Walesa Page #6

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He tried to start a strike at school.

The other morning, everyone's in pajamas

and there's a camera crew filming!

Have you no shame?

Good bye. Get out of here!

You too!

If you want, I can stick it

on the door.

TYPHUS:

NO ENTRY:

STRIKE:

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

This is Channel One

of the Polish Radio

Lech Walesa, with the approval

of "Solidarity" and the government,

has decided to call off

the general strike...

Turn it off.

This is what the union has come to.

He's basically become a king.

He didn't say he'd break the strike.

But that he might do it.

That he would be held accountable

and would resign if necessary...

We can assume he's going to

break the strike,

Some of the demands will be met.

He'll be the one to save the day.

We now need to decide if the union

should be run by the will of one man

or led by a collective body.

At this point I want to say

we have come up with a good compromise.

Maybe nothing would have happened

but the risk was too high to take.

I don't regret what I have done

even if everyone else disagreed.

Because I know that courage

is nothing without sound judgment.

And I know we've achieved a lot.

I know one thing: people's reactions

when we left the negotiations.

They fell into each other's arms.

They lifted my car up in joy.

Didn't you see that?!

- I did.

- Exactly.

What does the nation want?

Who do you represent?

Who do you want to expose?

As long as I'm here,

I will use all viable options.

I can expose myself,

but not the people.

Where did you learn to think this way?

I don't know.

I've never really read books.

I try but I get bored

by the time I reach page 5.

I've always solved my own problems.

Even repaired my own washing machines.

Lech, what about the intellectuals?

God save us from intellectuals

and peasants!

Now you will probably ask

why I keep all those professors,

advisers and experts around me.

I know if I tried to keep them away

they'd still find a way back in.

So I've chosen to engage them.

It's also convenient to have

intelligent people around.

There's one thing to keep in mind.

You shouldn't feel inferior to them.

And I don't. You know why?

They talk and talk for hours and

their conclusions are the same

as the ones I reach in five seconds.

I'm not too cocky, am I?

Not at all. Why?

I can make that impression.

Is it true you removed your chador

in front of Khomeini?

It's true, I did.

Aren't you afraid of Russian tanks?

And it not Russian, then Polish ones?

No, no, no.

I don't want to think about this.

Why are you saying such horrid things?

There will be no Soviet tanks.

No Soviet tanks.

13 DECEMBER, 1981

The Secretary and the Governor.

I was expecting this.

This is the last nail in your coffin.

We were ordered to take...

to invite you for a friendly chat.

Good evening, Danuta,

we apologize...

They've introduced martial law.

We're taking your husband to Warsaw.

I'm not going anywhere.

If you release other prisoners, I'll go.

Good night, gentlemen.

- So it's happened.

- What now?

They'll be back.

I've packed some stuff just in case.

Open the door! Now!

Or we'll break it down!

Break it down then!

I won't open it.

Bring the other two back

and I'll open the door.

Danuta, don't get scared,

but it could take up to a year.

I'm not scared at all.

Lech,

what if I did get scared?

If you got scared, it would be the end

for me, for the kids, for everyone.

I'm not scared, then.

Not at all.

- I'm scared, too.

- I know.

Open the door, Lech.

Danuta, open up. Wake up the kids.

Let them see the communists

take their father away.

- May we come in?

- You've got a great sense of humour.

Don't any of you catch cold.

Mom can't handle your being sick.

Bogdan, don't get sick again.

Remember!

Where are you going, dad?

I'll be back.

Danuta, please...

One thing, Danuta...

People will turn away from you.

- What are you talking about?

- They will. They're just people.

After you.

One day you'll come begging for a job.

Citizens of the People's

Republic of Poland!

Today I address you

as a soldier and as the head

of the Polish government.

Our homeland is

on the verge of collapse.

Our administrative structures

are no longer effective.

The collapsing economy

is being dealt blow after blow.

Our soldiers' hands are clean.

Our goal is the best

interest of the nation.

The army won't replace

regular socialist democracy.

Anarchy is the enemy of democracy.

We want Poland to be a great country.

Great in terms of culture,

heritage, its position in Europe.

The only way to reach this goal is though

socialism, accepted by the whole Nation.

Poland has not yet perished,

so long as we still live.

What if I shouted I was Lech Walesa,

and you've taken me hostage?

Go ahead.

Inspection.

People! I'm Lech Walesa.

I've been kidnapped by the communists!

You son of a b*tch!

It's all your fault!

Get out of the car!

F*** off, you bastard!

Still want to get out?

You see, Lech.

Poles are not an easy nation to rule.

ARLAMOW:

11 MAY, 1982

- Where are we?

- The East.

Confirm the delivery.

- Russian or ours?

- Russian, goddamn it.

Sh*t. It they take him out,

they take us out. No witnesses. Let's go.

Mr. Walesa.

You're finished.

All your buddies are either

in jail or on our side.

Or they're shitting themselves.

The politburo doesn't want to talk to you.

You are a nobody, they say.

Just a regular scoundrel.

They're considering what I call

the model from Czechoslovakia:

tanks stay in the country,

you stay in prison. For 18 years.

But I'd like to give you

one last chance.

- You will go on TV and stop the strikes.

- Oh, so there are strikes?

- You'll apologize for Solidarity'.

- I demand to see my advisers.

Did you know that our friends

in the East are wondering

if there's any reason to keep you alive?

Kill me, and people

will make me a saint.

It's gloomy in here.

Please join me, gentlemen.

The more the merrier. Come on.

Do you have a wife and kids?

No, I'm single.

If you're poisoned, it will be

a smaller loss for Poland. Enjoy.

Martial law has stopped those

rushing headlong into a civil war.

The 13th of December

was a shock for everyone.

But it certainly prevented

something far worse.

Most people greeted that day

with understanding and relief.

There is hope again for rebuilding

our deregulated economy.

Some people never learned

their lessons from history.

This is Radio Free Europe,

the voice of free Poland.

Listen!

Solidarity has organized rallies

in all major Polish cities.

The authorities ordered a brutal

suppression of all demonstrations by ZOMO.

Tear gas, water cannons, and

armored vehicles were used.

...many have been wounded...

Mr. Walesa!

- Why exactly am I interned?

- What are you talking about?

You are not an internee.

- What am I then?

- You are the government's guest.

- Officially.

- So I can leave. Good bye then.

You will go on TV.

You'll condemn the strikes,

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