The Death of Stalin Page #9

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present me with your cold vagina?

How shockingly, shockingly

inappropriate, Lidiya.

She's surprised, shaken, but tries not to show it.

BERIA (CONT’D)

Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be

thoroughly “seen to” later...

A horrible, courteous smile. He indicates “go”. She leaves.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 44.

77 INT/EXT. STALIN'S DACHA - HALLWAYS/FRONT OF BUILDING/GROUND7S7 -

DAY:

Lidiya walks downstairs and out the building. Two NKVD

Officers with documents look up at her. More trucks arriving.

All exits routes blocked. We see a GUARD recognise her name

on a list. Lidiya runs in panic into the woods. We go with

her. Beria watches from the front of the dacha.

An EXPLOSION. Guards cock their guns. Bulganin rushes out.

BULGANIN:

A mine? Are we being attacked?

BERIA:

(shrugs)

Perhaps an animal.

(to an NKVD Officer)

You have your orders.

He turns and goes back inside.

78 INT./EXT - VASILY'S LIMOUSINE - DAY 78

Vasily's limo drives through the countryside.

Vasily sits between the NKVD officers in the back, drinking.

No-one says anything. Then...

VASILY:

Do either of you play hockey?

79 INT. KREMLIN - STALIN'S OFFICE - DAY 79

The room is big and spartan. Simple furniture, wall maps. An

outsized chess set. The lights are on.

The locked door CRACKS as an NKVD OFFICER forces entry. A

SENIOR NKVD OFFICER enters, switches off the light.

80 EXT. RED SQUARE - DAY 80

From across the square, we see the light go out.

81 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - OFFICE - DAY 81

KHRUSHCHEV steps in. It's dark; the curtains are shut.

He checks the safe: it's locked. He looks on the desk, opens

a couple of drawers.

SVETLANA (O.S.)

I have every right to be here!

20 May 2016 Draft 10 45.

Khrushchev jumps. He didn't see Svetlana sat in the darkness.

KHRUSHCHEV:

(Thinking of an excuse)

Your father kept some excellent

vodka here.

SVETLANA:

And Vasily probably drank it. Oh,

Nikita. Who can I turn to now? Mama

killed herself, Papa’s dying,

Vasily’s...

KHRUSHCHEV:

(relieved)

Yes! I was also looking for you to

tell you that I’ve sent for Vasily!

He's not sure whether to put a comforting hand on her or not.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

I'm here. No matter what happens,

I'll make sure no harm comes to you

or your brother.

SVETLANA:

Who said anything about harm? Did

someone tell you we’re in danger?

Tell me!

KHRUSHCHEV:

I didn't mean...

SVETLANA:

(panicky/angry)

Who wishes harm on me?

KHRUSHCHEV:

Nobody. Nobody. Anyway, they’d have

to get past ME.

SVETLANA:

People would harm the children of

Stalin? Even though he’s...

She loses it. A gush of tears. Khrushchev hesitates, settles

for an awkward, comradely grip on her shoulders.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Your father can never die. Stalin

is you, Stalin is me, Stalin is the

Union.. so cannot die!

SVETLANA:

What are you saying? He’s dying.

KHRUSHCHEV:

He is dying...

20 May 2016 Draft 10 46.

He casts his eyes down, spots a bottle, grabs it.

KHRUSHCHEV (CONT’D)

Svetlana, just...be strong. And...

(out of platitudes)

Try not to be afraid.

SVETLANA:

I wish I knew what not to be afraid

of.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Nothing. Trust me.

An awkward double-fisted “be strong” sign. He hurries out.

CUT TO:

82 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - DINING ROOM/BEDROOM - DAY 82

A vast buffet is added to by a CHEF covered in medals. There

are empty vodka bottles everywhere. Smoke hangs in the air.

Beria is idly playing billiards, watching a YOUNG WAITRESS.

He whistles her over, takes a large tomato from her plate. He

bites into it, keeping eye contact. Juice runs down his chin.

Kaganovich is near the bed, drinking. Mikoyan’s on the other

side of the room with Malenkov, whose hair is over-groomed.

MIKOYAN:

You had your hair f***ing embalmed

or something?

MALENKOV:

F*** you. There'll be a lot of

photos. I can’t let him or the

Party down.

Khrushchev walks in with the vodka, annoyed with himself.

He goes to the bed and tries to take part of Stalin's hand.

There are only fingers left; Kaganovich is holding the rest.

KAGANOVICH:

(quietly)

Did you speak to Svetlana?

KHRUSHCHEV:

(indicates bottle)

Went very well. She gave me this.

(off Kaganovich’s look)

A good sign. Vodka’s ALWAYS a good

sign.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 47.

KAGANOVICH:

You’re right. Beria’s taking over.

Another 9 NKVD divisions in Moscow.

More on the way. Army’s out.

KHRUSHCHEV:

He's moving fast.

Bulganin comes in.

BULGANIN:

Got to unload to reload.

KHRUSHCHEV:

You have the bladder of a sparrow.

BULGANIN:

But the penis of a horse.

Nobody laughs. Mikoyan has joined Beria.

MIKOYAN:

(to Bulganin)

You ARE the penis of a horse.

(to Beria)

Tough old bastard. Thought he’d

just kick Death in the balls.

Beria puts a reassuring arm round Mikoyan's waist.

BERIA:

My friend.

Mikoyan pulls a crushed tomato from his jacket pocket. He

looks angry, volatile.

MIKOYAN:

Piss and tomato AND Stalin dying.

This is a nightmare.

Beria’s about to apologise. Mikoyan waves it away, heads out.

Lukomsky enters with two other doctors, who wheel a hefty

piece of equipment with a very squeaky wheel.

MALENKOV:

Who ordered the Wurlitzer?

LUKOMSKY:

It's... it's a respirator...

American...

KAGANOVICH:

(gobsmacked)

You brought a capitalist machine...

in here?

20 May 2016 Draft 10 48.

DOCTOR:

He brought it. It's from his

hospital!...

LUKOMSKY:

It was his idea...

Khrushchev joins Beria and Malenkov while Kaganovich berates

the doctors.

KHRUSHCHEV:

So, you had time at your

hairdresser’s to mobilise the NKVD?

MALENKOV:

What?

BERIA:

I did it. Look, people will need...

(makes fist)

...reassurance.

KHRUSHCHEV:

So why switch the lights off in

Stalin's office at the Kremlin?

BERIA:

What?

MALENKOV:

Ah... I know what happened. I asked

for the place to be secured, and

the dolts have turned the lights

off.

KHRUSHCHEV:

Why not tether an airship above Red

Square with “HE’S DEAD” painted on

it?

KAGANOVICH:

Take this Uncle Sam sh*t away!

(unplugs the machine)

SVETLANA:

He can't breathe!..

Svetlana grabs the plug and puts it back in.

BERIA:

(puts cigarette in his

mouth)

It's a good thing he can breathe.

We're all agreed on that.

Malenkov checks no-one is looking and quickly heads out.

20 May 2016 Draft 10 49.

83 EXT. RED SQUARE - SQUARE IN FRONT OF STALIN'S OFFICE - DAY 83

The same long shot as before. This time the light turns on.

84 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - HALLWAY - DAY 84

Later. Beria is having a cigarette in the hallway. Suddenly

there are cheers from inside the room.

85 INT. STALIN'S DACHA - BEDROOM - DAY 85

Beria hurries in. The committee and Svetlana are around the

bed, weeping, laughing, holding Stalin's hand.

KAGANOVICH:

A miracle! Stalin is invincible!

MALENKOV:

The Man Of Steel! He lives!

MIKOYAN:

The Boss is back!

BERIA:

What? What's happened?

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