Original subtitles

The school is a secret military facility.

All communications with family and friends are forbidden.

We are willing to give you a chance.

If you serve your country,

you'll be granted pardon.

Any insubordination to senior officers

is considered to be treason.

She'll be studying with you.

How can this be?! Comrade, dear... She...

Our country needs her too now.

The girls said you were spying after me.

Spying is for agents. You are just a petty wretch.

Don't push me!

I've forgiven you as it is.

So we are square.

Mommy!

Mommy!

I'll escape anyway. With or without you.

You help me - I make it your worth. You don't - I find you brat.

What did you find in Zoyka, eh?

Try and get me!

Kovalchik escaped from the prison.

Some mobster finished her.

Yeah, I've heard something like that.

War.

Comrade Major, they are not ready yet.

Less than three months of training out of the intended nine.

They didn't even have a practice operation yet.

Consider this trip their practice operation.

What happened?

Nadya was killed.

To Fuhrer!

To Fuhrer!

Tanzi.

- How do we lose the German? - We can't go to Riga with him.

We rent an apartment there. Allegedly.

What if he wants to come to your place?

How will we send the radio?

There's no alternative.

If we let them go, we're finished.

So...

Sinitsina and Yegorova died right away?

Yes, sir.

Upon landing. They ran into Germans.

You've worked it all out in advance.

The best tactician and the best strategist hate each other.

All thoughts are on the operation. And overwhelming desire to come back.

SVETLANA IVANOVA

SVETLANA USTINOVA

VLADIMIR VDOVICHENKOV

IRINA APEKSIMOVA

EVGENIY PRONIN

ANATOLIY RUDENKO

SPIES

Girls, please, let's talk. None of this is serious.

Arina, I saw your husband. So tall and handsome...

- And Zoya's girl is such a sweetie. - Shut up!

I'm not a traitor.

I just grew smarter.

Remember when Nad'ka..?

Right in my arms... It all became clear to me.

What became clear?

What we do is nonsense. That's what.

- It's just a theatre. - A theatre?

Crosses, stars... None of it is real.

She's a Soviet citizen. We can't do it without a trial.

There's no Soviet rule here.

Under martial law, we must...

Let's leave them here.

Long live our happy socialist motherland! Long live our great and beloved Stalin!

Can't sleep?

Studying maps. Byelorussia is soon.

At ease.

You are good with maps already.

Practice makes perfect.

Sure. Only without extremes.

There's a rumor you cry in your sleep.

I have nightmares sometimes.

What about?

I don't remember.

Try to recall. It will help.

I can't.

I guess, I just cram too much.

Everyone crams. But only you cry.

Maybe it's not about cramming?

Maybe something serious is bothering you?

What's so special about me? I'm like everyone else.

I'm worried about my husband, my father.

I don't even know if he's alive.

- I haven't seen him ever since... - I know.

I sent so many enquiries to the investigator and still no answer. Why?

I work hard for my motherland.

Is it so difficult to say what's going on? At least in a nutshell.

Go to a doctor. He'll prescribe you a sedative.

All right.

Oh, and Byelorussia is a no-go for you.

We've received a new assignment.

Okay.

Study Kiev Region maps. You'll be working with them.

I'll do it.

A priest?

Do you believe in God?

I'm a Komsomol member.

So you don't know services?

It's okay.

Velichko used to sing in a church choir.

She'll teach you.

Will Velichko just teach me? Or are we both on the operation?

Both of you.

- What? - I wanted to ask if it can be rearranged

so that I go to Byelorussia and Velichko works with someone else?

It can't.

Wait for orders.

You'll be sent for.

Warm up! No slacking!

Tighter. Grip tighter.

Good job. Next!

Velichko! Need a special invitation?

Work on your defense.

That's right. Good.

Push it till she breaks from the pain.

Good. Repeat.

We've been assigned to the same operation. How do we celebrate?

Let's be honest.

I'm repulsed by you, even without an operation.

Harder!

So you are breaking my arm?

Not happy - ask officers to put you in another group.

I asked. They refused.

Switch!

How is it my problem?

There. Ask Petrov. He'll put in a word for you.

- I won't. - Why?

So stupid... Nobody likes beggars.

Do you really want me with you on an operation?

I don't want any company.

Permission to talk?

Prozorovskaya and Velichko - to Facility Commander. Urgently

Okay.

Velichko! Prozorovskaya!

Change clothes.

Comrade Facility Commander is waiting for you. Go!

Did you fall asleep? Go on! Keep working!

Yes.

Rest.

Yes!

- Comrade Facility Commander, at your... - Come in!

Here. Meet...

Archimandrite Veniamin Konstantinov.

Hello. Arina Prozorovskaya.

- Veniamin. - Zoya.

Bless me, Father!

I give you my blessing.

Father Veniamin offered our country his help in fighting the enemy.

Center decided to accept it.

Have a seat, girls.

We are leaving Kiev.

Completely?

Yes. In two days tops.

Your new operation.

BM13. A rocket launcher.

Never saw it.

It's a secret project. The first samples are already in use.

But some tweaks are still being made in its design.

That's what caused the problem.

A construction engineer came to the front-line specifically to see the launcher in action.

He observed it, noticed some defects,

made notes in his journal and informed Moscow of his return.

The airplane was downed to the west of Kiev.

Here.

The area is mostly covered with forest.

So chances are the airplane fell far away from Germans.

We don't know if anyone managed to survive.

But the documents did.

Under instruction, the engineer had to transport them

in a special fire-proof suitcase.

You task is to find those documents.

And then?

Germans don't have weapons like this yet.

So under no circumstances these documents can fall into their hands.

Moving them across the front-line is also dangerous.

That's why you need to destroy them on spot.

So the engineer died for nothing?

He must've made important notes in the blueprints...

Good question.

There will be a technical specialist in your group, Valeriy Shapkin.

He will be the group leader.

He's coming later today. You will meet him.

As soon as you find the documents, you pass them to him.

He will go through them, get the gist and send it to Moscow by radio.

Then he'll destroy the documents. That's ideally.

If for some reason he won't be able to do that,

any group member that has an opportunity should destroy the documents.

Is that clear?

Yes, sir!

Germans are reopening churches on the occupied territory.

So you wait till they take over Kiev

and go to the command center.

Two priests, two novice nuns...

You'll get permits.

Take this. For moving around.

I think it won't be a problem. You work for Reich's benefit.

This has the tail number of the plane. We need the blueprints to be found fast.

So you split up. You go with Father Veniamin.

You - with Shapkin. Each group has its own search area.

These villages have undergrounders.

You can stay at their places, and they will help you with the search.

For every three villages there's a stash with radio and weapons.

You send a radiogram from there. Any questions?

I didn't know Comrade Vorotynnikov is on such good terms with churchmen.

What is "such good terms?"

We heard them singing.

Good timing too...

We're giving up Kiev...

A lot to celebrate.

Comrade Vorotynnikov and Father Veniamin are old friends.

And on the Kiev subject:

your girl, same as the intel school,

will be evacuated to Moscow and put in an orphanage.

Thank you!

Teach Arina services and how to read the Psalter.

Three days to prepare.

Will do! Three days to prepare.

Dismissed.

Yeah, this is izhitsa.

- Understand? - Yeah.

Read.

(reading in Church Slavonic)

(reading in Church Slavonic)

(reading in Church Slavonic)

No mistakes.

- Only they read it differently in church. - How?

(singing in Church Slavonic)

(singing in Church Slavonic)

(singing in Church Slavonic)

Like that?

Like that.

Only not 'aggels' but 'angels'. There's a diacritic mark.

Well, God won't take offense...

because he doesn't exist.

Valeriy Shapkin.

Your military engineer.

We got it.

In the character?

- What character? - Well... Nuns don't shake hands.

Only kiss them.

Please tell me you are Velichko.

Yes, I'm Velichko.

Yes!

Maybe there is God after all.

Such a beauty in my service...

I'll go study.

Careful talking about God.

You are going to be a priest.

Yes. I forgot. Sorry.

Undercover. It's my first time.

They say you have experience.

Wait. We are kind of in a group now.

So what?

We should have a talk... A chat...

- To get to know each other. - What for?

What do you mean?

When you know someone, you'll go through thick and thin for him.

Let's get together tonight. Drink some tea, chat a little...

You'd better hit the books. You make mistakes.

(reading in Church Slavonic)

(reading in Church Slavonic)

(reading in Church Slavonic)

(reading in Church Slavonic)

You are doing good.

Did you learn the services?

Both the Liturgy and the All-night vigil.

Good job!

I have information about your father. He was on the verge for a while.

Now he's getting better.

Thank you.

He must be in the First City Hospital.

They have rehab for people with head trauma. I know. My mother is a doctor. Was a doctor.

- Listen, can I..? - No.

- I haven't asked yet. - You can't.

Nothing. No meetings. Nothing is allowed.

Even me telling this now is not allowed.

- So keep your mouth shut. - I understand.

Thank you for asking

about my Father.

Nobody else cares.

Don't stress out!

Here we are.

Where is my Mommy?

Look closely.

Katya!

Mommy!

- Katya! Katya! - Mommy!

She's pretty!

Mommy, why are you dressed like that?

I will be a novice nun. A make-believe one.

Take this.

What is it?

Sugar.

Saved from your meals?

It doesn't matter.

Katerina!

Let's split it in half.

No.

How about the basic military training?

What?

How long have you been here?

Since the first day.

You should know then

which key opens which door.

Help me out with a friendly advice, so to speak.

What are you talking about?

Well... Nothing really.

Forget it.

Friendly advice.

Think about the operation, Comrade Engineer.

Tonight you'll get on a train, you know that?

Yes.

Comrade Instructor will take you to Moscow.

He will put you in another orphanage there.

First of all, look after the bear.

- Don't forget. - Will do!

Good.

Second of all, a war is going on. Things might go wrong.

If something happens, go to church.

Whichever you find.

What can happen?

Anything.

Suppose, Germans take over Moscow. Or you get lost on the road.

You come to church and say that you Mom is a novice nun.

- But you are a make-believe one. - Don't say it's make-believe.

They won't know. There's a note in the sugar.

I wrote an address for you of Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Ask someone to send me a message. I will arrange for it to get to me.

I will be checking.

When you learn where I am, will you come?

Of course.

Tooth-swear!

Tooth-swear is wrong.

- How is it right? - I give you my word.

Did Comrade Instructor teach you that?

Yeah.

I don't have time to get the papers, Comrade Red Army man.

- These are the rules, Comrade Lieutenant. - I know that!

I'm going to the front-line. I dropped by for just a minute.

- Hello, Comrade Lieutenant! - Good afternoon!

- For your wife? - Yes, sir!

Gretsko, call Prozorovskaya!

- There should be a document... - No objections.

Will do! Drop the objections and call Prozorovskaya!

Congratulations on the award!

Thank you.

How is it?

At the front-line?

Different ways.

Big losses. Both people and machines.

Two details gone in one hour. Completely.

So they sent me for new enlistees.

Where is he?

Good luck!

Volod'ka!

Volod'ka!

What happened to you?

Just a scratch.

Is it serious? Have you seen a doctor?

Yeah, I have.

Mother would've made you do a check. What if it's a concussion?

Come on. It's not.

How long will you stay?

I'll go to Facility Commander, he'll sign a leave warrant.

No time. You won't have time. I just came for enlistees.

I can't stay.

I...

I wrote you a letter.

Didn't get a chance to send it.

- I have to study a lot. - I'll read it.

I'll read it.

Well...

- It's time. - What?

War.

I have to go back.

I love you.

I love you too.

Very much.

All right...

Promise...

What?

To stay alive!

Well...

No. Please promise!

- Please promise! - All right.

I can't live without you.

- You have to, you hear me? - All right.

No matter what. You stay alive, okay?

I promise.

KIEV 22 September 1941

(service in Church Slavonic)

I didn't know you are so pious, Obersturmbannfuhrer.

People take off their head wear here.

Yes, of course.

I don't understand, why do we grant their wishes,

opening churches for them?

I believe, a brothel and a pub should be enough for this rabble.

Fuhrer is wise.

Religion is the opium of the people.

When a man is smoking opium, he can't fight.

It's good for us.

Sure.

By the way, General invited us to a feast.

- Occasion? - Taking over Kiev.

(serivce in Church Slavonic)

I think, the transfiguration went well. These are our permits.

Arina.

Zoya.

So, step one completed.

They have church wine here. Shall we celebrate?

Later.

Why are you so boring?

Okay. Here's the plan. We split up.

Me and Zoya

will go first.

You follow us.

In three days we meet in Bekhteevka.

Bless me, Father!

Is everything okay, Herr Obersturmbannfuhrer?

This priest...

He didn't read the diacritic mark.

He said 'aggel' instead of 'angel'.

Angels serve to God.

Aggels are demons.

Every student of the parochial school knows that.

But the priest doesn't?

Math teacher that doesn't know the multiplication table?

Stalin was going down on cassocks.

Maybe, it's only scum who goes there now. So they make mistakes.

Maybe... Maybe...

On the other side,

cassock is a good cover.

You can go everywhere,

talk to different people.

Soviet government knows that.

- Should we arrest and interrogate them? - No.

Note, who the priest talks to, where he stays.

Once we get proof, we take action.

Yes, sir!

MOSCOW 25September 1941

Our troops

were defeated under Kiev.

Gitler is preparing an advance on Moscow.

We need a new drafting.

People have to be prepared as soon as possible.

The main goal

is to organize work well in the rear of the enemy's army.

We need information on military deliveries

and movements of the troops.

This should be done by trained professionals

that have at least a general idea of subversive warfare.

Here.

The lists of female graduates

of Moscow universities.

All of them with technical degree

and perfect command of German.

They are supposed only

to collect and to send the information.

Sunbathing?

Well, I don't mind, only the weather doesn't seem right.

Good afternoon!

So, Comrade Instructor,

take charge!

Arrange accommodations!

Off to arrange accommodations!

Follow me!

Do you have good news?

Kotova's unit completed the operation but getting them here is tricky.

Most likely, they will be sent to North-West, to comm operators.

They are in desperate need of interpreters.

Any word from Velichko and Prozorovskaya?

No, nothing.

Okay, let's go. We need to prepare everything.

New recruits are coming any day.

About these cassocks...

They split up.

Each one got a nun.

The priest you indicated visited two villages.

Both houses have been searched.

And?

Nothing suspicious.

Okay.

Nobody hides weapons and radio sets at home.

If they are undergrounders, they have a stash close to the village.

No need to walk far but still concealed.

I haven't released the house owners yet.

If you want, I can...

interrogate them thoroughly.

No need.

Yet.

Our agent should continue watching.

Yes, sir!

One more thing.

Go there and supervise the search yourself.

Soldiers could have missed something.

- You think so? - Yes.

Will do, Herr Obersturmbannfuhrer.

Glory to All-Union Communist Party!

Your singing was beautiful. Back in Kiev.

Yes. Me and Kostya used to sing so that the earth would shake.

It's been very different for a long time.

I would never have guessed that Comrade Vorotynnikov used to go to church.

Can I ask something?

I'm not religious but... I'm curious. Hypothetically.

Ask away.

If you dream about someone all the time,

how does the church explain that?

What is this person doing?

Nothing. Just standing and looking.

Does this dream make you uneasy?

This girl... She...

...died.

Did you..?

No.

Could you have saved her?

No.

I don't know. It was really complicated.

Your mind

tells you that you made a right choice.

But your heart suggests that it's not true.

Do you mean conscience?

Yes.

Okay. Suppose, my conscience is judging me but I did everything right.

What's the solution?

Sometimes it can be that

there's no solution.

For a believer?

For anyone.

- What are the news? - The boys went to the forest.

Checked everything, properly.

There's no airplane.

Okay, maybe others will find.

All of the school's property has been moved to the new site.

Settling into classrooms has started.

Forces are quartered in dormitories.

Good.

Can I ask a personal question?

Please relieve me of my duties as a Deputy Commander of the intel school

and send me to combat.

Here, I wrote a request.

I think there will be a draught from this window.

Let's take it here.

Come on, let's move.

You have exemption,

Comrade Instructor.

But you can cancel it.

I can. But I won't.

Comrade Vorotynnikov, it's difficult in the lines now.

Do you think, it will get easier once you come?

I have skills in subversion.

I can also be useful in real action.

You teach agents how to survive.

This is real action.

- But... - No objections!

Take care of the lecture halls.

Off with no objections to take care of the lecture halls.

How is Velichko's daughter doing?

Caught a cold on the trip.

I talked to a doctor.

I'll keep her in bed for two days,

give her herb teas and back to orphanage.

Take this.

Condensed milk. For tea.

Thank you.

We walked through the whole forest around Beryozovka.

There's a German airplane in a ravine.

But no Soviets.

Okay.

No results is a also a result.

- Will you stay for dinner? - Thanks, but I need to go back home.

Dragging myself around the forest all day long

when the cattle is hungry.

Go then, feed the cattle.

You shouldn't bother. I can do it myself.

Don't you worry.

- Please have dinner with us. - No, I need to put Maksim to bed.

Come here.

Only one square left in Sosnovka area.

Do you want some liqeur?

No, thanks.

With pleasure.

Berry infuse.

Real strong.

Perfect.

Here you go.

We are leaving.

As you wish.

Arina,

you asked some questions today so I've decided

that I have to tell you

that in my long life I've seen people

who claim to have found

peace with themselves.

I don't know exactly how honest they were saying that

but I know how they've reached it.

Maybe this will help you.

It's not a solution for me. I'm a Komsomol member.

I did quite well in school.

Straight-A and -B student.

Almost no C-s.

Why didn't you continue studies?

Six grades and then my school was over.

Workers faculty?

Workers faculty...

Dad was dispossessed and we were sent to Siberia.

How did you get from Siberia to Kiev?

Just like that.

Go to bed.

It's early morning tomorrow.

Thank you.

What for?

For the warm-hearted evening.

Now I know what kind of person you are.

With me through thick and thin?

Through thick and thin.

You don't believe me?

Wait.

I said, good night.

Good night.

- Wait. - Good night.

Good night.

Wait!

Wait!

Something for the road.

It's fresh. For you.

Maksim, come over here.

- May the guardian angel be with you, Father! - Thank you. With God's blessing.

Forgive me for yesterday.

It's fine.

All men are the same.

First you go on about heart and soul and then grab the boobs.

Is Nikolai the same?

What Nikolai?

The one... from the intel school.

Don't touch Comrade Instructor, clear?

I wasn't planning to.

And don't pry into my private life.

All right.

The school is a secret military facility.

Leaving its premises is forbidden.

All insubordination to senior officers is considered to be

treason.

The Germans are close to Moscow.

Kiev is occupied. Leningrad in under blockade.

Our motherland needs your help more than ever.

Are they like my Mommy?

When will my Mommy come?

Katyusha, she'll come soon.

Is this your friend?

I see, he's always with you.

This very knowledge might

save your life in future.

It won't be easy here.

But operations will be even harder.

The enemy is very close.

But it's in our power to stop him.

Your comrades will brief you into the schedule

and help you out in the beginning.

Questions?

Dismissed.

Yes, sir!

Good afternoon!

Hi.

Good.

They don't work.

We'll fix them.

Herr Obersturmfuhrer, look what I've found.

What

an interesting

map.

So?

Shall we talk?

Boy, are you taking us the right way?

I'm not a boy. My name is Yurka.

Whatever. I cannot feel my legs but there's still no plane to see.

- Maybe, you made a mistake? - I didn't.

Me and Grandpa have a beeyard there.

- Beeyard... - Here it is.

The number is ours. It adds up.

You better wait here. I'll go in myself.

Obersturmbannfuhrer is calling!

Obersturmbannfuhrer, you are genius!

That priest is really an agent.

Are you sure?

I talked to the house owner.

We know now where their base is with weapons and radio.

And one more thing.

This priest is looking for some airplane that fell down in the local woods.

Since the Soviets sent a search party for this plane,

it's very important.

Where's the priest now?

In Bekhteevka village.

Send a group after him immediately.

I'll drive there myself.

- Do you know where is the second priest? - No.

Too bad.

They should've left their route at the Command Center.

I'll find it out and send for them.

And then I'll join you.

We will interrogate them.

I'm waiting for you, Obersturmbannfuhrer.

Memorized?

We get to the base,

I radio it and then we can celebrate.

I won't be hitting on you. My atheist word.

Let's go.

Look, what I've found.

Give it to me. Let's go.

What about..?

- What? - There are people there.

You are a priest.

Grandpa, it's just a cover.

- I'm a communist. - Maybe, they are communists too.

They deserve the funeral service.

Say at least a couple of words.

Kindgom of Heaven for you,

Comrades Red Army men.

Well, we are almost there.

Our storage is right behind that hill.

Wait!

Everything all right?

Dash my wig!

I've noticed this ugly face back in church in Kiev.

I guess, he was following us.

Good afternoon!

I'm glad to see you.

Come!

Come here!

Faster!

Follow them!

Faster!

Faster!

Grandpa!

Go! Go!

Shoot at the legs!

Take them alive!

- Do you know Bekhteevka? - Yes.

Run there! Find another one like me but older - Veniamin.

He's with a girl.

Say that we found the plane, burned the papers. They should run.

- Yurka, you got it? - Yes! Yes!

Go! Now!

How are you? Alive?

Don't move!

Are you crazy? Run away now!

Wait!

Come!

Come here.

It's okay.

We'll get out.