They are fast to break people there —
you’ll tell out even the things you don’t know.
Or maybe he should be helped… to shut up, eh?
There are some opportunities…
You’re a wonderful creep, Andie…
Wonderful one.
Amazingly, you’re not ashamed of your own meanness.
Am I really the same as you?
STAR MEDIA PRESENTS
Sergey Makovetsky
Mikhail Porechenkov
Maria Shukshina
Daria Mikhailova
Yulia Peresild
Yevgenia Simonova
Vladimir Simonov, Igor Chernevich, Vladimir Afanasiev
In Trouble in Store
Script by Vladislav Romanov and Yevgenii Latii
With the participation of Sergey Ashkenazi Production Director: Sergey Ashkenazi
Director of Photography: Vladimir Klimov R.G.C.
Music by Aleksey Ashkenazi Production Designer: Iraida Shultz
Costume Designer: Regina Khomskaya Makeup Artist: Olga Matveichuk
Editing Directors: Olga Grinshpun and Ekaterna Kirillova
Sound Producer: Pavel Podlesny Casting Director: Tatiana Statzman
Executive Producer: Andrey Anokhin
Producers: Vitalii Bordachev and Vlad Ryashin
… he must be beating the air about my bristle, eh?
It was just for fun… I’ve devised a trick, you know.
You told Berkutov during the first interrogation that three out of seven
detained directors of branches admitted that they gave bribes to him, didn’t you?
However, firstly, one of them, following his lawyer’s advice,
has retracted his confessions and two other told of some insignificant amounts —
1200 roubles apiece…
… in addition to Article 174.
Of course, in accord to it,
if a briber confessed in bribing, he ceases to be criminally liable.
That’s right, of course, but…
What? We need evidence just like fresh air.
But in the view of this article his buddies will sign whatever you want
and scatter like cockroaches.
You know, that according to law,
a bribe is deemed proven if both sides have confessed, don’t you?
But Berkutov is in no way idiot to confess against his interest.
But if we have witnesses.
They used to bring piles of envelopes to him, didn’t they?
Envelopes, Gena! So what? Are you sure what was there in those envelopes?
Not at all, as I see.
That’s the point. Look, bribing in trade is a routine matter:
3-8 years of prison served — and you’re free.
Berkutov being bribed is nothing.
The main point is that he was bribegiver himself! Who to?!
Andropov needs nothing but an excuse to eliminate all the Brezhnev gang.
And these guys, of course, are supposed to be the first to confess
in being bribed by a store director. Does he count on this?
Of course not! He’s not a fool.
But a precedent will have been created. The issue will be confused…
then rumors going… articles in the Party papers… that’s it.
Done with Mr. Smith? No.
Article 174 is but a shallow swimming.
We need Berkutov’s confessions. Resounding, as a bolt from the blue! You see?
Of course I do.
Excuse me, Lida, I’m late.
I was going round in circles as some spy, afraid of being shadowed…
Why we meet not at yours or ours?
You’re going be a grandmother soon, but still don’t understand things.
My place, just like as yours, is listened in.
All of it. All right, I know why you called me, but believe me,
I’m a wrong one to help you now. Wrong one. Grishin left.
Almost all of his assistant secretaries were given the bum’s rush.
I’m everyday waiting my bell ring, so I’m a poor protector now.
You’re sitting in your office and doing management, aren’t you?
They are not going to touch you, are they?
They are, Lida. They are one day.
You’ve known Georgiy for so many years. He would do anything for you.
Anything! He wouldn’t be afraid.
But I am. 15 years of prison at my age means to stain my children, my merits.
No. You know, each one is on his own now.
We knew what there might be in store for us. Both, Georgiy and me.
And no one is eager to be hanged before the time.
I wish he could be released before the trial; he could help both,
himself and you. Please, Nikolay Ivanovich, I’m begging you!
Wait, wait. Thing still may change.
Andropov is said to be very ill now. Very ill.
Something good may still happen. If our guys regain power,
things will change to the opposite.
Even if he’s imprisoned, it can be rolled back.
What if he’s condemned? Will you leave him there? Will you?...
Don’t you say like this. Calm down. Do calm down please.
It’s time you go, Nikolay Ivanovich. Or you’ll get a shadow.
Georgiy Petrovich…
Thank you. May I?
Of course. Feel free to smoke.
Georgiy Petrovich, we have recorded on the tape
you taking out money in the amount of
18,850 roubles from the office safe and apportion them between envelopes.
Who these envelopes were meant for?
Me. I distributed the money for my own convenience.
And how did it come that you had such a large amount of money in the office safe…
with no explanatory documents on it?
This money is my personal savings, taken from my salary and bonus for along time.
I apportioned them between the envelopes because I decided to take them home.
It’s true, no one is supposed to keep personal savings in the office safe.
And why did you distribute them between the envelopes?
I’m sorry to say, but it’s my personal business.
I wouldn’t recommend you answering the investigatory questions like that.
Otherwise I could charge you under the Article on misleading the investigation.
Pavel Sergeyevich, I don’t see any reasons for this.
My client gives quite detailed answers to your questions.
Nevertheless: what did you distributed the money between the envelopes for?
This question needs to be answered.
All right.
You know of a series of big burglaries — violinist Oystrakh’s place,
animal timer Bugrimova’s and others. All of them, if you pardon the expression,
got busted because they kept their savings in a single place.
That’s why I decided to split the money into small amounts
and hide them in different places of my flat.
Why didn’t you use the savings bank?
No comments, if you please.
It’s a right of every free person. We live in a free country, don’t we?
So a person is free to keep the money wherever he wills.
You want him to slander people for nothing, eh?
Slander, you say?
Okay, let it be “traduce”. But he’s innocent. You have no evidence.
We will have, Eduard Mikhaylovich, for sure. I wish it wouldn’t be too late.
Good afternoon, Lidia Aleksandrovna!
I’ve long wanted to talk to you. Off-the-record, so to say.
Of course, this talk will mean neither investigation nor interrogation.
And no one will know we had it. You can refuse from it,
but I wouldn’t recommend you do so.
I ask you to help your husband.
It’s hard to believe. Nevertheless, I’m listening to you.
Your husband is accused of crimes
under several very serious articles of the Criminal Code.
They are grand larceny, giving and receiving bribes.
What do you want?
The total term of imprisonment under these articles is very long. 15 years.
But there’s a loophole in the laws. You see, I call a spade a spade.
Due to this loophole the term may be shortened. Up to 5 years.
Why have you fell silent?
Nothing. The things are very simple. I ask you to collaborate with the investigation.
You mean you want him to confess in things he’s never done, he’s innocent of?
As for innocence, don’t be under delusion. There are many facts and much evidence.
I understand: your husband was involved in the network of lies and illegality.
He followed the rules he was not responsible for. He’ll answer for that.
But the people who involved him in will live in clover:
having sweet dreams, sweet meals, enjoying their summer houses.
While HE will serve a prison term… Do you know what a camp is?
Somewhere near Viliuysk in Siberia?
We need the names, you see? The names.
We’ll allow you to see him, against all rules.
You must tell your husband that the people he’s trying to defend
have betrayed him long ago.
It’s all I wanted to tell you. Good bye.
Lida!
No one. You must believe no one. They allowed me to see you to persuade.
You can’t, you can’t… Starshinov is a bastard…
Take your chairs. Talk over the table.
Ania is good with her pregnancy… Do they feed you well?
And Slavik?
He will marry her anyway… He loves her… he’s a good boy…
a bit simpler than one would wish, but a real man indeed… It’s of importance now.
Agree if you are asked to. You must collaborate with them…
Otherwise you’ll have a huge, terrible term.
We might not see you ever again…
How’s the store? Your work?
Don’t know. I don’t attend it… I gave in my resignation… I can’t…
Maybe it was too fast?
I love you dearly… I miss you badly… I…
I every day wait you to come … I…
I’ll be waiting you… Are you well? Is there a good doctor here?
Nothing disturbs me. I’m all right. The meal is good enough.
You have to think about Ania. About yourself.
This is the main thing for now… This is the main thing for now.
I’ve brought a whole bag of stuff for you, but they didn’t allow…
anything… Telling, it’s forbidden…
Kobzon, Khazanov called… Brezhneva, too… She was drunk…
Told we would have many to celebrate…
The visit is over.
Prisoner, go to the exit.
Turn around.
Why the second time?
They sometimes manage to pass notes or whatever.
You may go.
I told him as you taught me. Tried to persuade him.
I saw it…
What’s this?
A skull.
I see it’s a skull. Why on earth you’ve brought it here?
Mikulinsky of Department 8 retired on a pension,
so he dispensed his collection of material evidence.
This is a woman called Marina.
A young one — she’s only 32. See her good teeth?
Yeah, not at all bad…
She was spying for the UK. The guys were late to arrest her —
she was killed by her own husband out of jealousy.
Look, Gena, are you crazy?
No. Just bored to death. Want to reconcile with my wife… And you?
I didn’t fall out with her. And as for mine,
I don’t have intentions like this. That’s enough.
What should I do with Berkutov?
Still keeping mum?
Aha. For the third month now.
You know why shepherds in the mountains live long lives?
No.
They talk little. It appears that the most of energy a human spends goes for talking.
Smarty-pants, are you?
Not fool indeed. Just like your Berkutov.
I visited Andropov in the hospital. He feels bad, very bad.
But he did ask about Berkutov despite feeling bad.
“Aren’t you really able to manage this dirty thief?”, he asked.
And gave a gesture of despise, like this…
He’d never talked to me like that… What say you, Pavel?
The General Secretary expresses his interest despite being ill, and we…
I’ll say nothing, Anatoly Vasilyevich. He doesn’t believe us. Absolutely.
I’ll file a retirement report if you command to.
Maybe I will…
Stay seated.
Do they deliver newspapers to you here?
No.
Very pity.
There’s interesting news here; I’ll read it out for you.
“Yesterday N.A. Shchiolokov, former Minister of Foreign Affairs,
suddenly died in his flat in Moscow.”
Do you realize what it means?
I do. A man died.
Not just died. He put on his dress coat,
with all decorations on, and committed suicide.
By shooting himself from a Gastinne-Renette collection gemmed gun.
Do you see anything notable for you?
No, I don’t.
Well. Then I will have to explain this to you.
Firstly, only people of this rank, no lower, may help you emerge unscratched.
And you counted on this, because they were connected with you;
though indirectly, but, nevertheless, connected.
And they used your generous gifts shamelessly. But they haven’t saved you;
they haven’t moved a finger while still being in power.
And now they’re gone — some retired, others prosecuted, others…
Now the second.
The mere fact of suicide of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs
couldn’t but bring a simple hint to you:
thieves and bribetakers cannot count on mercy any more. Is it clear, Berkutov?
Does this really touch me?
Of course. You will easily get 15 years of prison,
and your life will be over.
The question is: what for? Or, to be precise: who for?
I cannot understand this.
For those who’ve thrown you to the rubbish heap, like garbage?
Enjoying their position at the same time?
Don’t you think it’s high time to stop protecting them
at the cost of your own precious life?
You mean I should plead guilty to the charge with no evidence?
Fool are you, though spoken to be smart.
This is my last proposition.
You will confess in everything, as if to a priest:
who to, when, and how much.
We need to know the top rank names, not factory managers.
And we, in return for your help to the investigation,
will obtain a minimal punishment for you — 5 years at a minimum security facility.
Here’s my hand and my honor.
It’s up to you…
I need time to think…
24 hours. Enough?
An oriental sage once told: an unvoiced secret causes a fatal disease.
And a voiced one causes two.
We’ve recaptured Rimin. His case is closed. You will be recaptured too. Sure.
Don’t be fast with conclusions. Don’t panic too.
All’s well — just perfect. I’m still in my position…
He’s a good guy, he is. He told “All’s well — just perfect”.
I wish I could believe him.
Believe. Believe in all good things.
We cherish you as the apple of an eye, so to say, and you think strange thoughts…
It’s not really good… It’s not mannishly, you know.
We’ll fight. It’s too early to surrender.
We’ll stand shoulder to shoulder like knights of old Russia…
You, Nikolay Ivanovich, have already betrayed Rimin. And I will be the next.
You’re my old good and precious man! And your cognac is perfect.
Call me at any time of the day.
[In a high tower my delight dwells,]
[and no man is permitted to enter there…]
What if our benefactors abandon us?
And start saving their spruce skins?
So, Berkutov, have you made up your mind?
I have.
Mr. Berkutov, before you counting the money, tell the precise amount of it.
Forty thousand roubles.
Count it.
Mr. Berkutov, you claim that there are no other money or valuables
hidden in your summer house, don’t you?
Yes, I do.
Can you lend me a cigarette?
It’s the last one.
A piece of billionaire indeed!
He’s lying, Gennady Romanovich…
May be not, who knows…
Free ordered food to the sum of 800 roubles
was delivered to Galina Brezhneva during January-September 1982;
for 900 roubles to Minister of Foreign Affairs Shchiolokov;
for 800 roubles to his Deputee Churbanov.
The ordered food to the total sum of 2,600 roubles
was delivered to Comrade Grishin,
First Secretary of the Moscow City Communist Party Committee…
Didn’t expect this, do you?
Why? I did. Read it.
Can I ask you off record?
Sure.
I’ve accepted your conditions…
Not because I’ve blindly believed your general,
but because I’ve thoroughly weighed his reasons… I accepted.
Is there any guarantee that he would not forget his promises?
My confession is out here to take and use it.
And 15 differs from 5 by 1 only.
He’s a man of honesty and honor. Having his word, I can promise you.
And what about you? Do you believe yourself?
Not always. But this is not the case.
Most of money earned from the sale of surplus goods
was budgeted to modernization of storage,
capital and current expenses, renewal of the uniform and hygiene measures —
to the total amount of 100,217 roubles during 1972-1982…”
Wait a second…How did you sell the surplus goods, I wonder?
How were they converted into the cash?
You didn’t take out the money from the desk, right?
You’re right. One cannot take out the money from the desk — the rules are strict.
But the Order Department shows a different picture.
Say, a famous singer or a general visits the store.
His order has already been prepared. It costs 100 roubles.
He pays (we’re talking of those who pay, not of the people like Galina Brezhneva),
but his bill shows calculations at a cut price — for 25 roubles only.
He doesn’t need it and even doesn’t look into it.
Plus the restaurants. It’s even simpler with them.
Restaurants buy much of the food for cash, even at marketplaces.
But buying there is expensive.
And buying from our store is all right. Thus, we have the cash.
Include this into your evidence too.
The rest of the money I passed to the Moscow Department of Trade…
As bribes?
Ministry of Trade, and to major vendors of difficult-to-obtain goods. That’s it.
How much? Who to?
You can read this in here.
“… I took for my personal purposes only 5,000 roubles…”
Excuse me, and what about your Mercedes?
It cost 4,200. It was written off from the Polish Embassy garage.
This fact can be easily checked. Bought for my wife’s and my savings.
Aha… Look, could you not refuse?
From what? The Mercedes?
From bribes.
I tried. Several times. Even wanted to quit.
But the whole system is built on bribery.
If you want to work with no problems, you should pay — from the bottom to the top.
So, you think you’re a victim, don’t you?
I don’t. I’m convicted of my guilt now and ready to be punished for it.
To strike out 5 years from my life. 5 years, right?
Precisely.
I’m 59 already…
Good afternoon, Pavel Sergeyevich.
Afternoon…
Is this for sure? It was you who forced him!
You promised it would be 5 years only.
Yes, I have. I promised to you; I’ve been promised that the sentence will be this.
You’re a man of honesty, your eyes are kind. Is it going to be as was said? Is it?
Yes, it is. Calm down please. Everything’s going to be all right.
All rise! Court is now in Session!
Take your seats.
The panel of the judges for criminal cases
at the Supreme Court of the USSR consisting of its chairman,
Stepan Nikolayevich Saltykov, Head of the Judicial Division for Criminal Cases,
and people’s assessors Yuri Aleksandrovich Feoktistov
and Stanislav Sergeyevich Nikolsky
commences the trial on accusation of Georgiy Petrovich Berkutov.
[… I’m a father to you, not Georgiy Petrovich. A father…]
[Yes a father…]
Named Berkutov committed multiple crimes envisaged in Article 173, part 2,
and Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the USSR,
and stipulating giving and receiving bribes on an especially large scale.
Exclusively under the pressure by Berkutov,
I repeatedly gave him monies received from the sale of the surplus goods.
In ordinary post office envelopes. No less than 1,000 roubles monthly.
Yes, this may be called a bribe!
During the same period of time Berkutov repeatedly committed the crime envisaged
in Article 154, part 2, of the Criminal Code of the USSR,
being speculation on a large scale with the purpose of obtaining profit.
During my tenure of office as the director of the First Yeliseyev Store,
I delivered money to the total sum of 72,000 roubles,
as well as difficult-to-obtain foodstuff as gifts to approximately
the same amount to the Moscow City Committee of the Communist Party.
The money and the foodstuff were distributed among the heads of the departments,
secretaries of the Moscow City Committee, including its First Secretary Comrade…
The court session is adjourned!
Attention, the court session is adjourned!
The court session shall further continue in the restricted access mode.
All rise! Court is now in Session!
Your honor, honorable assessors!
In defense of the defendant Georgiy Petrovich Berkutov,
I’d like to say the following: Georgiy Petrovich Berkutov…
At first I tried to work honestly,
but then I received evidence that I either must give bribes or resign…
Understanding the gravity of the crime I committed,
I have already condemned myself in the strictest manner long ago…
All rise! The verdict is announced!
The panel of the judges for criminal cases at the Supreme Court of the USSR
has found Georgiy Petrovich Berkutov guilty in com-mitting crimes
envisaged in Article 88, parts 2 and 3,
Article 92, part 2, Article 154, part 2,
Articles 173, 174 and 175 of the Criminal Code of the USSR,
and, taking into consideration high public danger of the committed crimes,
decided to administer to him the exceptional measure of punishment being death penalty.
In accordance with Article 44 of Fundamental Principles of Criminal Procedure of the USSR
and the Republics of the USSR,
the sentence shall be definitive and unappealable in court of appeal.
I’m begging you… You do know how…
Absolutely, I… I’m thinking about this…
I’m begging you…
Badly, very badly is that this court was the Supreme one.
It’s extremely difficult to appeal.
Everyone should pull oneself together…
I’m begging you…
Cases like this would happen before, but the problem would be somehow sold…
Do you smoke?
I do…
Are we going to Lefortovo prison? We’re too long on the way.
It’s all right. We’re almost there.
You lied to me, and then lied to him.
I didn’t. I was sure of this.
Although, I didn’t believe he would be awarded 5 years; 10-12 — most probable.
Do you know how they twisted that huge sum of embezzlement?
No. It’s of no interest to me.
I’ll tell you: the average annual amount for the surplus goods
was plainly multiplied by 10 years!
But we don’t have the right to do so! It’s mean, it’s illegal in the end!
And why the Supreme Court? Why? To make the case uppelable?
Don’t dare you shout here, you narrow-minded stinker!
Just look at him, he’s exposing his scars!
Or I should expose mine?! We’re clearing our country from filth!
Ay, yes… One can't make an omelet without breaking eggs…
Who are you to give your reasons? Illegal!
Is stealing for decades in front of everyone’s eyes is really legal?!
Nevertheless, why execution by shooting?
Because he rose against people in power.
He could not forgive them that they abandoned him while he was in a trouble.
And he is worse than the worst enemy to them.
Hadn’t Andropov died so suddenly, the outcome would have been different.
But Fate decreed this way.
Anatoliy, Vasilyevich, do you really believe you do good
when you send someone to die?
And?
He signed… Lets go out to celebrate this, eh?
I can’t. Lots of work to be done.
Starshinov?
Call me.
Yeah. I will.
Pasha!
What?
You’re a fool.
We’ll see.