Original subtitles

Národní filmový archiv, Prague presents

Downloaded from YTS.MX

The digital restoration of this film was made possible by a donation

from Mrs. Milada Kučerová and Mr. Eduard Kučera

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

and was realized by International Film Festival Karlovy Vary

at the studios of UPP and Soundsquare

in cooperation with the Národní filmový archiv, Prague

and the Czech Film Fund.

The source for the digitization was the original negative

and a digital recording of the sound track on a magnetic tape.

These elements are preserved in the Národní filmový archiv, Prague.

The restoration was carried out in 2020.

SMOKE

Written by

Dramaturgy and Advisers

Directed by

Good morning.

Ah, our new engineer!

Miroslav Čáp! Get us coffee, please.

And be a darling, call in Šmíd.

Take a seat, Mirek.

May I call you Mirek?

Why not? We can be on first-name terms.

I see you don't beat around the bush.

Tell it to me straight. What brought you out here?

- Your factory offered me a flat. - We've got a few, that's true.

A few days in a dorm, and if you prove yourself, we'll see...

By the way, d'you happen to be a relative of Čáp's?

- I hear you've been looking for me. - Karel Šmíd, our head of R&D.

This is Mr. Čáp.

Show Mirek around and then get him cracking.

Come on, let's go.

You're all in good spirits, I see. So, friends...

This is our new colleague, engineer Čáp from the city.

These are your new colleagues.

Design engineer Liduška.

- Hello. - Hello.

Andy Glosner - military service deferred, but it's high time, eh?

Piss off.

And here are our lab assistants, or blossoms, more like,

Zdena and Betty.

And last but not least, our living legend, Engineer Mráz.

You know, dear Mirek,

I've been here since way back, working on projects

together with Engineer Duke Schwarzenberg...

Another strategic point is our canteen.

Howdy!

Don't mind him, that's Beda, our archivist.

- Good morning, Helena. - Good morning!

Got any of my favourite biscuits?

Of course we do.

Even the red ones, great!

Helena, tomorrow's our aerobics class. Will you be joining us?

I dunno, Mr. Engineer. I'm just so shy.

But Helena, we've already agreed on it...

A pack of fags, "Start" brand.

But I've only got... Marlboro and Clea.

Where would our economy be without canteens?

We spend most of our working day in them.

That's our stoker, got a loose screw, that one!

- Ah, Arnie! Where've you been? - I'm in a hurry, you get me?

Meet Mr. Čáp, our new addition from the city,

and this is Arnie, our entertainment officer.

Hey, later, drop by, gotta fly, you get me.

What a talented lad, he manages our culture here.

I hope you'll be able to join in as well, Mirek.

May I call you Mirek?

Why not, we can be on first-name terms, right?

Well, look here... Everything in its own time.

I'll show you what you'll need.

This here's the accounts department, over here's the planning department,

at the end of the corridor, there's human resources,

and here's the accommodation office.

You'll figure it out as you go along.

A pack of "Starts"!

You're Šmíd's new guy, eh? Follow me, then.

Hey, man, you out of your fucking mind?

They call me Beda.

Mirek.

College graduate?

From the city?

I figured.

What're you looking for in this shithole?

Flat, money, work...

- Any good rock 'n' roll in town? - Sure, if you know where to look.

I used to play with the lads. But that's gone down the fucking drain.

Now it's all disco and slush.

What's up?

Look, Beda, I gotta get up early for work.

Bullshit!

I've invited you, so better get shitfaced!

Come here, my darling...

Get lost, you bitch, or you'll dirty the gentleman.

Come here, you.

I'm the only one who'll tell you the truth.

Beware of that Šmíd bastard. He's the worst of 'em!

I used to work for him.

And where am I now? In the archives!

I advise you to go far away! Far fucking away!

Or you'll end up like me!

Take a look, I'm mighty strange It's all made me so deranged.

Nobody can understand how it got so out of hand.

Don't get no recognition, don't get no appreciation.

From office block to housing block,

supervisors, HR workers,

all on your case round the clock.

You come round with the morning tide,

but it's like a dagger in your side.

He's out of his mind!

Take a look, I'm mighty strange,

Dad a hotshot, parents estranged.

My bro slaves away at the assembly line,

I'm smashed but at least I'm fine.

Politics, cut me some slack,

society, get off my back!

Life here ain't life at all, but what's in store for us all,

work will wear you down and suck you dry,

night after night you're dead beat, can hardly keep up on your feet.

- I'm brain-dead. - I'll get smashed.

I'm mighty strange...

Take a look, I am deranged!

Send me somewhere underground,

send me somewhere above ground.

I'm awful strange, feel so alone.

Don't wanna feel so alone?

Gotta get born into a loving home!

- Didn't have a loving home. - Then you end up all alone.

- Didn't get born wanted, no! - And that's why you're on your own.

Send him somewhere underground, send him somewhere above ground.

Don't get no recognition, don't get no appreciation.

Nobody to cut some slack, nobody to have his back.

I'm mighty strange and so alone...

The highest permitted concentration

of nitrogen oxide is 100 micrograms per cubic metre.

The atmospheric conditions for pathogens today will be...

- Hello, sorry, overslept a bit. - Hey, kiddo, what's the rush?

Hello, Mirek.

Welcome, dear Mirek! Trouble breathing here, eh?

Never you mind, you'll get used to it.

- Hello, Mirek. - Coffee!

My tea! Just how I like it.

Ah, Betty, you're a lifesaver! Just how I like it.

- How did you sleep last night? - Just how I like it.

Come and join us, Mirek, now don't be shy!

- Alright, if you've got one to spare. - Of course we have.

Do you smoke? Oh man, that crap?

I'd love my café au lait to be black coffee but...

served by a waitress with her breast dunked in the cup!

You're very funny, old fart.

Dear colleague! So, how are you liking it here?

Well, all beginnings are tough. Liduška, let's go so we're not late.

If you need me, I'm in a meeting with the general.

Should I be doing something?

Lying low.

Okay, let's take a vote.

Who is for the removal of those workers?

Anyone against? Anyone abstaining?

Who is for the reimbursement?

Anyone against? Anyone abstaining?

These are ready for signing then. That's all from me.

- Anyone got anything to add? - No.

But I do! What about the air?

What about the pollutants?

The situation is catastrophic!

People are writing complaints, ministries are writing complaints.

What shall I do with these petitions? What am I to do?

The doctors are helpless.

The factories are belching out smoke and more smoke.

How the feckin' feck am I to work without smoke?

Our work and smoke go hand in hand.

For twenty years we've done nothing for the public health.

And it's all your fault, Rudy! What the feck have you done?

I agree that we have somewhat underestimated the situation.

All of us. We've shut ourselves off from the world.

We've even overlooked several new proposals of our own.

However, our team has been hard at work

monitoring and evaluating the evolving situation.

We'll propose a concrete solution at our next meeting.

Here's what I'm thinking. Let's not be overly dramatic here.

The air in our town is not the cleanest, as we all know.

However,

we've been getting results from our political instruction courses.

It would be a great mistake to overlook this.

We've been consistently fulfilling our plan, and that's the main thing.

There are certain shortcomings we all know very well about,

keeping the working hours, arriving on time,

and, of course, political education.

Here there's still work to do.

Looking for the canteen? Follow me then.

Hey, here we are, Sonya Pavlovna!

Change these blanks for some live ammo.

I'm pissed to the eyeballs. Let's go to my room.

You shouldn't be drinking during working hours, Beda.

I can see that bastard Šmíd didn't teach you much.

These are our basic means of production.

I've got your favourite brand, Mr. Engineer.

I got them specially for you. Here.

Thanks.

You can come for them any time, we'll always have them in stock.

- May I call you Mr. Engineer? - Might as well be on first-name terms.

That's great! I'm Helena!

I'm Mirek.

But "Mr. Engineer" has a nice ring to it.

That's too much, man!

That's just our Beda. But you ain't seen nothing yet.

There are great discos here on Wednesday and Friday night.

And we've got aerobics class here, too.

But I can't bring myself to start.

And I should, shouldn't I?

- Am I that fat? - Of course not.

Could you come with me?

- I'm so shy. - Let's go get some grub, kiddo.

What's on today?

Oh shucks, not dumplings again!

Václav?

Hey there, Václav! How are you?

- How are things at home? - What do you want?

We had a meeting with the general.

It seems we might sort out some of those old issues.

But you'd need to give me a hand.

Get out of my sight!

- Don't be stupid! - Fuck off, you bastard!

We're in great spirits, lazybones.

How are you liking it here, Mirek?

Well, it's really exceeded my expectations.

Come with me for a moment.

Leave him be!

Look, Mirek,

you surely feel it's become impossible to breathe here.

We'll have to try to find a comprehensive solution.

Do we have an understanding?

Try and think of something.

In any case, you'll have someone to help you out.

Miss Běhalová.

- So, what's the score? - What did he want?

- Did you argue? - What did he tell you?

- Not in trouble, are you? - Tell us then.

You're all mad! Got a big job to do!

A big job to do? Well, good luck to you.

- We're awful proud of you. - What did he say?

- Lots of work today! - We can't believe it!

- A cogwheel then? - Maybe a bar?

- Pipes or grates? - To lock away our cakes!

Signs on the gates? To keep us safe?

- A fence, that'd be fun! - Or something nobody's done?

Checking supplies in case shit hits the fan?

Tell us what your task is, man!

Tell us, tell us, if you can.

I will tell you right away, it's awesome, really, just you wait.

Fragrant in the ground, bright above the town.

What is it called, what is it?

Tell us, come on, out with it!

- A church? - A cage of gold?

What's this thing you talked about?

I won't say, I won't tell you lot, curious as hell.

Great, girls!

Get ready for a new step!

Breathe, and now!

Arms up, bend the knees!

Arms up, or I'll shoot! Great job, girls!

Let's really sweat it!

Use every muscle, get rid of that fat!

Down with the fat!

- Hey. - Hey.

Great that you came, really.

I still can't bring myself to do it.

I'm so awfully shy.

Great, girls! Move those legs!

Chest out!

Breathe in! Breathe out!

In, out, in, out, in, out...

No smoking, we're not at home, dear colleague!

- Want to try it, too? - Why not?

I don't get him.

Helena, come and exercise with us.

- No, not today. - You're always like this, come on...

No, I really can't today.

- Come on, have a go! - No, I really can't...

Damn it, come on!

Well... Left, right, let's go!

Let's keep going, one, two!

Don't forget to breathe!

What's the matter? Had enough already?

- No, but my lungs are giving up. - It's that smoking of yours.

And what about your work? Will you give up on that, too?

It's just... that Běhalová woman won't be of any use to you.

How about we get together to work on it?

How about we work separately?

Sure, if you want to fuck everything up...

You're doing wonderfully, ladies!

Wait for me, Mr. Engineer!

You're great at exercising! Who would have thought?

I can't get used to being on familiar terms with you.

I'm really glad you came. You don't mind?

Of course not. Have a drink.

- I don't drink much. - Well, I, I drink all the time.

That Šmíd's quite a fine chap, eh?

Running those aerobics classes, must be so much work!

My head's really spinning now.

You live here? I live one floor up.

What a coincidence, innit?

I can't go in though, people would talk.

- Wow! It's so nice in here. - Hey.

- You put these posters up yourself? - Posters?

But something's missing. Flowers.

So you'd have someone to look after.

So you wouldn't be all alone.

But I'm not all alone, see? Got my booze right here with me.

But you are all alone.

But I'm not all alone, see? Got my booze right here with me.

You are all alone. I am, too.

But I'm not all alone, see? Got my booze right here with me.

You are alone.

I am, too.

But I'm not... Got my booze...

You are alone.

But,

I'm not... here...

Greetings.

Good evening...

Greetings.

General!

- What's up? Problems? - Yeah, biz as usual.

- Is our little issue cleared up? - You mean the people we laid off?

I mean the air, for fuck's sake!

Oh, right, we're sorting out the pollution problem.

Good, them buggers are always busting my ass about it.

What if Glosner was wrong giving the youngster all the responsibility?

What's this talk about the youngsters?

That new engineer from the city. He's new here.

No experience. Politically ambiguous...

What the fuck are you on about? And we oldies are meant to die off?

- Go fuck yourself! - I mean to say Čáp can't keep up.

He's not a relative of that Čáp from the committee, is he?

Christ, that never even occurred to me.

Could be planted here for special reasons.

We have to look into it.

- So what's the new fella like? - Girls, better watch out.

He'll just use you to get to the top.

- I told you he was only career-minded. -You're right.

He's a career man.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Mirek.

Mrs. Design Engineer.

It's only Miss, I'm afraid.

- Let's get going straight away, so we can end early. -Mirek...

You ought to know something first.

A certain Engineer Křížek used to head our department.

Know what we were working on then?

The same thing you have to find a solution for.

- Really? - We worked on it for several years.

It was his life project. But they didn't accept it.

That project...

Dear Mirek, I've heard so much about you, how clever you are.

You off already?

Beda!

Beda!

- Sorry! - Fuck off!

Got any records of the old projects?

I want to hold your hand.

Hey there, kitten! How's it hanging?

Asking for it? Then let's get to it.

As I see it, there's nothing to it.

Mad about it? You in on it?

There's nothing to it, get used to it.

All the more reason for it.

You up for it? Your heart in it?

Before you know it, you might miss it.

Those who can't keep up with us here, lose all of their humanity.

No star shining in their souls clear, they can't become a kitten, no.

- Hey there, kitten! - What's it all about?

You over it or in on it?

If you don't get it, you better beat it.

Any way you slice it, innit?

- This one here first. - This one later.

This goes here and there you have it.

This one here and you're good for it.

- Down there with this. - And there it is!

Those who can't keep up with us here, lose all of their humanity.

No star shining in their souls clear, they can't become a kitten, no.

Hey there, kitten. How's it going?

Did you blow it? You're in for it!

Don't overdo it, is this it? Kitten, I wanna go for it.

I'm sure glad then, I mistook it.

That you're after what it's worth.

- Can't afford it. - Man, I get it.

But it was still all well worth it!

So, when's the next show?

See you tonight at the club!

I've got to work on something that's already been done.

- Weird, innit? - Give it here!

Good one!

If only you'd asked, colleague. This project was pointless.

At least I can learn how not to do it.

- What a bummer, eh? - Bummer.

- Good morning, Václav. - Good morning, Liduška.

I think I've done something terrible.

Nothing's that bad.

I told the new fellow about your project

and he looked it up and confronted Šmíd about it.

Václav, don't be angry,

I thought it might help you.

I talked to Glosner and...

I betrayed you back then.

I thought...

- I thought that you could... - Just leave me alone.

Václav...

Excuse me. Cheers.

Excuse me. Cheers.

Excuse me. Cheers.

I'm sorry. Thanks.

Excuse me. Thanks.

We're full!

I've got some friends in there.

We're full!

Come on, man to man, you should just let me in.

I said we're full.

- What can we do about it? - Go home! We're full!

- Hey there, big fella! - Arnie, hey!

You're Šmíd's new man, right? What a time to show up.

Give us a coke, sweet cheeks! You're Mirek, right?

Look here, Mirek. What's up, Josef?

At our organisation, we like to keep things informal.

Long meetings don't tickle our fancy.

No no, keep the blue ones down.

You smoke?

Disgusting habit.

We put this club together ourselves.

They let us do our own programs. We're in charge. It's our club.

It's all about each of us chipping in with a little something.

Hi, honey.

Šmíd said you joined some group at college?

I was in a band. It was our band.

Bands are out here.

But we've bought a video camera to make our own video clips, you get me?

Thanks, man, leave it round the back for me.

If you get any ideas for something come and see me,

but at a more reasonable hour. Capish?

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Here we go again!

Every Wednesday and Friday with your very own DJ Arnie and his...

Disco!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Here we go, let's get this show on the road.

Is it fine? It is fine, it's fine.

I ride on, easy-going We all know where we're going

Seems real fine, fine, fine... Just real fine, fine to me.

Lovely day in the making Splendid mood that we're feeling

Seems real fine, fine, fine... Just real fine, fine to me.

I've got all the greatest hits with me.

You gotta know it'll be great today,

got all the greatest hits from the DJ.

He plays us songs, the ones we love to play,

the divine rider came to light up our way, and it's fine...

Coke, please.

Hi, kitten.

Hiya, kitten.

A smoke? They're real good.

I don't smoke!

- Nice little thing you've got going on here. -Glad you like it.

- Arnie is simply divine. - You're friends already. Splendid!

Not only that.

We'll be making video clips together. I'm in charge of directing.

I could make you the star. Are you in?

That's a shame, I'm about to leave for my worldwide tour.

Oh well. I'll have to cast Běhalová.

It's this bird from our office. She's really into me.

I understand. Who wouldn't be?

- Don't be sad, we can dance together at least. -You can dance as well?

It is so. I'm one of the best disco dancers out there.

Don't bring your A-game then or else you'll embarrass these losers.

Let's go, kitten.

My my, what do I spy with my little eye? Hey there, gorgeous.

Let's do this. Let's get this show on the road.

You're all brilliant! You're splendid! You're perfect!

I love you all!

Here I am, fortune wheeling, disco dance, it's our calling.

Seems real fine, fine, fine... Just real fine, fine to me.

Everyone here together, Each to their own, forever.

Seems real fine, fine, fine... Just real fine, fine to me.

I've got all the greatest hits with me.

You gotta know it'll be great today, got all the greatest hits from the DJ...

That's all you got? What a drag, man...

You gotta know it'll be great today, got all the greatest hits from the DJ.

He plays us songs, the ones we love to play,

the divine rider came to light up our way, and it's fine...

Seems real fine...

Seems real fine...

Seems just fine...

Hey, Mirek! Where've you been?

I'm off to the disco. You're always off somewhere.

You didn't even come to the canteen today.

I know, you're working on some real important project.

Šmíd's always trying to get me doing aerobics.

Is that the stuff? Show me...

Wow, look at all this paper and all these scribbles!

How do you understand any of this? Looks so complicated. It's terrible!

Sorry, I'm not letting you get a word in edgewise, am I?

See, you can always say it so well for the both of us.

That's great! You're so nice, you know that?

No one's ever said that to me before.

Shall we go to that disco then? Arnie is divine!

All right, bye then.

Sorry, Mirek.

I forgot what I came to tell you. And when you didn't come today...

Bye then!

Oopsy daisy!

Important announcement!

We're holding a party for the ladies on Saturday.

I hope you'll be there, girls.

If there's free booze, I'm in.

We might be going to the countryside anyways.

It was really very nice last time, I'll have you know.

And another piece of good news!

We'll no longer fill in work reports monthly,

but daily, every half-hour.

All private calls, doctor's visits...

It's an experiment.

If it works well, we'll enforce it everywhere.

It's an interesting experiment, I'll have you know.

Who'll take care of it?

Well, Liduška? Who represents the union here?

Have you got the emergency exit registration for me yet?

But I'm supposed to be working with Mirek.

- A little late, aren't we? - Too late, more like.

I'm supposed to redo what was already done brilliantly before.

I don't think you quite understood me yesterday.

I'm warning you. Keep away from this project.

Colleague Běhalová will be transferred and you'll be getting Mráz.

- Karel, got a minute? - Right away.

Let's get right to it, dear Mirek. And what is this all about, anyway?

Everything's sorted out except for that video.

No worries, Arnie. We'll tape the aerobics class.

- Have you got the big capitals? - We'll take care of it all.

- We've got everything but the dry ice. -What?

- Dry ice, you get me? - Go buy it somewhere then.

The only factory that made it has burned down.

- Really need it? -You want to get the party rolling, don't you?

Right, I'll get hold of some.

We could also get Stan's club involved somehow.

Cool. I'll talk to him about it. We'll figure something out.

- Great. Has Čáp already joined up? - He came to see me at the club.

And? Is he okay?

Bit of a weirdo. Behaves like an imbecile.

Let's go.

Imbecile...

- You can sit on my lap. - Look at this mountain!

Who do they think is gonna eat this crap?

Hey, kitten.

Hey, kitten.

Want some mushy peas? It's real good.

Sorry, kitten, for leaving early yesterday.

I had important work to do. How was the rest of the night?

Arnie's a great entertainer. You're great together.

You're both real flexible, indeed.

You're so nice to me.

Mirek!

Gee, could I get some of that scrumptious stuff, too?

- You've got a little dog, too? - No, it's all for me!

Hey there, wanker!

What you staring at? I saw you going to that lair.

Should stick to getting shitfaced at the pub instead.

You know, Beda, I haven't gotten drunk for several days now.

Better step up your game!

Look! Let's go and ask the boss something!

You mean Glosner? Stay away from him! Unless you're tired of living.

Mirek!

I'll tell you what happened back then.

When Křížek finished his project, he took it to Glosner.

But he didn't accept it.

So he took it to the general, but it was no good.

He then put together...

...a petition to get rid of the board.

But they put him in prison and completely destroyed him.

That's some heavy shit, eh?

And you know who destroyed him? Šmíd.

He worked as a designer with us but had no qualifications at all.

He was the one who turned Křížek in.

A lot of people got sacked because of it.

Only those of us remained who withdrew their statements.

But Křížek's project is unique.

Yes, it is unique.

But the boss knows about it, doesn't he?

Glosner? Of course he does. As does everyone nowadays.

Now you know the story, wanker.

So the boss knows and the boss's boss knows.

- The boss's boss's boss? - He knows, too.

The bosses of their bosses know it just as well as us.

The boss knows as well as the boss's bosses know.

The bosses of their bosses know it just as well as us.

The boss's boss and the boss's boss...

"Boss" sounds through the hall. The problem's what to do with it?

Everybody knows how come everybody knows,

and yet nobody knows how to say it though.

Whether to be the first or the last.

It sounds through the hall that boss's boss he knows...

And he knows it too!

Properly! Pick it up properly!

What's up?

Hello, kitten, not disturbing you, am I?

Hello. You probably don't know each other.

Nah, I've seen him before. Want a smoke?

- Oh dear. - Sorry for breaking up your date.

Arnie wouldn't like you to be seen with a stoker.

Yeah, with my dad.

- Parents are nothing but trouble. - Even if you've only got the one.

- Where's the other one? - Far away.

- Why isn't she here? - You wouldn't understand.

Oh, well I've got three parents. You wouldn't understand.

- It's nice, want to go out tonight? - Don't think I can now.

I'll sort it out, kitten.

Mr. Engineer, don't be mad. Běhalová told me everything.

I've a proposal to make.

What if we finished the project together?

I've a proposal for you too.

You can copy my drawings and fuck off!

You're great, Helena, really.

Gee, hi, Mirek! I changed my mind, I'm not going anywhere today. Bye!

Imagine, Mirek, I finally did it for the first time today.

I did aerobics today. It's great! No biggie, really!

Karel, I mean, Mr. Šmíd, really made us work for it.

You ought to join us.

Not another warning! We can't go anywhere now.

You know, Mirek, I've decided to lose ten kilos,

so I look like the girl you were having lunch with today.

Put that fag out!

You know, she's an unreliable type.

She's gonna abandon you, Mirek!

But I'll stay, really. You can trust me.

- Mirek, are you going to work? - Yes. I am.

Okay! Bye, then.

Howdy, Mirek. Can I come in?

I'm Lou. Do you smoke?

It's a bad habit, innit? Yep, it's still the same here.

I remember putting up that poster, but you can keep it.

You're working on the atmosphere project, eh?

It really is getting hard to breathe here.

Why, that's Křížek's project! That turned out to be a real mess.

Well, gotta run.

See ya. My name's Lou.

- Hi, Rudy. -Hi there. - You're up early.

I've got the commission next week, so I'm up to my eyes.

That's a new one, is it?

Am I supposed to ride in an old banger like yours?

Smoking is bad for the health, you know that.

So how's Engineer Čáp getting along?

We'll discuss that with the committee.

First you took him on without my approval,

and what's more, you steered him towards old Křížek's project.

We were young once too, you know.

Don't you realize how this will make the whole board look?

It's okay to admit old mistakes,

people are changing, times are changing, even words.

So long as it doesn't backfire on you.

- I never sent anyone behind bars. - Now you listen to me!

You signed Křížek's dismissal papers, too.

That's clear as day, innit?

And what about all your son's blunders?

And where did all that money

come from for that house and the new car?

You're overdoing it, Karel. And that could be dangerous.

We're concerned with one thing only.

Having our factory prosper and not polluting the air.

Correct.

No one's going to be polluting the air around here.

What are you doing here?

- I'm not... - I've told you, you can't do this.

And I won't.

- Are the fire alarm drills ready? - Yes, er, that is, er... No.

And what's this?

You're filling in the work reports for the others?

- It's nothing to do with you! - You skinny, frustrated bitch!

My face has turned so pale and my smile is stretched too tight.

My former strength has ebbed, I have no thirst, no appetite.

A painful reminder, why do they still force me to play?

When guilt weighs on my soul. That I stayed silent.

As so many times before.

I have no voice...

And no friends to hang out with.

For me punishment is every day.

Nowhere to go, hopes fade away.

What's left for me to do, what's in store for those like me?

Something stirs deep within me, something that I cannot stop.

- He invited her for the weekend and slept with another girl. -Crazy.

- Good morning, girls. - Hi, sunshine!

What? Hi, old man!

- What're you staring at? - Has anything happened?

My old man wanted to know if Mráz was still a virgin.

- I've got lots of time for that yet. - That's for sure, pops.

Good morning.

You're in deep shit. The boss wants to see you.

Goodbye.

A coffee, please.

Mirek!

How's the project coming along?

Three matters are left to be dealt with:

Křížek, prison, boiler room.

Křížek's project was a stroke of genius.

But he wanted everything, straightaway.

Plans wouldn't be fulfilled, production would have fallen.

People wouldn't get their money. I told him to take it slow.

That we'd push it through gradually. But Václav was stubborn as a mule.

Went straight to the general, who threw him out at once.

And all those demonstrations!

I couldn't protect him anymore.

As if he didn't know where he was.

That he could even come back is only thanks to me.

To the boiler room. For the time being.

Mirek...

We've got to have it ready for the next committee meeting.

The general's expecting it.

Hey, gorgeous! Came to say goodbye?

Arnie, don't be mad,

but you'll have to get the cassettes from somewhere else.

- I'm not going anywhere. - Are you crazy?

What's gotten into you? We've done everything for you.

Careful, don't break that.

- I'm not leaving Dad here alone. - But there's nothing for you here.

You can't study because of him.

He's got no right to ruin your life as he did his, you get me?

He didn't want to.

He should have thought more about you before he started

hitting the wall with his head.

Don't you see his past will ruin your whole life?

- Look here, I'll talk to him. - Don't you dare!

Sorry for interrupting, Arnie. Got any ideas for that party?

It'll be in two parts.

First the video. The clip, I mean.

- Sure. - Then the disco.

Things will really get going then, you get me.

Good, but no foreign stuff.

No worries, Karel. It'll be brill.

- Stan, you bringing your boys, right? - I sure am.

- Are they to wear their uniforms? - Of course!

- It's a ceremonious occasion. - Understood.

You get this ready while we rehearse.

Has that Čáp joined up yet?

He hasn't been seen since.

That figures.

Let's go! Let's go!

- Helena, you're on the machine? - Don't be mad. I just turned it on.

- That's quite all right. - I really want to lose some weight.

- Everyone wants to be beautiful and thin. -It's my great wish.

Helena, we've known each other for a long time, haven't we?

- I'm just not a sociable type, Mr. Engineer. -Karel. Call me Karel.

- You're a wonderful gal! - You can't do that!

- You've got a wife and children. - My wife doesn't understand me.

But I'm also spoken for.

Cut it out, Mr. Engineer, and let's go exercise.

Cow!

What's the matter?

Invitation to an interrogation. Weird, innit?

I told you.

Let's go get drunk.

You know, Beda...

You ought to find yourself a nice girl.

I did have one... Real bitch.

She wanted her rights. She wanted to do as she pleased!

I... played in a band, so she wanted to as well.

I drank, so she had to as well!

Fucking emancipation! Screw her I say.

Rock is what I live for.

I tune my strings and rock out. Nice and cool. I'm cool.

- Hiya, guys! - Hiya, beauty!

Hello, kitten!

We'll go above, we'll go below.

We'll go right there, we'll go up here.

If things get hot then scram, you hear?

We'll go above, we'll go below.

Right through the town or go around.

Round the corner, back to the start.

We'll go together, or apart!

We'll go right there, we'll go up here.

If things get hot then scram, you hear?

We'll go eyes front, go side by side.

We'll go real brave, we'll jump real high.

Go out of shape it's easy for us.

- We'll go solo. - Or in chorus.

- We'll go quickly. - We'll steer clear.

If things get hot then scram, you hear?

- Through the window. - Through the shack.

- Through the courtyard. - And out the back.

- We'll reach our aim. - Get through the maze.

- We'll go at once. - We'll go for days.

We lose ourselves, we persevere.

- If things get hot... - Then scram, you hear?

- Go half and half. - Go as a whole.

- We'll walk the line. - And round the pole.

- We'll make it last. - We'll keep it brief.

- We'll go from work. - What a relief!

We'll go with or without you, dear.

- If things get hot... - Then scram, you hear?

- We soon will see. - We'll get our way.

- We'll go for three. - We'll stay away.

- We'll keep it down. - We'll go down under.

- We'll show them round. - Make a blunder.

We'll take it all, go far or near.

- If things get hot... - Then scram, you hear?

We've had a good sing, now let's get a drink!

But just the one, mind you, Beda!

Of course, my beauty.

- He's on our case. - Doesn't matter.

- We've missed lunch anyway. - But not pay-out I hope.

- Can't go home without it. - And what about me?

I gotta hand it all over to the wife, too.

What's that, a war?

Nope, had a bit of training.

- Got a cold? - Feckin' asthma.

It's going downhill.

I used to endure a lot, the war, the occupation...

And these feckin' lifts never work...

You ought to cut down on your smoking. I know a fella could help you.

I've also gone through Čáp's file.

No relation of Čáp's from the committee.

So it's just Glosner's rodeo. The meeting's next week.

This could cause the whole board to collapse.

This could endanger us all.

I need your support, General, if push comes to shove.

I've served you faithfully since I was twelve years old.

General?

It's really not looking good.

You're still coming to our party on Saturday, aren't you?

Got a few hot surprises in store.

- The booze is on us today. - What a sight!

I thought we weren't celebrating until Saturday.

You're taking it too far! Stop that!

You don't know how to salute, soldier?

- Cut it out! - Gimme that gun!

- Leave me be! - Just shoot!

You shouldn't have cut her pay.

Dear colleague, got the stuff ready for the Monday meeting?

- Well, you'll get it on Monday. - That's rather late, isn't it?

I'm evaluating it, so I need to go through it before then.

- Well, then I dunno. - Neither do I.

I could bring it to the party on Saturday.

Great idea! My whole Sunday ruined.

Hey there! Good to see you in the canteen again.

A pack of "Clea".

I heard they want to bring you back up.

Don't believe them.

They destroyed you, they destroyed me,

and they'll destroy our lad, too.

My advice is, keep away from them.

Yep, our engineer, he smokes "Clea".

- What do you smoke, gorgeous? - You know I don't smoke.

- Well, all right... - Wait a moment...

Do you think Mirek wants me?

I think he does.

Yeah? You think he'll be going to that party?

I think he will.

Čáp, Miroslav.

Think of this as a friendly conversation, Mirek.

May I call you Mirek?

Why not, we can be on first-name terms.

Hey, Mirek, what're you doing here?

We all want to be healthy.

And for our friends and family to be healthy and happy, don't we?

We don't want this Křížek to come into the limelight again.

You're a reasonable man, dear Mirek, aren't you?

- You'll wither here without me. - We both will if you stay.

- Mum doesn't need me. - Nor do I. -Oh, but you do.

You want to deliver posters for the rest of your life?

You want to bring your children into this wretched place?

We're all gonna die here like rats.

Then let's leave this bloody place together.

I've got no one out there waiting for me. I'm staying here.

Hey, you two. Want a lift?

- Want some dinner? - I don't care.

See you then.

Václav, got a moment?

I've always got time for you.

Can you smell the air?

Spring's coming, Václav.

Glosner wants you to come to the meeting, too.

He's out of luck then.

But Václav, you can't be a stoker forever.

- With your brilliant mind. - It's not up to me now.

It's up to all of us, including you.

If the project goes through, Šmíd will have to leave.

And there'll be another bastard to take his place.

Not worth the trouble.

RIVER OF LIFE

Godawful!

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KAREL ŠMÍD

Thank you.

Yes, yes. The river of life. Our beautiful women and girls.

After a break for refreshments we'll continue our program.

We're no good at filming.

You look great this evening!

Two drinks, whatever you have.

- You're exaggerating again. - What a great film, innit?

- I was so shy. - Down the hatch!

Our very own Don Quixote!

You've come to lure my Helena away again?

- Do you still want it? - Of course.

You won't lock me up for it?

Mirek...

Got a smoke? Thanks.

Karel, you smoke?

Look, Křížek was in a position to do anything he wanted,

he's clever and divorced, nothing in his way.

But me? I'm just small fry, I have to obey.

I've got a family.

You may think I'm a whore.

A whore is what I am.

What if the boss came out and gave you all 100 crowns?

- That'd be great! - Rudy, my boy!

- Where's the old lady? - At home!

Come 'n' dance...

I see you're all fired up. Here we go!

For our girls, our women, our ladies...

We've set the ball rolling!

This evening is yours!

TO OUR LADIES

So, Mirek, did you manage it?

Here you go. Don't look so glum.

Give it to a younger girl.

- Come and dance with me. - But we're too old for that.

Too old? My ass! Let's move it.

But Mirek...

My my, what do I spy with my little eye?

I see some of our ladies are not dancing yet!

That won't do. Come on, lads! Go ask them to dance...

Karel!

As I see it, there's nothing to it.

You stink of smoke.

I'll quit.

Don't quit.

I will.

I'm gonna leave you.

You won't.

I'm leaving today.

We won't see each other again.

Thank you.

Given the mournful circumstances of today,

it's inappropriate for us to be discussing work matters.

I'd like to postpone the discussion until a suitable date is agreed on.

But why? Now is the time for solving our problem.

The pollution problem has taken centre stage these days.

The young engineer Čáp, who was given the task, is not here.

We hoped he would treat the task with freshness and originality.

Sadly enough, we must say that he has disappointed us.

Welcome, Engineer Čáp, had a good night's sleep?

A university graduate,

the young generation, new blood.

Like a little boy, Mr. Engineer!

Without my permission, he got hold of Křížek's project.

And without any scruples he went and copied it.

What imagination!

We all know what Křížek's old project meant.

It was an attack on the factory, our society, all of our people.

Now we've got another rebellion, all the worse for the fact

that some of our workers are hiding their past mistakes.

I insist on Čáp's immediate dismissal.

The case will be taken to the public prosecutor.

Those in favour? Thank you.

Anyone against?

I am!

You all know the project's good.

If it's rejected again, then I'm resigning.

Look here, Liduška.

We all know your penchant for young boys.

Motherfucker!

Mirek!

We've all got to do something. We all have to do our part.

We haven't got any time left. We've got to do something.

- It's not worth it. - What's not worth it?

When will you finally understand?

It's not a matter of any project, it's a matter of life.

Your daughter's gone away, so what're you afraid of, coward?

You're the same as all the rest!

- Is it worth it? - It is worth it!

- Is it worth it? - It is worth it...

- It is worth it! - It is worth it...

- It is worth it! - It is worth it...

- It is worth it! - It is worth it...

- It is worth it! - What is worth it?

It is worth it!

It is worth it!

Starring