Original subtitles

Skyway Production

Death is inevitable.

Zatonsk, 1888

Get the luggage to the police precinct.

She's grown so big. And so beautiful.

Pyotr has changed, too.

Come on, come on. Like that.

Uncle, I'm so happy you've come.

You always come up with something incredible.

And you can't even imagine how happy I am.

- Well? - You've grown so much.

Spill it, how many hearts have you broken?

- Can you believe that? Not a single one. - I don't believe that.

You haven't been here for so long.

Nothing has changed in Zatonsk. Same old, same old.

Maybe that's a good thing.

Could be.

Yeah, she's really missed him.

He hasn't been here in a long time. About five years?

I think so. I don't even remember.

And he still hasn't found himself a partner in Paris.

I don't think he had much trouble with partners, but he didn't find a wife.

And between you and me, he came here with no money whatsoever.

So my Vitya is going to have to support his brother now, too.

I have to admit he only gets handsomer with age.

Daredevil.

He says he's some kind of "spiritist."

Does that mean he talks to ghosts?

Uncle, you're going to a seance to the Kuleshovs tomorrow.

Yeah, they're interested.

Can I come with you?

Of course, I don't mind.

But what will your mama think of that?

I'll handle her.

Let's go, then.

Looks like they've found each other.

Yeah, and that contraption. How long can it can go on?

Bonjour.

Anna, no! She's not going to ride into the street, is she?

This is unthinkable.

That's it, an earthquake in Zatonsk. They'll talk about it for a week.

This child is impossible.

HOTEL

Excuse me!

One.

ALEKSANDRA NIKIFOROVA

Two.

DMITRY FRID

Three.

BORIS KHVOSHNYANSKI, SERGEI DRUZYAK

4, 5. Ready or not, here I come.

WRITTEN BY YULIA VENGLOVSKAYA

CREATED BY ALEKSEY KOLMOGOROV

DIRECTOR - DENIS KARRO

CAMERA - ALEKSANDR ALESHNIKOV

MUSIC BY ANTON SILAYEV

PRODUCERS - YEKATERINA ANDRIYENKO, VITALY BORDACHIOV,

DARYA FIALKO, VLAD RIASHIN

DETECTIVE ANNA

EPISODE 1: THE CASE OF THE DROWNED WOMAN

How may I help you?

Tell the Chief of Police that Shtolman is here.

Wait here, I'll report.

I am baffled by this insurmountable need in people to take

what isn't theirs. So how was it, did he run out of the door and bolt?

He ran, and I see the lock is broken, and there are people running around,

the policeman...

And you didn't remember any distinguishing marks?

And you were just walking past.

- That's right. - You live close by?

No, I live in the outskirts.

- Did you come into the house? - No, why would I?

He ran out and some lady yells, "Get the thief!" So I stood right there.

That lady who likes to yell, I just questioned her and...

Why did the thief run out into the street?

He could jump out of the window and run through the backyards.

What backyards? The windows look out into a wall, it's a dead end.

Dead end... You just said you didn't come into the house.

How do you know it's a dead end?

Everybody knows there's a dead end there.

I'd advise you to check the nearby bushes where this man probably

disposed of the goods.

Were you there, my good man?

Who is that? What's his problem?

I will ask you not to get involved, sir.

Continue, please.

I don't need your permission. Keep the order!

Chief of Police will see you now.

We're going to talk differently now, mister.

Yakov Shtolman, Court Counselor.

I have the honor of introducing myself due to my arrival to the new

place of service.

Welcome, Mr Shtolman. Pray tell, why did they transfer a detective from

the capital to our backwater?

I've always dreamed of serving in the province.

I have heard different.

Well, there's no secret in that, if you know everything, I won't deny it.

I do know.

And you know, I have my own sources, too.

You didn't kill anyone and that's enough. What matters for me is that

you didn't end up here for political reasons.

Not political, that's for sure.

- Who's that guy? - Some big wig from St Petersburg.

- Arrived incognito? - Yeah.

- Inspector? - Looks like it.

It does.

Of course, I am familiar with your career. It's impressive.

You'll get bored here after the capital.

Special Service Officer

with the Investigation Office of the Police Department!

And then you're a provincial detective. Although we get tricky cases, too.

You won't get bored here.

I hope I live up to the expectations.

And let's drop the ranks. Just call me Ivan Kuzmich.

By the way, this isn't my office, it's yours.

- Settle in. - Thank you.

And get yourself an assistant. There are several experienced detectives here.

Can I talk to the young man in the parlor?

Korabelnikov? He's a simple interrogation officer, only been here a short while.

- And still, if you don't mind. - As you wish.

BOOK OF THE MEDIUMS

You've got a letter.

Thank you.

My angel.

"My Oracle! You've said much about our future. Let the ghosts talk about it now."

"I am expecting you tonight. Yours, Tatiana."

Bad news?

No, nonsense. And silly things.

Can I borrow this book later?

- Can I borrow this book later? - Yes, of course. It interests you?

Yes. I need to clear some things up.

You, you get visions again?

Yes.

Mom, look what I found.

Visnevaya's pendant? Where was it?

It was in the drawing room, Grandmother showed it to me.

- What grandmother? - Angelina.

Anya, your grandmother passed away.

No, I saw her.

Anya, lying isn't good, it's shameful.

I saw her!

Anya, did you really see Grandmother?

Like back when you were a child? When your grandmother died?

Yeah, but back then I thought they were alive, those who would come to me.

And now I see them in my dreams.

Today I had a dream where I had drowned.

And I said, "Death is inevitable."

What else did you say? I mean, what did she say?

Nothing else.

- You didn't ask? - How would I? It's a dream.

My child, these things happen.

Will you take me to the seance at Kuleshovs' today?

Yes, of course. I promised, didn't I?

Come in.

Set it down over there.

- Dismissed. - Yes, sir.

Continue.

After the secondary school, I was a correspondence clerk, for about 5 months.

Then I was a ticket clerk at the pier, but not for long.

And then I worked at merchant Khomutov's office for 5 months.

And at the Fire Department Office Management.

You've got some life experience. So you know the city, then?

Yeah, like my own five fingers.

So you've come to the police because it was your calling?

That's right, sir. I feel an obligation to serve the law and uphold the peace.

Commendable. So, let's serve together. What was your name?

- Anton. - Well, Anton, help me with the luggage.

With pleasure, Mr Shtolman.

Here you go. Careful, this is a photographic camera.

Plates, chemicals for development.

But photography is quite an expensive undertaking.

I simplified the process using Levitsky's method and now it's much cheaper.

Come on, open it. Yes?

I dare to report: murder.

Through here, sir.

Make way.

- Good day, sir. - Good day.

Here.

- Here's the murderer. - I didn't kill anyone.

- It's that knave Mitka. - Everybody heard them arguing.

He got jealous, the devil.

So what do you see, Anton?

I see, the victim is on his back, with his head towards the entrance.

He got hit with an axe and they dropped the axe right here.

Which is strange, in my opinion.

There are no signs of struggle, so the swing was unexpected.

Let's say the victim was standing on the porch facing the entrance.

He was, when I came here. And he was holding the axe.

But I didn't kill him. I had some words with him and left.

- Is this your courtyard? - No. Mine is there.

Look, Anton.

There is blood splattered on the window and the wall.

So the victim was facing the window and had his back to the door.

He was hit from the outside when he came up here.

You can't strike him like that from the inside.

- Whose courtyard is that? - Whose courtyard is it behind the barn?

What's his name? Vasily's. Vasily's.

Freeze! I said freeze!

Freeze!

"Upon leaving the body, the soul departs to the spiritual world

"it came from to continue its material existence

"after a certain period of time,

"long or short, during which it has the form of a restless spirit.

"Since the soul must go through many reincarnations,

"it means that all of us have had many existences,

"and that we will all go through other incarnations on this Earth,

"or in other worlds."

- You gave her that book! - She asked me. She's interested.

- Of course I gave it to her. - Do you believe in all that yourself?

I'll say more: I practice.

Bravo. You know what? I really don't want Anna to develop an interest in this.

You know what? You're her father. You can forbid her from it.

And me? She asked me, I gave it to her.

God, the good uncle, huh? Don't pretend you don't know why I'm telling you this.

Quit hovering around, sit down already!

Don't you remember her, oddities as a child?

I remember it perfectly well, she had certain potential.

Potential?! Don't you provoke those fantasies in her.

If only you knew how hard it was for us to convince her that it's impossible

to see the dead as clearly as you see the living!

I didn't provoke her! I couldn't conceive that I had to lock up books.

I didn't know you had to lock them up either.

But apparently you have to.

What are you going to do, yourself?

Well, I have to think about it, look around, and...

What's wrong with spiritism?

In Paris every medium is a wealthy man.

That's in Paris.

- He had a big debt to Fyodor. - He had great debts.

And he owed Fyodor so much he might as well sell the house.

- The axe, sir. - The axe.

There you go. Take him to the station.

Allow me to voice my admiration, Mr Shtolman.

Leave it.

Pardon me, but how did you manage to make sense of it so quickly?

I'm just attentive, which is what I demand from you, too.

One needs to learn everywhere one can, but I'll be glad to learn from you.

I can't promise you it's going to be fun. Are you going to stand there?

Let's go.

Gentlemen, your attention, please. Here is our magician.

Just a medium, just a medium.

Let me introduce you to my husband, Ignatiy Petrovich.

Glad to meet you. Anna, my niece.

Anna, you are charming. I don't think I need to introduce Lady Gromova.

And doubtless, you remember our poet, Mr Semyonov.

The philologist, of course.

And of course, you know Mr Mazaev, our painter.

How's Paris?

- Paris is beautiful as always. - Quite, quite.

Well, gentlemen, everybody is here. Take your seats, please.

As you know, according to my wife's wishes, Pyotr will demonstrate to us

a new pastime.

I doubt you can call this a pastime.

Pyotr, don't be offended, my husband only wanted to say

that it is a popular movement in Europe.

Movement? Maybe. But still, I would call it. I would call it a science.

If you will allow me, first I would like to say a little speech about spiritism.

Spiritism is a practice that appeared in Europe in the middle of the last...

The last century. Thank you. May I ask you to turn off the electricity, please?

A medium has an incredible - I would say unique - skill.

He connects our world, the earthly world, and, the other one.

The beings he communicates with call themselves spirits or geniuses.

Previously, they lived here on Earth. They compose the Spiritual World.

As opposed to our Corporal World.

Although, why keep talking about it when I can show you?

- I don't like this at all. - Come on, this is just a trick.

That's enough discussion. You'll see everything yourselves.

Tell us, don't you need some special board?

There is no need. There are various practices.

- So that's how it is. - Okay, whose spirit would you like to call?

The spirit of Marie Lenorman.

Marie Lenorman. This is how it is. And what do you suppose we should ask her?

Whether the wish I made today will come true.

As you wish.

- Who is this Marie Lenorman? - It's a French psychic.

We'll have to hold hands, gentlemen.

Spirit of Marie Lenorman, show yourself to me.

Spirit of Marie Lenorman, show yourself to me.

Spirit of Marie Lenor-

Death is inevitable.

Your wish.

Your wish, it will not come true.

We are all mortal, and so are you. You are no exception.

You will die. Death is inevitable.

Death is inevitable.

Enough! This is, God knows what.

Indeed, this is ludicrous.

What a dramatic exit. This is worthy of a theatrical showing.

Gentlemen, what did he actually say, though? Or she, rather.

Who do you mean? - The spirit. That death is inevitable? That's no news.

And regarding her words about Tatiana, I don't see any threat there.

Yes, she will die. Just like all of us. At her own hour. I don't-

Enough. Enough about that. How are you, my dear?

Pyotr, wake up. Your trick has flopped.

What? What did she say?

Come, now, Pyotr. Everybody is agitated enough as it is.

- And impressed. - Gentlemen!

This is part of the show, isn't it?

Will you be quiet? Fetch some water.

Anna, can you hear me? Give her some space!

- Have some water. - Thank you, I feel much better already.

How about taking her to the patio, to get some air?

- The patio, get some air. - Help me, come on.

Well, then?

Looks like I was right. Pyotr is on stage the entire night,

and his niece, his niece is his assistant.

Looks like a delicate, impressionable person.

Sir, did you really take a stand?

Are you really ready to give up Tatiana without a fight?

Well, some champagne?

- Not bad. - Not bad.

What happened?

Nothing. Must have gotten stuffy from the candles.

Exactly what you should expect with those seances, Pyotr.

How are you feeling?

Everything is good. I just had vertigo.

Well, Pyotr, you've certainly made an impression.

What did she say? Lenorman. I really don't remember.

When a spirit comes into a medium-

Pyotr, that's enough. The show is over.

You foretold death for me.

- My God. Not me, not- - Forget it.

Please, let me explain myself.

Just a few words.

Please.

Are you glad your uncle has come, Anna?

- Yes, of course. - He's funny.

He's a good man. I don't even know what got into him.

A dreamer. He's always liked making an impression.

How did it go with Tatiana?

It didn't. I explained everything to her, she didn't believe me.

- Why did you come back without her? - She wanted to be alone.

- Did you see the girl? - What girl?

You didn't see her.

What girl?

Tell me, were you pretending?

Anna, spirits are whimsical. Sometimes...

Sometimes they don't come.

But you can never admit it to the public.

You can never admit it during a seance because it discredits

spiritism as a phenomenon, as a method, you see?

I thought you scared Kuleshova on purpose.

You could have said absolutely anything.

No, no, no. Absolutely not. I didn't mean to scare anyone.

It just happened that way. By itself.

She came. The drowned girl. During the seance.

And I saw her.

Good night, my joy. I'm sorry.

Uncle, let's call that girl.

What for?

I won't be able to sleep. I need to talk to her, together with you.

Maybe. Tomorrow, though.

No, now.

Okay, I'll need a spiritist board. I'll go get it.

Who do we call, Anna? We don't even know her name.

Call the spirit of the woman who came during your seance.

Do I just say it like that?

"The spirit of the woman who came during the seance, come"?

Yes.

The spirit of the girl who came

during the seance, come.

The spirit of the girl who came during my seance, come.

Annette, it's impossible, it won't do.

Give me your hands.

Please, give me your hands.

The spirit of the girl who came to me during the seance,

come to me again.

The spirit of the girl who came to me during the seance,

I compel you, come.

What's wrong?

She's here.

Uncle, what do I do?

Ask her something.

Who are you and what do you want?

You saw her?

Yes. And you next to her.

You two were walking along the river bank.

Uncle, what happened to her?

I don't know who you saw.

You know what happened to her.

I'm sorry for dragging you into this all, your gift, it's...

It surprises me.

Uncle, I'm not going to leave you alone.

Who is she?

Not now, Annette. Let's talk about this later.

Let's talk about this tomorrow. I can't talk about this now.

I can't. Good night.

Here we are, then, Mr Court Advisor.

"In order to call the spirit of a drowned person,

"one needs to go to the river and submerge a mirror in the water.

"You will see the spirit you are calling in the reflection."

Look. What is she doing there?

She's doing magic. Wants to see demons.

Demons? Is she a witch?

Witch!

I'm going to catch up with you and box your ears!

My God.

Pretty.

They're saying she was the wife of Kuleshov the factory owner.

Five years ago another girl drowned herself at the bridge.

Because of love.

Anton, look over the bank. Carefully.

Am I looking for something in particular?

I don't know. Something. Maybe the victim dropped something,

or there are some suspicious tracks.

Suspicious? But she killed herself.

Who decided that?

We still need to confirm or deny that.

Seek and you shall find, but first we need to determine where she fell exactly.

Got that. Yes, sir.

You, go upstream. Looks like she's spent a few hours in the water.

Determine the speed of the stream, and the place where she fell into it.

Yes, sir. Follow me.

Young lady!

Excuse me.

You're the one who found the body? They said it was a lady on wheels.

Yes, it was me.

- Detective Yakov Shtolman. - Anna Mironova.

Did you know the woman who drowned?

Yes, we knew each other.

- When did you last see each other? - Last night.

We went to the Kuleshovs'.

- And what were you doing there? - Nothing extraordinary. Just a dinner.

Did you notice anything strange about her behavior?

No, nothing strange.

- When did you part ways? - 9:30.

Thank you.

I saw you around the town, on your bicycle.

I saw you too.

- Are you feeling well? - Yes, yes, I'm okay.

I won't keep you any longer, if I need to ask some questions, I'll find you.

My father is the lawyer Mironov. Anybody can point you to our house.

- Should I walk you? - What?

- Or I could send a policeman with you. - No, thank you.

Are you sure you'll get there on that thing?

I've involved the local boys in the search.

Incredible, but they found this on the bank.

Commendable.

TO ANNA MIRONOVA

- Uncle, darling... - Annette.

I've found the body in the river.

- What? - Tatiana Kuleshova.

- She drowned. - What are you saying?

I went to the river this morning and found her there.

- Why do you think it's Tatiana? - Because it's her.

Others have seen her, and they recognized her.

It can't be. It can't be.

My dear uncle, could you explain what it all means?

What can I explain?

You foretold death for her last night, and then you two went to the river.

THE CASE OF THE DROWNED WOMAN