Original subtitles

Excuse me, did you just land from New York...

Okay, I don't speak... All right.

For fuck's sake.

Ruthie. I'm so glad to see you.

Dad, what happened?

There was problem with my suitcase.

And nice man, he sticked...

No, not here with your suitcase.

In New York, at the airport, Dad.

I went to McDonald's for the hunger.

- Oh, my... - I'm sorry

I missed the flight, Ruthie,

but this I bought for you, pumpkin.

"One Armed Alibi."

Oh, my fucking God.

So, you went to the bookstore, too?

You really painted the town red, Dad.

What? You love the reading.

Never disappear again.

Ruthie. I am here.

People who disappear are not here.

Do you think there's toilets on the train?

I have to pee so bad.

Of course.

Who would go on a train without toilet?

What?

Th-There are taxicabs in front of airport.

And?

And the train is slow.

We won't get to hotel before evening.

Dad, I paid for the tickets.

I've spent money on these tickets.

And the bathroom, on Polish trains,

they're not so good, Ruthie, trust me.

Two minutes, okay? Don't move.

Pumpkin. Where would I go?

There you go.

What?

Did you see where he went?

No, thank you.

I asked you not to move, Dad.

This is getting off to kind of a rough start.

Ruthie, I want you to meet my friend, Stefan.

- Yeah, hello. - He is driver.

The best driver in Warsaw.

My pleasure to drive you.

Welcome.

What are you two talking about?

German engineering.

So, Ruthie, what are our plans?

Well, we'll visit Lodz to see where you and Mom grew up.

So, we take a train from Warsaw to Lodz

in the morning. And I hope you'll come.

Yeah, but Stefan can take us there for $30.

He asked for 50, but I said $30 or nothing.

That's true.

But, Dad, I already bought train tickets.

I don't know if you, like, think I'm made of money.

Why you ask such crazy questions?

What's wrong with riding Mercedes?

I thought you hated Mercedes.

No, I never said that.

I said I hate the Germans, not Mercedes.

Beautiful place.

Yeah, I know.

I've been waiting here for you.

Uh...

What's wrong?

Eh...

Yes,

this is very good room for my daughter.

This is our Marilyn Suite. My favorite.

What was wrong with my other room?

Nothing, Ruthie. I just thought our...

our rooms should be closer together, that's all.

This is a special daughter-father trip, no?

Here.

Thank you, sir.

It is nothing.

What are you doing?

You're handing out ridiculous amounts of cash.

I want to show that my daughter is rich.

Dad, I'm not rich.

It was actually very hard for me to pay for this trip.

And I budgeted it very carefully.

Now you're throwing it into total chaos.

I want to make sure that they treat us properly

and show respect.

- Don't say anything.

I not say a word.

Hmm, what is this?

Please, Dad, I'm just really tired.

I need to go to sleep.

Listen, I'm so happy you made it,

that we're together.

But I just need to have a good night's sleep.

And tomorrow morning,

I'll turn my frown upside down or whatever.

I understand. Tight sleep.

You too.

And, Ruthie, erm, lock the door, yes?

Okay.

Now.

Okay.

Thank you, pumpkin.

"Certainly the Jew is a human being.

"But then the louse is a living thing too.

"Only not a pleasant one.

"So, we are not obliged to keep it and let it prosper,

"but our duty is rather to exterminate it.

"Likewise the Jew."

Why do you do this to yourself, Ruthie?

It is food for birds.

I worry about you.

I called Garth when...

You called Garth?

Yes. I called Garth when I was waiting in the airport.

Dad, enough, okay?

At least wait until noon

to tell me that my life is a joke

and remind me about my ex-husband.

Okay.

So, let's see. "Our Roots. Heritage tours."

"Set out on an unforgettable journey through Poland,

"the country that was once home

"to the largest Jewish population in Europe.

"Saturday, Krakow.

"After breakfast, we depart for Auschwitz-Birkenau."

What Jew

goes to Poland as a tourist?

I never asked you to come.

You know, I was totally fine doing this on my own.

How could I let my daughter travel to Poland on her own?

No, this is... this is too dangerous.

So, what are we doing today? Remind me.

Well, we're going to take the train to Lodz,

so I can see where you grew up.

Yes. Yes, that is right.

So, have you, you know, packed your luggage?

Or that Frankenstein thing

that you're calling a suitcase these days?

You know, I, um... I need to make a call.

Okay.

That was Magda.

Who's Magda?

What? Stefan's wife.

What?

One of these ladies is going to be Miss Poland tonight.

It is exciting.

Can we go?

Sit down. Stefan will not be here till 10:00.

Stefan?

Ruthie, our driver. Stefan.

I have booked him for the whole trip.

Magda send you her warmest greetings.

I'm sure she does.

Should we get you a new coat? You must be freezing.

Ah... This is the country of my birth.

I was made for cold.

Mr. Rothwax.

Ah, Stefek.

Where are we going?

Lodz is in the other direction.

Today, Stefan shows you

the Warszawa ghetto wall from your brochure.

But I don't want to go to the Warsaw ghetto wall.

You traveled all the way to the Washington D.C.

just to see one brick of that wall in the museum,

remember?

Well, today, I show you many bricks, not just one.

Today, I show you the wall.

I'd like to go to Lodz, please, Stefan. Thank you.

No, to the ghetto.

She doesn't know what she wants. Trust me.

I know exactly what I want.

Look for bricks.

Either bricks stacked

or bricks in a pile on top of other bricks.

This doesn't look like the Warsaw ghetto, Dad.

- Eh? - Let's get back in the car.

- You know you're-- - It must be here somewhere.

The city you are looking for does not exit anymore.

Exist?

Ah, yes.

The Germans.

The city... They razed to the ground.

On this side of Vistula, not one house was left.

Look. There. That must be it.

Are you sure?

Here.

Oh.

Now, Stefan.

I want you to take a photo of me with my daughter

in front of the wall.

What's he saying?

Eh, n-nothing. He...

He thinks perhaps it is not a very good background

for a picture. I-I-I think he's wrong.

I really don't think this is it.

Ruthie, a wall is a wall.

This is true.

Say

the cheese.

- Cheese. - The cheese.

- Yes, very nice.

So... Ah, maybe to museum of Chopin we go.

It is interesting.

Chopin Museum. That is very good idea.

I'd really like to drive to Lodz now.

- Cheese.

It is beautiful photograph.

Huh.

Chopin's mother did live here

for more than one decade.

She was born in Warsaw in September 1782.

She lived a very happy life and died at the age of 79.

Well, good for Chopin's mom.

Ruthie, what is there not to like about Chopin's mother?

This isn't about Chopin's mother, okay?

This is about you completely derailing this trip,

since you decided to come.

I had a very specific list of things that I wanted to see.

The house of Chopin? Not on that list.

Okay? So I'm going to go to Lodz by myself.

You can stay here if you like it so much.

- Stefan. - Mm?

This is Lodz.

This is where you grew up?

Yes.

It once was nice.

This is true.

You would have liked it.

What is it?

It is our factory.

Or was.

Stop the car, I want to see.

There's nothing to see.

Stefan, stop the car. Please stop the car.

This belonged to us?

Yes.

But what did it do? Like, what did it make?

Cotton.

It was your super grandfather who started it all.

It was a good business. One to be proud of.

You should have seen it back then, Ruthie.

We had 40 people working with us.

Why have you never told me about this?

Let's go to the hotel.

I wish I could speak Polish.

Why?

So that we could talk more, Dad.

We talk always. What...

What is there else to say?

- Don't you want a picture? - Not here. No.

Or just... You could stay and show me...

Ruthie, you do your thing. Er, there's no rush.

Yes, take no rush, Ruthie.

Mm.

You are a lucky guy.

Welcome in Lodz.

Okay. Thank you. Bye.

You're not staying?

No, I sleep with my wife's mother.

What?

This is Poland. It saves money.

So I wish you both nice night.

Bye.

So, what is your name, young man?

I'm Tadeusz.

My name is Edek Rothwax.

- Oh. - Dad.

And this is my daughter. Very famous in New York.

- Oh, yes? - I'm not. I'm a journalist.

Yes, for the rich and the famous.

I talked to a few famous people.

That does not make me famous.

Yes, to the Rolling Stones.

- The Rolling Stones? - Yeah.

So perhaps I could get your autograph.

That would be a real waste of paper, Tadeusz.

And the rooms, Mr. Rothwax?

We want them close together, right next to each other.

Of course. I understand.

This trip, this is a special daughter-father trip.

It's father-daughter, Dad.

Says who?

I put you first. It is kind, no?

Yes, sir, very kind.

This is for you. And this is for you.

Enjoy.

Dad, can you knock? I'm not decent.

Decent? How?

Like, not naked?

Yeah, that would be decent.

The hotel has given us really good rooms, no?

Plus, you have a balcony.

We really need to get you a new coat.

This is fine. Does its job.

Kind of doesn't. It makes you look like a street person.

That is not true. I am handsome.

Okay.

This is Piotrkowska Street.

When your mother and I was young,

it used to be full of people this time of night.

So many young and excited people.

There was such happiness...

such hope.

I miss your mom.

I know you do. So do I.

It's been a year now.

I miss her very much.

I wish she was here with us.

She would not have come.

She would be horrified to know we are here, back in Poland.

Well, I'm excited to be here to see where you grew up.

It's why we're here. It's...

It's why I'm here.

"The best and easiest thing

"would be to give people enough food options.

"But that's not possible.

"One must be clear. There are two ways.

"We condemn the Jews in the ghetto to starvation or...

"we shoot them."

Bravo!

Five, six, seven, eight.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Recepcja.

Hi, can I cancel the wake-up call

for room 252, please?

- Why? - Because I'm already awake.

I am sorry.

Hello.

American?

Yeah. Do you know, um...

No, thank you.

- Maybe...

Oh, no, no, no. I'm a vegetarian. Vege...

- Vegetarian? Just vegetables.

Okay.

Uh...

Okay. This is everything I have.

But, um, you can keep this. I don't need it.

The money is a gift, so if you want...

I don't... No... I don't...

Okay. Okay. I don't...

But it's... No more. No more.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. No, thank you. Yep.

- No, thank you.

What are you doing?

I went for a run.

With those?

I bought them on the way.

But why?

I don't know. Um, I'll give them to Stefan.

But what would Stefan want

with an iron and an old toothbrush?

Just let me shower.

You look tired, even after the shower.

Thanks, Dad. Always a pleasure.

You look shocking, Ruth.

Shocking?

Oh, my God, Dad. That's a new one.

I'm going to use it on you when you least expect it.

I think I'm just tired. I didn't sleep that much.

No, me neither.

Do you think you were...

nervous about being in Lodz?

No, I don't think so.

I couldn't sleep because

the bed was so lumpy.

It went up in the middle and down at both sides.

Such a bed is...

is good for the sex, you know,

- but not for the sleeping.

Dad, don't.

But it's just normal what I say.

Well, it's not a normal thing to say to your child.

And anyway, "normal" people are always the most insane.

What about you, Ruthie, and the sex?

When did you last have the sex?

Dad, I'm not answering that question.

In fact, I'm going to pretend you never asked it.

Okay.

Sheesh.

This should be Gubernatorska Street,

but it is not.

It's been more than 40 years since you've been here, Dad.

Things have changed.

Nothing has changed. It's just the street names.

There.

That is your mom's old apartment.

That, right there?

It's like a daycare center now or something.

I often would stand right here.

I would beg your mom to come out with me.

Oh, she was such a lovely, lovely girl.

Dad?

Hmm?

- Are you okay?

- Of course, pumpkin.

What do you think? Should we go in there?

No, let's go, eh?

There it is.

- This one?

Yeah, on the second floor.

- Should we go in? - No, no, no, no. This...

There's nothing to see that you can't see from here.

Okay, I'll go look around.

Ruthie, let's...

- let's go back down, eh? - No.

Wait outside, okay? I'll be there in a minute.

Dad, is this it?

Yes. It was ours.

Who does it belong to now?

I don't know.

What are you doing?

I told you, okay? This is why I'm here.

- I want to see it.

Are you mad?

Let's get out of here.

- Someone's coming. - Oh, my God.

Hello. Dzien dobry. Me llamo Ruth.

I'd like to see your apartment.

What are you doing?

What you taught me. I want him to show us respect.

Which room was yours?

It was through there.

Do you think it's okay if I look around?

No, Ruthie. Of course not.

Mr. Ulicz?

May I use your toilet?

- Toaleta? - Ah.

Jesus.

I'm sorry, I don't...

I don't speak Polish.

Your baby is very beautiful.

Big beauty.

Please.

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Ask them when they moved in.

What difference does it make?

It makes a difference. Ask him.

Fine, but only for you.

They moved here in 1940.

And what year were you kicked out?

1940.

Bardzo dobry.

Were any personal items left in the apartment?

Mr. Ulicz...

He says there was nothing.

No.

- No. - Dad?

Dad, what's wrong?

This was our couch.

What?

This is... This is our couch.

So this guy's a fucking liar.

Ruthie, turn it down.

What did she say?

She said the apartment was empty.

Yeah, but that's bullshit. They have our couch.

Yes, I know.

And, er, you see that bowl?

That silver bowl?

Yeah.

It is my mother's.

That's it. I'm buying it.

No, you are not. That is ridiculous.

It is just a dish.

You can buy dish in store.

Yeah, but I don't want to buy a dish in a store.

I don't even want a dish.

- I want this dish.

That teapot belonged to my mother.

And those cups and the sugar bowl.

And even the spoons.

I remember my mother pouring tea from that pot.

Many, many times.

Dad.

If they have the dish and they have the teapot,

they probably have other stuff.

And I'm not going to stop

until I figure out what was ours.

Okay? They probably walked in

minutes after you were forced out.

They don't even care. They're selfish liars.

What is it?

He says that he wants more money.

Fine, then I'll pay him.

After all, I'm so rich.

Oh, my God. I've created a monster.

But why do we have to leave?

We're just getting to the bottom...

We have seen all there was to see.

I told you there was no more to see.

It's not fair.

They had your china and the couch was there.

There's probably other stuff,

you know, letters, pictures, family stuff.

Let's go back.

Ruthie. I show you the house, but it is not enough for you.

What are you looking for?

I don't know. To see where I'm from.

To get a piece of it, maybe.

You come from America.

That is your piece.

Can you read them?

Oh, it's in mostly Hebrew. I can't.

Okay, I'm trying to be careful.

I don't want to step on...

This is us?

Fania, Henia. 1908, 1904.

Who are these people?

These people? They were...

They were dead long before I was even born.

Don't you think this should be your job?

Cleaning shit from the gravestones?

No, showing me Poland, you know,

"Oh, this is synagogue. I often came here

"with your grandmother and super grandfather.

"Here is grave that hold your super grandfather."

I do not speak in such a way.

My English is much more good.

Ruthie, stop this.

We don't have...

a family plot.

My dead are in Auschwitz.

Ruthie.

I've decided I cannot go to Auschwitz with you.

I... I will stay at the hotel.

Is that okay with you?

Yeah, it's okay, Dad.

I understand.

Thank you.

I wish you a good...

Whatever.

He seems like he is not himself.

It was an exhausting day.

Okay.

Um, would you be able to organize a translator?

Of course. We got the finest translator.

Okay. Um, for tomorrow morning?

Oh. That could be not possible, but...

- Tadzio? - Tak?

He's not translator,

but very good student of English.

Okay.

- Yes, of course. - 9:00 a.m.?

- Perfect. - In the lobby?

Yes. With a pleasure.

Okay. Thank you. Great.

Thank you. See you tomorrow.

Have you changed your clothes?

Of course.

Are you sure? 'Cause that's not really, like,

the impression you're giving.

You still have yolk on your sweater from Warsaw.

That's a very old yolk.

Oh, that's what that is.

Dad, come on.

What difference does it make?

I want you to feel good.

I feel fine.

Plus, I know I look great.

Yeah, you look great.

Really. I am happy, Ruthie.

Simple. Thank you.

- No, thanks. - No, my daughter

does not do coffee. Just tea and shit.

Of course.

And what about you, mm?

You are 32 and alone.

Thirty-six.

What?

I said I'm 36.

Thirty-six.

It is not normal to be alone when young.

To not have partner.

You are lonely.

I'm not lonely.

I'm single. I'm alone. But I'm not lonely.

Why did you leave Garth?

Everything was fine before Mom died.

I didn't leave him.

We broke up, like most couples do.

I could introduce you to 50 women

who are living like me.

I don't want to meet them.

To leave a man like Garth is not normal.

What did I say about the word "normal"?

There are people that are normal

and there are people that are not so normal.

Do you ever remember Mom getting angry at me?

You know, Mom. She was so precise.

You know, she would

fold and iron sheets and towels and washcloths.

I mean, she even ironed my underwear.

She had those perfectly organized cabinets, you know.

Order was everything to her.

And you two never talked about the past.

You never talked about the barracks or the lice

or the bunks or the smell of burning flesh.

But Mom couldn't hide it with her little smile.

She woke up every single night screaming.

I would lie there in bed listening to her screaming.

From the moment I was born,

I knew something terrible had happened to you.

I just didn't dare ask you about it.

Is that normal to you?

Good morning.

My best wishes to you for the day.

Good morning.

Dzien dobry.

- Sorry.

I told you I am looking good.

You know what, Dad? I'll see you later.

Thank you again for coming with me.

Oh, thank you again for the job.

- And the autograph, of course.

- Ah, pani Rothwax.

Uh...

Tak, tak.

Uh...

Okay.

Wow. They were really expecting us.

Yeah.

Um...

Can you ask him how much he wants

for all of these things?

Uh-huh.

He wants you to make an offer,

but I think it would be better if he suggests a price.

Okay, well, I'm not just going to throw numbers out.

That's bad deal making, so...

Mm-hmm.

Okay, you can tell him

I'll give him 25 for the bowl,

uh, and another 25 for the tea set.

Yeah, but it's far too much.

I don't want to play games. I don't want to bargain.

These things are important to me.

Oh, nie.

Okay. Well, you can tell him

that's my final price.

And if he doesn't agree, we're leaving.

He said it's okay?

- Mm-hmm. - Okay.

Irenko.

Dzien dobry. -

He asked me if you want to see more.

Wow.

How much does he want for it?

What?

He said 500 for the set. Based on your previous price.

Przepraszam.

I could try more to,

I don't know, lower the price.

It's too late. He can tell how badly I want it.

Just tell him to wrap it up. I'll take it.

This coat...

That belonged to your grandfather.

I'll take it. I'll take it.

$500 is a lot of money.

I know, but it was worth it.

Maybe.

But now you can invite the Rolling Stones

for tea and coffee, actually.

I don't think they're going to come.

You never will know.

I guess I never will know.

Bravo.

Wow.

What is happening?

My daughter is eating something with no seeds.

Dad, sit down.

You're looking better already, pumpkin.

Guess what?

Hmm?

I went back and got your china.

What?

I went back and bought your china.

And it was all there.

Everything. The teapot, the plates,

the cups, the saucers, all of it.

- Ruth... - I know it's a lot of stuff,

but I'll get a second suitcase.

I'll pack it all up. It's going to be...

Why did you do this?

Those people, Ruth,

they could have hurt you.

I'm fine. I'm tough.

Did you go alone?

No, I went with Tadeusz. He was my translator.

Are you mad?

To go alone with a Polish man?

Don't you know what happened to Szimek

when he went back?

Don't you know what happened in Kielce in 1946?

Jews were murdered

when they went back to their old houses.

Dad, I think you should relax.

Relax?

I can't relax.

Why do you think I came here with you?

You have no idea...

how...

And all for some stupid teapot?

It's not a stupid teapot, okay?

It's yours, which means it's mine.

Which means it's important.

How much? How much did they make you pay?

Listen, I got what I wanted.

- You have no idea

how much this means to me, Dad.

Before this, we had nothing. Nothing from your past.

And now you have a teapot.

No, Dad, I have your teapot.

But...

What are you going to do with your teapot

and all the china?

They are meant for a family. And then you...

You have no family.

You have no children. You have nobody.

That's not nice.

Tomorrow, I go with you to Auschwitz.

Because, clearly, you have none of the common sense.

Dad?

Dad, are you awake? I have something I want to show you.

Dad?

Well, the talented Szimek, everyone.

Oh, my daughter. Come, sing on stage, Ruthie.

Don't do this. Please don't do this.

Ruthie, Ruthie, Ruthie.

Your father has told us so much about you.

My name is Zofia. So nice to meet you.

And this is her beautiful friend...

Karolina Jedrzejewiczowa.

- Nice to meet you. - Me too.

Your father tells us you are a famous journalist.

He loves to say that.

Um, I'm not famous, I'm a journalist, but...

Never mind.

Let me find you another plate.

No, it's okay. I actually... I don't eat after 7:00 p.m.

I'm trying to retrain my metabolism.

I should say that my daughter doesn't eat.

What do you mean? She looks like she eats.

That's because I do eat. I eat a lot.

Yeah, but only seeds.

She's rich, but she eat like a peasant woman.

I think you look very beautiful.

To me, a beautiful woman

must be strong and take up the space.

Thank you.

She is beautiful. And famous.

So are you two from here?

We are only here on business.

We are Polish-English interpreters.

Today, we interpreted for a company here in Lodz.

Yes. They wish to trade jams, sweets and chocolates

with the United States.

Chocolate. Now, this I love.

- Really? So do I. - Mm-hmm.

Cigarette?

Yes. God. Thank you.

Your father tells us you planned the trip.

Yes, he was just saying

how much he's enjoying his time with you.

Really? Enjoyment is not the word

I would have applied to his experience of this trip.

I am with you, so, yes, I always enjoy you.

Okay. So, you got more belongings?

- My friend? Don't ask.

Okay.

- Oops. - Go ahead.

Sorry.

Goodbye, Mr. Rothwax.

Goodbye, Tadeusz. Thank you.

Pleasure. And I wish you all the best.

- Thank you. - Thank you so much.

Do widzenia.

Ruthie, try.

Mm. Stefan make this soup especially for you.

Zero calorie. This is true.

Thank you, Stefan. Mmm.

You really made this for me?

No, Magda's mother.

It is a soup especially for people who do not eat.

Mm.

Where are we?

We are in Krakow. We have arrived at the hotel.

Why didn't you wake me up?

Well, you are awake now, yes?

You're welcome.

Good evening. Hello. Welcome.

So, you're here to visit the Auschwitz Museum?

Um... It's not a museum.

The Museum of Modern Art is a museum.

The Guggenheim Museum is a museum.

Even in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland,

that's a museum. But Auschwitz is a death camp.

Of course. My apologies.

Oh, look. It must be in the stars.

Are they following us?

How are you?

Dobrze, dobrze, dobrze.

Hello. Hello.

- Hello. - Hello.

You are not married?

Me? No. No. No.

She was, once.

It was just so that he could get a Green Card.

Doesn't really count.

This is not true. It was love and marriage.

And to a wonderful man. Here.

His name is Garth.

Why do you have a photo of my ex-husband?

Ruthie, please. Garth is my friend.

Of course I have his photo.

Don't you keep photos of your friends?

I don't keep photos of my ex-husband.

- And there. - There's more?

He's very handsome. Mm.

He's gorgeous. Like a movie star.

Yeah, it's true.

Garth is a wonderful man. One in a million.

He loved Ruthie for the woman she is.

What happened? You two look so happy...

She just divorced Garth

because he wanted family and children.

He wanted a good life for my daughter.

It's not what happened.

Well, it... It is what happened. Yeah.

He wanted happiness, you see?

Yes. Who doesn't?

Ruthie.

She prefers men who do not like her.

Who ignore her calls.

If someone loves her,

it makes her nervous, anxious.

So, she runs away.

She runs away from the one who loves her

and from the one whom she loves too.

What?

Nothing. I'm just surprised.

Surprised by what?

That was actually very astute

for a man who refuses to get a therapist.

Why would I see therapist? I have no problems.

Me, I'm the same. No problems.

So you don't want children?

Well, I would like grandchildren, yes.

That thing that you do,

I did that when I was younger, too.

Don't worry, it will change.

"Don't worry."

But you don't have any children, Zofia.

Yes, but that was my choice.

And you? You have been divorced four times?

Five. And that was my choice too.

You are only afraid of someone loving you

if you are not used to be loved.

Edek. Did you tell her

how much you loved her when she was a child?

Of... Of course I did.

Did you?

How do you two know each other?

Oh.

- Stefan is my good friend. - Yeah.

How long have you known each other?

- Oh, five... - Four.

- Four days. Yes.

- We meet at airport. - Mm-hmm.

- Oh. - Mm.

Hello?

Hello?

Are you nervous?

No. Why should I be nervous?

I... I don't know. Because...

There's nothing they can do to me here now.

It's gone. The smell.

I thought the smell would never go away.

Come on, Dad, we're late.

Late for what?

Um, for our guide.

Guide? I don't need no guide.

I could walk about here with my eyes closed.

I know you could, but I didn't know

if you were coming with me, so I got a guide.

- If it's too much... - No, it's all right.

We can cancel if it's too much.

No. No. No.

Er... Who knows?

Maybe we learn something from this...

- Rothwax? - ...guide.

Hi. Yeah, that's us.

Good morning. My name is Malgorzata Nowak,

and I will be your tour guide this morning.

Hi, I'm Ruth, and this is Edek, my father.

Oh, good morning, Mr. Rothwax.

It's an honor to be your guide today.

Would it be possible to have a...

a coffee before we begin?

Um... You can have a coffee in the museum.

A museum? It's not a museum, it's a death camp.

Sorry, Miss Rothwax,

I didn't want to upset you with my words.

What difference does it make? It's still the same place.

Survivors have the privilege

of driving into Birkenau. Everybody else must walk.

That's something, at least.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

was started to build by the German in autumn 1941.

Until 1944,

Jews in cattle cars were transported

from all over German-occupied Europe to the gas chambers.

Of 1.3 million people sent here,

1.1 million murdered.

Everything at this place was built for only one reason,

to murder.

Those not gased were murdered via starvation,

disease, individual executions

or beatings by the German SS.

And I will show you now

one of these places where the train were unloaded was.

There.

Inside the camp.

No, no, no, the...

The place where the train did arrive and stop

was not inside.

It was over there.

Come, I'll show you.

Then you must have arrived before May 1944?

Yeah. From the Lodz ghetto.

Boze. Yeah. This... This is...

This is where they push my family out.

This is where your mom and I were separated.

There were too many trains, you know.

And all of them were completely full.

We waited one night and one day in our train.

Here. Here. This...

This is... Here.

- Here.

The... The rails.

Here is where your mom and I were separated.

Here.

This is where I had to say goodbye to my family.

Your mom was sent to other part of the camp,

but I stayed here in... in Birkenau.

All the children from my family

- went with the women. Yes.

Were there any other survivors?

In my father's family? Uh...

No. Um, my mother. But she's gone now, so...

No, it's just... just him.

This I remember.

We stood with piss and shit to our ankles for two days.

All these trains.

Dad.

Dad, I'm so sorry about the train tickets.

I wasn't thinking. It was like...

I was just trying so hard to be efficient

and get the trip handled. And I...

I guess sometimes I get so caught up

in just trying to get things done that I...

Please, pumpkin.

I just wanted to ride Mercedes.

It's... They're better, that's all.

Here. This was my barracks.

It is burned down. Only the chimney is left.

Come. Come.

Come in. I insist.

Here... Here was the... the wooden doors.

They had big holes in them.

In the winter, the man who sleep near the doors,

in the morning, he was usually dead.

I... I slept over... over there.

I was lucky I was not so near the doors, you know.

I slept in the middle.

Nobody wanted to sleep in the middle.

You could get crushed.

What's it like being here?

It's okay, Ruthie.

I'm lucky. I'm alive.

But why you take that many photographs?

Who should look at them?

I will.

Why do they keep all this? Hmm?

Who wants to see it?

Since the fall of the Wall, there are

thousands of visitors from all over the world.

So it will be never forgotten.

In 1979, it was named World Heritage...

A wall is a wall.

But I don't want to stay here for a thousand years.

Ruthie, come on.

It's cold. Come.

Let's go and have that coffee.

You just can't get enough

of all this disaster, can you?

Not a nice postcard to get through the mail,

do you think?

No, I guess not.

Can I have one?

Sure, if you want one.

Thank you. I will send to Garth.

Dad?

What? He should see my old home.

And how was the museum?

Edek? Edek.

Oh, my God. We have stalkers.

That's not nice, Ruthie.

They're not stalkers. They're...

We were just talking about you.

- How are you? - Ah.

Me? I'm fine. We went to the death camps.

Edek, I'm so sorry to hear that.

Can we buy you a drink?

A drink with two beautiful ladies?

We would love to. - Prosze.

Ruthie.

I'm just beat, Dad.

I'm going to stay here and read.

Ah, yes, I bought her a book in New York.

Really? How sweet of you.

What is so funny? What is so fucking funny?

Shh, shh.

Edek?

We have to go. You have to go too, miss.

Don't take anything, please, right now.

You have to come out. Come on.

Dad? Dad!

- We have to go right now. - Dad!

Nobody's there. We have to go. Please.

Have you seen my father?

Have you?

Have you seen my... Have you seen my father?

- Mr. Rothwax? - No. No.

Mr. Edek Rothwax?

Sorry.

- Stefan? - Ruthie?

Have you seen my dad?

Uh, no, I have not. But don't worry.

Certainly... Look, there.

- There he is. - Dad.

- Hey. - Dad.

I thought you'd been burned alive.

Oh.

Don't worry, darling. It's just Polish fire alarms.

Don't touch me.

Please, everybody.

I'm very, very sorry, but this is just a false alarm.

We apologize very much for this inconvenience.

Please help yourself to a free vodka.

- Please. I'm so sorry.

Maybe you should have one, darling.

It might be good for you. You...

You seem to be having the stress.

Stop.

Stop what, pumpkin?

And don't fucking call me that, by the way.

Pumpkin is not a nice nickname, okay?

There's plenty of nicer nicknames

like "darling" or "sweetheart" or "petal" or "doll."

A pumpkin is a fat, leaky, orange mess.

Come on. Ruthie.

- Na zdrowie. - Na zdrowie.

- Ruth.

Open the door. I think we should talk.

I don't think there's anything

for us to talk about.

We've honestly gone our whole lives not talking about it.

So why don't we just not talk about it,

and not talk about it till we're both dead?

What... What are you doing?

Honestly, my stupidest idea

in a lifetime of fairly stupid ideas.

Ruthie.

I'm leaving.

I'm going back to New York today.

What?

My life has unraveled since we lost mom.

But you can just stay and, you know,

start a life of drunken revelry with Zofia

for all I care.

You act like you're this family man

and you want a grandkid

and you brag about how famous I am.

We used to be a family,

and then it was just you and me.

And now I'm realizing it's just me.

I'm alone.

Eh?

I got you a winter coat.

Oh, my...

This... This...

This is my father's coat.

Yeah. It's all the same to you, right?

A wall is a wall. A coat is a coat.

This...

- Papa.

Ruthie?

Are you okay?

Can you drive me to the airport, Stefan?

Has something happened?

It's time for me to go back to New York.

But Edek?

Gonna go alone.

Just like I probably should have come alone.

Okay. Give me a minute to get ready.

Take a seat.

No, thank you.

Take a seat.

I take it this has to do with Zofia.

No.

She told me you're upset.

I'm not upset. I'm exhausted.

Here.

Thank you.

What you and your father do this trip,

it is not easy.

Yeah, but he could at least try.

He's trying.

Okay. Thank you, Stefan.

I'm sorry.

- Whatever. - Whatever?

I'm sorry for having the sex with Zofia.

Besides just being generally gross to contemplate,

it... it felt wrong.

To Mom. And we're already here without her.

But it shouldn't.

We... We are all adults here.

Of course, all adults here.

At Mom's funeral...

do you remember what you said?

You said, let us not cry.

That Mom wouldn't want us to cry.

And so I didn't cry.

We didn't cry, Dad.

Tsk.

Yes.

I know, pumpkin.

But you can cry

if you want to. It's... It's all right.

Edek?

You know what? You can...

have sex with whoever you want.

I mean, after all, it...

it is normal.

Yes, it is normal.

Unless you like the not normal sex.

- And that's okay, too. Ruthie. - Dad.

Goodbye, Ruthie.

It was a pleasure to meet you.

You are a brave girl. And a beautiful girl.

I'm more like a, uh, rapidly aging woman,

but thank you, Zofia.

Do widzenia.

Stefan, there is something I have to do.

We do not go to airport. Not yet.

We will need shovel.

Shovel. - Lopata.

Mm-hmm.

And I think we should stop for Tadeusz.

We will need young blood.

Edek?

- Okay. - Right.

Hey.

Nie. Nie, nie.

Tutaj, tutaj.

Tutaj.

Tak. Tak.

Nie. Nie, nie.

What are we digging for? Treasure?

Tutaj.

Are we allowed to do that?

This is our house, our building.

We can do what we like.

I'm not paying you no shit.

My daughter already paid you too much.

And I lied. She is not rich.

No, I'm not.

And you know what? You can fuck right off.

Mr. Rothwax?

Tak.

I, too, have a present for you.

The day they took us away from here,

the day the Germans forced us into the ghetto...

my father and I buried that here.

It has papers in it.

You can now reclaim this house.

And there is paperwork, too, for the other buildings,

the factories.

Kuchnia is kitchen.

And then this.

I mean, I can't read Polish, so you have to...

- Ah, this... - ...tell me what that is.

This is what gives us the rights, the... the...

How do you say? The deeds?

Wow.

Yes, it's very legal with the stamps.

What are these?

Oh, my...

This is my mother and father.

He's wearing the coat.

There.

There he is. And that's me.

- You're so small.

- Ugly little rat.

This one, I... I took this photo.

It was the day of Fela's wedding anniversary.

- I remember. - Who... Who is Fela?

My sister. She was...

my sister.

I didn't... I didn't know you had a sister.

I loved her.

Very much.

We were so close.

There she is. Look.

She was so clever and so beautiful.

And she wrote beautifully. Just like you.

Like you, Ruthie.

Liebala and Hanka.

They were Fela's daughters.

These are your cousins, Ruthie.

Don't you think they look a little bit like me?

I always thought so, yes.

Why did you never tell me, Dad?

Because...

It's not easy

to have a child who looks like

a child who is dead.

And it is not easy...

to tell them how very much you love her.

- Oh, Dad.

Yes. Very much.

I'm so sorry, Ruthie.

- No, Dad. - Yes.

- No. - I... I...

I never trusted your strength.

We are very, very strong, Dad.

Where... Where we all lived...

This now...

This house is all yours.

If you want it.

Well...

A house is just a house, right?

Or maybe not.

I belong with you. You know, we belong together.

In New York. Where you made our family.

Yes. Yes,

we are New Yorkers.

Edek.

Chrusciki.

- Oh. - Oh.

From my wife.

- Thank you, Stefan. - Mmm.

Ah, careful though, because...

Mm. There are 14 egg yolks.

Lots of butter and sour cream.

Well, my mother, I remember when she made Chrusciki,

she did roll out the dough, very thin.

And she did fold it over, and then...

- she fried it in oil.

Ah. Enjoy.

Mmm.

Thank you for everything, Stefan.

- Thank you, Ruthie. - Mm.

I will not forget you, my friend.

I have pictures of you for my wallet.

- Thank you. - Stefan.

You have been such a good friend to us.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

It was my pleasure.

Truly.

So, you're excited to get back?

Yes. I'm excited to see Garth

and tell him all about our adventures

from daughter-father trip.

Maybe you can say hi to him for me.

To Garth? Of course.

I mean, just as long as you don't,

like, make too big a deal about it.

Me, make deal? Never.

Ruthie?

Yeah?

I think it was a good idea

to bring home my mother's old teapot. No?

No.

No, yes or no, no?

No, yes, Dad. Always no, yes.

So, did you... did you finish the book?

Oh, I've been kind of distracted,

but I'll get to it on the plane.

This is good news.

After you, I shall read.

His missing arm, this I must know.