The Promised Land (1975) - full transcript

İn Andrzej Wajda's

PROMISED LAND

screenplay
based on the novel by

Look out!

- No, no, no, no!
- Karol.

Camera

- Karol! Karol!
- No! Come on! Look out!

Hold it! Hold it!

Camera

Carefully! Moryc! Moryc!

- Oh, Moryc, Moryc. Get on.
- Wait.



- Come on, get on!
- Wait a second!

Director

And now my turn!

And now from the other side!

And now straight in the head!

- Father hits with his cards like a thresher.
- This is no flail but lovely trumps.

I am hiding one more queen
to hit you king, Zajapzkowski.

Oh, Holy Jesus, what are you
talking about, reverend?

My good man, I will tell you
this much, you are Zajapzkowski,

of the noble clan of Ram's Pelt.
Jasiek, fire!

Reverend father, you should give thanks to God
that you are protected by your priestly status.

Otherwise, I would teach you
my name and my coat of arms.

I would teach you!

He sings out of key so badly!
Look out!



- Young master has arrived!
- Oh, Karolek is here!

Go away! Go away!

Calm down, dogs, calm down!

- He isn't just some Jewish peddler.
- Good morning!

- It's Mr. Moryc. A friend of our Karol.
- May God be with you!

Dear son, it's nice of you to come,
I've missed you.

- So have I.
- Good morning, sir, I am glad to meet you.

- We've missed you.
- Welcome, reverend father.

- Welcome, welcome.
- How are you, Karolek!

How was your journey?

- Let's sit down.
- We haven't seen you for a long time.

You've grown into a man.

Anka!

Zajapzkowski is ready.

Well... you'll soon see, father,
what a game it's going to be,

- if you don't have clubs, father...
- Excuse me.

- You're going to suffer.
- Good morning, Miss Anka.

It will hurt or it won't,
when Mr. Baum shows his clubs,

I will get an ace, and
you won't even know what hit you.

Long live manufacturers...

Oh, my dear...
Oh, my dear...

PROMISED LAND

music

film sets

- I think...
- I can't agree with you.

Moryc!

- So what?
- Karol, we are founding a factory!

I have nothing, you have nothing,
he has nothing.

- Then together we have... just enough!
- Just this much.

To found a big factory!

- Yes.
- Yes, let's do it!

- We must write down the date.
- Max, add a note,

that when one of us
first tries to cheat another...

You, you, you, Borowiecki...
You're a nobleman - von.

Do you know, Max, that he has his
coat of arms on visiting cards,

- and still is the biggest Lodzermensch
of us all? - And you're not?

But I don't have to talk about it,
I need to make money.

God bless cotton from Lodz.

You and Germans are good nations,
but good only for talking...

Let's go...
dream about millions.

Come, Jew, come.

No, no, but I do believe
in ghosts, father.

I woke up, opened the door,
it stood in the middle of the corridor,

it reached towards me
and said "Come!"

- It was a delusion...
- No, no, no!

I was born here,
I minded my father's geese here,

I was punished here as well.

- You're mistaken, dear neighbour.
- Father Szymon could say something

on the subject.

Too expensive!
Brauman charges 7,5 kopek less.

Thief! He pours water
on the coal before dispatch.

And who can guarantee
that you won't do the same?

I will accept the price
offered by Brauman.

OK, come tomorrow,
we shall talk.

- What a Napoleon...
- Well, I should get going.

- Goodbye, goodbye, Zajapzek...
- I'm going, father, I'm going.

- Goodbye, goodbye.
- May God be with you.

- It's getting late.
- Come on, Walué!

- Move on, move on faster!
- Father, next time...

Eat, Wilczek, eat...

I will come to Lodz, bless your factory,
and later marry the two of you.

And I won't let anybody else
baptise your child.

- Oh! Anka is ashamed. She's running away!
- Goodbye, all the best!

- How are you?
- They all know you so well.

- All the village is proud of Mr. Wilczek.
- All I got out of their love

- are dirty gloves.
- Max!

Good bye.

He will come back later
and take them with him.

I didn't realize that
your fiancee lives here.

She has since her parents died
and I went to study in Riga.

- Your father is a great man.
- Yes... mummified Polish nobility.

- I don't...
- Please.

- Are you very bored here with us?
- How could you...

I am not responding
to such an innuendo.

I am amazed at your life,
so quiet, so simple...

Superior, it seems.

You know... Miss Anka,
ever since I've started coming here...

I understand Poles better...
Karol...

Do you know if something
bad happened to Karol?

- Did you notice anything?
- I just had this impression.

Karol, I will not get in your way.

However, remember the four centuries
of the tradition of our family.

You must live up to this tradition.

Father, what is the use of tradition
in production of percale?

What can my ancestors do when
I am building a factory and I need credit?

Jews offer money.
I don't want to be anybody's farmhand.

So I must be free of the past - of nobility.

It gets in the way when I must face
an opponent who knows no scruples,

because he has no tradition -
a horrible opponent,

who is his own past,
present, and future.

No, let's not talk about it!
Goodnight.

No disaster will come near your tent
for He will command his angels concerning you,

to guard you in all your ways
they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses...

Mendel, here is a rouble,
a real rouble.

And you, Abram,
will get only 75 kopeks.

Because you did not put
your heart into it!

You only pretended to sing!
You intended to cheat me, didn't you?

And God as well?

41, 42, 43, 44, 45,
46, 47, 48, 49, 150.

55, 56, 57, 58...

Bloody hell! 60, 61, 62...

51, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 300!

51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56...

320, 21, 22, 23!

360. 61, 62, 63, 64...

- How many?!
- 500!

-628!
- All right!

It all belongs to us!

I... I have nothing!
You also have nothing!

Dear God, absolutely nothing!

I also have nothing which means
that together we have just enough!

Just enough to build
a huge factory here!

Just a moment,
so what's the conclusion?

We're building a factory,
right here!

- We are! We are!
- We are!

Max! Max!
Your cow is already mooing!

- Karol, your nightingale sings for you.
- May it loose its voice!

Oh, the land of Poles!
If your sons,

who now die for you,
got to work.

If each took a handful of earth
from their fa.. fatherland,

they would have built
Poland with their own hands.

Quiet!

Come on!

Mr. Wilczek, can you lend me
10 roubles, you know that,

Ruchla Wasserman is a poor
but honest woman, Mr. Wilczek,

if I don't have the money today,
I won't make a trade!

I won't give money
without a pledge!

Mr. Wilczek, I swear on everything holy,
we have nothing to eat!

My small children, my husband,
and my mother are waiting

for me to bring them something.

Let them all die,
what do I care?

Mr. Wilczek!
You said an evil word!

Mr. Wilczek,
lend me...

Don't you understand?

- A charitable man. - Gitla, this 10 kopek coin
is worthless, give another!

- I know that you are a charitable man...
- This is a worthless coin...

- Only ten...
- Gitla, you have to give another.

- I will give nothing without a pledge!
- We have nothing to eat!

- My old mother...
- You should see your son-in-law, Wassermanowa

- and borrow from him.
- Don't you even mention that man!

- Do you know what I did?
- Steinowa, 15 kopeks are missing.

I gave with my daughter
40 roubles of dowry...

- You're 15 kopeks short!
- Do you know what you did?

Steinowa, you always say it's all right
but we've known each other for so long!

Count the money yourself, Steinowa!

Such a capital!
You lent me!

I beg you, Mr. Wilczek. I will strike a deal,
I will be able to live for a week.

- This much.
- My children will have enough to eat!

- All right.
- Mr. Wilczek...

I will give nothing
without a pledge!

- What?
- I have a pledge.

I'll take it.

- Oh! Goldberg is burning!
- Rascal, he torched his own factory!

He had been struggling for a long time,
I knew it from the beginning that

he needed to throw in the towel.

- Count everything.
- Stronger!

Max, you must stop
quarrelling with everyone.

- And what do you care?
- Ah! You get in the way of our business!

Where? What? How?!

You say in public that the majority
of our manufacturers are thieves.

- I said it and I will repeat it!
- But, Max, remember,

that we're here to make money.

And you're a radical!

Oh, Moryc, Moryc,
you're just a mean Jew.

And you're a foolish,
sentimental Fritz. Aren't you?

- German.
- You're quarrelling about words.

I have to go to the factory.
But Moryc is right, Max!

Aim for the roof!

Beautiful city!
But can I make any money on it?

I have it all written down!

- Who wants to work!
- Mister! Mister!

Stop pushing, guys!

Guys!

I came to beg because my husband's head
was chopped off by machinery.

What will I do now, an orphan with children?
We are poor.

I came to beg forjustice.

Maybe you can help me some, noble sir.
As my husband's head got chopped off

by the machinery.

Calm down, I will talk
about it with a lawyer.

You have to go to court,
otherwise, they won't pay you.

Oh! May Jesus and His Holy
Mother of Czqstochowa

- give you health and prosperity.
- Have you lived long in Lodz?

I guess about two years...
since we moved here

- to our peril.
- And why did you come here?

I don't know...
Everybody went.

Why don't you go
back to the country?

I will, I will. When they pay me
for my man, I certainly will.

Plague on Lodz!

May all the people here die,
each and everyone!

Calm down.

- What's new, Mr. Szwarc?
- Weber's gone bankrupt.

- Completely?
- He will have to negotiate a settlement.

He made bad business,
a common flop.

How much does
the company stand to lose?

It depends on how much
they will pay per hundred.

- Bucholc knows?
- Not yet.

Mr. President hasn't been here yet.

Mr. Lachman, check the last
table of fares, there must have been

some mistake,
the railways charged too much.

You... call the warehouse,
they should not

give even a rouble's worth
of cloth to Frumkin.

He owes us too much.
I was informed that he planned bankruptcy.

What kind of advice did you give
to that woman, Mr. Horn?

I told her to seek a lawyer,
she should sue the factory.

And is that any business of yours?

I don't understand,
any injustice is my business,

- any poverty, any...
- What do you do here?

Well... I am a trainee.
You know best.

It seems to me that you're not going
to complete this training.

- It's all the same to me.
- But it's not the same to us, us!

The factory in which you're
but one of a million cogs.

We did not hire you
to show off your charity,

- but to work!
- I'm not a machine, I'm a human being.

At home! Here you don't have
to take exams in humanity.

That is not what we pay you for.
You are a machine,

just like all of us.
Do exactly what

you're expected to!

- Mr. Borowiecki.
- Mr. von Horn!

Listen when I talk to you.

That is what I said.
An error in the table of fares. Correct it!

- Director...
- What? More, more!

They are printing 57, right?

- Yes, sir!
- Good results?

- Traces of lacquer in the first few metres.
- No!

The main office sent an order
for 500 pieces of lame.

- Yes. Celadon 24.
- Someone from Becht company called

- with the same order. Will we do it?
- Not today. We have more pressing orders

and the summer corduroys.
Yes, all right!

Director, we had a call
about fustian no. 7.

- It's being finished right now.
I am going there. - Yes.

- What do you want?
- Our foreman, Mr. Pufke, said

that as of next month 15 people less
are going to work here.

Is it true, director?

- What? We're getting new machines.
- And what are we to do?

Look for another job, only those who
originally worked here are going to stay on.

But we have worked
here for three years.

What am I to do?
The machine does not need you.

Your father asked you to sign this.

- What am I to do with this paper?
- Whatever you want.

Good afternoon!

- There is this business...
- I'm busy today.

- Mr. Welt. Mr. Maurycy.
- Good afternoon. Mr. Bum-Bum, go away.

Good afternoon,
good afternoon.

Welcome, doctor,
How is president... Bucholc's health?

- Have you read it?
- I have, I have.

Mr. Rubinroth, is there anything?

- Mr. Rubinroth... is there anything?
- Nothing.

Nothing? I should have
known about it this morning.

There was nothing so I did not
notify you as I thought that...

- Your job is to listen, not to think.
- Ha!

This is not your business.

I told you once and
for all that I need

to receive the news everyday -
was there anything or not?

Your duty is to report to me,
this is what I pay you for.

Calm down, don't scream,
but I tell you every day.

Not enough!

You would still have the time
for a cake and newspaper!

- I heard that you were founding a factory.
- I've already said it, I have no time,

- no time.
- What, wool, cotton?

- Ah! Who knows what it's going to be today?
- And is there money?

- Even more! Credit!
- A company?

Yes... with Borowiecki
and Baum. Do you know Max?

- Oh, excuse me!
- Mr. Welt, Mr. Maurycy!

- Do you adhere to the zwei koniak system?
- Yes, I do have a system which demands

- that you should be thrown out.
- I ordered it to be brought.

Yes, an old joke.

Bloody Jew.

And what do you need the Pole for?

- And what do you need the German for as well?
- Oh no, Max is not a fool.

He just needs to sleep enough.
And employment. He will work till he drops.

And Borowiecki?

And Borowiecki is
the greatest Lodzermensch.

No!

I did not come to work for you,
father, as a farmhand.

The time has come
for my own business.

Will you give me the money or not?
Father...

The factory is almost collapsing, and
you keep borrowing money!

Instead of cutting down
the time of work, firing workers,

you complain that people
have nothing to eat.

If someone is so stubborn
that he wants to compete

with manual labour
against steam machines,

he should be certified!

And right now

when all Lodz is trembling,
even Bucholc and Milller!

I don't know Bucholc, Grilnspan,
Milller and any of the gang.

Once we all knew each other.

Once honesty ruled in Lodz,
not millionaires.

Young people such as you
know nothing of those times.

They have eaten you alive!

We were the biggest company.
Steam machines, rails,

electricity, bills of exchange,
bankruptcies, arson

were all unheard of.

No one even mentioned them.

Yes, yes.
But this is the way it had to go.

I know. Why talk about it?

- Are you in a hurry?
- Yes, I am.

It's a pity you did not found
a factory in Lodz 50 years ago.

There is no room here today
for honest people.

You will ruin us, father.

Back to machines!
Come on... to your machines!

- So much cloth wasted! To machines!
- Yes, sir!

- Karol!
- Oh, it's you. What happened?

- I am down again.
- What did you say?

I'm done!

I have bills to pay on Saturday. But I have only
bills of exchange of those who went bankrupt,

which means I have nothing.
If I don't pay on Saturday - it's over!

- How much are you to pay?
- Come, let's talk.

No, I can't, I have to go to the machines.
How much are you to pay?

15.000 roubles.

- You intend to go bankrupt for such
a meagre amount? - I don't have it.

- Have you talked to Bucholc?
- Oh no, I'm disgusted with him,

it's beneath me.

- A nobleman's logic.
- I have no other.

Don't forget you're in Lodz now.

Listen... listen...
I'd like to ask you for a loan.

- I can't. Absolutely!
- Give me a loan...

- and I will give as a pledge everything I have.
- Listen...

I trust you but you have no luck,
I can't make any deals with you.

I'm founding a factory, I will help you
stay up for a year and you will bring me down.

- At least you're frank.
- I am, do you have a grudge?

- No, no...
- Have you tried to settle?

- What?
- Have you tried some settlement?

No, never, I can only agree
on a plain honest bankruptcy.

Are you insured?

Yes, very well, I bought
a very high insurance this autumn.

You should have burned then.

- Are you serious?
- Very serious.

Kalman is burning,
Grosman burned yesterday.

Tomorrow Felus Fiszbin will burn,
Fusz, others, what do you think?

No.

- I'm not trying to persuade you.
- Pity.

- I will just shoot myself in the head.
- What?

Good bye.

Mr. Borowiecki,
do the Watsons work well?

They print almost 10.000 metres daily.

- Little.
- Is it rheumatism again?

Yes, yes.
Here you are.

Oh, new dyeing machines.

Why don't you go to Nice, Mr. President?

Will it help? Only Zucker
and the others

will be happy. They all want me
to kick the bucket fast.

I believe, Mr. President,
that people who wish you dead,

- are very few in Lodz.
- You think so?

Yes... You're building a factory?

- I don't understand you, Mr. President.
- You're a Pole. You're a "von".

- You also have a factory, Mr. President.
- I am a Bucholc, Herr von Borowiecki.

I may have whatever I like.

Well, according to you, Mr. President,
it's not like everyone can have a factory.

- I'm not listening to your babbling.
- I will take my leave then, Mr. President.

Borowiecki, slow down!
Don't forget that you're

- my man still...
- Mr. President, you remind me about it

- too often for me to forget.
- You think it's unnecessary?

I would give you horses but
drive them without a whip and reins.

Nice comparison but it does not
apply to all the employees

- in your company.
- I don't apply it to you,

only to the black working mass.
Do it right! You idiot!

They're animals. Why do you look at me like this?
I'm allowed to speak of them like this.

- They get their bread from me.
- They work quite hard to get the bread.

Well, they earn it, I pay their salaries,
what is going to happen

if I don't give them work?
What then?

- What is it?
- Nothing happened.

The telephone asks if Mr. Borowiecki
is in, what shall I reply?

Borowiecki speaking!
Who is it?

- I love you.
- Lunatic.

- Will you be in the theatre?
- I will.

Mr. Trawinski! You went out
for a walk, Mr. Trawinski?

- Yes, for a walk.
- Lodz is very nice.

You're a great fan, Mr. Halpern.

What else would you expect from one
who has lived in the city for 56 years

and knows everything here.

Such a person must be a great fan.

- What's new?
- Bad news, we'll have a nice rain

of unpaid bills of exchange,
but it's nothing, Mr. Trawinski,

- it's not a problem.
- What do you mean?

Good afternoon.

Rascals are going to end in hell anyway
but Lodz will stay forever.

It is always a good time
for the wise.

- And when will the time for the honest come?
- Don't talk like this, Mr. Trawinski.

They have heaven.
What's the use of good times for them?

I would like my Lodz to grow,
to have magnificent palaces,

beautiful green gardens.
And big traffic, big commerce.

Big money!

What do you think of this one?

Good enough for farmhands.

Fantastic shape!
But no, she has this...

There is an offer,
and what about... what about this one?

She has freckles.

She has beautiful white skin.

The offer is as follows - Adler und
Sihne need a big shipment of wool.

Good business, isn't it?

We can get 15 percent profit for us.

- How much do you need?
- 16.000 mark for Berlin.

10 percent.

No...
7,5 percent.

I heard you wanted
to build your own factory.

We want to found a factory
with Borowiecki.

The dark-haired one?

She is charming,
she has worked here for a month.

Borowiecki, a wise man,
but, well... uncertain.

- Why?
- A Pole!

What do you need a partnership with
Borowiecki for? Found your own factory.

- But I have no money.
- It's not something to laugh at.

Come to me tonight,
after the theatre.

Father! Father!

- Kessler took a note about our Zoska!
- Did you see it?

Yes, I did. Kessler wrote and the foreman
took her with him immediately.

- I'm going to him.
- You're not going anywhere! It won't help.

Go away, Adam.
Don't say a word to mother.

I will deal with Kessler myself.

Mongrel!

Good morning, Herr Borowiecki.

Mongrel.

Good morning, Mr. President.

You will help me with the mail,
Herr von Borowiecki.

I want to entertain you a little.
Yes, yes! With these letters!

You will see what
people write to me.

Mongrel, give it here!

Office. Knoll.
Factory. Headquarter.

Printery. Hospital.
Meyerhoff. Private.

Private. Factory.
Headquarter. Printery.

Printery. Knoll. Knoll!
Look out, Mongrel!

Now, we shall have some fun.

Take one of these and read.

Most eminent Mr. President,
emboldened by the fame and respect with which

all the unhappy remember your name,
I address you with my

imploring plea for help.
My paralysed husband is in agony

- Let him die... into the fire.
- while I starve with my four children.

Into the fire!

Go on! Go on!

You see, people respect me.
How they love my roubles.

- Leader of the gang of Lodz thieves.
- How I like it when they spit on me,

at least it's honest and more
funny than other letters.

You German pig!

Good, isn't it?
He has a sense of humour!

Rascal and bandit, murderer,
leach, bloody dog.

What a joker!

Unsigned.

And here somebody ratted on
a warehouseman for theft.

This must be checked.

Read on!

Drink from this tub
of human misery.

It helps to sober up.

Mr. Borowiecki,
you know how to listen.

- You're a wise man.
- It's very interesting what you're saying.

Mongrel, out!

Give me your hand, we understand
each other, Herr von Borowiecki.

We fit well together.

My advice is this -
you better stay with me.

German sentimentalism!
My father is an old fool!

Get changed.

He may die if he wants to
but why should I suffer as well?

Mateusz, what's new?

Some peasants are waiting
for you in the kitchen.

- Peasants?
- Yes, from Kurow, with a letter.

Let them wait, fetch me the letter
and give them some tea.

Wait, let them come here.
I will go myself.

- Yes, what is it?
- Praised be the Lord.

You're from Kurow and I guess
you brought a letter from the young lady.

- We did.
- Your name is Socha?

Yes, rightly so, Socha,
tell him, mother.

It's true, he is Mr. Socha,
and I'm Mrs. Socha, his wife,

and he wants to ask Mr. Engineer
for some employment in the factory.

Yes, it's about a job, tell him,
mother, from the beginning.

- Pietrakowa was the worst...
- Come on... tell me what's going on.

This bloody bitch set dogs on me!

- May God leave her in her last hour...
- So she took her by the hair and...

- threw her into the cesspool... she got her...
- I kicked her. Like a bitch!

- When did she torch your cottage?
- When we were in the court,

the usher comes and says:
Mr. Socha! Your cottage is on fire!

Yes, I see, you want some job
in the factory, am I right?

- Yes, yes!
- Yes, yes, your excellence.

Come on Tuesday at one,
I don't have the time now.

- Are you ready?
- Yes, I am.

Look here what she writes about the roses:
"What beautiful roses,

I guess they're not from Lodz.
Maybe you imported them straight from Nice?

As you used to once. I look after them, there is
not a single leaf to which I would not say,

touching it with my lips -
I am in love...

Make haste.

"The money has been arranged,
all the 25.000 in your... in our name".

Wonderful girl.

"I must finish writing, it's time for bed.
Goodnight, my king. Goodnight. Anka".

And... a post scriptum: "Father has resigned
himself to it all, made himself a whistle

he wakes us all up with
and calls for breakfast".

I tell you, you should declare
your father legally incapacitated.

Introduce your own rule in the factory.
This is the only way to

- save anything.
- Would you do it?

I don't need to think about it,
my father doesn't have anything now.

So what, shall we go?

Don't touch me, you clown!

Three times 200 roubles!

Three times!

Father won't give me any money.
I can only count on myself.

Lost case!

I will go and fetch Moryc.

- Fire!
- Who?

- Albert Grossman.
- It's the third fire today.

What do you want?
They must make up for the losses

left by recent bankruptcies,
what else can they do?

- How much?
- Some 200 thousand.

- If you pay cash... it's enough...
- Moryc! Moryc! Let's go!

I'm coming, Max, I'm coming.

MONO. Moryd.!

I'll arrange it! I'll arrange it!

I can't...
Ah, goodbye!

No... I'll make it,
I'll make it, naturally.

- Good evening. I have an important...
- Not now, later. Later.

I called you up at the factory
but you had left early.

- Well, I regret it very much.
- I even wrote to you.

- Myself.
- I haven't received any letter.

- Have you got a place in the theatre?
- I'm just going there.

I have a seat.

Well, let's go then.

I will offer you a thousand roubles more.
Come work for me.

Well, Bucholc would give me
2000 more to make me stay.

I see.

I will give you 4000 roubles more.
It means all

14.000 a year.
Fair offer, isn't it?

Thank you very much for such an impressive
proposal but, unfortunately, I can't accept it.

You're staying with Bucholz?

No, I'm not, I'll be honest with you,
I'm founding my own factory.

Cotton?

Yes, cotton, as you see,
I won't be a competition.

I don't care for any competition.
How can you endanger me?

I'm a millionaire.

If you go bankrupt I will
always hire you but for 8000.

- Now you would offer more.
- Naturally.

You're worth more for me now.

- Thank you for your honesty.
- I always speak my mind.

And I believe you. Let me just say that
if I go bankrupt once I will do it only

in order not to do it again.

Herr von Borowiecki,
I like you very much.

- We would make good business together.
- But we have to do it separately.

Please, do come to our box.

Thank you very much.
I will join you during the interval.

Karol, how many millions
are in the theatre tonight?

Well...

- Maybe 200.
- It does smell of millions indeed.

Rather of onion and garlic.

She is a lovely woman,
that Mrs. Zucker, isn't she?

You think so?

Oh, she has lovely diamonds!

Diamonds... Miss Szajn has
a whole jeweller's store on her.

She can afford two.

I paid so I can have my fun.

Karol, Madame Milller
is watching us.

She looks like a pink plucked goose.

Well, she has some
50.000 roubles per year.

Oh, what a girl, I would
enter this business myself.

Karol, I would take her,
she has a big devil in her.

- And an even bigger dowry.
- OK, OK.

Mr. Borowiecki, I'd like to talk to you,
there is this business...

Dear sir, an interval is not
a proper moment, how dare you!

Karol, are you mad?
Every time and every place is good for business.

- Moryc!
- Sit down.

- Why?
- One must know who to talk to.

I realise that as the director of such a big
factory you couldn't have spoken differently.

Mr. Horn, you must understand
that you can't act against

- the best interest of the factory.
- I do but I can't stand it

- in Lodz any longer.
- What do you intend to do?

I don't know yet.

- What about your father's factory in Warsaw?
- I'm not interested.

You are a magnificent fool...
incomparable.

Mr. Borowiecki!

Mr. Borowiecki!

- Good evening, are you having a good time?
- Perfect, excellent. And you?

Excellent, perfect,
or perfect, excellent.

Mr. Karol, I would like to ask you
to give me several Polish

books to read - the titles.

My Papa says that I am stupid and
I should concentrate on running the household.

But why do you want it,
what is it for?

Because I want it!

Your brother should have
a library in his palace.

Wilhelm doesn't like books!
Once he got angry with me,

and when I went shopping
with my morn, he burned all my books.

Wilhelm doesn't like books,
he is a good boy.

Well, I will send you the titles.

You are a good boy,
come and visit us one day.

What was that! You spoiled my performance!
And now you're crying!

Congratulations, ladies.
Wonderful, charming!

I congratulate you with all my heart!
So young, so young.

My name is Max Baum,
Piotrkowska 90.

Congratulations.
Yes... yes...

Leave me alone!

- Fine dancing, isn't it?
- Yes, amateurish.

I thought you would perform as well.

I wanted it very much but...
I wasn't invited...

Such an option was considered but
they were afraid you would refuse.

Access to your house is so difficult.
Excuse me.

Florcia, look at me!

You do, what do you see?
I'm charming, do you agree?

You agree, but you do.
So enough of these jokes.

I am the sweetest of all.
Don't say no, love's your goal.

Florcia, make my dreams come true.
Florcia, I want only you.

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

Because my heart dreams...

Something has happened,
check the boxes.

I'll always love you. I give you
my word so be mine, only mine.

Try not to. Try not to.
Let marriage unite us two.

The time for a union of hearts has come.
I dream of it day and night.

Florcia, make my dreams come true.
Florcia, I dream only of you.

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

It's cotton!
Wool and others are sitting still.

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

As a good husband, I...

Alpasow in Odessa is bankrupt.
I will know the details soon.

Don't say no, love's your goal.

Ferdziu, make my dreams come true.
Make my dreams come true, Ferdziu, you.

My heart yearns for the day,
When you become my man.

I will be true to you.

True as a good husband.

So if you want to have me,
you must be true to me.

Don't say no, take me for your man.

Florcia, make my dreams come true.
Make my dreams come true, Florcia, you.

My heart says there comes the time,
When you become my wife.

- What is it?
- I know everything!

- Go on, tell us.
- Frumkin in Bialystok.

- Yes.
- Lichaczew in Rostov.

- Yes.
- In Odessa... Alpasov.

Bankrupt.
All rock-solid companies!

- Why?
- Well, I don't know!

- How much can Lodz lose?
- Lodz loses two million!

- Will your father lose anything?
- My father has nothing to lose

except his honour but nobody
trades in this commodity in Lodz.

Bloody hell,
but why?

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

Meyer allegedly invested
a cool 100 thousand roubles.

Slimming down will do him good!

My heart yearns for the time,
When you become my wife.

Mr. Karol! Mr. Karol!
When will you come to visit us?

One of these days, excuse me.

Karl...

- I thought you had forgotten me.
- Is it possible?

- For you.. it is.
- But I did come, I had to.

- To the theatre.
- To you.

Is it so? You have never
spoken to me like this.

But I have always wanted to.

You were talking about me down there,
weren't you? I could feel it.

We talked about your diamonds.

No other woman in Lodz has
such beautiful diamonds, does she?

- And about your beauty.
- You're mocking me.

- I never mock what I love.
- Karl!

Come... come...
Walk me to my carriage.

- Yes... yes...
- We shall leave together.

To the end of the world.
Let's go.

Oh, Karl!

I don't understand - it is in code!

Decode it then!

- The council decided today...
- What is the decision?

- Custom duty on American cotton...
- What? What?

İmported to Hamburg
and Trieste...

increased to...
25 kopeks...

Introduction in two weeks' time.
It will be announced in a week.

- When will it be introduced?
- Introduction in two... weeks...

- And when... when will they announce it?
- In a week...

You...

What are you doing?

- Welcome, director.
- Was Mr. Welt here?

- He went to see president Kessler.
- The Director comes here so seldom.

I live too far...
What is it?

Blue threads on your arms, your back,
everybody here is twisted somehow!

On your back as well!

Hey! Come on!
Herr Welt!

Have you thought about it?

It is a great offer.

16.000 marks for Berlin.
We will make 15 percent.

No, no, no.
I have explained it already.

I have a better plan,
Borowiecki is cornered.

He doesn't have any money, he spent all he had
on the land and construction of the factory.

I will give you money and
you will become a partner.

Perfect company.

Then you will arrange matters in such a way
as to make Borowiecki a mere figurehead.

He will only be the director of the factory.

One or two years
and you will get 40.000.

Mr. Kessler, thank you for
such a magnificent offer...

- So how much do you need?
- But Borowiecki is

is a bigger Lodzermensch than you.

It's filth, it's horrible filth!

Good evening.
ls Mr. Moryc Welt here?

Ah... Mr. Borowiecki. You're building
your factory, I will tell you something.

Not one, not ten factories
make the machine industry in Germany.

First you must civilise,
create an industrial culture.

Only then your attempts
will stop being laughable.

Yes, I know, you are very gifted.

Your Arbeit, nobility,
Kunst, Literatur, your life,

are all empty platitudes.
You haven't started doing anything,

and you go bankrupt.
You are kings of flirtation.

With all. I tell you this straight forward,
I speak of what I see.

You are right and you are wrong.

A pig, if it ever thought of an eagle,
would think this way.

Excuse me.

Naturally...

I am Moryc Welt,
Piotrkowska 90.

I am Moryc Welt...
Piotrkowska 90... go to hell...

Moryc, there is business.

You have some business?

Our incredibly important business.

- I am ready!
- Come here, read.

Don't look at the address.
Don't look!

I don't understand, it's coded.

Today the council decided:

Custom duty on American cotton
imported to Hamburg and Trieste

will be raised to
25 kopeks in gold per pood.

To be introduced in two weeks' time.
It will be announced in a week.

Karol!

So we have a future!
Karol!

So we have...
a lot of money!

Karol, this cable is worth
a hundred thousand!

50 at least!
We can kiss now!

I don't need your kisses,
I need cash, come!

What a business!
What a...

Why don't we do it
just the two of us?

Leave him! We will do this
magnificent business just the two of us.

Oh, Max...

You know, now I know you even less.

Well! We must wake Max up!

- Why wake him up?
- We must confer.

Why can't we do it just the two of us?

Because we are going
to make it just the three of us.

Do I say anything else?

I'm going to Hamburg.
And if it fails?

It must work.

We must have a factory.

Listen to what I say - whatever
happens we must have a factory.

Well, you, Karol, you will not
get harmed in any case

with your recognised excellence,
with your name, with your "von".

You can get millions
with your face,

for example with Miss Milller
attached to them.

- I have a fiancée!
- What's the problem,

To have two fiancées, love both,
and marry another,

- who has millions!
- Max!

What's new in town?

Oh, nothing. Yesterday in
the evening A. Weber burned.

- Yes, anything else?
- Kolberg's factory also burned down

in Cegielniana street. Only the walls are left
but the police got suspicious.

- Go on.
- Oh, nothing, it's just that

they don't want to pay damages.

Mr. Moryc visited Grilnspan today.
And in Mr. Max's room there is...

I know, get going.

Sign me for 10.000 roubles,
I can't give more, goodnight.

Bloody hell, come here!
We must confer!

May the devil take
all the conferences

I hardly ever slept during
my three years in Riga,

because all Poles kept on
conferring until dawn daily.

- And it's the same in Lodz.
- As you wish, go back to bed.

- No, no. I'll stay.
- Moryc, how much do you give?

I'm giving 10.000,
at the moment I can't get more.

- So I will give the same amount.
- Who's going?

Moryc has to go,
it's his area of expertise.

- Moryc?
- OK, I will go.

- How much cash will you give?
- I have only 15 roubles,

I can add my diamond ring.

If you pledge it with my aunt,
you'll get more than I will, Moryc.

There is a solution...

You can make money
without any risk.

- How?
- Give the whole business to me,

and I will pay you 5...
well, 10.000 compensation.

Even if I stand to lose. Cash.
Cash in a few hours.

- Pig.
- Leave him alone, Max.

He's doing it out of friendship.

- Yes, yes, out of friendship.
- Oh, yes, friendship!

What will happen if I lose?

- I'll give bills of exchange with good guarantees.
- No, no, no, just a moment.

Let's not waste time on idle talk,
we're all buying

and we share the risk,
he's going today to Hamburg,

- enough!
- No, no, no, no!

I want it in writing! Yes, yes.
He will buy with our money,

- and later will say he bought it for himself!
- How could you! Our friendship and my word

- mean nothing? What is he talking about?!
- Your word equals gold,

your friendship is a good bill of exchange,
but we need to secure it, it's business.

- We shall arrange it this way...
- Just a moment!

Moryc will be buying
and sending by express delivery.

- Just a moment!
- And we will buy it all later on!

And how can I be sure
you won't get rid of me?

- Pig!
- Calm down!

Max...
Moryc is absolutely right.

Which is why I made this
written contract, here you are.

Let me see!

All right! Now we all know
where we stand.

How much do I get?

- At the moment the standard commission.
- OK, OK.

- Later we will come to an agreement.
- Give me an advance if you can,

and I will present you a bill
for the losses I made during

- my stay in Hamburg.
- Well, isn't he a pig?

Karol! He has already
called me a pig thrice,

so I will reply only once - idiot!

Remember that we are not
to have a love affair, not a marriage,

but business! You would cheat
the Lord himself if you could, you...

- I'm going to sleep, Karol.
- All the best.

Don't disturb me.

- Moryc. Let me kiss you...
- Go away, go away!

We shall see each other
before your departure.

I will get the money, Karol, I will.
All the best.

- Bye then.
- And don't cheat on us.

- But one can smell a swindler from a mile.
- You mean me?!

What? Karol, what does he...

Yes! I went to Kessler!
I don't want to die in the spinning mill!

You can go to Kessler, and when you come back,
I will throw you out like a dog

- and hand you over to the police.
- Mother! I could not take it any more

in the factory! He loves me!
He promised to marry me.

Don't punish me, Eternal Lord,
for blindness.

Don't punish me, Charitable Lord,
for my children's trespasses,

I am not guilty of them.

- I have no daughter now.
- Dear morn, dearest morn!

Forgive me! Have mercy on me!
I could not spend all my life

- in this factory!
- Away!

Zoéka!

Zoéka, wait!

Zoéka, don't cry.

The foreman said that if I didn't come,
they would throw me out of the factory.

Don't cry. Mother will yield.
I will talk to our father myself.

- Zocha is back?
- Yes, today in the morning.

- Kessler!
- Yes, but he belongs to me.

- Let him be, father.
- You're a fool,

I have an important deal with him,
Don't you dare touch him, do you hear me?

I do but I will not give up
what's mine.

Don't you dare.
Where is she now?

- Mother threw her out.
- Take care of her. She's family.

He wrote to me,
I want to respond.

Have you got a gun?
He looked like a rabid dog.

He wants money for his daughter.
I will deal with it.

- I'm going
- Please, be careful, Mr. President.

Malinowski!

Malinowski!

You've written a letter to me,
haven't you?!

- What did you do to Zoéka?
- What do you want?

Nothing. To pay you for her!
You rascal...

Stein, did you play
on Sunday afternoon?

- We did, wait a moment.
- What did you play?

A fragment of Beethoven's
sonata in C-sharp minor.

- We played better than ever before.
- Did you?

- And you can't imagine...
- Stein! Eichner and Peretz's account!

4, 17, 5,
Distrained up to 6000.

To 6? Don't check it,
you remember it well.

And later we rehearsed what
I had recently finished.

- What is it: polka, waltz?
- Stop joking, I don't compose

- music for barrel organs.
- So what, an opera?

No... something which has certain
formal elements of a sonata.

But it is not a sonata. The first part is
an impression of a city which calms down

and slowly falls asleep, do you follow?
Great silence, saturated with...

delicate murmurs played on violins.

Then flute begins
its heartbreaking song,

as if of the moaning of freezing trees
or of homeless people,

- Wilczek...
- hard-working machines.

- Wilczek...
- Animals that will be killed tomorrow.

- Stein, the president asks for you.
- Have you worked on it for long?

Almost a year. Come on Sunday,
you will hear all three parts.

What's new, Mr. Stein?

- Victor Hugo died yesterday.
- Has he left much?

- Six million francs.
- Big dosh. In what?

French 3% state bonds
and shares of the Suez Canal.

Sound investment.
What was his business?

- Literature.
- What? Literature?

Yes. He was a great poet,
a great writer.

- German?
- French.

Ah, that's right, I forgot,
Mary read to me some nicer parts

of his novel "Fire Against Sword".

I heard you play the piano?

I studied piano at the conservatory

and with Leszetycki in Vienna.

Excuse me, Mr. President,
I have to go, I have a lot of work.

Work is not a goose,
it will not melt.

I am annoyed with this constant
clanking of glasses in the office

and the constant hissing of gas.

Mr. President... we came so early
that we didn't eat breakfast at home.

They boil water with gas.
And who pays for the gas? I do!

Does it make any sense?
As of today you will pay.

- Well, I will tell my colleagues.
- I am doing it for your own good.

Now they are ashamed to drink tea
because they have pangs of conscience

that I pay for the gas.
And when everyone pays

they will be more bold! They will be
able to look me straight in the eye.

It is very moral, Mr. Stein,
very moral!

Mr. President has been asking for me,
and I was going to come as well.

Business, isn't it? Let's deal
with it quickly, as I have

to talk to you on
a most delicate matter.

Business is this:
Adler and Company need

a large shipment of wool, they have
approached me and I have the wool

- but I need money to pay for it.
- I will give you the money,

- we will both get a profit, OK?
- Well, as usual 15 percent.

- How much do you need?
- 30.000 marks for Leipzig.

Is your factory growing?

We start in a month. The building
will be complete in three months,

and we begin production in October.

I like this rush!
This is Lodz style, beautiful.

I like Borowiecki very much.
But I must hurt him.

And it is very unpleasant to me.
So very unpleasant

that I would like to ask you
to explain it to him for me.

- What happened?
- I had to withdraw his credit.

- We will find it elsewhere.
- I am very sorry,

that I can't do business with you.

But just between
the two of us, as friends -

Mr. Maurycy, why do you need
a partnership with Borowiecki?

Can't you found a factory on your own?

- But I have no money.
- And it's neither a reason nor a cause.

People have the money and
you have big talents and their trust.

Why did I give you 30.000 marks today
just because you asked?

Why do I treat you like a son?
What am I saying? Like a son?

Like a son and a daughter together.
It is because I know you well.

And I know I can make
some 10 percent on it.

- 7,5.
- What does it mean to refine production?

What is it - to end with Lodz junk?

Oh! These are his own,
very foolish words.

He wants to get in the way
of Zucker, Szaja, Bucholc,

all the wool of Lodz.
And do you know why?

So that Poles could say:
they produce junk,

they cheat, they abuse workers,
while Borowiecki, while we will do

our business in a serious, sound, honest way.
Oh, I can see way ahead.

There is nothing to laugh about.
It's an ill wind.

I am telling you, I am certain that
we will not survive the competition.

Because they will have the support
of the whole country.

And which is why Borowiecki
must be destroyed.

Well, and if my capital brings more profit
when invested with Borowiecki,

- I'm going with him.
- It is a very merchant-like attitude.

But I can guarantee that
the capital will yield nothing.

You stand to lose everything.
I wish you all the best.

I am just saying what
all Lodz is thinking.

Goodbye. Thank you very much
for drawing my attention to these facts.

I will look into it. So Borowiecki
does not get any credit from you?

But I could not lose our
manufacturers because of him.

- Conspiracy.
- What conspiracy? What are you talking about?

It's not a conspiracy.
It's self-defence!

If it was not Borowiecki,
but somebody else, we would

step on him discreetly
and he would soon die.

But you know what
kind of man he is.

Do you know how
he supported Bucholc?

It's all true...

But he can succeed!

Where did you find the money?

Well... it's my secret and my reward.

Max! I can see it in your face,
you have committed some new villainy.

Leave me alone, Moryc.
I finally got the money from my father.

The factory will not survive a year,
it must die.

And when the factory folds,
my father will not survive it either.

He will die with it,
I know him too well...

You are a sentimental German but...
Give me the money.

Go.

You may comfort yourself that you had
the most honest man in Lodz for a father.

Yes... yes...
And here is my ring.

Come on, Moryc!

We'll keep...
Bye!

Break a leg.

- Goodbye!
- Goodbye! Good luck!

Pay that woman 200 rouble,
or she goes to court.

Mr. President,
Baron Oskar Meyer is waiting,

he claims he has
very important business.

Baron Oskar Meyer.
Oskar Meyer may have business with my dog.

Horn, I will dictate!

Move faster when I talk to you!

Don't sleep!

I don't pay you for sleeping.

Speed up!

I can't write with both hands.

You put too much stress in your words.

- I can't talk differently.
- You must learn,

- I can't allow it otherwise.
- It's all the same to me.

- Who are you talking to?
- You, Mr. President.

Mr. Horn, I'm warning you,
my patience does not last long.

I don't know if you're patient or not,
I'm not interested.

Don't interrupt when
Bucholc is speaking!

I can't see any reason
why Bucholc can't keep silent

- when Horn is speaking.
- You don't have a place with me here any more!

I find both you and
this place grossly unpleasant.

I will have you thrown out!

- Try, you lout.
- Mongrel, throw him out!

Let me be, August, don't even try,

or I will break your ribs
and your master's as well.

Bloody hell! Take him away!

Shut up, you thief!

You lout!
No, don't interrupt me, please!

I'm not interested in whether
you are patient or not!

I don't need to know
if you're patient...

Stop interrupting me!
You German lout!

I am speaking now! Horn is speaking!
And you will listen to me

as long as I am standing
here and talking!

Shup up!
Now I am speaking!

Please, don't...

I warn you, I don't need
to know if you're patient or not!

It's all the same to me!
Don't interrupt me!

I can see no reason why
I should be silent when you're talking!

I'm not interested in
whether you're patient or not!

Farewell!

- August.
- Yes, sir.

- Where is Horn?
- You have thrown him out so he left, sir.

I told you to throw him out.
Why didn't you listen?

- But he left on his own.
- Shut up!

What's new?

Work, Mr. President.

Good! Anything else?

- It is so quiet in the factory today.
- As usual.

August!

And if our business fails?
Everybody's going bankrupt.

The bankruptcies will end
because business will improve.

Listen. Winter crop in Russia
was perfect but the price of wheat

will not go down anyway
because there are no reserves.

They are starting a huge programme
of public works which will employ

and give money to hundreds
of thousands of people.

- You'll see,
- You're right.

İn the autumn the textile industry
will be back on its feet and growing.

And if it comes to the worst
we will need the cotton for our factory...

' He“ Moryg
- Moryq!

- How is cotton?
- In Hamburg only

Zucker and Mendelsohn were buying.
And the prices immediately went up by 15%.

Come!

The stock is low.
The next shipment arrives in a few days.

- Well...
- Karol! It all belongs to us!

- Here, faster!
- Mother, Mr. Engineer!

- Ah... Sochas, good morning.
- Praise the Lord.

Oh! Tomorrow we're going to Kurow!
I'm taking you with me!

- Max! Max, come on!
- I'm coming, I'm coming.

Do you feed all the poultry
yourself every day?

- Daily and myself.
- A lot of work.

You looked like...
Zosia from Mickiewicz's "Pan Tadeusz".

Yes, but Zosia fed
her poultry for pleasure.

- Good morning, father.
- Good morning.

' Am! you?
" Me?

- Good morning, sir.
- To sell them well in Lodz.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Good morning.
- Here you are.

Your father Szymon is
good nature incarnate.

In Kurow you make the best
business on good nature.

- Yes? - Yes... try to make
a living here with swindles.

Mr. Borowiecki, it is so that in Lodz
and here I have a different name,

and in the country yet another.

When in Lodz I was called Kaczmarek,

any Fritz or Jew called me:
Kaczmarek, come here, you peasant.

Yes... and when I took
a more noble name, they say:

Mr. Karczmarski, would you mind.

We're not going there.
Why should they treat me like dirt,

those German farmhands, when I am

a son and grandson of a farmer

not just anyone.

Yes... so these pictures and furniture
you take with you to Lodz?

Yes, yes.

When my forefathers already
had their own farm, those Germans

walked in forests on all fours

and ate raw potatoes like pigs!

- Bravo, Mr. Kaczmarek.
- I'm telling the truth!

All those Millers and Bucholcs
of Lodz are such a nobility

that Karczmarski could be their king

and it would be an honour for them.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

I didn't know it was you.
Karol said that someone wanted to buy Kurow,

but he mentioned a different name.

- Will you have some coffee?
- Ah, thank you, madam, is it hot?

Very hot, almost boiling.
Katarzyna.

Cold coffee is good for nothing.

- I see that you know a lot about coffee.
- Ah, one needs to drink this muck all the time.

When you do business or just chat
black coffee is the best.

I will not go back to the country.
My son's getting married, it's for him.

He's no good at business.

I have no use for him Lodz. I will buy him
a manor, he may become a squire.

If you want a funeral like this
you would have to convert.

- But you don't like Protestantism.
- I don't indeed!

And I would never convert to it.

- Why'?
-lamaman

who loves
and needs beautiful things.

I want to have a better
funeral than Bucholc.

Yes, when I have worked
hard all week, I need a rest.

I want to go a nice place
with nice pictures, nice sculptures.

Nice architecture,
nice ceremony

and a bit of nice concert.

He likes our ceremonies,
the colours, the smell,

- the bells, the singing, oh, Lord.
- I do.

And when I am to listen to a sermon,
it should not be boring.

- Well.
- You have to listen to

delicate speech of higher matters,
it is noble.

And gives a man humour
and a will to live.

A what do I get in Kirche?
Four bare walls and an interior so empty

as if the whole business
was to fold in a minute.

The Minister speaks some unpleasant
things about hell. Do I go to the church

to get annoyed?
I have my nerves, I'm not a lout.

Anyway, I don't like to torment
myself with boring talk.

And I like to see who I deal with.

What kind of company is Protestantism?
What? Pope - that's a company!

I'll be right back.

I think you will end up
as a simple Christian boy.

So many people are taking
a day off for free today.

You're wrong, they were stripped
of their salary for half a day,

so they can take some rest for free

out of gratitude to the deceased.

- Come closer, Karl.
- Is it good enough?

- Karl... I must see you.
- All right.

Absolutely.

This way they will recover a part
of the costs of the funeral.

I must make an appropriate
provision in my will.

What are you talking about?
Bucholc was older than you.

Well, Bucholc is dead.
You know he had a factory, millions.

He was a count - and he is dead.

And I have nothing and tomorrow
I must pay for two bills of exchange

but I'm alive.

The Lord is good.

God is very good.

Do you know that Bucholc made major bequests
for public institutions and charity.

You may laugh at it.
Bucholc wasn't a fool.

Mr. President, a cable!
Cotton!

Ay, ay! Turn back!
We're going home! Fast!

- Be quiet!
- Yes, yes, OK.

Mr. President, cotton,
custom duty was raised!

What are you talking about? When?
Turn! Turn, faster!

To the office, faster!

Zucker! Do you know
what is going on with cotton?

And what do I care?

Have you read the new
tariffs on cotton?

I am a little ill today. A little sad
and you talk about cotton.

- Moryc, how are you?
- As well as cotton today.

- You mean: well?
- Brilliant.

Have you read the tariffs?

Oh, I've known them
by heart since last week.

Stop lying, they've just been announced.

I'll stick to my guns.

So you knew and
did not try to profit?

I did. Who do you think I am?

You better ask how much
I and Borowiecki...

How much waits at the station and
how much is on the way from Hamburg.

You are too smart, Moryc,
you may not live too long.

I will. Because I need

to earn enough to get
a better funeral than Bucholc.

Father, it's Lodz.

- Catch him!
- Catch him!

- Good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

Welcome.

We're there, father.

Good afternoon.

- How are you, son?
- Good afternoon. Come in, father.

Good afternoon.

- How was the trip?
- Very good, thank you.

These are the walls of my...
of our factory.

Why are you working so hard?

- You shouldn't, really.
- Unfortunately, I must. Do come in.

- What is it?
- Money, 2000 roubles.

- Where did you get it?
- I had it, I just didn't say anything.

I don't know how to thank you.
It couldn't come at a better moment.

- Stop it. Someone may come in.
- You're such a child.

I am happy, I am in love.

Hush... who speaks
so loud about love?

One should not be ashamed of love.

Karl!

Have you got a gun?

- I do, why?
- It's well.

- I will feel safer.
- Calm down, what are you afraid of?

I don't know but
I'm afraid of something.

There are no criminals here,

- Hush!
- this much I can promise...

Hush! Karl!
I am so happy.

We will have a baby, our baby.

What joy!

Baby?

Karl, I must be with you now!
Forever!

- It's madness.
- Karl...

- Isn't love madness?
- It is, it is...

Karl, I love you so much.
Don't be angry with me.

Karl, I am so afraid that
I will never see you again.

No, I am very happy-

Your eyes look day and night
in the direction where

human weakness seeks your help,

human weakness seeks your help.

- Good afternoon, Karol.
- Good afternoon.

Have you come from the city?

As usual.

Look out, madam.

Come here right now,
Mr. Karol is very tired.

Aren't you hungry?

I will give you tea in a minute,
very strong, right?

How much sugar?

Please, drink it.

Would like some preserves?
I have them from Kurow, you know?

Try, you're going to like them.

I heard... I heard that you
have very peculiar whims

to turn my factory into a hospital.

But he has no family,
what was I supposed to do?

Anything but to turn
a factory into an asylum.

But he had an accident
in your factory.

- He wasn't working for free.
- Are you serious?

So was I supposed
to leave him in the street?

You like to bring sentiments
into simple matters. It's nice

but unnecessary.

But... it depends on how
one reacts to human suffering.

You can't expect me
to sentimentalize over every

lame dog, wilted flower

or a crushed butterfly.

Yes, but... but he has
three broken ribs, suffers and...

May he die with God...

Does this mean that
everything I say is foolish,

ridiculous, that it is worthy of
being treated with irony?

And you just say it so...

so directly because...
it can only hurt me?

You must forgive me,
I am so tired today.

I can't, I can't.

I am dead. I am no longer living.
But I can still tell you something.

You hurt Anka!
And you will come to regret it!

Why don't you marry her?
I can't stand

some money-lender's daughter

to be the lady of this house, among
the souvenirs of four hundred years

of the glory of our family.
What would they say?

You all laugh at the past,

you call tradition a corpse,
nobility - superstition,

and virtue - foolishness!

You have sold your soul
to the golden calf - go away!

Faster, faster!

- Moryc.
- I will come I will take it then.

- Moryc.
- More.

- They haven't sent dyeing machines.
- Pass it there.

- Come on, now.
- Attention, slowly.

I wrote to England.

They will arrive a little later,
at a little higher price, but they will arrive.

- They don't want to sell on credit, do they?
- Bloody Fritzes.

Karol! It is all too expensive!
It's going to be a palace, not a factory!

But it's dough, not lime.
I have counted

that everything here costs
more than the usual price.

Let others build with sand,
I don't want my factory to fall apart.

Even if it burns,
fire won't destroy everything.

Sometimes to burn is not the worst.

Moryc, stop playing the wise guy.
Keep on selling cotton.

There is almost nothing left
and everything fails.

Are they conspiring against us or what?
Wherever I ask for credit, I'm refused.

There must be something to it!
How can it be?

To invest 40.000 roubles in cash and
to be unable to complete the construction?

Not to get credit - and where? In Lodz,
where every bankrupt, every failure

builds a factory without a single penny?

And who would ever build
a factory at his own expense?

How much do you need?

I must have at least
10.000 roubles by Saturday.

Karol! You seem to have forgotten Milller,
he offered you a loan himself.

I remember, I know
that one word of mine

will open his coffers.

But he won't hear
this word from me.

Karol, but this is our future,
our factory.

I would do it if I was in your shoes.
If I were you.

But you are not.
Remember about it, Max.

Moryc, sell all remaining cotton, otherwise,
bloody hell, we won't last much longer.

And I am not going to moneylenders!

I tell you this factory will stand,

and as long as I live, it will last!

You speak like a poet,
not a manufacturer.

- Good afternoon. How are you?
- Thank you, very much.

How is your wife...

My God!

You see, sometimes I do keep my word.

Is this the list of books?
Was it hard for you?

No, because it was you
who asked me to do it.

- You will forgive me.
- You're welcome.

- Aren't you lying?
- And you think that

- all men lie, don't you?
- I don't know...

You have very nice flowers here.

- There... and there...
- I will tell it... to Gottlieb,

- he will be very pleased.
- Naturally, and who is he?

Our gardener.
But Mr. Stern...

our neighbour, does not like flowers.
He said that if we grew potatoes

in these flower-pots,
it would be more profitable.

- But he is stupid, isn't he?
- Excuse me? Yes...

Mada! Why wasn't I informed
that Borowiecki was here?

Papa! Come!

Mr. Borowiecki.

Morn did not want to interfere
with your work, father.

- Leave us alone.
- Good afternoon.

You know, I have a serious problem.

- Are you decreasing production?
- I must produce less.

A lot of wares, small sales.

Mr. Milller, you don't have to be
afraid of the worst season.

I will show you my cottage.

About which all the people
in Lodz gossip.

It cost me a cool hundred
thousand roubles.

But everything is new.

I don't buy old junk like Grilnspan.

I have the money to buy new stuff.

Please, sit on the sofa.
A cigar?

Take this one, please, they are strong,
75 kopeks each.

This one isn't as strong,
it costs a rouble.

I will try one of the stronger ones.

Oh, excuse me.

Would you like to see
the whole apartment?

With pleasure.

Oh... Mr. Milller...

You must have imported
it all from abroad.

Everything, right.

Hilberman says that one
can only find junk here.

Wonderful...
Wonderful...

And this is our Spanish room.

This is not the Spanish room.

Papa is mistaken.
It is our Moroccan room.

Did you design it all by yourself, Mr. Milller?

Herr von Borowiecki,
I paid myself.

- Do you like this room?
- Yes! It is charming and original.

It is very expensive!

Every decent palace
has a Chinese room

or a Japanese one.

So you don't live in the palace?

What for... I feel much more
comfortable in the old cottage.

Isn't it a waste to keep it empty?

Let it be.

Everybody builds a palace,
so did I.

Everyone has a salon,
I have a salon too.

It costs a lot but let it cost.
I can afford it.

People should know:
Milller has the money and he has palaces.

And it is for Mada,
when she finds a husband.

Oh, indeed,
a magnificent sleeping room.

You have a room
like Goethe's Gretchen.

Mada is stupid.
I will marry her to a Pole.

I like the way you have your salons.

I like to welcome guests like you do.

Mr. Muller, finding in Lodz a Pole rich
enough to get your daughter,

will not be an easy task.

I heard you're in dire straits.

You guessed it.
This is why I came.

You see, I do have problems.
Which is why I wanted to ask you.

Well, I will give you money and
we shall have a silent partnership.

You will get rid of your debts.

I don't know how to thank you.

I will secure the credit
on everything I have.

Yes, but start thinking
like a real merchant.

- Think in a merchant-like way.
- I am all ears.

What do you need this
marriage with Miss Anka for?

Excuse me, Mr. Milller,
but this is a personal matter.

- I haven't said a word.
- Goodbye.

- Is the president in?
- He is...

I have been asking
for you for a few days.

How are you?

How are you, my dear sir?

I was very worried
about your health.

It is most improper
to leave one's friends

In such a gross uncertainty.
I missed you very badly.

Thank you, you are
a very good man.

And can anyone say
anything else about me?

Yesterday I gave 25 roubles
for a summer camp for children.

Look here, it is printed.
How is our wool?

Bought and sold at once for cash.

It's good because I need
a lot of cash today.

Who doesn't need a lot of cash?

You will have it because
you have a good head.

And your mother was
my cousin, did you know?

She used to sell remnants
in Piotrkowska street.

You are quite like her.
She was beautiful, rotund,

large woman. Have you got
the money on you?

- I don't.
- So send it to me

absolutely before four p.m.
I have bills of exchange to pay for.

- Are we making much?
- Well, I'm doing OK,

- but you?
- What do you mean? It's a partnership.

- My capital.
- No, the capital is mine because I have it.

But we agreed on 10 percent minus costs.

So I will pay 10 percent but
I will not return the capital.

What? What are you talking about?
You have small fish in your head.

I am saying quite openly that
I invested the money in my own business.

- My money?
- Your money

which I took as a long-term loan.

Mr... Maurycy Welt.

Give me back my
30.000 marks immediately!

Mr. Grilnspan,
I will not pay back the money.

I am 30 years old and
it is time for me to begin.

I will pay you 10 percent yearly interest.

- And I will pay you back when I make enough.
- You're mad! You're sick!

Tired of travelling, of business,
you need some rest.

Mr. Stein! Connect me to the police!

I will speak differently with you!
You rascal! You thief!

- I will have you ground down!
- Silence!

I will have you arrested for slander.
And don't try to frighten me with the police!

Where is the proof that the money
you gave me as a cheque for Leipzig,

were yours and not mine?!

Karol... my father
went completely mad.

He walks at night through
the shop floors and starts the machines.

Karol!

Max!

- Karol, I got the money!
- Karol, he carries around your picture.

We are opening the factory!

We are.

Come, there will be snacks.

My factory.
I got it and I won't let go.

Your happiness is my happiness,
I am also glad.

Not as much as I am,
not quite as much.

You're happy, Miss Anka,
aren't you?

In the country such a day is
a thousand times finer.

Certainly, but doesn't
this day make you glad?

Quite the contrary, it makes me
very glad, as does every

satisfied human yearning.

Your voice seems
to suggest something else.

Let's go, Miss Anka.

"On the 6th of August a new factory
of cotton produce was opened

by the company Karol Borowiecki and Co.

Karol Borowiecki and Mr. Moryc Welt
are responsible for financial obligations."

- Let's drink to Mr. Director!
- To health! Long life!

I am happy, I am happy.
Because... we simply

finally have our factory, don't we?

Don't say "amen", my son,
before "in saecula saeculorum".

What do you mean?

And he's a Fritz.
Fritz is responsible for everything.

Yes, I... I think like this,
Karol tells me what to do, and

I just do, do, do.
I'm not interested in anything else.

And this is a huge, huge construction...

And he only deals with machines,
machines and machines...

You also deserve credit, Mr. Moryc.

It must have been...

Good, good...

- To health, neighbour.
- To health...

For luck, may it grow big
and not burn.

Karol, we are taking a huge risk,
we should buy insurance.

- Give money.
- Stop prattling.

I said that the factory would be -
and here it is.

Why would it burn?

Sir...

- Zucker waits for you in the office.
- Zucker?

- Yes...
- What does he want?

I am coming...
I'll be right back.

I am very happy to see you,
Mr. Zucker, in my office.

I regret that I can't spare you
as much time as I would like to,

but as you see we are celebrating
the opening of our factory,

good morning, sir.

Read this...

What am I to think about it,
Mr. Borowiecki?

It's your business.

I wouldn't forgive...

Should I take this
for your answer?

What other answer to such
a horrible slander should I give?

What am I to do with it?
What am I to think?

Find the author of this letter
and send him to Siberia for slander!

Don't say a word about it to anyone.
I can help in the search,

the whole matter touches
me as well after all.

Mr. Borowiecki, I am a man like you.

I feel like you and I have
my piece of honour.

I come to you now and by all,
by the great God

I beseech you, I ask you,
does this letter tell the truth?

Is this all true?

- Mr. Zucker, no!
- I'm a Jew, a simple Jew.

I will not shoot you,
I will not challenge you to a duel.

How can I harm you?
I can't harm you in any way.

You know, she will have
a baby in a few months.

Do you know what a baby is?
I've been waiting for it for 14 years.

14 years and now such news.
What do I know now? Whose child it is?

You will tell me the truth.
You must tell me the truth!

Mr. Zucker! I have already told you
that this letter is a horrible slander.

Men like you like to play
with other men's wives!

Fetch wine and soda water.
Take it, you know where.

I ordered Mateusz
to bring some wine,

because I see that
you're tired and upset.

I sympathize with you very much.

But as it is not true,
there is nothing to worry about.

Let's have a drink.

Mr. Borowiecki, an oath is a big thing.

You will swear by this picture.

I know it is very holy to Poles.

You will swear by the picture
that it's not true.

Well...

I swear by this holy picture that there is,
there was and there will be nothing

between me and your wife,
enough?

I believe you, I believe you,
you have saved my life.

I believe you now as
I believe myself, as I believe Lucy.

Dear Mr. Borowiecki.

Karol!

And speaking of Kurow, Miss Anka,
it was something excellent.

I have never experienced
any such thing in my life.

I felt there better than I did at home.
I never believed...

Naturally, but let me
tell you something.

It is a situation when...

I dreamt all the time
about such a place.

Naturally, but...

- Green, calm...
- I... don't...

- Welcome, Mr. Milller.
- Good morning.

Thank you for coming,
please, join us at the table.

In this little church, near Kurow,
one day I will...

- Excuse me...
- More, more.

Good morning, madam.

These are not
the machines, no...

What was that, Karl?

- He came to see me.
- I received your note.

He came to me strangely happy.
He gave me

sapphires and made me
put them on immediately.

Listen, I believe it will be
the best for us to stop meeting now.

For some time,
to allay his suspicions.

He said he would take me
to his relatives to Berlin.

For all this time...

It's great, it is exactly what
I had in mind, very well.

Oh, Karl, you will go
with me, won't you?

Yes, naturally, I would
love to but I can't.

The factory is in trouble,
bloody hell.

Have they formed a conspiracy
against us in Lodz or what?

I don't know, I need money.

- Karl!
- Everybody refuses us credit,

- I need machines.
- If you don't go with me,

I will kill myself.

But he is going with you.

He will only see me off.

Anyway, you must be there
also later to see our child.

- When are you leaving?
- The day after tomorrow.

Kiss me...

No, not this way...
Kiss me... like you used to...

- Tereska, hurry up, dear...
- I'm coming...

My dear, as soon as you are

in Berlin, visit aunt Rozia
and uncle Heinz.

Look after yourself and our child.

Lucy, be careful, Lucy...

Bye! Bye, Lucy!

Attention!
The train is ready to depart!

Be careful!

Be careful, Lucy, bye!
Look after yourself and our child.

Lucy,bye!

Mr. President!

- Are you certain?
- Yes, I saw him get on

- the same carriage.
- You will torch his factory tonight.

Just be careful, I know nothing
about it, do you understand?

I have torched twice already,
I will do it again.

Well, Mr. Borowiecki,
You should have taken out an insurance.

Ah, Karl...

Karl... I have always known
that you really love me.

Come...

Move on! What are you staring at?
Leave!

Father!

Dogs! Dogs, dogs!

- Max!
- I'm looking for Karol.

He's not here.

- What happened?
- Nothing, nothing, but...

I'd like to know what happened.

Yes...
Please, go on...

Get married...

Don't be angry with me, miss Anka...

It must be rumours.

You know, such rumours may
kill even the greatest love.

I am most grateful.

What rumours?
Do tell me.

People in Lodz say, that...

Karol would gladly marry...
Mada Milller, if...

If I wasn't in the way.

- So you know?
- No!

You've just told me.

I'm sorry...

You know... I just...
actually I don't care at all.

Anka, what happened there?

No, nothing happened.

Miss! Our factory is on fire!

- Jesus!
- Anka, what is going on there?

Help!

- People!
- Karol!

Water, more water!

- Moryc!
- Here, faster!

Moryc!

God!

Karol!

Karol!

Water is coming!

Moryc! Moryc!
Where is Karol?!

- What? What?
- Moryc!

- What?
- Where is Karol, tell me! Moryc!

- Where is Karol?!
- In Berlin! I've just sent a cable!

Water, more water!

People!

Faster!

Mr. Borowiecki, a telegram.

- Karl, what happened?
- Factory is on fire...

- What factory?
- My factory!

Karl!

- To the right!
- Stronger!

Faster!
Faster!

It's OK now! Keep it on!
Keep it on! More!

Very Well, yes!

You rascal!
You scoundrel, you bloody dog!

Tell me, who told you
to torch the factory!

Why'?!
Why did you torch the factory?!

Who made you do it?

Mr. Karol.

It will be better this way.

It is all because of you, Karol!
Because of your affairs!

Max! No!
Karol! Max!

What are you talking about?

You are resentful,
You don't know what you're saying.

I am absolutely positive,
it was not Karol.

Karol! Karol!
Say it is not true!

Karol!

I have nothing!
You have nothing!

Absolutely nothing.

Karol! Karol!
It means that we have

- just enough!
- Karol!

Just enough!
Moryc! Moryc!

Karol...

Very well, so we have broken even.

Karol, you know very well
that there is no such rascal

who would not like
to turn into an angel.

There isn't, Karol, there isn't!

Yes. I agree.
There is no other option.

Shoot

Translation: Krzysztof Fordonski
English language editor: Eric J. lsler

Subtitles: Cyfrowe Repozytorium Filmowe