Dekalog (1989–1990): Season 1, Episode 10 - Dekalog, dziesiec - full transcript

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods" - especially not when it leads to the conclusion of this black comedy about two brothers who inherit their father's valuable stamp collection ...

Kill! Kill!

Kill and fornicate!

Fornicate and covet!

All week long!

And on Sundays
beat your father, mother, and sister

Beat your juniors and steal

Because everything
around you is yours

Everything is yours

DEKALOG: TEN

Screenplay by

His family, his career,
perhaps even his emotional life -



he sacrificed it all
for one noble passion.

As we bid farewell today
to our friend...

winner of 11 international
gold medals

and participant
in many exhibitions,

I would like to convey...

to his family
our deepest condolences.

I bow my head in respect.

Farewell.

Look at this reinforced door.

The son of a gun...

What the...?

Let me see.

An alarm!

Stop yelling!



Shit. Look at that.

Starved to death.

Go get a colander.

Don't bother.
They're nailed shut.

But why?

Why any of it -
the alarm, the padlocks?

You knew the old man.
- Not really.

How did he get fresh air?
- No idea. Probably never did.

No, I have things to do.

It's just a drop.

To Father.

Cheers.

How much could it be worth?

I don't know, but stamps
are valuable these days.

300,000...

400,000.

All our misery...

Mother's wasted life...

no decent food,
no money...

Cut it out.

He didn't even have a suit
to be buried in.

I had to supply one of mine.

What drives people
to covet stuff,

to possess something
at any cost?

You should know.
You like having things.

No... I just use them.

I enjoy comfort.

I never understood
the old man.

You know...

we haven't seen
each other in ages.

Over two years.

It's open.

Look. He kept newspaper
clippings about you.

- May I?
- Can I help you?

My name's Bromski.

Are you the son?

- Yes.
- It's a business matter.

I know this isn't
the best moment,

but business is business.
- Fire away.

I was a friend
of your father's.

I have here -

Your father owed me

220,000.

Zlotys.

I didn't know that.

The money's due
in a few days.

I know funerals are costly.
- Certainly are.

Perhaps I could find something

of equivalent value here.

Less trouble that way.

Here's my phone number.

Call me in five days.
I'll try to have your money then.

Thank you.

I gather
you don't intend to get rid

of the collection for now?

Of course.
You have your reasons.

In your place,
I'd probably do the same.

If you'll excuse me...

Dad owed that guy
220,000 zlotys.

The first creditor,
and likely not the last.

Nothing but old rags.

He pressed his pants
by putting them under the sheets.

- What's that?
- Clippings about you.

I didn't think
he even knew my name.

I've heard these guys
hold a stamp market

at a school or something.

Want to give it a try?

What about that guy?

Nah, he's too crafty.

Doesn't your kid
collect stamps?

He only likes planes.

Then you know what?

Give him these.
It's some kind of balloons.

Zeppelins.

I guess it's a series.

Polarfahrt.

German.

Yeah. 1931.

- Wow! Which one's yours?
- This one.

We're the first tenants.

Nice. Hey, tell your kid
I have an album for him.

He's not such a kid anymore.

Well, see ya.

The Riviera Club.

It was good seeing you again.

I'm sorry. I didn't have time.
We'll go tomorrow.

Artur and I got chatting
after the funeral.

I'm not saying a word.

He doesn't see patients
tomorrow.

The day after tomorrow, then.
I'll call.

I'm sorry, really.
- I didn't say a word.

Right.

Your slippers!

These are from Granddad,
as a memento.

They're nice.

Granddad died, you know.

His funeral was today.

What's this?

Are you crying?

No, I cried earlier.

Mom told me at lunch.

Too bad about Granddad,
isn't it?

Has your tooth been hurting?

Nah, not really.

I couldn't make it today.

Mom was mad.
She yelled all day.

Hello.

I'd like to get an idea
what these are worth

and maybe about selling too.

Are you Root's son?

Yes.

This is a fragment
of his collection.

I could sell more.
Maybe all of it.

Would you please
wait a moment?

Our president
would like to talk to you.

- May I speak to you for a moment?
- Of course.

There are two of you,
if I remember correctly.

That's right.

Could we perhaps meet
at your father's residence?

Of course.

I'll write down the address.

I know the address.

- What are your plans, gentlemen?
- We'd like to sell.

We need money.

For what?

That's not important.
We just need it.

I see.

This one would get you
a Fiat 126.

These two would get you
a diesel car.

This series would be enough
to buy an apartment.

You understand
what I'm saying?

And how much

is the whole collection worth?

Tens of millions of zlotys.

Not long ago your father intended
to insure his collection...

for 250 million zlotys.

Your father invested
his entire life...

in this collection.

It would be a crime

to squander away
30 years of a person's life,

even if that person was
a father you didn't really know.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Holy fuck!

Yeah... surprise, surprise.

Shh, Mom's asleep.

Were you at work?

Yeah, this morning.

But then I left
and met up with Artur.

Mom tried to reach you
a few times.

Why?

They autographed it?
All of them?

Looks like it.
See what Artur wrote?

“For Piotrek - hope this
cheers you up.” Nice, huh?

Listen, where are those zeppelins?
- I traded them.

Look how many I got.

Who did you trade with?

Which one was it?

The one with the glasses.

Stay here and don't move.

I'd like to do business.
- At your service.

Let's keep it private.

What are you doing?

Watch it or I'll -
- You cheated a little boy.

- Gotta make a living.
- He's my son.

Almost everyone's got
parents these days.

Hand over the zeppelins.

I sold them.

To who?

The little shop
on Wspólna Street.

Hello.

I have some unpleasant
business to discuss.

A kid
on Świetokrzyska Street

sold you some stamps
for 40,000 zlotys.

He stole them from my son.
Gave him some rubbish for them.

I know nothing about it.

I see.

Tell me: If I wanted to buy
something from you -

say, a German stamp series
with zeppelins, the Polarfahrt.

From 1931 -

would that be possible?

- You're interested in buying?
- Possibly.

We can discuss it.

You mean these?

- Yes.
- They're for sale.

- For how much?
- For...

240,000 zlotys.

It's a good price.

It seems I'll have
to come back with the police.

I'm sorry.

Not at all.

You can call them from here.

Be my guest.

Are you going to call?

I have a purchase receipt here

from a Polish gentleman
who went abroad.

He sold me the stamps...

for 108,000 zlotys.

Here's my receipt
for the tax payment.

And here is my license
for this shop.

Please have a look.

That was your favorite band...

City Death!

And now a short break.

- You'll catch cold.
- I already have.

Trouble with the zeppelins.

I tell you,
those guys are gangsters.

And that creditor of Dad's called.
I'm to meet him on Sunday.

- With the 220,000?
- Exactly.

I have 90,000...

but I promised Piotrek
I'd buy him some furniture.

- What's your wife say?
- She thinks I'm having an affair.

She'll be sure of it when I cancel
our family outing for Sunday.

You got any money?

You kidding?
I blow whatever I have.

I could sell the amp.

- What would you play on?
- An amp isn't an instrument.

I paid about 50 dollars for it.

I could get
70,000 zlotys, right?

Yeah.

But what about the rest?

The stamps?

Well...

I don't know why...

but I'd rather
we didn't sell them for now.

Not until we have to.

Same here.

- Let's leave 'em where they are.
- Sure.

Let's leave 'em where they are.

Goddamn it!
I thought you were a burglar!

What the hell
are you doing here?

Just looking.
I was here yesterday too.

And I was here this morning.

What's the matter?
Did they throw you out?

No.

I'm worried about all this stuff.

It's not really safe here.

Anyone could get in.
Someone should stay here.

And I'm registered
as a tenant.

Fine by me.
I'll feel better too.

Hey, look what I found.

The only series in Poland.
And it's incomplete.

Blue... yellow...

The rose one is missing.

Listen to what
the old man wrote.

“Rose Austrian Mercury of 1851.

Stolen during
the famous robbery in 1965.

Turned up briefly
in Kraków at J's.

Sold? Exchanged?

In 1968, before J left Poland.

Tip from KBR:
now in southern Poland.

Could MW have it?

Possibly.

Tip-off: not for money.”

Half the notebook
is full of this stuff.

Figures, symbols...

It's hard to follow.
I've been reading for hours.

The rose Austrian Mercury.

Must look great
with the other two, huh?

Rose...

They just slide down a rope...

or jump down, and they're in.

It's just a few yards.

Bars.

On the balcony
and the window.

The old man nailed
the windows shut,

but just smash a windowpane
and you're in.

Artur?

I've forgotten
about all my other problems.

Clean forgot about 'em.

It's the same feeling
I used to have...

when we were kids.

We didn't care about
grown-up problems then.

It's the same now.

Nothing else matters anymore.

You're right.

You forget
about everything else.

It's childish.

But it feels good.

Very good.

Maybe all the rest of it
just doesn't exist.

If you don't want it to exist,
it doesn't.

I just got an idea.

Let's find a stamp worth...

about 200,000.

But on the up-and-up,
so there's an official record.

- 200,000?
- That's right.

Piece of cake!

Won't take a minute!

I came across this little thing.

Is it worth anything?

- Where did you find this?
- At home.

- Your home?
- Possibly.

It's worth...

15,000 zlotys.

I'll buy it from you...

for 3,000.

Five.

Four.

It's stolen.

Okay.

Here you are.

Thank you.

What's this?

Shall we have a listen?

Let's make sure it recorded.

...worth 15,000 zlotys.

I'll buy it from you...

for 3,000.
- Five.

Four. It's stolen -

All right, tell me exactly:

What is it you want?

Three German stamps
with zeppelins

issued in 1931.

I'll give you 4,000 zlotys
and a brand-new Sony cassette.

Only a few minutes
of the 90...

have been recorded on.

Clever.

I had a feeling
when you walked in.

You should have trusted
your instincts.

- A fellow came in the other day -
- My brother.

He wasn't as clever.

He didn't have all the details.

Are you interested
in the money...

or the stamps?

The stamps.

I see.

Are you the sons of...?
- Yes.

I see.

Who is it?

Jurek!

Just a minute.

- What's that beast?
- Hold on.

What was that?

A dog.

I locked him in the bathroom.

Why doesn't my key fit
the goddamn lock?

I changed the lock.

I was told
it was a good idea.

- By whom?
- Some friends in the know.

Here's a new key.

Shit, you could have told me!

I've been trying
to reach you all day.

What's up with the dog?

It's just a dog...

Does he ever stop?

Those same friends
told me to get one.

Shall I let him out?
- Okay.

I'm afraid he might bite you.

He has to get used to me!

I'm scared of him myself.
Lokis!

Lokis, heel! Stay! Sit!

Hey!

Lokis, heel!

Stay!

Sit!

For Christ's sake!

This is Jurek.

He's one of us.

Just look at him.

Look how nice he is.

- And the zeppelins?
- They're over there.

Good doggie.

Try and pet him.

Good doggie. Sit!

I guess it's good he's here.

I ran into the guy
with the limp earlier,

the guy Father owed money to.

- What did he want?
- He was glad to see me.

Said he has friends around here.
Was he here?

No.

Sit down.

Give it to him.
- What if he bites?

He won't.

What's wrong?

Use your left hand.

Good doggie.
Always the left hand.

He's your friend now.
Pet him.

Left hand or right?

Take a chance.

Who's that, Lokis?

Get 'em!

Good doggie.
Stand guard.

That's some animal!

Maybe I'll stay the night
so he gets used to me.

Sure.

Let me see those zeppelins.

That shop owner's
really quite a guy.

Yeah?

He wants to talk to us.

Have you gentlemen...

become aware
of a certain matter...

involving
the rose Austrian Mercury?

Yes.

Do you know the value...

of that stamp?

We know there is
one such stamp in Poland.

That's right.

And I know who has it.

Your father spent years trying
to find out but never succeeded.

I know it was
of great interest to him.

If you gentlemen
are interested too...

We're low on cash.
My brother even sold his car -

Money isn't the issue here.

Then what is?

Gentlemen...

I'd like us to meet again
to discuss this matter,

but you'd have to have
some tests done first.

- What kind of tests?
- Standard tests.

Blood type,
sedimentation rate, urine.

Yes...

As I told you,
money isn't the issue.

The gentleman I spoke of
lives in Tarnow.

The owner
of the rose Austrian Mercury.

And what does he want?

Just two stamps,
a tiny series...

owned by a serious
entrepreneur in Szczecin.

And what does he want?

Good question.

He in turn is after

a small and quite
undistinguished stamp -

Which we have.

But why our blood types?

No...

you don't have that stamp.

Then who does?

It so happens... that I do.

Only you fit the bill.

Why only him?

He's the right blood type.

You see, gentlemen...

the rose Austrian Mercury
is worth...

over two million zlotys.

But it's not for sale.

Each link in the chain
will only consider an exchange.

And what is it you want?
Blood?

No.

A kidney.

My 16-year-old daughter
is seriously ill.

I'm looking for someone
who'd be prepared to -

Your father was too old.

I'm supposed to give them a kidney
for a goddamned stamp?

For the 1851
rose Austrian Mercury.

But you're right.
You have a wife and son.

It's not that!

It's part of a human being!

Part of me!

That's true.

But myself,
I wouldn't hesitate a minute.

Why do you need it anyway?
We all have two.

A guy I know has only
had one for 20 years,

and he still drinks
and carries on with women.

To hell with it!

Just think:

You'd also be saving
a young girl's life.

A very noble gesture.

I'm not trying to persuade you.

It's your kidney.

But it's our stamp.

One, two, three, four...

I don't know
about anyone else

But I want nothing from you

And I'll give nothing in return

It's not working.

He'll pull it together.

Can't you come?
It's a great tour.

I can't.

What's stopping you?
Girl trouble?

Yeah... big trouble.

Great.

Sorry-

Hello.

Yes?

I'm looking for -

Are you with... City Death?

- Yes.
- Dear Jesus!

I'm looking for my brother.

He's having
a kidney removed.

Yes, I saw him.
He's going to be fine.

Would you mind...

if I touched you?

Go ahead.

You're sure
he's not in any danger?

Doctor?

- How do you feel?
- Fine.

Like nothing happened.
Have you got it?

- Really?
- Have you got it?

Yeah. Hold on.

Christ!

There it is...

How long have you had it?
- About a week.

Why didn't you come
show it to me?

I've been waiting all this time.

I was afraid he'd cheated us,
or you'd decided to keep it.

I couldn't come.

What's wrong?

While you were
in the hospital...

and I sat there
waiting for news...

we were robbed.

What?

They took everything.

What about this beast?

They locked him
in the bathroom.

I kept telling you
we should poison him.

Get out of here.

Get down!

Why did you wait
around the hospital?

Think they couldn't
manage without you?

Does it hurt?

Did you tell the police?

That's them now.

My brother just got out
of the hospital.

- How do you feel?
- How do you think?

You know how much
this was worth?

I have a good idea.

I'd like you to come down
to the station.

Gladly.

Listen, there was one thing
your brother wasn't sure about.

The alarm
on the window and balcony

had been disconnected.

From the inside.

I disconnected it.

It kept going off
when I was putting the bars on.

So we could open
the windows.

I thought the bars
would be enough.

I see.
Your brother wasn't sure.

Well, I'll be going.

Good-bye.

I'll be back in touch with you.

Here's my phone number
if you wish to contact me.

Thank you.

You didn't tell me
about the alarm.

I forgot.

Listen.

This is all we have left.

You take it.

Why?

It was your kidney.

I don't want it anyway.

Where are you going?

None of your business.
I'm moving out.

I got a job in a bar.

Leave me alone, will you?
To hell with all this.

You wanted to see me?

Hello.

- I'm listening.
- I... uh...

This is hard for me to say.

I'm sure you'll think
I'm the lowest of the low.

Don't worry about what I think.

I think you should...

check up on my brother.

Only he could go near that dog,

yet someone locked it
in the bathroom.

He claims
he was at the hospital

during my whole operation.
- He was.

He even lay down
in the nurses' office.

I'm not saying it was him,

but maybe his friends -

You know
the circles he runs in.

Thank you.

You've been a great help.

Hello.

Sorry I'm late, but -

You wanted to see me?

Yes.

You probably think I've lost it.

No. Why?

We've already talked so much,
and now I ask you

to meet me in a café.

Discretion is natural.

Exactly.

We've talked and talked...

but there was something
I just couldn't tell you.

I'm afraid...

my brother...

might somehow be involved

in this affair.

Jeez, what am I saying!

You were saying your brother
might be involved

in this affair.

I feel -

I don't know.
Maybe it's just a hunch.

Hunches mustn't be ignored.
You know that.

You've been a great help.

- They say that in the movies.
- But it's true.

Thank you.

May I help you?

Any new stamps
come out lately?

Certainly.

Forty years
of law enforcement

for 60 zlotys.

A stamp showing a seal for 30.

And the world wrestling
championships for 25.

How much is one of each?

That's 105 zlotys.

I didn't expect you here.

- I didn't expect you either.
- Shut up!

That's better.

I did an awful thing.

So did I.

I told them

you did it.

Same here.

What's this?

I bought these
at the post office.

It's a series!

Darkness and derision

Sneering and lies

All week long

You're the only hope
The only light in the tunnel

DIRECTED BY
Everything around you is within you

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Everything is yours

Produced by

Music by

Art Direction by

Sound by

Edited by

Digital Restoration by