"Embers and Diamonds" movie script

Wayne 2022-01-20 08:01:35

"Embers and Diamonds" movie script

Text/[Poland] Jerzy Anjeevsky, Anje Wajda

Translation/Chen Tingbao

School/Feng Youli

It is a sunny noon. The skylarks sang high in the sky. On a small patch of grass near a small country chapel, Matek Hermitsky stood up and lay lazily on the grass. He appeared very calm and even planned to sleep it: he closed his eyes, stretched his waist, and yawned loudly. Next to him, Anjie Goshetsky was lying on the grass with his elbows half leaned. Macek closed his eyes and said slowly:

"My God, how I want to sleep in it! This so-called nature makes me weak."

Guoshetsky sat up and listened carefully. There was an unlit cigarette at the corner of his mouth. Hermitsky took out a pistol-type lighter from his pocket, still lying down, without opening his eyes, lit a cigarette for Anjie.

Yurek Trevnovsky leaned tightly against the wall of the chapel. Like Guoshetsky, he listened nervously to the surrounding movement. Suddenly, Trevnovsky leaned forward: there was a faint car motor in the distance. Guoshetsky stood up uncomfortably. Only Helmitsky lay quietly.

"You know, Anjie," he said in a long drag, "Although life has lost its meaning at the root, it is still full of unexpected things."

His words were interrupted by the chirping of a little bird.

"Someone came to a remote country," Matsek said without knowing it. "Can you think of who he met there? An old friend of his. He didn't waste much time, but immediately got a decent job. I said, what is this guy's name? Why did I forget..."

"Huuka." Anjie replied.

"What the hell is it for?"

"The Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of the Polish Workers' Party."

A little girl approached Anjie and Macek cautiously. Feeling scared and embarrassed for these strangers.

"Sorry, may I ask..."

Guoshetsky quickly stood up. He looked around anxiously and said to the girl:

"Run away from here..."

But she would not listen.

"Please open the door of the chapel for me."

An Jie pushed the door and lifted the girl up to make her believe that the door was closed. He leaned to sound. There was a whistle—this was Trevnovsky's signal. Guoshetski put down the little girl.

"Run," and then he said to Macek again: "Did you hear?"

But Hermitsky was not eager to stand up. He stretched and yawned as before.

"Jeep?" Guoshetsky asked.

"Yes. It's a jeep," Matek kept yawning. "It's still far away. There is time, too late. Hey, it wasn't this kind of work before..."

The sound of the car climbing the hill can be heard clearly. Trevnovsky slowly pulled out an automatic rifle from under his raincoat and made a gesture.

Guoshetsky is ready. He looked at Macek questioningly. The latter continued to lie down, looking up at the sky.

The sound of the motor is so close. Hermitsky's expression became decisive and attentive. He jumped up suddenly, without a sound, picked up the automatic rifle, and walked towards the chapel.

"Hurry up," An Jie urged.

Matek smiled.

"These ants, let them go to hell..."

Guo Sheecki gently pushed the girl, she still wanted to push the door open.

"Hurry up and run away! Hurry up!"

Trevnovsky turned around, feeling a little nervous.

"Sir, get up, hurry, hurry! Car, sir, the car is already here."

The jeep appeared. There are two people inside. The driver was obviously a young worker, and the man sitting next to him was a little older. The young man is just learning to drive a car. The elder is paying attention to his every movement, ready to help at any time.

Seniors: It's already a good drive, so pay more attention.

Young man: Let me drive tomorrow, huh?

Helmitsky, hiding in the bushes, let go of the jeep, and then raised the automatic rifle.

"It's a bit of a door now, isn't it?" the young worker in the car asked.

At this moment, there was a burst of gunfire from time to time. The bullet pierced the windshield. The car is out of control. Two workers jumped from the moving car. The bullet hit them. The driver was killed. Companion older than him was injured.

The car slid off the road and turned over. The fuel tank exploded with a bang.

Three people emerged from the bushes. This is Hermitsky, Goosetsky and Trevnovsky.

Trevnovsky ran to the dead, turned him over, and tugged his pocket.

Anjie: Take your ID, ID...

Trevnovsky: No documents.

On the tree-lined road leading to the chapel, lay the injured. Matek hurried to him, changing the magazines as he ran. The injured saw someone running, stood up, and limped towards the church. Trevnovsky tried to block his way, but the injured still reached the entrance of the chapel first. He turned around to look at the people chasing him. At this moment, Matek shot a shuttle bullet head-on towards him. The worker's body slid weakly on the ground against the door of the chapel. Suddenly the door opened. In the chapel, a small magic lamp was lit in front of the statue of the Virgin. The dying man fell on his back in front of the altar.

"Jesus-Maria, Our Lady!" Trevnovsky painted a cross. "Let's run! Run!" he yelled.

Matek wanted to stop him.

"Stop! Where are you going?! Wait!"

Trevnovsky ran along the tree-lined path, followed by Guosetsky and Matek. As they ran, they swiftly and skillfully took apart the automatic rifle and hid it.

A piece of plowed land. Spring moist soil. A farmer in the distance leaned on the plow and stepped evenly.

A jeep turned upside down on the tender grass. The wheels continued to rotate slowly. On the grass next to him was the person who was killed. Drops of the dead's blood flowed down from the grass stems. A group of people surrounded the dead body. These people are workers in a cement factory not far from here.

A jeep flew out of the ravine, exactly the same as the car driven by the deceased. A man ran onto the highway to stop the car.

The crowd lifted the overturned Gupt and straightened it. Now listening to two identical cars side by side. From the car that just drove down Podgulski, the driver and a guard. The burly Huuka slowly squeezed out of the car door.

Huka: What happened?

A worker replied angrily:

"Two of us were killed. That's what happened!"

Potter Gursky showed a panicked expression.

"Smolyarski of the cement plant. Member of the plant committee," he pointed to the elder deceased.

"What about this?" Huka asked.

"Also from the factory. Gavlik. He is a young man. He is less than twenty years old."

One person in the crowd corrected and said:

"Twenty-one years old. It's just a week since I finished work in Germany."

Another sadly added:

"I came back to die."

Huka: Did the murderer catch it?

Potgurski: Not yet, Comrade Huka.

Huka waved.

"We won't find them any soon. It's a nerve-wracking thing."

Several more workers came on bicycles. They ran up to the dead and looked at the damaged car. I heard someone say:

"Bad guy shot from behind."

"Go and call the police, hurry up."

"Huh, I want to put them..."

The dead lay on the grass. Their godless eyes looked at the sky indifferently. A white butterfly-the plutella xylostella in spring-flies lively on its frozen face. Huka walked to the dead, leaned down deeply, leaning on a wooden staff in both hands.

"It should have been us lying here, not them," he whispered to Potgursky.

The latter shuddered:

"Do you think so?..."

"I'm sure, but it doesn't matter."

There was the sound of bicycles being hurriedly leaned together. This is a group of workers who came after get off work. One of them, who was almost an old man, walked up to Huka.

"Sorry, comrade..."

Huuka: My last name is Huuka.

Veteran worker: So you are the secretary of the provincial party committee. It is you who will come to our factory? ...

Huka: It seems so.

Veteran worker: You, comrade, know all kinds of things. You are political, then you should be very clear about everything. I want to ask one thing, it's not just me, but all of us. (He points to his comrades. They come closer and form a semicircle.) I hope you can tell us how many deaths such a person has to die? This is not the first time.

Huka: It won't be the last one. Does this scare you?

The skylark flies high in the sky.

One person in the crowd said:

"Everyone wants to live."

Another person added:

"Have we fallen few people over the years?"

An elderly worker squeezed to the front through the crowd.

"Do you know that Smollyarski has lost two sons?"

His words were interrupted:

"One died in 39 years, the other died in 43 years..."

"He was shot by the Germans here, and now he himself has fallen. Why? Who killed him? Was it a Polish?"

Huka was walking around the dead. The elderly worker insisted:

"Please answer, how long will this situation continue?"

Huka: Comrades, if I coax you like a kid, I would be a bad Communist. The end of the war does not mean the end of the struggle. In order to make Poland what she should be, the struggle has only begun. Today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, each of us may sacrifice.

Elderly worker: All right. Even if we understand your life, how can we explain it to his wife? What should I say to her?

Huka walked to the car. He didn't have a loud voice, and said slowly:

"Talking about this, my heart is very sad, comrades, because I know very well: these bullets are for me, not for the two of them. Hold your head up. As long as a person is alive, he must engage in his own business. That's it. Is the main one."

The skylark sang high in the sky.

Some Polish and Soviet troops marched forward on the main square of the city; the square was full of soldiers, civilians, weapons, and cars — crowded. A viewing platform is being built in the square. The workers are driving stakes. The stakes were painted with red and white stripes that are traditional Polish symbols. From the speakers hung on all sides, the broadcaster's voice was quickly heard: "Now broadcast an important news." A crowd began to gather under the speakers. Trevnovsky struggled through the crowd. He was looking for someone anxiously.

"Today, May 8," a man's voice said in the speaker, "On the ruins of the German capital Berlin, the German Supreme Command signed the unconditional surrender document. It was Keitel who signed the surrender document on behalf of the German Supreme Command. , Frederborg, and Stenf. Soviet Marshal Zhukov signed the surrender document on behalf of the Soviet Supreme Command. Marshal Tedour Air Force signed the surrender document on behalf of the Allied Command. US Air Force Commander General Spartz and Germany General Rattle de Tacini attended the signing ceremony as an observer."

Matek and Anjie were also in the crowd. Trevnovsky should also come here to meet. He was late.

Macek: What's wrong with him?

Anjie: I really don't understand, he should be here.

Macek: I said, where did he get the news?

Anjie: From his boss.

Macek: Who is his boss?

Anjie: It's the mayor, and this idiot is his secretary.

Macek: So, he serves two purposes. I can't stand this kind of activity.

Trevnovsky squeezed through the crowd, looking around nervously. At this time, Macek and Anjie walked into a movie theater and continued to talk while looking for a seat in the dark.

Macek: Is he reliable?

Anjie: What is reliable now?

The movie theaters screened newsreels covering battles on the front lines. Tanks appeared on the screen. Matek was interested.

"The tank is not bad," he said in an expert tone.

Anjie: Look, he's here.

Trevnovsky walked towards his friends.

"Salute! Gentlemen!"

Anjie: Are you in trouble?

Trevnovsky: No, I can't squeeze in the square.

Macek: What are you doing, is there a wedding today?

Trevnovsky: What wedding? The preparations for the banquet are all piled up on me. I said, Anjie, if there are still such things in the future, don't call me again. you know……

An Jie didn't listen to him.

"Alright alright."

Trevnovsky even stammered because of his excitement.

"No, you know, if you want to get some intelligence or something, then you can, I will always do it, but not this, no, no..."

"Hey, don't coax me anymore," An Jie waved. Then he stood up, walked to the exit, and greeted Macek:

"Let's go."

Trevnovsky: Where are you going?

Matek gave a salute to both feet:

"We are invited to the banquet."

Trevnovsky: It's impossible, don't mess around.

Anjie: Don't be afraid, I know what to do.

Trevnovsky: But you can't take unnecessary risks.

An Jie waved his hand again.

"Don't fool me. Salute."

Trevnovsky walked into the street when a group of Soviet troops passed by singing. Some workers carrying chairs walked past him. Like Trevnovsky, they all walked towards a big restaurant, above the restaurant's door was a newly painted shop name; "Monopol". The workers moved the chairs into the hall. The old man at the hotel greeted Trevnovsky who walked in. From the inside of the front hall came a tall man with the style of a famous actor. He spread his hands in a graceful posture, and walked towards Trevnovsky as if to hug him. This is Getovich. He is a local manager and a black market leader.

"Hey, who is this... Salute to you, salute to you. What brings you here?"

Trevnovsky: (with airing) Official business, Mr. Getovich, official business.

Getovich: Ah, see, see, have a banquet, right? You are looking for manager Slomka, is that right?

Trevnovsky: Exactly...

Getovich: You can find him in the banquet hall. You can definitely find him in the banquet hall. Ah, I tell you. This banquet is simply beautiful...

Macek and Anjie wash their hands in the hallway of the hotel. There was the sound of fiddling with cutlery. Trevnovsky walked past. He ran into Slomka, the restaurant manager, not far from the kitchen.

This fat man with a round face, a big belly, and even his fingers grew round. He was an old man in a famous restaurant in Lviv before the war. The former owner of "Monopol" and local rich man Levkovich, his family died in Treblink.

"Salute you. How are you?" Trevnovsky greeted the manager.

Slomka: I hope Mr. Mayor will be satisfied.

Trevnovsky: Mr. Slomka, the success of today's banquet is very important to Mr. Mayor. This matters a lot.

Slomka: Understand. The war is over. It is indeed a special moment.

An elderly woman walked out of the bathroom, the widow Yur Gryushka, and the wife of the concierge in front of the "Monopol" Grand Hotel. She has been in charge of the toilet for many years.

Slomka: Did you hear anything, Mrs. Yulgryushka?

Yurgeryushka walked to a small table, picked up the wool to work, did not rush, sat down firmly on the small stool, and then replied:

"Thank you, Mr. Manager, everything is fine."

Slomka and Trevnovsky continued to patrol the hotel. At this moment they came to the banquet hall. A long table was covered with dazzling white tablecloths, and several waiters were busy around the table.

Trevnovsky: It still looks pretty good.

Slomka: Please believe, Mr. Secretary, the dishes taste even better.

At this time, the bar was idle and quiet. Only one passenger sat on the high chair in front of the counter. This is Beiniao Rick, a reporter for the city newspaper, who is short and has a black, listless, drunk and hazy face. The bar girl is a pretty girl with light yellow and fluffy hair, standing peacefully behind the counter. When Macek and An Jie walked over, she appeared pretending to be indifferent. The two friends had already walked to the banquet hall, but Matek gently took his companion's hand.

"Wait a minute, An Jie, take a good look, how beautiful this girl is."

An Jie made a dissatisfied gesture.

"Ah, forget it."

The bar girl Yun still didn't seem to be able to reach the two of them. She approached the juicer, turned the tap, and turned the handle.

Macek: Hey, Anjie, wait a minute, let's have a drink first.

They walked to the counter. Hermits put down his raincoat and purse, and said to the girl:

"Good evening. Can you give us something to drink?"

The bar girl put two wine glasses in front of them.

"Would you like pure sake or sorbet?"

Anjie: Pure wine, two cups of 50 grams.

Macek: No, no, my friend was wrong. Of course, it is 100 grams each. Two more glasses of soda.

He pushed aside one of the wine glasses and took out an old crushed military kettle from his arms.

"Fill in it," he said to the bar girl.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise, but still poured the wine into the kettle. At this moment, the drunk guest was calling her from the other side of the counter:

"Miss Christina."

She walked towards him.

"Please order, Mr. Editor."

Macek: What a beautiful name-Christina.

Anjie: Stop messing around.

Macek: I'm not fooling around at all.

Anjie: Drink the wine, let's go... Two glasses of 100 grams, two glasses of soda.

Kristina went back to her old place and poured beer for Rick.

Matek tried to talk to her.

"This bar is good, isn't it?"

Christina shrugged. But Hermitsky still didn't give up.

"When do you close?"

Christina: Three o'clock.

Matek noticed a small bouquet of violets in a glass on the counter.

"Do you like violets?"

Christina: I like it very much.

Macek suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"Me too……"

At this time, Guoshetsky accepted and looked for his head and walked to the restaurant. He had walked to the door, and when he looked back, Matek was still standing by the counter, calling him dissatisfied. Hermitsky was just smelling the scent of violets at this time. He put the flowers back on the table and made a face like a child, as if to say: I'm leaving. This is because they call me. It's not that I want to go.

Guoshetsky walked quickly past the large dining room that was currently empty, and walked into a smaller dining room. Here, a few people sitting at the table are chatting. Matek caught up with Anjie.

Macek: The girls here are so beautiful. To be honest, it's almost the same as Warsaw Guzhen. I really want to stay here for the rest of my life.

Anjie: Then you can stay. As far as I know, no one is waiting for you.

Macek: Because no one is waiting for me, I can't stay.

Anjie: I don't understand a bit.

Macek: (smiling embarrassingly) I don't understand either.

In the lounge, An Jie walked into the telephone room.

A room in Stajevic’s house is filled with old wooden furniture, and the cupboards are filled with porcelain and refined glassware. There are some oil paintings hanging on the wall, with heavy gold frames. Stajevic himself was a colonel in the old army. He was not in the country at the beginning of the war, but lived in England. His wife, a young lady who is about forty-five but still dressed up, stays in Poland to guard the house and property.

At this moment, she was alone at a small poker table, playing cards for entertainment.

In the next room, the colonel's portrait hung in the middle of the wall. A precious scabbard hung under the portrait. The maid is wiping a saber. The phone rang.

Mrs. Stajevic stood up and went to the room where the phone was placed.

"Hey...yes. I'm Mrs. Stajevic... call it right away."

She put down the phone receiver, walked out, hesitated while walking, then put the phone on the chair, connected it to another socket, and knocked on the door next door softly.

"Mr. Major..."

A middle-aged man who was not tall came out of the room. He was a little bald, and his legs could be seen bent a bit because of being a cavalryman. This is Vaga, a major of the National Army (Note 1), known by the nickname Florian among the guerrillas. He picked up the receiver.

"Hey, it's me."

An Jie was in the telephone room, from here you can clearly see the entire lounge of the "Monopol" Hotel.

"I'm Goosetsky... Goosetsky. Report to you that things are done...very smoothly...yes...yes. No surprises. Exactly as expected."

Huka and Potgulski appeared at the hotel entrance. Potgursky walked to the gatekeeper. Matek was reading the newspaper not far from them.

Potgurski: Did you prepare a room for Comrade Huka? It was reserved by the municipal party committee?

When Macek heard these two words, he suddenly raised his head, listened carefully for a while, and then walked to the phone room.

Concierge: Of course, everything is arranged. I have reserved a room on the second floor for you, number 18. Happy to help you.

Anjie is continuing to call. Matek was outside the glass door of the telephone room, gesturing vigorously to him.

Anjie: Okay, that's it. Ok, I see.

Matek continued to gesture desperately. Guoshetsky frowned impatiently and said into the microphone:

"please wait a moment."

Vaga is next to the telephone, behind the portrait.

Vaga: Hey, hello. What happen to you guys? Went out for a while? Wait a minute, wait a minute, I really don't understand. Things didn't work out? Ah, that's it... Now I understand. Well, what can I do. Okay, come on, come right away.

An Jie slowly hung up the telephone receiver. Matek looked at his friend's face sympathetically. Two people walked out of the phone room.

The concierge handed the key to Xiuka.

Huka: Do you have cigarettes?

Concierge: Yes. Want American products? Hungarian goods? Which one do you want?

Huka: It's better for the United States.

He paid, took a pack of "Chesterfield" cigarettes, and opened his mouth immediately.

Anjie is ready to go. He could not hide his excitement.

"Wait for me in the bar," he said to Helmitsky.

Matek: All right. We have also dealt with more complicated situations than this.

Huuka did not rush to leave the concierge counter.

Huka: Don't you know the Stajevic family?

"It goes without saying that I know, of course," the old man replied happily.

"Do they still live in the same place before the battle?"

"Yes, it's very close here. Please wait a minute, wait a minute. They have a phone at home. Do you want to get the call for you?"

Huuka held a cigarette in his mouth and touched a match in his pocket. Suddenly a lighter that was on was stretched out from the left. This is Matek. Huka looked at him strangely, smiled, and handed him and the porter each a cigarette.

Concierge: Thank you. Their phone number is 12-14.

Huka nodded and walked into the lounge, where Potogursky was waiting for him.

Huka: I almost forgot. When will the banquet be held? Is it eleven?

Potter Gurski: Eleven o'clock. The car will be waiting for you.

He went out. Huka walked up the stairs, slowly and with heavy steps. Matek approached the concierge counter.

"A very likable person. Who is he?"

Concierge: It's a tenant. What can you know about a person at the moment? Do you need anything?

Macek: Let's pack cigarettes first.

Concierge: Want American products? Hungarian goods?

Macek: It's Hungarian, it's more vigorous.

The janitor took a few crumpled banknotes from Hermitsky calmly, and said thoughtfully:

"Get you money."

Macek waved his hand casually.

"Forget it! Don't worry about it. A little bit. Thank you. Would you like one too? Please."

Concierge: No, thank you. no no. It's too fierce. You know, it can cause coughing, and the age is not forgiving. There is no way.

Macek rolled his eyes and looked surprised.

"Age? What age? How old are you?"

Concierge: It's sixty already.

Matek expressed his disbelief.

"Impossible. I think you are less than fifty years old."

The concierge thanked him for his compliment and immediately turned to the topic:

"Are you alone?"

Macek: For the time being, it is one.

Concierge: Waiting for a blonde?

Macek: For example, yes.

Concierge: Hmm, yes. The double room is difficult.

Macek: No, it's okay, a single room is also fine. The more crowded the better.

The porter looked at Helmitsky’s face and listened to his accent: "Are you from Warsaw?"

Macek: What?

The old man took a step closer to him and said in a low voice and clearly:

"Because I am also from Warsaw. I worked at the Savoy Hotel."

Macek: The one on New World Street?

The porter no longer looked at Matek. He smiled contentedly, as if saying to himself:

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... Twenty-five years is only two months away. Not much at all, eh?"

Macek: You participated in the uprising?

The concierge answered proudly:

"Then need to say, fight till the last day, how about you?"

Macek: Me? I've stayed everywhere; first in Old Town Street, then in the center, of course you remember how it all came over.

Concierge: Yes, without our Warsaw, people are not like people...like people lack hands.

Macek: Now, on the boulevard, in the Ujazdowski Park, chestnut trees are blooming.

Concierge: Where do you think it is blooming? I was going to give you a room on the fourth floor, but there were bed bugs there. Hey, then let's live in room 17 on the second floor. It's right for you. We in Warsaw should take pictures of each other. Do you have luggage?

Macek pointed to the purse.

Concierge: Well, not much.

Helmitsky laughed.

"Sometimes it's less."

Concierge: Now, please take out your ID as required.

Macek: Please see, this is my ID card.

Concierge: Well, Matek, Hermitski, from Warsaw, born in 1921.

Macek: Exactly correct. Born in 21 years.

Concierge: Is the occupation a worker?

Matek said with a smile:

"No, that's to deal with Germans. The profession is a college student."

He took the key and briskly walked up the stairs to the second floor.

A large double room with cheap and fancy wallpaper on the wall, and the furnishings show a sense of extravagance: the floor is covered with old carpet, in the middle is a round table, and the table is covered with velvet tablecloth. It was covered with dust. Against the wall is a neatly laid large bed with electroplated bed rails. There is an old wall mirror in the corner.

There are two windows in the room. One of the large yards facing the hotel was blocked by a wooden structure that was unknown whether it was a wooden shed or a car house. The dark shadow of an old garden can be vaguely seen in the distance. The lights shining from the rows of windows in the hotel are variegated, and the dim light seems to be driving away the dark night. Suddenly there was a gust of wind, and the black garden seemed to be swaying with the wind. A beautiful and terrifying picture.

From the kitchen below the restaurant, there was the clanging of knives and forks, the clashing of tableware and the voices of chefs. Suddenly, a bright spot appeared in the middle of the yard. Then the door slammed shut again. Two figures-one is a barefoot girl, the other is a young man in a white apron-swiftly across the yard. Then, a woman's low laughter came from the dark wooden house in the distance.

Huka sat in a large old armchair in a raincoat. A large mirror in the corner reflected his burly figure, and he shrank his shoulders and dropped his hands wearily. At exactly this moment, someone turned the handle on the door of the next room and walked into the room. The light switch clicked. This voice awakens Huka from his contemplation.

Matek Hermitsky walked into a small room with only one window, turned on the light, and quickly pressed against the wall adjoining Shuka's room-listen carefully. He didn't hear anything, so he walked to the bed, took off his jacket and sweater, took out his pajamas from his travel bag, and threw them on the bed. Put soap, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste neatly on the sink. At the same time, he did not stop listening to the movement in the room on the right for a moment. But there was no sound there.

Hermitsky walked to the window and opened it. From here you can see the windows of Slomka’s house opposite the courtyard. One of them was open, and Slomka and Stavka could be seen in the room.

Stavka is a strong, round-faced girl, the dishwashing lady in the restaurant kitchen, she is crying. Slom got stuck in anger.

"Why are you crying? What nonsense did they say to you in the kitchen? Fool, they are jealous of you."

Macek stood by the window in his room on the second floor.

Stefka was still crying, waving his hand and head to Slomka. Slomka didn't understand what she meant.

"What's going on?"

Stavka: Stashuek was killed, and the bad guy shot and killed him.

Slomka still didn't understand at all.

"Which Starshuak? Who killed him?"

Stavka knelt on the ground, crying more and more.

"My fiancé, Starshuek Gavlik. Those bad guys, goddamn..."

Slomka helped the girl up.

"Don't cry first, calm down. How could you kill him?"

Stavka: How do I know what's going on?

Slomka: Probably the transmission was wrong.

Stavka: Where can I get it wrong? Ischulek has just been here.

Stavka sat down on the chair, tiredly supporting her head with her hands.

Slomka: You said it was the one who stood guard? The rascal wanted to cheat some drinks, so he just talked nonsense. It must be a mistake.

Stavka: Where could I be mistaken? He ran and said, "Do you know that two cement factory workers were shot dead by the river at noon today." My heart sank immediately, and I asked who was killed. He said it was Smoljaski and Staschek Gavlik. My Jesus, Maria, Our Lady. As soon as I heard this, I thought I would fall down too. I smashed into a ball all at once. He also said that he died on the spot. It is said that he was going to kill someone else, but he made a mistake and killed the two.

Slomka poured a glass of wine and handed it to the girl:

"Let's have a drink. It's already out, it's useless to be anxious."

Matek Hermitz base station is in front of the window.

Stavka was still sitting, her head in her hands, her whole body shaking, and she whimpered loudly from time to time. The Slomka next to her stood upside down impatiently.

"You just have a drink, really, it will be easier."

She raised her head, sniffed loudly, took the glass, and drank it.

"anything else?"

"Continued Cup."

"That's it. Now you sit on the bed so that you can be more comfortable."

The girl gave a wry smile while sobbing.

"Hey, care more about people," but she still sat down on the bed.

Slomka sat next to her.

"Stop crying. I will give you a pair of stockings." He leaned closer.

Matek closed the window abruptly, lowered the curtains, and turned on the lamp. Then he took the pistol from the purse placed on the table and wanted to wipe it. At this time, footsteps came from the partition wall.

Huka walked around the room nervously.

Stajevic’s residence. The room was filled with smoke. Waka tried to fan the thick tobacco smoke with his hand. The major’s conversation with Guoshetsky had been going on for a long time. From the window, you can see a team of rolling tanks outside, and a Russian song is faintly heard. A floor lamp with a large lampshade illuminates part of the floor board, and the floor is covered with precious carpets. The rest of the room and the interlocutor were in dry shadows.

An Jie lifted a lock of hair from his forehead to the back, then straightened his waist and said:

"These innocent people have died unjustly."

He squeezed out a half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, and then lit another cigarette.

Waka smoked dullly and slowly. The major played with the matchbox with his delicate, delicate, almost female hands. After smoking, he carefully pinched out the cigarette butt, retracted his body into the armchair, crossed his fingers with each other, and asked softly:

"Conscience is condemned?"

Anjie: Mr. Major, do you think they are getting in the way?

Waka: Do you know who died?

An Jie: Probably a worker in a cement factory.

Waka: So are you sure they are innocent? Well, the matter is clear, it is a mistake. The error should be corrected. What do you think about this?

An Jie appeared hesitant, and a look of doubt passed across his thin face.

"Mr. Major, I have always wanted to ask you a question..."

"Oh, ask."

Guo Secki looked down at the table.

"I don't know how to say... Okay, let me just say it. Does Huuka really need to be killed?"

Waka stood up, said nothing, and paced the room leisurely, then he walked to the table and picked up a cup of coffee.

Anjie stared at the major nervously.

"Mr. Lieutenant," the major said at last, "According to what I know about your past, you are an experienced soldier. You should know that as your commander, I have the right to respond to your questions. Take certain actions. Isn't it true?"

An Jie's face flushed.

"I think……"

"I didn't ask what you were thinking. I'm waiting for you to answer what I just said," Waka interrupted him.

At this moment, Guoshetsky seemed to have a seizure, but he restrained himself.

"Yes," he said briefly.

Waka nodded and said:

"I'm glad that our opinions are the same. But I still have to answer your question."

Waka stopped, walked around Anjie who was sitting, and said behind him:

"I understand your doubts. If you don't have such doubts, I would be surprised. We live and fight in an extremely complex situation. However, the war years have tested everyone and taught us to be essential. Come up to judge things. Now there is no time to distinguish everything in detail. If you must distinguish, then this can only be simple and clear. Good is good and evil is evil. There is no compromise. One of the two must be."

Waka's calm and calm voice seemed to show that his words were fair.

"How old are you?" the major asked suddenly.

"twenty one years old."

"Since when did you start doing secret work?"

"From 1941."

"So, you were only seventeen years old?"

"Yes."

"Why are you fighting? Is it for the freedom of Poland? Is the Poland you yearn for now like this?"

Waka stopped and waited for the rumbling of the tank tracks outside the window and the roar of the engine to pass, and then continued:

"You should understand, Mr. Lieutenant, in this Poland, for you, and for thousands of your peers, there is only one way to go-and that is struggle. With your resume, you can Where do you go? Everything in this country is closed to you, except the prison."

"I know."

There was a smile of satisfaction on Waka's thin lips.

"Then now let's talk about this man who has caused us so much trouble..."

Huka was pacing thoughtfully in his own room in the "Monopol" hotel, the old floor creaking under his heavy footsteps.

At Colonel Stajevic’s house, Major Vaka continued to enlighten Lieutenant Gosetski in a steady and calm tone:

"Who is this Shuka? It is an intellectual, an engineer, and an excellent organizer. This man knows what he is after. After many years of going abroad, he has now returned from Russia and has been sent to the province of Polish workers. Assigned to work. Today he is the party’s job. Tomorrow, if the situation does not change, he will easily take on important positions in the country. This is a man who is loyal to doctrine. He was tried several times before the war and went to jail. This is the case. Even more terrible. We are not afraid of those speculators. Once in danger, they will escape from the sunken ship like rats. It is not guilty of using bullets against them, nor is it guilty of letting people like you take risks. That would be too costly. But. When it comes to doctrine, this doctrine destined us to be enslaved and die, so we can only answer them with one answer-death."

There was another deafening rumble of tanks passing by.

Anjie was still listening to the major.

"Lieutenant, you don’t know exactly how powerful the first secretary is? The removal of such a person can have a beneficial effect. This action will have a great repercussions both in politics and in propaganda. Especially now, in When our situation in this area became extremely difficult. I just received a report that Captain Volcker’s team was surrounded by the Red Army and the National Security Force tonight. The casualties were heavy. Only a few people broke through."

Anjie: This is unpleasant news, but based on what I know about Captain Volcker, he can adapt to circumstances.

Waka: It's a pity that the captain has sacrificed his life.

There was a soft clash of precious glassware.

Mrs. Stajevic, as usual, entertained guests at her home in the evening on weekends. Today there are three visitors: Podatiski and his wife, who were driven out of hereditary territory but temporarily lived in the city. The other is the burly Getovich, who is notorious for secretly speculating on currency, transferring people to the camera, selling gold, reselling famous paintings and other valuables.

The guests sat at the table chatting, and Mrs. Stajevic took out a set of tea sets from the glass cabinet that was used only on grand occasions.

Podicky: I must admit, my dear friends, I always feel comfortable in this house. You can forget all the nonsense outside at once. (Refers to outside the window)

The hostess smiled with satisfaction.

"Count, this makes me very happy."

Podiatski: In this situation, it is better not to call me by my title.

Getovich quickly offered him a snack. Mrs. Stajevic sat down at the table. Podjatici slightly lowered his voice and said to her:

"What's the matter with us now, dear?"

Mrs. Stajevic: It should be said that it is good.

Mrs. Podiaticki: Is this true, my baby?

Getovich: Countess, you forgot when we lived. Nothing is certain today.

Mrs. Stajevic: Hey, why be so pessimistic? Our friends will always be our friends.

Podiaticki: Because of this, we put our destiny in your hands.

Mrs. Stajevic stood up, walking lightly, like a girl, to the portrait of the colonel.

"It's better to put it in the hands of my husband. He will do everything in his power to get us out of here sooner."

Getovich: Then I have a suggestion that the colonel is so busy for us, let us go to Monopol to drink brandy for the health of the colonel. Wouldn't it be great.

The maid walked into the room.

"Mr. Huka comes to see you."

Mrs. Stajevic immediately panicked.

"What? Who do you think is here?"

Maid: Mr. Huka.

Mrs. Stajevic tried her best to conceal her embarrassment in front of the guests.

"Please forgive me, I must be a little bit out of company. Look at these trivial, boring things!"

Mrs. Podiaticki: I sympathize with you, my baby, there are always annoying things.

Huoka walked up the stairs slowly. There was a lively noise of pedestrians and vehicles from the street.

Mrs. Stajevic walked along the corridor to the door. She stopped in front of the mirror, straightened her hair, and closed the open cupboard door by the way. She opened the door locks one after another, and finally let Xie card enter.

"Hello, Catarina. How are you? Do you still know me?"

Mrs. Stajevic did not invite the guest into the room. To his greeting, she answered coldly:

"What's your business?"

Huka: I only returned to China a month ago.

Mrs. Stajevic: I know, I received your letter.

Huka: I will send you three letters.

Mrs. Stajevic: I have nothing to tell you. It's the same now.

During the period when Huuka and Mrs. Stajevic were talking in the front hall, active conversations in the dining room came from the cracks in the loosely closed door from time to time. This embarrassed Mrs. Stajevic. She looked over there dissatisfiedly and coughed a few times so that the friends could stop the dangerous conversation, and she closed the slightly open cupboard door again. The conversation going on in the restaurant is like this:

Podicky: The surprise attack of the Western powers will be lightning-fast. Lothar, look, don’t take a year, we will be able to entertain Catarina and the colonel at our Fort Hwali Manor.

Mrs. Pogiatici: I didn’t even know our gardener’s name was Mloček. One day, he came with a big bag and a small bag. Calling me "Countess", I said to him: What countess, fool, you don't know that we are now a democratic system.

Getovich: What did your Mloček say?

Mrs. Potyticki: Who, Mloček? Yes, it's wonderful. He was wronged and said, "Countess, I don't approve of democracy." How about, huh? Not bad, right?

A burst of joyful laughter interrupted Huka's words. When the guests calmed down, he said to Mrs. Stajevic:

"Listen to me, Catarina. At the end of the year, my friends told me that after Maria died, you took Malek over."

"Do you think I should send him to the orphanage?"

"My letter is very clear. I don't want you to raise my son. In that letter I mentioned my acquaintances, my friends...Have you received this letter?"

Mrs. Stajevic no longer concealed how unpleasant this unexpected visit made her. She directed at Huka angrily, almost rudely, and said, "No, I haven't received any letter. However, I can assure you that even if I receive the letter, Malek will still stay with us. Look. Come, you forgot, anyway, Maria is my sister after all."

In the front room, the door of an old cabinet creaked.

Huka: Where is he?

Mrs. Stajevic: I don’t know... I have already written to tell you that the last time he came to this house was in September, shortly after the uprising...

Huka: You haven't heard from him since then?

Mrs. Stajevic made a negative expression.

Huka: Is this all you can tell me about my son? Listen to me, Catarina, he is only seventeen years old.

Mrs. Stajevic: Today's seventeen-year-old child is already an adult man.

Huka: What is he doing? What kind of person did you cultivate him?

Mrs. Stajevic: I can assure you that I trained him to be a good Polish.

Huka: I can imagine your kind of patriotism. It is not difficult for me to guess what kind of person you have brought up my son. However, there is any way. You know, he is only seventeen years old. But I still have to swear to you, as long as he is alive, my son will always be my son sooner or later.

He walked out of the house. Mrs. Stajevic did not give him away. At this time the door of the next room opened, Waka walked out of it, and An Jie followed him. Mrs. Stajevic smiled to Waka distractedly and said:

"It's nothing, no big deal... everything is fine." After speaking, she went to the guests.

Waka was sending An Jie away, and when he broke up he said:

"I think this house can no longer be used."

The radio in his room is on. Chopin’s Mazuka is playing.

The bar of the "Monopol" Hotel. Christina was still standing behind the counter. Matek Helmitsky stayed beside her. Bay Bird Rick is still there. The band is playing in the dining room. There is already some excitement from the beginning of Hua Deng. While Kristina was busy with her work, she was obviously happily talking to Hermitsky. He looked at his watch, and the girl blurted out:

"Are you leaving in a hurry?"

"No, it's just an appointment."

"Is it a woman?"

"Aren't you happy?"

"Who?"

"you."

"Me? Who do you date with, what does it matter to me!"

Kristina walked to the other end of the counter, filled some drinks, handed them to the customer, and then returned to Macek. He continued:

"Are you really okay?"

"I don't think so."

"What if I don't believe it?"

"Then please, if you feel so happy..."

"Then, I don't believe it. Are you staying here all the time?"

Kristina took the goblet and walked out of the counter to a small table. After she came back, as if the conversation had not been interrupted at all, she replied:

"All the way."

"Does this have to be? You are always alone?"

"I'm alone for the time being. A helper will come at ten o'clock."

Macek didn't want to conceal his inner joy.

"Isn't that all right."

"What's okay. If there are too many customers, neither of us can handle it. Look, the woman you dated with is here."

Matek turned away. Anjie Goshetsky squeezed through the dancing crowd towards the bar. Matek winked at Kristina.

"Yes. I can see it, you remember everything clearly."

"No, such a beautiful young man."

Matek looked at Guoshetsky again.

"Yes?"

An Jie approached the counter.

"Let's go."

"What are you doing?"

"Go to that hall, it's quieter there."

"What did he say?"

"Let's go."

"Why? This is the quietest place."

"I have to go."

They walked to a small table in the corner of the hall.

Macek: What's the matter? Are you dissatisfied with this table? You know this is very ideal. are you uncomfortable?

Anjie: Are you leaving?

Macek: What's wrong with you, what's wrong with just falling from the moon?

Anjie: Aren't you going to Warsaw?

Macek: What happened? Did Felorian cancel all decisions?

Anjie: No.

Macek: Then, who do you think of me? Think of me as someone who leaves messy work aside? Thank you friend. Guess, who lives in the seventeenth room of the lavish hotel "Monopol"? Right next door to our citizen?

Anjie looked at his friend.

"Everything is okay, Matek."

At this time, Getovich appeared in the bar. He just wanted to walk to the counter, but turned around and walked to the mirror to take a close photo.

Macek laughed when he saw him.

"Gosh, what an idiot!"

An Jie didn't figure it out.

"Who? Where?"

Getovich turned around in front of the mirror.

Macek: That guy. Seen from behind is a stupid guy.

Anjie: From the front, it's also a complete fool.

Getovich walked to the counter.

"Good evening, Miss Christina."

Christina: Good evening! Or as usual, do you want a glass of white wine with vermouth?

Getovich: Oh no. Change the trick today and drink some brandy.

Christina laughed.

"I can see that you must have made a good business."

Getovich immediately seemed proud.

"It's about art, Miss Christina, about art."

Kristina saw Matek and Angel in the mirror.

The waiter brought them some cold dishes, and for a moment blocked Hermitsky from the girl's sight. Christina then moved a little along the counter, just in time to see the table where the two partners were sitting. In the mirror, she saw Ke turn his face in front of Anjie and looked towards the bar.

"Excuse me, Mr. Getovich, who is performing with us today?"

Getovich is still elated.

"Excellent actor, excellent!"

Mrs. Podicki and Mrs. Stajevic appeared at the door of the bar. The fat manager Slomka led the way in front of them with small steps.

"Please, come here, Mr. Earl..."

At this time the restaurant band played a welcome song.

The new arrivals sat down around the table. The waiter walked up to him and waited for them to order.

Getovich stepped onto the stage in the hotel lobby, and he raised a hand.

"Please be quiet. Our party begins now. Today we are celebrating a great day, the war is over. How can we better commemorate this holiday? Perhaps, this incomparable outstanding Hanka Levitska can Do this with her singing."

Getovich reached out to a slender girl in an overly topless dress. Hanka Levitska stepped onto the stage lightly to the applause and sang a song called "Red Poppies" (Note 2), which was the most popular song during the war.

Almost all the guests in the bar crowded at the entrance of the hall to listen to the singing of the singer. Only Matek and Anjie are still sitting in their seats. They had drunk quite a bit, but they ordered vodka again. The waiter put an unopened bottle of wine in front of them.

A pair of friends walked to the counter. Matek picked up the glass, held it in front of his mouth, greedily inhaling the smell of vodka. He suddenly pulled Guoshetsky's cuff and said:

"Do you remember?"

Anjie was lost in thought. He neither heard Matek clearly nor did he hear the singing. And the song continued to reverberate, reverberating in the hall full of people in famous costumes, like weeping for those undead.

Matek came closer. An Jie was snorting the smell of alcohol.

Matek: Do you remember? Lei Ruiyi's alcohol?

Anjie: I don't remember.

Macek swiftly pushed the glasses filled with vodka, and the glasses slid on the smooth surface of the counter.

Macek: Don't you remember? you remember……

Anjie: Don't mess around.

Macek: Don't remember?

At this time, he set fire to every wine glass. The alcohol burns out a uniform blue flame, like an eternal lamp in front of a tomb of a martyr, or a candle lit to mourn the dead.

"I don't remember," Anjie said, but when Matek lifted a match to light the last two glasses of wine, Guoshetsky seemed to be taken aback by something and grabbed his hand abruptly.

The wine in the glass is burning. The topless showgirl is singing for the sacrificed Poles. Macek laughed nervously, almost hysterically.

Ma Xiake: Don't you remember? Velka's goose.

Anjie: Wait, let me think about it. when did it happen?

Macek: Don't you remember? When we drill back.

Anjie: Yes, yes. The spring of 44.

Macek: That time we really had a drink. Do you remember, all of us strode through Joli Bush, as if it should be, as if there was no war at all. At the time, this was all your idea. We were lucky: we didn't run into a patrol team. Hey, it was really interesting that time! Even Hanechika drank a lot.

An Jie frowned.

"Poor Hanechka."

"What a good girl. Where did she die? Was it in Mokotov?"

"No, it's somewhere in the middle. It seems to be in Crocha. Wilka isn't there anymore. How many of us were there?"

An Jie leaned over the blue tongue of fire, calling his name:

"Hanechka, Wilka, Staschoek Gosobtzky, Lei Ruiyi, Gaytek, the two of us. We are still alive."

Matek poured vodka.

"So, to our health. You know, An Jie, it was a good time after all."

"Do you think so?"

"Why not? How well did we live, and have such good partners? Will there be such good boys and girls in the future, ah? There is that kind of belief!"

"What's the use then? Almost all dead."

"Red Poppies" is still singing in the hall.

Macek: That is another matter. But that was a precious time. Shall we have a drink?

Anjie pushed aside the wine glass.

"Wait a moment. First of all, we were different then."

"Younger than now."

"Not only that. We know what we are asking for."

"Yes, that's it."

"Also know what others ask us to do."

"I knew this for a long time! What can we ask of us to do? We want to die. This is what we want now. No problem, we can do it."

An Jie frowned.

"Don't be weird, death is nothing."

"It depends on how to die."

"It's the same anyway. Really, this is something we can do at any time."

"Is this less?"

Macek looked at his friend's eyes uneasily. Anjie said firmly and coldly:

"It's so pitiful."

"Exaggerated, An Jie. You don't have to be too serious about this. You just have to squeeze through this trick. Don't be fooled. Don't worry. What else?"

"Maybe you are correct."

Anjie approached Helmitsky.

"Listen, I must have a serious talk with you."

At this time the showgirl just finished singing. Amidst the applause and cheers, Guoshetsky's voice could not be heard clearly. Dazzling lights lit up in the bar. A group of guests poured in from the hall. There was a tight squeeze in front of the counter. Macek and An Jie walked to the farthest corner of the bar.

An Jie: These people can really shout and yell! How do you want to deal with that person?

Macek: Don't worry, I will try to deal with him.

Anjie: Listen to me, I am totally responsible to Felorian for this matter.

Macek: Exactly correct. And I am responsible to you-there should always be one person responsible to another.

Anjie: In addition, there is another situation...

Macek jokingly stood with his hands down in front of Lieutenant Guosetski.

"Report, the order must be executed. Come on, what else?"

An Jie didn't immediately decide whether to say it or not. Then he waved his hand sharply and began to say:

"First of all, Felorian's order does not allow me to directly participate in this matter..."

Matek felt that this was not the main issue that Gosecki intended to inform him.

"anything else?"

"Besides, I must leave here, and quickly."

"Oh, this is indeed new news."

"That's it. I'll replace Volcker."

"Replace Volcker? What's wrong with him?"

"I'll replace Volcker..."

"Got it. What's the matter, that is, another..."

Macek quickly picked up a glass of wine, An Jie wanted to stop him, and then waved his hand again, as if to say: Drink it, it's the same.

Macek: It turned out to be such a thing. Lieutenant Mr. Guoshetsky wants to go to nature, so what should Warrant Lieutenant Hermitsky do?

He looked around him, and for a moment, his eyes met that of Christina, who was wisely entertaining guests at the counter. Matek said enthusiastically and quickly:

"I said, Anjie, I told you two hours ago that no one is waiting for me. Remember? I told you, this is the truth. No one. Can you take me away?"

Guoshetsky's eyes became gentle.

"Are you serious, Matek?"

"Really? Nothing is serious in this country, but I'm used to it. If you want to take me away, I'll go with you. When will you leave?"

"At half past four in the morning. To deal with that guy, you really have too little time..."

"There is too little time... wait a minute, wait a minute. The memorial banquet here starts around eleven o'clock, and it will continue like that..."

"three hours."

"Three hours...not necessarily. Anyway, he just wants to go back to the room. In short, this job is easy."

"Well, Macek, goodbye. Be careful... old man, don't do anything bad."

An Jie walked through the crowd and walked to the door. Macek was left alone. He kept watching Guoshetsky until he couldn't see him.

Hermitsky sat with his head in one hand, and sat there thinking. Then he picked up the bottle and looked at it. The bottle was empty. Macek stood up and walked to the counter. All the chairs by the counter were full of people. He stood beside the counter, not far from the entrance of the dining room. Christina spotted him, but came over after a while and smiled slightly.

"Are you alone?"

"Hmm! When will your helper come? Will you come at ten o'clock?"

Kristina picked up a cup and looked at it to see if it was clean.

"Yes."

Macek: So you can always be free at ten thirty?

She did not answer. They stood so close to each other that Matek's warm breath could be felt on the girl's face.

"Just say, you feel uncomfortable, such as headaches..."

A person greeted the bar lady Yun from the other end of the counter:

"Miss Christina!"

Kristina was about to walk to the person who greeted her, but Macek stopped her.

"They can wait..."

At this time another person called:

"I'm checking out."

Matek still didn't let the girl go.

"Nothing, nothing. Let them wait a while."

However, the one who was calling was obviously a stubborn person.

"I'm going to check out," he repeated.

So Kristina left Macek. She didn't have much time to walk away. When she came back, Matek asked bluntly:

"So, will you be able to walk away then?"

"Even if it can, how about it?"

"I live in this'Monopol' restaurant."

"Really? You should consider yourself lucky."

"Second floor, room seventeen."

"Really?"

"You can check it."

"I'm sorry, I just check the bill."

"Only bills?"

"That's enough to find it. My bills are always out of reconciliation."

"Are you really only checking the bill? This time, if you go to check the room, you will definitely meet. How?"

"How about it?"

"I dare you to say that the scent of these violets is getting better and better. Seventeenth, second floor. Ten thirty...I'll wait. It's a deal."

Christina went to the electric stove to make coffee. As Hermitsky said the last few words, there was a sizzle of steam. Rick, who has been here, called to the girl, but she didn't go over immediately.

She stood by the electric stove, watching Hermitsky who was leaving. When Macek walked out of the bar and disappeared among the dancing couples in the dining room, Kristina suddenly made a face at his back like a child, and then walked straight to Rick.

"Mr. Editor."

"Oh, Miss Christina."

"This is your bill."

"Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute."

Trevnovsky walked towards the bar from the depths of the dining room.

Baybird Rick found him and greeted him.

"Oh, I thought who this is! How's it going?"

As usual, Trevnovsky put on the air.

"Excuse me, I have business here."

"I can see that the esteemed city government despises the press. It is true."

"I don't know anything about it," Trevnovsky replied coldly.

"Is that so? I didn't give me a banquet invitation."

Trevnovsky immediately became official.

"Editor Pavlitsky received the invitation."

"Pavlitzki! Pavlitzki! And the editor Bay Bird Rick is not counted anymore."

"Excuse me, the mayor personally approved the guest list."

"Of course, of course!" Bay bird Rick suddenly yelled, "With Sventzky."

Trevnovsky looked at him with contempt.

"No, it's Mr. Mayor Sventzky, Mr. Mayor..."

The reporter suddenly realized that he stood up and looked at Trevnovsky sarcastically.

Trevnovsky became a little embarrassed.

"Why are you looking at me like this?"

Beiniao Rick took out his handkerchief calmly and blew his nose happily.

"No, it's nothing. I just had an idea, and it might interest you."

"Me? I'm afraid you are wrong."

But the distinguished secretary of the municipal government still asked the representative of this municipal newspaper:

"What is the idea?"

Bainiaorake continued to blow his nose while looking at the ceiling.

"What idea? I know? It's just a trivial matter. If my colleague Sventzky..."

Kristina stood behind the counter and looked at Rick the Bird with accusing eyes.

"Mr. Editor..."

The reporter ignored her.

"That's right, if my colleague Sventzky--or, if you insist, you can say that my former colleague Sventzky--goes to Warsaw, will he take away the current secretary?"

Trevnovsky shivered.

"What, what? Take away or not? Do you know anything about it?"

Betty Rick was satisfied with the effect of his words, so he laughed mockingly, and then pretended to be leaving.

"Bainiao Rick knows everything."

"But know what, what, hell. Can you tell me?"

Beiniao Rick looked at the counter side meaningfully. Before Trevnovsky had time to ask what was going on, he had already slipped to the counter.

"Damn it!" Trevnovsky cursed, and hurriedly followed Bay Bird Rick.

At this time, Rick, the bird, was asking Christina for wine.

"Miss Christina, two Ulan wines, please."

Kristina was about to talk about the checkout, but Beiniao Rick gave her a stern look and repeated:

"Two servings of Ulan, Miss Kristina." He spread his hand toward Trevnovsky, meaning that he was inviting him: "Let's have a drink!"

Trevnovsky murmured;

"My baby, I have business here, Mr. Mayor stays for a while... No. I can't drink."

Beiniao Rick wiped his palms.

"For Minister's health, you can have a drink if you are on business."

Trevnovsky was dumbfounded.

"What? No, this...is this true?"

After drinking, the reporter winked at the other party and said:

"Ah, Rick the bird knows everything. My dear Christina, my dear..."

But Trevnovsky couldn't help but figure out everything.

"Which department to transfer?"

"The Ministry of Health."

Trevnovsky thought for a while:

"Not bad. But, in my opinion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is even better."

"Oh, huh, huh. He would hope so too. Then let's have a drink for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"But, but... do you think he will take me away?"

"Yes, it will. Shit always floats to the top."

Trevnovsky was a little drunk and smirked contentedly.

"Look, what will happen in five years!"

"Wait and see. Come on, to a drink to your five-year plan!"

The manager Slomka personally greeted the new arrivals in the lobby. Tonight, he wanted to be very solemn in appearance. So he walked to the big mirror from time to time, squeezing the yellow hair that was already combed, and aligning the bow tie tightly tied around his fat neck.

The old man ran into the street to open the door of Sventzky's car. Mr. Mayor walked into the hotel accompanied by a few people. His face was red, with a lovely smile. He tried his best to show a democratic demeanor, that is to say, try to cater to the spirit of the times.

"How's it going, Mr. Slomka?" He greeted the manager almost as if he had seen an old friend.

"I will always be happy, Mr. Mayor."

"Look, gentlemen, we finally found a citizen who doesn't complain about life."

Slomka was confused by Sventzky's accent. He tried his best to get close to the mayor's ear and said:

"Excuse me, Mr. Mayor," he whispered, "I know Mr. Pavlitsky, the editor of the newspaper, but who is this other gentleman?"

Sventzky and his escort walked towards the banquet hall, and Manager Slomka followed them in small steps.

Sventzky replied as he walked:

"Mr. Kalitsky."

"But I'm sorry, I don't know his position."

Sventzky laughed heartily.

"Oh, that's what you asked. Now, if you think the title is so important, then you can call me from today..."

Sromka asked impatiently:

"What is it, Mr. Mayor?" He interrupted Sventzky.

"I'm sorry, dear Mr. Slomka, just call it Minister."

The manager almost tripped, almost didn't fall, the news gave him such a huge shock.

"Be careful, Mr. Slomka," Sventzky smiled contentedly.

In the banquet hall, the crystal glass chandelier was brilliantly lit, and it was still empty except for two waiters in tuxedos.

"It seems that we are here first. Great, Mr. Slomka." He pointed to the table full of various delicacies. "This is excellent. Where is Mr. Trevnovsky? Has he been here?"

"I have been here, Mr. Mayor... Excuse me... Mr. Minister. Mr. Trevnovsky personally checked and praised it."

"Where did he go?" Feihuang Tengda's minister frowned dissatisfied. "He should stay here."

At this moment, Trevnovsky was telling Bay Bird Rick what he was thinking in the bar. Both people are drunk.

Beiniao Rick wanted to fork a pickled mushroom, but he couldn't match it anyway. The mushroom seemed to be made of rubber, and it always slipped aside. Beiniao Rick seemed very open-minded.

"What do you want to eat?"

Trevnovsky shook his head.

"What do you want to have anyway?"

Trevnovsky waved his hand broadly.

"I want everything! I want a lot of money!"

"You will."

"There will be. I'm poor enough. I said, did you know Sventzky before the war? What is he?"

"A little reporter with little talent. And he is a very inferior person." View more about Ashes and Diamonds reviews

Extended Reading
  • Freddy 2022-03-26 09:01:12

    About moral choices and failures in the most extreme situations. Consistent style, the use of symbols is simple and easy to understand. Characters and character relationships are typically anxious and thematically deepened conversations. Zero Hour captures so well! Like "Tunnel", "A Generation", and "Post-War Land", Wajda's best work is still filming World War II and post-war Polish politics. After that, Solidarity and Katyn are really inferior to each other in depth.

  • Lynn 2022-03-25 09:01:19

    What I can't stand is that some idiots will only talk to the white horse with the statue of Jesus upside down after the show.

Top cast

Ashes and Diamonds quotes

  • Szczuka: I'd be a bad communist, comrades, if I were to reassure you like a bunch of naive kids. The end of the war isn't the end of our fight. The fight for Poland and what kind of country it's to become has only just begun. Today or tomorrow or the day after, any one of us could die.

  • Maciek Chelmicki: Warsaw girls. Makes me want to stay.