FILM 15
Do you think I’m a monster?
I’m the same as you.
It’s just that I dared.
Why are you looking so natty?
-It’s a holiday! -What holiday?
This one.
-Are you ready? -What, can’t you see?
SECURITY
Come on.
How long will this take?
The first phase-- half a month to two months,
depending on his progress.
Then he can be moved to general population.
“Did I, a simple Russian woman, think”…
I’ll come tomorrow.
Close the door.
It’s you.
What?
I’ve observed him for 23 years. I’ve never seen him so calm.
You’ve turned him into a different man.
A weak man?
Well, to some degree, yes.
He never let himself have a chance at a normal life.
He always lived on the edge.
He had mobilized all his psychic processes and his body’s energetic reserves.
And then you showed up.
This is new to you-- dedicating yourself to such critical work.
And everything is going well.
But you have to relax, or you’ll succumb to some minor illness.
-Yeah, it happens. -It’s the same with him.
You showed up…
and he subconsciously told his mind to relax.
He let you in…
and became weaker.
But this weakness gives us a chance to treat him
and make him different, normal.
But under no circumstances can he allowed to mobilize his psyche.
And he especially must not attain that intense peak experience
that happens when he…
Kills?
When he concludes an investigation.
But that’s not a threat here.
Rest. The most important thing is rest.
Then he’ll get back on his feet.
All right.
I’ll see to it.
Do you feel it?
I love you.
Did you discuss interrogation strategies with Meglin?
What do you mean?
What to say, what not to say.
Why do you think we would have talked about that?
Meglin abused every single power that was given him, to the extreme.
He knew that one day we’d check on him and that you’d be tested.
Did he give you instructions or ask you to do anything?
He asked one thing of me-- to hold his hand when it happened!
Nothing else!
Sazonov. Meglin.
Sanya’s late. I’ll call him. He’s not coming. Don’t call.
Why?
I talked to him this morning.
I talked to him an hour ago.
I said you couldn’t make it, that you had important business.
You had to reschedule the meeting.
Zhen, that’s even a bit much for you.
What, you aren’t happy to be with me,
like we used to be?
I actually wanted to have a serious talk with you.
Privately.
Really? I’m listening.
Here…
This guy escaped.
A mass murderer.
He goes by “Strelok.”
He’s dropping people left and right.
He broke into a home and randomly killed women and children.
Nine bodies in one week.
You haven’t heard anything about this?
No.
They formed a working group of 40 people. I’m part of it.
We’re doing everything we can. No one knows how to catch him.
He’s just smarter than them.
By “them,” you mean “us.”
By them I mean us, but not you, of course.
Meglin would’ve caught him quickly, but…
they didn’t call you.
What happened?
I don’t know. Is there a theory?
There’s no theory, just guesses.
At the office, rumor is that Meglin’s sick.
The general tone, you know…
is that the wolf can’t hunt anymore.
-Is that true? -No, he’s fine.
Should we have some champagne since Sasha isn’t coming?
Open it.
I like that idea.
This is for you.
This is for me.
Zhen, haven’t we already talked about this?
Look, how about… a quickie?
Like the good ol’ days.
You used to be such a little tease.
Zhen.
And you can pretend…
that I’m him.
How’d you know I was here?
Have you been following me?
Why?
And why aren’t you in the hospital?
Are you aware you just asked four questions in a row?
You’re a shitty investigator. I’ll answer the first two.
For a week, you’ve been going on about when and where you were going to meet.
What was the third question?
-Why? -Good question. It’s concise.
Why, for example…
did you turn him down?
That’s not good. It’s not friendly.
You’re sure I turned him down?
You were pissed and flung open the doors. Of course you did.
Don’t lose him. He has promise.
I’m meeting with Zhenya about a case.
He said there’s a serial killer. Possibly a mass serial killer.
I know.
We’re going there now.
And there’s your answer to the other questions.
Well, are we going?
You’re here.
-I heard you were sick. -I’m sick all the time. I’m used to it.
-Well, thank God. -What do you mean thank God?
Well, this case is so… horrible to look at.
It was horrible for them. You’re an investigator.
Get everyone out.
Guys, everyone out.
And lock the door.
From the other side.
Turn it on.
Rodion, hello.
Well, you see it all.
A happy family--
a wife and husband…
three kids, and dinner.
And I came here and killed them all.
More accurately, I’m killing them now.
Watch.
Papa!
Please don’t!
Please!
Do you think that’s horrible?
I looked them in the face.
I’ll remember them.
Imagine it. Now that’s horror.
I do this because I have to.
It’s my… cross to bear.
For you.
Well, so that you… understand.
No one is protecting you. No one.
Well, regardless, Rodion…
we’ll be seeing each other.
You know him? Who is he?
They didn’t introduce us. It wasn’t the thing to do.
But, yes, I know him.
Who’s “us”?
Border Guard Service.
Alyosha Anufriev,
goes by the nickname Strelok, 44 years old.
He was born in a small working class village.
His parents drank.
His father went to prison four times.
After the army, he joined the militia.
He was fired in ’98…
for abuse of authority and violence against detainees or something.
How do you know him?
We went through training together-- special forces.
Then I grabbed him. He kills nonstop.
The pauses between the crimes are negligible.
Last time, we got him for a serial killing.
Nine bodies.
Kursk, Oryol, Tambov, Kamyshin. Nine people in four days.
He always burns the house down as he leaves.
-Except for last time. -Except for last time.
-Why? -Don’t be stupid. He left the camera.
The message would’ve burned.
Why didn’t they run?
He has a shotgun.
After two shots, he has to reload.
He shoots, reloads, and they sit there. Why?
Because people, by their very nature, are optimists. You didn’t know?
They’re always hoping for the best.
He said if they run, they die. So they sit there quietly.
Hoping.
If you run, you’ll surely die.
And if you sit there, maybe you’ll make it through.
You can reach an agreement, beg, or the police will come to save you.
What did you see in the house?
It’s not a cheap house.
In the bedroom, the woman had diamond earrings next to a jewelry box.
There was a gold chain.
He doesn’t steal.
He has another motive. What is it?
How is he choosing his victims?
By their fences.
He chooses the tallest.
Meaning?
People put up a fence thinking that it protects them.
The taller the fence, the safer they are.
Fools.
They don’t understand they’re helping him.
Devil knows what they’ve built around themselves.
Nonetheless. A shotgun’s loud. He’s taking a risk.
You seriously think that?
People will crawl out from their holes and ask, “Can you kill them more quietly?
The screams are interrupting our TV.”
-Is it easier for you that way? -What’s easier for me?
Easier to live, thinking about people that way.
Does it make you feel less responsible?
I don’t think anything. I say it like it is.
People are apathetic and unkind, but not that bad.
Sit in the car.
Sit in the car!
Sit.
Empty your pockets.
You live simply.
I spent everything on cactuses.
Why are you standing there? Come in, sit down.
Put your gun down.
Sit.
What did you do to him?
Back in the day, my dead body would already be lying here.
You’re losing your touch, Rodik. Freak.
You’ve gotten old.
You think she’ll make you normal?
No.
Although, I’m jealous.
But jealousy is a sin.
By the way, talking about sins…
Do you want to know about my first kill?
Out of interest.
I wanted to understand why they do it-- serial killers.
So I decided… to try it out.
Then wait and see if I felt tempted again.
True, there ended up being two of them.
Small-time smugglers.
They fell asleep in their car.
They were tired. They had millions to earn.
What did you feel?
Nothing.
Not satisfaction.
Not compassion.
Simply nothing at all.
-And everyone was in a panic! -Did it take hold of you?
You came back after all.
It took hold of me.
You know, it’s like…
a hunger or something.
Like an itch.
I killed again to try to understand.
Then again.
-Then I understood. -Enlighten me.
Everyone is already dead…
and I come to honor them.
Do you think I only killed the nine last time?
Nine days of killing.
Now it’s been 40 days. I’m going to take 40 souls.
And then 365.
People are ready.
Back in the day, they would’ve shot me without a word for one murdered child.
But now after 10, 40, 100…
they’ll just put me on TV.
Then I’ll tell people everything.
I’ll be a hero.
And they won’t even recognize you at the office.
Meglin? Who’s that? There’s no Meglin here.
There it is. I’m still here.
You know, when Chikatilo returned to Novocherassk military prison
after his psychiatric evaluation,
I was sent to him.
He loved to gossip with me.
I asked him, “Romanich, what’s with you?
You’re not yourself. You look so down.”
I said, “What happened?”
And he said to me, “Imagine, they took us to a bathhouse in Moscow.”
One eagle spreads his wings out,
walks around the bathhouse and says, “I killed five people.”
And Romanich said to me, “I’m standing to the side thinking,
‘Brother, if only you knew how many people I’ve killed.
Then you’d know who I really am.’”
And I asked him, “Well, who are you?
Who are you?”
He bawled.
He didn’t tell me who he was.
Chikatilo was a puppy.
-Unhappy and sick. -Are you healthy?
-Why were you kicked off the police force? -I left on my own.
There’s no principle there. It’s all about money.
And I wanted to protect the line.
What line?
The line between what’s right and wrong.
In order to protect that line, you have to know where it is.
-You didn’t know. -Now I know.
It doesn’t exist. It’s made-up.
People are given freedom, and what?
Nothing happens.
Now they have to be taught a lesson.
Right now, no one understands me.
They’ll understand later.
I’m doing something that people can’t understand.
Only you stopped me.
But you won’t stop me anymore.
How about something to drink?
We’ll drink to our reunion.
And to parting.
Let her go.
She has nothing to do with this.
As I understand this, this is only between us.
She’ll tell the media about your genius plan.
Don’t you want people to listen to you?
-You were better back in the day. -I agree.
You’re cheaper now somehow.
People already know everything. Don’t worry.
Don’t do it!
You can’t kill him.
Do you think you’ve stopped me?
It’s not over, Meglin.
It’s all… just beginning.
Rodion, don’t do it, please.
How are you?
Superficial wounds, but it was buckshot.
There’s a lot of shrapnel.
-You have to come along with us. -For how long?
If everything is fine, we’ll release you tomorrow. Don’t worry.
I hoped you’d be able to protect her.
She’s perfectly capable.
SEAMAN’S SILENCE DETENTION FACILITY
Yes.
I thought you wouldn’t pick up.
I was thinking the same thing.
Well, how are you? I’m fine.
Everything’s fine. The pills?
You already know.
Are they making you dull?
Never mind.
A small loss for mankind-- a few days without your great mind.
Drink.
So I can hear you.
Bergich said this is only for a month, and then we’re going away.
-Where to? -To the seaside.
I haven’t been there in a hundred years. How about you?
Even longer.
Well, what do you think?
I say all right.
Let’s go.
Then have a drink
for me.
And you eat.
Thanks…
Are you happy now?
Yes.
Good night.
What did you forget?
Strelok escaped.
He opened the lock with a pick that was sewn into his hand.
He grabbed a knife from a guard’s belt and cut all their throats.
I sent squads to you and Esenya.
Be careful. Rodion.
Do you hear me? Rodion!
I told you I’d come back.
I’m not going to kill you.
You’re already dead.
I want you to see the full picture.
I’m going where it all started.
Forty souls…
this time.
Where can I drop you off?
Right here.
Bratskaya.
-Is it a grave or something? -Don’t say that.
It’s the country.
-Are there are any pretty girls? -There are.
BRATSKAYA
You never carry a firearm.
Just in case.
Yes.
On our way.
Bratskaya.
On the way to Murom.
Got it.
BRATSKAYA
He’s not human. A human couldn’t do this.
Quit your crying. Be specific.
You don’t understand. It was a wedding.
He shot everyone point-blank and then set it on fire.
The wounded burned alive. Who saw him?
The neighbors next door. They were afraid to come out.
But they stayed alive.
-Where are you? -I have her. Wait for my call.
How could you!
What about you? We both lost her.
If something-- If something happens to her…
I have no one but her! No one!
I’m asking you to find her. Do whatever you have to.
You-- Who are you?
What are you doing?
-Who are you? -Stand back!
-You can’t be here. -Calm down!
It’s under control! Investigative Committee.
Do you have any tacks?
Give them here.
MOSCOW
TVER
RYZAN
TAMBOV
What’s gotten into you?
SARATOV
Yes!
What do you mean nothing?
Keep searching! Turn it upside down!
He went here. Andryusha.
-Wait. -Right here.
-How do you figure? -Because it’s a cross!
So what?
It’s the place where it all started.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
Yes.
Where exactly?
You think that he’s better?
He’s worse.
I kill.
But all this horror runs through me.
He doesn’t repent. He doesn’t feel regret.
He delights in his power to commit murder.
And you don’t?
You guessed it. I do too.
But I don’t try to make it seem like this is all for the greater good.
I don’t deceive myself or anyone else.
I give a person the right to be what he is.
That is, an animal.
Smart, stupid,
brave, cowardly.
An animal and that’s all.
And the strong animal eats the weak one. Isn’t that so?
You aren’t full yet?
I don’t kill just for pleasure.
Of course. You have a mission.
And why not?
You think that only Meglin can have a mission?
He preserves life…
and you snuff it out.
Isn’t that an obvious difference?
It’s obvious for a stupid girl like you.
I don’t know if God exists. Let’s assume he does.
Then I’m his biggest victim.
I don’t know why he punishes me so harshly.
Each time I create this horror, it runs through me.
I killed children as they stared into my face,
in front of their mothers’ eyes.
How do I deserve that?
Of course, Meglin saves lives.
Only think, what’s the point?
All of these…
pathetic, insignificant pieces of meat
who eat, sleep, and reproduce.
And watch television.
I need him to come into his own.
I kill-- for the killing.
But he kills-- for the saving.
Each of us has our own mission.
Deep down, you’re just afraid to admit to yourself…
that you’ve lost it…
that the world works differently…
that your whole philosophy is just the drivel of a hurt child.
Your parents fought often.
They didn’t buy you toys or take you to the zoo.
They beat you.
Your… peers teased you,
and your teachers thought you were slow.
Think, remember…
and admit to yourself that you’re a normal person…
who wasn’t loved enough…
and who’s afraid of death like everyone else.
Is that what he taught you?
Stop.
Think about this. You don’t have… do this.
You really think I’m making a mistake?
Really.
Then say you aren’t afraid.
I’m afraid.
You know what he didn’t teach you?
No.
That not everyone wants love…
and not everyone is afraid of death.
Stop!
Don’t take another step! Weapons on the ground.
You brought Papa for no reason. He wasn’t in the plans.
No offense, Andrei Sergeyevich.
No offense taken!
What do you want?
The question is, what do you want?
Two of you can leave here.
Choose.
I’ve made my choice.
Let them go. You didn’t understand me correctly, Rodion.
I don’t intend to stay behind either.
Then it’s even simpler.
-Esenya, leave. -No.
-Get out of here. -Don’t yell at me.
You get what you raise. Yeah.
We’d better work something out. I could be the only one to leave.
-What’s the point then? -Esenya.
Your choice.
Who do we start with?
Haven’t you forgotten something?
Remind me.
Come on, come on!
You owe me.
You’re clever, Rodion.
After all these years…
I sensed you’d come back to haunt me.
-Well? -Let’s do it.
Let’s do it.
Andrei Sergeyevich,
take the clip and ammo out of the gun and put them on the floor.