Never Let Me Go (1953) - full transcript

Here's where the story
really begins.

This is Moscow, Victory Day.

Just a few years ago.

A lot's happened since then.

I had covered the war,
now I was to cover the peace..

...what there was of it.

My job was to write it.

My friend Steve Quillan's job
was to broadcast it.

'There are probably a million
victory-happy Russians'

involved in this
monster shindig.

If you're a Muscovite and aren't
watching, your marching.



Or driving a tank,
or blowing a tuba right here.

Of course, the main attraction

as always at these
Red Square demonstrations

is that beloved comrade,
that father of all the Russians

'Joe Stalin himself.'

Stalin...the great
Russian Nero.

Put it back for heaven's sake.

Broadcasted?
I've done nothing--

Due to circumstances
beyond our control

Mr. Steve Quillan's broadcast
was temporarily interrupted.

He will now resume.

If there was any
misunderstanding on the part

of my overseas listeners that
I referred to Comrade Stalin

as the Great Russian Nero,
blame it on static.



Of course, we all know
the word should be"hero"

Not Nero.

- You can't win.
- Not win?

An American expression.

The only way to figure
the Russians is to put

2 and 2 together make 9, add 7,
divide by 4...and give up.

Delightful.

You might also say, the
Russian bear is the only animal

that can eat his honey
and have it. Russian expression.

That was the last time
the flags of the free nations

were marched across
the Red Square in Moscow.

Yup, for 24 hours
on VE-Day in Moscow

everybody loved everybody.

Even Uncle Joe was happy.

He ordered a command performance

of Swan Lake
at the Bolshoi Theatre.

And this was one
of Jo Stalin's commands

I was pleased to accept.

But my real reason for fighting
my way through the victory mob

wasn't Joseph Stalin's command..

...you'll see why
when I get in there.

If I ever do.

On the stage,
before the performance

Steve was broadcasting
an overseas interview

with the prima ballerina
of all Russia.

I started looking for a swan.

For the number four swan
to be exact.

And then I saw her.

Her name is Marya.

Fell in love with her
two years back.

She knows it too.

She looks at me
like that, every time.

I've sent her
dozens of notes, flowers.

I've turned on
my best Russian for her.

But it's got me nowhere.

No date, no love...no nothing.

'I'm sure that
my overseas listeners'

'must've heard
that swans have no voice.'

But perhaps,
a miracle can take place

on this miraculous
victory night in Moscow.

Now, do any of you
young swans speak English?

I have known the English.

- What's your name?
- I am Marya.

- Marya Lamarkina.
- Good.

- And which swan are you?
- I am number four swan.

And when
will you be number one?

Perhaps, when
I'm good enough to be.

Well, I'm making a broadcast
to England and America.

Have you anything to say
on this great victory night?

Yes, I have great admiring
for the American.

I give the American my love.

May we be friends in
peace as we are in war.

Thank you, very much.
The number four swan has spoken.

And is now in the hands
of a swan keeper. Now, shortly..

You scared me over there, I
thought you were talking to me.

I was.

I love you now one year,
that is why I learn English.

Are you sure you know
what you're saying?

I study English, so I can
tell you how I feel.

For six month when you send
the flowers, I like you.

I miss you. When you
go the battle, I pray.

It's forbidden,
but I pray anyway.

Because something has happened.

But I-I wait for the English
so I can tell you

the next time you ask me
to go with you.

The next time?
After the ballet.

- Tonight.
- Yes.

Where would you like to go?
Night club?

Don't you wish to be
alone together?

'Marya!'

She is Valentina Alexandrovna.

She, how do you say..

Watches and reports.

- Reports what?
- What she hears and sees.

Then I shouldn't
kiss you goodbye.

That will come later, tonight.

It was said that Stalin arrived
with all the Soviet moguls.

That all the ambassadors
were there.

That the ballet was triumphant.

But all I could see that night
was the number four swan.

Marya.

The sky rockets
had nothing on me.

We escaped the victory mob to
the Park of Culture and Rest.

Marya and I weren't looking
for culture or a rest.

But we did wanna be alone.

Do I please you?

As I've never been
pleased before.

- You have loved many?
- Made love, sure.

Loved? None.

You are old enough
to have loved.

Yes, I know it, I was
beginning to think it was me.

But I never wanted
anything half-baked.

Half-baked? It means
not right, not ready..

Your Russian, it is better
than my English.

Is perfect, you have no accent.

We'll speak it if you want to.

No, I study English
very hard to make you happy.

You think I have it ready yet
for marriage good enough?

- Marriage? To who?
- Kiss me again, please.

You could teach me
what I do not know.

Why did you mention
marriage a moment ago?

I make the deciding.
Now at least, one year.

I told you that is why
I needed the English.

So we can get married?

Have you discussed
this with your folks?

They're gone since
I had eight years.

Since you were eight years old?

- They died?
- No.

They put me in ballet school
and go away.

And you don't know
where they are?

They did I think, something
the Party did not like.

I was too young to know.

I remember they cried
and went away.

I never did see
my father cry before.

I still cry when I remember.

Exile.

And you've been
alone ever since.

No, I have many friends
in the ballet school.

We grow up together.

Well, if you were married,
wouldn't you miss them?

Miss them? I would not
stop dancing.

I see.

And I would teach our childrens
how to dance also.

Dancing gives them
pretty bodies.

You want our childrens to have
pretty bodies, yes? No?

That's like asking a man
how often he beats his wife.

If I am naughty,
then I deserve it.

- Beat me.
- You think I would?

It is not the American custom?

They put guys in jail
for that in my hometown.

- San Francisco.
- How'd you know?

I learnt how to read on you.

Where was I?

Valentina found me
all about you from some place.

What else do you know?

San Francisco has an opera
house. I will dance there.

And our childrens
will play in the

in the park of the Golden Gate.

Is it as nice as this?

I'm trying to picture
someplace that wouldn't be nice

if you're being in it.

...hold me close
and want me.

I want you so terrible, so long.

Alright, I'm seeing Molotov
on Monday, I'll tell him.

Come in, Sutherland.
Sorry I kept you waiting.

- Ambassador.
- Sit down.

I have a Papillon.

They're, holding up
my latest consignment

of American cigarettes
just to annoy me.

- The pinpricks of diplomacy.
- Have one of mine, sir.

- Russian?
- Yeah, it is.

You're a good fellow,
Sutherland.

I'll mention you in dispatches.

Well, what is it this time?

They're tapping your telephone,
or cutting your stuff to pieces?

- Tell me the worst.
- I want to get married, sir.

Well, congratulations.
Who's the lucky girl?

- Her name is Marya.
- 'Marya?'

Marya Lamarkina.

Yes, sir, she's Russian.

I'm not gonna ask you if you
know what you're doing, Philip

'cause you must.

You've been in Moscow
long enough to know

that one of the
foolish things a foreigner

and a Russian girl can do,
is fall in love.

'Most foolish of all, is to
marry. Wouldn't you say that?'

I have said it, sir.
Over and over.

- To the young woman?
- To her and to myself.

I'm sorry, Sutherland,
but I'll have to see her

and warn her off officially.

She's here now, sir.

This is Marya.

- Who is the face?
- The portrait.

An American.
Name of Lincoln.

- Good man?
- Pretty good.

Now, my dear, it is
my duty to warn you--

You don't wish for Philip
to be my man.

'It's not a question
of what I wish, dear--'

The Soviet.
They do not wish either.

But I wish very much.

They can make things
very difficult for you.

Sir...I have love for Philip.

I have the wish to be his wife
and be together with him always.

You will tell us, no, no.
But we say, yes, yes.

And then you will say..

Dashed young fools.

...and then you will say,
"Dashed young fools, good luck."

- No? Yes?
- 'Not as simple as that.'

You must realize,
there is no certainty

you'd be granted an exit visa.

Why they not give me the visa?
I am nobody.

'You're Russian.
He's American.'

We go together.

'They may not
permit it, my dear.'

You must understand, both of you

you may be together
for just six months.

Then for six months,
we will be together.

I have the wish to be
the woman to Philip for always

but if only for six months...
then better for six months

than never to be
the woman to Philip at all.

And so, we were married
in the American embassy.

The ambassador's wife was
there for Marya and I had

Steve Quillan though, at my end.

There were just the five of us,
and old Abe Lincoln

up there on the wall.

It was comforting
having him there.

I had the hope that no matter
what the Kremlin thought

of our marriage, he would
say as he once did

"It is all together fitting and
proper that we should do this."

For our honeymoon, we went
to Tallinn on the Baltic sea

where all summer long
the water is so warm

night-bathing is
a favorite sport.

Except perhaps for honeymooners.

We wanted to be alone.

It cost one ticket
to get up here.

This is a fine time
to tell me. Who sells 'em?

- I?
- You?

What do I pay and how much?

You not pay, you say.

Something like..

...I love you.

How you know what it
cost to get on this raft?

- You have been before?
- Nope.

And I'm new at honeymoons.

But from what I have seen
so far, it's a great idea.

Am I a good bride?
Are you pleased with me?

Can you feel my heart pushing?

It's like little animal.
Has much movement.

Listen to mine.

It's like bigger
animal in a cage.

Has more moving than mine even.

You know what it says?

I want to get out. I want
to get out. I want to get out.

Shipwrecked?

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to intrude.

- Have you been here long?
- Since before you came.

Why, you're an American.

I say, fancy
meeting an American.

Look, pal, we're
on our honeymoon.

How very nice. I'm on
my second. One up on you.

Your second honeymoon?
In that row boat?

No. Well, that
is in a way yes.

You see, I thought
I might meet my wife here.

Of course she doesn't know it.

Do you usually meet
her in a row boat?

No, never.

Then she doesn't
know you're here.

But that will spoil everything.
You see, I don't swim.

And his wife's a mermaid.

Certainly is, swims
like a fish, Svetlana does.

Svetlana?

You are her English.

I am Marya, Marya Lamarkina.
To who she gave the English.

She tells you this, yes? No?

Ha ha, I know who is this man.

He is Svetlana's English
from the war.

He is back from the
Cornwall. He gets her.

Yes, from Cornwall, England.

- I've been there--
- Svetlana.

Darling.

Marya.

Svetlana.

Here is Philip, my man.

Philip mushka,this is she
who teach me the English

Svetlana Mikhailovna.

They have big dream now
to have 14 childrens

like five-year plan.

However, I want
to thank you for--

You will meet my English.
Denny, this is Marya's Philip.

Hi, of course, I'd be only
too delighted. How do you do?

- How do you do?
- How do you do!

We have a two room
apartment in Moscow.

We're not looking
too far ahead just yet.

We have each other,
that's all we want.

Let the future
take care of itself.

That's how Svetlana felt
and it worked out perfectly.

After my discharge
from the Tank Corps

I went to Cornwall
and got us a little cottage.

Within a month we shall
be happily settled there.

They promised your wife a visa?

We applied for it the day we
were married, it takes time.

That's why we are here now

waiting for it and enjoying
our second honeymoon meanwhile.

She's quite a gal.

See, tell me, how come
you two got married?

Ha. Vodka.

Vodka?

That's right, that's
what did it. Vodka.

You mean you were drunk?

Absolutely, old boy, blotto.

Pickled. Tight as a tick.

You see, during the war
I wasn't really a soldier.

I was a Sergeant
who knew about engines.

Anyway, about 18 months before
war's end they sent me

'out here to demonstrate
some of our new tanks.'

'Churchills they were.'

After one of these
demonstrations

there was a party given
by the Russian Sergeants.

You know the sort of thing

lots of noise, speeches
and so forth.

I didn't know the lingo
so I haven't the foggiest

notion what it was all about.

They gave me an interpreter.

To the health
of our British cousin.

Christopher Wellington
St. John Denny.

Christopher Wellington
St. John Denny.

Well, I, that is,

was very decent
of you...and thanks.

Or rather, tanks.

British humor
can't be translated.

Yes, well, cheerio.

And Reievich Sergeev
who invented the tank.

I'm awfully sorry. But the tank
was largely a British invention.

A man called
Douglas Barrington Jones..

...realized that it
was absolutely--

Da.

Constantine Mojastavich Popoff
who invented the electric light.

...alright.

After 22 incredibly
preposterous toasts.

To Timothy Ivanovich Semenov

who invented the internal
combustion engine.

This is ridiculous.

To Vladimir..

...who invented
the aeroplane.

I don't want
to contradict you, but..

...actually--

Well.

Sergei Nikolaevich Batukin
who invented

Russian national
vegetable, the potato.

The potato was
a British invention.

I give you the man
who discovered the potato.

I give you that great Englishman

Sir Francis Drake.

And another thing

I'd like..

And two weeks later
we were married.

I think these are dry
enough to put on now.

Your name is Denny?

- Yes.
- You are Sutherland?

Today you take pictures
with your camera?

Yes, of my wife.

Yes.

And of the beach of Tallinn?

Perhaps in
the background of--

If so, it was quite by chance.

Where is your camera?

At our cabin.

Look here, during the war
I helped your people

for two rather miserable years.
I feel I deserve a decent--

You will dress now
and come with us please.

This is your house
Mr. Sutherland?

We've rented it
for our honeymoon.

Your papers please.

- You're from the NKVD?
- Of course.

Marya Lamarkina?

You find it...pleasing
to be married to an American?

I do. We have much love
for each other.

'You will speak in
Russian to me please.'

Or have you already
forgotten our language?

You speak to me in English.

I wish to be
courteous, that is all.

In the Soviet it is better
to be courteous in Russian.

You will come
with me now please.

You too.

Well, goodbye, Marya.

It's been a great
pleasure meeting you.

Same to you.

And if things get balled up,
we'll look after Svetlana.

Thanks, old man.

We are, as the
saying goes...expecting.

They will send him away.

And when the baby comes,
she will be alone.

No, when they
develop the pictures

they'll see he told the truth.

They'll see
what they want to see.

The beaches, the coast line.
They will send him away.

I think it better for you
never to have known me

and love me.

Marya.

I think it better for
me never to love you.

If only for six months,
you said you wanted to be.

I do. Forgive me,
I love you so much.

But they have given me fear.

- Of what?
- That they will come again.

That they will do to us, what
I know they will do to them.

They will send her Denny away.
And they will give her no visa.

I know.

It just takes time that's all.

You know how
it is with red tape.

And naturally, the Reds have
more and redder tape than most.

That's a joke, honey.

Well, at least they
haven't refused her a visa.

They never refuse.

They never say, "You stay here.
You belong to the Soviet.

You not go with your man."

They never say it.

To say yes. To say no.
To say anything.

That is not their way.

Their way is to say nothing.

Just the silence.

No answer, no visa.
I know this.

- How do you know?
- I have the fear.

That's not going to happen
to us, sweetheart.

Not to us.

I'm in good standing.

You know the press
has influence in many places.

We know how to pull strings.

When the time comes for me to go

you go with me
or I don't go at all.

Not that anyone is going
any place yet.

Remember, you husband
is supposed to be

a specialist in Russian affairs.

I'm too valuable to
transfer, maybe for years.

It's too bad that
Svetlana's husband Mr. Denny

is valuable...only to her.

She will be very lonely
when the baby comes.

We'll watch out for her.
I promised him that.

Marya's hunch was right. They
shipped Denny out for good.

Their son was born in
our apartment in Moscow.

Da.Just like his papa.

We will have 14 like him.

And when my visa comes,
we will have twins

not to lose time.

Have they promised
a visa to England?

No, but they still
haven't refused.

Philip mushka.

Well, we've had it.

What does it mean?

We fly out of here on Saturday.

But it say "request Russian
Authorities." What is that?

I guess, they didn't
like the piece I wrote

on the beginning of a cold war.

Their growing
hostility to free nations.

I was afraid, Philip.
I asked you to lie a little.

Even if it was true.

You start lying a little and
pretty soon you're lying big

like they are.
Start packing, honey.

Break the news to, Svetlana.
She can have this place.

I'm off to get your visa

if I have to climb
the Kremlin walls to do it.

I decided to send
a personal plea to Stalin.

I already knew the answer.

So, I set out to plead
with, badger or browbeat

every living soul in Moscow,
Russian or otherwise

into getting
a passport for my wife.

I made the rounds
with the minor officials

who were polite,
but non committal.

Made a pitch to our Ambassador

who promised to raise the
matter personally with Molotov

in the unlikely event
of his ever seeing him again.

I tried Steve Quillan
whose top radio reporting

on overseas network had
frequently opened up doors

which were locked
to the rest of us.

Steve had got nowhere.
Finally..

Frankly, Kuragin, I've
pulled every string I could

and nothing happens
and I know why.

Because all the strings
leads to this office, to you.

I suppose you figure
your government

has nothing to gain
by giving my wife a visa.

That only we can benefit
and we mean nothing.

Look, Kuragin, I'm
a Yankee, I don't beg easily.

I'm begging now.

Five gets me two, I'm wasting
my time, time's precious

I only have two days left.

When I fly outta here Saturday,
I want my wife, Kuragin.

I want her with me.

If it suits you to help me,
you'll help me. If not, not.

I have no hope at all
that it'll suit you.

So, why not give me a clear flat
no and let me get outta here.

You are a reporter, Sutherland.

During the war
you were a good one.

You were trained
to be objective.

I wonder if it's possible
for you to be objective now

just for a moment.

I realize it's hard
for an American

even for one who has spent
four years in Russia

like you have to understand
our point of view.

Yet, it's simple.
It's logical.

It's realistic.

Suppose we permit
our women to leave Russia

to inter-marry
with the West America.

They're good Communists

therefore they'll
become bad Americans.

Or they'll become good Americans

therefore they are
bad Communists.

Either way no one is satisfied.

Face the issue
squarely, Sutherland

you'll see at once there can be
logically only one answer.

I'm not going to argue
logic with you, Kuragin.

I won't ask what madness,
what neurotic fear

is driving you to interpret
the humblest needs

of the human heart
as an affair of state.

I won't even ask
what demon is driving you

to take the goodwill
of the world

and deliberately
strangle it overnight.

Let's face the issue.
The way you want it.

Look at it smack in the eye.
You know what I see?

The Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics

riding headlong
down the road marked

this way to the jungle.
Via man's inhumanity to man.

We fought a war
to blow that road sky-high.

Or am I confused?

Not confused, Sutherland.
Merely naive.

East is east and west is west.

Seems to me, they met on the
Allied front a short while back.

The war is past.
Now comes peace.

She's charming.

We shall miss her.

And by the way,
tell your wife's friend

who married the Englishman.

She will receive hers
as soon as her child

is old enough to travel.

The only way...to figure
the Russian mind

is to put two and two together

make nine, add seven,
divide by four and give up.

My respects to your wife.
I'm sure she will be very happy.

Tovarisch,for the journey.

Pravda, Izvestia.

Report of the Water Supply
and Sewage Trust.

Illustrated
Christmas Number, 1937.

I'm American.

When do you push off, Svetlana?

I wait for word each day.

I'll miss you, Steve.

Go west, young man.
Weep for the spring.

No sad summers for Stalin.

So long, Mrs. D.
You're a mighty woman.

Up and out in a week after your
kid's born. Keep the chin up.

And remember, we're placing
a trail for you and junior.

Blow a kiss to your
Statue of Liberty for me.

If they ask you
what Russia's got

that you haven't,
say, "No television."

Foreign nationals first, please.

Americans.

On board please.

On board please.

Philip?

Philip!

Marya! Marya.
Let me go!

I'll come back!

'I'll come back!'

Philip!

Philip!

There were others like us.

And the case
of the Russian wives

was taken up officially
by the State Department.

By Congress. By the
International Press.

'Come in.'

- You sent for me, John?
- Yes, Phil.

Last conceivable approach
has been made to the Russians

and no soap.

What about your request
to reassign me to Moscow?

It appears that you're
no longer acceptable

to the Soviet Union.

Seems their door's been
slammed and bolted to you.

And my wife's
on the other side.

While you were in Moscow did
you get to Molotov about this?

No.

He's en route to London
for a Four-Power Conference.

We'll want full coverage on it.

Thanks.

I got to London.

I got to Molotov
and got nowhere.

I headed for Cornwall
to see Denny

and found he'd received
a shocking letter from his wife.

"This is to tell you
that I'm applying

"to the Soviet Registrar
for a divorce.

"You'll find another girl
to make you English babies

and be happy.
Goodbye, Svetlana."

When this letter arrived

I looked much angrier
than you, Phil.

I stood up here
and wanted to jump down there.

Then your friend Steve
smuggled some letters through.

She wrote this..

"My dearest beloved,
tear up that terrible letter

"the NKVD made me write to you.

"They said if I did not write it

"they would send me
to a work camp in Kazakhstan

"without our baby.

"I hate them. I love you.

"And all I want
is to come to you.

"I am with Marya.
We are alone together now.

Wishing with all our hearts.
Always to be with you."

Somehow, I can't believe
that anyone would-would

deliberately want to part
a man and his wife forever.

- No?
- There's no reason for it.

I mean, we haven't taken
anything from their country

by loving and marrying.

We haven't done them any harm.

I know they're suspicious
by nature and that sort of thing

but surely, sooner
or later they must realize

there's nothing
to be suspicious about.

Then they'll let the girls go.
Don't you think?

The trouble with you, Denny,
is that you are a nice guy.

In a world that is less
than nice. I like you for it.

But I'm wondering
what it'll do for you.

To get by these days
you've got to--

Have faith. You've
got to have faith.

Look what I've made for my son.

He'll like trundling it
about the garden, won't he?

I mean, I hope he'll like it.
Kids always do, don't they?

Sure, kids do.

But will he still be a kid
when you give it to him?

I'm sorry, Denny.

But I've been living on hopes
for some months now too

they're not enough.

Confound it,
how stupid of me.

So wrapped in my own woman,
forgot all about yours.

We should be very grateful
to your friend Steve.

He's a superb smuggler-outer.

These are from your Marya.

- Excuse me. I..
- Of course.

I read her letters
over and over.

She was dancing again.
And dancing better than ever.

'I danced now many roles.'

'The Snow Queen
in the Nutcracker Ballet.'

'I danced Zobeida
in Scheherazade.'

'And now they ask me
to rehearse'

'the Swan Queen in "Swan Lake."'

'My beloved.'

'They say I dance better
than before, Phil mushka.'

'I think this is true.'

'Because now when I dance,
I'm dancing my love for you.'

'And I dance from
my heart, which is breaking.'

'Philip, my husband,
you are my life.'

'Why do they keep me from you?'

'All I want, all I live
for is to come to you'

'and to be with you again.'

'There must be a way.
You will find it.'

'You are my man
and you will come for me.'

'I love you, my Philip.'

'I shall wait for you
always...forever.'

Her letters brought her
so close to me

I knew the idea that had
been forming in my mind

could be made a reality.
Sure it was a crazy idea.

But I was living
in a crazy world

and had to something about it.

- 'Good morning.'
- Mornin'.

What kind of a boat is this?

'She's Dutch.
What they call Zaboya.'

- What's that you're doing?
- Caulking.

Caulking?

I've caulked the bottom.
Now I'm caulking the deck.

How's that again?

Caulking, drivin'
the wick in into the seam

to stop her leaking.

Ain't you never
done no caulking?

No, I guess not.

Well, darn me.
Never done no caulking.

That's rare, that is.

- Where are you from, mister?
- San Francisco.

California, USA.
I'm an American.

H-h! I see. Well,
there you are then, yes.

- You're Joe Brooks, aren't you?
- Maybe I am, maybe I ain't.

The board up the hill says

you know everything
there is to know about boats.

That's young Willy. He talks
out of his elbow at times.

The man's not born yet, that
knows everything about boats.

Never will be, neither.

Boats isn't like them motor cars

they got where you
come from, you know

all slicked up and shiny.

You press a button
and you gets the answer.

No. Boats
is a different story.

Boats has got souls.

- Mind if I come aboard?
- 'No, nobody's stopping you.'

- She yours, Joe?
- No. I just looks after her.

Along with some
of the others around here.

Nice little ship.

'She's a sturdy
craft alright.'

'What we call sea-kindly.'

- Kind of old, isn't she?
- 30 or 40 year.

They don't build them
like this nowadays, you know.

Of course, her engine's out. You
can always get another engine.

It's the timber
you can't get, you know

it's the timber that counts.

What's it like, sailing
a boat like this alone?

Well, that's all according

to whether you knows
what you're up to.

If you do, you're fine and fair.

If you don't, you'll drown.

Suppose you wanted to sail
all the way to the Baltic?

Baltic? Who'd want to
sail to the Baltic?

- I might.
- 'You might?'

Of course, I know it's
a long way to the Baltic, but..

It's a long way
to the end of the pier

in a row boat, if you
don't know how to row.

A man could learn, Joe.

Listen, Denny,
I bought me a boat.

- A boat?
- Yeah. Dutch sailing boat.

With an engine. Well, the
engine's busted at the moment.

- But I'm getting a new one.
- Well, that's nice.

Hey, look, chum.
I've got an idea.

I think that you and I could
sail on my boat to the Baltic

and fetch Svetlana
and Marya out of Russia.

Don't you think
it might be easier

to smuggle them out
in a large box?

Look, I don't have any boxes.

Do you know how to sail
a boat, old chap?

No. Not yet. Don't you?

- No. I can't swim either.
- Well, you won't have to.

Now, listen. Here's the plan.

The Moscow ballet
go on tour this summer.

Marya sent me the dates.

She'll be in Tula
at the end of May.

Kharkov and Kiev in June.
Minsk and Riga in July.

And August 12th to the 15th..

- Where do you think?
- I haven't the slightest--

Tallinn, pal. Remember, that's
where we went on our honeymoon.

And get this, there's one night
when she is not dancing.

Look, Swan Lake on the 12th.

Sleeping Beauty on the 13th.

Don Quixote on the 15th.

Nothing at all
on the night of the 14th.

August the 14th.

That's our D-day, brother.

Yes, seems to me that Marya
will be in Tallinn

on the 14th of August.
But will Svetlana?

We'll get 'em there,
we'll fix it somehow.

And once they're in Tallinn
together, that's a cinch.

They wait till
the night of the 14th

walk down to the beach
and go swimming.

Everyone swims at night
in August, remember?

- Yes..
- Well, there you are.

- Wh-where am I?
- In a dinghy.

We row in in a dinghy
and pick 'em up.

I tell you
there's nothing to it.

Look, the Russkies will
be sure to spot us

as soon as we
get near the coast.

Right?

They'll sound the alarm
all over the Baltic

there'll probably
be a scrap and all of us

will be shot and drowned.

Would that be any worse
than what we have now?

I'd as soon drown as live the
rest of my life without Marya.

I know, I know,
it's the same with me.

Then you'll come?

Sorry, old chap, I can't.

You've forgotten about the baby.

I'll risk my own life
and my wife's

but not my son's.

Yes, you are right.

I had forgotten about the boy.

You can't go pushing
babies to the ocean.

Forget it, partner.

I reckon it's grapefruit.

It comes from that there
California, USA.

'I reckon it must be grapefruit,
certainly ain't sailors'

Mind you, he tried.

I never seed anybody
try harder than what he did.

Just about threw hisself into
it with all he hard, he did.

I says to him, there you are,
you see.

That's what comes in getting
married, I says.

Never have no truck
with women, I tells him.

Okay, let her go.

And he kept at it
and at it and at it

till he could handle her alone.

And was he proud.

Couldn't wait
to round up all the maps

of all the oceans
he planned to cross.

Come to me one evening with charts
and guide books galore.

All of a jitterbug he was.

You know how they gets,
these Americans mostly.

Well, Joe, I am all set.
Here's the plan.

You check me as I go along
and tell me if I'm crazy.

Okay, so I am crazy.

Now, I'm gonna
sail up the North Sea

along the coast of Denmark

through the Goteborg Canal
to Stockholm.

Now, once I get to the Baltic..

Okay, if I get there

I cross the Gulf of Finland
after sunset

and head for Tallinn.

On the night of August
the 14th I make for the bay

right here, a few miles
out, say three.

Here, near Rocky Light,
I anchor.

'Lower the dinghy,
row in towards the shore.'

'My wife swims out to meet me,
I pick her up'

'we beat it like crazy
for the boat. How's that?'

You gonna put all this
in writing?

Good grief, no, why?

I was just wondering, how does
she know what to do, the missus?

I got in touch with Steve,
a friend who's still in Moscow.

He's gonna meet me
in Stockholm the end of July.

I give him the dope,
he gives it to Marya.

This is all at night, yeah?

Joe, night of August the 14th.

Do you mind me asking
how you and the missus

is gonna find each other
in the dark?

Fix up a signpost or something?

No, there's two of them there
waiting for us, Joe.

Here, look here,
leading lights, two of them

one smack behind the other
to guide shipping into the bay.

This chart's 20 year old. How
do you know they're still there?

They were there last year.

I saw them when we were
there on our honeymoon.

Honeymoon.

Now I figure that if I row in

keeping these two lights
dead in line ahead of me

and my wife swims out
keeping these two lights

dead in line behind her

we can't miss.

How's that for an amateur?

Suppose there's a fog,
suppose it's rough

'suppose there's
a heavy sea running'

'who's gonna
look after the boat'

while you are gone off
in the dinghy?

You can't drop your hook
in twenty fathom, you know.

No, no that's a point.

- It hadn't occurred to me.
- There you are, you see.

That's what comes
of being a Yankee Doodle.

You're all A-one and hunky-dory
above the waterline

but underneath,
where it really matters

why, you're leaking away
like a sieve.

Well?

Wh-what?

What're you gonna do about it?

I don't know.

I have to think.

Looks as if I shall have
to come with you, don't it?

What?

Why, Joe.

Tides coming full,
if we want to clear with it

we better get a move on.

You think I'll have time to say,
"So long" to Denny?

'Look's as if he's coming
to wish us luck hisself.'

Denny, you're coming along!

Why, you ol' sea-going
son of a gun, this is great.

But what about the boy?

He's dead.

About a week ago.

Letter just got through.

Svetlana says he caught cold.

Developed a fever.

It's quite sudden, apparently.

I never saw him, you know.

They shouldn't keep a man
from seeing his son.

All set?

I reckon so, barring the usual.

"They must goes down
to the sea in ships

"and does business
in great waters

"these sees the works
of the Lord

"and his wonders in the deep.

"He commandeth
and raiseth the storm

"so they reel to and fro

"and stagger like a drunken man

"but they cry unto the Lord

"and he maketh the sea calm.

"Then are they glad
because they be quiet.

And so he bringeth them
unto their desired haven."

We hope.

Okay, let's go.

We left the channel behind
and set our course

across the North Sea
for Goteborg, Sweden

en route to Stockholm and
our rendezvous with Steve.

If we didn't make it,
we and our plan were dead.

Denny and I could think
only of Stockholm

and whether Steve could make it.

On the morning
of the 25th of July

we sided the Swedish capital

and by noon we were
approaching the Yacht Club

the place of rendezvous
with Steve.

- I don't speak Swedish.
- Beg your pardon.

- What can I do for you?
- I'm Sutherland.

I think you have
a message for me.

Sutherland.

No, sir, there's
nothing for Sutherland.

There must be some mistake.
Check it again, will you?

There's nothing here, sir.

- No message of any kind?
- I'm sorry, sir.

But I'll make a note
that you're expecting a message.

If you care to tell us
where we can reach you..

- Mr. Sutherland.
- Thank you.

- Hello.
- Hi, Admiral.

- 'How's the ocean these days?'
- Steve.

'That's a fancy line
of pullovers you're wearing.'

'I am not sure
about that cap though.'

'Looks kind of silly
from where I'm standing.'

- From where you are..
- 'Turn around..'

'-other way.'

Hi.

Better face the desk, Phil.

This town's alive
with Uncle Joe's hatchet men.

If you're up to what
I think you're up to..

I am.

'Then we're never to be seen
canoodling, now or ever.'

That way we look younger,
live longer.

- No long knives.
- 'I have to talk to you.'

That's what I am here for.

Now kindly step
into the booth next door

and call Stockholm, 4-6-9-3-1-2.

- Who's there?
- 'I am.'

Hi.

Steve, can we talk?

Sure, they can't tap
booth to booth.

Well, you guessed it.

Denny and I are on our way
to fetch our women

only they don't know it yet.
We got a plan, but no contacts.

That's where you come in,
I hope. Now here's the layout.

- You with me?
- Shoot.

Today, then, every ninth word.

Gee, Steve, that's great
if it works.

If it works?
It's a cinch.

With some luck we'll be in touch
up to the night of the 14th.

'You need a radio
that's good and loud.'

- We got one.
- 'Then you're in business.'

I don't know why you
should do this, Steve?

Stick your chin out
like this for us.

Maybe I'm tired of watching
Uncle Joe push people around.

I got to go now, sonny boy.

Now, keep your eye
on the ball and remember

I'll say today
then every ninth word.

- Every ninth word.
- Check.

Now, you hang up first.
Good luck, Phil.

Who you talking to, Steve?
Everything alright?

- All is well, I think.
- Good.

Hello, London.
Hello, London.

'Hello, London.'

'This is Steve Quillan
calling you from Moscow.'

'Today, I'm going to talk to you
about music in Soviet Russia.'

In.

'The war hasn't destroyed the
touch of the Russian musician..'

Touch.

'...nor impaired his skill
with every kind..'

With.

- 'Men, women, boys and girls..'
- Girls.

'...flock to concerts in the
capital, which are developing..'

Developing.

...and using musical philosophy
according to a definite plan.

We of the western world

regard music largely
as entertainment.

'But the Russians
think otherwise.'

'They have agreed
to compose their music..'

Agreed.

'...in accordance
with the exact requirement..'

Exact.

'...of the modern
communist government.'

From time to time

perhaps one or other of their
leading composer's will..

Will.

'...which somehow
fails to follow this..'

Follow.

'...in Russian music'

then he is in trouble.

You may be quiet sure

in his next composition
he will conform strictly

to the Marxist message.

"In touch with girls.

"Developing plan as agreed.

Exact time will follow
your next message."

It worked.

Trouble ahead.
We'll bring in the sails now.

Hello, London.

This is Steve Quillan
calling you from Leningrad.

'A strong wind is whipping up
across the Bay of Finland.'

'And our hearts are with those
men out on the stormy waters.'

'Today has been a strenuous one.
I had this swimming..'

Swimming.

'...at the party given by..'

Party.

'...Society for
Agricultural Research.'

Ten separate groups were there

to report on their
special achievements.

P. Shuralov reported the great
progress made in Leningrad.

- 'M. Bissinger..'
- M.

'...transmitted the greetings
of his group, 14th collective..'

14th.

Don't worry, Joe, We're all set.

"Swimming party 10 p.m., 14th."

We might be swimming
before that.

Turn back!

We're riding right
into the thick of it.

No, hold your cords.

We can't turn back.

The guards are on their way.

Help me lower the foresail

or we'll all be blown
to kingdom come.

Start bailing.

By the next day
the storm had passed.

We made our way
along the islands

on the coast of Finland.
Found a place to hide.

We still had 52 miles to go

but this was the 13th.

The storm had blown us in
a little ahead of schedule.

Tomorrow was D-day.

- Think she'll hold?
- If it don't get no worse.

What's next, skipper?

Something to eat and then sleep.

Your women are lyin' off
across there, I hope.

We should be alright here.

And you'll need
all the sleep you can get

for what lies ahead tonight.

Good morning.

Good morning.

- Who are you?
- May I ask the same question?

- We're on a vacation.
- Then what are you doing here?

This is not a vacation place,
bad anchorage.

We like it alright, mate.

Aye, what's that for mate?

The Lieutenant
doesn't speak English.

He's tying our boat to yours.

I think he has lost our anchor.

You're Russians.

'But these are Finnish waters?'

Don't the Finns, mind you
patrolling their waters?

The Finns are our friends.
We help them.

You stay here long?

That depends...on the weather.

What will you do
while you are here?

Swim, eat, sleep,
lie in the sun.

You will lie only in the sun?

You intend to cross
the Gulf, for instance?

- What's over there?
- Tallinn.

Tallinn? How far is it?

Says on the charts.
You keep charts?

We did till the storm put us
awash, soaked everything.

Anyway, we like to avoid
ports and towns.

We like to get away from people.

Aha, you like
to get drunk maybe?

I do.

Yes, back in England

they called me the man
with the hollow leg.

What this means?

That I can drink
more than anybody.

This is not so. The Russian
can drink more than anybody.

No, I mean, are you
a real drinker?

One who drinks, anytime

like...now?

Of course!

Splendid.

If you'll get the glasses,
ol' boy. Come on.

And you, your leg
is also hollow?

No, mate, with me it's ulcers.

Then we just have
to outdrink 'em ditch 'em.

If they outdrink us, how does
the boat get to Tallinn?

- Sail itself and tow us?
- Joe doesn't drink.

Here, drink some
of this salad oil.

Coats your stomach.
Come on.

It's like putting a horseshoe
in a boxing glove.

At least this is whisky,
not that vicious vodka.

Salad oil settled?

I don't know, if it stays down.

Come on, bring those quickly.

There you are, you see.

They know about my ulcers,
only four glasses.

To all hearty drinkers.

- Phoo!
- Too strong for ya?

Whisky, pah!

We will drink vodka,
Russian Vodka!

Come!

Hey, you, you too.
That will kill your ulcers.

Come! It's an order.

I'm awfully sorry, ol' boy,
but if he comes, we stay.

Yes, you see, he's our
paid hand, our...our servant.

Who's a servant? Give me--

One never takes a member of
one's staff with one to parties.

'It just isn't done, really.'

It's insult to one's host, you
know, all that sort of a thing.

A-Class distinction.

I don't like them either,
Western imperialists.

Yes.

Maybe vodka will
make them humble.

Come!

Sit.

What might this be?

We keep score.

Now we shall see
who is the drinker.

Pour.

This is vodka, Russian Vodka.

You will find it strong
like Russia.

- First, your names.
- Golden Gates.

Gates. Yes, I have
heard this name.

- And yours?
- Wesley Cornwall.

- Your profession?
- I make toys.

Toys? You have a factory?

Big factory.
1000 workers.

Make toy wheelbarrows.

Capitalist.

Capitalist.

And you, what you do?

Nothing. I don't have to.

I was born with a silver spoon
in my mouth.

Your mouth? Silver spoon?
This I...I do not--

I was a freak.

I give the toast.

To our beloved Comrade Stalin.

To our beloved Comrade Stalin.

Hurrah!

So this is vodka.

Well, well, well..

Burns down all the way, no?

- No.
- No?

Sorry, ol' boy. No punch,
no kick, no...wham.

Looks like water,
tastes like water.

When the bottles
are empty we shall see.

Pour!

I make the toast.

My turn,
my jolly ol' turn.

I make the toast.

To Constantine
Mojastavich Popoff

who invented the electric light.

Popoff.

Elektrichestvo.

- Come on.
- Yeah.

Constantine Mojastavich Popoff,
hurrah!

Here we go.

To, Vladimir
Alexievich Yermolov

who invented the aeroplane.

Vladimir Alexievich Yermolov,
hurrah!

To Timothy Ivanovich Semenov

who invented the internal
combustion engine.

Timothy Ivanovich Semenov,
hurrah.

We've forgotten...Potato

Dear ol' Potato

Sergei Nikolaevich Potato..

...who invented
the patootie, hurrah.

No, no, Batutin
who invented the potato.

Sergei Nikolaevich Ba-tu-tin..

And another thing..

...it was Sir Francis Drake.

Well, there you are, I see.

- 'Joe?'
- Aye aye, mate.

Where are we?

In the middle
of the Gulf of Finland.

Did you drink that black coffee
I left beside your bunk?

Yeah.

What happened
to the Russian patrol boat?

After I put you two
warriors to bed

I opened their petcocks and
dumped their fuel into the bay.

Then I cut 'em loose
and shoved off.

If they want to get anywhere
now, they'll have to row.

How long before we
lay off Tallinn?

About four hours to the buoy.

Good. That'll give me time
to rejoin the human race.

You look half human already.

We anchor
at the buoy right here.

- Yeah.
- Joe stays aboard.

You and I get in the dinghy
and row in

for the inshore navigation
lights right here.

I'm not very good
at rowing a boat, you know.

I know, I'll row.

You just keep me on course

because the girls will be
waiting for us right here.

'Douse that light.'

The buoy dead ahead.

- Where do you want to be?
- In the stern.

Try to spot the inshore lights.

We should be back about 11.

Well, God bless you.

Shh.

- Coffee, Svetlana? Here, cold?
- Here, dear.

Far behind? Marya?

Not coming. Not here.

Not here?

- Where is she?
- At the theater.

But there is no show tonight,
this is the 14th.

Zhdanov is here suddenly.
The General.

They give a special
performance for him.

A gala.

- What time did it start?
- At nine.

And it's still on?

- I'm gonna get her.
- You're out of your mind.

You've no identification papers.
If they ask who you are, they--

I'm not going back
without Marya.

It's both or neither.

Now, listen carefully.
Take Svetlana to the boat.

'Tell Joe to come back
here in the dinghy, alone.'

He's to wait until one o'clock.
That's the deadline. Understand?

'If we're not here by one,
he's to go back to the boat'

and race like blazes
for Stockholm.

- Now listen, Phil.
- This is no time to argue.

Hang around here and we'll all
go down the drain.

Take care of yourselves.
Good luck.

I headed up the hill
to the Theater Square.

First I had to find out
who I was.

A colonel.
Red Army Medical Corps.

Not bad, but our faces
didn't match.

And there was the theater...
it was intermission time.

The signs read, "Reserved for
officers and guests only."

I headed for the stage door.
My plan was, first, to get in.

Then find Marya and
make a run for it...or something.

I didn't quite know. But
the plan blew up in my face.

The guards would
ask for my papers

and my face wouldn't match.

There was only one solution.
To get in through the crowd.

'Marya?'

Hello?

Listen, sweetheart.
I'm here in the theater.

I'm going into the audience.

'We're going to be together
tonight, someway, somehow.'

'So wait for that moment.
Be ready.'

General.

Doctor?

Sutherland! You are the husband,
Philip Sutherland.

Keep your mouth shut
and you're the next Swan Queen.

I ordered him
to stop at a pharmacy.

Come up front, darling.

Sorry, honey, we're out of luck.
I'm gonna stop.

- No, no. They would kill you.
- But not you.

At least there's a chance
they won't this way.

This way is together.
Together beloved.

Whatever comes
I want it together.

Alright, together.
One way or another.

We're headed for the drink,
the bay. Strip off your costume.

Unlatch your door, sweetheart.
Standby to crash.

Start swimming
as soon as we hit.

They have search lights.
We have to swim further.

Quickly.

Hold on to Marya
till I can help you.

Are the Russkies far behind us?

They're lookin' for the bodies.

Joe...this is my wife.

I rather imagined that.

But you're ten minutes late,
you know?

Thank you for waiting.