Original subtitles

ZHUKOV

Part 11

Dear daddy,

Khrushchev wants to call you to the Presidium meeting.

He believes that you secretly established a special forces unit

so you could seize power.

I felt that something was cooking.

We tried to contact you via UHF. They won't let us.

They said, they couldn't get through.

But I spoke with Khrushchev when I was in Yugoslavia.

So they frightened him into this.

That's why he didn't want me to go to Kiev to the drills.

They agreed on this in advance. And that's why they sent me abroad.

Heh, Nikita…

As they say, you are a good fellow...

…but you can't fly real high.

Dad!

Maybe it'll work out?

Khrushchev is afraid.

Just like Stalin

was afraid of me after the war.

Oh, Nikita, you are a coward.

Stop the car.

- Comrade Marshal! - Yes.

Georgy Konstantinovich, explain to the Presidium members

why did you secretly establish the special forces units!

You wanted to seize power?

What secret are you talking about?

They are ordinary military units with special task forces

for scouting and rocket launchers destruction.

Comrade Shtemenko and I researched their practices

and proposed to form a group for fighting enemy's rocket troops.

Is it big? How many soldiers?

A size of a division approximately. It is still being organized.

Please understand! The army needs reorganization.

It can't stay like it was before.

The Korean war has shown that we are behind.

Why didn't you report to the Committee that you form a special division?

Why would I?

Do I have to run to the Kremlin or to Old Square about everything?

Besides, it is just an army routine. Enhancing combativity, that's all.

And we have… Move. We have different info.

They have been trained in Moscow, right?

We've been told that they know to navigate inside the Kremlin.

In the halls, in the offices

- and so on. - It is slander.

Well, I admit. Before forming the unit, I should have asked for advice. But whom?

You? Or maybe you?

Do you even understand what military organization is?

Do you even need an army?

A state-of-art, efficient, comparable with the US army

and now even with German Bundeswehr ?

After hearing this interesting point, how can we work with you

in the higher ranks of the Party and the government?

Georgy Konstantinovich! Didn't we all fight in the war?

Didn't we go through the war fields side by side?

Why are you neglecting our opinions?

Leonid Ilyich!

Everyone should do what they are good at.

You should build the country, I should build the army.

I don't tell the Minister of Agriculture how to secure winter crops.

I also don't write the articles on socialist growth for comrade Suslov.

- Why are you telling me what to... - Whom are you playing with?

You are playing with the Party, son of a bitch!

The Party trusts us all.

And the Party tests us all.

The Party sees all, knows all and never forgets anything or anybody.

It also never forgives.

Nikita Sergeyevich!

Don't disrupt my work while I am creating the best army in the world.

I am a Communist, I believe in socialism

but rockets won't solve all our problems. We have to develop our aviation.

The Korean war displayed that the US have a young and well-trained army.

- And we rely on the old hands that are… - Well…

There's no need to fight.

Let's hold the plenum tomorrow.

Comrade Zhukov, you will have a chance to tell it all to the Committee members.

Agreed?

Very well.

You can go now. You've just come back, right? Take some rest.

Well…

See you at the plenum.

Good-bye, comrades.

Good-bye, comrade Zhukov.

Comrades, you may go.

Here's all information on this special division

that is ready to make a coup and seize power!

Watch his house and wire his phone.

I need to know whom he talks to and what about.

Fine, Nikita Sergeyevich.

I think, this is what we are going to do.

Zhukov is to be discharged from the Presidium

and from his post in the Ministry of Defense.

Speaker Suslov, do you mind? - I don't.

Mikhail Andreevich, prepare a report and a resolution draft

together with Brezhnev.

As for a Minister…

Whom shall we assign?

May be…

Malinovsky? He's a great soldier,

a professional. He has remarkable battle front record. Truly remarkable.

Agree?

Anastas Ivanovich, what do you say?

It's a good option. That will do.

Well, Colonel, that's the last time I am here.

Why, comrade Minister of Defense?

Wait for me.

Ah, Nikita…

You are a shameless man. You won't stay at the top for long.

A shameless one will be removed without shame.

Mind my words.

Khrushchev's betrayal and dismissal

came to Zhukov as a big surprise.

The newspapers started going about his bonapartism again,

while he locked himself in his house seeing almost no one.

His dear ones just prayed that Zhukov survives

after two heart attacks that he had.

People started calling Zhora 'Georgy Konstantinovich'

since he was fifteen.

Yeah… He…

He was so good with the furs at my father's working shop.

We were just amazed.

Once, a ballerina came to make an order.

What was her name? Geltzer! Right.

Misha…

Does he believe in God?

You are so funny, Galka!

How can a Russian soldier

meet his death with no God in his heart?

And Georgy looked death in the eye many times.

We even…

We even visited father Nikolai at Novodevichy Cemetery.

We asked him to pray for all the fallen soldiers.

He does have a soul. And it is taken care of.

Well, anyway… This Geltzer lady…

So there comes this ballerina, fancy and all…

A beauty, a fair lady.

She comes to my father and says, ”I'd like to see Georgy Konstantinovich.”

My dad didn't get it.

“Who is this Georgy Konstantinovich?” And she says, “Your best furrier.”

- You see? - Misha…

Yes.

Did he…

Did he love Zakharova?

You know, Galya, Georgy is a real man.

He was good with all of his women.

But love…

I don't know. Passion is no love.

And neither is habit.

And love is like a lamp. It keeps burning

until it dies away. I haven't seen this lamp

burning in him.

Before I saw him looking at you.

I didn't see this fire burning in him before.

Why did he go down so deeply?

Galya…

Misha, that's how he…

…saves himself from death.

He is afraid to die.

Oh my dear God…

What's going on with you here? I just went away for a while, and now…

What did you think? Don't you read newspapers?

Newspapers? In the village?

We buried my mother-in-law, we commemorated her…

Partying hard. I see.

I am sorry, Misha.

May she rest in peace.

The things that are happening here, Misha… They tear him apart. For everything.

For the war, for peace, for me, for Dievna.

For him just being him.

Galina Alexandrovna, could you help?

Of course, Georgy Konstantinovich.

But aren't you too fancy for going out to buy a newspaper?

What newspaper? I am going to a Party meeting.

What meeting, Georgy? What's that?

- You know, my peers… - Wait.

The Communists from the engineering plant

named after the 1905 Revolution are willing to see me.

- Why would they need you. - Not them, the Party. I am…

…a Communist after all.

Hey, Communist!

Do you remember we go for a movie today? “The Communist”.

It's been out for several years and we didn't see it. It's a shame.

So don't be late, alright?

I won't.

- Comrade Commander? - Why don't you wear a tie?

I don't want to.

Look at you! All the awards at display.

- You are handsome. Well, bye! - Bye!

Why can't you handle your women, Marshal?

The Party sees it all, and it is a part to everything.

That's what I think, my dear comrades.

The Party has some better things to do than watching over my bedroom.

And I won't let anyone…

- I… - Enough!

That's it.

- We give you a reprimand. - Hey you, old prick!

You could end up with a proper reprimand from your death.

See you, comrades! Thanks for bothering.

Just go away, old man, would you?

What do you want from me?

- You've sucked enough of my blood. - Let's have some beers.

Your blood is not on my hands.

It surely bears a lot of gun powder and missile fragments and much more.

I had this girl in Strelky.

Manya Mel. Oh!

My first love. Because of her, I took the gun for the first time.

- You killed her? - What are you saying?

Killed… She had this suitor, one of our fellows.

Filya was the name. He ran after me with his gun all around the village.

I lured him to the barn and disarmed him.

Then there was this Nyura Sinelchikova. Her brothers took some good care of me.

They beat the hell out of me with their harpoons.

I just laid down for a week.

Later, when I was wounded under Tsaritsyn…

Maria Volokhova looked after me.

She was the mother of my first daughter.

Our passion was something else! The hospital roof just flew away.

You see, old man?

Then Shura came along, and then Lida.

- Oh, Lida… - You had many women.

That's only natural for a warrior like yourself.

But now's the first time when you love someone.

What are you staring at? Am I right?

I had no less women than you. Even more.

At least you remember their names.

I remember them in bunches. Except one.

Her name was Galya too. She was killed by a spray near Kiev.

I've been screaming for three nights. My soldiers didn't dare to approach.

Take a good care of your Galya, Marshal. But living unmarried is a sin, Marshal.

Love is always right. Here, take your beer.

Misha!

I've just finished this fancy book.

The History of the WW2.

- And? - And it's all lies.

Khrushchev and Brezhnev fought the war, and Suslov commanded.

And those who really fought aren't even mentioned. Forgotten.

- How will they look people in the eye? - Don't worry. They remember everything.

- Don't worry. - It's such a shame.

Galya! I asked for water!

Just a moment! Masha is on her way.

Zhora!

Zhora! You didn't change?

- Cinema's at 7. We'll be late. - Okay.

What is it?

The operations, the front commanders… They just tailored it!

Khrushchev gave an order, and they were happy to write.

Timoshenko and Khrushchev are in!

But not in the context of Stalin and his staff.

- It's just a circus! - So write the true story.

- What are you whining about here? - I don't whine about.

- I don't. I just can't write. - You whine.

You can't write? How do you mean?

As far as I remember, you were good at anything you started.

Thank you!

- No, I can't. - Thank you, my dear.

Say, I pick up a book by Tolstoy.

So I am reading Tolstoy.

Tolstoy is one and only. Don't look up to him.

We're not talking about War and Peace . We're talking the memoirs.

And then, can't he write his own War and Peace ?

- He'd do it better than Tolstoy even! -Well, I don't know.

- I wouldn't be so sure. - Comparing me to Tolstoy?

- Are you crazy? He's unique. A genius! - Dad!

When you look away, uncle Misha goes like this…

Masha!

Are you teasing me like a boy?

Daring me like that?

This dispute is over. Don't write if you don't want to.

Let the other eggheads tell the truth to the nation.

Get dressed! We'll be late to the movie.

- The projectionist's come already. - Yes, right.

Tolstoy is unique. But so is Zhukov.

- Right. - Yeah.

What? Are you crying?

Wait.

Well, I ran out of nose wipes.

It is an excellent movie.

What's the name of the actor?

- Urbansky. Evgeny Urbansky. - He's a star.

On the global level. And the movie is just… I have no words.

Come on! Stop crying!

Yes, the hero's fallen, I understand. But how he's fallen!

It's not about him, Zhora!

How she'll live on without him?

Come here!

Memorandum.

On August 19, due to the event of death of Lieutenant General Kryukov,

his widow, famous singer Lidiya Ruslanova,

held a reception, where, along with the others,

came Marshals Budyonny

and Zhukov.

Comrade Zhukov said that if he were the Minister of Defense

he wouldn't pass on the governmental resolution

on the pensions for the members of service and their families.

Further he said that comrade Malinovsky gave a free hand

to the Political Administration head, General Golikov,

and the latter had been destroying the army.

Nikita Sergeyevich! Comrades Suslov and Brezhnev!

It's a high time. Bring them in.

This is just nonsense, my dear comrades!

So Budyonny was there too?

When I was asked by comrades Brezhnev and Alkinchenko

whether I attended the funeral of comrade Kryukov with Zhukov, I said,

that, first, I didn't attend the funeral.

I was attending DOSAAF Presidium meeting.

Second, I saw Zhukov for only 5–10 minutes outside Ruslanova's country house

around 7 PM, when I visited Ruslanova with my wife

willing to support her in that difficult time.

By that time, the guests were leaving. Marshal Zhukov was among the guests.

When I saw Zhukov, he didn't say anything like that.

Marshal Budyonny.

So what?

Sit down, come on!

So what happened there?

The Marshals got drunk, Nikita Sergeyevich.

And started slandering the Political Bureau.

Bring all those guests to the Party Commission!

And what is this?

The records from Zhukov's phone show

that after being discharged from the post of the Minister of Defense

he started writing a memoir book about the war.

Shelepin, the head of the USSR KGB.

Well?

So what?

Nikita Sergeyevich, let him write.

The key thing is, he's under our control.

He writes.

Let him write… And what does he write there?

You know what? Ask some comrades around

how to handle this issue properly.

Get the Marshal to some publishing house, officially.

It'll keep him busy and…

He'll be under our control.

Yes. Should I teach you how to do things?

It's time, my friend, it's time!

The peace is craved by hearts...

Days flow after days,

each hour departs a bit of life,

and both, you and I,

plan a long life, but could abruptly die.

The world hasn't happiness, but there is freedom and peace.

And long have I daydreamed the life of bliss,

and long have planned, a tired slave, the flight,

to the removed abode of labor and…

Mom!

Mom!

- Mom! - What is it?

Dad is unwell.

Zhora!

What is it?

- Bring the medicine. - I'll be right back!

Go home! Run!

Here. Here you are.

Swallow it.

Drink.

You'll feel better now.

- It's so good that I have you. - Zhora!

Really.

- I wish I'd have time to finish the book. - What are you saying, Zhora?

You will have time. We will.

We will. Right.

Don't get up so fast. You hear me, Zhora?

They made some pies. Let's hurry up or this nasty Misha will eat them all.

- Wait… - While we are sniveling here. Let's go.

- Feeling better now? - Sure.

I'm fine.

How are the pies?

- They are ready. - You ate them all, right?

- I left you some. - Okay. Come on.

- Come on. - Yes.

Sit down.

Here.

Please eat.

You can put some sugar on top. Here.

Zhora!

Let's go to sleep.

Well, Galina Alexandrovna…

You were crying our loud about a poor widow, and I thought…

Zhora, hush.

Don't say a word.

Unfortunately, I won't live forever.

First of all,

- a divorce and then… - What are you saying?

- I am talking now. Listen. - Please stop.

And then we'll get married. That's first.

- Second… - Zhora, stop!

- I am talking now! - Do you hear me?

And then we'll register all property to your name.

Third…

My dear wife…

You'll have to find

- a new husband. - Fine. What else do I have to do?

A good father for Masha.

Zhora, I can't listen to this! Enough! Stop it!

Such a beauty shouldn't…

The heat came up to your head.

But you have to find…

- You have to find… - What should I find?

Find the one who'd be a good provider…

- Right… - A hard-working one.

- Right. - You know…

The one that would love you…

- ...as much as I do. - As much as you do?

But…

You'll hardly find the one

who'd love you as much as I do.

Zhora, what are you saying? Really!

And you gotta know that I will be...

Watching over you…

Protecting and supporting you. If he misbehaves...

- I'll punch him from up above. - Just like this?

Yes. Right.

Just like this.

What are you doing here at all?

I... You are bothering me for nothing! I am writing.

A book.

I am writing a book.

You're saying I am no Tolstoy. I am not. But I am not some Pupkin either.

Keep writing. I'll just sit here, okay?

Georgy! They called from the Secretariat. Khrushchev will call you now.

That's for you, for sure.

Here, Zhora.

- Just a second. - Take this.

I am listening.

The sound of the waves.

It is so good in Pitsunda.

Any vacation is good, actually.

Listen, Georgy Konstantinovich...

Don't be angry with me. I was very flammable back then.

Like a gun powder.

Right, Nikita Sergeyevich. One doesn't take advice from their anger.

Back then, I couldn't figure out what you were up to.

And people came to me saying, Zhukov is dangerous,

he neglects you, he can do whatever he wants any time.

His influence on the army is too big,

he dreams of being a new Eisenhower.

Can you understand me? You know what? I am very busy now

listening to the waves…

When I come back, let's meet and have a friendly talk, alright?

- Agreed? - Affirmative.

See you later.

- What? - It seems he needs Zhukov again.

The Russian ivan-the-fool.

First time

I saved him from Beria.

Second time, in 1957, I saved him from the clique

of Molotov, Malenkov and Kaganovich.

There will be no third time, Nikita Sergeyevich.

You had to tell him how they took the country house.

Or how we buy flour and milk for our daughter with the coupons.

How one can't buy meat and the whole country stands in queues.

He keeps you grounded.

Maybe he forgot about that? Then tell him.

- What took him three minutes to say? - What?

They mistreated me seven years ago.

- Why didn't you tell him all this? - I did, a long time ago.

A shameless man will be removed without shame.

Sit down.

Dad! They say…

They say all kinds of things.

Don't hesitate. Say it, my daughter. You are a soldier.

I am not the only daughter of yours.

- She won't relax, right? - It's not about mom.

It's always about her. How long can she go on like that, tell me.

Okay.

How's your boyfriend? Do you love him?

- Dad, it's my private matter. - Really?

I have my privacy too and I won't let anyone...

I want some tea!

- A cake!

Would you drop by later today?

Meet your sister Masha.

She is trying to be a commander already.

Shtay put, dog! Shtay put!

Would you drop by?

Dad!

They also say, you started writing a book.

Why?

So your kids wouldn't be blamed as the liars, girl.

Boasting about how their grandfather led the nation to the victory.

What do they write in their smart books now?

There was no such person as Marshal Zhukov.

Everybody was there except from Zhukov.

Dad, please be careful.

You remember how...

I will. I remember, I didn't forget.

I can't forget a thing.

Okay, go on.

Let's dance.

May I?

Go and see what's up with him.

The political system established in the Soviet Union,

was set to raise another nation leader,

a one who'd dictate to the Party and the Soviet people.

Yes, the cult of Khrushchev was not as repressive and bloody as Stalin's.

And he was a man of a smaller caliber.

But this cult was also based on uncontrollable power at the higher ranks.

Being naturally energetic and active, Khrushchev really wanted to fix things.

He did that in perfect alignment with his understanding of life

and his educational level.

In the beginning of 1964, his authority in the country collapsed.

All social segments were unhappy with him.

The workers and white collars were unhappy with rising prices

and work norms along with the rates reduction,

the farmworkers with the destruction of homesteading,

small towns and villages inhabitants with the livestock ban.

The creative class was discussing his eccentric behavior

when publicly criticizing the most prominent artists and writers.

Outside Kremlin walls, there was a new group striving for power.

What happened to Khrushchev really resembled Zhukov's discharge.

While Khrushchev was on his vacation in Pitsunda,

his peers headed by Brezhnev, Kosygin, Shelepin, and Suslov made a decision.

Right upon his return to Moscow,

he was discharged of all his posts and retired.

Hurray! The food is here!

- Masha! Shame on you! - I am tired of this! And hungry!

- Was it at least interesting? - I've heard more interesting things.

Young generation disapproves.

- I'll have to rewrite. - An apple!

Don't! It's unwashed!

- I'll rewrite it then. - Masha!

Georgy, do not rewrite.

Didn't you listen to radio?

Didn't you watch TV?

Georgy read us a chapter. We were busy.

Then attention!

Give me the glasses!

Attention, my dear people!

Yesterday Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev

was discharged of all his posts and retired

by a show of hands in the Political Bureau.

That's it.

Read it.

Who'd be the next

so we'd not miss the last one?

Masha, let's go. I'll give you some milk.

Stop eating this apple! It's unwashed!

- Masha! - Klavdia!

Let's drink.

132 comments.

Right, 132, Georgy Konstantinovich.

Look at this one.

The number of cannons at Volzhsky front is not accurate.

Our great reviewers. The historians, damn them.

They do not eat their bread for nothing. We didn't count those 300 cannons.

And here, it is just total nonsense.

The names of the political workers are spelled wrong.

Georgy Konstantinovich, a real professional

which you certainly are, would make the required corrections in…

Say, in a month at most. Well, there also are some…

…radical changes but it is entirely up to you.

Listen, professional.

I've wandered around the offices for a year. What do you think,

will this book be released or not?

No.

While you keep being stubborn, Georgy Konstantinovich.

I can't write things that didn't happen.

That's my truth. Yours is probably different.

They return me the book for the third time.

123 comments. First time there were eighty.

The censors become more demanding.

But look who are those censors!

Epishev, Rokossovsky, Konev.

While the historians highly appreciated your book.

They call me to praise it.

The personality

that made a lot of influence on the history of the war.

Him.

Not quite.

He reads very slowly, Suslov.

He's been reading it for a year. Finally he came up with something.

Everything… You hear me?

Everything that is related to Stalin, you'll have to rewrite.

So they…

That's why they called the Political Bureau?

Yes. But the opinions were divided.

And who was this Suslov during the war? An insignificant functionary.

He was an ideology secretary.

He saw the chief just at the parade or when he called him to the office

to get his ass kicked.

- That's your Suslov. - Georgy Konstantinovich!

Could you…

…come to Old Square one more time? It might help.

Please.

Don't take it amiss. Go there.

That's how our work goes. It's nasty.

The moment I'll see you off, I'll get drunk.

It's tedious.

Trust me.

Based on Article 126,

“Provision on the Rights of the Spouses in the Russian Federation”,

the marriage of Zhukov, Georgy Konstantinovich,

and Zhukova, Alexandra Dievna,

is annulled.

Please sign.

Here and here.

Alexandra Dievna, here and here.

Do you keep your last name, Alexandra Dievna?

I've always been Zhukova and I always will be.

Georgy Konstantinovich!

Please forward the passport to citizen Zhukova.

- Please don't go, alright? - Sure. Just the way we agreed.

That's it?

You were unhappy with me all these years?

I was happy. Take this.

I don't understand.

Era has a birthday. Will you come?

- Of course I will if you let me. - I'll let you.

I don't deserve this, Zhora.

I am sorry, Shura. Good-bye.

Go.

Stop the car.