The Abstainer (Abstinent)

And then I was just drinking.

Lying in my bed.

Sometimes I got up and went to the can or to buy booze…

downstairs from the Chinese guy.

Chong sold it quite cheap.

The taste didn't matter anymore.

As long as I had something to drink.

This went on for 14 days.

Then I slept for two days.

I woke up.

There was nothing to drink.

I went downstairs and bought booze.

Suddenly, I felt like I didn't want to live anymore.

Just like that. I simply didn't feel like living.

I found a clothesline.

Left there by my ex.

I climbed onto a table,

tied the clothesline to the chandelier…

and jumped.

It snapped from my weight.

I must have been unconscious for a while.

The police woke me up, an ambulance took me away

and I was here.

Well that was a hell of a bit of luck, wasn't it, Milan?

Who cares whether I live or kick the bucket?

You might be surprised, but I would hate to find out

that another one of my patients had passed away.

You would be the 24th since I started here.

I don't know. I thought no one would even care enough to tell me to fuck off.

Oh, come on. Don't be so full of yourself.

I think there are people who care about you.

Yeah, you'd better believe it.

Well… what about you? Hmm?

I can see you are quite shaken.

Does anyone want to add anything? What's going on with you?

Adam?

What do you want to hear?

Anything.

-My life story? -Why not?

Would it help me?

It would not.

I didn't come here to chat. I came to be cured. So cure me.

Hey!

What's wrong with you, dude?

Sit down!

You look tired. Wild night, huh? Any racy details?

Spill!

You'd love that wouldn't you? Naughty Kamil…

You'll be there tonight, right?

No, I won't.

I told you I was taking Andrea for dinner.

You idiot! Of course I'll be there.

-And what are you going to bring? -Whatever Dad has at home.

Ok.

Are you kidding?

All right.

Have you thought about where you're applying yet?

Let's not talk about school now.

I just…

if we end up in different towns, then…

we might just…

We'll make it work.

Of course.

What the hell Adam?! It's boring here. Do something!

Go away, Kamil!

You're disturbing.

Oh, watch out! Someone fell in love.

He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink. Mr. Good Guy! Romeo!

Dude, don't you think that's a bit over the top?

You know what? Just fuck her and come have a shot with us!

Shut up, man!

You had too much again. Go get some sleep.

Just go!

Fine.

Sorry dude, but you know the rules. Enough is enough.

Sorry.

Hi Sis! What's up?

Listen, I can't hear you very well. I'm at school.

I'll call you at the weekend, ok?

Bye.

I was surprised, Adam, that you asked to talk.

Do you like her?

Strange women are not my concern.

Yeah?

And what is your concern?

Everything.

This whole fucking place.

I feel like I'm in jail.

Bars on the windows, only rules, rules and more rules.

You don't understand it. You are missing the point.

-Bullshit! -This is not jail, Adam.

This is psychotherapy.

You can't leave jail. But you can leave here.

-Being here irritates me. -I can understand that.

I wouldn't want to be here as a client either.

Hmm…

You just enjoy seeing others suffer, don't you?

You know, I came here for treatment and if possible to be cured.

I don't have time to do stupid tasks.

Yeah, I see.

You are worried.

You don't know what to do. You don't know what is going on,

what we want or why. I'll explain it to you.

We want the rules.

You must learn how to maintain discipline and order.

That's all you haven't been able to do so far.

You see, addiction therapy has two phases.

First the psychotherapy and then the rules.

The rules are to help you live among other people

and the psychotherapy is to give you self-knowledge.

You have a unique opportunity to get to understand yourself

and thus understand other people too.

Take it or leave it.

Yeah? Really? And you believe this?

Yeah.

That writing my life story will change anything?

Mm-hmm.

That by writing a paper I'll work this out, as you keep saying?

You'll never know until you try.

I don't want to try anything.

Yeah…

Even at school I almost failed stylistics.

Look, I'm certain you can write

your life story in a way that I can understand.

I myself didn't know how much writing could help me

put my thoughts into words until I tried it.

Anyway, you're an adult and you signed an agreement

to say you'd do your therapy assignments.

All of them.

-Give me a break. -Did you sign it or not?

-I did. -All right, so what's the…

Yes? He's here.

Yes, it's existential. I'll approve it.

Yes.

You have a visitor in the cafeteria.

I wouldn't approve it normally, but I'm making an exception.

I'm not asking for any favors from you.

It is not a favor. It's the rules, my friend.

It is an existential need.

Well, you can go.

We can finish this later. If you're interested, of course.

Adam!

Hi baby.

Come here. How are you?

How are you getting on?

Do you have everything you need?

Do you have enough money?

Sit here. That's it.

Do you like it here?

Oh please. How could he possibly like it here?

But he can stand it because he is a man.

-You just have to endure it. -With your permission.

-We don't have much time. -Sorry. Of course.

Adam, the date of your preliminary hearing has been set.

It is in two months.

As I have already told your parents,

it is extremely important that you stay here

until that time.

The fact that your psychiatric admission was voluntary will help you.

However, criminal liability…

I hope you understand the importance of the testimony of the witnesses

as to the progress of your treatment.

I mean all the nurses, patients and doctors here.

So, to put it simply, the best thing for you to do is to toe the line.

Do I look stupid?

No, wait, I'm just asking. Do I look stupid?

Come on baby. We haven't told anyone you're here, you know?

We said you were visiting Klárka in London.

Now you have to grit your teeth and get through this.

The doctor will get you out of it.

That's easy for you to say.

You wouldn't last a minute in here.

Look!

Is the A for Adam or Alcoholic?

Oh please.

Can you tell me where you're going?

To do yoga. Voluntarily.

It is the extenuating circumstance, isn't it?

So, if you'll excuse me.

Namasté.

Psst…

You got it wrong.

Feet apart.

Fuck this. I'm not playing the fool here.

Wait!

Wait until the end and you can buy me a cup of coffee.

Hi!

Hey!

So you got a permit.

Listen, did you say this was your third time here?

Third time. Voluntarily.

What are you writing?

My life story.

It is driving me crazy.

I feel like I don't belong here.

Look at those drunken faces.

Mine doesn't look that bad, does it?

It doesn't now. But it will soon, don't worry.

Like yours?

Like mine.