Original subtitles

MARS MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT

AMEDIA

present

a MARS-FILM production

The creators of this film did not seek

to reconstruct the events of the Mongol-Tatar Yoke epoch.

The plot and the heroes are the product of the authors' imagination.

YULIA PERESILD SVETLANA KOLPAKOVA

ALEXANDER USTYUGOV RAMIL SABITOV

SABINA AKHMETOVA SANJAR MADI

SERGEI PUSKEPALIS ARTUR IVANOV

Help, I don't want to go to that Tatar!

ARUZHAN DJAZILBEKOVA DINA TASBULATOVA

KARINA ANDOLENKO ARTEM ALEXEEV

EVGENIA DMITRIEVA LARISSA DOMASKINA

My husband, my lord!

SERGEI SOTSERDOTSKY BORIS KAMORZIN

WRITTEN BY OLGA LARIONOVA

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MORAD ABDEL-FATTAKH

MUSIC BY ZINOVIY ARVANITIDI

Good people, why are you standing?

ART DIRECTORS - DAVID DADUNASHVILI YURY GRIGOROVICH

EDITED BY ELENA DENISEVICH DENIS LUZANOV, IGOR REPIN

SOUND BY OLGA SUBBOTINA VADIM RUDOBELETS

COSTUMES BY MARIA YURESCO

MAKE-UP BY ELENA ARSHINOVA ELENA MAMEDOVA

CASTING BY LIKA LEONIDZE

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GALINA NAKHIMOVSKAYA

POST-PRODUCTION BY ALENA KORNEEVA

LINE PRODUCERS - VAZGEN KHACHATRYAN ALEXANDER MARTYNOV

PRODUCER ARAM MOVSESYAN

PRODUCER ELENA DENISEVICH

GENERAL PRODUCERS RUBEN DISHDISHYAN

LEONARD BLAVATNIK NELLI YARALOVA

a film by TIMUR ALPATOV

THE GOLDEN HORDE

Episode One

TWO MONTHS EARLIER...

Great Khan, the old headquarters took 4 hours to disassemble.

We could pack up and leave if we had to.

The new capital will make us immobile.

You don't understand.

You're still young.

You can't feel it yet, Nogai.

What do you mean, Great Khan?

I want people to marvel at Sarai Berke,

be it 100 or 300 years from now,

and think about me.

It is an honor to speak to you, Great Khan.

I thought you were hard at work decorating the White Mosque.

Allah knows I am, but I need helpers. It'd take me 30 moons to do it alone.

Weren't you given helpers?

The ones I was given are only good for plastering walls.

They can't tell blue from turquoise, a thin paintbrush from a medium one...

Can't you teach them what you know?

Mongols have no artistic taste.

That's true. Mongols have a taste for war rather than art.

They're the only Mongols I've got.

What about Persians, Byzantines, Greeks?

Or Russians - they have a penchant for aesthetics.

I heard you, Bakhtiar-agha.

It's from our informer in Persia.

Hulagu Khan is gathering an army.

He is waging a war against us.

He's forgotten I'm the head of the imperial clan.

Mengu-Timur will bring 40,000 strong men from Russia,

and you will promptly teach them the ways of warfare.

Yes, Great Khan.

Give me some more potion.

Another dose could stop your heart, Great Khan,

without giving you any relief.

Azamat?

- Is Azar there? - Yes.

Get him here.

You called for me, Berke.

Azar...

He is standing there.

Over there...

It's the potion. It makes you see things that aren't real.

My knee kept silent for almost 20 moons until now,

and I had no visions of Sartaq since I lost my virility.

The time has come for you to think about the eternal, Berke Khan.

You don't have long left to live.

Shut your mouth.

I can see you're feeling better.

Get out.

- Grand Prince... - Speak.

The word came that Berke Khan's envoys are on their way here.

Is Berke Khan himself coming?

No, he sent one of his commanders, Mengu-Timur Khan.

Let me see that.

Mengu-Timur is Berke Khan's nephew.

What do they want from us? We only recently paid the tribute.

Spare my life, Grand Prince.

Make way for Prince Vladimir!

Would you look at that - Novgorodian Wolves are here.

Must be a Polovtsian horse that he is riding.

You sure are handsomely dressed!

Are your horses scared of you yet?

I see the Mongols have worn you threadbare, Father.

I almost mistook you for a horse groom.

What, got your fur wet?

This "fur" is a trophy. I fought a Polovtsian war chief to the death.

Is your stallion also Polovtsian?

This beauty is light on his feet and obedient to the slightest touch.

Come to the table, son. You're just in time for a meal.

- Let me comb your hair, Prince. - No, I want my mother to do it.

- Your mother is busy. - No she is not!

I will do it. Come here, son.

Prince Vladimir and his Novgorod retinue are here.

The heathens will deplete our stocks.

Watch your mouth. And make sure the guests are well looked after.

- Daniil, go and greet your brother. - Yes, Mother!

Go on, berate me if you want.

I should've done that years ago - or better yet, given you a good beating.

You would have understood some things by now.

- I understand everything. - Then what are you doing?

Do you think the Polovtsians will forget what you did to their village?

Are you scared?

So you don't understand.

There are Mongols to the east of us, and Lithuanians to the west.

Can we handle one more enemy?

I am asking you, Prince of Novgorod!

Can we handle one more enemy right now?

We can't cope with this forever.

We're not coping; we're building up our strength until the time is right.

- You weren't allowed to come in! - I just want to greet my brother.

- You look so manly... - Hello, junior. How you've grown!

Greetings, our dear guest.

Forgive me, my lord. A child's disobedience is his mother's fault.

Go now.

Father, you promised to play swords with me.

We shall see. Go.

You never played swords with me.

I was thirteen when you were born. I'd only just stopped playing with toys.

SUZDAL PRINCIPALITY

Little Sasha is tired.

We shouldn't have taken him with us, Nastya. He's too young.

Stop your grumbling, Semyonych. He should be learning the trade.

Lie still.

Nastya, watch out!

- My sweet boy, are you alright? - Yes, I am.

- Oh God... - Let's go!

- Sasha, are you alright? - Get in quick! Let's go!

Eat something, my lady.

I don't want to eat.

You should, after what you've done.

Why are you looking away? Don't you dare judging me.

God is your judge...

but you should stop complaining about your husband beating you.

Any other man would bury his wife alive if she refused to bear children.

I don't want to bear his children. Spineless cowards shouldn't multiply.

Whoa, whoa, stop here!

Whoa.

Where did they come from?

Are you surprised we ran into robbers in the woods?

I told her that children have no business going to fairs with us.

Show me your arm.

Women should be sitting at home, too!

I would be, but my husband is gone and I have children to feed!

- You did very well, my defender. - You gave a good fight too.

Thanks to your father. He taught me everything.

What did you throw in that robber's eyes?

What's this? I'm asking you.

It's salt.

Nastya...

You stole it, didn't you?

I only took a pinch. That merchant had a whole barrel.

Sasha doesn't eat porridge without salt...

Let me teach you a lesson! Are you going to steal again? Are you?

No, Mom, I promise! Let go!

Nastya, let's go.

Just wait till we get home. Get into the cart!

Your father will hear about it when he returns from the Horde.

He won't return, Mom.

Don't say that.

He will return.

He is alive.

My heart knows that.

Get out.

Why didn't you come into my bed last night?

I'm not well. It's that time of the month.

I could proclaim you barren and send you off to a convent.

I'll take Varvara into my bed instead. Or Katya, the kitchen maid's daughter.

She is young and healthy unlike you, a sickly runt.

If you wish so.

Bad news?

My dear brother Yaroslav thinks I'm his dog.

He whistles and expects me to come running to him, wagging my tail.

He "needs my advice", you see.

Some Mongols are coming to Vladimir.

Why should I care?

I'm not the Grand Prince, am I?

He took the throne for himself, gave me this forsaken town,

and now he wants me to give him advice while bowing low?

He is the Grand Prince. It's his right.

Stop glaring at me and start getting ready.

At dawn, we're going to Vladimir.

Fyokla, Pelageya, help us out.

We were attacked by robbers. Fyokla, take the children inside.

How did the trading go?

We made enough to last us half a year.

I stocked up on provisions and salt while we were there.

I told the children to pray that their mother makes good profit.

Did you hear the news?

People say, Prince Boris and the Princess are going to Vladimir.

The Grand Prince is expecting guests, and he wants to hold a council.

What kind of guests?

From the Horde.

- What do you have in mind? - Semyonych, we must go to Vladimir.

- Greetings, dear brother! - Hello, brother.

I'm glad to see you. We have a serious matter to discuss.

How was your journey?

Fine, thanks to God.

Good day.

Look at you - almost thirty, and still looking fresh.

You too look ageless, Prince. No troubles seem to take a toll on you.

They do, my dear.

You look thin and pale, good sister. Does your Prince not feed you?

My Prince feeds me, but I don't eat more than a mouse does.

But look at you, plump and rosy. You're blessed to have your husband.

Let's go into the house. Brother, you're coming with me.

- Come on in, Ustinia. - Thank you.

Your rooms are ready...

Four years ago, the Mongols burned half the villages around Novgorod.

A lot of people were murdered or taken into slavery.

For the next two months, I couldn't find a decent blacksmith.

All the men left are a few cripples.

Whatever that heathen is up to,

he and his devils ought to be seared with a hot iron!

The Prince is right.

You are talking nonsense, Prince Vladimir!

Men were taken into slavery - you said it yourself.

Then we had a lean year, then the cholera.

Our army is depleted.

Whom will I lead into battle? Women and children?

What if the Khan's envoy is coming with peace?

That's unlikely, Holy Father.

Hulagu Khan of Persia is gathering an army.

Everyone remembers what Berke had done to Hulagu.

Now that the Persian Khan has great strength and power

he wants to take his revenge.

What is it to us?

Has living in Tver made your mind idle, Uncle?

The Mongols need reinforcements.

Wait and see, they'll take our women and children too.

What do you say, voevode?

I say we have no choice but to give them people.

We don't have the strength for a war, not with the Mongols.

What are you saying?

There aren't enough men even in our own army!

Your thoughts, Boris?

I don't have an answer ready... I have to sleep on it.

He left all of his thoughts under his wife's skirt.

He has to check with them, and in the morning he'll have the answer.

Miron...

Yes, Prince?

Go and tell Boris that Prince Fyodor will apologize to him in front of the council.

And that I will reward him handsomely if his advice proves valuable.

Why apologize for saying the truth?

- Everyone knows that his wife is... - Quiet, you!

And you, stop bickering!

Right now, we have to be united as one.

Like fingers in a fist.

You were given the coldest rooms.

They don't seem to have much respect for your husband here.

Here, I'll do it.

What's troubling you, dear?

I am desperate to know what they talked about at the council.

Your late mother-in-law was right: you are deranged.

Having a baby would get all the foolishness out of your head.

What did you talk about?

The Mongols are preparing for a war.

The purpose of their visit is most likely to get reinforcements.

Now is a good time to raise a riot.

The Mongols will arrive, execute all the rioters - then what?

Have patience, Prince.

You always say I need to be more decisive.

At the council tomorrow, should I just nod my head and act servile?

Why? Look straight into the Grand Prince's eyes,

and speak with conviction. Tell him your opinion.

Your opinion is that we need to befriend this Mengu.

We must swallow our pride and endure the humiliation.

This friendship could be of great value to us.

It could help us keep ten or twenty thousand of our men.

You dumb woman.

Why would Mengu want our friendship?

Why would he disobey the Great Khan's order?

Berke Khan is old and ill; he has no heirs.

Soon enough, the Horde will have to choose a new Great Khan,

and Mengu would benefit from the Grand Prince's friendship.

But I would benefit if Yaroslav and Mengu were enemies.

Mengu would then take away Yaroslav's patent of authority.

We won't benefit from that,

because the patent will go to one of Yaroslav's sons.

Either to Prince Vladimir or to the young Daniil and his regent,

but not to you.

But, if your advice proves valuable,

Yaroslav will reward you generously.

I'll ask him to give me Pereyaslavl.

It's a wealthy principality full of meek, hard-working people.

We'll gather up strength and conjure up a plan of action.

Look, Father, that man's hair is braided.

That's their barbaric custom.

Greetings, Grand Prince!

Welcome to the city of Vladimir, Mengu-Timur.

Accept our traditional offering of bread and salt, honorable Khan.

Have a taste, dear guest.

Can I have a taste of the bread only?

What about the girl?

Only if you take her in marriage. We are strict about that.

Bread is plenty enough then. I am not ready to take a wife.

Come this way.

What do you want?

Help me get into the Prince's house and catch a glimpse of the Khan.

We only want to protect what's ours.

For that, all we need is reliable armor,

clothes in which we can shoot arrows and pour tar,

and strong walls.

I don't believe you, Yaroslav.

How can the Grand Prince of Russia not think of conquering other peoples?

My thoughts are about my people and my land only.

Me, I would learn the art of war from the Mongols.

If the Grand Prince allows his son to travel to the Horde

we will gladly teach him everything we know.

Thank you, but I can't leave my princely duties in Novgorod.

Honorable Khan, I think the Horde is as strong as it is

because none of the Great Khan's people are irreplaceable.

If the Great Khan had a son, he would be irreplaceable.

I think, as long as the Great Khan has the wise Mengu Khan by his side,

he has no reason to be upset that God hasn't given him sons.

I hope the honorable Khan is not insulted by women's presence.

I'm neither a prude nor a savage, Princess.

Your presence gives me great joy.

We don't enjoy as many liberties as you might think.

On ordinary days we women have meals separately from men.

Who made up all those rules?

I would be curious to hear a woman answer that question.

Those rules were made up by men

who worried that their wives would be comparing them to other men.

Do men have a reason to be worried?

A wise woman wouldn't compare.

Why not?

Because we don't have the right to choose.

You have a wise custom, honorable Khan.

You refrain from chewing while listening to nonsense.

Naturally, Princess Ustinia and I have no reason to lament our fate.

We were given the best husbands.

The Grand Princess' words are music for the ears,

and her beauty pleases the soul.

Forgive me my audacity, Grand Prince.

The women spent a week preparing for your arrival, Mengu-Timur.

The Grand Princess wouldn't sleep tonight without your praise.

Hey, how dare you?

Have mercy on me, Prince!

Speak.

My husband was taken captive to the Horde four years ago.

A merchant named Ivan Timofeyev.

Perhaps your guest has heard of him, or knows if he's still alive?

I don't recall that name, woman.

You heard that. Now go.

But... Wait... He is tall, brown-eyed, wears a beard...

I want to raise a glass to our guest.

Please accept this offering from Grand Prince Yaroslav.

It will make your eyes sparkle even brighter.

Are my eyes sparkling now, gorgeous?

You are very handsome, Khan.

Go now. You're blushing all over.

The Grand Prince's generosity is truly admirable.

Tulai...

What a beautiful stud...

Father, give him to me. You could never break him in.

- Could you? - You know I could.

You won't change your horse for another anyway!

It would be a crime to keep this stud in a stable. Give him to me!

A gift horse cannot be re-gifted, right?

I like your son. He knows what he wants.

The horse is now yours, Grand Prince.

I won't be insulted even if you slaughter it.

It would be my honor

if you give my gift to the one who likes it so much.

You're in luck today. Promise to be careful.

Thank you, Father! Thank you, Khan!

Take this beauty away!

My other gift awaits you in your house, Prince.

It was much more difficult to deliver intact, but I managed.

I hope these five beautiful maidens will adorn your court.

I personally selected them from across the Horde.

I hope the honorable Khan

spared their modesty and selected them solely for the beauty of their faces.

You had probably hoped a matchmaker would find noble husbands for you.

Not me.

Why not?

Who'd want to marry a peasant, a shepherd's daughter?

You're brave to have come here.

See? I'm not as frightful as they might have told you.

And not as handsome.

How am I not good enough?

I imagined the Russian Khan's clothes to be shiny like a polished copper pot.

His hair - anointed with perfume and rare oils.

I imagined he would wear rings on his fingers

and precious bead necklaces on his neck.

I also prayed that he would be young...

Stop poking the girl. Let her speak.

Who did you pray to?

The earth goddess Etugen and our ancestral mother Alan Gua.

Did you perhaps pray for someone like him?

Yes.

Thank you, honorable Khan. That's the best laugh I had in a while.

Miron...

Yes, Prince?

Take them to the women's quarters and see that they are treated well.

Who do you think you are?

The Grand Prince has no concern as to your fate.

If the Princess orders to flog you to death,

I will do so myself, and no one will say a word to me.

The four of you, change your clothes and stay in that room.

If you behave, the Princess will baptize you and find you husbands.

Give this one a rough shirt to wear.

You're coming with me.

Make haste, lazybones!

Right, take this away.

Hey, will you ever finish sifting that flour?

Masha?

Are you eating again?

What do you want, Stepanida?

That's not the way you talk to the head housekeeper!

I have no time for curtsies. What do you want?

I want the Princess to trim your tongue. Here's a new servant for you.

This girl? She probably doesn't even know how to light a stove.

I know how to light a stove, how to clean dishes,

flay sheep and pluck chickens - I can do everything.

Look at her!

Yes, she can. She's a peasant, a shepherd's daughter.

We have an understanding then.

Listen to me, clever girl.

You'll sleep in that corner by the stove, and work all day until dusk.

Understood? You'll rise before dawn,

put away your bedding and scrub the floors.

Let me see...

If you ever fail to wash your hands and face before you cook,

I'll send you to clean the stables.

The smell of freshly-baked bread...

What are you doing?

I'm thanking my protectress, the earth goddess.

I prayed to Mother Etugen to help me survive this winter.

I believe she heard my prayers.

It's you again.

What do you want from me?

No, no, it's only a dream.

Great Khan?

Tell them to bring Kekhar-khatun here. Now!

He didn't cover anyone's head with a shawl.

Perhaps he wants to be alone tonight.

Today is the day when the Khan has to visit one of his wives.

What day it is has made no difference to him in years.

The Great Khan is the greatest of all men.

Everyone knows that every third day, save for the sacred month,

he spends the night with his favorite wife.

- The way he loves you is a curse. - Shut your mouth.

The Great Khan is summoning Kekhar-khatun.

The way he loves me is of no difference to me.

What's important is that he needs me.

I am happy you sent for me, Great Khan.

Drink some potion.

I don't need it.

I had my first woman late, at sixteen.

I thought they were superior beings.

Only later did I realize that they were no smarter than cats.

That ignorance was Allah's way of keeping you from sin.

Every second day, I was presented with a different woman.

I'm fifty-six years old now...

...but I still have hope.

I will pray that heavens give you a woman who will bring back you virility

and bear a long-awaited heir.