"Backstage"

Passionate Love was able to throw away Social Barriers, but submitted to the Hand of Destiny

Screenplay by

Leonid Sakharov

author's adaptation of the novel

Logline:

Blumkin and the head of the Cheka Dzerzhinsky carried out an operation that resulted in the liquidation of the former Tsar's family and the destruction of documents on Lenin's collaboration with the Germans. The love of Blumkin and Princess Natalia Paley saved her and her poet brother Vladimir.

FADE IN:

1 EXT. WINTER STREET – NIGHT 1

Dark winter snow street at night in Petrograd, Russia Impire. It is 30 December [O.S. 17 December] 1916. Camera start slow flight above deserted streets. Pace of move accelerates. It turns into direction of the big palace building passing through a closed window into the room where old style movie and photo cameras shooting sexual encounter on the bright lighted bed. Periodically magnum flushes for photo shots.

SMOOTH TRANSITION

2 INT. PALACE ROOM 2

Grigori Rasputin, (h.f. = historical figure), lays naked on bed that is the center of the movie shooting session. camera sees naked back of woman in upper position. unnamed woman wears crown. around there are more naked bodies resting and looking at Grigori Rasputin and unnamed actress. on of the surrounding couples is Marianne Pistohlkors (h.f.) and man with her is grand duke Dmitri Pavlovich (h.f.).

Knyaz Felix Yusupov (hf) exchanges signs with cameramen whose nods affirmative. Felix Yusupov with small handgun moves toward Grigori Rasputin and shots him in a chest. Grigori Rasputin looks dead. There are celebration in the room. Everybody raises glasses of champagne. In a short moment Felix Yusupov turns to check a state of Grigori Rasputin but he is gone.

CUT TO

3 EXT. night street 3

Naked Grigori Rasputin with blood on him runs along the street from the palace. Felix Yusupov runs out of palace gate chasing him. Grigori Rasputin trips and fall down. Felix Yusupov closes to Grigori Rasputin and shoots him several times in chest and head.

FELIX YUSUPOV

Die, stallion.

CUT TO

4 INT. office in headquarters train 4

Tzar Nicolas 2 (h.f.) sits inside office in headquarters train the in simple colonel uniform. He glares on the wax sealed thick envelope. He opens it and sees in terror photos of Grigori Rasputin sexual act with woman who is looking alike his wife Alex. Across every photo in red the word Abdicate!!!.

CUT TO

5 newspaper’s headlines 5

On the screen there are newspaper’s headlines: Thar abdicated!, Freedom, equality, democracy!

CUT TO

6 MAP ANIMATION 6

We see a map of Europe divided by front lines. There are cartoon of tree trains labeled first by word “Lenin” and two as “Bolsheviks” crossing from Swiss via black colored Germany territory, into red colored Russia to Petrograd.

CUT TO

7 EXT. front line trenches 7

The crowd of Russian soldiers behind front trench lines gathers around Bolshevik speaker who is wearing red bow. Officers are in obvious fear are behind. One private soldier demonstratively spiting in the direction of officers. soldiers are chanting End war!

CUT TO

8 EXT. PALACE SQUARE 8

The dark city of November Petrograd. Small group, about two dozens soldiers and armed civilians, are crossing Palace Square.

CUT TO

9 INT. PALACE SQUARE 9

soldiers and armed civilians enter without any resistance the Winter Palace. They come into the room of the meeting of Provisional Government.

ANTONOV (H.F.)

Into Fortress them.

CUT TO

10 INT. BIG HALL 10

Lenin (h.f.) stays at the stage in the front of crowded hall.

LENIN (H.F.)

(with hailing gesticulation)

Our revolution has happened.

Hurrah, comrades!

CUT TO

11 INT. WINTER PALACE 11

Camera moves along Winter Palace . There are bad dressed crowd drinking from bottle neck and taking everything these looks like having value.

CUT TO

12 EXT. Peter and Paul Fortress 12

There are line of well dressed people escorted by soldiers and armed civilians through the massive gate inside of Peter and Paul Fortress.

CUT TO MOVIE CREDITS

13 MOVIE CREDITS 13

END OF MOVIE CREDITS

14 EXT. THE COURT INSIDE MOSCOW KREMLIN COMPLEX 14

Lenin (h.f.) and Felix Dzerzhinsky (h.f.) walks around Kremlin inner court Felix Dzerzhinsky having conversation walking around inside Kremlin huge complex. They are passing Thar gun and Tsar Bell.

LENIN

We cannot afford the revival of the monarchy. Not in any form. Even in exile. A hereditary monarchy can become a plant from which a counter-revolutionary spreading tree will grow from. It needs to be cut down and uprooted. The very thought of it. The very idea. No one should be left alive as the legitimate heirs to the throne.

DZERZHINSKY

Vladimir Ilyich, the Red Terror is already in development.

LENIN

A watched pot never boils. Delay is a death wish. The death, in the most literal sense of the word, for me and for you, my good man.” Lenin took a pause and added. “The Kaiser laughed at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Whom is the Peace Treaty with!? With Russia? Show me where it is on the map. In Asia, in China? In Alaska? They sold it for a half of a gold bar. And he gagged mockingly making fun of us. He laughed out loud, and couldn’t stop for a long time.

Dzerzhinsky passingly waits for the end of Lenin’s rant.

LENIN

An evil chance seldom comes alone.

The Germans may have documents about their assistance to us in the revolution. You understand, we just had the same goals. It is the question of who helped whom more. It’s more likely that we let the Germans hold out the war to fight for another six months, rather than they let us overthrow the Provisional Government in Russia. But that's not critical. They may say that if the Bolsheviks can turn to the enemies of Russia, then the counter-revolution be allowed to ask for help from abroad as we did.

LENIN

(commander officer manner)

We need to remove all the Romanov family members from the game. Everyone, male or female, who has a chance of occupying the throne. Remove physically. We must make sure that we cannot be directly accused of this. Let them suspect, so be it, let them be mortally afraid of us, but there ought to be left no direct connection with me or with the Cheka, or with anyone from our party of communist-Bolsheviks.

It’s better if the suspicions directed to the Socialist Revolutionaries, for example. It's best to go to them. They are terrorists, they hold the cards in their hands. And we need to destroy all the spy documents of foreign embassies in Russia; it’s best to also buy papers in Germany, from their intelligence, if you can make a deal. This is a dream, but let it be clear that it is ideal.

(turning toward Dzerzhinsky, looking directly for his eyes).

Any thoughts?

DZERZHINSKY

My deputy, the left-wing Social Revolutionary, Peter Aleksandrovich, protests against the Red Terror and wants to resign.

LENIN

Get it. And you tell him that there is an important case against foreign espionage. Suggest that a special department should be organized. Let him nominate one of his Socialist-Revolutionaries for leadership. Is there such a person who will do everything for us?

DZERZHINSKY

Looks like there is. Yakov Blumkin. Before rout of 3rd Army, he and Commander Lazarev took all the funds from the State Bank in Slavyansk. Four million Tsar's rubles. Then they brought it into the Socialist-Revolutionary treasury, but half a million disappeared into thin air. And no clues. The money was there and it was gone.

LENIN

(with amusement)

Blumkin take it? Oh yeah, real scoundrel. This is the one we need for this purpose. Accept him into the Cheka and bring him to me. I'll give him the task myself.

15 INT. LENIN`S OFFICE 15

The door opens to the office of the Chairman Lenin in his working apartment in Kremlin. Dzerzhinsky and Blumkin (main h.f. but there is no single reliable photo of him; here he looks exact young Richard Sorge whom identity he will steal) enter the door. Lenin is sitting behind manager table-desk, greeting them to sit. Lenin takes document from executive desk drawer).

LENIN

(reading)

The situation in the country is super-duper complex.

Camera changes view from reading Lenin to his Dzerzhinsky or Blumkin.

LENIN

(continue reading)

German Kaiser Wilhelm does not respect the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. He insists that either the former Tsar Nicholas II personally, or his successor Mikhail, sign it to guarantee legitimates.

...

We must prepare for the complete and unconditional suppression of the very idea of a legal, hereditary monarchy. This is just as much in our interests as it is for Germany.

...

Kaiser Wilhelm sent an ambassador, Count von Mirbach, to supervise our actions. He may or may not have incriminating materials about Bolshevik connections with German intelligence and the army. No documents should not be available for press.

I instruct the Cheka to develop and implement a completely secret plan to resolve these issues.

Paper documentation is not acceptable. Only oral and strictly confidential reports to the Head of Soviet Russia upon operation ‘Kaiser Memorandum’ progresses.

Proceed without delay as soon as you are ready.

Lenin signs the paper. He puts the signed order back to the drawer.

LENIN

(cheerfully)

Act, comrades.

Wait a moment!

Lenin stands up, walking around desk to be opposite to Blumkin.

LENIN

Comrade Blumkin, a revolutionary dictatorship and a multi-party parliamentary cannot coexist for a long time. Take it to the bank, my good friend. Don’t play with Madame Spiridonova about democracy. Stick with Iron Felix, he won’t bend or break even by bomb.

Lenin playfully snaps his trousers suspenders. Dzerzhinsky and Blumkin leave his office. Lenin’s facial expression visibly changed to self-pity and finally at the end of scene into quit silent cry with tears. Lenin takes out the signed paper he had just signed. He slowly tears it in confetti that he gathers confetti into envelope. He seals envelope and writes on it Top-secret. Do not open it out by anyone, not even the head of Russia until… hesitated and writes with grim 02/22/2022.

CUT TO

16 INT. LENIN`S MAUSOLEUM – FIVE YEARS LATER 16

Premonition of Lenin. He lays in coffin and line of people coming to his corpse and everybody spitting in his face.

CUT TO

17 EXT. THE MOSCOW STREETS – DAY 17

Dzerzhinsky and Blumkin leave Kremlin complex, crossing Red Square, walk along Nikolskaya street. Both of them deep in own thoughts.

DZERZHINSKY

What will you need from me?

BLUMKIN

Forms of mandates with your signatures, real and good fake. Nikolai Andreev, my old friend, take him to the Cheka, at my direct disposal. He is a photographer, and will be able to produce the necessary documents himself without attracting attention. A verbal command to our representatives in the places of exile of the Romanov's to carry out all my orders. I will be under name Maxim Astafurov. I have had such a passport since the elections to the Constituent Assembly.

DZERZHINSKY

Is that all?

BLUMKIN

Of course not. On Monday, I will be able to report my first thoughts.

DZERZHINSKY

Fine. At four in my office. I will order all reports on the Romanov family to be prepared. Come, read, and we will discuss.

CUT TO

18 INT. READING HALL OF LIBRARY OF MOSCOW UNIVERSITY 18

In almost empty hall inside library Blumkin takes one by one big filings of newspapers. He flips pages paying most attention at headlines about Romanov’s Royal family. me

19 INT. OFFICE OF HEAD CHEKA DZERZHINSKY 19

Blumkin enters the office greeting Dzerzhinsky. He leaves the door open. Blumkin looks around paying special attention to iron cabinet.

BLUMKIN

(pointing at cabinet)

Is it the very same vault? You can’t fit into it hiding from bomb between shelves and papers, it for sure.

DZERZHINSKY

Of course, there was no space inside. No way, no how. I opened the door and hid behind it.

BLUMKIN

(with smile)

And now you are Iron Felix.

DZERZHINSKY

Yes. I am. So. What the plan?

BLUMKIN

General idea is: Murder in a burning whorehouse.

There is intercut of conversation without specific recognizable content. Most talks is of Blumkin. Impression that about ten minutes passes.

DZERZHINSKY

Is it impossible to do without an uprising of the Czechoslovak Legion?

BLUMKIN

Looks like no. The threat of Nikolai's release is needed, but there is no serious counter-revolution close to Yekaterinburg. We need to hurry. Only the uprising of the Czechs allows us to start immediately.

DZERZHINSKY

How to provoke their uprising?

BLUMKIN

Tell Trotsky that according to intelligence reports, the Czechs are on the verge of rebellion. Let him give the order for immediate disarmament.

DZERZHINSKY

Why will you attack the German embassy yourself? Isn't it possible to arrange a search by a squad of Red Army soldiers? The result will be the same.

BLUMKIN

I need a cover, so that no one thinks that I am on the spot directing the liquidation of the Romanov's. And only I, with the emergency powers of the Cheka, can find a pretext to force Mirbach to open the embassy vault.

DZERZHINSKY

Other embassies. How to motivate arrests and lookup?

BLUMKIN

Response to the assassination attempt on Lenin. Let Lenin rest for a month and recover from a non-fatal, not-real wound. He looked tired. It will only benefit him.

DZERZHINSKY

This needs to be agreed upon with Lenin… Okay… I will take over the staging of the assassination attempt. Although… A failed attempt raises reasonable suspicions. Almost all the previous attempts at life were successful. Ferdinand was so lucky in Sarajevo, but he still couldn’t escape the fate. People are already used to the fact that terrorists are lucky.

BLUMKIN

Yes. Agree. When the time comes, it will be necessary to clarify. Lenin himself cannot be killed. He is a symbol of the revolution. Need to think more.

DZERZHINSKY

Let's decide this. Let’s wait until the counter-revolutionaries themselves commit a terrorist attack, and then we, as by start signal, will also imitate an attempt on Lenin’s life. It will be natural.

BLUMKIN

Exactly. But for now, we need to start with citizens Romanov and Count von Mirbach.

DZERZHINSKY

In general terms, I approve of the ideas. Pay special attention to how to force the local government leadership in the places where the Romanov's were exiled to make autonomous decisions about their execution. They should feel like it's their problem.

That's it, let's go.

20 INT. THE CHEKA OFFICE OF BLUMKIN 20

Kaleidoscope of faces interviewee by Blumkin. Most of them are low intellect ones. But three of them: Pyotr Voykov (h.f.), sadist type YUROVSKY (h.f.), and cunning militia head of Perm city Ivanchenko (h.f.) are looked smart enough to be selected for tasks.

21 INT. Headquarters of Bolsheviks in Petrograd 21

Blumkin walked in Headquarters of Bolsheviks in Petrograd and see Shorre, very young blond just after school man, sits upfront Bolshevik party functionary officer trying to join the party. Blumkin overhears last desperate attempt of Shorre to convince in his usefulness.

SHORRE

I speak German fluently. I can help now, after the Brest Peace Treaty, to be useful in trade with Germany. I graduated from Petershulle.

Blumkin instantly realizes that Shorre is helpful for works with German documents.

BLUMKIN

(in German)

Where is the family from?

SHORRE

(also in German)

From the Baltic States.

BLUMKIN

(toward Bolshevik functionary)

We at the Cheka need people to work in counterintelligence with knowledge of languages.

We need party members.

Bolshevik

Do you give a recommendation for him?

BLUMKIN

You give to him a mandate to work in the Cheka. Register him as a party member and send him to Gorokhovaya. Let him come tomorrow. Write out a mandate to work in counterintelligence. Let him ask Blumkin. I will wait.

Blumkin turns away and continue his walking around the Bolshevik headquarters.

CUT TO

22 INT. BOW LIKE STREET 22

Blumkin in leather jacket with broad holstered belt walking in visible relaxed manner along dense green trees trimmed bow street. He is Maxim Gorky’s (h.f.) place. There are line of upper dressed people, mostly women to the massive front door regulated by the gigantic doorman. At the very tail of the line there are company of four persons: Lubov Sakharova, woman of about thirty years old; Natalie Paley (h.f.) very young woman, she is slim as high jump junior athlete; Irina Paley (h.f.), sister of Natalie; German, preteen boy, elder son of Lubov Sakharova. Natalie appears to Blumkin as extraordinary psycho gifted person with full awareness control of surrounding. He instantly fall in love with her. She feels the same about him.

BLUMKIN approaches the group pretending that his interest is not only in Natalie.

BLUMKIN

(directing to Sakharova)

Documents.

Sakharova gives to BLUMKIN small cartoon identification with her photo covering whole documents.

BLUMKIN

(reading)

Lubov Sakharova.

BLUMKIN slightly smiles. The name in Russian language literally means also “Sweet Love”. Natalie also understands the omen for their relations.

BLUMKIN

Who are you pleading for?

SAKHAROVA

They took my husband for no reason. He didn't sabotage anything. He was just the head of the freight station on the Tsarskoye Selo railroad. There were not enough maneuverable steam locomotives, so there was a traffic jam. Please help to promote a begging for his release.

BLUMKIN

Paper and pencil.

NATALIE fast takes from her bag bossiness card of her brother and small pencil in silver holder. He writes down on the upper part of card Maxim, help this woman. Yakov Blumkin. On the lower part of card he writes 7435 at 9 that is his phone number where he will be at 9 am. Blumkin gives upper part to Sakharova and returns rest of card to Natalie.

BLUMKIN

Take note and give it to Gorky. I'll show you through. Let the boy stay here.

(directing to girls)

Look after him.

Blumkin takes Sakharova by the elbow and firmly led her through the crowd to the entrance. The patrician-looking DOORMAN knew him and let them in.

23 INT. LARGE APARTMENTS OF MAXIM GORKY 23

Blumkin pushes Sakharova into Gorky’s bedroom exchanging glances with the writer to make sure for him that Sakharova is his protege. There are bohemian style crowd inside the apartment including, relatives of the owner of the apartment, girls of easy virtue, poets and party bonces. Camera follows Blumkin circulating around. Blumkin notices two poets sitting with bottle of red wine. They are Sergei Yesenin (h.f.)and Leonid Kannegiser (h.f). Leonid Kannegiser waves hand inviting Blumkin to join them. Blumkin pours a big, ordinary looking glass and seeps a vintage vine.

BLUMKIN

Who is Vladimir Paley?

KANNEGISER

Prodigal Grand Ducal branch.

(here is play on words. “prodigal son” = “bludny sun” in Russian; blud, in Russian = whoredom)

The sixth son of Tsar Martyr Alexander the Liberator, Pavel Romanov, gave birth to a boy Vladimir during sinful cohabitation with the wife of a subordinate, while she was still legally married. Then, years later, the couple was forgiven and treated kindly by the Tsar. They built a stylish palace in Tsarskoye Selo, although not as huge as Catherine’s one, but it was done with taste; his wife, Olga Valerianovna, tailored the building in her fine style. Well, she is a battleaxe lady, I will tell you. She is also a high socialite one. High society battle-lady.

Statuesque, smart, beautiful in face, energetic and resourceful. She would be good in everything, but she has no sensitivity to the signs of fate; otherwise she would have fled back to Paris immediately after Nikolashka’s abdication. Or even immediately after the end of Rasputin.

Her eldest daughter, born before Grand Duke affair, Marianne, is a regular here, she is an actress at the Gorky’s Big Drama Theater. She is suspected of having helped in the Rasputin murder case, the revolution legend.

In her son Body (nickname of the Vladimir), the noble poet of sour cabbage soup, Olga does not feel her soul, although her husband, Grand Duke Paul, is loved by her even more so. There are also young daughters. However, they are already little-witches, like their entire female race.

(nodded toward Yesenin)

Well, Sergei knows them well.

Yesenin keeps silence obviously disturbed by the topic.

CUT TO

23 INT. BLUMKIN'S APARTMENT – 2 AM 23

Blumkin opens door for pale, very skinny girl handing her big silver coin.

BLUMKIN

Take a cab.

Blumkin returns to the messy bed and instantly falling asleep.

CUT TO

23 INT. SMALL OFFICE ROOM INSIDE CHEKA – 9 AM 23

Blumkin enters is sitting behind desk. Vladimir Shorre is at the side. Phone on the table desk rings. Blumkin takes handset.

BLUMKIN

Speaking.

NATALIE

It’s me.

BLUMKIN

In an hour at Katenka.

Blumkin puts phone back on apparatus. He asks Shorre with ordinary business like expression.

BLUMKIN

Is there anything new about Ambassador Mirbach?

SHORRE

A bit. Not for himself, really, but for his relative man, probably. He is an Austrian officer, Count Robert Mirbach, who was arrested by us.

BLUMKIN

What does he say?

SHORRE

He is ready to voluntarily provide secret information about what and where is stored in the German embassy. He gave an affidavit with an obligation to cooperate with us. Obviously, he is lying, he wants to be released, and then he goes on the run. Just whistle against wind for him after.

BLUMKIN

Fine. Put the affidavit on my desk. And all the documents about him. I will be back later.

CUT TO

24 INT. LONG HALLS INSIDE CHEKA – 9:10AM 24

POV of Blumkin walking along halls and stairs of Cheka. There is no apparent order, but in general pour and leather jacket uniformed agents handling fates of rich dressed and educated looking people, mostly man of middle age and up.

CUT TO

25 EXT. STREETS AND RIVER BANKS OF PETROGRAD 25

WE SEE intercut of POV Blumkin and him walking Gorokhovaya street towards the Fontanka River. Turning onto Architect Rossy Street, he walks reaching the theater building, passes through the fence of Alexander Square and sits down relaxing on a bench closer to the Alexandrinsky Theater in front of the Monument of Monument to Catherine the Great. Natalie Paley suddenly, without been noticed approaching by BLUMKIN, sits near to him. Blumkin try not to show been almost ambushed that was never happened to him before.

BLUMKIN

Talk.

NATALIE

(fast, articulately, prepared)

Brother Volodya is being transferred from Yekaterinburg to Alapayevsk. This is a small town. I'm afraid for him. He is a poet, not well adapted to day by day life. Besides, he is not quite Romanov. Born out of wedlock. He was offered to abandon his father, but he considered it is a matter of honor to remain faithful even in danger. I have bad premonitions.

BLUMKIN

I can, most likely, save you and your sister and mother, although I’m not sure. As for the brother, Vladimir, I can try. But I can do nothing for your father. But it will cost dearly.

NATALIE

How much?

BLUMKIN

Life and soul. Someday, in Paris or New York or wherever life takes you, I or someone else will ask you for a favor. And you will do whatever asked for.

NATALIE

And the body?

BLUMKIN

I'm not a rapist. If that's what you mean.

NATALIE

Like in Faust? Selling my soul? Sign in blood? Where?

BLUMKIN

Something like that. You don’t need to sign anywhere, neither in blood nor in ink, and better you shouldn’t tell anyone anything.

Not a word, not a sound, not a hint… There should be no evidence that we ever met.

NATALIE

Where is Uncle Misha now?

BLUMKIN

He's no more. That's all I can say.

In fact, I couldn’t tell you even that. Consider that you didn't hear anything.

NATALIE

How do I know that a person is from you?

BLUMKIN

If it’s not me, and this means the situation is exceptional. He will tell in general terms how we met. And he will definitely mention the name of the woman whom I took to Maxim Gorky.

NATALIE

Lyubov Sakharova, (Sugar Love)?

BLUMKIN

Yes. Let the words of the password be ‘Sweet Love’, it’s more natural and one can always figure out how to insert it in a speech.

BLUMKIN

It’s a knotty game, in which I do not fully foresee all the events, although it’s me who wrote the script. There are too many unreliable performers, and there are no others to choose from. I can't control everything. One thing I can say for sure. Don't trust any words, only your feelings. They never deceive you. That's why we're both here on this bench. Thus, you can get out of this mousetrap. Ah, soul, it is an insignificant price to live a life to the full extent.

You call me ‘Maxim’. Just Maxim, no surname.

Blumkin stands up and walk away. POV of Natalie looking at him moving from her as mortally fall in love man leaving his dream girl.

CUT TO

26 EXT. STREETS AND RIVER BANKS OF PETROGRAD 26

WE SEE intercut of POV Natalie Paley and herself walking along Nevsky Prospect, then bank of Moika river.

CUT TO

27 INT. APARTMENTS OF MARIANE Pistohlkors 27

Natalie enters spacious flat with long hall and numerous personal rooms. She enters library, takes book “Faustus”. She sits reading with legs into enormous high back chair. Time passes to night. WE SEE Natalie inside broad bed. Her hands under thick blanket. After almost painful looking face expression she relaxes and falling asleep.

CUT TO

28 INT. SMALL OFFICE ROOM INSIDE CHEKA 28

Blumkin enters back the office of Shorre. He sits down to the table, takes papers, reads.

BLUMKIN

Good job. Really excellent to be honest. I will be in contact. Just continue with reports about Lenin’s spy works in 1917. Destroy everything with even slightest relevance. Don’t hesitate overreact. New Soviet Russia must be clean as...an innocent princess bride.

SHORRE

I will.

BLUMKIN

I will take documents about Mirbach. No more needed. All attention on Lenin-Germans connections.

CUT TO

29 INT. BIG THEATER HALL 29

Lenin on the stage in front of full hall of delegates of workers, soldiers and pour peasants moves back and forth giving keynotes speech. He wide gesticulates like hybrid of traveling salesman and megachurch preacher. Camera catches intercut of fragments of his performance.

LENIN

...our rightness in concluding the Brest–Litovsk Treaty has been proven…

...Explosions in other countries should begin.

…in our country, these revolutions were born with incredible difficulty…

… the sum of all parties in Russia … scientific attitude towards the revolution...

...in the West, they are experiencing the stab of hunger…

…we will not live starving, but rather die for the revolution…

… the Czechoslovak rebellion is a rebellion of people bought by the Anglo-French imperialists…

Camera looks at Dzerzhinsky in a hall among delegates. On the stage there is a discussion where with words like “execution”, “shooting down enemies”, “court”, “revolution justice” and so on. Dzerzhinsky’s face looks with sort of disgust. He is moving out of hall into the theater foyer.

CUT TO

30 INT THEATER FOYER 30

Dzerzhinsky stands in line to get free food that is almost only water tea in faceted glass and small, hard small donuts like sushki. He goes with the food at high table and almost indifferently eats. Blumkin pretending looking around stands behind Dzerzhinsky.

BLUMKIN

Everything is ready.

Felix, you will have to resign from your position until everything settles down. The reason for suspension is that you are under investigation because of your signature on the mandate. The signature on the warrant is definitely fake, so you are clean and out of the game. Soon no one will care about Mirbach, and for the rest of the operation I will have not just an alibi, but it seems like I’m completely out of business and on the run as a fugitive in Ukraine.

DZERZHINSKY

Beautiful weather… Sunny. A good sign for our revolution.

31 MOSCOW STREETS – DAY (JULY 6, 1918) 31

Blumkin in disguise of false thick facial hairs and Nikolay Andreev (h.f.), are in old style Packard car with driver in leather chekist uniform. The car rides along Moscow streets. Faces of Blumkin and Andreev are quiet and determined. Both of them hold thick briefcases.

The car is stopped close to the main entrance of the huge building occupied by German embassy with the narrow garden trimmed with iron fence. Blumkin and Andreev walk out from the car to the entrance, Andreev pushes button of electrical ring. Door opens. Doorman takes paper from Blumkin. They waits patiently. Door opens again. Dr. Kurt Riezler (h.f.), counselor of the ambassador Mirbach and officer of the embassy lieutenant Muller (h.f.) invite inside Blumkin and Andreev.

32 INT. GERMAN EMBASSY 32

Four men are behind massive marble table in reception room with enormous vault inside. Blumkin and Andreev at one side and Riezler in tuxedo and Muller in military uniform at other one. Thick briefcases on the table in front of Chekists. Dialog moves very slow and weird. In spite everybody at the table can perfectly speaks German language Blumkin pretending not to. Camera intercut between the talking faces without recognizable words. Soon German counterparts are losing patience.

Riezler

I have assumed that you were from Dzerzhinsky regarding the threats to the life of Mr. Ambassador. Please get to the point.

Muller translates into Russian (subtitles can be used)

BLUMKIN

That case is under the supervision of Dzerzhinsky himself. We are here on a personal matter concerning Count Mirbach. His family issue.

Riezler

I can solve all the ambassador’s issues myself. Including personal ones. Here and now. What exactly do you need?

BLUMKIN

I need nothing. It is Mr. Ambassador who needs to take care of the fate of his relative. I have Dzerzhinsky's mandate for a personal conversation with Ambassador Mirbach. I'll be waiting here when the ambassador is free to talk.

Riezler

You can't stay here. This is the sovereign territory of the German Empire. I can do it for him. I have full authority to resolve any issues. Including confidential.

BLUMKIN

And I have an order from Felix to be sure that information about that relative of the to Count Mirbach has been conveyed.

Riezler

I can provide a written document that the information was transmitted.

BLUMKIN

Do produce the affidavit. We will wait. Only the paper should be all over the formalities. On a form of embassy paper with stamps and the signature of his highness Ambassador. I will need to submit the report in full form.

Dr. Riezler leave the meeting room and went to see Ambassador Mirbach. He enters office of ambassador Mirbach. Mirbach (h.f.) is siting at desk.

MIRBACH

What?

Riezler

Mr. Ambassador. A Russian security officer has come and wants to talk to you about a certain Robert Mirbach, who is under their arrest.

MIRBACH

What the stupid staff. I don't know any such a relative. Tell them to leave.

Riezler

He demands a paper that I can solve your personal issues myself. Required on embassy letterhead and your personal signature.

MIRBACH

To hell with him. I'll talk myself. It will come out faster. Let's go.

Entering the reception room, Count Wilhelm von Mirbach sits down grandly, opposing the Russians.

MIRBACH

Well! Speak.

BLUMKIN

(changing voice tone and mannerism into a tough investigator)

We have arrested the spy, Robert Mirbach.

MIRBACH

I don’t know anybody like him. So what?

BLUMKIN

And the fact that he testified that in this very vault there are fake documents about the cooperation of German intelligence with Lenin. This is blackmail and provocation!

MIRBACH

There are no counterfeits in the vault. Apologize at once!

BLUMKIN

There is no need to apologize. We know for sure! We even know where exactly it is in the vault. The specific folder! Open it and we'll show you. If they are not there, I will immediately beg for pardon and we will leave. The Soviet government then promises any compensation. Anything at all. But the documents are there. That's for sure! Your relative told everything!

Mirbach furiously stands up from table. He moved to the open passage between connected rooms.

MIRBACH

(to the secretary)

Take Lenin on the phone!

Some time Mirbach walks along room waiting secretary answer. He ignores everybody else deep in his thoughts.

SECRETARY VOICE

Lenin at congress. He is expected soon.

MIRBACH

Let it be! Show me where these so-called fakes are.

Mirbach opens the vault, covertly as it seemed to him, takes out from vault his personal pocket gun, a Mauser of 1910.

Andreev

And we’ll show you.

Andreev stands up.

Andreev

You don’t know our methods. How cruel but effective they are. Everyone sings and bursts into trills.

Last words of Andreev are signal to Blumkin to act.

Andreev pulls out his revolver from briefcase and began shooting at the walls over the Germans to cover Blumkin’s actions. Three persons of embassy staff in room rushes in all directions to hide. Andreev throws a chemical grenade, but not successful with only the psychological effect. Blumkin jumps up to Mirbach, knocks his pistol out with briefcase and pushes him away from the open vault. The ambassador falls to the floor, trying to come to his senses. Blumkin pulls out a bag of gunpowder from his briefcase, places in the open vault, pulls the rope tied to a homemade fuse from a box of matches, closes the door of the vault.

Count Wilhelm von Mirbach crawls on all fours towards the opening into the large hall, where the pistol gun knocked out by Blumkin flew off. Andreev, notes the movement of Mirbach towards the pistol, perceives it as a direct threat to his life. He fires without aiming in the direction of the ambassador Mirbach. The bullet hit Mirbach to the right side and slightly but fatally grazed the heart. Five seconds later, the gunpowder bag in the vault ignited.

About two pounds of gunpowder in the closed vault produces an effect of old gun. A directed stream of fire from the vault brakes the glass in the windows, scorched the floor before the vault. Burning documents garbles across the room. The entire space was fills with dense white smoke. Blumkin and Andreev take advantage of the curtain of smoke to jump out of the first floor window.

CAMERA CHANGES VIEW

33 EXT. OUTSIDE GERMAN EMBASSY 33

Blumkin twists his left ankle. He climbs over a low fence decorated with lances, tires his pants and receives a scratch on his thigh from one of a stray bullets from a guards shooting from broken window. The powerful athlete Andreev picks up the thin Blumkin and drags him to the waiting car, pushes him in through its high door.

BLUMKIN

To Popov's headquarters!

34 EXT. CAR ON THE SPEED ON THE STREETS OF MOSCOW 34

Blumkin and Andreev inside car, quiet and determined. The car stopped in a front of massive building with visible heavy guards outside. They runs into building Andreev supports Blumkin. Guards know them. Andreev comes back to car. Car rides out.

35 INT. SMALL ROOM 35

Blumkin goes to his safe room in Popov’s detachment headquarters of left social revolutionaries in Cheka. Acting fast he treated his bullet wound, no too serious, of the leg. He pours whole bottle of vodka directly on the pants, bandages the wound over the pants. He changes civil coat with Chekist leather jacket and soldier coat above. He takes documents from draper of the table, puts them into inner pockets of the leather jacket that he changed with civil coat. He leaves the room fast but limping.

36 EXT. POPOV’S headquarters 36

Blumkin stepped out of the massive door. He looks around. The horse driven cab is approaching. Blumkin stops the cab and sits in. Cab is moving away.

37 INT. GERMAN EMBASSY 37

Camera moves around the reception room after bomb explosion. There is mess of papers. Lenin walks in and around many busy people including Dr. Riezler. Lenin is chaotic and attentive in the same time like a fetching dog.

LENIN

(to Dr. Riezler)

Our sincerely condolences to your government... Officially...

(to agents of Cheka around)

Do search carefully for the murderers...

(like speaking to his own thoughts)

...but not to find them…

CUT TO

38 INT. POPOV’S headquarters 38

Dzerzhinsky and head of Cheka’s squad Popov.

Dzerzhinsky

Where Blumkin?

POPOV

I don’t know? Why?

Dzerzhinsky

He killed Mirbach. Why are you covering him? Is it mutiny?

POPOV

Felix, are you well?

Dzerzhinsky

It is insubordination and counterrevolution. You are arrested, surrender your gun.

POPOV

Come here! Treason!

(pointing finger on Dzerzhinsky)

Take him.

Dzerzhinsky is holding by two agents from both sides. Dzerzhinsky smiles dreamily. He understands that he has iron alibi now.

CUT TO

39 INT. train carriage 39

Blumkin sits around dense crowd soldier coat.

CUT TO

40 INT. VILLAGE STYLE HOUSE 40

Blumkin sits at the table with head of Perm militia Ivanchenko (h.f.).

BLUMKIN

Where the corpse of the Michail?

Ivanchenko

Nobody will find… That is for sure.

(with disgusting smile)

Do help yourself with fresh bacon, do you.

BLUMKIN

Thanks. I prefer potatoes and cabbage. Where the corpse nevertheless?

Ivanchenko

Bacon is special. That the pity.

Michail Romanov… We burred then at the road side. Nobody ever would find. No need to bother.

Do eat bacon, fresh, like Czar’s food.

CUT TO

41 EXT. YEKATERINBURG TRAIN STATION – DAY 41

Pyotr Voykov stays at some distance from railroad station of Yekaterinburg city waiting Blumkin, who is known for him as Maxim Astafurov. The figure of Blumkin in gray soldier long coat appears from the door of station. Blumkin looks around waiting until Voykov will recognize him.

Voykov

With Bolshevik’s greetings in Yekaterinburg, Comrade Maxim. What do we do? Where are you going?

BLUMKIN

I don’t go anywhere here. I'll go to Alapayevsk by myself. By train. Now let's step aside. Let's talk.

Nowhere near the station, there was nothing that even remotely resembled a secluded corner.

BLUMKIN

Are you walking over here?

Voykov

On a cart.

BLUMKIN

Then let's go for a ride. We'll pass by the House. Then you will bring me back here. By the way, I need binoculars.

Voykov

Get it.

TRANSITION TO

42 EXT. YEKATERINBURG STREETS 42

Blumkin and Voykov go to the horse driven cart. Voykov untied the horse. They sit down next to each other. Pyotr took the reins in his hands and lightly spanked the horse. Blumkin sits upright at first, but then he leans back on a haystack in the cart and then rids in a reclining position. The cart slowly rolls along Arsenyevsky avenue, which soon turned outward and became then under other name as a Voznesensky avenue.

Camera direct to the right, not far behind the trees, the surface of the water in the city pond could be seen. A small, lonely figure in a weathering military uniform near the shore. It is former abdicated Tsar II of Russian Empire, Nicolas Romanov wearing colonel rank uniform without any special decorations. At the distance there are two red guard soldiers discreetly watching for him. Camera returns to Blumkin and Voykov.

Voykov

What’s wrong with Mikhail? Have you been to Perm?

BLUMKIN

I was. I spoke with Ivanchenko. Everything is fine there, although contrary to all calculations and plans.

Voykov

Why is Mikhail had been handled in solo, why didn’t the order come for Nikolai and the others? What was there?

BLUMKIN

The initiative and arbitrariness of bandits in power. Fear for their asses, fried in self-serving oil. In general, we overdid it in Moscow with threats that if the supervised Grand Dukes escaped, then the guards would be held accountable to the fullest extent of revolutionary justice.

Ivanchenko got scared. If Grand Duke Mikhail is kidnapped, then he would be shot. Czechs had just captured Samara. Vasya was completely appalled. Mystery lady arrived, introduced herself as Mikhail’s wife, and demanded to take a longer walk with him. Our policeman's mind went blank. He decided that it would be better to be reprimanded for shooting without permission than to be sentenced to death for what he missed his prisoner.

Voykov

That's for sure.

BLUMKIN

Exactly it is. Vasily made the right decision. Here we go. The plan was to stage a kidnapping and robbery. There weren't enough brains to just throw the corpses left on the street to be cursed.

Voykov

And where did they hide bodies in real?

BLUMKIN

He said, they buried them and covered the corpses with turf for camouflage. It's at night. Nonsense.

Voykov

And where did they go? After all, nothing was found.

BLUMKIN

Vasily did spinning. But, I figured it out.

Voykov

Spit out! You intrigue me enough.

BLUMKIN

Think for yourself. He has a whole yard of animals. He offered me fresh homemade bacon with a high-proof liquor moonshine. He kept trying to put a piece of bacon on my plate. Special pork, he says. Special. Do you understand?

Voykov

Well, are you saying that he fed them to the pigs?

BLUMKIN

He didn’t articulate it directly. But no other versions for me are realistic.

Blumkin and Voykov exit the door of Agafurov’s store. Blumkin puts large binocular into backpack and they sits into carriage. They moves to the pond where we saw the Tsar. We see horse drinks water from the pond. Carriage is near of the animal. Blumkin and Voykov stay leaning to carriage. Blumkin takes out a small square envelope made of paraffin paper from the inner pocket of his leather jacket.

BLUMKIN

This is Sverdlov’s order to bring the citizen of the former Tsar Nicholas to the court of soviet justice and immediately carry out the mortal sentence. It is written in disappearing ink. It is better if there are no traces of you at the place of execution at all. The fame here is dubious, but Felix and I will not forget.

Where will you hide the bodies?

Voykov

In abandoned gold mines. I dug into the archives. There are such ones. The proper place is to the north, near the city.

BLUMKIN

You will take the truck, when you get rid of the bodies, take three or four reliable guys with underground experience and take them to me in Alapayevsk. I have a special task there. Where we will meet there?

Voykov

Kokuyskaya Yama. This is a dig up of an already empty iron mine. Large quiet place. Everyone there knows it.

BLUMKIN

Tell your people that I am a special representative of the center… from Lenin… Is everything clear?

Voykov

Yes. Just when to start?

BLUMKIN

No delays. Consider it started right now. Tomorrow morning to Beloborodov. Show him the paper from Sverdlov. There is no time to drag feet. The Czechoslovak legion is near the gate. The royal bloodsucker cannot be allowed to escape from the people's judgment, he ought to be shot away. Let Beloborodov phone the commander Yurovsky, he will execute. You take the truck to Ipatiev’s House. Then you drive it to me, to Alapayevsk…

Voykov

It is clear now.

Blumkin walks away slowly slightly limping toward the railroad station alone. He is in deep thinking with changing emotions on his almost poker face. Voykov face is in mixed mortal fear and determination to commit the ultimate act of the revolution.

CUT TO

43 EXT. IN FRONT OF MASSIVE BUILDING 43

Voykov heads toward the entrance of the four-story a fortress like building of Ural Executive Committee of the Council of Soviets. It is early morning, July 16, 1918. We see chaotic activity like evacuation, concerned people scramble back and forth.

CUT TO

44 INT. OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN 44

Inside the office of the Chairman of the Executive Committee there was Lizonka Startseva, a secretary, young attractive girl, she sits behind executive table. Entering Voykov looks at secretary, not finding Chairman Beloborodov.

Voykov

When will the chairman return?

Startseva

I don't know. Maybe in a couple of hours. He was gone all day yesterday. Do come back tomorrow.

Voykov

Who is now his acting deputy?

Startseva

You can't find anyone now. The documents are being taken out to hide.

Voykov is shocked in realization that his mission is on the edge of failure. He decides to act unceremoniously.

Voykov

As the Supply Commissar, considering the emergency of the situation and the absence of the Chairman, I assume all responsibility and his powers.

Voykov stands in theatrical pose of a bronze monument. He takes out an envelope with a fake order of Sverdlov to liquidate the former Tsar. He opens a small parcel pretending no know its content. Voykov places the letter in front of Startseva to be able her to read. He and walks around the office.

Voykov

Type. Resolution of the Presidium of the Ural Regional Council of Workers, Peasants, and Red Army Deputies:

shoot dead the former Tsar Nikolai Romanov, guilty before the people of countless bloody crimes.

— hide his family in a safe place to prevent kidnapping by the enemy.

Voykov (continues)

Connect by phone with Ipatiev’s House. Ask the Commander and read out the verdict.

Startzeva

(to the phone)

Commander Yurovsky.

Commander. It is the call from the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Councils.

By the decision of the executive committee, citizen Romanov is sentenced to death. The document itself will be delivered today by Commissar Voykov and handed over to you. You have the responsibility to carry out the sentence immediately.

Startzeva hangs up the phone. She takes out the seal of the Executive Committee, blots it in the ink pad, pressed it to the papers (original and copy) of the order. Voykov is impressed by effectiveness of the girl. Voykov reaches out for the paper to the secretary. Startzeva flirts out holding paper close to her chest. Breasts with cone like nipples of the girl are visible for Voykov. She licks her lips.

Voykov

Lock the door and go to the mirror.

Startzeva quickly and confidently obeys with passion. Pyotr approaches the girl from behind, she lifts her skirt and taken off her underpants. He unfastens his belt, lowers his trousers and connects with her. POV of Voykov in large mirror their indecent sexual picture. They completed the act fast. Lisa get out a quiet melodious moan, and Voykov in deep-fast breathes.

CUT TO

45 EXT. ALAPAEVSK RAIL STATION 45

Blumkin gets of the train carriage. There are several people get out too and walked out over wasteland near railroad station building. Train moved out. Only Blumkin is in empty space in front of rail-station of small city named Alapaevsk. He sees railroad worker who is checking with large hammer rails conditions.

BLUMKIN

How to get to the Napolnaya school, comrade?

WORKER

To the Grand Dukes, or what?

BLUMKIN

And what is for you? Maybe to them. Who cares?

WORKER

It is forbidden to communicate with them. Contra wants to free them. So why do you need it, soldier?

BLUMKIN

I was just sent from Yekaterinburg to warn in a case. There is the plot to free the Dukes by airplane.

WORKER

Then, of course. Look.

Worker gestures explaining to Blumkin the direction toward Napolnaya school where Grand Dukes are hold.

46 EXT. STREETS OF ALAPAEVSK 46

Interchanged POV of Blumkin and look at him, limping slightly, walking streets of poor houses of Alapaevsk. He turns left and comes across bridge over railroad and small river near it. He goes farther until a brick house that is Napolnaya School where Grand Dukes were hold.

47 EXT. THE PARK NEAR NAPOLNAYA SCHOOL 47

Blumkin finds a convenient place for observation, about two hundred steps from the brick building. The massive Napolnaya School contrasts to the poor surroundings of dark wood houses scattered here and there. Guard of two watchman in German are at the entrance and at brick fence around small garden belonged to School.

Blumkin sits in gray overcoat merging with the trees. He waits for the agent nicknamed ‘Weasel’ to come out of the building.

In hours. The school door opens. A tall, well build woman, Alexandra Krivova (h.f.) (aka agent CHEKA with code name ”Weasel”) comes out of entrance door. She works as cook for the detainees, Grand Dukes and for head of household, Fyodor Remez. Blumkin in binocular recognizes her.

48 EXT. NAPOLNAYA STREET – AFTER SUNSET 48

Krivova walks along Napolnaya Street. At the left side are houses and at right there are waste field. Blumkin follows her on the distance to be sure that nobody except him is watching her. Woman reaches a lonely house and enters inside. Blumkin after some time comes to the door. He knocks. The door opens. Alexandra looks at him.

Alexandra Krivova

Who do you want, soldier?

BLUMKIN

I am from Moscow. From the Cheka with a special task. My name is Maxim Astafurov. You should have been warned that I am in charge of everything about the Grand Dukes. You are coming under my direct supervision. There is no time for questions. Your code name: ‘Weasel’. No questions, carry out my orders implicit. There is the task of exceptional importance under the control of Lenin himself.

Alexandra Krivova

Come in.

Blumkin enters the house.

TRANSITION IN

49 INT. TEA ROOM OF KRIVOVA HOUSE – CANDLE LIGHT 49

The candle lighting. Alexandra Krivova kindly invites Blumkin for the table.

Alexandra Krivova

You eat here, drink some tea, and I’ll heat the bathhouse. You need to wash yourself off the road. I have only one bed but a very large one, everybody will enough space not to disturb. You’ll be as family one.

BLUMKIN

Thank you. I will definitely use it with gratitude. Tomorrow morning I will instruct on what to do. Do you know where is Cheslav, Paley's servant?

Alexandra Krivova

Yes, he is here. He has been in my hayloft for a month now, and when someone comes in, he hides. He reads books, I bring them to him from the school library. When he and another servant, Ivan, were ordered to vacate the school building, he did not know what to do. He lives here, waiting for orders.

BLUMKIN

Okay, don't disturb him until the morning. Tomorrow I'll tell what to do. I need to sleep to recover from travel.

Krivova goes out into the hallway to heat up the water in bathhouse. Blumkin eats cold boiled potatoes with eggs and sauerkraut. He drinks homemade from old bread traditional drink, kvass. He becomes better. Alexandra returns and invites him to the bathhouse.

Alexandra Krivova

The bathhouse is ready. Go out into the courtyard and turn to the right. The door shows the stove light through.

Blumkin stands up and throws off his overcoat. In his leather jacket, where important documents and gun is, he goes out to the bathhouse.

BLUMKIN

(to himself)

Don’t fall asleep.

50 INT. RUSSIAN STYLE BATHHOUSE 50

Camera is inside small room of Russian style bathhouse with open fire oven. Blumkin undresses himself completely. He washes himself and lays down to warm up and relax. Krivova enters in short time. She also undresses herself and washes up. She acts without any hint of shame being naked as if natural thing. Blumkin accepts the rule to act unpretentiously.

Krivova

I’ll whip you with a birch broom.

Almost without hitting, the beautiful naked woman touches with a birch broom all over Blumkin body. The unconditional male reaction makes her act easy. With quick, gentle movements of her soft hands, she brings the man to an almost final state and, climbs on top of him with a strong body, forces him to release male fluid deep into her womb with intention to create impression that she will become pregnant to force him to care about her.

51 INT. THE KRIVOVA HOUSE, BEDROOM 51

Naked Blumkin takes documents and gun from leather jacked and puts them behind the pillow of left side enormous bed. He lays down himself and instantly falls asleep but unconsciously controlling surroundings. Naked Krivova and agent Cheka, Cheslav code name “Eagle” enters too. Krivova lays into the bed, Cheslav (who is agent Cheka, aviator Boris Veacheclavovich Krukovsky) undresses and join her. They make love in tender style as long time lover. Blumkin understands the act but consider it safe and harmless and continues to sleep.

CUT TO

52 INT. SEMI-BASEMENT OF IPATIEV’S HOUSE 52

Camera is empty semi-basement of Ipatiev House. People, all of them (h.f.), go down via short six steps stairs in following order: former Empress of Russia Empire Alex, rich dressed mid-aged woman; four young girls (Princesses ages from 22 to 17 well dressed), they are staying close behind Alex; former Tsar of Russia Nicolas II holding his son Aleksei, who is 13 years old; Nicolas stands upfront of women; there servant men and one woman whose gathered at some decent distance from royal family. There are three small dogs on hand as well. After them six red-guard men go down and standing casually near stair. Commander Yurovsky steps down standing upfront Nicholas II. Voykov goes down too and stands behind everybody of executioners.

Yurovsky

(looking at paper, but not reading word by word)

Former Tsar is sentenced to death. Family to hide from contras.

Nicolas

What?

Nicolas doesn’t recognize that his family are not supposed to be shooting down thinking that everybody are sentenced.

Nicolas

(stepping up with command gesture)

I command to be shot the very last. My family don’t see the death of the very last Tsar of Russia.

Yurovsky

Fire!

Yurovsky shots Nicolas in the chest and all others red-guard soldiers starts shooting as well in chaotic manner except Voykov, who is unarmed. Alex was shot dead instantly after her husband by direct bullet into the forehead. Others including servants panic and move chaotically under continuous fire by Nagan style handguns. After approximately 50 shots all bullets were out of guns. Only two of victims, Nicolas and his wife Alex, are dead. All others are wounded lying on the cement floor. Shooters reload revolver cartridges. Two of three small dogs attack them barking and trying to bite. They were shoot down. Third dog, spaniel, quietly runs behind and lays down in the corner. Executioners walking around victims shooting everybody showing sign of life. There are again about 50 shots until emptiness of revolvers. After last, third reload of guns. Executioners split into pairs, one of them with bayonet on the rifle pocks into the body, other one in case of response shots until dead. They start to search of victims looking for valuables. Voykov takes a big ring with gem from the finger of former Empress as a proof of death to show Blumkin. Others take jewelry too. One girls, Anastasia, wakes up.

Anastasia

Why?

UNNAMED soldier

(pointing gun and then shooting)

This is necessary for the revolution and the people, Nastenka.

A spaniel (surviving dog) waving tail approach one soldiers who pets it.

UNNAMED soldier

(to dog)

Good boy. Joy.

CUT TO

53 EXT. OUTSIDE OF IPATIEV’S HOUSE 53

Two soldiers take one corpse by an another for legs and shoulder swing back and forth and throw over the side of a truck. There are two canisters of sulfuric acid and one of gasoline in the truck. Four people climbed into the truck, sitting on the corpses. Yurovsky sits in the auto-car truck in the cabin near Pyotr Voykov who drives the truck. The truck slowly runs north through the dark city of Yekaterinburg.

54 EXT. FOREST LIKE PLACE 54

In some time truck riches forest place near not to abandoned mine named Ganina Yama that looks like not too deep hollow. WE SEE chaotic efforts to hide corpses. soldiers try to dissolve bodies with acid but it pores into ground without any effect except some hazard smoke. Peasants from neighboring farms join soldiers mostly to search valuables on corpses. Yurovsky warning shoots ahead heads.

Yurovsky

Stop marauding! Go home!

Peasants obey.

Voykov

I go to Alapaevsk. They will come with me. Tell them that they are in my complete disposal.

Yurovsky nods. He makes order to two soldiers. They climbs into body of truck that runs away. The truck runs into darkness toward Alapaevsk.

CUT TO

56 INT. KRIVOVA HOUSE 56

WE SEE three naked people in the bed. Krivova wakes up the first of all. She crawls over Cheslav and dresses up. She is completely confident without any hint of embarrassment. Two men awake too and dressing trying not to look at each other.

SMOOTH TRANSITION TO

Blumkin and Cheslav are sitting at table in tearoom. Krivova serving them with coffee and white bread, butter and jam. She tries her best to please both men, especially Blumkin who as she feels can affect her fate in any direction by will.

BLUMKIN

(to Cheslav)

You was servant of Vladimir Paley. How you managed to come into his trust?

CHESLAV

It was the condition of Cheka to be allowed abroad. Sort of exit task. To watch for Dukes. I was as wounded aviator treated in Tsarskoye Selo Hospital by patronage of Royal Family. Before sending in exile Grand Dukes and Vladimir I ambushed his Mother Olga Valerianovna when she returned after shopping. She exit car and I run to her to help with bags. She invites for tea. I told her that Princesses cares about me in hospital. It works as magic. She hires me as friend to Vladimir.

BLUMKIN

Firstly. Soon, I think this is going on right now, maybe it has already happened, the former Tsar will be executed. Upon confirmation, the task is to rid off all remaining possible challengers for the vacated throne here in Alapayevsk. There is an abandoned mine in the north of the city, in the forest, near the Sinyachikha station. Their bodies will be hidden there. This is not our business. Just for your orientation.

Blumkin continues with hesitation.

BLUMKIN

I must try to recruit Duke Vladimir. Paley ended up here due to a misunderstanding. Moisei Uritsky is an honored revolutionary. But extremely ill-mannered and rude. I'm downplaying this. Just a brute. He and Vladimir did not find a common language. The boy probably didn’t even realize that he himself had climbed onto a platform erected for somebody else. He simply made a noble gesture, without responding to the offer to leave out healthy and soundly. To teach manure some manners? Is it the purpose in life? Moisei will remain a dirty monster until his death.

What is his condition now? Will he make contact? For a deal?

CHESLAV

I can speak with Vladimir. He misses his family. Fears for his father, mother, and sisters. You can play on this. True, I haven’t met him for almost a month, Alexandra says that he, and everyone else at school, is in a depressed mood. And that's to put it mildly.

There's a catch. I can't get to school anymore. Security won't let me in. Only Alexandra can talk. She works there.

BLUMKIN

You are an aviator. Is there an airplane on which three people will fly to Petrograd from here?

CHESLAV

‘Farman’ is for two people. If you remove the weapons, then it will pull to fly one more person. All you need is a serious mandate to make them give it out. They will atone the ‘Farman’ and will resist to the last.

BLUMKIN

Okay… Alexandra should talk to Vladimir as a first thing. Let her say that a man arrived and asked to convey greetings to Bodya from Tasha. He will understand this and will listen as seriously as his reasoning left.

(to Krivova who is out at kitchen)

Sasha, do you hear what I'm saying? Everyone in their family has a diminutive name. Volodya - ‘Bodya’, Natasha - ‘Tasha’

Krivova approaches the table from the kitchen.

BLUMKIN

Tell him that all of them will be shot to death in the forest tonight. That the person from Tasha just wants to talk, that there is no need to promise anything now. Just talk. That person will ask him to step aside, so Vladimir should do it without questions. If he is not an enemy for himself.

KRIVOVA

To ‘Bodya from Tasha’, this is not enough to make him to trust. Here, Grand Duke Sergei usually calls him ‘Bodya’. And he mentioned Ira and Tasha. I could hear it out. He knows it. I am an empty space for him. He will doubt that it is true. He can tell others that they are going to shoot them, and panic will begin. Is this the plan?

BLUMKIN

Yes, you're right. There must be no warning. Can you get out Paley’s clothes? To be be immediately recognizable if put on another person?

KRIVOVA

I have clothes. And among the Austrians, one is similar to Paley: thin and long. When everything was searched and confiscated from them, I hid something. Paley's suit too.

BLUMKIN

Do you know Austrians barracks located where?

KRIVOVA

Yes. Can show. It's close to the school.

Blumkin finally gets a plan. He changes attitude to definitive.

BLUMKIN

Now you will come with me. Half an hour to get ready. You won't come back here. I will give you a mandate order to requisition the ‘Farman’ airplane, to refueling it up, and to take an additional kerosene reserve at your request. Don’t give them the mandate, don’t write a receipt. Threaten with immediate death, execution in case of disobedience. Do you have a document? On Boris Korvin-Krukovsky, right?

CHESLAV

Yes.

BLUMKIN

You will go to Yekaterinburg. Take the airplane. You'll fly here. Wait for me and Vladimir Paley on the tarmac. Where is it?

CHESLAV

Here Napolnaya Street goes from the school to the west. One or two miles after the cemetery, next to the river, called Neiva, there is a large flat field.

BLUMKIN

Understood. Alexandra. You will behave as if nothing happened. Come here after work. You will bring home that Austrian who you said looked like Paley. I'll come with my friends later. You will take the Austrian and then free.

When… if the Czechs or the White Guards or someone else will come... You know nothing. Tell the truth that can be verified. It's clear?

KRIVOVA

What is there not to understand? Everything is as clear as in an underground situation with the police.

BLUMKIN

Nothing about me. About Cheslav, he was in School and floated away months ago. Try to go to America. Settle in there. If everything goes well, send a postcard to any of our representative offices, to Maxim. On the postcard is to be the return address where you can be found. The number in the text means the time for meeting after a noon. Wait there every fifth day of the month. Password: ‘Oh, you are a weasel…’ Get it?

KRIVOVA

Yes.

Blumkin goes out alone to near room. He takes out a writing set from his leather jacket and filled out a blank form signed by Dzerzhinsky. Then he return to tearoom.

BLUMKIN

You will go to Yekaterinburg city, confiscate a ‘Farman’ airplane and fly here. Land where you said. Waiting for us. Light a camp fire. We'll arrive in the middle of the night. Be prepared for anything. Get some sleep if you can. We are leaving, I think, at the dawn.

Blumkin and Cheslav hurriedly say goodbye to Alexandra and moves out of her house.

CUT TO

57 EXT. THE WATERFRONT OF BIG EXCAVATED POND 57

Maxim and Cheslav approaches the edge of the Kokuy Yama, a pond like pit by quarter filled with water. There is the truck near a group of trees. In the truck body three people are sleeping on a pile of thrown there tree branches.

BLUMKIN

Good morning comrades!

Voykov

It is done. We finally calmed them all down. Who's with you?

BLUMKIN

This is Cheslav. Our agent. Listen to your task. Get ready, wash up, have a snack, here’s food.

Then we’ll go all together to the local headquarters of the Cheka. You will order the horse-carriages to be assembled. Six of them, one for each Grand Duke, to be delivered to the Napolnaya School at midnight. Cheslav and I will wait for you in the truck body; we don’t need to show ourselves to the Cheka here. I will show Dzerzhinsky's mandate if needed. It's better not to...

The locals must load the Dukes onto horse-carriages and send them to Sinyachikha. Together with Cheslav, you will return by this auto-car truck to Yekaterinburg. He has a mandate to confiscate the airplane. Help him in case anyone objects. Cheslav must fly to land here before dark today.

Voykov pushed out two Red Army soldiers awaking them.

Voykov

Here is Maxim Astafurov. You obey him implicitly. Don't ask questions. There is Lenin's special assignment. The fate of the revolution is in your hands.

58 EXT. NEAR BIG WOOD BUILDING OF ALAPAEVSK CHEKA 58

Voykov steps out of truck and enters the building of Cheka for about half an hour. Voykov exits the building. He climbs into the truck cabin. Voykov and Blumkin exchange with affirmative nods. Truck moves out. In chaotic manner soldiers, workers, agents Cheka exiting and moving out with task to organize execution on Grand Dukes.

59 EXT. IN FRONT KRIVOVA OF HOUSE 59

The truck stops at Krivova house. Blumkin steps out of cabin. Two soldiers jumps out from the trucks body. Cheslav jumps from body and sits down in the cabin to Voykov.

BLUMKIN

You need to get cartridge just now. Before sunset. Big bottle of moonshine will be needed too. Do confiscate under gunpoint. About me nothing, no one sound. Clear?

soldiers nodes. They move out casually starting to smoke understanding that there is enough time for this simple task. Truck runs away. Blumkin enters into house door.

60 INT. KRIVOVA HOUSE 60

Blumkin enters the empty tearoom. He looks around and notices small pack of books from Napolnaya School. He takes books one by one and takes one of them to read: Albert Robide's ‘Electric Life’. He sits down to the table with the book turning the pages and looking at the images of fantastic future with powered by electricity in any aspects of the life. He starts to read the book but being tired falls asleep.

FADE OUT TO HOURS AHEAD

Krivova enters the room. Blumkin wakes up.

BLUMKIN

Where is Paley’s suit?

KRIVOVA

I will bring it now.

Krivova exits to bedroom and returns with the man’s suit.

BLUMKIN

Bring here that young Austrian.

61 EXT. STREET NEAR BARRACKS OF AUSTRIANS – NIGHT 61

Krivova stays near group of former Austrians prisoners of war, now they are serving as guards of Grand Dukes at Napolnaya School. Among them there is one very young and tall soldier. Krivova stares at him and he noticed her interest. Krivova makes an inviting gesture beckoned with her finger. The soldier approaches her. Krivova takes the hand of the soldier and leads him along to her house.

62 INT. KRIVOVA HOUSE 62

In tearoom Krivova invites Austrian soldier to sit at the table and serves the food for him. She pretends to flirt with him. She is nervous but trying not to show her emotions to be kind women against cold blood killing. Door opens. Blumkin and two soldiers enter the room.

KRIVOVA

Don't kill him.

BLUMKIN

We will not.

soldiers sit down to the table. One of them puts a large bottle of moonshine alcohol on the table. He pours down glass of moonshine to the Austrian and insists him to drink out.

BLUMKIN

Alexandra, leave the house and go to the tavern. Be in public so that you can be seen and remembered. Don't come back here until midnight, or better much later. Tomorrow you will go to School. Act natural. You have nothing to do with anything. Then try to survive. And thanks… Toward America.

CUT IN FUTURE

62 EXT. GOLDEN BRIDGE AT BACKGROUND 62

It is the wedding ceremony with golden bridge at background at sunny afternoon twenty five years in a future. The young groom who is extremely similar to Blumkin (he is his biological son). He holds hand of redhead girl. Krivova (who is still attractive woman) approaches the girl. She hugs her and puts the fabulous ring on her finger.

KRIVOVA

Be happy daughter. I am eager to nurse your kids.

BACK to PRESENT

63 EXT. IN FRONT OF NAPOLNAYA SCHOOL 63

It is about midnight. Eight horse carriages with two or three men per each (red army soldiers, Cheka agents, peasants, labor workers) are approaching the building of the Napolnaya School. Blumkin, two soldiers and the Austrian who is deadly drunk to the point of complete blackout are in one of them. Grand Duke Vladimir Paley (h.f.) exits the door the school the first. The Red Army soldiers who arrived with Maxim approaches him and orders to sit on the cart where the drunken Austrian was. Grand Duke Sergei (h.f.) comes out immediately after Vladimir. He is under impression that Vladimir is lead to the execution. Sergey spontaneously runs to save Vladimir.

UNNAMED soldier

Stand!

Sergei doesn’t obey. soldier shot to the direction of the Sergey. The bullet hits the hand of Sergei near shoulder. He drop down and cries sobbing.

Vladimir Paley

(crying from Blumkin Carriage)

I am fine.

Sergei drop down and cries sobbing in other carriage. Horse carriages one by one are filling with prisoners and move toward the road enlightened by kerosene lanterns at the front and back of the each of them. The carriage with Blumkin, two soldiers, Vladimir Paley and drunk Austrian delays to move until all others are left the school. A lights of the last cartridge are quite far now.

BLUMKIN

(to Vladimir Paley)

Listen carefully and follow exactly if you want to live. Take out everything from your pockets; a cross, and everything gold. I will shoot you on the spot otherwise. Listen to me and shut up. We will take a walk.

Vladimir complies. He takes out the paper letters and the golden cross hidden near his heart and took off the ring. Blumkin passes these evidence of the person objects to his accomplices. He put out his lantern and jumped off the cart.

BLUMKIN

Let's get off now.

Vladimir jumps off too. They move away from the road into the field and stood in the shadows without moving. The cart with the Austrian rolls faster to catch up with the entire procession. No one notices this one-minute lag. The Red Army soldiers disobeys letters of Blumkin’s order. They put Vladimir’s Paley personal letters into the Austrian’s suit bosom, and divide the gold equally among themselves.

CUT TO

64 EXT. ROAD FROM THE CITY 64

Blumkin instructs Vladimir Paley.

BLUMKIN

Go forward where I tell you. We need to get to the airplane. It will take about an hour walk. It could be probably a little longer in the dark now. Take a lamp and watch your steps. Go!

Paley and Blumkin walk in almost complete darkness along the road leading from the city. Paley moves slowly ahead of Blumkin, lighting up the road with a kerosene lamp. His back is tense, waiting for a bullet to catch up with him at any moment. Camera makes intercut view making impression of long walk. They reach campfire near the river bank. Cheslav sits near campfire. Nearby, hidden by a group of trees growing near the river there is the ‘Farman’ that is small biplane airplane.

CHESLAV

The Tsar ordered him to be the last to be shot. Pyotr told me.

Paley and Blumkin are to tired to respond.

Blumkin

(to Vladimir Paley)

Sit down, Bodya.

Blumkin sits down to the campfire. Paley sits across to him.

Blumkin

You know Cheslav. I'm a special agent, my name is Maxim. I know your sisters. Mariana, the ‘poop-bird’, as you described her in your poem, ‘did not see the kingdom’,She is fine in the new government of the workers. All the other conspirators against Rasputin are also alive. And you are in purgatory now. You are lucky to have a sister, Tasha, I met her, she asked me to save you. There will be a conversation tomorrow. It will depend on you who lives and who dies. Now lie down to rest and sleep.

Paley obeys instantly falling asleep as if shot dead.

CUT TO

64 EXT. NEAR SINYACHIKHA MINE 64

Camera looks at road near forest and narrow road path into dense trees toward abandon gold mine. The horse carriages with prisoners of the Napolnaya School turn off the road into a forest cleared path towards the mine hole. Each of them stops about a hundred steps to the mine. One by one victims pulls out each per two executioners. They are moved to the edge of an abandoned mine. The edge is not visible for victims. In almost complete silence victims are pushed to free fall one by one. There were only hints of muffled thud of a fall. Two soldiers, comrades of Blumkin, take from carriage completely drunk Austrian in Paley suit. They hand over fake Paley to deal with toward two other soldiers returning from mine.

UNNAMED soldier

Take this one too. You know better what to do.

The Austrian is taken by other soldiers and pushed into abyss of the mine. soldiers, Blumkin associates, sit down at carriage and ride back to Napolnaya School.

65 EXT. FRONT OF NAPOLNAYA SCHOOL 65

It is night. Austrian guards looking for missing comrade inside and out of Napolnaya School.

Unnamed Austrian guards

Kurt! Where are you?

The cart with Blumkin associates approaches the School building to stage a performance of the alleged kidnapping of the Dukes. They fire shots from Nagan handguns without specifically aiming. One of the Austrian guards are hit dead. Others run away. The Blumkin’s soldiers trews out bomb grenade into the open door of the School. The grenade doesn’t blow up.

Unnamed soldier

That’s it. Our job is done. Returning to Yekaterinburg. Let’s go to the station.

CUT TO

66 EXT. NEAR THE RIVER BANK – 66

EXT. NEAR THE RIVER BANK – DAWN BEFORE SUNRISE

It is dawn before sunrise. Cheslav, Blumkin and Paley are sleeping near lately extinguished campfire. Cheslav wakes up the first. He goes down to the river with a pot to draw up the water. He scoops from the Neiva river, put down the pot, washes himself, come back with the filled pot to the place of the group to stay, hangs the pot on a thick stick over the campfire to boil up for the morning tea. He works out to restart the fire. Blumkin and Paley wake up as well. There were routines to prepare meal and to eat sort of breakfast utilizing buns prepared by Krivova. Blumkin takes out the handgun and point it out to the Paley trying to kook casual but determent.

Blumkin

My name, Maxim, is not my real name, but it’s better for you not to know the true one. That's why I won't say it. And there is no need to ask. If I lie, you won’t trust me but this is not the time to tell the truth.

Blumkin makes sign by look to Cheslav not to interfere.

Blumkin

You are lucky that it was me who was entrusted with the liquidation of all the Romanov's. I accidentally met your sister on the street, fell in love at first sight, and she asked me to save you. It happened. A series of coincidences, they are. Absent these accidents, you would now be lying a corpse at the bottom of the mine shaft, and it would be so if you were lucky enough to die immediately, instead of suffering in agony for another day or two. But now the odds favor you to choose your destiny by yourself.

CUT TO

67 INT. THE DEEP OF THE MINE 67

In deemed light from upper hole we see several people including Austrian guard in Paley’s closing are lying at the bottom of abandon shaft. Some of them are already dead others are in mortal pain.

OLD WOMAN

Water. Water.

OLD MAN

Shut up. I’ll kill you.

CUT BACK

68 EXT. NEAR THE RIVER BANK 68

Paley is terrified as if previous scene was his vivid imagination.

Blumkin

There are two options. First. Now all three of us will fly to Petrograd. You will meet Natalia, your sister Tasha, there. Will see only her from the whole family. You will enter the service of the current government. You will change your name, appearance, manners, I will rescue your sisters and mother. They will flee abroad. It’s impossible to save your father, I won’t lie about. If anyone finds out that you are Grand Duke Paley, you will deny it, and if arrest is inevitable, you will put a bullet in the forehead. You will have to give me your word of nobility.

I’m breaking all the rules and Lenin’s direct order for you. If you say no, don’t agree, or just remain silent, I will have to shoot you right here. Five minutes to think. Cheslav, get the engine ready.

PALEY

(in five seconds indifferently as if to nowhere)

I give you my honest, noble word.

Blumkin

When we can fly to Gatchina?

Cheslav

At first we need to remove a machine gun. Then to arrange place for third traveler. All at all at least an hour hard work. Correction. Hour and half. Vladimir is no help in his condition.

Blumkin

Good enough. Let’s start.

Cheslav and Blumkin prepare airplane “Farman” for flight of three people. Paley is here but looks lost. They demontage machine gun and threw it in the river; cut and pluck branches from trees and put them with some clothes on the bottom of the airplane cabin to organize the place for third passenger. They make holes to give this lying person a view to the earth. Cheslav hands out helmets to protect their ears from the unbearable noise of the airplane engine to his travel companions. A small biplane takes off the field.

69 EXT. THE BACKYARD OF remote farm NEAR ALAPAEVSK 69

We see old peasant woman looks up to airplane flying above her.

70 EXT. IN FRONT OF NAPOLNAYA SCHOOL 70

There is crowd gathered near Napolnaya School. One soldier with rifle aims inside school building. He shots several times until hit and ignites a bomb in its hall. The man in leather suit, commissar Smolmikov (h.f.), comes in front of the crowd and rises hand demanding attention.

Smolmikov

Band of Contra kidnapped dukes. They killed guard and bomb the school. All of them escaped on the airplane. No more danger now. Disperse home, comrades.

Crowd slowly vanishes all around. Group of three women. One of them is the same one who saw airplane.

Woman

It is holly true. I saw the plane with my own eyes. It’s enormous and scary like devil fly above me. Save us God.

71 EXT. CABIN FARMAN AIRPLANE 71

POV of Cheslav who is piloting the plane at the second seat as is for this plane. POV is changing from one traveler to other: Blumkin at front seat, Paley lying at the bottom looking down in made watching holes.. Behind them is thick forest (taiga). It is a long flight with almost nothing to catch an eyes. In about three hour of real time (much shorter in screen time). There is a river and flat field with cows. The plane is landing.

71 EXT. NEAR FARMAN AIRPLANE 71

Cheslav

We need to get kerosene. And rest.

Blumkin

Wait us here. Take a rest.

CUT TO

72 INT. SMALL VILLAGE STORE 72

Blumkin and Cheslav enter the store where one counterman presents.

CHESLAV

We need two barrels of kerosene. And food.

Counterman

We sell per one gallon. One gallon to person.

CHESLAV

We need two barrels.

Counterman

We have only one shipment of supply before winter. If you take two barrels we won't survive the winter.

BLUMKIN

I am Lenin’s envoy. We have to be in Moscow in time. I will direct worker’s government to send you kerosene replacement. Put canisters on the cart.

Counterman

I know only Tsar. Go away at once.

Blumkin pulls out Nagan gun and points to the forehead of counterman.

BLUMKIN

I have right to shot you at the spot for counterrevolution. Do what I say. One more word and you are dead.

Counterman obeys.

73 EXT. NEAR AIRPLANE 73

Blumkin and Cheslav drive on the horse cart to the airplane. They sit down with Paley to start eating when Blumkin notes villagers approaching them.

BLUMKIN

We have company. Cheslav prepare to take off. Vladimir, help to put everything inside. I will hold them. Hurry up!

Blumkin points gun standing at the road before small crowd of armed with pitchforks, scythes, and other agricultural tools.

BLUMKIN

The first who will be closer than five steps will have the bullet into the chest.

Crowd stops approaching toward the road but villagers slowly spreading around the field surrounding the airplane.

CHESLAV

Ready!

Blumkin moves backwards to the airplane continuing to aim gun on the crowd. Airplane starts and takes off.

CUT TO

74 EXT. CABIN FARMAN AIRPLANE IN AIR 74

POV of pilot, Cheslav. Не realized that fuel in airplane will end very soon. He is looking for any spot to land and put kerosene from canisters into airplane. In some tense time there is the spot around the forest. The air plane lands.

75 EXT. NEAR AIRPLANE 75

BLUMKIN

Good job Cheslav. I owes you a favor.

CHESLAV

Just let me immigrate to America as it was planned.

BLUMKIN

Deal. As soon as situation permits. Today and now on we will visit store just before fly away. No more gambling. Let’s rest for now.

CUT TO

76 EXT. BANK OF VOLGA RIVER NEAR YAROSLAVL 76

All tree travelers Blumkin, Cheslav, Paley are near campfire. Airplane are not too far. It takes five nights to get here. Paley already is custom to his new situation and relax somehow. They catch some fish in the enormous river and relaxing with big bottle of moonshine. At the significant distance there is the city of Yaroslavl where rebellious activity takes place exact this moment. There are sounds of artillery shots and clouds of fire smokes above the town.

PALEY

Why are you with them?

BLUMKIN

It happened so. Who else do you want me to be with? With the party of the Grand Dukes or the merchants of the First Guild? Not born with a silver spoon in mouth. My place with plebeian. By origin.

PALEY

What for to kill Tsar? He did abdicated. By himself.

BLUMKIN

How do you call an officer at the front who will cry upon an enemy attack – ‘my dear mother, what the hell!’ will he say. ‘I’m tired of this horror, I can’t stand it anymore’ he will throw away his sword belt with weapons and, in front of all the soldiers, will leave the trench and go to the rear, howling from fear of getting shot in the back?

PALEY

A coward and a traitor.

BLUMKIN

Yes, of course.

The question then is this. How do you call the Supreme Commander, crowned ‘in great service’ to the people, who abandoned his duties during the war? A stupid war without a serious reason, which has already destroyed millions of Christian souls. And he abandoned it rushing, he simply threw away his duties, like a wrapper of a candy that he had already eaten, then he didn’t need the wrapper. He didn’t even bother to get into agreement that his successor accepted the burden of responsibility for the entire Empire of Russian people. He didn’t even warn brother Mikhail that he was passing over him a load, from which he himself fled like a cowardly hare. How will you call him?

Paley doesn’t answer but was seriously impressed.

BLUMKIN

He was married to the people, but during a marital scandal, he didn’t even get a divorce, he just left, abandoned his soul mate, his people. How does an abandoned wife feel about her husband?

PALEY

Okay, that’s right, Nikolai had been pusillanimous. But why are the Bolsheviks in power now? The Constituent Assembly did not choose them. The people didn't choose either. The Soviets are only a handful of workers, they are not the whole people of Russia. The peasantry as a mass did not choose anything. Why you?

BLUMKIN

Because we did not disdain to raise power from the mud where Nikolai threw it, and where the Provisional Government led, which could not understand that only a dictatorship could stop the turmoil after the horrors of the war. Because we are ready to serve the people. And we are ready to destroy anyone and everyone who stands in our way of serving the people. That's why.

PALEY

(as he means that)

I give you my honest, noble word.

CUT TO

77 EXT. CABIN FARMAN AIRPLANE 77

POV of Cheslav as is aerial view of the suburbs of Petrograd starting from Pavlovsk Palace, then Tsarskoye Selo Palace complex and then flying to the Gatchina Palace when airplane land on the field of abandon flight school.

CUT TO

78 EXT. NEAR HANGAR OF ABANDON FLIGHT SCHOOL 78

Engine Farman airplane stops near the repair hangar. The gate of hangar is padlocked. Blumkin finds nearby steel wire and unlocks gate of hangar. There is American ”White” truck in working condition but without fuel. The travelers Blumkin, Cheslav and Paley work out the situation as an already well-coordinated team. They pushed airplane into hangar and drive out the airfield on the truck.

CUT TO

79 EXT. NEAR TWO STORY BUILDING 79

The truck stops near home building, home of Cheslav. Travelers step down and enter the street door.

CUT TO

80 INT. HALL IN FRONT OF CHESLAV’S APARTMENTS 80

Cheslav push button of the door ring. Blumkin and Paley stay behind him. The door of the apartment opens. Young woman, Eugene Krukovsky? wife of Cheslav opens the door. She is very pale and slenderness unmistakably indicated constant malnutrition. Woman at first sees the leather uniform of Blumkin. She scared almost to the point of unconscious thinking that it is a search by Chekists.

CHESLAV

Zhenya. It's me.

Eugene

(screaming)

Borya!

She jump up to hug her husband.

CHESLAV

Calm down, Zhenechka. Everything is fine. Here are my friends. Maxim and Vladimir. We must shelter them, they helped me a lot.

Eugene

Hello. Very nice to meet you. Make yourself comfortable. Now I’ll figure out what to feed you with.

She invites everybody in.

BLUMKIN

We have food. You just make the bed for us, and we’ll sort out dinner ourselves.

Eugene

Of course, of course. I'll do everything right now. We have a lot of space. Boris parents are in Vladivostok. Each of you will have a separate room.

CUT TO

81 INT. DINING ROOM OF CHESLAV’S APARTMENT 81

There are Blumkin and Cheslav in the dining room for the breakfast. Two other inhabitants of the apartment are still in sleep. Eugene is too weak. Paley is the first time in months is able to feel safety.

CHESLAV

Zhenya needs a chicken soup. She is almost mortally ill. What next? What about my travel to America? When?

Blumkin

At first I have to figure about about my status in Cheka after all these events. You know that I am wanted after so named uprising of left social revolutionaries.

I will try to do it now if the phone here is on service.

CHESLAV

I think it is. My father usually subscribed for whole year. He should do it before exiting to Far East.

Blumkin

Good. Let’s try. German (aka Vladimir Shorre) must be already in.

Blumkin takes phone handler. He rotates dynamo engine to make a call.

Blumkin

Girl, connect me with Cheka at Gorochovaya. External 02.

82 INTERCUT OF PHONE CONVERSATION BLUMKIN AND SHORRE 82

SHORRE

(here is in office room)

Shorre is on the phone device.

Blumkin

I'm about Eagle case.

It is necessary to review it from the beginning to the very end. Unforeseen circumstances arose.

SHORRE

I'll come by today.

Shorre hangs phone handler.

Blumkin

(to himself)

Clever boy.

CUT TO

83 INT. ARCHIVE OF CHEKA 83

Shorre is in the basement of Cheka building where is the archive of agent cases. He is looking among others cartoon covered folders. Shorre finds the case with nickname “Eagle”. He is browsing papers inside and takes almost all of them from the folder except front page with photo and personal data. Shorre learns last address in Gatchina of Boris Krukovsky (aka Cheslav, aka “Eagle”). He puts paper inside pocket of his leather jacket and the case back into shelf.

84 EXT. STREETS OF PETROGRAD 84

Shore exits the building. He walks the street toward Baltic Railway Station.

CUT TO

85 EXT. Baltic Railway station 85

Shorre in the Baltic Railway station enters the passenger carriage powered with stream locomotive.

CUT TO

86 EXT. GATCHINA NEAR RAILWAY STATION 86

WE SEE Blumkin is watching passengers exiting from railway building. POV of Blumkin who is watching Shorre looking for Cheslav house. Blumkin follows Shorre to convince himself that there no chekists team following his associate. Shorre enters Cheslav’s house. Blumkin waits some time. Nobody is insight. Blumkin enters Cheslav’s house too.

CUT TO

87 INT. CHESLAV’S APARTMENT 87

In the dining room there are Cheslav and Shorre having conversation. Blumkin enters.

BLUMKIN

Hello. What's the news from the Cheka Commission? Are they looking for me?

SHORRE

They are searching, but without enthusiasm, it doesn’t involve search dogs, the trail has gone cold. No one has been given a special task of looking for you. At the end of last week, Felix stopped by Petrograd. He came allegedly to check on the employees and find out how things were going. Informally. He also removed himself from the leadership position during the investigation into the Mirbach case. He stepped by to see me too. He said you acted for the revolution and with the best intentions. That you needed a well–deserved rest, that he wanted to contact you later. If this happened, it would be with my assistance. I guessed that you carried out a successful operation with him, is that correct?

BLUMKIN

Let’s not talk about this fantastic operations. Highest secret of the proletarian state...

I will introduce you someone.

Blumkin and Shorre go to the room of Paley. Vladimir Paley sits on the sofa leafed through the binder of the ‘Niva’ popular magazine.

BLUMKIN

(to Shorre)

I can’t tell you directly who he is. He promised me that he would shoot himself if his identity was revealed. I really don't want him to. So, don't ask, please. If you guess about, keep it to yourself. Let's be friends, all three of us. Maybe great things are waiting.

(continues)

Vladimir must be legalized in that manner that nobody can get to the bottom of his past, no questions arise.

SHORRE

Plastic surgery? It's quite a long matter. Three months, I heard.

BLUMKIN

How do you know?

SHORRE

Mom has a surgeon friend, Wilhelm Shaak. He is also from the Baltic Germans. They have a home club. They like to socially gather and talk around over a tea party. They play Pick-up sticks and Russian lotto with excitement. Nice people they are. He said that the revolutionaries also asked him to get rid of police surveillance for sure.

BLUMKIN

So we’ll ask doctor Shaak to make Vladimir an entirely different, dissimilar person. Let him live with you for three months while the scars heal. Is there enough space?

SHORRE

Plenty. My mother has a considerable apartment on the Second Line of Vasilyevsky Island. There are several rooms unattended. My uncles live with her, but they are planning to leave. Jean, in any case, he was seriously planning to go to America.

PALEY

When will I see Tasha? You promised.

BLUMKIN

I think it will be tomorrow evening. Very soon. We need to organize the departure of our pilot. To set a date for an appointment for your plastic surgery. There is still a lot to be done. Need money for. Vladimir, there is a need for a letter to your mother. Write a pitiful note that you are no longer interested in anything, neither balls nor decadent painting. Say that Cheslav looked after you like a nanny, and ask her to give him money to go to Poland. Tell her that he left you his last savings when he was sent away. I won’t dictate, she will immediately guess if the style is not yours.

Paley nods and begins to write. He writes one version and tires it in pieces. Then another one also tires it into scraps. Blumkin takes the third one, reads it with apparent disgust.

BLUMKIN

Good enough.

(Reading aloud with some irony)

I am looking for the truth, only the truth.

Ingeniously. In style of complete desperation. And your signature and handwriting definitely yours.

Blumkin and Shorre move back to dining room joining Cheslav. Shorre gives to Cheslav his documents taken from his Cheka case.

SHORRE

Here is everything for accommodation in America for you and your wife. Letter to embassy of Provisional Government. They are the only legitimate in Unites States for now. It can work. Good luck.

Shorre leaves apartment.

NEXT MORNING

All four inhabitants are at the table for morning tea.

CHESLAV

We need to call Olga Valerianovna. You can't pull it any longer. Need money. Zhenya needs a borscht soup.

BLUMKIN

Go ahead.

Cheslav makes phone call.

CHESLAV

Mademoiselle. The Paley Palace.

(continues after some waiting time)

Ale. Ask Olga Valerianovna to the phone, please.

The Intercut of phone conversation.

OLGA PALEY

Citizen Princess Paley is on the line.

CHESLAV

This is Cheslav. I brought a note from Vladimir. Can I come in?

OLGA PALEY

Cheslav! Right now. Come. How is he?

CHESLAV

I'll tell you everything. I'll be there after eight. It's comfortable?

OLGA PALEY

Certainly! Look forward to.

CUT TO

88 EXT. NEAR KOLONISTSKY POND AT TSARSKOYE SELO 88

The evening. The truck with three men, Cheslav, Blumkin and Vladimir Paley is parking in a garden near in the southeastern part of Tsarskoe Selo. Cheslav headed towards the majestic, massive building of the Paley’s Palace, Blumkin and Vladimir Paley remain waiting under the trees near the shore of the pond. Camera follows Cheslav approaching entrance door of Paley’s Palace and rings the bell.

CUT TO

89 INT. BIG DINING ROOM INSIDE PALEY’S PALACE 89

Inside museum like palace we see Olga Paley (h.f.), mid-age impressive woman, and Cheslav sit behind enormous table served by tea in fancy china porcelain set. Behind the door to the dining room are Irina and Natalia eavesdropping on the conversation. Olga Paley reads the letter given her by Cheslav. She is confused and touched, very sad.

OLGA PALEY

How it was? Is he alive?

Cheslav

I was ordered to leave after tightening conditions of arrest. That is all what I know. I gave to Vladimir all my money. It was really difficult to get in Petrograd empty handed.

OLGA PALEY

Of course. I will give you money. Body asked in letter to help you. What the plan now?

Cheslav

I think about Poland. There are some relatives of mine. Maybe they can help for first time. I don’t know what to do here any more.

OLGA PALEY

Yes. I have slightest idea myself. You see all this art. What to do with it? And where Vladimir find me if not here.

Olga Paley stands up and goes out for money. Irina and Natalia slip into the room. Each of them approaches Cheslav with polite greeting. Cheslav instantly recognized Natalie and unnoticeable for Irina put a small peace of paper with the words Will wait at Kolonistsky pond. Bodia in the hand of Natalia. Hearing steps of their mother both sisters run from the room. Olga Valerianovna returns the room.

OLGA PALEY

Here is the money. I think it will be enough for the trip ti Poland. What I can.

Cheslav

Thanks a lot. Safe you God. Good bye.

Cheslav leaves the room after kissing the hand of Olga Paley.

CUT TO

90 EXT. NEAR KOLONISTSKY POND AT TSARSKOYE SELO 90

Cheslav, Blumkin and Vladimir Paley are parking standing near the pond looking in direction of Paley’s Palace. The figure of Natalia Paley appears out from the dark. She runs toward them. Upon approaching them closer Natalie recognized her brother Vladimir. She runs directly into him almost jumping on his neck. Reaction of brother is scared her. He acts formally correct for the occasion but without any real joy. Natalia realizes that her brother is mentally mortally handicapped now. Natalia breaks away off from brother and turns toward Blumkin. She stands close to Blumkin.

NATALIA PALEY

Thank you for the brother.

She impulsively kisses Blumkin to his lips. The effect of short kiss on both of them is concussive like thunderbolt of sexual explosion. Both Blumkin and Natalia is surprised of their feelings. They have long stare to each other like first time meeting. Natalia gathers herself the first. She turns toward Cheslav. She pours into hand of Cheslav handful amount of gold rings with with gems.

NATALIA PALEY

Take it. It will be useful to you. Don't argue.

(turning to Blumkin)

Give me the phone. Need to talk.

BLUMKIN

87531

NATALIA PALEY

I'll memorize. I must run. They will miss me for now.

Natalia shakes Blumkin’s hand. She gives the hand to Cheslav for a kiss; gives brother Vladimir one long hug and runs in the direction of the palace without looking back. Three man sit into truck.

CUT TO

91 EXT. NEAR THE TRAIN WAGON OF TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS 91

Cheslav and Eugenia come to the first class carriage of the Trans-Siberian Express ready to departure. They approach to the conductor.

Cheslav

Is there free seats? We need to go. We will pay well.

Conductor

All tickets are sold out. Two seat are empty for now and train must go as soon I will show green. I can’t let you enter wagon without tickets.

(writing out at a piece of cardboard)

Here is the message to the ticket office. I will hold train until you get tickets. Run.

Cheslav

Be here. I will be back soon.

CUT TO

92 INT. HALL OF THE APARTMENT 92

Dressed up in expensive suit man, minister type, enters the hall of apartments. He walks glowing along the hall to the door of one room. Door to the opposite room opens and blue color-dressed person eavesdrops conversation of the man and his wife.

UNNAMED FORMER RICH MAN

(cheerfully)

I got the tickets! We leave this country of louts at power tomorrow! Let’s celebrate! What we have? Tea!

Eavesdropping man goes to the phone.

IN HOUR

Team of chekists enters the hall. Chekists escort the former rich man outside.

CUT TO

92 INT. room for interrogation in Cheka 92

Inside the room for interrogation in Cheka the former rich man is sitting at stool. He is all in blood.

UNNAMED CHEKIST

(aiming gun in the head of man)

Want to run away from us? You can't run away from us, contra.

Chekist shots man into forehead.

CUT TO

93 INT. HALL OF THE APARTMENT 93

Eavesdropping man pushes the woman, wife of executed former rich man outside the apartment.

Eavesdropping man

(to his wife)

We have now extra space. Hurry up. Take a look are there any goods for our household.

CUT TO

94 INT. TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS 94

Cheslav and Eugenia sit in wagon-restaurant of the train. They happily and loving looking at each other. Eugenia eats soup with great appetite but observing all the rules of etiquette.

CUT TO

95 INT. jewelry store in HARBIN (FREE CITY) CHINA 95

Eugenia is in China town of Harbin inside jewelry store. She sells out couple of the gold rings given to Cheslav by Natalia Paley. She is surprised by how big sum of money paid for the rings.

CUT TO

96 EXT. UPPER DECK of SHIP 96

Eugenia and Cheslav are at deck the ship entering the San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge. They are exited looking forward for long happy life.

CUT TO

97 EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE OF MIT, CAMBRIDGE USA 97

Cheslav steps up to the stair of the entrance of MIT (Massachusetts Technology Institute).

CUT TO

98 INT. design bureau 96

In twenty years Cheslav with spy camera makes the photos of blueprint of seaplane floats.

CUT TO

99 INT. USSR spy agency 99

Inside meeting room in Russia spy agency two persons are looking at the projection at the screen with these blueprints made by Cheslav.

CUT BACK FROM FUTURE

100 INT. INT. DINING ROOM OF CHESLAV’S APARTMENT 100

Two days pass after meeting with Natalia Paley. Blumkin is alone in whole apartment. Blumkin calls by phone to Pyotr Durnovo (h.f.), who is former husband of Marianne Pistohlkors and half–sister of Vladimir Paley. Durnovo is under the surveillance of the Cheka being under suspicious in counterrevolutionary organization and connection with Danish Embassy.

Intercut of phone conversation.

DURNOVO

Durnovo is at apparatus.

BLUMKIN

I have an important proposal for you. You are being followed. All contacts are traced. But we need to meet. It is in your interests, foremost.

DURNOVO

I’m listening.

BLUMKIN

Go to the Piccadilly Cinema for the first show after two in the afternoon. There, in the middle of the show, you will go to the lavatory. For camouflage, wear blue glasses and a false beard. Try Marianne’s theatrical props. Go out to Karavannaya and to the fountain on Manezhnaya. If you break away from surveillance, I'll come over. If I notice that the surveillance has not been drooped out, I will call tomorrow at the same time.

DURNOVO

Understood.

Durnovo hangs phone.

CUT TO

101 EXT. FOUNTAIN ON MANEZHNAYA SQUARE, PETROGRAD 101

Durnovo sits at the bench looking at dry fountain and relaxing at the sun. A young man in a checkered suit approached Pyotr Durnovo, it is Blumkin disguised as a rich foreigner, dandy.

BLUMKIN

It was me who called you.

DURNOVO

What!?

BLUMKIN

Listen carefully. Postpone questions to the very end. And keep in mind, I won't answer almost any of them. I can not.

The Red Terror is being prepared. There will be provocations. All Latvians are agents of the Cheka. All their promises are provocations just to set up diplomats. In all organizations of counter-revolutionaries, there are agents of the Cheka. You can only trust those you know personally well in your career. Only to those whom you knew as associate. All newcomers, well, not all of them, probably, but almost all of them, these are embedded agents. Now the former masters are not engaged in fighting, they figured out in result to be simply killed. It doesn’t matter whether one fought or wanted to serve the Reds. They will kill everyone they find and doubt about, let even if it will not give any monetary benefits for them. People with brains tend to escape. If a devoted monarchist, whom you do not know from your previous life, comes and expresses readiness to fight the Reds, then this is a provocateur. We sent.

You need to hide and prepare an escape. Best is to Finland.

DURNOVO

I will think.

BLUMKIN

Think about this. The decision was made. The entire royal family, all the Romanov's, have been decided to be exterminated. No exceptions. Whoever did not hide is to blame the own stupidity.

I promised to save the Paley women.

They haven’t touched them yet. Olga Valerianovna knows how to pay off with good wine and treatment, but after the start of terror, no bribes will help for a long enough time. Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich is on the to-do list, they will come for him, and soon. From you, I need an Austrian prisoner's uniform for a young man above average height and documents for the Hungarian Vladimir Mesarosh. If you guess who he is, you will destroy him, yourself and everyone else around. Marianne will go to her mother and leave a package with clothes and documents at the bench of the Tsarskoye Selo train station. Place identification papers, whatever proper ones, in the inner pocket of that uniform. Tell them that the entire Tsar’s family was killed in one basement, there are no more Grand Dukes in Alapayevsk either. Give her a good panic attack.

I just save your life. If we meet someday, even years from now, repay me in kind if you can.

Durnovo

Promise.

BLUMKIN

Without delay, change your place of residence. Right today. If there is a need to contact, this is my direct phone number in Gatchina. While I'm there.

Number is 87531.

CUT TO

102 EXT. TRAIN STATION, TSARSKOE SELO 102

Train arrives the platform of the station. Mariane with bag of uniform exits the wagon door. She sees a young Blumkin sitting at the bench nearby recognizing him by Durnovo description. She approaches the bench and casually puts the bag close to Blumkin.

BLUMKIN

Thanks. Tell them everything. It is even more scared then you can guess. Good luck.

Marianne glances shortly at Blumkin as if trying to convince herself that he is for real. She walk out with confident step.

CUT TO

103 INT. CHESLAV’S APARTMENT 103

The morning of next day. The phone rings. Blumkin takes phone hanger. Intercut of phone conversation Blumkin and Natalia Paley.

NATALIA PALEY

It's me.

BLUMKIN

Hello.

NATALIA PALEY

I need to talk. Is it true what Marianne said? Can you pick me up?

BLUMKIN

In two hours, in the same place as the last time. Will this work?

NATALIA

Yes. I am waiting.

Blumkin puts phone-hang down, takes gun, looking at gun with doubt, but pull it into pocket nevertheless. He is in mixed feelings. He exits the apartment.

CUT TO

104 INT. CHESLAV’S APARTMENT 104

In about two hours the door into apartment opens and Natalia Paley followed by Blumkin enters in. She walks along the hall with fast, determined pace making quick look into each room all along the hall. She pays practically no attention to Blumkin but keeping awareness of his presence.

NATALIA

Are you sleeping here?

BLUMKIN

Yes.

NATALIA

Boil for the tea.

Natalia enters the bathroom. Blumkin walks into the kitchen, ignites the kerosene stove with match, pours water into kettle and puts it on the stove. He looks around to find cookies to offer with tea. In short minutes there is voice of Natalie.

NATALIA

I don’t want tea. Come in.

Blumkin turns off the kerosene stove and goes into the room stopping at the door. POV of Blumkin. Dress and underwear of Natalie are neatly folded on a chair. Natalie lies on the bed, leaning against the pillow and bending her knees slightly. With an easy smile, completely without embarrassment she looks into Maxim’s eyes.

NATALIA

Wash yourself and come to me. And don’t worry, ‘not a rapist’. This is what I want. Myself.

In few minutes. Blumkin returns from bathroom.

NATALIA

Be tender, please. Be a good boy.

WE SEE love affairs between Natalie and Blumkin with intercut of illustrations of the positions of lovers in french edition of Kama Sutra book with the level of naturalization intended for a targeted audience.

CUT IN

105 INT. BEDROOM OF BLUMKIN 105

Natalie and Blumkin exhausted after long love act. Natalie’s head on the shoulder of Blumkin.

BLUMKIN

You were obviously a virgin, how did you know about such things? I've never done anything like. Great, of course, but where did you learn?

NATALIA PALEY

At Marianne's home, of course. She has postcards about men and women, what they do together in love. Ira and I also found a French book called the Kama Sutra. She has pictures of Hindu sculptures as well. Everything is described there, in detail. I learned about the positions from there and tried out with you. There are a lot more for later.

BLUMKIN

Mariana…

NATALIA PALEY

It was she who ended Rasputin. Without her, this depraved devil would not have been lured out without bodyguards.

BLUMKIN

And how was it?

NATALIA PALEY

Elementary simple. Duke Yusupov showed to the so named ‘Elder’ photographs of Mariana, where she and her brother-in-law Dmitri practice Kama Sutra positions. The ‘Elder’ caught fire, and when he was told that he could be invited to the movie set of such sort, he forgot about all caution. They convinced him that Mariana was shy in front of strangers, that he should come alone to Yusupov, where in his photographic studio would shoot the movie. While he was staring at, they shot him in the side. But not mortally. He played dead and tried to escape. They caught up him and finished off finally. Nothing special.

BLUMKIN

Wow, incredible! So, is this poem with words ‘Dear Maryanochka’ are, exactly about this? About the erotic path of her? Did Vladimir know all the details?

NATALIA PALEY

No. He only knew that Mariana and Dmitri were close. He heard rumors about the photographs. The entire investigation was closed down almost immediately because Mariane threatened to tell all and to publish all the details with photos. That's why...

Is it true what Mariana said that you decided to kill all the Romanov's? Me too?

BLUMKIN

Absent of you. I'll get you out, don't be afraid. And, in general, it’s true. Mariana found out from her ex-husband, from Pyotr, and it was me who told him about when I asked for the uniform of a captured Austrian for Bodya. Lenin himself ordered me, upon Kaiser Wilhelm's demand. So, it was not us who decided, but your relative Wilya. It's creepy, indeed.

NATALIA PALEY

I finally get it. Mariana asked our Daddy to dodge a captured by pretending to be an Austrian soldier and escape away. But Daddy stood up in such a proud pose.

(imitating dad)

To me! In the uniform of the enemy! Never!

BLUMKIN

I can feel for him. He was at home. Loved people are around. And, Vladimir looked into the eyes of death after months of humiliation and fear that everything would end at any minute, without any external reason, without warning.

NATALIA PALEY

But why does Uncle Wilya need all this?...

I didn't do anything bad to him.

I didn’t break any china jar in his palace... As I recall…

BLUMKIN

Nothing personal to you, of course. It's all about the Brest Peace Treaty. In order that Germany can hold out for an extra six months. So that a couple of a more million would be killed. Politics. He wanted the former Tsar's signature on the Treaty or his head on a plate.

Natalie loses interest in the conversation after the word politics.

NATALIA PALEY

I need to go home.

Take me and figure out where we can meet. It’s easiest for me to run away from Maryanne's apartment. They don't follow me much there. Through the back door, there and back. Sniff like a mouse. Or in Pavlovsk. There is such a gigantic park there, like a forest.

BLUMKIN

I need to check the my apartment on Moika River Embankment. To see is there any surveillance. Phone there in a couple of days. 73541

Natalie nods without writing down. She has absolute memory.

CUT TO

106 SHORT CLIPS OF HONEYMOON like AFFAIR 106

Camera sees as Blumkin and Natalie walk along alleys of royal palace parks of Tharskoe Selo and Pavlovsk these are located close to each other. They do picnic at the edge of Slavyanka River in the Pavlovsk park along blooming high grasses. Natalie get the key to Peel Tower at the shore of small narrow Slavinka River. Peel Tower is special designed royal place for dates with one round bedroom at the second floor. Natalie and Blumkin make love there. The couple occasionally ride to the historical Petrograd center to walk around and then hide in Blumkin apartments.

CUT TO

107 INT. THE BLUMKIN APARTMENT AT PETROGRAD 107

In about three weeks of pure happiness. Natalie and Blumkin are lying at the bed. Natalia leaning on his elbow looking at the face of Blumkin.

NATALIA PALEY

Tell me.

BLUMKIN

I don’t know anything about the events of the last days. You know I was with you. All the time, I did nothing else. I didn't even read newspapers. Could not.

NATALIA PALEY

Dad was arrested. What will happen to him?

BLUMKIN

I have no right to say. Your father will be shot by Cheka decision, nothing can be changed. I can and will do everything to save you and your sisters. Mom too, if she herself accepts assistance. They will kill all the Romanov's in reach. At first, the Kaiser demanded this to ensure the Brest Peace, but now as the matter has been started, this wheel is rolling down the slope, no one can stop it.

NATALIA PALEY

Why is the wheel still running? Isn’t the matter over with the murder of the Tsar and others?

BLUMKIN

Almost, but not quite. Not all contenders for the throne are killed. But this is not the most important thing. The plan is broader. The very idea of aristocracy must be destroyed entirely. No one should rule just because they were born into a family with a title. But we can’t just go ahead and execute everyone alike during the French Revolution. Then all the nobles were guillotined. Heads shook away. It ended with a new Emperor coming. We don't need this. It is important that every event happen in a seemingly natural way. Not because we will shoot everyone, embodying an abstract idea, but because they attacked us themselves. Get it? It is not we who want to destroy them all, as in reality is, but as if we are who defend ourselves from their attacks.

NATALIA PALEY

My God! What then?

BLUMKIN

We will arrest all the Grand Dukes and put them into prison. Then we will arrange an assassination attempt on Lenin. Almost successful. A performer must be already selected, this is the mistress of his brother Dmitri. I don’t know the details, but she will be framed. An operation has been launched to present diplomats from England as conspirators to overthrow the government and drag Russia back into the war. And then we'll start terror. They will respond in kind, and the massacre will begin. There are more humans on our side, so we will win. Full democracy will come with one communist party of the proletariat at the top. There will be no other classes left, so it’s definitely democracy. There, the world revolution can soon be ignited.

NATALIA PALEY

Uritsky?

BLUMKIN

What about Uritsky?

NATALIA PALEY

Will he live and shoot dead everybody? He's an anti–Semite.

BLUMKIN

He’s a Jew…

Yes, you are right. I understand, my wise princess.

Blumkin kisses Natalia. She kisses him back.

CUT TO

108 INT. CHESLAV’S APARTMENT – LATE AUGUST 108

Blumkin is alone in Cheslav’s apartment in Gatchina. The phone rings. Blumkin hangs up the phone.

BLUMKIN

I’m listening.

Intercut of phone conversation.

Shorre

It’s me, Vladimir Shorre.

BLUMKIN

What's happening?

Shorre

You need to come to the train immediately. It now stands near Gatchina. Felix is there, he will tell you everything. He returned to the Cheka.

BLUMKIN

Are there any problems with our patient?

Shorre

Learning to live again. He is staring at the new face in the mirror for a long time. Trying to understand how his feelings are expressed by a new face. He makes all sorts of facial expression. It turns out to be no better than a C grade, but doesn’t give up in despair. Reads books. Mom has a lot of them in German.

BLUMKIN

Fine. I'll contact you later.

CUT TO

109 EXT. GATCHINA STREETS 109

Blumkin walks along the small town streets passing the Palace complex via the park. Camera interchanges view from face of Blumkin to surrounding and back. Blumkin approaches the freight railroad hub. He is stopped for checking his identity for couple of times with guards in leather jacket uniform that has in more fancy style comparing to Cheka’s one. There are railroad train cars all around. Blumkin comes to the armed train. He stops at luxury looking wagon.

110 EXT. NEAR MINISTER WAGON OF TROTSKY 110

Here are officer looking man and the woman (she is Sakharova who met Blumkin at Gorky’s apartment) having conversation near the entrance of the wagon that is mobile headquarters of Trotsky who is commander of red army.

BLUMKIN

Dzerzhinsky is waiting for me.

SAKHAROVA

It is you!

Sakharova fall on her knees before Blumkin kissing his hands. Blumkin is completely confused.

SAKHAROVA

Nikolai, it’s him. It was him who took me to Gorky. It was because of him that Sergei was released!

BLUMKIN

Don’t… I didn’t do anything like that… I'm really rushing, sorry.

(to the officer)

Tell Dzerzhinsky that he knows me well in face. Let him look out the window. Do you?

NIKOLAI SAKHAROV

Wait here.

Nikolai Sakharov enters the wagon.

BLUMKIN

How is your husband?

SAKHAROVA

Thank you. Thank you very much.

You are our guardian angel. Sergei was released immediately, two days later. I had nursed him back. He works again on the railroad, as an acquisition worker. So, I came to ask his brother, maybe there is a place for him on the train.

BLUMKIN

Get it. It's nice. Happy for you.

SAKHAROVA

And you visit us. We live on: 13 Moskovsko–Yamskaya, third floor apartment.

BLUMKIN

I’ll come in. Maybe. I'll contact you through Nikolai. Is his last name the same as yours?

SAKHAROVA

Yes. Nikolai is a big man here. From the old, former ones, from the specialists.

Nikolai Sakharov goes off the train and invites Blumkin to enter the car. Blumkin leans forward to gallant kiss the hand of Lubov Sakharova.

111 INT. MINISTER WAGON OF TROTSKY HEADQUARTERS 111

Blumkin follows Nikolai Sakharov through the train car corridor, a small cabinet where behind a typewriter machine sits the secretary in military uniform. Blumkin enters the meetings room, which stretched across the entire width of the headquarters wagon. Trotsky (h.f.), the commander of Red Army, is sitting at the chairman's table. There are two leather sofas opposite to each other at opposite room sides. Dzerzhinsky is sitting on one of them. There is also another man, Karl Radek (h.f.), one of the political leaders of Bolsheviks. He has a strange beard, sort of a shovel, like sideburns collided at the chin.

Trotsky

Ahh! Lover of the Revolution!

Dzerzhinsky

Hello, my boy.

RADEK

Karl. Don't introduce yourself, they told me.

Trotsky

Help yourself, but don’t eat out everything on the table. Old-pro suppliers can do a lot, but they can only find pre-revolutionary products in limited quantities, but I need to show off dust in the eyes of too many visitors. That everything is in perfect order with us, purportedly.

Blumkin swallows his saliva, take one grape, take a bite, chews it, puts the second part into his mouth, and eats it under under scrutiny of everybody present.

BLUMKIN

Thank you, it’s delicious.

Trotsky nods approvingly.

Trotsky

Our expert has no need to report about the results of his work. Let's call him, Expert. From Felix, we already knew everything we needed. What we don’t need to know, you should not to tell. We, old satyrs, have no business embarrassing the young man.

Just one question for my curiosity, which may be useful, however. Who knows...? Is flying an airplane difficult? Can a person like me do it?

BLUMKIN

You can. But I wouldn't recommend it unless absolutely necessary. The noise is terrible. The view is interesting only for the first hours. The speed of travel per day is no more than by train. We had to confiscate a kerosene only in the morning, right before takeoff. Otherwise the peasants were going to beat, even to kill us. It turned out to be one flight over a day. Trip by airplane is making sense only to avoid document verification.

Trotsky

It's clear. For example, to escape to Finland.

BLUMKIN

Yes. Then you also need to have where to live, where to go. They will soon find the airplane and start asking everyone around. The language, Finnish, cannot be learned. And, you can’t get as far as to America.

Trotsky

Thank you for the comprehensive report. You should have been awarded, but our Expert had already got the most desirable award that a young man can only dream of, we envy him badly but asking him to return to the affairs of the revolution, he is needed.

Trotsky starts the meeting.

Trotsky

There are two issues on the agenda: ‘Red Terror’ and ‘World Revolution’.

Blumkin is almost shocked taking the statement as a joke at first but is able to keep himself composed.

Trotsky

The point one. To proclaim the ‘Red Terror’, we need a cause. The assassination attempt on Lenin had already been prepared. The question is when exactly. And also, is only an assassination attempt enough? Maybe it is too small act for ‘casus belli’, to declare war? Comrade Expert, any thoughts?

BLUMKIN

Firstly. It is necessary to combine the beginning of ‘Red Terror’ with searches in embassies. There may also be documents about our cooperation with the Germans. If searches are carried out, then no one will be able to claim that there were originals. Everything will be compromised. And further. ‘Red Terror’ requires real death, a real Bolshevik, but not instead of the assassination attempt on Lenin, but simultaneously with it. We must put an end to Uritsky, he is a disgrace to the Jews.

Long pause. Everybody consuming the meanings of proposition.

RADEK

Why Uritsky?

Trotsky

Whom then? Me, perhaps?! Or maybe you instead?

Accepted. When?

BLUMKIN

We'll see how it goes. The other day. Soon. Lenin's assassination attempt should be played immediately after the news about Uritsky`s one. It will serve a signal that it is time. It's better on the same day to create the impression that there is a wide conspiracy.

Trotsky

Reasonable.

(to Dzerzhinsky)

Any comments?

Dzerzhinsky

No. We will entrust Moisei to the Expert, and I will control the details of the assassination attempt on Lenin.

Trotsky

(with dark, dry humor)

Great. I ask you not to tell Uritsky about in advance; there is no need to make our comrade nervous until the time comes.

(seriously)

Second question. The Germans lost the war. We helped them, our Russian army was destroyed, Russia was taken out of the war. But the Americans replaced us completely and with a vengeance. The Germans, with all their order and gloomy German genius, will not be able to withstand the whole world. After defeat in the war, the dynasty will fall, followed by the revolution. Everything is like in our case. And there is only one step to the world revolution. Okay, there are plenty of steps, but this is the second one, involved Germans, we can’t leave things to a chance. Speak up.

Dzerzhinsky

We have no one in Germany.

It was us who they owned. Not the other way around. We'll have to start from scratch. Or rather, to be precise, from a negative point. Their intelligence knows everything about us.

Trotsky

We still have to. No matter how difficult it may be. We need to create a group. Of all those who are present here. And to attract comrades and Companion. I myself. An ‘our boy’, that is, an ‘Expert’; ‘German’ - Shorre. Karl, as a representative of the Communist Party for relations with German Communists when they rename themselves in that way. He knows them.

Dzerzhinsky

Shall we also bring in an Expert's travel companion too?

(to Blumkin)

Isn't it risky?

BLUMKIN

Risky. He gave his word of honor, but then there were special circumstances. He may decide that, under threat of execution, this word is not particularly noble. Another thing is that now he won’t be able to do any damage. His appearance is different, he doesn’t look like himself. I would take the risk. The risk is less than the reward. He doesn’t like Germans. He fought with them.

Trotsky

So. Let's summarize. The group has been determined. Everyone speaks German. Here is an opportunity for Felix to combine the personal interest and the revolutionary one. Your family is in Switzerland, isn't it?

Dzerzhinsky

Exactly. My wife now works at our representative office.

Trotsky

So you’ll go and see her, and at the same time you’ll sell small things, something from the Diamond Fund that is in Kremlin now, and create accounts to support operation ‘World Revolution’.

Dzerzhinsky

Maybe it’s better not so openly, directly. ‘Resignation’, maybe, for example.

Trotsky

So be it. Experts know better. Get to work, comrades. I won't delay anybody.

Dzerzhinsky and Blumkin get up and head to the exit from the ministerial carriage.

112 EXT. NEAR MINISTER WAGON OF TROTSKY 112

Lyubov Sakharova is still standing at the door. Dzerzhinsky is intrigued watching interaction Blumkin and Sakharova.

SAKHAROVA

So, will you come in? Do come in, please, I’ll introduce you to my husband and boys. Let me write down the address, do you have any paper?

BLUMKIN

No need to write. I remembered. Moskovsko-Yamskaya building 13, third floor.

SAKHAROVA

You remember indeed. What a wonderful young man you are. Come for lunch on Sunday. I’ll be back from church and have everything sorted out by two o’clock, will you?

BLUMKIN

I'll come. Goodbye.

Blumkin joins Dzerzhinsky. They walk toward the railway station.

Dzerzhinsky

She is definitely not Natalie. Looks a little more… mature…

BLUMKIN

This is a strange coincidence. It was she who I helped get to Gorky when I met Natalie, and you, on Lenin’s orders, released her husband. Her husband’s brother is the boss here, the one who checked me near the carriage and told you to look at me through the window. Such are the coincidences.

Dzerzhinsky

Are you sure it’s just a coincidence?

BLUMKIN

I’m not sure of anything ever, but it’s more dangerous to reject any possibility of coincidence. They happen. The family seems nice. Who knows, Marx forbid, I will be in trouble instead, maybe that time they help me for a change.

Dzerzhinsky

Tell me… Shorre and this one, what is his name now?

BLUMKIN

Vladimir Mesarosh, Austrian prisoner.

Dzerzhinsky

Let there be Mesarosh. Tell them, Shorre and other one to be ready to infiltrate Germany under the guise of returning prisoners. You probably do too. Think about what is more convenient for you...

You seem to have a legal passport. Maxim Astafurov. Is it so?

BLUMKIN

Exactly. I don't like this last name. I I didn’t tell Paley's. Especially to Natalia. Just Maxim and that's it.

Dzerzhinsky

I think that you will need to go to Switzerland with me. To hedge things for me a little. Shorre and Mesarosh will lifeguard Radek. He is responsible for setting politics. You are responsible for practical execution. Both of you must agree before active motion. I will tell Radek to start an infiltration operation when I return from Switzerland. Think about how to provide yourself with an alibi that you have not been in Germany. Spread rumors that you are fighting in Ukraine for the restoration of proletarian’ power.

BLUMKIN

What can be done for the Paley family?

Dzerzhinsky

We will use their escape to cover our agent during the transition to Finland. You have contact with Pyotr Durnovo. When there is time, I will inform you that the border is open. We will cover our eyes. We won't let her dad out. He is too prominent figure in the dynasty.

BLUMKIN

Got it.

They approach Dzerzhinsky’s car.

Dzerzhinsky

I don’t offer a ride. I know you live nearby.

CUT TO

113 EXT. AREA WITH NUMEROUS REAL Road TRACKS 113

Blumkin walks along toward three story bricks building situated between two tracks. He enters the outer door.

CUT TO

114 INT. INSIDE THE BUILDING 114

Blumkin rings the massive door. It opens. Sergey Sakharov, average build man with accurate mustache and unhealthy blush.

Sergey Sakharov

Is it you? Maxim?

BLUMKIN

Yes, I am. Hello, I'm glad you are in good health. Here are the flowers for Lyubov, sorry, I don’t know her middle name.

Sergey Sakharov

Grigorievna. Thank you. Lyuba! We have a guest.

Come here.

Lubov Sakharova comes to the entrance hall.

SAKHAROVA

Come in, make yourself home.

Blumkin passes the large kitchen with a massive brick stove heated with wood. It is almost a full-size home heater but lower the just oven. He goes into the living room where five boys, children of Sakharovs are sitting at the big table served by cooked by Sakharova mushroom pie. There is also big silver like samovar, boiling water appliance, in the center of the of the table. All of them are sitting behind large table helping themselves with pie. There is sort of uncomfortable silence without between them, de-facto strangers.

BLUMKIN

(to break frost)

What is the story of your marriage?

Sergey Sakharov

I was just promoted to the a telegraph operator at a Maslovo Rail Station. It is near the Uglich, the town where son of Ivan Groznuy, Dmitrii, was killed by Godunov, by the way. It is Yaroslavl province. Luba passes the station by train visiting relatives after graduation from the Yaroslavl Diocesan School, it is church school. In fact she thought to go into monastery. But God decides otherwise. We occasionally collides at the platform when she stretchering her legs. I caught her from falling then and holding now for life.

Sakharov

Sergei is great worker. He did careers. At first he was head of Lubniza railroad station then moved to manage the goods department of the Tsarskoye Selo road.

Sergey Sakharov

And Luba is great mother.

CUT OVER COUPLE HOURS

SAKHAROVA

You may know. We have two bonds. One of them are my wedding gift. Is the plan to continue payments for coupons?

BLUMKIN

I am in different area of expertise. The situation is difficult. I would not count on it for near future. But who know what life brings. Just keep them in case. They ask to eat?

SAKHAROVA

No, of cause.

German Sakharov, pre-teenager elder son, approached Blumkin to impress him with a Swiss made gold pocket watch that could chime the time when the button on the side is pressed.

German Sakharov

Dad gifted me for my birthday.

I love Yesenin’s poems.

BLUMKIN

And I know him. I was sitting next to him, like I am with you now.

AN HOUR MORE PASSED

BLUMKIN

I need to go. Thanks for everything.

Blumkin stands up from the table where they play card for interest to kill time and whole family goes to the door to say goodbye.

BLUMKIN

Do not be afraid of a sitting guest, but be afraid of a standing guest.

Everybody laugh to the joke. Blumkin comes out. Door closed. Every left adult make a deep relaxing breath of the debt job well done.

CUT TO

115 EXT. STREET With CHURCH NEARBY 115

Blumkin walks along the street deep in thoughts for some time. He shakes his head as if want to awake and changes his demeanor to normal for him. In total concentration on the important issues at hands to provoke a Red Terror.

CUT TO

116 INT. BLUMKIN’S APARTMENT IN PETROGRAD 116

Blumkin and Natalia Paley are lying in bed after a week separation and leading each other with love acts to complete exhaustion.

BLUMKIN

Does Mariana have artists and bohemians in general in gathering?

NATALIA

Well, yes. After the performances, they meet and celebrate. As usual.

BLUMKIN

You wanted to kill Uritsky. There is such a poet, Leonid Kannegiser. A friend of his from artillery school, also a Jew, it seems by name Pereltsweig, was recently executed by shot. Leonid may think, like you, that Uritsky is an anti–Semite and disgraces the Jews. He can be provided, as if by chance, a phone number of Uritsky, offering himself for recruitment, and then kill Uritsky at the meeting.

NATALIA

Leonid is afraid of me.

BLUMKIN

He’s doing the right thing. You cannot be offended only be loved. Ahh, he has Olechka Arbenina. Clearly, he's afraid of falling in love with you. It was me who got into it through negligence, like got into ambush, but he had the opportunity to see you while you were growing up. He understood the danger, the poet, even though he was a militant.

NATALIA

So I need to talk to Olechka? Am I?

BLUMKIN

Tell Olechka that you saw a piece of paper with Uritsky’s number. That Moisei himself gave it to your mother when she went to him for a pass to visit your father, citizen Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov. You saw the leaflet and remembered the phone number. Tell her what you overheard, where you don’t remember that the Socialist Revolutionaries sentenced Uritsky. Leonid may want to spill everything to Uritsky’s face.

NATALIA

I’ll tell her this evening. Olya used to see Maryana on Wednesdays. Almost every week.

Natalie gets out of bed and goes dressing up without a shade of shame moving with grace of ballerina.

NATALIA

Bye.

Natalia goes out the door.

CUT TO

117 INT. THE APARTMENT OF ARBENINA 117

Olga Arbenina (h.f), lovely gorgeous young women, leading lady actress, enters the apartment. She is very exited and slightly drunk. She walks to bedroom. On the bed the is sleeping poet Leonid Kannegiser, who was with Yesenin in Gorky flat. Olechka (nickname) looks at Kannegiser with long stare and decided not to wake him up. She undresses and goes to the bed huddled close to her lover. Soon she falls asleep.

CUT TO EARLY MORNING

Leonid and Olga sit at the ritual morning coffee breakfast.

ARBENINA

I found out Uritsky’s number.

Olga Valerianovna visited him and received a pass to see her husband. He's a terrible person. Disgraces the Jews. A terrible freak, a bloody dwarf, a vampire. Like from a fairy tale. Rumpelstiltskin. Creepy.

KANNEGISER

Yes? And which?

ARBENINA

22133

KANNEGISER

So simple. Easy to remember.

I'll go and take a ride.

CUT TO

118 EXT. STREETS OF PETROGRAD 118

Kannegiser rides the bicycle along bank of Moika river. He turns left and approaching the building with arc that is the Main Post Office.

CUT TO

119 INT. LARGE HALL OF MAIN POST OFFICE 119

Kannegiser uses public phone apparatus inside the building of large hall of main post office. There is intercut of phone conversation between him and Uritsky (h.f.).

URITSKY

(sitting behind executive desk)

Chairman of the Petrograd Cheka at the apparatus.

KANNEGISER

Uritsky?

URITSKY

Yes. On what issue?

KANNEGISER

Conspiracy at the Mikhailovsky Artillery School.

URITSKY

We’ve already shot everyone.

KANNEGISER

Not all of them. I can show who wasn't arrested.

URITSKY

Come early tomorrow morning to the General Staff headquarters on Palace Square. At nine. I'll tell the doorman to let you wait. Ask Boretsky.

Uritsky hangs off the phone handler. Takes out his glasses, cleans them up. Put glasses back, snorts contemptuously.

CUT TO

120 EXT. PALACE SQUARE 120

We see Kannegiser rides in on bicycle toward doorman who is responsible for the entrance of General Headquarters at Palace Square.

KANNEGISER

Boretsky waits me.

DOORMAN

He will be soon. Wait inside. I will watch bicycle.

Kannegiser enters the door.

121 INT. ENTRANCE HALL 121

Kannegiser is inside of dark small entrance hall to the general headquarters. He waits for Uritsky already long hours periodically watching wall clock. Kannegiser emotionally on the edge of fury.

IN TWO HOURS

The door to the hall opens. Uritsky enters the hall. He notices Kannegiser.

URITSKY

Ahh… A snitch on the cadets? I remember.

Kannegiser takes out gun and shot strait in the left eye of Uritsky. Kannegiser runs out.

CUT TO

122 EXT. PALACE SQUARE AND Millionnaya Street 122

Kannegiser is out of the door into Palace square. He jumps on the bicycle and rides shakily on the paving stones of the Palace Square toward Millionnaya Street. Behind him sound of doorman whistle and shortly after the motor engine of the car checklists chasing him. Kannegiser rides along Millionnaya Street. At the middle of the street he notes that car of pursuers is closing fast. He throws the bike and runs into door of the building on the left side. Running through the building happens to be on the bank of the Neva river and runs into routine checklist patrol. He runs back and hits into the team of his pursuers.

CUT TO

123 INT. PASSING HALL INSIDE BUILDING 123

Chekists beat Kannegiser and take him away. Inside the building is the club where dozens of former aristocrats are gathering. All of them are in brutal manner arrested as well.

CUT TO

124 EXT. STREET NEAR MIKHELSON’S PLANT – MOSCOW 124

There is black car on the empty street. Driver is waiting near it. Lenin walking toward the car after meeting. Upon Lenin approaching he car driver shot in direction of Lenin not to hit him with the bullet but aims into the car.

DRIVER

She is there! She shots Lenin.

Lenin climbs into back sit of the car and he lies down on the seat pretending that he is wounded into the arm. The group of chekist and workers are run to the car.

DRIVER

Lenin is shot. He needs hospital help. It was woman contra. Caught her.

Driver jump into the car and it rides away.

CUT TO

125 INT. OFFICE INSIDE MIKHELSON’S PLANT 125

In the room the is Chekist behind executive desk and Fanny Kaplan (h.f.) at the stool in front of him. Kaplan is the slim woman with black-eye at the left side of her face. Chekist looking at small peace of paper with message.

Chekist

(reading)

I will be at Lenin meeting at Michelson. Come there. Dmitri.

(to Kaplan)

Who is Dmitri?

KAPLAN

Brother of Lenin.

Chekist

What?! Dirt on leader of worker want to pour. I will not allow!

Chekist takes out Nagan style gun and shots Kaplan to the forehead. He tears the paper with message in pieces, throws them on the dead body of Kaplan and spits on her corpse.

CUT TO

126 INT. THE HALL OF HOSPITAL 126

Two chekists are standing on the guard in long hospital hall in front of the closed door to room where Lenin was brought by his driver. There are flock of doctors most of them elder age in white coats in front of the door. Dzerzhinsky with escort of two other chekists approaches the door.

Dzerzhinsky

Wait here. Nobody in.

Dzerzhinsky enters the door. Dzerzhinsky sees Lenin on bed. Lenin’s driver sits at the nearby stool.

Dzerzhinsky

(to driver)

Wait outside.

Lenin

It didn’t turn out too believable.

Dzerzhinsky

Doesn't matter.

But about Moisey there is no doubt. No kidding. On the spot. You will have a month off, good for you. We will instill fear and horror in the doctors. Everyone of them is already trembling.

Lenin

What's next?

Dzerzhinsky

Everything is fine. You can rest. We will turn everything over in the embassies. We will destroy any reports about our connections with German intelligence. This will complete operation ‘Kaiser Memorandum’ in the main part. There are still be Grand Dukes who have not yet been killed, those who have already been arrested, and those who are hiding in the south and not sticking out. The White Guards now have no time for restoring the monarchy. They have no agreement upon a political program. The ‘Red Terror’ begins here. We will find and destroy everyone who is hiding and can interfere. Only in this way can the proletariat truly take power. It will not win the career competition against old specialists or people with education. The path for the new bosses needs to be cleared. It is a necessity. Logic demands.

Lenin

What’s the deal with Blumkin?

Dzerzhinsky

He always acts independently. And he leaves no traces. The main thing is that Uritsky was killed on time. This is his idea and his implementation. Look’s like completely by someone else hands. The plan worked. He is now in reserve. Germans may also have a revolution. And I must prepare the ground, going to Switzerland to visit my family. I'll take him with me.

Lenin

Act. Just make sure that everything goes smoothly with the embassies. And one more thing. Once you are in Switzerland, try to find a contact with German intelligence regarding the destruction of incriminating evidences on us. Offer money. Make an offer that no one can refuse. Prepare a mandate for the seizure of valuables from the Diamond Chamber. I'll sign. Make bank accounts in our names and put money in. Who knows how everything will turn out.

(singing with terrible voice in bad pitch area of German from ‘The Queen of Spades’ of Chaikovsky)

Today is you, tomorrow me.

Dzerzhinsky comes out to the hall.

Dzerzhinsky

(to doctors)

Leader of proletarian revolution was attempted to be assassinated by counterrevolution element. The vile woman shot Lenin with poison bullet in the hand. The poison was fired out upon shot. Lenin will recover in a month.

Dzerzhinsky silently takes a look to the eyes of every doctor staring at each of them until intimidating enough.

Dzerzhinsky

Publish medical conclusion. You know now what to write. Free out. For now.

CUT TO

127 EXT. THE VIEW OF TRAIN AMONG 127

POV above fast moving steam driven train contained a locomotive and one wagon behind. It is night. There are variety landscapes runs into from dense forest to waste fields.

CUT TO

128 INT. THE LARGE COMPARTMENT OF THE TRAIN 128

Dzerzhinsky sits at the sofa looking in dark windows with blank expression on his face. In some time he is going to sleep.

128 EXT. NIKOLAEVSKII RAILROAD STATION 128

Dzerzhinsky exits the wagon. There are flock of chekists greeting him.

Dzerzhinsky

There will be meeting at Gorochovaya. Noon sharp. Gather everybody. No excuses.

CUT TO

129 INT. MEETING HALL INSIDE CHEKA 129

There are about two dozen men most of them in leather uniform. Dzerzhinsky walks to the podium.

Dzerzhinsky

Our dear friend Uritsky is murdered by counterrevolution. We will remember him forever. The Palace Square will be named in his honor.

The assassin tried to escape into British embassy. There are nest of counterrevolution. Your task today is to destroy at once this den of proletarian enemies. Every papers there must be burned. Make sure that no contra escapes alive.

Do your work Comrades.

Long live Proletarian Revolution!

Everybody except Dzerzhinsky and two his two bodyguards moves out.

CUT TO

130 INT. INT. BRITISH EMBASSY 130

We see empty hall in before entrance door. There is loud knocks into the door. British Royal Navy Commander Francis Cromie (h.f.) runs out inner rooms of the Embassy with the gun ready to battle. The grenade explosion wide opens door from outside. Cromie is hiding behind massive marble railing of the stair shooting aiming at group of dozen chekists storming the embassy. In short time after killing two of them by direct hit into heads and wounding three more into chests Englishmen left out of ammunition. After short time realizing that defender is helpless chekists approaches him and without any hesitation five of them shot in the body Cromie at least ten times. He stays alive during all the execution.

IN COUPLE HOURS

There is a fire of documents papers chekists are bringing into lobby hall in front of the entrance door. Dzerzhinsky enters the door and looking at the fire makes deep breath.

Dzerzhinsky

Good proletarian job, Comrades.

Long live the revolution!

Hooray!

CUT TO

131 EXT. gates of Peter Paul Fortress 131

Well dressed people are entering under guard by one or two chekists into gates of Peter Paul Fortress. There are irregular sounds of shoots.

CUT TO

132 Animating. newspaper headlines 132

WE SEE Collage of newspaper headlines: “Long live to Red Terror”, “Enemies of revolution are executed” (with long list of names).

CUT TO

133 INT. OFFICE OF DZERZHINSKY, MOSCOW 133

Dzerzhinsky reads and signing papers from the pile of them on his desk with death senescence of accused in counterrevolutionary.

CUT TO SOME TIME AHEAD

British spy under diplomatic cover Robert Lockhart (h.f.) enters the office of Dzerzhinsky where behind the executive desk is Dzerzhinsky and on the stool nearby is the head of operation “Conspiracy of Ambassadors” Latvian Chekist Peters (h.f.).

Dzerzhinsky

Please sit down.

Good news. Your Government is barbarians. Out representative Litvinov is taken as hostage and threaten to be murdered if anybody from arrested conspirators should be harmed. All of you will be departed as soon as possible.

LOCHART

Mura Budberg will be free too? She did nothing against your Revolution.

PETERS

We are not fighting with innocent women. If she is not involved, citizen Budberg will work for new happy Proletarian World.

Dzerzhinsky

We are humane power. You will permitted to say goodbye to your lover before returning to your family, to your legal wife.

(pushing communication button)

Take him away.

Lockahart walks outside office.

PETERS

(laughing)

“To your legal wife”. I never suspect that you have such a sense of humor. I will tell Mura.

(he leaks his lips)

But this cat doesn’t care at all. Wife or not wife. This male or that male. Great woman. I know for sure.

CUT TO

134 INT. THE COMPARTMENT OF PASSENGER TRAIN 134

WE SEE Dzerzhinsky, perfectly clean shaved, inside first class compartment and Germany border guards in uniform returning him passport.

UNNAMED GUARD

Welcome to German Empire.

Dzerzhinsky

Thank you.

Dzerzhinsky looks sincerely happy and relaxed.

CUT TO THE NEIGHBOR COMPARTMENT

In similar compartment there are Blumkin and diplomat Varlaam Avanesov (h.f.). Avaneson nervously holds close to chest a black diplomatic briefcase where there are gems confiscated from former aristocrats and industrialists. Blumkin sits with a detached expression on his face.

CUT TO

135 BLURS INTO MEMORY OF BLUMKIN 135

There is intercut of phone conversation of Blumkin and Natalie Paley.

BLUMKIN

I must travel abroad. I must. You will be cared. I love you.

Natalie

(desperate)

What!? You promise! Why!

BLUMKIN

I must. I love you.

CUT TO

136 EXT. STREET OF BERLIN 136

Dzerzhinsky, Blumkin and Avanesov are walking toward Railroad Station at morning after overnight stay in Berlin. Dzerzhinsky notices toy store.

Dzerzhinsky

Wait here.

Dzerzhinsky enters the store and in some time out with bag.

CUT TO

137 EXT. THE BANK OF LUGANO LAKE 137

Dzerzhinsky with his wife Sofya (h.f.) and son Yan (h.f.), boy of seven years old, om the promenade along bank of Lugano Lake in Lugano, resort town in Switzerland on the border with Italy. They are happy. Reunited family makes a photo. They eats ice-cream behind umbrella in the open cafe at the bank. The boy is confused and detached from his father. Adult part of family openly expresses all signs of love to each other.

CUT TO

138 INT. THE ROOM IN LUGANO HOTEL 138

The same characters inside the hotel room. Yan trying to build something from constructor set toy presented to him by father.

Dzerzhinsky

Do you like engineers from this constructor set? Is this good gift?

YAN

Yes. Thanks.

Dzerzhinsky

I need to return to Bern. Without me nobody has enough authority. You can stay here longer. Maybe it is even better for safety sake.

SOFIA

Too bad. I miss you so much.

Dzerzhinsky

Me too. I know. We have a night more. It is not nothing.

CUT TO

139 INT. THE HOTEL “GLOCKE”, BERN 139

Dzerzhinsky enters hotel “Gloke” and approaches reception desk.

reception clerk

There is message for you.

Dzerzhinsky takes paper and unfolds it. He sees “There is a subject for negotiation. I'll come at eight. Walter”. Camera together with Dzerzhinsky moves to the room of Blumkin and Avanesov. There is only Avanesov.

Dzerzhinsky

Found a buyer?

Avanesov

Nobody gives the real price. Even half of the estimate that our jewelers made. They say now is a bad time.

Dzerzhinsky

Did you sell anything? Do you have any currency?

Avanesov

Nothing yet. I can’t do it without your blessing. I would rather not be accused of misappropriating.

Dzerzhinsky

Select for me about four stones, especially large and shiny ones. Most likely, I will have to bargain.

Avanesov opens his briefcase, pulls out a bundle of soft bedding. He reveals thirty huge, larger than finger–sized, faceted stones of various colors, from black with a diamond shine to bright green, emerald. Dzerzhinsky picks up the most impressive ones.

Dzerzhinsky

It could be a major negotiation. A couple of pieces should be enough, but it's better to be prepared in a case.

Avanesov nods and puts away the remaining gems.

Dzerzhinsky

If I need your help, I will knock on the wall twice, and then after a pause once more. It may turn out that it is not you who will be needed, but Maxim. He speaks German well. If I knock three times let him come. Be ready, both of you.

Avanesov

Understood.

Dzerzhinsky

Wait a little with selling rest. We'll talk again tomorrow. Most likely, we will need to take any price. Soon there may be no other opportunity to raise currency.

Dzerzhinsky moves out to his room

CUT TO 8PM

Dzerzhinsky rests on the bed. There is knock. He opens the door. There are two strong men in civil suits but with obvious military bearing. One of them is Bruce Lockhart, whom Dzerzhinsky recognized at once. Other one is the head of German Intelligence Colonel Walter Nicolai, introduces himself.

Nicolai

Colonel Walter Nicolai. You should know my position. You know Sir Lockhart by sight. Let us in.

Dzerzhinsky

Please, make yourself comfortable.

After some movement when everybody sits behind small round hotel’s table. Dzerzhinsky and Lockhart are on the bed and Nicolai sits on the only chair in the room.

Lockhart

Let’s do without a preface. I am interested in a document about the cooperation of the Bolshevik Party with the German army. Walter is in possession of the original of an important paper. This is a letter from Lenin to First Quartermaster–General Ludendorff, in which he asks for assistance in transferring revolutionaries from Switzerland to Petrograd to collapse the government and army, and in return offers the withdrawal of Russia from the war and peace on the most favorable terms for Germany. I am willing to pay fifty thousand pound sterling for this paper. Colonel Nikolai agrees, but prefers to ask you, maybe you will give more. He needs money. Just don't ask why. This obligatory Russian question, why do you need money, which is asked before a robbery, blows up my mind.

Dzerzhinsky

Mura is fine.

We left her free for now. You can send her the message through me. Pretty soon I will return to my duties in Moscow. Do you have this letter with you? Otherwise we can agree, but it turns out that the paper is in a vault to which there is no key to find around. There is no way to check whether it exists as an original or is just a forgery copy of a mythical document.

Nicolai

The letter is with me. I can present it, but promise me that there will be no sudden movements. Keep your hands behind your back. This is my guarantee to receive a reward for my work in the name of Germany.

Dzerzhinsky

Fine.

Dzerzhinsky stands up, puts his hands behind back in a Russian prisoner manner. He looks the letter on the table. It is in German that he isn’t understand its content. But Lenin’s name at the bottom is recognizable.

Dzerzhinsky

I need my fellow to read and appreciate the value. It does not take much time. Five minutes.

Lockhart and Nicolai look at each other.

Nicolai

Okay, but we'll draw out our weapons. Meet your person at the door and explain the situation. Close the door yourself and remain standing near it.

Dzerzhinsky

Fair. I'm calling.

Dzerzhinsky knocks on the wall three times for Blumkin. Very soon the door opens and Blumkin appears inter the threshold.

Dzerzhinsky

Take a look at the letter. It is on the table. Do not touch. Keep hands behind.

BLUMKIN

Don't even know. It looks like the real thing. Can I touch it with my finger? I would like to check the paper.

Nicolai

Touch, but slowly. The sudden movement will be the last.

Blumkin touches and stroke paper slowly mostly paying attention on the faces of opponents.

BLUMKIN

The letter does not contain new information, but I would bargain.

Dzerzhinsky

Get it. I will take from here.

Blumkin leaves the room.

Dzerzhinsky

Walter. Do you really think you'll get the amount Lockhart mentioned for a piece of paper? Does he have that kind of money? Have you checked?

Nicolai

He shows a bank check.

Dzerzhinsky

Also a piece of paper. Paper for paper. Logical. I can offer something material.

(continue after putting four gems on the table)

For the letter, Walter, you can choose any two. You are the first. And as compensation for the inconvenience in Moscow, Robert will take one of the remaining stones. Then, we'll say goodbye. Deal?

Nicolai takes both diamonds black and transparent. Lochart takes the opal.

Lockhart

That's the deal, Felix.

You deserve a fair handshake. I want to warn you. Just in a friendly way as a gentleman to a comrade. Any day now, Germany will capitulate. It's only a matter of days, maybe weeks. More like days. Doesn't matter. It is important that conditions have already been worked out by Entente experts. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk will be annulled. All movement across the border with Russia will be closed. Just be aware.

Dzerzhinsky

Point taken.

Nicolai

Here is my business card. Just in case.

Lockhart

I don’t need to worry about Mura. isn't that right, Felix?

Dzerzhinsky puts remaining ruby gem into the pocket and knocks the wall twice and then three more. Blumkin and Avanesov enter the room.

Dzerzhinsky

I bought Lenin’s letter. I had to give away all the stones.

I'm going to burn this letter.

(to Blumkin)

Any objections, my boy?

BLUMKIN

None.

Avanesov is trying to be invisible.

Dzerzhinsky

So…

Dzerzhinsky invites everybody into bathroom and burns the paper on the eyes of his associates. They returns to the room.

Dzerzhinsky

Take a seat.

We need to understand that the situation has changed and develop a plan. It turns out we have literally days left before the border is closed. I have to go back soon. I am here illegally, the path back to the Soviet Russia will soon be very difficult. The Germans will surrender any day ahead and the Treaty of Brest–Litovsk will be over. So it goes.

Currency for operations under the ‘World Revolution’ or ‘Resignation’, as I proposed to Trotsky. Let’s return to the ‘World Revolution’ not to confuse ourselves more than absolutely necessary. Dollars will be desperately needed. Everything that was taken out must be sold urgently. Whatever you can’t sell right away, put it in a private bank box. My wife is aware of currency transactions. I will involve her in opening accounts. I suggest that you sell one stone after another to different jewelers without delay. It's a lot of work, but it's also the only way out. Not a single jeweler can raise real money to buy all the treasure in a bulk.

It will be necessary to open three more personal accounts. Lenin, Sverdlov, Trotsky. Yes, another one on me too.

All clear. Get started tomorrow, Let's think about it. All?

BLUMKIN

Felix, I read some letters, or rather to say, articles of Rosa Luxemburg. There are interesting passages there. Although she is in prison, it is in a German prison, she can read and write, including about our situation in the Soviet Russia. I'd like to discuss it with you.

Dzerzhinsky

It can’t wait?

BLUMKIN

Maybe, probably, yes. But who knows, when you leave now, it would be better to discuss it before and not rush.

Dzerzhinsky

Okay, let's walk to Theater Square. Let's go to the café. Varlaam, I don’t invite you. I won’t distract you from compiling a list of jewelers. Tomorrow you should start calling.

CUT TO

140 EXT. STREETS OF BERN, BERN 140

Dzerzhinsky and Blumkin walk along illuminated by stores and cafes windows in the center of the Bern making conversation.

Dzerzhinsky

What is the urgency? You don't look like yourself. What's happened? What's wrong with Rose? Or is this just an excuse?

BLUMKIN

Exactly about Rose. I know how much you respect her. But her article contains only criticism of our policies. Very polite. With apologies that our deeds are a necessity, but a devastating criticism of everything we have accomplished in a pile. The national question and the slogan land for the peasants and our dictatorship of the proletariat; everything is incorrect. Everything is bad with us. The land ought to be nationalized, not give the right of secession to nations, and to use the dictatorship of the proletariat specifically to establish a fair electoral democracy to get a proper Constituent Assembly. We have the tyranny of the party, not even the whole party, but only the leading group. She contrasts the theory of Lenin–Trotsky with the teachings of Marx. If there is a world revolution, we will not be able to cope with her. The world revolution will be led by the Germans, with Rosa Luxemburg at its head. Or at least she will be the most serious opponent.

Dzerzhinsky

And what is she wrong about?

BLUMKIN

The fact of the matter that she is right. This is the worst thing.

Felix, save Natalia Paley.

For heaven's sake.

Dzerzhinsky

I promise I will do everything possible to save her. It will be part of a cover for another operation. Nobody makes a rustle. And she herself will not know that she did not escape on her own, but was used to pretend that our agent also escaped for real. I won't tell you: don't worry. Of course, you will. But firmly count on me to try, as if for myself. As for my wife.

I know I’m overloading you. Try getting a paper copy of this article by Rosa Luxemburg. I need to inform Trotsky. It seems that in his dreams of a world revolution he did not consider the most important thing. Instead of a place on the top, we can end up in a cesspool or, worse, on a scaffold, like murderers and tyrants. When we are alone in power, there is no one to judge us. And after the world revolution, the class of workers of the whole world will be above us. The world proletariat will not have mercy on apostates of Marx's doctrine if authoritative comrades tell it is so.

CUT TO

141 EXT. STREETS of PETROGRAD – FALL 1918 141

A patrol of red army soldiers and chekists on the deserted dark streets of Petrograd. Rare pedestrians move away of them as soon as can see them.

CUT TO

142 EXT. OUTSIDE of PETROGRAD 142

WE SEE dense group of naked men and woman sit in the frost. There is group of Red Army soldiers at nearby campfire who are looking with amusement on attempts of the former upper class citizens to comfort ourselves sexually before death. One soldier approaches the group and commands to one man to stand up. POV of the man standing at the edge of the hole. Darkness for a seconds.

CUT TO

143 INT. MURA BUDBERG’S APARTMENTS 143

There is ring to the door. Mura Budberg (h.f.), extraordinary beauty young woman in silk dressing gown on the naked body opens the door. Peters, high rank chekist, enters the apartment.

PETERS

There is task for you.

BUDBERG

(hugging and kissing)

It will wait. I miss you, man.

She drops the gown down, takes hand of Peters and leads him to the bedroom. They make love in quit manner (not even hint of fight).

IN PROPER TIME

The couple at the bed after mutual satisfactory sex.

PETERS

Felix orders you to reunite Lockhart. We need eyes in British Intelligence.

BUDBERG

Good. Bob is my favorite lover. How? The border is closed and sealed.

PETERS

All details are on you but Felix demands that women of Paley family, all Princesses will be used as a cover for your escape. I don’t know why he obsessed on them specifically but Dzerzhinsky is not one to argue.

We have agents inside the family to inform. Now they are living in Petrograd in the apartment of Mariana, who is daughter of Olga Paley. You are insider of Gorky and Swedish Embassy. So act and soon.

BUDBERG

I will. Now more important. Are you ready to continue? Yes… Good man.

CUT TO

144 INT. MARIANE PISTOHLKORS APARTMENT 144

At the big dinner table at evening tea there are gathering for the ritual evening tea: Princesses Olga, Natalia and Irina Paley; Mariane Pistohlkors and her former husband, Peotr Durnovo, with whom she keeps friendship. In apartment there is also wardrobe maid Petrova who is the unnoticeable as any servants, she is undercover informant of Cheka.

DURNOVO

Olga Valerianovna, aren’t you afraid for the daughters?

OLGA PALEY

Oh, even don't ask. They are the clever ones, they do everything right are aware, they listen. But my heart hurts, of course.

DURNOVO

Maybe they should be sent to a safer place?

OLGA PALEY

It would be nice, but where?

DURNOVO

To Finland.

OLGA PALEY

The Finns are not letting us in now, nor anyone from Red Russia.

DURNOVO

I can arrange it, but only immediately. A window has opened and will close tomorrow. Make up your mind. You need to decide right now. There may be no other opportunity. Most likely it won't ever again. Or the Red Army soldiers could abuse them later.

OLGA PALEY

Yes, where will they live without me? I can't go, you know.

DURNOVO

I know. That's why I offer it only to your daughters. And it will be easier for you to save your husband without them. Fear for them will not distract you. In Finland I rented a sanatorium. They will be fine there. A nice Russian woman will take care of them. Kharina is her name.

MARIANE

Mom, you need to decide. You should only think about saving Uncle Pali.

OLGA PALEY

Don't know. My favorite, dear love, what do you say?

NATALIA PALEY

We are ready. We need to help dad. Without us here, it will be easier for you to save daddy.

DURNOVO

I have already ordered passports for them. They will be presented as daughters of the wardrobe maid Petrova. She will go with them. Tomorrow they will meet with Gershelman, he is an artillery officer, now in an illegal position, in the uniform of a Red Army soldier for secrecy. You haven't seen me yet!

Durnovo puts on a false beard and blue glasses, becoming completely unrecognizable.

OLGA PALEY

Thank you, Pyotr.

Natalia and Ira rushes to mother’s hands to cry.

CUT TO

145 INT. Kazanskiy Kafedralniy Sobor 145

Inside Kazanskiy Kafedralniy Sobor Mariana, Ira and Natalia pray in the front of icon of Kazan Mother of God. All of them cry.

CUT TO

146 EXT. IN FRONT OF Kazanskiy Kafedralniy Sobor 146

Captain Sergei Gershelman, young man disguised as Red Army soldier, approaches them plus Petrova. Mariane sits into the car, others enter streetcar.

CUT TO

147 EXT. IN FRONT OF Okhtinsky Train Station 147

Streetcar approaches Okhtinsky Train Station (not exist at present). Travelers stop down and go to the station.

CUT TO

148 INT. inside a freight train 148

Camera is looking inside a freight train Petrova, Gershelman; Irina and Natalia Paley among Finish peasant women. Women sing a mournful song. Irina and Natalia shed a tear.

CUT TO

149 EXT. NEAR post station 149

Travelers reached by foot over snow road a post station. There are two person waiting them: Mura Budberg and unnamed blond enormous athlete who is escorting Budberg, guard of Swedish Embassy. Gershelman is approached by Mura.

BUDBURG

I am from Durnovo. He permitted me to join you. I am going to England. With Swedish passport there will be no problems with Finns.

Gershelman

Welcome aboard. Do you have money? I counts only on four of us.

BUDBERG

No problems. Here is thousand rubles.

150 EXT. NEAR OTHER post station AFTER TWO HOURS 150

We see the company on three horse driven sleds arrives on is arriving at the transfer post station to exchange sleds. The Post Master, beard old man, spreads his arms.

Post Master

Sleds can’t go further. Snow-break. I show you the way.

CUT TO

151 EXT. SNOW FORREST ROAD 151

Everybody are at the snow road approaches a narrow, about three feet, but streaming spring over the way. There is confusion what to do because of woman cannot wet their felt boots. The Swedish athlete makes a human body bridge for woman who walks over him.

CUT TO

152 EXT. TOWN HALL BUILDING 152

The company approaches Finnish border city of Terijoki. Budberg with Sweden guard moves away without saying goodbye. Other four travelers enters the Town Hall.

CUT TO

153 INT. RECEPTION hall of THE SANATORIUM 153

Natalia and Irina Paley with Gershelman enters inside. Nice kind strong woman Charina welcomed them in.

Charina

Pour things you are. Come in. Your rooms are ready. But at first sauna. And sleep then. I see how you are tired. Follow me at once.

Girls are instinctively smiling understanding that the treat of inevitable death is over.

CUT TO

154 INT. PASSENGER WAGON FROM ZURICH TO BERLIN 154

Blumkin sits in the train carriage that is full of people, including some of them are coughing. Blumkin is obviously sick with the Spanish flu. He has very valuable briefcase with him and understands that he is in big trouble. Blumkin takes out from his pockets all documents and items and puts everything into briefcase. He sits trying to save strength.

CUT TO

155 INT. BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ TRAIN STATION 155

Blumkin walks out from train. He approaches the paid storage room. Blumkin deposits his thin light-brown crocodile leather briefcase there. Upon receiving the cartoon check he buys a piece of waterproof tablecloths at the store inside station. He wraps up the check and walks out to the park nearby. Using last energy before virus of fly would overcome his conscious Blumkin hides the receipt inside bush on the edge of the park. Then he moves to the big Neptune fountain complex. He sits down and soon passed out soon.

CUT TO

156 INT. HOSPITAL WARD, BERLIN 156

POV of awaken at the morning Blumkin. He sees other empty bed with nightstand close to it. The nurse with mask on her face gives him to drink half-rising his face mask. She cleans his forehead with wet towel. Blumkin passed out to nightmarish sleep again.

CUT TO NEXT MORNING

POV of awaken in a day Blumkin. He sees other bed is occupied with young man. The man on other bed is very sick. After nurse gives them to drink Blumkin goes to sleep again. But now Blumkin is obviously feels much better.

CUT TO MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Blumkin awakes practically recovered from the illness. He sees his neighbor by the ward is dead. Blumkin exams all documents and items of the dead man. Blumkin inspects all documents including passport on the name Richard Sorge. The picture on the passport is reminiscent to Blumkin’s face but not simulate enough. There are business cards of the student Berlin at Friedrich Wilhelm University and key from the room. Blumkin transfers body of dead man on his bed and lays down on freed from corpse bed. He is exhausted from too hard efforts for lately sick person. He lays down and falls in sleep.

CUT TO

157 EXT. PARK NEAR TRAIN STATION 157

Blumkin digs out the cartoon check to storage room.

CUT TO

158 INT. storage room 158

Blumkin in storage room of Railroad station. He presented the check and receives his briefcase.

CUT TO

159 INT. the room of UNIVERSITY dormitory 159

Blumkin enters the room of late Richard Sorge and examines his photos and all in documents in possession including the passport with personal photo picture. He looks also on several memorabilia pictures.

CUT TO

160 INT. the SMALL room of UNIVERSITY dormitory 160

Blumkin walks along Berlin streets looking around to be intimate familiar with the place. He notes a pale yellow sign of photo studio at Friedrichstrasse.

CUT TO

161 INT. PHOTO STUDIO 161

Blumkin enter the photo studio just before closing before weekend. There is sound of door bell. The photo-master Kurt, very young blond man, appears from the backrooms of the studio.

BLUMKIN

Good evening.

KURT

Good evening. We're already closing. Come on Monday at eleven if you have a time-critical matter.

BLUMKIN

Critical indeed. I have a business proposal. I will pay three hundred dollars in cash, or the equivalent in marks, if you make copies of photographs in which instead of another person’s face, there will be mine. One photo on the passport. The other three are memorabilia. Just copies. I will shield name on passport for you not afraid to be witness. Here's the money.

If necessary, and I think so, we’ll spend the night here and work on Sunday. I’ll pay another two hundred for a perfect result.

Kurt hesitates. He understands that it is the crime and could be provocation. But amount of money is more than luring. He decides to take a sort of the test.

KURT

(whispering and looking aside)

Four hundred.

BLUMKIN

Let's get started. Here's another hundred.

Let's get started, will we?

Kurt nods. He closed the entrance door and takes passport and personal photos.

CUT TO some time ahead

Kurt makes pictures of Blumkin looking at given photos of Richard Sorge with the same angle and shades.

CUT TO some time ahead

Kurt makes large copies of given photos.

CUT TO some time ahead

Kurt combines large photos of Blumkin face and background from Sorge’s pictures. He makes photo of the combination, then retouching large version and finally print out the same size as original Sorge's.

CUT TO some time ahead

Kurt reproduces of the ink of the stamp on the passport photo.

Blumkin is positively impressed by result.

BLUMKIN

Good job. Here is the bonus. Have fun.

Blumkin pays to Kurt and exits the studio.

KURT

(with relived breath to himself)

Not restaurant… Cabaret.

CUT TO

161 INT. OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY 161

Blumkin enters the University office. He sees clerk, woman of about 50^th years old.

CLERK

Good morning. What your question?

Blumkin

I need leave University. What I have to do?

CLERK

Do you need a graduation diploma?

Blumkin

Of course. Why did I study, then, if not for the sake of a diploma? My name is Richard Sorge.

Clerk takes from archive the case of Richard Sorge and fast reads into it.

CLERK

I cannot issue a doctor’s diploma. For graduating as a doctor, there is need to get recommendations from professors. It's a big deal. But you have passed two exams on the structure of government and community relations. This is enough to receive a diploma stating that you have taken a course in politics and economics. You just need to pay the office expenses. A thousand marks.

Blumkin

Yes. I will pay. Do you need a deposit?

CLERK

For sure. One hundred marks.

Blumkin

When can I get my diploma?

CLERK

It will be ready in a couple of days. If you need to collect all the money, then you will have a month to find means and get a diploma.

CUT TO

161 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN 161

Blumkin walks along streets of Berlin. He sees exited crowd reading Newspapers with sensation headlines about sailors uprising in Kiel. Blumkin buys several newspapers.

CUT TO

162 EXT. REVOLUTIONARY KIEL, GERMANY 162

There are groups of navy sailors and soldiers with few civilians are spontaneously moving around. Here and there he sees improvising meetings with variety of random speakers. Blumkin walks from one meeting to another.

CUT TO

163 INT. BIG FLOOR HALL KIEL, GERMANY 163

There is exited crowd inside the hall big hall inside brick building. People from crowd shouts of propositions to the resolution of revolutionary council. On the scene some random people are write down proposals.

Blumkin

I am Richard Sorge. Nothing is valid without approval of the Council!

There is favorable noise from the crowd.

UNKNOWN SAILOR

Elect Sorge to council!

CROWD

Yes!

Blumkin is confused. All around actions has no signs of serious revolution. He decides to cut off his participation in Kiel.

CUT TO

163 INT. ENDLESS HALL OF THE HOBBREUHAUS BREWERY 163

Blumkin sits alone at border table observing entrance in the rest room inside enormous hall with a noisy motley crowd drinking mugs of beer in Munich. It is the eve of Christmas. He awaits other members of “World Revolution” group. One person in senior soldier uniform approaches his table and joins him without asking permission. The soldier named Adolf (he is historical figure, but here is better let to guess who) has a lush hanging mustache and a knife-like gaze of a brawler asking for a quarrel.

ADOLF

Jew?

Blumkin

No. Not a Jew. German.

ADOLF

Wrong. You are a Jew. I'm an artist, I can see.

Blumkin

(he is Jew by origin but occasionally uncircumcised)

If you’re so sure, then let’s go to the restroom, I’ll take off my pants and pee on your artistic face, and you’ll stare at my non–Jewishness.

ADOLF

To Greater Germany without Jews and bankers!

Blumkin

(standing up)

To Greater Germany!

Radek, Shorre and Vladimir Paley approaching the table. Blumkin is relived to see that his team is finally come. He introduces Adolf.

Blumkin

Here is a new friend.

ADOLF

Adolf.

RADEK

Karl.

Blumkin

Karl, Adolf, hates Jews and bankers.

RADEK

Why Jews not Gipsies?

ADOLF

Bankers are Jews. They betray Germany.

RADEK

Bankers parasites on workers. Workers of all countries must internationally fight against all parasites. Aren’t they?

ADOLF

German workers. They are superior civilized.

RADEK

Important is nor superiority but that workers have nothing to lose. They are on the bottom of society all together.

ADOLF

Important that Germany is humiliated.

JUMP IN TIME HOURS AHEAD

After couple hours of discussions Karl Radek is completely drunk. His face falls down into plate with a half-eaten sausage. Adolf is absolute resolute. He stands up and looking piercingly says instead goodbye.

ADOLF

German skilled labor. United.

Three other not too drunk members of team stare at Adolf with horror. Adolf walks out as if nothing happens.

CUT TO

164 INT. THE GIGANTIC HALL OF THE PRUSSIAN PARLIAMENT 164

Camera is flying around gigantic hall of the Prussian Parliament in Berlin. There is the founding congress of the German Communist Party. At the first row of the hall there are leaders of reestablishing Spartacus Party: who are Rosa Luxemburg (h.f.), intelligent appearance suffragist type mid-age woman, and Karl Liebknecht (h.f.), mid-age school teacher type man. Behind them we see Blumkin who observing negative expression of Rosa who is watching at Karl Radek who is speaking on the podium as a communists representative of Soviet Russia.

RADEK

Communists in Soviet Russia have taken power. We are fighting with old class. They attacking us from any dark side they are still hidden to enslave working people again. We need help to keep first State of the winner proletariat standing against World Counterrevolution.

Rise up, Comrades! Now is our moment. We in Russia was able to overcome bourgeois order. You here in Germany, in the birthplace of Karl Marx, will be victorious too.

Long live the World Revolution!!!

Standing ovation of everybody in the hall. Rosa Luxembourg stands up as well.

LUXEMBOURG

(whispering to herself)

God save us all.

CUT TO

165 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN, JAN. 1919 165

There are groups of people on the bottom of social pyramid are walking around with red flags. There and here there are improvised meetings with revolutionary slogans.

CUT TO

166 EXT. STREETS OF SMALL TOWN 166

Army units are gathering in the suburb of Berlin.

CUT TO

167 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN 167

Riot groups from Spartacus (communists now) party are building improvised barricades on the major streets.

CUT TO DAYS LATER

168 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN, JAN. 1919 168

Army soldiers in shocking organized manner are destroying one barricade by another shooting by direct aiming of artillery.

CUT TO WEEK LATER

169 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN, JAN. 1919 169

Camera shows tens of corpses behind barricades.

CUT TO DAYS AHEAD

170 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN, JAN. 1919 170

...Groups of free-corp are are stopping and arresting Spartacus fighters. Here and there are shots.

CUT TO

171 THE PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS – PETROGRAD 171

Four shirtless in underwear pants men, Grand Dukes, including further of Natalia Paley, Pavel Romanov, exit the massive wall into inner court of Peter and Paul Fortress. It is sunrise. They are directed by two soldiers toward the fresh dig common grave filled with about dozen corpses. Some of Dukes wet themselves. soldiers are tired and indifferent doing routine deadly dull job. Duke Pavel Romanov makes long gaze at the Peter and Paul Cathedral, that is Romanov’s Royal Burial Vault.

Pavel Romanov

(crying out nowhere)

Farewell my love. How stupid I was.

CUT TO DARKNESS for seconds

172 INT. THE APARTMENT IN BERLIN 172

Whole “World Revolution” team gathers behind well served celebration table (it is orthodox calendar New Year eve Jan.13, 1919), there is good champagne bottles and fresh meet with boiled potato on the table. The mood is as dark as could be after devastation defeat of revolution uprise.

RADEK

(performing improvised anecdote)

A French and a German come into the tavern. French – we have wonderful food! German, and we have so many philosophers, you can eat them with ass! French – we had a Great Revolution, we tore off three Royal Lilies! German, we have extraordinary flower, Rose, it pierced the entire World Revolution with her thorn.

Joke falls flat. Only Shorre grins a little.

RADEK

Everything is over here.

Expert, I think that Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht are no longer useful for the World Revolution. It's all over with the workers' uprising in Germany. They might still make some noise, here and there. Never mind. We need to make the best we can out of this disaster. What do you offer?

BLUMKIN

Uritsky’s variant?

RADEK

That would be ideal. Can you?

BLUMKIN

I can try. There is one idea.

RADEK

Great. Take an action. I do not know anything. There was no conversation. As soon as possible. If necessary, tell me what to do.

CUT TO NEXT MORNING

Blumkin takes out and puts on the table near the phone apparatus a card of Nikolai that he is given by Dzerzhinsky. Blumkin routs the number on the phone.

BLUMKIN

(to the phone hang)

Colonel Nikolai. Please.

UNNAMED VOICE IN THE PHONE

Colonel out off business. IF you give your phone number the person in responsibility will contact.

BLUMKIN

(after a seconds of hesitation)

27543

UNNAMED VOICE IN THE PHONE

Expect phone call in fifteen minutes.

Blumkin hands the phone.

CUT TO FIFTEEN MINUTES ahead

Phone rings.

Intercat of phone conversation between Blumkin and Captain Canaris (h.f.), naval officer.

Captain Canaris

You asked Nikolai, he handed over all the cases. I am deputy of military commander Gustav Noske, my name is Captain Canaris. I am authorized to resolve issues.

BLUMKIN

It is about individuals with reward for capture. Is this interesting?

Captain Canaris

Undoubtedly. Continue.

BLUMKIN

If I find out where they are, how can I inform you promptly? They constantly move from apartment to apartment.

Captain Canaris

Understood. I will solve this problem. I'll call you in an hour. Don't worry, we appreciate your cooperation and anonymity. Do you need a reward to collect?

BLUMKIN

No. I would rather not shine anyhow. I would prefer that no one knew about the conversation. Waiting for a call.

Blumkin hangs the phone handle. He walks to the Radek’s room. Radek reads newspapers.

BLUMKIN

Karl, regarding yesterday's conversation. We must promise Comrades Luxemburg and Liebknecht that we will help with the documents. That we have diplomatic passports of the Soviet Russia. That we will hand over blank forms. Comrades are hunted for.

RADEK

Do we have blank forms?

BLUMKIN

Not yet…

I’ll go to the photographers and make photocopies of your passport with your name shielded, and we’ll write their names in the spaces. This is a matter of several hours. In the dark, the documents will look similar and will pass a sloppy check.

RADEK

Fine. I will contact Wilhelm Pieck and make an offer. I’ll ask him to come in tomorrow and bring documents to the apartment, where Rosa and Karl will be by then.

CUT TO IN TWO HOURS AHEAD

Phone rings. Blumkin takes phone.

UNNAMED VOICE IN THE PHONE

Everything will be ready by tomorrow morning. Call 37442. The group will arrive faster than in an hour, just let them know where to.

BLUMKIN

Understood.

Blumkin hangs up the phone. He moves around the room in thinking process. He takes newspapers, cardboard pieces and scissors. He masters some pack by size remaining two passports, puts it in the envelope, seals it and writes down “Rose, Karl”. In some Radek looks into the room.

RADEK

Do you have passports already?

BLUMKIN

I do. Call Pieck. Ask him to come here tomorrow. Just in case, let he give a contact address. They must say what names will be on the passports so that we can notify border officers in advance.

CUT TO

173 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN 173

Camera looks at Blumkin staying, obviously already long time, observing the entrance door to the building where apartment of his team is located. There is in half darkness a figure of Pieck (h.f.), young German seasoned revolutionary, approaching the and enters the door. In short time he exits back to street. Pieck goes at first back, then stops to check shoes laces, then walks back to door and waits a little. Then he walks in opposite direction. Blumkin follows Pieck at the long distance with all possible precautions of professional conspirators understanding that Pieck is good as best professional could be. After long walk Blumkin sees as Pieck enters the door of apartment building and soon the window at second floor, left of the entrance door, lights up. Blumkin with fast pace goes back.

CUT TO

174 INT. FEHRBELLINER PLATZ METRO STATION 174

Blumkin calls the public phone.

UNNAMED VOICE IN THE PHONE

At the phone. Who is this?

BLUMKIN

From the adjutant of the Minister of War. Address is Mannheimer Strasse 43, second floor on the left. Both must be there.

UNNAMED VOICE

Whom should I give the reward to?

BLUMKIN

Orphans.

Blumkin hangs up the phone.

CUT TO

175 EXT. STREETS OF BERLIN 175

WE SEE Blumkin stays, obviously far from the building where Piek enters observing three people: one woman, Rosa Luxembourg, and two men Vilgelm Pieck and Karl Libknecht are escorted by the militants from Freikorps tactical group into three cars. Blumkin turns and walks away by the street.

CUT TO

176 INT. THE ROOM IN HOTEL ‘EDEM’ 176

Camera inside usual hotel room improvisational transformed into interrogation office. Behind small table there is naval officer. In front of him Wilhelm Pieck.

UNNAMED HIGH officer

(open the envelope addressed to Rosa, Karl)

Is it yours?

Pieck

(prepared to suffer for revolution)

Yes.

UNNAMED HIGH officer

What in it?

Pieck

Blanks of Russia diplomatic passports for our leaders.

UNNAMED HIGH officer

(looking at newspaper clippings)

Of course… Revolution is the matter of mental delusion.

(to guards)

This pour thing is free to go. We have more serious matters on hands to care than to cure insane revolutionist.

Pieck walk from Hotel. He is completely confused but happy to be alive.

CUT TO

176 INT. LOBBY OF ‘EDEM’ HOTEL 176

WE SEE crowd of the military officers belonged to different branches. Unnamed high officer enters the lobby from inside of hotel and command to officers.

UNNAMED HIGH officer

I need volunteers to deliver leaders of rebellions to Moabit prison. I know that you are not policemen. So do what your honor would tell you. No orders. Act.

CUT TO

177 EXT. ZOO ALLEY near the ENTRANCE 177

The car enters ZOO gate. It stops. Naval uniformed officers get out. Karl Libknecht is taken out off the car.

UNNAMED NAVAL officer

You free to go.

Liebknecht

I want to stand a court trail.

UNNAMED NAVAL officer

Really? What part of you? Right leg or maybe left? Your choice.

Liebknecht

A-aaa-a!

Liebknecht turns around and runs to the gate crying. The naval officers take out handguns and as if in shooting range hits him several times at back. Libknecht falls as a cut tree.

CUT TO

178 EXT. BRIDGE OVER A CANAL SOUTH OF THE SPREE RIVER 178

A car stops near the bridge over canal in Berlin. The pilot, Captain Kurt Vogel steps out holding a riffle. He hits with the butt of the rifle woman, Rosa Lucksemburg, over the open window of the car. He and the driver drag unconscious woman from the car. Vogel makes a control shot to her head. The body of the Rosa is thrown into the canal.

CUT TO

179 EXT. THE ICE DESERT OF GULF OF FINLAND 179

WE SEE horse driven sleigh on the ice and snow covered Gulf Of Finland near Petrograd. The horse and sleigh are covered by white bed-sheets to camouflage against searchlights of Kronstadt.

CUT TO INSIDE SLEIGH

Two woman, Olga Paley and Mura Budberg are sitting close to each other and shivering in the bitter cold.

CUT TO

180 INT. SANATORIUM ROOM – FINLAND 180

Olga Paley enters the spacious room where her daughters are sitting at tea table. Daughters rush to hug mother.

IRA

What is with papa?

Olga Paley

Papa is no more.

At first both girls and in short period of time their mother joins them to cry sobering.

CUT TO

181 INT. THE APARTMENT IN BERLIN 181

A whole “World Revolution” team meets at morning coffee trying to compose themselves after apparent win of the counterrevolution in Germany.

RADEK

The revolution won, the Kaiser’s monarchy fell, and there is democracy in Germany. It will take care of itself. It’s a pity that the world revolution can now be driven only by us, with our International organization. We will lead it. This is my responsibility. Now, let's briefly say who does what? Everyone must find something to do for themselves.

BLUMKIN

I am the only one who has legal German documents. I have nothing to do here myself. My place is in Moscow. After everything, I can easily become Yakov Blumkin again. Relations with Germany have been cut off; no one cares about Count Mirbach anymore. Even in Germany, all the aristocratic things have been canceled.

On the other hand, the fact that we have Richard Sorge with a clean biography is a big plus for our intelligence work here in Germany. I propose to transfer this name to Vladimir Mesarosh. Let him make legal documents with his photo. He will start writing to newspapers so that his name will be visible. Maybe he'll get a science degree. Then we will recall him to Moscow. Will see. In any case, it’s better for him to stay away from Civil War for now.

VLADIMIR PALEY

Fine.

BLUMKIN

Shorre, do you have any thoughts on what to do?

SHORRE

I think my place is in Moscow too.

BLUMKIN

So we’ll decide. Shorre and I are going to Moscow. Mesarosh becomes Sorge. Karl decides what to do himself. Is it so, Comrade Radek?

RADEK

Great! Porridge praises itself, a revolutionary cooks up his ideology. They both puff up. Porridge with bubbles, and a Marxist with a pipe.

I will stay here for a while… Interesting to learn what could be if our revolution falls.

Common feeling of relief having the task after uncertain situation.

CUT TO

182 EXT. ‘TERASSA’ RESTAURANT 182

Camera looks at the outside hall of ‘Terassa’ restaurant on the embankment of the Aara river in Bern, Switzerland. It is Mar. 1919. Blumkin, Sofya Dzerzhinsky and Vladimir Shorre are sitting at the table.

Sofya Dzerzhinsky

Felix sent a letter… no, not like that. Correspondence. In sum, there are messages from him.

I am summarizing from several letters. About the results of work in Germany, there are no special complaints. What happened is not the worst outcome. Both of you are needed in Soviet Russia for the fight. I don’t know anything about the others. Felix didn’t mention them. Most likely, depending on the circumstances.

He writes that he managed to keep the promise to ‘his boy’. Almost complete.

Blumkin takes a deep breath. He understand that his love Natalia Paley is alive and well.

Sofya Dzerzhinsky

There is one more strange thing. I don't know how to interpret it. Inside the Felix's last letter there is also a letter out of Kiev, from the mother of somebody by the name a Count Ignatiev. She writes that Kiev was occupied by the Bolsheviks, and they are taking care of her. She thinks that the Bolsheviks will help her to come to Paris. Felix writes that it would be good if “his boy” handed this letter to the count from hand to hand. I have no idea what this means. Here is the letter, decide what to do with it for yourself. Nothing special in it. Mother writes to son, that she is fine.

BLUmkin

Thank you.

Felix doesn’t say anything in vain. If he thinks that this letter needs to be delivered; thus, that means I’ll make a detour through Paris. Not the most remote town.

Maybe I'll get entertained.

CUT TO

183 EXT. EMBANKMENT OF SEINE RIVER – PARIS 183

Blumkin walks amid along Seine river in Paris, France. His pass starts from Notre Dame Cathedral, passing the Louvre, Arc de Triumph du Carrousel, Place de la Concorde with Fountain des Mers. The face expression of Blumkin during the walk is changing from concentrated tense into almost dreamily relaxed. He sees an Eiffel Tower and moves toward it.

184 EXT. EIFFEL TOWER, OBSERVATION BALCONY – PARIS 184

Blumkin is looking down at the Paris with amusement. There is voice of Natalie Paley who appears without any warning taking Blumkin with total surprise.

NATALIE PALEY

’Sweet love’ is to the right. Now you are looking towards my place.

Blumkin is shocked and speechless. He is looking at Natalie with completely disbelieve.

NATALIE PALEY

Have you seen enough? I am hungry. Do you have money?

CUT TO RESTAURANT AT EIFFEL TOWER

Blumkin and Natalie Paley are sitting at the table. He is confused, she takes initiative in her hands.

NATALIE PALEY

Don’t you know French? I will order. How much money? Are there any Franks?

Blumkin

Dollars.

NATALIE PALEY

It'll do the trick.

Natalie Paley makes the order to garson who brings the food and glasses of red wine.

NATALIE PALEY

(pointing with her eyes on his small suitcase)

You are here on business. You haven’t found yet a place to live. Will stay with me. We have not yet lived as spouses. I have the keys to a massive mansion. I've been here for several days now, but I'm afraid to go there alone. Help me put my house and my other affairs in order. I will help you with your problem. We are in Paris. Let's celebrate. No matter what...

Life.

NATALIE PALEY

I have financial difficulties here. There is money, but it’s unreachable. How not to bite my elbow.

What is your business in Paris? Not a secret?

Blumkin

The most innocent thing. I must give a letter to Count Ignatiev from his mother, whom I don’t know, I don’t know who he is, I don’t know where to look, I don’t know why. In general, a trifle task it is, but an unsolvable one.

NATALIE PALEY

It'll wait. First, let's make a cozy nest, tomorrow we'll go to the cancan at the Moulin Rouge. Then, I will arrange everything. Trust me, there is no other way. It is possible that things will turn out so well with Count Ignatiev that we will both benefit. I heard something about him. Fragmentary references, but I know where to look. You can't do it faster yourself. I’m taking you hostage for a week.

(choking on the word “hostage” and tearing up again for few moments)

You won’t get rid of me faster than a week. I waited a long time. Be patient.

BLUMKIN

(nodding happily)

I will. How in a world you are here alone?

NATALIE PALEY

Simple story. Ordinary. I and Ira and I escaped in December to Finland. Mother stayed to care for Papa. He was executed as hostage. She escaped after. Everything was as you promise. Mom got pneumonia. Money has been running out. Ira must sit with mom. I volunteers to go Paris.

BLUMKIN

Yes. Ordinary for these days indeed. You are special nevertheless.

CUT TO

185 EXT. NEAR EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS 185

Blumkin and Natalia Paley are exiting stair if Eiffel tower and catch the taxi.

CUT TO

186 INT. MANUFACTURE STORE, PARIS 186

Inside the store. Natalie is shopping bed sheets. She is actively communicate with clerks. Blumkin is shy standing behind and giving her money.

CUT TO

187 INT. FOOD STORE, PARIS 187

The Natalie and Blumkin behaving like a newly married ones are in food store. Natalie is choosing salads, wine, tea and cakes. They exiting the store with big bags these taking out by taxi driver.

CUT TO

188 EXT. PARIS STREETS 188

Taxi with happy Natalie and Blumkin is driving in Paris passing the big Arc of Triumph. Blumkin looks at the second Arc with realization that Paris is too big for newcomer as him to accommodate instantly. He looks at Natalie with relieve and gratitude.

CUT TO

189 EXT. IN FRONT OF TWO stories mansion 189

Taxi enters the big abandon garden in front of big two high stories mansion, former Yusopov’s gifted by him to now farther of Natalie. The building is several years without eyes. Natalie followed Blumkin approaching enormous door of mansion. She takes out keys and opens door. Natalie and Blumkin enter the mansion.

CUT TO

190 INT. HUGE mansion 190

Blumkin looks inside is as if it is haunting castle. For Natalie it is as return to happy childhood. Natalie walks around the house choosing bed for love. Her childhood bed is too small, parent’s bed is sort of taboo. She stops at brother’s room. Two of them together, as a well-coordinated team, are preparing to spend night of love. Camera sees intercut of short episodes of tender love Blumkin and Natalie and loving time in between when they playfully feeding each other; working together cleaning floors of the mansion, making love again, walking around the mansion Natalie gesticulates and laughing on happy moments of her childhood.

CUT TO THREE DAYS LATER

Natalie and Blumkin are exhausted from non-stop love encounters for several days. All food that was bought upon arrival is over. They are sitting behind the table staring at the last cake. They share it.

NATALIE PALEY

Are you saying that you need Count Ignatiev?

BLUMKIN

Yes. I have no idea how to search.

NATALIE PALEY

Let’s start with the phone book, I guess. And, if it doesn’t work out, then we’ll go to the railroad station and ask Russian taxi drivers.

BLUMKIN

Let's look at the book. This is a thought.

CUT TO

191 EXT. PHONE BOOTР NEAR OF ARC DE TRIUMPH 191

Natalie and Blumkin standing behind and looking after her shoulder search phone book for name of Ignatiev. Natalie finds the name amid Russian embassy military department. Natalie makes a call. Intercut of the phone conversation.

NATALIE PALEY

Princess Natalia Paley. I have business with General Alexei Ignatiev.

UNNAMED SECRETARY

Wait at the apparatus.

Natalie waits.

BLUMKIN

(whispering to Natalie)

Tell him that I have a mother letter for him.

IGNATIEV

General Ignatiev is at the apparatus. I'm listening, princess.

NATALIE PALEY

Dear General. I'm recently from Russia. Few people here know me from my childhood. I need advice and patronage. I am now in our house in Boulogne–Billancourt, next to the Princess Park. I would be happy to invite you for a cup of tea or coffee if you prefer. By the way, I have a person who promised to convey a letter from your mother. Oh! I should have started with this. Generously forgive my absent-mindedness. But he must tell everything by himself.

IGNATIEV

(after short thinking)

With pleasure. I will be happy to take up your generous offer, Your Grace. Will tomorrow noon be convenient?

NATALIE PALEY

Of course. I hope you will forgive me for the fact that the house is not yet completely habitable. I just arrived. As I said, I have problems with access to the family fortune. I'm eagerly awaiting to see you.

Natalie with beaming hangs phone handle. She is happy to help Blumkin. The conversation was on French so Blumkin needs explanation.

NATALIE PALEY

He will come for tea tomorrow. We have a lot to do. Tidy up the living room. Order lunch. Buy wine. Move on. First thing is cleaning.

CUT TO

192 EXT. IN FRONT OF PALEY’S MANSION 192

The taxi car approaches the entrance of the mansion where Natalie Paley is greeting count Ignatiev (h.f.), who is very tall man, military in general of Russian Army, former cavalry guard officer.

IGNATIEV

(kissing hand of Natalie)

General Ignatiev.

Natalie invites the general into the house and introduces Blumkin who is waiting them in the hallway.

NATALIE PALEY

Here is my friend from Petrograd. He… Let’s say, he has an assignment related to you. From the government of Russia. I call him Maxim. That's how he asked me to call him. That's probably not his real name, but I don't care.

IGNATIEV

(shaking hand of Blumkin)

General Ignatiev.

BLUMKIN

It is a pleasure. Maxim.

NATALIE PALEY

(inviting Ignatiev to the dining room to sit at the table)

You probably can’t wait to read your mother’s letter. Here it is. Sit down at the table and read quietly. Take your time. We'll wait as long as need to. Please let us know when we can join you for lunch. I know how difficult it is to wait for news from relatives. Believe me, I know it very well, although prefer not to.

In five minutes Ignatiev come to hallway. Looking disturbed as can be.

BLUMKIN

Don't ask me about the letter. I received it from Felix Dzerzhinsky's wife in Switzerland. In Bern. She also knew nothing except what the Chairman of the Cheka asked me to hand it to you. I don’t even know what you’re doing here, what your position is. Here I'm just a courier. I complete the task and that’s it. Have empathy for me and get into the situation, please.

All of three of them sit down for the dinner table. After proper pause to eat count Ignatiev finds his senses back. He decides to be polite.

IGNATIEV

How is your mother? Where is she now?

NATALIE PALEY

In a hospital in Finland. After my father's death, she fell ill. The escape from Petrograd under the bitter cold undermined her health. My sister Ira is taking care of her there, but we are running out of cash. Mom does not want to sell the jewelry, which for her is a memory of the Grand Duke. There are bank accounts and deposits here. Nobody knows me by sight here. I understand that if I go myself to the bank of France they will laugh at me in my face. The police will be called, they will say it’s an impostor. It's humiliating.

IGNATIEV

You know, I can really help. You and I will go to the bank. I will vouch for you. I have an account there, they will easily accept my letter of guarantee.

(to Blumkin)

Do you think I can put Russian funds as a guarantee of the identity of the Princess?

Blumkin hesitates a moment.

BLUMKIN

Yes. Of course. The help of you will greatly oblige the government of the Soviet Russia.

CUT TO

193 INT. BANK OF FRANCE 193

Count Innatiev and Natalie Paley enter big hall of Bank of France. They are greeted by senior officer who lead them to the luxury office offering tea or coffee there. There is relaxing but business like atmosphere.

CUT TO

194 INT. ENTRANCE HALL PALEY’S MANSION 194

Natalie Paley enters the mansion with driver who brings several bags in and goes away after tips. Blumkin hearing taxi sound approaches her.

BLUMKIN

How things go?

NATALIE PALEY

Perfect. Everybody were so polite. I would say like a family members. They open credit for me and mom in Finland. So I am in good shape for now.

BLUMKIN

Shall we go to the Moulin Rouge and celebrate?

NATALIE PALEY

Tonight? Let’s go. I bought an evening dress. And a suit for you. And also complete warm underwear fancy jumpsuit style. Try it on.

BLUMKIN

After. Good.

NATALIE PALEY

(in a capricious tone)

No, right now. I want to see.

BLUMKIN

Yes. Sure. If you want. I will with pleasure.

Blumkin is trying on purchases. During the fitting, she puts a gold cross on him. He accepts the cross as a talisman from his lover in spite to be atheist. Then Natalie shows how her new dress fits her. Blumkin approves her style. He kisses her. She loves him back.

CUT TO

195 EXT. IN FRONT OF MOULIN ROUGE CABARET 195

Taxi with Natalie Paley and Blumkin, both of them dressed up, are approaching the cabaret entrance. The doorman is extremely polite manner permits them in.

CUT TO

196 INT. MAIN HALL OF MOULIN ROUGE CABARET 196

Natalie Paley and Blumkin are sit down by headwaiter at the best table. Blumkin orders champagne bottle. They are looking at the show: the presenter with flat jokes colored with obscene topics; a singer emerged and murmured something love about; the magician manipulated the cards and pulled out a rabbit from his toll hat, again a presenter with jokes and a couple more singers.

CUT TO HOURS AHEAD

The hall is almost fills up with joyful crowd. The young attractive man, Antoiane (h.f.), who looks as a student, he is future writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, in sight searching a free place to sit. Blumkin waves him inviting to sit for their table (he has a plan for him).

BLUMKIN

Maxim.

Antoiane

Antoine.

NATALIE PALEY

(instinctively flirting)

Natalie.

BLUMKIN

Champagne?

Antoiane

Thanks? Please.

Natalie has social small talk with Antoiane. Blumkin, who don’t speak french, mostly looking at the show on the main stage and makes sure that Antoiane has his glass full of Champagne. At the main scene there is finally the main hit of the evening, the scandalous cancan dance. After dance is over there is the time for public to dance at the floor. Natalie invites Blumkin but he is redirect the turn for Antoiane. They dance and return to the table.

CUT TO

196 EXT. IN FRONT OF MOULIN ROUGE CABARET 196

Blumkin, Natalie and Antoiane are exiting from cabaret. Antoiane is visible drunk.

NATALIE PALEY

It’s a long way for Antoiane to get to his place. And he's drunk. Let's take him to us. In the morning, he will leave.

BLUMKIN

Of course, my smarty princess. Let's put him on the sofa in a dining room, it's big enough. He will be quite comfortable.

They takes a taxi and all three of them go the Paley’s home.

CUT TO

197 INT. BEDROOM OF PALEY’S MANSION 197

Natalie is sleeping in the bed. Blumkin enters with the tray served with coffee and croissants. He waits looking at her with tender love. Natalie wakes up, stretches herself like a kitten, looks with love to Blumkin back. He puts the tray to her to eat and waits until she finishes to.

BLUMKIN

(standing near the door)

I'm leaving. Right now. I need to go back. I must. I am releasing you from all obligations and promises. You don't owe me anything. There will be no requests from me and Russia. The password is void. You are free. And forgive me if you can. Don't harbor any grievance. It is the time to blame, but I love you and always will.

Blumkin turns around and walks out. Natalie at first freeze in disbelieve, then cry quietly, then she threw away the tray with done breakfast. She walks around mansion to see Antoiane in dining room.

CUT TO DINING ROOM

Natalie sees Antoiane sleeping. She takes several pillows, places them at the floor in front of him and curls up on the pillows. She waits staring at him impatiently waiting, demanding he notices her presence. Antoine opens eyes looking at her at first happily, then, realizing that she is in distress, with compassion.

Antoine

What happened, little fox? Did I offend you?

NATALIE PALEY

Not you.

She moves fast, almost jump to him sobbing silently, shaking with her whole body at him.

NATALIE PALEY

We are responsible for those we have domestic.

Antoine kisses her gently without any idea what to do. Natalie kisses him back desperately and passionately.

CUT TO

198 INT. EXT. PORT OF ODESSA – UKRAINE 198

Blumkin walks out from the cargo ship in the port of Odessa. The city is occupied with French Fleet. Blumkin walks along the streets of the city that he knows well from younger years. There are all around french military behaving civilized. Blumkin approaches thrift store and enters in.

CUT TO inside A thrift STORE

We see store clerk behind the desk in thrift store. The store is filled up with low level goods. Blumkin enters the store space. The door rings attracting attention of the clerk.

STORE CLERK

(trying to speak French)

Looking for something?

BLUMKIN

Tell Yaponchik that his friend Yakov is here and wants to chat around.

Clerk changes face impression from sweet servile into serious business like. He nods and disappeared inside inner space of the store.

CUT TO

199 INT. STORAGE SPACE THEFTS STORE 199

WE SEE Blumkin and Mishka Yaponchik (h.f.), his friend by illegal pre-revolutionary activity and now leader of criminal Odessa, sit together at the table served with vintage wine inside closed space where robbed goods are kept to be sold in the store.

Yaponchik

Let’s remember Kolya Andreev. Died of typhus. He said that you had differences with him over the assassination attempt on the Нetman.

BLUMKIN

There were no disagreements. And I wasn't here. I carried out special assignments. Misha, I can’t tell you. Sorry. I really can't. Maybe when in old age, in fifty years. They will come and say: you can tell everything now. Then we’ll sit, and I’ll describe everything to you in all details. I can't now. Honestly.

Yaponchik

At least give me a hint.

BLUMKIN

I sailed today from France. I was in Paris. I was happy in awesome crazy love. But I have an obligation with important papers. Bank accounts, passports, addresses. They must be given to Dzerzhinsky. There are all in this briefcase.

Please keep it in safe place. If anybody ask for them saying that “Yakov needs ‘iron’”, it means that I have agreed with Felix to be in a legal position again. Give them everything and cooperate with the Cheka. If it suits you, of course. But give them the briefcase anyway.

Yaponchik

Sure. Everything for you my friend.

I see, you are dressed up like a dandy. A suit from Paris?

BLUMKIN

Yes, my love had chosen it. I left her. I don't understand why, really. There were force I ought to obey. Weird feeling. One needs to experience for himself to understand what it is. That's how it should be.

Yaponchik looks at Blumkin with surprise that he could be so romantic. They sit both in silence deep into their thoughts.

BLUMKIN

By the way, I brought a batch of goods from Marseilles. All sorts of little things to sell. As a cover for my legend. Wine, tobacco, jewelry, playing cards. Will you sell around?

Yaponchik

Sure thing. What to do with your share?

BLUMKIN

Doesn't matter. Make the arrangements yourself. There should be an opportunity, I’ll ask you out of friendship. Do one more favor for me. I need rumors to spread about me that I was here this winter. That I was involved in every revolution mess. Nothing specific is needed. Just that somebody saw me here and there. If you do it, we'll be even. And I also in

need documents for a trip to Moscow.

Yaponchik takes out from his dresser drawer a stack of passports and other identification papers that he had collected during restaurant and street ‘Gop–stop’ robberies.

Yaponchik

Choose any. Deal.

CUT TO

200 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE – KREMENCHUG, UKRAINE 200

Camera is inside the train carriage filled with variety of passengers. Blumkin sits near obviously orthodox Jew. There are shots and loud voices outside and then soon inside.

UNNAMED MILITANT

Everyone out.

orthodox Jew

(in mortal, hopeless despair)

The Petliurites...

All passengers are moving out.

CUT TO

201 EXT. NEAR TRAIN CARRIAGE 201

Militants are separated all passengers permitting most of them to move back into the train. Few of them are directed toward the waiting hall of the train station.

CUT TO

202 INT. HALL OF TRAIN STATION 202

There are a crowd of Jew looking people, arbitrary selected by militants guarded inside the train station hall. The young militant with leader like behavior, Batka, enters the hall from town leading door.

Batka

Jews out. Fast.

Most of gathered people are moving outside the hall in direction of the train tracks. In proper moments when few are left.

Batka

Get up. Line up in one row!

About half of dozen people lines up. Batka moves along the line staring in eyes. His left hand holds a whip lightly hitting, touching the riding breeches of his red wide trousers, which were inflating widely over narrow shiny cavalry boots with gilded spurs on the heels. Without swinging, leader hits Blumkin directly in the mouth with a knuckle-duster. Blumkin is not prepared. He remains standing. Leader is hitting him knuckle-duster directly in the celeriac plexus. Another blow to the back of the head dropped him to the floor. There are also kicks to the torso, legs, and head.

Batka

(commands two militants)

Kill that Jew, but bring me the suit. And no holes.

Two militants grab Yakov by the armpits and drags him to the exit on the platform in front of the railway tracks.

MILITANT 1

Take off your clothes.

Blumkin with great pain obeys taking off the coat and suit. He is sitting in underwear at stones leaning to the wall of the station.

MILITANT 2

Petro, marvel at his underwear! Woolen! Warm long johns! We'll ruin it with bullets. It's a pity!

MILITANT 1

Really!

Take off everything! Move! I'll take off your skin. Come on faster!

Yakov obeys. He pulls off the top of his underwear, and then his tight trousers. He is naked now.

MILITANT 2

Listen, he’s uncircumcised! He is not a Jew!

MILITANT 1

You're kidding down fool.

MILITANT 2

See for yourself if you don’t believe me!

MILITANT 1

And then! Here is also the cross! Gold... Batka said to kill the Jew. And this is not a Jew.

MILITANT 2

He didn’t say about the suit that it had to be taken from a Jew! We need to bring a suit.

MILITANT 1

He didn’t talk about underwear, either.

MILITANT 2

So, we’ll decide for ourselves. I’ll take the underpants and you take the top. Democratically. Let's vote. I am for.

MILITANT 1

Unanimously. But I will take cross too. I saw it first.

MILITANT 2

Choke on.

Two militants leaves Blumkin naked and at bitter spring cold.

CUT TO IN FIFTEEN MINUTES AHEAD

There is a hectic movement in and around the station. In few minutes the armed cargo train of Red Army arrives and stops at the station. Well trained by repetition of the same sequence red Army soldiers drops out the train and secure the station at first then spreading all around.

From passenger carriage of the arrived train Sergei Sakharov steps down. He wants to stretch legs before routine action for requisition of the storage grains from all around peasant farms. Sergei Sakharov noticed naked Blumkin but considered him as ordinary victim of the Civil War where everybody is against all. Blumkin recognized Sergei Sakharov.

BLUMKIN

Sakharov!

Sergei Sakharov thinks that he is misheard but starts to check it out.

BLUMKIN

Sergei Illarionovich. Help…

Sergei Sakharov understands that voice is from naked body of Blumkin. He closes to Blumkin to hear.

BLUMKIN

I'm Maxim. I visited you and Lyubov Grigorievna in August last summer.

Sergei Sakharov

Be patient. We'll help you now.

Sergei Sakharov recognizes his savior. He rushes into the train for blanket, soon goes out and wraps Blumkin into the blanket, takes him into his cabin.

CUT TO

203 EXT. THE BUILDING OF THE CHEKA – KIEV 203

Blumkin, looking damaged and sick, walks along street. He approaches the guard at the front door of building with the cartoon signboard “Cheka”.

BLUMKIN

My name is Yakov Blumkin. I know that I am wanted, I have come to testify in the case in which I am accused.

CUT TO

204 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM IN CHEKA - MOSCOW 204

About month after Blumkin surrender Dzerzhinsky sits at the table looking at the folder with the case of the Blumkin. Blumkin sits on the stool in front of table. He is a little better but still in a deplorable state of health. Dzerzhinsky looks at Blumkin examining his value for future assignments.

Dzerzhinsky

Everything is clear in your testimony. About the uprising of the Socialist Revolutionaries, you wrote that it was not a plot but just misunderstanding. Mirbach was killed to change attitude of public toward the Brest–Litovsk Peace Treaty, it was a some kind of propaganda action. It is reasonable. There is a statement that you cannot ‘legally’ talk about working in Ukraine.

(Felix grinned.)

I am amused by the word ‘legally’, good for you. We are better to involve you in preparing all sorts of speeches and statements. You know how to say anything and give out nothing, but the impression is that behind the words there is something material, factual. Can you handle this?

Blumkin nods affirmatively looking from under the brows.

Dzerzhinsky

There’s one point that is standing aside, I can’t understand.

(looking directly in eyes of Blumkin)

Why did you mention that you lived in Gatchina? It's a game? Blackmail?

BLUMKIN

This is a mistake. A blunder. I also make mistakes. I'm only human.

Dzerzhinsky

Sure you are. Just an ordinary human. Aha! Judging by your condition, you are likely not made of iron. Like me, for example.

So. Relax. We will replace the execution sentence with an amnesty on the occasion of International Workers' Day. Instead of execution, you will have to commit ‘heroic deeds in the fight against the enemies of the revolution’.

Lev Davydovich wants you to join him. As the head of security, but this is for display. Just as a friend and interlocutor, he is terribly interested in your adventures. There is a comfort and doctors on his train. You can get medical treatment and gain from the experience of old-time specialists, then we will assign you to command something, and then assign again for special missions. ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’, but you must investigate, report and take actions.

BLUMKIN

Thank you, Felix. For all. And a special for Natalia. I saw her in Paris. I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but it was she who introduced me to Count Ignatiev. I couldn't do anything without her.

Dzerzhinsky

Are you going to use her in a future?

BLUMKIN

No. I let her go. The girl suffered too much. We can leave her alone and free. I love her. Let her go, will we?

Dzerzhinsky

Good. Let's make an exception. It's good that you reminded. What's the deal with Ignatiev?

BLUMKIN

He read the letter. His face showed understanding. I think he calculated everything. He appreciated that we didn’t directly demand anything nor threaten him. I am sure that if nothing unexpected happens, the money will be transferred to the legitimate government, which France will recognize. It is on us to be that government.

Dzerzhinsky

What about the money raised?

BLUMKIN

Most of them in bank accounts. Mishka Yaponchik has all the papers.

Dzerzhinsky

(screaming)

...are you crazy?!?!

BLUMKIN

Mishka is no fool. He is ready to work with us. The fact that he is the bandit, so remember who we are. Stalin, a nun, or what? And I? I know Yaponchik from the anti-pogrom squads. He promised me to keep everything. I told him that he will be accepted into the Cheka. He has a serious squad. It will come in handy.

Dzerzhinsky

Let's see. Good, maybe. Go to the cell. There must be a bureaucratic procedure, the decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Trotsky must call the All–Russian headman, Kalinin. He is now instead of Sverdlov, who was less fortunate in Ukraine than you are. He could not recover from the beating.

I come to the decision right now. If you had lied about Gatchina, if you had started spinning it…

Well done. Good luck.

CUT TO

204 INT. MINISTER WAGON OF TROTSKY HEADQUARTERS TRAIN 204

Trotsky and Blumkin sit behind the table served with vintage vine inside headquarters train.

TROTSKY

Ignatiev never transferred the money to any of the White Guard groups. He fears for his mother. Or there is something else?

BLUMKIN

I think he appreciates our delicacy. If we let his mother out, he won’t act anything against us. This will not look noble in his own eyes. He hasn't been in Russia for a long time. He has nostalgia, he remembers the country before all this bloody mess. Clean. Fields, groves, parks. I think his mother should be released. She, of course, will spread horrors about us, but he will believe his eyes, rely on the facts. She is released, free. No conditions. Thus we are worth of handshake.

TROTSKY

Yes. They believe in honor. This must be used while they still believe. Soon they will learn. Those of them who will be happy to survive.

What are your plans for the future? How's your love?

BLUMKIN

Love has been released. There is no need to ruin her life. She is a special creature. Let her be happy for both of us. Something is guiding me. I’m a materialist, I don’t believe in fate, but I can’t resist it. Must complete an important duty. I don't know what it will be. It will find me on its own.

TROTSKY

Damn! I feel the same way about myself. It's kind of foolish nonsense.

CUT TO

205 INT. JEWELRY STORE – TALLINN – ONE YEAR AFTER 205

Blumkin shows to sell big gem stone.

CUT TO

206 INT. PHOTO STUDIO OF FASHION MAGAZINE – PARIS 206

Natalia Paley at the podium models in long dress. She is the star of photo-session.

CUT TO

206 EXT. SEASHORE OF CASPIAN SEA – NIGHT 206

Blumkin shakes hand with beard man in turban. There are a fleet of small naval boats behind them ready to move out.

CUT TO

207 INT. RESTAURANT – PARIS 207

Dressed up man gifts to Natalia Paley a bottle of perfume pointing out at the big letter N at the label.

CUT TO

208 EXT. HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS – DAY 208

Group of travelers including Blumkin walks out of the Palace with mountains at background. There are crowв of monks obviously chasing them away.

CUT TO

209 INT. THE HOTEL ANGLITER ROOM – LENINGRAD 209

Blumkin enters the room and looking at the Yesenin corpse hanged up low the heating battery. Blumkin tears.

CUT TO

210 INT. NIGHT CLUB – NEW YORK - 1942 210

Antoine seeks his girlfriend all around nightclub. He sees Natalie in company of several men. He recognizes in her from most romantic adventure of his life in Paris long time ago. She is the prototype of the character “little fox” of his book written by him at this time. He approaches her. She recognizes him back. They kiss.

CUT TO

211 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, JAPAN 211

Camera is in interrogation room in Sugamo prison in Japan. It is November of 1944. Japan prosecutor Yoshikawa and Blumkin at the opposite sides of the table.

Yoshikawa

I have bad news, dear friend. You will be executed at anniversary of your revolution. Nobody from Russia admits that you are their agent. They don’t know you. Sorry. Any last wishes?

Blumkin

Yes. I want to see movie with Natalia Paley.

Yoshikawa

(surprised)

Who?

Blumkin

My favorite actress.

Yoshikawa

Well. I will try to get the copy. I cannot promise. You can understand I know.

Blumkin

Perl-Harbor… War with America instead of Russia and then Germany and Japan are victorious. Only myself to blame that you choose attack USA.

Yes. I know now what I did and why my life is ended this way.

CUT TO

212 INT. MOVIE THEATER – WASHINGTON – 1951 212

WE SEE Yoshikawa and his wife, good looking lady, are sitting as spectators of the movie where Natalia Paley is a star.

Yoshikawa

(whispering to ear)

It is she who wanted to see this Soviet Spy before death.

Yoshikawa’s Wife

I am better.

THE END

FADE OUT