Through the Black Glass (2019) - full transcript
One of the most popular plot lines in literature all around the world - and probably the favorite of women audiences - is the story of a handsome prince who saves a beautiful young woman or raises her up out of poverty and misery, grants her wishes, gives her his love and - of course - a throne, which she certainly deserves because of her kindness, beauty, and various other wonderful qualities. The variations on this theme are countless, from the classic "Cinderella" or "Scarlet Sails" to Chaplin's "City Lights." But we all know that a romantic story is one thing, while life is, alas, something else altogether. And that "something else" depends on the country and era. Our story takes place in today's Russia, and that explains a great deal.
Nastya!
How come you aren't in bed?
I'll go to bed in a second.
Is it true that...
the leaves sound just like the sea?
Well, yes...
it's similar.
Especially when it's windy.
Nastya...
- Yes?
Did you decide?
Yes or no?
I haven't decided yet.
Not yet...
- What do you mean, not yet?
Anya, Nastya, girls,
stop babbling.
Let us sleep.
Enough already.
Fine. We'll talk in
the morning.
Are you going to Communion
tomorrow?
Yes, of course.
Anna.
Blessed be God's servant, Anna,
in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ekaterina.
Blessed be God's servant, Ekaterina,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Anna.
Blessed be God's servant, Anna,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Anastasia.
Blessed be God's servant, Anastasia,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thank you.
Nastya Ignateva,
after breakfast,
you're to go to Ludmilla
Petrovna's. Understand?
Yes, fine.
They were asking for you
already, earlier.
Ludmilla herself was here,
looking for you.
Oh...
Hold on a second.
Nastya...
Here.
Sit down for a minute.
Yes, yes, yes.
The regional boarding school
for visually impaired women.
Associated with the convent
for women,
The Holy...
Yes, yes, yes. Correct.
Equal-to-apostles.
No, no, no. We're an independent
decision-maker.
The convent only provides us
with a procession.
And the building as well.
It belongs to them, but they
also need a renovation done.
There shouldn't be any problems.
Yes, thank you very much. I'll be
waiting for the document to arrive.
Nastiush...
Well?
What have you decided?
Nastiush, it's Tuesday already.
This can't be postponed any longer.
Why aren't you speaking?
I don't know, Ludmilla Petrovna.
I don't understand what
I should do.
How can you possibly not
understand?
Fine. Let's talk about this calmly,
without nerves.
You need to have an operation
done in Germany, right?
- Uh huh.
- Uh huh...
And you have money
for the treatment?
No, of course not.
How could I?
How could you... And what has
the commission's doctor told you?
Do you remember?
Another 12-18 months and it'll
be too late for an operation, right?
Now tell me, what don't
you understand here?
People are offering you money.
For the operation...
What don't you understand
here, Nastya?!
But there are conditions.
Why?
I don't know this person.
He's keeping his identity secret.
Why?
Is that any way for a woman
to get married?
Nastinka, do you know
what rich people are like?
People of this caliber?
You can't just approach
men like him.
He doesn't simply go to places.
He's got assistants...
lawyers...
Ten different people.
Millions of beautiful girls
want to be married to an oligarch,
but it doesn't
work out for them.
But I've never dreamt
of anything like that.
If he wants to do a good deed,
God will repay him.
- Nastya!
- Why would he impose conditions?
Nastenka,
so he fell in love with you.
It happens.
A prince on a white horse
showed up for you, girl!
And you're turning
your nose up at him!
Understand this, this is your
last chance to regain your sight.
A real chance.
I was going to apply as
a novice nun at the convent...
What?!
Nastya, you're 18 years old.
Do you understand that?
You've got your whole life
in front of you,
you haven't seen anything yet.
You haven't seen your own life yet.
And you want to lock yourself up
between four falls?
Is that so?
Nastya, come to your senses!
But on the other hand...
What if it's...
What if it's... fate.
Nastya...
What if it's God.
Maybe He's...
sending you a miracle?
And you're refusing him?
That's a sin.
Do you think so?
I'm sure of it.
Nastiushenka, everything is
going to work out for you.
Everything is going to
work out. Just don't...
Just don't get upset.
Okay, Nastya?
Don't get upset and
everything will turn out great.
The most important thing is
not to do anything stupid, girl.
Because if you say no
to an opportunity like this one,
you'll spend the rest of your life
regretting it.
Can I think about it
a little bit more?
Just until morning?
Fine.
Until morning then.
Right?
I understand...
[???]
Amen!
Come in, Nastya.
Have a seat.
Have a seat, here.
There are cookies here.
Have some.
Have you been to
the ceremony today?
- Yes, I took communion.
- I congratulate you.
Have some cookies,
have some.
And I've been to the late service.
Can't seem to shake this disease.
Well? Have you made a decision?
No...
Not yet...
The headmistress gave me until
morning to think about it.
I asked her to.
She must've decided that
you're afraid to admit to yourself
that you want it.
Maybe...
Probably...
Everything I could've said
to you, Nastya,
I already said.
I'm only a sinner myself,
I could of course be wrong.
But if that's the case,
I'll tell you one more thing.
God knows,
I didn't want to say this to you.
But it seems that I have to.
Praise God.
Ten years ago...
You may not remember this.
Pelagia, an eldress
of the church from Siberia,
arrived for a visit
at our abbey.
I was with her at the temple,
and suddenly she said to me:
"Well, Serafima, you have
great power over the sisters,
and you'll have it
for many years to come.
But you need to decide
immediately
who it is that you're going
to appoint as your successor,
who it is you'll be
grooming for this role."
And I said to her:
"Pelagia,
I think it's too early for me
to be looking for a successor."
And she says to me:
"Not at all.
There's your successor,
standing right in front of us.
The one taking communion...
she'll be your successor
as abbess."
I said to her: "Pelagia,
this girl is unable to see."
I thought that perhaps
she hadn't noticed.
"I see that she's sightless,"
answered Pelagia.
"But she has abilities
that few people are blessed with.
An inner gaze...
There stands a sprout,
blessed by God himself.
God save her."
Yes, those were her exact words.
A sprout, blessed
by God himself.
You were 8 years old
at the time.
That's that, Nastya.
Now you know.
Yesterday I spent a long time
thinking of this.
Truly, the Lord granted you
a special kind of destiny.
You grew up in the abbey.
A life of chastity,
far away from the world.
At 18 you decided to
become a novice nun.
And then you could've
taken your final vows,
and become a bride of Christ.
But look what happened next.
The moment you made the decision
immediately, literally
the next day,
a temptation appeared.
And what a temptation.
The gift of sight,
riches beyond anyone's dreams...
All the world's pleasures,
but only if you leave the abbey.
Well?
Isn't that a little strange?
Why does it have to be
a temptation?
It might be God granting
me a miracle, a miraculous cure.
Can't a man simply fall in love?
Marriage is sanctified
by the church.
You see how started talking
all of the sudden?
You already made up
your mind, didn't you?
What's the sense in talking then?
Talking is useless.
I don't want to be
a blind cripple anymore!
I don't want to!
One can celebrate the Lord
with seeing eyes as well.
Of course one can, Nastya.
But your path
is a different path.
You can be like the Moscow matron,
saintly and just.
She had her own path,
I'll have my own.
Yes, of course.
You'll have your own.
Well then...
Go in peace.
To bless you and your decision,
that I won't do.
My heart isn't in it.
But I'll bless your
journey there.
And I'll be praying for you,
both me and the sisters.
That I promise you.
Well then...
May God protect you.
Go on then.
Go with God.
Don't forget us.
"CAUTION, DOOR"
Nastenka...
Hello, sweetie.
- Hello.
- It's great that you came.
A lot of new books arrived.
The list is right in front of you.
Go on, read it.
By the way, I put
something aside for you.
There...
"Great Novels
of the 20th Century".
Read by Gerassimov.
Length is 12 hours.
That's not a lot, right?
Would you like to listen to it?
Actually, I wanted to
listen to "Scarlet Sails".
But you already listened to it
just recently.
I'd like to do it again.
Fine.
Here's the book.
The headphones.
Go on, have a seat.
Wait a minute!
Wait...
Give me your hand.
Here, take this sandwich.
- No, no... I'm not hungry.
- Take it, I tell you.
I know how badly
the boarding school feeds you,
you're always
going around hungry.
- Thank you...
- Go on now!
How come you're up?
But you've already
made a decision.
What's wrong?
Anya...
I think I know who the man is!
Really?
Yes...
Remember last year
when we had a male-female choir?
And students arrived
from all over?
I remember that a boy was
standing right next to me.
Such a funny boy...
For some reason he took my hand
and pressed it against his face.
I don't know, maybe he
wanted to get to know me.
But I remember his face.
I even practically saw it
with my own eyes.
Boys, can you please
take your places over there.
In the third row.
These boys are from the
high school.
They're going to sing
with us at the concert.
Again, from the top, please.
Just the first row.
Do these rehearsals
usually take a long time?
I have to leave at 3 o'clock.
It's 2 o'clock now.
Give me your hand.
My name is Andrei.
That's my benefactor.
Who else could it be?
Anya...
Could it really be fate?
I consent!
I consent...
You can simply call me "Marina".
No need to call me by
my patronymic.
I'm Mikhail Alexandrovich's
assistant and secretary.
And by the way, Nastya...
I'll keep the marriage contract
for the time being.
If you have no objection.
As soon as Mikhail Alexandrovich
signs it,
I'll immediately return
it to you.
- Would that be okay?
- Yes... Of course...
We'll soon be arriving
at the airport.
We'll be flying on Mikhail
Alexandrovich's private plane.
Can I give you a hand?
No, thank you,
we'll manage by ourselves.
We're going up the stairs.
Raise your arm like so.
- Are we in the air already?
- No, what's the matter with you.
I'll tell you when.
Galya...
Please make me a cup of
coffee the way I take it.
Of course.
Here we go.
We're taking off now.
- Can you feel it?
- Yes, yes. I feel it.
Can you see us well?
Can you see us well?
Yes...
Yes...
Don't rush.
Carefully...
Easy... Easy.
Go ahead.
We're going straight ahead.
Everything is alright.
Carefully...
This is your face.
Everything is different.
The world isn't at all
how I imagined it.
How did you imagine it would be?
I don't know how to express it.
Different...
Oh! What is it?
Would you like to take a look?
Yes...
Let's go.
What's wrong?
Are you anxious?
A little...
Everything is as if
it was in a dream.
Come on then.
Come on.
Hand me your coat.
Go on.
Go to him.
Go on, don't be afraid.
Forgive me.
It's my head...
It happens sometime.
Well?
Here we are meeting each other.
I suggest...
that we have a drink.
To you.
To...
this momentous day of your life.
Of our lives.
To your coronation.
Coronation?
Of course.
A coronation.
What else could it be?
I'm obviously a tsar.
At least in this world,
I'm a tsar.
One tsar among many, of course.
But still.
And if I'm a tsar,
then who might you be?
A tsaritsa.
And if you're a tsaritsa,
then all of this is your coronation.
Come on, let's drink to you.
It sounds so strange...
tsar, coronation...
Strange?
Not at all.
Why is it strange?
Look here...
I have my own domain.
A royal court.
I even have slaves.
What's the difference
between me and a tsar?
Nothing has changed.
This is the way it's always been.
This little counting rhyme.
Power, money.
Money, power.
Money is more important
nowadays.
You can buy power with it.
What's the Latin phrase?
I don't remember it
off the top of my head.
Money decides everything.
That's how it is.
But you can of course
feel it in your heart
that it shouldn't be like that.
What do you mean?
What are you talking about?
That money decides everything...
It shouldn't by verity
be this way.
"By verity"...
Well said.
So it shouldn't be this way.
No.
But that's how the world
works, little girl.
Then the way it works is wrong.
God can't be served
through Mammon.
So it is said.
That's true.
And this is why everyone
serves Mammon, and not God.
And about the world...
Right? Wrong?
I'll tell you this:
Our world...
is a rather filthy place.
A very filthy place.
But if you and me
somehow found ourselves in it,
then it's better to be a tsar,
instead of...
God knows who.
Come on...
Let's have a drink.
Tell me, please...
why me?
Why have you picked me
of all people?
We've never even met.
You've never seen me.
And suddenly,
out of the blue...
You know, all of this
happened out of the blue.
To tell you the truth...
A month ago,
I visited your town on business.
There was a contract there,
a lucrative one.
And this contract had something
to do with your governor.
And this governor of yours
is a kind of a...
overly religious man.
I usually, to tell the truth,
never go to church.
Never...
But what can one do,
I had to go.
So I'm standing around,
and there's a choir.
And I look, and there's
something strange with the choir.
These girls, sort of...
with these little glasses.
As if they're blind.
Visually impai...
You see what I'm saying...
And suddenly I see...
the solo vocalist.
Standing there...
And I'm right next to her,
and I...
A petite girl...
This...
This slender reed of a girl.
A slim neck...
You can see the veins
through the skin.
And this voice, so...
And I... well...
Simply an angel, you know...
But a blind one.
Don't get me wrong,
I'm not usually a sentimental man.
This is...
All of this...
But something here is...
You see, I'm standing there...
And... well...
And the nerve in my cheek
starts twitching.
My throat is dry...
I went outside,
started pacing back and forth.
Breathing, breathing,
breathing...
And it's not going anywhere.
This angel. Standing there,
standing right next to you.
And it doesn't disappear.
Almost as if it's looking
at you.
Nastya...
It's okay...
Let's talk first.
Would you like that?
Yes?
Do you generally...
know how this works?
Well...
Arousal... Sex...
You know?
Some girls at the boarding school
were talking...
- Girls were talking?
- Yes.
I heard...
Has anyone ever touched you?
What?
- Ever... fingered you?
- Never, sir!
You're calling me "sir" again.
We've talked about this.
What's wrong with you?
Forgive me... I can't...
It's okay.
It's okay, stop it.
I can't do it.
Fine... Fine...
Come on.
It makes it more interesting.
Tell me.
Can you imagine how
you'd like to do it?
Everyone needs it done
differently.
Everyone gets aroused
by a different thing.
You understand?
How would you like to do it?
- Yes... I know how.
- You do?
Go on then.
Tell me.
With the fingertips.
The fingertips...
Well, go on. Do it.
Show me how.
This is how.
Like that.
That's it?
That's it...
Okay, come on. Get up.
Just get up.
Come on.
The nightgown.
Take off your nightgown.
- All the way?
- All the way.
Take it off...
Don't do that,
don't do that.
Like that.
Does that feel good?
- Tell me, does that feel good?
- I don't know.
And like that?
Does that feel good?
Probably...
Are you going to do
what I tell you?
- If it's necessary, I'll learn.
- It is, it is.
Spread your legs.
Listen to me.
Does that feel good?
You're squirming, that's a sign
that we're doing it right.
It means there's a beast in you.
- A powerful beast.
- What kind of a beast?
What kind of a beast.
A beast in a cage.
Like that, is that good?
Tell me.
I can feel it myself,
that it makes you feel good.
Necessary, necessary,
necessary.
Now you by yourself...
- will release that damn beast.
- I'm so afraid!
- Come on, come on, by yourself!
- So afraid!
And me! And me! And me!
Do you want it?
Say it! You want it?
- Yes!
- Yes?
One!
Two!
Three!
Nastya, where are my...?
Oh, there they are.
Well now...
Shall we go get breakfast? Yes?
What's wrong with you?
What's going on?
- I'm not well.
- Not well?
I don't know how to...
What?
Here...
Not well...
Not well how?
As if I did something bad
during the night.
Something shameful.
Hold on now...
Why... it's sex.
Just sex. Everyone does it.
What are you on about...
I feel like...
As if it's somehow...
shameful.
The soul doesn't lie!
Anyway...
Let's go get breakfast.
Listen to me, Nastya.
Today, after we have lunch
we'll drive out to my mansion.
You'll spend some time there,
find your bearings.
And then, after that's
done with.
We'll put on...
two weddings.
One in Belladonsk,
the other one in Moscow.
Two weddings?
But what for?
What do you mean, what for?
Belladonsk is where you're from.
Everyone knows you there.
There's probably already a legend
they're putting together about you.
As if you were Cinderella.
Get it?
And in Moscow...
We just have to do Moscow.
That's where...
Mammon is.
And fireworks.
All kinds of celebrities.
- Are you joking?
- Why would I be joking.
What is all this for?
Don't be afraid. Why are you
afraid of it? Eat, eat.
Relax. The people want a spectacle.
You understand?
And they need to get it.
Marina!
Where are you both?
What's going on?
We're already late!
Come on!
Marina, Marina...
There you go.
Just as promised.
From head to toe.
I can't believe my eyes.
Amazing...
A real princess.
Do you yourself like it?
What?
This is so chic.
Well, well, well.
[???]
Fools get all the luck.
But I'm no fool.
That's what I mean.
Well! Let's go!
We're going to be late.
Call Nikolai,
tell him we're on our way.
Yes, Nikolai.
It's me.
Yes, they left
for the airport already.
As scheduled.
- My bill, please.
- Yes, please.
No, I'm going tomorrow,
via Moscow.
It's a regular flight.
Yes, I have business there.
This is the city center.
By the way, there's a shop here
that isn't bad at all.
Products from Switzerland,
Norway...
I completely forgot
to introduce you.
This is...
Nikolai, my chief of security.
Nice to meet you,
Anastasia Sergeevna.
Any time anything is wrong,
tell him immediately. Understand?
Stepping out of the car.
Anastasia Sergeevna.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
congratulations!
Thank you,
thank you.
You will introduce
yourselves later.
We're tired as dogs
after a long journey.
In this hall breakfast and
dinner are usually served.
There is a gym in the next room,
if you'd like.
Kitchen.
Masseurs usually work out
of this room.
- Would you like to come in and see?
- No, thank you.
That way is a swimming pool.
Mikhail Alexandrovich swims every
morning, that's his daily routine.
Here is your bedroom,
Anastaia Sergeevna.
Excuse me...
Everything is in order.
Lightbulbs were replaced yesterday.
Bathroom, toilet.
Yes, everything is
in working order.
The fireplace is fully functional.
There's a bar inside the table.
Water, spirits.
Mikhail Alexandrovich's bedroom.
Your things will be delivered shortly,
don't worry about that.
And if you need anything,
just use that phone
to dial my extension, number 3.
Please get some rest,
I won't disturb you.
Good morning.
Good morning. Sit down,
have some breakfast.
I already ate.
Nastyenka, I of course
don't have anything against that.
You can get up even later
than this.
I wake up early.
I was thinking...
It wouldn't've been bad if we...
Every morning...
Take this, please.
Why don't we, every morning,
get together and...
And do...
Some kind of a family meeting?
- Would you like to?
- Yes.
Even if you wouldn't consent
to it, that's what we'd still do.
Because in this house,
everything gets decided by one man.
Just like in this whole city,
by the way.
And it could very well be
that I'll soon
be making decisions
for the entire country.
It's this little idea I have.
Well, I'll be off...
And if you'd like to go anywhere,
be sure to check in at security.
They'll explain everything.
I meant to just take a walk.
To get acquainted with the city.
No, no, no, Nastyenka.
Taking walks is completely
out of the question.
Only by car, and only with a
security detail. Understand?
When you reach your destination, only
then can you take a walk. Understand?
That's that.
Bye now.
Look what we got ourselves into.
Bad luck.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
isn't that one of your productions?
I said, is it yours?
The production?
Mine, mine.
What a great idea.
From the outside,
looks like a regular train car.
No one could ever guess
what's really inside.
You'd be better off if you
didn't run your mouth so much.
Sorry...
Yes.
Nina Petrovna.
I forgot to tell you,
or rather forgot to ask.
What do we have regarding
charitable work?
Yes, of course
we're not doing any.
That goes without saying.
Listen, why don't we set up
a charitable fund?
Yes, we do have someone
who'll be doing the work.
My spouse could be the head
of the organization.
Consider the issue resolved.
Most importantly,
expedite the paperwork
so that everything is finished
by the 15th.
Well, do your best.
Do your best...
The issue is resolved.
Get it done.
Yes, good. I'll be waiting,
I'll be waiting.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
could you please
get back in the car?
We can't control this location.
I don't like it here.
Yes, yes. We'll go right away.
We absolutely have to
change our route.
Hello.
Would you like to
be driven anywhere?
Could you please tell me,
are we close to the sea?
The sea... Where exactly
would you like to go?
I don't really know.
It's just that I've never seen the sea.
I'll think of something.
Anastasia Sergeevna...
This way?
Yes, right here.
We're going up.
Anastasia Sergeevna,
please take these binoculars.
I need to talk.
I have to.
What?
Need to talk.
So we'll have a talk, huh?
I need to talk to someone
during the night, you understand?
Need to talk to someone,
all the time.
Such a strange thing,
get used to it.
I wake up,
I'm in pain.
Can't figure out where it hurts.
I even went to see some doctor
in Switzerland.
Couldn't figure anything out.
Said that it was a psychosis.
Phantom pains.
Lunatic.
What lunatic?
I can get assassinated any minute!
Lunatic...
They can take me out,
you understand?!
Quiet!
Quiet!
They can take me out, get it?
You can't talk like that.
All pain and suffering is from God.
Wait, you.
Divine pain?
Maybe that's what it is.
They're undermining me.
They feel that my strength
is leaving me.
I'm not scared!
It's others that are scared of me!
Fuckers...
They feel me walking.
My steps, they feel them.
I know they do!
Things are hard for me...
It's not about money!
Power! Power!
That's the thing!
Why are you afraid?
You have so many bodyguards.
It doesn't have anything
to do with bodyguards!
So many had bodyguards and
still got assassinated!
Easy as pie!
It's not about bodyguards!
There...
Wait... Wait...
You know, I had this sign.
Just like seeing a ghost.
We're standing at a traffic light.
And a gypsy woman suddenly
walks over to the car.
I've hated these gypsies
since I was a kid!
I was just a little kid!
She knocked, I opened the window.
And she grabbed me!
Held me by the shoulder.
That bitch!
She grabs me and she tells me:
"Misha! It's over!
You're done, Misha!"
Her breath stinks so bad!
I got a chill, it was as if
a smell straight from the grave!
Smell... Misha,
she says... Misha...
How did she know my name?
I don't understand it!
Caress!
Caress me!
Go on, caress me!
Oh... those fuckers...
Like it is written in [???]
[???]
And so you will go on living,
and suffering.
Either that, or else
become stronger.
- What is your name?
- Anastasia.
Anastasia.
Where to...?
Oh...
Nastya...
You see? Don't worry,
it's just a scratch.
They killed the driver
and two bodyguards.
It was some shootout!
Don't worry.
Come here,
come here.
Listen...
The gypsy was right.
After all this,
you'd believe in anything, huh?
That's that.
Does your arm hurt?
So so...
A little bit.
It's tolerable.
What's that you have?
A prayer book for the blind?
I just can't seem to
get used to regular letters.
Can't do it...
You'll get used to it.
You'll get used to it...
Why is this such a long night?
Just goes on and on...
Never seems to end.
You hear?
There is in you...
a beast as well.
Isn't that so?
It's there.
The beast is there.
- What kind of beast?
- What do you mean what kind?
Desire, lust.
Everything about you is
as it should be, little girl.
Everything is normal.
What are you saying?
I don't understand.
- You don't?
- No.
Did you forget how I layed you
on your side?
And you pulled your legs up.
And started tearing at me
and scratching me.
Everything's okay with you, huh?
Why are you saying these
disgusting things to me?
What disgusting things
am I saying? It's nature.
Your little beast,
it's still small.
Hasn't developed yet.
And when it grows up,
[???]
With its face right
in the puddle.
This filth you're saying,
it's the reason we pray to the Lord,
so that our spirit is nurtured
and our base nature is transformed.
She's a philosopher!
Transforming nature!
Did many people transform
their nature, huh?
I'm not talking about old men,
whose bits
all dried up and fell off long ago,
and can't do it anymore.
I'm talking about
the young, healthy ones.
Just read
what your monks wrote, huh?
Read it! They keep repenting,
confessing their sins.
Calling themselves "sinners"
and nothing ever changes!
They torment themselves,
starve themselves, torture themselves,
but all for naught!
Isn't that so?
- No, it isn't!
- No?
They're trying to
transform their base nature!
And what do you even know
about these monks, these holy men?
You can't even cross yourself!
And you condemn others!
How can that be?
You're so full of hate for me!
That's such a turn on!
Let me give you a kiss!
You're turning me on!
Come on! Let's make out!
What's wrong with you?
Don't be afraid, you!
You could've killed
me just now, huh?
And for what?
For me having a different opinion,
that's all it is.
That's human nature too,
to kill the one who has
a different opinion.
That's that.
- Horrible, the way you live.
- Horrible...
That's how our world works,
little girl.
Not our world,
but your world.
Mine? Really?
No, generally speaking.
Yours...
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
What's wrong with you?
What's with the
farm girl's dress?
With all the things
we bought for you.
Where's all that?
I'm going to church,
for the service.
Uh huh. I get it.
If it's church, does that mean
it has to be in a modest dress?
And when it's life,
then it can be in Versace.
Perfectly logical.
I wanted to ask you.
Wanted...
To ask...
If the operation
hadn't been successful,
how would you
have acted with me?
Would you like me to be frank?
Be frank.
I would've sent you back
to your boarding school.
And that's it.
Maybe given you
a little bit of money.
I have no use for an invalid.
And nobody else
has any use for one either.
That's how the world works,
little girl.
Only the healthy, the strong,
the young are needed.
The defective ones...
First of all,
they themselves suffer.
Secondly,
they make others suffer.
It's one problem after another.
Why do you ask?
Huh?
I was just thinking.
There's another thing.
You said that you loved me.
Right?
Very much so.
You know,
there's a type of marriage.
It's called a "white marriage".
That's when people
live together, are in love,
but without intimate relations.
Can't we do that?
Those are some
interesting people.
Some kind of people they are.
Interesting.
Yeah...
White marriage, you say...
Relations...
It hurts!
Let me go!
It hurts!
You don't love me, do you?
I love you, I do,
but not like that!
Not the way you want me to.
Another woman would be
crawling around on the floor,
telling me she loves me,
can't live without me.
Lying to me.
But you're not doing that.
You only tell me the truth.
Interesting...
That's a very rare thing.
You like it?
This is a place of strength.
This is where real power lies.
Are you shivering?
Are you cold or something?
Yes, I'm cold.
What a strange place.
Strange how?
Smells of blood.
Smells of blood?
Can't you sense it?
What's with you?
There's no power without some blood.
That's the way it should be.
That's the way life is.
Let's go, let's go.
We're late.
Magnificent, simply magnificent.
Well, like always.
- Isn't it?
- So chic.
So tell me...
How is your evening going?
How? Everything's so chic here.
All this Mammon.
Most importantly, don't forget
that all mainstream media
will get...
You know,
it's very important to me that...
Things will be colorful.
And fatter...
And more... Okay?
You understand of course
that it's important for me.
Just like it is for you.
Don't worry.
Tell me...
Where did you get the girl?
Where did I get her?
There.
There...
From the moon.
She's by the way
not from your planet, at all.
Really...
An alien!
If you'd like, yes.
Tell me the truth.
Who is she to you?
Your wife?
- My widow.
- What a frank answer.
And considering your age,
even more so.
You men are such asses.
Your Grisha as well?
My Grisha even more so
than anyone else.
But that's between us.
Hey there!
Mikhail Alexandrovich...
Hello.
- I congratulate you.
- Thank you.
I hear you purchased
two factories.
One factory.
Still pretty good.
[???] order?
Three shifts?
Four shifts.
You're quite a guy, Mikhail.
I want to enter that
field as well.
All the money is in it now.
That's just a fact.
I'll get back to you.
Hello.
This song is about us,
gentlemen.
About our history with you,
about life.
Some will like it, some won't.
Our reality is our destiny.
Nothing else can be.
Galya...
Pour me a drink.
So... In two weeks,
we'll go to London.
In a year, we'll be
immigrating to England.
That's what I decided.
I'm not hearing any applause.
What's wrong?
Are you upset?
Why are you upset?
Didn't like me as
a philanthropist?
- No, I didn't.
- "No, I didn't."
What's wrong this time?
No monks, my dear?
That's not how one does good.
Didn't you say yourself
that the TV production cost
more than the donations brought in?
That's right.
And now what?
What are these people
sacrificing?
This is pocket change for them.
They give more money
than this in tips.
If one has too much money
he can give it to
whoever needs it.
Such an amount of money
can save a man's life.
Yes, it can.
But what for?
Why save a man's life?
What do you mean?
Nastya!
Nastya!
You're sick...
How am I sick?
How am I sick?
Your soul is sick.
It's horrible.
You're beyond saving.
Because you simply
have no faith.
You want me to be
a common peasant, huh?
I don't know. Maybe.
I'll be praying for you.
I pray every day.
God willing, I'll save
you with my prayers.
Prayer makes everything
possible,
that's what the church fathers
teach us.
Fathers?
A lunatic, that's what I am.
Fathers...
What fucking fathers!
What fathers!
Fathers...
Teach us...
Well?
What do you have planned today?
I don't know yet.
Listen, the wedding planners
will be arriving soon.
To finalize things.
I don't want you to leave.
I want you to be here.
What does it have to do with me?
What do you mean, what?
I can't make
these decisions for you.
Color of the dress.
Design of the dress.
Color of the carriage,
whether matching the dress or not.
These are very
delicate decisions.
What carriage?
You and me, Cinderella,
are going to be riding
in a carriage.
Drawn by four horses,
white ones.
And the governor
will be meeting us
with a gold key.
Like Pinocchio.
We've discussed this already!
- Fine.
- Everything was discussed.
- Don't you remember?
- Fine, fine. I'll be here.
Why are you jumping all over me
over every single word?
Well...
I see that you're becoming
hard to talk to.
That's not good.
It's a bad sign.
Now I lost my appetite.
You put me in a bad mood.
By the way...
You... You know...
Can you fly out to your
hometown for a few days?
Relatively early.
To see your boarding school,
your girlfriends.
They haven't seen you
like this yet.
I can go?
No reason why not.
When can I go?
I'm ready.
Let's find out.
Strange,
everything is so different.
But I remember all the turns.
We should now turn right,
I think.
Exactly...
To the right.
Nastya!
Nastyenka!
Hi. It's Lyubov Petrovna.
I'm Maria.
Remember me?
- Is that for me?
- Of course it's for you.
Let's go, let's go.
Right through here.
We're renovating,
thanks to Mikhail Alexandrovich.
Finally we can
take care of things.
They wanted to shut us down.
Can you imagine?
For safety code violations.
What a miracle.
You got a miracle,
and Mikhail Alexandrovich
gave us money.
We'll put things in order.
Right, girls?
Let's go to my office.
It was a fright, what it
was like here before.
The girls put out
a whole spread.
We'll sit down,
celebrate the occasion.
It's right here.
Come in, walk right in.
But where are the girls?
Because of the renovation,
they transferred them out.
Would you like their address?
You can drive there.
You have a car, right?
It's a 3-hour drive,
not too bad.
Oh...
Over there, that's
where your office is?
And beyond it is a room
where we used to live.
- Can I?
- By all means.
I can't believe it,
she remembers everything.
PIEROGI AND CRUMPETS
Thank you so much.
Timok...
Take a look,
I think that's a good one.
No, it won't be
a good fit for us.
[???]
Do you like it?
It's a song from our new album.
Would you like to buy it?
I say, it's a song
from our new album.
Like it?
Young lady...
Don't...
Don't you feel well?
Everything's fine.
I just had a dizzy spell.
Right.
I get it.
There's a good Turkish cafe
right around here.
Cures all illnesses.
Shall we go?
My treat.
Well?
Haven't you ever heard
any of our songs?
No.
We're actually
a pretty popular band.
At least in our own town.
You should come to our show.
We have one every Saturday.
The band's name is Everest.
Do you write music?
Not me.
I write the lyrics,
Sergei writes the music.
The thing is that
I'm about to start
studying literature
at a college in Moscow.
I spend my nights writing.
All kinds of things...
The guys like it, they say...
That I'm almost a genius.
But why at night?
Every writer needs
to have his own thing.
His own [???]
And that's mine.
Besides, many writers
wrote during the night.
"The hour of the wolf".
What's that?
That's what it's called when it's 4AM,
"the hour of the wolf".
It's the most mystical time.
The night is over,
the day didn't begin yet.
I usually open the window,
even if it's winter.
It's so quiet out...
And writing becomes easy.
As if...
someone is guiding your hand.
Maybe that's really
what's happening.
Who?
What do you mean, who?
The muse.
That's the second prerequisite
to being a writer.
Your own Beatrice.
Your own eternal love,
that both inspires, and...
Do you have a muse?
Me?
I don't.
Not yet, I think.
Although...
maybe now I do.
And it's just that I...
don't know it yet.
There's no need to
walk me any further.
I'll go on on my own.
Is someone waiting for you?
Not at all, it's just that...
I'll explain later,
another time.
Ah. So there'll be
another time.
- If you'd like.
- I'd like.
Me too.
Then...
Call me.
Or let me call you.
I'd rather call.
When?
I don't know.
Wait...
Would you like to
go out with us tonight?
Our whole gang will be
at my place tonight.
- We're having a big party.
- What kind of party?
Che Guevara's birthday.
Today?
We just decided that it's today.
Will you come?
I'll give you a call
if I can make it.
Hello.
This is my office.
This is where...
Well...
You know...
Here is where...
I create my masterpieces.
On this desk?
Right on this one, Mademoiselle.
There's no other.
This is...
the very window
that I open at 4AM.
At the hour of the wolf.
Through this window,
dusk comes in.
He and I have a chat
until it's light out.
Then he leaves
and I remain alone.
And go to bed.
What a beautiful view.
And so high up.
It's the highest point
in the whole city.
Or almost.
It's the 7th floor after all.
It's so good here.
As if I already lived here
in the past.
I have to go.
So early?
- I'll call.
- When?
When I can.
Call today, at 4AM.
- I'll try.
- Wait.
These are all my new songs.
Yes? Yes?
How great...
What?
Great that you called.
Did you write anything?
No.
I was...
just thinking.
What about?
About love.
I read about it so much.
There's so much written
about it.
Everything says
that it's like...
being struck by lightning.
A flash, and that's it.
And you become different.
And everything is different.
You know,
I used to think that...
it's poetic images,
or something.
Well, in short, literature.
But it turns out that it isn't.
It's all true.
It's so huge...
that you feel as if your
heart is about to burst.
Forgive me, it seems that I...
I'm talking
with too much pathos.
No.
I completely understand.
It's true.
As if...
your heart is going to burst.
Yes...
Come over, right now.
Please.
I will.
What do you want?
I didn't want to wake you up.
Why would you possibly
need to wake me up?
Did anything special happen?
Well? Don't make a
production out of it. Speak.
You requested it yourself.
Any time there's new information
regarding Anastasia Sergeevna.
Well?
There's was a phone call at 4AM.
Here's the printout.
After the call she left.
We don't know where she went.
And she's not at
the hotel room right now.
Who is this?
So far we only know that
it's just some kid.
20 years old,
works as a store clerk.
We're looking into who
his parents are.
I activated our local contacts.
Works in a store...
A store...
Some nun she is.
Some nun...
Nun schmun.
Here's a surprise.
Look at that,
they're coming to meet us.
Some surprise.
What are you doing,
standing there? Cinderella...
I need...
to talk to you.
- Need to talk?
- Yes.
Let's go, let's go talk.
No!
Right now!
- You mean here?
- Yes...
Let me go...
Let me go.
Let you go where?
- Where?
- No... In general...
I'll give you all
your money back.
Everything you paid for.
Every last cent.
I'll pay everything back.
Please. I'll get a job.
Just let me go.
Please, have mercy.
God will repay you
for your kindness.
I just can't anymore.
I can't be with you.
I just can't.
I love another man.
Do you understand?
I love another!
Forgive me, I...
Yes...
Well here's a pickle.
A new one.
Right before the wedding, huh?
Well, let's go and discuss things.
Come, come.
Hello there!
What's our room number?
As always, the presidential suite,
Mikhail Sergeevich.
- It hurts!
- Presidential...
That's our room...
You scum!
Scum!
If you say anything like that
to me ever again,
I'll skin your hide, you bitch!
Bitch!
I'll be the one to decide
how long you'll be with me!
Five years! Ten!
Get it?
Until I get sick of you!
Go!
Bitch...
Go!
Go make yourself presentable,
you bitch!
So that tomorrow,
you'll be as good as new!
Fresh!
So everyone will see
how happy you are
from the look on your face!
So you'll be glowing!
Your eyes shining!
The ones I gave you!
Scum!
Ungrateful scum!
Nikolai, yes.
Doesn't matter, I'm already up.
What time is it?
Can it really be
morning already?
Okay, come on.
Come up.
Come up, I'll be right out.
- Go ahead.
- It's done.
Had a drug overdose,
fell out of a window.
We have a report from
the police and paramedics.
Even came up with a couple
of eyewitnesses.
So everything's taken care of.
Eyewitnesses?
What kind?
He used to open the window
and sit on the sill.
That's the kind of
dumbass he was.
The neighbors saw it all.
So everything is clean.
Clean...
Clean...
Okay, get going.
Have you been sitting like this
all night long?
Didn't get any sleep at all?
Let me go, please...
In the name of Jesus Christ,
I beg you. Let me go.
That means you want
to go to him.
He's not around anymore.
He's dead.
Who?
Your kid.
He's dead.
What was his name?
Andrei or something?
How...
Just like that.
It turns out that
he was a junkie.
An overdose.
Fell out of a window.
The poor boy, what a tragedy.
But what can you do.
An accident.
It was you...
who killed him.
No.
I didn't.
You're the one who killed him.
Remember that.
- Me?
- Uh huh.
Get me a water.
Mikhail Alexandrovich...
Would you like it
still or sparkling?
Doesn't matter.
- I'll get you a glass.
- Don't need one.
Don't you feel well,
Mikhail Alexandrovich?
Not well...
Not well...
Don't you feel it?
There's something hanging
in the air.
Something bad.
Something's happening.
You don't happen to feel it?
That?
Magnetic storms.
They were talking about
them on TV.
Storms...
Yes, maybe it's the storms.
Maybe.
You like the Tsar?
What's your name?
Vasily.
And the Tsar...
I really do respect him.
I think it's better when
there's a Tsar and...
I get it.
And you go to church, right?
Every once in a while.
Rarely, of course.
That's the way to do it, rarely.
Nothing to do in church.
It's not God that you need.
But a Tsar.
Only not that one,
but a different one.
I cut out this clipping.
From a magazine.
A poem.
"Who is he,
the people's peacemaker?
Dark, and angry, and ferocious
A monk,
at the monastery's doorway
Saw him - and went blind
He to unknown abysses
Chases men, like driving herds
Chases them with an iron staff
Dear God!
We run from judgement!"
Run...
From judgement...
I need Mikhail Alexandrovich.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
everything is ready.
Please excuse me
if I'm distracting you.
But the governor's people
called.
He arrived at the palace already.
May we begin?
Excuse me.
Nastya?
Nastya?
Where are y...
Where are you?
Everyone's waiting for you
downstairs.
How come you're not coming down?
Nastya!
Nastya...
Where are you?
Nastya!
What's going on!
Why aren't you saying anything?
Nastya!
Nastya!
Hurts...
So much...
Hurts...
So much...
Straight ahead.
How come you aren't in bed?
I'll go to bed in a second.
Is it true that...
the leaves sound just like the sea?
Well, yes...
it's similar.
Especially when it's windy.
Nastya...
- Yes?
Did you decide?
Yes or no?
I haven't decided yet.
Not yet...
- What do you mean, not yet?
Anya, Nastya, girls,
stop babbling.
Let us sleep.
Enough already.
Fine. We'll talk in
the morning.
Are you going to Communion
tomorrow?
Yes, of course.
Anna.
Blessed be God's servant, Anna,
in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ekaterina.
Blessed be God's servant, Ekaterina,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Anna.
Blessed be God's servant, Anna,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Anastasia.
Blessed be God's servant, Anastasia,
in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thank you.
Nastya Ignateva,
after breakfast,
you're to go to Ludmilla
Petrovna's. Understand?
Yes, fine.
They were asking for you
already, earlier.
Ludmilla herself was here,
looking for you.
Oh...
Hold on a second.
Nastya...
Here.
Sit down for a minute.
Yes, yes, yes.
The regional boarding school
for visually impaired women.
Associated with the convent
for women,
The Holy...
Yes, yes, yes. Correct.
Equal-to-apostles.
No, no, no. We're an independent
decision-maker.
The convent only provides us
with a procession.
And the building as well.
It belongs to them, but they
also need a renovation done.
There shouldn't be any problems.
Yes, thank you very much. I'll be
waiting for the document to arrive.
Nastiush...
Well?
What have you decided?
Nastiush, it's Tuesday already.
This can't be postponed any longer.
Why aren't you speaking?
I don't know, Ludmilla Petrovna.
I don't understand what
I should do.
How can you possibly not
understand?
Fine. Let's talk about this calmly,
without nerves.
You need to have an operation
done in Germany, right?
- Uh huh.
- Uh huh...
And you have money
for the treatment?
No, of course not.
How could I?
How could you... And what has
the commission's doctor told you?
Do you remember?
Another 12-18 months and it'll
be too late for an operation, right?
Now tell me, what don't
you understand here?
People are offering you money.
For the operation...
What don't you understand
here, Nastya?!
But there are conditions.
Why?
I don't know this person.
He's keeping his identity secret.
Why?
Is that any way for a woman
to get married?
Nastinka, do you know
what rich people are like?
People of this caliber?
You can't just approach
men like him.
He doesn't simply go to places.
He's got assistants...
lawyers...
Ten different people.
Millions of beautiful girls
want to be married to an oligarch,
but it doesn't
work out for them.
But I've never dreamt
of anything like that.
If he wants to do a good deed,
God will repay him.
- Nastya!
- Why would he impose conditions?
Nastenka,
so he fell in love with you.
It happens.
A prince on a white horse
showed up for you, girl!
And you're turning
your nose up at him!
Understand this, this is your
last chance to regain your sight.
A real chance.
I was going to apply as
a novice nun at the convent...
What?!
Nastya, you're 18 years old.
Do you understand that?
You've got your whole life
in front of you,
you haven't seen anything yet.
You haven't seen your own life yet.
And you want to lock yourself up
between four falls?
Is that so?
Nastya, come to your senses!
But on the other hand...
What if it's...
What if it's... fate.
Nastya...
What if it's God.
Maybe He's...
sending you a miracle?
And you're refusing him?
That's a sin.
Do you think so?
I'm sure of it.
Nastiushenka, everything is
going to work out for you.
Everything is going to
work out. Just don't...
Just don't get upset.
Okay, Nastya?
Don't get upset and
everything will turn out great.
The most important thing is
not to do anything stupid, girl.
Because if you say no
to an opportunity like this one,
you'll spend the rest of your life
regretting it.
Can I think about it
a little bit more?
Just until morning?
Fine.
Until morning then.
Right?
I understand...
[???]
Amen!
Come in, Nastya.
Have a seat.
Have a seat, here.
There are cookies here.
Have some.
Have you been to
the ceremony today?
- Yes, I took communion.
- I congratulate you.
Have some cookies,
have some.
And I've been to the late service.
Can't seem to shake this disease.
Well? Have you made a decision?
No...
Not yet...
The headmistress gave me until
morning to think about it.
I asked her to.
She must've decided that
you're afraid to admit to yourself
that you want it.
Maybe...
Probably...
Everything I could've said
to you, Nastya,
I already said.
I'm only a sinner myself,
I could of course be wrong.
But if that's the case,
I'll tell you one more thing.
God knows,
I didn't want to say this to you.
But it seems that I have to.
Praise God.
Ten years ago...
You may not remember this.
Pelagia, an eldress
of the church from Siberia,
arrived for a visit
at our abbey.
I was with her at the temple,
and suddenly she said to me:
"Well, Serafima, you have
great power over the sisters,
and you'll have it
for many years to come.
But you need to decide
immediately
who it is that you're going
to appoint as your successor,
who it is you'll be
grooming for this role."
And I said to her:
"Pelagia,
I think it's too early for me
to be looking for a successor."
And she says to me:
"Not at all.
There's your successor,
standing right in front of us.
The one taking communion...
she'll be your successor
as abbess."
I said to her: "Pelagia,
this girl is unable to see."
I thought that perhaps
she hadn't noticed.
"I see that she's sightless,"
answered Pelagia.
"But she has abilities
that few people are blessed with.
An inner gaze...
There stands a sprout,
blessed by God himself.
God save her."
Yes, those were her exact words.
A sprout, blessed
by God himself.
You were 8 years old
at the time.
That's that, Nastya.
Now you know.
Yesterday I spent a long time
thinking of this.
Truly, the Lord granted you
a special kind of destiny.
You grew up in the abbey.
A life of chastity,
far away from the world.
At 18 you decided to
become a novice nun.
And then you could've
taken your final vows,
and become a bride of Christ.
But look what happened next.
The moment you made the decision
immediately, literally
the next day,
a temptation appeared.
And what a temptation.
The gift of sight,
riches beyond anyone's dreams...
All the world's pleasures,
but only if you leave the abbey.
Well?
Isn't that a little strange?
Why does it have to be
a temptation?
It might be God granting
me a miracle, a miraculous cure.
Can't a man simply fall in love?
Marriage is sanctified
by the church.
You see how started talking
all of the sudden?
You already made up
your mind, didn't you?
What's the sense in talking then?
Talking is useless.
I don't want to be
a blind cripple anymore!
I don't want to!
One can celebrate the Lord
with seeing eyes as well.
Of course one can, Nastya.
But your path
is a different path.
You can be like the Moscow matron,
saintly and just.
She had her own path,
I'll have my own.
Yes, of course.
You'll have your own.
Well then...
Go in peace.
To bless you and your decision,
that I won't do.
My heart isn't in it.
But I'll bless your
journey there.
And I'll be praying for you,
both me and the sisters.
That I promise you.
Well then...
May God protect you.
Go on then.
Go with God.
Don't forget us.
"CAUTION, DOOR"
Nastenka...
Hello, sweetie.
- Hello.
- It's great that you came.
A lot of new books arrived.
The list is right in front of you.
Go on, read it.
By the way, I put
something aside for you.
There...
"Great Novels
of the 20th Century".
Read by Gerassimov.
Length is 12 hours.
That's not a lot, right?
Would you like to listen to it?
Actually, I wanted to
listen to "Scarlet Sails".
But you already listened to it
just recently.
I'd like to do it again.
Fine.
Here's the book.
The headphones.
Go on, have a seat.
Wait a minute!
Wait...
Give me your hand.
Here, take this sandwich.
- No, no... I'm not hungry.
- Take it, I tell you.
I know how badly
the boarding school feeds you,
you're always
going around hungry.
- Thank you...
- Go on now!
How come you're up?
But you've already
made a decision.
What's wrong?
Anya...
I think I know who the man is!
Really?
Yes...
Remember last year
when we had a male-female choir?
And students arrived
from all over?
I remember that a boy was
standing right next to me.
Such a funny boy...
For some reason he took my hand
and pressed it against his face.
I don't know, maybe he
wanted to get to know me.
But I remember his face.
I even practically saw it
with my own eyes.
Boys, can you please
take your places over there.
In the third row.
These boys are from the
high school.
They're going to sing
with us at the concert.
Again, from the top, please.
Just the first row.
Do these rehearsals
usually take a long time?
I have to leave at 3 o'clock.
It's 2 o'clock now.
Give me your hand.
My name is Andrei.
That's my benefactor.
Who else could it be?
Anya...
Could it really be fate?
I consent!
I consent...
You can simply call me "Marina".
No need to call me by
my patronymic.
I'm Mikhail Alexandrovich's
assistant and secretary.
And by the way, Nastya...
I'll keep the marriage contract
for the time being.
If you have no objection.
As soon as Mikhail Alexandrovich
signs it,
I'll immediately return
it to you.
- Would that be okay?
- Yes... Of course...
We'll soon be arriving
at the airport.
We'll be flying on Mikhail
Alexandrovich's private plane.
Can I give you a hand?
No, thank you,
we'll manage by ourselves.
We're going up the stairs.
Raise your arm like so.
- Are we in the air already?
- No, what's the matter with you.
I'll tell you when.
Galya...
Please make me a cup of
coffee the way I take it.
Of course.
Here we go.
We're taking off now.
- Can you feel it?
- Yes, yes. I feel it.
Can you see us well?
Can you see us well?
Yes...
Yes...
Don't rush.
Carefully...
Easy... Easy.
Go ahead.
We're going straight ahead.
Everything is alright.
Carefully...
This is your face.
Everything is different.
The world isn't at all
how I imagined it.
How did you imagine it would be?
I don't know how to express it.
Different...
Oh! What is it?
Would you like to take a look?
Yes...
Let's go.
What's wrong?
Are you anxious?
A little...
Everything is as if
it was in a dream.
Come on then.
Come on.
Hand me your coat.
Go on.
Go to him.
Go on, don't be afraid.
Forgive me.
It's my head...
It happens sometime.
Well?
Here we are meeting each other.
I suggest...
that we have a drink.
To you.
To...
this momentous day of your life.
Of our lives.
To your coronation.
Coronation?
Of course.
A coronation.
What else could it be?
I'm obviously a tsar.
At least in this world,
I'm a tsar.
One tsar among many, of course.
But still.
And if I'm a tsar,
then who might you be?
A tsaritsa.
And if you're a tsaritsa,
then all of this is your coronation.
Come on, let's drink to you.
It sounds so strange...
tsar, coronation...
Strange?
Not at all.
Why is it strange?
Look here...
I have my own domain.
A royal court.
I even have slaves.
What's the difference
between me and a tsar?
Nothing has changed.
This is the way it's always been.
This little counting rhyme.
Power, money.
Money, power.
Money is more important
nowadays.
You can buy power with it.
What's the Latin phrase?
I don't remember it
off the top of my head.
Money decides everything.
That's how it is.
But you can of course
feel it in your heart
that it shouldn't be like that.
What do you mean?
What are you talking about?
That money decides everything...
It shouldn't by verity
be this way.
"By verity"...
Well said.
So it shouldn't be this way.
No.
But that's how the world
works, little girl.
Then the way it works is wrong.
God can't be served
through Mammon.
So it is said.
That's true.
And this is why everyone
serves Mammon, and not God.
And about the world...
Right? Wrong?
I'll tell you this:
Our world...
is a rather filthy place.
A very filthy place.
But if you and me
somehow found ourselves in it,
then it's better to be a tsar,
instead of...
God knows who.
Come on...
Let's have a drink.
Tell me, please...
why me?
Why have you picked me
of all people?
We've never even met.
You've never seen me.
And suddenly,
out of the blue...
You know, all of this
happened out of the blue.
To tell you the truth...
A month ago,
I visited your town on business.
There was a contract there,
a lucrative one.
And this contract had something
to do with your governor.
And this governor of yours
is a kind of a...
overly religious man.
I usually, to tell the truth,
never go to church.
Never...
But what can one do,
I had to go.
So I'm standing around,
and there's a choir.
And I look, and there's
something strange with the choir.
These girls, sort of...
with these little glasses.
As if they're blind.
Visually impai...
You see what I'm saying...
And suddenly I see...
the solo vocalist.
Standing there...
And I'm right next to her,
and I...
A petite girl...
This...
This slender reed of a girl.
A slim neck...
You can see the veins
through the skin.
And this voice, so...
And I... well...
Simply an angel, you know...
But a blind one.
Don't get me wrong,
I'm not usually a sentimental man.
This is...
All of this...
But something here is...
You see, I'm standing there...
And... well...
And the nerve in my cheek
starts twitching.
My throat is dry...
I went outside,
started pacing back and forth.
Breathing, breathing,
breathing...
And it's not going anywhere.
This angel. Standing there,
standing right next to you.
And it doesn't disappear.
Almost as if it's looking
at you.
Nastya...
It's okay...
Let's talk first.
Would you like that?
Yes?
Do you generally...
know how this works?
Well...
Arousal... Sex...
You know?
Some girls at the boarding school
were talking...
- Girls were talking?
- Yes.
I heard...
Has anyone ever touched you?
What?
- Ever... fingered you?
- Never, sir!
You're calling me "sir" again.
We've talked about this.
What's wrong with you?
Forgive me... I can't...
It's okay.
It's okay, stop it.
I can't do it.
Fine... Fine...
Come on.
It makes it more interesting.
Tell me.
Can you imagine how
you'd like to do it?
Everyone needs it done
differently.
Everyone gets aroused
by a different thing.
You understand?
How would you like to do it?
- Yes... I know how.
- You do?
Go on then.
Tell me.
With the fingertips.
The fingertips...
Well, go on. Do it.
Show me how.
This is how.
Like that.
That's it?
That's it...
Okay, come on. Get up.
Just get up.
Come on.
The nightgown.
Take off your nightgown.
- All the way?
- All the way.
Take it off...
Don't do that,
don't do that.
Like that.
Does that feel good?
- Tell me, does that feel good?
- I don't know.
And like that?
Does that feel good?
Probably...
Are you going to do
what I tell you?
- If it's necessary, I'll learn.
- It is, it is.
Spread your legs.
Listen to me.
Does that feel good?
You're squirming, that's a sign
that we're doing it right.
It means there's a beast in you.
- A powerful beast.
- What kind of a beast?
What kind of a beast.
A beast in a cage.
Like that, is that good?
Tell me.
I can feel it myself,
that it makes you feel good.
Necessary, necessary,
necessary.
Now you by yourself...
- will release that damn beast.
- I'm so afraid!
- Come on, come on, by yourself!
- So afraid!
And me! And me! And me!
Do you want it?
Say it! You want it?
- Yes!
- Yes?
One!
Two!
Three!
Nastya, where are my...?
Oh, there they are.
Well now...
Shall we go get breakfast? Yes?
What's wrong with you?
What's going on?
- I'm not well.
- Not well?
I don't know how to...
What?
Here...
Not well...
Not well how?
As if I did something bad
during the night.
Something shameful.
Hold on now...
Why... it's sex.
Just sex. Everyone does it.
What are you on about...
I feel like...
As if it's somehow...
shameful.
The soul doesn't lie!
Anyway...
Let's go get breakfast.
Listen to me, Nastya.
Today, after we have lunch
we'll drive out to my mansion.
You'll spend some time there,
find your bearings.
And then, after that's
done with.
We'll put on...
two weddings.
One in Belladonsk,
the other one in Moscow.
Two weddings?
But what for?
What do you mean, what for?
Belladonsk is where you're from.
Everyone knows you there.
There's probably already a legend
they're putting together about you.
As if you were Cinderella.
Get it?
And in Moscow...
We just have to do Moscow.
That's where...
Mammon is.
And fireworks.
All kinds of celebrities.
- Are you joking?
- Why would I be joking.
What is all this for?
Don't be afraid. Why are you
afraid of it? Eat, eat.
Relax. The people want a spectacle.
You understand?
And they need to get it.
Marina!
Where are you both?
What's going on?
We're already late!
Come on!
Marina, Marina...
There you go.
Just as promised.
From head to toe.
I can't believe my eyes.
Amazing...
A real princess.
Do you yourself like it?
What?
This is so chic.
Well, well, well.
[???]
Fools get all the luck.
But I'm no fool.
That's what I mean.
Well! Let's go!
We're going to be late.
Call Nikolai,
tell him we're on our way.
Yes, Nikolai.
It's me.
Yes, they left
for the airport already.
As scheduled.
- My bill, please.
- Yes, please.
No, I'm going tomorrow,
via Moscow.
It's a regular flight.
Yes, I have business there.
This is the city center.
By the way, there's a shop here
that isn't bad at all.
Products from Switzerland,
Norway...
I completely forgot
to introduce you.
This is...
Nikolai, my chief of security.
Nice to meet you,
Anastasia Sergeevna.
Any time anything is wrong,
tell him immediately. Understand?
Stepping out of the car.
Anastasia Sergeevna.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
congratulations!
Thank you,
thank you.
You will introduce
yourselves later.
We're tired as dogs
after a long journey.
In this hall breakfast and
dinner are usually served.
There is a gym in the next room,
if you'd like.
Kitchen.
Masseurs usually work out
of this room.
- Would you like to come in and see?
- No, thank you.
That way is a swimming pool.
Mikhail Alexandrovich swims every
morning, that's his daily routine.
Here is your bedroom,
Anastaia Sergeevna.
Excuse me...
Everything is in order.
Lightbulbs were replaced yesterday.
Bathroom, toilet.
Yes, everything is
in working order.
The fireplace is fully functional.
There's a bar inside the table.
Water, spirits.
Mikhail Alexandrovich's bedroom.
Your things will be delivered shortly,
don't worry about that.
And if you need anything,
just use that phone
to dial my extension, number 3.
Please get some rest,
I won't disturb you.
Good morning.
Good morning. Sit down,
have some breakfast.
I already ate.
Nastyenka, I of course
don't have anything against that.
You can get up even later
than this.
I wake up early.
I was thinking...
It wouldn't've been bad if we...
Every morning...
Take this, please.
Why don't we, every morning,
get together and...
And do...
Some kind of a family meeting?
- Would you like to?
- Yes.
Even if you wouldn't consent
to it, that's what we'd still do.
Because in this house,
everything gets decided by one man.
Just like in this whole city,
by the way.
And it could very well be
that I'll soon
be making decisions
for the entire country.
It's this little idea I have.
Well, I'll be off...
And if you'd like to go anywhere,
be sure to check in at security.
They'll explain everything.
I meant to just take a walk.
To get acquainted with the city.
No, no, no, Nastyenka.
Taking walks is completely
out of the question.
Only by car, and only with a
security detail. Understand?
When you reach your destination, only
then can you take a walk. Understand?
That's that.
Bye now.
Look what we got ourselves into.
Bad luck.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
isn't that one of your productions?
I said, is it yours?
The production?
Mine, mine.
What a great idea.
From the outside,
looks like a regular train car.
No one could ever guess
what's really inside.
You'd be better off if you
didn't run your mouth so much.
Sorry...
Yes.
Nina Petrovna.
I forgot to tell you,
or rather forgot to ask.
What do we have regarding
charitable work?
Yes, of course
we're not doing any.
That goes without saying.
Listen, why don't we set up
a charitable fund?
Yes, we do have someone
who'll be doing the work.
My spouse could be the head
of the organization.
Consider the issue resolved.
Most importantly,
expedite the paperwork
so that everything is finished
by the 15th.
Well, do your best.
Do your best...
The issue is resolved.
Get it done.
Yes, good. I'll be waiting,
I'll be waiting.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
could you please
get back in the car?
We can't control this location.
I don't like it here.
Yes, yes. We'll go right away.
We absolutely have to
change our route.
Hello.
Would you like to
be driven anywhere?
Could you please tell me,
are we close to the sea?
The sea... Where exactly
would you like to go?
I don't really know.
It's just that I've never seen the sea.
I'll think of something.
Anastasia Sergeevna...
This way?
Yes, right here.
We're going up.
Anastasia Sergeevna,
please take these binoculars.
I need to talk.
I have to.
What?
Need to talk.
So we'll have a talk, huh?
I need to talk to someone
during the night, you understand?
Need to talk to someone,
all the time.
Such a strange thing,
get used to it.
I wake up,
I'm in pain.
Can't figure out where it hurts.
I even went to see some doctor
in Switzerland.
Couldn't figure anything out.
Said that it was a psychosis.
Phantom pains.
Lunatic.
What lunatic?
I can get assassinated any minute!
Lunatic...
They can take me out,
you understand?!
Quiet!
Quiet!
They can take me out, get it?
You can't talk like that.
All pain and suffering is from God.
Wait, you.
Divine pain?
Maybe that's what it is.
They're undermining me.
They feel that my strength
is leaving me.
I'm not scared!
It's others that are scared of me!
Fuckers...
They feel me walking.
My steps, they feel them.
I know they do!
Things are hard for me...
It's not about money!
Power! Power!
That's the thing!
Why are you afraid?
You have so many bodyguards.
It doesn't have anything
to do with bodyguards!
So many had bodyguards and
still got assassinated!
Easy as pie!
It's not about bodyguards!
There...
Wait... Wait...
You know, I had this sign.
Just like seeing a ghost.
We're standing at a traffic light.
And a gypsy woman suddenly
walks over to the car.
I've hated these gypsies
since I was a kid!
I was just a little kid!
She knocked, I opened the window.
And she grabbed me!
Held me by the shoulder.
That bitch!
She grabs me and she tells me:
"Misha! It's over!
You're done, Misha!"
Her breath stinks so bad!
I got a chill, it was as if
a smell straight from the grave!
Smell... Misha,
she says... Misha...
How did she know my name?
I don't understand it!
Caress!
Caress me!
Go on, caress me!
Oh... those fuckers...
Like it is written in [???]
[???]
And so you will go on living,
and suffering.
Either that, or else
become stronger.
- What is your name?
- Anastasia.
Anastasia.
Where to...?
Oh...
Nastya...
You see? Don't worry,
it's just a scratch.
They killed the driver
and two bodyguards.
It was some shootout!
Don't worry.
Come here,
come here.
Listen...
The gypsy was right.
After all this,
you'd believe in anything, huh?
That's that.
Does your arm hurt?
So so...
A little bit.
It's tolerable.
What's that you have?
A prayer book for the blind?
I just can't seem to
get used to regular letters.
Can't do it...
You'll get used to it.
You'll get used to it...
Why is this such a long night?
Just goes on and on...
Never seems to end.
You hear?
There is in you...
a beast as well.
Isn't that so?
It's there.
The beast is there.
- What kind of beast?
- What do you mean what kind?
Desire, lust.
Everything about you is
as it should be, little girl.
Everything is normal.
What are you saying?
I don't understand.
- You don't?
- No.
Did you forget how I layed you
on your side?
And you pulled your legs up.
And started tearing at me
and scratching me.
Everything's okay with you, huh?
Why are you saying these
disgusting things to me?
What disgusting things
am I saying? It's nature.
Your little beast,
it's still small.
Hasn't developed yet.
And when it grows up,
[???]
With its face right
in the puddle.
This filth you're saying,
it's the reason we pray to the Lord,
so that our spirit is nurtured
and our base nature is transformed.
She's a philosopher!
Transforming nature!
Did many people transform
their nature, huh?
I'm not talking about old men,
whose bits
all dried up and fell off long ago,
and can't do it anymore.
I'm talking about
the young, healthy ones.
Just read
what your monks wrote, huh?
Read it! They keep repenting,
confessing their sins.
Calling themselves "sinners"
and nothing ever changes!
They torment themselves,
starve themselves, torture themselves,
but all for naught!
Isn't that so?
- No, it isn't!
- No?
They're trying to
transform their base nature!
And what do you even know
about these monks, these holy men?
You can't even cross yourself!
And you condemn others!
How can that be?
You're so full of hate for me!
That's such a turn on!
Let me give you a kiss!
You're turning me on!
Come on! Let's make out!
What's wrong with you?
Don't be afraid, you!
You could've killed
me just now, huh?
And for what?
For me having a different opinion,
that's all it is.
That's human nature too,
to kill the one who has
a different opinion.
That's that.
- Horrible, the way you live.
- Horrible...
That's how our world works,
little girl.
Not our world,
but your world.
Mine? Really?
No, generally speaking.
Yours...
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
What's wrong with you?
What's with the
farm girl's dress?
With all the things
we bought for you.
Where's all that?
I'm going to church,
for the service.
Uh huh. I get it.
If it's church, does that mean
it has to be in a modest dress?
And when it's life,
then it can be in Versace.
Perfectly logical.
I wanted to ask you.
Wanted...
To ask...
If the operation
hadn't been successful,
how would you
have acted with me?
Would you like me to be frank?
Be frank.
I would've sent you back
to your boarding school.
And that's it.
Maybe given you
a little bit of money.
I have no use for an invalid.
And nobody else
has any use for one either.
That's how the world works,
little girl.
Only the healthy, the strong,
the young are needed.
The defective ones...
First of all,
they themselves suffer.
Secondly,
they make others suffer.
It's one problem after another.
Why do you ask?
Huh?
I was just thinking.
There's another thing.
You said that you loved me.
Right?
Very much so.
You know,
there's a type of marriage.
It's called a "white marriage".
That's when people
live together, are in love,
but without intimate relations.
Can't we do that?
Those are some
interesting people.
Some kind of people they are.
Interesting.
Yeah...
White marriage, you say...
Relations...
It hurts!
Let me go!
It hurts!
You don't love me, do you?
I love you, I do,
but not like that!
Not the way you want me to.
Another woman would be
crawling around on the floor,
telling me she loves me,
can't live without me.
Lying to me.
But you're not doing that.
You only tell me the truth.
Interesting...
That's a very rare thing.
You like it?
This is a place of strength.
This is where real power lies.
Are you shivering?
Are you cold or something?
Yes, I'm cold.
What a strange place.
Strange how?
Smells of blood.
Smells of blood?
Can't you sense it?
What's with you?
There's no power without some blood.
That's the way it should be.
That's the way life is.
Let's go, let's go.
We're late.
Magnificent, simply magnificent.
Well, like always.
- Isn't it?
- So chic.
So tell me...
How is your evening going?
How? Everything's so chic here.
All this Mammon.
Most importantly, don't forget
that all mainstream media
will get...
You know,
it's very important to me that...
Things will be colorful.
And fatter...
And more... Okay?
You understand of course
that it's important for me.
Just like it is for you.
Don't worry.
Tell me...
Where did you get the girl?
Where did I get her?
There.
There...
From the moon.
She's by the way
not from your planet, at all.
Really...
An alien!
If you'd like, yes.
Tell me the truth.
Who is she to you?
Your wife?
- My widow.
- What a frank answer.
And considering your age,
even more so.
You men are such asses.
Your Grisha as well?
My Grisha even more so
than anyone else.
But that's between us.
Hey there!
Mikhail Alexandrovich...
Hello.
- I congratulate you.
- Thank you.
I hear you purchased
two factories.
One factory.
Still pretty good.
[???] order?
Three shifts?
Four shifts.
You're quite a guy, Mikhail.
I want to enter that
field as well.
All the money is in it now.
That's just a fact.
I'll get back to you.
Hello.
This song is about us,
gentlemen.
About our history with you,
about life.
Some will like it, some won't.
Our reality is our destiny.
Nothing else can be.
Galya...
Pour me a drink.
So... In two weeks,
we'll go to London.
In a year, we'll be
immigrating to England.
That's what I decided.
I'm not hearing any applause.
What's wrong?
Are you upset?
Why are you upset?
Didn't like me as
a philanthropist?
- No, I didn't.
- "No, I didn't."
What's wrong this time?
No monks, my dear?
That's not how one does good.
Didn't you say yourself
that the TV production cost
more than the donations brought in?
That's right.
And now what?
What are these people
sacrificing?
This is pocket change for them.
They give more money
than this in tips.
If one has too much money
he can give it to
whoever needs it.
Such an amount of money
can save a man's life.
Yes, it can.
But what for?
Why save a man's life?
What do you mean?
Nastya!
Nastya!
You're sick...
How am I sick?
How am I sick?
Your soul is sick.
It's horrible.
You're beyond saving.
Because you simply
have no faith.
You want me to be
a common peasant, huh?
I don't know. Maybe.
I'll be praying for you.
I pray every day.
God willing, I'll save
you with my prayers.
Prayer makes everything
possible,
that's what the church fathers
teach us.
Fathers?
A lunatic, that's what I am.
Fathers...
What fucking fathers!
What fathers!
Fathers...
Teach us...
Well?
What do you have planned today?
I don't know yet.
Listen, the wedding planners
will be arriving soon.
To finalize things.
I don't want you to leave.
I want you to be here.
What does it have to do with me?
What do you mean, what?
I can't make
these decisions for you.
Color of the dress.
Design of the dress.
Color of the carriage,
whether matching the dress or not.
These are very
delicate decisions.
What carriage?
You and me, Cinderella,
are going to be riding
in a carriage.
Drawn by four horses,
white ones.
And the governor
will be meeting us
with a gold key.
Like Pinocchio.
We've discussed this already!
- Fine.
- Everything was discussed.
- Don't you remember?
- Fine, fine. I'll be here.
Why are you jumping all over me
over every single word?
Well...
I see that you're becoming
hard to talk to.
That's not good.
It's a bad sign.
Now I lost my appetite.
You put me in a bad mood.
By the way...
You... You know...
Can you fly out to your
hometown for a few days?
Relatively early.
To see your boarding school,
your girlfriends.
They haven't seen you
like this yet.
I can go?
No reason why not.
When can I go?
I'm ready.
Let's find out.
Strange,
everything is so different.
But I remember all the turns.
We should now turn right,
I think.
Exactly...
To the right.
Nastya!
Nastyenka!
Hi. It's Lyubov Petrovna.
I'm Maria.
Remember me?
- Is that for me?
- Of course it's for you.
Let's go, let's go.
Right through here.
We're renovating,
thanks to Mikhail Alexandrovich.
Finally we can
take care of things.
They wanted to shut us down.
Can you imagine?
For safety code violations.
What a miracle.
You got a miracle,
and Mikhail Alexandrovich
gave us money.
We'll put things in order.
Right, girls?
Let's go to my office.
It was a fright, what it
was like here before.
The girls put out
a whole spread.
We'll sit down,
celebrate the occasion.
It's right here.
Come in, walk right in.
But where are the girls?
Because of the renovation,
they transferred them out.
Would you like their address?
You can drive there.
You have a car, right?
It's a 3-hour drive,
not too bad.
Oh...
Over there, that's
where your office is?
And beyond it is a room
where we used to live.
- Can I?
- By all means.
I can't believe it,
she remembers everything.
PIEROGI AND CRUMPETS
Thank you so much.
Timok...
Take a look,
I think that's a good one.
No, it won't be
a good fit for us.
[???]
Do you like it?
It's a song from our new album.
Would you like to buy it?
I say, it's a song
from our new album.
Like it?
Young lady...
Don't...
Don't you feel well?
Everything's fine.
I just had a dizzy spell.
Right.
I get it.
There's a good Turkish cafe
right around here.
Cures all illnesses.
Shall we go?
My treat.
Well?
Haven't you ever heard
any of our songs?
No.
We're actually
a pretty popular band.
At least in our own town.
You should come to our show.
We have one every Saturday.
The band's name is Everest.
Do you write music?
Not me.
I write the lyrics,
Sergei writes the music.
The thing is that
I'm about to start
studying literature
at a college in Moscow.
I spend my nights writing.
All kinds of things...
The guys like it, they say...
That I'm almost a genius.
But why at night?
Every writer needs
to have his own thing.
His own [???]
And that's mine.
Besides, many writers
wrote during the night.
"The hour of the wolf".
What's that?
That's what it's called when it's 4AM,
"the hour of the wolf".
It's the most mystical time.
The night is over,
the day didn't begin yet.
I usually open the window,
even if it's winter.
It's so quiet out...
And writing becomes easy.
As if...
someone is guiding your hand.
Maybe that's really
what's happening.
Who?
What do you mean, who?
The muse.
That's the second prerequisite
to being a writer.
Your own Beatrice.
Your own eternal love,
that both inspires, and...
Do you have a muse?
Me?
I don't.
Not yet, I think.
Although...
maybe now I do.
And it's just that I...
don't know it yet.
There's no need to
walk me any further.
I'll go on on my own.
Is someone waiting for you?
Not at all, it's just that...
I'll explain later,
another time.
Ah. So there'll be
another time.
- If you'd like.
- I'd like.
Me too.
Then...
Call me.
Or let me call you.
I'd rather call.
When?
I don't know.
Wait...
Would you like to
go out with us tonight?
Our whole gang will be
at my place tonight.
- We're having a big party.
- What kind of party?
Che Guevara's birthday.
Today?
We just decided that it's today.
Will you come?
I'll give you a call
if I can make it.
Hello.
This is my office.
This is where...
Well...
You know...
Here is where...
I create my masterpieces.
On this desk?
Right on this one, Mademoiselle.
There's no other.
This is...
the very window
that I open at 4AM.
At the hour of the wolf.
Through this window,
dusk comes in.
He and I have a chat
until it's light out.
Then he leaves
and I remain alone.
And go to bed.
What a beautiful view.
And so high up.
It's the highest point
in the whole city.
Or almost.
It's the 7th floor after all.
It's so good here.
As if I already lived here
in the past.
I have to go.
So early?
- I'll call.
- When?
When I can.
Call today, at 4AM.
- I'll try.
- Wait.
These are all my new songs.
Yes? Yes?
How great...
What?
Great that you called.
Did you write anything?
No.
I was...
just thinking.
What about?
About love.
I read about it so much.
There's so much written
about it.
Everything says
that it's like...
being struck by lightning.
A flash, and that's it.
And you become different.
And everything is different.
You know,
I used to think that...
it's poetic images,
or something.
Well, in short, literature.
But it turns out that it isn't.
It's all true.
It's so huge...
that you feel as if your
heart is about to burst.
Forgive me, it seems that I...
I'm talking
with too much pathos.
No.
I completely understand.
It's true.
As if...
your heart is going to burst.
Yes...
Come over, right now.
Please.
I will.
What do you want?
I didn't want to wake you up.
Why would you possibly
need to wake me up?
Did anything special happen?
Well? Don't make a
production out of it. Speak.
You requested it yourself.
Any time there's new information
regarding Anastasia Sergeevna.
Well?
There's was a phone call at 4AM.
Here's the printout.
After the call she left.
We don't know where she went.
And she's not at
the hotel room right now.
Who is this?
So far we only know that
it's just some kid.
20 years old,
works as a store clerk.
We're looking into who
his parents are.
I activated our local contacts.
Works in a store...
A store...
Some nun she is.
Some nun...
Nun schmun.
Here's a surprise.
Look at that,
they're coming to meet us.
Some surprise.
What are you doing,
standing there? Cinderella...
I need...
to talk to you.
- Need to talk?
- Yes.
Let's go, let's go talk.
No!
Right now!
- You mean here?
- Yes...
Let me go...
Let me go.
Let you go where?
- Where?
- No... In general...
I'll give you all
your money back.
Everything you paid for.
Every last cent.
I'll pay everything back.
Please. I'll get a job.
Just let me go.
Please, have mercy.
God will repay you
for your kindness.
I just can't anymore.
I can't be with you.
I just can't.
I love another man.
Do you understand?
I love another!
Forgive me, I...
Yes...
Well here's a pickle.
A new one.
Right before the wedding, huh?
Well, let's go and discuss things.
Come, come.
Hello there!
What's our room number?
As always, the presidential suite,
Mikhail Sergeevich.
- It hurts!
- Presidential...
That's our room...
You scum!
Scum!
If you say anything like that
to me ever again,
I'll skin your hide, you bitch!
Bitch!
I'll be the one to decide
how long you'll be with me!
Five years! Ten!
Get it?
Until I get sick of you!
Go!
Bitch...
Go!
Go make yourself presentable,
you bitch!
So that tomorrow,
you'll be as good as new!
Fresh!
So everyone will see
how happy you are
from the look on your face!
So you'll be glowing!
Your eyes shining!
The ones I gave you!
Scum!
Ungrateful scum!
Nikolai, yes.
Doesn't matter, I'm already up.
What time is it?
Can it really be
morning already?
Okay, come on.
Come up.
Come up, I'll be right out.
- Go ahead.
- It's done.
Had a drug overdose,
fell out of a window.
We have a report from
the police and paramedics.
Even came up with a couple
of eyewitnesses.
So everything's taken care of.
Eyewitnesses?
What kind?
He used to open the window
and sit on the sill.
That's the kind of
dumbass he was.
The neighbors saw it all.
So everything is clean.
Clean...
Clean...
Okay, get going.
Have you been sitting like this
all night long?
Didn't get any sleep at all?
Let me go, please...
In the name of Jesus Christ,
I beg you. Let me go.
That means you want
to go to him.
He's not around anymore.
He's dead.
Who?
Your kid.
He's dead.
What was his name?
Andrei or something?
How...
Just like that.
It turns out that
he was a junkie.
An overdose.
Fell out of a window.
The poor boy, what a tragedy.
But what can you do.
An accident.
It was you...
who killed him.
No.
I didn't.
You're the one who killed him.
Remember that.
- Me?
- Uh huh.
Get me a water.
Mikhail Alexandrovich...
Would you like it
still or sparkling?
Doesn't matter.
- I'll get you a glass.
- Don't need one.
Don't you feel well,
Mikhail Alexandrovich?
Not well...
Not well...
Don't you feel it?
There's something hanging
in the air.
Something bad.
Something's happening.
You don't happen to feel it?
That?
Magnetic storms.
They were talking about
them on TV.
Storms...
Yes, maybe it's the storms.
Maybe.
You like the Tsar?
What's your name?
Vasily.
And the Tsar...
I really do respect him.
I think it's better when
there's a Tsar and...
I get it.
And you go to church, right?
Every once in a while.
Rarely, of course.
That's the way to do it, rarely.
Nothing to do in church.
It's not God that you need.
But a Tsar.
Only not that one,
but a different one.
I cut out this clipping.
From a magazine.
A poem.
"Who is he,
the people's peacemaker?
Dark, and angry, and ferocious
A monk,
at the monastery's doorway
Saw him - and went blind
He to unknown abysses
Chases men, like driving herds
Chases them with an iron staff
Dear God!
We run from judgement!"
Run...
From judgement...
I need Mikhail Alexandrovich.
Mikhail Alexandrovich,
everything is ready.
Please excuse me
if I'm distracting you.
But the governor's people
called.
He arrived at the palace already.
May we begin?
Excuse me.
Nastya?
Nastya?
Where are y...
Where are you?
Everyone's waiting for you
downstairs.
How come you're not coming down?
Nastya!
Nastya...
Where are you?
Nastya!
What's going on!
Why aren't you saying anything?
Nastya!
Nastya!
Hurts...
So much...
Hurts...
So much...
Straight ahead.