KOVALEV gives her an angry look
YURSKY returns to the fire and, taking a can with meat, sits
opposite NASTYA. They look at each other for sometime.
NASTYA smiles.
YURSKY withdraws his eyes
13
INT. ARTEMIEV’S TENT – NIGHT
ARTEMIEV continues reading a mysterious diary of a convict
FLASHBACK:
INT. CONCENTRATION CAMP – RUSSIA – AUGUST 1968 – DAY
V.O. LIUBOV ARTEMIEVA
Everything happened so fast that I really did
not realize anything. This woman who came
along with Jan suddenly came into the kitchen
where I was cooking…
An elegantly dressed WOMAN enters a dirty kitchen where another woman – LIUBOV ARTEMIEVA – stands near an oven.
The WOMAN hurriedly slips off something like a hunting suit of a dark green color. Women exchange dresses.
WOMAN
Go!
LIUBOV hesitates for a moment, looking at another WOMAN who, now in prisoner’s dress, looks very similar to herself.
Women hug each other briefly and LIUBOV ARTEMIEVA darts out of the kitchen.
14
EXT. CONCENTRATION CAMP YARD – CONTINUOUS
In the courtyard of the camp Jan waits for LUIBOV. We recognize WILLKIE FARMER in Jan. He talks to a PRISON GUARD.
When men see LUIBOV, the GUARD opens the huge heavy gate.
LIUBOV approaches the men, pretending to be as relaxed as possible. Jan takes her hand and they exit the prison.
CUT TO:
JAN AND LIUBOV STRUGGLE MOVING THROUGH TAIGA
V.O. LUIBOV ARTEMIEVA
Taking the loads of provisions and sleeping bags,
we have fled in an unknown direction, walking
day and night. But sooner or later they will
discover that prisoner number 207 has escaped.
JAN AND LIUBOV COME UP TO THE DRY RIVER BED
Above them is a cliff; one branch leads directly below the mountain range, forming a natural arch. They proceed to the pass and go through the mountains.
15
V.O. LIUBOV ARTEMIEVA
We found ourselves in a fantastic location!
LIUBOV and JAN carefully examine the place where they come to. There is a big LAKE with crystal blue water.
V.O. LIUBOV ARTEMIEVA
What we found here cannot be described.
Soon the water will strike its way back here,
destroying the dam of ice in the mountains.
It will close access to the blue lake forever.
This is my last record. Good buy, diary.
BACK TO:
EXT. FOREST – NEXT DAY
The expedition comes out on one of the gold deposits, marked on the map.
ARTEMIEV
Here.
Gentle slopes of pine and spruce surround the group.
YURSKY walks up to the nearest mountain, and with a single blow chips off a piece of ore. He puts it on his palm to show the others.
16
GARIK
Boss, and we dragged ourselves to
this goddamn shithole to find this.
It’s worth less than the diesel we’ve
used to come here
KOVALEV
Where’s the other bed.
YURSKY
What other bed?
Suddenly KOVALEV takes out a pistol. Geologists exchange frightened glances.
ARTEMIEV pulls himself together
ARTEMIEV
Put this thing down. All right?
Look…
He takes out the map.
ARTEMIEV (CONT’D)
Right here – we are here! Here next
to us are two more beds!
KOVALEV
Your map is a fake!
ARTEMIEV
No, it’s not
17
KOVALEV
No, Garik.
GARIK takes out a gun and points it at geologists.
KOVALEV (CONT’D)
Let’s see.
NASTYA
Bastards!
KOVALEV turns around. Geologists all freeze.
Suddenly BANG.
To everybody’s horror MISHA SAMOCHVALOV falls on the ground and moans.
KOVALEV, surprised himself, looks at MISHA. But then he roars.
KOVALEV
From now on you do what I tell you
to do. If, you,
(turns to Artemiev)
Don’t take me to the real bed, I
will kill all of you.
Not paying attention to Kovalev, NASTYA rushes to MISHA, who’s shoulder is bleeding. She reaches for her rucksack and takes out a first aid kit. She bandages MISHA’s arm.
18
YURSKY
We need to get back.
KOVALEV
Nobody’s going back until I get my
gold!
YURSKY
The guy will simply bleed to death
if not immediately rushed to the
mainland. Do you want him dead?
ARTEMIEV
If we go with no sleep or rest, then it
will take us no more than one and a
half days, maximum – two!
Let the guys carry him to the mainland
and I’ll take you to the gold bed.
KOVALEV
Do not even dream about it!
EXT.