Original subtitles

ZHUKOV

Part 6

In seven short years has the USSR restored its prewar economy

despite the projections of the most Western analysts.

At least twenty five years, that's what they said.

We desperately needed a break.

Twenty years of quiet life and peaceful development.

But this was something that our enemies were mostly afraid of.

1948 tests in Japanese Hiroshima and Nagasaki

where the new and dreadful weapon, the nuclear bomb, was tested,

was the first signal, a cynical and bloody act of horror.

And soon there came a speech of retired English leader,

Winston Churchill,

delivered at the college of a small American town of Fulton.

This very speech is referred to as a start of a new cycle of confrontation

which was later named the Cold War.

What could the Soviet Union do in this situation?

To defend itself.

In 1949, the Soviet nuclear bomb was successfully tested.

It made the new ardent enemies, previous anti-Hitler coalition allies,

freeze for a while in the fear of fightback.

The first showdown in a direct interaction

took place in the beginning of the 50-ies.

However that warfare didn't reveal an advantage of either party.

In his Sverdlovsk exile,

Zhukov was anxiously observing a new clash of two global systems.

In the last decade, he's got used to be at the core of events.

According to eyewitnesses, Zhukov didn't reveal his emotions.

And only the closest ones knew the cost that he paid for that.

May I come in, comrade Marshal? We'll arrive to Sverdlovsk in 20 minutes.

- May I go? - Go.

You shouldn't have come with me.

It is dangerous.

Really?

And where is a safe place nowadays?

- Nowhere. - It is dangerous for us to be together.

- Don't you see? - No, I don't. Please explain.

- You are her best friend. - Yes, Ruslanova is my best friend.

And your best friend is Kryukov. Right?

You know how they arrested Molotov's wife?

- No. - And what he said to him in three days?

"Vyacheslav, we are bachelors now. Let's go and eat."

And so they did.

- Why are you telling me this? - He told me himself.

"Zhukov, your women are beautiful. Watch out. Beria envies you."

And he didn't say it for nothing. He never says anything for nothing.

If he'd want to arrest you like Polina Zhemchuzhina,

or like Zhenechka Garkusha, the wife of navy commissar Petya Shirshov,

or like Prokofiev's wife recently, I wouldn't know what to do.

If they touch the girls, I...

We shouldn't give them reason. Let them think that we are at outs,

seeing each other little and being almost strangers.

- I'm a stranger to you. - Stop! Can't bear it!

Garkusha, Garkusha! She's a famous actress.

And Prokofiev's wife is Italian.

And Molotov's wife is a prominent Jew at all.

And she used to argue with him, so he remembered her.

And why would he arrest me? I am just a mouse at the background.

He won't remember what I look like.

During the war, I spent with him days and weeks.

He remembers everything. He's got phenomenal memory.

He remembers your shoes from the reception three years ago

- and the color of your dress. - Why to arrest me?

Don't give a reason! It's because of this junk!

- Oh, my god! - Beria has the game in his hands now.

The junk! But you explained it all.

It's not ours! Why would we need that much?

The servants can confirm, and the papers for this junk are in order!

Maybe Serov bought it specifically for bringing it to our house

so he could bring it forward later.

You told him everything!

And we left our country house for good!

- They have it all! - It doesn't matter.

No, you can't be with me. Once we come there, go back right away.

And she'll be my replacement, right?

- Right? - I broke up with her.

For how long?

Forever.

You don't believe me?

Shura, I've always been honest with you.

I told you from the very start. Either don't live with me or accept it.

May I, Alexandra Dievna?

- May I tidy up, Marshal? - Please do.

Yes!

We are approaching.

- Welcome, comrade! - Hello!

- How are you? - Good afternoon!

Welcome to Sverdlovsk, comrade Marshal!

- Hello! - Alexandra Dievna!

Thank you!

Ready!

Comrade Marshal of the USSR!

No accidents occurred on my watch!

The district troops have been following the training plan!

- Staff duty officer Colonel Perepelkin! - Stand easy!

Stand easy!

Comrade Commander! Please follow me.

- Fetch me Kudryavtsev's file. - Yes!

We just finished renovating. We can change if you don't like.

- Did it have to be so fancy? - Comrade Commander,

our army district area could accommodate France five times.

- What is this building across us? - The Party Committee.

- And what's on its left? - The Regional Security Bureau.

Up!

About face!

- We'll have a meeting in 20 minutes. - About face!

- Hang the paintings in my office. - Yes!

- Kudryavtsev! - Yes.

- To my office. - Yes!

Comrades officers!

We have a meeting in 20 minutes. Stand easy!

Hi, Kudryavtsev!

Good afternoon, comrade Zhukov!

Ivan Ivanovich, if I am not mistaken.

- We attacked Berlin together. - Affirmative.

- And Warsaw, too. - The first time I met you,

- we were near Leningrad. - Right. In September, when we landed,

my fellas and I escorted you in the city and at the front.

We covered your back whenever we could. I was a captain back then.

comrade Marshal, may I? - Yes.

So what's up

with your fellas?

- The Black Death. All here? - Where else would they be?

All here.

- Many are dead though. - May I go?

- Go. - Yes!

And what about you, Kudryavtsev? Come here.

What is it? You didn't make it to the rank of general or even colonel.

With your wounds and surgeries.

- You messed it up? - I ended up in military prison.

- Abuse of authority. - Whom did you punch in the face?

You know how it is.

The frontline's like at a mine field. One wrong move and...

- …a mistake is made. - You and I, Kudryavtsev,

came all the way from Leningrad to his lair.

Why am I here? What do your fellas say?

- Honestly? - Yes.

That's what we think.

They sent you away to keep you out of sight, comrade Marshal.

- You are one in the eye for many of them. - You nailed it. And that's what's up.

I expect to be arrested any day now.

These guys hanging on the walls, they dream of seeing me at Lubyanka.

What's the plan, Vanya?

What? We'll be on the defensive, comrade Zhukov.

A good one! Thanks.

Put two armored carriers in front of the building.

And put two of your fellas to guard me.

I want everyone to see a heavy gun from the window,

so they know that Zhukov is very nervous and Kudryavtsev is on his guard.

Four wounds and a shell-shock.

- But you'll do it when I say so, okay? - I saw death because of them.

A year in a military prison.

- Don't worry, I'll do whatever's needed. - Alright, alright.

Alrighty. Sit down.

How's the housing?

- Can I be honest? - Well?

They threw there us like the pigs.

That's what I thought. Who's the rear affairs deputy?

He's a good fella, Georgy Konstantinovich. But what can he do?

We were discharged into the snow, the tents.

That's how we lived for almost two years.

The apartment blocks were built for the ranks from a captain and up.

And we were accommodated with people, like the gypsies.

We'll see.

- May I go? - Yes, go.

Yes!

Georgy Konstantinovich, can I hang the paintings?

- Do it. - Yes!

Come in.

Zhukov! Zhukov!

Zhukov! Zhukov!

Comrades!

Comrades!

Comrades!

Today, we are celebrating!

- We are greeting… - Come in.

…the great hero of our nation!

- …one of the key creators… - Thank you!

...of the historical victory over the German Nazi invaders,

our dearest and beloved Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov!

Hurray, comrades!

On August 28, 1948,

after a long and heavy illness, the commander of the USSR armored troops

the Marshal of the USSR Pavel Rybalko has passed away.

Two times the Hero of the Soviet Union, the holder of two Lenin Orders,

three Suvorov orders, Kutuzov order, Khmelnytsky order

as well as many medals and foreign decorations.

All his talent, knowledge, and vast experience,

Rybalko dedicated to strengthening and improving the USSR military power.

Abakumov has two squads, twenty men in each.

They are located in Moscow, waiting to go to Sverdlovsk to arrest you.

- Call Kudryavtsev over. - Yes!

Half Colonel Kudryavtsev, at your service!

Okay, my friend, now act as we agreed.

Two fully armored vehicles at the entrance, so they could see it.

Yes, comrade Marshal!

Zhora!

- What happened? - I just spoke to your brother by phone.

We agreed that we speak briefly, not mentioning any names.

- But I think I understood. - What exactly?

Colonel General Yakovlev from the Artillery has been arrested.

They keep arresting people all over the Northern Fleet.

Misha stopped by the General House on the pretense of fixing the car,

walked through the garages, talked to people.

They won't discuss it with each other.

They won't even talk on the phone. At nights, they keep waiting for a call.

Who else?

Kostin, Telegin and his wife. Can you imagine?

And the wives of Gordin and Kulik.

Their kids are alone now, Zhora!

You see, Misha took our girls away from Moscow,

but he won't tell where he took them. He says, it's safer this way.

- They'll find them if they need to. - So what do we do now?

Huh?

Telegin…

...is arrested.

- Now it's serious. - Right.

- Who needs all this? - I am the next now.

- Who needs it? - Who?

He's preparing new trials.

With me at the core.

- Pasha was right. - In what?

- You know something and won't tell me. - They sent me...

...to the outskirts so it won't be much noise.

And then it's like a billiard game.

Hitting the ball.

- Not yet, my strategist, not quite yet. - I don't get it.

- Something's… - What?

Like a rock…

- Your heart? - No.

- Turn it off. - Zhora, I'll stay here today, okay?

- Alright? - Let's go.

Heart disease was the only thing we were missing here.

Out of the car! To your positions!

Take the sacks! Gain a foothold!

Out of the car! Gain a foothold!

Here!

Fall in!

You keep defense position at the central entrance! Go!

Come on! Hurry up!

I need to speak with Moscow.

Sverdlovsk is calling again.

I report. Comrade Zhukov summoned several meetings.

He goes to the unit tomorrow.

He used this event to fill the city with military equipment

as if he wanted to inspect its condition.

At the city centre. At the headquarters,

across the Party building, there's military equipment.

For everyone to see. And I get the reports from the troops.

He canceled the vacations. The officers are in the barracks.

He's at the HQ. Armed himself to the teeth.

Comrade Marshal! Your order's been fulfilled.

- Zhora! - Just lie there, Shura!

What?

- Zhora, what? - My heart…

Zhora!

- Come on! - Raise him!

Call a doctor! Hurry!

What happened to you again?

I am reporting, comrade Stalin. I have news from Sverdlovsk.

Tell me! Was Marshal Rybalko a good commander?

He was a phony, comrade Stalin.

If he was a phony, who are you then?

He was a good marshal, a real one.

He threw the tanks at the Germans and escorted them on his Willis

leading the way. Yes.

He was invulnerable to bullets, and the Germans were afraid of him.

A real hero. He rode like that throughout the war.

And upon his return to Moscow, he lapsed into illness.

It just came down upon the Marshal.

Yes! We lost such a good man.

Right, Viktor Semyonovich?

- Affirmative, comrade Stalin! - You see? You don't have an opinion!

Okay, go on, tell me what's happening in Sverdlovsk.

- Marshal Zhukov went wild. - How so?

He declared martial law and locked himself in the headquarters.

Surrounded himself with the troops.

- He felt it. - Yes.

- We can engage more people. - You want to fight him?

With the Marshal of the victory?

You told me there was a plot,

and Zhukov was at the core. Where are those materials?

- It's in the testimonies of the generals. - Show me.

Here. Please.

I know those testimonies.

If your own people would question you, you'd confess you are Churchill' son.

Did Zhukov himself say anything?

- Here, he speaks to his wife. - Read it.

Zhukov,

“Bulganin tips Stalin off about me.

I thought Stalin was a man of principles but he just listens to people.

Someone says something, and he believes that.

Someone told him about me, and I'm out of favor.

Well, screw them. Let the others fight now.”

You see? He speaks to his wife. The most closed one.

He should be very open with her. And still he says nothing.

Nothing? "Stalin is not a man of principles."

You've been listening to him everywhere, even at the bathroom!

And you have zero result!

Does a head of a plot behave like that?

- It's a rinky-dink! - Comrade Stalin, he…

...brought military equipment to the city centre!

That's a deed of a regular soldier. You have nothing on him!

You upset me, comrade Abakumov.

There's no need.

Let him…

Let him sit there.

Tremble a little.

Doctor!

How are you, Georgy Konstantinovich?

I fainted.

That's an inanition of the body, a general fatigue.

Is it serious?

Your heart needs some support.

We'll check it, we'll help it, we'll treat it.

What's there? What is it?

A sleeping aid.

You need to sleep.

Where is Kudryavtsev?

Comrade Commander, Half Colonel Kudryavtsev is in the hall.

The city is quiet, comrade Marshal.

Sleep a bit.

The doctors are good here, just like in Moscow.

Yeah.

Next! This one, with a cap, is the last one. I go to lunch after that!

You heard me?

I have plenty of Ruslanovas, the singers! Birth year, father's name! Come on!

And don't stand here! I told you!

What are you doing?

She's not here! She's being transported to prison!

That's it, I am telling you!

The first name and the last!

...Nikolay Vasilievich, born in 1920, with his daughter Masha

and his wife, Olesya Pilgyul, born in 1922.

Here are the Pilgyuls. Scored out.

- What does it mean, scored out? - You see? Pilgyul! Scored out, here.

What does it mean, scored out? What does it mean?

What does it mean, scored out?

- What does it mean? Tell me! - It means they are dead!

Dead? How? For what?

He just said two words at a taphouse! How could they be dead?

- Where are the transported ones? - At Kazansky station.

Going to Kuibyshev today.

They didn't accept my package again. My love...

- How do I get there? - There are many people.

At Kazansky station. You'll get there if you really want.

You'll see them there, at the railway.

Who are you?

I am a doctor.

It's not good for you to get excited.

What is your name?

Galina Alexandrovna.

Galina Alexandrovna.

Galina Alexandrovna. I am your treating physician.

- I've been assigned by the order. - Whose order?

The chief medical officer's.

You are very beautiful,

Galina Alexandrovna.

- What's going on with you? - With me?

And what is going on with me?

- You are blushing. - Am I?

It's just…

That's just my skin.

My blood vessels are at the surface.

The vessels.

The skin blood vessels.

Never heard of those before.

Listen, you can't get excited now. You can't talk a lot.

What's there to live for if not for getting excited?

One has to get excited, Galina Alexandrovna.

- Galya. - Oh!

I am sorry, it's a draught.

- Was I interrupting? - Please come in, Alexandra Dievna.

I'll call a nurse. It's a time for a shot.

Yes, of course.

Hi.

What do I have? It stabs all the time. Is it something serious?

You can't get excited now.

Can you answer me?

I can.

You've had a heart attack.

The second one.

Micro-infarct. Except that, you are healthy.

I see.

- What's up with the girls? - They are fine.

I was wondering whether to take them here.

Do it.

But the elder one wants to go to a Moscow college.

Do it. You know what to do.

Ella can stay in Moscow but bring Era here. The elder one...

...will stay with Pilikhin.

I'd also have to leave for a while. A month or maybe more.

- Go. - Really?

- And how do I leave you? - It's not the first time.

- Do whatever you have to do. - Sure.

You are taken care of. What's her name?

Comrade Commander!

There was a call from comrade Stalin's office.

Please get ready to talk now.

There are no phones in patient rooms. We are laying the wire from my office.

- Shall I stay or shall I go? - Stay here.

- May I come in? - Come in.

- May I go? - Go.

Yes!

May I go, Marshal?

- Go. - Yes.

I am listening.

How are you, comrade Stalin?

I feel fine, comrade Stalin.

Calm down, comrade Zhukov. Keep working at ease.

They are stirring you up but you just send them to hell

and mind your health.

You'll need it, and so will our country.

Don't thank me. I have a proposal.

So we thought that we'd like to invite you

to become a candidate for the Central Committee again.

But we won't do it immediately. Yes.

But you have to make an attempt at the elections to the Supreme Soviet.

I think the people will support you.

There are many factories in Sverdlovsk. Go there.

Meet some people. You'll tell me about it when you get here.

Right. Good bye, comrade Zhukov. Take care.

Thank you. Good bye.

- You can go at ease now. - What's gonna happen now?

They told him, Zhukov's at the hospital.

Zhukov's dying.

Then he looks at Abakumov' sad face and thinks, "That's whom I stay with?"

That's why he called. Just in case.

He called. Something's going on there.

- Shall I set it? - No, it's okay.

I'll call you when I get there.

And you call me.

At mornings, at nights.

Good bye.

Any orders, comrade Marshal?

- Call Kudryavtsev over. - Yes.

- I am sorry. - Please come in.

- How's my pulse, Galya? - It is steady.

Amazing!

When I heard that comrade Stalin was calling,

my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

It's good news.

Galya, you brought a good change with you.

- Did you just call me Galya? - Of course. How could it be otherwise?

I am sorry.

A nice healthcare provider.

Comrade Marshal, Half Colonel Kudryavtsev at your service.

- Withdraw the siege, Kudryavtsev. - Yes, comrade Marshal.

I just spoke with him. He withdrew the siege from me,

- so you do the same. - Will that be all?

- Do it. - Yes!

What else?

- Georgy Konstantinovich, there's...

- One guy hanging around. - Right.

Bring him here.

They laid a military wire here.

He was on the phone for ten minutes.

They say, he talked to comrade Stalin himself.

Yes, ten minutes.

We can't confirm yet. We keep watching.

Yeah.

Well, you finished your report?

What's going on, comrade?

- Make way. - There's your way.

Yeah.

But you go with me. There's someone who wants to see you.

Who do you think you are?

- Do you know whom you are dealing with? - I do.

Don't do that or I'll punch you.

That's the deal.

If I see a shitface from your office hanging around me one more time,

I'll shoot them.

I've lost so much time and nerves because of you.

Comrade Marshal of the Soviet Union!

- I don't understand what you… - Silence!

About turn!

- Kudryavtsev, throw him out of here. - Yes!

Let's go.

How could we make our best commander

undeservingly worry somewhere in Siberia?

I mean comrade Zhukov.

Comrade Stalin,

I always disapproved comrade Abakumov scheming against the Marshal.

Who is this Abakumov?

Ah? Why did he get so close to me?

Comrade Stalin, I am sorry. I have... It is about the nuclear project.

About Kazakhstan, about Semipalatinsk,

about Ukraine where they produce structural elements,

about the testing area No. 2 where ballisticians work.

Even with that, I try to bother you as little as I can

while comrade Abakumov time after time covers his mistakes with your decisions.

It's been a while since I wanted to say that.

It's been a while… Okay.

I have to sign those? Give it to me.

They are not many, comrade Stalin. We need your approval.

Preparing RDS-1 for a test is now at the last stage.

It's mostly about the costs. We need money, Joseph Vissarionovich.

Zeldovich, the physicist, led all the work on calculations.

In order to explore the efficiency of nuclear charge,

the group of Academician Landau has been engaged.

The basic structural dimensions of the charge were established.

Comrades Ivannikov, Kurchatov and Chelkin proposed to test it in Semipalatinsk.

I visited the site with the researches. It is a good fit.

This is the preparation procedure for field testing.

Comrade Stalin!

The Chief Structural Engineer Khariton and his deputy, Chelkin,

strongly request to release these comrades.

Lavrentiy!

Haven't I signed it before?

You signed another list. It's a new one. It contains only sixteen names.

Lavrentiy! You couldn't confirm this with comrade Abakumov?

I ordered him to fulfill all your requests in terms of the nuclear project.

- But the things aren't moving. - Who is this parvenu Abakumov?

What does he do apart from spreading hate?

- It was you who brought him to me. - Yes, unfortunately. That's my fault.

By the way, where is that suitcase that he claimed to have found at Zhukov's?

I am sorry, comrade Stalin. What suitcase?

You...

...sent an innocent man to the Urals!

You drove our best Marshal to a heart attack!

You personally and your protege, Abakumov!

- What suitcase, you ask! - Comrade Stalin,

I've always disapproved of this manhunt on Zhukov.

I said it to you many times, and I said it at the Presidium meetings.

I even sent you a paper via the Secretariat.

Here.

That's the copy of the letter. You read my concerns, didn't you?

There is no suitcase, and there's never been one.

It turns out...

...Viktor Semyonovich lied to me?

It seems to be the case. Both to you and to the presidium.

Then…

…comrade Abakumov is a false accuser.

Tell Gregory, I didn't sign a thing!

Tell him I didn't sign!

What's the address to send you letters?

I didn't sign!

Lida!

Lida!

Comrades!

I was forced to fire a man whom I trusted entirely.

Serious problems have arisen.

The Minister of Defense Abakumov turned out to be a secret saboteur

and an agent of our enemy.

Yesterday we received

a very disturbing letter from one of Abakumov' subordinates.

You can read it.

In this letter, comrade Ryumin, the MGB chief investigator,

claims that comrade Abakumov impedes the investigation

on the doctors' plot.

Moreover, not just that he impedes, he takes it sideways.

The Political Bureau decided to establish a committee

to investigate comrade Abakumov's actions. The four of you are the members.

Please investigate the case objectively.

If Abakumov is not guilty, we have to clearly state it.

But if he is,

we need to establish what is he guilty of.

Maybe, this... What's his name?

Maybe Ryumin sent us a regular denunciation.

Any questions?

No questions, comrade Stalin.

We will explore the case thoroughly.