Success Is the Best Revenge (1984) - full transcript

Bullshit!

Bullshit!

Those last weeks
before my 16th birthday

were the most important
in my whole life.

I hadn't seen my father
for two years.

He was stuck in Poland
under Martial law

and we were waiting for him
in London.

They only let him out
to go and get that medal.

That was in Paris,
last month. February 1984.

Tony etAdam.

-You play football too?
-Yes.



Alex was just telling me...

You've been in London
for two years.

Why didn't you call me?

I didn't want
to bother anybody.

I read this editorial in
The Times today.

Ninth of March, 1984.

"The Hammer and the Cross."

A Polish government minister
felt compelled to deny

that riot police were called
to prevent a sit in protest,

by hundreds of students,

at the removal of crucifixes
from their college.

So, our school

becomes a mirror of events
in Warsaw.

But we still have only half
the volunteers we need.



Please ask your friends again.

Guys, come on.
Let's play a game.

That's my
father's investment.

Eleven black jerseys.

He bought them for the Polls,
kicking the ball in High Park.

Moonlighters and dishwashers.

But after the game
he's gonna ask everybody
to bring all their friends,

to be free extra's
for his show.

Just because he is playing
football with them.

And who is he?

A lousy football player.

Ah!

Back.

Go back, I'm here to score.

You just stay at the back.

Take it easy.
It's only a game.

Christ!

-Don't go for the same ball.
-But...

I said that was my ball.

Again!

Sorry. What more can I say?

You lost the game for us.

Do you know what I think?
You're a loser.

You're a loser.

Hey, Genio.
I want to tell you something.

Actually, I want...

I wanted all of you to know
about my show.

It's about Poland and uh,
and I need your help.

Sure, if they don't
do it for nothing.

He'll have to crawl to that
man in Soho.

Dino Montecurva.

He's a real shit all right.

Aleksander Rodak.

Hmm, hmm.

Still in short pants, Alex?

We never thought much
of you at the castle.

Remember?

You never like me slapping
you around the face.

Oh!

Two pounds off a ticket
for Dino Montecurva's,

extravagance Mad Night.

Show your
ways of talent.

But you never knew
how to use it.

You just can't put people
in a Double Decker bus
and drive them around,

it's not theater.

Cheap trick.

Mind, If you go through
with this show
you'll become a dissident.

But you never really wanted
to burn your bridges, did you?

-Not a bad idea.
-He gave me. He offered me.

$10,000 for a movie
of Schoen burning.

Oh!

And the Polish authorities
would grab a big piece
of my fees, so I said,

"Wait, Dino.

"So long as you tell them
you're paying me $3,000,
it's a deal."

And he only paid me 3,000.

He might offer us Mad Nights
for free now.

For the Brady castle.

Yes, yes, that's where it was.
That's where I went to school.

The only private
boarding school for boys

in the whole
of Eastern Europe.

And then when
the Communists took over,

the first step,
that the dictatorship
of Proletariat made

was to insist
on the admission of a girl.

One girl, one hundred boys.

Lily sto dowod.

Which means Lily,
one hundred percent proof.

Uh, she looked like
a 16 years old
Jayne Mansfield.

I was 14 at the time.

Oh, after that school
was never the same.

Communist was a pretty face.

Some desserts, maybe, please?

No desserts.

Do you have to come
from behind?

Well, you'll give me
a um, toffee banana, please.

- Yes, madam.
- Mmm.

May I share that with you?

But Alex,
that's why I asked for it.

Yes, ginger and bananas.
That's all you care about.

If you think that you're show
is of any importance,
you're naive.

Who cares?

Don't you see that,
Poland is of no interest
of anyone anymore.

But, we have risked
that we may never see
our country again.

It is raining.

What?

- Genio, this is my wife.
- Enchante,madam.

I follow you.

That's maybe for another life.

Sorry, Mr. Genio,
I was on my way
to fetch the children.

All right, I'll call you.

She's on her way.

Please...

Magnificent, magnificent.

- Colors...are like those
in my car catalog.

Sorry that I'm late.

-Go on, Harry.
-Okay.

Uh-huh, I'll open the balcony
door for you in a moment.

Come on, Harry.

Excellent.

Excellent.

She's lost over the years.

Well, put flowers.

Ready?

Good. But not...not too tall.

You are a man,
it doesn't matter
when you save £10,000 extra.

You are going to
spend twice that
on everything else.

Improvisation.
I got the bills on
your improvisation.

...it could go stable.

You night of glory
is going to cause me
my season budget, you know.

You want a little puppet show.
I suggest we stop right now.

Oh! Come on!

That's a cheap crack, Alex!

You know I want that show
to be spectacular.

But as you said,
"Poland isn't making news
front page anymore."

You know that.

So, if you want the money,
just get it yourself,
you know that.

Oh! Come on! Stop! Stop! Stop!

I understand
that's why I need
the money.

Well, something
seems to have escaped
your attention.

Well, let's forget
the little things.

That the car you intent to buy
is not British,

extremely expensive.

And that you already have
a considerable overdraft
with us.

Let's also forget that
it's a metallic blue color,
which caught our attention.

One moment, Mr. Rodak, please.

I listened very carefully
to you for...

...at least six minutes.

Allow me to give my opinion.

After all I am an interested
party too.

Now, you think
this car is a bargain?

I don't.

Because you can't afford,
a bargain.

It would only be
of any value to you,

if you were able to sell
it at a profit,

the same day you bought it.

If you want to use it,

can we afford that?

Is it all about me?

And for what I see here,
you lead a very unstable
financial life.

Only three weeks ago,
you asked me for
a loan of £400.

And what was that for,
may I ask?

It was for the camera,
I told you about,

for my son's 16th birthday.

After all, I hadn't seen him
for two years, now...

Do you know, what does it mean
not to see your children
for two years?

A £400 camera,
for a birthday present,

for a 16 year old, is not
a good investment either.

And now you're asking me

for three and a half thousand
pounds for a metallic
blue car.

Have you any idea,
when and how you'll repay it?

I told you,
I am doing this show.

I hope to sell it to the TV.

So...

I hope to be able
to repay you,
both for the car and...

...for the camera.

You hope or you know?

It all depends,
if I am able...

If this, uh...

It depends on me, Mr. Rodak.

When you find out,
I'm willing to listen.

Even to people who buy
£400 birthday presents
on overdraft.

Happy birthday.

I could bunk up
school in a couple of hours.

With a little luck
sell this crap somewhere.

Ha! Sucker!

Talking to me?

Lousy birthday to you.

Get up, monkey.

You ain't telling me,
what to do.

Even on
your birthday, Adam.

Good morning.

Adam...

Hurry up!
You're late again!

All right, fick-head.

- You, shit...
- Go away! Piss off!

Go away! Piss off!
Piss off!

Stop it
or I'll smash you
against the wall.

Funny! Another bowl.

Goodbye, Mum.

We won't see each other
for a long time.

Only one fish finger
left in Poland.

Shut your trap, Mallett.

You shut your mouth until
you're told to open it,
you Polish wog.

Don't let him get to you.

He doesn't bother me.

-You got your physics book?
-Yeah, sure.

-You can keep it.
-Huh?

My rubbish bin
is full of physics books.

Well,
the Second World War
was nearly over.

The allies had to agree on
what should happen to Europe.

Britain, the United States
and Russia,

all wanted to protect
their own interests.

So, they started to negotiate
the boundaries,

which would mark
their spheres of influence.

Stalin, Churchill
and Roosevelt met in Yalta,

while Russian tanks
were already
deep inside Poland.

The line dividing Europe

was established
at this conference.

Hey rat bag,
how does a Polish hero
under a Russian tank?

Trying to be funny?

Like a squashed pancake.

Sounds more like you,
locked in Northern Ireland.

You...

You, there! Stop it at once!
Get along, there.

And, you!

Don't want to hear excuses.

You're trouble.
You're all trouble.

Shit.

I'm a sitting duck
in this blazer.

In this country,
any cop would take you
straight back to school.

Better stick it
where it belongs.

I should paint a zigzag
on my face,

and dye my hair pink.

Then, I'll throw my passport
on the officer's desk.

That's mum's nicest picture.

Is that you, Mrs. Roster?

Hello?

Yeah?

I'll be with you
in a minute.

All right.

Listen, what I want
is to swap this for a Walkman.

Ah.

Yeah, you've come
to the right place, my son.

Yeah, but I also need
120 Pounds.

Come to the counter, please.

I want to pick up a ticket
for Warsaw.

Er, I booked it last week.

What's your name, sir?

230 Pound return?

No, one way, please.

Confirmed on the 4:30 flight.

Hey, I want to talk to you.

Really?

All right, I'll come.

It's all right, you know.

Well, you're going right?

-See you later.
-I told you I won't.

I'll meet you
in the street, okay?

The damn thing doesn't work.

Hey, hey!
Don't mess with
the machine, boy.

-It doesn't work, man.
-Come on, Adam,
let's get out of here.

Well, you get out. Go on.

See what I mean?
This doesn't work. Shit.

Hey! Just leave the machine,
All right.

Okay.

You can stop the tape
any way you want.

But, I can't be stopped
that easily.

You won't see the zigzag
on my face.

Because, that is going to be
for real.

Britain has reported
to have said

is fast becoming
a paramilitary state

...in the Nottinghamshire area
have been closed down.

If you must shout,
do it in English.

-At least, you will get
some practice.
-Okay.

You wish to hear it?

All right, I'll tell you.

You left me here,
on my own,

with those
two impulsive monsters

who'll grow into some kind of
cosmopolitan idiots.

I feel so lost about it,
that I'm like a country
full of nothing.

How can I pass an exam
in English,

if I can't even think
in Polish!

Make it a habit of Jack knows.

Until you arrived,
cool and bloody self-possessed
and you dare to patronize me.

Yes, I know.

Yes, I know.

He said, he's going.

Hey, hey!

When was the last time
you beat me?

Warm.

Warm.

Warmer.

Warmer.

Hot!

Ah, good morning, guv,
I've come to vend
the partition.

-Mrs. Fontaines'...
-Ah, yes, of course. Come in.

What is she doing
to my kitchen?

It's part
of my salary.

Can I help?

Ah, no, sir.
Hey, er, where do you want
this partition in?

Er, over here.
By the kitchen.

Ah, put it there.

-Now bring in the big stuff.
-All the stuff?

Yeah, right.

You know, the real problem
I've got, is the roof.

The council wants me
to make it
a couple of inches shorter.

Ah, you need
a proper builder
to do that, guv.

Wrote you off, John.

- Let that in?
- Yeah.

No, no, I kick and slip!

You just can't do that.

No, no.
You think I did it, son?

I've been playing this game
now for 40 years.
I know what I'm doing.

-It's a foul!
-Anyway, I don't want
to talk about this, so...

Piss off. Piss off, eh!

Ah, you and your theories.

What's wrong with him, eh?

Oi!

What do you think
you're doing?

Momma...

- Don't just stand there,
go in the street!

- PC Albert, 143.
- Get that beast!

Incident involving
pedestrian and motorist
on Prince Consort Road.

Get the beast!

Get him, get him!

Well, you haven't answered
any of our letters
or our calls, Mr. Rodak.

I think it's fair to say,
that you've
deliberately avoided

all our attempts
of making contact.

No, I would never do that.

You even pretended to be out,

when my colleague here,
made a personal call
to inspect your property.

Do you deny that?

I wasn't enticed, personally.

It's a foot longer
than on your plans.

It's an insult
to my department,
to British Architecture.

This is a listed building,
grade two.

What about
my neighbor's extension?

That was done before
December 1, 1981. Ugh.

I realize your interest
in keeping the house in its
original state, Mr. Rodak.

But, you must realize,
that the horses were kept

on the first floor
of these houses.

Such a practice
is no longer desirable.

Please, use the bathroom.

You have one week
to fix your roof.

If you don't,
I'll have the worker
men to take it off.

At your expense.

It's all lies.

He kicked my car.

- Which was red.
- Not orange.

Now would the defendant
keep quiet.

Will the defendant
kindly sit down.

When I got out
to see what was happening,
the man assaulted me.

Sit down please.

Will the defendant
please sit down!

And the woman,
hit me on the head!

Next witness.

Mrs. Rodak, please.

Hmm.

I swear by Almighty God,
that the evidence
I shall give,

shall be the truth,
the whole truth
and nothing but the truth.

You are Mrs. Alicia Rodak
of 2 Canning Place,
London W8?

Yes.

Court 5,
West Metropolitan,
Police v/s Keech.

Did you see the defendant
strike your husband,
Mrs. Rodak?

Yes.

He hit me, as well.

In what way, Mrs. Rodak?

Um...

He grabbed
my breast and twisted it.

Could you, er...

Could you describe that action
more particularly?

What do you mean?

Er, this way or that?

This. This way.

Mr. Rodak, please.
Mr. Rodak.

Partners in the case
of Willing.

-Mr. Willing?
-Yes.

- Mrs. Willing?
- Yes.

Good, yes.
Mr. and Mrs. Willing
to Court 2.

Thank you.

I would like to apologize,

for kicking
the red car's bumper.

Orange!

Red, huh? Yes, red.

I did it in anger
when I feared
for my family's safety.

However, when the driver
got out, I knew
that my fault was double.

Are you giving evidence
for the defense
or the prosecution, Mr. Rodak?

I am trying
to be objective.

Mr. Banghali probably thinks
that my attack

was not only on the bumper
of his car,

but, also, on the color
of his skin.

Would you kick
a white man's car,
with no scruples, whatsoever?

I swear by Almighty God,
I will never kick
another bumper.

Thank you, Mr. Rodak.

Now, Mr. Banghali,

I'm going to dismiss
the charge of grievous
bodily harm.

However, I find you guilty
of common assault,

a charge for which
you can go to prison
for up to eight months.

I will give you that sentence,

suspended for one year.

And you, Mr. Rodak,

will you please refrain
from kicking people's bumpers
in the future?

Regardless of the color
of the car, or the driver.

Please, it will be easier,
this way.

So, you are in.

For God's sake, Mr. Rodak
promised us an interview.

Breakfast TV would be
great publicity,
for this show.

Darling, I've been told,
I don't understand
what this show's about.

You'll have to wait
for the maestro to arrive.

After all,
it's a final rehearsal.

That's another thing
we can film.

We've got all these extras
at your disposal, darling.
Aren't they good enough?

You might as well
do something with them.

Could you?

Oh, the violence of TV.
It's all you people
are ever after.

Okay, gentlemen,
let's get on with it!

One for the camera.

Wonderful darling.
Wonderful.

Tell Mr. Rodak,
we know all about
television rights.

We quit.

We for solidarity,
not for television.

Where do you think
you're going...
Keep rolling Charles!

-Just... Would you...
-Stop!

-Keep rolling, Charles.
-Stop, stop!

You get down
from there, would you?

Get down! Go on.

- Get out! Go on.
- Get out of here!

Go on, get out of here!

- Quick, pass us more tape!
- Okay.

Get all the stuff over there,
all right.

Don't worry, then you miss
the last rehearsal.

Where the hell were you?

Don't you give a damn of
your show?

On my theater!

Maybe you have forgotten,
there is a performance
tomorrow, Mr. Rodak.

Tomorrow, I think you forgot?

We're all here!

And you where, where are you?

In Poland?

When you were...

You better go with me,
I'll fix it now.

Well...

Can you fix as well £10,000?

Because, you'll have to bring
them back.

And you need £20 at least.

Each!

Stop screaming in the window,
you come with me now.

Look, I'm not screaming.

Genio was really the man in
command, see.

Could you tell me
where is Genio,

I believe he works here
in the kitchen?

Of course

Table for one, sir.

-Here...
-No, no, you, uh...

You...You don't understand.

Genio, kitchen worker.

Genio?

...all together, once again.

One of those historical
moments is being carried and
watched out, it's a great pity

but there we are,
keeping you up to date
on what's actually happening.

Ah, hello.

Please, Genio...

-Washer.
-You bloody English spy!

Look mate,
I can't even pronounce

most of the blokes' names
that work here,

let alone remember them all.

So you asked for his job then?

Alex, I found him.

Genio, Genio.

- Speak to him, will you?
And sober him up.

Ask him to help.

Where are you...

What about the show,
you've forgotten the show,
we need you.

He needs me, not me.

Oh, thank you.

Never mind, never mind.

Have a drink.

Hey, Bacho!

Polish for police arrest.

Look, we need you.

We need your people.

MonsieurRodak will pay you.

He will give £20 to everyone
who comes tomorrow.

-When?
-Tomorrow.

Here I have job.

Size room.

Kitchen and all.

Well....

-But my wife is alone.
-Oh!

This is your wife?

Shoes.

-It's very nice.
-You want it?

-Looks better, I sent...
-Beer everywhere

Him, her.

Cosmetics are £80.

She looks very nice.

After...
No letter, eight months!

Look, come tomorrow,
he will give you £20.

He's promised

Maybe.

Bring the rest
of the vouchers.

For all the time...

When I asked you to
participate in this happening.

I thought It would be...

A foolish patriotic
manifestation for all of us.

Now, you want money for it.

Okay.

I promised you £20 each,

but the money...
just is not here,

I have to go out and get it.

So, this...

This is what I can
offer you, now!

Personal vouchers
for £20 each.

Okay,
he's asked me to go with him.

He said, he'd get the money
even if he had to break
that man's neck.

I can be useful then, I guess.

Still, It takes some nerve
talking to a man like that
about their show.

Or they call it theater.

Sitting the audience in buses
to watch a bunch of
unpaid anarchists.

They call it political.

All that will happen is,

Dad will not be able to go
back to Poland.

It's as funny as that.

I'm too rich to be ambitious.

Take that out of here,
come on.

Here.

Thank you.

No, it's for the bitch, Alex.

Ah.

Ah, Samuel.

It's a nice name,
for a boy.

So Dino, you finally made it.

Poor kid.

You know, when you finally
cough yourself to death

in, uh, six months.

Six years?

Well, who'll be around
to protect him?

Your bodyguard?

Well, my boys,

they are capable of looking
after me when I'm too old
for this type of business.

You have two?

The other one's even bigger.

I've been told that
you're desperate for £10,000.

So, here's what we'll do.

Leave me three invitations.

Three.

Mmm.

I never did like this
caresses of yours,
don't do it to me.

Alex, why don't you
do a show for me for...

£100,000.

And we can tell
the authorities
it's only 30,000.

Didn't he say
that man was a shit?

Well, you know...

So, it's all about money,
isn't it?

While you insist, things
are not, uh,

always as they seem to be.

I don't want to hear
about that!

Hello, is that Valentino
the hair dressers?

Yeah, my mother, Mrs. Rodak
is on her way.

Oh, well, don't disturb her,
could you tell her please,

there is a letter on
my father's desk

Ask her to pick it up for him,
before the show.

Ladies and gentleman

flight will take two hours
and twenty minutes.

It is snowing in Warsaw
and it is 15 degrees
below zero.

Please return to your seats.

Fasten your seatbelts
and observe
the no smoking sign.

Thank you.

Have you seen my husband?
Where is he?

Oh, show has already started
ma'am, take your seat.

Four England players
waiting, but to no avail.

That should be Hodge's ball
and he's lost it.

The docker
is inside McFarland,

Hughes trying to get
back to the goal.

Number ten,
Domarski coming up square!

And it's a goal!

England should have made
that challenge, and he didn't.

And Domarski has scored!

Lato has kept his head
very well to lay the ball back
on for Domarski.

And the shot went
in under Shilton's dive.

And England are
in terrible trouble.

Their defense was
caught exposed.

A vital tackle had to be made
until the moment it went wrong

England was chasing back,
too late.

One nil to the Poles

and England now
have to score twice
to stay in the game.

So, it looks as if the Poles
have finally
dashed England's hopes.

But who gives a shit
about Poland anyway?

Poverty makes you look
the other way

and tyranny makes us
all nervous.

Football has made Britain
aware of Poland for the
first time.

It's not fun being beaten,
is it?

Quite an ordeal.

In 1945,
Hitler ate himself up.

Europe was starving.

But the big three sat down
for a feast.

At the Yalta Conference dinner

Europe was served,
and they all tucked in.

Poland was the dessert.

While Churchill preferred
a cigar.

Roosevelt was sick.

But Stalin asked for more.

So, he swallowed them all
by himself.

The Poles have done it again,

they have taken
the world by surprise,
once more!

Who's going to teach them
a lesson this time?

Everybody!

-Here we cut such hair.
-I've got my own scissors.

You banned them Alex,
you banned them all right.

Give a £20 note to the man
on each side of you.

And tell him to set fire
to his voucher.

Yes, sir.

Keep one for yourself.

I'm going to save you
a lot of money, Alex.

You're going to tell them
to stop?

Tell them to stop, Alex.

Tell them to stop, Alex.

Alex, Alex,
look at this!

No more substitutes,
I want real friends,
real enemies.

I want to go to a real church.

I want to go
to Warsaw Cathedral.

I want to take my own risk
and not be afraid.

I had enough for playing
for losing teams.

I want to play for Poland
and help them win.

So long, Dad.