Original subtitles

EPISODE 4

WINS

And do you think the Communist Party was expecting such a result?

Yes, I'm absolutely convinced of that.

All the polls clearly showed that the Communist Party

was leading by far in the voters' intentions.

Even dad wasn't expecting such a result.

Over 50%.

...they had 30%.

But to say that half of Moldova is communist it's a nonsense.

I don't contradict you, the voters contradict you.

And now, the exit-poll and the information from...

Let's not rush, the votes from the diaspora haven't arrived yet.

We might have surprises.

Lucky us.

It's not luck, Alexei, it's marketing and investment.

What do you mean?

He's talking about the million dollars he put

into the Communist campaign.

What million? It was only six hundred thousand.

I'm not talking about the 600.000 I gave you, that doesn't count.

I mean the money invested directly in the party.

The distribution of seats in the future Parliament would be as follows.

The Communist Party, seventy-one.

Draghiș Alliance, nineteen...

See?

But you foolishly put your money into other parties.

It was clear they'd never make it.

What I invested in the others doesn't even compare.

Yes, Mr. President.

How do you know it's me?

Got a detector?

At this hour, there's only one call I'm expecting.

From the greatest politician in the country.

The last communist in Europe.

- Are you alone or with the boys? - With the boys.

- Is Alexei sober? - Celebrating the victory too, yes.

Got it.

Put Plaha on the line.

Yes, Mr. President.

Hello, Plaha, can you hear me?

Call your people at Aristocrat, tell them to prepare the apartment,

two girls and the sauna.

Yes, Mr. President.

You can call your dad "Mister".

Going somewhere?

To the party headquarters.

At this hour?

Yes, at this hour.

You just came back from there.

Fourteen lei.

Here you go.

The change.

We're going somewhere else.

- Pușkin 22, Press House. - As you wish.

Quite peaceful here, inside and out.

What's the surface area?

520 square meters, with the attic 600 total.

You've got a garden, a terrace, of course

a pool, a cellar, all the amenities.

Let's see you vacuum this whole thing.

Nina will do it.

Who doesn't have a Nina should buy one.

Hello, yes.

What happened?

Has Belcenko lost his mind?

What do you mean he won't let the cars in?

Alright, tell him I'm coming.

Did something happen?

Yes, I have to go to Rîbnița.

Now?

Yes, it's urgent.

Can't it wait?

We haven't even seen it yet.

Take a look without me, if you like it, we'll take it.

I always have to do everything alone. Even when it's important decisions.

I'm sorry.

I don't understand why you stick to that scrap metal dump.

That "scrap metal dump"

is what lets us afford a house in the city centre.

You didn't want to move to Romania when I proposed it.

What else am I supposed to do here?

Alright, I'm off.

When will you be back?

I don't know, late at night.

A round trip to Rîbnița takes a while.

As I said, if you like it, we'll take it.

Hi!

Hey!

Oh, what's the TV crew doing here?

What else? Keeping an eye on you!

That's all? I thought you'd make us celebrities too.

You already are celebrities.

Really? I had no idea.

Does Dogaru still work here or did you fire him?

He should've been long gone, but he doesn't want to leave.

- He's on a smoke break. - I passed by, he wasn't there.

He's in the toilet.

Still, you'll find him there, he's smoking 24/7.

Do you need him?

- That's where you'll find him. - Alright, thanks.

Won't you stay for a coffee?

I'd love to, but I've got work to do.

Next time it's your treat?

Sure, but you're paying.

Bye!

Even on the coat, it was written.

Hey, how are you?

You really moved your office out here.

- Bye. - Want one too?

No, it's fine.

If I smoke one now, tomorrow I'll end up buying a pack.

- How are you? Happy to see you. - Me too.

I wanted to talk.

Want to go inside?

No. Better out here.

What happened?

I wanted to ask if you remember that case from '94

with the secret maternity ward at Hotel Central?

From '92, not '94.

Yeah, I think so.

What should I remember?

Details.

What do I know that everyone else doesn't?

A doctor set up a secret maternity clinic

and sold babies to Americans.

And you think a simple doctor, no matter how skilled,

could handle all that on his own?

Find adoptive parents, find pregnant women, convince them,

manage the money, arrange the location.

I'm just telling you what the investigation said.

Obviously, the case was much more complex.

So what made you dig this up?

It's important to me.

How can I find out more?

You're asking me?

Aren't you the best investigative journalist?

- I am. - There you go, then.

So what do you recommend?

Why don't you file a request to access the case file?

You'll find plenty of interesting data there.

Or look for the woman who blew the whole thing open.

The mother who called the police.

I'll give you her name, I've got it in the archives.

If I find anything else, I'll let you know.

Thanks.

I owe you one.

And two cigarettes. You made me smoke more than I should.

- Bye. - See you.

Good afternoon, Mr. Belcenko!

I heard you are mad at us.

You think I don't have reasons to be?

You're even more cocky than I assumed.

When was the last time you came to our office?

I got it.

I didn't pay you enough.

- We had another deal. - Deal?

Only last year you received 200 million dollars in cash.

Is it not enough?

Indeed, Moraru.

How much money do you make from the metal I bring you?

I'll ask you not to count my money.

You either pay the debt,

or none of your cars enter our territory.

Count them!

How much do you have here?

You asked me not to count your money.

Hello?

Good afternoon, Mr. Lunca.

Good afternoon, Victor.

I wanted to ask for your help with something.

With what?

I'd like you to arrange a meeting with Alexei.

With Alexei?

Yes.

Why don't you call him yourself?

I tried, he keeps hanging up.

Of course he does, since you didn't help him during the campaign.

Mr. Iurie, you know I couldn't.

I'm a unionist, he's a communist.

If the funding had come out, it would've looked bad for both of us.

And now?

Now it's different.

It's business we're talking about.

If it's business, call Plaha.

They're friends, and Plaha will arrange it.

Alright, if you say Plaha's the solution,

send me his number and I'll call him myself.

Fine.

I'll text it to you.

Okay.

I'll wait.

Thank you.

Durleșteanu?

What's in the bag?

What's in the bag?

Stuff!

Police! Down on the ground!

Are these yours?

Yes, I have documents.

Here, have some juice too.

Thanks.

Too much...

I don't know what to say.

All I know is...

The troublesome mother's name is Rodica Parfir.

And you know what's ironic?

She doesn't live in the middle of nowhere. She lives in Durlești.

Of course, back then she wasn't married. She lived only with her mother.

That's about all I can tell you.

Do you have an address?

Russo Street, number seven.

And do you think she still lives there?

I don't know. Go and see.

Good afternoon!

That's what you say? I don't think so.

Why?

Why didn't you come to me and dragged me to this dump?

For someone like you, who could be arrested any day now,

that takes some nerve.

Arrested?

Why?

I don't know, you tell me.

Alexei is very upset with you.

He even spoke to his father to have you locked up.

Alexei's an idiot, he understands nothing.

Watch your mouth, you're talking about my friend.

So, why did you call me?

Vlad, how much do you think all this scrap cost me?

Three hundred thousand lei.

The guys in Rîbnița will pay at most two million for it.

If we subtract all expenses and the bribes,

I'm left with a bit over 700.000 lei.

I see...

But do you know how much the separatists earn

after they process the metal and ship it to Europe?

No idea.

At least two million dollars.

After deducting all operating costs,

they're left with a bit over a million.

A million dollars, Vlad!

Not bad.

We could make that money ourselves.

How?

First, we raise the scrap collection price

from twenty bani to one leu per kilo.

Then you tell Alexei to tell Cioroian

to appoint me director at Ferrous Metal.

Later, if possible, Cioroian has to change the law in Parliament,

so that Ferrous Metal holds the monopoly.

On both collection and export.

It's not that simple to change the law.

You have to show you're bringing money to the budget.

To be something for them as well.

There will be money.

Here's the deal:

You'll be Ferrous Metal director, but with conditions.

You register some collection firms under Alexei's name.

A few under my name as well.

You collect too, but modestly, don't draw attention.

Cioroian's people don't like you at all. You're a unionist.

But I'll talk to them and explain that business is one thing,

politics another.

I'll try, and we'll see what comes of it.

Down with the communists!

Down with the communists!

Hundreds of students from Chișinău

blocked the presidency and the parliament buildings on Ștefan cel Mare Avenue

setting-up tents and declare it "No communist zone".

The protesters are angry

because there are intentions to exclude

from study in schools and universities

Romanian language and the Romanian history.

The communists are attacking the essence of our being!

The very soul of us as Romanians!

They want to remove Romanian language and literature from the school curriculum!

The history of the Romanians!

We will not let them do this.

These are crimes against our people!

Against its identity!

That senile Cioroian must resign!

Resignation!

Resignation!

Resignation!

Turn off that crap!

Resignation!

Such filth!

When we came to power, we found them like bums, dirt poor.

No salaries, no conditions.

I pay their wages on time, gave them everything they need, and look,

they took to the streets.

And if I send the police after them, I'll still be the bad guy.

Dad, how about going to Karlovy Vary for a week?

And what would I do in Karlovy Vary?

Get some rest.

And we'll try to sort things out here with Roșu and the others.

How?

I have an idea.

But I'll ask you to help me with something, too.

I don't get it. Are you setting conditions or what?

No, God forbid. How would I set conditions?

Some things just lined up.

Like I said, I'll try to handle the events in the square.

I have someone trustworthy inside Roșu's party.

You're so slippery, Plaha.

I'd have doubted it if you didn't have people everywhere.

What I'd like to ask, though, is that you speak with the Interior Minister

about one of my people who ended up in an awkward situation.

What do you mean, "awkward situation"?

I assure you there's no crime.

Be careful.

Alright. I'll talk to someone and you'll meet the guy.

Thank you.

Wait.

Enter.

You're going to have problems.

Did we do you any harm?

You arrested me without cause.

Oh, yeah?

Hey, Nechifor, here's what's written in your statement.

"I declare that the weapons found in my possession belong to me."

And we're talking about a Blaser R93, 3 Beretta pistols, and a CZ, calibre 19.

Right?

So what?

Where did you get them?

I bought them. The papers are right there.

I filed import declarations for them.

You tell him?

Take a look. Recognize anything here?

She was killed many years ago, somewhere near Leușeni.

The problem is the ballistic report shows she was shot with your gun.

Beretta.

And what's that got to do with me? I bought it recently.

Yes, Minister, I'm listening.

We've just opened the file.

Yes, it was a planned operation.

Understood.

Yes, that's what we'll do.

Exactly.

Can I have a cigarette?

And how am I supposed to smoke with these?

I heard you can take them off, right?

Rodica!

Rodica!

Good afternoon!

Good afternoon!

Who are you looking for?

I'm looking for Rodica.

I was told she lives here at number seven, right?

Rodica...

She hasn't lived here for a long time.

Did she move?

No.

She's locked up at Costiujeni.

- At Costiujeni? - Yes.

She hasn't been around in ages.

She didn't even come when her mother died.

Alright.

Thank you.

Hey, if you're thinking of buying the house, it's not for sale.

Alright.

He's late.

Life of a protester, they're late sometimes, too.

Here, I almost forgot.

Sorry.

Would you like anything?

- Water. - David!

Water.

At the Popular Front they only drink water.

So they don't lose vigilance.

Come on, it's not that strict.

How's it going?

You brought me here to talk about the weather?

About what it's like outside?

Alright, let's start over.

Lately, the President has been fixated on the idea

of deploying special forces to clear the city centre.

There are plenty of reasons.

Unauthorized protests,

disgruntled citizens...

You should know it took some convincing

to get the President to hold off a bit longer.

And?

Here's two hundred fifty thousand.

I think you'll find a reason to stop all these protests.

Go before the students, ask them to pack up their tents,

and we'll stay friends.

Is that good?

Is that why you brought me here?

So these guys can buy me off?

No, leave it, Mr. Moraru wasn't aware of the offer.

Iura, our electorates are different.

We can't give up the idea of reintroducing the Moldovan language into the curriculum,

because that's what we promised the voters.

On the other hand, we can, at least, discuss things civilly, right?

Okay.

But I can't just leave the square first thing in the morning.

I need to find a credible solution.

Tomorrow, one of the protesters falls ill, calls an ambulance,

it's determined he has something contagious,

some infectious disease or whatever.

You go out in front of the protesters,

ask them to go home.

Because nothing is more valuable than health, Iura.

And we remain friends.

Goodbye!

Stay healthy!

As I said earlier,

for us, the life and safety of every citizen is paramount.

We want to show everyone... we've shown already

that when the country calls us to defend its values,

we can gather and shield it.

Mr. Roșu, can you tell us what was found with the girl taken by the ambulance?

What kind of infection are we talking about?

Let's report the information correctly.

She wasn't taken by ambulance, she went to the ambulance.

And the doctors said they don't rule out food poisoning.

But many people say they saw an ambulance this morning.

Did you see it?

I didn't, but...

Then let's not misinform the public. Please.

Have a nice day!

Sir, wait a moment, sir!

Much better this way.

Well done, Plaha. He did a good job.

Can't argue with that.

But how the hell did he do it?

He convinced one of their own.

Looks much better without those student leeches.

I should get going.

I'm heading out too.

Go on, then.

How are things on your end?

Good that it's good.

I have a favour to ask.

Put some guys to keep an eye on Plaha.

He's gotten very resourceful lately.

Any news?

Take a look at this.

Anything special?

Of course there is.

Hey, why don't you say it in your own words? I'm bored.

I figured.

A few years ago, someone very influential enabled the sale,

or rather the privatization of 30 gas stations.

Guess the price?

Two hundred thirty thousand lei.

Plus, the gas stations were privatized almost in secret.

Meaning: the notice went in the official gazette today,

and the auction was scheduled for tomorrow.

For appearances, two firms took part.

One from Călărași, a construction store.

And the other from Băcioi.

Which, ironically, has as shareholder...

Guess?

Who?

Nechifor.

Isn't that lovely?

Lovely.

Later, to complete the picture,

Nechifor gets hired at Petroil Moldova as head of security.

What do you think?

I need to show this file to Buză as well.

- I'll take it to him later. - Do that.

- Yeah. - We'll talk later.

- Greetings, Major! - Hello!

What happened?

Well, here's what happened...

I've got some pretty heavy information.

Go on!

One of my subordinates started investigating an old client.

And he found this.

A rather strange privatization organized by Vlad Plaha

and important people in the country's leadership.

Is that so?

Do you have evidence?

Yes, I do.

But we still need some checks.

At Aristocrat SRL, the Ministry of Economy, Petroil Moldova.

And a few people should be questioned, but for that I need your permission.

Right...

Can you leave this so I can read it in peace?

- You know I don't function after lunch. - Of course.

Read it when you have time.

May I go?

Yes. We'll talk later.

Good day!

- Good afternoon! - Good afternoon!

I've brought her, she's waiting in the visiting room.

Thank you very much.

One thing. The patient isn't in the best condition.

She often confuses reality with imagination, she's disoriented.

What I mean is: don't contradict her,

even if she seems incoherent.

Let's not make it worse.

Of course. Don't worry.

And one more favour.

Normally, we're only allowed to permit visits from first-degree relatives.

In her case,

she's alone, she has no one.

Thank you.

Hello, Rodica.

I'm Irina.

Chestnuts.

When will you bring my little boy back?

- Do you want me to bring him? - Yes.

He's so little, he can't walk.

He doesn't know how to get here.

He needs help.

Where should I bring him from?

From America.

Have you ever been to America?

Then you saw him, didn't you?

I don't know.

Maybe.

What's his name?

Ionel.

And how did he get there?

Mr. Will took him.

He told me he was taking him to the bathroom to wash him

and never brought him back.

Will what?

Do you know his full name?

Will...

But he's a good man.

The doctors are bad.

Both Arapu and the ones here.

If you go to America again,

could you please bring Ionel back?

And give him this too.

So he can play.

You found it easily.

It's not that hard to get here.

So you've been here before.

Why didn't you want to meet at Aristocrat?

It would've been easier.

We'd have a drink, relax...

It's safer here.

Why did you call me to this...

dust bowl?

How can I be of service to the Anti-Corruption Police?

I've got something here you might be interested in.

Why did you bring it to me?

To show you that... we can be friends.

And?

Five hundred thousand.

But I don't measure friendship in money.

Since you say we can be friends...

I could consider how you'd look, let's say...

as General Prosecutor.

- You like it, huh? - I do.

You know what they say?

There are three things you can watch without end:

fire burning,

water flowing,

and counting money.

I'm curious if he'll be late.

He's late, he always is.

I remember, a few years back he wanted a plot on Cantemir.

He invited me over.

Around eight in the evening.

I showed up ten minutes early, like I do, so I don't keep people waiting.

I sit and wait.

Fifteen minutes, half an hour, an hour...

Guess how late he was?

No idea.

An hour and a half?

Two hours.

Can you imagine?

And get this. He walks in and smiles.

He had that silly, college-educated grin on his face.

He walks in like nothing happened.

"Hello!

Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

So what, is that a problem?

"Didn't make you wait too long...

I think they're here.

Is that him?

Yes.

With his people.

- Good evening! - Good evening!

Hope we didn't keep you waiting too long...

- No problem. - It's not a problem!

Okay!

Girls, go upstairs and wait there, we'll talk down here, okay?

Come on, please!

Hey! Hello! What are you doing?

Where are you going? Nechifor!

What are you doing?

Outside, guys, go find some wood, we'll grill later.

What grill?

Come on, get outside!

Give me that bottle!

Give it here!

Come on, chop-chop!

Look how eager they are!

- I'll pass. - Pass what? Just a little, for courage.

I'll have a little.

Well?

Go on.

Why did you call me?

- To talk about the future. - Very well.

But why did you tie yourself to the communists?

Join our side and we'll go far.

But I am on your side, man. Haven't I helped you every time?

Let's admit it. What we got compared to the communists is peanuts.

Look what a huge anti-communist bloc we've built with all the parties.

We lack funding.

But you don't follow the polls,

haven't you seen the communists are favourites again?

So what?

We'll do it another way. I'll help you with money.

But nobody should know it's from me. Do you understand?

I'm not strong enough yet to confront them openly.

In four years...

What will be in four years?

I'll be strong enough.

Let's do that.

I'll give each of you a million. Do what you want with it.

But I have a condition too.

What is it?

I'll make sure that for these four years Cioroian won't touch you or your people,

and you put four of my people on your electoral lists.

Not good.

Four is too many.

And how do you guarantee that?

Who backs you so we know none of us will be touched?

The General Prosecutor.

For now.

You'll be stunned when I show you what I found.

I could hardly believe it myself. Sit tight in your chair, okay?

First.

Remember how Rodica made a huge fuss back then?

- You remember, right? - Yes, I remember.

Well, someone had her committed.

Then they stuffed her with meds so she'd have nothing to say.

To make her useless in any investigation.

Marcel, what investigation are we talking about?

There was no investigation.

That's right. There wasn't.

Arapu was made the scapegoat.

But he hanged himself.

The hotel manager said they knew nothing.

Arapu rented the hotel basement for some kind of storage.

Storage?

Yes, look, written in the contract between Arapu and the hotel.

And second...

The Border Police tell me the following.

During that period, went in and out of the country

hundreds of Vil, Will, whatever...

Only one stayed for a long period.

For months.

He'd leave the country, but come back quickly.

- Will Kramer. - Will.

Yes, Will.

Why do you think this is the Will Rodica mentioned?

I might have doubts, except there's a small detail.

A small, but important detail.

Will Kramer is, at least was, the owner of CTC Group.

A company that partnered with a Moldovan company.

Angelicus.

Guess who's the administrator?

Who?

Vladimir Plaha.

I don't believe it.

Believe what you want, but the documents speak for themselves.

Want a cigarette?

No.

That means Tcaci, the investigator who handled the case,

was jailed precisely so the case could be covered up.

Maybe Petru too.

That has to be proven.

Because of him, he ended up...

Tcaci told Petru that this guy had informed on him back in '87.

Plaha was Petru's roommate. He could've taken that knife

and planted it at the crime scene a thousand times.

You're right.

I won't argue.

We voted for continuity.

We have great hopes for the future.

We voted for change.

And above all for... equity and balance.

We voted for a new, democratic Moldova.

For prosperity and interethnic peace.

This country deserves a better future.

And who, if not us, will deliver it.

My vote went for a Moldova that wants to stand with Romania,

with the large European family.

- And the union of Romania and Moldova? - Very soon, because united we are strong.

Boss, may I?

Like a fist shoved on the communists' throat.

Mr. Moraru, what an honor!

Can I get you something? Cognac, a red wine?

No, thanks. I'm tired.

I get it, this campaign wore you out.

Hell of a thing!

People were getting paid in rubber boots and groceries.

But what's going on, Victor?

Meaning?

I heard Mr. Cioroian awarded you the Order of the Republic.

That's right.

And how does that work?

The President decorates you?

Yet you pour money into Roșu's campaign?

The President decorated me because Ferrous Metal,

for the first time in many years,

managed to bring money to the budget.

A lot of money.

I think you're either stupid or you're pretending.

And even more money, it seems, Ferrous Metal put in your pocket.

And you say nothing.

Meaning what? Everything's transparent.

The turnover figures are public, Vlad.

Public, you say? Transparent?

Hey, Mr. Transparent,

did you forget you're not allowed to collect metal?

Demand at the plant increased.

Alexei couldn't keep up with his firms,

so I had to buy them from him.

But what's the problem, Vlad?

Your money arrived.

You got it every time, exactly as agreed.

Maybe that's how it is, Victor, but... it's not nice.

If you muscled in on Alexei,

it means you're stealing from the President.

Do you understand?

It means I'm developing the company. That's what I'm doing.

I'm not stealing from anyone.

But why are you meddling in politics?

How much money did you give for Roșu's campaign?

Everything was decided without me.

I only had to transfer the money to Roșu's account.

So he could later vote the majority.

"The majority", you say?

So you, a staunch unionist, were and are okay

with your party voting in a communist president, right?

That's what the President decided.

So now you set things with the President?

You had one foot in prison when you came asking me for help.

I gave you the most prosperous firm in Moldova, and you...

Maybe we should each have a drink?

The freshly decorated one said he doesn't drink. Sit down.

Victor, by Friday morning you bring me your resignation.

And the 7% of shares you bought from Alexei, you give them to me.

Otherwise you're going to prison.

Who the hell are you?

A prosecutor? A judge?

Who are you to talk to me like that?

Dorel, go after him and tell him the resignation day has changed.

Not Friday morning anymore, it's tomorrow morning. Drill it into him.

Got it.

Damn you!

It's me.

Come home, please!