Original subtitles

[glass rattles]

[coughs]

They sure did a number on that car of yours, didn't they?

Shouldn't you be collecting some evidence to conduct your investigation, Officer?

We're responding to a call.

The investigation department will handle all that.

Will they be here soon?

Hard to tell.

Before Brezhnev's visit, everyone has more important things to do.

Can you arrest them though? Because I know who did it.

How would you know that?

Well, I saw him. It's Śliwa, the smelter engineer.

Śliwa…

-[coughs] -Yes, please write it down. Śliwa.

Why did you tell him that?

Śliwa was acting like he was trying to tell me something at the metal works.

It had to be a provocation.

So you agree that someone had to have organised it?

Of course, that's why I mentioned him.

[Zbyszek] You're unbelievable. They won't do anything to him.

They'll say he wasn't even here.

Yeah, but at least they'll know that I know.

[Zbyszek] What will that accomplish?

You can see how these little games end, with our car in flames.

You would prefer to keep schtum about who burnt your car up

to avoid trouble?

-[sighs] -[tense music playing]

I'm going to bed.

[door slams]

LEAD CHILDREN

A SERIES INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

[upbeat music playing]

[narrator] Efficiency, discipline and great training

are beaming out of these young militiamen.

And a parade is the best opportunity to demonstrate their teamwork,

individual skills, and the beauty of female militia officers.

Even science and technology are helping to hunt down criminals.

At the Forensic Department of the Citizens' Militia Headquarters,

the hardest cases are analysed by high-class specialists and computers.

Which are also very high! [chuckles]

The militiamen enjoy a great level of trust in our society.

That's why both the elderly and the young know who to turn to for help.

But let's remember a militiaman's work is difficult and demanding.

And that's why it deserves our respect all the more.

It was the same men that heckled me that burned my car.

They're worried about their jobs.

Yet no worries for their children's health, apparently?

They have no worries about hitting me with a rock.

Doctor, you see everyone does silly things out of fear.

Wiesia, look.

Śliwa burned my car,

but you truly believe he did that because he was scared, do you?

Śliwa's just always been so quiet.

And he quietly threw a stone at me yesterday.

What's that?

It's from Tafis. Karol is much better.

The professor discharged him

and said he should be taken to the countryside for a while.

[tense music playing]

-[Ziętek] God bless! -God bless, governor!

[Ziętek] What's new with you, Wilhelm?

Well, the weather is the weather, but it's great for fishing.

For fishing, Governor!

Ah! No time for fishing today.

-Ah. -Got a ton of paperwork.

Sure.

-[Wilhelm] Oh! -Yeah?

You hear what happened? You know about that mad doctor.

Do you know the one?

Her car was set on fire, it's entirely burnt.

Okay, when?

Oh, I heard it was actually just after the speech

that she gave over at the smelter.

[Ziętek grunts]

Oh, you fishy son of a bitch.

[phone rings]

Good morning, Comrade First Secretary.

[Gierek] If you're calling me, Zdzisiek,

this day is about to stop being nice. [chuckles]

What is it?

Edward. You're aware, you know,

I wouldn't bother you with anything stupid, but… [sighs]

We have… some trouble. [sighs]

Irresponsibility from Ziętek has provoked public unrest here.

[sighs] Well?

Yesterday, the metalworkers threw rocks and burned a car up.

Um… Edward. I am doing everything to stop this from escalating.

Do you remember what happened on the Coast in 1970?

And all this just days before the visit from Brezhnev.

PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE: PREPARATIONS ARE GOING AT FULL STEAM

So, I have here a written confirmation from the shift manager

showing that comrade Śliwa was working after hours.

Which means he couldn't have been outside your apartment at the same time.

If you don't believe me, here's the statement,

with a signature and a stamp. See?

GENERAL MANAGER

-Thank you. Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Mrs. Jola!

Mrs. Jola, I was told your car was burned, what a terrible situation.

My husband.

Zbyszek Król.

Master of Engineering Mycka.

So what are we going to do about the kids?

Because, look, you were supposed to try to convince the parents.

I'm looking at sanitoriums and the buses are ready.

-But after what happened yesterday… -More time is needed to convince them.

I know, but I have people and buses on standby,

and I could use them for something else.

Mrs. Jola. Perhaps I should cancel it.

Mr. Mycka, please do not cancel any of it. Tomorrow, someone will go.

All right, the buses will wait until ten.

Buses?

Yesterday, they broke our windows and burned our car to pieces.

Tomorrow, what will they do?

Karol Tafis has recovered and the boy is now at home.

-I have to go. -Jola!

[upbeat music playing]

-Hello. -Hello, Governor.

Is Comrade First Secretary in?

No, I'm afraid he's not. And his schedule is full today.

Ah, but he'll see me.

I'll wait here.

-[Jola] Hello. -Hello.

Hello.

Things have only just settled back down and she sticks her fucking nose in again.

-[knocks on door] -Come straight in!

-[door opens] -[Jola] Good morning, Mrs. Tafis.

Morning.

-I wondered if I might say hi to Karol. -He's playing out the back.

Where is he?

They didn't release him so he could stay home the whole time.

Professor Berger said to take him to the countryside.

And he'll go. In three days, to my sister's.

He cannot play around the marketplace. It's not safe!

Are you listening to me?

-[children playing] -Karolek!

Come over here, son.

-Hi, Karol. How are you doing? -I'm alright.

-Can I carry on? -[Mrs. Tafis] Yeah, go play.

He'll go in three days.

The other kids should also leave Szopienice.

Would you please talk to them?

But the parents can see that Karol's doing fine.

And he recovered because he wasn't here for a month.

[eerie music playing]

Hello.

Hello.

Come back! Piotrek!

What did I tell you? Don't do that!

Mrs. Pyrtek, say something, please.

What will folks say if it's just me sending Kaśka away?

I also sent away my kids.

As much as they may laugh, at least our kids will be safe.

She'd be too afraid to go without me, she won't go anywhere.

What's gonna happen if she doesn't go?

Loss of hearing, paralysis, even death.

I should go.

The buses will be there tomorrow at ten.

[baby crying]

Mrs. Buchta!

Please let me in!

Mrs. Buchta, the buses will be at the metal works at ten!

Can you hear me?

-[female voices murmuring] -Hey, kids, don't play in that bin!

Doctor Wadowska-Król!

The buses will be at the metal works at ten!

Hello. The buses will be at the metal works at ten!

Please bring your children, okay?

The buses leave tomorrow at ten!

[dog barking]

Mrs. Dziadosz!

Mrs. Dziadosz!

Mrs. Dziadosz! Please open the door!

Just know the buses will be leaving the metal works at ten!

Can you hear me?

[sighs]

You and the other men, would rather not listen, but to heckle,

and in place of speaking to me, would burn my car.

All these people like you refuse to move their families to a safe place,

meaning they'll all stay unwell.

-You should be ashamed! -[man] I should be ashamed?

The likes of you.

Coming here stinking of all your expensive perfume,

making out that you're somehow better than us.

People like you, Doctor, don't get it.

That smelter was built by my grandad.

The smelter has put decent food on our tables for years.

You're unable to hear us when we say people here get sick

because that's how life is here.

Our world's full of disease, pain and death.

You have never listened to us.

So what makes you assume we'll listen?

Whatever you think, tell your neighbours if you see them,

that the buses will be there tomorrow at ten.

[laughs] Come on, give it a rest, woman.

No one's coming.

[pigeons cooing]

[door closes]

[Gierek] Jorg?

-You in the capital? -As you can see.

-Greetings. -[Gierek] That's good.

Come on in.

[sighs] Jorg…

Three Silesian uprisings weren't enough for you?

You want a fourth one?

I'm too old for that, Edward.

Something happened.

[Gierek] I heard about it, but go on, I'm listening.

I probably could say it was a provocation.

That this could be slander.

I'll say I'm responsible.

We are just days away from the visit from Comrade Brezhnev.

It does not matter who's at fault, who's a saint.

It should be about managing this…

Shitshow.

[Ziętek sighs] That's right.

[Gierek] So you're saying, Jorg,

that you're too old for an uprising.

But perhaps…

Perhaps you're too old to govern Silesia?

Perhaps I am, Edward.

However, is this the right moment…

to…

[grunts]

-…let that dick… -[Edward] Grudzień.

I mean, Comrade Grudzień, govern Silesia on his own?

[panting]

The door's unlocked.

I'm going in. Wait here.

[porcelain clinks]

Joasia? What are you doing here?

I came here.

[door closes]

What's going on?

Well, actually, nothing. I mean, you guys panicked, I know.

And no one from Szopienice wants to send their kids away, so…

What was the point of me going away?

You ran away from your aunt and grandma. Do they know?

I told them you said it was okay over the telephone.

-Your dad's taking you back. -Sure, on a bike.

Push me away if you like, I'll just come back every time.

[Jola sighs]

Oh. Why is there a piece of cardboard instead of a window?

So in Lublin, you heard that no one wants

to send their children away to the sanatoriums.

Yet you didn't manage to hear that they burned our car,

they set fire to it and pelted us with rocks.

And on top of that,

it was done the people your mother wants to save by force.

[door slams]

Is that true?

I'm afraid so.

Aren't you a little mad at me at least?

When you leave to "take out the rubbish", then a little, but I get why you do it.

But you have to promise me not to swim.

[eerie music playing]

[door closes]

[Joasia giggles]

-Hi. -[both giggle]

Wait. For you.

Thank you.

So…?

-Shall we? -Let's do it.

[giggles] Come.

[laughing]

[sirens blaring]

So, here's last week's test results. For the professor, okay?

Wonderful. Of course.

[nurse] Ward nurse, we're back from the blood transfusion.

Everything will be fine.

Doctor…

Your husband threw a rock about this close to my head, you know.

My Kazik would never do that.

Niedziela made him do it!

-Hubert Niedziela? -[Marta] Yeah.

Well, he told Kazik if he didn't do it, he would…

He would arrest our son.

[tense music playing]

We'll go to the café?

Drink cognac, maybe dance a little?

And then you'll go to Śliwa.

What will you make him do now?

You set fire to the car, maybe the apartment next?

Ever since we met, strange things have been happening to me.

I'm aware you're a secret police pig.

But I'm not afraid of you.

[door slams]

[tense music playing]

[sighs]

BRIEFING NOTE HERMAN, ADAM

[door opens]

It's polite to knock!

No need to worry. I came to talk about your career.

How long since you were last promoted?

Uh… It must have been…

In January 1971. Three years ago.

Bit of a while ago.

Um…

It's burning.

Hm…

And I heard that you're ambitious.

Can I help you with something?

Mm! Very good.

[Adam] Officer?

I want to see the results

of the assessments you've been doing for Wadowska.

[drawer opens]

Here.

Um…

Would you like to see Wadowska's results?

Because there's something you may think is interesting.

[tense music playing]

[voices murmuring]

Mrs. Kurek is filing a denunciation today, what should she write about?

That I go around Szopienice saying Niedziela organised

the metalworkers to burn my car through intimidation.

-She's supposed to write that? Really? -I mean it.

Mycka will cancel the buses in five minutes.

I'm sorry, Doctor, no one is coming.

Everyone knows that little Karol got better,

and yet you still want the kids to leave.

There isn't any proof the smelter's poisoning.

There's plenty of results from assessments.

What other proof do they expect me to give them?

So…

I'm very sorry, Doctor, I…

must… unfortunately cancel the buses.

Boys, you can head off now.

-Wait, Doctor! The Pyrteks are here. -[upbeat music playing]

Two children are leaving, Mr. Mycka.

You have to be joking.

There's only two of them, we can't send a whole bus.

Mr. Mycka, you can rent out a helicopter for all I care.

What's important is that the smelter gets those children to the sanatorium today,

just like you promised.

[Kasia] We'll be alright. We'll see you soon.

Misiek, take this.

[Misiek] Thanks.

SZOPIENICE NON-FERROUS METAL WORKS

Even if you were forced to do this by Niedziela, you are still a common thug.

-But I'm not here to talk about that. -Coming here was a bad idea.

-Tell me what you meant about the draft. -I don't know what you're talking about.

You're not just putting me at risk, you're endangering my family.

-What is going on with the draft? -I'll explain!

I work the late shift tonight, but tomorrow come to my home.

-Last time you didn't let me in. -I will now. I swear I will.

-How can I believe you? -I swear on the health of my children.

I just… I implore you not to speak about this here. Alright?

[eerie music playing]

Very well, I'll be there tomorrow.

Your plan is a complete and utter disaster.

Ziętek is staying and they even asked me to stop undermining him,

to keep everything calm.

And so I've concluded, so to speak, that you are fucking useless.

And I thought I could trust you, Niedziela.

-I'll straighten it all out. -Please do straighten it out.

But it looks to me like Warsaw isn't… you know… right for you, Niedziela.

-[man] Sir? -[Niedziela] What? Not now.

I was stupid,

helping her to speak to the people of the metal works.

They burned her car…

and I was almost forced into retirement.

If you hadn't helped her, she would have spoken outside.

If you don't open the door, she'll climb through the window.

But she does not understand, this isn't the way.

That if she wants to achieve anything, sometimes you have to wait,

work from another angle.

But she examined about a thousand children, please,

she has proof of how bad everything is.

Krystyna!

Jolanta must keep quiet.

I'm sorry.

[grunts]

I'll suggest that she puts her focus on her doctor's thesis.

She isn't the type who likes sitting behind a desk, typing all day.

She will have to get used to it.

Because otherwise it's a disaster

for all of us.

[sighs]

[tense music playing]

[chuckles]

I KINDLY INFORM BUCHTA LISTENS TO RADIO FREE EUROPE AND VOICE OF AMERICA.

THESE RADIOS ARE FORBIDDEN.

DR. WADOWSKA IS SAYING THAT HUBERT NIEDZIELA

CONVINCED THE METALWORKERS TO BURN HER CAR AND BREAK HER WINDOWS.

PELAGIA KUREK

[door opens]

[Jaroszek] Major.

Only two kids left.

And the doctor talked to Śliwa.

What did the doctor want?

She was angry with me. She saw me by her car.

That all you talked about then?

-Yeah. -Kazik…

I'm not just asking you 'cause I want information,

I wanna know if you're lying to me.

She asked about… the draft in the chimney.

And…

if the smelter is polluting.

So is it then?

[scoffs]

What, like you don't know?

You will leave Szopienice by morning.

Uh… Hubert, my shift hasn't ended yet.

You no longer work here.

Time to fuck off outta Szopienice.

Because you'll lose more than your job if you're here tomorrow.

[sighs]

[Kazimierz] Here.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[door locks]

Would you go to your room, please?

[door opens]

[door closes]

Maybe you're right.

Why don't you move out? It could be good for us to take a break.

Jola, why didn't you want to tell me?

About what?

That we're having another child.

I wanted to, but…

[sighs]

You wouldn't ask my opinion, you'd say I should leave.

But I'd say no to that.

You'd have stopped talking to me, the kids would have been terrified.

-And they'd see everything. -Jola…

Whatever is going on, no matter how mad I am at you,

I am always right by your side, okay?

[sighs]

So, how are you doing?

I'm good, I'm just a little bit too tired.

I'm sorry, Zbyszek.

We definitely can't live so close to the metal works now.

I discussed it with Herman.

We can move in with them for now, and I'll look for something to rent.

So Herman told you?

[Zbyszek] Come on, it just slipped out.

So what should I pack?

[upbeat song in Polish playing]

Paris or Rome?

-Paris. -[women giggle]

You know, one day…

I shall visit these places.

[children playing]

Mr. Śliwa!

Wadowska-Król!

-Good morning. -Morning.

-They've all left, late last night. -Where to?

Their car was loaded up. It was near to bursting.

I'm sure you'll never see them here again.

Thank you.

[children playing]

[eerie music playing]

-Good morning. -Morning.

-Good morning, Doctor. -Good morning.

-Here -Thank you.

Good morning.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

[Professor] Good morning, Doctor.

Only two children went.

Seems I lost on all fronts, Professor.

I understand why you're resentful, but these things just take time.

You met with them once.

You need to meet again, and then again. In six months, someone will leave, yes?

[sighs]

I'm not sure I have the strength to fight for six months more.

[eerie music playing]

[pigeons cooing]

You have to burn it, Mr. Sonntag.

[Mrs. Tafis] Are you feeling okay?

Son?

Sonny? Karol?

Karol!

Jesus Maria! Dad, come!

Son!

Karol!

Dad! [sobs]

Well, you've managed to collect so much data

that I believe it's high time to focus on your doctor's thesis.

How is it going?

-It's all in my brain. -[Professor] You need to write it down.

From your brain to paper.

Nothing more is going to happen here for those children.

You did everything you could for them.

This is strong material,

which no one in the world has written about before.

[door opens]

[door slams shut]

-[Mr. Sonntag] Doctor! -[Mrs. Tafis] It's my son, please!

-Out of the way! -[door opens]

-Here, quick. -On the bed!

-[door closes] -[panting]

Please step back.

He's not breathing.

-Mm-hm. -Mm-hm.

[blows]

[Jola catches breath]

[blows]

-CPR. -[sobbing]

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

One, two, three, four, five…

-[emotional music playing] -[blows]

[Jola catches breath]

[blows]

[grunting]

…ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen…

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,

ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen…

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,

eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen…

[priest] We commend our little brother Karol into your hands

and we trust that together with all those who died in Christ,

he will take part in his resurrection.

We thank you for the life you gave to this child

and for the great gift of holy baptism, which opened the gates of paradise to him.

God, be merciful and hear our prayers,

and give us who remain on earth the power

to comfort one other with assurances of faith,

until we all meet in Christ and are forever united with you, our God,

and our brother, through Christ, our Lord.

-Amen. -Amen.

[priest] The Almighty God has reborn you from water

and the Holy Spirit to eternal life.

So let him complete the work he began at holy baptism.

[crowd whispering]

[Jola] I wanted to say something.

Karol's passed away…

and that's our fault.

Mine…

and all of you.

I suppose we shouldn't try to force joy onto people who don't want it.

Well, I tried.

[sighs]

But failed.

[Jola sobbing softly]

[priest] Your body was the temple of the Holy Spirit.

May God receive you into His glory.

[Mr. Sonntag] Doctor!

Doctor! [panting]

Wiesia once said you asked about the draft in the chimneys. Why?

-Do you happen to know Śliwa? -[Mr. Sonntag] Yeah, I do.

One day, he stopped me in the metal works and mentioned the draft and the chimney…

He was interrupted, and now he's gone.

How would the disease come into it?

[Jola] Well, I think they're connected, but we'll never know. Goodbye.

[steps moving away]

[tense music playing]

[voices muttering]

[Mr. Sonntag] Hi, Roman!

Condolences, Mr. Sonntag.

-Birds he gave you are nice. -[chuckles]

Yeah, beautiful.

And his number? He gave you that?

-Give me his number. -He's in Germany.

Hm. So I'll call him there.

[Adam] Like this.

[TV] …is cause for celebration.

Okay.

Go on, it's your move now.

[TV] …with such pomp, as the region has never seen before.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway.

All the proverbial ducks need to be in a row.

[knocks on door]

Good evening, I'm sorry for disturbing you so late, miss.

Can I speak to the doctor?

[TV] Thanks to them, Poland is growing stronger,

and its people are living better.

It's the priest. He wants you to come to the church.

-[music fades] -[clock ticking]

[phone rings]

-Hello? -[automated voice] International call.

-[Kazimierz] Hello, Doctor? -Hello, Jolanta Wadowska-Król.

[Kazimierz] Thank you for calling. I'm sorry I left so suddenly.

But I had to.

Doctor, could you go to my apartment?

Uh, but why would I need to go there?

[Kazimierz] There's a box on the tile stove in the living room.

You wanted a state-of the-art rolling mill.

And I got it.

You wanted a new furnace. And I got it.

You know, I do so much for you, and what?

Comrade Secretary, look, we're doing what we can.

You're doing shit if the metalworkers in Dresden are better than you.

How can I… [grunts]

…expect to tell Comrade Brezhnev that we here in Szopienice are the best?

[sighs] Honestly.

-Hello! -[static]

[silence]

What did he say?

[dramatic music playing]

Hello!

[man] You all right, Comrade Director? What are you doing here this late?

Well, Jacent, you replaced Śliwa.

-Yeah… -Hm.

The responsibility for improving our productivity is now yours.

Mm-hm.

Since you're responsible for this,

I assume you've been told how to increase the draft in the chimneys?

I'm aware that Śliwa used to remove half of the filters from the dust chambers

so they wouldn't block the draft.

And I imagine…

those filters block more than they clean, so it's better to remove them all.

[chuckles] No, how could that…

[both men grunt]

[Mycka] Careful, gently.

-[Jacent] Okay. -Okay. Grab them.

Good.

There we go.

Pull it out.

[smoke roaring]

THIS SERIES WAS INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

AND BY MICHAŁ JĘDRYKA'S BOOK" OŁOWIANE DZIECI. ZAPOMNIANA EPIDEMIA"

[upbeat music playing]