Walesa Page #2

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- I have the right to see my son.

- You're not allowed in here.

When did you realize you're a leader?

My friends ask:
Why do you interfere?

But I like interfering.

In December 1970 and August 1980,

I interfered...

Because nobody else wanted to.

When I worked for the opposition,

I was the only one willing

to go to meetings.

I was the only one

who wanted to speak.

Today it's the same, because I know

how far we can go with our demands.

I know the reality of this country.

Polish Film Chronicle, 1971

A special Central Party Committee

has made an emergency assessment

of the dramatic events in Gdarisk.

The new head of the Committee, Edward

Gierek, has arrived at the Shipyard.

I urgently appeal to all shipyard workers

GDANSK SHIPYARD:

JANUARY 1971

and to all working people of Poland.

Our aim is to reach consensus.

Therefore, we need your support

So, you will help us, won't you?

Hey! Mijak! Mijak!

No mask? Are you crazy?

Come on. Let's go. Careful.

Director?

As a labor inspector, I've made

several requests for equipment.

Haven't I? For safety masks?

Sand-blasting without a mask

is not allowed.

Is that funny to you?

Why talk to me?

You've got the union.

The union takes care of its own holidays,

not our safety masks.

Listen, friend, the director is too busy to

deal with an employee's personal business.

It's not personal business,

it's the workers' business.

Then get back to work, workers!

Unless you don't like your jobs here.

Why aren't you working?

What's going on?

- A power cut.

- Again?

- Power out? How can we do our work?

- You'll work through the night.

Those guys will learn how to play

before we get the power back.

Do something, Lech.

You are a social labor inspector.

What do you want me to do about it?

Man, as a labor resource,

can achieve incredible goals.

Working under our leaders' guidance is a

source of pride, joy, and inspiration.

However, under capitalism,

it's a whole different matter.

There, the working class

must constantly defend its rights.

Therefore I move that

we declare our support

for striking dockers in Brazil

and farmers in Thailand.

Who's in favor?

Raise your hands higher.

Who's against?

I can't see anyone.

And one more issue to be presented

on behalf of the staff by Czesiaw Mijak.

As imperialism tiptoes around us,

on its wolf's feet,

it is our duty to kill it off.

Since each year brings

further progress in our work,

I motion for the introduction

of voluntary penalties for those

who failed to meet last year's goals.

You want us to steal from ourselves?

Leave it.

Potatoes are more expensive

than our ships.

Are power failures our fault?

And shortages of sheet metal?

First Secretary Gierek broke

his promises, cheated the nation.

He does as he pleases, without the

consent of the working class.

Silence! What is this?

Stop all this! The issue is settled!

You've had your consultations.

That was a chance to have your say.

We're having a vote

on Comrade Mijak's proposal.

Let's vote democratically.

Openly. Who's in favor?

Who's against?

I see we have a controversy.

I'll break the bastard in two.

Goddamn snitch!

Where does Mijak live?

Good. You're here...

They stole the door to the john

And there's a draft now.

- Father's sick. Electricity's weak.

- Shhh... Shut it, woman!

They're not here to help

but to get revenge.

Close the door, then.

Invite your guests in.

No, no, we'll be going.

Maybe some other time.

Let's drop it...

Go on, beat me up.

They gave me wood for the stove

and promised

to hook up electricity.

Mijak.

I'll hook it up for you.

What are you doing?

Lech, let's go. You promised

to help me with the laundry.

- Catch some sun. I'll help tomorrow.

- You're working tomorrow.

The thing is, I'm not.

- How come?

- Just like that.

Jesus! They fired you?

What did you do this time?

I said one thing too many.

Tell me exactly what you said.

That Gierek has betrayed

the working class.

Jesus Christ!

That they're traitors, they didn't build

a monument for people they killed in 1970.

How are we going to pay for things?

We'll manage.

Now, where are the stones?

Who taught you to act this way?

I am a man full of great internal anger.

I've had this anger in my heart

since I was a little boy.

And when you build up this much anger,

you start to be able to use it cleverly.

This is why I can control crowds

and I can control strikes.

One has to be full of anger in order

to control the holy anger of people.

One has to be able

to live with anger.

'THE WORKER", 1978

- Lech, please stay away from this.

- What it I can't?

They fired you from the shipyard.

You want to lose this new job, too?

And the bread?

- What do they want?

- Who?

KOR. The Workers' Defense Committee.

Society's only defense against

injustice is solidarity.

And mutual help.

That's why we, Polish intellectuals,

have established KOR,

the Workers' Defense Committee.

Its aim is to defend

and help the workers.

Signed by Jerzy Andrzejewski.

And they've put their addresses too.

Oh, there's more. We demand

an amnesty for all arrested workers.

As well as restoring them to their jobs.

This is good thinking.

HUNGER STRIKE:

Good evening.

I'd like to say that your diagnosis is right

but your methods are shitty.

You're either a horseman or a horse.

You can't be both.

The Commies are sucking our blood,

and you're starving to spite them?

Where's the logic? This is not

the way to corner the beast.

Even if cornered, it can use its claws

and meanwhile you die of hunger.

You write about breaking the law,

labor ethics, workers' dignity...

Start from the grassroots. The ground,

the shoes, the socks, the black sausage...

Also, you're too smart for me.

And even I myself am too smart

for the regular worker.

I want to support your cause,

because it's a just cause.

Any cause I choose to support will win.

To sum up, your intentions are fine.

The rest is garbage.

I have to go.

Wait, wait. Who are you?

- What's your name?

- Lech Walesa. I thought I'd talk to you.

I need to go. My youngest is sick.

Here's my address if you need me.

Good bye.

Good bye.

What a guy - a working class chauvinist.

He's got balls, though.

But what if he's one of them?

- Why would he be?

- He's the only one who came in sober.

Let's see if he comes back.

Lech, have a look.

We're writing about you.

Citizen! Stop!

Your ID, please.

Let me smell your breath.

- Don't touch this.

- Why?

That's illegal.

Next time, don't use alcohol for printing.

You can smell it a mile off.

Leave it! Leave the baby!

Leave the pram!

What's this?

- What's going on here?

- What do you mean?

The kid's pissing on the floor.

- Her diaper needs changing.

- Then do it!

- I don't have one.

- Bring us a diaper.

A diaper. Now!

- Will a towel do?

- A bloody one? From an interrogation?

Bring a new one.

Not from the toilets!

Lock him up when he's done.

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