Original subtitles

This restoration was made in 4K in 2022

by Studio canal and la Cinématheque frangaise.

Audio and images were restored

by L'mage Retrouvée from the original 35mm negative.

This project was brought to you by Studio canal

and supervised by Sophie Boyer and Jean-Pierre Boiget

This restoration was sponsored by CHANEL.

Before the law

there stands a guard.

A man comes from the country.

Begging admittance to the law.

But the guard cannot admit him.

"Can he hope to enter at a later time?"

"That is possible", says the guard.

The man tries to peer through the entrance.

He had been taught that the law should be accessible to every man.

"Do not attempt to enter without my permission" says the guard.

"I am very powerful, yet I am the least of all the guards.

"From hall to hall,

"door after door,

"each guard ls more powerful than the last."

By the guard's permission the man sits down by the side of the door

and there he waits.

For years

he waits.

Everything he has he gives away...

in the hope of bribing the guard

who never fails to say to him, "I take what you give me...

"only so that you will not feel that you have left something undone."

Keeping his watch during the long years

the man has learnt to know even the fleas

and the guard's fur collar.

And growing childish in old age

he begged the virid fleas to persuade the guard to change his mind

and allow him to enter.

His sight is dimmed but in the darkness he perceives a radiance

streaming immortally from the door of the law.

And now

before he dies,

all his experience condenses info one question,

a question he has never asked.

He beckons to the guard.

Says the guard, "You are insatiable, what is it now?"

Says the man, "Every man

"strives to attain the law.

"How is it then

"that in all these years no one else has ever come here

"seeking admittance?"

His hearing has failed, so the guard yells info his ear

"No one else but you could have ever of obtained admittance.

"No one else could enter this door.

"This door

"was intended

only for you.

"And now...

"I'm going to close it."

This tale is told during the story called The Trial.

It has been said that the logic of this story

is the logic of a dream

and a nightmare.

Miss Burstner?

You were expecting Miss Burstner?

Why no... No, what an idea, of course not.

You spoke here name just now.

When?

When I came in, you addressed me as Miss Burstner.

Well that's her room you know uh...

What are you doing in there? Well, who are you?

What are you doing in here?

Miss Burstner frequently comes through that door in the middle of the night?

Frequently? No! Never. Never!

That door is kept permanently locked. Mrs. Grubach keeps the key.

Just ask her.

Where is she? Does she know about you?

Mrs. Grubach.

You were expecting Mrs. Grubach?

No, no I'm...

Not expecting anybody, least of all you, whoever the hell you are.

Where you going?

Well I...

think that Mrs. Grubach would like to know that there are...

strange people wandering around her apartment in the middle of the night.

You were starting in that direction, that's Mrs. Burstner's room.

-Isn't that what you told me? -Yes it is

and I would very much like to know what's going on in there.

She isn't there now

Well that's not so very surprising. She...

She gets in late sometimes, very late. Very late indeed.

You are the police?

-She gets in very late? -Look, don't go jumping to conclusions.

-What conclusions? -Well the hours

they keep in her nightclub are no fault of Mrs. Burstner's.

She'll be home any minute now and I'm sure she'll be able to answer

your questions for herself.

You are the police?

What makes you think we want to ask questions of her?

Well I have no opinion of it one way or another.

It's nothing to do with me, I scarcely know this person.

Of course we are fellow lodgers

but that's obvious.

Is she in some kind of trouble?

What kind of trouble?

Do you imagine we came here to see Mrs. Burstner?

Well you certainly didn't come here to see me.

Did you?

Well listen you don't deny anything or affirm anything.

You just stand there and stare at me in the middle of my private bedroom at...

6:14 in the morning.

I don't see why I should put up with it.

You haven't even identified yourself or show me your papers.

-Isn't that for you to do? -Oh no, my papers, excuse me,

my papers are in perfect order.

Here, see for yourself.

Why don't you finish getting dressed?

For your information I am a man of...

regular habits and getting dressed at 6:15 in the morning

doesn't happen to be one of them.

Still, I don't suppose there is any hope of getting any more sleep.

Where are you going?

I take a bath in the morning if you must know.

Why?

If you were reluctant to dress in front of me...

And I dress in the bathroom.

Huh?

Yes.

Why?

Well it's warm in the bathroom

and it's cold in the hall. Any more questions?

Why would you want to dress in the hall?

Stay here.

Why would you want to get dressed out in the hall?

I don't. I don't...

but...

If I did not get dressed in the bathroom after I finished my bath,

I'd be obliged to walk down the drafty hall, in my silk dressing room

right after getting, after...

out of a warm tub.

I hope you understand.

You said you wanted to get dressed in the hall.

No, no.

-Did you?

Okay, have it your way mister.

But what do you want to get all dressed up for anyway?

You're not going nowhere, you're under arrest.

You're making a formal charge?

Oh, I couldn't do that, mister.

Just exactly what is it I'm charged with?

You'll have to take that up with the inspector.

-"Proceedings having been..." -That was the inspector who just left.

"...you until called for interrogation.

"You were retired to your room."

-I'm in my room. -Huh?

-I'm in my room. -I can't help that, mister.

You got a lot of real nice shirts here, mister.

-Leave those shirts alone. -Know something?

You do a whole lot better givin' them things to us.

After they're impounded officially and carted off to headquarters

you won't know what happens to them shirts.

There's every kind of crook and bribery in them public auctions.

-Now we're your friends -Sure we are you...

ought a give us some of them shirts at least.

Well it could be a joke, I suppose.

Elaborate practical joke by some of my friends in the office.

They're in there.

Who's in there?

You're from my office.

Who brought you here?

The police?

These clerks from my office, what do they got to do with it?

Rebenstein, Culy and Caminer, right?

-Leave those photographs alone. -What's this?

That's her mother, she was in the profession.

-Leave her things alone. -Cannabis?

You especially.

Rebenstein, what are you doing here?

The inspector said he thought it would be sorta more unabusive

if they went with you to the office so nobody would notice

"Unobtrusive" is the word you're looking for not "unabusive."

How can I got to the office if I'm under arrest?

That don't need to keep you from working, not at this stage.

He...

-He said I have to stay in my room. -He was reading the wrong page.

Well this obviously isn't anything of any importance.

Quite honestly, I can't remember

a single of fence that could be charged against me.

It's obviously a mistake, something very trivial.

What the real question is...

who accuses me?

-Well... -What do you mean?

-What authority... -Don't you worry about that mister.

I'm sorry to disappoint you

but I'm afraid you won't find any subversive literature or pornography.

Don't touch those record albums.

What's this thing?

That's my porno graph.

-...my phonograph -What's this?

What's what?

A circular line with four holes.

Circular.

No, it's not really circular it's more ovular.

Don't write that down for god's sake.

-Why not? -Ovular...

We can't not write it down just because you say we shouldn't.

Ovular isn't even a word.

You deny that there is an ovular shape

concealed under this rug?

He denies everything.

Mrs. Grubach's husband was a dentist.

Oh, there she is now. Mrs. Grubach? Mrs. Grubach?

This was Dr. Grubach's office.

That don't matter, she can't come in here.

That dental chair was screwed to these four places in the floor.

You want some good advice, mister?

Well...

I wouldn't want the others to hear about it.

Oh now you want money I suppose.

Well you've got the wrong man.

That's what they all say.

I mean bribery, I don't happen to believe in it.

No, wait a minute have I asked you to give me anything sir? Mister?

-We're leaving mister. -You not gonna be

one of them troublemakers, now are you?

-Mrs. Grubach. -Good morning Mr. K.

I've got your breakfast ready.

Listen, mam, I wish you'd tell him

he really doesn't think that he's guilty,

and he should keep it to himself, you see what I mean?

In this stage of the game this kinda thing makes a very lousy impression.

I'm afraid I owe you an apology, Mrs. Grubach.

Oh no, Mr. K.

This is not gonna happen again, I can promise you that.

A lot of things happen in this world, Mr. K.

Yes.

You're my most valued lodger, Mr. K.

I think I owe it to you to be frank.

-Yes, by all means. -You're all good I'm thinking of

and I really have that at heart,

perhaps more than I should. After all I'm only your landlady.

Well, I managed to have a few words alone with that inspector.

And?

It seems you are under arrest, Mr. K.

Yes, I know that.

But not the way a thief's put under arrest.

-No. -No.

No, with your arrest,

I get the feeling of something abstract, if you see what I mean?

It's so abstract I can't even consider that it applies to me.

Of course not, Mr. K.

Aren't you going to eat something?

Two men coming into my room the way they did, well I simply wasn't prepared.

Now in the office, for instance, I'm always prepared.

You can't just crash in on me there, I should say not.

People sometimes

have to wait for weeks before they can even get in to where they can speak,

and my secretary...

No, my mistake

was letting them start in on me before I even have a cup of coffee.

Coffee is always ready on the stove, Mr. K.

I keep it there for Miss Burstner.

When she gets in from work, such ungodly hours she keeps.

-Well, that's her profession. - I suppose so.

The hours they keep in that nightclub are no fault of Miss Burstner's.

Perhaps not.

Do you think I ought to offer those men some coffee?

What men?

The ones from your office, they're still in there.

In Mrs. Burstner's bedroom?

My God I thought you'd left.

What are you doing here?

Culy, Caminar...

Rebenstein.

Put those pictures back where you found them.

-Here's some coffee for the gentlemen. -No, Mrs. Grubach.

These people are not friends of mine.

They came with the police and they should have left with the police.

Please be good enough to show them to the door.

Yes, Mr. K. This way, gentlemen.

What are you anyway, informers?

What do you have to inform about?

And you're still here.

You're attracting attention, Mr. K.

Attracting attention...

I'd appreciate the return of my identification papers, please.

You seriously think that we don't know who you are.

Really, Mr. K. you're not doing your case any good you know.

Exactly what is this case you've been talking about?

I'm not talking about it.

Well why not? Why don't you talk about it?

What am I charged with?

Not for me to talk about your case.

Inspector...

Yes?

What's the charge?

Mr. K, you aren't claiming innocence are you?

Naturally...

I'm also claiming invasion of privacy and rank abuse of basic civil rights.

-Hold on not quite so fast... -Oh, I don't pretend to know

the legal terminology but I can get a lawyer to help me out about that.

It also happens that a very well known advocate

is a close personal friend of the family's.

You aren't threatening to register an official complaint are you?

Yes. I am, I am and I might also mention

a rather clumsy attempt to work me for a bribe.

There she comes, your friend, Mrs. Burstner.

Yes, well she's not exactly my friend.

Not that it's any business of yours.

Are you going to stay here all morning?

What do we do now take fingerprints?

We can do that at the station.

Station?

Where else could you register an official complaint?

Oh well, we can forget about that...

It's on the record.

You did use the word "threatening".

No, that was your word.

What's this? What's this "porno graph"?

Oh, don't try to make anything out of that.

-No? -Not unless you have a dirty mind.

-Excuse me -No, no you stay, Mrs. Grubach.

None of this is going to show up very well on the record, Mr. K.

My men say you even tried to stop them from putting this down.

Well, I tried to stop one of them from making a fool of himself

-Yes. Yes, ovular. -What's that?

Ovular.

There is no such word.

"Mrs. Grubach's husband was a dentist."

Now what's that got to do with you case?

I never said that it did.

Then why mention such a thing?

Simply by way of explaining that ovular shape.

"Ovular shape."

You go on solemnly writing it all down.

There has to be a record, doesn't there?

But this foolish babbling

It's not going to make much of an impression,

I can tell you that, Mr. K.

Won't look well at all.

Gibberish.

Babbling.

I'm glad he's gone.

I was worried he might start on Miss Burstner.

-Oh she's on her way up. -Later than ever.

Well let's hope she was safely away last night before these men got into her room.

What time does she go to work?

I believe she had to be dressed or undressed

for that first performance at midnight.

Yeah, the supper show.

Well I don't know what they call it.

-The supper show. -I'm sure I wouldn't know.

Well that's what they call it.

I've never been inside one of those places in my life.

Indeed, you may have wondered why I continue to rent my second best room

to a woman of that sort.

-What do you mean? -What? Theatricals, Mr. K.

This isn't really the place for them as I'm sure you'll agree.

You see I didn't know? She came with her mother

perfectly respectable woman, or so she seemed.

And when she died

well, ...

I'm always...

too soft-hearted for my own good.

-Mrs. Grubach? -Yes?

-What are you trying to say? -Well...

I get the impression that you're heading in something concerning Miss Burstner.

Well since you asked, Mr. K., She not only performs in that place

but sits drinking afterwards with men.

What I asked, Mrs. Grubach,

was whether or not you were casting aspersions on the moral character

of one of your own lodgers.

Oh. Mr. K., you shouldn't put it that way.

Goodnight, Mrs. Grubach.

I wouldn't dream of getting rid of...

You have to admit, Mr. K., it's in the interest of all my guests

to keep our house completely beyond reproach.

Beyond reproach?

Mrs. Grubach, if you're going to start throwing people out of this house

you'd better begin with me.

- Goodnight, Mrs. Grubach.

You didn't understand.

Goodnight, Mrs. Grubach.

-Goodnight, Mr. K. -Goodnight.

Miss Burstner?

Yes?

Good evening.

Or good morning, rather.

If you're stuck for something to say try happy birthday.

Oh is it your birthday?

Is that why you're coming home so much later than usual?

I didn't know you kept track of my hours, Mister...

Well, I didn't mean that.

Of course it's none of my business what time you come home at night.

-It's nobody's business. -That's fine, goodnight.

Happy birthday!

Oh, oh, excuse me!

Excuse me!

No, no...

Yes?

Well that's what's I ought to have done, naturally...

What? What ought you to have done?

Well after I knocked,

I should've waited for me to invite you to come in, as you did.

Come in.

You're not getting any funny ideas, are you?

Of course not.

Just because I knocked on your door...

Well that's what I mean. You did, didn't you?

So why don't you?

You're a nice boy, but I'm not in the mood for it.

It's been a long, hard night.

-Yes it has been. -What do you know about it?

I was talking about myself.

That's what they all do.

What else do they ever talk about?

So give me a rest, will you.

Alright.

Alright what?

Well I'll do whatever you say but...

if you don't want me to talk to you and you won't come in...

How can I come in?

That old bag's just dying for a chance to throw me out.

Throw you out? Mrs. Grubach?

Out of the house, she's always got one ear open.

What's wrong?

I told you, I'm tired.

I'm sorry.

I forgot what I wanted to ask you.

Maybe it will come back to you.

Nothing ever comes back to me.

Big statement...

-Shut up everybody. -I'm sorry.

You're sorry, you're sorry, you're sorry. You always keep saying that.

Who gives a damn?

I know, I'm sor...

What's the big joke?

I'm almost said it again.

You're right of course, you're perfectly right.

-Ya? -Nobody gives a damn.

- I know you don't. - I know...

Hey, keep the door open, please!

-I was agreeing with you. -Oh sure.

-What you just said. - I don't know what I've just said.

Oh Jesus, all that lousy champagne.

You know what they make it out of?

-No. -Neither does anybody else.

No switching with the cold tea either, not tonight.

The customer knew all about that one he kept taking cute little sips

out of my glass just to make sure I was getting myself putrefied.

I'm sorry.

Damn! There I go again.

It's never any use is it, apologising? It's even worse

when you haven't done anything wrong and you still feel guilty.

I can remember my father looking at me,

you know straight in the eye, "Come on boy!" he'd say.

"Exactly what have you been up to?"

And even when I hadn't been up to anything at all I'd still feel guilty.

You know that feeling?

And the teacher at school making the announcement

that something was missing from her desk.

"Alright who's the guilty one?"

It was me of course.

I'd feel just sick with guilt.

And I didn't even know what was missing.

Maybe... Yeah, that must be it.

Unless your thoughts are innocent...

one-hundred percent.

Could that be said of anybody?

Even the saints have temptations.

What do you think?

I think you're crazy.

Maybe you're right. That would certainly explain...

No, I must reject that. I must reject every thing, but fact.

Shh...

I am sane. I'm innocent.

-I have committed no crime. -Three cheers for you.

-You don't believe me. -Sure I believe you.

Well, be honest, what do you really think?

You've been out some place.

Drinking you mean? Is that what you think?

That I've been out drinking and I'm drunk?

Well next time you do come to my place I get a percentage on every bottle.

Miss Burstner, I've not left this apartment since I got back

from the office last night.

And I am not a solitary drinker.

Then what's your problem?

I'm under arrest.

Yeah?

Unbelievable isn't it?

-Well it happens. -Well that's just the point,

I don't know how it happens.

- I haven't the remotest idea... -How do you know you're arrested?

It isn't something that you just suddenly notice like bleeding gums.

-They woke me up and told me. -Are you sure you were awake?

Yeah, well if you think I was dreaming just look at those photographs.

-That's my mother. -Well...

Different poses Burstner's birds are real good at.

Let's leave my mother out of it, do you mind?

-Of course. -No of fence.

-What did they get you for? -Oh, I wouldn't say they got me.

They arrested you isn't that what you told me?

That's what they told me.

-What's the charge? -That's what they didn't tell me.

All I know is that I'm supposed to appear

before some kind of interrogation commission, that's all I know.

-That's only for serious crimes. -That's what I thought!

Did they tell you that your crime wasn't serious?

No they didn't say that.

Maybe it's a gag or something...

That thought occurred to me at first, you know some of the fellas at the office,

some kind of elaborate practical joke, but...

I didn't really believe that, I just wanted to...

It's awful how easy it is to get demoralized, isn't it?

Well of course that's what they want.

That's what they're counting on.

-I'm not such a fool that I don't... -You must've done something.

You must've done something.

Oh, don't say that, don't you say that.

Somebody's been telling lies about you...

Could be it, rumours, they're always flying around for no reason.

-Rumours... -Well at the office...

What kind of rumours?

You mean in my case?

That's just it. I haven't the faintest idea.

-Jesus, I hope it isn't political. -Oh no, nothing like that.

Politics! Don't go dragging me into it.

No, Miss Burstner, I'm afraid we just talk in circles.

That's not my fault, I'm not talking in circles.

I don't even want to talk. What are you doing in here anyway?

-Well you invited me. -That's what you say.

-Miss Burstner, please... -Please what?

Listen if you're in trouble I'm sorry, I'm real sorry,

but keep me out of it.

I did, I am, I told them you didn't have anything to do with me

but they wouldn't listen. It was maddening

and then when they started to mess around with your mother's photograph...

What! Who's been messing around with my mother's photograph?

Rebenstein, I think it was.

But also the police.

-The police? -Well that's what I've been telling you.

-Miss Burstner... -Get out!

-Get out of here. -Miss Burstner, please...

Get out and stay out and leave me alone.

Miss. Burstner please and what will the other lodgers think

and Mrs. Grubach you will wake her...

Get the hell out of my room.

Well, I'm out.

- Mr. K. - Good morning if there's anybody

waiting I'll see them in a minute.

The deputy manager, he was looking for you, Mr. K.

I think he's in the hall and your cousin's here.

My cousin?

She's not supposed to come to the office.

She said it was serious.

K.

Oh, good morning sir.

I was just arranging an old birthday surprise.

In here? In this broom closet?

Well I have this, this, this...

This birthday cake for one of my fellow lodgers. I didn't think...

I ought to carry the thing to the office.

-Don't you agree? -Who is she?

If I'd only know about this lady before,

she would've been included in the invitation tonight.

-But the tickets are all booked... -Oh I know, I know.

She'll understand, I hope your girl won't be too much...

I saw her unpleasantness already sir, and it can't be much worse...

The cake is actually a peace offering.

If she doesn't take it then she's not the right girl for you.

Who's that?

That's my cousin, Irmie. What's she doing here?

-What are you doing? -Your cousin, huh...

Yes, from the city, going to the school...

from the country, going to school here in the city.

-I'm supposed to keep an eye on her. -We'll have to keep an eye on you, man.

-She looks pretty young. -Yes, sir.

There's a place for everything, right K?

Oh, and she's never dared to come in the office before sir,

I can assure you of that.

You're a bright young man, one of our brightest. On the way up.

-Don't spoil things for yourself. -No.

-How old is she? -What? Irmie, oh...

Can't be more then 16, if that.

Yeah.

My God!

Mr. K, the young lady...

Get her out of here.

But she said that it's urgent...

I don't care what she says. Just get her out of here.

I beg your pardon but isn't that Miss Burstner's trunk?

- And what if it is? - Well I thought I recognized it.

Here, you take the birthday cake.

I have quite enough on my hands with this trunk.

Well yes that's what I mean now let me help you with it.

- Here take this. - No, thank you.

- Please. - No, thank you.

Well at least let me call you a cab.

Not everyone can afford taxicabs, Mr. K.

You know my name?

Excuse me? You are a friend of hers, I gather?

I wonder if you can tell me if she's home.

If by home you refer to Mrs. Grubach's establishment,

the answer to your question is no.

Marika does have a home

but it's not at Mrs. Grubach's.

Marika?

Pardon?

I never knew her first name.

How ironic.

You say, she has a home, you mean another home?

Yes, she has one now, luckily.

I wish you'd let me help you with that trunk it seems quite heavy.

- Extremely heavy. - Well then...

I'll take it to her myself, thank you.

Take it to her... You'll take it to where?

I hope it's not your intention to follow me.

- No, not at all. - Up to now,

you've been dogging my footsteps.

Well I hate to see a woman

dragging a great heavy trunk like that, that's all.

Especially one with a physical disability, isn't that what you mean?

No, not at all, I...

Since you find the spectacle so unpleasant Mr. K.,

why not spare your feelings

and remove yourself from the cause of your distress.

I'm sorry.

Listen, the last thing I want is to annoy you but...

I would like very much to know if Miss Burstner is moving

or is planning to move

and if so, where to?

Anything else?

Yes. Well yes, I'd like to know why. Why is she moving?

And you have the unmitigated gall to pretend you don't know.

Well no, how could 1? I've just got home.

I mean we did talk this morning but she didn't seem to be planning to move.

She wasn't Mr. K.

It came as a very nasty surprise.

You make it sound as if I were responsible.

Do you pretend you have nothing to do with it?

I don't pretend anything.

All we did was talk, though I did kiss her.

I hope you're not, not trying to tell me that it's just because I kissed her.

She's changing her address just because I kissed her.

I mean after all, she's a woman of the world.

She works at the nightclub.

What are you insinuating?

Well nothing, but you'll have to admit she's a grown woman not a minor.

Somebody must have kissed her before.

Do you think this is a topic to be shouted through the public streets?

Oh hell! Hell!

There is no need to curse.

Why am I always in the wrong without even knowing what for,

or what it's all about?

That's not something I'm prepared to discuss with you, Mr. K.

You better examine your own conscience.

Ya, well there's nothing wrong with my conscience, thank you.

Nothing at all.

Marika has been staying with Mrs Grubach longer then you have, Mr. K.

Don't forget that.

She was very fond of that room.

My poor little room is dark and damp and poorly heated.

She won't be nearly as comfortable with me...

Well then why does she move

-for god's sake! -Don't you shout at me Mr. K.

I'm a woman and a cripple

but that doesn't mean I have to stand for your abuse.

Go scream at that Grubach woman.

Wait a minute. You don't mean...

Hell, it's late.

I'll never get dressed for the theatre.

First you've got to give me the truth. Now did Mrs. Grubach ask her to leave?

I thought you didn't know what happened, Mr. K.

Oh she did make a few uncalled for remarks about Miss Burstner.

I took exception to them, very strong exception.

I told Mrs. Grubach in no uncertain terms

that she was out of line.

- Oh my dear... - You mean she...

Just, threw her out?

Well I guess, I guess I am responsible.

Listen Miss... uh, Mrs...

Excuse me, sir...

Excuse me, but I have a note here for you.

- Are you sure? - Yes. It's for you.

Somebody passed it down, over there.

- Where? - I think it's the man there maybe.

Mr.

Come with me, Mr. K.

We're making every reasonable effort at this point

to keep from interfering unnecessarily with the normal pattern of your life.

For instance...

So you wouldn't have to request special leave of absence from your office,

we've arranged to fit in these interrogations

outside your normal working hours.

Step into the light, Mr. K.

Who are they?

I can't expect you to know where the interrogation commission is sited.

That's right, I don't.

I've filled this out in your name and so you won't get lost.

I've drawn you a little map on the back.

Thanks.

You'll present that immediately on arrival.

And when is that?

- Immediately. - Tonight?

I hope you won't have too much trouble locating it.

Well if I do these two can always set me straight.

What exactly do you mean?

Aren't they supposed to trail around after me wherever I go,

observing my movements?

No... They aren't going to follow you.

That isn't their job.

Go right in there.

I've gotta close the doors after you. Nobody else must come in.

You should have been here

one hour and five minutes ago.

These delays must not occur again.

Please step up.

You are a house painter?

No.

The question from the examining magistrate

about my being a house painter

seems typical of this so called trial that's being hoisted upon me.

From the very notebook of the examining magistrate

confirms what I say.

These are the examining magistrate's records.

What's happening to me is of no great importance.

But I think it is representative of what's happening

to a great many other people as well.

And it's for these others that I take my stand here, not for myself alone.

That's it boy, give 'em hell!

I have been arrested and perhaps

considering the magistrate's opening statement,

perhaps they had orders to arrest some house painter.

Who may well be as innocent as I am.

... furthermore they even tried to get me to bribe them,

to steal my clothes and shirts from me.

I managed to keep calm. I asked them very simply,

why I was arrested...

And what was the answer of your self-styled inspector?

If he were here he would have to back me up in this.

Gentlemen, he answered in effect nothing at all.

He had arrested me that was enough.

I noticed that your examining magistrate has just given some of you a secret sign.

Well I don't know whether that sign was meant to be a...

a signal for applause or to hiss me,

but, I hereby publicly empower the examining magistrate

to address his entire intentions out loud.

Let him say hiss now or a clap now whatever he wants.

Can there be any doubt that behind my arrest

a vast organization is at work?

And establishments which contains a retinue of civil servants, officers,

police and others, perhaps even hangmen.

I notice that all of you are wearing the same badge.

So is every damn one of you here is an official of some kind.

That means you've all come rushing in here

to listen to nose out what you can about me.

Half of you clap, It was just to lead me on.

Get out of my way.

Maybe you wanted some practise in fooling an innocent man.

Perhaps you found some amusement in the fact

that I seriously expected you to be interested in justice.

One moment.

I only wish to point out that tonight you have thrown away

with your own hand

all the advantages which an interrogation invariably converts on an accused man.

Just you wait.

Sir...

What are you doing here?

We're gonna get flogged.

- You're what? - We're gonna be beat.

- It's all because of you mister. - Yeah, yeah.

- Hey, why... - It's all your fault mister...

You caused that thing about us to the authorities.

You accused us of corruption.

You lodged a complaint.

I only mentioned it to the inspector.

And to the examining magistrate.

Let's get on with it.

You accused us of soliciting for bribes.

Well you're not exactly innocent...

If you knew what kinda money we're expected to live on

you wouldn't be so hard on us.

I've got a family to feed. Frank here wants to get married.

Anyways, it's the custom for the arresting officers

to get the prisoner's body linen.

What difference can a few shirts make to anybody?

- Once he's arrested... - Nothing

Nothing at all but still you had to go ahead and denounce us.

Well it wasn't anything personal I was just defending a principle.

Didn't I tell you?

I told you the gentleman...

If it wasn't for them shirts and... before he had found out about it.

And nothing would have happened if you hadn't gone ahead and denounced it.

It's because of you that we're punished.

What kind of justice do you call that?

We've all got clean records,

me especially.

Take him for instance, if anybody ever'd lodged a complaint against him

you think he'd be where he is now?

- Come on let's get on with it. - ...how painful it is...

You too, strip.

We even have to take off our clothes.

- Look. - What do you want?

If you could see your way through to letting him off just this once,

I'd certainly appreciate it.

- What are you trying to do? - Nothing.

You plan to lodge a complaint against me?

No, I haven't lodged any complaint.

Why if I wanted those men to be punished I'd...

I could just leave right now and close the door

and close my eyes and ears and forget about the whole thing.

But I don't think they should be punished.

They're not to blame.

It's the people above them that should be punished.

The authorities, the whole organization.

Now if it were one of the high judges you were flogging

I wouldn't mind a bit.

I'd even pay extra to encourage the good work.

I don't take bribes. Not in any circumstances.

Please, please.

Please, please try to get me off of here.

Frank, here he's older than I am... his nerves are better, he can take it.

He's been punished before, but your only single...

I can't wait any longer.

He won't get into trouble. He knows better.

Save me!

Mr.

What?

Mr. K, there's a man in your office. He says he's your uncle Max.

Uncle Max.

Well, my boy.

What brings you into town?

Josef.

Is it true?

Yes it's...

Yes it's true enough I'm afraid.

And you're under arrest?

Please, uncle Max. We'll talk about it later.

Very well then...

Just go ahead with your work, my boy.

Don't mind me.

- It's not a criminal case, is it? - It is.

Well?

That's...

That's what they tell me.

And you just coolly sit here?

- If you won't think of yourself... - What?

If you won't think of yourself, think of the family,

our good name.

How did you...

find out about it?

Irmie called me on the long distance telephone.

- Irmie... - Yeah, poor little Irmie...

whom you wouldn't so much as receive here in your office.

I can't hold...

lengthy conversations with family relatives

during working hours.

- I suppose that applies to me too. - Oh, uncle Max.

My only thought when I made this long exhausting trip

was just to try to help you.

But no...

You don't even want to see me.

Yes, of course I do but...

you must realise...

how difficult it is...

during working hours.

Well, it looks to me as though your working hours are over, Josef.

Come on.

After all, Josef, I'm the nearest thing

to a parent and a father that you can lay claim to in the world.

Don't forget that.

Oh, I don't forget it, Uncle Max, believe me.

We've got to get some competent legal advice, Josef.

Things like this don't happen right out of the blue and in a criminal case...

Please, uncle Max, people are listening.

What's that up there?

The computer.

- One of those electronic gimmicks? - Yes.

Can give you the answer to anything?

Yes.

- Well... - Well what?

You want to know about your case, don't you? Ask the machine.

We wouldn't be allowed.

These things can always be arranged, can't they?

Well what would I ask?

Uncle Max, I...

I don't even know what I'm charged with.

Well that's one question the brain thing

ought to be able to figure it out for you.

Well she'd need the data,

economic, sociological, psychological.

Still she might be able to handle it, she screens and processes personality tests.

But first an awful lot of material would have to be fed to her.

Her?

It's a she?

That's the way the experts talk about her.

I see like for a car or a boat

kind of affectionate.

Well respectably, more than that.

Love?

Terror?

I don't know.

Well, if she's a woman I'd be careful.

Wait a minute.

It's uh... it must be a dog somewhere. It's just a little dog in the courtyard.

He's putting a piece of tape over our mouths, don't worry,

with the tape on, you won't hear any screaming.

Good, see?

You can't hear anything.

This gentlemen says he's in charge of the electronic brain, Josef.

We're not in charge.

One of the technical experts anyways.

You talk about data and facts. Well, crime is a fact isn't it?

Suppose I committed a crime or rather suppose I hadn't.

Uncle Max, these men are extremely busy.

It seems they work in shifts on the computer.

Yes, our night people have more leisure after eleven.

-They could show him around. -That's alright.

Thank you, come on.

I agree with you, Josef, all these fancy electronics

they're alright in their place but not for anything practical.

Please, uncle Max.

You're not gonna try to tell me you think you can diddle

your way out of a criminal charge with an adding machine.

Open up in there.

We're friends of the advocate. We've got to see him on

very important business. I don't care how busy he is.

We've got to see him now.

K's the name. Announce him, will you.

She doesn't look like a maid to me more like a nurse.

The advocate is ill.

Ill? You say he's ill?

His heart again I suppose. He never was too healthy.

This may be a strange hour to be paying a professional call

but good old Hastler isn't going to hold that against us.

We used to go to school together. You've heard me speak of him.

I know he had quite a reputation in junior high.

Leni?

No Albert, it's me, it's Max, Albert.

Leni I told you I'm too ill for visitors.

Don't let these people in. Go away.

- Albert, don't you remember me? - No.

It's your old friend Max.

- Who's that with you there? - Albert?

Hello Albert, what's wrong? How did...

Had another of your attacks? Don't worry, you always get over them.

Are they looking after you properly?

Terribly gloomy in here.

No lights...

power failure, of course but...

And what about this nurse of yours?

Who, Leni?

Leni is a good girl.

Very good girl indeed.

Leni takes excellent care of me.

- Don't you, darling? - Yes.

Miss would you be kind enough to leave us alone for a while.

I must speak to the advocate on personal business.

You can say whatever you...

You can't talk business to him now.

What you damn little...

We can discuss anything

in front of Leni, she's very, very...

This doesn't concern myself.

It's not my own private affair.

Whom does it concern?

My nephew. I brought him here with me.

Who?

- Josef K. - Whom?

Josef K...

- I didn't notice him.

So... so you came to see me about this case. That's good.

It's a most interesting affair.

Careful now, Josef.

Then you know about my case already?

How's that?

I...

couldn't understand.

I'm the one that doesn't understand.

It is your case isn't it,

you wanted to consult me about.

Of course it is. What's wrong with you.

Mr. Hastler seems to have heard about me and my case before

we even thought of coming here.

Oh, in the circles I move in, all sorts of different cases

naturally come up in discussion, and the more interesting ones

stick in my mind.

Particularly something concerning the nephew of an old friend of mine.

Of course. That's logical, Josef.

You say you move in these circles...

Does that mean you're actually connected with the courts?

With whom else should I associate

if not with men of my own profession.

That's a need incontrovertible.

I'm handicapped these days by illness.

But good friends from the law court still visit me here

from time to time when I'm in a state to speak to them.

For instance there's a dear friend of mine

visiting here at this very moment.

We were chatting here together when you two burst in

and took us by surprise.

He preferred to withdraw with his chair and his table

into the corner.

The chief clerk of the law court.

Where?

I beg your pardon, sir.

I forgot to introduce you.

This is my old friend K...

and his nephew.

I know sir that you're interested in this case.

Josef K.

Leave us, Leni.

Naturally the chief clerk is a very busy man

but since this case does concern us all

perhaps you stay for a moment and advise us.

Oh my, yes we'd certainly be honoured.

I can stay for only a few minutes longer unfortunately.

It's clear, we know how pressed you are for time.

The chief clerk will tell you, my dear old friend,

I've defended a great number of these cases, Max

and we've succeeded in winning a few of them.

- At least partially. - In parts of it...

The important thing now is to get our first plea ready.

That often determines the whole course of subsequent proceedings.

However, in actual practise

the first plea is not usually read by the court at all.

Oh, and why is that?

Very often they simply file it away.

I think your friend here should be warned

that the case of Josef K is likely to be followed through any number of courts.

And sometimes the case never reaches verdict...

I broke the glass.

Why did you do that?

To attract your attention.

I wanted you to come here to me.

I was thinking of you too.

In there you couldn't keep your eyes off me.

And yet you'd like me to wait.

I couldn't just get up and walk out of the room without any excuse.

No, no that's not mine.

You did it though.

Yes, I did. That's not my coat.

If you're going out you'd better take this.

- No, no... - You weren't wearing a coat.

- This is one of... - I'm not going out...

I can't even stay here. I've got to get back to them.

I know you don't really like me.

But I'm going to make love to you and then you won't be able to go.

Yeah, but what will I say back there?

You don't like me at all?

Well, like is a very feeble word.

You've got a sweetheart?

-No. -I'll bet you do have one.

A boy like you is bound to have somebody.

- Well as a matter of fact... - Tell me about her.

Well there's not much to tell really.

I don't even know where she lives anymore.

- I've got a photograph... - Ah, you've got a photograph.

What is she, some kind of an actress?

No, a dancer.

She's not so young, is she...

I don't think I like her. She looks hard and selfish.

A girl like that wouldn't be able to sacrifice herself for a man.

Well certainly not for me.

Has she got any physically defect?

What?

Has she got any physically defect?

Why no, of course not.

If you don't know where she's scarred I guess she doesn't mean much to you

or you'd find out.

I'll find out.

I've got a physical defect.

I'll show you.

Come on.

Look.

The skin between my two middle fingers.

Like a web.

A web...

What a pretty little palm.

You'd better go.

Go? I just got in.

I'll say you weren't feeling well or something,

that you needed some fresh air.

I'll be back in a minute.

To let you out I've got to get the keys.

The keys? Are we locked in here?

I don't want you locked out.

The keys are to let you in yourself, during the nights.

Whenever you feel like it.

Good.

Who's that?

- What, that picture? - Yes.

- That could be my judge I suppose. - I know him.

He's not a big man like that.

He's little,

almost a dwarf.

But look the way he had himself painted.

He's vain...

Of course, like everybody else here.

I'm vain myself...

and it bothers me that you don't like me more than you do.

You mean you've got high court judges coming here to see you?

Oh no, he's just an examining magistrate.

Only an examining magistrate?

Boy, the higher officials certainly keep themselves well hidden.

These fancy robes and the gown are just an invention.

Actually he sits on a kitchen chair with an old hose wrapped ragged under him.

Ow!

Do you always be brooding over your case?

Probably, I don't think enough about it.

No, that's not the mistake you're making.

You're too stubborn and too much of a troublemaker, that's what I hear.

Who told you that?

You mustn't ask me for names.

Just take my warning to heart and try to be a little more cooperative.

Cooperative? Oh, brother...

The first chance you get you ought to make your confession.

Till you do that there isn't a hope of getting out of their clutches.

Not a hope...

and even then you will need a lot of help from the outside.

- Leni! - Josef!

Leni!

Josef!

Leni, where are you?

Leni, darling...

Chief Clerk is leaving,

accompany him to the door.

- Goodnight Clerk. - Goodnight.

Goodnight, it's getting late.

Albert, please go on

with what you were saying about advocates.

Advocates, they do everything they can to discourage us.

You should see the room they have for advocates in the law courts.

-Small. They have... -No...

There's a tiny skylight up high...

...some other advocate to hoist you up on his back.

For more than a year now there's been a hole in the floor.

A hole, Albert?

Not quite big enough to fall through or if you stumble into it.

You find yourself with your leg hanging out of the...

The very place where all your clients have to worry.

I had no idea of the difficulties.

Sure, sure. It's all...

really humiliating.

I only wish my nephew could be hearing all this.

- Who's that man? - What man?

- That man in there - You shouldn't have opened that door.

- Well who is he? - Oh, him he doesn't matter.

- Come here. - What do you mean he doesn't matter?

Oh no... I've got to go.

Alright.

These are the back stairs.

You'd better pretend you'd been waiting on the street.

Say you'd began to feel faint

and you needed some fresh air.

- What's he doing in there? - Waiting.

He's a client.

Here's your key.

Leni!

Well, Josef, well...

Well what?

You know that the nurse is the advocates mistress?

You're facing a criminal charge. Do you want to make enemies?

Do you want to lose your case?

Looking for somebody?

What's wrong?

Isn't the court in session?

Not today.

Why isn't the court in session?

- They'll be sitting tomorrow. - You sure?

Sure, my husband is a guard here.

Guard?

The man who was kissing you is a...

That wasn't my husband who was kissing me

that was a law student.

He's just a law student but even so he's got influence.

Influence, huh?

He's kind of important already.

He must be...

You were making love right there in the middle of the whole damn crowd.

Yeah, I guess we ruined that speech you were making

but what could I do about it?

Once he gets started it's...

Hey! You can't touch those books.

They belong to the examining magistrate.

It's not my fault. It's the rules.

You do remember me, don't you?

From last night?

My name is Hilda.

These are probably law books and of course I mustn't read any law.

I must be condemned not only in ignorance...

How dirty they are.

Wow, they really are dirty.

And these are the men that sit in judgement on me.

Listen.

I'll help you.

Wouldn't you like me to?

I don't see how you can if your husband is a courtroom guard here.

I want to help you. That's why I came in here...

even though, it's forbidden.

Well, that's very nice of you

but I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble.

No, you mustn't go away like that, not yet.

You got the wrong ideas about me.

Am I such a nothing in your eyes

that you won't stay just a little longer when I ask you?

Well I've got plenty of time. I only came here thinking

the court would be in session.

You mustn't be offended when I ask you not to try to do anything about my case.

The truth is, I don't care at all who it comes out.

And if they sentence me, I just laugh at them.

Oh, not that it'll ever come to that.

Or they might make a show out of carrying it on

in the hope of eventually getting money out of me, but their wasting their time.

I can tell you that.

There's one thing you could do for me.

Tell that examining magistrate of yours that nothing on Earth

could ever induce me to give money to those precious judges.

No.

Yeah, but you said the only ones who could do you any good

were the higher ups.

I'm afraid so.

Still, you could always write a report and they must go up

to the real authorities.

Last night for instance when the others had left

he stayed on here, real late writing away.

He even turned off the mains and I had to bring in a candle.

Then my husband came home...

and we started to move the furniture back in place.

Neighbours came in with some beer and we got to talking by candle light.

And we just forgot about the examining magistrate altogether.

Then, in the middle of the night I woke up, and there he was.

Standing by our bed shielding the candle with his hands

to keep the light from hitting my husband.

Not that he needed to bother.

Once my husband gets to sleep nothing, wakes him.

I was so startled I almost let out a yell

but the magistrate he was real kind to me.

He whispered he'd been in there all the time, writing.

And now he'd come in to return the candle.

And as long as he lived, he told me

he'd never forget the picture I made.

That's what he said.

The picture I made lying asleep in the bed.

I just tell you this to show you how busy he is

writing out these great, long, big reports.

The one last night must've been about you,

and somebody must read it.

Besides, he's starting to take an interest in me.

So maybe a can do you some good, huh?

This morning he sent me a pair of stockings for the law student.

Want to see? I've got them on now.

Look out.

- It's Bert. - Bert?

I know, he's ugly.

Did you get a look at those legs of his.

Yeah.

All the same I've got to go and be with him now.

I'll come back soon.

And then I'll go with you wherever you like

and you can do with me whatever you want.

What's wrong? Don't you believe me?

Why should 1?

This could be a trap.

- Are you afraid? - Who is this law student?

A kind of henchman of the magistrates?

- What of it? - I...

I was thinking

Don't think.

It'd be kind of a nice revenge to take you away from both of them.

Why not?

Then some night after the magistrate after he's been staying up late

filling up those long, lying reports about me.

I'd come to your bedside...

Why don't you go?

You should've left the minute I came in.

You think so?

That's what you're supposed to do.

When I come in you get the hell out of here.

Well...

I seem to detect the insolence of a future official of the court.

You shouldn't be allowed to run around like this at large.

That was a mistake, I told the magistrate.

- Come on. - Don't try to be funny.

Come on.

Wait a minute.

- No you. - What do you mean?

He sent for me. What can we do about it?

- Who sent for you? - The examining magistrate.

- The examining magistrate? - He's a monster,

and this ugly monster he won't let me go.

Sorry, what can I do?

Now listen...

Leave him alone. You want to ruin me?

He's just obeying the orders of the examining magistrate.

Alright, alright take her.

You lied to me, didn't you?

- Why should I lie? - You're not being taken

to the examining magistrate.

- Yes I am. - You mean to tell me

that the examining magistrate is waiting for you in a place like that.

Of course he is! These are the law court offices.

Where else do think he would be?

Law court offices?

In a place like...

Hell.

You are the defendant?

My name is K.

You're...

the courtroom guard.

Yes, I'm her husband.

It's Sunday night.

I'm not supposed to work on Sunday night.

But just to get me out of the way they send me off on these long

useless errands.

That student...

if my job didn't depend on it,

I would have squashed him flat against the wall here, long ago.

Right there...

just a little bit above the floor.

All splashed in blood...

with his arms and his fingers and those bandy legs of his

all twisted out and writhing...

like a smashed cockroach.

He used to carry her for his own pleasure

but now it's the examining magistrate's.

Isn't she to blame as well?

She throws herself at him.

And in my position there is nothing that I can do about it

but if somebody had given him a good thrashing just once.

He's a coward, you know?

He'd never touch her again.

Only a man like you could do it.

A man like me?

What do you mean?

- They've arrested you, haven't they? - Yes.

Well then...

My being under arrest gives me all that much more reason

to be afraid of him.

I heard about that speech of yours.

What about it?

I wouldn't have thought you'd be afraid at all.

I'm not... I'm not afraid, not of him personally.

I'm not afraid of any of them.

But he does have influence, or so they say.

He certainly isn't sticking up for the examining magistrate.

And god knows my case is prejudiced enough already...

As a rule, none of our cases are prejudiced.

Well I'm afraid I'd have to disagree with you about that.

But it wouldn't necessarily stop me from taking care of that student.

I'd be very grateful if you would. Come.

Come.

These are the law court offices.

That's where they are, my wife and the magistrate.

I don't have a key...

for this one.

Who are these people?

The accused.

- You, why are you here? - I'm waiting.

What is it you're waiting for?

Yes, I handed in several affidavits

that was some time ago.

I'm waiting here for the result.

You certainly seem to be taking a good deal of trouble over it.

Well yes, you see, it's my case.

I'm under arrest, you don't see me putting up affidavits.

What makes you think that kind of thing is necessary?

I can't say exactly,

but I handed in my affidavits.

You don't believe I'm under arrest.

Oh yes, certainly.

Why not? Why don't you believe I'm under arrest?

What do you take me for?

You think I'm a judge?

Back to the seats, all of you! Keep the passage clear!

Can you tell me how to get out of here? I've had enough of this place.

You're going already but you've hardly seen anything yet.

I don't want to. I just want to get out of here.

Well...

You keep to the right through that passage

and then you go...

to the second corner

and then left along the lobby to the fourth.

You'd better show me yourself. There's so many passages

and lobbies I'll never find the way.

I've got the message to deliver and I've lost a whole lot of time because of you.

- Come with me! - Not so loud.

You want to bring all the officials down on us?

Suppose they ask who you are. Then you'll have to admit

you're one of the accused.

- I'm not trying to hide it. - Well then...

- What do I tell them? - The truth maybe.

But I only came here because I wanted to see if the inside

of this famous legal system was as loathsome as I guessed it was.

And now I'm too depressed to want to see anything more.

I just want to get out of here and be alone.

What's wrong? You feel a little dizzy?

Yes.

Oh, don't worry. Almost everybody has an attack like that on their first visit.

It's the air.

That too, and also all sorts of washing is hung up here to dry.

You can't forbid the tenets to wash their dirty items.

There's just nothing we can do about that, I'm afraid.

Where are you going?

Do you want me to have you taken to the sick room?

Please don't...

I'd be fine if I could just get some air.

It's not far now.

Here's the door right in front of you.

Why don't you go out? That's what you wanted.

Yes...

Thank you.

I'm not used to fresh air.

Hello.

Irmie.

What are you doing here?

- Well, I've been looking for you. - What, why?

Uncle Max I suppose, checking up on me.

He keeps writing, nagging at me for news.

He hasn't heard a thing about your case for a long time now.

So naturally, he's worried. We all are...

Well, tell him not to worry.

Gee, I gotta write something. Just something...

- Tell him everything is under control. - But, is it?

- I don't know, I... - I hate to be a drag

but you know what he's like, how he carries on about things.

Now it's the honour of the family and all that jazz.

- Maybe he's right... - Oh, shit.

Ignore me, I hope you didn't say what I thought you did.

You shouldn't use that kind of language, Irmie. How old are you anyway?

Sixteen, practically.

You're fifteen, hardly that.

You certainly shouldn't have come out here alone.

I wouldn't be here if my cousin hadn't got himself in trouble with the law.

Don't they check up on you in that school?

They try to.

You sneak out after hours, is that it?

You're not the only crook in the family.

- That's not a very funny joke Irmie. - Okay, you write home,

and say what a delinquent I am.

But what do I say about you? There must be some kind of news.

Well I...

I'm thinking very seriously of getting rid of your father's old school chum.

You can tell him that.

I can't see that the famous advocate Hastler is doing anything for me

except encourage the delay.

But he's your lawyer!

How can you get rid of your lawyer?

Easy, just dismiss him from the case.

And then what?

I don't know.

Isn't there something more definite I can write home about?

- No, nothing definite. - You've got to have a lawyer don't you?

Influence, that's all that counts in the long run.

Hastler is always bragging about his personal connections

but what's he really up to?

Besides, I'm not exactly stupid. I can defend myself.

Look at the position I've got at the office.

Don't be surprised if you hear any day now

that I've become deputy manager of my entire department.

Well, all I've got to do is to apply those same abilities

to this case of mine.

So I get rid of the advocate I can draw up my own plan

and keep after the officials myself.

Well, this is where I leave you, Irmie.

You're not going to work now are you?

Things keep piling up. This case is taking such a lot of my time.

I've really got to finish my work somehow...

I don't like to leave you alone. I really ought to walk you back to your school.

That's all I needed, to be seen with a man.

But, I'm your cousin.

Cousins get married.

You wouldn't want to marry a criminal.

Crooks get married too.

- So long now. - So long, Josef.

It's him.

- Who are you? - My name is Bloch.

- Are you employed here? - Oh no, I'm only a client.

I don't belong to the house, I'm just here on business.

- Your shirt sleeves... - Excuse me, please.

What have you been doing, making love to Leni?

No. No.

Well anyway you don't look like and honest man.

What did you say your name was, Bloch?

Yes, Bloch.

- That's your real name? - Of course, why shouldn't it be?

I don't know, you might have some reason for concealing it.

- You know who that is? - Yes, a judge.

- A judge of the high court? - Oh yes, it must be.

That shows how much you know about the courts.

Among the judges that's the lowest of the low.

Oh yes. Yes, of course now I remember I've been told about that before.

You've been told all about that before, of course you have.

Yes sir, I have been told this.

Where is she now? Come on, where's Leni?

Where's she hiding?

Leni, I don't think she's hiding, sir. She must be in the kitchen.

Yes, that's where she ought to be.

Yes, she must be in the kitchen making soup for the advocate.

- Why didn't you tell me that before? - I was going to take you there, sir...

- Don't think you're being clever... - Oh no, I don't.

I don't think I'm clever at all.

Lead the way then.

Go on.

Good evening, Josef.

Leni...

Who's that man?

His name is Bloch.

You were in your night gown.

Is he your lover?

I want an answer.

Come to the study and I'll tell you about it.

No.

No, I want you to tell me in here.

You aren't jealous of poor little Bloch?

You can see what he is. Nothing.

I just have to pay a little attention to him

because he's one of the advocate's best clients.

You're going to spend the night with me?

The eggs are burning.

It's just as well. Eggs are bad for you.

If you really want to see the advocate I'll tell him you're here.

He's been asking after you.

Yeah, I'll bet he has.

Where have you been all this time?

I've got some information for you too.

Things I've found out...

but first let's get off that jacket.

Shall I announce you or give him his soup first?

Give him his soup.

He'll need it by the time I'm through with him.

So you are one of the advocate's clients?

What's it got to do with you?

You be quiet, Rudy.

I'll give him his soup now but there's a chance

he'll fall asleep right afterwards.

What I have to say to him will keep him awake.

Just as soon as he's finished eating I'll announce you.

I want to get you back with me.

Keep a seat.

So.

You're a...

You're one of the advocate's clients.

Oh yes...

Yes, a very old client indeed.

How long has he had charge of your affairs?

Affairs? Business affairs, oh.

He's been my representative since...

the very beginning.

But my case...

That's what probably you are thinking about.

I have it all written down here.

I can give you the exact dates.

Now, it's very difficult to keep all that in one's head so...

Oh no, I didn't... I never realized

that Hastler had an ordinary commercial practise as well.

Of course...

Why... yes you know that they even say...

They even say that he's a better advocate

for business, right, than for...

the other kind.

- Yes? - Oh yeah.

You won't give me away?

I'm not an informer.

He's a revengeful man, very, very revengeful.

Well surely he wouldn't...

He wouldn't think of harming one of his own clients?

Yes, yes!

Yes, once he's aroused

he could do anything.

He doesn't draw any distinctions.

What was it you wanted to tell me?

You'll have to tell me one of your own secrets.

Please.

So we can trust each other.

- Do keep quiet. - Okay, I'll give you something.

I have other advocates.

Other... other advocates as well as Hastler?

Five of them.

You know...

Hastler...

- Listen... - Yeah.

Hastler...

You notice he's always...

Hastler is always referring to the others in his own circle

as "great advocates".

No!

No!

But in the real protocol of the court...

he ranks where?

- Where? - Among the smaller advocates.

- Oh sure. - Hastler?

Well, the really great advocates

- whom I've never seen... - Then you must've been

- working on your own behalf. - Oh, yes.

You know, I'd like to ask you about that.

- How do you do that? - It's exhausting.

It's just that they need a court to try to keep an eye on things

and too much for one man.

I'll be there often enough myself after this, I suppose.

I can't expect the same special treatment I got the first time.

Everybody stood up. They must've taken me for a judge.

It was that guard you were with.

He's the one we all stood up for.

There's that ridiculous superstition.

What superstition?

You're supposed to be able to tell from a man's face

and from the line of his lips especially

how his case is going to turn out.

- So? - Well, so,

the people were saying that from the expression on your lips...

They could tell that...

you were found guilty.

Yes, in the very near future.

The advocate is waiting for you.

Let him wait.

You can talk to Bloch later, he's sleeping here.

Sleeping here?

Everybody isn't like you.

Expecting to be granted an interview at any hour of the day or night.

And the advocate is sick as he is too

Your friends do you favours and you just take them for granted.

Not that I ask for any thanks.

All I want...

well...

I want you to be fond of me.

I'm fond of you.

Well I don't know...

Why shouldn't Haster be willing to see me?

He's my lawyer isn't he? What kind of a favour is that?

- That's not the question. - He seems to be

in a state for being difficult.

You know why the advocate has agreed to see him, Leni?

It's because...

His case is still at the hopeful stage.

Oh yes, Leni.

-He'll see the difference later. -You talk too much.

That's his trouble.

That's why the advocate can't bear to see him.

Oh, he does see me occasionally.

But you never know

that's what's so nerve-racking

And you never know when he'll be willing to receive you.

It could be any time.

Day, night... and if I'm not right here on the spot

when he does take it into his head to send for me,

I've lost my chance.

Then I have to wait much longer than before.

That's why I let you sleep here.

Well I guess

one gets very dependent on one's advocate as time goes on.

The truth is, he likes it.

-Leni... -Maybe not the waiting.

But you do enjoy spending the night, now don't you?

Good.

Want to see his room?

Okay.

So you sleep in the maid's room?

Yeah, she lets me have it, yes, it's very convenient.

I'm going to bed.

Mr. K, wait.

Wait Mr. K

Rudy.

Mr.

Mr. K... Please...

You forgot your promise.

You were going to tell me one of your secrets.

Alright, I'll give you a secret.

I'm dismissing the advocate.

- The advocate? - What?

I'm going to dismiss him from my case.

- Dismiss him! - I'm tired of all these delays...

- Please, no you can't. - Hastler has done nothing,

he's either too old, too sick or too indifferent.

- No, he's not indifferent... - He's dismissing the advocate!

- He's dismissing the advocate! - Wait!

No, Josef...

You stay out.

Leave him alone, Leni.

Has she been pestering you again?

Pestering me?

She finds all accused men attractive.

It's a peculiarity of hers.

She makes up to all of them,

makes love to all of them.

And when I allow her to,

she tells me about these affairs to amuse me.

All about them...

You came here this evening for a specific reason?

Yes, I came here to tell you that I'm dispensing with your services.

Well, you mustn't be in too much of a hurry.

I know you've done everything you can for me and I appreciate it

but I'm afraid that more energetic steps are gonna have to be taken.

That's a plan we can discuss.

It's not a plan, it's a fact.

How many times have I come here and what have you done for me? Nothing.

How many of my clients have reached the same point in their cases as you,

and stood here before me saying

exactly the same things.

Maybe they had a reason to. They were probably all

just as much in the right as I am.

That's true you know...

Accused men...

are attractive.

Not that being accused makes any immediate change

in a man's personal appearance.

But if you've got the right eye for these things

you can pick out an accused man in the largest crowd.

It's just...

something about them, something...

attractive.

It can't be a sense of guilt...

You can't all be...

guilty.

Some, of course, are more attractive than others

but all are attractive, even that wretched creature Bloch.

Let's get him in here.

I think it's time you learned how other accused men are treated.

Get Bloch in here, Leni.

Go and fetch Bloch...

My decision is final, you know?

You'd better think about it, Josef.

The advocate wants to see you.

- Go on. - Thank you, thank you.

- Is that Bloch? - Yes sir.

What do you want?

- You were sent for weren't you? - Yes sir, I was.

You've come at the wrong time.

Sir, I came in immediately, immediately sir,

the minute I heard my name.

- Do you want me to go away? - You're here aren't you?

Yes sir, I'm here I...

- Then stay. - Yes sir.

Yesterday,

I saw my friend the third judge.

I managed to work the conversation around to your case.

My case.

- You want to hear what he said? - Oh, please.

In these matters

there are so many conflicting opinions that the confusion

is impenetrable.

At a certain point,

by an old tradition, a bell must be rung.

- Yes, a bell. - Shush.

This marks the official opening of the proceedings.

There are many arguments against this opinion, but you wouldn't understand them.

- The other advocate... - No!

- Who is your advocate? - No, no.

-And beside me... -No sir, no one was...

Then pay no attention to anyone else.

Fawn on the floor for him, if you like.

No, you're not to talk to me like that.

Not in front of the advocate. How dare you! How dare you!

How dare you!

Don't you see what he's trying to do, he's trying to humiliate you,

to show off his power.

- Pay no attention to anyone else. - Let him go!

Do what your conscience tells you is right.

- Let me go! - I'm on my knees, advocate.

I'm on my knees, advocate.

I'm on my knees, sir.

I'm on...

How's he been behaving today?

He has been quiet and hardworking.

What's he been doing all day?

I kept him locked up in the maid's room,

so he wouldn't disturb me when I worked.

It's where he usually stays, anyway.

Then you can't say of your own knowledge what he's been doing.

I peeked in on him now and then through the ventilator.

He was kneeling all the time on the bed...

studying the book you let him borrow.

There wasn't much light so the way he stuck to his reading

shows that he does what he's told.

Did he understand what he was reading?

Well...

he's following the lines with his fingers.

All I could tell was

he never goes past the same page the whole day.

I guess that book is very hard to understand.

Yes.

The scriptures are very difficult.

They're only meant to give him a bare inkling of the...

- Yes, yes... - ...the complications I must

struggle with in his behalf.

- Did he read without stopping? - Almost without stopping.

Once he asked me for a drink of water and I handed it to him

through the ventilator.

Then about eight o' clock I let him out and gave him something to eat.

You're praising him too much, Leni.

You're making it even harder for me to tell him the truth.

The judges' remarks were by no means favourable.

Not favourable? How can that be?

He was even annoyed when I mentioned Bloch's name.

"You're wasting your time with that man", he told me.

"His case is hopeless."

I refused to believe that.

"Bloch is most conscientious", I told him.

It's true that personally he's rather repulsive.

His manners are bad and he's dirty

but as a client, I said,

"He's beyond reproach."

Which was of course a deliberate exaggeration.

And here's what the judge replied to that...

"Your, your client

"has a kind of low cunning.

"He's learned through the years how to go on manipulating the situation.

"What do you think he'd say if we were to tell him

"that the bell

"marking the start of the proceedings...

"hadn't even been rung."

- I... - Quiet there, Bloch!

Have you no shame, to behave like that in front of a client?

You're destroying his confidence in me.

What's wrong with you?

You're still alive, aren't you?

You're still under my protection.

I hope you realize that I'm dispensing with your services.

You can still change your mind about that.

To be in chains

is sometimes safer than to be free.

- Where do you think you're going? - Open the door.

- You must be crazy. - Open the door.

- There's no place for you to go. - Listen to him, he's crazy.

If I hadn't made up my mind already, that performance in there

would have settled it forever.

I think it was all put on for my benefit

to win me over.

How far do you think you could get without him?

How far am I now?

Not far away.

You'd better see him.

-Who, the high court judge? -Don't be funny, of course not.

I mean Titorelli.

He's the official court painter, he knows them all.

They all come to his studio to sit for their portraits.

Nobody has more influence with the judges than Titorelli.

You really think he could help me?

That's his profession, really

- as much as painting, helping people. - Unlock the door will you.

-Wait till tomorrow. -Where are the keys?

The advocate keeps the keys.

Okay.

Goodbye Leni and thanks.

- You'll be back here. - No. No.

You won't have any choice.

No Leni, I've seen what it is to be one of his clients.

I've seen what happened to Bloch.

He's not a client.

He's the advocate's dog.

- Excuse me, is there a Mr. Titorelli? - Who?

Artist living here.

Do you know the painter Titorelli?

- What do you want him for? - I want him to paint my portrait.

Your portrait?

Just get in, I'll get rid of these girls.

Lousy pests! Out!

Out, I see you.

Don't try your silly games.

He just wants to talk business.

Out! You heard me kids.

Out!

Why don't stay in somebody else's studio?

Oh... Oh, I can see you.

I can see you. Don't think you're fooling Titorelli.

Why aren't you out of my studio?

You both best apologize.

You are silly little rascals.

Out.

Out.

Out.

I got home late last night that's why everything is in such a mess.

And just as I was tucking myself under the covers a dreadful little claw

reaches up and seizes me.

She was there under the bed of course, waiting.

Titorelli, can we come in now?

No, you can't!

- Not even me? - No.

I know some little pussy cats who aren't going to be so pretty

when Titorelli is through with them.

Oh, I know some dirty minded little pussies that are gonna wish

their mom's had drowned them in a bucket.

I'll get my ice pick.

Remember my ice pick...

And what can I do for you, chum?

I thought you might be able to give me some advice.

You wouldn't want to be buying one of my pictures?

Oh certainly. You're working on a painting now?

A portrait, not quite finished.

It must be a judge.

Judges are my speciality.

What does that represent?

You can see for yourself, justice.

Yes, there's the...

There's the bandage over the eyes but aren't those...

Ouch.

Aren't those wings there on heels?

My instructions were to paint it that way.

Why?

Justice ought to stand still, don't you think, or else the scales will waver

and a just verdict won't be possible.

Actually it's justice and the goddess of victory combined.

What does she look like to you?

Like the goddess of the hunt.

In full cry.

Titorelli,

can we come in now?

Nasty things, we're busy.

You aren't really busy.

You're going to paint him? Please don't paint him,

not another one like that.

These girls belong to the court.

Well actually,

practically everything belongs to the court.

But it's behind the scenes, here in this very studio

that's where you get your results.

I forgot to ask you what kind of acquittal you want.

Ostensible, or definite acquittal or deferment?

Definite acquittal is the best but I can't influence

that kind of verdict.

- Nobody can. - Why?

I've never in my life heard of a case of definite acquittal.

What's wrong sir?

There are windows, something we can open?

Oh, well there's plenty of air comes in through those chinks.

And if you want some ventilation you can open that door just there behind you.

The judge I'm painting now, for instance,

he always comes in by that door.

I've had to give him a key for it in case I have to be out.

His arm our usually arrives very early when I'm still asleep.

It's not exactly a soothing experience you know to wake up in the morning

and find a judge

all dressed up in those crazy ceremonial robes,

climbing over your bed.

He's taking off his jacket.

They seem to think I'm going to paint your portrait

and that's why you've taken off your jacket.

What are the other alternatives?

You mean your legal alternatives.

I told you ostensible acquittal, or indefinite deferment.

What's wrong, joy, not feeling well?

No...

must...

must be the heat.

If I open that door we have those girls in here all over.

Then don't do that.

Well now with ostensible acquittal

I write out an affidavit of your innocence.

And make the rounds off all the judges I know personally,

beginning with the one I'm painting now.

I explain to him that you're innocent

and myself guarantee that in...

And if he believes you?

As he very well might.

No, we mustn't be too pessimistic.

Some of them are bound to believe me.

Yes, and I'll be free?

Ostensibly;

ostensibly free.

Naturally the judges I know all belong to the lowest rate.

They haven't the power preserved to the highest court of all

to grant a final acquittal.

- The highest court? - Chum, that court

is inaccessible to you, to me, to all of us.

What the prospects are of the will

we just don't know.

And we don't want to know. I'm sure you understand.

No, I'm not sure that I do.

Oh, what they can do for you is to relieve you

of the burden of the charge.

Lift it from your shoulders for a time

but it does hover around up there above you.

You see, in definite acquittal, all the documents are annulled.

But with ostensible acquittal, your whole dossier continues to circulate.

Up to the higher courts, down to the lower ones,

up again, down.

These oscillations and peregrinations

are just configurable.

No use in trying either, I suppose.

Not a hope.

I've known cases of an acquitted man coming home from the court

and finding the cops waiting there to arrest him all over again.

But then of course, theoretically,

it's always possible to get another ostensible acquittal.

The second acquittal wouldn't be final either.

It's automatically followed by the third arrest.

The third acquittal, by the fourth arrest.

The fourth...

You think a deferment would suit you any better, do you?

Well I...

couldn't really say.

Even then, you can't annul the case forever.

Measures have to be taken,

questions, interrogations,

observations, more interrogations, evidence collected.

Going already?

I'll be... I'll be back to see you again, very soon.

I can't keep you to your word, you know, Joey.

Otherwise I'll have to call in at your office

and I know you wouldn't like that.

Unlock this door, will you?

You don't want to be bothered by the girls.

We'd better slip you out this other way.

- Now wait. - What for?

Would you like to see some of my pictures?

I'm sure there's at least one or two of them

you'd want to buy.

Now here, this one.

It's modern, you noticed, it's an action painting.

I call it "Wild Nature".

I'll buy it.

- Here's the companion picture. - I'll take them both.

You seem to like the subject.

Yes, I do.

I'll hang them in my office.

By a lucky chance

I've got another on the very same thing.

How much for the three?

Oh, we'll settle that for next time.

Today you're in such a hurry, but we're gonna keep in real close touch

with each other from now on, aren't we, Joey boy?

This is the law court office?

That seems to surprise you.

I think what surprises me most is how ignorant I am about everything

concerning this court of yours.

For an accused man that's a mistake.

He should never let himself be caught napping.

Never for a minute let his eye stray to the left.

When for all he knows that judge, or somebody like that

can be lurking a little bit to the right.

You...

I... I make you very uncomfortable, don't I?

It distresses you to find me in your company.

Yes, I've been told about that.

Before I thought you took me for a judge

or at least an official of the court.

I even thought you were afraid of me but what you're feeling is pain!

You don't like what you see, do you?

It's my mouth.

You think you can tell from my mouth

that I'm condemned.

That I'm going to be found guilty.

Guilty.

- Josef K!

Josef K!

- You are Josef K? - Yes.

You're an accused man.

So I've been informed.

Your case is going badly.

My first petition hasn't been offered yet.

For the prisons your guilt has assumed to have been proved.

But I'm not guilty.

For that matter...

How can any man be called guilty?

We're all simply men here, one as much as the other.

The guilty always talk like that.

What do you propose to do now?

Get more help.

Help?

There are several possibilities I haven't explored yet.

You expect too much from outside help, especially from women.

Women have influence.

Take that examining magistrate,

he has only to see a woman and he'll climb over the bench

and knock down the defendant just to get his hands on her.

Yeah, that's an aspect of the courts you probably don't know about.

Where's the door?

I have to catch up on my work at the office.

After all...

I'm assistant manager of my department.

What are you doing in church?

Or am I still in church, or is this one of the law court offices?

I left my sickbed.

Well or go back to your sickbed.

Josef, you don't seriously believe you can defend yourself?

Big choice...

Defend myself or defy you.

- Defy the court? - All of you.

- What's this? - We use these visual aids.

Lectures and sermons...

Yes, how your particular delusion is described,

in the writings which preface the law.

Before the law there stands a guard.

A man comes from the country seeking admittance to the law.

But the guard cannot admit him.

Can the man hope to enter at a later time?

I've heard it before, we've all heard it.

The man is dying of old age still waiting there.

And just at the end, the guard tells him

that the door was meant for him, only for him.

The guard tells him no one could enter this door.

"And now, I'm going to close it."

Some commentators have pointed out that the man came to the door

of his own free will.

Are we supposed to swallow all that?

- It's all true? - We needn't accept everything as true,

only what's necessary.

God, what a miserable conclusion.

It turns lying into a universal principle.

By attempting to defy the court, by such an obviously mad gesture

you hope to plead insanity?

You've laid some foundation for that claim by appearing

to believe yourself

that you're victim of some kind of conspiracy.

That's a symptom of lunacy isn't it?

Delusions of persecution.

- Delusions? - Well...

I don't pretend to be a martyr, no.

Not even...

a victim of society?

I am a member of society.

Do you think you can persuade the court that you're not responsible,

by reason of lunacy?

I think that's what the court wants me to believe.

Yes, that's the conspiracy.

To persuade us all that the whole world is crazy.

Formless,

meaningless, absurd.

That's the dirty game.

So, I've lost my case.

What of it?

You... You're losing too.

It's all lost.

Lost...

So what?

Does that sentence the entire universe to lunacy?

Can't you see anything at all?

Of course I'm responsible.

My son.

I am not your son.

You expect me to take the knife and do the job myself?

No, you'll have to do it.

You.

You.

You.

You!

You!

You!

You dummy!

You'll have to do it!

You'll have to kill me!

Come on, come on!

This film, The Trial,

was based on the novel by Franz Kafka.

That actors in the order of their appearance were:

Anthony Perkins,

Arnoldo Foà,

Jess Hahn, William Kearns,

Madeleine Robinson,

Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Teynac,

Naydra Shore, Suzanne Flon,

Raoul Delfosse, Jean-Claude Rémoleux,

Max Buchsbaum, Carl Studer,

Max Haufler, Romy Schneider,

Fernand Ledoux, Akim Tamiroff,

Elsa Martinelli, Thomas Holtzmann,

Wolfgang Reichmann, William Chappell,

and Michael Lonsdale.

I played the advocate and wrote and directed this film.

My name is Orson Welles.