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One, two, three, four, five.

Ready or not, here I come.

DETECTIVE ANNA

EPISODE 20: THE SICILIAN DEFENSE

I really do have only one move, with a bishop.

How come you have it?

Anna Viktorovna left it yesterday. Your move: bishop g5-f4.

What could Rook's move be, then?

Anton Andreievich, if you indulge Anna Viktorovna's fantasies,

I'll fire you.

Anna Viktorovna doesn't play chess, how come she knows the correct move?

Coincidence.

All right. For the sake of the joke, what move could Rook have made?

All right, just as a joke.

The most rational move would be knight, a5-c4.

Well, then. Shall we go back to pressing matters? What do we have on Filimonov?

A dark horse. He has been here many times, as a suspect.

Naturally, how else would he wind up in our files?

I've asked his neighbors, he had an accomplice, a certain Prikhodov.

They got in trouble for fights often.

And they're card cheats, too. Basically, they deserved each other.

- What were they doing that night? - Filimonov wasn't home all night.

- Where does that Prikhodov live? - Vasilchikov's rooming house.

But he wasn't home either.

Right, then. Anton Andreievich, get me that Prikhodov, I don't care how.

And I'll handle Myshloedov.

d2-d4.

d2-d4.

Black, d7-d5.

White, b1-c3.

Black, d5-e4.

White, c3-e4.

Black, g8-f6.

f1 black. d3 white.

e6. g1. e7.

Castling. c1. f4.

Anna! Anna! Anna!

Anna, what's wrong?

- What happened? - What happened to you?

Nothing.

Why didn't you answer?

I couldn't hear you.

Where did you get this?

My uncle gave it to me, about five years ago.

Uncle again. All the time, it's your uncle.

- I see you've made progress in this game. - I've only opened that book today.

- Anna, maybe you should lie down. - Mom, I'm all right.

My God, this house is driving me mad. Anna, some tea, maybe?

Thank you, Mom.

I'm sorry for coming in without asking, my child.

It's all right. Come in whenever you like.

I practiced a little this morning.

- How did the seance go? - Not very well.

But to you, they come even with music on.

- Sometimes. - Yes...

And in my case, that didn't happen.

It didn't.

Who did you call?

Rook. Did he come to you?

Just now. But I don't control him either. He comes whenever he wants.

- What did he say? - He hates everyone in the world.

Threatens those who are at fault for his death.

And Shtolman, too.

So what, is Shtolman guilty?

Shtolman isn't guilty! I don't believe that.

A malicious ghost. An avenging ghost.

I don't understand. He's so vehement.

How... How do I stop him?

Uncle, how do I stop him? How do I do it?

- Wait, wait... - What?

- There was a time when I... - What, what?

Wait. Wait.

There is one. There is a way, yes.

You have to put the ghost in between two mirrors.

Then it'll go away, trapped in the endless perspective.

As soon as the troubled spirit is in the mirror corridor...

No force can bring him back to our earthly world.

And when you do it, you have to say: "Wicked spirit, restless spirit, begone."

There. Remember it. There.

And also I have a favor to ask.

Before sending Rook into eternity,

ask him where he lived here, in Zatonsk.

I'll ask him. I can see you're worried.

It's very important to you, isn't it?

Nonsense, it's... curiosity. And not of the idle kind.

- You played with him! - Never. Never.

- When did you see him last? - I definitely didn't see him yesterday.

Otherwise, who knows? They come, they go.

Can you really watch them all?

Right. I'll be in the apartment. Don't let a single soul know about it.

Let everyone into Prikhodov's room, don't let anyone out.

- And himself? - Let him in, of course.

Did you get it? Let everyone in, and don't let a single soul know!

I got it, I got it.

Good day, Anna Viktorovna.

Allow me to report that Mr Shtolman and Mr Korobeinikov are away on business.

- Where are they, then? - I cannot know that.

- Very well, I'll wait here. - Please. Why not?

Who's there?

Prikhodov, open up, I have business with you.

- Who is it? - You don't know me.

Open up, I need your advice. I'll pay you well.

- Good day. - Good day.

Lady Nezhinskaya visited the knyaz yesterday.

- He had no other visitors. - I see. What about our Frenchman?

He was present during your meeting with Nezhinskaya.

He was at a far-away table.

- Is that so? - Yes, sir.

After you left, he sat up to Nezhinskaya,

they talked very briefly, after which he left.

I couldn't track him. The rogue is very nimble.

He never appeared since.

Nobody's following you. We keep checking.

Did you manage to find anything out about Rook?

It is known that the day before his arrest,

he was seen with a Mr Mironov.

- Pyotr Mironov? - Yes, sir.

And also a certain Prikhodov was around.

Now that's interesting. Anything else?

Prikhodov lives in Vasilchikov's rooming house,

but he spends a lot of time at his girlfriend's in Slobodka.

We got the address.

- Let's go there, then. - Yes, sir.

If it wasn't for your constant excuses,

we would have solved this problem in a radical way.

Getting rid of Shtolman now would be insane.

No matter how you swing this, our enemies will know who's behind it,

and who knows what tactics they will use for us?

While he lives and works for Varfolomeev, they have the illusion of control.

But if he dies to a mugger's bullet, or suddenly drowns,

they could go for desperate measures.

Why do we need that?

Right now, we have a balance, however fragile.

What a speech. So many reasonable arguments.

And all just because you care about him.

- I have our safety in mind. - Ours?

And my sympathies are irrelevent.

Nina...

Anna Viktorovna, they may not come in today at all.

- I'll wait some more. It's important. - As you wish.

What the hell? Anna Viktorovna, how come? Jesus.

The drafts in this place...

- Good day. - Prikhodov?

Yes, sir. It's been a year since he did his time for robbery.

And now his girlfriend kills him. There she is.

Hit with a hammer. Instant death.

- Investigator Shtolman. What's your name? - Natalia Kryukova.

Why did you fight?

We didn't fight. We didn't! We lived in perfect harmony!

There were some tools on the shelf. I guess the hammer fell on his head.

And I was over there.

Suddenly, I heard something fall. So I ran in, and he...

- So it was an accident, then? - It was. It was!

- Who has been visiting him lately? - Who else? Filya.

- You mean Filimonov? - That's him.

And that's it?

Some noble guy, too. A retired military man.

My husband said he had some big business with that nobleman.

That we would live like kings after that.

- Like kings... - One moment.

Ma'am, let me see your hands.

And the other one. The other hand.

Well, I'll tell you there are no bruises. So there was no struggle.

So the hammer was on the shelf and it fell down?

It did. It did!

You are under arrest on the suspicion of murder.

What do you mean? I didn't do it. What... what do you mean?

- Uliashin, take her to the station. - Yes, sir, Yakov Platonovich.

What do you mean? I didn't do it! What do you mean? It wasn't me! It wasn't!

Pipe down, I said!

I don't know. It looks pretty obvious to me.

There are no signs of struggle on her.

None on him, either, as a matter of fact. Except the broken skull.

Is there any chance that it's an accident?

My dear Yakov Platonovich, you're clearly overworked.

What are you saying? What chance?

It's only in fairy tales that a hammer can

fly off the shelf by itself and hit this poor soul.

What is much more likely is that she sneaked up on him and hit him hard.

I understand that. But something is off here. Something doesn't fit.

Here's some doctor's advice. Go home, get some good sleep.

And when you wake up, I promise everything will fit. Good day.

Pyotr Ivanovich. Mr Mironov!

Mr Mironov. Pyotr Ivanovich!

Are you running from me now? What are you doing here?

I was in the neighborhood.

You're in the neighborhood of Rook's case quite a lot.

What is with your tone, may I ask? And with the implications.

What implications? Tell it to me straight: what is your connection to this case?

Will you answer me here? I could invite you to the station officially.

May I ask on what grounds?

So you saw me in the company of my friend Myshloedov.

So I was passing by and I saw a crowd of onlookers, I thought I'd take a look.

What of it?

You were seen in the company of Rook the day before he was arrested.

Who saw me? Look, I was having dinner with Myshloedov.

And then Rook came, who I used to know. And so did you, in fact.

Mr Prikhodov was in Myshloedov's company.

Who's that?

The same man who was just carried out of that house

before your eyes and taken to the morgue.

Look, I don't know any Prikhodov.

Those characters are always around Myshloedov.

They come, they go, no one introduced me, so I had no reason to remember them all.

What a bunch of incredible coincidences, Pyotr Ivanovich. Don't you think?

Exactly. Exactly. I think it's strange, too, and I've thought about it.

A police investigator takes a known card cheat into custody,

the one who he had a few big games with in St Petersburg back in the day,

and that card cheat dies during a chess game.

Have you been questioned about all these coincidences?

Who do you think you are?

If you have something to charge me with, do it.

But know that whatever the case, you won't hear another word from me

without my lawyer Viktor Mironovich present.

Good day.

Here. And this one, here.

My dear detectives, at the crime scene without a chessboard?

You shouldn't be so ironic.

The chessboard is important.

Without it, we won't know who the next victim is.

That's true. The move that you determined

this morning brought us here, to this house.

It's actually in that sector.

Mr Korobeinikov, please do your job, not God knows what.

Yakov Platonovich, you must have forgotten I'm in charge of this investigation.

And it depends on my actions whether you are cleared of suspicion.

What?

Gentlemen, please.

Yakov Platonovich, you are free not to believe in ghosts,

but you must believe in the logic of the events.

Rook is killing everyone guilty of his death.

First he pushed Filimonov under the carriage,

now he threw a hammer at Prikhodov's head.

And those...

He's here.

He wants you to play with him.

Yakov Platonovich, please, don't make him mad.

I'm begging you. Come on, quick.

White, c1-f4.

He's waiting for your move.

a2-a4.

f1-e1.

He's gone. He's waiting for your next move.

He'll possibly wait for you there.

I only have one move. Bishop b8.

b8. There.

Myshloedov's house. Get there, at once!

I'll get a cab.

Yakov Platonovich, let's go. Come on.

I know you still have your doubts.

Don't be afraid, you didn't kill him. I know it for sure.

He's not coming, he's not. He's been up there for two days now.

- I don't know that. - You should read the news. You should.

INFAMOUS CARD CHEAT DIES

My God. We should call the police.

Yes, definitely, the police.

But you see, I have to visit his room.

What do you mean, visit? Visit...

I don't even know what you mean, visit.

We were really close friends. I want to see how he spent his last days.

- That's like visiting his grave, right? - Naturally. Just like visiting his grave.

And crying there alone.

I will take you there.

This is our most expensive room. For the special clients.

So this is what it was like. His last abode.

That's right.

Just don't take long.

New details have been revealed

that lead us to suspect Investigator Shtolman.

These two watchmen discovered that a mug they'd seen is missing from the cell.

It's not there anymore. There are grounds to suspect it was the murder weapon.

It is now here, in this office.

I order you to search this office.

Get to it.

Search every corner, every cranny! Every cabinet!

Get to work!

- What is it? - The mug.

Find and arrest Court Counselor Shtolman immediately.

And get him to the station under guard.

He won't see you. My orders!

- To what do I owe the pleasure? - Where are you going? You can't leave.

Why not?

You are under arrest on the charges of murder.

- That's nonsense. On what grounds? - We'll talk about. Definitely.

At the station.

Freeze! I'm warning you, I'm not a bad shot.

- Captain, what are you doing? - Take your revolvers out slowly.

Mitya, get them. Get them.

And keep the guns pointed at them.

- How far will you get? - That's none of your business.

I'm not guilty. I didn't kill anyone.

And I know for sure that you ordered the killing.

Anna Viktorovna.

Rook told me about it himself. And he'll come for you.

Who is that? That's Pyotr Mironov's loony niece, isn't it?

Yes, it's me.

Please understand the danger you're facing is much greater than prison.

Rook's spirit will get you wherever you are.

My God, this is what our police force has come to. Are these your methods?

Yakov Platonovich! I am ordered to take you to the station.

The heat.

You won't get away. Give up, I will forget your stupid trick with the guns.

Quiet!

Damn!

- What are you doing, you bastard? - They were trying to get in!

Okay, Mitya, shut the door and block it with something. Now!

Come to your senses, captain, give up! It's not too late.

He's here. Drop your guns.

Listen to me, you have to get between two mirrors right now.

That's your only chance at staying alive.

Get off, you.

Anna Viktorovna!

Freeze!

Shtolman, give up!

Don't shoot, you idiot!

- Follow me. - Yes, sir.

Open the door.

Freeze!

What happened?

Ricochet. The bullet bounced off of the clock.

It was fate.

Captain, did you hire Rook's killers?

Admit it, was it you?

Myshloedov, you're dying, unburden yourself.

Yes, I hired them. I lost everything to that cheat.

The estate...

Open the door!

Anton Andreievich, open the door.

No. No! If you get arrested, I can't help you. And Rook will kill you.

- Korobeinikov, the door. - Not a chance.

- Did you hear my order? - I give the orders here.

I'm in charge of the investigation. Do what Anna says.

There! Can you see that? It's him.

- Help me. - Certainly.

- Grab the mirror. - What are you doing?

Put it there. Yakov Platonovich, come here. Please.

Yakov Platonovich, I'm begging you. Please. I'm begging you.

Wicked spirit, restless spirit, begone. Wicked spirit, restless spirit, begone.

Wicked spirit, restless spirit, begone.

Anna Viktorovna! Anna, what's wrong? Wake up.

- Don't move! You're under arrest. - Who's under arrest? Are you of your mind?

I'm ordered to arrest Investigator Shtolman.

Lower your weapons, I'm in charge here.

Yakov Platonovich is going to the station of his own volition, lower your guns!

Why did you have to spook me like that?

Spirit of Rook, come to me. Spirit of Rook, come to me.

You thought you would run away from me?

Nope, tough luck. A card debt is sacred.

Spirit of Rook, come to me. Spirit of Rook, come to me.

Well, go to hell, then.

Easy.

- Annette... - He won't come again.

- Who? - I used your advice. With the mirrors.

And I sent Rook into eternity.

Good job. Good job. That's great. That's where he belongs.

Admit it, you lost money to him.

- Me? Lost? - Yes.

I won. I won money from him! It's just...

I gave my word to your dad that I wouldn't come near a card table.

So put yourself in my shoes. We sit down, start playing.

I take a risk. And I win!

I win against Rook himself!

And he was supposed to bring me the money in the morning.

Because it was on his word.

And then I find out that they arrested him.

And then killed him, too.

So I think that's it, there go my winnings.

And I...

- You what? - What do you think?

I went there and took what was mine. That's it.

So you... You took someone else's money?

That's not someone else's money! Not someone else's, mine!

Mine, Annette! Do you hear me?

I won it from him fair and square! Who do you think I am?

I took exactly as much as I won. Not a kopek more!

That's it. Please.

- You don't believe me? - Please. You're tired. I'm tired.

- I have to get some rest. - Uncle, please.

Come on. Please. You have to get some rest.

I have to get some rest. Please.

I don't like your attitude.

Uncle, please. Please. Please.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, uncle, please.

For God's sake. Uncle. Come on.

We all have to get some rest. Come on, come on.

Very well. How will you explain the mug in your fireplace?

The killers put it there.

They took the keys from the sleeping watchman,

opened the cell, killed Rook by hitting him on the table with the mug.

And after that, upon entering the office, they put the mug in the fireplace.

An obvious place, to be found right away.

- But it was found after quite a while! - I suppose they overestimated our finest.

That's enough jokes. That's enough, Yakov Platonovich.

What else don't you understand?

I compared the fingerprints on the mug with Filimonov's and Prikhodov's.

Filimonov's fingerprints are on the mug.

- Your dubious methods... - This method is absolutely precise.

It is the future of criminology.

Of course. Filimonov struck the blow that killed our Rook.

Moreover, I call your attention to the fact

that Filimonov's fingerprints are on the fireplace here.

So I dare to think that something like this happened.

Enough, enough, go. Leave us.

Yakov Platonovich...

I must admit something stupid has happened.

- But please understand, we had reasons. - I understand.

Yes, beg your pardon. I'm sorry, it must be the devil's work.

Well, I'm asking you to continue investigating these cases.

And tomorrow morning, come to me with a detailed report.

Yes, sir.

Victory, Yakov Platonovich.

It's strange, Anton Andreievich.

I must admit that when I was in between the mirrors with Anna Viktorovna,

I saw it and... and I believed it was true.

- That spirit... - And the chess game?

Anna Viktorovna could not have invented the chess moves.

She doesn't even know the rules.

That's true. Was I really playing chess with a ghost?

Yes.

Have I really been denying the obvious all this time?

Yakov Platonovich, you should really tell Anna Viktorovna about it.

She has to know that you admit she was right.

Yes, quite. You're right. And... and she's right, too.

Veritas vincit. The truth wins.

Come in.

Gentlemen, excuse me, I'll just be a minute.

Yakov Platonovich...

I just came by to say I'm sorry for...

A certain harshness of tone during our last encounters.

Nonsense. Please forgive me.

No. I insist, I was inexcusably rude.

Come on.

I'm very glad that the case ended to everyone's satisfaction.

- I feel sorry for Myshloedov. - Yes.

- But... it was fate. - Fate.

Fate, quite.

By the way, Anna too... this has been a serious trial for her.

But I gifted her a chess textbook some time ago.

- Anna Viktorovna has studied chess? - Well, I don't dare say for certain.

I haven't seen her do it.

However, Anna has this quality...

she takes in new skills imperceptibly.

It doesn't look like she studies a subject,

and then you find out she knows it.

Did I say something wrong?

- Are you studying the Sicilian defense? - No. This is a tract.

About ghosts' lives, I suppose.

Allan Kardec. The Book of Mediums. But I can see you're not in the mood.

You made me look stupid.

I don't understand.

You can't play chess, and Rook's ghost suggested all those moves to you?

Of course. But I believed in your inexplicable abilities.

Why, the Universe opened itself up to me and showed me its spiritual insides.

And I saw that apocalyptic landscape,

and realized how little I knew about the world I inhabit.

I understand. It really does scare you.

As you see, I still can't come to grips with it.

Yes, quite, you suffer. These ghosts, they pursue you.

Your gift is your curse. Do you know why you really suffer?

You just want attention.

You want to be in the center of it, make everyone gasp, "she's so mysterious!"

Yakov Platonovich!

No, you listen to me! I've listened to you enough.

What a subtle mystification. You played this game great.

And I believed that you made the right moves without knowing the rules.

But what do I found by accident? You studied chess with a textbook!

I didn't study anything.

Uncle brought me that book a long time ago!

I'd never even opened it before this!

And I'm supposed to believe you again? I don't!

Do you believe your eyes?

Apart from the chess, you saw other things.

Drafts? The windows were open!

- And the crimes? - A chain of coincidences.

Why do you do this? Why? Are you bored of life?

Do you want to see me confused, humiliated?

I'm very sorry that you should think so.

Anna Viktorovna, you... you... You are a monster.

Me? Do come on. You haven't seen the real monsters.

THE SICILIAN DEFENSE