Original subtitles

THIS SEASON WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE BRAVERY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY AGAINST THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS SERIES WISHES TO THANK THE SOLDIERS, OFFICERS,

AND MEDICS WHO HAVE PROTECTED OUR COUNTRY AND KEEP DOING SO.

NIZHYN. RAILWAY STATION

Mademoiselle Rossignol?

What a coincidence!

Do you remember me? I didn't introduce myself in Krakow.

I'm Yanosh Yablonevskiy.

How dare you harass me?

I'm not harassing you.

How did you find out where I was going then?

Natalie, what's going on?

He took our accidental meeting in Krakow way too personally.

He has been following us all this time.

Officer! Excuse me.

I ask for your help and protection.

This lady is a known singer in Europe.

She needs protection from harassment.

God…

I'm not harassing anyone.

Is he a Pole?

Yes.

Please come with me.

Am I under arrest?

What's going on? I want an explanation!

Well…

I warned you we should have made your arrival known.

I wouldn't have to run around looking for a cab,

and you wouldn't have to deal with presumptuous admirers.

Natalie.

Natalie… Let's go.

God… Coming here all the way from Krakow!

I didn't want this awkward welcome committee

after all these years.

It's better this way, without much fuss.

Listen, maybe I should escort you, after all?

Who knows what kind of welcome you'll get there.

Thank you. No. I need to do it myself.

- You understand, don't you? - Yes.

Whatever you say, Natalie. Whatever you say.

CHERVINSKYS' ESTATE

Can you explain it to me, Tikhon?

What lady? Where did she come from?

How did he introduce her?

Who am I to be told such things?

Lev Petrovich only ordered me to have the best bedroom ready

and to heat it well, so that the lady didn't freeze in the night.

The lady is very beautiful.

A bit weird but pretty.

Maybe he's going to marry her.

A bit weird… Why are you so stupid?

You can't explain anything, Tikhon!

Move it!

Oh my God.

Don't go through the courtyard. Someone will tell the manager.

Tell your mom

I'll stop by on the holy day after church.

What's going on here?

Hello.

Let me introduce myself.

Chervinsky, Piotr Ivanovich.

The owner of this humble abode.

May I ask who do I have the honor to welcome here in Chervinka?

Hello.

Zoriana Nazarivna Viter.

It's a shame my son haven't notified me about a visit of such a fair lady, so

you'll have to excuse me my costume.

Do you primp yourself only for the sake of fair ladies?

Do ugly ladies have to be content

with admitting your filthy bathrobe?

How come?

Nobody ever starved in Chervinka.

Well, yes.

But only few people

are able to feed themselves with their land lots.

Only those who got their manumission from Zhadan own their land.

Others,

those freed by the Tsar's order,

had to buy out their lots.

They've been burdened by debt for twenty years.

There isn't enough jobs to go around.

Men and older boys look for seasonal work.

Not everyone comes back, though.

Still no news from Panas?

Just don't tell your father about Sashko.

He'll fire me,

and I can't afford to lose my job now.

No one is firing you, Nanny.

What's the new manager's name?

Markiyan Vasylyovych.

What are you up to, Lev Petrovich?

What else do you want to know,

apart from my pedigree and education, Piotr Ivanovich?

Ask away, don't be shy.

Did they train you to be so rude at the Kyiv finishing school?

Not at all. I was born with it.

The finishing school only taught me to be rude

in French, German, and Latin.

They shouldn't have spared the rod on you.

Maybe it would teach you

to respect your elder and better.

Missing the serfdom era, are you?

Do you regret it you can't teach anyone who doesn't obey you with a rod?

Excuse me for being late, Zoriana Nazarivna.

Let me introduce my guest.

I have already met

this so-called lady.

I really hope that she

will not honor us with her presence for too long.

I have to disappoint you.

Zoriana Nazarivna is here to help with the preparations

or the visit of His High Nobleness I have told you about earlier.

So for the next month, Piotr Ivanovich,

you will have to play cordial host.

Zoriana Nazarivna,

I have errands in the village.

Would you like to accompany me?

You might want to see what the country life is about.

Gladly, Lev Petrovich.

Just let me get changed.

At least he isn't marrying her, thank God.

Shut up, Tikhon!

NIZHYN. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION POLICE

How dare you accuse me of such things?

I have told you what brough me to Nizhyn.

Mr. Yablonevskiy, sit down.

Why are you so nervous if you're innocent?

You have come up with a fascinating story.

Too bad it's so unbelievable.

I didn't tell you a word of lie.

You have no right to keep me here.

You can easily check my words.

Here is her photo. Someone at the estate she was born on should remember her.

Take the gentleman away.

He must have so much spare time

that he doesn't mind to spend it in a cell.

We will find out anyway what is it that a future Polish prince,

an Austro-Hungarian citizen,

wants in our humble Ukrainian town.

And I will do my best to convict you as an Austro-Hungarian spy.

CHERVINSKYS' ESTATE

Hello, ma'am.

Hello, Tikhon Yevhenovych.

Oh Lord.

What a day.

Tikhon!

Where the hell have you been?

Wait.

Hello, Piotr Ivanovich.

Don't you remember the condition on which you were given that fortune?

I didn't come here out of boredom.

This visit is a part of my contract.

I was invited here for an important performance.

Whose brilliant idea was it to invite you?

Your son's.

That's why I disagree with this notion.

Only education.

Lev.

Is it really you?

Mademoiselle Rossignol?

My respects.

Your agent didn't inform me of the date of your arrival.

I didn't want to burden you.

Lev Petrovich, maybe we should postpone our trip.

Not at all.

Allow me to introduce Zoriana Nazarivna Viter.

A teacher, a friend, and a like-minded person.

Mademoiselle Natalie Rossignol.

Her voice has bewitched the entire world and His High Nobleness too.

Lev Petrovich is exaggerating.

I'm only known in a few European countries.

You're going to sing at the reception!

I've heard a lot about you.

Thank you for the invitation, Lev Petrovich.

- Singing here after so many years-- - I can't take credit for this.

It was a special request from Mr. Skuratov-Beysky.

Excuse me, we are in a hurry.

Father, please make sure everything is ready for Mademoiselle.

Look at this mademoiselle.

Auntie Galina!

You fool! Is there a fire somewhere?

Why are you yelling? Are you out of your mind?

Leave those rolls alone!

You crazy wench! What do you want?

Mom.

Baby.

Thank God.

Yustyna,

send a boy to Serhiy.

Tell him his sister is here.

Is she really your daughter, Auntie Galina?

She is.

My Natalie.

I haven't seen her for seven years.

My darling.

Look at you!

A true lady.

How come you're here? What about the old master?

Piotr Ivanovich knows I'm here.

I was invited to sing for an important guest

from St. Petersburg.

So you aren't here for our sake?

Eight, nine, ten…

Give this swill to me.

God, it's disgusting.

This poison will drive me to my grave faster

than my illness.

Come in!

May I, Piotr Ivanovich?

Come in, Markiyan Vasylyovych.

Thank you.

Where the hell have you been since breakfast?

We need to balance the books

for the winter months for the factory.

I told you that.

The young master ordered to load carts with food

and send them to the village.

He wanted me to make sure that they take flour, lard,

honey, and pickles.

What the hell?

God bless you, dear sir!

We will pray for you every day!

Don't do this. Get up.

Don't be angry with Arkhyp, sir.

You really saved our lives.

I don't want to take anything from anyone. If I had enough land…

But there is no way to ger it.

Piotr Ivanovich prohibited it

or was it the manager's order?

I can understand your father.

I'm not the only one who asks for it.

Every second household is in debt.

Even though we're supposed to be free, we aren't our own masters.

Are you our new mistress?

No, my dear.

I'm Lev Petrovich's guest.

And I'm not a lady, either.

What's your name?

Yarusia. It's a shame. You're so pretty!

Look at your nice jewelry.

My father used to be Mr. Chervinsky's blacksmith.

So I'm just like you, Yarusia.

Will I have a gown like yours when I grow up?

If you want to.

I will give it to Mama so that she could be pretty, too.

She loves us so much,

and she has been giving me and Katia all her bread for two days

and going to bed hungry.

She thinks I'm too young to notice.

I see things.

Let's swap.

Take them off.

Here.

Won't you regret it? Mine are simple.

My dad made them for me. Yours are so beautiful.

My father made them for me, too.

Mommy, look what the lady gave me!

So pretty.

Zoriana Nazarivna…

Why does it have to be like this?

The girls aren't even wearing shoes, and it's so cold outside.

They are hungry, skinny,

you can see all their bones under the skin.

How did it come to this?

Have you never been to the country?

All our hotheads should come here from time to time.

The peasants aren't ignorant or limited.

They are just trying to survive…

As well as they know how.

So the sledge fell through the ice.

They got the driver our,

and it took three days to find milady's body.

Piotr Ivanovich had a stroke

right after the funeral.

All right, never mind him.

Better tell me about yourself.

When are you going to give me grandchildren?

You aren't so young anymore.

I don't want any of this.

My destiny is different.

A woman without children and a husband is like a woman without an arm.

Enough, Mother. How is Lev?

How long has he been here?

Why are you only asking about the masters?

Don't you want to know about your family?

Your brothers?

They must be all grown up now…

They have probably changed a lot.

You are the one who has changed.

Hello, everyone.

Mama, the boy said…

Natalie was…

Was back.

Just look at you.

I wouldn't know it was you…

My sister will stay with Liuba and I.

We have a spare bed.

She can't stay with you and the boys.

I'm sorry I made you come, Serhiy.

The master ordered to give her a room in the big house.

She has two trunks of dresses alone.

She can't keep them on a bench in your hamlet, can she?

Let her stay there.

She can come visit with us whenever she wants.

If she wants.

Ulia, go get her room ready.

Uh-huh.

Of course I'll want to.

Maybe tomorrow or on Sunday.

I don't need anyone to prepare my room. I can do it myself.

I've been a maid here for ages. I still know how to do it.

Ulia, go!

You're not a maid, Natalie. Haven't been for a while.

Serhiy, go tell the boys

I'll come home tomorrow night if I can

and cook something for them.

Tikhon said you insisted that I come see you when I'm back.

Aha. I did.

Sit down.

I'm not in the mood for long conversations, Piotr Ivanovich.

I'm fine.

Are you rejecting my hospitality?

If that's what you want.

You want to act weirdly? Be my guest.

But

I will not let you squander our food.

I want explanation.

Why the hell you send pantry to the village?

People in Chervinka are starving. Children are dying.

Did you know that, Father?

I believe you did, didn't you?

Is it any of your business?

Chervinka never lacked food when it had a master,

because their master was smart.

And now they can't fend for themselves.

It's not my concern, though.

People don't have enough land. The plots are small.

They can't feed them.

And it's too expensive to buy more land.

Because they procreate like cockroaches.

And now, you see, they have nothing to eat.

They should have thought about

how they were going to feed their brats beforehand!

So what, let them die?

While you just stand aside, enjoying your rightfulness?

The peasants can use our land in exchange for a quarter of the crops.

I will not allow that!

I won't give my consent,

because it's my land.

Let me remind you that,

as stipulated by the previous owner,

the estate becomes my property on the day I come of age.

Thus, I will single-handedly make any decisions I like.

How dare you?

It's late. Don't let me keep you up.

I'm not done yet!

- Good night, Mr. Chervinsky. - Come back!

Piotr Ivanovich has aged so much.

I barely recognized him.

Maybe you shouldn't be so harsh with him.

My father knows very well the reason why I am so harsh, as you put it.

He hardly needs you to defend him.

Are you so offensively abrupt with me for the same reason?

You still can't forgive me, can you?

I don't recall you asking for my forgiveness.

It's easy to be a saint when you have a name and a fortune

and a cloudless future ahead of you.

Lev…

You know it was my only chance.

After all, it has been years. Let's leave it all behind us.

I'm not

the naive maid full of silly dreams, and you have changed, too.

Does it mean that your betrayal wasn't one?

I probably should cancel the contract.

It will be best for everyone.

I never thought no one here would be happy to see me.

You,

Mother, Serhiy…

My father didn't even come out to see me.

What? You don't know?

Panas has been missing for two years.

He took a seasonal job and never came back.

What?

How? How come nobody told me?

How can it be?

As far as I know, your mother wrote to you more than once.

This year has been quite busy for me.

I am always on tour.

You didn't find a minute to read your mother's letter?

Really?

You really aren't the Natalie I used to know.

Unfortunately, you can't cancel the contract.

I've already let them know about your arrival.

Mademoiselle?

Are you admiring the sunrise, looking for inspiration?

I recommend a walk to the pier.

When you come outside, turn…

I know very well where the pier is, Zoriana Nazarivna.

Then do me a favor,

bring some bread for the ducks. They'll like it.

Who will like it, excuse me?

The ducks.

Have a good day.

I was looking for you last night.

Good morning.

The master gave me a night off, so I went home.

I had to cook something for the boys.

Otherwise, they'd only eat bread.

I want to know what happened to Father.

Close your mouth before a spider crawls in.

Run to the pantry and get me some eggs.

How am I supposed to make the dough?

I wrote to you all about it.

When the spring came

he went to Kharkiv.

He sent me a letter saying he had arrived there and found a job.

He'd write to me twice a month.

There had been nothing since the next fall.

Not a word, not a line.

Why didn't you alert the police?

Why didn't you go to look for him yourself?

You think I didn't go?

I had turned every rock in the town his letters were coming from,

knocked on every door.

Why did he go in the first place?

Didn't you have enough money?

It was your father's decision.

The boys were getting older, and Serhiy took a wife.

It wasn't the first time Panas went out there, either.

And you were happy, weren't you?

I'm sorry.

You clumsy fool! Go get more eggs, quick!

- We need to make breakfast for the master! - Uh-huh.

Good morning.

It doesn't look so good, though.

Where is my breakfast? Why aren't you in the kitchen, you idiot?

Don't go anywhere.

Natalie and Zoriana Nazarivna aren't here yet.

No need to send him twice.

Look what it has come to.

I'm going to starve because of the two parvenus.

Will ten minutes of waiting adversely affect your state, Father?

What a beautiful morning, isn't it, Lev Petrovich?

I don't have to ask you, Mr. Chervinsky.

I can read your disgust towards the entire world like an open book.

Mademoiselle! How are the ducks?

Did you make them happy?

I'm sorry for making you wait.

Lev Petrovich, I hope now is the right time

to ask for breakfast?

A gentleman from the investigations department

asks to see you urgently.

Send him in.

Is it regarding your business?

I don't think so.

I haven't visited His High Nobleness yet.

Pray forgive me this untimely intrusion.

Investigator for major cases, Illia Tykhonovych Kryvchyk.

As you can see, we don't have anything to offer you yet.

So please tell us what is it you wanted.

Two days ago, a young Pole was detained at the railway station,

claiming that he was heading to your estate.

Mr. Detective, whatever that young man says, it's not true.

I have no idea how he found out where I was staying.

No, no. It's not about you.

Mr. Yablonevskiy claims that his mother, a Polish princess,

had once been Mr. Chervinsky's bondswoman.

That's why he was heading here.

Yablonevskiy, you said?

Yes, Yanosh Yablonevskiy.

You know him?

His mother was my godmother.

She really was born here.

I'm sure you, Piotr Ivanovich, remember this bondswoman better than anyone.

Kateryna Verbytska.

I had finished all my business with this woman long ago.

I don't want to have anything to do with her or her spawn.

I never invited him to Chervinka, and he has no business here.

Why was he arrested?

There was some doubt regarding his true identity.

Is that why you've had him locked up for two days?

We're going now! I will officially identify him.

I'm coming with you, Zoriana Nazarivna.

I'll pay a visit to His High Nobleness while I'm there, too.

When the hell will there be food on this table, Tikhon?

Galina, are you out of your mind?

Do you want your hungry master to kick you out of here?

Where is his breakfast? He's been waiting for almost half an hour.

Hey. What's wrong?

You're quiet as if at a funeral.

Natalie is right, Tikhon. She is.

It's my fault that my kids lost their father.

It's all my fault.

- What kind of woman am I? - What?

Come on, Galina, stop wailing.

It's not for your fancy lady of a daughter to judge you.

It' s nobody's fault but Panas's.

Do you need me to remind you what your Kharkiv affair ended up with?

Hush, Tikhon.

You promised me no one will ever know.

Good morning, Galina Romanivna.

Ulia says you haven't served breakfast yet.

Are you here to help, Mr. Manager?

Will you wash the pots, too?

Too bad Galina Romanivna has already done it.

I'll go take a look.

There are more people in the house now. Should we hire more help?

Are you going to fire me?

What are you talking about, Galina?

You do great in the kitchen. I just meant some extra help.

If I'm doing great, stay away from my pots.

I know what I'm doing.

Does Lev think you're the one who arranged it all seven years ago?

Is that why he is angry with you?

He isn't too nice to you either.

He has something to hate me for.

You are another matter.

Are you doing it for her?

In her memory?

Don't you dare!

Not one bad word about her, not even in your thoughts!

Don't you dare!

If it weren't for her,

you'd be still cleaning cow dung in the village

instead of touring abroad.

Pancakes with sour cream. Just the way you like them.

Aren't you worried that Lev might never forgive you?

Take me to Larisa Viktorivna.

But your breakfast?

Today's newspaper!

The latest issue!

NIZHYN. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION POLICE

Thank you so much.

I don't know what I would do without you.

I don't think my father would be too eager to bail me out.

Yes, you need to think about

what's behind the Prince's cold politeness.

This is the man you should be thanking.

The noble Lev Petrovich Chervinsky.

I'm grateful, Mr. Chervinsky.

Don't mention it.

This is the least I could do for you.

Father doesn't like to talk about it,

but Mother told me who had returned the estate to us.

So I'd be honored if you agreed to visit with us and stay in Chervinka.

Gladly, Lev Petrovich.

Come.

Did you hear? This coxcomb from the capital

shared a meal with a political troublemaker and revolutionary.

We'll take this under special control.

Sylvestrovych has sent a page.

Look at all these files. Take them.

Wait.

Give it to me.

It doesn't concern political cases.

CASE 52. VLADIMIR KORIENIEV

CHERVINSKYS' ESTATE

Mademoiselle,

I didn't know you were staying here, too.

But you don't have to worry about me. I'll stay out of your way.

Mr. Yablonevskiy,

I owe you an apology.

I thought you were in Nizhyn because of me.

I understand. You're a celebrity.

It must be hard for you to realize that not everything is about you.

Don't you dare judge me.

You know nothing about me.

And you about me.

You wanted to know about your mother.

Stop by at the kitchen.

Galina the cook, my mother, used to work here then

and knew her well.

What are you doing here?

I wanted her to see my Paris poster.

So that she knew it wasn't all in vain.

I'm sorry.

Stop.

Play for me

like you used to play for her.

This visit made me realize…

…that we really can't trust the locals.

They are blind and disorderly.

I'm certain, though,

that I will know the rebels' names before you arrive.

ST. PETERSBURG GAZETTE

TSAR KILLED BY NOBLEWOMAN

SOFYA PEROVSKAYA

And after that

I never saw her again.

Larisa Viktorivna used to light a candle for her

on St. Catherine's day till her death,

to thank her

for giving her family back to her.

Thank you.

I can't believe what she had to go through.

Yes…

Fate wasn't too soft to her.

Bat Katia did well.

She endured.

She died too young,

but at least it was in a prince's castle, not a beggar's shack.

Is there any of her other friends around?

Anyone who remembers her.

None of those who served here at that time.

Maybe you should visit our neighbors, the Kosachs.

Their Aleksey Fedorovych had proposed to Kateryna.

The old lady is dead, but his sister still lives there.

She was at her wedding with Zhadan,

holding the crown.

KOSACHS' ESTATE

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Hello. My name is Yanosh Yablonevskiy.

I'm looking for Marianna Fedorivna Kosach.

It's my maiden name.

I'm Mrs. Yasulovych now. What do you want?

Was Aleksey Kosach your brother?

Yes.

But my brother died many years ago.

Yes, I know that.

I heard that he was a noble man.

I'd like to hear more about him,

if, of course, you have time.

My God…

Of course.

Aleksey was the best person I've ever known.

Please come with me.

NIZHYN COURIER

Uh-huh.

TO MR. LEV CHERVINSKY

Another one.

Oh…

Uh-huh.

Well…

What on earth?

Weird.

Hello.

Mother said you came all the way from Krakow.

Yes. I'm sorry.

Let me introduce myself.

My name is Yanosh Stefanovych Yablonevskiy.

You must be Marianna Fedorivna's daughter.

Yes. I'm Polina.

What brings you to Nizhyn, to us?

I'm looking for people who knew my mother.

I was told your uncle was madly in love with her.

Her name was Kateryna Verbytska.

She was your neighbors' bondswoman.

Get out of here.

Excuse me?

Severyn! Anyone!

Don't you dare come back.

If not for your mother, everything would be different.

It's all her fault.

Please escort this gentleman out and never let him in again.

- Explain what she did wrong! - Out!