I've never travelled anywhere. I don't know what it's like anywhere else.

This is where I live.
Where I've always lived...

They call me 'Goździk', though my real name's Stanisław.

I'm 25. I wanted to go to a technical college...

but I was late for the entrance exams, and that's the way it stayed.

I play hockey in a local team. We'll be playing a match with Bytom soon.

"It's an important match.

It may open up some doors for us if we win," says our coach. We'll see.

- What's going on?
- I don't know.

I guess it's Mrs Kurkowa's place.

My God! What's going on there?

What's wrong, Mrs Kurkowa?

What's wrong?

Calm down now, calm down...

- What is it, Mrs Kurkowa?
- There... there...

- Watch out!
- A rat!

It was sitting on the window ledge and wanted to attack me.

The same thing happened to my third wife: a rat jumped onto her neck...

when she was sleeping.

She just screamed and that was it - she never woke up again.

What kind of story is that,
for heaven's sake?

- I'm not staying here, I'll sleep outside.
- You can sleep at my place.

- You'll sleep at our place. Let's go.
- Sorry for all the fuss.

It's strange that women are so scared of rodents...

- And you're not?
- Of course not.

- Let's move the sofa then.
- Sure thing.

It's heavy...

What's that you've got?

Someone was making a terrible noise upstairs and...

It's Jola, isn't it?
May I have a look?

This is Cichy's house. He lives here with his mother.

Cichy spends all day in the garage repairing an old Warszawa car...

the only thing his father left him.

His father was killed in a mining accident a few years ago.

Cichy's the only mate I've got who still lives here.

The others left long ago.

You still working in the garage, son? Give yourself a break.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Come on, Mum. I said I'd repair it and I will.

Maybe you can talk some sense into him?

- Hi.
- Hi.

We've searched the whole flat, Mrs Kurkowa, but we didn't find any rat.

- So what now?
- Leon's keeping watch.

- Maybe we could put down some rat poison?
- Why not? Or one of these?

What are you doing?
Take it off the table.

- Does he work?
- He plays hockey.

Well, he won't earn a living that way.

- Are they biting?
- No, nothing today.

- Bad day?
- It's always like that when there's a full moon.

- Dad?
- Yes?

- Maybe there aren't any fish here?
- What do you mean?

Two weeks ago I caught a roach
and a perch, last week - a roach...

- Is it worth sitting here?
- Of course it is. There are fish here...

carp... pike...

- Remember the photograph?
- Yes.

There are fish here.

I found it in the glove compartment,
in a crack.

My father lost it soon after we bought the car in 1982.

Nineteen years ago...

- Have you shown it to your mother?
- No. Maybe he hid it there on purpose.

Listen. I need a carp...

Are you throwing a Christmas Eve supper?

- ... the bigger the better.
- Okay. I'll ask.

What is it?

- Nothing. Sit down.
- I'd rather stand.

I had a talk with Mrs Kurkowa. She has a son, too.

He's your age. And he's got a wife and two children.

He works, makes good money.

And what are you going to do?

You know very well there's no work, Mum.

"There's no work, Mum..." Are you going to keep on saying that...

for the rest of your life?
I worry about you.

There's no need.
I'll get by.

- Know what? I've been thinking.
- About what?

Somehow... things were supposed to be different. Don't you think?

- How, different?
- I mean...

... everything smelt differently once... stronger.

Remember? In winter we'd sit outside till night-time and neither the snow...

nor the frost bothered us. Where did it all go?

- I don't know.
- You don't know...

Listen...

I'd like to ask you a big favour.
It's not easy to talk about.

- I've heard that Jola...
- What?

Jola does it for money.

I've got enough money, but
I feel awkward about asking her...

I'm an old man, she may take it
the wrong way.

You're young, you could do it...

Could you ask her if she'd agree to... spend a night with me?

Well. I can't ask a woman
I hardly know if she'd agree to...

satisfy one of the neighbours. Anyway, maybe it's only a rumour...

Yes, you're right. Besides, I can't put you in such an awkward situation...

I must find some other way... Maybe I could invite her to a cafe?

Cichy?

Come on, Cichy.

- Uncle?
- Hello, my boy.

- Sorry, Uncle, but...
- Why are you so jumpy?

Don't you remember our game?

Yes, but it's been so long...

- Okay, okay... Is your mother in?
- Yes, she's in.

I've brought you something special.

- Jasiu... Jasiu...
- Marysia...

- How many years has it been?...
- Almost seven.

How are you doing?
How's Halina?

She's fine. She wanted to come,
but she's got a cold.

She's in bed.
She sends her regards.

- And how are things?
- Fine, fine...

Stefan's working?

Uncle Jan. Every time he came something interesting happened.

He liked to show off. He always sang the loudest,

he'd jump across the campfire... Last time his trousers even caught fire.

Luckily, nobody was hurt.

How's it going? Are they biting?

Of course. It's been a long time.

- I've got something for you.
- Wild rose liqueur.

Your favourite.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I'm looking for Mrs Jezierska's cellar.

- That's no. 8, isn't it?
- Yes.

- It's down there, to the right.
- Thanks.

The lights often go off down here.

What's that, where you were aiming your torch?

I'd almost forgotten it existed.

There are some stairs.

They're supposed to lead
to an old mine.

- Have you ever been there?
- It's prohibited...

I remember when I was a kid, one guy went there and never came back.

It was in the papers. So they bricked the entrance up.

Now it's crumbling again.

This wall's always been wet.

The lights have gone out.

Quiet. Listen.

Thanks. See you.

Maybe you'll come to the pond with me? We sit by the fire.

No, I don't think so.

- Let's meet on the roof tomorrow.
- Maybe.

At four.

In a year, in a day, in a moment we'll be apart...

Be careful, Leon.

Our youth will soon pass by, and only sorrow, longing and sadness...

will remain in our hearts...

Jump onto my horse,
my dun horse.

Hania, my Hania, what a lover you are!...

Oh, Marianna, if you were in love,
You wouldn't sleep tonight...

This one night!

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- Thanks for coming, see you some time.
- Goodbye.

Uncle spent three days at our place. During that time he managed to...

get drunk with my father, joke with my mother and gossip with most...

of the neighbours. His visit introduced a little joy into our hearts.

Maybe it'll last for the next seven years.

Goździk, we've been robbed.

All our money's gone.

Goździk!

Uncle?

He got away.

- Maybe you should call the police?
- They won't find him anyway...

- He escaped into the forest.
- All our savings...

The Dąbrowski brothers.

I don't know why they do it.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Has something happened?
- No. Why?

- You're upset.
- I'm OK.

- How did you end up here?
- It was an accident.

I was running to catch a tram. Somebody called me, I turned round...

and a car hit me. I still have a scar. Mrs Jezierska was driving.

She's an old friend of my mother's. She invited me over, so I'm here.

Could you please come upstairs
with me?

It was sitting over there, eating some old bread I keep for Fifi.

It saw me and ran towards me,
so I ran off.

I don't know anybody here.
Please stay with me.

I think I know somebody who'll be happy to help you.

- So, how do I look?
- Hurry up, she's scared to death.

- Maybe we'll take some champagne?
- You're only going there to catch a rat.

All right... Let's go then.

- Goodbye.
- Thank you.

That night Leon was the happiest old man in the world.

When it was all over, he went to
the kitchen to get some sour milk...

from the fridge.

I've killed the rat!!

And he killed Fifi - Jola's beloved guinea-pig.

This ruined his relationship...

with the most beautiful girl
in the neighbourhood.

She even stopped saying
'Good morning' to him.

Don't look at me.

Hurry up! Hold it! Didn't I tell you? There are fish here.

There always have been. The biggest bloody carp I've ever caught!

Look! I, Stefan, caught it!!!

You see... I told you.

- Dad...
- I'll catch another one.

The idea was good.
Pity it didn't work.

- She was screaming half the night again.
- What do the doctors say?

They examined her. X-rays, blood tests. She's OK.

- That's good.
- But it doesn't stop the headaches.

- It's been six months now. I'm taking her away from here.

Are you leaving? For good?
Where are you going?

To the Mazurian Lake District.
I've thought it all out.

She doesn't want to go. She's scared. I can understand that.

Lived in the same place all her life.

Just like you.

Just like me.

Cichy was leaving in 1997, 1998 and twice in 1999.

He never got further than his own block.

The car usually broke down in the backyard.

Yesterday I was taking a walk and he asked me not to make any noise.

Then he called me over and talked for close on two hours.

What about?

About work, fishing, and you...
He's very proud of you.

- Are you ashamed of him?
- No.

That's good.

I don't have anybody. My Mum died last year, of leukaemia.

I don't remember my father.
He left when I was two.

He went to Germany. On business. And disappeared.

After ten years we got a letter.

I found it in the garbage by accident.

He said he wanted to bring us over...

but things were very difficult then.

And later on he fell in love and stayed there.

Did you forgive him?

It's raining.

You know, Goździk? I have an idea.

Every fish I catch I'll put back into the water and...

catch it in a few years' time
when it's bigger.

- Folks laugh at you, Dad.
- Let them laugh.

Are you going to sit here for the next few years?

What else can I do?

Sit at home and listen to a lot of women's talk?

I prefer to sit here. I like fishing.

You're an alcoholic.

Everybody knows it.

Your mother always wanted to move to the country.

She didn't like this place, complained about the air, the noise...

She couldn't breathe here at first, you know?

- We can move.
- And start all over again, eh?

It's never too late.

It's too late, son... Too late.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- What's up?
- Nothing.

- It's quiet here.
- Right.

- Do you mind my sitting here?
- No.

- Have you had a boyfriend?
- A long time ago, in primary school.

- And you? Have you had someone?
- Nothing serious.

But you've been with a girl?
What's it like?

- Nice.
- I don't believe you.

- Why not?
- Because.

Could you be with someone like me?

I don't know. I don't know you enough.

Know what? - I have an idea. I'll fly it. If you run down and catch it...

before it reaches the ground, I'll be your girlfriend.

- I don't stand a chance.
- Please!

I'm going to propose
to Mrs Kurkowa.

- Not now.
- No, now, my friend - I've decided to settle down.

If you ever think seriously about it, you know where to find me.

- Dear Helena, I know they say various things about me...
- Yes, yes...

but I'll change. I love you, and I want to be with you to the end.

Goździk... I don't think he feels well.

- You're going.
- Get in. We'll drive into town.

- You know what day it is today?
- No.

- It's the thirteenth, Friday.
- Get in.

Nothing happened. We came back safe and sound.

Friday the thirteenth is a load of rubbish.

What's happened?

My father stayed at home: he didn't go fishing anymore...

- Very good soup...
- It's always good.

Ah, that girl from Jezierska's place was here. She was asking about you.

I completely forgot to tell you.

- Good evening. Is Zosia in?
- No, she's gone.

- She asked me to give you this.
- Thanks.

- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

Certain things you have to do the moment you think of them...

because such a thought may never occur again.

I'm leaving to meet my father. Love, Zosia.

Janek? What are you doing here?

- Look who's come.
- Janek! Hi.

Good morning.
I'll get straight to the point.

- Why, what's happened?
- It was me who stole the money.

I was in debt. They threatened
to kill me...

I couldn't... I didn't have the courage to tell you.

You believed in me so much.
I'm sorry. I'm ashamed of myself.

Sit down...

Damn it! I know things are bad everywhere, but here it's hopeless!

A man can starve and the authorities don't give a damn about it.

Nothing counts, neither willingness to work nor qualifications!

If you don't have connections, you don't have a job!

Listen, there's one possibility.

Maybe you could move to the country, move in with us.

The whole upstairs is free. And it's easier to find a job there than here.

Well? You've got nothing to lose...

So maybe we'll go?

It was then that I realized that
if I found...

another hole where the cats do their business, I'd rather turn back...

I'd rather it remained in my memory as the stamping ground of a ghost,

the guardian of an old mine.

English subtitling:
Mirosław Michalczak, AF TVP S.A.