Original subtitles

I'm alright.

Good thing they didn't hurt you.

-Sleep. Okay, honey? -Mum.

Mum, the police station had so many women outside.

And Mrs. Wiesia was saying they all came to support you.

Sleep now, honey.

I'm sure you'll like it here, you know.

Wiesia's sister left for Germany and I don't think she's coming back.

Sleep, darling.

And while you were gone, Dad's friend from the hospital came by.

He said that pig Adam Herman is going to be the new department head, not Dad.

LEAD CHILDREN

A SERIES INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS.

Never before in the history of Poland

has the younger generation had such bright prospects as under socialism.

But to become a manager, a director or a member of parliament,

good grades and hard work are not enough.

Young representatives of the working people

must distinguish themselves through impeccable moral fibre

and serve as a model of socialist honesty.

The Polish United Workers' Party is addressing these problems

by setting an example for the younger generation.

Honesty and transparency are paramount here.

So it's no surprise that young people are joining

the Polish Socialist Youth Union in droves.

It won't be long until they obtain the coveted party membership card.

To the young citizens of our country, chin up, you are in good hands.

The Polish United Workers' Party will support you,

since our strength lies in the unity of the older and younger generation.

THREE MONTHS LATER

I haven't seen you in Targowisko in three months, Doctor.

I keep sitting at the dovecote thinking about all the kids who left here.

And soon all those children will be coming back, won't they?

Why are you telling me this?

If everything here is polluted,

I wouldn't think them returning's a good idea, right?

I have done my part.

You must take care of yourselves now.

But I tried.

I went to the governor's office, then to the metal works,

but they wouldn't talk to me.

They would just send me from director to director.

Let me say that…

I… now get…

how much work it must have taken to get

all those kids away and into those sanatoriums.

Why are you buttering me up, Mr. Sonntag?

'Cause we need to move everyone from Targowisko to new apartments.

And I reckon it can't be done without your help, Doctor.

There has to be a way to do it without me.

What did the secret police do to you?

Bye, Sonntag.

Monday, at 9 a.m. I'm going to see Mycka.

I'll find out how many apartments the metal works has.

The kids need to move out of Targowisko!

"In the cardiovascular system,

they take on characteristics of vegetative disorders…

expressed by a transient state…"

Uh…

-What? -No, no, no.

Darling…

What's wrong?

The kids are going back to Targowisko.

-They had to, eventually. -Yes, but they shouldn't be living there.

I… I will…

…make you some tea.

You can't move hundreds of households, it's just not possible.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

-Good morning. -Morning. I'll leave you two.

Hi.

They've been keeping me here for so long, 'cause when they started doing tests,

it turned out the problem is actually neurological.

So the lead poisoning thing was nonsense.

Of course neurological problems can be caused by lead.

I see your mum prepared you for this conversation.

-What's your problem with my mum? -Nothing.

But some things can be pretty easily solved if you're calm about it.

Okay, well when my mum tried to solve things calmly, they set our car on fire.

Sure but you know that hundreds of folks work at the smelter.

And this lead killed how many kids, Joasia?

There was Tafis.

But that boy could've had some other diseases.

When I speak to you, you always explain the world to me.

-Yet you don't seem to hear anyone else. -What are you saying?

I'm saying this is the last time I'll visit.

Girl, open up your mind to a different point of view.

You know what?

When you think about all this calmly,

you'll come to realise that my mum is looking after sick kids.

And your dad is secret police, Marek,

you cannot change that with some charming speech.

And in chapter two, I made some small, really small corrections.

But I think that… hmm…

Perhaps you should avoid the word "industry" in the title.

And those sources of emissions…

Jola, is something wrong?

The kids are coming back anyway, so what's the use in writing this?

Jola…

I know the best way you can help them.

Get your doctorate and treat them.

Rehoming is not our job.

This really could be a groundbreaking paper.

A scientist should have doubts, you know.

Put on those socks, buddy.

What's going on here?

Dad said we haven't been on a mountain hike in a while

and we have to go.

And he told me that Mum needs some peace and quiet

so she can focus on her doctoral thesis.

-Which version is true, Dad? -Both.

Everyone, I made you some sandwiches for the road,

and some apples.

Don't forget your teddy.

Jola.

I know you can't sleep because the children will be returning soon.

-So you and the kids are going walking. -Yeah.

And besides, at least our kids can't get accused of stealing matches.

Oh, I love you.

Thank you darling.

'Til the end of the world.

NON-FERROUS METAL WORKS

Good morning.

Doctor.

That was my post.

Good morning.

Congratulations on your promotion to director,

and thank you for helping us get the children away from here.

-Morning. -Morning. I was just doing my duty.

-Come in. Please, do come in. -Right.

And because you know how to fight for the folks here we, came to you.

Yes, what about?

The children mustn't go to Targowisko, because the whole area is polluted.

I am aware of the complications that arise from…

What we're saying is these families need new apartments.

Living next to the smelter isn't safe. For anyone.

How am I to move two hundred and fifty households, and to where?

Homes don't drop from the sky.

Perhaps Mr. Sonntag is planning on building them.

Mr. Mycka…

The metal works has its own housing cooperative.

Yes, but, you see, those apartments are for members of the cooperative,

who have waited for one of these homes for many years.

Would you give me the addresses of the housing estates

that the metal works cooperative is building?

I'm afraid I can't share that information with just anyone who asks for it.

In that case, goodbye.

But…

-Goodbye. -Goodbye then.

Ms. Krysia, please connect me with Major Niedziela.

There'll be no dinner?

Since you found out that the smelter's toxic,

the fish are getting heavier, too.

How can I help you?

Where can I find out

what apartments the Szopienice metal works cooperative is building?

No need to investigate them, I'll just tell you.

The cooperative is building on Strzelców Bytomskich,

at twenty-one, and…

building on the Rosedenski Estate.

They're building twenty-seven floor high rises over there.

-How many homes is that? -In total, about a thousand.

They'll be released over several… years.

Look, Mrs…

You want these homes for the folks in Targowisko, right?

Yeah.

Then you should remember,

those with authority, if they want to,

could crush any individual, but if…

there is strength around the individual,

they start to get scared.

I'm not sure I have the strength you mean.

I would say 250 households is some serious strength.

Thank you so much, Governor.

-Good luck. -Thank you.

God bless.

God bless.

I've come to talk to you mothers,

because your children will be returning very soon, to Targowisko.

So, their sickness is going to return too.

I am not just saying that they shouldn't come back to us.

I am telling you that none of us should be living near the smelter,

because it's unhealthy.

So I am saying to you,

the smelter should provide each of us with an apartment

so that all of our families can move away from it.

Right, but how's that gonna work?

They haven't built enough for everyone here.

So, apartments are being built by the city and the smelter.

But people in cooperatives wait for years.

-No one will just give them to us. -Yeah, no one will.

That's true.

Yes, I'm sure they will not just give us homes.

If we want these apartments, we will have to fight.

Fight?

Ladies, apparently we're going to fight the smelter!

Yeah. No, our job…

is to settle for what they offer us.

Because otherwise things will get much worse.

That's right! No one's ever won against the smelter.

For years, they have made the area toxic.

Previously, they might not have known it,

but now they are removing the filters so that production increases.

And that is a fact.

A fact that your children and families deserve to get a new home.

Yeah, but maybe it'll be fine.

My little one is all better now. I mean it.

Yeah. My kid is already healthy, and yours is feeling better.

-Yeah, my boy's better too! -Would you look at that?

All the kids are feeling better. Listen, ladies.

The filters'll get returned, it'll all go back to normal.

Putting the filters back in won't help.

Since everything around the metal works is contaminated.

Things can only be okay

if we can move all of us away from the smelter.

I want to go to the metal works' management

to fight for those apartments. But…

Since I shall go to talk about your apartments, ladies,

I would like to find out if you would go with me.

Mm… No.

My old man won't let me.

No. He won't let me.

What about the men? They'll lose their jobs!

I'd rather go instead of talking here.

It won't work.

Women!

Alone, I can't do this for you.

I'll come with you, Doctor.

I'll go too, Doctor.

-I'll come with you. -We're going, too.

-I'll go. -I'll go too.

Let's go, come on, girls.

I'm very glad.

I'm going, too.

-What's going on? -I did my best.

But the women are coming to the metal works.

-Get out of here. -Okay.

The metal works. Holy fucking shit.

-Mrs. Woźniak. -Mrs. Woźniak.

-Mrs. Pyrtek. -Mm-hm.

-Mrs. Tafis. -Mrs. Tafis.

-Fis… -Dziuba.

Dziuba.

-Majer. -Majer.

So, what are we going to do with them, Major?

-I shall start to scream, I swear it. -Leave it alone.

Your son was nearly killed because of the poison,

why don't you leave it alone?

-I just can't. -And I can't.

I do not want to hurt you.

If you don't leave this, it will end awfully for both of us.

I'm not doing it!

But you've got lead poisoning. Do you want to lose your baby?

Think it through.

Move your leg or I will scream.

Please, Jola.

The doctor wants to relocate the folks in Targowisko.

Over two hundred families.

The same doctor you said would never show her face ever again.

Sit.

-She can't pull it off alone. -Not alone.

But if she can get a few hundred ladies to join her,

we'll have a social movement on our hands.

That's why I came to ask for permission to use extraordinary measures

if we have to.

Use whatever you want, Niedziela.

Because if you don't silence the doctor, it's back to the works for you.

-Hello. -Where?

-There. -Let's go.

But…

-Hello. -Hello.

-Hello. -Hello.

-Here? -Yes, here.

Come on.

-God bless. -God bless.

-God bless. -God bless, Mrs. Pyrtek.

We're very sorry to be intruding on you like this.

It's just that we managed to get the smelter

to pay for a trip to visit our kids.

I'm from the smelter.

I organised the visit for mothers.

But you have to hurry, because the buses leave in an hour.

We could only get them for one day.

What about sleeping, are there beds?

Uh… yes, with the kids, you'll sleep with them.

It's paid for by the smelter.

-Really? That's good. -Yeah, it is good.

-I suppose I should get ready. -Yeah.

-God bless, Miss. -God bless.

Yeah…

-Who's there? -It's me, Sonntag.

-What happened? -Doctor…

All the women, they've left.

I heard a commotion outside.

So, I went out, and I saw some buses pulling into Targowisko.

Mrs. Woźniak said the smelter is taking them away to visit their kids.

So they won't be at the smelter tomorrow morning.

Those fuckers know absolutely everything, don't they.

Now we have to wait until they all return here.

-Hi, Hubert! -It's Niedziela to you.

Is this really that urgent?

Tomorrow, you're going to have dozens of women from Targowisko

who will demand apartments from the metal works.

They can demand all they want, we're not giving them any apartments.

If you don't understand the gravity of the situation, you'd better shut up.

How many apartments from the social pool are left?

I don't remember, I'd have to check… Hey!

Don't fuck with me!

Mycka, I know full well that you give away apartments for bribes,

so you have all the numbers in your head, man.

And I swear if you cheat me and it turns out it doesn't add up,

you'll be using your own cash from the drawer above the minibar

to make up the difference. You hear me?

We have twenty-six homes.

There.

There are some pretty angry women among them.

We need to pacify them.

Now, listen to me closely. Speak to their husbands.

Tell them these apartments are for their exemplary work, okay?

They must think that these apartments have been earned.

Will that do?

If the smelter gives away 26 homes, they'll relax, right?

And in a year, who'll remember this?

And the doctor?

Fucking hell!

These people are here to see you.

Hello. Please accept my apologies,

but no one informed me about your visit, Doctor.

-So I don't really know what to do now. -No, that's fine.

-It's a spontaneous visit, but… -Yes.

Uh, we didn't want to arrive empty-handed, so we thought we'd bring...

Uh… That is… Well…

Then I suppose…

Perhaps I'll ask you to follow me to the cafeteria.

Thank you, sir.

I'm sure it will be more comfortable to meet there.

She's here.

And there's also fellow with her.

She's about to go and talk to the mothers.

I didn't let her in, mind you. Absolutely not, no chance.

I've no idea how she got in.

Perhaps the kitchen? I've really no idea.

Yesterday they sent you here,

tomorrow they'll come up with something else.

This is the best moment to pressure the metal works for apartments.

-Maybe tomorrow? -Why tomorrow?

-Hang on, Doctor, May I say something? -Yes, please.

Listen up, ladies.

You don't want to live there anymore, do you?

Right!

So get up and do something.

Because if we don't do it today, then you won't get shit from them.

-Why are you so upset? -Because we gotta act.

I said no interruptions, right?

Comrade Secretary, you're here?

-What's going on? -Everything's under control.

Under what control?

I've been informed, so to speak,

that the women have already left the sanatoriums.

What are they planning?

Protests, tomorrow in front of the smelter.

They want to see the management about the apartments.

Well, if it's that doctor's doing, then why don't you arrest her?

Because if I arrest her, those women will come to the station.

I have a better plan.

Tell me.

We'll bribe the loudest of them with brand new homes.

When the others get upset 'cause they didn't get one,

they'll start bickering among themselves, the crowd will disperse. They'll leave.

And if it doesn't, Niedziela?

Well, if it doesn't, the Polish republic has a law for that.

Don't you start, Niedziela, with all that bloody law crap.

I made a promise to Edward of peace and quiet, yes?

Uh…

Thank you and I'm sorry for the trouble, I just thought it was best not to go home.

It's no trouble.

I don't quite understand this need to fix the world.

But your courage, I admire.

Alright, time to sleep.

You'll be needing your strength at the metal works tomorrow.

Tell me why are you're doing this?

Because it's right.

Good night.

Good night.

What do you think he'll say? He's gonna tell us why he gathered us.

Quiet, he's here!

Gentlemen!

Listen here! Um...

It's a beautiful day today.

Therefore, I bring you beautiful news.

It turns out that the smelter cooperative has an extra pool of homes,

and it just so happens that you gentlemen here today

are the ones who get those apartments!

What? You guys hear that?

Director.

Are you being serious?

-Or is this some joke? -No joke here!

The apartments are waiting just for you!

Bravo! To everyone!

It's a great joy!

A little more enthusiasm, gentlemen! Come on!

I always said, together we can do anything!

Bravo! Well done!

-Where you off to? -To the metal works. I told you.

About all of those apartments we're supposed to fight for.

-Darling, we've already got one. -What do you mean?

There was a meeting with Mycka.

He said there is a pool for outstanding employees.

So that means we got 52 square meters.

Who else got one?

Dziuba, Majer, Pyrtek.

Yeah. They're attempting to shut us up.

The doctor's also getting one.

More than 75 square metres, Greta.

Yeah? Was it the doctor herself who told you she was given an apartment?

Or could it have been some prick with a cravat?

I don't understand why you're fighting still?

For 251 apartments.

Just stop it, will you?

Our family has a new home, you don't have to go!

No, let me go!

Roman, you're a good man, you know.

I'm sure that you couldn't be bought for a measly 52 metres.

My dear. If the whole of the neighbourhood is being poisoned,

well then, everyone has to move out.

Not just us.

What's going on?

The doctor, as usual.

Maybe she's right.

Mum…

-Morning. -Good day for it.

-Good morning. -Morning.

I've come to speak to Director Mycka.

I'm afraid I can't let you in. Please submit a visitation request.

Please call the director and inform him that he should come down himself,

because we will not be moving until we have spoken.

I found Mycka! In the window! Look in the window!

Mr. Mycka!

The smelter's toxic, we want apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

What was it you said, Niedziela?

You are toxic, give us apartments!

"They'll bicker with each other, and leave."

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

-You are toxic… -Alright!

They know we're here. So we'll wait for them here.

Pardon me.

I wondered if you knew that some folks got an apartment already?

-Yeah. They did, yeah! -Who did?

Us! But I don't give a shit. They tried to bribe us with an apartment!

Yeah! They offered my lot one, but we didn't take it!

Yeah, even if you didn't take it, others have.

Wait, wait, wait! It was her!

She's the scab that told us to visit the children!

I did not, what are you talking about?

-It was her! -What are you saying?

-I know you're trying… -I didn't talk to you!

-Get out! -Will you just leave me be! Or I'm gonna…

We'll deal with them all!

Yeah! Bravo!

Let's separate them.

Have them send up a delegation.

Excuse me.

-Excuse me… hello. -Hello.

Uh… The director will speak to a delegation of you

and he politely asks the rest to go home.

We're here together and no one is going anywhere.

We're not going anywhere.

How about, the director comes to us?

-Yeah. -We aren't going anywhere.

-We won't move. -Have Mycka come out here.

So, I'll go upstairs, speak to the director.

-And we'll wait here. -Good idea.

-We'll be here. -Quickly.

It appears that they are going to stay here.

Niedziela, wake up.

Where is your ingenious plan?

This is Niedziela, positions.

MILITIA

Halt!

Left turn!

The Citizens' Militia orders you to disperse.

This gathering is illegal.

Please remain calm and return to your homes.

I repeat, the Citizens' Militia orders you to disperse.

Please remain calm and return to your homes.

Initiate!

Line forward!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

Yeah, that should disperse them.

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic…

What's on the menu today?

Meatballs. Thanks.

-Guys! Listen to me! -What?

Look out there, our women are outside the smelter!

And they sent a riot squad against them!

Wait, what have they done?!

-The militia's at them with truncheons! -Pick up whatever you can, let's go!

-Everyone! -Come on, everyone!

-Come on! Move it! -Let's go!

-Those fucking riot police! -Let's go!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

Look, what the fuck?

Sergeant!

Second platoon! Go around them!

Watch the rear!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apart…

-Turn on the water cannons! -Are you crazy?

Grudzień here. Hold back and wait for new orders.

You are toxic, give us apartments!

It can't wait! It'll be too late if we don't act soon.

Just shut up!

This is getting out of hand. Even for me.

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

You are toxic, give us apartments!

Abort the operation.

-You are toxic… -Received. Pulling back.

Platoon! Get ready. Left turn, march!

Let's go.

-Wait! -You are toxic, give us apartments!

There you are!

You go and tell them the metal works will take care of it all.

Apartments will be given to everyone.

Where am I going to get 251…

What don't you understand, Mycka?

Get a fucking move on!

Alright, I'll go.

The director's here!

There he is!

Director Mycka is here! Come on, come on, girls.

Hello.

Morning!

-Good morning all, thanks for coming! -Morning!

I'm here to share some brilliant news today!

You'll be getting apartments!

That's right.

Yesterday, we only had 26, but I personally…

made the right decision to telephone the First Secretary and he…

Mr. Mycka, please stop trying to charm us and just tell us

if the apartments are for every one of us here.

I pledge, there's one for everybody!

Bravo!

It would be wonderful to have that in writing.

-Exactly! -That's right!

So we'll draft the appropriate documents today.

And so perhaps…

Ladies, you can go to your homes.

Workers, you can all get back.

-And the delegation is invited for tea… -No, the delegation's happy to wait.

In fact, we'll all wait, yes?

Well, in that case, I'm…

going to head… to call some people!

-Yes, good. -Go on!

We did it, Doctor! We did it!

Very good. The most important thing is that we stay as a group,

that we stick together, unanimously, absolutely.

It's very important that we stay as a group, okay? Yeah.

-What's wrong? -Oh gosh, what's wrong?

-Doctor! -My water's broke!

Please get an ambulance!

A bit longer.

Push. Push some more.

Hold on.

Push, push.

-Alright, stop pushing. -Breathe.

Breathe for a moment. Breathe.

Breathe deeply. Take a big breath.

-I can't do this. -Deep breath.

-Now! -Take a breath.

And push hard!

Keep going!

Okay, stop pushing.

Breathe calmly, breathe.

Breathe, breathe.

There it is.

Easy, easy…

Much harder!

It's not…

Breathe...

Okay...

Oh, God…

It's a little girl, Mrs. Wadowska-Król.

A beautiful girl.

Today, we are starting the defence of the doctoral dissertation of Mrs…

Uh… Mrs. Jolanta Wadowska-Król.

We welcome you warmly. Please, do sit.

To begin, I would like to ask the reviewer to ask a question.

Over to Professor Marian Konieczny.

I have no questions for you.

It's hard to have any questions about this dissertation.

Firstly, In my opinion, the dissertation is simply… quite bad.

To be honest.

Secondly, I don't understand why we've even gathered here today,

because, to be frank, there's nothing we could defend here.

Professor?

I share a similar sentiment.

The piece is chaotic, all based on assumptions and speculation

and not on documented scientific facts.

Could you give some detail?

That's the problem. The lack of detail within your piece

was its biggest weakness.

Four and a half thousand children were examined,

over a thousand had lead poisoning.

-That's not detailed? -No.

No, that's speculation.

Please, Professor, won't you say something?

Professor?

I agree with the previous statement.

-Good morning. -Hello.

Professor?

Professor, you knew.

Of course I knew.

How could you?

Imagine you had an option of a single doctorate

or brand-new beds for eighty children in a newly built wing in my clinic.

What would your choice be, Jola?

Dear and esteemed comrades and citizens.

I speak to you all to address

and report to the people of this country, what we have managed to make happen.

Our achievements, for our employees good,

the region and our proud land.

NEW CLINICAL WARD

In 1974,

the value of industrial production

in the province of Katowice doubled.

Let us take a look at our metal production.

The latest technology…

JOB TRANSFER

…has made its way into our region's plants in recent years.

It has helped us to reduce the emissions of harmful substances,

which are a byproduct of a developing industry,

which has an impact on our natural environment.

Let us take, for example, the problem at the Szopienice metal works.

I think you're too small. You have to grow some more I'd say.

The thoughtlessness of certain individuals nearly caused…

Arsehole.

…a disastrous tragedy for the children.

And yet, fortunately,

my team discovered the problem

and didn't hesitate when taking immediate, and appropriate, relevant action.

Niedziela!

You came back after all, huh?

The people responsible for these oversights

have been severely punished for their negligence.

Caring for the sick children of our workers is a priority for me

so I sent the children to the mountains,

for them to rest and convalesce in sanitoriums for a while.

Yet our aid did not stop at sending the sick children away.

I've personally come to the decision

to demolish the Targowisko neighbourhood in Szopienice,

which was threatened by contamination,

and to place the 251 families living there

in newly built apartments.

Our bond with society is our main source of strength,

as well as the basis for the righteousness of our policy

and its and its acceptance by the working people.

Because for the Party, the well-being of the working people

must stay forever as our first concern.

The Party! Grudzień! The Party! Grudzień!

The Party! Grudzień! The Party! Grudzień!

The Party! Grudzień!

The Party! Grudzień!

The Party! Grudzień!

The Party! Grudzień!

That's our doctor, yeah!

In the 1970s, lead levels around the plant exceeded safety limits a thousandfold.

Recent research indicates that even though the smelter was shut down in 2008,

lead levels around it still exceed the limits set by the WHO.

Grudzień was expelled from the party in 1981 and died of a heart attack.

Governor Jerzy Ziętek lived to be 84

and died four years after Zdzisław Grudzień.

Jolanta Wadowska-Król treated children in Katowice until 2011.

After retiring, she started travelling

and visited all the places she had dreamt of.

She never defended her dissertation, despite the unique scope of her research.

In 2021, the University of Silesia,

in recognition of her service in saving the children of Szopienice,

awarded Jolanta Wadowska-Król an honorary doctorate.

THE SERIES WAS INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS

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