INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF NIKODEM SKOTARCZAK.
PARTLY FICTIONALIZED.
NETFLIX PRESENTS
"IT'S BETTER TO LIVE A YEAR AS A TIGER THAN TWENTY YEARS AS A TURTLE"
PRESENT DAY
Please.
What can I do for you?
I'm writing a…
I know you are.
This whole story… has so many mysteries.
And I'm supposed to reveal them to you?
You were very important to Nikoś.
But you're not interested in those times when I was important to him.
You're interested in the streets.
I'm interested in the man the streets still remember.
Whose funeral was attended by more people
than those of high-ranking officials or today's celebrities.
They say Nikoś wasn't a typical,
you know, gangster.
I don't know what that word means.
I know that people who liked to be called that word are dead.
What do you know about him?
I know, for example, that Nikoś was born in 1954.
What great journalistic work.
Strict father, hard-working mother, trouble at school and on the playground…
I am Nikoś' elder sister.
I love this little gangster. But I hate when he gets into trouble.
This is our younger brother, Marek. He doesn't talk much.
You're the worst in your class, Nikoś. Dad won't be pleased.
-Go home without me. -And what about you?
I'll wander around a bit before Dad beats the shit out of me.
Don't forget, my child,
the communist era's tri-city area wasn't all just reprobates and poverty.
It was also a window for the West.
Here, every Westerner could feel like the king of life.
But the king didn't know yet that the kingdom was ruled by someone else.
Wait!
That Tricity is ruled by the city boys.
A client wants to exchange currency. He counts the bills. One is missing.
The city boy adds one more, but to a completely different roll.
A typical scam.
Fuck!
And that word…
Fuck!
…was to become the refrain and the punch line of Nikoś' entire story.
Fuck!
I love you.
What are you looking at, sucker?
If it weren't for the fact I hide cash in three different places,
I couldn't even afford vodka.
My treat.
Vodka!
So what were you thinking, huh?
That we treat Germans to vodka and sing songs with them, huh?
-My money. -Fuck.
Get him! Don't make me run.
If you get a bad grade once more, you…
Maybe not so rough?
It wasn't like that, my child.
Nikodem never raised a hand to his father.
He always found a way.
Maybe not so rough?
A strict upbringing unleashed goodness in Nikoś.
For some reason, windows played a big part in his life.
But whenever he squeezed through one,
he'd escape from a room with a view towards war.
I want to exchange cash.
Where'd you get that?
I earned it.
I know your tricks. Don't try to pull anything.
What's your name?
Nikoś. I'm a city boy.
You're not a city boy.
Not yet.
Where'd you get the money?
You know what Dad will do when he finds out?
Don't worry.
You guys keep going to school, and I'll support you.
OUT OF ORDER! DO NOT USE!
Come on!
Remember, kid.
Rugby is like life. Make a pass or you don't score.
What?
Pass the fucking ball!
Don't tell me what to do.
At that time, Nikoś' best friend was Komo.
The city was run by the rugby team. They were a real army.
Attacked goalposts by day, bounced people at bars by night.
Back then, everybody respected them.
Listen, boys.
Tactical plan is as follows.
First, the attacking side is this one.
Then the tactical plan changes.
And the attacking side…
is this one.
And… fucking give it all you got.
Go get some money for this.
Move your fucking asses! Go!
It was said that he was like a hurricane on the left wing.
Unstoppable.
But that wasn't necessarily the truth.
Jesus…
-Bad luck. -Yeah, sure.
Fuck you, you fucking shit!
Who's that?
Go fuck yourself! What the hell?
Inkblot's ex.
-But they were just-- -They were, until now.
Now she's his ex.
You fucking prick!
You think you can fucking do that? Fuck you! Damn prick.
Wait. My hair.
What is it?
Already?
Well, when should I?
Well, I was hoping it would take at least two minutes.
Ever done it with a woman?
Not with a woman or anyone else.
I got myself a fresh one.
You know, maybe it wasn't two minutes,
but I can hit those two minutes by going eight times a night.
-Yeah? -Of course.
A nice change after my ex.
Will I see you again?
My people will find you.
Hey, buddy. You might want to skip the dancing tonight, huh?
Your wife was gentler.
-The fuck did you say? -Whoa, gentlemen, easy. What's going on?
Don't fight, just do business. Come on.
What business, Nikoś? The jerk offended my fiancée.
Well, offending your fiancée changes the whole situation.
Damn!
Okay, now. Come on in.
Masterfully fucking done.
Bravo.
This much.
This much and you would've resolved it perfectly.
You know what he said about his fiancée?
Okay, look. I don't give a fuck about what he said.
We have better business here. Control yourself.
Get out.
Give me that. It's okay.
Damn it!
Ever heard of the gold rush?
Yeah. They had it in Alaska.
We have our own rush.
Only with amber.
And we have our own Alaska.
Nikoś knew exactly what needs people had.
And how to satisfy those needs.
-East German watches. -Nice.
-How's the digging? -Don't even start.
Hardly anything here. They'll reach Australia soon.
Great.
-And this? -This goes to Mietek.
He knew whom to avoid, whom to give, and where to get.
I'll take this.
He knew it was nice to have a good deal.
But better yet…
-I hope they're not sticky. -Not yet.
…to have several good deals.
But most of all, he knew who should get their cut.
Would you complain?
Hey, we got it!
Digging for amber at night, you needed a shitload of light.
You know where we got it from?
Czesiek, point it here, for fuck's sake! This ain't no Swan Lake!
"Speaken" any German?
Sure.
I fucking hope you're sure.
But seriously, Nikoś…
learn languages. Or you won't survive.
I know.
Komo and a couple of city boys will be at the place there.
Careful. This isn't your turf.
Stick together and work as a team.
And handle it with kid gloves.
Got it?
BUDAPEST
-And if the circumstances-- -No matter the circumstances.
I hope you got it--
Fuck all, he got.
In the '70s, Budapest was the place where the East met with the West.
If you had a good spot in Budapest,
you had the whole world at your feet.
Nikoś was destined to become a king there.
BUDAPEST
Soon, they had every street corner around Keleti Station under control.
Hundreds of tourists and businessmen from all over Europe passed through there.
Yeah. Sure.
And every one of them wanted to exchange their money to forints.
For every crook, there was a different way to scam.
Thank you.
And for every client, there seemed to be a sucker.
Change money?
Okay, then.
You should've said you're from Poland.
We're looking for Nikoś.
-What do you want from him? -We want to join him.
Who are you anyway?
I'm Andrzej from Ożarów. This is Magi from Pruszków.
I'm that Nikoś.
Respect, man. If you let us, we'll pillage for your glory.
-Yeah? What can you do? -Hey.
You must have made a mistake. I should have gotten more.
I'm not stupid, okay?
What's up?
I don't know.
-Oh fuck. -Let's get the fuck outta here.
Fuck.
MARYLKA CLUB
Every now and then, Nikoś came back from Hungary to Tricity.
Robbing the Westerners for so long,
he started to look like one.
Don't look at him. He's a gangster.
Later he'd often say he fell in love with me at first sight.
Why have you been eating so little lately?
I mean, it's not much.
I do.
When Piotr was born…
Piotruś.
…for Nikoś it was… the happiest day of his life.
And I didn't have the courage to admit that I already had my own demons.
NOVEMBER 3, 1977
Nikoś knew perfectly well how to hide his true emotions.
Nobody knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling, going through.
Nobody could see through him.
Come see who's here.
I had a deal with Inkblot on currency and contraband.
Only under those terms could you have this turf.
But you started selling cars and beating up the locals.
The police came sniffing around, and yesterday they took two of my men.
You either knock it off…
Or?
Get the fuck out!
Now!
A cowboy is riding through a prairie.
He notices smoke in the distance.
He thinks to himself, "Fuck yeah, I'll have a hot meal."
He starts galloping towards the camp, but as he gets closer,
he starts noticing that the smoke isn't coming from a hot stew,
but from some burnt, robbed corpses.
But he rides up, gets off his horse, looks around.
Suddenly, he notices movement.
He moves closer and sees a guy lying with an arrow lodged in his chest.
Here.
He leans over and asks,
"Does it hurt?"
And the guy says,
"Only when I laugh."
Know what he was on about?
No.
Did you understand what he said?
Not a word.
That's when Nikoś' gang of thieves was born.
And although Nikoś had seen a lot, when he came back from Budapest,
he never looked at people the same way anymore.
It was around 1977 when he sold his first stolen car.
Hey, you handsome devils. Wanna dock in my port?
I told you I'd find you.
You said your people would.
Meet…
I don't want it.
Why?
Never offer me money for--
Never tell me what to do.
So what? Do you think I'm hot?
-Very. But first I gotta use… you know. -Fine.
Wanna see how flexible I am?
-Damn it. -Oh fuck.
Quiet. That's my old man.
-In the room. -I need to use the john.
Listen. He's drunk and in the secret police. Better wait.
My whole life I was told what to do.
Everybody was afraid. My dad was afraid that…
that I'd be inferior.
Teachers were afraid that…
that I'd deviate from the norm.
Fuck.
Hey, doggy.
Forgive me, pal.
And I think
that it's better to live a year as a tiger
than 20 years as a turtle.
I don't want to be a turtle.
I want to be a tiger.
I thought you'd be a stag.
So, Romeo?
Ready for the show?
What stinks in here?
It's your dog.
Was squealing like crazy. I'd have taken him out, but I couldn't.
He couldn't hold it in.
But it's a stuffed toy.
What's that crap?
-But it's yours. -No, not that!
That.
From the West.
Got it from the sailors.
Quit it.
I'll be the king of this city.
I'll be like a tiger.
Not afraid of anyone.
-What's your name? -Milena.
From now on, it's Jet.
Put down your roots.
But remember, only I can dock here.
How was it?
Like you give a crap.
Look, I'll decide for myself what I give and what I don't.
That's what Nikoś was like.
He didn't like being told what to do.
Use your right hand.
Probably because everyone tried to do that his whole life.
"Gdańsk is a free city."
Right hand, I said.
His father told him not to write with his left hand.
His wife, not to worry about her.
-Don't worry about me. -Are you sure?
Inkblot told him not to get in trouble.
And to give rein to those…
Nikoś!
…who let him make money.
You can't smoke in here, ma'am.
Since when?
Since the last ten years.
And when will they cancel that stupid ban?
Did Jet become Nikoś' princess?
That I don't know.
But knowing him, he couldn't get enough of those.
And that's when she turned up.
Of course, not without consequences.
Wasn't I supposed to be your princess?
"Jet," for fuck's sake.
My name is Milena!
Don't get agitated.
Or you'll get wrinkles.
Okay, then. Let's talk about it.
I can handle anything. Accept anything.
But I don't want to be lied to. I want to know the truth.
Okay.
Who is the whore?
Not a whore.
Just Halinka.
She's a decent woman. And she's Tender Roman's sister.
I don't know any Tender--
Really? She's the sister of the Tender Roman?
Yeah.
Let's start again.
And that's when she turned up.
The complete opposite of Nikoś' first wife.
The life of the party.
All class.
All of Tricity dreamed of diving into her bountiful--
Hair?
Hair.
Nikoś always took what he wanted.
He tended to be shy, but when he danced…
And dance, he could.
…no girl could resist him.
Nikoś didn't know how to dance.
And if there's anyone who says otherwise,
don't believe them.
But I still fell in love with him at first sight.
Nikoś.
Halina Ostrowska.
What you doing here?
I'm here to have fun.
Well, you lucked out 'cause we got the best table. If you want…
That's the best table?
If you want, the manager will put a table for us by the window.
That's a lot you can do.
Not me.
But my brother can.
My brother knows everyone.
You look great.
What do you do, Nikodem?
Ask your brother who knows everyone.
I'm asking you.
I'm in the same field as your brother. Just on a smaller scale.
I like you.
I have two children, and my brother got me used to luxury,
so you're either serious about me,
or…
And I have a son and am close with my mother-in-law.
We'll manage.
Halinka, you're not eating much.
I do.
POSTNATAL ROOM
Natalka.
Could you steal a car like this?
Theoretically, yes. Practically, no.
-So why don't you? -Steal from my brother-in-law?
But if it wasn't mine, how long would it take to steal it?
My guy would do it in less than a minute.
You should be a very rich man, Nikoś.
Yeah. If there was anything to steal.
I have an idea for you. Pull over.
Pull over.
That's what we wear in Sweden now.
That's brave.
I know guys who would fight five men at a time,
but not one of them was brave enough to put on this.
Are you brave enough, Nikoś?
Do you have the strength to bear this weight? Huh?
Got the balls, Brother-in-Law?
They say every major career starts with a well-tailored jacket.
I gave the newlyweds a big loan.
Hey!
Halina and Nikoś opened a small casino, attracting the high society of Tricity.
Officials, priests.
Praise the Lord!
Hey, Sister.
Militia officers, crowds of criminals and smugglers.
Give us a moment.
Which is which? Back then, it made no difference.
Nikoś!
I'll introduce you to Nikoś.
Here. This is Marek Stapler.
With stapled butt cheeks.
Haven't heard that joke in a while.
Must've been at least an hour.
Maybe because this is Capt. Stapler, from the Voivodeship Militia Department.
Roman says we could do business together.
I drink vodka with all the prosecutors.
My wife runs the Transportation Department.
Nikoś may not have known many languages,
he may not have had an academic degree,
but he had a lot of imagination.
And now three facts were coming together in his mind.
First, he had a gang of car thieves.
Second, I could keep any theft case quiet.
And third, my wife is--
I have to steal.
I have no other option. I have to steal more, Captain.
It's so fucking primitive.
If that Stapler is telling the truth,
he'll legitimize every transaction, and we'll just need--
Exactly that.
What's with the window?
The window?
Yeah.
A crow flew into it.
-A crow? -Yeah.
Wanted to lay eggs, but I chased it away.
Good. I'll put in a new one.
If you get any more cars, let me know.
Everyone in the club would pay anything to have one like that.
Got lockpicks, hacksaw blades?
Good day. Papers, please.
Any goods with you?
Zwei…
casen orangen.
What?
-What's going on? -He understood me.
-So what? -So I'm starting to speak their language.
And the gear?
You're sitting on it.
Step one, grand theft auto.
In the late '70s and early '80s, it was
wonderfully simple.
Here. Three cars, all ready to go. Give them to the guys. Meet in Sopot.
And this one?
This one we'll drive ourselves.
I must have messed up the ignition. I'm afraid it may not restart if we stop.
Don't be afraid. Kid!
Press harder on the wires so it doesn't stall at the border.
Step two, crossing the border.
The German guards couldn't tell the papers were forged
because, luckily for us, there were no security measures back then.
If nothing unexpected happened,
the car crossed the border without a hitch.
Step three, legitimization.
Tricity had workshops open 24 hours, but never with any actual customers.
Thanks, honey.
Stapler's wife provided blank registration papers.
After 24 hours,
the car had a new look, new plates, legit papers, and was ready to be sold.
Before the sale, Nikoś had every car almost completely taken apart.
Boss, here's the radio.
Because why sell the whole car when you can sell each part separately?
Step four, the sale.
Good day. Mr. Nikodem?
With so many customers, you could have bidding wars.
It's Nikoś.
My son and I, we came here from Warsaw.
We heard we could buy an affordable car from you.
And a safe one.
Yes, affordable and safe.
Polish, Western, nice, fast.
And if all goes well, nice, fast, and Western, huh?
Well said, right?
Yes…
This is my first time in Gdańsk.
-Yes. -How do you like it here?
Well, one can breathe here.
I respect Lech Wałęsa very much. What an amazing man.
What he did for the country, the people…
And the car?
Something bigger. I need it for a taxi. Yes.
My father drove one, I drive one, and my son will drive one too.
Son?
You don't look like a future cab driver to me, buddy.
Well?
What do you want to do in life?
Well? Tell the gentleman.
Funds acquisition.
With so many customers, we could steal the same car twice.
In 1980, Nikoś bought a property in Orle in his father's name.
His younger brother Marek took care of it.
It was a new house.
The guys found it at the docks. Tracksuit with the crocodile logo. Here.
It was like living on an American ranch.
We just looked a bit different.
Nobody knew where Nikoś' family began and ended.
He took care of everybody the same way.
Who is that whore?!
Wait. My hair.
Where did you get these?
No idea.
They're mine.
No. They're mine.
-I found them in your jacket. -Stop it! They're not mine!
Stop it! They're not mine!
You really don't understand?
I'm a salesman.
A businessman. Do you know what a businessman does?
He advertises his products.
I am a walking advertisement for my business.
I have 200 watches for sale. I wear one to show off to others.
Do I smell nice?
I have a fucking van full of perfumes like these for sale.
I always have one on me.
Seriously? Two guys chatting about perfume?
-Am I supposed to believe this? -Yes! For fuck's sake, yes!
How many fucking watches do you have now?
Calm down. Fuck!
So I happened to snatch a container of panties from the Germans.
I'm doing all that for you.
So why do these new German panties reek of some whore?
These Germans, you know…
I want a divorce.
Come on!
Move it!
You call that a pass, loser?
Look, they can't play soccer.
Running like pussies, stumbling over everything.
Where?!
Hold on. Do you have an invitation?
You think this man needs an invitation?
To the third league? The league he's playing for?
VIP stands require special invitation.
-What's going on? -This man has no invitation.
He's been invited by me.
Let's go.
I invite him, and he doesn't let him in?
-Take it easy. -Easy?
We'll be back later.
The 1981/82 season is almost over. What an absolute nightmare.
Lechia, the pride of the coast, now in the third league.
Come on. With dickheads like these, we'll achieve fucking shit!
The brutal truth about Lechia this season is that there was no resistance.
There were no resources. There were absolutely no skills.
Come on.
Bring it down.
Got it?
SEASON 1981/82
Good day, Mr. Chairman.
Good day.
Jesus.
-You got those papers for me? -Not yet, Mr. Chairman.
What don't you understand?
-When I say today, it means today. -Yes, right away.
-Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Today! -I'll prepare them immediately.
SEASON 1982/83
You know what? Higher.
-Good day, Mr. Nikodem! -It's Nikoś, gentlemen.
Hold it, dear.
Wonderful.
That is beautiful, gentlemen. A bit higher.
Higher.
Gentlemen!
Lechia Gdańsk is a name that should inspire fear.
I'm not saying it's your skills that are lacking.
Only that maybe what you're lacking is just
motivation? Huh?
We can do it.
Yes, sir!
A new Renault is waiting for you outside.
For what?
For what else?
You know for what.
See you at the meeting.
Here.
-Here you go. -Thank you, dear.
Upon Coach Machalski's request,
I recommend Nikodem Skotarczak as the rugby section coach.
Who's in favor?
I inform you that upon the club's request, Mr. Skotarczak is to receive a passport.
This passport authorizes him to conduct training and hiring work abroad.
So…
if that's all, we can wrap this up.
One moment. Tell me, gentlemen.
What's going on with your game?
Third league?
In Gdańsk?
-Aren't you all ashamed? -We play as our funds allow us.
No.
People love soccer.
If you give them a good game, they'll love all of you too.
You understand? All of you.
Who said you can't have everything?
To the future.
At that time, Nikoś was bringing dozens of cars a month into Poland.
But he invested nearly all his profits in the club.
Here.
-Here. -And who are you?
Karol Popławski. Bought from Cracovia to help with the advancement.
Yeah?
Who bought you?
This gentleman.
I bought you?
Yes. One of your men recommended me.
If I bought you, that means you're good.
And… here.
Nikoś procured sports equipment and bought players.
But if someone wanted to reach him,
they had to have really strong…
backing.
In two years, Lechia managed to advance from the third league to the first
and won the Polish Cup in soccer.
-Pass him the fucking ball! Pass it! -No, don't pass! Go!
Those were some games!
With Zagłębie, with Śląsk, with Ruch! And the finals with Piast Gliwice!
Yes!
Get out!
For years, people still said, "In Nikoś' time, that'd be a penalty."
Lechia Gdańsk!
Yes!
The big day has come. It's unbelievable.
The Polish Cup winner, Lechia Gdańsk,
will play a rematch in the Cup Winners' Cup
against the great Juventus of Turin.
In the ranks of the Bianconeri, under Coach Trapattoni,
are such stars as Tacconi, Scirea, Cabrini, Prandelli, Rossi, Boniek,
and Michel Platini as a substitute.
My fucking eagles! Fuck yeah!
I always had fucking faith in you, my beloved boys!
This is a totally different club now.
And if you're nice, maybe I'll take you to my trophy case, so you could see it…
Who do you need?
…take a photo, if you like.
Mr. Nikodem, do you think next season will be a success?
Don't you have better questions? I wouldn't worry about next season.
Gentlemen, please give me 30 seconds. I'll be right back with you.
Inkblot!
How are you?
As a citizen of this city, I am…
Seen that?
…very grateful to you for what you've done for the club.
Thank you. You know how I did that?
Tell me. I'm listening.
I did the exact opposite of what you told me.
You told to stay in the shadows, and I turned on all the lights.
But, Nikoś,
there's no turning back from this.
You know, soccer, the games,
those are toys so they could fucking love us.
They wanted soccer? I got them soccer. Boniek? No fucking problem! I got Boniek!
Only the real fun…
is entirely somewhere else.
Cheers. Take care.
Gentlemen.
The day has come! Nikodem Skotarczak is the wealthiest man in Tricity!
Each month, he brings in almost 100 stolen cars!
Nikoś is now the king of smugglers! A king the world has never seen!
And center! Marek Kowalczyk gets the ball!
He shoots! Tacconi is defenseless!
-Goal! -Goal!
Nikoś, all of Tricity thanks you!
You know the best part about being an honorary citizen of Gdańsk?
Good day.
Free public transportation.
It's so nice to have a boss.
Yeah.
I'm proud of you.
Nikoś specialized in the so-called "requested theft."
The idea is that an average German, an ordinary German like me,
simply gives Nikoś his car.
Nikoś legally transfers the car to Poland, makes the key duplicates,
and acquires proper papers.
The keys then return to Germany,
the German reports the car stolen
and receives his insurance money.
As well as a cut from Nikoś.
Everyone makes money. Only the insurer loses.
Your cassette.
Thank you.
-It's a pleasure doing business with you. -Yeah. Thanks.
Do svidaniya.
Good day.
Can we talk?
Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
We've been waiting for 90 minutes.
This gentleman is from the polizei.
Do you remember our meeting eight years ago?
Piotruś!
Translate for Daddy.
Hello.
My dad doesn't speak German. I'll translate.
It's astonishing that you run a prospering business
without knowing the language.
Are you here to take revenge?
You mean the incident in Budapest? Let's forget it. I was there privately.
The institution I represent and I are interested in what you're doing now.
This is about what you're doing now.
I run a legal store.
Customers are from Poland, Germany, half of Europe.
I even hired a German girl, Else.
No German would hire her, so a Pole did.
Aren't you ashamed?
-How old are you? -Eight.
Tell your dad that after I lock him up,
you'll be 23 years old when he gets out of prison.
Daddy, he wants to put you in prison.
Go mind the store.
Daddy understands a little.
We know the scope of your operation.
Thank you very much.
I see two options.
Either you cooperate with us
or we'll do everything to put you behind bars.
Thank you very much.
Wouldn't you want to see your children grow up?
Thank you very much.
Until we meet again.
Who was that?
A froggy.
"Froggy" comes from the color of the German police cars.
Do we have problems?
Me and problems?
Because I have one.
In the garage.
The latest Golf.
The Germans have put in a new ignition lock.
I can't wedge it nor hot-wire it. I don't know how to crack it.
If other manufacturers do the same, no more stealing in two minutes.
Yeah?
Smoke these?
Yeah.
Great. Because we're not leaving until we figure this out, my friend.
What if we…
attached that doodad to that doohickey?
No.
That thingamajig won't fit in that hole.
Then I don't fucking know.
What?
Why is there a lock here?
It's a safety measure in case of fuel theft.
What opens it?
The ignition key.
Instead of fucking killing ourselves over that one, let's figure out this one.
They're the same.
They open with the same key, so it makes no difference.
Theoretically, yes.
Practically, no.
The ignition lock prevents a theft of a car worth 50,000 marks.
The fuel cap prevents a theft of fuel worth maybe 20 marks.
-Right… -Right.
So do you think the German engineers
wouldn't have wanted to save a little on the fuel cap?
It all checks out. The ignition key works with the cap lock.
But the lock in the fuel cap has two tumblers less
than the ignition lock. Look.
-So we have three-quarters of the key. -Two-thirds.
Even better.
Yes!
Yes! That's it! That's fucking it! You get it? Fuck yeah!
Just use your head! Look for solutions, right?
Not this fucking brute force!
Fuck yeah!
We're ahead of our fucking time!
Yes!
-Yes! -Yes!
Praise the Lord!
So, what, you've started without us?
-Daddy! -I didn't recognize you.
Come, Piotruś. Come, Natalka.
-Tell me, have you been good? -Yes!
You sure? Eh, doesn't matter. I have something for you.
Attention!
Bravo!
Look at that precious face.
Wonderful.
-So did you get all the alimony? -Of course.
-It's all good, yes? -Yes.
I think you're not getting enough. What's 4,000 anyway, right?
Oh you!
Nikodem, I'd like to introduce my new friend.
Wojciech, Nikodem.
Nikoś.
I'm very impressed with the work you do for our city and the club.
And as for your other work, well,
big respect.
Wojtuś wants to say that if you had a job for him, he'd gladly accept it.
The question is, has Wojtuś been a good boy this year?
Like hell.
Santa might set something up.
After all, we're family.
Thank you.
-Have you heard this one? -Not again.
No, not "not again," just a beautiful story. Listen.
He's not going to get it for sure.
It's Christmas Eve supper on Noah's Ark.
There is animal shit everywhere.
Just shit on top of shit, and very exotic at that,
because they didn't have that there.
It's a terrific story. So!
Finally, that Noah, he… Listen.
"God, maybe you could send me some kind of a sign."
And suddenly…
Noah is all surprised. On a boat, in the middle of the sea…
But he walks over to the door.
"Who's there?"
A wet bear!
Very good!
Mom, give me five.
FOR DEAR DAD
Bam!
What's up, Sis?
-Merry Christmas, sweetie. -Thank you. Back at you.
You're not yourself.
-No, everything's fine. -I can see it isn't.
I fell in love.
Who's the lucky guy?
He's… He helps me at the bookstore.
A very good man.
You don't have to work there.
If you want, I can get him a job too.
You really are very sweet, Nikoś.
Giving all of your loved ones something special.
You're Santa to the whole world.
You haven't forgotten anyone.
Won't you unpack your presents?
It's German.
For self-defense.
I prefer the real thing, Santa.
It's beautiful.
You are beautiful.
You know why I love you?
Santa?
You live in another world.
You have another family.
You could easily forget about me.
But you don't.
I feel I mean something to you.
That this home is as important to you as the other.
I can always count on you.
Regardless of how little time you have--
Stupid.
Good evening.
BORDER CROSSING POLAND - EAST GERMANY
Anything in the trunk?
Fuck!
Get out.
Hands on the roof of the car.
Nikoś didn't go to jail.
They just fined him.
And took away his passport.
How can you validate your stay in Germany?
By marrying a German.
-Hi, Nikoś. -Hi.
What's wrong?
Will you marry me?
What?
I love you!
Okay, easy.
My gangster.
Okay.
Else, stop it. Else, calm--
Aren't you eating too much?
Very good.
No…
It's an honor to welcome you all here…
I do.
Yeah, fuck this.
In Nikodem's life, windows played…
I have already said that.
Nikoś!
Crossing the border, you won't be able to return to Germany.
I will return. I don't yet know how…
but I will.
It was 1985 when the arrests started.
Yes, they locked up everyone.
The haulers.
Even the new partner of Nikoś' second wife.
The boys from Lechia who worked with him. Everyone.
And Nikoś?
-Hello? -Run.
Run right fucking now!
Dad, will you make me some crepes?
Sure, sweetie.
Are you going to work today?
Like every day, sweetie.
How long will you be gone?
Just for a moment.
Here you go.
-Eat upstairs with Grandma. -Okay.
When will you be back?
In no time.
I didn't see Dad for the entire next year.
CHRISTMAS EVE
-Good evening. -Good evening.
We have a search warrant.
We suspect that the wanted criminal Nikodem Skotarczak is staying here.
Do you know where Daddy is?
Family in need is a family indeed.
Do you know where he has his stash?
Lieutenant, there's nothing in the chimney.
All right. Get the hell out.
It is said that family is only good for photos.
In the case of Nikoś' family,
it was not necessarily true.
Silvio entered Nikoś' life in '86.
Despite a completely different style, he was his associate for years to come.
The closest associate and his right hand.
When I was locked up for two years in Wronki Prison,
I had this buddy
that everyone called "Pinocchio."
You know why?
Because every day,
precisely, like fucking clockwork,
at eight in the morning,
he'd whittle his knob.
Silvio!
Hello, hello.
Who are these lovely ladies?
Katarzyna and Magdalena. Obviously, both really wanted to meet the boss.
Magdalena especially.
Wait.
…Skotarczak, wanted for car theft and large-scale smuggling.
If anyone has any information on his whereabouts,
please call 997 or contact the nearest militia unit…
Yes?
What's going on, boss?
We'll lay our sister's body in the grave.
Since Christ was the first to rise from the dead,
and he'll renew our mortal bodies in his likeness…
I don't fucking get it.
Does anyone know anything
about why she did it?
Because it always
gets me fucking thinking.
What goes on in the head of a person…
who takes their own life, huh?
All my loved ones die.
Somehow I'm the only one who gets fucking lucky.
What now, boss?
What?
-I'm asking what now-- -Drive.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
GERMAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN GDAŃSK
My client, Nikoś Skotarczak, was born in 1954 in Danzig.
This is the birth certificate of his mother, Maria Flugel.
Father is Polish.
His mother raised him Polish
so he wouldn't stand out from other children.
And now my client would like to return to his home country.
Here you go.
You're sure he can't speak any German?
Zwei casen--
Do I smell wurst?
Hey!
Hey.
This is Silvio. He's like you, but operates in Poland.
He's a decent guy.
Cozy fucking place you got here.
A bit rainy.
Fuck that!
As a proud German citizen with roots going back seven generations,
I'm fucking telling you all, we're going back to Hamburg!
Silvio.
That's fucking funny to you?
Fucking laugh, then! Come on, laugh! Fucking laugh!
You fucking nuts?
-I'm just upset. -Shut the fuck up.
That's how you fucking want to do business in the Reich?
Fuck's sake, man… He upset me.
Calm down.
I don't know where Nikoś found Silvio,
but no matter where he came from, he was never one of us.
THREE YEARS LATER
He wasn't a city boy.
The fact that our Nikoś had to hide didn't mean the business suffered.
After the fuel cap trick was invented,
there were over a hundred trucks entering Poland every month.
And they kept stealing cars from rentals through "requested theft."
And that's when Nikoś started drinking.
Wait. I'll be right back.
Fuck.
How do you say "threesome" in German?
Dreiersex.
See? You can communicate. You're good.
We got a smart one.
I love you--
Fuck. Tell me about the car.
Well, it's a seven. BMW 7.
I mean its fucking legal status.
This is not good.
It was a "requested theft." And I have a fake passport on me.
Then tell the girl to hang on.
What?
Fuck me!
Focus.
When these two were together, everything seemed possible.
We can do it, right?
Sure.
If we're lucky.
-Good day. -Name!
Our friend is pregnant, and she wasn't feeling well.
We were rushing to the gynecologist.
Honey!
Wait!
Wrong way!
There she goes.
But she'll be back. You wait here. I'll go get her.
I spoke to the judge.
Car theft, driving under the influence, and causing an accident.
That's 18 months to two years.
Well, I'll get some rest. Maybe read a book.
The prosecution also noticed your alleged German roots.
Alleged German roots. They want to know about that.
You?
A turtle.
Me, a tiger.
At the border, we seized two other stolen vehicles.
If your boys, Michał Dolszewski or Paweł Kozłowski,
spill that it was you who ordered the smuggling,
it will be worse.
I think we could rack up a double-digit sentence.
Silvio is doing two years in Italy.
Nikoś!
It's over.
Accept my offer.
Accept the offer.
You might not get another one.
Might not get another one.
What are you… offering?
Start testifying.
Beautiful.
You've learned to "speaken" Polish.
Wonderful.
So say this.
"She sells seashells by the seashore."
If you're such a polyglot who speaks so beautifully,
I want to hear how you say, "She sells seashells…
by the seashore."
She…
sells…
sea… shells…
by… the… sea…
shore.
Tell him how to say, "She sells seashells by the seashore."
Tell the gentleman how to say, "She sells seashells by the seashore."
I'm listening.
Well?
Just say it to me. "She sells seashells by the seashore."
I'm sorry.
Why aren't you with me? Why don't you want to tell him?
But what's the point?
The point is I want to know how to say it.
Please fucking tell him, "She sells seashells by the seashore,"
right this fucking minute!
Please, begin!
I'm surrounded by idiots!
-Help me, for fuck's sake. -She sells--
Not me. Him, for fuck's sake!
Please!
I'm sorry.
"She sells seashells by the seashore." Is that so hard?
-She… -Beautiful. Please.
Take this fucking table.
Now sit down here and tell him,
"She sells seashells by the seashore"! Right now!
Maybe tell me something more, something smart.
A simple sentence. "She sells seashells by the seashore."
Please.
Start testifying.
What the fuck?
She sells seashells by the seashore! Fucking shells!
Shells!
Get back.
Get the fuck out!
Don't fucking touch me.
Nikoś was sentenced to a year and nine months at a supermax prison.
But it still didn't heal the wounds that a boy from a Polish city
carved in the majesty of the German judicial system.
The wounds were fresh,
and for them to scab over, new charges were needed.
The punishment for the scars… was yet to come.
MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON
Got anything in Polish?
EVIL ZORBA THE GREEK
Nikoś?
I'm Nikoś too.
-How's Lechia doing? -Don't even ask.
How are the city boys?
Well, Inkblot has a new fiancée.
The boys are running around as usual.
Silvio is locked up in Italy.
Silvio is not a city boy.
Yeah, I know.
Tell me,
how do you kill your time here?
I read books.
Have you read Zorba the Greek?
I don't have time for books.
Right.
That Greek was a decent guy.
Did what he wanted. Had his pride.
Knew how to make the most out of life.
Yeah, but he…
was in sunny Greece, not in prison, right?
First Gabrysia, then Teresa. Fuck, kids are growing up without a father.
You know, they only gave me a regular toothbrush and toothpaste.
I'm losing my shine.
That's it. Enough.
That's it.
Enough.
That's it.
Because of the suicides in your family and your general condition,
you will spend the remainder of your sentence in the psychiatric ward.
You'll get better there.
ZORBA THE GREEK
Silvio did time in an Italian prison and completely lost his fucking mind.
He quickly learned the language and then heard all the mafia stories.
About the rules, family ties,
and offers you can't refuse.
We gotta do something about it.
When he came back,
he was sure he could apply all of that to Polish streets.
He especially believed it after doing some blow.
Do something about what?
Well?
Do something about what?
Well, about mio capo.
About Nikoś, for fuck's sake.
And about everything that's going on here.
Someone has to run this fucking business, right?
The business runs itself.
Wrong.
Eventually, someone's going to fucking snatch it.
Without our capo,
it's going to fucking fall apart.
Vacuum…
abhors an emptiness.
Silvio, the fuck are you talking about?
Well, someone's got to keep this shit together, right?
Or not?
Rule with an iron fist, you know.
You often use the word "someone."
Got anyone in mind?
Well, I don't know.
You know, people can see what's going on, right?
They can do the fucking math.
And it checks out.
Don't you mean… you're the one who's doing the math?
Cool. You got it wrong.
What?
I'm worried…
No!
…about the head of our family.
Don't you worry.
Our capo can manage on his own.
Capito?
Capito.
You little fucking…
Parlare italiano.
TEGEL PRISON, BERLIN - DECEMBER 4, 1989 PSYCHIATRIC WARD
The desire for freedom and love of life were stronger than the fear of death.
Every drop of blood that Nikoś had lost
brought him closer both to the former and to the latter.
Now.
"All of Germany is shocked by the spectacular escape
of the Polish criminal"! Fuck yeah!
"Nikodem Skotarczak deliberately lost weight to look like his brother,
while his brother gained weight and grew a beard"!
Fuck me!
"Nikoś staged a suicide
and was transferred to a less strict ward."
"There, no one noticed
when Nikodem Skotarczak traded places with his brother
and waltzed right out of Tegel Prison"!
Cheers to my beloved!
"We might've still not been aware of the switch
if Nikoś himself hadn't sent the Tegel Prison warden a postcard,
revealing the entire ruse"!
Fuck.
I love him.
"How is it possible that a car thief from Poland
has fooled the entire German judicial system?"
Here's to me!
Good day.
This is the fucking future.
What is?
-Futura. -You mean the blow?
Want some?
Oh, Silvio. You know how that stuff fucks with your head?
Never.
Fuck, I ain't got airflow!
It can't go on like this.
When we look for him, he's in your country.
When you look for him, he's in our country.
And when we look together, he can't be found.
This has to end.
For fuck's--
Nikoś changed the way he operates. He no longer oversees everything.
He split his group into specialized units.
I still don't have… the fucking airflow!
Fucking shit!
Everything is all over the fucking place!
Apparently, drugs have appeared in Tricity,
but we don't know if it's Nikoś.
You shouldn't mix that.
Fuck, I could use a third hole.
What Nikoś has done is inexcusable in my country.
My superiors are demanding his head,
and I'm going to bring it to them.
His face behind bars must be on the front pages
of all the papers that reported his escape from Tegel.
We're about to douse the hot stones, General.
Okay.
I don't care whether your country or ours, as long as he's in jail.
-Hey, bro. -It's been a while.
I couldn't repay you even if I was the richest man in Tricity.
You don't have to.
To start with.
For me?
-I'll be the fastest man in Tricity! -You already are.
One more thing.
Apparently, he was amassing something. Maybe dirt on others, maybe money.
Any ideas, my colleague?
Commissioner!
And do you know anything about it?
You'll drive Marek's car.
Clean this shit off.
What's the make?
Hey, go on.
I'll be okay.
I loved my gangster.
A few months later, I gave birth to our daughter, Marta.
And about us?
I was a performer, a ballerina, and he…
It just wouldn't work out.
KRAKOW ONE YEAR LATER
Andrzej?
Jesus, my beautiful Andy from Budapest?
Hi!
-Nikoś, It's been a while. -A while.
-Magi! -Sup, Nikoś, bro!
Good to see you. Hi.
Nikoś, this is Wiesiek from Wołomin. We call him Wacko.
-Hi. -Hi, Wiesio.
Nikoś, come here.
Listen, for old times' sake, I have a favor to ask.
Sure, Andy.
Look, I know that in Budapest… our relationship was a bit different.
Back then, compared to you, I was
this fucking small. A fry.
-Come on. -I was.
Listen, let's drop this "Andy" thing and the patronizing tone, okay?
You've got to meet someone. You all have to meet someone.
This is Nikita, my new girlfriend.
Nikita is Miss Wet T-Shirt of the Toruń Voivodeship.
-Łódź Voivodeship. -What?
All right. Nikoś…
Let's break the ice.
Life in Tricity was divided into two periods.
First, the golden times.
The second one started when cocaine showed up.
Everybody used.
Crooks, activists, men, women, policemen.
They all got excited by it.
So good.
They never wondered what they were using.
Some people had blow mixed with so much stuff,
the police would've had no cause to arrest them.
They thought, "This stuff is weak"…
Weak stuff.
…and kept snorting.
The only thing that mattered was sticking something up your nose.
In the entire country,
maybe only a few lucky ones from the coast used cocaine and not wall plaster.
But the biggest players always had…
Fucking delicious!
You get it.
Cocaine.
Honey, come, try it. Blow makes my nipples hard.
I love my gangster.
And I love when he fucks me.
That's when everything changed.
That was the beginning of Nikoś' new road, and simultaneously…
the beginning of the end.
Nikoś.
Nikoś!
To the King of the Coast!
Nikoś, you know, this shit makes your head hard,
but something else goes soft
and stays that way.
Nikoś, listen, you guys have that man, Silvio.
That's right.
We'd like you to calm him down a liitle.
Nikoś, hey. Nikoś!
Nikoś, I'd like this to get through your damn head.
Control him, or we will.
What the fuck are you asking?
For now, we're just asking.
Sorry!
Andy.
You asked me not to call you Andy, so what should I call you instead?
What do you think?
The same as all of Pruszków and Warsaw.
Pershing.
Very nice.
Fuck.
KRAKOW MARCH 13, 1992
How's this żur supposed to taste?
What, you don't know how to make żur?
-Well, I don't. -Get dressed.
-Jesus, the kids. -Dad!
Natalka. Hi, darling.
-Oh wow… -Hi, Piotruś.
Normal people clean their houses themselves,
but my ex-husband hires a stripper.
Excuse me?
Hi, Wojtuś. So, what, still being a good boy?
Yeah…
My new girlfriend, Nikita.
-Honey, please meet your new stepmom. -Hello.
-Casually undressed. -Stop it.
Right, undressed.
-She said hello. -Well, hello.
Listen.
Maybe you know what to add to żur to make it more bitter?
I thought about adding some cigarette ash, but we have non-smokers here, right?
What the fuck?
Forget about the żur, okay?
And get dressed.
-What's the fucking point? -That you get dressed for the holidays.
Come, Natalka.
Żur needs some mustard seeds.
Mustard seeds?
I hadn't thought of that.
Hurry up, please. We're already late.
Listen up.
Before they get here, I'd like to announce something.
No, I'm not that brave.
My lawyer says there's a big chance they'll stop looking for me.
Yeah?
-You'll be able to come home? -Yeah. In a month, maybe two.
Yeah.
So don't let them keep chasing you, Dad. Please.
Of course.
They left at night.
Should've been here two hours ago.
Piotruś, let's go for a ride.
It was Friday the 13th.
Good Friday.
You okay?
I'm okay.
Marek!
Slow down! You'll kill us!
What the fuck?
Dad, what is it?
Stay in the car.
Those who are afraid of life learn to love.
Those who enjoy life are afraid of grief and learn to mourn.
All at once, he lost his brother, his mother, and his first mother-in-law.
This was one of his final lessons.
WARSAW A FEW MONTHS LATER
Nikoś, whenever you ask for help, you know I'll go to the ends of the earth.
You can stay here as long as you want.
How do you like it here?
It's almost like home.
Have you seen the photo of my piggy?
You know how I found her?
Came across it on a job.
Here I am, bashing her owner with a hammer, blood everywhere,
and she's fucking…
rubbing against my ankles like a kitten.
I was so fucking moved that I took her with me.
I had no idea a man could love a pig so much.
Keep it fucking down!
The business is changing.
Yesterday, Pershing and Wacko were friends.
Today, they are at war.
If you were friends with both of them,
you have to pick a side now.
And what about the pig?
I fed her. She grew up. She could even fetch.
Had such an appetite, she'd devour guys with their shoes on.
Can you imagine that, for four years,
I lived under one roof with a pig that fucking ate half of Wołomin?
And now?
Well? Where is she?
Some loser ran her over.
Left her dying in the middle of the street.
That was two days ago. Still can't get a hold of myself.
So you see…
sometimes the circumstances decide whether you eat or get eaten.
Listen, man…
for the sake of old times in Budapest, I'll be frank.
I decide whose side I'm on, not the circumstances.
The circumstances are such…
Fuck. I fucking love this part.
The circumstances are, the King of the Coast is hiding in Warsaw.
You have a weak hand.
You were fucking great.
It was a pleasure working with you.
No matter what they say about you around town, you're like a brother to me.
Don't snoop around.
That's not your style.
Good day.
He admitted it.
He ran her over.
Good.
Oh, and, boys…
prepare a safe house for Mr. Nikodem.
Enjoy your stay in the capital.
Add some. She turned out a bit bland.
Fuck.
Don't look at me.
She's seriously fucking crazy.
But aside from that,
why does mio capo not do her himse--
Mio capo.
Not so long ago, Capo was so fucking hostile about it.
About selling it.
Why wouldn't Capo go into drugs?
It's, like, pure profit.
It's evil.
Evil.
And spirits?
Because that guy…
Fuck, I keep forgetting…
Forrester.
And that fucking Rożek.
They throw fucking barrels of the stuff over, you know, the Oder River.
And no protection fee?
Fuck, because…
Capo should see how much money fucking Pruszków is making.
Silvio, what fucking protection fee? From fucking whom?
These are my friends. Are you fucking nuts?
I'm upset.
-I am upset. -I'm the one who's fucking upset.
-Don't lie. -No, don't you fucking lie.
-Don't fucking lie. -Don't you fucking lie.
-We're not on the same page. -I guess not.
Fucking hell.
Guess we're not.
Not on the same page!
What the fuck is he…
-With shoes on the table? -Right?
-In our fucking house? -In my fucking house.
-What? For fuck's… -With shoes…
-Is this a fucking pigsty to him? -I'll fucking show him.
-Who does he think he is? -Who are you, huh?
With fucking shoes! You know who you're messing with?
-Yeah. Get the fuck out! -Right! Get the fuck out!
Fucking piece of trash.
Hey. Nikoś.
Nikoś. Don't get upset.
Will some head cheer you up?
-Beautiful. Fucking beautiful. -Yeah?
-My king? -Yes, king.
-Who's my king? Who? -I am.
I'm the fucking king.
-Nobody talks to you like that. -Exactly. What the fuck is he thinking?
Does he know who I am?
Can't talk like that to the king.
We have to change our surroundings.
But I feel comfortable where I am.
I'll cut the stems so they last longer.
Let's hope I can last longer.
Fuck.
Twenty-two-zero-zero, come in.
Go on.
Skotarczak is in the van.
Who's with him?
No one. We cuffed him.
Someone should be cuffed to him.
Know where he escaped from?
Fuck me.
Hello?
Yes.
It's for you.
Yes?
Fuck!
Search all the safe houses in Pruszków!
His old friends were in prison, went legal, or turned their backs on him,
thinking the King of the Coast was history.
Silvio freaked out.
Nikoś?
Did two years.
This is Barton.
SIERADZ PRISON FEBRUARY 15, 1994
Silvio's replacement.
He believed in strength, in Nikoś, and in God.
Forever and ever, amen.
See?
I'm all he's got.
Well?
So? First some blow or a nice fuck?
Get me home.
How are you doing?
Fine.
How is school?
Also fine.
And your grades?
Good.
Smoke cigarettes?
No.
I can smell it.
My friends smoke. It's all over me.
Of course.
When's the…
parent-teacher night?
You and parent-teacher night.
So when is it?
In two days.
Okay, I'll be there.
Seriously?
Oh fuck.
You were smoking. I saw you.
What are you going to do?
-Meet the homeroom teacher guy. -It's a woman.
Even better.
I don't know what he did there. Maybe they talked. Maybe he screwed her.
Either way, the whole school still remembers his visit to this day.
-What's going on? -Zgorzelec arrived.
On the right is Forrester, on the left… Fuck, Rożek or something like that.
And what, these two dorks can smuggle a million liters of spirit a month?
They've done it a few times.
-Where's our Tricity boy? -Went for a leak.
Right. For a leak.
Come here.
What are you doing?
This is how you want to get back in the game?
How?
Like this.
Can you fucking tell me what Nikoś from Tricity is doing on the Oder?
Fuck, man, I'm putting in one mil and getting four.
That's all. I need to recover.
Silvio set this up?
You believe him? Believe his men?
Fuck Silvio.
I believe in money.
You used to believe in people.
Man, this isn't your style.
This is exactly my style. This is our style.
They'll be imitating us again. It'll be like the old times.
No, man.
People used to imitate you because you were ahead of your time.
Now time has stopped for you.
And you've lost too much of it anyway, you see? Too much.
Wait here. Wait.
Nikoś' strong suit was accepting the weaknesses of his loved ones.
Two mountains finally meet. Forrester.
Nikoś.
Rożek.
Respect.
Fuck, again?
Silvio made a mess in Orłowo. Shot one of our guys.
So what?
So shit!
There he is!
Mio grande capo.
Capo di tutti, fucking capi.
Nikoś.
A king with no kingdom.
Ciao, bella!
No! No more.
No more.
Because it pisses me off…
It pisses me off…
that when I urged you to work with Forrester and Rożek,
you said, "Fuck, no, Silvio. Silvio, are you fucking nuts?"
And now what?
Now fucking what?
I'm hearing that mio capo…
smuggles spirits
with my amici.
No.
I don't like that.
Things have fucking changed, haven't they?
Fuck.
Look.
I used to be a nobody, right?
Now you are a nobody!
Oh shit!
I'm sorry.
Nikoś.
You have nothing.
You have fucking nothing!
You have no cars.
You have no people.
You don't even have respect.
It ran out.
Nothing.
You have nothing.
And you know what I have?
I have Pruszków on my side--
Don't fucking laugh.
No, don't laugh. Don't laugh.
They know how the game is played, see?
They know very fucking well how to play because they've got balls.
You got balls?
Show me your balls.
Come on.
Show your fucking balls!
I'm sorry.
He's going to say something. Fucking quiet!
You are so big…
only because I allowed it to happen.
I wish you death.
I wish death upon both of you.
Arrivederci.
Arrivedere.
Come here.
Good day, Nikoś.
Your Polish is so great.
And can you say, "She sells seashells by the seashore"?
You won't catch me.
You'll go back to the Reich and stay there with your Polish like a dickhead.
You didn't get that?
I understood everything.
But I'll catch you. Don't worry about that.
I bet if I shook some of those trees, a few cops would fall off, huh?
Your time is over, Nikoś.
There are no more guys like you.
Back in the day,
the most cunning ones always came out on top.
But nowadays, the cruelest ones are those who rule.
Bullshit.
Silvio is after you.
He's going around town picking the biggest degenerates.
I know you, Nikoś.
You're not like that.
I presented an idea to my boss.
And he approved it.
You go with me to Germany,
we pick you up at the border,
plant some… illegal weapon on you,
and put you behind bars for a year and a half.
Meanwhile, everything will die down.
Then you'll get out and be yourself again.
But your ass will be saved. And my boss
will have the great Nikoś on a silver platter.
Everyone will be happy.
No.
Why?
Because if you lock me up in prison…
then…
then after three days, Nikita will be screwing the whole town.
That's why.
A new wave is coming from Warsaw and Pruszków.
They're not like you. They won't hesitate, even for a moment.
Do you have the strength to oppose them?
-Mrs. Milena Kawkowska? -Yes.
Who's that?
A CEO of a bank.
What's that on his face?
It's freaking me out. Tell him to either fucking leave or take it off. Right now.
Polish workmanship…
Or is it supposed to be like that? Maybe it's on purpose?
I know a lot about your relationship with Nikodem Skotarczak.
How?
Questions like these undermine my commitment to my work.
I know much more than you would like.
No coffee for you?
I like it jet black.
That's what he calls you, right?
What do you want?
Leverage? Information?
You've come to the wrong place.
These are not my methods.
I'm asking you to help me save Nikodem.
We do what we agreed on.
It's very nice of you to be so concerned about us.
But Nikodem can manage on his own.
Arrivederci, then.
-Hi, Natalka. -Hi, Dad.
Where have you been?
Went to take out the trash.
Two days ago?
After I left, I realized that I…
had taken the remote. So if for a couple of days you had to move your little ass,
then I'm terribly sorry.
How much did you lose?
Two hundred K.
Fucking what?
Fucking how much?
I had bad luck.
For fuck's sake, Nikoś.
Two fucking hundred…
But I bought a house in your name.
You bought a house for me?
Not for you. In your name.
Dad?
Yeah?
Who is that?
Go to your room.
What is it?
What is it, my beautiful Andy?
Took a wrong turn?
To get to Pruszków, you need to go to the end of the road,
turn right, up to the main road,
and then drive 400 kilometers straight the fuck out of here.
How's that?
How is Silvio?
It's good you started cleaning up. Good.
The only thing is, our place has always been clean.
Now I want you
to start making money for us.
But from what? From drugs?
Jesus Christ, from whatever you want.
I don't care, you know. From all sorts of things.
I'll tell you more.
This fucking Tricity of yours
is a more interesting market than the capital.
That's why we can't allow…
for it to be ruled by someone who's not cooperating.
You know, Andy, the thing is…
everyone has their place.
And you think it belongs to you,
but I'm deeply convinced that I belong to this place.
Nikoś.
I spent, like, fucking 10,000 zlotys on fuel alone to get here, you know?
To see you personally.
I could've sent two guys with fucking silencers.
And it would've been over.
But I did this… out of respect for you.
You understand?
I have two buses full of guys waiting on Monciak.
All this so that you understand, Nikoś.
That this isn't a fucking joke. We're not joking.
Oh, I know you're not joking.
But the fucking thing is,
that if I fucking want, I can have helicopters flying here!
At my fucking whim!
At my very fucking whim!
TRICITY DAILY PRUSZKÓW CHASED OUT OF GDAŃSK
It's unclear to this day who called the police.
But it was the last time
that the city boys managed to beat the barbarians of Pruszków.
GDYNIA FILM FESTIVAL 1997
Nikoś.
I want to have fun too, okay? You promised to introduce me to the stars.
-Take care of me! -Give me two minutes. Gotta do something.
-Two minutes! -Two minutes.
Nikoś.
Fuck me like yesterday, or I'll lose my mind. Please.
Fifteen minutes.
Mr. Nikodem, a word. How was it to act alongside Jan Nowicki?
Awesome!
What do you feel when the papers call you "the father of the Tricity mafia"?
I think it's nice.
Thank you!
Two minutes are up.
For fuck's sake, I told you I'll fuck you in 15 minutes--
What did you say?
Who did you take me for?
Are you fucking my man?
Maybe.
You know why? Maybe because you can't.
I don't know how to fuck?
-I don't fucking know how to fuck? -Was I unclear?
Nikoś became the most famous Polish criminal.
Although in fact, he wasn't even a gangster.
If you wanted to be one, you had to play rough.
Like the Oder thugs who went to war with each other.
ZGORZELEC WAR MORE CASUALTIES
But in this war, Nikoś has backed the wrong horse.
And not for the first time.
THE ŁÓDŹ SAUSAGE KING KIDNAPPED
By doing that, he stepped on all eight legs of the Łódź Octopus.
Nikoś wanted to be everyone's friend.
But when there's a war going on, you have to take sides.
WACKO ASSASSINATED
So many open fronts…
that sometimes you don't want to stand against the world so much…
but for some reason, the world stands against you.
And in the middle of all that, a lonely city boy.
My poor little Nikoś.
You should take better care of yourself.
I shouldn't be alive.
What?
Don't tell me what to do.
It slowly dawned on Nikoś that everything that has a beginning also has an end.
He tried, at all costs, to hide that it terrified him.
I prefer black to be black.
My sister…
died in the spring of '86.
Then my mom…
and my brother…
both died, too, in the spring of '92.
And…
now another six years later, it's spring again.
The hell are you saying?
Six, six, six.
-So now it's my turn. -No.
You'll live 100 years.
Don't think about it.
Let's leave.
Can't you see? Everything is fucked up.
We'll wait it out and return.
You don't have to be the king of everything. We can live normally.
I am the king.
You are the king.
I'm the fucking king.
-You are the fucking king. -I'm the fucking king.
You are the king.
You are the fucking king.
You are the fucking…
There's a club opening. I'll be back in the morning.
-So go with him. -But why?
'Cause he's a great dancer.
-Listen-- -What's this?
A temporary precaution.
What's this?
How'd you do that?
-Magic. -Magic isn't real.
It can be.
But, yes, cigarettes don't disappear.
Listen, I wanted to tell you…
Not everything is as it seems.
That maybe
something looks dangerous, but it isn't.
What are you trying to say?
That I'll always be your dad.
Just that.
And that'll never change.
Okay, go.
Just don't smoke. Or I'll spank you.
-You and beating children. -That actually can change.
If you smoke, I'll spank you.
Your bare ass. With a belt.
Drive her.
That was the last time I saw my dad.
APRIL 24, 1998
Brother.
Why did you call?
I told you Nikoś can manage on his own.
But I was wrong.
I promise you, everything will be beautiful from now on, okay?
We can turn this around, right?
I can't do this.
I beg you.
Save him.
Everything will be normal now.
Lock him up in jail.
We'll be together, all of us.
All my wives, my mothers-in-law, my mistresses, my kids.
We'll all be together.
I'm begging you, save him.
Lock him up for a little bit, and everything will be fine.
I'm begging you.
We'll all live…
we'll all live on the same street.
I'll plant something on him. Anything. Drugs.
And you'll lock him up for a bit, and everything will calm down.
I've been trying to lock him up for years.
-If I could, he'd already be in jail! -We have to do something.
I'm going to take care of all of you.
A few months. I need a few months, understand?
I need a few months-- Don't laugh at me.
I need a few months. I'm begging you. A few months.
Please.
I'll quit drugs…
He doesn't know what he's doing. Doesn't understand anything.
This no longer concerns me.
…casino, the booze.
Doesn't understand what's happening.
Wanna bet I won't gamble anymore? Huh?
Sure, I'll bet you.
And this?
One last time.
What's that?
Where is your helmet? They aim for the head.
You're right.
Stay here. I've got something for you.
Who killed him?
Maybe Nikoś was killed by the pride of Pruszków,
who was unable to accept that he couldn't take over Tricity.
There is nothing we can do now.
Maybe it was the fury of the Łódź Octopus
because Nikoś had the audacity to show them how to behave.
Or maybe it was the unfulfilled ambitions of his frustrated bodyguard?
Maybe he was killed by chance by an old enemy?
Some unfinished business?
Nikodem already had his chance, but…
but he didn't take it.
Or maybe it was betrayal that killed him?
Because Forrester felt betrayed when Nikoś picked the wrong side?
Maybe just before his death,
he looked around for a window that he could escape through.
But he surely wouldn't have abandoned his best friend.
He lived like a tiger. And now…
ZORBA THE GREEK
…maybe he was a city boy again?
Fuck!
He's not coming back.
One more thing.
Have you heard that, near his life's end, Nikoś wasn't as broke as everyone thought?
That's not true.
They say he hid a large sum of money for a rainy day, but no one knows where.
Nikoś…
You brought flowers.
This year it's my turn.
THIS STORY IS NOT A BIOGRAPHY OF NIKODEM SKOTARCZAK.
SOME CHARACTERS WERE CREATED FOR THE FILM.