Original subtitles

This programme contains scenes of violence and strong language from the outset

BANGING AND CLUNKING

SCREAMING

Ivan, we went to the same Christmas party at the Bolshoi.

I started burning in the face.

Oh, Igor, this is my new card with the new number on the background.

Rudolf, tall guy.

Tom, long time, no see.

Bye.

OK, $20 million.

Your client should consider this a final offer.

If you want to walk away with this deal before deadline,

you will have to make a real effort.

The actual fuck?! This type of deal practically does itself.

All you had to do was smile, make small talk and shut the fuck up.

What happened?!

No, it was me. You know... Not you.

Eckhart, you're in charge around here, apparently.

Well, we took a view... You know what, it doesn't matter.

Next time you take a view, remember to put on your fucking glasses.

MUSIC: Moscow Night by Vladimir Troshin

♪ Ne slyshny v sadu dazhe shorokhi

♪ Vso zdes' zamerlo do utra

♪ Yesli b znali vy

♪ Kak mne dorogi

♪ Podmoskovnyye vechera

♪ Yesli b znali vy

♪ Eti letniye

♪ Podmoskovnyye vechera. ♪

We met at the Baltic conference.

You told me that you had advanced plans

to set up in Russia through an acquisition.

But definitely not there for another three years. Oh, in three years?

You take institutions, I take family offices, OK?

The company is undervalued, the growth potential is excellent.

It's not of interest to us. No...

But, come on, you're not listening to me.

I say to you we can help with the cash flow...

Long time.

I know.

I called.

Repeatedly.

Freddie came to the office today, half drunk,

embarrassed me in front of my clients.

Can we talk?

I know you don't do friends

but Freddie is the closest you have to a family.

You could have returned his calls.

My calls.

He's desperate, Tom.

What happened?

Freddie says we are fine, but...

Fine? No, you're not. You're broke.

I thought Freddie was the one taking care of me.

What the hell happened?

Freddie's work has slowed.

Why?

Russia. Chaos is the only constant.

And you?

There's a new hospital in our area advertising for doctors. Oh, good.

I'll probably make as much at the gas station.

Just take a look at the stocks.

He sometimes take equity instead of payment.

Who knows, maybe they are worth something.

But people with valuable equity paying cash? Just look.

You know I can't do business on the side.

Yes, I know, but if you find something, Pioneer could sell it.

Does Freddie even know you're here?

He misses you.

Just him?

Sorry.

Sorry. I'm stupid.

MOBILE PHONE

Hey. I did all eight. Only one call back.

What? Only one call back? Yes.

Did you have better luck? No, no, same here.

Yeah, I've got a meeting in like two weeks, maybe, on a potential deal.

I'm so fucked.

OK. Yeah, whatever.

Take it easy. Thank you. Bye. Bye.

RADIO PLAYS: Dunya-Tonkopryakha by Sergei Lemeshev

KNOCK ON DOOR

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

No games. Just tell me.

Most of the stocks are trash,

but Freddie has a smallholding in something that could be big -

if we play it right.

I suggest we find buyers

that are ready to pay a lot of money for a majority.

Start a bidding war.

How big?

I don't know, but to find out how far we can push this,

I really need Freddie's share certificates.

By when?

Two days. Two days?

I'm doing what I can, you know?

Yeah, I know. Listen, you need the money. I need the job.

ANIMALS GRUNT

BRAYING

DOGS BARK

Tom Blixen. We spoke on the phone.

My special soup is heating up.

Nice.

But first... a drink.

So, when do you expect your wife?

COWS MOO Er, she had to go the field trip.

Oh.

HE CHUCKLES

She's the best, you know?

She just loves her work.

Do you know she has a PhD from Harvard?

Oh, that's great.

If something is there, she'll find it.

But they're really pleased with her.

They? She found something out here.

They came here, they wanted her to show them everything.

They? You mean Neftnik, right?

Where did you say you come from?

Oh, I'm from Pioneer Capital.

We're a private investment bank.

We buy and sell companies and arrange mergers for our clients.

We're working with, you know, Neftnik among others.

Smart.

I'm a writer.

You are? Yes. That's great.

I keep them here.

The great Russian writers.

Tolstoy. Pushkin. Gorky.

And Yulianov. My poems.

You want to hear some?

GENTLE SNORING

I've gone through all the reports.

Keep up the good work, people, and remember -

be brave, but don't be stupid.

LIVELY CHATTER, CLASSICAL MUSIC

Sh-sh-shh.

We have good schools.

And the Russian history?

The Berlitz Guide To Moscow. LAUGHTER

Funny guy.

I work for Pioneer Capital.

I know. Small firm, but competent.

You also know Neftnik?

What if it's not in the past?

SIGHING Mr Blitzen...

Blixen.

There are buyers... and buyers.

Which type are you?

A yes is all I need for now.

What keeps you in Moscow, Tom?

Women.

Ah - boys?

HE LAUGHS

Drugs, money... Perhaps it's not having to choose.

And they say all Swedes are boring!

Do they?

I will think about your offer.

To art!

And artists.

BELL RINGS

CHUCKLING

I hope you're telling him the truth, Freddie.

Where is Ksenia?

I showed Tom everything.

You did what?

No, no.

I really think you should go now, Tom.

What are you thinking, Freddie? Let's be honest about this.

Listen, guys, I might have found something.

I mean, it was mostly junk

but there is one asset that I think could be in play.

But to find out the value,

I night need to have signed shares certificates.

What's the asset?

Neftnik.

No. I'm sorry.

Impossible.

No offence, but it does... Tom.

What's going on, Freddie? I'm not selling those shares.

You want us to lose everything? If necessary...

What are you talking about? I mean, just sell them. No.

I can't sell.

End of story.

This is already in motion. You know I put my neck on the line.

Just keep it moving, we have no choice.

No, you don't.

Call a taxi.

DOOR SHUTS

GUN FIRES

Olympic team.

Really?

Thank you for the invitation, it's an honour to be here.

Yes, it is.

OK, where is that beautiful boss of yours?

Around.

Find her and meet me there in five minutes.

All right.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

You don't know me but I know you,

by reputation.

The telecom deal you did was a work of art.

What a night.

Gusev really knows how to party.

You're a friend of his, right?

We do some business.

Of course.

I was talking to him the other day, actually,

about a client of mine who's looking to buy Neftnik shares.

Is that one of yours?

You know,

a man of your level, I lose track.

We would like to buy.

What did you say your name was? I didn't.

Tom Blixen, Pioneer Capital.

HE CHUCKLES

What a pleasure for my eyes.

I just wanted to say in person,

I won't accept your generous offer.

The company's worthless, but I'm attached, sentimentally. I see.

Call it "nostal gia".

Well, thank you for letting us know.

Classy, as always.

WOMAN SCREAMS

HE PANTS

When someone tries to waste my time once, I ignore it.

When they do it twice...

..you know, either they are extremely foolish

or extremely motivated.

Which are you, Mr Blixen?

Not very popular, are you, Rusoil?

You've got all the money in the world but nobody likes you.

You've got the press on your case, activists.

The government seems onside, but, you know,

governments have a habit of changing their minds.

Thank you for your concern, but we are doing fine.

Fine.

What if you could do better than fine?

I'm talking about complete control

of western Siberia's oil fields.

And, just as importantly,

a change in perception.

I've lived here for five years, but I...

..I still don't understand Russia. Perhaps you never will.

No doubt about it.

But what I do understand is Russia's image internationally.

A new, clean Rusoil will be a global player.

Think about the doors it would open.

I know our company has a reputation,

wildly exaggerated, as you can imagine.

I'm talking about a merger.

Take a small player and make it big.

They get your power and influence and you'll get a clean slate.

And, even better, a player you think has no assets. Neftnik...

..of which your friend owns a small share.

There are many reasons why this deal is good for me, of course,

but I'm here to talk about why this deal is good for you.

I already have sellers to get you a majority.

Why not take the opportunity, show the world?

The headline deal handled by Pioneer, you know,

properly, full European-style.

And then, when the deal is done, what do you know?

An oil strike.

You'll win twice.

And you? Once is enough for me.

Natasha?

Yes? There's a problem with my card. Let me check.

I'm afraid these credentials are no longer active.

Can you activate it?

I'm sorry, sir, I cannot do that.

Minister?

Please.

Minister? Minister?

Tom Blixen, Pioneer Capital.

Can I have a moment of your time?

So...

..how can I help you, Mr Blixen?

I'm heading the corporate... Used to head, I am hearing.

Oh, yeah, look, you don't know me and... I know you work.

It's not going so well lately.

But I've been putting together a deal that I think could be

a game-changer. Rusoil?

The deal is obviously problematic in terms of...

Going directly against Pioneer's explicit ethos.

Minister, Pioneer has morals in an immoral world -

a rare, laudable thing.

But if we truly believe in that philosophy,

why wouldn't we want to spread it?

If we're making money out of Russia,

why aren't we prepared to help change the things we don't like?

It's easy for us to, you know, sneer from the sidelines.

But what's hard and what's really meaningful is to get our hands

dirty and work with corporations like Rusoil

to change their business culture...

..and that's how I see this deal.

We will make money, yes, of course.

But more than that, we will put a stake in the ground -

to say that, from now on, things can change.

Pioneer can be an instrument of that change,

and a symbol of hope and progress that the wild east is over.

A new Russia is coming and we can be partners to build it.

If you're fired on Monday, you have got a future in politics.

If you fire me on Monday, you will lose the chance to change Russia.

Oh, that's a big claim.

Perhaps, but everything starts somewhere.

It's a risk I can't touch,

but I like your ambitions.

Let me have some conversations.

And?

I wish you well, but... If it goes down, I'm on my own.

There are some fires even minister can't put out.

Got you. Thank you.

Gaspad Baranov, nice to see you again.

OK.

Please come in.

Everything is ready.

Here is the deal memo.

I will need to see the share certificates and then you can sign.

Please wait here.

Thank you.

GUNSHOTS

Subtitles by Red Bee Media