Original subtitles

VLASIK THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

The year of 1931 was the second year of the Great Break.

That’s how the historians would name this period later.

Stalin and his team were in a hurry.

We are short of time, they repeated at their public appearances.

The First World War will be followed by the Second.

England and France are arming,

Japan and the USA do the same.

Fascism is rising in Germany and in Italy.

And the Soviet Union, which is eighty percent agrarian,

has been licking its Civil War wounds throughout the twenties.

Throwing the country into mighty industrial future with a fierce hand –

that’s what the Bolsheviks were set out to do.

You don’t like it? That’s your own problem.

This attitude to the opponents made Stalin’s antagonists furious,

both within and outside the country.

Did they consider eliminating Stalin physically?

Certainly.

Did Stalin fully realize it?

Definitely.

He continued to walk on foot from Staraya Square to Kremlin and back.

Ignoring all demands of his security chief Vlasik

to stop taking such a risk.

Only extraordinary events could change his behavior.

Part 2

That's it, darling, it's time. The girls are back soon.

We are going for a visit today.

Maybe we should not?

We must.

You are my wife.

- But I have not divorced yet. - But you are going to.

My father is open minded. And I am not a boy anymore.

I can't believe it.

Me, with Stalin. Yakov Josephovich.

With Yasha Jugashvili.

From Tiflis.

The word is, he was sent by Trotsky.

I get it. But is he alive for sure?

Yes, Sergey Mironovich. Not a scratch.

That guy Vlasik had pushed him aside.

And the OGPU people had let him slip later.

Not quite let him slip, but the scum escaped.

Comrade Kirov, please don't turn me in.

That I'm talking like that.

Right.

- Watch the road. - Yes!

Trotsky, huh?

His today's attempt was not on me.

He was shooting at the Soviet power.

He was targeting it.

Ada! Caroline! Somebody, open!

What can you do about these women?

What is it, who's there?

Greetings, comrade Stalin!

Mironovich! Where from?

You are all wet!

Regards to Moscow from Petersburg!

Well, how are you?

Well, we keep the old ways.

Nadya is sick a little, yes.

- You have arrived fast, huh? - Right.

They said some Trotskyist has shot at you.

What Trotskyist?

A diehard White Guard.

But Trotsky, we must smash him, we must.

Hold it.

Take this. Look at it again.

Good that we got at least this picture. Otherwise we'd stray in the dark,

- looking for unknown. - True, Kolya.

- Like a needle in a haystack. - He'll go to the station.

How do you know?

The intel says, he's from Petersburg.

Then he'll try to get there. He'll go to the station.

I don't know, I would, in his place.

Or almost would. Sasha,

you check the booking. Sushka, check the pub.

Right.

- Hello! - Hello!

Let me.

Yes.

Nadezhda Sergeevna! Yakov Josephovich has come.

- Hello... - Hello!

Yasha said it's not too late, and we...

This is father's wife Nadezhda Sergeevna.

Nadya, please meet...

Anna Khokhlova, a tech college student.

Yes, I... We are happy.

May I see you for a moment?

- Please excuse us. Yasha? - Ill be right back.

- What? - Sit down.

Yasha, excuse me.

Maybe you come at a wrong time.

There was an attempt on father's life.

Just a moment.

What is going on after all?

It's not an apartment, it's some kind of a mayhem!

How do you do.

Who are you?

Anna Khokhlova.

May I see you for a moment?

Please.

Take a seat.

I take it so you are married?

What do you call then,

that you commit

adultery?

- Comrade Stalin, I... - Let's call a spade a spade.

You commit adultery with my son.

Yakov.

Did you throw her out?

Don't you ever dare bringing to my house

any whores.

- She is not a whore. - A whore.

She is married.

And she's horsing around with you.

While you are divorced, by the way.

How do you know of her marriage?

- Are you spying on us? - I don't need to.

Joseph, please. There are strangers in the house.

They are no strangers to me.

They...

Yasha.

I told you, this isn't the best time for bringing a girl.

There was an attempt on father's life today.

Does anybody even care about me here?

Are you still

going to protect him?

Keep quiet.

Come on.

Walk quiet.

Got scared.

Give me that.

Safety first men,

my ass.

You and me, the old guard,

and they are trying to frighten us with some casual tsarist officer.

Go, Mironovich.

Wait a sec.

I walked,

I walk,

and I will walk.

Right?

- Mighty comrade Kirov? - Exactly, great leader!

- I say, nice cognac, huh? - Not bad.

- Mironovich, a minute. - Yes.

Look there, "Charming eyes", find it please.

- Well? - Yes, right now.

- Right on. - Yes.

Yes?

Let's go.

Charming eyes, you've put your charm on me.

You have so much tenderness

So much passion and fire.

By summer,

all the security system must be completed.

So that it works like a clock.

- Well, you can do it. - No doubt.

Because the boss won't comply.

Like "We're the old guard, no one can scare us", right.

Quiet, you'll wake up the kid.

So I say,

no system means no security.

Yes.

- Hello, Nikolai Sidorovich. - Hello.

Long time it was.

This job of mine, always in the depot, the cars always break down.

- Hello. - Would you like a tea?

No, thank you. I'll just take him and go.

He ate and went asleep.

Don't even know how to thank you, Ludmila Viktorovna.

Come to me, my darling.

You are looking after him like his own mother, and me...

We've got so much work at the publishing house.

It's okay, he's a wonderful boy. No trouble at all.

- Thank you. - Take it.

Just a moment. There are drawings.

Look how he's drawing already.

Thank you.

- Good bye. - Good bye.

Good bye.

Oh, they forgot.

Do you want me...

To catch a cat for you?

Once you too were little.

No, she's really little.

Mom, the parade was really beautiful, right?

Yes.

Uncle Joseph was like a monument, right?

Right.

Children, you go home.

By yourselves, without me.

I'll breathe a little.

Mom is sick, rush home and wash your hands.

Don't get wise, belly-button.

- Go. - All right.

In this case,

the front line is for the symptoms

of intracranial hypertension.

How about in Russian, doctor?

In Russian?

Headache, nausea,

haemostasis at the eye ground,

general cerebral events.

Absolutely unpredictable consequences, up to insanity.

Characteristic signs of extreme stegnosis...

Excuse me.

This is inherent.

Since at pathological adhesion of stitches

there was no cranial deformation,

no one has suspected a pathology.

Please continue.

There's always hope.

Hope.

Hope.

Between us.

I will not tell Nadezhda Sergeevna about your visit.

If you mean this.

And I'll send you the new results personally, with clarification.

Thank you, doctor.

Don't mention it.

Thank you.

What does it all mean, Vlasik?

Comrade Stalin,

we need at least two similar cars with similar passengers for your security.

I have designed a new system.

Big deal. It is old news.

It was the way the Tsar

was transported around Petersburg.

He was in one car,

and his double in the following car.

This is bullshit.

Yes, comrade Stalin, bullshit.

That's why our cars will not go one after another,

but over different routes.

You are a clever man, Vlasik.

Tell them that my double needs to replace the mustache.

His is too long. Like Budyonny's.

Attention! Eyes left!

Anna, we need to talk.

Anna.

Anna, what happened?

Let's talk.

Get out, okay?

Anna, let's talk.

We have nothing to talk about, Yakov Josephovich.

It's over.

Anna, we have agreed on everything, you cannot just drop it like that.

Excuse me. I'm in a rush.

Anna, I spoke with my father, he won't mind if we live together.

No, Yasha. I have a husband.

You forgot?

You have promised to tell him.

Oh, you.

You have such a name.

But you could not protect me.

I was dismissed. Thrown out.

Like a discarded rag.

Anna, I swear, I'll talk to him again. Anna!

Yes.

Pavel, did you put Kira to bed?

- Yes. - Did she go to sleep well?

You know how she is.

She's afraid to sleep alone lately, quite afraid of darkness.

She won't sleep until Pavel helps her to bed.

We took her to a doctor in Germany, but they haven't found anything.

They said all is going to be well.

- Oh my! - To the doctor, because of that?

Well, it is a real problem.

- When kids don't sleep it is no joke. - Yes.

So many stars shine in the sky,

But one is the brightest

Many thoughts are on the mind

Of Stalin beloved.

- Peel an apple for you? - No, thank you.

Okay, as you wish.

Bring me water, please.

[Stalin beloved spoke]

[A speech on happiness from the Kremlin]

[Over rivers and far places]

[On a quiet golden evening]

[Dear comrade Stalin I've heard your voice]

[Songs flow like streamlets]

[Lively words are in those songs]

[The constitution gives us]

[Big rights to us all]

A herdsman looks and says,

Stalin is smoking.

It means, Stalin woke up earlier

than my horn has sounded.

It is somehow so childish.

- Please. - Don't you think so?

A herdsman, a horn,

Stalin.

Very funny.

Just do not pretend you've heard it for the first time.

Tatka!

Tatka!

When you are like that,

looking at me in silence,

it seems to me somehow that you are thinking of me,

thinking badly.

I can think it loud.

You have changed, Joseph.

When I married you, you were another person.

And now, you...

you look like all those...

Shut it!

Forgive me.

Forgive me.

You are like a pleb.

Only the plebs can...

...can get inspired by crap

that other plebs are rewarding them with.

Cantatas for Stalin,

praise chants for Stalin,

"kolkhoz" odes for Stalin,

Joseph, what happened to you?

I am looking at you now,

and I'm thinking,

are you an idiot or just acting skillfully?

More than over a hundred millions Soviet people

by us, by your parents, and byother comrades in arms,

were deprived of God.

They just need someone to whom they might come and ask

for mercy, compassion, help.

I do not have any other choice.

You may think that I have signed a contract.

And I cannot break it.

Until the end of my days.

Tatka.

Tatka, tell me.

You.

Are you with me?

I do not know, Joseph.

I am afraid.

To hell with you then! A doll!

Listening.

Affirmative.

Oh shit...

Yes, I got it. I'll fix it.

Oh, cholera.

Excuse me.

What do you want?

Comrade Stalin,

Yakov Josephovich shot himself.

- You cannot enter! - Doctor, please.

Nadya.

Nadenka.

Nadya, I'll go.

I'll go to Leningrad.

As soon as I get well.

- I cannot see him anymore. - Yasha.

Do not talk. You should not talk.

You are alive. This is what matters.

Nadya, you… Please tell father.

I’ll tell him. You just get well, right?

Tell him that I...

...that I did not want to.

I know, Yasha.

I know, you did not want.

It was an accident.

But I'll tell him.

- What about the car? - Ready in 3 minutes.

Joseph, he is back to his senses.

No one would doubt that.

He is eager to see you, Joseph.

You must be with your son now.

Comrade Stalin, the car is waiting.

Don't you see we are talking?

Affirmative, I see.

Nadezhda Sergeevna, but the car is waiting.

Oh Lord, what kind of people you have placed around yourself!

Slaves! Only slaves around!

Tatka! Come here.

You, help me.

I am not seeing him. That is final.

That's it.

He did it on purpose.

To spite me.

And in general I do not want to have anything in common with him.

You can tell him that!

Of course if that would not bother your excellency!

Never.

You are never around.

Never.

Why should I care about the 100 millions!

Stepan! Quit snailing!

Tell me what you think, is this safe?

Moving such a person in an open top car.

We moved Lenin like so, and nothing.

Or like almost nothing.

Vlasik! Hey, Vlasik!

Would you tell your subordinates to eat less garlic

before reporting to service.

My nose feels their presence from a mile away.

Comrade Stalin, please, maybe another car?

No, Vlasik, no.

I used to ride an open top,

and so I shall continue. No.

I need the wind.

What is it, in Jack London's "Sea Wolf"?

One can breath enough only with fresh wind, huh?

Cholera, that's that!

I will ride only in this car.

- Good evening. - Good.

- Good evening. - Polina,

make yourself comfortable,

- I'll take a minute. - Okay.

Let me.

I need to call, and...

... to call.

Can't really find anything.

Please prepare a skirt and a simple blouse for me.

Didn't you want a dress?

No. I do not want.

- Please have some. - Thank you.

Well?

I'll wear a dress.

- The most beautiful one. - That's the way!

Caroline.

Please clean in the study.

Comrades,

comrades, your attention.

I propose a toast.

Let's drink to the man,

thanks to whom our ship

has not hit the reefs and has not sunk.

To our man at the helm!

To comrade Stalin!

Stop it! Stop flattering, Lazar!

Or else

my lady will eat me alive at home for indulging boot-lickers.

Why are you not drinking?

They say so nice words here

about your husband, huh?

- Nadya, why? - Come on Tatka, drink up!

Drink up. Tatka!

Right, good on you!

Comrade Stalin, would you let me?

What?

To put my hands over your shoulders?

Well, good that it's only the hands.

Let's go

dancing, huh?

Nadya, wait!

Polly, I am not jealous!

Believe me.

There's no sense now.

We've had no relations at all for quite a time.

I am constantly sick.

He is constantly working. That's all.

Nadya, darling, you have kids, then nothing is to fear.

Nothing.

Even madness?

What are you saying, Stalin is no madman.

It's not about him.

Clever girl, you got it all right.

You put the things together, and you both will be okay.

I am a proper person all over.

Okay, Polly.

I am tired. I'll have some milk.

Then I'll sleep.

Good evening, Nadezhda Sergeevna.

- Let me. - Good evening.

Caroline.

- Bring me paper and ink. - All right.

Nadezhda Sergeevna, would you like some warm milk?

Yes.

- Yes? - No.

Caroline.

Please do not disturb me until...

When Joseph Vissarionovich

returns from the "dacha", I'll knock at your door.

- Yes? - Yes.

When Joseph Vissarionovich comes...

- I'll knock. - Yes.

Caroline Viktorovna.

Thank you for everything.

- You are welcome. - Dismissed.

Good bye, Nadezhda Sergeevna.

Hello?

Comrade Peterson, urgent.

What happened?

What?

When?

Where's the boss?

Did he sleep at the "dacha"?

Wake up Vlasik now!

He must run immediately.

That's all.

Where?

There.

Looks like the last note.

It's not for us, we must not read it.

Vlasik!

Where is she?

Where is Tatka?

Caroline Viktorovna has found her.

Lord,

You the One have created the image of every creature.

Make me strong, oh Keeper,

to shame Satan.

This is

by Shota Rustaveli.

Why did she do it?

Who's to know beside her?

Have you heard maybe that she had left me a letter?

No, I have not.

Are people talking?

How could she leave the children...

What children, Sergey?

For God's sake!

They forgot about her in three months!

In three months!

Yeah...

She had...

...screwed my whole life.

Yeah.

Your wife, does she not stand up?

Paralysis, Sergey, is no final judgment.

Who is comforting you?

They say you have transferred your assistant

from Smolny to your Department of Heavy Machinery?

Easy, easy, don't take it to heart. I am not a hypocrite.

I completely understand.

This won't happen again.