As we pick up the scene, Valentine is talking about her family. She begins saying that her mother, who we will later hear lives in France, now lives alone, so she asked her brother to go see her, but he stayed only three days. Then she talks about her own upcoming trip to England, one she is reluctant to take — mostly because of the state of her current relationship, although she withholds this detail. Instead, she expresses concern about leaving her mother and brother for a week, and her opinion that he is getting worse day by day.

Joseph, oddly, says that it is her destiny to go. I’m not sure how the judge knows her or anyone else’s destiny. I could be just as destined for her to change her mind. But we have to remember during this scene that the judge is mostly a stand-in for Kieslowski. He exists in the film to voice his various theories about justice and fate, to be the all knowing mover of the plot and to express affection to this unattainable young woman.

When she expresses a desire to help her brother in some way, Joseph replies that the best way is to simply exist. She has to live her own life, that her existence alone is the best help she can give him. Joseph then hears a propeller plane and asks Valentine if she likes to fly. When she says no, he suggests she take the ferry to England. She says it’s a good idea (spoiler alert: it’s not) and they toast to it.

He then tells her that it’s his birthday, that on this day 35 years ago, he acquitted a sailor of a crime. He later reflected on the case and decided that he had been wrong, that he should have found him guilty. The light bulb now goes out on his table lamp and, not having any more bulbs around, he grabs one from the overheard light and puts it in.

Valentine asked what happened to this man and the judge adds that he researched his life and found out that he formed a stable family, had children and recently a grandchild. Valentine responds that, in that case, he decided well, that he saved this man’s life. Joseph seems skeptical and replies that, in that case, how many others could he have acquitted and helped them live better lives? At this point in his life, Joseph has determined that finding truth and revealing it shows a lack of humility, that it’s an act of vanity.

This mirrors Kieslowski’s reasons for giving up documentary filmmaking. He said in interviews that there would always come a moment in the documentary process where he would get to the truth of the story, where the central subject would reveal him or herself. Kieslowski grew to believe that these moments were destructive, that they put people in vulnerable situations that could do damage to them all in service of his films. So he switched to fiction instead.

Valentine asks for another drop of the brandy and toasts to Joseph. She asks, if she were ever taken to court, are there more judges like him? He responds that she will never be taken to court, the innocent are not judged.

And then there’s a crash — a rock thrown through Joseph’s window. He declares this to be the sixth window they’ve broken even though the wavelength has been changed and he cannot eavesdrop any more. It’s the sixth window broken, but we don’t see any broken windows. Who fixed the windows, given that Joseph can’t even keep up with an adequate supply of light bulbs to replace them properly? Ah well, we can’t pay attention to every Kieslowski detail, there are some things he doesn’t want us to care about.

Valentine rushes to clean up the glass — Joseph lets her do it too, which I find a little odd. Maybe he really wants to be taken care of. He asks her to put the stone on the piano and there are, indeed, six large stones there.

He walks to the window. Valentine asks if he is afraid. Joseph replies that he asks what he’d do in their place and thinks he would do the same, he would throw stones as well. Valentine seems surprised, but Joseph continues: It goes for every judgment he’s passed down. Given the circumstances of people’s lives, he would cheat, kill and steal as well.

Valentine now changes the subject: is there anyone you love. He says no. Then when asked if he’s ever loved someone, he dodges the question and tells of a dream he had the night before — of Valentine at age 40 or 50 and happy. She asked if his dreams usually come true. He responds that it has been years since he had a pleasant dream.

In the upcoming scenes, the action will switch to the young judge/man in the red Jeep.