Original subtitles

VLASIK THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

In February 1945, three months before the great victory,

Nilkolai Vlasik was responsible for security at the Yalta Conference

which shaped the post-war world.

To remain closer to the three world leaders,

Vlasik worked in the photographers' team.

Few people know that the famous photograph of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill,

that hit the media around the globe, was made by Vlasik.

On May 9, 1945, Stalin and Vlasik were in Moscow.

On May 24, Stalin took the Victory Parade at Red Square,

and Vlasik was ensuring his safety, as usual.

His position at that time seemed as solid as ever.

Only the master's worsening health and Beria's schemes were of concern.

Lavrentiy Pavlovich found himself in disgrace for a short while.

For this, he blamed his enemies, including Vlasik.

The time will come, and he will recoup,

and how.

But for now, Vlasik had no idea about it.

Again, at that time he was at the peak of his power.

But more and more he was turning into the shadow of loneliness.

Part 13

I am busy.

Cholera! I am busy!

Comrade Vlasik, bad news! Kolya, bad news!

Thank you.

Nikolay Sidorovich,

- maybe we should call his children? - And the priest as well.

You have nothing to do?

- If something happens to him... - Don't be a worrywart, Valentina.

Nothing will happen to him.

- Hello! - Hello.

I came to see Vasily.

- Is he there? - Yes.

- Vasya! - Tyoma, it’s you!

Tyoma! My dear friend!

- You, the devil! - You!

Don’t just stand there, Tamara. Set up a table.

We have a hungry guest.

- My dear friend… - Vasya!

Come on, sit down.

- Look at you! - Vasya…

How have you been?

I'm fine. I just realized how much I missed you.

Tamara, come on! Why are you so slow? He’s hungry!

- Sorry for the late visit. - This is fine.

I just love night-time guests.

Tamara… Come on.

- My darling, come on. - Well...

I am sorry for the treat.

I won't interfere with the smart talk of two drinking buddies.

I beg your pardon. Just the buddies.

I am so fed up with this bitch! I’ll just throw her out of here.

- Cheers! To our meeting. - To our meeting.

Come on, tell me how they let you go.

- You were serving in Poland, right? - Yes.

Vlasik called and told me about the father,

so I asked for a leave.

- And they just transferred me. - Yeah.

So I…

What?

I know what you're thinking.

I am not thinking about anything.

My friend, you do realize that I am alive while my father is, right?

Sveta, please don’t be mad at him.

- After his heart attack… - Svetlana Josephovna!

-... doctors tell him to walk a lot. - Hush.

- Just you? Without your husband? - I’ve got divorced.

Don't pretend you didn't know, okay?

- Thank you, Nikolai Sidorovich! - For what, Sveta?

For almost fatherly support of me and my friends.

You are welcome.

- I just don't get what is it about. - Really?

- Are you sure? - Affirmative, comrade Beria.

Rat poison. Found in dried fruits.

Okay.

Take Fedoseev and make him talk.

- Go. - Yes!

To the head of the Kremlin Hospital, General Egorov.

Doctor Timashuk.

I herewith report that doctors Vovsi, Kogan, Etinger, and Feldman

have neglected their duties.

I feel it my duty to inform you that...

Hello! Vlasik. Put me trough to the Kremlin Hospital.

The Kremlin Hospital? I need to speak with General Egorov.

- Yes? - Pyoter Ivanovich! Hello!

- Vlasik speaking. - How are you, Nikolai Sidorovich?

What?

Again?

Oh, just a follow up?

Well, between us,

Lidiya Timashuk is an idiot.

She’s hysterical and incompetent broad.

Move! You two!

What is it?

American blood pressure measuring device. It’s a wrong one.

I asked them to pay attention!

I am so nervous. It's like the first time. Moreover, you don't go.

And where... Where are the boxes with IV sets?

I'll bring them. And you check the medicines.

Yeah.

I am telling you, comrade Ignatiev,

enough with your amateur activities. Yes.

It is a good thing that you make these purges in Georgia.

No, don't look there.

I am telling you again, look for the Big Mingrel.

That’s it.

Attention!

Comrade Lieutenant General, escorting guard is ready!

Weapons are in proper order. Guard commander Major Kuzankov!

- Mount! - Mount!

Well, comrade Vlasik...

I entrust you with this household.

Don’t worry, comrade Stalin. The main thing is, you rest and get well.

And come back soon.

One…

Two…

Push-up position!

One!

Two!

Three! Don't stick out your asses! Four!

Five!

Get up!

Double time, march!

Run!

Captain Zaitsev!

- Comrade Colonel, I just... - You what?

What? First learn how to talk and then open your mouth

in front of your superior!

- Twenty laps! Double time, march! - I won’t run.

You don’t have a right!

- Careful! - I'll do my best.

- Zaitsev? - Yes! Greetings, comrade General!

- What happened? - We just talked, comrade General.

Do you talk like that a lot?

Okay... Comrade Butusova, what about the calculation?

I don' get it. What happened?

Well… When Sedov gets drunk, he starts talking.

And why nobody told me?

Lately, he's been getting drunk every day.

Come on, come on!

So why didn't you report me?

- Watch out! - What’s there to report?

And whom?

You are not like us now, Nikolay Sidorovich. You became...

- ...the top of the tops. - Okay, go.

- Where is Sedov? - Ah... In the village, comrade General.

Drinking and singing.

Novik, follow me.

Oh, comrade General! Let's sing together.

Comrade Sedov!

Go inside. You are drunk.

Yes? Really?

Kostya, let's go. Get some sleep and then we'll talk.

What shall I talk to you about?

About your behavior disgracing the officer's honor.

I am so sorry, comrade General!

Go inside and get some sleep, scum!

You sound like a true general! Scum...

I will get some sleep

but it won't bring Mironov back. And the others.

And how is Kudeyarov doing in jail?

Listen, and who's the next? Maybe I am?

And why wouldn't I just stop you, Kolya?

Give me your gun.

Take him away.

Take your hands off me!

- Comrade Stenberg! - Oh, Milok!

Stop it! We are all friends here.

- Okay, go. We'll look at the menu first. - Please sit.

It is delicious. Please try it.

Thank you.

Kolya!

What is it, Kolya? I don’t recognize you!

Have you become a hypocrite?

Yes, I like waitresses.

- And they like me. - Your tea.

It’s not the point. She’s not quite a waitress.

Tell me, Kolya, my friend.

Do you know what "zabaion" is?

- She's our agent. - What the heck.

Look at this wonderful physique!

A great fit for an agent position.

"Zabaion" is an eggnog.

You’ve got a sharp ear, darling.

What are you ordering?

Bring us vodka.

Yes.

Really?

He was threatening the brave general with his gun?

And then what?

As simple as that.

Come here.

I get you.

Got it.

And generally, what’s up there? A hundred thousand in a year?

It is very interesting.

Indeed.

What? The hospital?

For his guards? They should go to animal clinic and not the…

Okay, got it. Let’s keep working.

Our General Vlasik was almost hurt by his own sidekick.

That’s what’s up.

Vlasik would certainly want to court-martial Sedov.

But we won’t allow him to let go of his experienced personnel.

Comrade Sedov will enjoy my sympathy, my support and a new job position.

How did the Chinese put it?

The enemy of my enemy is my... Who?

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Nadariy... Okay, go.

Find Sedov a decent job so he'd be close at hand, not fussing around

and feeling our support with his body and soul. Go now!

Vladimir Arnoldovich!

- Are you back? - Have you had any doubts?

Of course not.

It just that while you were out,

some people came to the Muravsky, sniffing and looking around.

They also asked questions.

Who comes here and when?

- What people? - I don’t know. They were very…

People…

The people that wouldn't just drop by their neighbors and ask them questions.

So tell me, nasty man, whose wife did you seduce?

Excuse me? What?

- You can take the book. Certainly. - It’s mine.

Yes, of course.

Answer me, Kolya!

Well, comrade Sedov, please start working as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, I can’t bring you up to date…

- That’s fine. - So…

Lenochka! You’ll have some Dersu Uzala now.

Please meet our best employee, comrade Penochkina.

- It's a pleasure. - Please bring comrade Sedov up to date.

Let's go, comrade Sedov, I'll show you what we've got here.

Let's go.

What the heck do they want from me?

I am clean, Kolya!

It is so very simple with me.

I am taking an order, I am getting money,

I am implementing an order,

I am reporting my fee. It’s all very simple.

- It is so simple, Kolya! - Come on, calm down.

- Oh, my God! - I'll check it out.

- Oh, God! - Well, what’s up besides that?

How is this… Milochka, right?

- The agent. - We see each other. Infrequently.

Wait! Kolya!

Kolya... You...

You… Are you saying that…

You are an idiot, Volodya. An idiot!

I am... I am an idiot, Kolya!

I am such an idiot!

Cancel your random relationships for a while.

- Keep quiet until I check it out. - Oh, God!

What do I do now, Kolya? What do I do?

- The boss is under Beria's influence now. - Oh, God!

And he's happy. Telling him every day about new poisonings and plots.

God!

He says, we've been busy at the war and now we have time for the plots again.

Wait…

Wait…

You…

You told me yourself, Kolya...

…that no one can influence Stalin!

That's what I thought. Before.

Kolya... You...

I am sorry but you…

Haven’t you been drinking too much lately?

Oh, my God! What do I do now, Kolya?

Pour out!

We are not giving up yet.

The chicken comes later.

The wine should be cool but not icy while the water should be icy.

You can’t even imagine how people can change.

- Still, please let me… - I am sorry.

…but it is time for my lunch now.

Again, that's what you told me.

- Sure… - You can go, girls.

But please start taking your medications before the lunch.

- I will. - Natalya Timofeevna

- brought all the prescription drugs. - Of course. I understand.

Thank you, comrade professor.

Valyusha!

They should have brought me some powder and some mixture.

Affirmative, Joseph Vissarionovich.

You know, Valechka, I...

I am not ready to take so many medications.

Write down all these names and…

We’ll tell Vlasik

to order them from a pharmacy for me.

I'll take some rest. Till the evening, if nothing urgent comes up.

You know…

It’s time to get back home.

- How long we've been here? - Almost five months, comrade Stalin.

Ah… Five.

Pack up your things, Valyusha. We are going home.

- How are you, Kostya? - What do you think?

Don't worry. We'll get you out of there soon.

On what grounds?

I drank, I beat my superiors, I publicly aimed my gun at you.

Come on, don't fret! We'll dismiss the charges.

- Report me what did you find out. - I saw the papers. Beria signed.

I couldn’t copy them yet. I’ll try later.

Please, be extremely careful. If I…

…lose you too…

Next time, you'll play your spy game by yourself.

I have a feeling that this game has just begun.

According to the report, Colonel Sedov and General Vlasik

spent 1.5 hours together. Here's the report.

Why does Sedov keep meddling in other people's business?

- But there was no order... - Have you ever tried to think?

Who knew that this Sedov was a bitch?

Comrade Beria, you said yourself that…

A friend of my friend is my enemy.

- Get out. - Yes!

That what you’ll do.

Take this decorator… Stenberg. And squeeze everything out of him.

Including the plot. Even against god himself, I don’t care!

But its biggest, its sole inspirer should be Vlasik!

These are the papers that show

how keeping Vlasik’s people costs us hundreds of thousands rubles.

Unfortunately, not all of this money is spent as intended.

In a word…

- They steal. - It's not all, comrade Stalin.

Our investigation shows that it was General Vlasik

who didn’t report on the letter by Lidiya Timashuk.

where she notified of improper treatment of comrade Zhdanov, now deceased.

We are questioning Vlasik’s former friend, Vladimir Stenberg, the artist.

Comrade Stalin, hiding Timashuk’s letter is not the whole story.

No. It is.

Hold a complete inspection of all his agency.

As for Vlasik, temporarily discharge him of his post.

Yes, comrade Stalin.

Hello.

What are you doing?

Here.

I should have sent someone to fix it all a long time ago.

But then I thought, I could do it myself.

I am not all thumbs.

Lyuda, I wanted to say…

We gotta file for divorce.

I am sorry for starting this conversation. But we’d have to do it some time, right?

- Yes, of course, it is right. - Well…

I fixed the bread bin too. It was almost disintegrating.

Are you getting married?

Yes, affirmative.

I am sorry, she's pregnant... Can we make it today?

Yes, we can.

Lyuda!

Hush now!

Hush!

I am sorry!

I am sorry, my dear! Sorry!

I was discharged from my post. They made me a deputy warden.

It means, I’ll be arrested soon.

You can't be near me, you and Nadya. It is not safe.

The Mingrel made him believe this, you see?

And he did.

They are the fools. They don't get it. If I am gone, he is gone too.

That’s it.

- Comrade Stalin! - What?

A new head of security. Can he come in?

- Who? - Novik. Colonel Novik.

Novik... Vlasik...

They sound alike.

What? Is he cholera too?

Affirmative, comrade Stalin. He is Belorussian.

It is funny. Call him in.

Come in.

- Comrade Stalin! Colonel Novik. - I know.

You are shouting very loud,

comrade Novik.

Have you seen the bottles in the basement?

- Affirmative, comrade Sta… - It was me…

I tried to make some wine a while ago.

It’s been standing there forever.

And everyone can enter and…

…open a bottle and drink it.

No way, comrade Stalin. No one can.

I am saying…

Everyone can enter and…

…open a bottle.

You know what, Novik?

Pour the wine out.

All of it.

Anything else, comrade Stalin?

Kolya…

Whom are you going with?

No one.

I’ve lost all my friends at this service.

Sasha Mironov, Kudeyarov…

And Sushkov…

I will wait for you as long as I have to.

I’ve been waiting for so long.

Why did he treat me like that?

There was no one more loyal than me.

Maybe he just doesn’t need anyone anymore?

There…

Here... Some cash and savings books. Here's everything I have.

The third barrack! Line up for work!

Move it!

Come on, move!

Here. He served his sentence under Article 58, then he was released

and settled up here. Where else would the public enemy go?

His wife and his kids cut him off long time ago.

In the beginning, he was drinking like a hog.

He almost died in a ditch, he was wetting his pants…

- Not just wetting. Shitting them. - Hey...

He is completely deaf.

The felons poked his ears with a screwdriver

so he wouldn't hear what they were talking about.

Well…

And then another ex-prisoner at the settlement...

She took him in.

- Have some tea. - Thank you.

You just won't believe it. He quit drinking.

He started going to church. That's what the women do to us.

Hi, soldier!

How did you end up here?

You are probably surprised that I am still idling my life away.

But it is too early for me to go there.

I still have some business here. Yeah.

Look at them!

Step out!

The defenders…

The defenders of our country.

Left flank!

- Left flank! - Old man…

How did this happen?

They took cities, they threw themselves under the tanks.

They gripped the Nazis by the throat with the name of Stalin.

And now what? No ranks, no honors, no families.

No victory, no glory.

They are felling trees now, with the same name. How come?

Kolya, they pray and they have faith.

They do. They have faith.

Hi, Kolya.

Well…

This is me, Vitka.

Once upon a time, divine Angelina Vitkovskaya.

[Love is a rebellious bird That no one can tame]

What are you staring at, comrade Vlasik?

I am a married woman now.

But you can still walk me home.

While my man is fixing a roof at your hospital.

Eat, Kolya, eat.

These are fresh, barn eggs.

My man fixed a hen house for a settlement supervisor yesterday.

Here.

Eat, Kolya, eat.

You know, he is such a handy man!

Before this, he was a piano player. Cheers, Kolya.

His conductor reported on him.

Because my Grisha is talented, and the conductor is a crap.

Eat, Kolya, don’t be shy.

You want some more? I’ll do it now, Kolya!

We have a hat full of these eggs. From the supervisor's hens.

Kolya! Right? Here.

Yeah…

You know, Kolya, don’t look at me.

At least my jaw is unbroken.

Cheers, Kolya.

Kolya!

A detective came here.

His fists were the size of my head!

I was driving him mad, Kolya.

And he hurt his hand while beating me.

Kolya!

Whatever he didn’t do, the scurvy did.

Lyuba! Bring me the archive.

Comrade Major? Yes, Vlasik. Thank you, I’ve got it.

I will look at it and return it in one piece.

Vitkovskaya, Angelina Vitoldovna.

Withdrew her testimony.

Withdrew her testimony.

Deputy warden, prison camp 8/16, General Vlasik.

What?

Right.

Yes!