Original subtitles

TELEWIZJA POLSKA presents

a film in the DECALOGUE series

Starring

DECALOGUE TWO

Screenplay

Good morning.

Did this come off your balcony, doctor?

No, I wish it had.

Excuse me.

Something I can do for you?

Yes?

I live on the top floor. Remember me?

Yes. Two years ago you ran over my dog.

My name's Dorota Geller.

My husband's your patient.

I can't remember them all.

You want to know how he is?

I see relatives on Wednesday afternoons.

Come round to the hospital.

But that's two days away.

Yes. Today's Monday.

Pity it wasn't you I ran over!

Come in, Miss Barbara.

Good morning, doctor.

Miss Barbara!

It seems to be ailing.

Dorota? Dorota, are you there?

Pick the phone up if you are.

You're not there? This is Anka.

I'm going to Łodz for a week with the school.

I'll call you when I get back. Bye.

This is Jan Wierzbicki.

I want to see you. I may come by tonight.

What was it?

It wasn't a cold.

He's teething. He cried all night.

Didn't drop off till morning. I sat up with him.

She couldn't sleep for worrying about neither of us sleeping.

In the morning the father came in.

Dressed and grinning.

Said "aaaah" and displayed a missing tooth.

He'd pulled it himself.

He laughed over the baby's first tooth and said "Everything tallies."

So, Miss Barbara,

I put on my scarf.

The baby's asleep. I can see him through the door.

The father's dandling the laughing granddaughter...

...who's trying on the extracted tooth.

She's in the hallway.

Tall, erect, her eyes ringed from lack of sleep.

She says, "Too many teeth in this house. Be careful."

I say, "Get some sleep. The father's staying home."

She nods, "All right."

For another instalment tune in next week.

Excuse me.

Yes?

The super's found a hare. It fell off a balcony.

Not yours, is it?

No.

If time's so important come and see me this afternoon.

Mrs. Geller?

Your husband's sickness benefit.

Identity card please.

– I only have a passport. – That's all right.

– Do you have the time? – It's after ten.

Which room is Geller in?

The post-op? Room number twelve.

Would you get me the case history?

Leave it here.

Maybe he'll eat it later.

Has he eaten today?

Not much.

Goodbye.

Whom do you wish to see?

The Chief of the Department.

It's the wrong day.

I have an appointment. My name's Geller.

A Mrs. Geller to see you.

Afternoon already?

Ten after twelve.

Please, come in.

Please be seated.

May I smoke?

I don't smoke, but if you have to...

It was a little late for diagnosis, treatment and surgery.

What does that mean?

Things are bad.

Will he live?

I don't know.

I must know. So you must...

My only obligation is to treat him to the best of my ability.

I only know I don't know.

The dispensary, please.

The dispensary?

I'll drop you off.

Thank you. I always walk.

"Soup in the fridge. I replanted the cactus.

Don't touch it. I called the number in the ad.

Will report on Wednesday. Barbara."

Just a minute!

I used another staircase.

Smoke if you wish.

What do you do about baths?

I boil water.

I really do not know.

I'm very...

My husband and I have a good marriage.

I love him.

I've seen you together.

I had that impression.

Mrs. Geller...

...please try and understand me.

We don't know the causes. Nor much about the effects.

Even less about the prognoses.

The Americans tell their patients.

Yes. And it's usually a bad idea.

Seldom, a good one.

I want to know the truth.

However bad it is. I simply want to know.

– I'll do all I can for him. – Which is nothing.

All you can do is wait.

If you're not in a hurry...

...I'll explain my problem.

I couldn't have children.

I'm now three months pregnant. Not by my husband.

If I have an abortion I won't have another chance.

If my husband recovers...

...I can't have this child.

The father is a man very dear to me.

I don't know...

I don't know if you...

If you know that it's possible to love...

...two men at the same time.

Well, it is.

Can you understand that?

His chances of recovery are a few per cent.

Of survival as a vegetable, maybe 15. So medicine says.

But I've seen too many people live when it was said that they would die.

And many people who died for no reason. I can't give a verdict.

You see...

one of them, my husband, gave me peace and security.

The other...

...gave me...

You can't want everything at once.

That's pride.

Do you believe in God?

I have a God who is probably only sufficient for me.

A private God?

Yes.

Then ask your God today to grant you absolution.

Jan!

I called. Didn't you listen to your machine?

Yes. What's happened?

We're leaving.

When?

In a week. For Delhi.

And from there to the base camp.

What have you brought?

Andrzej's backpack. Want people rummaging in it?

Isn't it too early for a funeral?

We're going to miss him.

Take this away.

Take it!

Dorota...

– Is he still a club member? – Yes.

– With his own locker? – Yes.

Then keep the bloody thing there!

At least till he's dead.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

I know.

It must be hell.

No, not anymore.

This is 312367.

Please leave a brief message after the signal.

Dorota, it's me. It's only afternoon here.

It's evening where you are.

I was at a rehearsal. Old acquaintances everywhere.

But I don't feel well. I wait for you every day.

I'll call tomorrow. My evening, your night.

Listen... But I guess my time's up and....

Okay.

It's perfect. You can get down.

I have to get rid of it.

– When it's so perfect? – Yes.

Very well. It's the last moment.

Consulted me before?

No. This is my first time.

Let's say...

the day after tomorrow at one.

What's your name?

Dorota Geller.

Dorota... Lovely name.

It's you, isn't it?

Yes.

When did you arrive?

Last night.

He asked me to tell you about him.

Tell me then.

He had a concert yesterday.

He thought you'd be there.

He can't reach you on the phone.

He'll be calling tonight.

I know.

That's it.

Do you have a key to his place?

He wants you to bring his scores.

They're in a green folder on the piano.

All right.

Your coffee.

But it's gone cold.

It's gone cold.

The previous test.

And an earlier one.

Take a look.

This is a month ago.

And this two weeks ago.

This is the latest one.

You always taught us...

Never mind. What do you think?

Progression.

Dorota, pick up the phone.

You're there, aren't you?

Aren't you? You hear me?

Yes, I'm here.

About time too! Is it good morning or good evening?

Just about good morning.

Good morning then. I've been calling for days.

I know. I wasn't here.

Got your passport?

Yes, but it doesn't matter anymore.

Why not?

How's Andrzej?

Bad.

Why doesn't the passport matter?

I'm having an abortion. Tomorrow.

I don't follow.

I'm having an abortion.

Got it?

Yes.

If you do that and Andrzej dies you'll leave me.

I know.

This call's going to cost you a fortune.

We won't be able to be together. You know that?

Yes.

I want to be with you very much. Remember that.

Ask someone else to bring the scores.

I love you.

It won't take long today.

I went to the hospital.

Somebody said a shipment had to be made to England. That night.

I called my home.

The father answered and said:

"Speak softly, she's asleep."

I asked how the children were.

"Fine", he said.

"The girl wet herself laughing. I changed her knickers.

The boy woke up hungry, so I fed him."

I asked what he was saying.

He passed the phone over to him and he went gu-gu-gu.

It was 11 o'clock.

At 12 I went home.

It wasn't there anymore.

– That was then? – Then, Miss Barbara.

Where the house had stood there was a crater.

That was the day. Shortly after 12:00.

He said he was making an exception for you.

All right.

Andrzej.

Can you hear me?

I..

I love you very much.

Excuse me.

Please leave us alone.

No. I won't be a minute.

You refused to pass judgment on my husband.

But I won't let you off that easy. I'm having an abortion in an hour.

Didn't I ask you to leave us?

Don't do it.

I don't follow.

Please don't do it.

Why not?

He's going to die.

How do you know?

Metastasis is accelerating and intensifying.

There's no hope.

I want you to swear to that.

I swear.

Wait.

You're with the Philharmonic?

Yes.

I'd like to hear you one day.

Do come in.

I'm sorry. You were asleep.

Forget it. Just a nap.

Sit down.

I wanted to thank you.

It was nothing.

In this case it really was.

We learned once again that it's not X-rays we treat.

I've come back...

...from there.

Yes.

You know...

It felt as though the world was falling apart.

Everything became ugly and warped.

As though someone wanted to make sure...

I didn't feel sorry.

And now...

Exactly.

I can touch the table.

And on top of all that...

we're going to have a child.

Congratulations.

Do you know what that means?

To have a child?

I do.

Cast

Directed by

Director of photography

Music