The Unbearable Lightness of Being Page #4

They're just prudent bureaucrats.

They've given me their word.

They won't publish anything.

I need you, Tomas.

I hope I can keep you.

You're not a writer, journalist,

or savior of the country.

You're a doctor. A scientist.

This article's so terribly important to you?

It couldn't be less important.

-Hi, Tomas.

-Hi.

-Tomas.

-Hello, Jiri!

It's nice to see you back. How are you?

-I'm fine. And how are you?

-Thanks. Fine.

So are you going to sign...

the thing?

What thing?

Your...retraction.

What do you know about my retraction?

-Have you read it?

-No.

But you know how things work.

Who told you

I had agreed to go along with it?

See you.

I suppose a lot of them

have signed these letters.

They're kept on file.

They know they can be published

at any moment...

so they keep quiet, see?

They can't say anything anymore.

They accept everything.

Cowardice slowly becomes a rule of life.

Yes, I have the feeling that everyone

would be very happy to see me sign.

Not everyone.

Everyone but me.

So, what can I do for you?

There is nothing

you can do for me, Doctor.

I represent the Ministry of the lnterior.

Everybody at the Ministry

regrets seeing you here.

You are one of our best brain specialists.

And just between us,

maybe I shouldn't say it...

we don't all agree

with the drastic tactics...

that are removing

our top specialists from their posts.

One can only be sorry about all this.

-May l?

-Please.

You had a very good position in Geneva,

and you came back to our country.

We very much appreciate

your having returned.

But your place is at the operating table.

-I couldn't agree more.

-Everybody agrees.

Then, tell me, Doctor...

do you really think that Communists

should pluck out their own eyes?

-You, who have healed so many people?

-That wasn't what I meant.

But that's how everyone understood it.

And we can only regret it.

How can you let people think

that you, a doctor...

want to deprive human beings

of their right to see?

Maybe someone gave you the idea

to write this article?

No, no one.

-Did you know the publishers?

-No.

You never spoke to them?

-Once, they asked me to come by.

-Why?

To discuss the article.

-Who was it you talked to?

-One of the editors.

What was his name?

I don't remember.

I've no idea.

What did he look like?

I can't remember.

Tell me the truth, Doctor.

He was tall...

with short blond hair.

A little stooped?

Perhaps.

And how did he react?

What did he say exactly?

He asked me to make some changes.

You might have been...

manipulated, Doctor.

Used, whether you meant to or not.

Your article contributed

to the anti-Communist hysteria.

Nobody requires a doctor

to understand politics.

Of course, we can't allow...

a politically suspicious man...

to operate on brains.

We have here another declaration.

I would advise you to sign.

"This temporary error...

"due to bad influences

from so-called intellectuals...

"doesn't in any way put in doubt

my faithfulness to the Communist party...

"or my admiration for the Soviet Union."

Of course, Doctor, it's only a proposition,

a first draft.

If there is something

you want to change....

After all, it's your statement.

Just a paper to keep in their files.

It's nothing.

Just in case someone reproaches them

for letting you work here.

Good evening, Excellency.

Why do they call him Excellency?

He was an ambassador in Vienna before.

Give me a cognac.

-Are you 18?

-Yes.

May I see your identification card?

Drunk.

Give me a drink.

Give me a drink.

All right.

You have beautiful legs.

I watched you in the street.

Stay here. I want to look at you.

I love you.

Madam.

You know, you have no right

to serve alcohol to minors.

That was lemonade.

Do you think I did not see

what else you put into his lemonade?

What are you talking about?

I've been keeping an eye on you

for some time now.

Then be grateful you're looking at

a beautiful woman, and shut your mouth.

You stay out of this.

What business is it of yours?

And what business is it of yours,

my friend?

Thanks.

Don't mention it.

That man comes here all the time.

-He's terribly unpleasant.

-Forget him.

Promise me you won't think

about him anymore.

I promise.

I like hearing you make me promises.

What is a beautiful girl like you

doing in this terrible part of Prague?

What are you doing here?

I'm living here. I'm an engineer.

I just stopped here by chance.

I live very near here.

You're a doctor, aren't you?

Yes.

-May I see you for a moment?

-I have all these windows to do.

Don't worry about it. Come.

Come in.

Don't worry about the window.

I'll tell them all the work has been done.

A glass of wine?

Thank you. That would be very nice.

Sit down.

I've heard so much about you.

Then suddenly, when I saw you,

I said to myself:

"What a coincidence.

"He's the one who can help me."

Of course, I'll pay for the consultation.

I've had a pain in my back...

for a few months...

and I would like to get

your opinion about it.

Take off your clothes.

Everything?

Everything.

It's...here.

What's the matter?

Tell me what's wrong. What's wrong?

What's wrong?

-You forgot to wash your hair.

-What are you talking about, Tereza?

-Your hair smells of a....

-What?

Of another woman's sex.

I thought you had come back here for me.

I did come back here for you, Tereza.

What are you saying?

Then why do you keep

seeing other women?

-I don't know what to say to you.

-I know, I know.

You've explained it to me

a thousand times.

A thousand times.

There is love and there is sex.

Sex is entertainment, like football.

I know it's light.

I wish I could believe you.

But how can someone make love,

without being in love?

I just don't know.

Let me try.

No.

You'd reject me if I tried.

I wish I could be like you:

Insensitive...

strong....

Strong.

-Hello.

-I just tried--

Come in.

It's a very simple place.

I hope you don't mind.

No, not at all.

-All these books are yours?

-Yes.

-What do you want to drink?

-Anything.

-Wine?

-No, not wine.

-Coffee?

-Okay. I'll go fix some.

-Shall I take your coat?

-Yes.

-Sit down.

-Thank you.

I'm very glad you came here.

I didn't want to come here.

Of course not.

There is somebody here,

behind that curtain.

-You're being silly.

-Draw aside the curtain.

I told you, you're being silly.

Why don't you draw aside

the curtain, please?

Look. Nothing.

And over here.

I can feel that you want it.

What are you looking at?

But be careful.

It was very well set up.

A young, provocative drunkard.

Then the other one,

the one who attacked you.

Then the third one,

who gained your confidence...

just because he took your side.

The engineer?

The so-called engineer.

Why do you look afraid?

You have nothing to be afraid of.

But I went to see him...

at his place...

with my dog and a friend.

He offered us some coffee.

How do you know it was his place?

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