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-Is he all right? -It’s blood. Looks like he’s dead.

Good day.

One,

two,

three,

four, five.

Ready or not, here I come

ANNA, THE DETECTIVE

He's dead, of course.

A STRAY BULLET EPISODE 41

We need to call Shtolman. This is serious business.

Yes. Mr. Detective will sort it all out.

What’s the reason of death?

Murder, I believe. It looks dreadful. Not for the faint of heart.

How horrible. I wish I hadn’t stopped. Now I’ll have nightmares.

Let’s go. I know what can help you.

-May I? -Thank you.

This collar will fit perfectly with your blue dress.

Mother, please spare me the conversation with Razumovsky.

No, please! I’m begging you to consider the prince’s proposal.

What proposal? He didn’t propose to me.

He will. Today.

-No. I can’t and won’t talk to him. -What shall we do, then?

It’s simple. He asked you for my hand in marriage. You’ll have to reject him.

No. It’s not done. You have to give him a chance.

Why did he come to you and not to me?

That’s how it’s done in decent families. You talk to the parents first.

I don’t understand this tradition. It’s... so old-fashioned.

Anna, please.

It’s nonsense.

I don’t know how it could even occur to Kirill Vladimirovich

that I can be his wife.

You say it as if a shoemaker proposed to you.

Prince Razumovsky is a perfect match for you.

-Mother... -Anna!

Detective Shtolman will be here soon. Very soon.

-Do you know him? -Yes.

I have an honor to be his close acquaintance.

I suppose this murder will be solved in a couple days.

I don’t think so. So many crimes around!

Imagine, our maid ran away two weeks ago with all our silverware.

Uncle turned to the police, but we haven’t heard from them yet.

Is it a fact? I could make inquiries if you want me to.

What is her name?

Tatyana Molchanova. I would be most grateful to you.

Tatyana Molchanova. All right. Do you live here with your uncle?

He is my distant relative. I’m an orphan. He adopted me when I was little.

Voyevodina, Polina Andreyevna.

Mironov, Piotr Ivanovich. Nice to meet you.

Yes. Here comes the detective, by the way.

Please wait for me here. I want to talk to him.

Of course.

Shooting in broad daylight?

Exactly. Talk to the passers-by and neighbors.

Someone had to have seen the killer.

Of course.

Your Nobleness, we know who killed him.

What do you mean?

It’s the retired Lt. Zamiatin. He shoots at bottles in his backyard.

He was doing it today, too.

That’s right. He does it every day. The neighbors are outraged.

We can’t do anything about it, no matter how much we complain.

-Where does he live? -That’s his house.

It could be this shooter’s stray bullet. Bring him here.

-Allow me? -You deal with the body.

-Yakov Platonovich, my compliments. -Good day. Are you...

It was me who had found him. I was passing by and saw him there.

When? What time it was?

At least 30 minutes ago.

Yakov Platonovich, he’s still alive.

-Alive? -Help...

-Take him to the hospital. -Come on. Go!

Stay with him and question him as soon as you can.

Yes.

This is strange, I must say.

Very, very strange. I checked his pulse.

Anyone can make a mistake. I didn’t realize it at once, either.

Strange. Yakov... Yakov Platonovich, can I talk to you for a minute?

Are there any news in Tatyana Molchanova’s case?

Why are you asking?

It’s… on a friend’s behalf.

No, not yet. We haven’t found her.

Maybe we should ask Anna Viktorovna’s help.

Anna Viktorovna doesn’t have time for investigating right now.

Why, what happened?

The prince proposed to her... Yes.

So, everything is in confusion in our house.

All right. Can I hope that you’ll let me know if there are news?

-Yes, of course. -Thank you.

Your Nobleness, he’s not at home. He was shooting in the morning,

and then he left. Nobody knows where he is.

-Find him and bring to the precinct. -Yes, sir. Follow me.

-Imagine, the dead man is alive. -How?

Just like that. He came to. They took him to the hospital.

To the hospital? Unbelievable.

-A case of miraculous resurrection. -Amazing.

I see you’re still under impression.

Yes. I keep thinking about him lying there alone, helpless...

No, really, you’re too sensitive.

I think one more cup of chocolate is in order.

Oh, and about your maid.

The police department knows nothing about her.

-I could at least find out if she’s alive. -Thank you.

Anton Andreyevich, hello.

Hello. How is he?

Not too great. But he regained consciousness.

The bullet entered the body somewhere around the third vertebra

and stuck in the carotid triangle.

I say “somewhere” because I can’t even probe this area.

You say it’s stuck. Are you going to extract it?

It’s impossible.

Operating next to the carotid equals killing the man on the table.

But if you don’t extract it, he’ll still die.

You’re right. Alas, he’s doomed.

Yes. Death is less agonizing than the wait.

What can I say? This is an unusual case, to put it mildly.

He has lost a lot of blood.

-Can he speak? -Yes. His wife is with him now.

-May I? -Come in.

Clean it up. Over there.

Hello. Let me introduce you to...

Mrs. Suchkova, Afanasiy Andreyevich’s wife.

Anton Andreyevich Korobeynikov,

deputy head of the investigation department.

I’d like to talk to your husband, if you don’t mind.

Do you need me to leave? I’ll be in the hallway.

No. Go home and do what I told you. Bring me clean underwear, too.

Yes, of course.

What is your name?

Afanasiy Andreyevich.

Where do you work?

At the city post office. Collegiate secretary.

-Did you see who shoot you? -No. I don’t know who it was.

Could you please tell me all about how it happened?

I was walking along the street... when I felt a sting in my neck.

Did you hear the shot?

-I heard some shots. -Shots? In plural?

I don’t know. I don’t remember.

I’m sorry, but everything is blurred...

I see. Do you know who could wish you ill?

Or death? Do you have enemies?

I’ve been working at the post office for 30 years.

What enemies?

They were shooting somewhere in the distance.

You mean they didn’t mean to shoot you? Do you?

You believe it was a stray bullet? All right, I won’t torture you anymore.

Annette, I’ve just found a body in the street.

The police came, and he came back to life.

-Good morning. -So it is.

For Yakov Platonovich, too. He grew pale when he heard the news.

What news?

Can’t you guess? About you and the prince.

What? Why did you do that?

It’s all right. He deserves it. Imagine, he grew pale!

You... You’re like a vaudeville intriguer!

The prince hasn’t proposed to me properly yet, and you already spread rumors.

Never mind. Let him suffer.

Is this what you came to tell me?

Honestly, no. Not exactly. I need your help.

You see, I met a wonderful girl.

That accident brought us together.

She asked me to find out about her runaway maid, whether she’s alive.

I see.

I could have told her the contact didn’t take place.

But she is... You know, she’s so nice.

And so... helpless.

I understand. I’ll do it. What’s the missing girl’s name?

Tatyana Molchanova. Thank you, Annette. Thank you.

I wouldn’t bother you, because... well, I understand, but...

Do you need it right now?

It would give me an excuse to meet with her tonight.

He’s alive. They took him to the hospital.

Tatyana Molchanova’s spirit, present yourself.

Tatyana Molchanova’s spirit, present yourself.

What happened to you? How did you die?

Let me go! It’s a lie. I didn’t take anything.

-Who are they? -Behind the tallboy!

-What’s behind the tallboy? -Behind the tallboy!

Is she dead?

Yes. She wouldn’t answer my questions.

She keeps saying she didn’t take anything.

I see. I see.

Thank you, my angel. That’s quite enough for the first time.

That’s enough for me.

Anna Viktorovna! Hello.

Yakov Platonovich.

How are you?

I’m fine. Thank God, nothing happened since this morning.

I know that you have...

Yes. Fortunately, the victim is alive. I just came back from Razumovsky’s.

I asked the servants to make a list of visitors

on the eve of Alice’s disappearance.

Yes, Alice. I still can’t believe she’s missing.

One case is closed. And now this shooting.

I heard congratulations are in order.

What?

They say you’re getting married.

What makes you think so?

I hear the prince has proposed.

He has. So what?

-Did you say yes? -Not yet.

-Still thinking? -No, I...

Strange.

What’s strange?

Can’t someone propose to me, like any other girl?

No, why? Of course they can. It’s just that yesterday I thought...

Or was it just yesterday?

Were you going to tell me about it at all? All right.

-Yakov Platonovich? -Yes?

Does the name Tania Molchanova mean anything to you?

A maid who ran away from her master. He reported her two weeks ago.

She’s dead.

How do you... She’s wanted. They say she took the silverware with her.

She swears she didn’t. It’s in the dining room behind the tallboy.

How do you know that? Where is she?

I have no idea. I can ask her.

Please do. I’ll take it into consideration.

Polina!

Polina! She’s fooling around again.

-Well, hello. -Good day, Mr. Voyevodin.

I wouldn’t call it good. Mr. Detective, are there any news?

Yes. According to evidence, your maid didn’t steal anything.

Didn’t she? What kind of evidence is that?

We received an anonymous letter claiming that the silverware,

allegedly stolen by your maid, is here, in your house.

Really? Where is it?

In the dining room. May I?

Of course.

Come in.

Very strange.

She probably forgot to take them or didn’t have time.

Yes, weird. Could anyone else in the house hide the silver?

No, nobody. It’s just me and Polina, my ward.

She couldn’t have. Why would she?

Doesn’t anyone else come to the house?

No. Yes. There was a secretary, but I fired him a few months ago.

-Why? -He became lazy.

-So, your maid didn’t take the silver. -Looks like she didn’t.

She took the money, though. Twenty rubles.

Maybe she’s hiding in the village with her family.

No, we’ve checked. She’s not there.

Here is Polina. Imagine, my dear, we found the spoons.

Detective Shtolman.

Do you have any idea who could have put them behind the tallboy?

The tallboy? Who’d have thought it.

Maybe Tatyana put them there and forgot all about it.

That’s what I’m talking about.

All right. We’ll keep looking for your maid.

-Where have you been? -None of your business.

Go. He’s waiting.

-God, what have I don’t to deserve it? -What? It’s an honor for us all.

-Mother. -Anna.

Anna, dear, please don’t be in a rush. Listen to him at first.

All right. But only out of respect to his age.

-Good girl. -I’ll tell him I’d think about it.

Good girl. All right, go. Go, my dear. Go.

Things look sad.

This Sushkov is barely alive, but he says he heard several shots.

Looks like it was the lieutenant who shot him. Case closed.

I wouldn’t jump to conclusions, Anton Andreyevich.

While they are looking for him, go to the victim’s wife.

Talk to her, take a look around. Also, go to the post office.

Find out what kind of man was that Sushkov,

how he behaved at work, etc.

Yes, sir.

Will do.

Understandably, Anna, you are surprised. I never talked about my feelings.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t expect it. But that’s not what surprises me.

Why didn’t you talk to me first? Why go to my parents?

Please try to understand. I had my doubts. I...

I was tortured, Anna. Our age difference is huge.

Could I really hope for your understanding?

I’m not young enough to jump into it head first,

guided only by feelings.

So, before coming to you,

I decided to find out your parents’ opinion.

I’m sorry if it came out a bit awkward.

Yes, I can understand you. But you have to understand me, too.

For me mutual feelings are the main thing in a relationship.

Anna, allow me to skip talking about feelings.

I don’t want to look ridiculous.

I just ask you to marry me.

I can see how you struggle.

Your unusual gift is carrying you far, far away, if you know what I mean.

You need support.

You need an anchor against this abyss that could swallow you.

I can be your support and protection.

I can save you from dangers you don’t even know about yet.

I can provide a decent life for you.

Then your gift will have a chance to flourish.

Anna, all I’m asking about is for you to think about it.

I will think about it. This I can promise you.

I’ll be happy to see you at my house at any time.

Why did you call me?

What are you doing? Why this charade?

Why hide the cutlery? Don’t I give you enough money?

It was you who put it there. No need to pretend in front of me.

Trash! You’re trash. Cynical and merciless.

Did I raise you to be like this?

Yes! You raised me very well in your bedroom.

Yes, very well. Very well. Weren’t you happy?

You lived like a pig in clover.

What would have happened to you if not for me?

You’d spend your life in a brothel.

With your habits, I was in a brothel since I was a little girl.

Enough. What have you decided?

Here. You won. I leave everything to you.

My house, all my property.

The will is drawn and signed according to the rules.

I’d leave it to you anyway.

What was this blackmail for?

I have a condition, though.

You’re staying with me.

We’ll keep living together until I die.

I don’t need you, you old satyr.

I’ll change the will if you leave.

If you do, I’ll send you to Siberia.

There, you’ll die sooner.

Polia.

Polina, don’t you remember the good times?

I loved you like a father.

Is this how fathers love their daughters?

I don’t care if they do. That’s how I love you.

I gave you everything!

-Lies! How about Tanya? -She’s not here anymore.

-Why did you run away from home? -I’m at home.

But they are looking for you.

It hurts. The nasty old man! The adulterer!

Who are you talking about?

Oh God.

Go away! I’m not scared of you. I’ll call the police.

Excuse me. I’m from the police.

Who’s there?

Deputy detective, Korobeynikov. You saw me at the hospital today.

Hello. May I come in?

Who were you shouting at?

They are walking around the house, trying to look over the fence.

They threw a stone at my window.

-Did they threaten you? -No.

-Who’s throwing stones at you? -I don’t know.

Nasty boys. They must found out that I’m alone and helpless.

Yes... I came to talk about your husband’s wound.

A wound? It’s not his fault. It’s such a tragedy.

Nobody blames him. Don’t worry.

On the contrary,

we want to know all details to find the culprits.

Who did your husband associate with?

Associate... Maybe his colleagues.

But they just greet each other in the street.

Right. Maybe he had some new acquaintances?

No.

There are some newspapers... May I?

I found them in the street, for kindling.

Who in this house is involved in secret correspondence?

I don’t know. It isn’t mine. I found it in the street for kindling.

You understand that we can easily recreate messages

composed from the cut-out letters.

I’m taking this with me.

I’ll have more questions to you and your husband. Goodbye.

One crazy woman left you, and you decided to adopt another one?

I don’t understand you.

You understand me very well. Did you propose to Mironova?

-I did. -Are you insane?

I see. I can’t count on you for the near future.

What do you mean, Nina?

A young wife, the honeymoon...

Who cares about business?

Have you already decided on you honeymoon? Nice? Baden-Baden?

Stop it.

I can’t believe you’re acting so foolishly.

Are you jealous, Nina?

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

I’m thinking about business.

Business? She’ll never be on your side, even if you get her into your bed.

You’re forgetting yourself.

It’s dangerous to get close to her!

What will she do when she learns the truth?

You’ll end up in the Petropavlovskaya fortress jail.

I have a right to fall in love.

Go to hell. I’m not following you to Siberia.

Yes...

Look at this Sushkov. A modest post officer.

But something here feels really fishy.

Look at the papers. Our Zatonsky telegraf.

Am I right? Now, look!

I saved it from the flame with my bare hands, so to speak.

-Sushkov’s wife was going to burn it. -Why?

He was cutting letters out of it.

But this is just a beginning.

I found this spirit stove in his desk drawer at the post office.

Interestingly, no one ever saw him using it.

And this isn’t all.

Attention! Here.

-Another newspaper? -No.

A letter. It was also in the drawer.

I found it in the presence of witnesses.

Good job, Anton Andereyevich. This is hard evidence.

What else is this Sushkov famous for?

According to his bosses, he was punctual.

Always came on time and was the last to leave.

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but diligent.

No, what was he doing at the post office?

Letters, correspondence...

Letters! He could have opened a letter, learn someone’s secret,

and start blackmailing them.

-Interesting. -But this is only one theory.

Then the person he was blackmailing could have shot him.

Or it was the lieutenant’s stray bullet, after all.

He was sending anonymous letters.

Obviously.

Hello.

A letter to Ms. Voyevodina. Private and confidential.

It’s me. Thank you.

They came to the house. They are following me.

-I’ll die. -Me, too. They’ll kill me.

Don’t give up. They’ll have to do it.

Are you listening? They were watching me.

Of course they were. You started this whole business.

I told you to stay away from them. They are too sharp.

The police came. They found the newspapers.

Idiot! I told you to burn them.

-I didn’t have time. -Id... Idiot!

If they don’t want to pay, the master will.

I’ll go to him.

-This way. -This way?

You know, I’m so happy to see you.

I’m glad you didn’t forget about me.

I didn’t. And I didn’t forget my promise, either.

I’ve found out that, unfortunately, your runaway maid is dead.

How? How did it happen? How and where did she day?

I can’t tell you. It’s unknown.

-Oh God. -Yes, this day was a bit... Right?

Do you promise to tell me first when you know all the truth?

Of course. Yes.

But why are you so worried? Maybe you should tell me.

-Will you help me? -Gladly!

The thing is, I have no one to turn to.

This man, the wounded...

he was intercepting my letters and blackmail me with them.

Did he? How horrible.

Yes. He probably blackmailed other people, too, and one of them took revenge.

Maybe you should go to the police.

I can’t. The letters are too personal. He keeps them in his house.

What was he blackmailing you with?

You see, my uncle... he was jealous of his secretary.

He even fired him.

I wrote these letters to the secretary.

Sushkov threatened to show it to Uncle.

I see. So you think he keeps the letters at home.

I’m sure he does.

It’s crazy. Everyone is blackmailing everyone else.

So your husband used to open letters. How nice.

Thank God I haven’t been writing to anyone for a while.

And your ward described in her letters to the secretary

you had fired you molesting her

and the underage maid Tatyana.

Bastards! Where are these letters?

Here. But I won’t let you hold them.

And I warn you against applying force.

-Do you want me to read them to you? -Yes, please.

Humor me.

“Our pig has made Tanya his mistress. She cried on my shoulder,

asking what she should do now. Now he’s all ours.”

Yes.

I wanted to talk to you.

You know I’ll accept any your decision. So will Masha.

But please think before making this decision.

Think hard.

I don’t care about your future husband’s titles or riches.

I only want you to be happy.

But... I don’t see anyone around you...

except for your shadows.

Daddy...

In a word... if you really...

don’t need anyone, the prince might be the best match.

Daddy, I’ll think about it.

What happened to you?

I’ll never leave this house. Never!

-What house? -My torturer’s house.

What? Who tortures you?

I want to go home! I want to go to Mom! To Mommy!

Please! Please. Let me go. Please.

“Tanya was whining all the time. She is such a crybaby.

But I haven’t seen her for two days. The pig says she ran away with the money.

But I know what really happened.”

-Give me these letters. -People will hear the shot.

They won’t. There are no houses around. The walls are thick.

Give me the letters!

Stop! I’ll kill you!

Stop! I’ll kill you!

We found a spirit stove inside your desk at the post office,

which you probably used for opening envelopes.

We also found the newspaper you were cutting letters from.

Save your breath. I don’t care.

But you admit the blackmail, don’t you?

I do. What does it matter now? Soon I’ll find myself in front of a court

much grander than yours.

If it doesn’t matter, why don’t you tell me everything?

Why would I confess to you?

How about your wife? She’s very much alive.

Do you want her to go to the galleys?

If you find evidence against her.

-They told me I could find you here. -Yes. Is anything wrong?

It’s about that Tatyana. She never left the house.

I don’t understand what you’re saying.

She told me she had never left her tormentor’s house.

Excuse me, Mr. Voyevodin is a respected person, a good citizen.

So what? Can’t you at least search his house?

-Search for what? -A body.

With all due respect, Anna Viktorovna – I know how often you prove right,

but this is unbelievable.

Didn’t you find the silverware?

It doesn’t give us grounds to suspect Mr. Voyevodin of murder.

OK. I understand.

I’ll try to do something myself.

Of course. You can’t trust me with it, can you?

You’re the only one I can trust.

Here.

Alice left me this note inside a toy soldier.

What does it mean?

I don’t know.

It’s a code, like the ones in her notebook.

All right. I’ll take it with me and try to decode it.

Yakov Platonovich... I’m begging you.

Please find her. I hope it will help.

-Where and then did you find the note? -In her room, on the same day.

Why didn’t you show it to me?

I thought you had more important things on your mind.

Please don’t give up on her. Find her.

You and I are the only people who care about her.

And the prince.

Is there anything else you want to say?

No.

A STRAY BULLET