But we can't lose our heads now.

You never know how things are going to turn out.

Hey boss, the way to the TV station?

- That way, and then right. - There's a roadblock.

- Take me with you. - Up you come, brother.

- I'm going to the TV station myself. - We're going to get those terrorists.

- I'm Aurel. - Costi.

What's with you? Are you from the Militia?

- So, how much time you got left? - I'm out in March.

They got my brother in October, he's got a heap of months left.

That's it. The army should be for real and do its job.

He does fuck-all there anyway.

What?

My brother. He's not doing any training.

He plays the saxophone.

- When did you finish? - What?

Military service.

I didn't do it. I got out of it with a couple of Metaxas. My sister got them in the duty free shop.

My comrades and our Lieutenant don't want to fight for the Revolution.

I told them: Don't fuck it up now when it's important. They didn't wanna hear.

Good work, boy. The Militia is with us!

What was I supposed to do?

Hide like a rat? Enough of communism.

Down with communism!

Hey, this boy left his combat unit just to fight with us.

Good boy!

Well that's it, now you're a civilian! Get rid of your uniform!

Look at the gypsy, now he's Militia!

- Does it fit? - It's fine.

You boys, you're like my own children to me!

Hey, all eyes on me, or else you're dead meat!

What about that, a monkey in uniform!

Vasile, are those people saying anything on the radio?

Are they saying anything new? Damn your ears. You're listening to music, or what?

It's Comrade Lieutenant Voinescu.

Is that you, Viorel?

Viorel! Over!

Hello.

What did you do to it?

Viorel, do you copy?

I heard him clearly on the headphones!

Hello, Viorel.

So you heard him. What was he saying?

He was at the Triumphal Arch at a roadblock.

Try to reach him.

What?

If I were in his shoes I'd have gone to the TV station.

Did you hear? He's at the Triumphal Arch.

I mean Costi.

What's wrong with you all today, guys?

What the hell have I ever do to you? Did I beat you up? Torture you?

No, Lieutenant. I meant, if we searched for Costi, We would find him at the TV station,

cause that's where he wanted to go.

What do you want, you fool?

Do you want to die?

Why didn't you follow him to the TV station?

Go there and die.

Do you know what I'd like?

I'd like to be home right now, drinking beer in front of my TV and watching you fight.

Lolek and Bolek.

Let him speak, Dragos.

So, you're saying we should look for him at the TV station.

I also say it's better to go first there, then to his place.

I also say it's better to go first there, then to his place.

Really? And what about our orders?

What if they call for us?

"Where are you?". "At the TV station". "And what are you doing there?"

We're screwed.

- He's at his place. - I'm going to be some serious shit.

If anyone from the Unit asks our location,

we'll say we're heading towards the objective.

Turn that receiver off.

What about Comrade Lt. Voinescu?

Right...

But if anybody from the Unit asks, just don't tell them anything.

We'll say we're in Colentina. That's what we'll do.

So, what are you doing?

Wait just a second, we haven't decided anything yet.

I said wait a second.

I'm just turning on the engine. It's freezing.

There were snowstorms this time last winter.

We're lucky it's warm outside, else no one would've started the fucking Revolution.

Don't say that; the cold one of the things that drove people to the Revolution.

The cold in their homes But I said it's warm outside.

Make way!

Help me!

Easy... make way!

- Where are you going? - TV station.

Go to the E.R. Drop this guy off there.

Easy... make way!

- But where to? To Floreasca Hospital? - Yes.

- How did they shoot him? - The motherfuckers are shooting on that street.

Take him to the Municipal Hospital, it's my Dad's shift.

- Straight ahead. - Dr. Andronescu!

- We'll go on foot, it's nearby.

- What's is?

We were going to defend the television station.

Come on guys, come on!

- Have any of you ever fired a gun before? - Yes.

Come upstairs, I'll give you guns.

Well then, put him on. I'm waiting.

I'm taking the boys up to help us.

You can take them. But I don't have any guns to give them.

- What do you mean? - I just don't.

Hello? Yes, I'm holding.

- What about Panghe's gun? - Right... Hello?

Come on.

Excuse me. Where's the bathroom around here?

Then come upstairs.

Sir.

- Soldier, where's Panghe's weapon? - Holy crap, look at the dead guy.

He went on duty on the 17th and he's been sleeping like that for hours.

He just fell off his feet.

Two and two, you won't be getting any more.

Shoot smart, round for round, don't waste them.

How many have you got left?

Still got half of them, but Georgescu took half of mine.

Georgescu!

Now that's no way to operate, Georgescu!

Pretending you didn't hear, huh? We're not at the firing range, for fuck's sake.

- Steady on!

When they attack, you'll be throwing stones at them.

- Okay, chief, got it.

About 50 meters to the right there's a truck and a tree.

You can see them better from there. Don't get up now.

There's four or five of them,

but they've kept us laying low for over an hour now.

- So, what are they after? - Getting in here, the fucking terrorists!

They say some communist big shot used to live here.

The stuff we found in the garage... it was like a fucking duty-free shop!

Champagne, wine, the Riccardonna stuff...

by the time we got here the whole gang had already split.

What did I tell you? Watch out.

What are you doing, leaving?

I'm going to take a break, we've no room anyway.

Don't sit around watching the show too long. Nelu did that and you can see how they smacked him.

- How is it? - I saw the truck.

That's where they're shooting from, behind the truck.

Lower, a lot. 2-3 meters lower, you're shooting up trees.

Anyway, two more of these and he'll be out of ammo.

Switch this to round for round.

And shove your shoulder into the rifle, and then loosen up. Look.

Right.

The cab. Smooth.

Now what the hell are you doing?

You're shooting at them, but they're aiming at me!

So what do you want me to do, smart-ass, stop shooting?

They're shooting for real, man!

Fuck, I got him! Did you see that?

Over there, next to the truck.

Motherfucker!

Did you see that?

Yeah, what was that?

Go call the guys downstairs.

Should I go?

Well, didn't you see?

Ok, I'm going.

Where'd that guy go?

Hey, chief, stop shooting for a second! Chief!

What do you want?

Spit it out, what happened?

Costi is coming up right now.

Where?

In between the tree and the truck.

I just saw two of them, but I swear they were soldiers.

Come on, man, back me up!

I didn't see much, but they were soldiers.

You can't see them now, but they were there, what the fuck!

It ain't got shit to do with it, man.

What, I've been shooting here for an hour for nothing?

Okay, wait out here, I'll be back soon. There's no shooting till I get back, no matter what.

- Got that, Georgescu? - Yes, chief.

Do me that favor.

What's up, you seeing things?

They were wearing kaki uniforms, same as yours.

Comrade Neagu, what do we do? Do we go in, or stop here?

Drive slowly and keep the headlights on.

- What does he want? - Stop here.

I think he's with the army.

Pull over. Don't do anything stupid.

- Lt. Mihail Neagu, Unit 0298 - Who are you? Name and Unit.

- I'm Lt. Mihail Neagu. - Internal Affairs?

Sergeant, we're an intervention unit

and we're looking for private Constantin Andronescu.

Sir, what's up with them?

We're with Unit 0298. We're looking for one of our soldiers.

They're with the Militia, Comrade Pana, Sir!

- Matei! - Sir!

- Go check on the car.

Lt, what was it, Bleahu?

Neagu, Lt. Neagu.

Comrade, this is a front line. What's the Militia doing here?

Weren't you ordered to withdraw to base?

We're on a patrol mission.

They shouldn't be picking on us.

Let's see what you've got in the car.

- Everyone out!

Is Major Dobre still in charge of the television station?

I said everyone out!

Wait! What's with those? Open them!

Easy!

Tracer bullets cartridges, 7.62 caliber.

Could we go talk to him? Major Dobre, Internal Affairs?

This place is run by the army.

If you want to see the commander, I'll take you there.

- You two stay here until I get back.

Follow me.

Only one can go.

- You stay in the car with the boys. - Yes Sir!

Hold it! Hand over the pistol. You can get it back on your way out.

To Argaseala!

Are they ever going to lay off?

Wait here!

Careful, is prisoned.

Come on, go in!

Get a couple of soldiers with AKM's and go down to the basement.

Got it.

And those who surrender?

Comrade Colonel. I just brought him in front from gate 1.

It's domestic orders. Effective three o'clock.

Nobody goes down to the basement without my permission.

If they're down there, they're on their own.

Comrade Lt. Colonel, Sir!

If I may, I'm Lt. Mihail Neagu, we came here...

...to find a soldier who came here to fight.

Keep quiet, we can't hear each-other.

What happened?

He's a Lieutenant in the Militia and he says they're here to defend the TV station.

No, Comrade Colonel,

we came to find a soldier under my command who came here to help with the defense.

So what's wrong with helping the defense? We're a crisis cell here.

Yes. Sir!

Yes, Comrade General.

Yes, we're taking them on here, at the garrison lock-up.

Of course, respectfully. Sir!

Hold on a minute.

Get a car ready at the gate!

In five minutes they'll be off to pick them up.

We don't have any fancy crocodile-leather armchairs here for them.

I'll throw them in the slammer, bloody nomenclature hyenas.

Of course, respectfully. Sir!

We got two more coming in from the second echelon.

Go ahead, Comrade Lieutenant. When did you send your boy over?

- I didn't. - Who did?

I said, whose orders was it? Did this soldier come on his own initiative?

Comrade Colonel, we're all human. Try and see this from where I'm standing.

If this guy doesn't make it to morning roll call, he'll be in big trouble.

Really? Meaning, you'll be in big trouble.

Please allow me to look around the building for him.

I don't want to keep you any longer.

Yes, it's me.

Then let him take charge.

Then let me think about it.

Make yourselves useful. Yeah, okay.

Listen - go get the guys some bread, sandwiches, whatever you find.

They haven't eaten anything since this morning.

The TV, turn it up!

What?

I don't know.

Who's shooting?

They're shooting?

Who?

Whatever.

- Isn't this Cico? - Yes he is!

...all military units are ordered to head for Bucharest...

How the hell are you, Cico, a Navy officer, giving orders to the Army?

- He didn't mention us. - Wouldn't that be something.

Just report him at roll call in the morning, and that's it.

Believe me, I can't report him, it's a special situation.

Just tell me your Unit number and I'll report him.

Please let me look for him first just to we make sure he isn't here.

Why don't you also ask for the keys to the Colonel's home?

How do we know you're not a terrorist in disguise?

God forbid. Ask the Sergeant, I've got the kids downstairs waiting for me.

What kids? Where? Are you on drugs? Have you been drinking?

Why are you shaking? You think that I, Colonel Argaseala,

am going to let some militia guy snoop around the TV station?

Comrade Colonel, it was a respectful request.

You're not requesting me for anything more.

You're the one who's got a soldier missing under your command.

No more asking from you.

Argaseala speaking.

Send someone to pick somebody up.

Yes, from my office.

It's terrible when there's no respect for discipline, especially in the military.

That's why there's so much chaos and disorder.

But, well. You know how the saying goes. The Militia is not the Army.

Listen up! A phone call came in: The Ceausescu's were seen in a yellow car

with an Ilfov license plate, 2 B, 2IL one-nine-eighteen.

With an Ilfov license plate, 2 B, 2IL one-nine-eighteen.

- Doesn't IL stand for Ialomita? - 2 IL, yes Ialomita, one-nine-one-eight.

- Doesn't IL stand for Ialomita? - 2 IL, yes Ialomita, one-nine-one-eight.

Hold on, check this out. Nineteen-eighteen, isn't that Ceausescu's birth year?

Amazing. I... IL stands for January, 2 stands for 26...

Amazing. I... IL stands for January, 2 stands for 26...

...and nineteen eighteen.

Amazing!

- Yeah. - They had them prepared!

Here's the deal, comrade.

Go back to your unit and report the incident.

And if your boy is here, fine. If he isn't...

Yeah, speaking.

Chiriac who?

Let them wait for my order.

Don't leave the unit on your own initiative.

Oh, they already left...

Well, then, good luck!

- Walk the Lieutenant to the gate. - The sergeant who brought me in...

That's mister Sergeant to you. What about him?

- He's got my gun. - You'll get it back at the gate.

I'm asking because I understood you sent him away...

Downstairs, at the gate!

Let's go to his house.

Did you find him?

He wasn't there.

Didn't I tell you the pussy-faced revolutionary just went home? Told you.

I couldn't find him. And they've got my gun.

Fuck...

Just say it got confiscated at the TV station.

- What was I doing there?

- Right!

Vasile. Voinescu, anything?

Let's go to the Triumphal Arch, maybe we can still catch him there.

To the Triumphal Arch.

They'll be eating us alive!

You've heard Craciun. Just stay put.

They'll be all over us any moment now.

I'm just curious. Where did Craciun find you guys?

You live around here?

- No. - Yeah, we live around here.

So you were just walking around, or what?

Go to sleep if you've nothing better to do, will you?

Don't shout like that. You're scaring me.

What's wrong with you guys? Cut it out.

Hey, Craciun called for you!

Have a seat. I called headquarters. There's something to be cleared up

concerning the soldiers across the street.

What did they say?

Yes... Have a seat. Till they say something.

I'll call them back right now.

Maybe they've got some details.

Sit down. Leave that gun somewhere.

They were our soldiers. I've no reason to make it up.

Hello... Sir, it's me again. I have the boy who saw the whole thing here.

Yes. I'll put him on to report personally.

- I told you to sit down. - What are you doing?

- Tie them up so they can't move. - With what?

- Use their belts. - What belts?

That one has a belt.

See that? I told you so! He's got a Militia jacket.

- So what? - Why doesn't the other one have one?

Just tie them up.

- Are you mad? - Keep your hands behind your back.

- Take off your belt. - I'm taking it off!

- You're making a big mistake. - Shut the fuck up, you terrorist prick!

Shut up or I'll shoot you right now! Tie them up!

Name, Rank and Unit.

- My name is Private... - Louder!

...Private Costin Andronescu, Unit 0298. - So, Internal Affairs.

From Comrade Lieutenant Mihail Neagu's Intervention Unit.

He's lying. He's not from any unit.

I picked him up off the streets. He was on a truck.

I was with my unit and I ran off.

That hurts! Are you crazy?

And how many more of you out there?

- Who sent you? Why are you lying? - Sent us where?

Search them.

So... Comrade Neagu...

...and Comrade Andronescu, right?

Your military I. D?

- Hasn't got any. - Of course.

It's in my coat, when I took it off.

Fuck you and your shitty coat.

I'll kill him right here right now, I'll take them both to the cellar and shoot them.

Look what he's got here.

A stiletto.

Hello, this is Deleanu. Rut me through It's urgent.

- It's new. It's a fake. - It's not a fake. It�s just new.

We can hold out any longer. There's more of them outside.

He's an Arab, it's obvious!

What Arab, dickhead?!

20-33-66.

Stop hitting him, he's a gypsy, not an Arab!

Ceausescu's trained you so you can come here and kill our children, right?

- Let them speak!

- He's a gypsy, Sir, he's not an Arab.

Good job, you've done your homework well.

Listen here, I'll ask you nicely.

It's your chance to come clean.

What have you got against us? Why are you shooting at us?

What did we ever do to you?

Comrade, look, call my home...

My mother's home and she'll confirm this. I'm not a terrorist.

You say you've left your military I.D. At home.

I didn't say that. It's in my coat?

June the 8th.

Call my father at the Municipal hospital.

He's doctor Andronescu, the head of the Internal Medicine Unit.

Internal...

I'm begging you, let me call them. I'm not lying, believe me.

You're not calling anyone. The lines are dead, "comrade".

Let's cal a TV crew to film them.

Enough of your ideas. You brought them in here wearing uniforms!

Take them to the basement. And make sure you keep an eye on them.

Listen Craciun. You take one of my soldiers. Wake up Panghe.

Are you guys with Voinescu?

Yes, Sir. Comrade Lieutenant!

- Hello, Mihai! - Hello, Viorel.

What's going on around here?

Quiet enough. But those houses have been under fire since we got here.

What happened, did you switch off your radio?

I'm coming from the TV station area.

I've been trying to get hold of you for over an hour.

I'm in trouble, Viorel, one of my soldiers has run away.

How come?

I'm having trouble with my radio, it keeps cutting off.

I was talking to you but you couldn't hear me.

- How did he run away? - He simply took off like a lunatic.

Didn't you see it?

You should've pulled your gun.

How could I? He came to me through General Axinte.

He'd kill me if he found out. He'd retire me.

- So what's up at he TV station? - It's brutal.

Listen, are we part of the army now? Have we mutinied?

Who the hell knows?

Doncea was on Ghencea Blvd.

At Steaua, some army guys stopped him, ordered him into to stay there.

So Doncea's there with his radio off.

If I wasn't a smoker, I'd start now.

We don't know anything about Vasilescu. - Wasn't he retired?

Didn't get a chance to retire. His order should've come on the 17th.

Said he was planning to move to the country, he has a house there. And a bit of vineyard.

He said I should come over with Mioara for New Year's.

Where was he dispatched to?

I spoke to his wife on the 21st.

She was crying.

I don't know where he's been sent.

Are you going to report the soldier?

Comrade Lieutenant! Sir!

We've got new password but I lost them on the radio again.

I told you, on my radio it's easier to get Bulgarian stations.

- Wait. Do we have a new password? - They've just changed it.

Haven't we already had this "blue" thing?

Yeah, you're right. It's the one from the 18th till 07:00 a.m.

Good memory, huh?

Well, how many do you think they have? They keep shuffling them around.

Wait! This last one with the "lion's foot", we got that at around 11:20 P.M.

What time is it now? It's past three.

What can you do?

Another night gone...

Maybe I can find him home. The boy, I mean.

You know where he lives?

Then go to his house and pick him up. Who is this kind anyway?

- Andronescu. - Yeah. OK. Go get him.

I beg you, let me make a phone call and you'll see that I'm not a terrorist. One call.

Panghe, my man, do you see them? I caught these infiltrators.

Who?

When you were sleeping. They tried to fool us.

Guard them with your life, you're responsible. This one had a knife on him.

I searched him, now he doesn't.

Are they Arabs?

The motherfuckers speak Romanian very well. See that they don't trick you. Don't shoot them.

I wanna make an example out of their trial.

A fair trail and then we execute you!

Pull yourself together, Panghe. Eat some pickles to kill your hangover.

I just haven't slept since the seventeenth.

I know, son.

Screw you, motherfucker militia man.

What's got into you?

I'll fucking kill you, you piece of shit!

You got me in this shit.

Fuck you, you stinking gypsy.

Shut up or I'll shoot you both.

Motherfuckin'... You're all cowards.

- You just had to say that you saw a soldier. - He was a soldier, that's what he was.

Man, I don't wanna die just because you want to.

Quiet, I said.

Please, hear me out for one second. I'm not a terrorist.

We were going to the TV station and he took us off the street

to help him out with a wounded man.

He didn't take us off the street. We got off the truck.

And he gave us guns to shoot. We wanted to defend the TV station.

We didn't even want to take the guns. I didn't even do my military service.

But he said he'd left his military I.D. At home just to help out the Revolution.

Otherwise they wouldn't have given me a gun.

He should have told the truth, that was his mistake.

Can't you see that you got your lies all messed up?

I swear on my life, I came here to fight for the Revolution.

All quiet around here too.

- Are you sure this is it? - Yes. That's it.

Bogdan, are you sure?

C'mon Comrade Neagu, he came here so many times to eat.

Fine meats and Pepsi to wash it all down, right?

Leave him alone.

Bogdan, does his mother really know you?

Yes, Comrade Lieutenant.

Come on, then.

Comrade, when we get him, Give me a moment alone with him at base.

I'll show him what a revolution is all about.

Stay here with Vasile and watch the car.

Sir?

Please, go check the radio station for news.

Go on, tune in on the radio. Don't you annoy me too!

Open up!

- Who is it? Costi, is that you? - It's me, Bogdan. Bobo.

From the unit.

Bogdan, my boy, is Costi with you?

Good evening. I'm Lt. Neagu Mihail. Your husband knows me from General Axinte.

Bogdan, what happened? Who's the gentleman?

The Comrade Lieutenant is the commander of our unit.

What's wrong, Bobo? What happened to Costi?

I don't know, we've been looking for him for two hours!

Three.

Costi phoned to say he was going to fight at the TV station.

- You're his sister. - Girlfriend.

- So he did call. And what did he say? - I don't know, he talked to his mother.

Please, this is very important. What did Costi tell you? His exact words, please.

My child called and said: "Mama, I'm going to fight".

I said: "How are you going to fight? Come home."

He kept saying no. He said he'd come back when it's over.

So he said that he would come by the house?

I even called my husband at the hospital.

But now was it possible that he ran away from his unit?

He abandoned the patrol mission, which is very serious matter.

Come upstairs. I'll call my husband.

Come upstairs.

155 please, it's urgent.

I said it's urgent.

Look, Mircea, they're here from the unit. Hello...

...I asked for Mircea, please, it's his wife.

Put Mircea on, faster, please.

Mircea?

One of his friends from the army is here.

Yes, a Colonel is with him.

No, Costi didn't come with them.

Tell me what to do.

How can I calm down when I'm all alone here and I don't know what's happening to my boy.

I'm not yelling.

Yes. He wants to speak with you.

Good evening. Yes, Lt. Neagu here.

It's complicated. There's been an incident.

Comrade Andronescu, I looked after him the best I could from the beginning.

He just abandoned the patrol. I could not stop him.

I know it's my responsibility too.

Fine, I can explain. But it's not my fault. The boys from the platoon can confirm that.

We've searched for him.

Where? I don't know if we can.

That's why I wanted to come by the house, So we don't have to report him directly to base.

I'll do my best.

Good-bye.

Yes, Mircea.

I'm calming down.

Come as soon as you can.

Bye...

My husband will be home in half an hour, an hour. We'll wait for him.

Mrs. Andronescu, may I call home to let them know I'm okay?

Sure, Bogdan. Please sit down!

I don't know if we can wait for him just like that. We're on patrol.

- Will you have a coffee? - There's no dial tone.

It's been like that all day. Try again.

Shouldn't we look for him at the TV station?

We've just been. He's not there.

I mean, he may be there, there's no way to tell.

Bogdan, wasn't I at the TV station? It's a mess. It's a war out there.

Please don't worry. He's a smart boy, he'll manage. Our boys know how to hold their position.

I do understand that it's like to be a mother I've got two daughters myself.

Let's watch TV., maybe we'll see him there.

I can't watch it.

That's not the television station. It's from the Central Committee.

Got a smoke?

Here you are, but I don't want any troubles!

Give me a drag.

Steady on there! My turn.

You give it to him.

You could've spoken up and said you'd seen those soldiers too.

- Didn't I? - Never heard you.

I said, I swear on my life Captain, I saw them too.

Yeah right.

Wash your ears out, don't go blaming me.

- Your face is well messed up.

- They did a nice job on yours. - Really?

- I was asleep.

I saw you upstairs with a sweater over your face. I thought you were dead.

On the nineteenth I was on duty and they needed me at the Intercontinental barricade.

I was there with my sister. But they made us turn back before the barricade.

- Heavy shooting that night. - No joking.

Nasty.

If you want you can tie me up so you don't get in trouble.

Don't you worry!

Did you see they started heating the apartments? So it is possible.

Soon there'll be meat for sale, you'll see. I'm telling you, there's meat in the national reserves.

And how do you know?

What reserves? They should release the export stock give that to the people!

And you'll see there will be enough for all!

Not just meat, man! Butter, jeans, oranges...

I'm telling you, a steak would go great with these pickles.

Are the pickles good?

The cucumbers too, but they're a bit mushy.

My mother makes them really well,

with carrots cut in star-shapes. Nice!

Not like Bulgarian ones.

How long have you two been here in Romania?

What?

How come you speak Romanian so well?

Help me take this one.

Where are you taking me? I'm not going!

- Leave him alone! - Stand up!

Aim your gun at the fucking gypsy.

That's it!

Craciun says you can make that phone call.

Walk. I'm not carrying you upstairs.

Hang on!

Sit down.

You say your father's an ER doctor.

At the Municipal Hospital.

- What's his name? - Mircea Andronescu. You can check.

We will.

Call your mother.

- No dial tone. - Wait.

It's working now.

Give it to me.

What's the number? 656945.

Slowly.

- Six nine? - Four five.

It's busy.

Try again.

- Nine. - Four. Five.

Hello...

Good evening. Andronescu residence?

Yes. I'd like to speak to Costi, Please.

Well, yes, he's here with us.

The kid's fine.

Your mother wants to talk to you.

Hello, mother?

I'm in a house.

No, I'm not at the TV station.

Mama, tell them I'm not a terrorist. Tell them I'm Costi.

Hello?

Sir...

In a house.

I don't know the name of the street. It's near the TV station.

- On Rabat Street.

Yes...

Who is it?

Who's this?

Yes, I think he mentioned something.

He told us he came to fight.

No, I'm not in the army, I'll give you someone who is.

I'm listening.

Yes. Colonel Costinas speaking.

Yes. When?

O.K. We'll see.

Yes. I understand that.

We'll see.

Tell us, young man? Who's Lieutenant Neagu?

He's our officer.

What are we waiting for?

It's obvious enough what's happened.

Have you heard that?

Go straight home. You'll be taken to your base.

Go get the gypsy out, too. And call Panghe here.

Serious trouble.

Look at him standing there. On the double!

- You shouldn't have bothered. - No problem.

Help yourself, Bogdan. I know you like it.

Not like my Costi.

- May I smoke, please? - Of course, we are smokers in this house.

Here.

Peasants, pay attention to your harvesters, not the newspapers...

- Tell me honestly, does Costi smoke? - Now and then.

Did you put coffee on? I'll see to it.

Oh, Lord!

- Wouldn't you like to call your family? - No, thank you. There's no need.

They asked, who are you, what are you doing here?

Well, I sowed here, here's where I will reap.

There were paid by the day, I'd give them a hundred leiso I could do my job...

Bobo, have one.

- No, thanks. - Come on.

Thank you.

And what do they have there? Corn, I said. It's ours.

But, he says, it belongs to the people. Well, aren't these people?

He looks at me and says, where's your luggage? You'll be in trouble with the authorities...

It's not Costi.

Be patient. We'll be here a little longer.

Sir. We've been ordered to return to base.

Costi should be here any minute now.

- Let him get something to eat, too. - Go on, take your shoes off.

Thank you.

Angela, there's some pudding, but it needs to be heated.

O.K.

What did it take you so long?

I wanted to smoke.

You all smoke like Turks.

Look at Bogdan. He doesn't smoke.

That's what you think.

The people who have always worked and carried the weight of the entire country...

Fact is, if they hadn't starved the people...

They should catch them

and make them live in apartment blocks, the way the people did.

Maybe the boy wants to call his family.

- Didn't you hear the lady? - Thank you very much.

Hello, Mama, is that you?

Yes, it's Vasile.

Yes, we're fine.

Yes, there's a revolution out there. Is Dad around?

Hello Dad. How's going

I don't know...

My father wants to know if we're on leave for New Year's.

Yeah, you'll get a medal, too.

You'll get your leave. 'Cause you're my boys.

Yes, I'll be home on New Year's Eve. Did you slaughter the pig?

No? Why Not?

No, we've got everything here.

All right, then. Goodbye.

What did your mother say? She wants you home, right?

- Go on, to the vehicle. - Let him get something to eat, too.

- No can do. The foreman is alone. - Doesn't matter. Invite everybody in.

I'm afraid we can't leave the vehicle unguarded.

Angela, bring the driver a sandwich.

Don't worry, they won't starve.

It's all right, I'll go.

What else can I offer you? Some cherry brandy.

Angela!

Hey! What, can't you see me there?

Somebody got to you before I did?

No worries, I'll make up for it back at base.

Hurry up, Neagu's been waiting there for an hour.

I'm not a very religious person, but I'm not an atheist either,

and surely God will punish a man who demolishes so many churches.

Still, that on Mihai Voda, up on the hill, they moved it on tracks.

Sixty meters high. We had one of our men there too.

We're the only people in Europe able to do something like that.

Mr. Neagu, we've never been short of brains.

Costi!

Costi, my boy!

What happened to you? Did you get in a fight?

Your father is on his way here.

What happened to your mouth? I'll put on some antibiotic.

I want to wash first.

We have some pudding and schnitzels.

Come on, hurry up, we've got to go.

Then let me pack something for him. It will only take a minute.

Don't let get that infected, dead.

Come on, get ready.

Angela, please go into the kitchen for a moment.

Comrade Lieutenant, I'm sorry for what I did. Please forgive me.

Forget it, you didn't do anything.

No, I was wrong to treat you that way.

Well, yes. Since I treated you well. Not like a commie son of a bitch.

We'll see how we can work things out.

Go clean yourself up.

Your mother's started cooking schnitzels.

They're broken.

- What? - The "brates".

The what?

"Brates".

- Say "braids". - "Brates".

- Weren't you going to clean up? - I'll clean up when we get there.

The schnitzels are almost ready.

Mother, we have to go.

What a waste. I'll pack them for you.

Thank you. Goodbye.

You're welcome. You can't leave now. Costi! Angela, look, they're leaving.

He'll be back on New Year's Eve, I promise you.

Don't leave yet. Wait!

Hold on.

Don't do any more stupid things.

Where will we spend New Year's Eve? In Cumpatu? Or with Elena and her brother?

I don't know. I'll call you tomorrow morning.

I'd like to go to Cumpatu.

We'll see.

- Goodbye, and thank you for everything... - Don't be silly!

My pleasure.

Give my regards to the doctor.

Mircea was on his way home. Too bad.

Take care, dear!

Goodbye.

Don't worry, ma'am!

Bye!

It's a real shame, you know.

If you want to start smoking, these are the business.

I don't want to start.

For me, cigarettes are valuable things.

When I'm worn out, they wake me right up.

Fact is, there's nothing like a genuine Kent.

What do you mean, genuine Kent, what other kind is there?

Well, they also make them in Germany and Yugoslavia...

But these are the real thing.

Comrade Lieutenant, you shouldn't given him away.

It's casting pearls before swine,

Why are we going this way?

We shouldn't gone straight ahead.

It's all the same.

We'll turn right on Magurele Street, then left at the end, and we're there.

You're right.

Taxi driver, that's the job for me, Comrade Lieutenant.

Well, then, you come drive me back from some late drinking binge.

Can't your wife drive?

Drives me nuts.

Can I have a look at that?

We'll all have a drink from this one on New Year's, that's a promise.

Don't we get any leave?

After you get back, then. When you discharged.

By then I'll bring brandy from home.

So what do you want me to do? Open it now?

We'll drink it on New Year's.

Well, you could at least turn on the music. Is that O.K., Comrade Neagu?

Wait, leave it there.

Yeah, Lambada...

What's that?

This chick, Kaoma, sings it. I've gotta get it on tape back home.

Kaoma? That's your stuff.

Back in my days it was Adamo. He came to the Golden Stag festival.

Nana Mouskouri was great, too.

- Do you like Falco? - Who's that?

The one with "Jeannie"...

No, Nana Mouskouri...

As for our singers, Aura Urziceanu had a great voice.

And also like Marina Voica.

I don't like Dida, screaming and all that, not my thing.

Aurelian died, poor guy.

Because of the drinking!

Too bad. He just loved life.

He was our Elvis! But he died before his time.

A pretty wife you've got there, Costi.

Maybe I'll come to the wedding and steal the bride.

It's gonna be expensive, I want to have it at the Army Reception Hall.

The fuck you and your Army Hall!

- Screw you. - Cut the bullshit and the lambadas.

So what did you say that Sergeant's name was? Was it Paun?

- Yup.

- Who's that?

The one in charge of the guardsmen back at the television station.

- Paun. - Pana.

That's right, Pana, that fucker. How do I get hold of him?

We've got to find him tomorrow.

Today, you mean.

Whatever. I've got to find him.

I should've got a receipt for the gun.

Maybe we can find Costi there too. He said he was going to fight at the TV station.

Maybe we can find Costi there too. He said he was going to fight at the TV station.

I think Costi learned his lesson for himself.

No point telling someone to be careful.

You only learn by getting burned.

Now he's laughing!

Back at that house, there was a man who was ordering the soldiers around.

But he wasn't army, just a fat guy He was, like, "yo"!

- What was he saying? - "Yo!"

If you'd heard him...

Yeah, I spoke with him too. "Yo!"

We could drop by the house so the rest of us can get to know him too.

Don't worry, I took care of that one.

I told that guy, "Comrade Major, let's sort these issues out.

Set that soldier free right now and let him come to me."

What about your coat, is it back there?

Maybe we could get me another one from the warehouse, tomorrow.

Costi, you sure gave us a good scare.

Find out who these guys are. See if you can get their frequency.

I have 1825 Magurele.

- Nothing else on Magurele? - No.

Try it.

- Armored vehicle, please identify yourselves. - I am 1234 North!

Communicate password.

What password? We don't have any password for them.

What do I say?

We just have a password for our people. These are regular army.

Communicate password.

Try the base's frequency. They might know the password.

I say it's the same password. We're under army command.

Go ahead.

"The paper will be blue."

- Come on, guys, cut it out, it's getting late.

- Early, you mean.

- Armored vehicle, identify yourselves. - Intervention Squad 3, 1834.

Wait.

We'll wait then, what the hell else...

What did I tell you? The password is only for our people. We didn't get one for these guys here.

Or they didn't copy.

"The paper will be blue."

I'm dead tired. I can only imagine how you must feel.

Comrade Lieutenant, can we step out for some air

while they sort this out?

- Aren't you coming? - Hold on.

- Are you messing with me again? - Just for minute, I've got stiff.

I'm not tired at all!

Guess I'm past that point.

Here, have one of mine.

Thanks.

Your Mamma never taught you to shut doors?

Top quality! See how beautifully it burns...