I noted earlier that this is the least popular of the Dekalog episodes. I think this assessment is unfair, but it’s probably one I shared the first time I watched it. This is a much better episode without the suspense elements, without wondering what Ewa is up to or how it will turn out. It's also much better to refrain from asking why Janusz would put himself through this kind of night and not, at some point, just go home.

The truth is, Ewa and Janusz simply have chemistry and, for whatever reason, they enjoy each other's company. Most romantic stories like to examine people who either have perfect positive chemistry, who bring out the best in each other, or completely destructive chemistry, where people feel compulsively drawn to one another, but incite bad events and feelings in each other. Psychologically, we tend to recall the people in our lives in these black and white terms as well, usually depending on the relationship's outcome. If things turned out badly, all of the bad qualities will be remembered. And as listeners of sappy wedding toasts can attest, happy results lead people to remember and recall nothing but the good things the significant other does for them.

One thing I like about this episode is how it shows that perfect chemistry usually creates a mixed bag. Yes, there are destructive elements to Ewa and Janusz, but there are some surprising positive qualities too. We catch up with them at the hospital, where they are led down a long hallway to the morgue to examine that man who lost both of his legs, even though it was made clear earlier that he came into the hospital far too early to fit Ewa's timeline. The body is pulled out on the gurney and we get to see a very gruesome shot of a male cadaver's face that's extremely bloody, with possibly half of the face torn off. We will find out later that even though Ewa's husband interrupted one of their trysts, he had his back to Janusz the whole time, so he didn't know his face. So when Janusz sees this face, he turns away and then tries to comfort Ewa.

She tells him that the man is not Edward, although she wishes it were. Then she tells Janusz that she wishes he was the one bloodied in front of her and she volunteers that she couldn't tell him how many times she wished a bus had run him over and smashed in his face. She then muses that there is probably another woman right now happy that this man, who she speculates had made this fictional woman's life miserable, is happy right now.

Next, we get back in the cab and the strangest segment of the episode ensues. While driving -- to where, I'm not sure -- they pass a police car that had pulled over a cab driver. Ewa reminds him that they reported the car stolen, which leads Janusz to quickly accelerate and bait the police into a high speed chase. This goes on for a couple minutes, across empty, but lovely, Warsaw streets. The police finally catch up to them and then cut off Janusz, forcing him to pull over and stop. They tell both passengers to get out of the car and put their hands on the roof of the car.

Janusz then shows him his license and registration. They tell him that the car was reported stolen, Ewa volunteers that the thieves ditched the car, which they later found. Apparently, the communist era Warsaw cops were unusally cool, because they took this information at face value and noted that Janusz drives very fast -- but let him go because it was Christmas Eve. Wow, that is not happening in America on any day.

But Janusz takes this news with a new challenge -- we didn't get into an accident before, but why not get into one now. He tells Ewa to put on her seat belt, she refuses. Barreling down a tunnel, Janusz decides to play a game of chicken with a street car. As the trolley approaches, we get a glimpse inside and see that the driver is our old friend, The Watcher. He continues on hopeless as Janusz's car rapidly nears a head on collision, but he veers off at the last second.

This leads Janusz’s cab to spin out furiously ... but ultimately, there is no wreck. Even thought Janusz and Ewa voice a willingness for more, Janusz then recalls that they at some point agreed to check out Ewa's apartment. They decide to go there next. One would think after the wild thrill seeking they had just experienced that perhaps they are heading back there for sex. But this episode has some surprises in store.