Original subtitles

TELEWlZJ A POLSKA presents

Playing for High Stakes

ln the Name of the Republic

written by

music by

as Lieutenant Kloss

starring

producing manager

photography

directed by

A gas bil l, my lord.

Any news, Adam?

- Everything is all right. - Thank you.

Good-bye.

- Two beers, please. - l'm paying.

- lt's urgent. - l' l l deliver it immediately.

Skowronek! Open the door.

But don't play any tricks.

Good afternoon.

- ls my costume ready? - lt will be ready in a week's time.

Good-bye.

Give it to me. Give me the message.

She hasn't brought one this time.

- Where is it? - ln the vest.

Get to work now. Your clients are not supposed to notice anything.

A great success.

Yesterday the submarine U-27 8 torpedoed. ..

a part of the convoy sailing to Arkhangelsk.

l've read it.

What shal l we do with the undetected radio station, lieutenant?

You will try to detect it.

lt's not so easy.

They transmit regularly every Tuesday but at different hours.

Besides the transmition duration is too short.

We have to find the system.

They certainly transmit according to some time scheme.

We know that they operate in a square 400 by 400 yards.

But there are nine streets, and a number of many-storied buildings.

Please remember that the system is most important.

Hello, Delivery Service. Bula speaking.

l'd like to transport two tons of coal.

What is the address?

All right.

Did you send the message about the submarine U-27 8?

Of course.

Yesterday this submarine destroyed the convoy sailing to Arkhangelsk.

This is information from the Abwehr internal bul letin.

Maybe they had some problems.

Check if the information reached the headquarters: it's very important.

O.K. What else?

The radio station is safe for the present.

They still can't make out what the time system of transmitting is.

Have a seat.

Would you like some noodles?

Yes, please.

Any success?

l'd rather say: progress, Standarterfuhrer.

We've ascertained that Stanislava Zarebska is in touch with Adam Pruhnal.

- Do you think he is that J-23? - Rather not.

The type of information conveyed by J-23...

suggests that he is one of the best informed persons.. .

- that he has connections with the army. - What?!

We've decoded his last report informing about the success of the submarine. ..

U-27 8. And the last official report to Wermacht does not mention that.

lt's interesting. Sit down, please.

Do you have any particular person in mind?

Not yet. But l assume that Pruhnal will lead us to the next link.

He works as a gas-works collector. His district is in the centre of the city.

lf he is in touch with someone. ..

it's enough to find out where he col lects payments four times a month. ..

Because the reports of J-23 come regularly once a week.

Or may be we should simply arrest this col lector.

Then we'd catch little fish only and the big fish would escape.

And he is really dangerous, Standartenfuhrer.

- So get to work. - Yes, sir.

Will you have a drink with me?

Thank you. l haven't seen you for quite a while.

You are lucky here on the home front.

l keep being transferred from one place to another.

Do you know how many of our men get killed in Yugoslavia?

And tomorrow l' m being sent to the East front.

We wil l certainly conquer new territories. You will be needed.

l'd rather be needed at a place more distant from Bolsheviks.

You are exaggerating.

Anyway you'd better hold your tongue.

Hello, Neumann.

Any news? Do you already have the system of that radio station?

There are some problems, lieutenant. Gestapo has hired some of our men.

Stedtke is organizing a great operation.

They are going to check the whole district.. .

those who use electricity, gas, or something like that.. .

That's interesting. Don't you know which district he is interested in?

Do you think it will work?

l don't trust those Gestapo men who specialized in catching petty thievs. ..

and now they play the role of counter-espionage super agents.

lt seems you underestimate Stedtke.

This game lasts too long.

You keep wasting time over papers while J-23 is still active.

Their headquarters may finally realize we're sending them false information.

We both want to catch a big fish but the method you've chosen leads to nothing.

There are some problems, Stanartenfuhrer.

No apartment was visited even twice by the col lector during the last month.

The spy network is concealed better than we thought.

- But that's only a matter of time. - But we are short of time, Stedtke.

That's why l have to precipitate the course of events.

l have an idea.

lt's quite risky however.

Suppose we summoned J-23 by the radio station at Skowronek's. ..

to a meeting with a representative of his headquarters.. .

so that he could be given some secret instructions.

You have brains, Stedtke.

May l?

- Yes, certainly. - Thank you.

- What place is this? - Don't worry.

l always come here, as Vitalis Kazimirus. ..

a consultant for the affairs of the occupied Lithuanian territories.

These are very good papers. Now, l'm listening to you.

l've been summoned by the headquarters.

l know that. l decoded the message myself.

You are to wear a flower in a buttonhole.

How are you going to do that?

l' m just thinking about this buttonhole and this flower.

- lt doesn't smel l good to me. - Do you think it's provocation?

That's exactly what l think. Do you trust your men?

- l have no reason not to trust them. - l' l l go there.

- Wait for the message in your office. - Al l right.

Excuse me.

- Thank you. Good-bye. - Good-bye.

Kloss!

- Sit down, please. - Thank you.

Any news?

You wil l learn soon.

- What would you like to drink? - No, thank you.

Excuse me.

They know our radio station and the code.

- For how long? - For at least three weeks.

Well. ..

after our message about the submarine hadn't reached our folks.. .

- we could have expected that. - The headquarters may stop trusting me.

Come on. You've been working for them for so long.

Exactly. l've been working for so long that it's high time l made a slip.

And if l got caught then l could have turned traitor.

Noone can suspect you.

You never know.

Have you noticed that boy with a beret following you?

This is my guard.

Suppose you are not to be taken into account.

l have a system. Four apartments and four different names.

- l guess it isn't Pruhnal either. - ls it your contact?

The only one. l'm not in touch with anyone else although l know them.

In case of troubIe they're to report to the iIIage administrator in Skrzeszow.

Pruhnal. ..

is a gas-works collector. He is constantly on the go.

You immediately have to warn him that he is probably being observed.

Accidentally l learnt that Stedtke is preparing some big operation.

He is particularly interested in gas-works collectors.

But before Pruhnal disappears, l want to send one more message in the usual way.

Are you crazy? The radio station is uncovered.

That's it. l want to keep Stedtke busy for a few days.

You wil l inform them that J-23 couldn't come to the meeting.. .

because on that day he had a business trip to Szczecin.

You wil l ask them to state the place and the time of the next meeting.

Next you will have to diappear, reach Stafan and explain everything.

l must have new people and establish new system of communication.

l'm not coming back, am l?

No, you aren't. You have to change the climate.

You are still here?

- Delivered? - Everything is in order.

Not real ly. The chief declares the state of emergency.

Leave this place without being noticed. You'd better not take your coat.

- Do you think we are being observed? - For a long time.

But don't panic.

That cabman is a spy. l' ll take care of him.

See you.

Stop here.

A little farther.

You know, l have a heavy parcel to carry.

- Will you help me? - No problem.

Hands up!

Lieutenant Neumann.. .

l've had a look at your reports.

Have you noticed the last transmittion was on 1 8th at 1 8 hours?

Do you think, lieutenant that it has any relevance to the matter?

How can l tel l? But think it over, please.

Tomorrow is Tuesday - their transmittion day.

lf you are succesful you have seven days off.

Stedtke?

That's too much. How dared you to arrest my secretary?

As you know, J-23 said that last Tuesday he had gone to Szczecin on buissness.

lt confirms our original supposition that he is German or someone who is...

in the German service. That's why all who were in Szczecin last Tuesday...

had to be arrested. And since Miss l lza.. .

l sent her there myself.

lf l wre you l'd try very hard to catch that J-23.

Liutenant, l'm afraid you' l l have to plead for me about my leave.

Have you found the system?

Look, it was incredibly easy. lt was enough to look at the calendar.

But l must loyally admit that it was your suggestion.

Are these transmittion hours?

No, these are the moonrise and moonset hours.

One week the transmittions were at moonrise and next week at moonset.

That's why the transmittion time kept changing.

Congratulations. And what time is the moonrise today?

- At 1 8.47. - So let's phone the chief.

Scharffuhrer Wunsch from SD.

Heinz.

Don't move.

What the hell is going on here?

l' m fol lowing the orders of my commanders.

Thank you, Neumann.

Lieutenant Kloss.. . do you know what you've done?

Why, was the radio station under your control?

You guessed that a bit too late.

Neumann's section has been trying to detect it for a long time.

- But we were the first to do that. - But you were not inform Abwehr.

Will ever stop treating your service as if it was your private bussiness?

Where is the tailor?

At first you did make some success. You found the enemy radio station.

But l told you already then that it is necessary to arrest Skowronek.

Our men would have certainly made him speak.

But you preferred to use your own methods.

German-occupied Poland isn't a place for your methods to be employed, Stedtke.

You approved that plan, Standartenfuhrer.

Skowronek agreed to misinform his headquarters at the cost of his life.

But J-23 is still acting.

- And he will go on acting. - That incident with Abwehr...

That's enogh. You should have anticipated that.

Now, it's necessary to destroy the rest of the network. ..

that is to arrest the waitress and the col lector.

They must know something about J-23.

Unfortunately, Standartenfuhrer. .. it's impossible.

- They have disappeared. - What?!

We've managed to ascertain that Pruhnal got on a cab with our agent.

The agent has been found dead in a claypit.

They must have noticed they were under observation.

l can see that the climate of Cracow doesn't do you good. l'm going to.. .

have you transferred to the East Front. You wil l be more useful there.

- But, Standartefuhrer. .. - Get out!

Try to get rid of the gun. There is a chance but you have to be quick.

Move to the back - there is a cellar window behind me.

You go first.

l want to pass through.

l've got an order not to let anyone through.

- l've got something important to do. - lt's forbidden.

- Even for officers? - Even for officers.

- What about him? - He is sleeping.

He's been working his way to the meeting-point for three days.

Adam. ..

Listen, Adam. There is a task for you and the other boys.

- Railroad again? - No. We are going to have.. .

guests from the sky. You will prepare and secure the landing place.

Put out the fire.

Hel lo!

- l didn't expect you so soon. - The situation is bad.

lf the situation is such as you say. ..

it means that the radio station must have been taken over much earlier.

We've been receiving false information for six weeks.

But the radio station has been working only for our agent J-23.

l seems impossible.

Of coures it doesn't have to be J-23. Though the evidence is against him.

lt may be someone else.

l have all of them here. Except Jozef and Romek.

And J-23.

Cal l them one by one.

- Haven't you seen Stasia? - She is standing under the tree.

You are to report to Stefan.

- O.K. - But right away.

So how was it?

You claim that it was Adam who warned you?

Yes.

- He told you that you were observed. - He told me to run away.

We were to meet at the station in Plaszow and he did wait for me there.

And at Skowronek's everything was as usual?

Didn't you notice anything suspicious?

lf anything was wrong there was to be no curtain in the window.

l checked that: the curtain was in the right place.

Do you know J-23?

No, l don't.

You said you know Adam and Skowronek.

And is the name Podlasinsky known to you?

lt's some cousin of Adam's. He is a pensioner.

He has been to the restaurant several times.

Good. ..

Stasia really didn't know anything about Podlasinsky. She thinks he is my uncle.

When did he inform you about the state of emergency?

- Last Tuesday. - Did he say you were observed?

He told me to flee and take the girl if l trusted her.

After all l had no reason not to trust her.

But first he asked me to send one more message, didn't he.

- Did he say anything about its content? - No. l always received coded texts.

- What do you want from me? - The radio station got taken over.

Do you know what it means? Someone ratted.

But not me.

lf l were a Gestapo agent l would have ratted Podlasinsky.

After al l l was the only person knowing his four names and addresses.

- lf you suspect me... - Calm down.

There is something l don't like about it. Go back to the horses.

Romek is here. He is Jozef's guard. He saw him being taken.

He is telling interesting things.

As l looked through the window l saw some SS-men at the corner of the street.

An officer on a motor bike stopped by them and started talking to them.

- lt was him. - Who do you mean?

Jozef never talked about that guy.

May be he did some business with him. Anyhow they used to meet quite often.

- l thought he worked for Jozef. - And what do you think now?

lt seems to me that he was in command of that operation.

They didn't check any lD cards: they were taking all but were hunting Jozef.

Otherwise why would that officer turn up there?

You may leave. Cal l for Skowronek.

l was just transmitting a message when l heard a rumble at the door.

l couldn't have been wrong: these were the Germans.

First of al l, and according to the instructions l wanted to secure...

to destroy the code. l threw the book of codes into the stove...

the message that came that day too. But it wouldn't burn.

- And just then the Germans came in. - Was it Wermacht?

Yes. A dozen or so soldiers and two officers.

And next another man came in.. . in a black uniform...a Gestapo-man.

Gestapo and Wermacht at the same time.

l don't know. l didn't think about that.

When that Gestapo-man came in...

aparently of a higher rank as the other officer saluted and started reporting.

l even remember his name.

Lieutenant Kloss.

Taking the opportunity they were not looking at me...

l jumped through the window. There was a balcony.

You mentioned the name of that German officer. Could you repeat it?

His name was Kloss.

- What did he look like? - Tall , fair-haired.

You may leave.

The odds are that it was Janek.

- l don't quite understand. - lt all makes sense.

He is caught by Abwehr or Gestapo.

They have sufficient evidence against him.

He could of course take cyanide but he is young, wants to live.

They suggest a way of saving his life.

He is to continue working as if nothing happened.

But obviously under their command. And the results.. .

We know the results. We receive false information.

Then why does he eliminate the radio station?

After all they don't employ idiots.

They let the radiotelegraphic operator escape.

And thus we can learn that it was Kloss who eliminated the radio station. ..

and that he is loyal to us. And we can continue cooperating with him.

A perfidous plan.

There is no other way out.

An agent who betrays is a deadly threat to us.

He must be killed.

We are authorized to pass a sentence.

l'd rather hear what he can say in self-justification.

Unfortunately, there is neither time nor possibility of arraigning him.

There is only one possible verdict for treason.. .

capital punishment.

Who is for?

There is no other way out.

l propose that the sentence be executed by Romek and Zenek.

What happened?

My husband found you by the railroad yesterday.

You escaped from a transport, didn't you?

ls it a long way to Strzeszow.

- About ten miles. - Do you have a horse?

- You have to take me there. l' ll pay. - We don't care about money.

Yesterday you didn't seem to be able to pay for the night's lodging.

l'm sorry.

- He wil l be careful now. - He usual ly walks without any guard.

He was by the hiding-place yesterday. He may come back again.

He won't. But if he does he will be guarded.

So he leaves home and what next?

He goes this way, at least he went this way yesterday.

Then he turns to the right: a fiddler always stands here.

He passes him, goes across the street crossing.

Good. We will be waiting for him here.

Halt!

- Password? - l don't know the password.

- Thank you. - Good-bye.

Lead me to Stefan. Hurry up.

Major, our men have caught some guy in the wood. He doesn't know the password.

- He wants to see Stefan. - Bring him in !

Jozek, we've already mourned for you. lt's O.K.

Wait. There is a man sitting over there: lt is Skowronek, a tailor.

He doesn't know me but l know him. Keep an eye on him.

You can taIk safeIy. Meet our guest from the headquarters.

We've discovered together with J-23 that that man colaborates with the Germans.

- And what about J-23? - What do you mean?

Something terrible happened.

What happened?

On the grounds of the possessed information we 've ascertained. ..

that J-23 is a traitor.

Nonsense.

Skowronek was caught with the radio station and it was him who ratted.

We've already sent the group for executing the sentence.

This order has to be cancelled.

We have to go to Cracow at once.

ln the name of the Republic. ..

l fled like a coward. And if Romek was only wounded. ..

Calm down. We could hane done nothing else.

Damn it: if only we could know anything about that guy.

Romek shot several times but l don't know if he hit the target.

Have you done it yet?

We had problems with Gestapo. Romek is dead.

- And is he alive? - We don't know.

J-23 was not guilty. lt was a mistake.

What mistake?

Wait. He has a telephone.

l've never phoned him before. l will try now.

Hello, lieutenant Kloss speaking.