Between Two Fires

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Attention please! The express train

from Moscow to Dnepropetrovsk

leaves in ten minutes

from platform 8.

Numbering commences

from the tail end of the train.

Passengers are kindly requested

to take their seats...

- Tea?

- Yes, please.

- And?

- Mom, I'm ready.

How many times have I told you

not to speak Belarusian?

- Okay, let's get started.

- Mommy, only this little part.

No, the entire page, like we agreed.

But Mom...

If you learn English,

you'll be able to travel the world.

Wouldn't you like

to live in Paris or London?

Or in Sweden...

Where Mrs. Kosinski's daughter went.

What was her name?

Gosia.

She learnt English and went to Sweden.

And now she lives in luxury.

Look, what a beautiful house she has.

What clothes...

Look at her car.

When Grandpa was alive, he made me learn

English, so that I could go West one day.

And Daddy? When he was still alive,

did he want to go abroad too?

Come on, Ania...

Hello, ladies!

Hello... What a surprise.

Good morning, Jurij. Nice to see you.

Sorry about the light.

- Jadzia, get a new light bulb.

It's alright, don't bother.

Goodness!

Marta, is this beauty

your daughter Ania?

She has become a real lady.

She is still just a child.

Ania, come and say hello

to "Uncle" Jurij.

Hello, Uncle Jurij.

The toilette has just been cleaned.

See you around, baby doll.

- Hello.

- Good morning...

Ania?

Come to me.

What happened? Come here.

There, there.

She won't be going to Minsk.

Over my dead body.

- But the deal's already been made!

- She's just a child.

Don't you know

why Jurij takes those girls there?

There's no f***ing work,

no money, no food!

It's my child.

You're not her father. You have no say!

I've taken the money already!

So you'll go to Jurij, explain

everything and apologize. I can do it.

Remember what Jurij did to that guy

who cheated him? He's dead!

- So I'll go to the police.

- I'll f***ing kill you!

- Witek.

- Don't f*** with me.

Witek!

Leave Mommy alone!

Everything is arranged.

Are you sure about this, Marta?

I have no choice.

On Thursday, the same guy

will be waiting for you...

The one who smuggled... Gosia.

You just have

to get to Minsk on your own.

Gosia's address and phone number

are on the back.

I tried to call her

but with no luck.

Take this photo. For luck.

She made it, so will you.

Do you have any money?

I'll take the money

that Witek got from Jurij.

Are you crazy, Marta?

Not only will you steal the money,

you will also run away with the girl...

If he finds you, he'll kill you.

It's the f***ing mafia.

- I have to do it.

- And what if they send you back?

They won't.

It would be a death sentence.

Jadzia...

Look, Gosia lives here,

and where are we going?

Somewhere around here.

So near.

Can we visit her every day?

We're here, Mom.

What's wrong, Mommy?

- Can I sleep in this bed, Mommy?

- Sure, honey.

- I'll stick it here, okay?

- Great.

What's going on?

Let's go take a shower.

It was a long journey.

- But what did she tell you?

- Do you have soap?

- What does 'rape' mean?

- I don't know all English words.

- How are you doing, honey?

- I'm fine.

- Ania, come out.

- In a second...

Come out now.

- Do you want the soap?

- No, I'll have a shower tomorrow.

Hail Mary full of grace,

the Lord is with thee...

Let's go to sleep.

- Can I sleep with you, Mommy?

- Come here.

Mommy?

I'm scared.

Why?

I'm scared

they'll make us go back home.

This is a good country, with good people.

Nobody will make us go back.

If they send us back,

promise you'll hold me tight.

So tight that they

won't be able to take me away.

No one will take you away from me.

Can we visit Gosia tomorrow?

- We can't leave the camp now.

- So it's a prison?

Don't be silly.

Go to sleep.

Sleep now.

Let's sit over there.

Mommy, are we on the list?

No, honey.

Go play with the other children.

I need to talk to Anissa.

No.

- Go on, don't be shy.

- I don't want to.

Stay here.

Ania!

I had to see those Koreans,

good news takes time...

This is Marta Kowalski

and her daughter.

Here is their file...

Case number 978062.

Here you go...

Ania, stop it.

I need to pee...

You have no right to treat me like this!

I'm an educated man!

Ania!

Ania! Ania, get over here!

How could you take off like that?

I've told you never to talk to strangers!

I was trying to find a toilet

and I fell...

- What's this?

- A chocolate bar.

That man gave it to me

so I would stop crying.

How many times have I told you

never to take things from strangers?!

I'm sorry...

Jesus, sweetheart,

don't ever do this to me again.

Okay, let's go and visit Gosia now.

You have to look nice,

she's important around here.

So let's go and change.

It's so beautiful here.

It's like Santa's land.

Because this is Santa's land.

He lives here in the Far North.

Mom look, Santa!

I'd like to stay here in Sweden.

We are going to stay, honey.

We're here.

Maybe she sold the house.

This is the right address.

Ready?

Turn on the light.

- It doesn't work.

- Try the button downstairs.

It's about time...

I've been waiting for an hour.

If you want to work instead of Gosia, you

can't make her customers wait. Get it?

Are you coming in or not?

Why aren't you asleep?

Let's go to bed. Ania!

- Mom, why is there a knife here?

- I don't know. Come on.

Ania!

Ali said he'd protect us from Anissa!

- What are you talking about?

- Come and talk to him!

You're not allowed to talk

to him ever again. Understand?

What if we meet

that strange, unpleasant man again?

Don't talk like that about people.

I'm sure Gosia is back home now.

Hi, Adam.

Sure, I can send Gosia over to you.

Friday, at ten... No problem.

You pay her depending on

what you want her to do.

That's right. Have a nice day.

Are you sure you don't want

to take a shower with me?

No, I'll stay here

and guard the door.

Okay, I won't be long.

Just knock if there is anything.

Mommy!

Ania!

What happened?

- What happened?!

- Someone tried to get into the bathroom.

I wanted to stop him

but he put his hand over my mouth...

- Who, Ali?

- Ali came and chased him away.

Stop playing games. You think I don't

know you're hiding something?

You'd better leave her alone.

If you hurt her or the girl

I will kill you.

- Are you all right, honey?

- Yes.

Pick up, pick up...

Gosia.

Gosia? Thank God!

Hi, it's me, Marta.

Thank God you answered the phone,

I've called a million times.

Hello. I heard you were

looking for me. Marta Kowalska, right?

- Don't you remember me?

- I wasn't sure at first.

I remembered a Marta with a kid

living with this guy named Witek...

...but I wasn't sure it was you

until Bengt confirmed it to me.

He scared me asking all those questions,

so I ran away.

Sorry, I asked him to do that.

I wanted to be sure it was you

before handing out my phone number.

Why don't you come to the Chinese

restaurant Nan King tonight at eight.

It's near my house,

just down the street. And we can talk.

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