The Constant Factor (Constans)

E...

P...

L...

Left eye.

N...

Z...

See any numbers?

96...

35...

26...

Next.

Take a deep breath.

It's 92 expanded.

Yeah. Exhale.

It's 88 normal.

Height: 174.

175 when I straighten up.

OK.

I do sports and check often.

Blood pressure: 125/80.

For Airborne with your height?

I'd like to.

Oh, you're a climbing instructor?

Yes.

I've read about you. The Himalayas, was it?

That was my father. Fell to his death 10 years ago.

All right.

Sign here.

I'm OK!

Starring

Co-starring

Music by

Director of Photography

Written and Directed by

There's a handhold on the left.

I'm falling!

What's wrong?

Pay out the rope!

What is it?

I quit!

I want to live!

To hell with it!

Come on, you oaf!

Or I'll let go!

In a hurry?

Not really.

Some vitamins.

Go and pay.

84 zlotys.

Thank you.

Keep it. For the ticket.

I made it here, I'll make it back.

Take it. Just in case.

Mom...

No way.

Take care.

-Was this your father's route? -In 1960, you mean?

I'm not sure. He'd done it before.

Even my mother doesn't remember.

How old was he then?

24 when I was born, 36 when he died.

When do you get out?

In 2 months.

And then?

I'll look for a job. Must save up for an apartment.

I might try to combine work with studies.

You're like your father.

-He always shivered with cold. -Really?

I didn't know that.

Where will you work?

In Warsaw, I hope.

-You're an electrician, right? -Yes.

Good.

Can you fix him up?

Come and see me when you're out of the army.

I appreciate it.

Your ID, please.

You're the protégé?

I suppose so.

Could you come to Personnel?

Your man is here.

We're still finding our feet. And there's that major competitor...

Your ex-employer, by any chance?

Who?

International Expo & Fairs.

No.

Glad to meet you.

A trained electrician, right?

The young are most welcome on board. Come along.

Let's get one thing straight.

I'm small fry. I barely know the man who recommended me.

-What's your first name? -Witold.

Look, Witold. I don't really care who you are

as long as you're honest.

Mom!

I'm so damn lucky!

The pay's not much.

But I'll travel a lot. All over the world!

I'm to apply for a passport.

There's India to start with.

Yes, India! Mumbai.

I can save on expenses.

I've cut down anyway.

Mom?

I might buy a camera though.

Or perhaps I'll borrow one.

University is very much on my mind.

I am taking care.

Jogging, working out...

Yes, lots of fruit! I've run out of change!

What now?

Go get some other material.

Have any dollars?

-My own, yes. -Then get going!

The lads can finish overnight.

What? Third night in a row?

Screw these foreign gigs!

Your passport, please.

-Anything to declare? -No.

How many of these?

Four. But not for sale. For my wife, mother-in-law...

I say, could you spare me one?

I'll pay you in dollars.

Zlotys are fine. Give me 1000.

-OK. -Better outside.

No slides, like your father always took?

It's beautiful!

- I'll hang it on the wall. - I mislaid my camera.

Next time, I promise.

You're to travel again?

Yes.

-For long? -It's to the States.

2 months or so.

Lots of work, but bags of money.

Enough to do up this place.

Just imagine, 14 dollars a day!

How will you change them?

At the bank, I suppose.

That's the legal way.

I won't do anything crooked.

The black market rates are a rip-off.

Need dollars for medicine?

They'll charge a fortune,

no mercy.

I know, I've tried.

How do you feel?

All right.

What about university?

I'm thinking about it.

You don't have the time?

Perhaps I'm not ready yet.

I need some more money saved up.

It's hot in India now?

Yes.

Tell me some more.

There's not much more to tell.

You're as close as your father.

What do you make of his death?

He tripped over a stone and that killed him?

I mean, if that stone...

You think it was fate?

Yes. I think so.

What about Grandfather? Was that also fate?

He could have been on another street or out of Warsaw.

Was it fate?

Why do you think he's taking me to the States?

Who? The boss?

I deserve a black mark for India.

You've got him.

You saw him selling off exhibition stuff.

He thinks you have pull, so he won't touch you.

He was selling it on the side?

You said it – I didn't.

And dead souls on the payroll? We work 3 shifts.

He writes in phony names, collects in dollars

and for our pains junkets us out of expenses.

In my book he's a prince.

I met him before coming here.

He used to visit an old lady next door.

He brought her medicines from abroad.

Which he paid for.

3... 2... 1...

Go!

10 seconds...

3 seconds lost...

You're over 30 already.

Very good. Inside a minute!

Working out a system?

Amusing myself.

I spin it, note the numbers

and calculate the dispersion mean.

Still going to study math?

I'm not sure yet.

Not afraid of missing the boat?

No.

I am, just a bit.

This is a way of catching fortune in the act.

Is it now? It's all on paper.

That way you can't win or lose.

I can. By taking on myself.