High Water (2022) s01e02 Episode Script

1
A NETFLIX SERIES
IN MEMORY OF JERZEGO TRELI
1942 - 2022
THURSDAY, 10 JULY 1997
DOMANIEWO
Where the fuck
is that prescription?
JULY 1972
The planned demolition
of the Domaniewo floodbank
resulted in the floodings
of the Latka Dairy
and hurt some of the cattle.
The herd in Domaniewo
consisted of 370 animals.
The true damage is still being assessed.
I wonder if this is from that cow.
Can someone please explain to me
how nobody knew that there was
a Latka dairy plant in Domaniewo?
Unfortunately,
it wasn't marked on our maps.
Is it the size of a fucking fly?
That easy to miss?
I told you we shouldn't trust
that Tremer woman, what's her face.
What does Miss Tremer have to do with it?
What do you mean "what"? She
She caused this whole mess.
- According to our calculations
- You have to tell the people now.
- What?
- The city center is gonna flood.
The city center?
Our operation is in the north!
I understand you're upset
by the consequences of your operation.
The difference in ground levels in Wrocław
will trigger rising waters
in the Oława river.
The water will have nowhere to go.
It'll completely flood the city center.
- The Odra will take it.
- No, it won't.
You just have to look at the levels.
It's simple physics, Mr. Nowak.
Professor Nowak.
It's still physics,
regardless of your title, Professor.
You mistake physics for imagination.
Let me just show you.
- What the
- What the hell is wrong with you?
That's what it will look like, gentlemen.
Good luck to you.
Miss Tremer.
Jaśmina.
Where are you going?
I asked you a question.
Take the girl and anyone you care about
anywhere except that one-story house
in Biskupin, do you understand me?
Come on, pressing that button
won't make it come faster.
Let's go back to HQ
and discuss our options like adults.
What options, Kuba?
There's already three times
as much water as there normally is.
- There are no more options left for us!
- Then we need to make some, not run away.
Then why don't you figure it out
with that moron Nowak?
Here's my friendly advice for you,
get life jackets.
Fuck it!
- You can't just leave me with all this.
- I can and I am.
I'm begging you.
Okay,
then I would like to see Klara again.
So that's what this is about?
It took a flood for you to show up
and care about your daughter?
Did we need a flood
for you to finally give me a call?
- No. No way.
- I'm begging you.
I've been clean for about
I've been clean for about two years now.
And that bottle in your backpack
is fucking cough syrup?
Piss off!
You have other family responsibilities
here too!
Fuck you!
Jaśmina, wait.
What? I'm in a hurry.
Well, I could give you a ride
wherever you need to go.
And in return?
Oh-five,
an accident on Świdnicka Street.
Copy that,
we'll be there in two minutes.
You sure that's legal?
I'm not sure. If they don't encrypt
their frequencies, that's their business.
So what's going on?
Will Wrocław be like Kłodzko?
Worse than that. One river in Kłodzko,
here there are five.
The waves of five rivers
will converge into one.
This here will be all under water.
The Japanese Garden will be flooded.
I don't know,
that new tenement renovated for the Pope
will be under water.
This entire city is basically gone.
Turn here, it's a shortcut.
I actually had a feeling
that you were a local.
Can you drop me off here?
- There's nothing around here.
- Drop me off here, please.
Okay.
Jaśmina, if I said anything wrong,
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.
Don't worry, it's okay.
Listen, and if there's anything else you'd
like to share, then please take my card.
Thank you for the lift. See you.
But you can see yourself
all of the doctors are busy.
At the moment,
the only doctor available is
- Dr. Białkowski, I think.
- Then sign me up with him, please.
But he's a urologist.
Just what I need.
Mm. A urologist without a referral?
- Two patients for sign-up, please.
- Please do it.
Miss Tremer.
You can follow me.
So, how many bottles do you need?
Two. Three.
- Have you taken this long?
- About two years.
But I'm reducing the dosage.
Maybe reduce it completely.
- Hmm?
- Well,
it's never the right moment
to stop, you know.
You know what they say, that happiness
begins when the fear ends.
So beautiful.
I'll make sure to write it down.
- Here.
- Thank you.
Is the hospital ready to be evacuated?
I haven't gotten
any evacuation orders so far.
By the time you get one,
it will already be too late.
They're all stumbling around in the dark.
- Hi there.
- Hey, it's
- It's you.
- Yeah. Yeah, um
My father's still in there.
Ah, of course. How is he doing?
Much better, thank you.
And what are you doing here?
Just a checkup, you know.
- Do you mind if I snag one?
- Here.
No, no, it's the last one.
Please, I've got an entire pack
in my backpack.
Any more news about the flood?
Well, you should probably do your best
to get your father signed out
before Sunday, so
That's the news about the flood.
I have to go, see you later.
What should we do,
Professor Nowak?
Well, hard to tell conclusively.
We can't make inconclusive decisions,
you know.
Well, what if water
actually goes through the city center?
It will go through the north,
how many times do I have to say it?
It's just that with Oława, well
Piepka, shut up, okay?
Janek.
Janek!
Janek!
Colonel.
- Yes?
- We have to secure Strachochin,
- probably Kowale
- What do you mean "probably"?
Yes or no?
Better safe than sorry.
As they say, a stitch in time saves nine.
All right.
We should further involve
the firefighters and the militia.
Sorry, Andrzej, the police, the police.
we are cancelling
our regularly scheduled programming
due to a critical situation in Wrocław.
According to unofficial information
from sources close to headquarters,
the historic city center
is facing a severe risk of flooding.
Tremer, fuck me.
You can go ahead, madam.
This old German pulley will hold.
But the rope seems to be Polish, isn't it?
The rope's Polish.
FLOOD RISK. LEAVE THE FLAT URGENTLY.
HOUSING BOARD
BASIA'S MARKE
Jaśmina?
Oh God, dear child, you're really here.
Yeah. Here I am.
What did your mom say
to you coming here?
I bet she was happy, wasn't she?
Mm-hmm. Yeah, typical mom.
Have you had this store long?
Uh, it'll be three years in August.
Before,
Kazik ran a video tape rental store
but he closed it
when those holograms started coming up.
The poor thing got atherosclerosis
because of it all.
Now he spends his days at home.
So I assume
you still live in that apartment
- above my mom's?
- I'd never move from that place.
Beata would be so happy you're back, dear.
Did you know she became
the ward nurse in cardiology on Traugutta?
She always wanted to work at a hospital,
so I'm happy for her.
Excuse me, can I get some help?
- I'm on my way, dear.
- Ma'am.
I wanted to ask you if there's any chance
you could take in my mom upstairs
for a couple of days.
- I told Kuby I can help.
- Kuby?
Oh. He didn't say
you were coming to visit,
but he did ask us to check on your mom.
Uh-huh.
What I'm hoping for is that
she moves from the ground floor up a bit.
For a couple of days.
Hmm?
So, is it true
what they say about the flood?
I don't know what they're saying about the
flood, but I know it's not looking good.
Wait. How on earth
are we gonna get her out of the house?
- Ma'am, I'm in a hurry!
- Coming, coming!
She'll listen to you, ma'am, and I will
pay for everything, I'll cover it.
Don't worry about it.
I have to go. Goodbye.
But wait
How am I supposed
to take care of her alone?
What, ma'am?
Why don't you try these?
From your garden.
Leave me alone, okay? What am I, a child?
Why are they running around
every which way?
Before, someone could be dying
and they'd still be drinking coffee.
I have no idea why.
- Hello.
- Hello.
Please leave. We're doing rounds.
All right now. Sir, how are you feeling?
Huh?
- How are you feeling?
- Well, I've been much better.
What's with the commotion
at the hospital today?
What commotion? It's a day like any other.
Oh Lord, okay. Let's give him Furosemide
and Dobutamine twice a day.
Morning, evening, and an infusion pump.
All right. Feel better, sir.
- Hello, Doctor.
- How are you feeling?
I'm pretty good.
Pretty good.
Okay, get that pump from the second floor.
Doctor, I was thinking,
maybe I should take my father home.
What? Home? You realize
your father's not responding to treatment.
But I heard there's high water
coming to Wrocław.
So it should be safer at home, right?
Severe cases are staying here for now.
I can get a private ambulance, tomorrow.
Your father is way too weak, he wouldn't
be able to survive the ride home.
Maybe he'll be better in two, three days.
Jesus, Dad! What are you doing?
What are you doing?
You think I don't know
what's going on around here?
That the hospital's evacuating
because the Oder is flooding?
There's no evacuation.
Get some rest.
What about the house?
All right, what's going on here?
- What
- Just like a child!
What about the house?
- What about the house?
- Everything's fine.
The renovation's almost done. You'll see
it for yourself when you come back.
Don't worry about the house.
So sonny.
So
Sonny.
That house
it's not just
- bricks and a roof, you understand.
- I know, Dad, I know.
That's why you won't recognize it.
It'll be in great shape
when you come back.
Go home, Jędruś.
Go, please.
Just go.
Bye, then, Dad.
Your secretary said I'd find you here.
This is where I always run
when I need to clear my mind.
Professor Nowak says the water
won't go through the city center.
Not important what Professor Nowak says,
but what the media says.
Who leaked the info? Who was it, Tremer?
Never mind, doesn't matter anyways.
You should head
to the north part of the city.
I'm sure the media
will follow you right away.
Huh
And you think that will actually
calm people down in the center?
You should dress for a crisis situation.
I'll take care of the equipment.
CLOUDLESS FUTURE FOR POLAND: JAKUB MARCZAK
Come on, Macioszek.
So where are the sandbags?
- Macioszek, where are the sandbags?
- Um, the sandbags? Um
Maybe in the other room?
What's this?
Sandbags.
Are you fucking shitting me?
Yeah, Macioszek, are you fucking
shitting us? Where are the rest?
Oh, on the training grounds.
Fucking training grounds?
You've got Lugol's iodine, but
you don't have enough sandbags in here?
Mr. Marczak, don't get upset.
Please keep calm and soldier on.
And do we even have any sand?
There are enough sandboxes in the city.
Um, Colonel,
my brother-in-law has a sand mine.
Maybe he could help us out?
Why are you only telling me
about this now, Macioszek?
Go on, call your brother-in-law,
get him to save some sand for us.
And tell him we could pay.
Fuck!
Thank you.
Good evening. One ticket
for the next train to Elbląg, please.
The next one is at 11:20 p.m.
But all that's left are berth seats.
That's fine.
When we heard
that the residents of nearby villages
from the Opolskie area are coming our way,
we felt for their tragedy.
Please do not panic.
Wrocław is safe.
We are monitoring the situation.
I will be there personally
- Load of horseshit.
- to make sure everything is
Thank you very much.
I'm glad I managed to catch you, madam.
There's someone waiting for you
at the café.
For me?
Oh, hey.
Hey.
Where's your dad?
Probably at work.
Ah.
Uh Hold on.
I'll get you something to drink.
Excuse me, can I use the phone, please?
Thank you.
My dad has the same jacket as you.
But with an Anarchy badge.
Hmm.
Tell me, why are you here?
Well
I'm just trying to find out
how well you know my dad.
We worked together, so I know him
a little, but that's about it.
But you're on first name terms.
Hmm.
He's formal even with his own assistant.
And I know he sleeps with her.
We know each other pretty well
from school.
Then you must've known my mom, right?
How did you get here?
By taxi.
I called right away.
You know you're grounded
for the rest of your life for this?
How about just half?
Go, there's the car. I'll be right there.
Bye, Klara.
Relax, I didn't tell her anything.
- She's not stupid.
- No, she's not.
- What did she ask you?
- Just how we know each other.
- Fuck me.
- Come on!
Hey, chill out. I told you
I haven't told her a thing about us.
Plus, I'm not gonna be here
for much longer.
- How so?
- Because.
It's better for things
to stay the way they are.
Just please, promise me
you'll take her somewhere safe.
At least take her away from Biskupin.
You haven't changed a bit.
You show up, make a mess,
and when you start feeling the heat,
- you get the hell out.
- I didn't mean to.
But you did. Wait!
Maybe we should talk over the whole thing.
What do you even want to talk about, Kuba?
Tell me.
There is nothing
you and I have to talk about.
You are right, I don't really
I am completely not ready for it.
What do I tell her?
I'm sure you'll figure it out.
You're a politician.
Fuck, look, that's a cow!
I swear, a cow!
Hey, pretty lady, got any change?
Trems!
Hey, Trems, don't you recognize me?
It's me, Half Boot.
I don't know you. Fuck off.
Excuse me.
What's going on with the trains?
Shut down.
The rails between Opole and Wrocław
are flooded.
Thank you. Wait for me here, okay?
All right.
FRIDAY, 11 JULY 1997
KĘTY VILLAGE
GERMAN REICH RAILWAY
BRESLAU HEADQUARTERS
Excuse me.
Excuse me!
I'm looking for Mrs. Beata Kozarowicz.
She works here as a ward nurse
in cardiology.
I need to talk to her.
I have, um, an urgent matter.
If you could help me.
Who should I say it is?
Jaśmina.
- Jaśka.
- Betty.
You're alive.
At least for now, I would say.
How are you?
I'm okay. And you?
Okay.
Listen, there's a patient in your ward
named Rębacz and I
need to talk to him.
Visits are for family only.
Betty, I know. But this is
a very urgent matter
and I really need your help.
Mr. Rębacz?
I'm sorry, did I wake you?
Who are you?
It's well past ten on a weekday.
My name is Jaśmina Tremer,
I'm from the Polish Academy of Sciences.
I'm a hydrologist.
Not too long ago,
I happened to visit your home in Kęty.
Your son let me in.
What for?
I work for the crisis management
headquarters.
And we're analyzing the levels
of groundwater around Wrocław.
Next to your house there's a viaduct.
Um, trains used to go through there.
Wrocław-Opole, back in the day, yeah?
Yes.
Before 1903.
I saw that there's also a water reservoir
by the house.
Mm, there was a railroad crane there.
A crane?
Under the Germans.
The house belonged to the railroad.
They filled up steam trains there.
Huh.
That explains the water level gauge.
I guess that's the old riverbed.
Uh, and why do you need to know this?
Please excuse me.
Thank you very much.
You've really helped me.
You didn't leave.
Yeah, I didn't leave.
What happened?
In Kęty, the river is returning
to its old riverbed
- and it's moving through the ground.
- So what?
We need to blow up those floodbanks.
In Kęty?
Are you nuts? People live there.
Can we do it somewhere else?
No, we can't do it somewhere else
'cause it's the last bend
of the Oder before Wrocław.
And what happens if you're wrong again?
These used to be floodplains
a long time ago.
You blow up the banks,
reduce the impact of the wave,
- you save Wrocław.
- Oh, Kubuś.
Mr. Marczak, the deputy minister is here
waiting in the conference room.
It's now or never, Kuba.
Maja, prepare the documents needed
to blow up the floodbanks ASAP for Czacki.
Get him to mobilize the engineers.
But you have to go with them.
It's your idea,
you're gonna supervise them.
- Here, in this region
- Ah!
- There's our hero.
- Hello.
So
- maybe I'll leave you to it.
- Yes, yes, yes.
We'll talk about this later.
Quite a circus you're running here,
Mr. Marczak.
Minister,
whatever professor Nowak said is
I heard you've brought in
some woman from Żuławy,
who's making a mess.
She's helping with the flood.
We're in a crisis and we need to act.
The permission documents you asked for.
Thank you, Miss Krook.
What is that?
Permission for the military. We have
to blow up the floodbanks in Kęty.
So that Wrocław remains safe.
Professor Nowak has assured me
Wrocław is safe.
Professor Nowak is way off the mark.
And why exactly do you care?
Is he an expert?
He is. You are not.
You've acted too fast before,
in Domaniewo.
- Domaniewo was a mistake.
- If you blow up those fucking banks,
you'll be flooded by a river of shit
up to your ears!
Am I right, sweetheart?
Isn't that better than water in the city?
I can see the headlines already.
"The government floods farmers."
Do you know
how many farmers there are in Poland?
You don't? I'll tell you how many.
A fuckload.
Wrocław has less than half a million.
So, what should I do? Cancel the move?
You must be joking, right?
What would that look like,
three months before an election?
And we didn't defend the city?
But Minister, you know it's not possible
to have your cake and eat it too.
Mr. Marczak.
In politics,
you eat cakes
that are not even there, trust me.
They say the biggest achievement
of the new Poland
is free media. So, since we've got them,
maybe they could be useful to us.
Give the people a chance
to defend their properties.
What about Wrocław?
You've got Nowak's signature, right?
So when those people in Kęty
flood the city,
they'll be the ones who are fucked.
Choose very wisely, Mr. Marczak.
What do you think?
I honestly don't think it's a good idea.
the village of Kęty
and the surrounding areas.
The sources at crisis HQ tell us
that there are plans
to blow up the floodbanks in Kęty.
That operation is supposed to
keep the city center of Wrocław
from getting flooded
and completely destroyed
by the incoming wave.
Now it's time
for the latest weather update.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT IN KĘTY
Guys,
they're going to flood Kęty.
They said so on TV.
Get the truck and the megaphone.
Szpak! Szpak, open up, come on!
They said it on TV. Hurry up!
- Did you see?
- Yeah, on TV.
Bring your families down to the banks.
NO ANIMAL WAS HURT DURING
THE SHOOTING OF THE SERIES.
THIS SERIES IS AN ARTISTIC VISION
OF THE CREATORS, INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS.
THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS
WERE CREATED FOR THIS STORY.