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TV3

TV3 AND SREDA PRODUCTION COMPANY PRESENT

A FILM BY EGOR BARANOV

The bodies of young women

have been found near Dikanka village.

A horseman was seen near each crime scene.

You're capable of solving the most difficult cases.

- I can prove useful to you. - Well, Gogol...

I'm Alexander Binkh,

head of the local police.

I'm Danishevskiy.

I see you've met my wife already.

Lisa.

These murders cannot be connected.

It happened about 30 years ago.

Mr. Gogol's abilities may be

beyond your understanding.

There's another world. A dark one.

You can enter this world.

It is your gift.

Mr. Guro!

We must find the murderer.

Starting tonight, all of Dikanka

will fall under a special provision.

Sniffing around, are you?

Run along, little witch.

Evil spirits rage, their strength increases tenfold.

The horseman marked not seven, but eight girls.

The eighth is Lisa.

I love you.

We brought the girls here to be slaughtered?

Let us ask the man who planned it all.

I need Gogol.

We must perform a rite in the church.

You serve the horseman? Tell me his name!

I summon Viy!

He's not breathing.

GOGOL: A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 5: THE HORSEMAN'S LAIR

Created by: ALEXANDER TSEKALO

Written by: NATALYA MERKULOVA, ALEXEY CHUPOV

Director: EGOR BARANOV

What grieves you, Papa?

Director of Photography: SERGEY TROFIMOV

Remember this, Vasilina:

only what I tell you is the truth.

Mr. Gogol was a godly man.

He had a great soul.

And should anyone have a bad word to say about him,

ignore them.

Don't believe it.

Why are you talking about Mr. Gogol as if he were dead?

He isn't dead.

You're right, my girl.

His soul is eternal.

He will live on in our hearts forever. God rest his soul.

You're wrong! He isn't dead!

So, did you find a place?

- I did. - Splendid.

We'll carry out the funeral rites tomorrow at dawn.

- Is there something else? - Yes sir,

only please don't thrash me for this, Mr. Binkh.

I just can't understand

why you have decided to bury Mr. Investigator secretly.

Is he now a criminal, to be buried like a dog, in the wild?

Then allow me to explain.

Those who died at the farm shall be buried tomorrow.

They died because of Mr. Investigator.

If we bury him at the same time as them,

all hell will break loose...

civil unrest, or God forbid, a revolt.

And who wants that, I ask you?

But, why did you conclude that the girls died at the farm

because of Mr. Gogol?

Well, who suggested they be taken to that damned farm?

He suggested it...

but you gave the orders.

Never mind.

I hope the doctor has dissected the body.

I need the exact cause of death for my report.

Mr. Binkh,

the doctor is refusing to cut him open.

What do you mean "refusing"?

This is sabotage!

Why are you not dissecting?

I'm completely...

unfit to, at the moment.

I can't carry out the dissection...

in this state. I'm afraid I'd...

diagnose inaccurately.

You're in a perfectly fine state.

Drunkenness never stopped you before.

- Stop fooling around. - I will not.

Are you mad?

You are disobeying a direct order.

I don't care.

Doctor Bomgart, pull yourself together.

What is the matter with you?

He was my... only friend.

I do not intend to dig around inside him.

You are simply heartless.

Mr. Binkh, this is outrageous!

Your people will not allow my master a funeral.

Splendid. No dissection, a grand funeral...

- What? - Nothing. Where do you want it?

The church, of course. I've arranged with...

Impossible. We mustn't attract attention.

Good God, this is almost sinful!

The funeral cannot be held in the mortuary.

This is all very unchristian, Mr. Binkh.

You keep out of it.

Tomorrow...

the priest can recite prayers in the graveyard. That's all.

I see you hold a grudge against my master.

One mustn't be at war with the dead.

You are a godless man, sir.

How wonderful.

I am heartless, godless, and to blame for the death of the girls.

Perhaps I'll be struck by lightning next.

Where are you, my beloved falcon?

Rise and come to me!

Perhaps I do not cry bitterly enough,

to warm and awaken your soul.

Why are you neither among the living nor the dead?

Where are you?

How can I find you?

A loving heart will hear all, and will find you.

We shall be forever inseparable.

Have mercy on me, oh God,

according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Give rest, oh Lord, to the soul of Your late servant, Nikolai.

If he has sinned in his life...

Oh God, who loves mankind, forgive him and have mercy.

Spare him eternal torment.

Grant God's Kingdom to...

We must hurry, the others shall soon be brought here.

Amen.

Wait.

I would like...

to say a few final words.

Mr. Gogol was a man of extraordinary mind.

- He was a man... - No time for speeches.

Lower the coffin.

Wicked souls!

You've made the coffin of rotten wood.

- I'll rip your hands off... - We had to make lots, quickly.

The others are made of fresh wood.

This is enough for that monster.

Come on, hurry, or we'll be here till Christmas.

Lower it.

Finish the job.

Stop! Why are you burying him alive?

Little one...

He isn't dead!

He's alive!

Papa?

What does this mean?

I'm dead?

Forgive me, son.

For what?

For all the wrong I did you.

I am to blame.

What for, Father?

I don't understand.

I shouldn't have.

I shouldn't...

It will take your father an eternity to redeem himself.

He will never redeem himself! It is not easy for him in the afterlife.

His soul is burning in the flames...

...burning in the flames of Hell.

And while he burns, you shall live.

You shall live... dark one!

N. GOGOL 1809 - 1829

Thank God that's done.

Forgive me, sir.

I couldn't protect you.

It should be an old fool like me lying in this damp earth.

Help!

Holy Mother of God.

Lisa, don't!

Lisa, please, you are in my way.

No, we don't need any more compresses.

He can't have solid food, make some porridge.

Yes, ma'am, at once.

How do you feel?

Already...

much better... thank you.

It's a true miracle that you are alive.

Gentlemen, I do not wish to disappoint you,

but there is nothing miraculous about it.

It was simply a two-day lethargy.

- A lethargy? - Correct.

A deep sleep, known to science, often mistaken for death.

In fact, there was a similar occurrence in 1785,

in Toulouse.

The Marquis de Messey fell into a three-day lethargy,

waking up, believe it or not, in the coffin at his own funeral.

His family were rather astonished.

One of them even passed away.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I must go.

Yakim, don't let them bother him, you hear?

Do not worry.

Lisa!

- The porridge is nearly ready, ma'am. - What?

Ah, yes. Thank you, Christina.

You look very pale.

Has something bad happened?

No, everything is fine.

Really?

My girl...

tell me the truth. How did you know?

About what, Papa?

That he was alive.

I just knew.

Gentlemen, I am most delighted that it has all turned out so well.

- Get well soon. - Thank you.

- Doctor... - Yes?

In your opinion, can Mr. Gogol get up and move?

Well, overall...

but I would advise complete rest.

I'm perfectly healthy.

Tesak...

fetch the two Cossacks.

Fetch the two Cossacks.

Yes sir, consider it done.

Get up and get dressed.

You are under arrest, Mr. Gogol.

Or how should I address you?

Mr. Horseman?

But what are you doing?

May a runaway cart knock you down!

This is madness, putting an honest man on trial!

Move, lest I forget you're important, and force you aside.

- Is that him? - Yes.

He's a damned beast.

Do not be angry, Mr. Gogol.

I'm just doing my duty.

Leave my master alone, you wretched lot.

- What got into you? - Lock him away!

Yes, lock me away.

I will not leave my master.

What is going on here, Mr. Binkh?

How did you conclude I am the horseman?

The investigation will show if you're the horseman, or his accomplice.

But if you need an explanation,

it would be my pleasure.

The fact that every single one of the girls

we sent to the farm, at your suggestion, all died along with the guards,

seems to be a sufficient answer, no?

They died?

What do you mean?

You're astonishingly good at pretending, and feigning your ignorance.

A child could see that you are involved in their deaths.

Only you, I, and the dead Cossacks knew the girls would be at the farm.

And only you had a connection with the horseman.

How else would he have known where they were?

We are sending the village girls to an abandoned farm near Dikanka,

- your wife should go too. - I take a different view.

Danishevskiy...

The count also knew.

Look, Mr. Binkh, I was just trying to persuade Count Danishevskiy

to send Lisa to the farm with the rest of the girls.

You must detain him at once!

What kind of person are you?

Not a trace of conscience.

You blame him, because you have your eye on his wife.

That has nothing to do with this.

You are making a big mistake.

I made a big mistake when I chose to trust you.

Mr. Binkh, listen to me!

Count Danishevskiy is the horseman!

He has murdered seven girls and his last victim will be Lisa!

He will kill her!

Are we sad, water nymph?

Can you see me?

Well, I'm not blind.

But it's my choice when people get to see me.

When people get to.

Don't be frightened,

I have a task for you.

I would like to offer you a deal.

I understand Mr. Gogol does not return your love?

A nice young man, but he's been getting in my way a little too much lately.

And I would hate to have to...

kill him.

But you could save his life

and conquer his heart...

How could I?

He is alive and I am dead.

I can bring you...

back to life.

I can bring you back,

so that Gogol falls in love with you,

and then leaves this place, forever.

It seems too good to be true.

Of course, everything has its price.

Whoever chooses to undergo the ritual of resurrection,

will indeed come to life, and live like all others.

And when they die, they will go straight to Hell...

having lived their whole life with the one they love.

Surely that's worth it?

And if...

Gogol won't fall for me?

He loves your wife, just as she does him.

Don't worry about Lisa, she will not get in your way again.

Never again.

Well, then?

I'll do it.

Forgive me, Mr. Binkh,

but I cannot follow your line of thinking by any means.

You've arrested Mr. Gogol.

But why?

Because Mr. Gogol

is a clever impostor and a cunning killer.

Wait, you think that Mr. Gogol is in fact the murderous warlock?

No, he's no warlock.

The lethargy incident has convinced me that he has mastered magic trickery.

Like the tricks of circus folk, the crowd-pleasers at a fair.

But the first girls were killed before Mr. Gogol arrived.

- Isn't that so? - How do we know where he'd been

before he graced us with his presence?

But we do know. He and Mr. Guro visited...

Unfortunately, Mr. Guro is dead.

And therefore, I fear that he won't shed any light on this incident.

Burn in hell, you sons of bitches!

Let us out, we're innocent!

Yakim, shouting won't get you anywhere.

How can you stay so calm, sir?

There could be a miscarriage of justice, it's always happening here.

Then they'll sentence, or God forbid, hang you.

Think you can come back to life a third time?

A third time?

Oh, you just misheard, sir.

No, I didn't.

You said "a third time".

What are you hiding from me? Is it to do with my childhood?

With my birth?

You were chosen, not just born.

You shall live, dark one.

Forgive me, son.

Yakim, tell me the truth!

As you wish, sir.

I could scream bloody murder, and you'd still insist.

I suppose you know

that your two older brothers were born dead?

Yes.

When your mother became pregnant the third time,

your father was terribly worried

that you'd be born dead, too.

Around that time, a certain gentleman appeared in our neighborhood.

Your father started to do business with him.

This gentleman had a very strange outward appearance.

In what way?

He had...

I don't really know how to put it.

He didn't have a nose.

It was as if it had simply fled his face.

No nose...

When the time came for you to be born,

and the midwife took you from your mother's womb...

you were...

dead.

He's not breathing.

Even now, my blood freezes

at the recollection.

He stank as if he had come from some damp, hellish cave.

You shall live, dark one!

That's what he said?

"You shall live, dark one!"

Exactly what he said.

Why haven't I heard this before?

Your father

forbade us to speak of it, saying:

"You must immediately forget what you have just seen."

And this...

gentleman,

- did he come back again? - No, he didn't.

O Lord, protect me and save me.

That damned monster!

How come he never once let slip?

Even when drunk, he only ever talked about finding the murderer,

and turns out - it's him?!

I just don't get it.

What's the easiest way to mislead a hunt?

By leading it yourself.

The beast disguises itself as it hunts its victims,

just as this murderer masquerades...

as an officer of the law.

Yes.

The more I think about it, the more I have no idea what's going on.

There's still one thing that doesn't make sense, Mr. Binkh.

How could Mr. Investigator kill the girls at the farm,

if he was in the church at the same time?

I was appointed by the Tsar to bring about order here,

and I led seven girls to the slaughter.

He's either the horseman, or his accomplice. There's no other option.

- I see. - ...defeat this evil, Cossack brothers!

- Vengeance! - Now what's going on?

Just what we needed.

- How many guards do we have left? - Two.

Let's go.

So, it looks like a revolt.

If they don't go quietly, it'll end in shots.

There won't be any shooting.

- They all have lots of children. - Right, then.

So!

All of you, go back to your homes.

- Not without that beast! - That's right!

There is no beast here.

- Lies, brothers! - Aye, lies!

I couldn't believe my eyes,

when they arrested that murderous warlock!

There is no warlock here!

The detainee will not be handed over.

He is under the protection of the Russian Empire,

and will stand before a judge.

And we know what kind of judge!

- Vengeance for our girls! - Hand him over, we're not leaving!

We'll burn this shack down!

Right, who said that?

Want a revolt, do we? I'll send you off to Siberia!

Hand him over, or we'll take him ourselves!

Mr. Binkh!

Vakula!

Woe is upon us!

The Cossacks are revolting! They'll kill Mr. Gogol.

And the authorities?

They no longer exist.

Let my master go! He's innocent!

Shut up, you turkey, or we'll roast you too!

What are you doing? You'll all be exiled to...

Right then, Christian brothers,

- shall we burn this demon? - Burn him!

Burn him!

Good riddance!

Burn! Burn!

What are you doing, you monsters?!

Go on, burn!

The rain will extinguish the fire!

What'll we do, Cossacks?

- By the neck! - Hang him!

Let's do this! Bring the rope!

- What's wrong with her? - She's fine, Vakula, just unconscious.

Lift it up!

This is it, evil wretch!

Go to hell!

Stop this lynching at once.

Mr. Guro!

Let's do the greeting part later, Mr. Gogol.

Gentlemen, I ask that you all remain calm

and abstain from any actions that you may regret later.

I have fired only one bullet,

and ten remain in this wonderful weapon.

It takes 3 seconds to reload. Should you ignore my request,

mark my words - ten of you will find yourselves in the graveyard.

The rest of you, as Mr. Binkh justly noted,

will be sent to Siberia as rebels.

And this is my request...

Get out of here, you morons!

Well, then... Greetings, Mr. Gogol!

Tell me the truth, did you miss me?

But how did you survive the incident in Hanna's house?

One thing was bothering me: that we had let something slip by us.

I went to Hanna's house to find new evidence.

And there I came upon the horseman.

I entered into a fight with him.

Mr. Guro!

I was wounded, but alive.

And when the fire started, the horseman vanished.

And then I had an idea: since he obviously thinks I am dead,

I now have a chance to lie low and observe from a new angle, as it were.

Mr. Gogol, I was touched when you sent a coach

back to St. Petersburg with my belongings.

But I stopped it halfway there

and issued an order to appoint you the investigator.

So... you've been here all this time?

Well, let's say, close by.

And it didn't occur to you to step in?

Do you know that while you, "lay low", if you will,

nine girls died?

Not to mention the number of Cossacks.

If it had been in my power,

I would have given my own life to save every victim.

But I had no right to.

I have not been idle.

Only, there are certain things which even you're not meant to know.

However, gentlemen,

I have been following your investigation very closely,

and I can confidently state that you have done a very good job.

I am even certain that you will be rewarded for this.

And I assume that now... you even have a main suspect!

Yes.

I am completely convinced

that Count Danishevskiy is...

the horseman.

And, if we don't stop him, then the final victim...

may be Lisa.

Well, if he really only kills on feast days,

the next is three days away, Saints Cosmas and Damian.

As such, we have time to prevent...

the murders, and punish the bastard.

I have studied the ancient feast days in detail, you know.

Many have been forgotten. But they still exist.

What are you saying?

The next forgotten feast day is the night of Celestial Svarog,

when, as legend has it, the heavens punish the evil of the world.

And when is it?

Alas, tonight.

Tonight?

Saddle up, gentlemen.

We ride for his estate.

My dear Mr. Gogol, did you keep my chest?

Of course.

But it's empty. We took everything out.

Don't worry, Mr. Gogol.

In rare cases, it is not what is on the inside that counts.

And why do you need a chest handle?

It is quite possible that tonight you will have a chance to find out why.

Lisa!

Mr. Binkh,

any luck?

There's nobody here.

Where are they?

We've searched all over.

Maybe he's taken her to a secret place?

No, this mansion was in my vision.

Then where are they?

You think they've vanished into thin air?

Well, well.

Oksana...

Who is this girl?

Do you see her too?

What do you mean?

What's going on?

Gentlemen, you shouldn't be here. Leave, immediately.

- Count, in the name of the law... - I said, leave!

I never imagined it possible to kill the horseman

with just one bullet.

Warmth...

I'm alive...

I'm warm...

I'm alive!

Alive...

Lisa?

How very dramatic.

It is done.

Twelve girls, and one who has been resurrected.

Twelve...

plus one.

CHAPTER 6 A TERRIBLE VENGEANCE

Just you remember, little sister, you'll never beat me.

At least I'm not an old maid, with no takers!

What? You little snake!

Hey, you rascals!

You should be seeing father off!

We're coming!

163 YEARS AGO

Sorry, Pa, we got delayed.

Waving your swords about again?

- It's almost sinful! - But you taught us!

Grown-up girls, behaving like reckless young boys.

Maria, I have some good news for you.

I've finally found you a fiance.

There he is - your destiny.

Moisei Shilo, from Chernihiv.

His wife died just last year.

Do me a favor, don't refuse him.

Pa, I won't! He's as old as Grandpa's chain mail!

Stop this nonsense.

He's brave, wealthy, his own master. He'll make a good husband.

- We'll have a wedding when we return! - But Pa...

Don't be defiant! Or you'll die an old maid.

My Cossack brothers,

a gang of barbaric Poles

are destroying our Ukrainian farms.

Their leader... is a lost soul -

a thief and a murderer.

Casimir of Masovia.

They say that he is a warlock too!

But I say...

that's a load of Polish nonsense!

The lord hetman sent me an order to capture Casimir alive.

And then to publicly execute the criminal

for all of his evil-doings!

We'll give his Poles

such a good thrashing,

that they won't come near us again, poking around their noses or their...

their elbows!

Right then, Cossacks!

Let's go have a good time!

Aye!

ONE MONTH LATER

I won't marry that old fool.

I'd rather kill myself.

Stop talking nonsense.

Nothing wrong with him.

Easy for you to say. You won't have to sleep with him.

You wouldn't marry an old man.

Something tells me I'll never get married.

Why's that?

Because I don't love anyone,

- don't know how. - Little snake!

So I must marry one I don't love, but you don't have to?

Oh, look...

Ostap, what happened?

The Poles crushed us.

Wiped us out.

- What do you mean? - Where's father?

Lord Danila...

and your fiance, Moisei,

tried to take on that damned Casimir of Masovia.

Only, it looks like he really is a warlock.

No bullet could take him down, no sword, nor arrow.

He smashed Moisei and his horse into pieces,

then cut off...

Lord Danila's head

and put it up on a spike.

Then the Poles took the fortress on the shore.

They'll be here any day now.

Flee, before it's too late.

Did you hear what he said?

Gather your things! You need to leave.

We're not going anywhere.

Good Lord! What do you mean?

Remember you told us an old witch lives in the forest?

Yes, if she hasn't died already.

Where can we find her?

We're begging you! Just help us!

Is there a way to conquer the warlock?

The warlock cannot die. His dark power is strong.

But there is one way to subdue him.

If you can lock this enchanted ring around the warlock's neck,

he will lose his power at once.

And while this ring is around his neck, he is mortal.

Wait.

You have in mind a foul, ungodly thing.

Vengeance is for sinners.

It won't bring you happiness,

but it may bring you all kinds of trouble.

The Lord will punish you with the power of the trinity!

Turn back before it's too late.

But Lisa... I don't understand.

How... how is this possible?

I had to do it.

To survive.

Nikolai...

There we go.

So, gentlemen, the ring subdues all kinds of warlocks and witches.

It's the only one of its kind.

I'd lost all hope of finding it,

when suddenly, I happened to come across it

in an antique shop in Kherson.

The half-wit had no idea what it was.

I bargained with him and got this chest and ring

at literally half price.

But, Mr. Gogol, why the face?

Do you pity her?

Believe me, if she turned into the horseman,

she wouldn't have pity on anyone.

Take a look, gentlemen,

it seems the young horsewoman has woken up.

Although, she may not be so young after all.

Please excuse my audacity, most charming Mrs. Danishevskaya,

but - how old are you, little one?

Let me guess...

somewhere around 180 years old? Am I right?

180 years...? How is that possible?

"There is more in heaven and earth, Horatio,

than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

It's Hamlet. Haven't you read it?

It's definitely cozier here than in that drafty cavern.

You could catch a cold there, start sneezing.

Do witches sneeze?

No, no, gentlemen. Take the dead outside.

One never knows, they may start to stink.

Send someone to the village right away to summon our people.

And I will need a carriage to send the detainee to St. Petersburg.

What?

You want to take the criminal away?

Dare I remind you, I am to carry out an interrogation and compile a report.

I hereby release you from the obligation.

I'll interrogate her myself.

- Then I wish to be present. - As do I.

And I wish that you would carry out my instructions!

Remove the bodies.

Mr. Binkh, Mr. Gogol, as the youngest among us,

hurry to the village for assistance!

- But Mr. Guro... - I already said

no.

Papa, is Mr. Gogol alive?

Yes he is, thank God.

Mr. Guro saved him.

But wasn't it my rain that saved him?

Did you see how I called the rain, and it came?

I summoned it down.

If I believed in miracles, I'd believe

that Vasilina made it happen,

whispered some incantations and it rained.

My daughter...

only whispered holy prayers,

for Mr. Gogol's deliverance.

She's no witch, she is a pure soul.

So don't involve us in any devilry.

My doll says that you are falsely rebuking Mr. Doctor.

Enough!

This bunch of straw hasn't said a thing!

Dear God, Vakula what's the matter with you?

Don't upset her.

Vasilina's your daughter, she's no witch.

Let's go, brother, and drink to Mr. Gogol's health.

Let's go.

Come on, let's go.

So how do we get to this evil Casimir?

Apparently, he is a terrible womanizer.

So?

So a charming captive will seduce him.

That's a clever plan.

Who'll be the captive?

You.

[speaking Polish]

Stop. Who goes there?

A captive for Lord Casimir.

If I may be so bold, I have brought a young captive for your entertainment.

A very nice captive. Well done.

You will be rewarded.

I already have been.

How are you?

We need to go.

If you don't mind, I'll help myself?

It's such hard work, you know?

I haven't had a bite to eat since yesterday.

You certainly led us on a wild goose chase, Mrs. Horsewoman.

I'm ashamed to say, we thought your husband was the murderer.

Danishevskiy was never my husband.

He was my servant.

30 years ago, I started to look for a person

who would be able to make a special potion -

a sort of medicine -

which would help me to remain in human form for longer,

when my time came to turn into the black horseman.

Danishevskiy was just the person,

from an ancient line of mortal Polish warlocks.

When we first met, he was just a boy.

He fell in love with me, but I couldn't return his love.

And so, he begged for my permission

to stay by my side

and serve me to the end of his days.

Well, to his credit...

he kept his word.

Can we stop for a while, little sister?

Let's stop for the night at those cliffs.

I reckon the Poles won't attack us any more,

when they find out Casimir is gone.

Back at the farm we'll hand him over,

they can take him to the hetman.

And this evil spirit will get his deserves.

What do you think they'll do to him?

Breaking wheel, I reckon.

Then he'll be quartered.

He can die like a dog.

Maria,

we need to hurry.

It will get dark soon.

Good night, gorgeous.

Be quiet.

Wait, just a few words.

I have no words for you. You killed my father.

Because he wanted to kill me.

It's war.

You're godless.

Don't smooth-talk me.

I have lived for 200 years now,

and grown weary of all these...

wars and power battles.

It is repentance and love that will

bring about my salvation.

Given the chance, I would leave it all.

I would put on sackcloth and ashes

and pray in a cave to the Lord for his forgiveness.

And for your love.

Then I guess a different fate awaits you.

My fate is in your hands.

Since I set eyes on you, I can see only you.

My lips are still tingling from when I kissed you.

I am sinful, it's true.

I have had many women.

But none has caused me to repent before God, to gain her love.

Please do me a favor...

kiss me.

I want that feeling again,

before I enter eternal suffering.

Sister!

Go get some sleep.

I'll keep a watch on him.

Don't you find Mr. Guro's conduct offensive?

We did the work in this investigation.

And so we deserve to be present at the interrogation.

Mr. Gogol,

don't you want to know?

What's your point?

There ought to be a back door somewhere.

Here, drink up...

Christina, can you believe why our masters didn't take me with them?

They don't trust me.

Mr. Binkh told me so, just like that.

"Tesak", he says, "you are a good worker,

but you tell a lot of lies."

When have I told a lie?

I only tell the truth!

Oh, it worries me sick.

And my heart aches.

Where have they galloped off to

on such a pitch-black night?

To arrest a criminal. Count Danishevskiy.

He is the murderous horseman.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord have mercy. That damned wretch has killed so many people.

And now, he wants to kill his own wife, Mrs. Danishevskaya.

Why Lisa?

Well, she'll be... the 13th victim.

Only, I reckon jealousy is the real reason.

Because she's romantically interested in Mr. Gogol.

And Mr. Gogol has romantic feelings for her, too.

But - shh, don't tell anyone.

Enough of the grog.

You're fuddled already.

You need to go home.

Bedtime.

Where's Vasilina?

My sweetheart!

Come over here.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Set me free, and see how my soul is grateful to you.

I shall love you forever.

Free me, and only death shall part us.

Take this ring off me.

Stop!

Don't do it, Maria.

He's clouded your senses, you silly girl.

Indeed, little sister,

it seems you are cleverer than I am.

But at least I am able to love.

And I fight better!

Come to your senses! When have I wronged you?!

Lisa, don't blacken your soul.

Don't send me to the underworld.

Stop!

- Beware divine retribution! - I am your retribution!

You shall be cursed forever more!

I condemn you to eternal suffering.

Now you cannot die!

But every 30 years, you must sacrifice 12 girls,

and one who has been resurrected.

You will have until the night of Celestial Svarog.

And if you don't, you shall die!

Hell shall open wide before your eyes,

and you'll burn in the lake of Gehenna forever.

Farewell, dark witch!

Twelve plus one.

Correct?

I have studied the accounts of the murders

which took place in these parts previously.

And I could not understand your system.

But, eventually, one fine day, I understood!

Hear me out and don't interrupt, agreed?

We don't really want those horns again.

So...

60 years ago, you killed a dozen girls here,

and your 13th victim was the fat old wife of a priest.

30 years ago, you again killed 12 girls

and the 13th victim was a young Cossack.

And so I decided to find out,

who these mysterious, thirteenth, victims were?

And guess what? I figured it out!

The priest's wife was a local wonder.

She once choked on a cherry stone at a wedding.

She began to wheeze, turned blue and then dropped to the floor, dead!

They were certain she was dead.

But suddenly, some fellow came running over,

grabbed and shook her so hard,

the stone came out and she came back to life!

So they called her "the resurrected one". But not for long.

A month later, she went to pick mushrooms and berries in the forest,

where you slaughtered her.

In the gorge, actually.

You know better than I. Do correct me...

if I get something wrong.

A similar situation with the Cossack,

lying around on a haystack when he was struck by lightning.

Struck and killed. 30 minutes, and he's not taken a breath.

Then in some remarkable way, he comes back to life again.

But he too could not bask in this miracle for long,

for in only two days, they found him lying murdered on the same haystack.

I compared these two cases,

and thought to myself, what if this third time,

the horseman will need another resurrected person?

Which is why I brought Mr. Gogol here with me.

I heard his story.

He was dead at birth, but then somehow, brought back to life.

So, I decided to catch the horseman using "live bait" so to speak.

As in...

using Gogol.

Only, for some strange reason, you just wouldn't take the bait!

You resurrected that poor water nymph, just to kill her again.

Why make it all so complicated?

Initially, it was to be Gogol.

But I told Danishevskiy to find me another victim.

I wouldn't have been able to kill him.

Well I never...

That is to say, I beg your pardon...

you fell in love?!

I'm amazed.

- I must admit... - Enough!

Do what you want with me.

Take me to St. Petersburg.

Let them condemn and execute me.

With this ring around my neck, it won't be difficult to hang me.

Why such a hurry to leave this world?

I have no desire to hand you over to the so-called justice system.

I have quite different plans for you.

Vasilina!

We didn't find her in the village,

there's no chance of finding her in this darkness!

You shouldn't have come! The doctor's more sober than you.

Vasilina!

Be quiet.

It's somewhere there.

Just don't hiccup!

Vasilina...

what have you done...

little one?

You see, I am here in Dikanka under orders of the secret police...

and I am also here on behalf of Count Benckendorffs secret society.

It is a gathering of the most influential people in Russia,

with its own aims and purposes.

For the good of the fatherland, of course.

And what would your almighty society want me for?

We are interested...

in the secret to eternal life.

And we sincerely hope that you will... share this secret with us.

And if I refuse to help you?

Well then, I'm afraid, something... awful might happen

to your beloved young writer.

He might drown somewhere or die in a fire.

You know, however I prefer.

I believed you.

And you turned out...

to be a bastard.

Firstly, it is impolite to eavesdrop.

Secondly, why are you not carrying out my orders?

We are no longer obliged to do so,

as you are hiding a criminal from justice. You are under arrest.

Papa, forgive me for being a witch!

Will you stop loving me now?

Little one!

Forgive me.

I love you just the way you are.

That's sobered me up!

Papa, my doll says that Mr. Gogol and Mr. Binkh are in danger.

What?

We must hurry.

Easy there, don't get so excited, Mr. Binkh.

Honestly, you're quite excitable.

Will you concede there are things you don't know?

Undoubtedly your diligence will be rewarded,

just as I promised.

I have on me an order for your appointment

as Chief of Police of St. Petersburg, signed by Count Benckendorff.

So it's up to the Tsar, which is easy.

Mr. Binkh,

you wanted to serve the fatherland, so here's your chance.

Power and authority are yours. Do some good!

So as they say, let's get down to business!

You could arrest me, make a scene.

The best you can hope for is exile.

And the worst - the gallows.

So, it would seem you don't have a choice.

Put the pistol down.

You are right.

I've no choice.

Lisa!

What have you done?!

Well, you said we should get down to business!

No.

I won't exile you.

I'll put you in a lunatic asylum, among the insane!

- The ring... - Lisa!

take it off.

I can't breathe.

I'll have you run the gauntlet, as 200 whips will lacerate your skin!

I'll leave you to rot in a dungeon!

You pathetic idiot!

Gogol!

Mr. Gogol, listen to me.

I beg you not to interrupt.

I have never loved anyone.

I thought I was heartless, that I'd never love.

But when I met you, I felt it for the first time...

love.

I was supposed to sacrifice you. But I didn't.

But you... sacrificed others.

You killed many people...

- innocents... - I didn't choose this life.

It's my curse. Surely you understand?

For you too are cursed, you are a dark one.

We are on the same side.

Yes, we are both cursed,

but... we are not on the same side.

I beg you to forgive me. Give me a chance to make amends.

We'll go far away from here.

We still have almost 30 years ahead of us.

And then I will die.

Because I no longer want to kill anyone.

As for 30 years, you're getting ahead of yourself.

What do you want, old woman?

Oh, you little snake.

I'm not all that old.

Only five years older than you,

little sister.

Maria?

Is there anything your heart desires, Maria?

Yes.

To go back to the world of the living and seek revenge.

Then so it shall be.

What's this?

What's going on?

You will go back,

and if you succeed in taking revenge,

you can stay in the world of the living,

to serve me on Earth.

This form is to ensure you don't enjoy life on Earth.

Your youth will return to you when the time comes to take revenge.

Well, hello little sister.

I have waited such a long time for this day.

You robbed me of my only love.

I have waited all this time for you to finally fall in love.

Almost two whole centuries have passed,

and only this young man has succeeded in melting your icy heart.

Thank you.

You have done me a valuable service.

So now watch as he dies.

They've been dead for four hours already.

What about my master?

From here, I'll go on alone.

- Don't step foot in there. - You won't go on your own, my girl!

Little one!

Mr. Gogol!

Mr. Gogol...

Lisa, turn back into the horseman again,

and use your power against her, or else she'll...

she'll kill you.

That's not what I need my power for.

Forgive me for everything.

I love...

Stop, witch!

Do not lay a finger on Mr. Gogol.

You stay out of this.

Go play with your dolls.

Excellent work, Mr. Gogol.

Bravo!

I didn't succeed in seizing the younger witch,

so I'll have to settle for the older one.

Congratulations!

Ah, but Mr. Investigator, no need for foolishness, now.

I have one bullet left and no desire to waste it on you.

Get a hold of yourself, Mr. Gogol, and listen.

I find you a most pleasing fellow.

I would like to recommend you for membership of our secret society.

Think about it.

You could join the ranks of the most powerful people in the country!

And your books...

By the way, I am sure a brilliant future awaits you.

And with our help, you could become

the most published author of our times.

Pushkin will simply die of envy!

Make up your mind!

I... don't want to have anything in common

with someone like you.

Well, that's rather what I expected.

Foolishness is an inherent characteristic of youth.

So go ahead!

Keep on living your sorry existence.

Scurry off with all your quirks, your fears, and dreams,

let's part on good terms.

But one piece of advice.

From one friend to another, Mr. Gogol.

May God forbid that you should

ever get in my way.

Well, sir, praise the Lord ye angels.

It's all over now.

Can we go back to St. Petersburg?

Papa, could you make me a new doll?

Gentlemen,

this investigation and the happenings here

are highly confidential.

You are all now guardians of a state secret.

Just imagine the consequences of disclosing it.

Well...

may the dead not be forgotten,

and may the wounded make a speedy recovery.

Mr. Gogol,

I imagine you will remember these...

curious evenings on a farm near Dikanka for a while yet.

See you in St. Petersburg!

A. BINKH 1788 - 1829

Mr. Binkh was an honorable man.

Sadly, the concept of honor

has been rather lost lately.

Mr. Binkh always fought against evil in all of its different forms.

He never compromised with it.

Honorable people come and go yet evil remains unconquered.

It lives and grows.

Therefore, all that we can do

is simply hope for God's judgement.

He will repay all people according to their deeds.

I believe that He indeed will.

For what is the point of living...

if you do not have faith?

Mr. Gogol!

I will...

I will never forget you.

Thank you.

Vakula, take care of Vasilina.

God bless you.

I'll go and gather your things.

Farewell, Mr. Gogol.

Why farewell?

God willing, we shall meet again, Doctor Bomgart.

Lately, I have become quite convinced that God does not exist.

Though at times, I so want to believe that he actually does.

This is for you.

To remember me by, every so often.

ST. PETERSBURG

Sir, seeing you like this is killing me.

That's two weeks of drinking.

Couldn't you have gone to a ball, had some food?

Won't you do something at last?

Leave me alone, Yakim.

Let me at least clear up a bit.

Yakim, just leave.

Please.

Oh, sir... you should take care of yourself.

EVENINGS ON A FARM NEAR DIKANKA Short stories

TWO YEARS LATER

Thank you.

Could I have a few words from the author?

Of course.

To whom?

Pushkin, is that you?

Of course! Who else? You bitch!

Mikhail!

Allow me introduce my friend and companion in arms,

Mikhail Lermontov.

Hello.

A young, and most promising poet.

- Hello... - Mr. Gogol,

I read your book not too long ago.

It was so amazing that I have still not quite recovered my senses.

But I'm here on a different matter.

Does the name Mr. Guro mean anything to you?

Yes...

Perhaps you know something of Count Benckendorffs secret society,

and his friends?

Unfortunately I do...

Our fraternity is fighting against him.

Would you be willing to join us?

A fraternity?

I'll explain it all over dinner,

and a case of Veuve Clicquot.

Let's go and eat, Mr. Gogol. I'm absolutely ravenous.