No End (Bez Konca) (Bez końca)

NO END

This call is monitored.

The time is 7:12am.

I died...

...four days ago.

I got the car out, as usual.

I waited in it for Ulla and Jacek.

The engine was running. The radio forecast was rain.

I felt a stab of fear. "My heart," I thought.

But the pain never came. All I felt was fear.

I took a deep breath.

And that was that.

I wondered if the melons on the balcony would ever sprout.

Ulla walked out of the house with Jacek.

She came towards the car but I slipped away.

She couldn't open the car door.

But I could see her somewhat from up above.

That seemed strange.

After all, I was still sitting at the steering wheel.

I felt good. Everything was so peaceful...

...and quiet.

Although Ulla seemed to be screaming.

I didn't feel dizzy as after my first cigarette.

I couldn't feel the weight of the keys in my pocket.

It struck me I could come back to myself if I wanted to

and drive Jacek to school.

But I felt better as I was, much better.

I watched the coffin being closed.

It was then that Jacek understood, because he began to cry.

His hands were frozen.

But he was ashamed to put them in his pockets.

I went back home. It was still empty.

Darek's file was lying on the desk.

I wished I could be with him in court.

I only saw Ulla and Jacek after they got back.

They fell asleep together on his bed.

He snuggled up to her for a long time.

She woke up in the night and moved to her own bed.

Ulla? Tomek here.

- I'm in Warsaw, just landed. - Where?

At the airport. I'm hoping to catch your lawyer husband.

- He's gone. - At 7:30? Have you two split up?

Is that the alarm? How's that for timing?

Antek is dead.

The funeral was yesterday. Call me back later.

- Don't talk about it at school. - I won't.

I'll come straight home.

You'll be here, won't you? I want to be with you.

Mummy?

The phone is ringing.

- Hello? - Is that Mrs Zyro?

Yes.

I have to see you, about my husband.

Hello? I said I need to see you.

- Who are you? - I'm Darek's wife.

Your husband was his lawyer. You must know that.

It's a political case. I need to see you.

Call the office.

I'm not a lawyer. I'm sending them all the files.

That's exactly it.

How about biology? Do we have to draw...

We have a crossed line. Hello?

You must have Darek's file. Hello?

- Mummy, bye. - Bye, Jacek.

Are you waiting for me?

I called this morning. Wake up, Sylvia.

- We drank some of your milk. - It's all right, come in.

How can I help you?

- As I said, I need that file. - What file?

The file. My husband's case.

I can't give it to you.

Why won't you help me?

It belongs to the new lawyer.

Those are the rules. Don't you know?

Files sometimes disappear and nobody knows how.

You couldn't care less.

Sylvia, let's go.

Wait.

You said it was a political case?

That's right.

I'm not allowed to do this, but if the file is here

I'll let you see it.

Is she thirsty? Bored?

No, she likes listening to grown-ups' talk.

- There's nothing in it. - What are you looking for?

I wish I knew. There's nothing here.

- What did he do? - A strike. He organised a strike.

Who will take the case now?

Maybe someone like your husband?

I can't think of anyone like him. Wait...

There's this old lawyer Antek trained under.

- Old? - Yes.

He was at the funeral. His name is Labrador.

Perhaps...

Here's the lawyers' directory. He must be in it.

You'll find that out in section 4.

I'd rather know who the judge is.

Goodbye, and thank you.

Sorry to keep you. How can I help you?

Mrs Zyro told me you freed lots of people.

That you could help me.

Those were different cases.

My last political case was in 1952.

He got the death penalty.

I've never done it again since.

Now I only do petty crime.

The wife won't be testifying.

- Why not? - She left the country.

Tell our client to remain silent.

Take a taxi. I'll pay you back.

Smuggling cases, that's my speciality.

No more politics.

Not anymore.

Have you heard of this case?

It's delicate and difficult, like all of them.

You're forcing an old man to make a hard choice.

Not me, the present times.

I'm quite aware of that.

But what can you do about it?

Have you got the time?

It's a quarter past one.

Damn it, my watch!

It's stopped working.

Do you know how I got it?

It was a present from Antek, when he finished his apprenticeship.

Let me sleep on this.

Call me tomorrow.

Good morning, Counsel.

- Have you heard? - Heard what?

They've done it.

After 70 years, they're showing me the door.

Has it gone through?

It will, I'm sure of it.

We're finished.

What can one do?

Guess what?

They're taking away our robes.

Come January and we're out!

So I've heard.

But this charade... how about that for my grand finale?

- A kind of swan song. - Excuse me?

People sometimes change their minds.

You don't have to call.

I'll take the case.

Are you free tomorrow at four?

Who are you calling, Mummy?

No one. I wanted to call someone, but I forgot who.

- Looking for something? - No.

I'm going through these things, tidying them up.

A man called earlier.

He had a funny name. Gibraltar...

Labrador.

That's it. He asked about some file.

I know.

I'll turn your light off when I go to bed.

- Jacek? Good night. - Good night, Mummy.

Antek.

He was in the car, waiting. I'd been on the phone.

Maybe if I hadn't been late...

- The heart is the heart. - But it can't be a coincidence.

- What could you have done? - I could have been there with him.

Don't think about it.

What can I think about?

You're still young. You've got a nice kid. You're a good translator.

Ulla... things weren't great between you, right?

In a way they weren't. But then again, they were.

Does that make sense?

But he's gone.

Tomek, your friendship with him goes back ten years.

Even further.

Yes, but I was talking about when we met.

Did you know about certain photographs of me?

Naked? He told me.

- Did you see them? - Of course not.

- How did he find out? - A "friend" sent them.

I found them yesterday. He cut out my face.

He knew how much I earned as a guide.

I could have explained.

Why didn't he say anything?

Why did he cut out my face?

Have there been similar cases?

Yes, quite a few lately.

- What's that? - A note.

That's what his wife must have been looking for.

"Dear Mr Zyro, I'm very glad you're defending me.

"You're young and you understand. The first in a month.

"You're right about having to return to society,

"but I also want to keep my dignity. I will do as you say.

"No politics. But I'll admit to being a strike leader.

"They trusted me though I hadn't been in Solidarity.

"I wanted to settle grievances, not to wreck the machinery.

"I'm worried about my family.

"Tell Joanna not to take Sylvia to her father's.

"My cell mates and I send you our best regards. Darek.

"I'm glad you don't want me to act insane."

Who will take this case?

Shit!

I've been away too long. Otherwise I'd do it myself.

But I can't.

- I suggested Labrador. - He'll never take it.