SONGS BY
STARRING
PHOTOGRAPHY
SCRIPT AND DIRECTION
A long time ago, far, far away from Liverpool,
there lived four lads.
Summer of '64 was just ending. One day...
Go on, ask her.
- Who? - The new girl.
Afraid?
Don't kill yourself!
- Leaps or steps? - Double leaps would seem right.
- Going to be here long? - A year - at the High School.
I'm at the Technical College, next year matriculation
Me too.
Pig!
But I'm just a drummer.
- Prefer the Beatles or the Stones? - Beatles. You too?
You bet! Who's your favourite?
John.
- What about Ringo? - Great, but John's a dreamboat.
- Well? - She prefers you John.
She's so skinny, a kid!
Give the boiler back!
Give the boiler back! Do you hear?
Give it back!
- I have to practise! - And I have to wash!
- I don't care. I need it! - You don't care?
I have to practise! It's mine, it's essential!
And who provides for you? Who cooks, pays for your school?
Hold the face part of the gas mark...
with the thumbs outside...
and the other fingers inside.
Next, holding the base of the mask under the chin,
we pull it over the face.
We exhale deeply
to dispel any gas that's left...
and remove the mask.
Not interested?
Enjoying yourselves? The four of you!
Masks on!
Masks off!
Masks on!
Masks off!
Not comfortable?
It's been proved.
Long hair makes it impossible
to put it on and take it off correctly.
It also makes it impossible to choose the right size to fit the head.
The Beatles for the first time in Holland.
Like everywhere, a warm welcome and hysteria.
To be fair the Beatles aren't resting on their laurels.
They're growing in leaps and bounds.
Their wigs are at least five inches longer.
Listen...
Do you think, they're kissing?
What do you think?
Of course.
Well, the artists are here...
Cigarettes...
Music...
Where's the wine?
I said, where's the wine?
Let's go.
- Sir! - What?
Why don't you cut his hair?
Alter Boy and looks like an ape.
What about the statue?
Will you keep it for me Father?
You've collected a lot. Is it ready?
Not yet. The sculptor's ill.
Cut it.
What the sickness?
No. Pawelek's hair. At night when he's asleep.
Leave it - there's nothing there.
Lie down, Aunty!
This work will be the end of you.
Is that statue to be of gold?
You clean all over town and what do we have?
Where's the money?
You've got another fail and I've been told to wash the windows.
What's wrong? How long will it take?
- Mass is taking a long time. - Enter a convent why don't you.
- It's my fault? - Is it mine?
- Give me a break. - We've been here three hours!
Watch out the string doesn't break.
Help him and we'll start.
- Again? - Hell no...
- What's happening? - I've had enough!
- I think, I've got it! - Damn lie - there was nothing wrong.
- I can't go back home, John. - Easy now, slowly...
Father would kill me!
- He's got them! - What?
My panties.
Today he said they'll kick me out from school and the dorm.
Do you hear?
He said they'd expel me, but...
it could be fixed if I came to his place.
Then we could think of something.
That's what he said.
Also that he should have shown them to the principal,
but he liked me, so he kept them for me.
I can't go back home...
Say something!
You'll decide what to do.
- Shall I go to his place? - I can't make you.
You could live with that?
You don't...
I'm sorry but...
I happened to overhear.
Do something! It would be so easy for you!
Ask your father.
One phone call and they'll leave her alone!
- She mustn't go there. - She's not soap, she won't wash away.
Soap?
Soap? You pig, take that back!
I despise you.
I hate you!
Just like your father!
What?
Like my father?
Does it hurt?
It hurts me too!
He wants it to hurt! Wants us to crack!
But I'm not going to beg. Understand?
My father doesn't exist! Understand?
We haven't been talking.
He expects me to return and beg!
Do you hear?
Come you bastard...
We'll play for you yet.
Wishing you all the worst, we'll do it for free!
A superconcert by the indestructable Crazy Lads.
Help!
No more music!
Your band is finished once and for all.
On Monday I want to see you.
Should any of you disobey,
he'll find himself suspended and barred from the final exams.
Mr Biegacz...
You'll personally see to it.
I've tried to make you see sense.
On Monday...
Your hair will be this long.
Keep it as a guide.
Now to the barber, scumbags!
Sleep, Ringo, sleep.
Where are you going?
Home, my dad's ill.
Have you been at John's?
And you?
They won't let us into the hospital.
But they'll let you.
No Ringo, count me out.
It's all over.
Do me a favour?
Today's my birthday.
- Many happy returns. - I'd like to invite you.
My aunty has baked a cake, but no one will come.
The lads have to stay home.
Please, there's plenty of time.
I've no one else but you.
- He took my bucket - I can't wash. - Aunty stop it for Christ's sake.
And yells at me, he's so irritable.
He's an orphan you see.
Tiny when my cousin died.
Boy was he ugly and did he cry.
The neighbours said he should be in a home.
I was going to be a nun.
I had a dowry and a place ready.
He had no one. And who would take care of him?
I'd be only a novice, but they also do a lot of good.
Aunty, Ania's got nowhere to sleep.
What?! No Ringo...
Came specially to sing with our group.
It's ok, I'll manage.
- Can she stay with us? - But we have only one bed.
In this bed like cat and dog. How are we to fix this?
I'll sleep in the coffin, promise not to damage it.
She keeps it here because it's safer.
Don't be afraid, it's been here since I was born.
The doctor said I wouldn't last three days.
So they brought a coffin and prayed to God.
I've been ready to go for 70 years.
It's only his matric, that keeps me here.
If only he'd get a break for once pass the exams.
A Beatles cap!
He kept talking about in his sleep. So, I went and bought one.
- Ringo... - What?
Are you okay?
Like in heaven.
Stop.
Stop I say!
Over here.
My God.
We wouldn't play without you.
We've no idea what this is.
That how long that dickhead told us our hair must be.
Louder!
Mother of God remember, most loving Virgin Mary
that it is unheard of that anyone
implored Thy help and sought Thy mediation
and was left foresaken...
- Asleep? - And you?
The other lads have also shaved their heads.
I'm so proud of you.
Tell me...
Is hair that important?
Couldn't you play without it?
Hair's not the problem but money to buy the drums.
A drummer I see.
In other words you're our Ringo.
See...
I used to have hair too, golden when I was little.
Then it went dark.
When war came I fought to the end.
Ended up in Russia and wanted to fight.
And was assigned to digging ditches, entire kilometers.
It was tough...
but even worse were the lice.
Then I shaved my head.
There was an old man with a mandolin.
A real virtuoso.
I inherited the mandolin.
Music makes life seem easier.
Don't you think so?
Do you have a photo of your group?
Can I borrow it?
George...
John...
Paul...
and Ringo - that's you.
You're barred from the matric exams and suspended like your friends.
The school council will decide what's next.
Wait for me!
You have to throw that harlot out.
- You musn't call her that. - Silence!
Even the dorm has kicked her out.
- That's a lie! - How dare you!
I won't have an alter boy, even a bald one, living in sin.
Save your soul my boy.
Examine your conscience.
Throw her out.
I'll let you do penance.
If you don't do it today don't come back here!
That's fine by me.
I only come because of my aunt and out of pity for you.
Who else would help?
Know what they call me?
Ringo the Church Mouse.
Father,
I'll never throw her out, never... She's got no place to go.
God knows the truth.
I forbid you to think ill of her.
Pawel!
No!
She'll stay here.
- Priest's orders. - I spoke to him.
Her father will kill her. Understand?!
Don't you see, it wasn't her fault.
That bastard took her panties and made her come for them.
What shall I do?
Leave my child alone?
Away Satan!
All right then.
We'll go together.
And you can cark it here alone!
Don't count on me taking the exams either.
I won't even attend your funeral!
The priest...
told me to take this away.
Because we live under the same roof as this...
He said he'd never bless the statue.
Never.
Come out Aunty. Come and sleep.
What are thinking about?
Liverpool.
At Buckingham Palace they've never seen
anything like this before.
The Queen has decorated the Beatles with the Order of The British Empire
for services to British exports.
Do you think it will change anything?
Stop feeling guilty.
All right...
You go to his place and then what?
Your intentions are noble but nobody could care less.
- Ten thousand. - Where did you get it?
I have been selling bottles.
I've come to apologise, it's my fault.
Now?
You left the dorm and missed class for ten days.
- You can see for yourself... - It's not about me...
It's about the boys.
- You have to let them take the exams. - I have to?
Come...
Anyone see you come here?
No.
Take your clothes off.
Come here.
A letter for you.
I was asked to read it.
My dear boy,
this most unfortunate accident came as a shock to us all.
Fortunately a woman was watering her cows by the pond at dawn
and spotted the drums that kept you afloat.
It's a miracle you didn't freeze though.
It was cold water that clotted your blood.
All this is so painful for me.
It brought home the wide gap between teachers and the young.
Why?
Why did it happen?
I keep asking this question as I look back on my life,
that I've devoted to school and those like you.
Is it only the generation gap?
A chronic lack of understanding?
I don't think so...
You seem to reject outright what we wish to offer.
You refuse to trust us without trying.
Dear boy, it is my sad duty
to inform you that your aunt died a week after your mishap.
God rest the soul of this good and peaceful woman,
who spent her life in the service of others.
The priest said she had an easy passing
and received the sacraments.
I wanted to tell you personally,
but after seeing the doctors I changed my mind.
They'll give it to you when you're better
and can take the bad news.
Dear boy, get well quickly.
The school has agreed to let you take matriculation
after the summer holidays.
I'm sure you'll pass and that all will turn out well at last.
They only come to me at night, husband, mother, cousin...
- The one killed by a train? - Yes, that's the one.
I like it best when mother comes, always hugs and kisses me.
Do you dream of your mother?
I don't remember her.
But you must dream of something?
Naked chicks.
That means you're healthy.
- What shall I do without you? - I'm staying.
- There's some cod left. - Give it to the cat.
Bring some marmalade Pawel, it's Sunday.
Hi Ringo, I should have written long ago but I was afraid.
In fact I hope you don't open this letter.
That night, our night you slept so hard you didn't wake,
when I picked the scab off your head.
I knew I had to leave and wanted a talisman for the rest of my life.
I was afraid of meeting you and went to the cinema
and later to his place.
Forgive me, I just wanted him to let you take the exams.
He got blind drunk
and told me he'd been a push-up champ in his unit.
He had a girlfriend very much like me and loved her but she was a slut.
Then he told me to do push-ups.
Said if I did twenty I was a good girl and he would let you take the exams.
Count!
It was horrible.
He did 139 push-ups.
God, why am I writing this?
Besides, I hope you won't open this letter.
He couldn't do anymore, he couldn't even get up.
Then I ran out.
Ringo,
Yesterday was the last day of the exams.
All the boys passed.
I thought of you and your aunty.
Couldn't stand it any longer and went to see you.
But you weren't there.
Do you go out?
Perhaps you are seeing someone?
If you are, I wish you all the best.
And don't forget me.
It's good we didn't meet.
That's why I'm sending you this letter that I forget to burn.
The graduation ball is tomorrow.
I won't go.
No one has invited me.
But the boys will play. I wonder who'll be on drums?
Goodbye Ringo.
Let's make a deal.
If either of us hears the Beatles, they will think of the other.
Their music will last forever.
Agreed - is it a deal?
Your Ania.
Finally, we'll play for you music
by our friends from Liverpool, the greatest band in the world.
The lyrics were written by our new principal, Mr Biegacz.
And we dedicate this to our friend who surely is thinking of us now:
Pawel Mitura.
May I have this dance?
Mitura Anna v Mitura Pawel, divorce proceedings.
The court now will hear your case.
STARRING
WROCLAW FEATURE FILMS
TRANSLATION Ryszard Reisner