Original subtitles

Where are you going? That's the technicians' entrance.

This is the artists' entrance.

That way I said!

Now you have the red cotton for the choir and you've...

...taken care of the costumes?

Yes, last night.

That's fine. Romek, don't touch that.

It's all taken care of.

Remember. Don't embarrass your aunt, OK?

Romek, this is your supervisor.

Hello Romek.

Introduce him.

Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to our...

...new young employee, Romek Januchta, who'll be...

...working with us. I'm sure that you'll make him feel welcomed.

First let me introduce you to our cutter.

Introduce yourself, Romek.

We have the same first names so I'll be Mr Romek and...

...you'll be just Romek. It'll be less confusing.

Mr Romek, will you prepare something for him to do?

We'll find something.

He can start with this.

- Tell me, what is this you're doing? - Important work.

Well, if it's important, perhaps it's better not to give it to him.

Well, he can take apart seams and later he can sew.

Are you listening? You can tell him what to do, but don't...

...hover all over him.

Why. Is he a baby?

I know how you guys can be.

Don't worry, sir.

Hi!

Is there a razor blade or something?

So you decided to come to work?

I was sick for so long and... you know... they closed school.

What year were you in?

The first.

I was in third. Another year and I would have been done.

But it didn't work out. Are you here permanently?

For the time being, yes.

There's a few people here from school. A fat guy, Malarni...

...you may remember. He was in the same year as me.

Yes, I know him.

And there's two more in wigs, Jachubowski and Pietrasin.

Jachubowski is darker... remember?

Not really.

Don't remember, huh? And there's Jadzia. Blonde, single.

A worker's registration card... a union ID...

...a monthly PKP ticket... and a pass.

And what's that for?

That's a resident's card, so that I can live there.

And how does he look? Did he say anything?

He said not to embarrass you, Auntie.

Old?

Old. Just like you, Auntie... or maybe a little older.

You see? It's an anniversary. And these are all directors.

I also got one. This is me and the cutter.

Do you know him?

Yes, the fat one. I know him.

Good day.

- Hi! - Good day, sir.

Do you recognise me? I'm in the tailoring shop now.

I remember. You used to date the fat girl. Kosek was her name.

Boy did you ever lose weight! Look at you!

You recited poetry in the academy at springtime.

Yes, I did.

That's how I remembered you.

What's this? A sky?

It's the sea. The real sea.

Damn, it's heavy! Help me move it while you're here.

- Pull it towards yourself first. - They've delivered the kielbasa.

Mr Matzak, I want 15 and two rolls.

Maybe we should spread this out here. It'd be easier.

We can't. The artists play tennis here.

So, what's more important?

Mr Schmidt? Can you show me the changes to the...

...scenery? How long will it take?

Five or six minutes. Please change the scene.

You know, working here is like soaring. Like a bird.

The Play! The Play! We all feel it.

It's in the air. It's in us! Do you understand? You feel?

Yes, it's a feeling as if you were rising.

Do you know that Englishmen consider our Polish girls...

...to be very seductive.

A friend of mine went to England and within a year...

...met a very rich man and married him right away.

Well, my opinion, and maybe I'm wrong, is this.

I used to consider the English refined as a nation...

...but when our boys played there at Wembley, the way...

...they whistled during our national anthem... I lost respect.

They're supposed to be a cultured people. Our people...

...would not be capable of such a thing.

I like the Austrians the best.

I know one Austrian, he's an organist. Played the organ...

...I remember when I worked in musicals.

He was called Zweimel.

He was very famous. He appeared in Poland also.

I'd like to travel, but to the Soviet Union.

You have family there?

Yes. Aunts and uncles.

I want to see how they live.

They came to visit us. They said they have a good life.

They have cows and pigs.

They live in the city?

No, they live on a farm.

Maybe you'll decide to stay there.

It would be worth it to stay.

The climate is good. The water is good.

Mr cutter. Isn't this my design?

Where did these decorations come from?

I didn't design this.

Mr Waldi wanted it to look more expensive.

I'm responsible for this. You've to follow my design.

Not what someone else wants. Take it off.

This is a good colour. This is the colour I want.

That colour is unbearable.

What are these?

These are flags.

Show it to me.

Let's go into the light.

The colours change in the daylight.

But you know that from the theatre, don't you?

Cold and warm lights.

Were you in school?

Yes. Theatre technology.

Just a year, because they closed it.

I taught there.

I remember you.

Too bad they closed it. I was a student of Vincent Gabrawika...

...a famous Polish stage designer. You could say...

...he was the father of Polish stage designers.

Very interesting he was. He was so intuitive.

Do you understand? How old are you?

Nineteen years.

Well, you are young, but you're talented. You'll learn a lot.

Do you want to see the bra fittings?

Do you have the men sewing these?

Yes, this is hard work.

Oh! The appliques, I understand.

That should be underneath... and in flesh tones so that...

...from far away they look like nudes.

I'm not holding it against him.

I just let it go, it will pass.

You know how it is.

To each his own.

Each to his own class.

He's going to dance with Ula.

You can't dance with her because you're too short.

Me! I was fine with her before.

Did I shrink or what?

Do you know what he told me? I could keep dancing.

Wait. What did you argue with him about?

Is that what he said? That I went against him?

No, he said he didn't trust your judgement.

Damn it. Somebody smoked it up in here.

Very comfortable. Fabulous... Light... Like a feather.

Where did you get this? From a fire sale?

I'll have it gathered in here.

Good, gather it so it'll fit.

It doesn't pull.

I'll trim it here... otherwise it'll be a bother.

The branches were grabbing her and she thought someone...

...was chasing her, someone was grabbing her...

Then... she reaches... the gate and... she hears...

You speak such nonsense.

I'll tell you of such a story, when I was still a bachelor...

...there were four of us, young boys, and we were reading...

...up on black magic. It said to catch a black cat and take it...

...to a crossroads at 12 o'clock midnight.

What? What?

At midnight... At 12 o'clock.

And burn it to ashes.

It's just basted here...

It's just going to hang here.

What? Don't you know what you're doing?

Listen to what happened next.

All of a sudden as midnight approached, it was the...

...month of May... not a leaf was moving on the trees. Midnight...

...comes and we're burning the cat and he's screaming...

...because he's alive, right? All of a sudden the wind picks...

...up like a hurricane, the branches are leaking all over.

And the leaves are falling everywhere and everyone's...

...hair is standing straight up.

And yours is still standing!

We left everything there and took off! We were wizards...

...and that's a fact.

This happened to me one time. I was walking in a...

...country cemetery. It was Christmas Eve, and from a...

...freshly-dug grave I hear, something as if someone...

...was knocking. But when I got closer it stopped. And when...

...I moved away, it started. So I stood there for a while but...

...then I left.

Why did you leave?

How would it look if I called out my whole family and...

...they came out on Christmas Eve and dug up a corpse!

You know a dead body... on Christmas Eve.

What if that had been a living person there?

What's funnier is that it wasn't even meant for him.

Do you know Krupa?

Not a bad joke!

What's that made of?

You like it?

You, Sowa... keep quiet, OK?

Well. How do you like it?

Fine!

You know, I always wanted to see a rehearsal of an opera.

It was really bad luck that you didn't get to finish that school!

Why was it bad luck?

They plant in your head the history of the stage, art...

...painting. They awaken the ambition in people, and here...

...you end up working sewing clothes. You know how it is.

No... not really.

Maybe that's better.

You know, when I first came here, I liked everything very...

...much. What impressed me the most was that the people

...of the theatre... the stars... talked about simple things...

...just like we do.

How much someone paid for a television... for a car...

You know, it took three years for me to realise that was it.

They don't discuss anything else.

We discussed the theatrical arts at greater lengths in school...

...than here!

Is it real?

Is what real?

The Art.

Of course it is!

When you pick Ula up, hold her by the small of her back.

- I know... - You've got to spring more.

- I know... - Then the move will work out.

I know... I know... I know.

Drop your shoulders...

I can't stand it!

We'll run through it three or four more times and it'll be OK.

Let's try it again. Attention everyone!

We'll try it one more time. Everyone take their places...

Third act from the oath scene.

You can stand here...

Please don't spit!

I have a favour to ask of you. It has to do with an electric...

...fireplace that I want to do at home.

Is it old or new?

It's new... The problem is that there are...

...three leads... and I don't know which ones go where.

If you don't have the power I can't make the connection.

That's why I came to you... so you would come to my home...

...and check it out and let me know if it will work.

You don't have to do it.

Work? It'll work. The question is... when... and for how much?

You've done work for us before.

Smoke...

No thanks.

Who's that?

It's me.

And this guy?

Chief of technicians.

Everyone gets one... Here's to your namesday.

I wish you the best of everything and a raise.

Thank you.

I also make the wish that your life flows like the...

...Vistula to Gdansk.

Thank you.

You have another celebrant as well.

With such celebrations we should invite the director.

Maybe I'll take one to him.

Yes, do that.

We'll wait a minute...

Well. To the health of the celebrants.

To your health.

Where's the director?

He didn't accept.

That's no surprise! Give it to me. I'll take it to him.

Drink guys. I'll take care of it with the director.

The vodka is strong, healthy and expensive.

I'm curious if that actress speaks her lines from memory.

Which one?

I can't remember her name.

She says everything from memory. I'm curious.

She studies it.

She has it written down under the camera.

They say she does everything from memory.

I like the one that does the weather.

She always has a new hairdo.

Whenever there's something modern, you'll see it on the...

...speaker on TV.

He's supposed to be dressed in the latest fashion...

...but when he sits... all this gathers up.

Doesn't the priest have too grey a lip gloss?

His lips are too blue. He should be more like a sculpture...

Perhaps we can change the colour of the lights.

Romek... Romek. Did you bring the costume?

Me? I was supposed to bring it?

Of course! Quickly! Run upstairs and get it.

Ballet on stage.

Ladies. Please come in order, single file. Gentlemen...

...please stand on the side.

Just the ladies, just the ladies. Stop.

Ursula. Arms up.

Wandzia, the same.

Good. Lower them.

Does it interfere with your movements?

Gentlemen now. Gentlemen... Gentlemen...

Are the briefs OK?

We can shave their chests. The collar is to be smaller.

No. It's not suitable. I already pointed that out earlier.

Please, the second costume.

Mr Andrzej, please.

Mr Andrzej... the wristwatch.

The wristwatch is the least of it.

As long as it doesn't come out during the play.

It won't.

It's difficult in this costume.

I feel terrible in it. I feel bad in it.

Is the tunic OK? Is the bottom cut all right?

Who sewed this costume?

I'm sorry but I don't know who sewed this costume.

It doesn't look like it doesn't fit.

It's tight. It's just tight. I can't breathe in this costume.

- Maybe we should tell Mr Sowa. - Where is Mr Sowa?

Is it the collar that feels tight? Because it looks comfortable.

Of course it's tight!

Where is Mr Sowa?

Mr Sowa, please come forward!

I'm listening.

Please come on stage... Please come forward.

Come closer.

Yes?

What's with this costume?

Well... he came for the fittings.

But it's terrible, Mr Director!

You will remember that you came...

What do I care about your fitting?

But your comments are untimely... you should have...

Mr Sowa! I don't care about your fittings! I have to be...

...comfortable. Just look at this...

This is your costume, sir! Do you understand?

This... this... and this... here!

What? Are you laughing? Showing me your arse?

You shouldn't even be allowed to stand here!

But I'm allowed, because I sing here... on this stage!

And you don't even know how to stand on these boards!

This is what your costume looks like... this... this...

Here... this is how it looks! And when I have freedom...

Three days before the premiere, we're speaking...

...with the soloist of the opera.

I'm not going to speak with excitement or overjoyously...

The premiere should be an occasion when we can look...

...each other in the eye and speak honestly. In a few days...

...yet another empty and meaningless premiere will...

...take place. What can be done if our theatres don't use talent...

Who among the director's friends sings the first vocals?

Who is the director going to replace for the lead role?

It wouldn't surprise me if your theatres went to private ownership.

However, it depends here on culture and preserving the art.

Such a beautiful and moving...

Who wrote this?

Szedlewski... the one who tore Sowa's costume.

Why are you late?

...incompetent people who do not understand their function.

On top of that they're lazy and cowardly.

To tell the truth, in this whole matter, this lack of morals...

...the highest virtue goes to the responsibilities of the performer.

Those onions stink.

What? Don't you like onions?

...the greatest of our soloists, singers and dancers...

...so-called artists... allow themselves to steal shower...

...curtains from our bathrooms. For example, not long ago...

...my friend put in a new toilet, that is to say, a new toilet...

...seat into the bathroom of the soloist singers. The seat...

...was there for about a week, and then in disappeared.

Why are we talking about seats when there is no paper?

So generally speaking, there are difficulties.

The artist and the soloist is someone better... and the...

...other one, who probably works harder at it, interests us.

What action should we take?

I have an idea.

I'm listening.

Perhaps here in the paintshop, because there's lots of room.

We could start our own theatre, or cabaret...

...all of us technicians.

I spoke with some of the other men and musicians...

...and they too would really like to do something, just like us.

Some kind of cabaret could accomplish something.

No, don't kid around. We're all at odds here. Artists and...

...technicians are on opposite sides. We could try to do...

...something ourselves. Zygmunt is great on the guitar...

Here in the paint shop is where we have the most room.

Sowa writes satirical texts. I think we can try something...

...like this... if it doesn't work... well, it's worth a try.

We all get along here.

The idea is interesting... though not new. We had it once...

...but it's good it resurfaced now. If Mr Januchta is going...

...to take on the organisation... then I'll be happy to talk to...

...the directors with regards to any aid. I think I'll be successful.

Hopefully everyone's in favour of the cabaret.

I propose that we now move on to the text of the issue...

...a very important one... an affair that is quite distressing...

...and unpleasant... I would even say scandalous.

The majority of you know that an interview appeared on the...

...front page of the Warsaw paper with Mr Szedledski...

...well known to you all. In summary, he seems to...

...demand in this interview, without any comment from the...

...directors, for our organisation to conform.

- We could write a note... - That's right... That's right...

I'm willing to undertake to write such a note.

Great... great, we'll do it after the meeting.

Now it amazes me that our colleague Sowa, whose...

...dealings with Mr Szedledski have led to such an outburst...

...on stage, has had nothing to say. I don't understand this.

Are you waiting for an explanation?

Naturally, you know the third point of order, don't you?

You can't find the ball. Please help them find the ball.

The ball's been found. Would you please close the...

...door so that we are not disturbed. Thank you.

Sowa, who is responsible for making the costume, gave it...

...to Mr Szedledski incomplete and poorly sewn, a moment...

...before he came on stage?

That's not true!

What do you mean? I have reports that there were...

...only three fittings.

It was an ordinary costume sewn according to directions.

What could have been wrong?

There were only three fittings. There are supposed to be five.

We never do more than three fittings!

No, it seems that the fact is that the costume has to be...

done properly. Our professional integrity depends on it.

The costume was made correctly. Szedledski found...

...no fault with it at the fitting. I was there as a matter of...

...fact, they were there trying on shoes.

- Was the costume well made? - Yes.

Then why did Szedledski tear it?

Evidently they don't like each other, so?

I was there. I work with him... I saw everything.

I think Mr Szedledski was correct in tearing it up.

I don't understand that.

I'll explain.

He has no right to come out on stage.

I have to explain this. I think he was correct.

Let's just leave it at that.

I don't know. Today he tears my costume, tomorrow he...

...gets upset with the decorations and tears down...

...the sets... and none of us say anything!

Because that's the situation here. The artists ignore us...

They ignore themselves... they ignore us... and they ignore...

...their public. This theatre is dried up. We play old junk...

We do old plays. Look at the attendance. How many...

...people come? Only half the theatre is full!

That's not our affair.

That's the point! We sit quietly and we don't say...

...anything. We don't want to get into hot water. We sit...

...here quietly because we have our own problems.

Don't you understand that this theatre's problems are...

...our own problems?

This theatre is dead. It's a corpse... dust. This is how it...

...seems to me... that is... It's stopped talking to people.

Are you finished colleague?

Yes, I've finished.

I think the silence here speaks for itself. It speaks as a...

...unanimous rebuke from our organisation.

I have to say that I am saddened by what you say.

Hey listen. Don't smoke in here, OK?

Well, it seems to me that in the case of Mr Szedledski...

...we'll write him a letter that will appear in our gazette.

Unfortunately, the case of Mr Sowa can only end one...

...way... with a reprimand... and we'll put on a cabaret...

...because everyone is behind it.

I guess that's all. Thank you for today!

Romek, I would like to talk to you.

Could you come by tomorrow around 12:30?

12:30? OK. Bye.

You know Romek, we asked you here today to talk to you...

...about your comments at the open meeting. You saw all...

...items that have to be taken care of. We noticed you and...

...we know that you are active. You took...

...the floor... You're open and honest.

We think that you should be among us. You'll be among...

...friends... There are certain procedures... and it's important...

...that we have the right people in place so that situations...

...that are of concern would be in the right hands and so that...

...we could work them out together... and we'd like you...

...to be with us.

I'm a commuter. I don't have much time here.

That's not a problem. You'll be among friends.

People who will understand you and always help you.

Commuting... commuting. You don't have to commute.

We can help you. You can live closer. I know that you want...

...to study? Well we can help you with that also.

In the midst of people whom you trust and we can also...

...trust you. It will be better for you. You won't go wrong.

I'll have to think about it.

Think about it for a few days, because I'm telling you honestly.

I can see better. What power are these?

They're 2.5.

I can really see better with these.

Do you hear it?

What?

Listen.

Well, what do you hear?

Someone's talking.

What else?

A car.

What else?

A police whistle.

And what else?

A tram.

And now what do you hear?

Work of course.

And one more time...

And here...

You see...

At night I like to listen.

I'll leave this here. Maybe I'll put them in this drawer.

No, put them there. They won't disappear.

Good night.

Well, gentlemen, I'm turning off the lights.

Aren't you going to sleep?

No, I have this damn costume. It's all torn.

Go ahead. Lay down. When do you want me to wake you?

No, I'll get up by myself.

Have you seen what he's writing?

No.

A play. He's writing a play. He showed it to me once.

It's very good! He writes very honestly.

Gentlemen. The directors have assessed our work and as...

...a result have increased our invitations to nine.

This is a great socialist success!

We'll be drawing for them as usual... One empty, one full.

Mrs Halinka, take an envelope.

What's the matter Romek?

I want to pick a full one.

I have an invitation!

Lady luck smiled on you.

A personal invitation!

Who else?

Mr Sowa. You didn't take one.

What the heck do I need that for?

Maybe there's a no smoking section!

Don't be a wise guy, Mr Sowa. It was empty anyway.

Are you interested in the theatre?

It's my profession. I work in the theatre.

Do you like the theatre?

I don't go often.

You know... in the theatre, just as the play is about to begin...

...and you're waiting for the curtain to go up...

The orchestra is playing the overture... it's dark... the curtain...

...rises slowly. Suddenly it's very bright...

Yes... and...

It feels like...

It feels like a shudder went through you.

It's beautiful.

Mr Januchta. It's good that you are here!

Here is a clean sheet of paper.

Please, sit down there.

We only hear good things about you.

The designer praised you... and the cutter also speaks well...

Right, Mr cutter?

You also have the initiative to start a cabaret, I heard.

It's a little controversial... but it is good. We can use something...

...like that. We support it. We'll even give you the means.

You can use our technical facilities. Govern yourselves...

...in your theatre. We won't interfere. You'll learn how to...

...govern. That awaits you younger ones...

Right or wrong?

Right sir!

Ah, that's good.

Do you have something to write with?

Is it a fine point? That's great.

You were the witness to that whole incident with our soloist.

Why did he get so angry? What do you think?

Maybe he's supposed to be transferred to another cast.

That too, yes. But there's another reason... an internal...

...one that needs to be cleared up.

You are a friend of Mr Sowa's, aren't you?

I'd like you to write down everything you know about that costume.

We already have two such statements...

...but they could be accused of coming from older members of the management.

We want one document to come from someone from his own generation.

OK, but what am I supposed to write?

Everything! Be bold, Mr Januchta!

The costume was badly sewn. That's the truth, Mr Januchta.

There were only three fittings. You know that.

During these fittings, Mr Sowa spoke scurrilously...

...even slanderously about our theatre.

Apparently at some point he asked the soloist, 'Do you know Krupa?'

He didn't like it here at all.

But that was a joke!

Yes, it was a joke, so write this bearing in mind that it was a joke.

Is it true that you sometimes drank vodka at work?

No, it isn't.

So write everything down here. We know you're eloquent enough.

Everything. And call us when you've finished.