All language subtitles for Niezwykla.Podroz.Baltazara.Kobera.1988.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-TRiP_Legendas01.ENG

RONDO FILM STUDIO AND
JECK FILM PRESENT

IN A POLISH - FRENCH PRODUCTION

TRIBULATIONS OF BALTAZAR KOBER

Take me to a happy place,

from where no one returns.

Where distinguished minstrels
sing endless songs.

Take me.

Yes,

I’ll take you to the happy
place of the living.

The time is coming.

Haven’t we drunk
all the misery

and all the joy?

My love, call my name.

You know I will come.

Do you know who I am?

You are...

Gabriel.

Walk through that fire.

TRIBULATIONS OF BALTAZAR KOBER

SCREENPLAY
AND DIALOGUES

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY

FRENCH DIALOGUES

WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF

PRODUCTION

MAKE UP

COSTUMES

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

INTERIOR DESIGNER

EDITED BY

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MUSIC

PRODUCTION MANAGER

CINEMATOGRAPHY

DIRECTED BY

May the pensive be blessed.

And those who are happy,

steadfast and wanting,

joyful and worried.

May they find comfort
against otherness,

against all the miseries of love.

Our beloved angels.

If we listen carefully,
we will hear them breathing.

Mother often complains
about you.

Stepmother doesn’t like me.

You’re daft. She loves you.

What are you thinking about?

I met Archangel Gabriel

on the road today.

He told me to purify
myself in the fire.

Then I entered Jerusalem
where prophets were waiting.

How is it, that you’re here

and at the same time you
experience things

that belong to different times,
different places?

You speak with
someone else’s words.

I’m the same here
and on the way to Jerusalem.

You’re a dreamer, Baltazar.

I knelt with them

and recited
a prayer unknown to me.

How can one say a prayer
one doesn’t know?

You must humbly accept the will
of the master of life and death.

May the Lord give her
eternal rest,

and let eternal light
shine on her forever.

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

Amen.

It’s time to make
a decision about him.

Almost every night I dream
of a green horse

which carries Baltazar far away.

He’s too intelligent,
to be kept here forever.

What am I to do?
Studies are expensive.

A certain Rector
from Dresden favors me.

And always
accepts young souls

which desire to flourish
in God’s light.

What will he say when
he hears Baltazar’s voice?

I shall warn him
about this disability.

Is this your protege?

Yes, your honor.

Is this the boy’s father?

Doctor Sigismund himself.

From Budziszyn.

If you feel

a strong enough desire

to draw from these springs,

remember, my child,

that you can also find

suffering within them.

We had too many clerics who,
having not possessed

theological knowledge
thorough enough,

wandered around the world

susceptible to stupidity.

If your work frightens you,

let the greatness of reward
fill you with comfort.

You have to go back home,
my child.

Your father is waiting for you.

You don’t have much time.

Do you know who I am?

An angel.

- Archangel.
- Yes.

Gabriel.

Here is a young man,

who knows a lot about
God and the universe.

Father,

I know nothing about
one or the other.

Baltazar,

you’re the last of us.

God has limited
your freedom of speech

so that your every word

resonates with truth
and virtue.

Promise me.

Promise your father,

that you’ll keep
our memory alive.

We’ll always
be with you, Baltazar.

Always with you.

Gertruda…

Gertruda and all
our darling children,

and now me, we hand you
the torch of life.

For it was written in the Bible:

“He, who listens
to the Word of God,

shall receive perpetual light.”

Your earthly family is gone,

like sand slipping through
our Creator’s fingers.

Let us pray.

Out of the depths
I cry to you, O Lord!

Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas and mercy!

If you, O Lord, should
mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

Your excellency,

it’s a great honor to meet
you on that wonderful steed.

It’s just a common donkey.

Wonderful.

Say, what are you
doing on this road?

You’re not one of those
who rob poor travelers?

You’re joking, my lord.

I lost my father,

the last person
I had on this earth.

Now I’m going back
to the seminar.

A theologist!

Allow me to introduce myself.

Algesipus Camenius Astrobale,

called Papagallo,

which, of course,
means a parrot.

First of all,

tell me, do you know….

To be honest,
I don’t know what you mean.

I mean the language of donkeys.

You probably don’t know
how to talk to him.

Listen to this.

What did you tell him,
my lord?

That you are a theologist.

- And this made him laugh?
- More than that!

He said you should abandon
barren paths of didactics

and turn to the path
of joy of life.

Your wise books

are like gravestones and
myths, my dear friend.

That’s amazing that a donkey
can express itself so skillfully.

By the way, do a donkey
and a parrot have the right

to speak on such
important matters?

Your donkey told me,

that you’re hungry.

Come with me,
it’s not very far.

What is intelligence
on an empty stomach?

Dear brothers and sisters,

let me introduce you
to a young theologist.

He knows all
of heaven and earth,

of angels and demons.

And now he’s famished.

Will you agree to take him in?

- With the greatest of delights!
- Margerita.

Who will convince us that
this illustrious theologist

isn’t a dangerous magician?

What if he turns me into an egg,
puts salt on me and eats me?

I knew a magician who turned
girls into turkeys,

horses into rats, and mushrooms
into hedgehogs.

I knew one who was
such a bad liar

that no one ever believed him.

How wonderful!

Who is that looney?

He used to be the bishop’s
personal secretary.

This is Rosa.

Her singing and lute playing
enchanted all the courts in Europe

to such extent, that three princes
asked for her hand.

It looks like everyone
is famous and acclaimed.

Great is my admiration
and respect for them.

Isn’t theater better
than theology?

Unfortunately, I can’t
articulate as well

as you can.

My tongue is stiff.

Demosthenes,

the great ancient orator,

stuttered from birth.

He’d fill his mouth

with pebbles and practiced
pronunciation by the sea.

Why by the sea?

To be louder than the waves and
let his voice rise to the horizon.

You see,

victory means nothing if
the opponent is easy to defeat.

Always choose

an impossible task.

You can be an orator if you
become a theologist.

Or you can be an actor,
if you stay with us.

Don’t worry. I won’t
force you to choose now.

A day will come,
when you decide.

In any case,

so that you can always
find us,

we shall entrust you
with some secrets tonight.

Would you like that?

Oh, say yes!

Who is he?

They say, he’s the devil.

The devil?

A printer.

The Tribunal filed heavy
charges against him.

Accused him of magic.

He printed books
with pentagrams

used to call the souls
of the dead,

maybe even bringing them
to life. He’s hiding.

If he’s discovered and
taken to the secular authorities

he’ll be burned at the stake.

He’s uncomfortable
but he’s safe.

This wine is very strong.

I am late.

They’re waiting for me.

Where is my donkey?

Grazing with our horses.

Did you make a choice?

Going with you means
choosing the path of a blind man

on the edge of a cliff.

But it also means freedom.

Touch me.

I swear on the halfwit fox,
I know him well.

Memorize it.

I swear on the halfwit fox,
I know him well.

You’ll find the halfwit
in his nest.

Rest, and tomorrow
you’ll be on your way.

You’re too good to me.

I’ll never be able
to repay you.

Maybe one day

we’ll meet again.

And then, who knows,

maybe you’ll help us.

I promise.

What do you think, my friend,
of all this?

Come, Kubuś.

Giddy up!

Who is he?

- He’s looking for Papagallo.
- Spies are everywhere.

- Who’s looking for Papagallo?
- I am.

What do you know about him?

I swear on the halfwit fox,
I know him well.

You’ll find the halfwit in his…

Be quiet.

Where are you coming from?

From far away.

- I stu… studied…
- A theologist?

Now I know you’re
the one he told us about.

Welcome to our home.

Take the donkey
to the stables to be brushed.

What are you doing here?

You should have stayed
at the graveyard

with our father, our mothers
and sisters.

- What do you want?
- To talk.

Did this magician call you from among
the dead and force you to serve him?

You make no sense,
he committed no crime.

Who are you talking about?

The printer. He can’t agree
with eternal theories.

How miserable
becomes a man,

who has the courage to think

when everything’s
decided by that braggart,

His Excellency the Rector.

- Smarty!
- I think you’ll need us.

You look at me so strangely.

You’re not feeling well?

I keep thinking of you
since the day I died.

And I worry for you.

Listen to me carefully.

We had a family meeting

and decided to help you,

for you’re the last of the line.

Where is my mother?

Will I meet her again?
Tell me.

We brought you to Algesipus

Astrobal.

Called Papagallo!

Those people,
though strange,

erratic and absent,

will serve you well.

Do you understand me?

So I will never again meet
Papagallo and Rosa?

You will,

but they won’t be the ones
teaching you holy secrets.

You have to meet someone,

who knows much more
about God and Angels.

More than his Excellency
the Rector?

So much more.

His Excellency the Rector
has no soul

so how can he get close to God

- and the heavenly hosts?
- And the pastor?

The pastor…

He’s a brave man,

a good man,

but he can’t tell the difference

between the devil and a cat.

What a world!

You’ll get used to it.

You’re daydreaming!

Come.

They’ll take you
in for the night.

It wouldn’t be Christian
to just leave you on the street.

Adversities are common
these days.

For death, for life

runs a happy weasel.

A soul,

which closes within itself,

is not safe.

It’s just

declining.

It’s just declining.

It’s better to move forward,

even losing one’s way,

than to stay still.

The wind of the spirit

holds a flying bird.

On the ground, the bird dies.

Walk down your path,

for it only exists,

when you’re
moving forward.

What do you want now?

Can you hear him?
He’s coming.

Who is?

I’ll see you soon.

What can I do for you,
my lord?

I want to see your master,
honorable doctor Zimmermann.

What are you saying, my lord?

I want to see your master,
distinguished doctor Zimmermann.

Honorable, distinguished,
and…? Reverend?

Noble doctor Zimmermann.

Honorable, distinguished,
noble…

Zimmermann! You old fool.

As you can see, I remembered.
Dear, noble…

You come at the worst moment.

What happened?

Heralds announced,

that magicians, cabalists and other
wretches are hiding in the city.

Our people are cautious,
waiting for the storm to pass.

And Papagallo?

Does anyone with
this name even exist?

Isn’t it a dream,
ephemeral delusion?

Besides, what common matters
would we have with a parrot?

The situation is getting worse.

One of their men
infiltrated our brotherhood.

You do understand, dear friend,
why I trust no one.

That rector is a Satan.

He’s planted
the seed of distrust.

Can I stay here
for a few days?

A servant is obliged to take in
his master’s friends.

You can stay as long
as you want, my lord.

Is this the young man
Papagallo talked about?

He told you about him?

This is him indeed.

May the smiling God
be with you.

Do you know
why you were chosen?

Because you ask nothing
for yourself.

And you can distinguish
unworthy things.

Tell me, aren’t you afraid

to take on the work
of two or three people?

No.

And you’re not afraid
of restriction of freedom?

If I have time to practice
the art of pronunciation.

Of course, of course,
we’ll make sure of it.

How is your health?

I have enough strength
to reach heaven.

Provided that I’ll be shown

where it is and I’ll get
a high enough ladder.

I’m glad to hear it.

I always wanted to have
a student with a great heart.

He’s very unlike
those wise men,

whose demands are
equal to ignorance.

What does he want from me?

You’ll improve in the
art of printing.

Later, when we follow

the ways of our friends,

you’ll learn some secrets
of another art,

which belongs
to different times,

and is experienced by those,

who search for God.

Your mind, boy, will come down
from barren peaks

into fertile valleys,

where our Creator

dwells in every creek.

Is this what you wanted
to achieve?

So you see

how many different faces

a smallest speck of our world
can have.

First, my young friend,
you have to find within yourself

the right order of things.

I’ll go where they’ll go.

It doesn’t matter.

Each destination is

like ignis fatuus.

The most important…

The journey is the most important.

See?

I told you I’d come
to say goodbye.

Don’t be sad,

the time will come
when we’ll meet again.

I brought your mother.

I beg you,

leave me in peace.

You asked me to do it.
Don’t you remember?

It wasn’t easy.

Come,

she’s waiting for you.

I recognized you at once.

You were a child when I died.

Do you recognize me?
I’m your mother.

Of course.

Now I remember your portrait.

Listen, my son,

when my children were dying
one by one from the plague

I started thinking,

how unexplored and
peculiar God's plans are.

And if it’s not about the plans?

If providence doesn’t exist
and God has abandoned us?

If you repeat it out loud,

you’ll be burned at the stake -
your father told me.

She was always prone
to exaggeration.

I sank to my prie-dieu.

My Lord,

I only have a daughter left.
If you take her away,

I’ll never believe in
your goodness.

And she was abducted
by soldiers.

Listen to me, Baltazar.

I didn’t die from the fever
like everyone said.

Your father found me
in a pond in Budziszyn.

So you’re coming from hell.

My children were
waiting for me.

They pulled me out of the abyss
and carried me to heaven.

They called to the angels:

Did you have a mother,
did you lose a child?

Let us through!

And so

I experience eternal happiness.
In its lower circles,

- but it’s enough for me.
- So...

Your children died
to save you?

You don’t understand.

If my children hadn’t died,
I wouldn’t have gone to the pond.

I wouldn’t have needed saving.

When soldiers came
I hid in the garden.

They looked for me long,

and when they finally found me…

Oh, how I wanted to die.

But you never die from it.

Be quiet.

I beg you,

tell me,
are you alive

- or dead?
- And what is life?

What is death?

Dear Elżbieta,

where are you?

I was brought to this
cell when I was unconscious.

It was so long ago.

So long…

You were at
the bottom of a deep well.

No need to be afraid.
It was necessary.

Where is God when such
horrors happen?

In those horrors.

It was a nightmare,
a terrible nightmare.

No, it wasn’t a dream.

I don’t agree
to such humiliations.

If God accepts them, let him
do it on his own account.

I don’t agree to it!

Oh, holy indignation.

You’d know better what
our world really is.

An hour doesn’t go by

without someone innocent
experiencing misfortune.

Not a moment in which
a crime,

injustice and hypocrisy

don’t triumph over the truth.

And still, even in this
mockery, God is hiding.

I met the one

who gives sight
to the blind

and words to the mute.

And, as it’s written
in the Scripture,

I fell in love with her.

Explain it more thoroughly.

What’s there to explain?

She's an angel sent by God.

Undoubtedly.

Can I meet here?

Pour some more.

The world upside down?

The world backwards.

What does it mean?

It’s the image of time
that’s already gone.

Once,

the saints were martyrs.

Now they cut people’s throats.

Kings were benevolent, now
their advisors are wolves

who bite people’s throats like
they were sheep.

The world is like a man
in this drawing.

With its head down and
its legs up.

What needs to be done to restore
the proper order of things?

Who are you?

- My name’s Mathias.
- I don’t ask you!

I'm Müller, a cloth merchant.

This is my son - Marcin.

We travel on business.

You see, sir, I have a reason
to assume that a young man,

once a student,

ran away with the help

of an adult who
claims to be his father.

What do you want from me?

Thank God, there are many fathers
and many sons in the world.

That may be but not all the sons

are marked with a certain fault.

How do you know
my poor son is a mute?

You know perfectly well,

that this student

is not a mute but a stutterer.

Will you talk?

Little wretch!

Will you talk?

Well?

So you did find your father?

I thought you were an orphan.

This is my adopted father.

Unfortunately,
hard times are coming.

We have to be on our guard

or we’ll all become orphans.

They say you’re staying
with the old Holstein,

whom no one saw
for months.

Do you know who he is
and where he is?

Yes, Excellency, not only do
I know my old friend,

but I can also tell you
where he is.

He’s bedridden in Venice.

By an illness too terrifying
to even mention its name.

- I beg you, be quiet.
- Yes, that’s a terrible illness.

Let’s leave it, please.

There are enough repulsive
ghosts soaring above us.

A word is enough for them
to get closer.

Mr Müller, do you have good eyesight?

For my age, I can’t complain.

So how is it possible that
since you arrived at this house

you failed to notice that this
servant

is not just a servant?

True. He is
a complete buffoon.

And his taste in clothes

is bad beyond belief.

But he only dares to do so
in his master’s absence.

This alleged
servant’s name is

Jakub Zimmermann,
did you know that?

No, I never ask servants’ names.

I just call them all Gustaw.

You claim you don’t know
who Zimmermann is.

He’s a magician,

or maybe even
a Jewish cabalist.

If he’s a magician,
and a Jewish one at that,

he’s not a very smart one.

Mr Müller,

you may be
an experienced merchant

but you know
nothing about the Jews.

Excellency,

can I spend one more night

at my friend’s house?

I’m afraid not.

You shall resume your travels,
Mr Müller.

And remember, those
illnesses you’ve mentioned

are very contagious.

For your son’s sake,
I’d keep away from their source.

We have to go before
he makes his report.

Saddle my horse
and go first.

What about the printer?

He’ll be tortured
but he’ll say nothing.

People like him
don’t betray their brothers.

What happened, kind sir?

A certain freak who put us up
in my friend’s absence

turned out to be a magician,
a Jew, or someone else.

Where are you going now?

Straight ahead.

Please remember
that next year

indigo cloth should
double its value.

You have no name. You need
to be extracted like a tooth.

You’re flailing right and left,

like you were a madman.

You have no face, no eyes.

You are now in darkness.

How can I separate myself
from who I am?

Stones

have mouths,

ears and eyes.

They distinguish light

you have no idea about.

For you don’t have a face,

you don’t have eyes.
You’re alone.

Who will throw you a rope,

so you can lift yourself up?

Every word

hurts my throat.

I’m exposed to ridicule.

More despicable than
a dog’s carrion.

I call and all I hear

is a mumble
within the silence.

Faster! Faster!

People!
My child didn’t die!

People! People!
My child…

People, help!
People! He’s alive!

Good people!
People! He’s alive!

Help! People,

good people!
Help! He’s alive!

Help!

Wake up, son.
Wake up!

What did he die of,
good woman?

Plague, my good man.
Scarlet plague.

Do I know you?

I recognize you.

I just don’t remember
where from.

Oh, I know,

you’re the one who
talks to angels.

Those, who really
talk to angels,

don’t brag about it.

Stutterer, what can you know
of angels,

if you know nothing of men.

We will test you.

We have to find out if you
truly deserve

to be among our company.

So, first of all,

how much is it 2 times 2?

He doesn’t know.

So tell us, how many
gods are in heaven?

You killed him.

Stutterer let his horse on you.

I didn’t want it to happen,

don't blaspheme anymore.

Bloody horse!

I’m mad.

I can’t distinguish
dreams from reality.

Or even worse.

Shouldn’t you bow
to the Creator,

to admire and praise
his creation?

No, no,

all these colors are but
a fleeting illusion.

They’ll be gone
in a moment.

So,

I’m no different from others?

No, only the world
is different.

It wouldn’t exist without
that difference.

If you exist,

it means that everything
else exists too.

The wound inflicted upon me
poisoned my blood.

I believed I’d meet you,

but you don’t exist.

You were born out of
my poisoned blood.

Love pushes those in love
towards those they adore.

If we have to burn
in the heat of that love,

may this fire cleanse us.

I know.

I’ve been through
the river of such fire.

Jerusalem was
on the other side.

Prophets were waiting
for me there.

After that,

I returned here.

Normal, like before.

I stutter like I used too.

Do you know
how long you slept?

My poor thing.

They did you good, thugs.

Believe me, they’ll answer
for it before the Tribunal.

I promise.

Get up, Baltazar, let’s go.

Yes! Like that!

The Tribunal proceeds to
fulfill its duties.

See if the doors are locked,

and if all present
are brothers.

All present are brothers.

Doors are locked.

All present are brothers.

Let the Tribunal begin.

In the name of the Father,

the Son

and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Who are those people?

They wanted to kill
one of our brothers.

Why did you want to kill
our brother Baltazar?

We didn’t want to kill him,
just wanted to scare him.

Scare him why?

To teach him a lesson.

He claimed he talked
to angels.

His horse turned on me
and kicked me unconscious.

When he heard your insults,
I wasn’t able to stop him.

He’s mad! How could a horse
understand my words.

Remember the salvation
of your souls.

You’ll swear on the Bible,

that you’ll tell the truth.

I can’t confirm that.

I wasn’t there when
he blasphemed.

Neither was I.

So?

- Cowards!
- Is that true,

that Baltazar bragged
about talking to angels?

I swear on my immortal soul.

This bonehead insisted
that he’s talking to angels.

Do you want to condemn
your soul to an eternal fire?

Even though I forgive you?

I don’t care about
your forgiveness.

If someone claims he’s
talking to angels,

he could be called immodest.

Should such boasting
be punished with a dagger?

This is a parody of justice!

Has anyone heard
so many lies all at once?

Do you believe in
the existence of angels?

Answer me.

- Do you?
- I know nothing about it.

Undoubtedly…

To teach Baltazar a lesson
you started to defend angels.

Those angels whose existence
you’re not sure about.

You perjure yourself, you’ll
answer for attempted murder .

I find you guilty of attacking

our brother and of wanting to

hurt and even kill him.

I sentence you to 30 lashes.

Tomorrow, you’ll be handed
over to secular authorities.

For the perjury you’ll be

judged by the church tribunal.

We were just fulfilling
his orders.

It’s true, he was
insulting Baltazar.

I confess to nothing!

I don’t confess!

Well done, my friend.

He’s mine now.
Thank you.

The querns of my mill are most
effectively pushed by God’s servants.

Get away from here.

Easy now.

It’s true we’re on two
different sides,

but is this a reason
to insult each other?

- Get out!
- Aren’t you interested

in buying out this thug’s soul?

- He’ll buy himself out.
- Too late for that.

As long as there’s life,
there’s hope.

- You won’t get him.
- You poor creature.

Call me when you
change your mind.

I hope it’s not too late.

You’re coming only now?

I was in great need
of your comfort.

I didn’t have permission
to approach you.

You had to spend
this time alone.

Don’t complain,

you had time to
create a book.

I’m proud of you.

I only helped to print it.

Do you read there
books that are written here?

I so desired to write.

Tell me, Baltazar,

do you know
where you’re going?

I’m following my master.

To Italy, Venice. We want to
find Papagallo and Rosa.

You’ll find them
and what next?

I’ll follow them.

That’s unimportant.

Each destination is like
ignis fatuus.

The journey is the most important.

And maybe it’s something more?

My dear Baltazar,

just don’t try to
understand anything.

That’s enough,
do you hear me?!

You don’t exist,
get away from me!

How can I get away,
if I don’t exist?

I don’t believe in either you,

or my father and my brother.

Your bodies are buried
in the graveyard.

- God be with you!
- What happened?

Who let you meet Papagallo
and the comedians?

Who recommended
you to the master?

You really think
a stutterer like you,

could have charmed them
without our help?

I don’t know.

I do know that you’re all dead.

And that dead people

don’t sit at the table
with the living.

And maybe all this was born
in my imagination?

And probably so was
your wound.

Picture this,

I was on my way home
with a book under my arm.

Suddenly, I was attacked
by three students.

This happened to me.

Impossible, you’re already dead.

You were killed
by a typhoid epidemic.

You were buried
in Budziszyn,

together with Gertruda and
all the others.

Everything in me is dark
and tangled.

Am I the only one living?

In whose dreams I dwell?

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

My god, Baltazar,

something terrible happened!
Truly terrible!

Go there, make haste. Go!

- It’s all my fault.
- His own pride misled him.

Varlet was arousing that pride,

- I’m sure of it.
- Varlet, that Fleming?

He offered me
to buy out his soul.

I forbid you to negotiate
with Jonatan Absalom.

Varlet is playing
with marked cards.

I can’t leave those poor souls

at the mercy of darkness.

I told you that
at the end of the world…

No,

I want to get them out of
his hands now.

If I don’t, I’ll always
feel responsible

for their damnation.

They’re already dead.

So I’ll go down to the dead.

I’ll go to hell

if I have to.

You’ve decided to
accept my invitation?

Where are they?

They’re waiting.

Waiting…

Their lives were devoid
of any passion.

See how many there are?

You’re hoping to
take them with you?

Of course.

I’ll take them
back to the living.

Don’t ever repeat
such nonsense again.

This is my kingdom

and no one can go
against my laws.

Except for your creator.

Why are they suffering so much?

From lack of hope,
love and faith.

From lack of everything.

I come to set you free.

You just have to come with me.

He dies at the thought of
having to leave here.

No one’s watching him.

He’s a prisoner of himself.

Stop moaning.

Search your soul.

Search it deep!

I beseech you.

I beseech you!

One more step.

One more.

One step.

Where’s my father,
you swine!

What swine?

What father?
What do you want? Get out!

I’ll call Gabriel.

What are you doing here, Baltazar?

As far as I know,
you’re not dead.

Father, what crime did you
commit to get here?

I thought you were
among the blessed.

Oh, I didn’t want you to worry.
It was so long ago.

- Come with me.
- Where to?

To life.

No, no. I’d rather stay here.

I won’t go back to earth.

Take him with you,
he’s suffered enough.

So…

Let’s go to paradise.

Rejoice in the Lord,
you righteous,

for the honest
should praise him.

Praise the lord on the harp,

on the lute, the instrument
of ten strings.

Sing to him.

Sing to him a new song.

Play for him well
and loud.

You’ve slept for so long.

What time is it?

The guards are here.

They’ve relented.
They’re like lambs.

The night in the dungeon
did them well.

They’ll get proper lashes and
will carry stones for the cathedral.

I believe it’ll be good
for their health.

Come, Baltazar.
Come.

Look around.

Our friend, the Fleming.

Little orphan!

Sit down, princes.

This is the queen of stupidity
and pots.

This is Taratata, princess
of backsides and bedrooms.

Drink, drink!

To the moon, to the sun

and to the health
of the ladies.

A strange dream, isn’t it?

To be dead.

But I’m still alive.

Death is looking for you, I know.

It’s looking for you,

following you like a shadow.

I died out of fear of death,

but I killed that fear with
my own hands.

I took its life with those hands.

I walked out of a dark cellar.

When death comes,

I’ll look it straight in the face.

To death!

I am your death.

I don’t remember you.

I’ve been looking for you
to give you to your master.

Who is my master?

Who are you?

We’ve met before. My name’s
Müller, I was a cloth merchant.

And he’s the one that
interested us then.

You’re a cloth merchant.

I do remember you now.

But if you’re here today,

safe and sound,

it means that this time…

Do tell me, what’s your
real name?

Forgive me, kind ladies.
Duty calls.

I hope this nice boy
will be enough,

for this one
comes with me.

Look, look!

The ocean!

Here, he left it for you.

What happened?
I can’t read.

“To Baltazar, my student,

in case a misfortune
happens to me.

For the glory of the All-Knowing,
Almighty

and Omnipresent, Amen.

You are to strive for knowledge.

Battista Strozzi,

Sao Paolo, Venice.

Farewell."

Yes, it’s here.

He’s an organ tuner.

What do you know
about organs?

Nothing.

It’s the harmony of shapes
and sounds. Reach there.

Secrets of their construction
were given from a father to a son.

Improvements were made.

We owe the expansion of hand
and foot keyboards to Giovanni,

Leon improved the bellows and
introduced the first

spring-type wind blowers,
while Flawiusz

constructed new types of
lip-tongue pipes.

This profession combined craft

with some kind of
metaphysical intention.

You went pale
as if you saw a devil.

No, it seemed like it.

It just seemed like it.

How do you know it all?

I wander the world, I meet
various people.

Friendship brought me with you
all the way to Venice

but now I have to
return to Padua.

Farewell,

my friend.

Farewell.

Honorable Battista Strozzi.

Honorable, dignified Battista Strozzi.

I’ll gladly listen to your
confession, son but

in a moment.

Prepare yourself
by the confessional.

What is it, son?

I’m Master’s student.

I don’t know who you mean.

I also know Papagallo.

I see you know many people.

And?

My name is Baltazar.

I was born in Budziszyn.

My mother and father
are dead.

Poor child.

Wait in front of the church.

When I leave, follow me.

But keep your distance.

Those women here…

This house…

It’s not a proper place
for such a young man,

but Signiorita
Garganella wishes us well.

It’s the last place

where the Holy Inquisition
will look for us.

And no one is surprised,

when a monk comes
to such a house?

Corruption in this town

is so common,

that even if the pope came here,

no one would be surprised.

Baltazar.

Baltazar is a grown man.

And I’ve always
thought of him

as a child.

Sit down.

How did you get here?

I dropped in on my way.
Good thing I did.

- I looked for you. Don’t interrupt me.
- Here?

Yes. Listen, within the borders
of the Republic of Venice,

you are quite safe but
anywhere else

anything can happen.

There is a cardinal here.

He’ll formally test you
and give you a safe conduct.

Just give something to
the poor.

Come on.

His Excellency agreed
to see you.

Come closer.

Excellency, my friend

hardly speaks Tuscan, so he
asked me to accompany him.

And he also asked me
to give you this pouch

as the gift for the poor.

How lovely.

I see

that the young man
knows our customs well.

I was worried he has no money.

Sit, my friends.

These are…

These are the questions

composed by the Holy Inquisition

for just such cases.

You do speak Latin?

Do you believe
that the Holy Church

is the only

hereditary…

…the only hereditary
Apostle Church?

And especially

St. Peter’s heritage?

Do you believe there
are seven sacraments?

What are they?

I cannot give you the answer,

for I only have knowledge
from denial…

A contrario, be quiet.

Great.

And now you have
to raise your hand

and symbolically recite
the Credo.

I believe

in the creator of both worlds,

the visible and invisible one,

in the Trinity only,

the master of life
and giver of salvation.

I like this folk bustle,

it also supports faith.

Only now I know,

how careful I have to be.

That’s one of the reasons, why
the art of symbols can mask the truth.

Friendship kept me with you,
now I have to go back.

To Padua.

I think we’ll meet again.

My friends,

I owe you my life.

You served me with advice
on the winding roads.

Papagallo opened my eyes.

Master taught me everything,

opened my heart to love
and brotherhood.

About your master, my boy…

He has to know the truth.

A certain Fleming

was with you at the inn.

Then this Fleming

left together with your master.

Neither came back.

The Fleming pretended to be drunk
but in reality

he offered a terrible deal.

This deal stipulated

that he’ll return to Germany
or you, Baltazar,

will be killed.

One of these women

had poison on her.

All she had to do

was to put it in your glass.

Where does it come from?

Why do they hate us so much?

For them, Papagallo,

your master and

the rest of our friends,

are instigators wanting
to destroy the church

under the guise
of philosophical separateness.

And you, father?

What do you think?

My dear boy,

if the Holy See

knew even a part

of what I hide in my
consciousness

I’d burn at the stake.

What will happen to him?

He’ll stand trial,

to lead people away
from independent thinking.

Where is Rosa?

But Rosa...

died.

Go away.

Come.

Come on.

- Go away. Go.
- Come, come.

Come on.

You’ll finally be able
to be together.

My beloved walked
in his garden,

among fragrant flowers,

to feed the herd.

Oh, I am for my beloved,

and he is for me.

Love…

Love doesn’t end.

It’s such a joy for me.

You know this already?

Spirit is love.

From our birth

till the day we die.

From here you have to go alone.

It’s the line I cannot cross.

Translated by: Emilia Puszczyńska