Original subtitles

[Music]

after 2 and a half years the most

devastating War the world had ever known

reached a stale mate and the casualties

on both sides were close on 12 million

dead to the Allies the Supreme warlord

of Germany Kaiser vilhelm II was

portrayed as a foul monster a living

symbol of German

aggression in reality he was a man older

than his 59 years tired and beaten by

events which had escalated far beyond

his ability to control a sick alen

Kaiser whose grip upon his country's

Destiny was slipping rapidly through his

[Music]

fingers he had made his Supreme

headquarters at the great Country House

of pleas

[Applause]

his Chancellor bman halve field Marshal

F Hindenberg his chief of staff General

ludendorf and Admiral van holzendorf

await his decisions on policy and

strategy

F your Imperial Majesty

General

Majesty

Admiral

majesty and bitman holig your

majesty well what in instructions do you

have for me this

time with

respector we are here to present to your

majesty the present situation as we see

it and to seek your Majesty's advice I

didn't want this

War I was not even responsible for its

declaration this war is decimating our

youth it's crippling our economy our

whole nation gentlemen is crying out for

peace peace your majesty can only be

achieved by absolute and complete

victory at the cost of how many more

German soldiers lives

General we are fighting a war on two

fronts gentlemen we have the enemy

before us and at our

rear British

blockade has us on the brink of

starvation

there is a limit to which may push a

nation

gentlemen if this war is not soon ended

it will be the German people telling us

what to do not the other way around as

you are aware Majesty I have explored

every possibility of a peaceful

settlement of this war without success

the Allies have rejected our proposals

out of hand the

Allies I have one cousin who was king of

England another Zar of

Russia you would have thought wouldn't

you that between the three of

us I sometimes think that Nikki and

George conspire against

me I tell you

gentl if my grandmother was still alive

today

she would never have allowed

this from a purely military point of

view your

majesty our armies and the enemies can

hold their positions on the Western

Front

indefinitely it is time we had a radical

reappraisal of our

strategy indeed for with every day that

passes the enemy grows Stronger by

building up supplies raw materials

food within six days Majesty I can have

six flotillas of OTS commanding the sea

Lanes of the North Atlantic I give you

my word majesty that the German Navy

will bring England to her knees within 4

months and America into the war within 4

weeks possibly Your Majesty we must be

prepared for that

threat you make all these proposals

gentlemen but it is I who must accept

responsibility for the final

decisions it's too much for any one

man with the atmost respect you have not

heard all our

proposals as your majesty rightly

pointed out we are fighting a war on two

fronts the Russian front must be

eliminated do you think field Marshall

in the years that you were a general in

the and knew nothing of what was going

on behind the scenes in the vhem strer

that I was not conscious of that fact we

are all deeply

sensible of your foresight

Majesty with Russia out of the war I can

release 122 divisions from the East more

than doubling our strength on the

Western Front and enabling us to mount a

major

offensive he Le off a breakthrough

complete victory have I not Chancellor

again and again tried to get my cousin

Nikki to sign a separate peace treaty

with the Central

Powers I have personally in writing

guaranteed that every single German

Soldier will be taken from Russian soil

in return for a guarantee of A Separate

Peace now you you don't know my cousin

field Marshall is as stubborn as he is

treacherous with respect Majesty I am

confident that there are other means of

detaching Russia from her commitment to

the Western allies in Russia there are

certain disruptive groups every week I

hear the same thing Russia is on the

verge of a civil war her Army is on the

brink of mutiny that we should try to

win this war by encouraging a bevic

Revolution in Russia is sheer

insanity if we should succeed what then

we should have an armed bevic Nation on

our doorstep out of an enemy we would

create a monster if your Imperial

Majesty will not make some decision that

an armies might well retire from the

field before another drop of German

blood is

shed we must either fight this war to

win or sue for peace at any

price go very

well but I place the responsibility for

this on your shoulders gentlemen

very

well Admiral you may have your

unrestrained submarine

warfare and the day

hostilities cease on the Eastern Front

ludor you may have your complete Victory

what Dreadful tea this is where does it

come from

nowadays aristocratic conspirators

murdered gregori

Rasputin his death was for Russia a sign

of liberation

the dark shadow that has hung for too

long over the Imperial Court has been

removed but the bright Ray of

Enlightenment we had all hoped for has

not fallen on this

government those of us who pledged our

faith to alah and to our country when

this war broke out are now almost lost

in despair as we watch our economy

crumbling and our soldiers at the front

forced into defeat for want of food and

ammunition this government has

increasingly displayed its

incompetence its total contempt for this

constituent assembly and its inability

to govern in this most perilous

hour as leader of the democratic Liberal

Party and in the name of those Millions

whom this war has claimed I demand that

this cabinet be

replaced by

Men by men who deserve the trust of the

people I am

astounded at the mild mannered

politeness with which Deputy malov

addresses these

buffoons I will not be insulted in this

matter Mr kitki

Deputy muko demands the resignation of

the

government I say that this assembly

should demand the resignation of the man

who put this government into

office where there is

incompetence and

Corruption one must always look to the

top for this government are but fleeting

Shadows the country knows full well who

sends them

here the one man who by his disdain of

any democratic form of government for

his refusal to Institute any of the

reforms for which this country so

desperately cries out his inability to

defend this nation against our enemies

has shown that he is clearly ill suited

to be called sa of all the Russians

it is not only this government that

should go but the S

himself and this entire court of Ley

toies and

incompetence if you will not listen to

the voice of warning now you will be

faced with the fact

look up look up at the distant flashes

and the Skies of

Russia this s May believe that he has

been ordained by God then let him be

deposed by man I say remove him remove

the S remove the S remove the remove

I must earnestly beg your majesty to

reconsider to leave the capital at this

particular moment might readily be

interpreted by many people as well don't

stutter Alexander

dimitrievich well as neglect of Duty

Majesty not that I have course nor any

my duty at this moment is to my general

staff they're expecting me at

headquarters and tomorrow evening I

shall be there a few days lay Majesty a

week at the most until we can bring the

situation under control unbelievable

monstrous who is this lunatic kensky

assist man leader of the so-called labor

group we are having him watch day and

night vulgar Co little

man this speech is open treason against

the Imperial Crown and against the

state I am astonished Alexander

dmitrievich that you did not have him

arrested on the spot I fear your majesty

does not fully appreciate the mood of

the

Dumar I must confess at one moment I was

in fear of my own life if this sort of

speech continues to be tolerated we

shall all be in fear of Our Lives it is

not enough that the city is crawling

with Anarchist bulvik

traitors now we must tolerate this sort

of behavior in the dumer my dear there's

no need to become over emotional I'm

sure Alexander dimitrievich has the

matter well in hand I'm only thinking of

you

Nikki if anything should happen to

you my dear there have been at least a

dozen accounts of attempts upon my life

in the Foreign Press this past

month I was even reported dead in one

Swedish

newspaper I'm still here you worry too

much

Alex our Majesty's fears are not

entirely without Foundation you ma then

you must deal with the situation as you

see fit you have the

authority if your majesty were prepared

to if your majesty were prepared to

address the Dumar it would restore their

confidence why you telling me that I

must deserve their

confidence isn't it rather they who

should try to restore

mine it is a matter of diplomacy or

Magister you must not allow yourself to

be intimidated by a gaggle of Petty bah

troublemakers if our dear friend were

alive he would not have allowed this to

happen I sometimes wonder whether my

people fully realize the terrible weight

of responsibility I carry upon my

shoulders we must be grateful to

Providence Nikki that he fits the back

for the

burden and yet you look so tired my

dearest well it'll be quiet at

headquarters away from all this perhaps

rest will do me

good it is ironic Majesty that it should

be quieter at the front than it is here

in the

capital Alexander

Dimitri I understand your concern for my

welfare but if matters are as bad as you

say there's nothing to be gained by

standing here and discussing it I have

the authority to act I suggest you do so

quickly I will endeavor to do my best

your majesty and you'll keep me inform

formed of development daily your mesty

very well that is all Alexander Dimitri

God go with you on your journey or maest

good day our ma good day

man I don't want to leave you Alex I'm

so lost with

if anything should

happen look after the

children I won't say goodbye to

you goodbye my dear sweet Nikki

you look

Splendid one

day one day perhaps

[Music]

[Music]

[Applause]

Char p

in petrograd a general strike exploded

into riots as a starving population

defied the police and the military in

search of

food but the Zar government could no

longer rely upon the troops of the

Imperial Garrison and as the soldiers

began to fraternize it became clear that

the Revolution was imminent that's

what is so important that you risk

yourself down there I need a police

permit and a travel pass wherefor conat

and then on to Copenhagen there'll be so

many Russian revolutionaries in

Copenhagen it's important that I leave

here

tonight few riots in the street and you

can't wait to leave Russia to announce

that the revolution has started it'll

come to nothing as in

1905 what a pessimist you are no I'm a

realist G what name you want on your PA

this time

PR girl I want

new have bre to see you doctor

oh thank

you you look exhausted my dear fell yes

I yes I I

came I came straight from from the boat

well sit down thank you a drink no thank

you will that be all there doctor oh one

minute Telegraph this to dorf

immediately yes of course

why do you call yourself bre

now

um it seemed expedient to kill off

rothenstein life is odd isn't it I buy

coal from the Germans and sell it to the

Russians copper tin aluminium IR steel

German steel to make Russian guns to

kill German

soldiers but the Germans must know what

you're doing this is a capitalist War my

de Glasco

the industrialists don't care who buys

from them so long as they make a profit

that is what wars are all about

profit the only thing the Germans don't

know is that most of the profit I make

here finds its way eventually into the

hands of the Russian

revolutionaries amusing don't you think

I don't find anything about war

amusing I imagine you have news from

petrograd oh yes there are riots in the

streets the government will collapse

kinsky has called for the abdication of

the Z God preserve us from middleclass

intellectuals so that means the war will

go on they have declared the policy to

be one of Relentless prosecution of the

war did you know that for weeks now

German uots have been sinking every

Merchant vessel on site neutral or

otherwise America will be in the war

before April so now more than ever the

Kaiser must get Russia out of the war it

is his only

hope and do you know who the German

foreign office is hoping will achieve

that

Miracle me not the Imperial German Army

but Alexander hel

a socialist Revolution in Russia has to

happen it

must and if a socialist Revolution means

an end to the war then the German

foreign office will finance it it is

only just don't you think that we should

use capitalist money to finance a

proletarian Revolution comrade I'm very

tired I haven't slept for three

nights I don't find

your flippancy in these matters amusing

the take politics too seriously my dear

glas I've just come from a country where

men and women are being shot are being

shot for the

politics you sit in this office treating

the whole thing like

some Grand game of

chess I was out in the streets carrying

a red flag before you were born I had

been in and out of every prison in

Germany I've devoted my entire life to

the Socialist movement

one of the first requirements of a

socialist Revolution is a sense of

humor we are in a unique position you

and I

comrade we hold the course of European

history in our

hands you know one day the whole of

Europe will be one vast socialist

State Russia Germany France even in

England but there will be one place

where Life Will Go On just as it always

has

done right here in

Switzerland but it won't happen in our

lifetime you stay here any longer

vogia you'll become a Bourgeois farmer

and settle down breeding cows

I haven't spent 30 years fighting for

the revolution all over Europe in order

to settle down in this miserable country

I was just making a

joke have you read kensky speech I'm

just doing so the man is a lunatic the

Socialist parties of the Allied paers

would be failing in their patriotic duty

to their respective countries is were

they in this present conflict to engage

in any revolutionary activity which

might jeopardize their country's efforts

to continue the war against German

imperialism any War undertaken by a

capitalist government is imperialism

hasn't the clown read any

books he is a lawyer

what in Earth has got to do Old

bronsky

El it's happened at

last it's

happened at

last come all way from the station the

papers read see what it

says I cannot believe it after all the

years all these

years well old

friend now that this

happened I don't don't know what to say

I'm like

you Revolution

R you haven't read all this

the provisional government consisting

largely of the cadet party and the

octobris Liberals have passed a motion

demanding the immediate abdication of

the

Zar and here the Zar ordered the

immediate dissolution of the Duma which

had once replied by refusing to dissolve

and proclaiming itself a constituent

assembly which is in

effect T

amount to declaring a stor of

Revolution Factory workers have

organized a Soviet of workers deputies

N9 day wonder it cannot last deputies of

soldiers and sailor Soviets they will be

shot CeX refused to fire on

demonstrators soldiers march with

workers barricades in the streets a

crowd of 30,000 soldiers workers and

students assembled outside the door

RoR well if the Revolution in Russia has

begun what in the name of God are we

doing in

Switzerland the biks must immediately

carry out propaganda and

agitation legal and

illegal for an international proletarian

Revolution and the conquest of

Power by the Soviet of workers

deputies see was just arrived from

Gregory telegrams have been arriving all

day from Germany from

America unbelievable I cannot waste a

moment I cannot stay another minute in

this accursed Switzerland all soldiers

regiments in petrograd have pleased

themselves to support the revolution

Proto poer has been

arrested continue spread out

arouse new sections awake fresh

initiatives from organizations in every

Lair prove to them that peace can only

come with the armed Soviet of workers

deputies in power and the arming of the

masses in the fight for peace bread and

freedom a Comm glas the biks in Russia

are not organized the voice of the

proletariat has not yet made itself

heard in the land if we are not there

now to lead them the revolution will be

overwhelmed by that idiot kety and his

bunch of bourgeois bungar

I tell you we stand Here Helpless and

useless congratulating ourselves on a

revolution in which we're not even

involved no that's not true comrade our

agitators are at work in the factories

organizing the soldiers the revolution

will not become a proletarian Revolution

until the entire bulk of the population

workers peasants soldiers are shown that

they have the power to make it so power

comrade the power of 2 million people

and a handful of middle class

intellectuals in one city but if we are

not there now at this crucial power in

our country's

history perhaps even in the history of

the world there will be no

Revolution you will see this little

capitalist shakeup will crumble like a

child's sand castle I cannot get out of

Switzerland by Italy or France the

Allies would arrest us as traitors to

their war effort and if we try Andross

the German Frontier we'll be arrested as

enemy aliens

there I

must comrade

Lenin it is possible that that I have

the

answer I don't not know

you if we if we could talk in private

comr

help hand he's a profiter and an

adventurer he makes money out of war and

now he seeks to profit by Revolution

he's a scoundrel I I agree I agree with

you comr but if his influence with the

German foreign office can help to get

you back to Russia what does it matter

where the money comes from well it does

to mean The end justifies the means look

to accept German help in getting to

Russia would expose me to accusations of

treesome of being an enemy agent

could have the most serious

repercussions no there must be another

way by airplane

airplane I could disguise myself use a

false passport ah there are a dozen ways

oh no there is only one way through

Germany heland is on his way to Berlin

now if he can arrange matters no your

presence in petrograd is vital would you

have the Bolshevik Revolution led by men

like Stalin and chitti

I I expect a telegram tonight or

tomorrow morning I'll report to you as

soon as I receed

I can see this opportunity slipping

through my

fingers

just slipping through my

[Music]

fingers thank you V now would you read

that over to

me you are here by commanded to dispatch

three Cavalry squadrons and four

infantry regiments and as many machine

gun detachments such can be spared from

the northern sector under the command of

General Ivanov and selected loyal and

trustworthy officers to March at once

upon petrograd to restore order in the

capital and proclaim a state of Martial

law yes good you can dispatch it to

General Alex at the next

station with respect your majesty would

it not be wiser to wait until you've

discussed the matter with the cabinet I

have no wish Colonel to arrive in

petrograd only to be arrested by a wild

horde of drunken anagist besides I have

my family to think

[Music]

of the Train's slowing down are we

stopping I will inquire you Majesty

General

rushki I must insist on an audience with

the emperor at once the matter is of the

utmost gravity

General

rusi your Imperial

Majesty I'm here your majesty at the

request of the delegates of the Duma and

the cabinet of Ministers of the

provisional government but I gave orders

for the Duma to be dissolved three days

ago and the express command of General

alexf to request in view of the gravity

of the political situation and the

imminent danger of civil war

that that your majesty abdicate the

throne

immediately representatives from the

provisional government will take the

earliest opportunity to present your

magistry with the necessary

documents I do not quite understand the

position of a

monarch who

Reigns but does not govern

I have sworn a duty before God to serve

my

country and accept responsibility for

state

affairs if I agree to

Cil or relegate that

power I may relinquish control over the

country's

Affairs but I cannot evade

responsibility for

them even if I would wish

it

even if I would wish

it I cannot see to your

request then sir the Dumar will not

request but

demand e

um excuse um

[Applause]

the

we're from the volinski and pavlovski

regiments on behalf of the Soviet of

workers deputies we pledge ourselves and

our arms to our brothers the workers to

defend the cour of the people long live

the

revolution the reolution

the Soviet of workers deputies have

elected me

as leader of the Social Democratic dumo

delegation and have instructed me to say

that we support the provisional

government

entirely leave the comrades my name is

kiny I Minister for justice in the

provisional

government and in that capacity I have

already ordered the immediate release of

all political prisoners good there are

prisoners in Siberia yes and I have

instructed that our comrade deputies and

members of the democratic faction should

be returned from Exile in Siberia with

special

honors I base my

activities on the will of the people do

you trust me comrade because the future

of Russia is in your hands long live the

revolution long live the

reevolution comrade

kensky whether the government is willing

to abide by the decisions made made by

the executive committee of the petrograd

Soviet at all times comrade

indeed and are you aware comrade kinsky

that at a meeting this afternoon of the

executive committee it was unanimously

agreed that the Army should submit only

to the directions of the

Soviets comrade there must be a central

constitutional government even in a

Revolution and the soldier Soviets of

the pavlovski Regiment of the volinsky

regiment of the lovi fansy and the

grenadiers have demanded that the

government put an end to this war at

once down with the

war comrades and

soldiers no Army can remain in

idleness the restoration of the fighting

capacity of the Russian army and and its

Assumption of an offensive against the

enemy is the immediate and fundamental

task of free

Russia for the sake of the

Revolution and in the name of

democracy and

Liberty this war

must and

will be

one our own reports from Russia indicate

that there is incre inreasing

disaffection with the war and that the

Bolsheviks are demanding an end to

hostilities I've always assured you

Chancellor that should the bolik come to

power Russia will be out of the war

quite but they are urgently in need of

organizers and political agitators and

the most experienced of these are exiled

abroad mostly in Switzerland then the

sooner they're in Russia the better the

only problem is

how they will not be permitted to travel

through Italy or France the Allies are

not likely to encourage a bolik

revolution then they must be transported

through

Germany it is the only way

Chancellor that too

presents certain

problems Majesty I did not expect your

I'm sure you didn't beat

man and who is this

this is Dr hel hunt Majesty our

principal contact with the bevic

revolutionaries in Russia we were

discussing means I am well aware of what

you are discussing Chancellor I am not

utterly without sources of information

in my

government I assure your majesty there

was nothing Secret in our

discussion it is a matter of

transporting certain revolutionaries in

Switzerland across Germany into Russia

Majesty with your Majesty's permission

really imagine doctor that we would

willingly give our permission for the

encouragement of a bevic revolution in

Russia but uh I had been given to

understand Majesty we have no intention

of building up a power which could one

day destroy us the Bolsheviks want only

peace

Majesty on Whose

terms that must be a matter for

negotiation Majesty any peace treaty

will not be signed on their terms of

that you may be assured I am confident

that they are aware of that your mag we

shall drive a very hard bargain doctor

one that even the bevic however much

they may desire peace will find hard to

swallow our interests in the wheat

Fields the oil fields of Eastern Europe

are very ambitious their first

consideration Majesty is peace without

peace there can be no Revolution

I think you will find them willing to

listen to

reason and

these bolics in

Switzerland by all accounts and ass

sorted lot are they reliable as far as

I'm concerned there is only one man that

matters he has been planning this

revolution for 30 years he is bitterly

opposed to the war and he has the

support of the balik who in turn

have many supporters in the Army and

Navy do you think that he will agree to

this

suggestion he is in a difficult position

open support from the German government

could politically be extremely

embarrassing for him but on the other

hand he is determined to return to

Russia by any means he can and secrecy

is most important it is imperative

Chancellor and you Dr elun

what is your interest in

this this little plot I am a socialist

your

majesty I will be happy to have played

any part in bringing about a socialist

Revolution in Russia a revolution which

you hope will then spread all across

Europe that I fear Majesty is only a

matter of

time if the German military plight were

not so serious I would forbid any action

of this kind and I have your Majesty's

permission to

proceed with the greatest

reluctance I tell you if this scheme of

yours succeeds but not

all it will become something which

Germany one

day we live to

regret the German minister in Burn has

already made

arrangements with the Swiss government

for a German train to be made available

at burn from there it will cross the

frontier at God

Madigan carry on through Germany to

sasset on the Baltic a German train

across Germany there's no other way

comrade now the

Germans Ed on the following

conditions all luggage must be sealed

but there will be no inspection of

baggage no passports Customs no one will

be permitted to leave on board the train

while it is traveling through Germany

two German officers are to accompany the

train to the end of German T food will

be provided but there

will how many people in their conditions

20 it is not enough there must be at

least 40 comrade I have spent all night

with the minister in Burn agreeing to

the detail then you can go back to the

minister in burn and tell him that I

insist on certain conditions too when

one is that there must be at least 40

persons on that train but why there are

only 20 bolik think about it a train

Lord of Bolsheviks transported across

enemy territory at German

expense it would destroy our political

credibility or we will be shot for

traitors as soon as we arrived in Russia

no everyone must participate in this

plan menik social Democrats bundists

everyone you are right you conf tell the

minister in burn that no names of anyone

will be taken on this

train that we shall be assured extr

territorial rights through

Germany and there will be no propaganda

use on this mission in the press or in

any other

manner if I hurry I'll just catch the

10:00

train what what happens if the Germans

don't accept your proposals then we'll

find another way

oh tell me ner am I doing the right

thing it is for you to decide I don't

know then he must hold a meeting I never

heard such a ludicrous suggestion we

will be branded as traitors by every

newspaper in the world except in Germany

the Germans have assured us the Germans

have the Germans have assured us the

operation whole operation will be

conducted in complete

secrecy a train load of revolutionaries

Crossing enemy territory can be no

secret comrade I must admit I have

already heard talk of it in the cafes it

will be the political Scandal of the

century it will destroy all our chances

of a successful Revolution comrades

comrades arguing in this manner is

neither Democratic nor constructive we

have not heard comrade Lenin's point of

view

my point of

view I agree with everything that has

been

said as you say our enemies could make

political Capital out of this for years

to

come again as you say it could seriously

Prejudice our status with our comrades

in Russia everything you say I agree

with then it's settled we don't

go well isn't it agreed do you have an

alternative suggestion ComEd

mof h

do you want to eek out the rest of your

days in this godforsaken country while

our comrades in Russia struggle to bring

about a revolution perhaps being

arrested or shot but look how will you

feel comrade mirov 3 or four months from

now when the revolution has been wiped

out by kinsky and his Bourgeois the

Soldiers and Sailors deputies arrested

imprisoned and all hopes of a true

proletarian Revolution destroyed how

will you feel as you sit in the Cafe

Central in Zurich and read about it in

the Swiss

newspapers the provisional government

has already granted amnesty to hundreds

of Bolsheviks and revolutionaries now if

we had their

permission

permission we will send a telegram to

kinsky Dear com kinsky the Central

Committee for the return of Russian

Exiles in Switzerland kindly requests

your permission to return to Russia in

order that they may overthrow your

provisional

government comrades we must build a

revolution that will outli any political

slander that may be leveled at us I

agree with comrad anv we must accept

this offer we have no choice nothing

matters but the revolution nothing and

without peace there can be no Revolution

and without us there will be no

Revolution you see there is no

alternative comrade believe me I have

thought about this very deeply but there

is no alternative and time is running

out I beg you think carefully and you

will

agree we have to accept

started open

we'll be assassinates in 1 hour

[Music]

[Music]

Russia

[Music]

Russia which one is

lenon left

hillian I've been instructed to remain

with you until we reach petrograd

[Music]

what's what's the position there

Lieutenant this has been a long journey

we've had little news it's a mad

housee peard and soldiers pouring in

from all over the province in their

thousands meetings and demonstrations on

every street

corner the to Palace is

bedum workers and soldiers deputies

holding committee meetings in every room

even in the

corridors we Russians have a passion for

holding meetings when a people Finds Its

voice for the first time it has a lot to

say there so many

parties committees for this committees

for that subcommittees delegations

deputations and what is your assessment

of the political situation

what what kind of reception shall we

receive

I'm a soldier I know nothing of

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politics petrad we're coming into

petrograd at

last but all we know we should be

arrested as soon as we step off the

train

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w

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ofr

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me

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my

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l

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