The Death of Stalin Page #12

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Looks like factionalism to me.

Khrushchev grabs a spoonful of stew and stands at the window

theatrically eating it.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Tastes like lamb stroganoff to me.

Khrushchev hangs up.

MALENKOV:

Listen, I'm acting secretary

general and I'm – oh, he's gone.

MIKOYAN:

Jesus, squeal any higher and you'll

burst your hymen.

MALENKOV:

They’re being factional

MIKOYAN:

So are we.

MALENKOV:

I’m Acting General Secretary. How

can I be plotting against myself?

Khrushchev closes the blinds.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 60.

BULGANIN (CONT'D)

KHRUSHCHEV:

On the committee it’s you, me,

Kaganovich. Three against three.

But there’s also Molotov.

BULGANIN:

But he’s on the...

(mimes “headshot”)

...list.

KHRUSHCHEV:

We tell him - Beria put him there.

Beria killed his wife. Molotov’s

revenge gets us FOUR.

Khrushchev goes through to another room, and peers outside

through a window. His POV: in a different block to

Malenkov's, Molotov stares out of his window, grief-stricken.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

(epiphany)

He’s at home. I’d better get over

there before Beria and his sausagefaced

clowns do....

The washing machine stops again.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

(furious, to the machine)

You piece of metal sh*t!

(to Bulganin)

Look after the food...

He rushes off, full of urgency.

BULGANIN:

What do I do? Add salt, right?

That's what people who can cook do.

We hear Khrushchev shouting back as he goes.

KHRUSHCHEV (O.S.)

Recipe book's under the sink!

100 EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK - COURTYARD - EARLY EVENING 100

Khrushchev hurries down the stairs, out across the courtyard

to Molotov's stairwell opposite. The elevator’s at the second

floor and rising. He's out of breath but he’s on a mission.

He takes the stairs.

101 INT. LUBYANKA PRISON - CELL - EARLY EVENING 101

Prisoner POV of Beria's face. He's close again. Too close.

He's quietly singing a traditional Russian folk song.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 61.

BERIA:

"In a field a birch tree stood..."

No? Come, your voice was once so

beautiful, Paulina Molitova.

He clicks his fingers, “remembers”.

BERIA (CONT’D)

Oh yes. Meant to say. Stalin's

dead!

We open up to reveal a woman - POLINA - in her late 50s, sat

in a tiny, barren cell. She looks haggard, wrecked.

POLINA:

(shocked)

No! Our Stalin?

BERIA:

Yes, “your” Stalin. The one who put

you here.

The waitress and an NKVD GUARD are also in the cell.

Beria hauls Polina up. She doesn't resist.

BERIA (CONT’D)

Come! Let's smarten you up.

(to waitress)

Sorry, darling. Work. I’ll make it

up to you.

(to guard)

Fetch the mattress and have her

washed.

He walks Polina out while Ilyin and another NKVD Man bring in

flowers, a rug and a jug.

102 INT. LUBYANKA PRISON - CORRIDOR - EARLY EVENING 102

Beria leads Polina down a corridor.

An NKVD GUARD comes the other way, with Slimonov, handcuffed.

BERIA:

S...s...limonov, isn't it?

SLIMONOV:

Yes, sir.

BERIA:

F..f..f..farewell, Slimonov!

Slimonov is led away.

CUT TO:

20 May 2016 Draft 10 62.

103 INT. APARTMENT BLOCK - STAIRWELL - EARLY EVENING 103

Khrushchev wheezes up three flights, pausing for breath

before disappearing onto Molotov's landing.

104 INT. APARTMENT BLOCK - LANDING - EARLY EVENING 104

Khrushchev, exhausted and sweaty, reaches Molotov's door and

knocks. He tries to compose himself but looks quite ill.

Molotov opens the door. He's been crying. Khrushchev barrels

through, pulling Molotov with him.

MOLOTOV:

Christ, you look like you’re about

to be bulldozed into a lime pit.

105 INT. MOLOTOV'S APARTMENT - TOILET - EARLY EVENING 105

A few moments later. Khrushchev is over the toilet bowl.

Molotov is stood behind him.

MOLOTOV:

Do you want me to hold back your

hair? Polina always used to do that

for me.

KHRUSHCHEV:

I... wanted to invite you to

tomorrow's committee meeting...

MOLOTOV:

(snaps back)

Why wouldn't I be at the meeting?

Khrushchev flushes.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Beria and Stalin put you on a list.

MOLOTOV:

(shocked, hurt)

Stalin? I must have wronged him so

badly...

KHRUSHCHEV:

Are you cracked? Beria wanted you

out. But listen. We can honour his

legacy by making sure Beria

doesn’t...

MOLOTOV:

Oh! No, no, no. This sounds like

factionalism, Nicky. Stalin didn’t

like...

20 May 2016 Draft 10 63.

KHRUSHCHEV:

(loses it)

Stalin's dead. It's over. We have

to act.

MOLOTOV:

(crying)

I can’t believe he’s gone...

Khrushchev tries to flush the toilet again. The cistern

hasn't filled up yet. He tries a couple more times.

MOLOTOV (CONT’D)

It takes a while to...

Khrushchev gives up, keeps his voice down instead.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Come on. That f***ing slug Beria

had your wife killed. He can’t be

trusted...

106 INT. MOLOTOV'S APARTMENT - TOILET/CORRIDOR - EARLY EVENING106

Molotov and Khrushchev walk back towards the living room.

MOLOTOV:

She betrayed Stalin and she

betrayed me.

BERIA (O.S.)

Housekeeping!

107 INT. MOLOTOV'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - EARLY EVENING 107

Molotov and Khrushchev come through into the living room to

find Beria. Everyone's surprised.

BERIA/KHRUSHCHEV/MOLOTOV

(at the same time)

What are you doing here?

KHRUSHCHEV:

We were just chatting about Polina.

BERIA:

Well, would you believe it?..

MOLOTOV:

The treacherous b*tch.

BERIA:

...or:
a wronged woman who was

framed.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 64.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Come on, Stalin found her guilty!

She collaborated with the zionists.

Polina's at the doorway. Only Beria can see her. This is not

going to plan.

MOLOTOV:

She was a criminal. I’m glad she’s

dead...

Molotov notices her in the doorway. They look at each other.

The barriers drop - it's clear he still loves her.

KHRUSHCHEV:

(hasn't seen her yet)

She plotted to poison Stalin...

He sees Molotov heading towards Polina. He can't believe it.

MOLOTOV:

Is it really you?

POLINA:

(full of love)

I'm back, Vyacheslav.

They hug, emotional. Beria enjoys it. Khrushchev tries to dig

himself out of his hole.

KHRUSHCHEV:

But the evidence was flimsy. No

witnesses, no corroboration...

No...

Khrushchev gives up. Beria puts his arm round Molotov and

Polina. It becomes a group hug.

BERIA:

(to Molotov)

I kept her safe. For you,

Vyacheslav.

(to Polina)

And I kept HIM safe. For you,

Polina.

Beria throws a victorious glance at Khrushchev. Molotov

breaks down, overwhelmed.

Khrushchev tentatively joins the group hug.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Well done. Well done, everyone.

CUT TO:

20 May 2016 Draft 10 65.

108 INT. LUBYANKA - CELL - NIGHT 108

MUSIC:
RACHMANINOFF 'HAIL, O VIRGIN MOTHER' FROM 'VESPERS'

OP.37

The young waitress from the dacha hunches on the bed of the

spruced up cell. The door opens. Beria is there with flowers.

BERIA:

Hello, my sweet.

He moves to the table, where a bottle of wine has been

uncorked. He sniffs it lasciviously, eyeing her legs.

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