TELEWIZJA POLSKA presents
a film in the DECALOGUE series
DECALOGUE THREE
Screenplay
Who is it?
Santa Claus.
Merry Christmas!
Sorry, I didn't recognise you.
You're Krysia?
Well, Krysia, here's a present for you.
And you're Antek, aren't you?
Then here's a present for you too.
That's for your grandma.
Oh, thank you!
And this long package is for your mother.
This is for Mother.
What's this, Santa?
Thank you.
Do you really think we'll go?
We'll try...
Thank you.
She's in her room... she didn't come.
Is she feeling worse?
Merry Christmas, auntie.
My little Ewa?
Have you done your homework?
I have, auntie.
The maths too?
Yes.
I was always good at math.
I thought you'd come with...
With...
Edward.
Yes...
Merry Christmas, once more.
The children will always remember this Christmas, the midnight mass...
Yes, it was just like the old days.
Yes?
Hello?
I don't know...
Someone suspicious is hanging round the car.
I'll go now.
Where's home?
You didn't wish me a Merry Christmas. Again.
What do you want?
It's Christmas Eve.
Tell me what you want.
Edward's missing.
What?
He's disappeared.
Ewa...
He left early and isn't back yet.
We have to go look for him.
It's Christmas Eve...
I'm sorry.
Ewa!
All right. I'll go with you.
What did you tell your wife?
That I thought someone was trying to steal our car.
Give me the keys.
I'll wait round the corner.
They drove off in it.
Along the Vistula Boulevard.
Phone the police! I'll try...
...and find a cab.
Is there any point?
The taxi's our livelihood.
You were at midnight mass.
No.
I saw you.
Never mind that now.
I tried all possible places.
Friends, the police...
Where do we go?
Where would you look if it was your wife?
Hospitals, maybe...
Let's try the emergency department.
Are you on emergency duty?
That was yesterday.
Sorry, my mistake.
Who's on today?
Which hospital, I mean.
Who's missing?
Someone's husband.
Yours?
No, mine.
Jurek?
Do you have a... His name?
Garus.
Age?
38.
Garus, 38.
No, I've a little lady here, looking for her husband.
When was he brought in?
When did he leave home?
About noon.
Unlikely. Our man left at noon.
They have an accident victim, lost both legs. He's got no papers.
But he was brought before noon. He's in the Praga Hospital.
Shall I turn the light off?
No, thanks, I'm on duty.
His car!
And his scarf.
I'll leave it. He might be cold when he gets back.
He won't get back without legs.
Leave him a sandwich too.
He might be hungry.
Go on, you're being very funny.
If you wish.
What about going to bed in some hotel?
Then you can give him the room number.
I didn't ring him.
You wanted to get rid of me and go back to your wife.
You wanted a trouble-free life.
I didn't ring him.
He told me.
You didn't give a name naturally.
It really wasn't me.
– I am not... – You're like all the others.
Let's change the subject.
And go to Praga.
The guy without legs!
Ewa...
Don't cover him...
That's not him.
I wish it were him...
or you.
How often have I imagined
your faces smashed in by the wheels of a truck.
I once dreamt I saw you.
With your neck broken...
and your tongue lolling out.
While I looked on...
and laughed!
I wonder who was his victim,
who'll rejoice at his death?
Police!
What about it?
You reported your car stolen.
Hold tight!
Look, the stolen car!
They're following us!
– Do you have your documents? – I do.
Then slow down.
Drive slowly.
Get out!
Hands up!
Is this your car?
It's been reported stolen.
We found it. It was abandoned.
Had a few drinks?
I didn't have the time.
You were doing a ton.
You're in luck that it's Christmas Eve.
He was right... I really drove too fast.
You could have crashed the car and us with it.
Shall we have another go?
You want to?
Will you put on your seat belt?
Had enough?
We were supposed to try your place.
So let's go.
Your car's not here.
Won't you get out?
He couldn't have left the car in the morning.
Why not?
It started snowing in the afternoon...
But the car was dry.
No snow on it. Not like here.
It started to snow at 5:00.
I don't know...
Listen...
If he's at home it wouldn't do for us to go in together.
Wait here.
If he's not there I'll come out onto the balcony.
Give me five minutes, then leave.
If he's there, well... goodbye.
Bye...
– Hello? – Emergency Ambulance Service.
There's an unconscious man...
– Where? – Lying by the bus stop.
Address?
At the Walbrzyska and Pulawska Street intersection.
The downtown bus stop.
– Drunk? – No. We checked him out.
Name?
Edward Garus, born 1949.
Your name, please.
– Anna Tatarkiewicz. – Thank you.
He's not here.
I told you, he's not here.
Won't you take off your coat?
No, I'm cold.
Shall I make some tea?
If you like.
I didn't make that phone call three years ago.
I was serious about you.
You were important to me.
If you want to know the truth.
I loved you.
At that time I wanted to change everything...
I thought...
When we were both getting dressed...
and he stood there with his back to us...
You didn't look once in my direction.
I took your hand but you snatched it away.
He said that as soon as we were dressed
you could choose whether to go or stay,
but that he was leaving.
Well, you left without a word.
Was that how it was?
Yes.
Remember what else Edward said.
That I could leave with him...
...provided we agreed not to see each other again.
You told him you wouldn't.
And so I said "fine".
– That's how it was. – Give me your hand.
Unloved...
Misunderstood...
You're right.
It's my fault.
You fell on your feet.
You're just as you were, aren't you?
You worked hard to tidy up your life.
You're kind,
thoughtful...
You never forget to collect the laundry.
Let go!
Gladly.
Your hands stink of gasoline.
Did you think about what went on after we left?
Did you think about how I felt...
when there was a love story on television
and he stared at me instead of the screen?
I haven't slept with him since then!
What are you doing in there?
Nothing.
I was washing my hands.
It's Christmas Eve.
I'm sorry...
I lied just then.
Our relationship is quite normal.
All the best...
You too.
There he is!
At the appropriate moment, as usual.
Sleep little Jesus.
Go to sleep.
Mary will comfort you.
Do not weep.
– Can't you go on? – We don't know any more.
Special night-time rate.
Thank you, Merry Christmas!
Is Edward growing a beard?
No, of course not.
Let's not forget why we came here. We need to find him.
Let's go.
Where?
To the Ambulance Service or the station.
The Central Station.
Wait a moment.
Emergency Service?
Have you have a man brought in by the name of Garus?
Edward Garus.
38 years old, born in 1949.
Do you receive calls from all parts of Warsaw?
You did? Where?
What happened?
Thank you very much.
He's been reported. I rang the Ambulance Service.
Reported?
– When they arrived, he'd already gone. – And now?
They say that often happens with drunks.
They advise us to try the sobering-up station.
Where's home?
Garus... Garus...
A Jew?
No.
We had a Garus in 1979.
A Jew.
You keep a record of every single one?
That's right.
Maybe he's among today's lot?
Let's go.
They think they can go to sleep!
I'll make them dance!
Maybe it's him?
Turn around!
Stop it!
They're freezing!
Want to join them?
Just you try! Come on, try!
Shall we dance?
I'm off, it's pointless.
I'm going home.
Where do you want me to drop you?
I damaged your car.
And spoilt your Christmas.
No, of course not. It was a pleasure.
Please...
Come with me to the station.
You're on duty at the monitor?
That's right.
I do this to keep awake.
We're checking... Has there been an accident here today?
No.
We're looking for a man
in a white sheepskin jacket.
He comes here often but doesn't go anywhere.
Who's that?
Edward.
And that woman?
His wife.
And those are his kids.
He lives in Cracow. For close on three years now.
Three years?
Almost.
I've told a good many lies today.
But why?
I don't know...
There's a game, you know it?
If whoever comes round the corner is a man,
you'll be lucky.
If it's a woman, you won't.
I know the game.
That's what I played today.
I said to myself that if I managed to spend a whole night with you,
till 7:00 in the morning, never mind how...
Then what?
Then everything would be all right.
And if you didn't?
I laid my plans carefully.
I live alone.
It's hard...
Hard to be alone on a night like this.
People...
...lock themselves in, draw their curtains...
Exactly.
Tonight, on my way to midnight mass,
I saw a boy.
He'd escaped from his hospital ward.
He was in pyjamas.
Well, what happened?
They caught him.
I know...
it wasn't you who phoned.
See you.
Everyone's asleep.
I found the car.
I know.
I rang the police.
Ewa?
Ewa.
Will you be coming home late again?
No.
I won't.
Directed by
Director of photography
Music