The Death of Stalin Page #5

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(very nervous)

S...s...limonov, sir.

BERIA:

S...s..limonov. Be here when I

g..g..get back.

Beria leaves.

52 INT./EXT. LUBYANKA - CORRIDOR/BACK YARD - DAY (CONTINUOUS) 52

Beria walks through the Lubyanka corridors with his second-incommand,

KOBULOV.

In the background we see a man being carried by two NKVD,

tied to a heavy wooden log.

KOBULOV:

Abramovsky is close. But weak.

(off Beria’s look)

Tomorrow, maybe.

BERIA:

Have his wife moved into the next

cell. Work on her until he talks.

Make it...noisy.

In the background, the man and log are tossed down some

stairs. We can only vaguely make it out, but enough to know.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 22.

KOBULOV:

If he doesn’t...

They go up some stairs. A GUARD brings something for Beria to

sign. He signs.

BERIA:

He talks, he doesn’t talk. It ends

the same way. Shame. Mrs Abramovsky

has been MOST co-operative so

far...

53 INT. LUBYANKA - FRONT RECEPTION - DAY (CONTINUOUS) 53

They walk to the front doors.

KOBULOV:

(chuckling)

Very loyal. Some women will do

ANYTHING to get their husbands

released.

BERIA:

(fondly)

Yes. And she did ‘everything’. God

bless the Union for bringing me so

many devoted wives who go like

sewing machines.

CUT TO:

54 EXT. LUBYANKA - FRONT OF BUILDING - DAY (CONTINUOUS) 54

They’ve reached Beria’s car. Khrustalyov holds the door for

him and he gets in.

BERIA:

How’s married life?

KOBULOV:

Very good, Comrade Be...

BERIA:

Watch that wife of yours. They can

all go astray, you know.

(to driver)

To his dacha.

The limo drives off, as a van pulls up behind.

55 INT. KHRUSHCHEV'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - DAY 55

A kitchen in a modern apartment. Khrushchev is in his

pyjamas, hungover, reading Nina the notes she made.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 23.

KHRUSHCHEV:

“Grenade funny Beria tomato pocket

funny slippers question mark.”

Jesus, Nina, is this code?

NINA:

You woke me up to slur this

nonsense and it’s MY fault?

KHRUSHCHEV:

“Molotov C-H-H-H-H...”. Holy Hell,

was I actually f***ing SNORING

there?

She does the throat mime.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

(looking out of the

window)

Oh God, yes. Beria. He...

Below in the courtyard Malenkov is seen hurriedly leaving.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

Something's happened.

The phone starts ringing.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

(on phone)

Hello.... When did it..?

(to Nina)

Trousers!

(on phone)

I’ll be there faster than a

speeding bullet!

Nina helps him haul his trousers (from the same suit as the

previous day) over his pyjamas.

56 EXT. STALIN’S DACHA - PERIMETER GATE - DAY 56

The front gate is opened. Beria's car sweeps through.

57 EXT./INT. FRONT OF BUILDING/BERIA'S CAR - DAY 57

Beria’s car drives up to the building. He gets out. Soldiers

salute him as he enters the building, confident, determined.

58 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - HALLWAY - DAY 58

The Sergeant and soldier snap to attention, suppressing fear.

BERIA:

Were you on duty when he was found?

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SERGEANT:

Yes, sir.

BERIA:

No-one is to come in, understood?

SERGEANT:

Yes, sir.

BERIA:

Remain at your stations.

The younger soldier is struggling to hold himself together.

Beria goes inside and shuts the door.

59 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - OFFICE - DAY 59

Behind the door we hear a whimper as the soldier panics.

SOLDIER (O.S)

Oh God...

Stalin is still on the floor. Matryona is stroking his hair.

MATRYONA:

They told me not to get a doctor.

BERIA:

You did well, Matryona Petrovna.

The Central Committee will handle

things now.

MATRYONA:

So you will get a doctor?

BERIA:

I AM the doctor. I'll see to

everything.

She gets up and goes. He watches her shut the door, turns

back to Stalin.

BERIA (CONT’D)

It smells like a Baku pisshouse in

here. Greetings, by the way.

He kneels down, tries to reach into Stalin's trouser pocket

but it's soaked with urine. He hesitates then goes for it.

He pulls out a key and wipes his hand on a handkerchief.

Beria sees Maria's note, reads it and pockets it.

60 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - SMALL ROOM - DAY 60

Beria heads into an adjoining smaller private room.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 25.

He unlocks a drawer with Stalin's key. He takes out a set of

keys, heads to a bookcase, opening it to reveal a safe.

He opens the safe and removes a pile of folders. He closes

the safe, locks it, and returns the keys to the desk drawer.

He pulls out a few files and then heads to the window with

the rest. He can't open it. It's jammed shut.

He pulls up his trouser leg to reveal a knife in a sheath

strapped to his calf. He tries cutting at the dried paint

round the edge of the frame. The top half comes down a

fraction, leaving a gap at the top.

Beria taps the window to attract Khrustalyov's attention and

gestures for him to come over.

He drags over Stalin's rickety chair and clambers onto it.

61 EXT. STALIN'S DACHA - FRONT OF BUILDING - DAY 61

With Khrustalyov. Beria shout-whispers through the window.

BERIA:

Khrustalyov! Khrustalyov!

Khrustalyov hears him and rushes over.

62 INT./EXT. STALIN'S DACHA - SMALL ROOM/FRONT OF BUILDING - D6A2Y

Beria perched on the arms of the chair. He waves for

Khrustalyov to get higher.

Khrustalyov clambers onto the ledge as Beria feeds the

documents through the window.

Beria wobbles, falls back a little but averts disaster by

pulling at the curtain. Khrustalyov can’t suppress a smile.

BERIA:

Take the papers you blockhead. Or

I’ll cut your eyes out one at a

time, so you can watch it

happening.

63 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - OFFICE - DAY 63

Beria throws the remaining papers into the stove. Phew. Sits

in Stalin's chair - nice. Luxuriates in it.

A KNOCK. Beria quickly kneels by Stalin, taking his hand.

BERIA:

Come in.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 26.

He realises the hand is covered in piss but has to keep hold.

Malenkov walks in.

MALENKOV:

Is that... I’m guessing that’s....

He rushes over and kneels in the urine. He springs back up.

BERIA:

Yes. He’s feeling unwell. Clearly.

MALENKOV:

Oh God, he’s irreplaceable. How can

we possibly... is he still...?

Malenkov indicates “alive?”. Beria nods.

MALENKOV (CONT’D)

As Deputy General Secretary I must

now take his place, and...

BERIA:

"Take his place." But you just said

he's irreplaceable.

MALENKOV:

“Take his place” as in “assemble

the Central Committee”. Of course.

BERIA:

Good. I was testing you. Get used

to that sort of challenge.

(indicates Stalin)

What next, Boss?

MALENKOV:

Well... This is a medical decision.

We should get a doctor.

BERIA:

If only we hadn’t put away all

those highly competent doctors. For

treason. You remember.

MALENKOV:

(uncomfortable)

I do. They were plotting to poison

him...

BERIA:

That’s right. You collected the

evidence...

MALENKOV:

Yes I did.

(a beat)

Are you still testing me?

20 May 2016 Draft 10 27.

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