Original subtitles

There's a special spot...

on my shelf for the Criminal Code.

One tome.

There's no second code for those who are mistreated.

Nor one for the rejected or the unloved.

There's not a separate one for the beaten and humiliated.

There is but one law...

for all.

For all who can tell right from wrong.

The defendant is able to do it.

Is he young?

Yes.

Was he abused by his father?

Physically and mentally?

Yes.

Is it likely he will commit more crimes?

Not really.

Is it possible that a prison sentence...

will corrupt instead of fixing him?

Possible.

And finally...

the most important question to be asked here.

Did the defendant take the life of his father?

Yes.

He took his father's life.

The Polish law states,

both now and at any time in the past, that taking another's life is forbidden.

This sentence is not intended as punishment.

It is a message to all.

You may not.

Never!

Hello, kiddos.

-Hi. -Hey.

Bartek...

I've asked you not to sit like that.

You'll get the chair dirty and crooked legs.

Come watch me play, Uncle.

Let me see.

I've got cows and pigs.

And sheep.

Want a drink?

Better not, they'll have to pee.

We're going to Żerań, they found an... antique.

What?

A hanging antique.

Are you alright?

A hanger, a body.

Dad, a real body?

Bartek, don't eavesdrop, okay?

-We're using a code with kids around. -I forgot.

-I'm sorry. -Stop acting stupid.

You think me and Bartek don't know what you do?

You're so childish.

The best forensic expert prepares for the triathlon.

Grandpa, take it off.

There's biking and running after the swim.

You're lucky I'm well-behaved.

Where'd you get that?

I always take it with me.

I've spent half of my career on the banks of the Vistula River.

He's the first man in Warsaw to turn to the river...

not some clubbers.

-Hi, Grandpa. -Hi.

Who found him?

Some kid, he was training.

He was training parko...

Parkour.

Kids these days, it's crazy.

Why won't they go to the movies or something...

Commissioner.

Officer.

Okay, Witek.

We found a boat in the bulrush, with a ladder.

A ladder?

That's how he must've hung himself.

Why not from the top?

We'll see.

Slow down.

Don't let him fall.

Or what, he'll drown?

Lower him down.

Kielak!

Let's go back.

Karol Adamczyk.

Born in 1974.

I've got a goodbye letter.

"Pointless will to live..."

"Nobody will understand me anyway..."

"Why assume death is the worst option?"

Employee ID 138.

Żerań Heat and Power Plant.

Easy as pie. I hope we got more cases like this.

I joined a gym. Everyone wants to look fit these days.

You should too.

Dammit, one shoulder really hurts.

Easy as pie?

Easy to solve.

The guy did himself in, wrote a letter, that's it.

Here?

We don't know much yet.

A few details are missing.

The autopsy, circumstances.

Right, I forgot.

The "missing link" theory.

Location?

True, that's a tough place to hang yourself like that.

They usually write the letter and jump under a train.

-Hello, gentlemen. -Hello.

You wanted a word.

I am Michał Trybiński, I had his alternate shift.

You knew him best?

Yeah.

Better than other workers, but truth be told...

I knew nothing about him, I came to work when he left.

What kind a of person was he?

Nice, likeable, friendly...

-What else? -He was well-groomed.

I used to joke he was a soccer player.

Hair always done, shoes clean.

How did he react? Was he angry?

Nothing like that. He could take a joke.

So that's his story.

Sad.

Would you say he was suicidal?

No, definitely not.

On the other hand...

you can't really know a person from work.

You only talk about work.

No other subjects.

Thank you.

Boss!

-What is missing? -A motive.

It's not murder, but suicide also requires a motive.

A reason, I agree.

Find the family, maybe they know something...

I wonder...

about this thing.

Why didn't he hang himself from the top?

It's so theatrical this way.

If someone's making a show, it's usually to hide something.

Make a distraction.

Like magicians.

Always with a nice piece of ass so you don't look at their hands.

Can you sign today's incoming?

Sure.

Please bring me the one from Karol Adamczyk.

-And please don't touch it. -Fine.

Thank you.

WARSAW PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

A CRIME MAY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED. I'VE BEEN STALKED FOR HALF A YEAR.

I HAVE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS. I AM DISTRESSED. PLEASE HELP ME.

Kazik is fine, but the court is no place for children.

Objection.

The court is the safest place.

There's even a metal detector.

It's funny to you.

I don't like it when my son greets me,

yelling that Daddy found a body.

I'm sorry, that's my job.

You don't have to share the details with a six-year-old.

Kazik didn't get the "antique."

Let's end this conversation.

What a day.

Seeing you makes it better.

Please, anything but cheesy pick-up lines.

Cheesy?

Or ineffective?

Idiot!

-Hello, Mrs. Hela. -Hello!

All taken...

Will you be eating?

I'm not hungry.

You seem sad, Commissioner.

-Hello. -Hello.

-What will you be having? -Tea with plenty of sugar.

I'll have bigos with rye bread.

One minute.

Why do they get special treatment?

Watch your own sauce, boss.

My old lady was busting my balls.

How can you say that about your ex-wife?

I could've said something worse.

-She says I don't take care of the kids. -You don't.

Says an older bachelor who doesn't have to bother.

My office received a letter from the deceased man.

We get a lot of letters each day.

The assistants filter them, I don't have the time.

Your tea and coffee.

-Thanks. -I'll bring the rest soon.

He received threats. He wrote he feared for his life.

And then he commits suicide?

Family?

None.

I mean I found his sister but it was a dead end.

She's in Australia, hasn't contacted him in 20 years.

The parents are dead.

We have to check his apartment.

The bank had two addresses.

In Bródna and Białołęka.

He must have rented a flat.

They'll check his phone by tomorrow, we'll know where most calls originated.

Blackmail.

Strange.

Seems he had his little secrets.

Everyone does.

OCTOBER 1999

26TH, TRIP TO MUSEUM WITH ANTOŚ

4TH, JOASIA'S BIRTHDAY

Did you give the letters to your handwriting expert?

Yes, he'll meet you.

Grandpa, pack your stuff.

We've got the hangman’s flat in Białołęka.

I'm busy, Jacek will go with you.

How high is the ladder?

About 1.5 meters.

Any wide angles?

Of the channel, the bridge, the hangman?

How far is it from his feet to the water's surface?

About 3 meters.

God damn.

He should be hanging lower.

His feet should be where the ladder ends.

Damn, how did he do it?

Great.

This suicide has just dropped to the end of our hit list.

How long have you known Karol?

We were a couple for two weeks.

A couple?

Yes, Karol was gay.

Sure...

Polish police never know anything.

Did he have any enemies? Did he receive threats?

No...

Not that I know of.

Was he depressive?

Suicide attempts?

No.

I mean...

He was beat up after his last relationship.

Where did you meet?

Through Mateusz, a friend.

They went climbing together.

Karol was a pro climber?

That's an overstatement.

He liked it, he often went to the mountains.

He did most of his climbing on a wall on Palisadowa Street.

Do you know where is his ex?

No.

I just know his name was Szymek.

You can probably find him at Dyskrecja.

Where?

It's a club.

I get it that you keep sending me to interrogate people

in high-rise apartment buildings like some low-level cop.

Okay, no problem.

But I won't go to a gay club.

Why, do you have an identity problem?

Afraid you'll turn gay after visiting the club?

Okay, we'll go together.

Are you asking me out?

I am.

First stop at the morgue.

I prefer flowers as an icebreaker.

Pierogis, order's up!

You met the new pathologist?

No.

We haven't been introduced.

Kazimierz Proch, prosecutor.

Ewa Sidlecka.

It's a pleasure.

Call me Ewa.

No, thanks.

Too early for first-name terms.

Death by strangulation.

It supports the suicide theory.

Excuse me, what are you doing?

This place is a mess.

You can't smoke here.

Calm down. He's dead.

"Smoking prohibited", right there.

The dead deserve some respect.

They won't become passive smokers.

Do you want info about the deceased or not?

When people are hanged from gallows they fall from a certain height.

The rope yanks the neck and severs the spinal cord.

Victims are usually sort of hanging when preparing to die.

They kick back the chair and swing on the rope, for example.

They die of suffocation, the spinal cord is fine.

The brain is deprived of oxygenated blood.

Like in this case?

Yes, but not quite.

Shortly before he died, the deceased had his hands and legs tied.

And this.

I don't know... lignin or toilet paper. Maybe a paper towel.

His mouth was full of it before he was hanged.

So he was tied up and gagged.

Thank you, Doctor.

Damn it, I reek of cigarettes now. This is unacceptable.

I have a feeling she won't be here for long.

Quit fussing like an old geezer.

Smoke bothers you more than a stinking corpse?

Cool chick, by the way.

Didn't you quit?

When will they learn?

Patriotism means taking care of your environment...

not marching with flags.

See you at the club tonight.

Put something nice on.

Look at all the chicks.

They think they're safe.

Are you sure they're chicks?

Got a plan?

Shut off the music, take position at the door and interrogate everyone.

Do you watch movies?

Bartenders.

Szymon Jarecki, know the name?

-You know Szymon? -No idea, not at all.

Listen, I just pour vodka.

Humanitarians are about not letting other people get fucked.

Unless you like it.

Okay.

But if you know, you're an accomplice.

Hold on.

Five minutes.

Any luck?

My friend...

I hope I helped.

Friend?

Let's go.

Then go.

I'm staying.

You look awful.

Why'd you leave me there?

Niepodległości Street, 41/17.

Voila.

May I? Thanks.

Know why we're here?

Yeah...

I've been clean for two months.

You don't know.

Prosecutor will ask you something.

Prosecutor?

Is the state cracking down on faggots?

It's about Karol Adamczyk.

He's dead and we want to know why.

It doesn't matter if you're gay or a stamp collector.

Gay...

You've done your homework.

Answer or you'll get a free stay at the state-owned spa.

What is it, honey?

Dad, what's happening?

It's okay, honey. Go back to sleep.

You promised not to smoke here.

I won't, I promise.

Run along.

How long were you a couple with Adamczyk?

Not long, a couple of months. Nothing serious.

How did he take the break-up?

Rather badly.

I admit I didn't go easy on him. Told him straight up.

Meaning?

He was a nuisance. Kept going on about settling down...

He wanted to move to London. They say it's different there.

Different?

Less discrimination.

Even in Warsaw, I get called a faggot at least once a week.

Stick to the subject.

He kept following me...

I told him briefly how things are.

Then he fell apart.

What were you doing two days ago, on the night of the 15th?

Let me think.

I was at home.

Can someone confirm this?

No.

I was alone.

I was watching TV.

I went to sleep like a good boy.

FAREWELL LETTER. MY LIFE IS POINTLESS. PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

WHY ASSUME DEATH IS THE WORST OPTION?

IT'S SZYMEK

Alright...

I got that.

Give me something to apply for a three-month arrest.

Here.

Apprehended twice for drug possession. Once with intent to distribute.

We'll make him a drug dealer.

Put down he's a repeat offender.

How long will it take?

I'll apply for a three-month arrest.

I'll need a month to prepare the indictment.

-You'll have to extend the arrest. -Probably.

The trial will take place at the end of the year.

Here are the testimonies.

Okay...

I'll take this.

And no alibi.

How much will you ask for murder?

Life in prison?

Come on...

The judge wouldn't go for it.

I'll ask for 15.

That's what they'll give him, probably.

You know... I don't like losing.

What murder?

I haven't killed anyone.

Would you believe it?

Another innocent guy.

You killed Karol Adamczyk in cold blood.

You made it look like a suicide.

That's not all.

You made him write his farewell letter.

Fortunately, he managed to put your name in.

No... you won't frame me for this shit...

Add failure to cooperate with law enforcement.

Listen up.

If you talk...

you'll be tucking your daughter in tomorrow.

If not...

she'll be growing up without you, while you're in prison.

Do you want that?

I didn't do it.

Have it your way.

It's your life.

Your choice.

I was with someone that night.

I'm listening.

Maybe I'll stay?

I said no.

Good evening.

Prosecutor Kazimierz Proch.

Don't use unsecured lines for cases like this.

Minister, you must be busy.

I'll get to the point.

Did you spend the night of October 15th with Szymon Jarecki?

Yes.

So then...

did he leave during the night?

No.

We went to sleep around 10:00 a.m.

I don't want an innocent man in prison.

I've been in politics for 30 years.

Nevertheless, I still have some decency.

Thank you.

I know this wasn't easy.

Sir, could you...

fuck off now?

Good night.

Good night.

You don't like something about these letters?

Psychological analysis of handwriting

is shunned by many as pseudo-science.

There's no hard proof.

I won't use it as official evidence.

I just need to push the investigation in the right direction.

I see.

My day job is checking the authenticity of handwriting.

I wouldn't want my colleagues to hear...

This will remain between us.

Keeping a straight margin can indicate a strong personality.

But the wavy letters...

It seems that each time a letter was written...

he was checking if it looked right.

What could this mean?

Psychological disorder.

Hi.

What's this thing about pharmaceuticals in his blood?

Was he under psychiatric treatment?

He was clinically depressed.

Amitriptyline is in many drugs. I conducted my own little investigation.

There were receipts in his name in the Health Service system.

He must have taken large doses because the drug is absorbed quickly.

It was constantly in his blood.

Hello.

Hello.

Thanks for finding the time.

Stefan told me all about it. Really awful story.

How well did you know Karol?

Yes and no. We often went on trips together.

We spoke, but mainly about climbing.

Which cliff to take and all that.

Tell me...

what kind of a person was he?

That's what bothers me.

Stefan told me it was suicide.

I remember him as a smiling and lively joker.

People flocked to him, he was popular on these trips.

Was he good?

Not a pro, but he was capable. He had strong hands.

I was a bit better at rock climbing.

He was a master at overhanging.

-What? -Overhanging.

When you have a 90-degree wall.

It was thanks to his strong hands.

He was also skilled with gear.

If he chose a place to put a hook in, you knew it was the best.

Okay, thanks.

Thanks.

I've got something.

Nobody to put in jail this time?

Though we could go for obstruction of justice, fraud.

Misleading law officers.

But the guy is already dead.

Yeah.

Thanks then.

Hey!

Where can I fix a Walkman?

It started sucking tape.

The same place where you can fix an Atari.

What?

Give me a break. Buy an MP3 player.

Bye.

Yeah, bye.

-Hi. -Hi.

Your coffee.

Thanks, honey.

Welcome.

-It's cold. -Because you're late.

Don't think so.

Check.

Fine, I can see it.

You win, as always.

Did you find the killer?

There is none.

That's interesting.

A body with no killer.

The deceased had a long history of depression.

Up and down.

Then he met Szymek and fell in love with him.

The relationship didn't last.

Karol...

had a nervous breakdown.

He wanted to die.

He also wanted to punish the other one for how he treated him.

So he decided to kill himself...

and leave traces suggesting it was a murder.

He made it look like a suicide.

All the marks on his wrists.

A supposed gag.

Hanging himself higher than the ladder.

I must admit...

he had us at first.

But it was suicide.

Made to look like murder.

And so?

Case closed?

Yes.