A SHORT FILM ABOUT LOVE
Screenplay by
Directed by
Your pension slip, please.
Sorry?
Your pension slip.
I got a notice.
Nothing by that name.
But I got a notice.
There's nothing.
You can see for yourself.
So when should I come back?
When you get another notice.
Ma'am.
Your notice.
This is a damned mess!
- Miss Poland is on TV! - I'm studying.
Come watch a bit.
Very nice. Thanks.
I'm getting sick of this!
Who is this?
I hear you breathing, you bastard.
I'm sorry.
No milk delivery again today.
It's every other day now.
Would you care to do the milk round?
I don't have time.
Neither did the last guy.
He writes, "Give Tomek my best
and tell him from me: N.A.E.L."
What's that? - A special code.
He's seeing the world.
Too bad you couldn't go with him.
I have no regrets.
That's from Marcin.
What will you do when he gets back?
I'd like to see you settle down.
Marcin's always been a wanderer.
I'm afraid he won't stay home long.
Perhaps... you might stay?
Gas emergency line.
I have a gas leak.
Are you sure?
I can smell it and hear it.
- Where? - The stove.
Your address?
Piratów 4, Apt. 376.
We'll be right there. Don't light anything.
Marcin also wrote
that he met an Arab girl.
They went to the movies.
I wonder what they saw.
Tomek.
Have you got someone?
No.
I suspect you never had anyone to tell you this.
Girls act very liberated and kiss boys freely,
but in fact...
they like boys who are gentle.
If you'd like to bring someone here sometime...
you needn't be shy about it.
I don't have anyone.
I'll hold.
Hello.
May I help you?
I live nearby and heard you were looking
for someone to deliver the milk.
How old are you?
Nineteen.
- A student? - No, I work at the post office.
I live nearby.
You know it means getting up at 5:00
every day?
I'm up early anyway.
- Who is it? - Milk delivery.
You didn't leave a bottle out.
Right.
Stupid idiot!
You're not asleep?
Come sit down.
What's the matter?
Why do people cry?
You don't know?
Haven't you ever cried?
Once. A long time ago.
When they left you?
People cry
for different reasons.
When someone dies.
When they feel abandoned.
When...
they can no longer bear —
What?
To go on living.
When they're hurt.
Can they do anything about it?
Marcin had a toothache once.
He plugged in the iron,
let it heat up, and then pressed it here.
He forgot about his toothache.
Good morning.
- Did you help me before? - Yes.
I got another notice.
There's nothing.
This is my second time here.
Yes, but there's still nothing.
- Another mix-up? - Yes.
Could you call someone older?
Sorry?
Your supervisor.
I'll be right back.
What is it? - I've received two money order notices,
and still no sign of anything,
neither cash nor money order.
It's a notice. What's the problem?
But there's no money.
Let me see those.
Who's the sender?
I don't know. It's for 24,000 zlotys.
Then why are you expecting it?
I received two notices!
We told you there's nothing!
How can that be?
Mr. Wacek!
Yes, ma'am?
What are these?
Notices.
- It's your route, isn't it? - It wasn't me.
I always use pencil. - They were in my mailbox.
They didn't come from us.
Your carrier just explained that.
I found them in my mailbox.
- They have your stamp on them. - It's not my stamp!
If you make your own notices, it's a police matter!
You're right. Give them here.
Not on your life! These are forgeries.
You're trying to swindle money!
What do you want?
I wanted to tell you
there never was any money.
- And the notices? - It was me.
Why?
I don't understand.
I wanted to see you.
You wanted to see me?
You were crying last night!
How do you know that?
I watch you.
What?
I watch you through the window.
Go away.
Go to hell!
I'll count to three.
One...
two...
Are you watching?
Yes.
I moved the bed just for you. You see?
Well... have fun.
Jerk-off!
Mr. Postman!
Get out here, you son of a bitch!
Get out here, asshole!
Coward!
You're the little darling?
Put 'em up.
Get 'em up.
Don't do it again.
It's not healthy at your age.
Will you be able to sleep?
I thought it might be you.
Want to come in? I'm all alone.
The key for the clock was a gift from you?
You're quite a sight!
Don't you know how to fight?
Tell me...
why do you watch me?
Because I love you.
I really do.
What do you want?
I don't know.
You want to kiss me?
No.
You want to go to —
You want to make love to me?
No.
Perhaps you want to go away with me...
to Mazuria or Budapest?
No.
Then what do you want?
Nothing.
Nothing?
Nothing.
May I invite you to a café...
for an ice cream?
Sorry.
How long have you been watching me?
A year.
It's been ages since anyone said —
This morning you said —
What was it?
- I love you. - There's no such thing.
Yes, there is.
No.
Besides loving me and working at the post office,
what do you do?
I study languages.
What have you learned so far?
Bulgarian.
Bulgarian?
That's great. But what for?
There were two Bulgarians at the orphanage.
I've also studied English, French,
and Italian.
Now I'm learning Portuguese.
You're a strange one.
No, I just have a good memory.
I remember everything, from the beginning.
Even when you were born?
- Sometimes I think so. - And your parents too?
No, not them.
You remember a slender young man...
who used to visit me last autumn?
Yes, I remember.
He'd bring milk and rolls and take packages away.
He went away and never came back.
I liked him.
Me too.
But he left.
Went to Austria and then Australia.
- Australia? - Yes.
I... kept your letters.
I didn't know they were from him.
I work in the post office.
You've been stalking and harassing me.
The milk, the gas company, the money orders,
and now you steal my mail!
Ah, what's it matter in the end anyway?
Don't you have any friends?
One, but he's away right now.
Where?
In Syria, with the U.N. troops.
I board with his mother, across the way from you.
That figures.
He used to watch you too.
He told you that?
Before he left, he gave me his binoculars
and showed me your window.
And what did he say?
"N.A.E.L."
What's that mean?
Come on, tell me.
Nice...
Go on.
Tell me!
"Nice Ass Easy Lay."
I see.
Good evening. What can I get you?
Ice cream — but I don't like ice cream.
- I do. - We don't have any.
What else do you like?
- Tea. - We have tea.
I'll take a red wine.
Two red wines and a tea.
Give me your hand.
Caress my hand.
Look.
That's how you should do it.
There's our bus.
Tell you what:
If we catch it, you come to my place.
If not, you don't. Okay?
Come on.
Can you embroider a ball like this?
Do I always do it like that?
- I never noticed. - You see?
Things don't always have to be the same.
Where'd you get this?
It was given to me as a souvenir.
It's yours now.
I'm not a good person.
I don't deserve presents.
You know I'm not good.
It's true.
I love you just the same.
What else do you know about me?
What do you see when guys come visit me?
It's called —
You make love.
I used to watch...
but not anymore.
It has nothing to do with love.
Tell me what I do.
You undress.
You undress them too.
Then you lie down together
on the bed or the floor.
Or?
Or in the kitchen.
You close your eyes.
Sometimes you raise your hands...
and hold them by your head.
Show me.
Go on.
Ever had sex with a girl?
No.
And when you watch me...
you do it to yourself?
I used to...
but not anymore.
You know that's a sin?
I know.
Now...
I just think about you.
You know I have nothing on underneath, right?
When a woman desires a man,
she gets wet inside.
That's how I am now.
You have gentle hands.
Don't be afraid.
Already?
That's all there is to love.
There's a towel in the bathroom.
COME BACK. I'M SORRY.
I'm not home.
Excuse me.
Did I wake you? - No.
- Does a young man live — - Yes.
He left his coat at my place.
Come in, please.
You can leave it there.
- Did he go out? - No.
He's in the hospital. - What happened?
Nothing serious.
He'll be out in a few days... or weeks.
I'd like to visit him.
He was at my place earlier.
I know.
I think...
I hurt him.
Don't go see him.
He'll be back.
Please tell me...
what happened.
You'll probably think it's funny.
He fell in love with you.
This is the telescope he uses to watch you.
He must have stolen it.
He used to have binoculars.
And this is his alarm clock...
set for 8:30.
That's when you get home, isn't it? - More or less.
He made a bad choice, didn't he?
Yes.
I'm an old woman, and I don't ask for much...
but I'm afraid without someone in the apartment.
Good night.
May I call for news of him?
We don't have a phone.
I'm sorry...
but what's his name? - Tomek.
THIS WINDOW CLOSED
Why's this crossed out?
Don't cross things out without no explanation.
- Excuse me. - Apartment number?
376.
There's nothing for you.
Do you know what happened to the young man
who worked in your branch?
He slit his wrists.
A broken heart, it seems.
You know his name?
You'll have to ask the postmistress.
I don't know.
Tomek, is that you?
Say something.
I've been looking all over for you.
I checked at several hospitals.
I've been looking for you to tell you...
that you were right.
Tomek, can you hear me?
You were right.
Actually, I don't know what to say...
or how to say it.
- Maria Magdalena! - This is Magda.
- It's Wojtuś. - Did you just call?
Yes, but I couldn't get through.
- Did you hear what I said? - No.
Listen, Viola and I are —
Excuse me...
is he back?
Not yet.
Is he back?
Yes, he's back.
Could I have...
a moment with him?
Directed by
Cinematography by
Production Manager
Music by
Art Direction by
Sound by
Edited by
This is the theatrical version of Dekalog: Six
originally made for television.
Digital Restoration by