Original subtitles

VLASIK THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

After Kirov's death the country dived into the epoch

which later will be called as the age of Big Terror.

This loss will complete the changes in Stalin's character

triggered by the death of his wife.

Feeling of loneliness,

feeling of hostile surroundings

will not leave him till the end of his days.

It will only grow year after year,

and, in the end, he will be completely alone.

The Smolny events made Stalin look differently

at his own security.

Nikolaev was not shooting in the street,

but in the very heart of Smolny,

in the area of the highest rank Leningrad administration.

What if a similar event happens in the Kremlin?

Or during a ride to the Blizhnyaya "dacha"?

The ride was not exactly covert

using the same route each time.

Heady days were coming to Vlasik.

And no one took off him the duties

related to Stalin’s children,

who have lost their mother.

Vasily was the one causing the most trouble.

While for his own family,

for once beloved wife,

Stalin's personal security manager had almost no time left.

Part 4

Stop it!

Dismissed.

How did you get into Smolny?

I will speak only with comrade Vlasik.

This is not your decision, Borisov.

Commissar for special issues Borisov, if you allow.

Get out.

You, out!

Sit down.

What happened there?

I do not know where to begin.

Speak the truth.

Comrade Stalin must know the truth.

But this truth is not for the public.

Comrade Borisov, it is not up to you what becomes public.

I'm listening.

After comrade Kirov's wife became paralyzed,

comrade Kirov had a lot of other women.

My husband knew about our relations.

I regret nothing!

If I had failed yesterday,

then in a month.

In a month, in a year,

I would have killed him.

I beg to set me free.

Is he an idiot?

He's... Epileptic.

Vlasik, who else

knows about this foulness?

This is the list of principal witnesses

and of persons present at interrogations.

24 people all in all, comrade Stalin.

May I, comrade Stalin?

These documents

are from comrade Kirov's home.

Where is the Directive on changing the Criminal Code?

All the documents are ready.[00:05:01.13]

Yes!

What else?

Don’t play games here.

Speak, comrade Yezhov.

The correspondence between comrades

Kirov, Kuibyshev, and Ordzhonikidze.

- They address you in a filthy manner. - Hey, enough.

I'll figure it out.

Take the murderer to me.

I want to speak with him.

But first,

what do you think, comrades,

is commissar Borisov linked to the conspiracy?

On your knees.

Get dressed.

Guards!

Into the lorry!

The Red Corner is there, comrade Stalin.

Learn the whole truth for me, Vlasik.

The whole truth.

And... and that... what's his name?

- To me. - Nikolaev? He's already here.

What Nikolaev?

This one, the commissar,

You said, he's not linked to the conspiracy.

- Him, too. - Borisov.

Right, Borisov.

He's unavailable, comrade Stalin.

What did you say?

Commissar Borisov died.

By accident.

He did not make it to here, comrade Stalin.

Commissar Borisov

during transportation...

from Shpalernaya jail hit his head

to his death.

This one?

Affirmative.

Who are you?

And you?

What an ill breeding!

One doesn't answer with a question.

Though...

I am Leonid Nikolaev.

While I was transported here,

these people...

...were calling me...

...a diehard White Guard.

I even...

...was not in the Army.

It is funny.

Comrade Stalin,

we'll clear up this issue

and the guilty one shall be punished.

- I'll see to it personally. - Yagoda, do not escort me.

I am sure you'll quickly crack the conspiracy

which has destroyed comrade Kirov.

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

It is necessary

to collect evidence of principal players.

Kamenev, Zinoviev,

and other scum.

And from that one, from Zaporozhie.

He was recommended by Yagoda, comrade Stalin,

for the position of Medved's deputy.

Another thing.

Interrogate this woman once more.

She's clearly a part of the conspiracy.

To work, comrade Yezhov. Do it.

Yes, comrade Stalin.

Have you completed your smart system?

Affirmative, comrade Stalin. The first stage is ready.

Very good.

Go visit your people in the village.

And bring your niece.

What did you think?

You were the only one to know how Vasya

buggers around at school?

And how your wife lives with you?

You'll bring the niece. I have said.

Comrade Stalin,

how did you know that?

You have a week.

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

Mind this, Vlasik.

I know everything about all of you.

Everything.

Where are these flowers from?

Oh, Kolya.

Thank you.

A vacation together, and such a beauty!

Don't thank me, thank comrade Stalin.

What about knocking?

Excuse me, please.

- Why are you like this? - Why?

Entering without knocking.

Yes, please enter.

Please excuse me.

Would you like some tea?

Yes, please, with candies.

Do you have candies?

Yes, "Pillows".

- Right, bring the "Pillows". - Good, good.

Thank you, right now.

Kolya, I haven't seen you like that for a long time.

Like what?

Like in public.

Usually at home, at night.

You've changed a lot.

Come on, everybody change.

No, Kolya, you've changed a great deal.

Really?

Do you want to check?

Maybe some things haven't changed much?

- No, no. - Don't.

Me, in the First World War, at the German front,

I got me three St. George's.

And you, how many?

What how many, grandpa?

How many St. George's Crosses?

One St. George, grandpa, one.

Well, how are you doing here?

I'll tell you this, Nikolai.

You live wrong there.

Tell them this.

Wrong!

Tell whom, grandpa?

I've got no one to tell to,

I am a driver,

it's me and my steering wheel, dusk till dawn.

No one around.

- Kolya, to the bathroom. Let's go. - Right, let's.

Come on, let's go, faster.

Kolya's lying! Lying!

Grandpa, cut it out!

Quit your rampage!

I'm an old spy, you can't deceive me!

He is no driver.

He is a depot foreman!

Cheers!

Move it! Carry that.

Take the bed, place by the balcony.

Faster, comrades, faster.

Take it away, please.

Two baskets here.

Yegor! Why do you put the children's bed by the balcony?

- Why? - Drafts, why!

So where to?

To the parents' bedroom.

For the time being.

Lilya!

- Lilya, help! - Girls!

Masha, Lilya!

Come, come.

Enough bossing the men.

To the kitchen, march!

- Kolya just flew in. - Yes.

- They bring him here soon. - Lilya, come here.

Go set the table.

This too.

Come on. Come here!

Can't get anything done.

We'll set the table now.

So, Kolya, something spooky is going on.

One thing is clear: someone instigated a check on us.

I am back, we'll work it out.

Half of comrade Ordzhonikidze's men got arrested.

You think...

I think nothing, Kolya.

I see that it's no accident

that the dark clouds are upon us.

You do like to panic.

Where are we going? We need to go right.

It is not far, Kolya,

need to visit some place.

Are you stupid?

Lyuda will kill you when she wakes up.

No fuss, boss. It'll be cool.

It is very near, Kolya. Don't chicken out.

People, my fellows, my dear,

I don’t know, have no words.

Kolya, it's clear. Thank comrade Pauker.

He set this place for you.

A traditional toast from the friends!

The friends' toast is simple.

When it's poured,

to hell with the toast!

Quiet! Nadya is going to sleep!

Don't keep your father too long.

He's expected at a meeting.

I won't.

I need to discuss one thing with him. And we'll see each other as well.

All right.

Cucumbers and tomatoes store,

[Stalin whacked Kirov in a corridor...]

Stop singing!

And about such things.

Relax, there's no one here.

Everybody's at the meetings.

It's not for nothing, they say,

people don't make songs just so.

Not only Kirov, he did his wife too.

The librarian told me horrible things

What a beast.

Them Caucasians are like that. Every trifle, and you're done for.

Into the box, eh?

Good afternoon.

Hello, Caroline.

My little boss!

Hey, my little boss!

Here she is, my little boss.

Your secretary is hungry.

What do you offer?

Today we have beet soup and steamed meatballs.

To the table, march!

By your command.

Here is the little Peshkova.

Hello, uncle Joseph.

How is grandpa, Marfa Maximovna?

He's well, writing "The Life of Klim Samgin".

Only, it is hard to go. The material is complex.

Sveta, where is Vasily?

- In his room. - This comes here.

All those talks, insulting. I know for sure.

Don't listen to fools.

Good health, fighters.

Hello, uncle Joseph.

Hi, dad.

I see,

you study the world, right?

You can say so.

Come, we'll have dinner now.

Sit down.

Not for me, thanks.

Why, Tomik?

I'm going to class.

I came to pick up Vasya, but he has no time.

The man is the king.

Put this here.

Careful. Well done.

Thank you.

Vasily, is everything good at school?

Yes.

All is well.

Thank you.

You see,

Pauker told me you lumbered around my study.

Why didn't you come in?

I got a belly ache.

Dad, tell me, did mother really die of appendicitis?

It's all because our clinics have very bad equipment.

Our clinics have very good equipment, son.

It's just...

...they did not perform the operation on time.

Good, I'll go to class with Tyoma.

Bon appetite!

Bye, belly button.

- The fool. - Yeah.

Sveta, do not mind.

Please eat.

The beet soup is very good.

Miron, do I often ask you about anything?

- No. - Are you my friend or what?

I don't want Lyuda to suffer.

Lord, why should she suffer?

Big deal, sending flowers to an excellent actress.

Once in a life request.

No one may go today. It is a breach.

I am the boss here, right? You have my leave. Miron, please.

Okay, right. Where is the bouquet?

In my car. To Angelina Vitkovskaya. You know. Do it.

Comrades, one moment.

Clear the car from here, chop-chop, come on!

- But no more, Kolya. - That's it.

Vitka, you are one of a kind!

This is for you.

- Even better than Orlova? - You don't say!

Incomparable, though as always.

Good.

Congratulations!

Good.

Tell me secretly,

who stole the heart of Misha Nemirovich

after Orlova went into cinematography?

What's it to you?

You want to take the sweet spot?

You have other fancies, don't you?

You are a true viper!

I'll show you my fancy now.

Come here! Get right here!

Excuse me please.

Flowers for you.

From Vlasik.

Thank you.

Close the door when visiting actress in dressing room.

I'll know.

Oh, Volodya.

You always bring troubles.

I have put stakes on this simpleton.

Big stakes, by the way.

I must get lucky one day, right?

I am not to spend my whole life

with lumpens like yourself.

Silence. When you're silent, you look like a human being.

Not like a doll.

While certain diehard scumbags,

Kamenev, Zinoviev...

I do not want to utter their filthy names

at this table.

While they were trying to sabotage,

we did not let the enemies to get rowdy.

And among us, Lavrentiy, you,

you have the most dignified place.

And comrade Stalin knows it only too well.

Sit, sit.

This is what I wanted to say, comrades.

Lavrentiy.

You are the man from my old country.

What do we say there,

Lavrentiy?

The old country never betrays you.

The old country

always helps you out.

When one is in trouble,

one always comes back to one's land.

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

You have full respect of our compatriots.

Excuse me.

You break up the elders,

and in our old country

elders pull up ears, right?

We are not going to pull up your ears.

We will drink to you, Lavrentiy.

Yes,

to the Big Mingrel.

To your

order,

to your contribution.

To your loyalty.

- Congratulations! - Thank you.

Congratulations, Lavrentiy Pavlovich.

No one ever takes place of the late Kirov by the boss.

I say, he is going to squeeze in.

I know him from Baku.

He was the boss of Azerbaijan Crisis Committee.

Always used others to pull chestnuts from fire.

A snake. A smart ass snake!

And a really clever snake.

Nestor Lakoba was promoting him.

Promoted him well.

I heard it myself, Beria was undermining him.

Who knew him yesterday?

Toady? Order of Lenin.

Got elected to the Central Committee.

Something to think about.

- Take these pills, they'll help. - Thank you.

Lyuda.

I haven't seen a smile on this lovely face lately.

- Anything wrong? - You say, lovely face.

It is not well with Kolya.

I do not see him at all.

Comes home, falls into the bed, doesn't look at me at all.

I am waiting for him alone every night.

Nervous, short tempered. Works 20 hours daily.

I should know.

Well,

dry the cups and refill them?

Cheers on your sins, comrade commander!

What a bear are you!

Oh, cholera!

Oh, bother.

Cholera.

- Kolya! - Huh?

Tell me, would you like to see me on the screen?

Wow, why?

Were you offered a role?

Not yet.

But I hope someone can help me with that.

Oh, cholera.

How did I...

- Wait, wait! - Come on!

Okay, go your way.

But not for long!

I'll come tomorrow after the performance.

- Here. - What is it?

Take it, good husband. Use it.

At home.

When greeting the deceived spouse.

- What for... - Take it, I know what I'm saying.

You, good husbands,

you are so embarrassed at your first adultery.

- Take it and thank me later. - That's it.

Kolya.

Tell me.

Am I any worse than Orlova?

Which Orlova?

Don't know any Orlova!

Enough, enough. Time to go.

Oh, cholera.

I'm on my way.

Kolya.

Why spending so much?

Beautiful, but very expensive.

Roses are not in season, Kolya.

Ready, fixed, there's no slack.

I say, expensive flowers.

It is only money.

No skimping on the darling wife.

Yes.

Affirmative, comrade Yezhov.

I'm ready with ideas on organization.

Yes.

Sorry, the bosses are calling.

I am sorry.

I'll pitch my new idea. So wish me to break a leg.

That's it, I'm off.

To the godlike...

...Angelina.

Comrade Yezhov, the escort always travels by the same routes.

Anyone who wishes to sabotage

has only to watch the escort for some time.

And bingo.

And so what?

We need to make lists of all people

who live in facade apartments along the government route.

We'll know

who invites who for visits,

who left and when,

who departed, who took up residence, who...

- Have you lost your mind? - Not at all.

We'll be able to control all dwellers who may see the government vehicles.

Also, comrade Yezhov, I don't like

the talks in the Kremlin lately.

Elaborate.

I get reports that tradesmen peddle all kinds of stories.

- Does Yagoda know? - No idea, comrade Yezhov.

May I? Excuse me, comrades.

Comrade Vlasik,

your wife called from home asking to come, urgent.

May I go?

Dismissed.

Go, comrade Vlasik.

About the dwellers of the facade houses...

...we'll consider it.

May I go?

- Dismissed. - Yes!

What happened?

Lyuda? Is Nadya well?

Lyuda?

What's wrong?

Did you call me from my work for this?

Is it not enough, Kolya?

I wanted to tell you for a long time now,

you have changed a lot.

I was thinking, you worked too much,

but it isn't about the work.

So it's like that.

No sweat, we'll manage with Nadya.

I am not going forever.

I have to work it out myself.

I'll crash at your place for a couple of days.

Kolya.

For the likes of Vitka, one doesn't leave one's wife.

Miron, I'm confused.

Confused.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hello.

I didn't expect to meet you here.

Go check if he brought a tail.

Right, we're not going anywhere.

- What's up? - All is well.

Want a smoke though.

Go.

Herze...

What Herze?

Herzegovina Flor.

My dad smokes them.

Rolls them into his pipe.

This pipe.

Why, you chickened to borrow some cognac?

You see,

he'll mind the cognac.

There's plenty of smokes all over the house.

Hey, Vasya,

why are you so gloomy these days?

Yeah... I'm bored of everything.

The school.

The discipline.

All kinds of snakes.

What snakes?

All kinds.

We have built enormous factories. Giants.

But there's no one to manage them!

There's self-will everywhere!

Hands washing each other! Voluntarism!

Not saying about incompetence!

Slogans do not replace knowledge.

In the context of the epoch,

the old guard should step aside.

Maybe the old guard cannot manage machinery and rolling mills.

The old guard can ignite the Red Terror!

And flood the country with blood,

should someone deprive it from its power!

The old guard can ignite terror?

What are you saying!

It is horrible!

You forgot

who you are talking to, son of a bitch!

You forgot where I am from.

You think, I am not from the old guard?

Are you threatening me with a conspiracy?

We're not arguing about it now.

We need new people.

To manage giants of machinery, metal works, energy plants.

We need new educated people.

People are the key.

Remember, comrades, if in older days

machines were the key,

now people are the key.

That’s what I have decided.