The Pianist

- Mr. Szpilman? - Hello.

I came specially to meet you. I love your playing.

- Who are you? - My name's Dorota. I'm Jurek's sister.

- You're bleeding! - It's nothing.

You can write him a fan letter later. This isn't the best time. Come on.

Jurek, where have you been hiding her?

- I don't know what to take. - You always take too much.

How many suitcases are you taking?

What do you think, should I take uncle Szymon's portrait?

Take it, don't take it, take what you like.

Can't you see I'm worried sick?

He'll come home, he'll be alright.

- I should have another case. - Mama, Wladek is home!

Thank God. Wladek! You're wounded?

- No, it was nothing. - I've been worried sick.

I told her not to worry. You had your papers on you.

If you'd been hit by a bomb, they'd know where to take you.

Henryk, don't say things like that. God forbid. God forbid.

- Papa, Wladek is home. - What did I tell you?

- What are you doing? - Where's my hat with the wide brim?

- They've bombed us. We're off the air. - Warsaw is not the only radio station.

Pack, darling. Get your things. Pack!

- Where are we going? - Out of Warsaw.

- Out of Warsaw where? - You haven't heard?

- Heard what? - Haven't you seen the paper? - No.

- Where's the paper? - I used it for packing.

- She used it for packing. - The government has moved to Lublin.

All able-bodied men must leave the city, go across the river, set up a new line of defense.

There isn't anybody left here, only the women. The men are all gone.

What do you think you'll do while they set up a new line of defense?

- Wonder around with your suitcases? - Pack, Wladek. There's no time.

- I'm not going anywhere. - Good. I'm not going anywhere either.

Don't be ridiculous, we've got to keep together.

Look, look. If I'm going to die, I prefer to die in my own home, staying put.

- God forbid. - Shut up, I've got something. Listen.

...from the BBC in London. The British government...

having received no reply to the ultimatum presented...

to the German government...

has declared war on Nazi Germany.

- That's wonderful! Wonderful! - It is expected that...

...within the next few hours, France will make a similar declaration.

Poland is no longer alone.

Wonderful, wonderful!

- Mama, that was a great dinner. - It certainly was.

When there's something to celebrate, you've got to make an effort.

Well, here's to Great Britain and France!

I told you, didn't I tell you? All will be well!

Five thousand and three.

- Is that all? - Yes. 5,003 zlotys. All we've got left.

- It's 3,003 zlotys too much. - Look.

Re: "Further restrictions regarding liquid assets".

Jews will be allowed to keep a maximum of 2,000 zlotys in their homes."

- What do we supposed to do with the rest? - Deposit it in a bank. Blocked account.

Banks! Who'd be stupid enough to deposit money in a German bank?

We could hide the money. Look here. We can hide it under the flowerpots.

No, no ... I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll use tried and tested methods.

You know what we did in the last war?

We made a hole in the table leg, and hid the money in there.

And suppose they take the table away? - What do you mean take the table away?

The Germans go into Jewish homes and they just take what they want... furniture and valuables, anything.

- Do they? - Idiot! Why'd they want with a... a table like this?

- What on earth are you doing? - Look. Listen. Look.

This is the best place for it. No one would think of looking under the flowerpots.

- No, listen. I've been thinking... - Really? That's a change.

You know what we do? We use psychology. - We use what?

We leave the money and the watch on the table, and we cover it like this, in full view.

- Are you stupid? - The Germans will search high and low ... I'll promise you, they'll never notice.

That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Of course they'll notice it. Look.

Look here.

Idiot.

- And you call me stupid. - Very good. That's the last place...

- This would take hours. - We're not in a hurry.

- It won't take hours. - How will you get them out? Tell me that.

- How will you get them out? - Quiet! Order, please!

- You reach them out individually. - No-one listens to me!

Quiet, please, quiet. Order, order, please.

- The lawyer, she likes order. - Listen, just listen. Look.

The watch we put under the flowerpot and the money we stuff in the violin.

- But I'll still be able to play? - You'll find out.

- Jurek? It's Wladek Szpilman. - Wladek, how are you?

We're fine, thank you. And you?

Fine, under the circumstances. I guess I know why you're calling.

There's nothing we can do. They won't reopen the station.

- Yes, I know, but I... - No music, no radio for the Polish.

But sure you'll find work. A pianist like you.

Well, maybe, maybe not, but...

don't be offended, but I didn't call to discuss my future career.

I nagged Jurek for weeks and weeks, and at last he gave in and said...

"All right, come with me tomorrow", so I came and...

they bombed the station.

- Meeting you like that was wonderful. - Really?

Yes, it was unforgettable.

- I love your playing, Mr. Szpilman. - Call me Wladek, please.

- No-one plays Chopin like you. - I hope it's a compliment.

- Of course, I mean it. - I was... trying to be funny.

- Should we go into the PARADISO... have a coffee? - I'd like that.

- And you, what do you do? - I finished with the conservatoire.

- You're a musician? - Yes. But only just.

- What instrument? - The cello.

I love to see women playing the cello.

JEWS FORBIDDEN

This is disgraceful. How dare they?

You know what people are like, they want to be better Nazis than Hitler.

- I'm going in there to complain. - No, it's better not, believe me.

- It's so humiliating. Someone like you! - Good-bye.

We'll find somewhere else.

- We can walk in the park. - No, we can't.

It's the official decree. No Jews allowed in the park.

- My God. Are you joking? - I'm not joking, it's true.

I suggest we sit on a bench somewhere, but it's another official decree: "no Jews allowed on public benches".

This is absurd.

That's all we can do. We can just stand here and talk. I think we're allowed to do that don't you?

So, you play the cello, Dorota? That's nice. And who's your favorite composer?

Chopin? Really? Well...

you'll have to learn to play his cello sonata, won't you?

And what about you, Wladek?

Perhaps I could accompany. Me on the piano, you on the cello.

Mr. Szpilman, you're quite, quite wonderful.

Call me Wladek, please.

"Free emblems for Jews in the Warsaw district.

I hereby order that all Jews in the Warsaw district...

will wear visible emblems when out of doors.

This decree will come into force on the first of December, 1939...

and applies to all Jews over 12 years of age.

The emblem will be worn on the right sleeve...

and will represent the blue star of David on a white background.

The background must be sufficiently large...

for the star to measure eight centimeters from point to point.

The width of the arms of the star must be one centimeter.

The Jews that do not respect this decree will be severely punished.

Governor of the Warsaw district, Dr. Fischer. "

- I won't wear it. - I'm not going to be branded.

Let me see this.

Does it say that we have to provide these armbands ourselves?

- Where will we get them? - We're not going to get them. We're not going to wear them.

Sie!

Herkommen!

Warum haben Sie sich nicht verbeugt?

Entschuldigen Sie.

Euch ist der Gehweg verboten.

In die Gosse mit dir!

- Have you seen this? - What? What? I'm working. What?

What is this?

- It's where they're going to put us. - What do you mean "put us"?

"By order of the governor of the Warsaw district, Dr. Fischer...

concerning the establishment of the Jewish district in Warsaw.

There'll be created a Jewish district in which all Jews living in Warsaw, or moving to Warsaw will have to reside."

Look here. "Jews living outside of the prescribed area...

will have to move to the Jewish district by 31 of October, 1940."

They won't get all of us. It's too small.

There's 400 thousand of us in Warsaw.

No, 360 thousand. So it will be easy.

What am I supposed to do? You tell me.

Mama?

Mama, what is it?

20 zlotys!

That's all we have left, 20 zlotys.

What can I buy with 20 zlotys?

I'm sick of cooking potatoes, potatoes, potatoes.

That's the price. That's what I'm offering.

My advice is to accept. You won't get more from anyone else.

- But it's a Bechstein! - 2 thousand. My advice is to take it.

What are you going to do when you're hungry? Eat the piano?

- Get out! - What's the matter with you?

- Stop it! - We'd rather give it away. Get out!

Haven't you eaten today? What are you suffering from?

You people are crazy.

I'm doing you a favor. Two thousand and I'm paying for the removal.

I'm not even charging for the removal!

You haven't eaten today. You're crazy.

Take it.

Hello.

Hello. Hi.

I didn't want to come.

I didn't want to see all this, but... I couldn't stop myself.

- How are you doing? - Fine.

Good.

No, not really. They arrested my cousin.

Jurek says they'll let him out.

- This is disgraceful. - It won't last long. Don't worry.

That's what I said myself.

It's too absurd.

I... I should go.

Well, I'll see you...

soon.

Good-bye.

Well...

to tell you the truth, I thought it would be worse.

- Where will we sleep? - I sleep in the kitchen with the girls.

You, Henryk and Papa, in here.

Look.

Come and look.

Go away.

Go away! Go away!

Papa! Papa!

- Sell anything? - Just one. Dostoievski, "The Idiot".

- 3 zlotys. - It's better than yesterday.

Three lousy zlotys. And there are people there making millions.

- I know. - You don't know, believe me.

They bribe the guards, the guards turn a blind eye.