Original subtitles

You're trying to die over some secret you heard from a dead man. In the name

the father. The only thing I've got is the courage of my faith. Don't take that

away from me.

Can you kill him, cold blood?

Get him down!

The violent public confessional has stood the test for 2 ,000 years.

So my brother went out to face whatever this is alone.

They heard him call.

Down on my way.

Thank you.

Welcome. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

I'm glad that you are here.

Tell me, why has it been so long?

I'm not sure I believe, Father, but I want to, and I need help.

Well, that's a start.

Do you believe, Father, in your heart?

Yes. Do you believe enough to keep the silence of the confessional, no matter

what?

Is it that bad?

Yes. Listen to me.

No matter what you have done, no matter how bad you think your sin is, I can

never repeat it.

Not even to the bishop.

The silence of the confessional is a vow I made to God.

And I will never break it.

I haven't done anything yet, but I need to know. They want me.

They want me to kill a man, and I'm not sure it's right.

Take a man's life.

His murder.

Well, that depends on the reason. There can be no reason.

Who wants you to do this?

He's talking to a priest.

Get in.

What if it's done right? It can't be.

It's still murder.

You know that.

That is why you've come to me. You must stop them.

You must tell the police.

No. I can't do that.

Then release me from the silence of the confessional and I will help you talk to

them.

I've got to think.

I've got to think about what you said and talk to Monica.

Now.

No, wait.

Oh, my God.

Let me help you reason this out.

You shouldn't be seen with me out here. It's too dangerous for both of us. Then

come back inside for a few minutes.

No, I can't.

You've got to let me talk to the police.

Can you hear me?

Listen!

Father, they can't hear you.

He's dead.

Your sins are forgiven in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

A little souvenir from my trip. It's the new Soviet 545.

Was it plastic?

Over a dum -dum core.

Fragments don't show up on x -rays.

Oh,

very nice.

Oh,

very

good.

Well, you're a better cook than you are an outsmaker.

There's no way Argentina's getting away now. They're two goals down.

Mickey Kostmeyer, are you trying to snooker me into doubling my bet?

No, will you?

No. I'm no fool.

This is a news bulletin. I'm Diana Waters.

Police this evening are investigating a drive -by shooting at St. Christina's

Church in the Polish section of Brooklyn.

Killed in the machine gun attack was Stefan Olenski, a Polish emigrant shot

death in what police believe may have been a professional assassination.

Police say the other apparent target of the attack, Father Nicholas Kostmeyer,

escaped with minor injuries.

More news after this.

Mickey?

I'll collect him to bed later.

Why don't you save this? Father Kostmeyer, your brother.

I'll come with you.

I know there's no need.

I want to come with you. I'll get my coat.

Water and on the TV. Oh, come on. It's enough of this. Have a drink.

Monica, could we talk to you?

Why? What?

Privately, outside.

Did something happen?

Where's Stefan?

Police this evening are investigating a drive -by shooting at St. Christina's

Church. We'll better leave one at a time.

What's happened? Killed in a machine gun attack was... Stefan Oleski, a Polish

emigrant shot to death in what police believe may have been a professional

assassination.

Stefan?

You

must

have been coming from the confession.

But the priest wouldn't betray what was said. Well, somehow the plan leaked out.

It was an outsider who killed him.

What?

Are you sure this isn't just an act, Kinski?

Were you following Stefan because you were afraid that he was having doubts?

You told me, you boasted that you own a machine pistol. You little coward!

You know who killed him, but you're afraid to believe it because then you'd

to fight back.

I'm not afraid!

Okay, okay, maybe I am, but I will still fight if I believe the plan is right.

I'm not just sure that it is right.

And neither was Stefan.

In other words, I had my doubts and fears.

Maybe I caused his, but I don't think any of us have, Stefan, not after what

we've been through.

And I don't have doubts anymore.

One by one, everyone has been taken away from me, and now even Stefan.

I'm not going to let them do it to me again.

I'm going to fight back, even if they kill me too.

I'm sorry.

What about the priest?

We'll just have to pray that he's on our side.

Or at least keeps his vows.

Once you've been in a labor camp, you learn that God helps those who help

themselves.

I want to know more about the priest.

I'm glad to see you. I didn't know you were in the country. I've been busy.

How's your hand?

Eight stitches.

What kind of bullet was it?

Mickey, don't you ever think about anything else? It'll help me nail the

shooter. Why aren't the police protecting you?

I'm Nicholas Kosmeyer.

How do you do? How do you do?

Robert McCall.

Mickey's right, you know.

Police should be protecting him.

Why?

It was just a drive -by shooting.

Drive -by?

They obviously intended that you both should die. That's just your deduction.

Did the police offer you protection?

Yes, they did. Then it was their deduction, too. Why didn't you take it?

what's going on?

Mr. McCall, when we were growing up, Mickey always used to fight all of my

battles for me, whether I wanted him to or not.

As a matter of fact, he nailed quite a few kids I would have been willing to

forgive.

Even some I had forgiven.

But not this time, Mickey.

I don't want you to nail anyone.

Well, let's go fishing. I got this little shack, kind of a safe place near

fishing hole. A place where men of your profession hide.

I wouldn't call it a profession. They could scarcely even a trade. Mickey!

You know...

I don't approve of your work, but I appreciate your concern.

And I love you.

But you have to stay out of it this time.

You don't understand the danger.

I don't.

Today, a man died in my arms.

You know how I got hit?

He was trying to shield me and a bullet went clear through his body into my

hand.

Now they teach us about the frailty of man. In fact, I have preached about it.

But that bullet went through him like he wasn't even there.

You think I don't know what could happen to me?

I am not going to solve this your way.

Father, get away from the window.

What?

Somebody just crossed the light up on the roof. Reflections.

John, get him down!

Call the police, now!

got himself into.

At

any

event, the question of protection isn't up to him.

The Archdiocese is requesting all the help you can give.

After all this?

You'll have it.

Walk away from this, Mickey.

You know, you always scared me.

I could tell that you liked fighting for me.

Not just to protect me, but because you thought it was some kind of game. You

enjoyed it.

As if it wasn't real.

But I was still protecting you.

And that's the only thing that separated you from the guys who used to beat me

up.

Even the ones who grew up to be killers.

Well, it is a difference.

isn't even remorse.

Different strokes for different folks, Nick.

Why don't you just tell me who's trying to use you for their target drone?

No.

You think I'm missing a fuse?

You're trying to die over some secret you heard from a dead man. Like you

Mickey, different strokes for different folks.

This may sound silly to you, but I made a vow to

God.

Now, will you let me follow my own destiny?

The police seem to have this place pretty well covered.

Fancy a ride?

Where to?

Stefan Olenski has a cab driver.

Bishop of Bilbo's waited the police to let me have a copy of his logbook. It's

very interesting.

He picked up a number of fares, both to and from a place called Gdansk Haven.

Feel like breakfast, holy star?

Might even feel like buying.

Oh, that'll be a change.

Why don't you see if you can't liberate one of the agency vans?

Where's Kinski?

Out doing business.

And where was he last night when the priest was attacked again?

With me.

I'm not sure that's good enough an answer.

Who else would want to eliminate him?

Certainly not the other side.

We'll talk about this at the meeting.

How do we play it?

What will you have?

A little information, perhaps.

It won't take long.

You ever seen this man before?

Wasn't he the fellow in the news? Yes, that's right. Yes, he was.

Tell me, have you ever seen him in here?

I'm sorry, are you from the police?

No.

So I don't have to talk to you.

In fact, this is a free country, so I wouldn't have to talk to you anyway,

I?

Oh, no, I suppose you wouldn't.

But I think perhaps you might want to.

I'm trying to find out who killed Mr. Oledzki and why someone is trying to

your parish priest.

Ah.

So you're a friend of the church.

In a manner of speaking, yes. Let me tell you something, my friend. In

the gentlemen who dressed as you do and shared your friendly curiosity always

worked for state security.

Or the Russians.

They always tell you they are friends of the church or supporters of solidarity.

So where do you work, my friend?

In the United Nations or in some airline office?

Who taught you your fine English?

Why don't you telephone the parish or the archdiocese?

It doesn't matter.

I never knew them, ma 'am.

You know, you are not a good enough liar to play this game.

Why don't you help me?

While there's still time.

Nothing is going on.

And even if it was, we don't need any help.

You've never gotten any.

Even when you were dying in the street.

I'm sorry, you... You really don't belong here, so... Please go.

So who was watching my competition?

Everybody.

The couple at the end of the bar, they had their eyes on you from the start.

This girl might have had a crush on that guy. He and the little gentleman.

Well, as long as it wasn't the other way around.

That's the couple coming out now, right?

Yes.

The police tell me they believe Stefan Oletzky was coming from confession with

you.

Do you know something?

You want me to tell?

No, of course not.

But... Perhaps... Perhaps I

could offer you counsel on what is and isn't permitted by the silence of the

confessional. Purely hypothetically.

I've been studying the authorities all night when I haven't been speaking to

police or my brother.

Then for your own good, I'm going to continue to insist that the police

you with all their power. What would you do?

The silence of the confessional has stood the test of 2 ,000 years.

It's the way we guarantee to people that their consciences can be cleared.

We can save those fellows without fear.

I just hope I have the courage to do what you're doing, if I ever have to.

Nick, we'll do everything in our power to keep you safe.

Just sit tight and hopefully this will pass.

doesn't solve our problem, Monica.

There's our friendly neighborhood bartender.

We should postpone. We won't have as good a chance again for a month.

Then we should postpone indefinitely.

You know, Kazimierz, I don't like this business about the attacks on the

Well, I have a theory.

Somehow, the communists got through this priest.

He's been an informer.

But now his conscience is bothering him, so they want to kill him.

It's the only thing that makes sense.

And it means that we have to act now before they figure out everything and

us. Now, all you have to do is provide us with the money.

I'll pull the trigger.

But you've never even used that gun before.

So I'll practice this afternoon when I buy it.

It's been a bad year for the import business. The warehouse is going

No one will hear me.

Now, will you give us the money?

What if an innocent person is hit?

That would hurt solidarity.

Stefan had a plan, didn't he, Monica?

Yes. I was supposed to be there.

Why? Because I have a way with men.

I was supposed to draw our target apart from the other people. So there'll be a

clear shot.

Monica, you can't.

No.

Kashmir is right.

And I promised Stefan.

It's the only way to be sure that no one else is hit.

If the supporters of Solidarity don't start fighting, Poland will never be

from the communists and the Russians.

We have to go ahead.

Now, will you give me the money?

All right.

You ever heard of Solidarity supporters being violent?

Only the first time.

Oh, no. No, there isn't.

Some of those freedom fighters in that apartment, they're in a lot of trouble.

And so is your brother, even with the police sitting on him.

I'll call the rectory.

One, two, we've been hit!

Where's the shooter?

Firecrackers.

It can't be a diversion, can it?

The only place they're going to come from is the rectory.

You guys keep your guard up.

Where's Father Cosmire? Why is he on here?

We can't find him. He's gone.

Lieutenant Elmer. Brother McCall. McCall?

Is this one of your tricks?

What are you talking about?

The firecrackers, McCall. Your friend the priest just used them to give my men

the slip.

I'll be there at once.

Mickey, your brother's been...

Firecracker.

According to his housekeeper, these came from Father Kaufmeyer's death. He took

them off one of the parish children last month.

So he created a diversion to give your men the slip. Right.

Why? Where did he run to?

Do you know? If I did, I wouldn't be here.

Pick up.

Let me ask you something purely hypothetical, of course.

If a priest heard something in the confessional which led him to believe

say, his church was going to be bombed or a crowded theater, what exactly could

he do?

Well, that's almost the classic question from a great school catechism class.

He could ring the fire alarm and evacuate the building.

He couldn't say why.

Perhaps he couldn't be seen doing it. But if his actions in no way betrayed

he was told, but merely prevented it, he could act.

Do you think that Father Nick refused police protection and the protection of

even his brother?

Because he felt that even if he was being followed, this might be considered

have been breaking his vow.

Yes. So he went out to face whatever this is alone.

Only hypothetically.

Now, in my heart, I know it's true.

I suspected this from the start.

Well, whatever's going to happen is going to happen soon.

I've been tough to know.

Somewhere in this city, there is an event which these people who believe

they are supporters of solidarity are going to hit.

Give me downtown on the phone. Section 12.

Excuse us, Bishop. Come on.

We're going to try the cadet cabin and then to that apartment, all right? All

right.

My folks had a thing in the old country.

You give one son to the army, one to the church, and the rest you're trying to

keep alive.

If they heard him, they'd call him.

Stay out of my way.

I'm going to have a new hobby.

Vicki, you're a professional.

Act like one.

Select fire, not automatic.

There might be some vice -banders, and they may have families too.

All right?

Come on.

Let's go and find your brother.

You're clear. No one entered behind you.

Where's Kinski been all day?

Snooping around about the priest.

Did he and Kazimir buy the gun?

Right on schedule.

I had them count the money in front of me.

Their fingerprints are on every bill.

Then what was so important to break security now?

We've located the priest.

He's walking towards your apartment.

Stefan did compromise your operation.

We should have used all our assets last night. Then it wouldn't have looked like

Kinski did it.

Damn.

I should never have chosen Stefan.

If only I'd meant Kinski or Kazimir first.

Somehow I doubt that either of them would have been such gentle a lover.

I am the ranking Sputnik commander, and you will not comment on my personal

sacrifices ever again.

And you will never speak Russian in this country again, especially when you are

surprised or in pain.

I'm sorry. No, of course not. Please!

Very well.

The priest alone?

Yes.

Then the operation continues.

Tell them to kill him.

I've already anticipated that.

Good.

When the operation starts, move in to cover me.

There's Nick.

Go. Go,

go, go, go!

And cut!

Don't shoot him!

Took Stefan's keys when you were giving him the last rites.

The weapon isn't here, so you can't steal it.

Not that that idea would have done you much good anyway.

Better go. I don't think you quite know what you are up against here.

These amateur freedom fighters have obviously been infiltrated, presumably

the KGB.

The cyanide pipe is one of their specialities.

The night before he died, when Christ prayed at Gethsemane, he knew he was up

against the entire Roman army and a friend that would betray him.

He prayed for that cup to pass.

It did not pass.

I have spent my night at Gethsemane.

I pray to God that you will let me leave.

You're going to take the bullet, aren't you?

I can't answer that question.

I can't even ask you for comfort or courage.

Now, if you'll just let me go.

No.

So what are you going to do?

You mean as the time ticks by, I'll probably tell you what I know.

I know we have different beliefs.

You will destroy me.

If you don't let me go.

God's sake, Mickey.

I have seen you ready to throw your life away on a game.

At least let me use mine for something that matters.

Robert.

Let him go, Mickey.

What else can you do let him go

What

do you want Nick you want me to close my eyes and count to a thousand

I Want

you wait for ten minutes after I go

I can't believe we are really doing this.

I mean, it was like a story or a movie.

Not real.

Can you kill him in cold blood?

I mean... They killed Stefan in cold blood.

Yes, they did.

Let's go.

It's time.

Just stay here until it's over. And if anything goes wrong, you never really

knew it.

I just hope we are doing the right thing.

So do I.

Got it? Right.

That's all I can find.

Thank you.

Well, according to Kazimierz, he said that he was going to practice with his

weapon at a bankrupt warehouse.

Computer updates suggest there's only three of them.

We don't have much time, McCall. You start, Nick.

All right, sir. Let's try old country import.

It's the nearest.

Come on.

Excuse me.

Name, please.

Father Nicholas Kosmar.

United Ecclesiastical Charity.

Father Boltham has already gone up.

I don't have you down.

Really? We always travel in two.

You know, I thought that was just none.

You can go up anyway.

Thank you.

Eat clean.

So you are KGB.

Clean.

Wrong.

If I was, I'd be helping you.

The reason the KGB have never been able to discredit solidarity is that

solidarity has always prided itself on being non -violent.

No, I'm not KGB.

But I'm damn sure that one amongst you is.

Who? Come on, dear Jay.

Well, dear Jay, I don't know.

How could I know?

All intelligence organizations work to certain recurring patterns. The KGB is

exception. So you ask yourself certain questions. For instance, who amongst you

appeared to suffer most?

Who had the strongest proof of working for free Poland?

Which one of you protected very rarely and then protected more passionately

anybody else?

Monica?

No,

no. Not a traitor.

Far worse than that.

Agent provocateur.

This Monica.

Did she weep for her parents who had died under the hand of the government?

Her father died in a labor camp.

I really would doubt that. I would doubt that she's even Polish.

I would say most certainly Russian.

Trained from childhood, bilingually.

Spetsnaz commando.

Bingo.

What's that?

C4. Plastique.

Invisible to x -rays and enough to blow up this entire building.

I think it is.

Oh, yes.

Yes, indeed it is. It is.

What on earth did you think you were doing? God preserve us from amateurs.

Did you think you were planning a neat little blow for the freedom of Poland?

One little shot into the dark red heart of an enemy of solidarity. Is that what

you were doing?

Well now, that may have been what you've been sold on by this Miss Monica lady,

but that is not what is going to happen. I will tell you what is going to

happen. A bomb.

is going to be planted and he's going to kill a lot of innocent people and he's

going to have Solidarity's name written right across it.

And then all the hardliners in the Polish government are going to have an

excellent opportunity to crack down.

This stuff was planted, intended to be found by the police who are going to

turn over every single Solidarity support group in this city.

My God.

Indeed. Oh, my God.

Right.

Where have they gone?

A press conference for some international aid groups and a few

Off the record, very private.

It's the first appearance of the new Russian ambassador.

Oh, no, that's very clever, Mickey. That really is very clever.

He is supposed to be a moderate.

And the KGB would love to kill him. We found out about the meeting from a girl

at the embassy.

And she's a friend of Monica's.

Where are they?

U .S .F .A. mission.

Come on, Mickey.

We don't have much time.

Is that the planes up in the 80s?

Yes, the mission.

What are they carrying, McCall?

C4. Oh, my God.

Have to blow up the whole building.

Why? What the fuck?

Wait, what is it?

Don't you know?

No, I don't.

Solidarity.

Jessica Charles.

You go in I'll cover

Do you want this? No.

Nick, you all right? You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You see, God does have a purpose for everyone.

Thank me, God.

And thank you.

Sir, when you return home, just remember what the priest did for you, will you?