Tatarak Page #3

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What time can we do that?

From 8, but you may

come earlier than that.

I called. I said: Edward, I've seen it,

I've seen the printout.

We'll get the results tomorrow

morning, you can do that from 7.

I hate that.

I'll sue them!

Some old hag comes over,

they show her whatever she wants.

They wouldn't even tell me anything!

It's disgusting. I hate that!

They'll show you whatever you want!

Yes, because my name is Krystyna Janda.

I know. That's terrible.

Tomorrow we'll get

the results together.

You can get them yourself.

I can't, the plumber

is coming over.

They'll give it to you.

I went very early in the morning,

before opening.

The result was there, waiting.

They asked no questions, nothing,

not even my name, nothing.

They gave it to me.

I was holding that envelope in my hand

and walking towards

the car as if hypnotized.

I drove through the gate

and out into the street.

I found a shoulder to park

and opened the envelope.

A tumour 8 x 10 centimetres

in the left lung,

five shadows in the right one.

I was in shock. What shadows?

I called my doctor friend in Germany.

All she said was - Read it.

And then - I'm sorry.

But what are shadows?

Mets.

It's spread to both lungs.

Hang in there now.

I didn't call him.

I cried,

I screamed, I couldn't calm down.

And that was the only time when

I cried like that, I haven't ever since.

Quietly, when I was alone.

When I let myself off guard.

And I cry like that until today

when it slips out of control.

We met at the theatre.

He didn't ask me anything.

We got into the car and went to

the hospital on Plocka Street.

He had an appointment with a doctor,

who, as it happens, was a friend

of a friend we went skiing with.

Not a word on the way...

We drove in silence.

I didn't say anything.

He preferred not to ask.

He didn't ask about the result.

My mobile rang. Andrzej Wajda.

"Sweet Rush".

All the way to hospital

I talked on the phone.

That there's this assistant

who knows better than his master.

He's been giving me tips,

that there's always some youth

on the set who thinks they

know better than the director.

Andrzej was having doubts.

Edward kept quiet.

At the crossroads,

just before the turning into

Plocka Street, he suddenly said:

I'm a little scared.

I kept quiet.

He preferred not to ask.

We went into the doctors' office.

A pragmatic, calm doctor,

the kind we always trust,

took the envelope in his hand.

Edward sat with his back to the screen

where the doctor put up X-ray prints.

I sat facing all of this.

One glance was enough.

He looked at me.

He realised I knew everything.

Edward was sitting with his back

to the screen.

The doctor said:

Have you read the description, sir?

What else could he have said.

No, I didn't.

No, my wife has just collected it.

And then the doctor

started reading that analysis.

He preferred to read it.

What was he supposed to say.

When we fell silent,

Edward asked calmly:

What's your advice?

You still ought to continue

the treatment - he said.

He died on 5th January,

on Saturday at 3.10 pm.

Between one spoonful

of soup and another.

I was feeding him.

His veins were torn, so it was

impossible to set up the drip.

The doctor said to me:

If you put a teaspoonful of water

into your husband's mouth every minute,

you will hydrate him.

Every minute.

And he was patient.

I was sitting beside him

in the centre of the house,

his bed in the living room.

A special bed, oxygen.

The hum of oxygen being supplied...

In fact, from the moment I brought him

home that last time,

on Monday, New Year's Day,

I didn't leave that room.

I was there for him all the time.

I slept beside him on the sofa, which

was too short and uncomfortable.

I said to myself:

It's just for the time being.

He'll get better and we'll

move him upstairs to the bedroom.

I'll get through this somehow.

I'll never forget those five nights.

They were my nights.

What's the matter?

No, everything's all right.

Go back to sleep.

Yes?

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon.

Pretty flowers.

I've come to get something to read,

but I don't know what.

- Maybe something on Polish philology...

- Polish philology...

Halinka studies philology

so I thought

she might like it if I was

reading what she is.

She would be pleased.

The library's over there, but we may be

more comfortable here.

How about a novel?

A novel...

A novel sounds all right.

But one where they talk a lot.

I don't like reading descriptions.

I suppose anything can be

said in conversation.

When I see there are only descriptions

in a book, I put it away immediately.

Here. Please, sit down.

Wait a moment.

How do you like this one?

Ashes and Diamonds

by Jerzy Andrzejewski

Do you really think that a dialogue

is enough to describe everything?

What about landscape, and our river?

It looks good.

What can one say about a river?

A river is a river,

there's nothing to talk about.

Water,

sweet rush...

Have you seen our garden? How beautiful

it is, how everything is blooming.

You see, when it comes to me, I know

nothing about plants and their names.

It's all the same,

it blooms and it smells.

How old are you?

I've told you already: Twenty.

Twenty.

Twenty years old.

It's so odd to be twenty...

What's odd about that?

Everybody's some years old.

Is it true they'll be repairing

embankments after the flood.

That's right, and I volunteered

for the job too.

But do you ever go there?

Is the water really rising?

- Are we in danger of flood?

- Water's moods are unpredictable.

And I... don't go there because

there's no one I could go with.

How come? How come there's no one?

Unless you would like to go

for a walk with me.

Me.

All right. Tomorrow.

All right then. All right.

- Are you free at midday? At 12?

- Yes, I do.

Let's meet under the bridge,

at the river. We'll try to swim.

All right.

Careful!

But be careful!

Madam.

Madam, some boy on a bicycle

is here to see you.

- Tell him to wait. I'll be right there.

- I will.

Good morning.

Good morning. From Waterworks.

Dear Madam,

I was so embarrassed yesterday that

I arranged to see you in the afternoon,

but I'm working at that time.

I'll be free only around 4 o'clock.

Can you be at that hour on the beach,

in the place we agreed on?

With true respect.

Boguslaw K.

Who wrote that for him?

All right, tell him I'll be there.

Thank you.

Madam.

Madam.

Madam.

I'm sorry I'm late.

But I had to see Halinka off.

So she hasn't left?

She didn't have money for the ticket.

I had to give her everything

I had and now I'm penniless.

I'll give you some money.

Really?

Let's go.

We have to pick some sweet rush.

It's Pentecost tomorrow,

- the house needs to be adorned.

- What for? Why are houses adorned?

It's the end of spring,

the festival of summer,

the beginning of life.

Everything awakens,

releases a scent.

Can't you smell it?

How it's all breathing heavily,

steaming?

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