Original subtitles

THE ABDUCTRESS

Where is he?

In Essen,

where I gave birth to him,

where he was handed over.

Who to?

To some people who couldn't have children.

I never met them.

Did you never try to find out what became of him?

No.

Why did you never tell me?

Why...

now?

It's complicated but I will tell you.

But...

the father?

I don't know who he is. I never tried to find out.

How old was he?

No age, eight days.

But why?

I didn't want a child.

It was inconvenient.

I was too young. It was too much of an inconvenience.

I was 19.

Everyone wants an eight-day-old baby.

It doesn't matter whether it's yours or not.

- What are you thinking about? - You.

When did you go there?

Eight days ago.

It's only natural.

You create something and one day you want to see it,

to see how it turned out.

- Six years later? - Yes.

Did you go to his foster parents' house?

Of course not. Are you crazy?

No, I just saw him in the street. They didn't see me.

They don't know me.

I just wanted to see him, that's all.

It's weird they never adopted him. I would have agreed to it.

I don't like the idea of you going to see him.

I knew you wouldn't. That's why I went alone.

Has it come to this?

I was curious, that's all.

Tell me,

why didn't you tell me before?

Why now?

Because now is when I decided to tell you.

He's still on my mind.

Why deny myself the chance to see him?

Now or in six months, what's the difference?

What do you mean by "on your mind"?

There isn't a month,

a week,

or even two days that go by without me remembering.

I'm not saying I actively think about him,

but I remember that he exists,

that he still exists.

So nothing has happened to make you forget.

- Right? - Probably not.

I'm not sure.

Surely after two years you weren't expecting

our love to stay the same

and drive us wild like it did at the start.

You shouldn't have told me.

You know...

It's like talking about death and seeing a corpse for the first time.

I would have kept it to myself.

Sometimes I think I've had too much love.

In what sense?

I haven't kept enough back.

It's as if I've experienced too much already.

Does that idea bother you?

We've discussed that before.

We discuss everything.

Men and women talk to one another

but it's never quite the same.

Well?

Only you can say whether you have experienced too much too soon.

You leave me too free to think about what I want.

- Do you wish I was stronger? - Sometimes.

Look what I bought.

He wasn't doing any harm.

I don't like dogs.

Weren't you working this afternoon?

- Haven't you been out? - No.

I hung about here and tidied up a bit.

What are we doing on Sunday?

Whatever you like.

- Don't you have any ideas? - No.

- Why don't we go to the match? - If you like.

I wanted to kiss your shoulder.

What are you doing?

Looking at myself.

I think I've lost weight. Do you agree?

No.

- What's up? - I left early to come and find you.

What's the rush?

Tell me what's on your mind.

I agree that it's important for you to talk to me.

Do you think I'm capable of taking this child

from his carers of six years?

No, I don't think you're capable.

But before, before I told you this story,

did you think I was capable of abandoning a child?

Imagine if someone had said to you,

"Your wife abandoned her child when she was young."

- Would you have believed them? - No.

And yet you know me well.

Answer me. Do you know me, Werner?

What is it you wanted to tell me?

I wanted someone who knows me well to tell me

I'm not capable of taking this child from these people.

Don't you know it yourself?

I mean...

To think I was capable of doing such a thing when I was young.

I want to promise you I won't hurt these people.

Do you hear me?

- Is that why you came? - Yes.

Then do it now. Promise me that you won't hurt these people.

I promise.

If you did hurt them, Julia, I might not love you anymore.

That would be terrible.

I want to have a child with you.

You'll never have that other child. Do you hear me? Never.

If those people die I will.

Stop talking nonsense. You'll never have him.

We must have a child.

Three months ago

I thought I was pregnant.

It had an effect on me.

That might be what triggered everything.

However hard it is now,

when we have a child you'll be less unhappy.

I'm not unhappy. That's not it.

On the contrary.

Perhaps.

It would be awful, wouldn't it?

It would be a crime.

Carlo!

Carlo!

What was that?

What is it?

Oh, something silly.

You wouldn't understand.

Probably not.

Pack your suitcase. We're leaving.

Where to?

We're leaving the country. I'll pack my job in, I don't care.

We should have left a month ago.

Why would someone just throw it into the garden?

Are you telling fibs, Carlo? It's too early for Father Christmas.

- Did you see anyone? - I know who it is.

It's a blonde woman in a raincoat.

She's been hanging around here for a few days now.

- I'm worried about my son. - I understand.

I don't want him walking here on his own.

I'll bring him in and pick him up. I'm relying on you.

- Of course. Don't worry. - See you later, and thank you.

French bookmakers took a record 65 million

and the finish was the most eventful ever

with Petit Ameuil driven into third place by Querido.

A record-breaking win...

Don't worry.

What are you trying to do?

Nothing.

This can't go on, Julia.

I know you'll go back again and there's nothing I can do.

Nothing.

I don't think...

I don't think I can help it.

I just need to see him. That's all.

What is to be done?

I don't know.

You disgust me, Julia.

If you want I can move out.

Snap out of it, will you?

Let's go out. I can't stay indoors.

If you like.

Come and eat first.

- Radek. - What?

We are all careless to a degree,

but in a case such as this such carelessness is unforgiveable.

All you can hope for now is to be allowed to visit on occasion.

It's too late now.

You never applied to adopt the child.

Legally, the mother has every right to take him back.

Carlo?

Wait for your mother at the school gates.

You will go home with her. Do you hear me?

Carlo?

Carlo, how many times do I have to tell you?

I don't want you going outside.

I won't have you going out on your own.

Don't do it again.

Excuse me, please.

- Who do I see about this? You? - No, sir.

Well, who, then? It must be someone.

Can no one here tell me where I need to go?

- I'm afraid it's not here. - Give it back.

Try the information desk.

You want help but you won't listen. You're testing our patience.

Get lost!

You're all staring at me but no one will help me.

- Help me. - Gladly, but how?

We can act as witnesses but what good will it do?

- What about you? - I can't help you.

- No, nothing. - Calm down.

Put yourself in the poor woman's shoes.

Accept it.

You always think you're right but the law is stronger than you.

What law?

I want to stay here.

No.

There's no need to be scared.

I want to stay here.

I have no love left.

I don't care.

It's funny but I only love him.

That little tyke.

That little boy.

That little boy.

It's funny.

I know what I'm doing.

Don't think...

That little boy or another.

Don't think that...

It's...

...the idea of it.

Do you see?

It's the idea of it.

It's so powerful.

You have no idea.

It's strange.

You know?

What are you doing? I don't want to go home.

Yes, you do. Come on.

I'll let you come back here.

Really?

But I am all out of love. You too?

Never mind that. Come on.

- Forget it. We're locked in. - You lied to me. You lied!

Yes, but you lied first.

- When? - When you gave him a lorry.

Idiot! I wanted him to have toys like everyone else.

No.

- Come to bed. - No.

- Come to bed. - No.

- No! - Come on!

I can't take any more. You disgust me.

I don't care.

Stay still.

I detest you. This is rape!

You can say what you like. It won't stop me.

You said you'd let me out after three days.

Having another child isn't going to work.

It will make things worse. You don't get it.

It will be awful, you'll see.

Do you know what you're doing?

Do you?

You're throwing me at these people.

Do you hear me?

I hear you.

So be it. At least I'll have tried everything.

So this is about your conscience. You just want a clear conscience.

No.

I've got to go out. I'll have to lock you in.

I'll throw myself out of the window.

I said, I'm going to jump out of the window.

No.

You have never had such a strong desire to live.

Not even when we met.

I feel so foolish but I'm locked in.

I wasn't paying attention.

Someone locked me in and left with the key.

Mr Kostrowicz?

Open the door, Mr Kostrowicz.

I want to talk to you. It's not what you think.

Mr Kostrowicz?

Mr Kostrowicz?

I was 19 when I handed him over to you.

Life hasn't been as easy as I thought.

Mr Kostrowicz, I know you can hear me.

I couldn't keep my son when the midwife gave him to you.

I know this reasoning will seem strange to you

after six years.

But I'll explain it to you and you'll understand.

Mr Kostrowicz!

We could get along, you and l.

We're his parents.

I could take him back from time to time.

We could have him three days each.

We could come to some arrangement.

I will never forget what you have done for him.

I'm not like that.

I had no job, you see.

No flat.

I hadn't told my parents.

And I had no idea who the father was.

I said to the midwife,

"I'd like some nice kind people to look after him for a while,

"just until I sort myself out."

He's my child.

So what if you've wiped his bottom for six years?

So what if you love him? I couldn't care less.

He's my son. I made him.

I need him. I'm going to take him.

I need him now.

I don't care what you think of me.

I was wrong to abandon him but I can't help that.

I want him. I need him.

Do you hear me, Mr Kostrowicz?

- Mr Kostrowicz! - Julia!

Do something, I beg you.

Calm down.

What can I do?

You can't do a thing if he won't talk.

What?

- Radek Kostrowicz? - Yes.

I am Julia Fleischmann's husband.

What do you want?

You never tried to adopt Carlo.

It's too late now. He's rightfully hers.

What do you want?

- Your help in finding a solution. - There is no solution.

You could share the boy between you.

- Have him one week each. - No.

Even a week a month would mean a lot to her.

No.

There's no point in resisting. You must know that.

She should never have had him.

She didn't want him. He's mine now.

Don't get me wrong, Kostrowicz.

I'm on your side.

But if you won't listen to me, I'm going to have to help my wife.

Get lost.

Get lost!

Leave, Kostrowicz. Leave town.

Don't you want to eat? Aren't you hungry?

Aren't you eating?

I'm hungry, starving.

Do you think it's being pregnant that's making me hungry?

I don't know.

Don't you care whether I'm pregnant or not?

Yes.

Right.

Those people can't be very clean.

The Poles aren't very clean.

I've always known that.

They hadn't washed the boy's hair for at least a fortnight.

I love you but I could kill you.

Mr Kostrowicz,

I am the lawyer representing Mrs Julia Kreuz, nee Fleischmann.

In an attempt at reconciliation

the opposing side has sent me to see you

to try to settle this affair amicably.

The child's mother wants me to act on behalf of the child,

Carlo Fleischmann.

Be reasonable, Mr Kostrowicz. Let's agree this amicably.

Agree to return the child to my client

and Mrs Kreuz...

Life is awful, Carlo, and people are animals.

I warn you, Mr Kostrowicz, I am serving you notice

to return the child, Carlo Fleischmann,

to his lawful mother within 36 hours.

Mr Kostrowicz,

don't make us have to ask the police to remove the child.

Let go of me!

He won't listen?

We'll see about that.

Thank you.

He leaves us no choice but to call them,

the police.

No, give me three days.

What?

No.

You'd rather involve the police? As you wish.

It will be awful, Julia.

Awful.

It's a crime.

It's them or me, Werner.

Come on, let's get dressed and go for a stroll.

Come on.

- Carlo? - Daddy!

- Carlo! - Daddy!

We've got plenty of time. I know this train.

It's a slow train.

Sorry, but you must return this child to its parents.

Let him go.

What's he doing up there? There are no works planned.

- He's been up there since five. - What's he waiting for?

Call security.

What?

That's Kostrowicz all right.

The police met him of the train last night.

- The kid's mother took him back. - He says he won't come down.

- Why? - He works in the cookhouse.

He wants his kid back first.

Werner?

Carlo?

We'll go shopping later.

I'll buy you a toy.

Eh, Carlo? What shall I buy you?

Tell me.

An electric train?

A lorry?

A red lorry?

Or a new toy car.

I'll buy you a toy, Carlo.

A toy, Carlo.

We'll go to the circus later if you like.

There's a big circus with horses and lions.

Bears too. Do you like bears?

I like bears.

And clowns.

This won't last. We'll get used to one another.

We all get used to one another.

Anyone who says otherwise is prejudiced.

Don't you want to play, Carlo?

When are we leaving?

I told you, in a few days' time.

As soon as the car is fixed.

We'll go to the seaside.

We'll go on a boat. We'll all go on holiday together.

Look at all these houses here.

There's a beach there. You can play in the sand.

Perhaps you're too old now to make sand pies.

Perhaps you're too old...

Out of the way. Let's open the window.

A bit of fresh air will do us good.

That's right.

I don't open it often but it's nice.

We'll leave.

Such an unusual and desperate situation.

Polish factory worker, Radek Kostrowicz

could find no other way to attract attention.

"l won't come down till I get my kid back,"

he told anyone who tried to approach him.

So far any attempts to reason with him have failed.

It is impossible to seize him by force.

Accessing the 100m high platform is extremely dangerous

and there is only room for one person at a time.

As long as this man's intentions remain unchanged,

it will be impossible to coax him down.

How long will he last? Is there a solution?

The only possible solution seems to lie

with the couple who reclaimed the child.

I knew it wouldn't be easy.

The first 24 hours are the hardest.

- You mean...? - Carlo.

No developments in the Kostrowicz case.

The Polish factory worker is still perched 100m up a chimney

and refusing to come down until he is reunited with the child

the police returned to the mother last night.

The images you see were taken late morning by our cameraman

who flew over the factory in a helicopter.

The man must have thought it was a new attempt to seize him

because he soon reacted, as you're about to see.

Things have now evolved to such an extent

that people are fearing the man will carry out his threat.

Besides the danger he is in,

there is the risk he will have an accident and fall.

From the factory and the town council

appeals have been made to the child's mother, Mrs Kreuz,

apparently without success.

We'll be late for the circus.

Are you leaving us?

I need to be alone. I can't take any more.

See you this evening.

10,000 people are thought to have gathered at the factory,

a silent crowd awaiting the outcome of the fight

led by Kostrowicz for the return of his child.

Kostrowicz has been there for 12 hours now.

How much longer can he last?

One thing is certain: public opinion seems to be in his favour,

not that the parents of the child have shown their faces yet.

Mrs Kreuz, the child's real mother,

gave him up when she was 19.

Now, after six years, she wants him back.

Do you think she has the right?

No, not at all. She has no right.

The man is in the right. He has brought up the child.

I agree. Personally, I think that if a mother gives up her child

she gives up any right to him.

I agree that 19 is a bit young to have a child

but she could have got a job.

We were talking earlier about the legal aspects.

What do you think of this man, Kostrowicz,

who has waited all day to get his kid back?

I say it's blackmail.

If we climbed a chimney every time we were unhappy about something,

where would we be?

I'm worried about the child. He was a happy child.

Can you imagine how he feels now?

This woman, Julia Kreuz, got the police involved.

I'd be ashamed of myself if I were her.

She could have any child.

There are tons of kids in care waiting to be adopted.

But no, she has to have this one.

I'd like to know this woman's background.

It's the same old story,

getting rid of the unwanted child.

If only we had accepted birth control here like elsewhere,

there'd be fewer accidents and fewer unhappy kids.

- Are you Mr Kreuz? - No.

Oh, you're back.

He's asleep.

He cried.

You're home late.

He says he'll jump tomorrow at 6am

unless he gets his child back.

Kostrowicz has declared

that if he hasn't got his child back by tomorrow at 6am,

he'll jump.

This news was first broadcast one hour and 35 minutes ago.

Earlier the mother said she intended to claim her rights to the child.

There are just under ten hours to go until dawn

when it is looking likely

that Kostrowicz will indeed carry out his threat.

What time is it?

Nine o'clock.

He's had supper.

He played with the dog.

It won't take long to console him.

He loves the dog already.

What about you?

It will come.

I wanted to ask you, Werner... Let's leave.

Anywhere, right away, let's go.

What are you scared of?

That Carlo gets bored of these people.

I'll wait here with you.

For what?

The end of this saga.

It's blackmail. It's terrible, Werner.

It's hard.

That's true.

I'm not convinced leaving will stop your child from crying.

What do you mean by that?

- I want to admit something to you. - No.

- As you wish. - What's wrong with you?

Is the declaration you made to the journalists true?

Yes.

You did the right thing.

It's terrible blackmail.

Please! You have no right to criticise that man.

You don't know what it's like.

I'm sorry.

Come and eat.

Right.

Are you pregnant, Julia?

No.

I thought I was but I'm not.

When I came out of work, people were staring at me.

Women were staring at me.

They think I'm a bastard.

Don't you think that's awful?

It will pass.

In time they'll think nothing of it.

What do you plan to do?

What do you mean?

Over the next few hours.

I hope, as you do, that he will understand,

that he will come down.

What would you do if you were him?

Do you see me being childless now?

Would you understand?

What?

That he had no choice in the matter?

It's true, try as I might.

What did you expect me to do, Werner? What?

- Would you jump or come down? - I'd jump.

We could leave him there,

Carlo.

We could leave him there regularly,

twice a week.

If he lives, we'll do that.

What else can we do?

Nothing.

Stay put.

Nothing but wait.

How can you stand it?

Let's leave, Werner.

No, it won't be long now.

I'm leaving with Carlo. I'm taking the car.

No, you're staying here.

But why? Why torture ourselves?

Since you're not indifferent

I can only hate you.

Do you understand?

Yes, I do.

You warned me.

It's two o'clock.

Spotlights have been fitted on either side of this chimney

to keep an eye on Kostrowicz's every movement.

Needless to say,

everyone is anxiously awaiting the first light of dawn

in just under six hours.

I want you to tell me

something you've never told me.

Anything you like.

When you told me about Carlo...

- Talk to me, Julia, please. - Shut up.

No, I can't. Tell me.

I've told you everything. Calm down.

You obviously don't love me enough.

We don't love one another enough.

You said that to me once.

Do you remember?

You said love wasn't enough.

That was it.

That was definitely it.

What is it that you want?

I want to understand. I don't understand anything anymore.

How has it come to this?

I knew I'd be alone in the final hours.

I haven't left you yet, Julia.

You have.

You've left.

Perhaps. I don't know anymore.

I don't care whether he jumps or comes down, Werner.

Do you think he'll come round? I couldn't care less.

All I'm asking is that you leave me. Go away, Werner.

Go away until tomorrow.

No.

He's fast asleep.

It must be wonderful to sleep so deeply.

People are saying...

"She abandoned him for six years,

"like a suitcase in left luggage,

"and after six years she wants him back.

"Her husband helped her."

Whereas you did everything you could to stop me.

It's disgusting.

They're saying, "Tons of kids are in care.

"What makes that child hers?

"Why does she need that one?"

This guy kept saying, "What makes that child hers?"

I told him the love of a child was stronger than anything else.

- It sweeps everything else aside. - Be quiet.

You know how naive people can be.

I made a mistake, Werner.

I had this child...

at the height of my youth,

when I was completely deluded.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

When I thought life could be created,

just like that.

I believed in merit.

I thought a life could be a success or a failure,

like a battle.

I thought I had the power to effect that.

I decided to discard anything that stood in my way.

I wanted to do and see everything,

to try everything.

I thought love was born of love,

that all men were the same,

that all children were the same,

that the world was full of prejudice no matter how modern it seemed.

Then one year,

two years, four years passed

and I met you, Werner.

And then...

I'm listening to you, Julia. Carry on.

I felt so loved, I thought you were the solution.

But then...

I couldn't find a way to enjoy that love

in such a way

as to not need anything else.

How do you inject love into every hour of every day?

I never worked out how.

Julia...

when you said that wasn't the solution...

I deceived you.

It didn't make sense. It was you that I loved.

It's you that I love, Werner.

Please forgive me.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

What's that, Julia? Look.

It's dawn.

What time is it?

- I don't know. - My watch says 4:30.

The time will be 4:35 precisely.

- Julia! - No!

- You've gone white as a sheet. - I'm with Radek Kostrowicz.

I'm on Radek Kostrowicz's side.

At the fourth stroke it was exactly 4:50am.

Here is the news.

On today's two main stories:

there have been three air raids in the past few hours in Vietnam

but the outcome is not yet known

and there are no developments to report in the Kostrowicz affair.

Everyone is still anxiously waiting.

No one dares move a muscle.

Remember, the deadline Kostrowicz gave

for carrying out his threat

expires in less than two hours.

We now know the mother has refused point blank to return the child.

She claimed she would not be pressurised by events

which are tantamount to blackmail.

That's all we know for now...

- No! No! - Let me.

Julia!

- No! - Let go! Julia!

I want you to make a sacrifice and return the boy to Kostrowicz.

No.

Wait a few more years.

Wait till he turns 12, an age when he can choose.

Never.

You'll have another child, Julia. Be patient.

You're being impossible, Julia.

I don't care. Let him jump.

Give me the key to that room.

Give me that key. You're not his mother.

I am. He's mine.

Without me Mrs Kostrowicz would never have had a child.

We'll end up hating one another, Julia.

I know. I don't care.

You'll be alone with this child.

You'll feel terrible remorse.

You don't yet know what it's like to love a child.

What do you know, you bastard?

I know from Radek Kostrowicz.

What will you tell him when he asks for his father?

Shut up.

What will you say to him?

That you killed him so you could have him back?

Never.

He'll never know.

Never.

Oh, he'll find out.

I'll tell him if no one else does.

I will.

Do as you please.

You're on your own.

Apply your own moral standards, alone against the world.

As you see fit.

SUBTITLES: RED BEE MEDIA FRANCE