Original subtitles

The Mosfilm Studios

The Fiery Miles

Written by N.Figurovsky

Directed by S.Samsonov

Directior of Photography F.Dobronravov

Production Designer N.Markin Music by N.Kryukov

Lyrics by M.Matusovsky

Starring

Zavragin - I.Savkin Katya - M.Volodina

Shelako - M.Troyanovsky Orlinsky - A.Khodursky Beklemishev - V.Kenigson

Varekha - Ye.Burenkov Proshka - V.Stepanov

Alyosha - A.Osmolsky Old Yegor - S.Pryanishnikov

Make way, beautiful!

Family treasure?

Don't be afraid, I'm not a robber. The other way round.

- What do you want? - Hush, you.

Are you interested in the gold?

Good guess.

I could give you a couple of coppers.

- I count to 3! - I'm leaving, you bastard!

Thank you!

Although I don't have any wealth,

I wouldn't like to lose the last of it.

I told you I'm a knight, and you didn't believe it.

Thanks!

Why are you pushing?

Are the seats reserved?

2 people asked before you.

- Were they your friends? - No, I'm a loner.

Did they leave you in peace?

2 of them did, and I offed one.

- Did they see you? - It doesn't matter.

- D'you remember the deal? - Sure.

Too bad, Victor, that you don't trust me.

Alyosha, the package...

The package doesn't think why it stays sealed.

I'm sorry, are you a Bolshevik?

By all means.

- What's wrong, guv'nor? - Follow me please.

- Well, doctor? - I've brought him!

Are you the Bolshevik?

Right on, brother. You may speak freely.

Show me your document!

I can't see it. Doctor, you read it please.

The Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks.

Zavragin, Grigory Fyodorovich.

Born in 1890, joined the party in 1915.

Good.

Now step aside, doctor.

Listen, comrade!

Listen very carefully!

The Cadets...

want to take the city.

If they seize it,

our Southern army would be blocked.

And defeated.

In short... don't waste yourself,

I know the situation.

They prepare the mutiny in the city.

The experts...

are the traitors in the HQs.

They wait for the signal.

This signal...

will be given to them by

a man named Victor.

I don't know anything else about him.

There was another one with him.

He killed me.

They should be arrested.

The addresses and...

documents are in my pockets.

Do it yourself.

Don't trust anyone.

Don't worry, brother.

I won't spare my life.

Comrade...

Are you going to the city?

How did you dare to go alone?

I'm not.

I accidentally lost my companion.

Are you going to the front?

Where else a man of my age and

in a time like this can go?

- Did you know him? - No.

A doctor meets people only through ills. Like this time.

- Are you going to the city? - Yes.

Their doctor has typhus there, I have to replace him.

I see.

You're dressed lightly for your age.

The trouble is, I was dressed too heavily.

- Were you robbed? - Yes.

It was night, and they were armed. They told me to disrobe.

I didn't dare to object.

They could kill me. It's easy now.

- Well, doctor... - You can't do it!

Thank you, comrade!

No baggage, and I lost my assistant.

In other words, it's too bad.

Don't leave the cars!

- Everyone remain seated! - Why do we stop?

Quiet!

The Secret Service.

Prepare your documents, please!

The papers... Check it!

Your documents!

Doctor.

- It's a check-up. - Thanks!

If you have the papers somewhere deep,

you'd better prepare them beforehand.

To sleep in this horse posture

isn't a pleasant thing!

- Your documents! - Here you are.

I don't have anything better, I'm sorry!

- What is this sticker? - Allow me!

The Imperial!

Well, yes, Imperial Theaters!

Where else was I supposed to serve, in the provinces?

- That's a joke! - Get off!

- Excuse me, what? - I told you to get off!

My pleasure.

Anya, they check the documents!

You see, citizen sailor...

- When I served in Petersburg... - Don't make any noise!

No noise?

With pleasure.

- You see... - We'll see into this!

Walk on through!

Can I take some things?

Walk on!

My pleasure!

Oh boy, that's Orlinsky!

The famous tragic actor.

Konstantin Romanovich, my dear! What happened?

- I don't remember. - It's hard to remember all!

I know you only on stage. I'm Professor Shelako!

Nice to meet you.

Can you imagine this joke? I left that thing...

whatchamacallit... the mandate at home,

and I don't have any other but my visiting cards.

- They might even shoot me. - God forbid!

They don't print new cards, and

the old ones say I'm an actor of Imperial Theaters.

- Walk through! - What a joke!

I can certify citizen Orlinsky's identity

and his permanent sympathy for the revolutionary movement.

I refused to perform for the Czar in 1905!

- We'll see into this! - He can be trusted.

Let's step out.

- To the city? - Right.

- No way! - Why?

The Whites blocked the road.

- When? - At night.

What about the city?

It still stands, but there are no access roads,

and the steppe is covered.

- Where's the commissar? - At the station.

You're dismissed!

Dismissed!

What glory I used to enjoy...

Well, Alyosha...

- God bless! - Farewell, my friend!

Where are you going? Back off!

- Back! - Don't yell, I want a smoke!

Have you seen Doctor Shelako?

- I don't remember. Your papers! - Here you are.

Veterinary doctor Sergey Beklemishev.

Going back from hospital.

Shall I cut him?

Good boy, vet!

Well?

He's dead.

Oh you fool!

Alexey Roslavtsev, member of the gentry.

Why did he run?

- Why did he shoot? - The greenhorn.

He chickened out.

- Why did he? - The egg-head.

- The play of imagination! - The letter from mom!

- A coded message? - No, it's all wrinkled.

The documents are not kept like this.

- Have you sorted this out? - The dense fog.

What fog is there?

The boy was a decoy! He covered some bastard.

The patrols to the steppe! Warn all outposts,

not to let a gopher pass!

Give me a horse, commissar! I'll fight my way through the Cadets.

This is a scum that can slip through the fingers!

It's no big deal to give you a horse!

I'd better give you a machine- gun cart.

There, they wanted to go to the city, but got stuck.

Take a couple of carts. We'll find you local drivers,

who know all the roads. I deprive myself of them.

Will you give me another man? To shoot.

I can't. There's no one available.

Can this shooter do?

- Do you know him? - This vet helped us.

- To the city? - To the city.

- Can you work the Maxim gun? - War can teach you anything.

- What about keeping mum? - Mute like a fish.

Get ready to go then. You'll go.

Could you give me a sailor?

I can't! Many people are here.

Am I supposed to deal with it alone? Let's go to the carts!

Mother Russia is still alive!

She is.

Oh, our bread-winner sure is.

Here you are!

Would you want to taste those delicacies?

- I don't indulge. - You should.

Katya, your health!

- When is the train coming? - Doctor, can I have you?

There's something there!

Don't condemn our poverty, we don't have anything better.

Why, it's so awkward. Thank you!

Don't mention it!

Doctor, I can take you to the city.

- Much obliged. - We'll have to go in a cart.

- OK, I agree. - Don't be too hasty about it.

- It's a lethal business. - What did you say?

The Whites could easily shoot us.

I see.

- What about you? - I need to do it anyway.

I could go astride a shell.

But you have to decide, and you have a lady with you.

We depart in 30 minutes.

- Come if you want the ride. - Thank you, comrade!

Yes, doctor, and remind the vet!

- Will the horses hold it? - They'll run in some way!

Get them ready then!

I was offered a machine-gun cart ride.

What's a machine-gun cart?

It's a cart with a machine-gun.

You should never agree to it!

- You're a coward! - It's all right, young man!

Better a coward for 5 minutes than a corpse for life.

Katya, the decision is yours.

- Agree to it! - But this is madness!

Agree to it!

We must go, Arseny Larionych!

There are sick and wounded people there.

You all will be killed like flies!

- I'll shoot! - You're mad!

They won't wait for us, Prof! We're going together!

Hurry up!

I need to be in the city, yet I stay! It's a joke!

Why d'you need it? When guns speak, the muses are silent.

What muses?

My wife is dying in the city!

What's wrong with her?

Maybe I could help?

It can't be subcontracted.

Konstantin Romanych!

Farewell then!

I don't have a right to risk.

Glory be to the madness of the brave, of course.

But... farewell.

Farewell.

You're good

and very nice man!

Thank you, youth!

- Good-bye! - Let's go.

Doctor, let's go!

We're off. The road will be dangerous.

So you should maintain the revolutionary discipline.

Obey all orders without questioning,

stay aware and alert. That's it!

Let's go!

Thanks, friend!

Stop!

Wait!

I'm going with you, friends!

Excellent!

I realize I can't... I don't have a right... But I don't...

- ...have a heart of stone! - Wonderful, my good man!

Greetings, commander!

You see, I'm aware of the perils of your journey.

I've thought about it! Don't worry, commander.

You'll have a good soldier in me.

- Y'know, when I served... - OK, you may stay!

Doctor, please,

warn the actor not to babble.

Let's go.

Why do you look at me?

I look at your hands.

Are they unclean? It was done by the coal, forever.

I've been working underground since I was 9.

I didn't even think about it!

Well, I'm sorry!

- I thought you condemn me. - No.

- Are you the Communist? - I serve.

- What village? - From around Salsk.

I know the place.

Did you have a good household?

I didn't live worse than others.

Do you think we'll make it to the city?

I know the way.

That's good to hear.

The main thing, the person of crystal soul!

The eyes were like 2 wonderful flowers!

She was tender...

and sweet...

Well, she had some talent.

A small one, but she had it.

Tell me, did you really love her?

How should I put it...

I loved and was loved so many times.

But that time... I don't know how to put it.

She lived nearby... I pitied the poor thing!

She was so shy and meek.

She took my heart in her small hand...

and the hand turned out to be made of steel!

I've been soldiering since 1914. I've seen everything.

Thanks God!

Since 1914?

- Is it amazing? - Well, no...

It happens.

As a girl I washed the hospital floors.

Then I was a nurse in the Empress Maria's train.

- Then, the frontlines. - I thought you were a lady.

I saw you looking at my hands, and I got offended.

My hands were blackened by labor.

But my mother...

had her hands very white.

She was a laundress.

And my dad had them very black and big.

Just like yours, only darker.

Why are you silent, comrades?

Let's talk about love.

You haven't suffered enough for that, young man.

I'm sorry, you said you were a vet?

That's an entirely different sphere!

The fluxes!

No more our outposts.

What about the Cadets?

Sometimes they come to shoot.

What do the villagers think?

Try to turn away and you'll get it.

There should be malaria here.

It's an unhealthy place.

It's natural, a wet lowland!

There used to be an outpost there,

and the Cadets killed everyone there yesterday.

But isn't there, like, a permanent frontline?

What are you talking about?

You could slip through, or fight through with arms like this.

Well, there can't be 2 deaths!

- That's right. - Take your places.

Our land is burning.

The time is sure troubled!

Yeah, it's hard. The enemies press from all sides.

Yudenich is close to Petrograd.

Denikin is near.

Can they surrender Petrograd?

No way.

It can't happen!

Someone prays for us, commander.

It's empty.

Yeah, it's quiet.

If the war goes much longer,

the entire land will be like this, empty and quiet.

Do you think they'll kill everyone?

Maybe not, but the people will be tired.

And they won't go on living.

Where do you get this notion?

My own experience. I sure don't wish it.

Did you try it?

What?

Going on with your life.

They don't ask about it.

Everything is now asked about.

Don't be offended, don't answer if you don't want it.

I was just asking.

No, I didn't do it.

What, guv'nor?

Move it.

Did you think about eternity?

What eternity are you talking about?

Over there... Behind those shrubs.

Hiding in that blue darkness.

He'll slightly pull the trigger, and the grass will be scorched.

The smoke will be blown away.

And the clock will stop.

Are you scared, Katya?

The bullet might be meant for you, you know?

For me?

That's ridiculous.

Indeed.

What is Zavragin? Why does he go with us?

You'd better ask him.

There's nothing worse than a treason in our situation.

I wouldn't like to meet a bullet.

- Cover me. You man the gun! - Yes, sir!

- It's the nerves, my good man. - I don't want a silly death.

Every death is silly.

There might be no Whites at all.

Try to tell it to the commander.

In his service, they can't make such assumptions.

- What is his service? - The secret one.

I could congratulate it then!

He seems to be very nice.

One could play a man like this, with a great success!

Bullets and we went our different ways.

Right.

1, 2, 3!

How can you guess what I'm going to open?

I read your thoughts.

Let's try again.

God damn it!

It's so awkward. You're a professional, sir!

War can teach you anything. Another one?

Don't pay any mind to the days

that are gone,

To the blizzards that

whitened my temples.

They've whitened my temples.

I've lost nothing in the meantime,

No hopes, no light, no fire,

So don't haste to call me

and old man, my friend.

Don't you call me an old man.

I'd like to live the rest of my days,

without being afraid of the cold,

And my sunset shouldn't be any worse,

than a spring sunrise.

It shouldn't be worse than a sunrise.

I can smell a smoke!

Who'll go there?

You stay, old man, you're a family man!

Grigory Fedorych, I'll go.

- Do it then! - Just a sec, young man!

Commander!

Allow an old actor who used to play heroes

play that part in real life.

OK, try it.

Thank you!

Well, doctor, if anything

happens, write about me in your memoir.

You really shouldn't.

Young lady!

Oh, who's there?

Freeze! Hands up!

Who has the village?

No one, only dad and womenfolk.

- Are the Whites far? - There are none here.

Everything's quiet!

Drop your gun and raise your hands!

Everything's quiet!

The war has taken everything. Nothing is left.

They drafted my sons and horses.

A regiment passed by, and drafted the chickens.

Where do your sons serve?

Half by half, the Reds took the elder,

and the Whites drafted the junior.

Who's there?

It's Afonya, a God's fool. They feed him in the village.

Comrade, come here!

Come closer.

Why don't you say hi?

God punished him, he can't speak coherently.

His head is crippled.

You shouldn't doubt it, he's a worker.

Who knows, guv'nor, whom do you hide there?

- It won't hurt to check. - Say something.

What's your name?

Excellent! How old are you?

- It's a shock. - A fright or a contusion.

Yes, I'll examine him in the morning.

Don't even think of the morning.

4 hours for resting and things, and we're moving on.

- Fedorych! - What do you need?

- Look at the cart. - What's wrong with it?

You have a look.

Show me, what's wrong there?

Wait, don't get up, I have to talk to you.

- Do you know the vet well? - No.

Why?

He doesn't look like a vet to me.

Let's look from the other side.

Why?

He doesn't!

Why?

Who knows, Fedorych?

He has an evil eye, and

the horses shy away from him.

OK.

Don't let him out of your sight.

Although he'd been tested.

Well, commander?

We'll get there!

Victor!

- Victor! - Me? I'm Serezha.

Oh damn, sorry.

Pass the salt!

Salt is like gold these days.

And a life is like dirt.

Why don't you have some sleep?

I won't sleep.

You don't trust someone, do you?

Well, no...

Honestly, it's my first time with a girl in the morning.

As if!

Things happened, of course.

I knew women early on.

But to sit and talk like this,

heart-to-heart...

It never happened.

The life cancelled all of it.

Katerina Gavrilovna!

What?

- Step out. - No!

Go to bed.

Katerina Gavrilovna!

Katya.

What?

This night is...

so desperate!

The ground burns under the feet.

It burns...

It does.

Give me your hand!

You'll have such a long life!

Katya!

Go to sleep.

Sleep well.

Did she dodge you?

Did you suffer?

Sure, my heart squeezed in envy.

Will you sleep?

Am I an enemy for myself?

Look. In about 1.5 hours

shove me, I'll be in the grass.

I'd like to breath some sagebrush.

Go then!

- You asleep, hero? - What?

- Where's your commander? - Why?

Take the lock, in the grass, under the trench coat!

Arise, you God's fool, run! Run to the village,

explain it with your fingers. They don't have a way out.

Raise it, egg-heads!

I can sympathize with your woe.

How come, my dear comrades? You don't believe me again.

Am I an enemy to myself?

If only I could have them...

Horses... What horses?

For God's sake, comrades, we plow on cows.

If I find the horses, I'll shoot you.

Shoot, comrade!

I have nothing to pay you off.

Look for them yourself, if you don't believe me.

Go!

We should put our defenses out.

Everyone come to me!

Later, friend.

- Wait, wait... - What?

Are there any horses?

Lead the way, show them.

To hell with you, old sod, live on!

Oh the damned robbers!

The rogues, the wretches!

Shut up, old man!

My God! Victor Mikhalych!

Mr.Colonel... looking like this!

To hell!

To hell with it.

What's going on in the city?

It's all right, sir. The strike forces are at the front.

Everything's in our hands.

Turn back!

Don't forget Beklemishev, those of you who survive.

Bear with it.

We can't miss him.

He'll be in the city as well.

I see it!

Fedorych, they want to capture us alive!

Like hell they will!

All back!

Konstantin Romanych!

Go, Katerina!

- What? - Damn, it won't shoot!

Go! Forward!

- Doctor, can you swim? - Like an axe.

- You hide, Katya. - No!

Hold the horse!

Are they gone?

They'll be outflanking us!

Freeze!

Every minute now, the mutiny may happen in the city!

The experts in the HQ are the traitors.

The Commissar gave me their addresses before he died.

Here, this street!

To the city, quick.

- Got to be in time! - We'll be in time!

Mount!

- Will you drive me? - Yes, sir!

Well, friend, no time to lose! To the city!

Oh the bird breed!

We'll start the mutiny in 2 hours.

The map.

Take your hand away.

To seize the HQ and the revolutionary committee!

The committee...

Will you check, who's there?

The light!

Who the hell is there?

Astrakhan!

Victor Mikhalych, it's urgent.

- I'm from the other side. - What's the matter?

I was ordered to pass it on to you, he's escaped!

Please open the first card.

- Thank you. - Hands up!

I assure you, comrade, there was no one here.

We've gathered in our spare time

to have some fun, to relax.

- Please put some clothes on! - Yes, sir!

The order is to dress!

Begging your pardon!

Now you follow me!

Come here.

What did you have on before coming here?

Upon my word of honor...

2 minutes more, and no confession saves you.

I'll tell you everything! The colonel sent me.

Later! Where's Beklemishev?

You go, my good man. Your conversation is more important.

I'm an old man, I have enough thoughts of my own.

Why are you crying?

Why?

You see how long my life is!

Translated by Max Nemtsov