The Death of Stalin Page #18

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Soldier shoots him too, and leaves. We hear O.S a succession

of unlocking doors, yells and double-gunshots

20 May 2016 Draft 10 94.

142 INT. KREMLIN - LARGE STAIRCASE - LATE AFTERNOON 142

KHRUSHCHEV alone, slowly making his way up the stairs. He can

hear piano music. Someone practicing. He is trying to find

the source.

CUT TO:

143 INT. KREMLIN - SMALL ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON 143

A small room full of images of Stalin, and some of Malenkov.

KHRUSHCHEV:

(holding out note)

This your work, is it?

Cut to Maria sitting as if in an interrogation, but with

piano nearby.

MARIA:

Why? Are there spelling mistakes?

KHRUSHCHEV:

(suddenly furious)

Don’t ever speak to me like that

again or I’ll break your fingers!

(waving note)

The ammunition you've given Beria.

Linking us. Me, my family. Do you

know what sort of man he is?

MARIA:

He’s releasing people from

prison...

KHRUSHCHEV:

Releasing people was my idea!

He rapes children! Did you know

that? He's murdered millions.

MARIA:

Have you?

KHRUSHCHEV:

Have I what?

MARIA:

Raped children, murdered millions?

KHRUSHCHEV:

I do not rape children!

(pauses, agitated)

I am not Beria! I have... stood up

against our enemies. I have been

relentless in my defence of the

nation and the party. And I have

hated doing what I had to do.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 95.

(MORE)

Hated it. But Beria loves every

minute. I'm the reformer, not him!

(trying to calm down)

Why did you write that note?

MARIA:

Stalin killed my parents, my

friends, Zinaida Reich,

Kuperchinski.

KHRUSHCHEV:

You were friends with Kuperchinski?

Christ! Anyone else?!

He's furious. Maria tries to hide her fear.

MARIA:

I don't know. Rovik perhaps? We

were friends.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Rovik?! How the f*** are you even

still alive?

MARIA:

Comrade. Nikita Sergeyevich, you

know me, I...

KHRUSHCHEV:

No I don’t know you. Don’t say I

know you. But now Beria ties me to

you, and you know how this works.

They kill your parents, then your

sister. And brother. And

friends....

MARIA:

Yes. I know how you all work.

For a beat it feels like Khrushchev might slap her.

144 INT. BERIA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT/EARLY EVENING 144

Sparsely furnished. Vasily in vest and military trousers,

practising his speech. Svetlana sits on the bed.

VASILY:

My father was a warm and mighty

bear...

SVETLANA:

He was. He WAS...

VASILY:

That bear now lies cold. We, 170

million cubs, his weeping orphans.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 96.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT'D)

(MORE)

Russian cubs, Georgian cubs,

Armenian cubs. Lithuanian cubs...

SVETLANA:

Do you list every nation?

VASILY:

Should I not?

There's a knock on the door. Beria comes in.

BERIA:

How’s my precious guest?

Vasily looks at him flatly, clearly still mistrustful.

SVETLANA:

Thank you for looking after him.

BERIA:

Of course.

(offers him a hip flask)

I brought you something to calm

your nerves.

Vasily hesitates. Beria takes a swig.

BERIA (CONT’D)

Vasily, I'm your godfather. I would

never poison you. I'd arrange a

plane crash or something.

(he laughs, they don't)

VASILY:

Your jokes are always so..

clenched.

Svetlana takes the flask from Vasily, gives it back to Beria.

Vasily’s about to protest but Svetlana’s firm.

SVETLANA:

(to Vasily, at Beria)

We agreed we would be presentable

at the reception.

Vasily sulkily agrees.

VASILY:

I hate being sober. It’s a

terrible, terrible mood to be in.

She kisses him and leaves with Beria, who’s impressed.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 97.

VASILY (CONT'D)

145 INT. BERIA'S HOUSE - CORRIDOR - NIGHT/EARLY EVENING 145

(CONTINUOUS)

Beria and Svetlana come out of the room and shut the door.

They walk away, leaving an NKVD MAN on guard.

BERIA:

(indicates speech)

Going to “reaffirm” your father’s

contract with the people. New

rights. New liberties...

SVETLANA:

Why does everything have to be

“new”?

They go through into...

146 INT. BERIA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT/EARLY EVENING 146

(CONTINUOUS)

A comfortable living room – the nicest we've seen. Fireplace,

rug, souvenirs and gifts all over. On a table, a massive file

is open.

SVETLANA:

...”new” potatoes...”new” Spring

Fashions...”new”...

Beria hands Svetlana a long, long list from the file,

indicates an entry.

BERIA:

Yuri's dead. March 15th, 1949.

Attempted escape from Kolyma with

twelve others. Executed. I’m

Sorry...

Svetlana bursts into tears, crumples.

SVETLANA:

But... you said you'd bring him

back. You...

BERIA:

It wasn't possible...

SVETLANA:

You lied to me!...

BERIA:

It was outside my jurisdiction.

He indicates the list.

Vasily suddenly enters the room, looking for the flask.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 98.

VASILY:

My mind’s going everywhere, like a

million clarinets! I need...

He’s spotted the flask. Svetlana, furious, grabs it as Beria

silently signals to the NKVD Man to escort Vasily back into

the room and lock the door. Vasily miserably complies.

SVETLANA:

(ignoring Vasily, and

reading the letter)

Signed by the entire Committee.

BERIA:

(tenderly)

Sit down, Svetlana.

SVETLANA:

I’d prefer to...

BERIA:

(kind, forceful)

Sit down.

Svetlana refuses. She’s angry, scared, defiant, pacing.

BERIA (CONT’D)

We had to do some terrible things

for the Union. Your father said:

Always look in the distance, never

at the mud and blood at your feet.

But, Svetlana, if Yuri were alive

today I’d be releasing him.

SVETLANA:

So you’re saying, all that...

(indicates list)

...killing was wrong.

BERIA:

(impatient)

Many lies were told. Evidence was

fabricated. Those responsible will

be found and...

SVETLANA:

Shot? This killing machine is never

going to stop, is it?

BERIA:

Grow up, Svetlana! The world out

there is full of dangerous men in

uniforms and dinner suits. I’m

offering you and that...gabbling

bowl of moonshine my protection.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 99.

SVETLANA:

We are not children!

(rethinks)

I am not a child!

BERIA:

Oh you are. And I warn you,

Svetlana. Stay by my side. Or

you’ll both be beaten inside out

and strung up for the crows. By the

others.

SVETLANA:

Why should I trust you?

BERIA:

Because I’m the only one who’s

telling you - trust no-one else.

SVETLANA:

Can I keep this?

BERIA:

Of course. Svetlana, I am so very

sorry.

SVETLANA:

You’re just like my father.

She kisses him tenderly on the cheek and leaves.

He goes to a hidden DOOR and unlocks it. Goes up some dark

and dusty stairs, to a small room. We see a mattress, a vase

with flowers, and an awkward teenage girl, crying.

He smiles at her.

BERIA:

Oh no. I’m here to cheer you up...

147 INT. KREMLIN RECEPTION - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT 147

A wall of noise. And bodies. It's the end of a dinner. The

dignitaries have broken into groups to smoke, drink and chat.

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