Original subtitles

CUBA, SPRING 1959

The next poem is my favorite.

'I don't pity, don't call, don't cry'.

Lyonya, we have to go.

Sasha, go ahead. I'll come later.

"Now, I've become tame in my wishes,

Life of mine? Did you come in dreams to me?

As if an echo-filled early spring hour

I rode by on a rose-colored stallion."

My friend, she is with me.

- Comrade, stay away. - Yes.

What?

You can't afford this lady.

I wonder why?

He takes me for a prostitute.

Please do something.

I see.

And he takes you for a pimp.

Guys, what's wrong?

Guys, I haven't finished my poem yet.

Do you want some beer?

No torture?

No.

Who are you?

I'm your friend.

What do you want from me?

Nothing. Sit with me.

I came to save your life.

You know, the American who you hit

today died from injuries at Mercedes Del Puerto Hospital.

I barely touched him.

Well, here is testimony of witnesses.

You can look through it.

Eight people, including your girlfriend

are ready to swear by oath that you were totally drunk

and beat up this American guy.

This is provocation.

Maybe, but...

But you can't prove it.

They will prosecute you. You could face the deadly penalty.

Death penalty.

I'm a Soviet sailor.

The USSR will demand my extradition.

Maybe.

It can. But...

Think what they'll do to you when you come home.

- Has the ship set off? - It's waiting for you.

Well then.

Then I can stay here.

I don't think so.

You're a hero.

You saved the daughter of a local judge.

Saved? His daughter?

You did.

She was drowning.

You jumped into the water.

Now she's fine.

You swallowed a lot of water, managed to get to shore.

You weren't conscious for three days.

Now, you'll recover and come aboard.

By the way!

Here's a certificate of gratitude from Havana's mayor.

And in return?

In return?

In return...

Nothing.

For now.

OPTIMISTS

EPISODE 11

I like your lemonade.

What do they add to it?

Nice job.

I had no doubts about you.

Have we finished already?

What else do you want?

Do you really think you can tell us

merely that Chinese delegates will come to Moscow?

Do you think children work for us?

Now, Leonid, the delegates are meeting in Zavidovo

with very important people from the Party.

I did everything we agreed to.

I have to go. See you... never.

Just a moment.

This paper is worth nothing.

It's important to me, a US citizen, that

you, a Soviet diplomat, prove you're committed to our shared goal.

I won't prove anything. What do you want from me?

Nothing at the moment.

But we know there will be changes in your country's management soon.

Then we'll have a lot of work for you.

But there's a time for everything.

For emergency communication please call here,

hang up after three tones.

And please...

freshen up a bit.

My name is Stanislav Pimenov.

I'm a Soviet geneticist.

I'm Stanislav Pim...

My name is Stanislav Pimenov.

I'm a Soviet geneticist.

Hello. My name is Alex Blun.

You're listening to Voice of America.

Today we have an extraordinary guest.

A brilliant scientist, a leading light of genetics,

professor Stanislav Pimenov from the USSR.

As we know, despite de-Stalinisation,

Trofim Lysenko's ideas live on.

Geneticists are still persecuted in the USSR.

Professor Pimenov came to tell us his story.

Please, professor.

Hello.

My name is Stanislav Pimenov.

I'm a Soviet geneticist.

And...

Today I applied for political asylum in the USA.

Let me summarize the reasons that pushed me to this difficult decision.

I'm firmly convinced that there's no room for politics in science,

no room for pseudoscience.

25 rubles, comrades.

I'm out of money.

Are you drunk? This is for Bykov's floral tribute.

Here's for two.

Poor Ruta Karlovna. He was so young.

25 rubles, comrades.

Our scientist fled to the US.

There will be a scandal.

What do you mean? Who?

Stanislav Pimenov, a geneticist. He has just come out.

What scum!

Traitor.

Good job, buddy.

You're a good boy today. But I still need the second dog.

...To celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the Great October Revolution.

The annual meat sales plan was fulfilled ahead of schedule.

68,000 tonnes of meat were sold to the government.

Tomorrow, at VDNKh, Nikita Khrushchev will attend the annual harvest festival.

- What a joke. What about Kazakhstan? - He canceled it.

We have to step back.

Nikita will kill us all.

Shut up, Kolya.

We can't start until he's in Moscow. This is suicide.

And what do you suggest?

To tell our partners that we're cowards?

Did you find the sauce?

Soy sauce...

I couldn't find it in Moscow.

Do they drink it instead of vodka?

Then go and look for it. Otherwise, make it yourself.

Viktor Mikhailovich, you said everything's under control.

What's the plan now?

We're moving forward. We have no choice.

When we agree with the Chinese, we'll have one or even two days.

The walls have ears.

They are our ears.

And if anything happens with family in Ukraine?

An emergency call.

Don't be silly.

Nikita is going to Berlin.

To Berlin?

Yes, my friend, to Berlin.

On the 24th.

Give me the phone.

Valentin Ivanovich, it shouldn’t be discussed over the phone.

Kolya!

Don't tell me what to do.

I have some especially for this.

Birukov.

Grisha, hello.

Good evening.

Are you free the day after tomorrow?

I want to invite you in Zavidovo, to go for a walk.

Okay. I'll be there.

Great.

There we go.

Why are you sitting back?

Let's eat.

Coming up next: folk instrument orchestra concert by all-Union Radio and TV

'Song, Flow Over Moscow'.

I stumbled over 'orchestra concert'.

Volina, you have to improve your diction.

It's purely

incompetent. Understand?

Come on, Boris Semyonovich.

You were great as always.

Galya, you're wanted on the telephone.

It's not Birukov.

Tell them I'm busy.

It's unbearable.

You play like you're at a funeral.

You want to die, not to dance.

What an interesting way to make friends.

What are you doing?!

Officer, this is ridiculous.

I don't have foreign money. So, you can't trump up a case.

Yes, you found the nylon stockings.

But they aren't recorded in the State Register.

So this isn't blackmail.

A clever one here...

Stand up.

Stand up, I told you.

This is for impudence, bastard.

This is for betrayal of the Motherland!

How did you arrange the traitor Pimenov's departure?!

Arkasha, can you please take me to the dogs?

What dogs? Are you crazy?

Don't you understand?

There are only two dogs in our country. Belka and Strelka.

Vitya didn't even believe they had returned alive.

Lyova, don't be silly.

Please, Claudia, remind me what do you do.

Mom, I told you.

It's okay.

I"m a house painter.

And I do sport a little.

A house painter.

It's so interesting.

This profession is so...

useful.

Someone should paint houses.

And Arkasha will work at the embassy soon.

Mom, please.

What? I'm just talking about your work.

You know, he will attend functions, banquets.

by the way, Claudia, what languages do you speak?

Mom, stop it!

Klava and I made a decision.

We won't trouble you at all. We have money for a flat.

No fancy wedding.

Who needs it, anyway?

- Only you and I, yes? - Yes.

Osya, put the newspaper aside.

We're talking here.

- Wedding. - Yes.

- It requires big investments. - Don't worry. I received a bonus.

- I counted it. - Osya, he counted it.

Why do they need us?

Arkasha, please explain

what's wrong with you?

Mom, what's wrong?

We're getting married.

Hooray!

Yes, of course.

Why didn't I understand it before?

What month?

October.

Don't be an idiot!

We know a great doctor.

If this is the only reason...

Mom!

No, you misunderstood us.

Three times. To our neighbors.

They'll party all night again.

I...

I should tell you everything.

Golub Arkady Iosifovich?

Yes, it's me.

You're under arrest.

Who are you?!

Let's go.

Josef, why are you sitting?

My son...

You know, my son is an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

And if...

Arkasha, please say it's just a stupid mistake.

You must explain what you are accusing him of.

Yes.

Of treason,

forgery of documents, anti-Soviet activity.

Should I continue?

Arkasha, please say something.

It's impossible!

Let's call your bosses.

Mom, there's no need.

Why are you sitting? Pack his bag.

Clothes, socks, underpants, shirts.

And warm clothes. There's almost no heating.

He has bronchitis!

Please wait for two minutes!

Why are you sitting?! Pack his things.

They won't wait!

Hold on.

- Did you find him? - Good morning.

Hello.

Grigory Vladimirovich, we're meeting the journalists from Hong Kong in 30 minutes.

Golub just vanished.

Our unit knows just three Chinese words.

And all of them are vulgar.

- Did you call him? - No.

Then do it. Muratov!

Korneev, did you know the deceased?

No. Why?

You look awful.

- Good morning, Ruta Karlovna. - Good morning.

Busy.

Let's go!

Ruta...

Yes.

Ruta Karlovna.

accept my condolences.

I'm very sorry indeed, Ruta.

I shouldn't have left him alone.

It was an accident. You couldn't be next to him at all times.

Yes, I could have.

He couldn't live that way.

Ruta, listen.

We...

There is no 'we'.

I'm writing my resignation.

They arrested Golub!

They took him to Lubyanka, his neighbors said.

How? Who?

- I'll call the Minister. - Ruta, please, I'll deal with this.

Let's go.

Comrade Chernykh, please.

Birukov.

Kolya, can I see you right now?

Kolya, I'm sorry, it's urgent.

Bykov...

A Hero of the USSR.

Cherished memory.

How's Blaumane?

I came because of Golub.

I heard. He's accused of treason.

Arkady can't even cheat on a woman, and they say treason. It's a mistake.

Kolya, please handle it.

I'll try for you.

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Ivanova, not bad today.

Zenina, you have two legs, not forty.

Why do you get mixed up in them?

Well...

Morshanova, come to me for some feedback after your shower.

No, Pavel Stepanovich.

What do you mean?

That's weird.

Yes, she'll have her period in only a week.

Does anybody else want to freak out?

As I thought.

Then let's continue.

Hurdles.

I was told he'd just be attending a convention. I didn't know.

You won't live so long after sentence you to.

Write an honest confession, traitor.

What's with the harsh words? This is an educated man.

I'll continue this conversation. Thank you.

Well, Arkady Iosifovich, how long have you been here?

I don't know. They took my watch.

Nikolay Borisovich, what will they do to me?

Treason is a very serious accusation.

I thought he was a scientist. I just wanted to help him.

Good scientists don't need any help, Arkady.

The Motherland helps them.

Do you want a cigarette?

Yes, please.

I just don't understand how you managed to arrange it on your own.

It took serious top-level connections to authorize Pimenov's departure

beyond all other authorities.

And I know who helped you.

Nobody. I did it myself.

Come on.

We both know who it was.

It was Birukov, wasn't it?

Birukov? No.

Why don't you smoke?

I don't smoke.

Arkady Iosifovich, think it over.

Why should you destroy your career?

It's not worth protecting him.

I see you've remembered something.

Let's sign a statement that you executed orders of a higher official.

And you can call your relatives and ask them to get you tomorrow.

117...

All day, yes?

You should massage behind your ears.

I mean it. I'll show you.

I learned it at a training camp. It helps to relieve spasms.

Sofia Mikhaylovna.

Under the current laws, we have the right for one visitation.

We have to file an application to the investigator.

Today it's too late, we'll do it tomorrow in the morning.

Sweetheart, how did you know all this?

Well, my brother is in prison.

- Sofia Mikhaylovna. - Yes.

Your son is calling.

Arkasha!

Sorry, I'm late.

It's okay. It's work.

- Will you order anything? - I will.

Hello.

Black coffee.

And some Armenian cognac.

Okay.

So, did you find out anything?

It's been hard on him.

Did he admit his guilt?

He did.

It's hard not to admit it there.

The truth is the most important thing for a communist, isn't it?

The truth doesn't betray a comrade, it helps him.

Am I right, Grisha?

Is it from the April Theses?

It's from you.

1948, the meeting of the Komsomol Unit of the Higher Party School.

The offense of Chernykh N.B. is on the agenda.

He introduced himself as a government employee

to receive some information, please note, personal information.

The report by Birukov G.V.

Kolya, what a memory you have.

They'd find out that you were at the secret record office sooner or later.

You said a lot.

Sooner or later.

If they had found it out later, Iэd have worked at the London station.

But I work in a dusty office,

prepare reports day after day.

And it's due to your truth.

But there are some advantages.

There are some terrific things in this paper lair of mine.

Look at this.

You created a kind of anti-Soviet unit.

One member conceals his foreign mistresses.

Muratov's wife complained.

Another member forges documents for traitors to flee abroad.

Here's your coffee.

Cognac for me too, please.

Just a moment.

And then there is Blaumane.

- Most of my questions are about her. - Don't even try.

What, Grisha?

First, this mysterious cleaning of a weapon.

Wife was at home. But she knows nothing.

Three months since the accident...

It's a bizarre coincidence, isn't it?

No?

Where was Ruta Blaumane when her husband died?

At home, again?

She was with me.

It's very noble of you to protect your colleague.

The thing is that...

this folder will be on another desk tomorrow.

Even I as your friend can do nothing.

What do you want, my 'friend'?

What you love more than everything, my friend.

The truth.

About the unit.

That all this time American Ruta Blaumane encouraged anti-Soviet activity

under your nose.

You're so good at telling the truth, Grisha.

What a bastard you are.

I'll give you advice as your 'friend'. Write it down.

She's already done it.

Here.

'I feel it my duty to inform you

that Birukov G.V., the new head of the group,

demonstrated insubordination,

prevented the communique of transcripts of Khrushchev's speech from distribution.

- Signed. - I see.

Your unit is done. The end.

Now you have to choose who will be responsible for it.

You or Ruta

Blaumane.

You have 24 hours to think it over.

And remember that the truth is the most important thing for a communist.

Isn't it, Grisha?

Come on!

It'll run away! Fire!

No, no. It's for you.

Great. I'll do it.

Valentin Ivanovich!

Grisha!

Nice to see you.

- No trouble getting here? - No.

The Chinese guy let a young boar go.

Damn it.

When was the last time you walked in the forest?

Serezha, say that we'll be quick.

Look at this.

So clean.

As if it waited for us.

Take it.

Thank you.

The hunt is already over.

The young boar is shot.

It doesn't even know it yet.

How's that, Valentin Ivanovich?

Grisha,

one day they'll make a monument from that lodge,

cover it with marble

like Stalin's hut in Turukhansky District.

You asked me why I needed you.

This is why.

In several days I'll become the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

You'll be my deputy.

After all, you understand how they work in the Ministry?

Why are you silent? Aren't you glad?

I'm glad, Valentin Ivanovich.

Then I have a first task for you.

Okay.

You'll fly to Berlin.

We'll repair the porous border together with our German comrades.

The imperialists have no shame.

They hang around our sector like they're at home.

Do you have reliable guys in the commandant's office?

Yes.

Good. The flight is at 7 o'clock tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

We're not in the army.

At ease.

Valentin Ivanovich, I also have request.

Really?

Well, what is it?

The head of the first unit Nikolay Chernykh

is a really big problem for me

and for my unit.

Can you do anything about him?

Grisha, I'm talking about our country's future.

And you're talking about child’s play.

It's a bad time.

Valentin Ivanovich, it's very important.

Okay, we'll deal with it.