- Run! - Leave it, Listvitsky, you'll just make things worse...
SHOUTING IN FRENCH
- Go home...
- Allah is gracious, Anwar-effendi. Welcome to Vidin.
There's blood on your sleeve. Have you injured yourself?
- I had to kill a Russian prisoner. He had seen my face. I can't take risks. The stakes are too high.
Destroy the plate now! - Don't you worry. Right this moment. Everything will be done.
Bring the photoplate into my study. I'll destroy it personally.
Please, come into the house, Anwar-effendi. Everything had been prepared as you wished.
- E2-E4... - Will you not take a look at the board again? E7-E5...
- G2-G3...
- You are sacrificing the pawn, Effendi. But the laws of hospitality do not permit me to take advantage of your negligence.
- Yusuf-pasha, the game of chess is like the game of war. And no laws are applicable to war... Make your move, the pawn is yours.
- Where are the sentries?
- Please meet Colonel Ismail-bey, the personal aide-de-camp of Field-Marshal Osman-pasha...
- I'm not familiar with details of your mission, but you are a legendary man.
- I think I'll take your pawn anyway...
- Well now... You must make this move, I'll make another... You move here - it's the only option you have.
And that's it, Honorable Yusuf-pasha, your game is lost. And all because of a tiny pawn.
It's called 'gambit' - sacrificing the unimportant to gain initiative. I'll do same to Russians.
Tomorrow Osman-pasha will capture Pleven and flank the Russian troops.
Russians will attack Pleven and will be stuck there for a long time. The offensive will be stopped.
- Of course, when Anwar-effendi himself takes matters in hands there's no need to worry.
However, Effendi, it's time to pray. Please proceed to this room - it's windows face Mecca.
TURKISH GAMBIT
FANDORIN (thinking): - July the 2nd?... Well, it's today...
Osman-pasha flanks the Russian army and captures Pleven...
Russians will move towards Pleven and will be stuck there for an indefinite time - the offensive will be stopped...
It's called 'gambit' - sacrificing the unimportant to gain initiative...
It's no less than 160 km from Vidin to Pleven...
Damn... Time to hurry...
- I told you it's a girl in disguise...
- She's with me. Take this...
Mademoiselle, mademoiselle... You should have waited for your fiancé back home.
It's no Mayne Reid novel. The place is swarming with bashi-bazouks.
- But how?.. I mean, who told you...
- No suntan - it's one. I can see the hair from under your hat - it's t-two.
Why would a Russian lady want to try get secretly into the army? Romantic considerations. That's t-three.
The man with mustache that accompanied you and then disappeared - was he your g-guide?
- Yes. - And you naturally left all your possessions with him?
- Yes. - Pretty stupid. That's four.
- Who are you? Where are you from? - Erast Petrovich Fandorin. A Serbian volunteer. I have escaped from Turks.
- Varya... Suvorova Varvara Andreyevna. Nice to meet you.
- What am I to do with you Varvara Andreyevna Suvorova?
We need one more means of transportation...
- I need a donkey. - 10 lira... - I don't have any money...
- Where's the donkey? - One more time! - Donkey!
- I said, one more time!
White ears, red saddle.
- White ears, red saddle. Alright... - You won the beast, didn't you? What's in your pocket? A revolver, yes?
- Unfortunately, my pocket is empty. - And what if you haven't scared him off - that one with a bad eye?
- I never gamble with a person who can't be scared...
- But you had no money. What did you gamble on? - You.
- ME?! You... you are an dishonorable rascal!
- I never lose when I gamble. That's why I don't gamble at all. No fun...
- Snob!.. Arrogant snob!..
- You're comfortable? Use my robe. - Don't you dare intruding my privacy!!!
If you think you are Don Quixote, I'm no Sancha Panza. Give this mule to me!
Look at me, when a lady is talking to you!!!
- Get on the donkey. - The hell I will!
- Get on! - Over my dead body!
- Too late. They've spotted us. - Who are they?
- Bashi-bazouks.
- Those who cut heads off? RUN...
- Too late! Stay quiet... Let's pretend we are simple peasants - no sport for them.
- What's going to happen? Are we in trouble? Will they kill us? - They won't if you keep silent. Low down your head...
- Get on the donkey. Let's move. - Have you seen it? Have you?
- Yes, I've seen, they have a Russian officer - We'll tell this to the nearest patrol.
- I mean the head! - Get on the donkey! Quiet!
- Ouch!!! - QIET!!!
- Mother... Mother...
- Yes! A girl!!! - Look, sir, a golden medallion. With rubies...
- Rubies?
- Get on. Quick, I beg you...
Come on. Come on. Come on... Please, quicker. They are catching up on us.
- Shoot, shoot! What's wrong? - The gun is unloaded.
- Sabres ready! Follow me!
- They've got our officer!
- Are you Chetniks? I'd like to ask you a couple of questions.
My name is Seumas McLaughlin, I work for The Daily Post.
- We are Russian. My name's Erast Fandorin, and my companion is M-mademoiselle Suvorova.
- A lady... - I'm traveling to find my fiancé. He serves at the HQ.
- Have you watched my kill? Like a lightning, eh?.. - True.
- Who's the gentleman with a hat? - Monsieur d'Hevrais, he works for La Revue Parisienne, a star among French reporters.
The gentleman in white is Michel Soboleff - a great warrior. He's been dispatched to HQ. And is truly bored without action.
Charles and I are interested in everything. This is our first day at the front.
- Got away, sons of whores! Nice horses they have! Turkish fucks!
- General, there are ladies in presence... - Where?
- Let me introduce Madame Suvorova. She is secretly heading to her fiancé at the camp.
- Mademoiselle...
- I am Charles d'Hevrais, a reporter. There's blood on your face.
Here. That's better.
- How's the Captain? Dead? - Looks dead to me...
- Hold on. "Looks dead, looks dead"... Moron...
Just a scratch... You are lucky, Captain. Here, have a drink...
- Captain Perepelkin. Service of Supplies and Maintenance. Your Excellency, at you service forever!
I thought we were deep within our own territory... - You are stupid to ride alone. Get his wounds bandaged.
Halt! Tie him up. While he' still unconscious.
- Your Excellency... - And who are you?
Romaev, get me some water... - Titular Counselor Fandorin. I've escaped from t-the Turks.
I have information of utmost importance and s-secrecy. - What kind of information?
- General, could we talk in private?.. - Nonsense. Speak.
- It's vital you occupy Pleven. Osman-pasha's corps is moving there.
- What is he doing in that rat hole? - I can tell this only at the HQ, General. Time is s-slipping away...
- Everyone's alive? - Your Excellency, looks like we found Semenov of the 2nd Cossack Company.
- Time to hurry, General. - Wait a second. Take fifty men and get to Pleven. Take a look what's going on there.
- Yes, sir. - Take this bird to the counter-intelligence department. Titular Counselor, my ass...
- General! What can fifty men do against an army corps?
- Doesn't look like Semenov to me? Semenov had a snubbed nose. - See, the nose... the birthmark... the missing tooth...
- Hey, mademoiselle... Mademoiselle...
- Warrant Officer, have you passed my message on? Time's running out. One more hour and it's too late!
- Tell me, the man who called himself a "titular counselor"... - Fandorin.
- Yes. Did he talk to bashi-bazouks in Turkish? - Yes. He was a Turkish prisoner for 8 months...
- I don't give a damn what kind of lies he told you! How did speak Turkish? Fluently?
- I can't remember! Perhaps not. He stammers a lot.
- I'll cross-interview you both. Sit quiet. Not a sound. Or you'll be sharing the basement with rats.
Officer on duty! Bring the prisoner in.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kazanzaki of the Gendarmes Corps. Head of the Counter-Intelligence Unit.
Arrived yesterday. Entered my duties immediately.
- WHERE IS HE?! - Who, Your Excellency?
- The person calling himself a "titular counselor". Fandorin. Where is he? - Everything is in my dispatch.
- Good day, Lavrentiy Arkadyevich! - Fandorin! Nice to see you, Erast Petrovich!
- Come on, son, open the hatch. MOVE! - Have you sent troops to Pleven?
- Here's the order. I just wanted to make sure it was you. - I beg you, for Christ's sake, hurry up!
- Encrypt immediately and send it to General Kruedener's HQ via the field telegraph. Move! - Yes, sir.
- Rumors are you were killed in Serbia... Let me give you a hug, my friend...
- Yablokov! Encrypt this. ASAP!
By the way, someone wants to see you... - Who? - Your bride... Well... Doesn't matter... Execute orders!
Hurry up, Yablokov! What's taking you so long?.. - Cryptogram # 3456...
- Have you seen him? - No.
- Too bad... Too bad... The worst thing is that we lack even his general description.
You know, Fandorin, I have a bad feeling. This war has started out too smoothly.
- Yablokov! - Luntz!
- Look, Yablokov... I have a message for you. - Oh my God... Varenka...
- Bless you, Varvara Andreyevna. - Who's there?
- Please meet Mademoiselle Suvorova. She came here to find her fiancé. All dressed up and camouflaged.
- How do you do. - How do you do... What fiancé?
What have you heard, miss? She heard everything! And it's totally classified!
I have to apologize, but due to state security considerations
you have to spend the rest of the campaign under home arrest.
- But I haven't even seen Petya. - What? You'll see Petya after the war is over. Officer!
- I think it's enough to ask Varvara Andreyevna to give her word of honor.
- I swear, not a word to anyone! - Under my responsibility.
- Erast Petrovich, we can't take risks. Can we trust a girl?
You know: "Long hair, small brain".
- That was mean! - Lavrentiy Arkadyevich, I need an aid, male or female. Doesn't matter.
- There's Pleven... Everything is silent and calm...
- Varya... Varenka... I knew you'd come! - Jesus, you look awful!
"Marlborough has gone to the war..." - And you look like Gavroche.
"A cruise around the globe is nothing compared to the trip we take together."
"My love for you is adoration.. My home is wherever you are."
Alright, I'll see tonight you at the reporters' club. It's fun. - Petya, my love, I don't have...
- I knew you'd come! - ...any money... Petya, where can I wash...wash up?
SPEAKING FRENCH
- Don't pay attention, it's alright... please come in...
- Romanian nobility is one of the oldest in Europe...
- Your Excellency, please let me stay with you...
- D6, check. - It's mate. - What did you expect?
- Your Excellency, you won't regret. With my honor and life... I swear!
- Perepelkin, get lost. You're the HQ type. Why would I need someone like you?
- Congratulations, Michel, with your new commanding post. You're your own boss now.
- Ladies and gentlemen... This is my bride.
- Varvara Andreyevna... Varvara Andreyevna.
- Put out the lamps - we don't need them anymore. Sun has risen!
- Bishop moves to F4. What, you didn't expect?..
- Mademoiselle, let me introduce myself, Colonel Mikhai Lukan, Romanian Army. - Varya. Oh...
Come on, I'm not the Pope to have my hands kissed.
- How do you do, General... - Damn... It's... It's you?.. You!
- Monsieur d'Hevrais, didn't you recognize me? - With difficulty, Madam. You looked terrific in boy's disguise as well.
But this dress... - There's a professional dress-maker among the nurses...
- General, sir... - Cut it... Gentlemen, me and Varvara...
- Andreyevna. - I can remember her name without your help...
...are old acquaintances... - May I invite you to the Romanian camp?.. It's much more fun over there.
- Mademoiselle, I'd be enchanted, if you'd call me simply Charles.
- Just call me Michel. - Your Excellency! You'll need your own HQ.
- It wasn't me who rescued you. The Cossacks did... - Your Excellency, please...
- To hell with you! Hand me your written request.
Varvara Andreyevna, accept my apologies, last time I couldn't pay you the required attention... In the heat of the battle, you know...
- So many stars...
- They say your sneeze can reach the skies from the northern town of Murmansk. You can watch the heavenly lights there.
They are called 'aurora borealis'. And we're just killing time here. Who'd want this rat hole?
-You are surrounded. Hand in your weapons.
- Alarm, brothers!!! - Alarm! To arms...
- Breaking news, gentlemen, General Kruedener took Nikopol. - Nikopol?.. Why Nikopol?..
You wanted to say P-pleven? - No. Nikopol. I'll be the first to use the telegraph...
- Semyon, the map...
- Send the dispatch to the Romanian HQ a.s.a.p.... - It's a long way from Nikopol to Pleven...
- What are doing? Are you crazy?.. Get you hands off him! Erast Petrovich, what's happening?
- Why are doing this? - The cryptogram written by Mr. Yablokov had one word changed:
Nikopol instead of Pleven. That's why General Kruedener moved into Nikopol,
while Osman-pasha's avant-guard troops took unprotected Pleven.
- Osman took Pleven? - Correct!
- I swear, my typing was correct. I honestly can't understand how a 6-digit 'Pleven' could have turned into a 7-digit 'Nikopol'.
It's a mystery... - Leave mysteries to girl scouts.
Where did you study cryptography?.. - Listen, Yablokov, did you ever leave the cryptography tent?
- No. - Petya, did you go anywhere outside?
- No. It's strictly forbidden.
- Where did you study cryptography?!!
- Oh, Mr. Titular Counselor! Thanks to you my fifty men... I'm heading for the HQ! If they don't let me... I'll go alone.
- Trouble again... - Erast Petrovich!.. Where have you been?
Have you heard about Petya ... We must hurry, we must find and capture that Anwar. Let's go!
- Excuse me, Varvara Andreyevna, but I need time to think.
- Think? While you are racking your brains... Go to hell!.. I'll think of something myself. Petya, my love, I'll save you...
- May I take a look at cryptogram #3456-s? - Impossible. Destroyed according to regulations.
- Does the register say who brought it? - Of course...
Here. Volunteer Luntz.
- Luntz! - Yes!
- What's this? Dark glasses? You look like a monkey! Take them off!
- Sir, my eyes are very weak. They are affected by sunlight and dust... The medic said it's okay.
- You're in the army, not at a spa, Mr. Volunteer. Tidy up!
- Yes, sir...
- Look, what if we sneak into Pleven and take a look at the Turks, eh?
You are from a neutral country and protected by the Geneva Convention.
And me? I'll go with you as your companion!
Pleven? A splendid idea! A reporter working both sides of the front...
But... How will we sneak around the Russian patrols? - We'll work something out!
- But it's dangerous. They can easily shoot us. - Are you scared?
- Have you heard? - About what?
- You haven't! General and I are going to Plevna on a reconnaissance mission.
What's that?
What kind of devil's teapot is this? The entire battery is at its position already! - My receiver was fowled up...
- What receiver? Don't bullshit me... - Varya?
- Hello, Mitenka! - You? Glad to see you, Varvara Andreyevna!
- Please meet Charles. This is Mitenka Gridnev, a friend of mine. He is an engineer. - I knew I'd see you here!
- Is this you famous monster-mobile? - Yes, that's her...
- I'm trembling all over... How can you be so cruel? Eh?
- Have you brought the money? - Of course...
Look, let's talk about money later, alright? - What do you mean 'later'?
- Please, I beg you, let's talk about money after! - No way. No more 'after'!
- Damn!!! - What?
- I beg you, don't ruin my life! It's my goddamn weakness... - Damn you, Luntz, and your weakness...
I've wasted so much time! Army is not a whorehouse! - What a shame! I'll be court-martialled...
- I'm not interested in your intimate life, Mr. Conspirator. Do you remember cryptogram #3456-s?
- No! - Sent at 3 o'clock!
- Yes, I do recall, it said 'extremely urgent'... - Who brought it?
- Yablokov... - Did you take it directly to the telegraph station? Did you go elsewhere?
- No. I brought it there and handed it over... What's wrong, anyway?
- Did Yablokov ever leave his station? - I don't know.
Oh, yes... he did leave ... there was message for him... I gave it to him...
- Luntz, who gave you this message?
- Who brought the message?! The name! Give me the name! - I don't know him...
- Have you seen him before? Where?
- In the club... - In the club? Reporters' club?
- I can't believe my eyes! Not a single patrol! I heard Asians are irresponsible, but that's too much! Alright, shall we ride into Pleven?
Are you scared? - Not a bit...
- My lady, what a splendid idea to come and visit me. But aren't men's battles tiresome?
- Dear Ismail-bey, you can't imagine how boring it is at the Russian camp. - I doubt that.
By the way, is 'Prokop' - my favorite cafe - still there?
- Intact... But how can you be so sure that war is going to end soon?
- I'm surprised Russians haven't thrown me out of Pleven yet.
- I thought Osman-pasha's corps is here. - Can you see it?
No, no. Osman-pasha's troops will arrive only tonight . My force here is a single company of volunteers...
The war could have been a real holiday with such beautiful women around...
- Mr. Smart Guy! 'A t-t-trap'! Let's hope Anwar is fooled!.. You're as blind as a bat!!!
He followed you through the camp, then across the hills... And you haven't spotted the tail!
- I think he was t-tailing Luntz, not me... - What's wrong with you, Erast Petrovich? Foolish mistakes!
Anwar wins again and again! - He's very cautious and extremely smart.
This time he'll surely kill you!
May be this is your plan? That's why you joined the army?
You've found yourself a new bride - in place of the one they killed ...The Death herself?...
- Lavrentiy Arkadyevich, how could you... - Shut up!!! I need you alive...
Such tokens can easily get you killed... Excuse me.
- Your Excellency! - It's his plan - so report to him...
- There are shooters hidden underground in a secret place. Care to see?
- Can we count on them? - All are experienced warriors.
- Sir! - Quiet, lads...
Quiet! I'll be here at midnight. Don't sleep and don't smoke...
- 'A secret weapon', Sergey Konstantinovich, might be a good bait, I think.
- This is a war between two sloths. That's what you should write. - Your volunteers look very courageous...
- Oh, no... These are Anwar-effendi's bodyguards...
- Who? - A V.I.P. from Istanbul.
A strange bird... Coming and disappearing all the time...
- Thanks for coffee and baklava. I must be going.
- It's very dangerous! The Russian camp is over there...
- Monsieur Effendi... Monsieur Effendi, wait... I said wait!
Shoot, you're the marksman!!! - I won't!.. He's too far anyway...
- Got him!!! Surrender, you rascal!!!
Get up! Get up, I say!
Alright! Charles, shoot him!
- Why would I? He's done nothing wrong. - He's an enemy!
Give me your gun... - No!
- Don't shoot! They've got Anwar-effendi!
- Run!.. Run!.. Run!..
- Flank them! - To arms! Follow me!!!
- Give me your hand. Get on, quick...
You've compromised my reconnaissance mission completely, Varvara Andreyevna...
- Everything will be perfect...
- ...Screw your steam pot! - You can't stand in the way of technical progress!
- I've seen your Anwar! - Seen him?
- We almost captured the bastard... - Where did you see him?
- In Pleven. We shot his shoulder and tonight we'll capture him. Won't me, Michel?
- Varenka, you are the Russian Joan of Arc...
- Dear Charles, a reporter MUST NEVER act like a spy!
- We'll catch Anwar and Petya will be released... - Could you give more... details?
- You can read it in tomorrow's news. Gosh, you're turning back into a monkey...
- Well, unlike me you look s-s-splendid...
- Hooray to Varvara Andreyevna Suvorova! - Hooray!!! Hooray!!! Hooray!!!
(VARYA SINGS)
FANDORIN THINKING: Luntz... Luntz said he'd seen him at reporters' club...
At the club - one. In the field - two. What could he hear about Pleven?
D'Hevrais...
'It's vital you take Pleven. Osman-pasha's corps is moving there...'
D'Hevrais heard it. Yes, he could.
The Spanish artist?
The Italian reporter?
No, impossible. Simply impossible.
- Varvara Andreyevna, I'm enchanted.
- What a jolly good company! Captain Count Zurov. - Ippolit, how come!?
- Damn me! I heard Turks boiled you alive!
You look awful, my friend, hard to recognize... What's this?
Do you color your hair to look more dashing? Well, we two have been through a lot, haven't we?...
My adventures are a separate story, strictly tête-à-tête. Not for women's ears.
Well, you can guess the ending - lonely, no money and heart-broken.
Gentlemen, how about a game of faro? Crawl out of your corners and forget the chess...
Really, it's unpatriotic... Erast, you stay out of the game - the devil himself watches over you...
- Alright, let's play awhile... Colonel Lukan... To promote army camaraderie.
- Exactly... for camaraderie... Low bets. 100 rubles for starters.
Well... Anybody else, gentlemen?.. Are you in?
- The press club has just turned into a gambling den...
FANDORIN THINKING: McLaughlin? What was McLaughlin doing when I was telling Soboleff about Pleven?
McLaughlin heard what I said. Yes, he could.
- L-lavrentiy Arkadyevich? You're here? - You were right - we got the bastard!
You know, I always get itchy before a fight.
He's been sniffing around for at least two hours. Take this. He's not alone.
-There they are! Two of them! - Hold on... There could be more...
- Colonel, no offence! - Cheater!!!
- Such a beauty, mademoiselle... Nature... By the way, would you like a bet?
If I guess who's the first to leave the tent
you kiss me. If I'm wrong - I'll shave my head clean as a bashi-bazouk.
Hussar's word of honor! Come on! It's no risk for you. There are about 30 men inside.
Well?! - So who is it going to be?
- Who? Colonel Sablin. No. McLaughlin. No. Semyon the waiter - that's who!
It's a miracle! - I hope it doesn't rain...
- It's a miracle! God's sign!
- You deserve a slap in the face. I can see myself now - you're a cheater.
- Why? Mademoiselle, I'm as innocent as the Moon!
- Oh, what's up there? - Where?
- It's a hot air balloon to coordinate artillery fire. - A balloon... My God, it's so simple: use a spyglass and you can see everything...
- I could tell you so much about artillery fire...
- Where are the sentinels?
- Stay put! Or the girl's dead... - An ass!? It's a trap!!!
- Don't move! Where are you going!
- Erast Petrovich...
- Quick! - What's going on?
- Jump into the basket. Quick!
- Erast Petrovich, hurry...
Why aren't they shooting? - They don't want any attention...
- Let's draw their attention. - We can't. We have to get higher.
- Oh! Binoculars. 18-power? - What? Yes...
- We can spot Anwar himself, not just Turkish guns.
- My God, what's going on?
- Turks? - Not yet.
- Don't shoot! Fandorin is up there! Alarm the troops, quick, and follow the balloon. Move!
- There come the Turks. - Turks? Then we can spot their positions.
- May I... - There's an unfinished redoubt to the east...
- Varya... - Nothing between the hills... Alright, there are the pickets!
- Varvara Andreyevna, it's too dangerous after all. - Alright, one for me and one for you...
Varya?.. That was pretty unexpected...
Holy Mother!.. God, save us!..
Mitenka!!! Mitya, dear, help us! We are drifting toward the Turks!
- Petrukha! Follow me!
- Varvara Andreyevna, hold fast! Crawl over me!
- Petrukha! Full speed!
- God, where's he going?
Don't you dare touch me so unceremoniously!!
- Varvara Andreyevna, hold on...
- Petruhka! Back up, full speed!
- Mother! God, I'm scared! - Hold on, Varvara Andreyevna!
- Oh, God! Erast Petrovich! Oh! Don't look at me! Please, don't look up!
- ...two batteries are here. An unfinished redoubt - here, at the eastern flank...
And there's nothing in between these two hills.
A long narrow gorge leading directly into the town. As far as the suburbs.
- It's the key to Pleven! Absolute secrecy... is paramount...
I'll request medals both for you and Miss Suvorova.
- You'd better release her fiancé. You know that Yablokov is not a traitor.
- Yes, I do... But criminal negligence is no better than treason.
- Lavrentiy Arkadyevich, this information was acquired through Miss Suvorova's efforts...
While we sit here and enjoy our tea, Miss Suvorova is on a mission right now...