Original subtitles

TV3 presents

PRODUCED BY SKYWAY PRODUCTION

One,

two,

three,

four, five.

Ready or not, here I come.

ANNA, THE DETECTIVE

COLUMBINE'S SOLITAIRE EPISODE 34

Burn this. Burn this, too. Burn everything.

And ready a stagecoach for me. I'm leaving after lunch.

Where are you going? Come on, calm down already.

I want to live! Do you understand that?

Damned company. Damned town.

Right, what....

Don't ever deal with people from St Petersburg.

They're extremely arrogant and boring people.

They will never understand us provincials.

Excuse me, who do I have the honor...

Ignatov. Pavel Yevgrafovich.

Out of Moscow. Oh St Petersburg people...

They always treat demonstrating their intellect as the most important.

But there is no intellect there. I assure you. There isn't.

Melancholy, sadness on their pale faces...

That gives you the wrong impression.

What's the most important for a Russian to have?

That's right. Soul.

By the way, did you get my letter?

No. I don't know.

Well, see? I came running to you myself, beating my competitors.

Because knowing how they are,

cheats from the capital are going to come now, the big shots...

And with you, your business will go up. You have the company, I have the money.

Let us do business together.

To be honest, your letter... I wasn't glad to receive it.

Why not? I gave you a business offer. Business!

Yes... So this is how you treat your guests.

You don't even offer them a seat.

Why not? Please, take a seat.

Yes... Nice hospitality.

Let's do this: imagine that you're visiting me.

I'm going to give you some tea now. We're going to discuss it all.

By the way, look, I've brought you some money!

Don't be shy, look at it.

Well? Is there any decent establishment around?

To have a heartfelt conversation, have a drink and all.

A drink... I wouldn't mind that.

We're going to sit across from each other.

We'll hold hands. I really home that Mr Karavaev is going to help us.

That's why I called you. You did tell me you were friends with him, right?

Yes, yes, of course.

Well then... sit down.

Spirit of Nikolai Karavaev, come.

Spirit of Nikolai Karavaev, come.

Aleksandr Petrovich. Aleksandr Petrovich!

-Mr Karavaev? -I'm here.

-Did you shoot yourself? -No.

Who shot you?

Columbine.

Who? Tell me, who was wearing Columbine's costume?

At 2 in the morning, they left the tavern and went...

-Down Starokonyushenniy St? -That's right.

Over here, they almost fought between themselves.

And I heard them cursing some Semyonovich.

Then they went down Ambarnaya St, reached some warehouse and entered.

-And what's in it? -Right. I already asked.

That's the warehouse of the Karavaev&Co. firm.

Semyonovich is the steward. Solonitsyn. Why didn't you come there?

What did I tell you? Lay low. What did you do instead?

-You got into the bullpen. -Well, we made a mistake, it happens.

Mistake... When it gets dark, you're out of here.

Or you're going back to the bullpen.

-It's not all there. -That's all you earned.

-We had a different deal. -I have the last word.

-What does the boss say? -I'm your boss.

Boss... You're a Zatonsk dog.

What's this? Here.

What's this?

-Poppy. Can't you see it yourself? -I can. And I know it's opium poppy.

Well, in my opinion, poppy is poppy.

You wouldn't believe the cargo going through us sometimes. So what?

Really? Are you going to say you don't know what they make from it, too?

Of course I do. Bagels, pies.

Wonderful. Bagels, pies... Bagels and pies!

I don't know whose cargo it is.

What they use it for is none of my business.

-What's my guilt in this? -You're doing smuggling.

I'm going to prove it. Take it to evidence.

God be with you. I threw three of them out. Day laborers.

-Maybe they were doing something. -They're wanted by the police.

I didn't know that. They didn't say that about themselves.

You know what, you're free for now, go.

But don't leave town.

Where would I go, leaving the business?

Should we arrest him, Anton Andreievich?

There's no reason yet. We're going to watch him.

-The warehouse and around. -Got it.

Is it true?

No. No, it's not true.

And you said never again.

Come on, Annette. Why are you torturing me?

Because I already suffered my share?

Uncle, I...

Sometimes I think I... solve impossible problems. There.

What's eating you, my child?

I've decided to leave all that detective work.

-Why? -Do you think I...

I have no right to say no if someone comes to me for help?

If they're asking you for help, that means they trust you.

Those who have the gift have three times the responsibility.

Must be why I'm always explaining myself to the police.

-Did Shtolman hurt you? -No. Of course not.

-The opposite, in fact. -Well... It's hight time he did it.

-You know, the opposite. -What?

Right... Have you come to the police?

Well, first of all, I have to tell you that the chief investigator here

is from St Petersburg.

Damn. What shoddy luck.

No, I understand that my companion Karavaev's death is shrouded in mystery.

But I'm sure he had help going to the afterlife.

Just so they can take the company from me.

I won't let them. The company stays yours.

Your share was smaller, right?

-Yes. -Well, now it'll be bigger.

I am offering my capital to you. Do you hear me?

And when people can see you're firmly planted on your feet,

no one will dare try to kill you.

Besides, I want to buy your companion Karavaev's house too.

And move in right away.

That's right. He had a great house. And our company is great, too.

We have wonderful people working for us. We've raised more than one business.

Who is that man in the courtyard?

That is my steward Solonitsyn.

Oh come now. What steward? I've seen your warehouses.

Ruin and backwardness.

No, I'll bring you my own man. He's golden.

A great man. By the way, Aleksandr Petrovich, the girl who served the table.

-Who is she? -That's the steward's daughter Mariya.

A cup of tea, please.

Lady Alekseeva?

My name is Anna Mironova. I was the one who sent you the note.

How can I help you?

Did you know that Mr Karavaev had affairs with other women?

What do you mean, other women?

Are you suggesting we had some kind of affair?

But you danced with him at the ball.

If some man is dancing with some woman, you can state with absolute certainty

that the man is dancing with that woman.

I'm sorry, this conversation is awkward.

And I have no idea why we're even having it.

Because Mr Karavaev was killed. And I think he was killed out of jealousy.

I am not interested in your guesses.

And I know what you talked to him about at the ball.

When you were hiding behind the Columbine mask.

Lady Streltsova, I recognized you. Anna.

Thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me.

Which one of you three had the idea about wearing the same costume?

-I came up with it. -What for?

Karavaev was unbearable. Arrogant and extremely self-assured.

Imagine that, he had an affair with all three of us at the same time.

"Mistress?" How cruel rumors can be. You just didn't know that man well enough.

But I know that you wanted to teach him a lesson.

And for that, you entered into a conspiracy with your competitors.

Who told you that?

It was very funny. We invited him to dance one after another,

and he couldn't understand which one of us was who.

We threw him off track on purpose.

We had our fun at his expense, but he couldn't have shot himself over it.

He wasn't that kind of man.

Which one of you led him out of the dance hall?

I don't know. I didn't see.

I danced with him, but I never left the hall.

Do you want me to tell you who hated him the most?

Who?

Kunitsyn. His companion.

Who's there?

Someone was definitely looking for something in the desk.

The drawers were forced pretty roughly. Tell me, is anything missing?

-How could I know? It's not my paperwork. -Whose, then?

Well, you know...

Anna Viktorovna, allow me to ask what you're doing here.

I'm the one who invited Anna Viktorovna.

And what are you doing here?

Well... Daddy asked me to get the account ledger.

Karavaev took it home recently.

-I know what they were looking for. -What was it?

Love letters. Yes.

One of Karavaev's lovers, she, well... she was probably afraid she would get

accused of murder and stole their correspondence.

-So... Then... Did she find it? -I don't know.

And... Her name, do you know her name?

No. I can't give you her name.

It's a great house. Great. I like it here.

My God, Pavel Antonovich, calm down already, for God's sake.

That's it, that's it, that's it!

Really, really, really. A great house like this can't stay empty.

-Mr Ignatov, you came here recently? -That's right.

-From Moscow? -Yes. From my beloved Moscow.

Look, you're from St Petersburg, right?

Yes. Why, does that matter?

I told you about Mr Shtolman today.

Right, right, I remember.

Listen, you're... you're the one solving crimes with magic and sorcery?

Are you going to call some ghosts this time?

All right, gentlemen, how about a drink?

After all, you're all my guests.

Yes, starting today I'm the owner of this house.

Yes, yes, yes. I bought it. Bought it and all the ghosts in it.

Mr Kunitsyn, we haven't determined who broke into this house yet.

And what for.

Are you suspecting somebody?

Karavaev's three lovers, Podnozova, Alekseeva and Streltsova,

agreed to play a joke on him and had the same Columbine costumes made.

One of them killed him. I just don't know which one.

Interesting theory. I've been to see the dressmaker, too.

All the best.

Kunitsyn himself could have killed Karavaev.

To get rid of a partner he owed a lot of money to.

Anyone could be behind the Columbine mask. Including Kunitsyn himself.

-Then why did he come to me? -To throw the investigation off track.

No... If I were you, I'd take a look at Ignatov.

Of course, he only appeared in town today,

but he could have ordered Karavev's murder.

To get the company.

Look... I'm so sorry, by God. Did I really hurt your feelings?

No I didn't. He's there talking to the lady.

I could talk to Mariya. She worked for Karavaev.

That's a good idea.

Talk to her as a friend, she could tell you something

she wouldn't tell me.

Masha!

Daddy got cranky after he got fired.

And after they took him back, he got even more irritable.

Kunitsyn is losing his mind. Drinking like a fish.

-How was working with Karavaev? -Difficult.

-How come? -He was unpleasant. Even nasty.

Strange. Others talk about him differently.

They're others!

And he wouldn't leave me alone, tried to hit on me all the time.

-And you? -I bore through it.

He threatened to fire my father every day. Said he only keeps him on because of me.

So, you and Karavaev...

What? What are you talking about? What are you thinking?

Sorry. I just...

I knocked all of his hints back. And then, he had others to have fun with.

-Masha, Masha! -The girls... My sisters.

I'm sorry about this unpleasant questioning.

It's all right. I told you what I knew.

Where did you get that mask? Where did you get it?

What do you care? Let her play.

No, ask her, it's very important.

-Varya, where did you get it? -The trash behind the warehouse.

Do you need that mask?

No.

Goodbye. Let's go home.

Well, Porfiriy Semyonovich, it's not looking good.

I have a new partner now. From Moscow. He's giving me serious money.

And because of that he's bringing his own man to be a steward.

You promised me a job just yesterday, Aleksandr Petrovich.

Here is your severance pay.

I get it.

You've gotten rid of your partner, found a new one, got the company.

Sure. Why do you need us old people now?

What do you mean, got rid of him? What the hell are you talking about?

People are pointing fingers at you.

Mr Shtolman asked about you during questioning.

-Weren't you going to run away? -Weren't you moving goods under the table?

What, did you think we didn't know? Maybe it's time Shtolman found out, too.

Except I'll write my own denouncement.

Saying that I did it all on my boss's orders,

getting nothing in return.

Get out, you scum!

All the best to you too, Aleksandr Petrovich.

He's older than me. And I think he'd get bored with me.

Although no, no, probably not. I don't think I ever let him get bored.

I entertained him as best I could.

Please, careful with the mirror, Uncle brought it for me. From Europe.

But what matters right now is that we stick together.

You like it when I come over, don't you?

It's interesting for me with you, too.

Not like that. Like that. You're so pretty.

The wood spirits are all gathered.

Where's Gray Hair?

Solonitsyn! What's the news? Did you bring us a bonus?

You'll get your bonus if you do the deed.

-What deed? -You need to teach one dude a lesson.

Your Kunitsyn?

No. A merchant showed up. Ignatov.

-Ignatov? -Yep.

Sticks his nose where it don't belong.

So if you want to serve the boss, there's another job for you.

The boss... Why didn't she come herself?

You don't rate it.

Kunitsyn and I have decided to fire your daddy.

But you can keep your job if you want it. You'll be my housekeeper.

In fact, your father's station can be helped, too.

Do you want us to keep him on? Or even find him a better job?

Really? Please understand, he has three of us children.

-We can't survive without his wages. -Well, it's decided then.

Thank you, Pavel Anatolievich. You're so kind.

Well, so you be kind to me too, Masha.

Be gentle.

What if I say no?

If you say no, your daddy will have to find a new job.

Besides, there are skeletons in his cupboard.

He wasn't very clean. So we could go to the police, too.

Why are you doing this?

You go. Go, Masha. Think about it.

If working for me isn't to your heart's desire, I'm not keeping you.

-Why isn't it done yet? -There hasn't been an opportunity.

-Where there's a will, there's a way. -I'm trying.

I thought we had agreed about everything. Didn't we?

I keep my word. I'm doing everything possible.

Do the impossible, then!

Don't worry.

Who are you? What's the ruckus?

Some hoodlums.

Let's go sort it out. Let's go, let's go.

Well, let's go.

I studied in St Petersburg. And you know nothing good comes out of that place.

So bear with my being boring.

Scandalous. Mugged in broad daylight.

And most outrageously,

they drag an innocent man to the police station, not the robbers.

A town of robbers, and the police are the same.

Did those young men try to rob you?

-Of course they did. What else? -Who knows. Did they demand your wallet?

Wallet? No. They jumped me right away, like mad.

See? I don't think it was a robbery.

-What are you hinting at? -Someone's making hints at you.

-Do you have any idea what? -I don't know what you're talking about.

Someone doesn't like your interest in Karavaev's company.

Maybe you talked about it with someone. Got involved in something.

I advised Kunitsyn to get rid of that steward. Why?

That's what I think he should do.

You're going to have to stay here until the morning.

-What is that for? -For your own safety.

Look... My safety isn't your concern. I can take care of myself.

And still, you're going to have to stay here.

-On what grounds? -Take starting a fight, for example.

We only have your word about how it happened.

We need to sort it out.

Look, I'm going to report it.

Knock yourself out. Yevgrashin, put the man in our best cell.

Give him a pillow and some sheets.

You know, mister,

I'm going to figure out what you did to get sent to this hellhole.

I have the connections for it.

Get some rest in the meantime. You'll thank me later.

Lead the way.

I need to see the boss. Say something for us.

What are you going to tell her?

That there's been a mistake with that merchant.

But we'll do our jobs again, properly.

-What if she doesn't want to talk to you? -She will. I'm not a nobody.

What about our goods?

I'll tell her about the opium, too.

That we're only going to give it to her. Because our goods are the best.

How are you going to find her, ask Solonitsyn?

I saw her from a distance. She came to see Solonitsyn at the warehouse.

You can tell she's the boss right away. Solonitsyn is just her lapdog.

Lapdog or not, he has hear ear. And you don't.

It's all right. I'll wait for her at the warehouse.

I have a feeling she's going to come back there.

She will kill. Kill again. Again.

-Kill who? -The one standing in her path.

Wait!

Wait!

And I saw Columbine. She had a revolver. You see?

She's going to kill the one who's in her way.

-Tea? -I don't want any.

I think you're taking this case too personally.

You need to calm down, get some rest.

Stop talking to me like I'm ill.

I would never come to you if she wasn't plotting a new murder.

-And who is she going to kill? -The one standing in her way.

Well, it's all clear now. We're going to catch her red-handed.

It's not funny, you know.

Let's go.

Have you missed me already, Makar Sevastianoich?

Or is it too cold out in the free world?

Why are your hounds grabbing innocent people?

They're not. A letter came from St Petersburg,

saying that Makar Yelistratov has done some bad things.

And he's headed to... how do you people say, to the far-away Egypts?

Why Siberia? I'd rather go to the Man, on bail.

No, no. You have to earn prison. So come on, tell me your tale.

If I like it, I'll say a word for you. If I don't, you're going beyond the Ural.

We unloaded some opium poppy. For Solonitsyn. That hornless goat.

Not for the first time either, as I understand.

Yep. Not for the first time. But we've never seen the boss.

-Who's the boss? -Columbine. I told you.

The thieves all say she's the one in charge around here.

But she doesn't deal with anyone. Only does it through Solonitsyn.

Who was the woman heading towards you at the warehouse?

I don't know. I've seen her with Solonitsyn.

He told us to give her some letters.

She's Karavaeva's lover. I get it all now. And he pointed out the boss.

-Who did? -Karavaev's spirit.

Take him away.

-Let's say it's true. Who's the victim? -The one standing in her way.

-Ignatov? -No, wait.

You said yourself it could be Kunitsyn, too.

You're in her way, too. So you're in danger as well.

All right, enough guessing. We need to act.

You're worried in vain. There's your new companion.

Alive and well, as you can see.

Excuse me, you never explained to me why you detained Mr Ignatov.

Yes, please be so kind as to explain, Mr...

You're detained under orders from Shtolman.

-Excuse me, what is your rank? -Collegiate assessor.

Yakov Shtolman's right hand and assistant.

Assistant? Well, assist us, then.

Dear Anton Andreievich, please help us with just one problem.

Let Mr Ignatov come home. It's night outside, gentlemen!

Exactly, night! Night! So you better stay here until the morning.

It's for your own safety.

Are you guarding me too, mademoiselle?

Could you order the boy to bring some champagne?

I will allow myself to say that saying without thinking

is akin to shooting without aiming.

So please, Mr Ignatov, keep your crude remarks to yourself.

Or I'll have to send you back to the cell. For your own safety.

So that's who you are, "boss." I knew you would come.

Stay away.

What are you planning? Are you going to kill me?

What are you saying? I wasn't going to kill you at all.

Who, then? The merchant? What for?

For firing your smuggler father.

Maybe that's why you murdered Karavaev, too.

Karavaev tortured me every day. He threatened to fire Daddy.

-And the merchant too! -And the merchant too! Stay away!

You knew where Karavaev kept his gun. Where did you get your weapon this time?

If you take another step, I will shoot.

Engraved. Did you steal it from your father?

So it was your idea, reselling smuggled opium poppy?

It was.

And you knew what opium is? How it affects people?

I did.

And the owners of the warehouse, Karavaev, Kunitsyn... did they suspect?

Kunitsyn still doesn't know anything. And Karavaev was smart, he figured it out.

And what, he figured it out and demanded his cut? Right?

He threatened to fire daddy. And he has three of us kids!

How were we going to survive without his wages?

You're inventive, I'll give you that.

Just tell me, how did you find out that three ladies ordered Columbine costumes?

I go to the same dressmaker.

So that's what it was. There was chaos, music, fireworks...

And you had your chance. Three Columbines at once.

And I did it, too. If it wasn't for that damned Ignatov!

Who threatened to fire Daddy again!

Anton Andreievich, finish the formalities.

Yes, sir.

Anna Viktorovna! Come on, wait.

Excuse me.

We weren't close friends, of course, but I knew her well.

And... it's a horrible sight.

I'll walk you home.

Don't. You forgot we were neutral.

I remember. It's night outside.

I can get home myself.

Goodbye, Yakov Platonovich.

Goodbye, Anna Viktorovna.

Yevgrashin.

Keep an eye on her.

COLUMBINE'S SOLITAIRE