Ultraviolet (2017) s01e09 Episode Script
#hycel
JULY 1993 [running footsteps.]
[ragged grunting, gasping.]
- [impact thud.]
- [man gasps.]
[body thuds.]
[owl hoots nearby.]
[Ola.]
I don't get it.
If you were a dentist or a lawyer, you'd be sitting in some cool office behind a mahogany desk now, instead of here with me ordering cheap egg rolls.
- I hate mahogany.
- Mm-hmm.
But I love the smell of old oil in the morning.
[soft laughing.]
- [Michal mutters.]
- Oh! - Vegetable rice.
- [phone ringing.]
- Not a moment of peace.
- Shut up! Look what's in the box - We got a letter.
- Fascinating.
Someone put it in Tomek's mailbox.
It was written by Zenon Nowak.
That Zenon Nowak? That Zenon Nowak or the other Who is he? Zenon Nowak aka Hycel.
Apprehended at the end of the '90s, sentenced for one murder but suspected of at least several others.
All sexual in nature.
The victims were all young men.
It was a very famous case.
Zenon Nowak claims he's innocent.
[soft chuckle.]
I've never met anyone in prison claiming otherwise.
If I remember correctly, Kraszewski was on that case.
- He was running the investigation? - No.
He was in charge of logistics.
He was running errands for the detectives, buying them smokes.
[laughing.]
"I decided to write 'cause I read an interview with a witness in my case who says he doesn't remember much because it happened a long time ago.
I believe that he didn't remember back then and only said what he was told to.
" - Who is that witness? - [Tomek.]
Wait.
- Come on.
It'll be tomorrow soon.
- Wait! "Please, help me.
I know that my case is hopeless because all the possible instances have already sentenced me, but maybe if you talked to this witness.
His name is Mariusz Rogalski.
You are my only hope for not staying in this place until God switches off my light.
Zenon Nowak.
" I think we shouldn't do it.
He's been on the inside for 18 years and he got bored.
He read about us and figured that he'd have some fun with us.
What do we have to lose? I'd check that Rogalski out.
But why? Isn't that a waste of time? Time is one thing.
But why get into such a cesspool? - Stick to your exercises, Mom.
- I agree.
I'd rather stay clean and scented.
I have a baby on the way.
We've already agreed not to take every case.
But it wouldn't hurt us to try.
And what if this man really is innocent? Can you imagine being innocent and still sent to prison for life? But there was an investigation, they found hard evidence against him.
Three different instances sentenced him.
I don't trust the police.
Mostly, I wouldn't trust Kraszewski, - who took part in it.
- So, that's what bugs you! If there is a case with him involved, you lose your grasp on reality.
That's just how she is and you have to get used to that.
- Hi, Piast.
- Good morning! - I think it's three to one.
- It looks like it.
Is this the voice of reason I hear? - Oh, damn it.
- Does it hurt? - No! - No.
Hmm.
[theme song playing.]
- So, you got your way, after all.
- [laughs.]
- You know me.
- Yes, I do.
Wait.
- [no sound.]
- Doesn't work.
[Henryk sighs.]
[whispers.]
Someone's coming.
[Henryk chuckles.]
Wait [knocking.]
- Are you Jehovah's Witnesses? - Uh, Mr.
Rogalski? [exhales.]
Police.
You always walk in twos.
No, we're not the police.
We're journalists.
[Mariusz.]
Ah! So, the ATM has arrived again! How much for the interview? No interview.
We're writing a story.
- A story about the case - Shh! [whispers.]
I know which case.
They don't come to me for any other cases.
You're writing about Hycel.
I can talk to you but you have to pay me for it.
- I'm in some financial trouble.
- A hundred.
- Two.
- A hundred and fifty.
- A hundred and fifty? - Yeah.
Fine.
But paid in advance.
And be brief.
My schedule is full.
- Wait a moment.
How much more? - Ten zloty.
- I don't need it for the parking.
- It's enough.
Okay, so In 1999, you were a witness in Zenon Nowak's case? - Do you remember what happened then? - Vaguely.
I'm pressed for time and my schedule was pretty full then, too.
- Mmm.
What do you remember? - That I was young and beautiful.
[snorts.]
Who would doubt that? You don't believe me? I can show you the pictures.
No.
We believe you.
But what of it? All of it.
I was young and beautiful and made a living by keeping company with the not-so-young and beautiful but rich.
And? And one day, uh I saw Wiesio Marczak getting in the car with him.
- With him? - [softly.]
Yes, with him.
With Hycel.
- That's who we're talking about.
- It was Nowak? Probably.
No, I don't follow.
Why "probably" and not "certainly"? It was night.
It was dark, right? You would have recognized the driver from 50 meters at night? I see.
But why did you Because I have problems with the police.
I always have.
They brought me in for a lineup and that Nowak looked a bit like that guy behind the wheel.
- The one you didn't see.
- Who cares? He also had the exact same green Polonez.
Half of Poland used to have cars like that and half of them were green.
Yes, I remember.
Those were real fox traps.
I assume your troubles were over after that? - You're quite clever.
- Will you say the same to the police? - No.
- Why not? - Because my problems will never end.
- And you're not ashamed? Why? Why? They didn't lock him up because of what I said.
Or because of his green car.
They had other evidence.
Everything added up.
He was a murderer, right? - I served the good cause, didn't I? - It's all so weird.
[Michal.]
I had a look at his files.
And it turns out that after 2000, he spent some time in jail.
Short terms, mainly for drug possession with intent to sell.
I'll look through the paper archives.
I may find something there.
What about Kraszewski? Did he play an important role in this investigation? I told you, he was an errand boy.
The investigation was run by the famous Inspector Celinski aka "Celina," the most decorated criminal detective in Lodz.
- Uh-huh.
Still on the job? - Retired.
But very socially active.
I think he even ran in council elections.
I don't know him, but maybe I should.
Well, better not.
Unless you want to formalize Ultraviolet in Lodz.
[giggles.]
No! I wasn't the only one responsible for finally apprehending him.
It was the work of the entire team.
Great specialists appointed by the district police commissioner himself.
Make sure you put that in your book.
[chuckles.]
Officer Michal Holender told me in secret that you're writing a book.
Yes, but I'm just starting to collect materials.
I have a long way to go.
But I'd like it to have a chapter about you.
After all, you were in charge of the team.
Oh! Yes, actually.
Actually I was.
It was a very difficult and complicated case.
At first, we had to face a conspiracy of silence.
And, as usual, a coincidence helped us solve the case.
A momentary carelessness of that bastard.
This carelessness, was it taking one of his victims for a ride - while being watched by a witness? - You can say that.
This witness isn't so sure now that the victim got into Nowak's car.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
I didn't know that.
It doesn't matter anyway.
You know Even back then, he was obviously a lowlife.
Can we? No court would sentence anyone just listening to his testimony.
[Ola.]
Mm-hmm.
My partner of that time, Wlodek Tomiak, and I agreed to believe him enough to check Nowak.
He seemed suspicious, he didn't have an alibi, he matched the description.
And then it turned out that we found Nowak's fingerprints on the keys which belonged to the victim.
- And that was that.
Want some? - Thank you.
Why did Nowak stand trial just for the last murder? He didn't have an alibi for any of the murders, but the lack of an alibi is not enough to charge someone.
All the murders had the same modus operandi.
First, he gave them a shot to make them sleep, then he strangled them slowly, while raping them.
And finally, he cut off the victim's head and placed it between the naked legs.
Fucking pervert.
Mm-hmm.
Uh do you believe Nowak is guilty of all the murders? I have no doubts about it.
But no evidence means no punishment.
What about DNA tests? Maybe you could find something there? DNA? You kidding? We were happy when we had batteries for flashlights.
You could run tests today.
We could but what for? He is already in jail and he'll stay there.
Just one more question.
Would you help me get to the files? I don't know.
They should be somewhere in the district archive.
The files always ended up there.
I'll try to help you.
Great! [brakes squeaking loudly.]
- [Ola.]
Thank you for organizing this trip.
- [door buzzes, opens nearby.]
[man.]
Ten minutes.
- Good morning.
- Not the worst, yes.
It's nice that someone dropped by, but what is this about? It's about your freedom, sir.
What could you possibly know about freedom? I suppose you'd like to get it back.
A dream.
Yes, but you know that dreams come true sometimes.
Once again, you've no idea what you're talking about.
So, enlighten me.
Freedom and faith have a completely different meaning to you than to me.
Once you're here, especially for something you didn't do, you gain a completely different perspective of those things.
It's impossible to describe it with words.
It's a feeling, not a thought.
What a beautiful sentiment, as if you were quoting something.
The one thing that is in abundance here is time.
When you keep talking to yourself, you finally learn the words by heart.
What is this feeling you're referring to? Pain.
Have you ever killed someone? No.
It's true I knew most of the victims.
I frequented those places because I'm gay.
[sighs.]
It all added up, all they needed to do was to frame me.
There was a witness, get it? A car, there were fingerprints.
This is all evidence.
Do you get it? A witness? That junkie Rogalski? Who was selling his ass to whoever promised him drugs? It doesn't matter! And fingerprints? Talk to my lawyer.
It wasn't her finest hour.
No hard feelings, though.
Maybe she'll tell you something.
- Tell us what? - How should I know? "It was enough to frame me.
" Poor soul.
He says he didn't do it and you just swallow it like a young pelican.
Please Come on, a fake witness who's a junkie, some green Polonez, and no trace of this case on any computer.
There were no computers back then.
- What about the archives? - Also none.
I'm asking if there is any trace of it in the archives.
I haven't checked yet.
If there is any evidence there, one could run DNA tests now.
- An interesting idea.
- [gasps.]
Could you repeat that? It's an interesting idea.
Didn't you hear me? No, I'm short of hearing! - It doesn't make any sense.
- What? - Several murders over several years.
- Yeah? Then the investigation.
Nowak ends up in prison and the murders stop.
What's there to dig into? That's the best way to escape punishment, right? And you have a monopoly on truth? Of course I remember.
It's not every day I defend serial killers.
[Ola.]
You think he is a serial killer? It's not important what I think.
The court has ruled.
Could the court have ruled differently? Maybe it could have.
I'd be so much better defending this case today.
Better? Why? More experienced, surer of myself.
I wouldn't let anyone push me aside like that.
How did they push you aside? I learned from the reporting judge, - and no, I won't give you the name - Mm-hmm.
that the prosecution had a witness, and they were doing all they could to hide him from me.
And I couldn't find him.
Why would they try to hide him? Because he stood in total opposition to their line of prosecution.
Besides, it was all happening under pressure from the media.
Everyone wanted it to be over, to find the culprit.
For it to be cut-and-dried.
- Do you know this witness's name? - I don't.
Counselor you wanted to be better.
I won't give you the name, but I can give you the date when he was called in for the lineup.
[phone ringing.]
- How are things? - The archives are a dead end.
Why? The case files are almost empty.
And nothing to run DNA tests on.
What do you mean, empty? This case was active for years! Maybe they were just messy.
Or someone removed them so that everyone would think it's a mess.
- [sighs.]
Maybe someone removed them.
- See? My God! So Rogalski isn't a very credible witness.
He never was credible.
What's more, someone has removed files from the archive, and the prosecution hid a witness whom they considered inconvenient.
I told you there was definitely something fishy! - Enough for us to take it! - Piast, are you there? I'm in the digital archives of the appeals court in Lodz.
RECONSTRUCTION OF COURT OF APPEALS BUILDING They must have just started digitalizing the documents, because there are hardly any digital files in district courts.
Some catalogues are full of garbage, others are empty NO ATTACHMEN And it seems like we got here only a moment too late.
I can see the archive's entry logs.
Someone cleared out those files within the last 24 hours.
[scoffs.]
Great.
We're toast.
Not necessarily! There might be nothing in court, but the police has its entry books as well.
Whenever someone comes, they make them sign in.
They had a book like that back then, and such books are not thrown out.
What's more, Nowak's lawyer didn't know the name but she gave us the date when he was brought in for a lineup.
It was May 13th, 1999.
By the time we single out the witness hidden by the prosecution, Nowak will complete his life sentence.
The only people that are of interest to us are those accompanied by a line "for a lineup.
" Precisely four of them.
Three women and only one man.
[Ola.]
That does make it easier.
Wait! - Ludwik Wisniewski? - [Michal.]
Mm-hmm.
- [characters grunting, yelling in game.]
- [phone ringing.]
Pick up! Can't you hear they're calling us, you dummy? Hello! Hi! I found two middle-aged men by the name L.
Wisniewski on social media.
Uh-huh? And one of them has a profile on Binder.
It's an app for gays.
[sighs.]
Okay.
He lives in Warsaw with his wife and two kids.
Great! But what's next? He's hiding with his family in Warsaw, and we're just gonna reach out to him through social media? I know who can help us! Adrian! - But isn't he into women? - Not necessarily.
[club music playing.]
Leopard? When her husband caught us in bed, first, he just wanted to kill me obviously.
Three days later, we were lovers! [stammers.]
The only problem was not letting him find out that I was still seeing his wife.
And she couldn't know I was seeing him.
You don't come here often, do you? I've never seen you before.
And I would remember you.
I have a great memory.
Is it why you didn't recognize Nowak during a lineup? - Who are you? - Ultraviolet.
Hey I am someone who wants to help get an innocent man out of prison.
The real killer is still out there.
We need to stop him from killing again, right? [softly.]
Hey Ludwik, calm down.
Calm down.
I ran from over there to here.
I don't know how much time passed.
Finally, I got to a paved road.
A passing car stopped and I'm alive.
[Ola.]
What about the police? [gentle scoff.]
They brought me in for a lineup.
When I didn't recognize him, they simply lost interest.
[sighs.]
I called them a few times after that until one of them asked if my wife knew about my extramarital affairs.
So I stopped calling.
Fuckers! How did he bring you here? [exhales.]
He must have put something in my drink at the club.
- [metal clanging.]
- [man gasping, panting.]
[man.]
You're up? Sorry, I couldn't wait.
Well? [clangs on pipe.]
Shall we begin? What are you going to do to me? [man sighs.]
If you're going to kill me, at least I want to know why.
You know what? Uh Someone did something bad to me once.
Now, I'm doing it to others.
It's the domino effect.
[Ludwik panting.]
Someone once did me wrong too, but I don't hurt anyone else.
[man.]
Really? Someone hurt you? Tell me about it.
 We've got time.
- [clangs pipe.]
- [whimpers.]
[Ludwik.]
I told him my story.
He took the blindfold off, untied me.
He told me to undress.
I think he was getting ready to finish me off but maybe, I don't know after that conversation maybe it got more difficult for him.
Anyway He disappeared for a while, I knew I only had seconds, so I jumped up and out through a closed window.
Why didn't the police take it seriously? They had a suspect whom I didn't recognize.
[Adrian sighs.]
- Maybe they thought I was lying.
- It's all right.
- [clears throat.]
I'm sorry.
- [Adrian.]
I'll take you back to Warsaw.
[cries out.]
[grunts, panting.]
[whispers.]
Oh, Jesus! [grunts.]
[screams.]
[whispers.]
Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! [panting.]
Oh, fuck.
NO NETWORK COVERAGE Fuck! [panting.]
[indistinct conversation.]
Well? The house hasn't been lived in for over 30 years.
It doesn't have an owner.
It used to belong to the director of a textile factory a while ago.
He died, and the family still can't agree who should have it.
Meanwhile, the house falls into ruin.
Thank you for a fascinating history of this place, but I meant more what's inside the house than the house itself.
If it wasn't for us, you'd have never found this place.
I think we're entitled to some information.
- There is a body.
- You don't say? The naked body was arranged on its stomach the same way Hycel arranged bodies of his victims.
The head was cut off and put between the legs.
Jesus! What a nightmare.
- There is something else? - Clothes.
We found clothes in the opposite corner of the cellar.
They're quite well preserved.
We found an ID card.
You have to check when the person was reported missing.
Take it easy, boss.
The family reported him missing in 1986.
Now, I need something in return.
Who brought you here? We gave you this.
Call it an advance.
The victim was reported missing in 1986.
We have to check where Nowak was back then.
Okay, wait a moment.
I found an article saying that Nowak started his killing spree in Lodz, when he came back from Chicago after living there for ten years.
When did he come back? Right before the first documented murder.
In January of 1991.
So, the one I found isn't one of Nowak's victims.
Nowak was abroad at that time.
So, Nowak is not a serial killer but he was proven guilty killing Marczak.
I'm sorry but I'll never believe that.
We all know you like him, though we still don't know why.
I spent some time browsing the internet.
You're not the only one believing Nowak.
A psychology professor wrote a whole study on his innocence.
IN DEFENSE OF ZENON NOWAK - What's this professor's name? - Professor Lukasz Rolak.
I didn't say you could come in.
- I'm sorry.
It's important.
- I do not sign grades today.
I'm not here about that.
I already have a diploma.
- Quite fresh, I presume.
- Not so much.
- So, what now? - I'd like to talk about Nowak.
Zenon Nowak? Life term for innocence? It's a vast subject.
Call me, we can arrange a meeting.
We're in no hurry.
Nowak won't go anywhere ever.
I believe something might be changing in his case.
I know it inside out.
I've been trying to set him free for years.
Is there something I'm not aware of? Do enlighten me.
This morning, I found a corpse of someone we believe is Hycel's victim killed when Nowak wasn't even in the country.
- You found a corpse? - Yes.
- With the head cut off? - And placed between the legs.
Remind me, what was it exactly that you were studying? Philosophy.
[Beata.]
We'll have to confirm that with dental records or DNA but according to the recovered ID, the body, or should I say remains, belong to a well-known persona in the gay community called Bernard Walicki.
He was in close relations with the witness, Rogalski.
So, he was gay? Did you question Rogalski about that? We went to see him but he was unfit to talk.
He's never been fit to talk in the first place.
From what I recall, his testimony was first real evidence in that case.
I think this is just one more of Nowak's victims and we can stop looking into that.
I've talked to Inspector Celinski and he believes so, too.
But Nowak wasn't in Poland then.
Were you a little more careful, you probably wouldn't have missed that detail.
We won't stop looking into anything.
Question Rogalski one more time.
And go to Nowak.
Want some jam with that? Rolak created a psychological profile of the murderer and told me that Nowak's never fit it.
According to him, the murderer is an educated, wealthy person, most probably someone important, an extrovert and outgoing.
So, complete opposite to Nowak.
How did he explain that the murders stopped after Nowak was sent to prison? Just like I did.
The psychopath used that opportunity.
And something must have happened in the killer's life around that time that raised his self-esteem.
A promotion or something, maybe to a public officer, even a policeman.
And that might have compensated for the lack of murders.
What does it mean for us? The killer is among the police? [Piast.]
Not the killer.
I finally managed to find parts of the digitalized files.
They're from a crime lab and one thing got me curious: that key with Nowak's fingerprints that ultimately got him convicted.
There were two reports.
The first one has been erased from the archives RESULTS REMOVED and the second one says that fingerprints belong to the victim, his mother and Nowak.
Who signed the report? [Piast.]
There is a stamp but it's almost illegible.
Dr.
Wojciech Zal I can't read the rest.
I'll try to figure that out and I'll pay a visit to Dr.
Zal, or whatever he is called.
- Talk to you soon, guys.
- Bye! Don't you have anything better to do? - Oh, it's you, Inspector.
Hello.
- Hello.
In the good old days, he would have been sentenced to death.
But luckily, the death penalty was abolished, so he's alive.
Luckily? He murdered ten people.
Eleven, with what you dug up.
And luckily he's alive? He didn't kill the one I found 'cause he wasn't in the country then.
He surely had something to do with it.
I'd have found it.
- I'm sure of that.
- What? Are you sneering at me, doll? - Let me go! Now! - Or what? - Let me go! - [Anna.]
Ola! - [taser crackling.]
- [groaning.]
- [grunts.]
- [Anna.]
Lie down! Who is that? A police inspector.
He's retired, as you can see.
- [groans.]
- What? [panting.]
Nothing.
I heard you and your mom handled Celinski pretty well.
- Now I know where you got your temper.
- Yeah, sure, smartass.
Better tell me how you found out who signed those reports.
Zalecki.
Waldemar told me.
They were starting here together.
Are you trying to tell me that your boss is helping us? - [scoffs.]
I wouldn't say "us.
" - Yes, of course.
It surprises me.
Usually, he wouldn't do a thing but now he's sharing names and reopening investigations.
It's his ambition talking.
Celinski's always been his idol.
I'm shocked.
Honestly.
Waldemar has been miraculously healed.
It's not about being miraculously healed.
He remembered that around that time, the first cameras were used for recording interrogations.
He's looking for the person who could have taken the files out.
Voilà .
We did all the usual tests.
They brought the evidence they collected, we dusted for fingerprints and looked for other traces, but it didn't get us anywhere.
DNA tests were in their infancy back then.
The fingerprints, however, were quite distinct.
However the most distinct prints belonged to the suspect.
But there were no fingerprints the first time.
How come there were no fingerprints? That was weird.
The first time I got those keys to be tested, Waldek, I mean Kraszewski, brought them.
And that was normal.
They always sent constables with the evidence.
But the next time I saw those keys, Tomiak brought them in.
He was running the investigation with CeliÅski.
He was a commissioner and very important.
Normally, he didn't have time to run along the corridors.
But he came nonetheless.
I told him we already tested those keys and he replied that we weren't thorough enough, and that I should test them again.
I was young I didn't want to argue.
Unfortunately, Tomiak died of a heart attack few years ago.
But Celinski is still alive.
A spoon and a half and no milk, right? - Right.
Impressive memory.
- Thank you for finding the time.
- For you? Always.
- Mmm.
By the way, I wanted to apologize for that incident with that girl.
I lost my temper and I shouldn't have.
[chuckles.]
Everybody loses their temper sometimes.
Even me, especially around her.
- We found a new body.
- I've heard about it.
- I reopened the investigation.
- You had no choice.
You'll close it, eventually.
We had hard evidence.
It must have been him.
Right.
The evidence.
You know that most of the case files disappeared? Let me show you something.
Remember the surveillance cameras? It was a gift from Sweden, we were testing them.
I remember.
Recognize those keys? - [Nowak.]
No.
- You haven't even looked at them! Make real sure, you fucking pervert! So? Do you recognize them or not? Take a closer look! No.
You don't? Well, that's a shame.
Be it as you wish.
So what? So, an innocent man spent 18 years in prison because of you.
That fucker wasn't innocent.
He was sly, we had to outsmart him.
I'm placing you under arrest for obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation, manipulating the evidence, and forcing witnesses to perjury.
What the fuck are you doing? I'm a high-ranking police officer! I deserve respect! - I'll go without these.
- Cuff him.
There is a statute of limitations so they'll probably let you go, but you'll have 48 hours.
I'll send the whole precinct downstairs, so they can see you.
Get him out of here.
Oh! Mr.
Zenon! - Good morning.
- Oh! Today it really is.
Do you need a ride somewhere? No, thank you.
I'll walk.
I haven't had a walk in a long time.
- Do you have a place to go? - Not really.
I'll just go straight ahead.
Maybe to see my mother's grave.
- Good luck, Zenon! Take care.
- Thanks.
- Sorry, madam? - Yes? You saved my life and I don't even know your name.
Aleksandra.
Ola, if you want.
Thank you Ola.
- It was a good idea, writing to us.
- I haven't written to you.
Bye.
[phone ringing.]
INCOMING CALL - And? - He's out! We did it? Freedom? Great! That's so great! - Equality and brotherhood! - Yes! You did it, you saved an innocent man's life.
No! I didn't! We did it, my friends! [Ola chuckles.]
[man grunts.]
[grunts.]
[man panting.]
[theme song playing.]
[ragged grunting, gasping.]
- [impact thud.]
- [man gasps.]
[body thuds.]
[owl hoots nearby.]
[Ola.]
I don't get it.
If you were a dentist or a lawyer, you'd be sitting in some cool office behind a mahogany desk now, instead of here with me ordering cheap egg rolls.
- I hate mahogany.
- Mm-hmm.
But I love the smell of old oil in the morning.
[soft laughing.]
- [Michal mutters.]
- Oh! - Vegetable rice.
- [phone ringing.]
- Not a moment of peace.
- Shut up! Look what's in the box - We got a letter.
- Fascinating.
Someone put it in Tomek's mailbox.
It was written by Zenon Nowak.
That Zenon Nowak? That Zenon Nowak or the other Who is he? Zenon Nowak aka Hycel.
Apprehended at the end of the '90s, sentenced for one murder but suspected of at least several others.
All sexual in nature.
The victims were all young men.
It was a very famous case.
Zenon Nowak claims he's innocent.
[soft chuckle.]
I've never met anyone in prison claiming otherwise.
If I remember correctly, Kraszewski was on that case.
- He was running the investigation? - No.
He was in charge of logistics.
He was running errands for the detectives, buying them smokes.
[laughing.]
"I decided to write 'cause I read an interview with a witness in my case who says he doesn't remember much because it happened a long time ago.
I believe that he didn't remember back then and only said what he was told to.
" - Who is that witness? - [Tomek.]
Wait.
- Come on.
It'll be tomorrow soon.
- Wait! "Please, help me.
I know that my case is hopeless because all the possible instances have already sentenced me, but maybe if you talked to this witness.
His name is Mariusz Rogalski.
You are my only hope for not staying in this place until God switches off my light.
Zenon Nowak.
" I think we shouldn't do it.
He's been on the inside for 18 years and he got bored.
He read about us and figured that he'd have some fun with us.
What do we have to lose? I'd check that Rogalski out.
But why? Isn't that a waste of time? Time is one thing.
But why get into such a cesspool? - Stick to your exercises, Mom.
- I agree.
I'd rather stay clean and scented.
I have a baby on the way.
We've already agreed not to take every case.
But it wouldn't hurt us to try.
And what if this man really is innocent? Can you imagine being innocent and still sent to prison for life? But there was an investigation, they found hard evidence against him.
Three different instances sentenced him.
I don't trust the police.
Mostly, I wouldn't trust Kraszewski, - who took part in it.
- So, that's what bugs you! If there is a case with him involved, you lose your grasp on reality.
That's just how she is and you have to get used to that.
- Hi, Piast.
- Good morning! - I think it's three to one.
- It looks like it.
Is this the voice of reason I hear? - Oh, damn it.
- Does it hurt? - No! - No.
Hmm.
[theme song playing.]
- So, you got your way, after all.
- [laughs.]
- You know me.
- Yes, I do.
Wait.
- [no sound.]
- Doesn't work.
[Henryk sighs.]
[whispers.]
Someone's coming.
[Henryk chuckles.]
Wait [knocking.]
- Are you Jehovah's Witnesses? - Uh, Mr.
Rogalski? [exhales.]
Police.
You always walk in twos.
No, we're not the police.
We're journalists.
[Mariusz.]
Ah! So, the ATM has arrived again! How much for the interview? No interview.
We're writing a story.
- A story about the case - Shh! [whispers.]
I know which case.
They don't come to me for any other cases.
You're writing about Hycel.
I can talk to you but you have to pay me for it.
- I'm in some financial trouble.
- A hundred.
- Two.
- A hundred and fifty.
- A hundred and fifty? - Yeah.
Fine.
But paid in advance.
And be brief.
My schedule is full.
- Wait a moment.
How much more? - Ten zloty.
- I don't need it for the parking.
- It's enough.
Okay, so In 1999, you were a witness in Zenon Nowak's case? - Do you remember what happened then? - Vaguely.
I'm pressed for time and my schedule was pretty full then, too.
- Mmm.
What do you remember? - That I was young and beautiful.
[snorts.]
Who would doubt that? You don't believe me? I can show you the pictures.
No.
We believe you.
But what of it? All of it.
I was young and beautiful and made a living by keeping company with the not-so-young and beautiful but rich.
And? And one day, uh I saw Wiesio Marczak getting in the car with him.
- With him? - [softly.]
Yes, with him.
With Hycel.
- That's who we're talking about.
- It was Nowak? Probably.
No, I don't follow.
Why "probably" and not "certainly"? It was night.
It was dark, right? You would have recognized the driver from 50 meters at night? I see.
But why did you Because I have problems with the police.
I always have.
They brought me in for a lineup and that Nowak looked a bit like that guy behind the wheel.
- The one you didn't see.
- Who cares? He also had the exact same green Polonez.
Half of Poland used to have cars like that and half of them were green.
Yes, I remember.
Those were real fox traps.
I assume your troubles were over after that? - You're quite clever.
- Will you say the same to the police? - No.
- Why not? - Because my problems will never end.
- And you're not ashamed? Why? Why? They didn't lock him up because of what I said.
Or because of his green car.
They had other evidence.
Everything added up.
He was a murderer, right? - I served the good cause, didn't I? - It's all so weird.
[Michal.]
I had a look at his files.
And it turns out that after 2000, he spent some time in jail.
Short terms, mainly for drug possession with intent to sell.
I'll look through the paper archives.
I may find something there.
What about Kraszewski? Did he play an important role in this investigation? I told you, he was an errand boy.
The investigation was run by the famous Inspector Celinski aka "Celina," the most decorated criminal detective in Lodz.
- Uh-huh.
Still on the job? - Retired.
But very socially active.
I think he even ran in council elections.
I don't know him, but maybe I should.
Well, better not.
Unless you want to formalize Ultraviolet in Lodz.
[giggles.]
No! I wasn't the only one responsible for finally apprehending him.
It was the work of the entire team.
Great specialists appointed by the district police commissioner himself.
Make sure you put that in your book.
[chuckles.]
Officer Michal Holender told me in secret that you're writing a book.
Yes, but I'm just starting to collect materials.
I have a long way to go.
But I'd like it to have a chapter about you.
After all, you were in charge of the team.
Oh! Yes, actually.
Actually I was.
It was a very difficult and complicated case.
At first, we had to face a conspiracy of silence.
And, as usual, a coincidence helped us solve the case.
A momentary carelessness of that bastard.
This carelessness, was it taking one of his victims for a ride - while being watched by a witness? - You can say that.
This witness isn't so sure now that the victim got into Nowak's car.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
I didn't know that.
It doesn't matter anyway.
You know Even back then, he was obviously a lowlife.
Can we? No court would sentence anyone just listening to his testimony.
[Ola.]
Mm-hmm.
My partner of that time, Wlodek Tomiak, and I agreed to believe him enough to check Nowak.
He seemed suspicious, he didn't have an alibi, he matched the description.
And then it turned out that we found Nowak's fingerprints on the keys which belonged to the victim.
- And that was that.
Want some? - Thank you.
Why did Nowak stand trial just for the last murder? He didn't have an alibi for any of the murders, but the lack of an alibi is not enough to charge someone.
All the murders had the same modus operandi.
First, he gave them a shot to make them sleep, then he strangled them slowly, while raping them.
And finally, he cut off the victim's head and placed it between the naked legs.
Fucking pervert.
Mm-hmm.
Uh do you believe Nowak is guilty of all the murders? I have no doubts about it.
But no evidence means no punishment.
What about DNA tests? Maybe you could find something there? DNA? You kidding? We were happy when we had batteries for flashlights.
You could run tests today.
We could but what for? He is already in jail and he'll stay there.
Just one more question.
Would you help me get to the files? I don't know.
They should be somewhere in the district archive.
The files always ended up there.
I'll try to help you.
Great! [brakes squeaking loudly.]
- [Ola.]
Thank you for organizing this trip.
- [door buzzes, opens nearby.]
[man.]
Ten minutes.
- Good morning.
- Not the worst, yes.
It's nice that someone dropped by, but what is this about? It's about your freedom, sir.
What could you possibly know about freedom? I suppose you'd like to get it back.
A dream.
Yes, but you know that dreams come true sometimes.
Once again, you've no idea what you're talking about.
So, enlighten me.
Freedom and faith have a completely different meaning to you than to me.
Once you're here, especially for something you didn't do, you gain a completely different perspective of those things.
It's impossible to describe it with words.
It's a feeling, not a thought.
What a beautiful sentiment, as if you were quoting something.
The one thing that is in abundance here is time.
When you keep talking to yourself, you finally learn the words by heart.
What is this feeling you're referring to? Pain.
Have you ever killed someone? No.
It's true I knew most of the victims.
I frequented those places because I'm gay.
[sighs.]
It all added up, all they needed to do was to frame me.
There was a witness, get it? A car, there were fingerprints.
This is all evidence.
Do you get it? A witness? That junkie Rogalski? Who was selling his ass to whoever promised him drugs? It doesn't matter! And fingerprints? Talk to my lawyer.
It wasn't her finest hour.
No hard feelings, though.
Maybe she'll tell you something.
- Tell us what? - How should I know? "It was enough to frame me.
" Poor soul.
He says he didn't do it and you just swallow it like a young pelican.
Please Come on, a fake witness who's a junkie, some green Polonez, and no trace of this case on any computer.
There were no computers back then.
- What about the archives? - Also none.
I'm asking if there is any trace of it in the archives.
I haven't checked yet.
If there is any evidence there, one could run DNA tests now.
- An interesting idea.
- [gasps.]
Could you repeat that? It's an interesting idea.
Didn't you hear me? No, I'm short of hearing! - It doesn't make any sense.
- What? - Several murders over several years.
- Yeah? Then the investigation.
Nowak ends up in prison and the murders stop.
What's there to dig into? That's the best way to escape punishment, right? And you have a monopoly on truth? Of course I remember.
It's not every day I defend serial killers.
[Ola.]
You think he is a serial killer? It's not important what I think.
The court has ruled.
Could the court have ruled differently? Maybe it could have.
I'd be so much better defending this case today.
Better? Why? More experienced, surer of myself.
I wouldn't let anyone push me aside like that.
How did they push you aside? I learned from the reporting judge, - and no, I won't give you the name - Mm-hmm.
that the prosecution had a witness, and they were doing all they could to hide him from me.
And I couldn't find him.
Why would they try to hide him? Because he stood in total opposition to their line of prosecution.
Besides, it was all happening under pressure from the media.
Everyone wanted it to be over, to find the culprit.
For it to be cut-and-dried.
- Do you know this witness's name? - I don't.
Counselor you wanted to be better.
I won't give you the name, but I can give you the date when he was called in for the lineup.
[phone ringing.]
- How are things? - The archives are a dead end.
Why? The case files are almost empty.
And nothing to run DNA tests on.
What do you mean, empty? This case was active for years! Maybe they were just messy.
Or someone removed them so that everyone would think it's a mess.
- [sighs.]
Maybe someone removed them.
- See? My God! So Rogalski isn't a very credible witness.
He never was credible.
What's more, someone has removed files from the archive, and the prosecution hid a witness whom they considered inconvenient.
I told you there was definitely something fishy! - Enough for us to take it! - Piast, are you there? I'm in the digital archives of the appeals court in Lodz.
RECONSTRUCTION OF COURT OF APPEALS BUILDING They must have just started digitalizing the documents, because there are hardly any digital files in district courts.
Some catalogues are full of garbage, others are empty NO ATTACHMEN And it seems like we got here only a moment too late.
I can see the archive's entry logs.
Someone cleared out those files within the last 24 hours.
[scoffs.]
Great.
We're toast.
Not necessarily! There might be nothing in court, but the police has its entry books as well.
Whenever someone comes, they make them sign in.
They had a book like that back then, and such books are not thrown out.
What's more, Nowak's lawyer didn't know the name but she gave us the date when he was brought in for a lineup.
It was May 13th, 1999.
By the time we single out the witness hidden by the prosecution, Nowak will complete his life sentence.
The only people that are of interest to us are those accompanied by a line "for a lineup.
" Precisely four of them.
Three women and only one man.
[Ola.]
That does make it easier.
Wait! - Ludwik Wisniewski? - [Michal.]
Mm-hmm.
- [characters grunting, yelling in game.]
- [phone ringing.]
Pick up! Can't you hear they're calling us, you dummy? Hello! Hi! I found two middle-aged men by the name L.
Wisniewski on social media.
Uh-huh? And one of them has a profile on Binder.
It's an app for gays.
[sighs.]
Okay.
He lives in Warsaw with his wife and two kids.
Great! But what's next? He's hiding with his family in Warsaw, and we're just gonna reach out to him through social media? I know who can help us! Adrian! - But isn't he into women? - Not necessarily.
[club music playing.]
Leopard? When her husband caught us in bed, first, he just wanted to kill me obviously.
Three days later, we were lovers! [stammers.]
The only problem was not letting him find out that I was still seeing his wife.
And she couldn't know I was seeing him.
You don't come here often, do you? I've never seen you before.
And I would remember you.
I have a great memory.
Is it why you didn't recognize Nowak during a lineup? - Who are you? - Ultraviolet.
Hey I am someone who wants to help get an innocent man out of prison.
The real killer is still out there.
We need to stop him from killing again, right? [softly.]
Hey Ludwik, calm down.
Calm down.
I ran from over there to here.
I don't know how much time passed.
Finally, I got to a paved road.
A passing car stopped and I'm alive.
[Ola.]
What about the police? [gentle scoff.]
They brought me in for a lineup.
When I didn't recognize him, they simply lost interest.
[sighs.]
I called them a few times after that until one of them asked if my wife knew about my extramarital affairs.
So I stopped calling.
Fuckers! How did he bring you here? [exhales.]
He must have put something in my drink at the club.
- [metal clanging.]
- [man gasping, panting.]
[man.]
You're up? Sorry, I couldn't wait.
Well? [clangs on pipe.]
Shall we begin? What are you going to do to me? [man sighs.]
If you're going to kill me, at least I want to know why.
You know what? Uh Someone did something bad to me once.
Now, I'm doing it to others.
It's the domino effect.
[Ludwik panting.]
Someone once did me wrong too, but I don't hurt anyone else.
[man.]
Really? Someone hurt you? Tell me about it.
 We've got time.
- [clangs pipe.]
- [whimpers.]
[Ludwik.]
I told him my story.
He took the blindfold off, untied me.
He told me to undress.
I think he was getting ready to finish me off but maybe, I don't know after that conversation maybe it got more difficult for him.
Anyway He disappeared for a while, I knew I only had seconds, so I jumped up and out through a closed window.
Why didn't the police take it seriously? They had a suspect whom I didn't recognize.
[Adrian sighs.]
- Maybe they thought I was lying.
- It's all right.
- [clears throat.]
I'm sorry.
- [Adrian.]
I'll take you back to Warsaw.
[cries out.]
[grunts, panting.]
[whispers.]
Oh, Jesus! [grunts.]
[screams.]
[whispers.]
Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! [panting.]
Oh, fuck.
NO NETWORK COVERAGE Fuck! [panting.]
[indistinct conversation.]
Well? The house hasn't been lived in for over 30 years.
It doesn't have an owner.
It used to belong to the director of a textile factory a while ago.
He died, and the family still can't agree who should have it.
Meanwhile, the house falls into ruin.
Thank you for a fascinating history of this place, but I meant more what's inside the house than the house itself.
If it wasn't for us, you'd have never found this place.
I think we're entitled to some information.
- There is a body.
- You don't say? The naked body was arranged on its stomach the same way Hycel arranged bodies of his victims.
The head was cut off and put between the legs.
Jesus! What a nightmare.
- There is something else? - Clothes.
We found clothes in the opposite corner of the cellar.
They're quite well preserved.
We found an ID card.
You have to check when the person was reported missing.
Take it easy, boss.
The family reported him missing in 1986.
Now, I need something in return.
Who brought you here? We gave you this.
Call it an advance.
The victim was reported missing in 1986.
We have to check where Nowak was back then.
Okay, wait a moment.
I found an article saying that Nowak started his killing spree in Lodz, when he came back from Chicago after living there for ten years.
When did he come back? Right before the first documented murder.
In January of 1991.
So, the one I found isn't one of Nowak's victims.
Nowak was abroad at that time.
So, Nowak is not a serial killer but he was proven guilty killing Marczak.
I'm sorry but I'll never believe that.
We all know you like him, though we still don't know why.
I spent some time browsing the internet.
You're not the only one believing Nowak.
A psychology professor wrote a whole study on his innocence.
IN DEFENSE OF ZENON NOWAK - What's this professor's name? - Professor Lukasz Rolak.
I didn't say you could come in.
- I'm sorry.
It's important.
- I do not sign grades today.
I'm not here about that.
I already have a diploma.
- Quite fresh, I presume.
- Not so much.
- So, what now? - I'd like to talk about Nowak.
Zenon Nowak? Life term for innocence? It's a vast subject.
Call me, we can arrange a meeting.
We're in no hurry.
Nowak won't go anywhere ever.
I believe something might be changing in his case.
I know it inside out.
I've been trying to set him free for years.
Is there something I'm not aware of? Do enlighten me.
This morning, I found a corpse of someone we believe is Hycel's victim killed when Nowak wasn't even in the country.
- You found a corpse? - Yes.
- With the head cut off? - And placed between the legs.
Remind me, what was it exactly that you were studying? Philosophy.
[Beata.]
We'll have to confirm that with dental records or DNA but according to the recovered ID, the body, or should I say remains, belong to a well-known persona in the gay community called Bernard Walicki.
He was in close relations with the witness, Rogalski.
So, he was gay? Did you question Rogalski about that? We went to see him but he was unfit to talk.
He's never been fit to talk in the first place.
From what I recall, his testimony was first real evidence in that case.
I think this is just one more of Nowak's victims and we can stop looking into that.
I've talked to Inspector Celinski and he believes so, too.
But Nowak wasn't in Poland then.
Were you a little more careful, you probably wouldn't have missed that detail.
We won't stop looking into anything.
Question Rogalski one more time.
And go to Nowak.
Want some jam with that? Rolak created a psychological profile of the murderer and told me that Nowak's never fit it.
According to him, the murderer is an educated, wealthy person, most probably someone important, an extrovert and outgoing.
So, complete opposite to Nowak.
How did he explain that the murders stopped after Nowak was sent to prison? Just like I did.
The psychopath used that opportunity.
And something must have happened in the killer's life around that time that raised his self-esteem.
A promotion or something, maybe to a public officer, even a policeman.
And that might have compensated for the lack of murders.
What does it mean for us? The killer is among the police? [Piast.]
Not the killer.
I finally managed to find parts of the digitalized files.
They're from a crime lab and one thing got me curious: that key with Nowak's fingerprints that ultimately got him convicted.
There were two reports.
The first one has been erased from the archives RESULTS REMOVED and the second one says that fingerprints belong to the victim, his mother and Nowak.
Who signed the report? [Piast.]
There is a stamp but it's almost illegible.
Dr.
Wojciech Zal I can't read the rest.
I'll try to figure that out and I'll pay a visit to Dr.
Zal, or whatever he is called.
- Talk to you soon, guys.
- Bye! Don't you have anything better to do? - Oh, it's you, Inspector.
Hello.
- Hello.
In the good old days, he would have been sentenced to death.
But luckily, the death penalty was abolished, so he's alive.
Luckily? He murdered ten people.
Eleven, with what you dug up.
And luckily he's alive? He didn't kill the one I found 'cause he wasn't in the country then.
He surely had something to do with it.
I'd have found it.
- I'm sure of that.
- What? Are you sneering at me, doll? - Let me go! Now! - Or what? - Let me go! - [Anna.]
Ola! - [taser crackling.]
- [groaning.]
- [grunts.]
- [Anna.]
Lie down! Who is that? A police inspector.
He's retired, as you can see.
- [groans.]
- What? [panting.]
Nothing.
I heard you and your mom handled Celinski pretty well.
- Now I know where you got your temper.
- Yeah, sure, smartass.
Better tell me how you found out who signed those reports.
Zalecki.
Waldemar told me.
They were starting here together.
Are you trying to tell me that your boss is helping us? - [scoffs.]
I wouldn't say "us.
" - Yes, of course.
It surprises me.
Usually, he wouldn't do a thing but now he's sharing names and reopening investigations.
It's his ambition talking.
Celinski's always been his idol.
I'm shocked.
Honestly.
Waldemar has been miraculously healed.
It's not about being miraculously healed.
He remembered that around that time, the first cameras were used for recording interrogations.
He's looking for the person who could have taken the files out.
Voilà .
We did all the usual tests.
They brought the evidence they collected, we dusted for fingerprints and looked for other traces, but it didn't get us anywhere.
DNA tests were in their infancy back then.
The fingerprints, however, were quite distinct.
However the most distinct prints belonged to the suspect.
But there were no fingerprints the first time.
How come there were no fingerprints? That was weird.
The first time I got those keys to be tested, Waldek, I mean Kraszewski, brought them.
And that was normal.
They always sent constables with the evidence.
But the next time I saw those keys, Tomiak brought them in.
He was running the investigation with CeliÅski.
He was a commissioner and very important.
Normally, he didn't have time to run along the corridors.
But he came nonetheless.
I told him we already tested those keys and he replied that we weren't thorough enough, and that I should test them again.
I was young I didn't want to argue.
Unfortunately, Tomiak died of a heart attack few years ago.
But Celinski is still alive.
A spoon and a half and no milk, right? - Right.
Impressive memory.
- Thank you for finding the time.
- For you? Always.
- Mmm.
By the way, I wanted to apologize for that incident with that girl.
I lost my temper and I shouldn't have.
[chuckles.]
Everybody loses their temper sometimes.
Even me, especially around her.
- We found a new body.
- I've heard about it.
- I reopened the investigation.
- You had no choice.
You'll close it, eventually.
We had hard evidence.
It must have been him.
Right.
The evidence.
You know that most of the case files disappeared? Let me show you something.
Remember the surveillance cameras? It was a gift from Sweden, we were testing them.
I remember.
Recognize those keys? - [Nowak.]
No.
- You haven't even looked at them! Make real sure, you fucking pervert! So? Do you recognize them or not? Take a closer look! No.
You don't? Well, that's a shame.
Be it as you wish.
So what? So, an innocent man spent 18 years in prison because of you.
That fucker wasn't innocent.
He was sly, we had to outsmart him.
I'm placing you under arrest for obstructing an ongoing criminal investigation, manipulating the evidence, and forcing witnesses to perjury.
What the fuck are you doing? I'm a high-ranking police officer! I deserve respect! - I'll go without these.
- Cuff him.
There is a statute of limitations so they'll probably let you go, but you'll have 48 hours.
I'll send the whole precinct downstairs, so they can see you.
Get him out of here.
Oh! Mr.
Zenon! - Good morning.
- Oh! Today it really is.
Do you need a ride somewhere? No, thank you.
I'll walk.
I haven't had a walk in a long time.
- Do you have a place to go? - Not really.
I'll just go straight ahead.
Maybe to see my mother's grave.
- Good luck, Zenon! Take care.
- Thanks.
- Sorry, madam? - Yes? You saved my life and I don't even know your name.
Aleksandra.
Ola, if you want.
Thank you Ola.
- It was a good idea, writing to us.
- I haven't written to you.
Bye.
[phone ringing.]
INCOMING CALL - And? - He's out! We did it? Freedom? Great! That's so great! - Equality and brotherhood! - Yes! You did it, you saved an innocent man's life.
No! I didn't! We did it, my friends! [Ola chuckles.]
[man grunts.]
[grunts.]
[man panting.]
[theme song playing.]