Александр Кваченюк-Борецкий - Condemned Gold. Script in English according novel «Russian scenario for Hollywood»

River.

YURSKY

Severkov requested a preliminary

assay, which I made, but then the

data is now incorrect, if we show

only the smallest deposit.

In addition, you know, the rumors

will spread if there will be less

gold than expected, meaning that

someone has appropriated it. They

will send inspectors. You

understand what I mean?

ARTEMIEV

Here is a map. Show it to this man

from the top – Elkin. Tell him it’s

(MORE)

ARTEMIEV (CONT’D)

just a copy and I have the original.

You made a duplicate, when you

went to explore with me, and you

do not know how to find it.

ARTEMIEV hands YURSKY a piece of paper.

ARTEMIEV

By the way, we have new people on

our team. Guess who? Kovalev!

YURSKY

I know. I was surprised myself.

ARTEMIEV

Severkov told me to take him with us.

EXT. VILLAGE ROAD – RUSSIA – LATE EVENING

A luxurious SUV drives down a dusty road at a full speed.

ERNEST KOVALEV – is in the front seat on the passenger side.

Behind the wheel – GARIK, a roguish type of person.

In the back seat – NASTYA, MISHA SAMOCHVALOV AND ELKIN.

The SUV is followed by Artemiev’s old car.

Abruptly the SUV stops in front of the impregnable walls of a dark wood.

Geologists gets out

ARTEMIEV

Let’s halt. We will leave tomorrow

morning.

They make a fire and eat a canned dinner. YURSKY pitches a tent.

KOVALEV

Garik and I will sleep in the car.

ARTEMIEV

Let’s decide who’s going to be on

duty tonight.

KOVALEV

Yursky. Look, he’s not tired.

NASTYA

I will replace him after two hours.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. TAIGA – DAY

ELKIN and YURSKY carry wounded SAMOCHVALOV on a self-made stretcher.

They take turns with ARTEMIEV and GARIK every now and then and have a rest.

Samokhvalov groans and moans loudly.

KOVALEV

Shut up! We’ve already spent too

much water on you and treatment of

your wounds.

NASTYA

Isn’t it obvious that Misha is barely

alive? The bandage is all red with

blood. People need rest.

KOVALEV

(hesitates)

Halt!

YURSKY

Could not resist it, Kovalev?

KOVALEV

Shut up or I’ll shoot you like a dog!

YURSKY

Come on, shoot.

KOVALEV

You are in my power and I can do

what I want to. Once we arrive at

the Rapid River, I will be pleased

to make a hole in your academic

head.

(to Garik)

Tie them up together.

GARIK

But, Boss where do I get a rope?

KOVALEV

In the shop… go and buy one!

GARIK

Boss, I’m serious.

KOVALEV

I’m not kidding! (beat) Am I to teach

you everything!.. Stretch silk ribbons

of the tent!

EXT. RUSSIAN TAIGA – EVENING

GEOLOGISTS lie on the damp grass twisted like earthworms.