Damaged (Panie Dulskie)

A woman shot her husband here, on the second floor.

A police security agent.

Brave woman.

They should put up a plaque for her.

Do you remember any of this?

A large, old apartment on the second floor.

Paintings on the walls,

an older gentleman who never speaks shuffling cards.

Where do I remember this from? I don’t know.

You remembered about your mother.

Where do you know him from?

Leave him alone, Mom, let him sleep.

-He’s Swiss. -Well-mannered.

A professor.

Flowers like in a Boznańska painting.

“So many nights under-slept, murky and unkempt.

Tight from the smoke.”

You’re too easy on them, too easy.

They’re running amok. You lack character.

Sure, it’s true, I’ll never be like you.

You always destroyed people, killed everyone,

even my beloved brother Zbyszko, you were able to destroy him too.

Zbyszko and his rebellions, his acts of defiance... So senseless.

-He lacked character too. -Of course, only you had character.

Hanka?

Bled out and died. And Zbyszko disappeared, never to be heard from again.

So I should have let him have a baby with the maid?

-Get married to the maid? -All I see is a sea of blood.

-A sea of blood. -Stop torturing me.

It’s cold in here.

Couldn’t Gabby light the stoves?

-She’s not dressed yet. -Not dressed? The maid’s not dressed?

Unthinkable before the war.

They brought the coal.

I've told you so many times not to read in the bathroom.

You could supervise the coal delivery instead.

They always cheat on the weight, always.

That’s because all the scales are off.

In all of Poland.

If you’re so smart, then you fix them.

The Party will fix them.

They probably thought I couldn’t hear them, Mom and Grandma.

I was fixing my bow in the mirror while they were arguing,

they paid no attention to me.

And in their memories, Hanka, and the whole room smeared with blood.

Whose blood?

What do you mean whose blood? That poor Hanka’s.

What Hanka?

-You’re talking crazy today. -Not now.

We’re listening.

“The heart screamed, ‘Look! Look me in the eyes!’

And the major wanted to sleep.

So many nights under-slept, murky and unkempt.

Tight from the smoke.

‘Take him away!’ he told the escort and slumbered.

Sleep, Major, dawn is near,

don't you see the moon took first watch?

Sixth year of security vigilance, guarding land wrested from the lords.”

Well?

-What did the poet have in mind? -Not so loud. Gabby…

-That dimwit won’t understand anything. -Did you like it, Grandma?

Learning poetry shapes character and memory.

-Sleep well, Gabby? -Why shouldn’t I sleep well?

-Walk the girls to school then. -What are they, blind?

Good luck.

Zbiggie…

Hey there, sisters. I’m broke.

Did Mom give you cash for doughnuts and orangeade?

Are Mom and Dad home?

Gabby’s home, if that’s what you want to know.

Gabby is studying.

-That’s not what we pay her for. -Get out of here!

Come on, fellas, get it loaded!

-Your horse took a shit. -It’ll get picked up.

Zbiggie and Gabby the maid were quite the pair.

Surprisingly, Grandma allowed it.

She knew all about it. She knew about their affair and didn’t protest.

Maybe she had a change of heart. Times changed, the government, the truth.

And as you can see, my mother still lives here.

-Hey there, sis. -Hello.

-Why did you lug the bike upstairs? -Hey.

This is the brand-new Nishiki, I couldn't leave it down there.

I read you’re making a movie? About the family?

That’s what movies are about these days, Gabby.

About yourself or your family, honest.

About servants’ rooms, and informant fathers.

You know, the dirty laundry.

That’s just perfect since Zbiggie has just decided to run for office.

Great, so you finally decided to run. You’re clean.

The Dulskis were never activists. Always sat it out.

Didn’t sign the Volklist, didn’t fight in the underground--

Found out about the Holocaust from a movie…

Exactly right.

Never joined the Party or Solidarity either. Ideal candidates.

Nobody would say that in my canton.

-And who is he? -A professor of psychiatry.

We met at a festival in Locarno.

His name is Dulsk and he has the same dreams that I do.

-Do you practice yoga? -Yes, yes.

That’s just great, Gabby, really.

Get off that bike, Zbiggie, I mean it, or you’ll give me the spins.

Have a seat, everyone.

Hanka, what’s this? Is that how I taught you to light the stove?

Good Lord! You bumpkin!

Damnation...

Zbyszko.

Oh Lord…

Girls! Get up! Time for school.

Please, get up, Now, move it!

Felician! On your feet!

You hear me?

Get a move on! You’re going to be late!

Hanka! Move, out of my way! I’ll show you how.

There. There.

What’s that look for?

I would like to ask Madame to leave her service on the first.

Hanka!

Don’t you dare! Who paid for you?

I found someone to take my place.

The city’s messed up your head! I won’t have it!

You will all drive me to my grave!

When they send me to Karlsbad you won’t manage without me!

-You’ll perish here like flies! -The priest said to leave.

What priest?

Who do you answer to? Me, or some priest?

Who do you serve? The priest or me?

Go get the rolls! Immediately!

Good Lord.

Felician, Felician, you’ll be late for the office.

Get going already! You hear me?

Get moving!

Oh, dear Lord, go.

Just don’t use the hot water. Use only cold water.

Build character. Don’t you talk back to me!

Jesus!

Hanka, did you know that Zbyszko was out all night?

He wouldn’t.

Stop it, Hanka feels bad enough as it is.

It’s not like that, Miss. Breakfast time.

My dear friend, what is my name?

Your name, sir, is Zbyszko Dulski.

Unfortunately.

My love, let’s be off!

-Your horse took a shit. -Thank you, sir. Thank you.

-Good day. -Good day.

-Can I be of assistance, perhaps? -No, thank you.

I would, however, allow myself to be invited in for tea.

Do you need yet another scandal in the building?

-I know of no scandal. -Then you shall find one.

Have a good day.

Her husband is cheating on her. With the maid.

She just found out about it, poor thing.

Jesus.

We do not take the Lord’s name in vain in this house, Hanka, of course.

Leave me alone, sir, I’m working.

You look ugly whenever you get snooty.

And the sluts you’re coming back from seeing, are they prettier?

No.

What?

I told your mother that I want to leave.

Oh, and Mommy ordered you to stay, did she? She is a Dulski after all.

Always the same terrible Mommy.

-The priest told me to leave. -The priest.

So pray for me, will you, Hanka?

Pray for me.

Here?

In a burgher’s house, the living room is the chapel, isn’t it?

Get to it.

Pray.

-Madame will be right back. -No, she won't.

She won’t. The caretaker might steal a shovelful of coal.

Jesus!

Good morning.

Oh, good morning!

And where are you off to?

My fiancé is coming to pick me up on his motorcycle.

-Is that right? -With a sidecar.

That bumpkin.

He may be a bumpkin, but he’s got a motorcycle.

So that’s why you got up so early.

I have a day off today. Your mother gave me time off.

Because you told her you’ve got training.

Because I do. In the bushes. By the river.

Fine, do what you like.

But there’s a new movie on tonight. You could watch it.

-What movie? - Chapaev.

Really?

Let’s scram!

Excuse me, pardon me.

Hey, don’t push!...

CHAPAEV

Get back.

Get in line!

So, this is who I look like?

I already told you that you’re prettier than her. Come on.

What are you doing here, Dad?

-Well, you know, working… -You should have told me.

Step over here with me, we can’t do this in front of people.

-Alone or with a woman? -Well, you know, alone…

Here, Dad, go to the movies. There…