Zmiennicy (1986–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Ceny umowne - full transcript

ALTERNATES

One life's not enough to handle
the abundance of the burden...

Episode I
A FIXED PRICES.

Who'll replace you for a while?

Lessen daily problems file?

A trustworthy alternate,
him and you, hand in hand.

World's spinning, time's flowing,
life's passing.

And the voice that keeps repeating:
Radio Taxi, please hold on.

We shall wait, we'll hang on,
we shall get to where we're told.

Frankly speaking,
everything's got its price.

If you're not equal to a task,
your alternate's the one to ask.



The right man that takes things easy
though spare part's often missing.

Dear faithful alternate's like
a spare wheel when you need it.

We know well those bends and junctions
we respect our memories.

Radio Taxi, hold the line.

We will do with understanding
being also understood.

Our life's being reeled,
spinning like fast like a car's wheel.

Speed it up and scud along
your alternate'll keep the pace.

Spinning round the serpentines,

moving on or underground.

Radio Taxi please hold on.
We shall wait.

There has to be something...

There has to be something
round the bend.

Maryska leave
me alone.

Is that palace
still far?



- Radziwill's palace.
- Yes.

Go behind the bushes.
You'll see the park.

Knock on the window of the veranda.
On the board.

What?

I have two favors to ask.
It's urgent.

Mr. Mastalerz,
you have a client.

They could use the front door at least
at night. I can't get any sleep.

If you don't like it
you can leave.

I can rent this place to
tourist for much more.

Mr Mastalerz,
another client.

I thought I'd
never get here.

Wandering at this
time of the night.

- Sundays are the worst.
- It's already Monday.

Oh God, it's
four o'clock.

Jacek, will you
give me a lift?

Get in and
close the door.

Thank you.

Let's go.

No merchandise today?

I'm going to court. I was
caught without a ticket.

- Thanks Jacek.
- No problem.

I'll put the bike
in the cellar.

Mr Trzeszowski,
for transport.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- What do you have today?
- Pork.

- For how much?
- 300.

- Cheap.
- It's with strychnine.

That explains it.

Let this woman through.

- We'll get in.
- Push or I'll stay.

Mrs Lewandowska you're going
to get it one of these days.

I already got it.

Good morning Mr. Piorecki.
I'd like a hat.

It's awfully
crowded today.

In that case I'd
like some slippers.

Get your tickets ready
to be checked.

- Here.
- Thank you.

Here.
Here.

Silence.

- What's this?
- What's going on? I'm going to work.

Now you'll have to walk.
The engine caught fire.

All tickets
stamped by me

are valid everywhere
for the next 30 minutes.

- On express buses too?
- No.

And to on
green lines.

I can't do
anything about it.

We apologize for
the inconvenience.

He's crazy. I was
going to get off here.

Why are you so upset? I want to catch up
with a friend who has the same number.

Now he's getting all the passengers
together. This one is light,

easy to drive, burns
less, all that counts.

You'll have more time for
yourself during the breaks.

It's a profit for
the whole day.

Didn't I tell you?

Corner of Madalinskiego
and Kwiatowa.

1313 here.

- Yes.
- Madalinskiego 49, got it.

- Enjoy.
- Thank you.

There's a colonnade
on Wspolna.

- The ministry?
- I work there.

I don't understand
those people.

Instead of standing in
a crowds they could do what I do.

It's enough to call
radio taxi in the evening.

Right?

For some it takes
2 hours to get to work.

- They take trains, buses, trams.
- Sometimes even bicycles.

- What did you say?
- Nothing.

We're here.

I'm happy that...
You look great sir.

So do you.

Cieszkowskiego 2.

It's not new but it's
the brand that matters.

It hasn't been used much, only
80 thousand km on the meter.

Cause of its age you get 50%
off insurance and road tax.

You'll get parts in every shop
and every mechanic can fix it.

The color's wrong.

It's one of the good
things about it.

If something happens witnesses
won't remember the color.

By the way.

The engine's in the back. If you have
a head on crash nothing will happen to it.

- Can't it be more yellow?
- You can paint it.

And what's important.
The cooling system works on air.

A good German make.
Let me help you.

- Here.
- I'd take a test drive.

I don't have any more
gas for this quart.

I can get
a liter.

I took out the battery
so it would stay charged.

We aren't going to go
to the mayor, are we?

- We don't like the color.
- Inflancka 16. A green Simca.

If the color
was at least...

You're a gambler, buying this
junk, throwing money away.

Do you have something
nice for us?

My Fiat,
for example.

Very funny. It's
a government car.

I see you don't know much about this.
After 200 thousand km

all cabs
go on sale.

The drivers get the
percentage from the sale.

That's why they all take such good
care of them. To get the best price.

How much would
that cost?

First of all I need
to get a new car.

That will take time. We want
to go to Belgium next month.

It's a matter of days.

My partner is talking
the matter over right now.

I have some very good news for you.
We are getting rid of our good old Fiats.

And getting more modern
cars, made in Romania.

Dacia?
No way.

It's better to
get a rickshaw.

Not with
our climate.

It snows.
I mean in the winter.

What's wrong with Dacia?
Based on a French model...

Maybe it's a good car
but for the French.

Our nation is
not as delicate.

90% of our clients are
people with temper, 100% drunk.

They'd total it right away.

Tell them not to slam the door.

- You have to think, unfortunately.
- That's what I think.

Our mechanics don't have
the parts for foreign cars.

It's easy to criticize. We had to let 20
people go cause their cars broke down.

Alright.

At the moment
we'll continue

using your
old Fiat.

Sure.
Pure loss.

In six months we won't
get much for it.

The company won't make
a profit, we'll be behind.

Be constructive.

If I had
a carte blanche

maybe I could
do something.

You have
our blessing.

That's not enough.

What a gambler.

The director's
not in.

I can write you in
for the twentieth.

Thank you.

- But that's a Sunday.
- Then for next month.

- Your name?
- Tomasz Burski.

Tomasz Burski,
about a grant?

- Yes.
- A Polonez?

Thank you,
good bye.

I have to see
the director.

- As soon as possible.
- Yes.

One moment.

- Some foreigner wants to see you.
- Let him in.

Go right in.
Please sir.

I'll as for
a translator.

I speak
a little Polish.

So you're
a fellow countryman?

- Coffee or tea?
- I want a Polish Fiat.

It can be a Polonez.

We have loads
of those.

Here are
the prospects.

For when? Where to?
And how many?

As many as possible.

What currency will
you be paying in?

Polish zloty.

And the address?

Taxi Corporation,
in the capital.

No way.
You've crossed your limit.

You use up our
cars in a flash.

And then you sell them
for a higher price.

That's bad
business for us.

We can sell you cars for foreign
currency. We need foreign currency.

Private drivers buy their
cars for foreign currency.

Foreigners pay dollars and
they have money for a car.

So you're supporting
private businesses?

That might have worked before
the reform. Now all money's good.

Good bye then.

You'll manage. I can
see you get foreigners.

I could use
someone like you.

But I heard that taxi
drivers have a great life.

Don't believe
everything you hear.

Some great life. For each
repair we have to pay extra.

Each of us can wallpaper
this office with tickets.

We don't get paid for
driving to the rank.

We add to the meter from our own
pocket. And we work like slaves.

My brother in law wanted
to work for your company.

He didn't get a job 'cause
there were too many candidates.

I'd like
to help him.

He'd have it great with us.
Just mention my name.

You said you have to pay
from your own pocket.

This time
I'll be honest.

First of all each first
kilometer counts double.

And the price chart.
No passenger will know what it's about.

Night shifts,
night rate.

These days zone two starts
almost in the center of town.

Foreigner
and suckers.

And prostitutes.
He'll be making 15 grand.

Officially. Unofficially it's be
twice, three time as much.

And he's free man.
He goes where he wants.

And the tickets?

They're long term.
Don't worry about it.

Even if after a few years
you have to pay them

that money won't be
worth anything anymore.

You're not from the
board of directors?

It doesn't matter. Which
phone is for local calls?

The green one.

Give me the
personnel department.

Stanislaw Lesiak, driver.
Give me Lukasik.

Director this guy will
come to see you...

What's your brother
in law's name?

- Stefan Majewski.
- Stefan Majewski. Give him a job.

On my request.
I'm calling from the FSO.

From the first.

Done. You see? That's how
things work in our company.

A regular driver
can get things done.

Expedition?

Take out ten faulty cars
from the Belgium transport

and leave them on
the national parking.

- And you brother in law?
- Eleven cars.

- What do you mean faulty?
- All cars have small faults.

Here people happily buy
them, there they complain.

There every car goes through
a checkup every so often.

Our mechanics go
there all the time.

If you add extra,
plus transport costs

and keep in mind that we get
every dollar at market price

it comes up to
a hundred and something.

So for each exported car
the factory gets about 300 000.

Made by fourth year student
Krashan Bhamaradjanga

Mr Krashan,
a call for you.

It's the black guy,
he says it's important.

- Krashan here.
- Hi Krashan.

Hi, I'm listening.

I'm calling about the rest
of the money for the project.

I'd like to remind you
that you still owe me half.

Alright. Come
tomorrow morning.

I need that
money today.

In the evening I'm going
to Mazury for two months.

Now I'm going
out for an hour.

I did the work,
you passed.

It's not about real money.
Just that half.

Come in an hour
I'm going out now.

- Hold this.
- It's warm.

You're not going anywhere.
You owe me for rent.

You've known me
for a long time.

I'm not running away. Here is
your half. That's guarantee.

You're not leaving till
you give me the other half.

A ticket.
For today.

Here's my passport.
We have to hurry.

I left the other half
in the dean's office.

- What is the number there?
- 6...

I forget.

You can call when
you remember.

Radio taxi? I'm a foreigner.

Send over a taxi.
I have one request.

1313, go to Noakowskiego 17,
apartment 32.

The passenger want you
to go up to the apartment.

A foreigner will be waiting
for you. Take him to Okecie.

Noakowskiego 17,
apartment 22. Got it.

He's a bit strange.

He want you to ring the
bell and say you came for

Mr Krashan
Kamaradjandra.

Look at his passport and
show your ID, then he'll go.

That's some nut.
But stranger things have happened.

Who do you
want to see?

Open up. I came for
Mr. Krashan Kamaradjandra.

- Is that you?
- Can't you tell?

Your passport
please.

Can I see
your ID?

- I understand.
- Will you come with me?

- Can I take my things?
- Yes.

I understand.

What is it?

- Can you wait for a moment?
- It's your money.

Wait. I'll be
home in an hour.

They finally got him.
Let me see your half.

Here.
Next please.

- What is that?
- Mushrooms.

- They have such mushrooms over there?
- Yes.

I'm coming back from
a very important delegation.

These mushrooms are a symbol
of Polish Siamese friendship.

Brought in accordance with the
international sport code.

They smell funny.
Are they edible?

Sure.

A car is waiting for me. I have
an important meeting at work.

- Here.
- Thank you.

The Board of the Link Club.
Thank you.

Next please.

Excuse me.
Sir.

Where is the
announcement bureau?

Thank you.

The owner of the hand grenade
left in the waiting room

is asked to report to
the lost and found office.

I'm looking for a chopper that
was supposed to take a mouse.

We can't announce such
ridiculous things.

Last archeological
excavations have shown

that the goal of the first
social movement in Poland

was to dethrone king Popiel,
a puppet in German hands.

This was done by a liberal plebs
movement of which Piast was the leader.

Piast used mice to
get rid of Popiel.

That's why the Establishment
of Kurszwica Committee has

made a statue of a mouse,
a symbol of victory and progress.

The statue will be put
on the top of the tower

by a helicopter
from your airport.

Celebrations start in 3 hours.
The media are already there.

Attention.
The pilot of...

Go straight down the hall.
It's the first door on the left.

There'll be sign: Stewardess
dressing room. Keep out.

Go in there and
ask for Karolek.

Thank you.

I'm looking for my driver. I'm returning
from a very important delegation...

Attention. The driver of a government
Polonez license WIO 234B

is asked to come to the front
of the clearance building.

Damn. It's the third
one this week.

Halina get a new sound
glass from the storage.

That's 280 zloty.

Wait here. I'll go
look for my cousin.

We'll be going back
to Warsaw in a moment.

Leave me
your passport.

- Don't you trust me?
- Do you trust me?

- Excuse me, what's the problem?
- Lack of payment.

I'll take care of it. Take me
to the club and leave the bill.

- On company paper for however much.
- No, not the mushrooms.

You saved me from
a lot of trouble.

I have money at home.
Now I'm going to Bangkok.

You're going
to Siam for good?

Just for vacation. I'm
coming back in the autumn.

I'm getting a degree
in architecture.

Take this card to the given
address. You won't be sorry.

- A favor for a favor.
- Yes.

Was the plane from
Bangkok here on time?

What the hell
is going on here?

- Will you take me to Baniocha?
- Where is that?

- On the way.
- Ok? Get in.

Be careful. I have some
crystals in there.

- What is it?
- Nothing, a fire.

- That's my taxi. Make it stop.
- Wait till the fire engine passes us.

Put out that cigarette, you'll
blow us to kingdom come.

What's the gas for?
You use water to put out fires.

Not water only extinguishing
substances. It's a new method.

Our scientists discovered that
without oxygen fire dies.

Burning gas takes
away all the oxygen.

What if
there's wind?

When there's a fire wind
blows only from the bottom up.

- It's basic law of thermodynamics.
- Kind of like in an oven.

New, learned...

Gold not gas. You can mix it with
the blue kind and the yellow kind.

My heart breaks when it's
mixed with the yellow kind.

This is airplane gas, no more
than 60 octanes. Death for any Fiat.

- I'll pay 40.
- Give 50, you'll sell it for 100.

You have to pay
for the risk, too.

- I'm risking more than you are.
- Why do you need so much money?

In a year this money
won't be worth anything.

It breaks
my heart.

You constantly hang
around the airport.

Get me more dollars.
Bigger profit smaller risk.

Baggage boys hang
around the foreigners.

There's a whole
gang of them.

Foreigners don't like
people in uniform.

Stop.

Supplies were brought this morning.
Now 2000 liters went in.

There's still
1500 liters left.

Don't you have
any barrels?

That's against the law.
Come this evening to get the rest.

And if there'll be a fire?
Use your brain.

Damian bought himself a TV.
He showed us the great fire in Warsaw.

- Shut up.
- Everything burned down.

And when
was that?

- Some 40 years ago.
- Right.

It all burned down and it had to be
rebuilt. I'm sure it was a movie trick.

Tell me what
you want.

I need 5 hundred.

You know what?
I'll tell you something.

You're begging.

Dad works, mom works, I work
and you're begging.

Remember what your
older brother tells you.

Sooner Warsaw will burn down
again than I'll give you 500.

What are you saying?
All of Warsaw? Again?

That's right.

Here's your 500. You'd do something
like that but you won't work.

Beggar.

Of course I will, dear.
In 30 minutes.

Maybe later 'cause I have an
important meeting with my boss.

Your boss is more
important than I am?

No honey, but we have
important decisions to make.

Should we send a delegation to
the first region or the second.

But I miss you.

My third region.

So in my region
in 30 minutes.

Zuza, what is
the third region?

It's from the neck
to the knees.

And the fourth?

- Is my husband in?
- Yes. He's alone.

That would be it.
I hope you understand.

Alright.
Get to work.

The boss is here.
I have to finish.

- What is this, dear?
- Youth's gift.

- Without sails?
- I guess they forgot.

What's that awful perfume.
Probably your new secretary's.

- The new one doesn't use perfume.
- You smelled her so closely?

- Do you want something? I'm going out.
- I'll go with you.

I'm going to the Link Club for
a meeting. It might last.

I have time.

Zuza, I won't be
coming back today.

Good bye.

I'm surprised
at your boss.

Such a respectable man and
he's holding on to her.

It's easy to say.
Do you know what she's like at home?

- The one from Chelmno?
- From Bierutowice.

It would be good
to change the cooler pipe.

I have a piece of
hose in the trunk.

How much do you think
we'll sell it for?

700 at least,
if things go well.

That'll be at least 200 thousand for
us. What will you do with your cut?

I've been wanting
something for some time.

Lie down, eat
regularly and sleep.

No meetings,
no newspapers.

I thought you can't have
vacation like that in Poland.

But I heard that the Batory
cruiser organizes such trips.

It's exactly the
way I want it.

35 grand per person.

I'll take my old
lady and we'll go.

Can you imagine what food
they'll be serving there.

When i starts rocking you
won't be able to eat anything.

They worked
it all out.

Don't worry. It goes only half
a kilometer out to sea.

It stays still through
the whole cruise.

The sea is calm, I can watch Gdansk TV,
I won't miss my country.

And I don't need any
passports or visas.

And they really save up on the fuel.
Some economist must have thought it up.

What are you doing
with your money?

I'm getting two machines.
A boiler and a mould.

- I'll be making machine guns.
- They'll catch you.

It's a gold mine.

You buy plastics tubs, for
washing babies. 150 zloty each.

You crush them and
heat up the plastic.

Then you put it
into the mould.

and you get ten toy
guns out of one tub.

In the factory one
costs 250 zloty.

You thought that
up all by yourself?

I was taking passengers
to pick up a Mercedes.

Take me to the employment
department in Mokotow.

We don't have a car. The old one's
almost sold and the new one isn't ready.

We'll take the
old one.

I got a passenger.

Last drive?